#i just didn't continue the show after this and couldn't be bothered to skim through the episodes for the hugs

[leixinyus]

[sevendeadlywhispers]

7Seals

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Chapter 7

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• Previous Chapter: Chapter Six

• Next Chapter: Chapter Eight

• New chapters every Thursday

•Content: Levi Ackerman × OC female. Slow Burn! Canon verse!

• Word Count: 1.2k

• Warning: This content may not be suitable for all readers. If you've watched all of AOT then you will understand that the show handles heavy subjects such as abuse, racism, violence, and other heavy subjects. This fanfiction will also have the same heavy themes. Chapters with heavy themes will be marked with (*) at each chapter.

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My knocks echoed down the hall of the captain's quarters as I stood outside Captain Levi's office. Levi's voice sharp as ever came through on the other side.

"Name and business."

"Aldridge. Reporting for duty," I replied, pushing the door open to the familiar scent of fresh tea and the tidiest captain's quarters in the Survey Corps. It might be the smallest space among the captains, but you couldn't find a speck of dust.

"Quit gawking and get over here," Levi ordered, snapping me out of my brief admiration for the cleanliness standards.

Levi didn't bother looking up as he continued fiddling with paperwork on his desk.

"Where were you?" he cut straight to the point.

"I'm sorry, Captain. Alexander asked for my help, and I—" Levi didn't let me finish; he interrupted with the finesse of someone who didn't have time for nonsense.

"I don't care about your excuses," he declared, his focus solely on the documents. "You lack discipline. I expect you to show up on time."

"Yes, Captain," I responded, keeping any quiver in my voice hidden. Levi's eyes remained glued to the papers as if they held more importance than the person standing before him.

He continued shuffling through the paperwork, the rhythm of his actions feeling like a metronome dictating the beat of a military march. It left me standing there, just another note in the symphony of his disciplined world. The captain's quarters, neat as a pin, became the stage for a confrontation heavy with unspoken tensions and unmet expectations. Levi's stern gaze met mine as he laid down the stack of paperwork across from him at his desk.

"Your punishment for now is going to be helping me with paperwork, after every dinner you'll be in my office helping me." he declared, his tone carrying the weight of authority. "Well, don't just stand there. Get to work."

I wasted no time, swiftly grabbing the papers and starting to skim through them. "May I?" I gestured toward the couch.

"Don't fall asleep," he groaned, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

I settled onto the couch, sinking into the soft cushions as I examined the detailed files of each soldier in the Survey Corps. It was a thorough account of their service, a testament to the challenges and victories they faced.

"Find the best ones. Choose wisely. I'll be going over it all with you after you're done," Levi instructed, taking a sip of his tea.

Levi had found a new method for recruiting, a departure from his usual approach. Perhaps too many complaints led to this change, but I didn't mind. It made the task more manageable for me.

"Make sure to pull out Eld and Oluo," Levi instructed.

"I think you were right earlier," I quickly responded. "No point in picking them. They lack discipline."

"You lack discipline, yet you're still here," Levi remarked, cutting through my justification. "Why the change of heart?"

I hesitated for a moment, choosing my words carefully. "I realize the importance of discipline, Captain. I want to improve and contribute more effectively to the squad. I think this is a good call."

Levi raised an eyebrow, his piercing gaze searching for any hint of insincerity.

"Actions speak louder than words, Aldridge. So give me a real reason why I shouldn't choose Eld and Oluo?"

Levi's eyes met my face, his gaze feeling like a meticulous scan of every detail. In his office, only two lanterns were lit, casting a subtle glow that veiled my features. The light was perfectly placed to see every detail in his face. You could see the small specs of blue in his sharp eyes. The way his black hair fell into his face covering almost covering his eyes.

He rose from his desk and circled the room, an air of expectation surrounding him. "Well?" he prompted, his tone cutting through the silence.

"Oh," I stammered, caught off guard. I hadn't prepared an excuse beyond this point. "Just thought it might be for the best. I think Alexander wouldn't be the happiest if we take more members from his squad."

Levi's response was swift and unyielding.

"If he has a problem, he can take it up with Erwin."

As Levi tended to the logs in the fireplace, kindling a fire that filled the room with light, I couldn't escape the reality that the illumination exposed more than shadows. Papers and my hair offered only limited cover, and I felt his gaze on me, a weight I could no longer evade. Levi stood right in front of me.

I looked up, meeting his eyes in an instant. His eyes showed no indication of contentment or curiosity.

"That's a nasty bruise you got there, Iris," he remarked, his voice monotone and something else I couldn't quite decipher.

The sound of my name rolling off Levi's lips sent a shiver down my spine. I'd only heard him call me by my name once before, and this moment, where he inquired about my bruise, erased any excuses I'd prepared. Over the years, I'd braced myself for judgment; after all, we were soldiers, and injuries were part of the job. But when Levi asked, it felt different.

"Oh yeah, it doesn't hurt," I chuckled, attempting to downplay the significance.

"I got it during training."

"Really?" he questioned, a hint of skepticism in his tone. "I don't recall a moment during our training where you would have received that. We haven't done any hand-to-hand combat."

"I sparred with some of my old squad mates earlier. Alexander and I were showing them techniques," I explained, hoping my words would appease him.

His face remained expressionless, his eyes looking down on me as if I were inconsequential.

"So, you skipped our training to train with another squad captain?"

His eyes scanned my every movement. The disapproving gaze made me want to crawl underneath his desk and hide.

"I'll be having a word with Captain Wright."

"There's no need," I quickly interjected. "It's completely my fault. I lost track of time and got carried away. I'm sorry, Captain."

"He knows better than to keep another squad member from their training. Your pleading won't stop me," Levi asserted, turning back to his desk to sit down.

"Levi, it's my fault. No need to bother him," I pleaded.

"It's Captain,"

"I'll do as I please. Now, focus on your work. You're not leaving until it's done." He said going back to his desk, ignoring me from that point on.

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Hours passed, and my mind continued to wander back to Alexander. If Levi talked to him, it could be game over for me. The uncertainty loomed like a storm on the horizon.

"That paper is not going to change the harder you stare at it," Levi's voice interrupted my thoughts.

"Oh, I just think this person might be a good match. That's all," I lied, trying to mask my unease.

"Really?" Levi stood up. "Who is it, then?"

Panic gripped me as I realized I didn't even know whose file I held in my hand. Glancing at the top, I quickly blurted out a name. "Um, Petra, sir."

"Let me see the file." He grabbed it from my hands, his eyes scanning the contents. "What makes you choose her? Her file is just like every other one."

"I think under your command, she would thrive. I don't know, just a gut feeling, sir," I said, attempting to provide a satisfactory answer.

"Sounds good enough to me," he remarked, grabbing my stack of papers and examining the ones I had picked out. "Gunther?"

"Yes, he's very serious about his job. Agility-wise, he's amazing," I told him.

"Meet me by the mess hall after breakfast tomorrow. We will go observe them all during their training one more time. You're dismissed."

I'm so fucked.

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[moonysbxtch0]

505

Part 8: Failure

Summary: You face the consequences of the prank you did last night...

Pairing: Remus Lupin x werewolf student

Warnings : mentions of guiltless, shame , sexual thoughts,teasing, slight praise kink.

Ao3 link : https://archiveofourown.org/works/39275319/chapters/111652351#main

<•>

Remus stretched his hand on the air and groaned. He had been up all night,he was on watch duty and he was feeling tired. He couldn't even skip given that he had missed more than enough classes because of his condition. So with that thought he had made his way to his class thirty minutes ago , waiting for the many students to arrive.

They were slowly coming one after the other, bidding him good morning and taking their seats. Judging by their faces they seemed anxious. He had to say something to at least try and cheer them up before they started the exam. He stood up from his seat,ran a hand through his hair and moved in the center of the classroom.As he did ,the smell of someone familiar filled his nose. He titled his head and saw none other than you.

You looked tired. He smiled. He didn't want to let this opportunity pass.

"Good morning everyone." He greeted and the class said the same thing in choir. You had taken your seat ,eyes on him. He moved his eyes to yours and smirked." Hope you slept well." You furrowed her eyebrows in confusion and then Remus moved his eyes to the rest of the class." Before we start the exam I would like to let you know that this exam will cover about forty percent of your grade this semester. The exam is not re-doable, I'm sorry to any of the students who missed the exam but I mentioned it last time that I won't be giving second chances." The class groaned in dissatisfaction at the learned info." Come on ,guys." Remus clapped."You've been studying hard.Try not to stress about it ,you can do it. It's just knowledge we've learned. Now let's start,books away,no talking and obviously no cheating unless you want to automatically fail."

<•>

Everyone had put their heads down and was writing. The classroom was enveloped by a comfortable silence but even he could feel the tension in the air. Remus started worrying. If they stressed about this exam, he couldn't imagine how they would feel about their N.E.W.T.S. He couldn't blame them. Hell no one should. They had one incompetent professor after the other. They had worked hard anyway but a student can only go that much in their own.

"Marcus,if you move on more time,I will get your paper and you'll fail. Am I being clear?" He warned when he noticed Marcus bothering one of the Gryffindor students. Marcus just glared at him. Remus shook his head.He took a look around the class and he found the black sheep. You.You weren't writing anything at all. You had closed your eyes and were rubbing your temples.

He had been noticing you for a while.You hadn't written a single thing since Remus handed the students their papers. If you continued to do that ,he would be forced to lower your grade. You were his best student and he didn't want you to fail. But he couldn't show any favoritism by giving you the answers either.

At the end of the class ,when the clock ticked,he had kicked five students out of his class for trying to cheat.

"Alright everyone,quills down. Leave your paper on your desk and you're free to leave."The students left quietly and as he stared gathering the papers one by one, skimming their answers, he felt a bit disappointed. When he arrived at Percy's desk he smiled. Give it to him to have all the answers correct. He couldn't judge just yet tho.He kept collecting the papers and then he froze. You were still here...the only problem was that you were sleeping. You had put your head down on your forearms and your breathing was so light he hadn't even noticed your presence.He rubbed his eyes and pitched the bridge of his nose.

He was sure that you had failed. And when he carefully grabbed hold of your paper he confirmed that theory. The only writing you had done on this exam was only your own name. Remus was staring at your small frame as he bit the inside of his cheek. You had been up all night,he knew. He had smelled you and the Weasley twins the other night when he came across Filch.You had done something he wasn't aware of yet.Knowing that you had no other classes he let you rest there for a bit more as he covered you with his cardigan and made his way to his desk, to start grading the exams.

<•>

You could only see darkness. Your body was hurting but yet for some reason you felt warm and comfortable. You were slowly remembering fragments of last night.The prank. Right. You had done that. Then after that? You couldn't remember. Then an important info came to your mind and you jolted awake.

"Fuck! The exam! I'm late!" You stood up only to feel a sharp pain behind your head,you had slammed it against the wall.You rubbed the back of your head and slowly opened your eyes.Hold up. This wasn't your room.Desks , chairs...

"Good afternoon." You got startled when you heard the familiar voice. Were you dreaming?

"A-afternoon?" You questioned.You moved your eyes to the place where the voice came from.You noticed professor Lupin. Why was he here? No. Why were you here?!

"Yes. Afternoon." He motioned for you to approach him with his middle and idex fingers. You were feeling a bit confused. You stood up and wrapped your jacket around your body to make yourself feel warmer. Your nose twitched. Why did it smell like the man who was waiting for you. You moved your eyes to your body and your breath caught. It was his cardigan! What the hell was going on?

"What's going on?" You asked as you approached him.

"You tell me." He said as he cocked an eyebrow.

"Wait... Afternoon...the exam!"He leaned back on his chair, legs spread and you gulped. When you took a good look at him your abdomen clenched. He had unbuttned two of the buttons of his shirt and had folded his sleeves. His hair was messy and the look he was giving you ...

"You fell asleep." He said as he tapped his hand on his thigh,eyes on you."And I'm not supposed to say anything now ,given that you're supposed to take your results in two weeks...but you failed Y/N. I'm quite disappointed in you."

It fell on you like a fucking bomb and it fucking sting. Bad. You felt like your throat got crushed. Your heart was beating fast.You bit your lip. You knew that your focus should have been on the fact that you have failed yet for some reason what hurt more was his last sentence.I'm quite disappointed in you.You didn't know what to say. You had no excuse to give to him. You cussed yourself internally. You fell asleep!You failed!

"Professor -" you were barely able to form that word." Can I retake-"

"No." He said firmly." I'm sorry Y/N. I said it two weeks ago that I won't have any redoes.Even you are not an exception."

You were biting your lip so hard it felt like you would draw blood. Fuck the Weasley twins and their fucking bright idea of pranking. All those hours you had put into studying...

"The exam covers forty percent of our grade right?" You gulped nervously.

"Yes." He nodded.

"And there's no redoes?"

"I'm afraid not." He titled his head to his right as he stared at you.

"Fuck." You muttered.

"Language." He warned as he stood up and rounded his desk.

"What can I do to make up for the exam? I need the grade..."

The fact that you were a werewolf wasn't enough apparently. You were going to fail. You hoped to get a job ,even with your condition,by having good grades ,but you couldn't even do that anymore... could you?

"What are you willing to do for it?" He was standing in front of you now ,hands on his pockets as he stared down at you. The tone he had used when he had said that...Merlin.What did he have in mind?

"Anything." You said as you met his eyes. Then you felt your body getting warmer, muscles tingling.What the hell was wrong with you?! Anything was quite suggestive...and anything meant anything!

"Anything huh?" He smirked as he took a step further, closing the distance between the two of you."And would you be so kind and tell me what do you mean by that?"

"Exactly what I said professor." You stared at him, trying to keep your cool. You were forming a hundred scenarios to how this would end up.Would he probably be one of those professors who would bend you over his desk , fuck you senseless and then improve your grade?

"I'm afraid it doesn't work like that , darling."Your breath caught. The pet name!He had never called you that.You could hear your heartbeat on your ears.

"There's gotta be a way." Your voice was pleading.

"Oh but there isn't. " He put his hand on your face, thumb resting on your cheekbone while the rest of his fingers rested on your jawline.Your chest tightened as he made you stare at him. "You failed. That's it. Study harder next time and be careful with what you do during your late hours."

Now what the hell did that even mean? Come on... there's no way he knows about you and twins ... right?

"What's that supposed to mean professor?"

"Take it however you want it." He was tracing your jawline with his middle finger moving the letter back and forth. You felt tears forming on your eyes. You hated this. Hated the failure, hated the disappointment. Tears started rolling down your cheeks before you could stop them."Shshsh."He paced his other hand on your cheek and used his thumbs to wipe the tears."It's going to be okay. The patronus charm will cover most of your grade.You're close to perfecting it ,have no worries."

"But that's still not good enough." Your voice trembled.

"There's nothing I can do. You know that."

"Aren't I supposed to be your favourite student?" He smiled softly at that.

"That you are. But I don't think even you would like it if I gave you a good grade only because of that , would you?"

"No." You sniffed.

"That's my girl." He patted both your cheeks with his palms. His girl.His.Jeusus , you loved this man.Probably the feeling will never be reciprocated but this was enough for you.His comforting words ,his comforting touch,hus comforting presence.Before you knew yourself, you wrapped your arms around his torso and hugged him tightly.

"Scoldings later." You sniffed again when you realised that he was about to say something.He was taken back by your gesture at first but then he sighed heavily before wrapping one of his arms around your waist and placed his hand on the back your head.

"Will taking ten points be enough as a proper scolding?" He teased and you chuckled. "I bet professor Snape would have taken fifty ,so I think I'm being gentle." He pulled back from you and placed a hand on your shoulder.

"Professor I-" suddenly a knocking sound was heard you both moved your attention to the door. The professor lowered his hand from your shoulder and then flicked his wrist to see the time.

"I'm sorry."He said , looking genuinely sorry."Let's continue this another time , okay?"You nodded. He walked to the door and you made your way to your desk , slowly gathering your stuff . Then your attention got caught by a familiar voice and your stomach clenched.

"Oh. Hey there Y/N!"

"Jen." You nodded weakly at her.

"What are you doing here?" She asked as she walked closer to you.

"Y/N was just asking questions about her exam." Interfered the professor."She's about to leave now."

"Quite the sleep you did today Y/N"Jen started laughing. And you felt the sudden urge to beat some sense into her." I swear, we tried to wake you up a few times but you weren't even moving. Thought you died for a moment."

"I'm alive." You forced a smiled as you grabbed hold of your bag.

"Jennifer,come here now. I have appointment with another student after you. Let's not waste time." Said the professor as he took his seat... right...jen took extra lessons.

"Coming professor." She smiled at him then turned her attention on you."Literally." She winked and then made her way to his desk.You were feeling nauseous. You didn't want to leave her with him alone. What if she initiated something..." See you around Y/N."She waved at you and took her seat.

"See you." You waved back."Bitch."You muttered under your breath and made your way to the door.

"Oh and Y/N." Said the professor making you move your eyes in his direction again." I forgot to mention but tomorrow I will be expecting you in my office. Something related to your late night walks... " He let the words linger on the air and then it hit you.He knows.He knows what you did and given that it is evening everyone must have seen the flood and the message. He somehow knows it was you. He smirked as he spoke."Have a good day."

"You too ,professor."

Part 9:

[memyselfandi2008-blog]

Just a Coffee

(A/N): First of all, before anyone asks, yes, this is extremely self indulgent. Second off, I mostly wrote this to somewhat explore Lindsay and Chris’ dynamic. Also, I might continue this? Probably not, but we’ll see if I’m motivated at all.

Paring(s): Lindsay & Chris McLean

Word Count: 1,191

Summary: Chris hadn't intended to get his own coffee, but one messed up order and one fired intern later, he found himself standing outside the coffee shop a few blocks away.

"Unbelievable," Chris grumbled under his breath, tossing the still warm latte into the nearest trash can, "How hard could it possibly be to get my order right? I even wrote it down for them!" he ranted to no one in particular. That was the fifth time, within two weeks, that someone had gotten his order wrong. Could you really blame him for getting frustrated?

Chef couldn't help but roll his eyes at the TV host, briefly recalling the memory of Chris barking out his order, while the intern frantically wrote it out on a piece of paper, "If you're really that upset about the whole thing, why don't you just get your own fancy shmancy drink?" he proposed, meeting Chris' bewildered stare.

"Get… my own… latte?"

It was as if the thought hadn't even crossed his mind—which it hadn't. Why would he bother with such a trivial thing when he had better things to do, like literally anything else?

Chef nodded, "There's a coffee place nearby," he gestured towards the exit of the building, "So it's not like you'll be walking far."

Chris hummed, resting his chin in the palm of his hand as he thought over his options. He'd lose the joys of firing any intern who messed up his order, but he'd also finally get his coffee just the way he liked it. Making people suffer, or his own wants and needs…

Wait, why was this even a dilemma?

"You know what? I think I will get my own coffee from now on," he crossed his arms and grinned, a satisfied look on his face, "Man, I can't believe I didn't think of that sooner."

Chef sighed heavily, shaking his head in mild annoyance as he watched Chris head out of the building. It was times like these, some small part of him missed being in the Army.

———

It was a cozy little building with a chalkboard sign sitting just outside the door, listing off the day's specials in different colors. Several plants were intricately placed on the windowsill, causing a sense of unease to settle in Chris' stomach. Anything that looked that cheerful must have something wrong with it, if he was going off of his prime example (himself).

Nevertheless, he still needed his coffee, and the only way he'd get it is through that door. Letting out a long sigh, he entered the building, causing a faint ding to fill the quiet room.

"Hello!" a cheerful blond greeted him from behind the counter, "Welcome to…" she seemed to trail off, gaze shifting down as she tapped her chin in thought, muttering quietly to herself.

Chris raised an eyebrow, the faintest of smirks pulling at his face. Did she... forget the name of the café?

"Um… hm… welcome to…" she squinted at her surroundings, gaze searching for where she might find an answer. After a minute, she smiled, eyes going wide, "Oh! Welcome to Brew-ti-ful Coffee and Bakery!" she grinned, meeting Chris' stare, "What can I get you today?"

His eyes skimmed over the baked goods on display, unable to keep the smirk off his face, "Looks like the pastries aren't the only thing here that's brew-ti-ful," he hummed, giving the barista a quick once over as he leaned against the counter.

"Well, duh," she crossed her arms, still smiling, "The coffee is too! That's why it's part of the name."

A small, almost breathless, laugh escaped Chris before he had the chance to stop it, "Well, nothing gets by you, now does it?" he turned his focus to the menu, absentmindedly drumming his fingers on the counter. There were so many options to choose from, and so little time to pick. He did still have a show to host, after all.

And yet, some part of him felt the need to take his time. The world did revolve around him, all things considered.

"What would you recommend, Lindsay?"

She gasped, "How did you know my name?" she asked, an excited glint in her eyes, "Are you, like, psychic or something? Oh, oh! Can you read minds?" she frantically asked, bouncing up and down at the thought, "What number am I thinking of?"

There was a shift in his stomach and, once again, a laugh broke out of him, "Actually…" he admitted, gesturing to the tag on her apron, "I just read your name tag."

Her face fell into confused disappointment, "So, you're not psychic?"

"I'm not, but I think you might be," Chris was still smiling, still bidding time, still ignoring the feeling that had settled in his chest, "You spend so much time in my mind, I should charge you rent."

Lindsay tilted her head to the side, "Do I? How much do you need?" her voice seemed to grow quiet as she spoke, digging through her wallet, "I mean, I've only got a little money, cause Heather used most of it to buy her lunch, but—"

Without hesitating, Chris quickly interrupted her, listing off his order at record speed, in an attempt to drop the previous remark before it got too out of hand. Lindsay carefully pinned it into the register, nodding her head to show she was listening, her wallet having been placed back in her pocket.

"What's the name?" she asked, sharpie and cup in hand, staring at him expectantly.

Despite himself, Chris let a beat of silence pass between them as he glanced around the very empty building before turning back to Lindsay, "Chris."

She hummed, writing down the name, then turning to work on the order. Chris watched as she briefly struggled with getting the drink put together, knocking over various items in an attempt to get what she needed.

"This your first day?" he couldn't help but ask, trying to bite back the amusement in his voice.

"Nope!" Lindsay replied cheerfully, "I've been working here since summer break started."

"Really?" he blinked in surprise. She had been working here for almost four weeks and she still had trouble remembering the name of the place?

"Yep!" she turned towards him, holding out the paper cup, "Here you go!"

He took the drink carefully, "Right, well, it was nice talking with you."

Chris nearly froze at the statement, but tried not to let his shock show on his face, waving goodbye as he left. He never liked talking to anyone, save for a very select few.

"Bye! Come again, soon!" Lindsay called after him, returning his wave as the door's bell chimed once again to indicate Chris' departure.

It felt funny, the whole thing. He was sure Chef would get a laugh out of it, at the very least. A sigh escaped him as he looked down at the drink, hesitant to even try it, with how much of a mess she made putting it together. Though, all that hesitation seemed to vanish when the name she had written on the cup caught his attention.

Chip.

"Huh…" he smiled gently, taking a drink as he started his walk back to his studio. Almost surprisingly, she actually got his order right. Definitely surprisingly, he silently decided he'd go back there again.

[talonwolf2]

I said earlier I was writing a Team Rancher fic based on the idea of what if they had a different number of lives, and I've actually written it! I still don't consider myself a good writer, but it took me two weeks to write and I wanna put it somewhere, I contemplating putting it on AO3 but I have no idea how that site works so Tumblr can have it. It is obvious that hurt/comfort is my favorite trope lol, flower husbands enthusiasts may not like this, Scott's an antagonist >:)

Word count: 12,738

Main characters: Tango and Jimmy

(all characters are present in some form)

Warnings (tell me if I should add/delete some): main character death, talk of side character death, stabbing, kissing (one is non-consent,) suicidal ideation, implied self harm, light description of gore, fainting, lotta stuff about blood

Tango shook his head, "you really shouldn't let them walk all over you," he said in a faintly questioning way, Tango had been sitting on their porch-like bridge that sat as a border for the Ranch while skimming through his communicator's logs. The late morning sun had been bouncing off the water below, blinding those spending time near it. He hadn't said anything since they'd gone back after Rancher's Revenge was slain.

Jimmy walked up from behind him, with a weak smile he added, "It's fine, I don't mind it, I swear,"

Jimmy sat himself next to Tango who emitted heat from his netherborn body, Tango gave no notice of him, focused on whatever was on his mind. He had the remains of Ranchers' Revenge in his lap, he pursed his lips holding onto what he wanted to say and Jimmy knew something must have been really bothering him. He knew Tango enough to know he couldn't just pry information like that out of him. They simply sat in an awkward silence, Jimmy peeling pieces of bark off the bridge where they sat seeing if he could throw chips far enough to land in the water with little success. Tango fiddled with his hands, eyes glued down to a rushing stretch of water, Tango silently moved away, standing up with Rancher's revenge sitting on his hip.

Jimmy watched as he started to walk towards the goat barn wordlessly, he knew it wasn't his time to chime in. Jimmy stretched out his shoulders hoping for it to help the tight feeling in his back despite knowing it would have no effect. Jimmy didn't want to tell Tango about it even though he knew Tango could feel the itchy and tightness Jimmy felt from his undelt with wings. He'd grown accustomed to it, but he knew it was being shared through their soulbound, it was stupidly obvious through the way he slouched. Jimmy told himself maybe things would be different this time if he didn't show his wings to anyone, they had really never really interacted with each other enough in the other games. He knew Tango wasn't aware of his avian features as he already had started to hide them by last life, so he'd already been used to unpreened wings at this point. He'd decided when he'd met Tango due to his innocent mistake, to hide them fully hoping that one little thing could break his curse; their curse now.

"Maybe we should stop," Tango said, cutting off Jimmy's thoughts as he sat back down close to him, his eyes subtly looking at Jimmy, "you know the way this always ends and we don't have a whole lot going for us," he paused setting his hand on Jimmy's, "ally wise." When Tango had returned, he was empty handed without his armor and extra bits of his outfit.

"Come on Tango, I really don't have too much faith in myself after how these games have ended for me," he chuckled, "I'm all in this for you now."

Tango only frowned at his attempts to get him to smile, Tango continued where he left off, "we shouldn't have messed with Scar," he said while Jimmy turned to see the ruins, "I am upset, but focusing on such a single miniscule issue could go south real quick." Tango took the hat he'd had on and set in on Jimmy's head, "but come on Jim, we got bigger things to deal with,"

Jimmy flushed at the gesture, "well okay then, what's the plan?" Tango only then returned a smile, "So no revenge, friend making?" He questioned adjusting Tango's hat on his head.

"Yeah, I'm thinking I'll work on the Ranch since it's been decided I'm the talented one," he poked, "and you'll try to unburn bridges, yeah?"

"I could do that," he said despite the fact he admittedly didn't want to, "then it's a plan!" He faked excitement.

"Great! Do you think you could track down some sand as well for a totally normal reason?" He added with a smile in his voice.

Jimmy started standing up, "wait do you want your hat back?" he said, tipping the hat.

Tango smiled dismissively, "nah keep it on, show others you're with me," as Tango went to push himself back up onto his feet, his hand went through a flimsy board. That board was a critical one which collapsed under his weight, causing him to fly down the revine.

Jimmy screamed as Tango's pain shot through both of them sending him back into his knees, Jimmy rushed to the edge spotting Tango laying on his back.

"I'm fine, I'm fine!" he insisted even though he'd fallen a good forty feet and he could feel the wind knocked out of both of him. "Maybe a scratch or two," he said, cradling his arm to his body still sprawled over the mossy rocks by the shore.

Jimmy stared down at him, "you dumbo," he gritted through his teeth from the pain rather than malicious intent, he yelled down to him, "maybe my curse has spread to you."

Tango swore under his breath, "you know how stupid I think that is, now are you gonna help me or what?" he shouted innocently. He turned to his communicator.

<SolidarityGaming> Ranch needs some help

<Grian> Deserved

<Inthelittlewoods> L

<Inthelittlewoods> What's up though?

<Tango> I feIl down the big revine

<GoodTimeWithScar> totally deserved, that's what you get for stealing my horse

"They really don't like helping huh," Jimmy yelled down, turning his head thinking he heard something behind him.

"Yeah I noticed," Tango said faintly, trying to ground himself which made him yell out in pain flopping back down onto the unforgiving rocks.

Jimmy swears he hears a faint giggle around him, but with his bound's pain shooting through his body, he knew he couldn't do anything about it, he wouldn't be able to fend for himself. "Tango do something," he shouted down as a feeling of dread filled him.

"What!?" Tango yells back trying to get up, which only causes him to stifle another pained sound.

All the confident footing Jimmy had made simply crumpled under him, "Whatever is there go away," he screamed covering his eyes.

A familiar voice spoke out, "oi what's all this for," he looked up only to see a girl in a red hood with torn moth-like wings, she giggled at how useless he looked, "You really do need a hand."

"Pearl! You scared the life out of me," Jimmy looked down gesturing, "again." She wasn't looking at him, but rather the condition of the Ranch, "are you gonna give us a hand or what?" Jimmy hushed.

"What's in it for me," she said in a deepened voice, "I gotta get something in return," she smiled.

"Pearl we are dirt poor," he said shakely standing up edging closer to her trying to make himself look bigger. She simply gave his shoulder a small shove, causing him to topple back, "fine, fine whatever you want!" His voice shook.

"I just want a promise of safety for my Tilly," she crouched down next to him.

"Is that it?" He furrowed his brows as she towered over him, "like your dog, really?"

"Mhm" she responded innocently.

"Then come'er," he becened her to the bridge, "the problem is very clear." he pointed down at Tango who gave a half-assed wave.

"Is that Pearl?" He shouted shifting how he lay.

Pearl looked at Jimmy who stiffened, "Bet you're happy I am a makeshift medic," She leaned over the edge getting a good look at him, "I'm gonna jump down to you."

Before Jimmy could get a word in, Pearl had already backed up and started running off the edge, "you really are crazy!" he shouted.

°~-–~°~--~°~--~°~--~°~--~°~--~°

"Are you not wearing armor?!" Pearl exclaimed as she pulled herself up to the rocks he had fallen on, "that would explain a lot!"

"I don't wanna talk about it," he said, forcing a smile.

Pearl sat herself next to him, unclipping the bag attached to her thigh. Pearl took what he said as an ask for silence which he didn't mind, he thought she had an interesting character so he liked just seeing how she works. Pearl placed what seemed to be a mastershift cloth on the ground between placing other health items that were obviously made by her on it.

Pearl looked at him, "sanitizing," she gestured to the items being separated in a particular way.

Pearl looked down at her communicator as if she expected something only to discard it to the side. Pearl put up one finger as she hoped back down to the water, Tango looked up there cliff seeing Jimmy was looking down at him.

<Me To: SolidarityGaming> I don't like this

<SolidarityGaming To: Me> Me neither man, but you gotta trust her

<SolidarityGaming To: Me> Nobody else really wants to help us

<Me To: SolidarityGaming> Fine, what did you even say to get her help?

"And emotional support," Peart returned with a bucket full of water in one hand and a puppy under her other arm that seemed tired, but happy to be included. Pearl sat both down, the puppy just laid down next to her while the bucket splashed as she dropped it down. Pearl's mood switched back as she sat closer to Tango, "are you fine with me touching you?"

"As long as it gets me out of pain," he said, trying to find a way to sit comfortably.

Pearl turned away, sticking her hands in the ice cold lake water, "What all is bothering you?" She twisted back to him.

Tango paused thinking about it only to find with all the adrenaline pumping, he wasn't really sure, "all over," Which wasn't really wrong, he was in a lot of general pain. Tango had found it harder to get comfortable since he got bound to Jimmy, but he felt it wasn't his space to ask Jimmy if it was because of him.

Pearl frowned, "well that's not too helpful," she paused, biting her lips, "there's a quick way and a slower way to deal with that."

"Why would I not wanna take the quicker way, wouldn't that just be statistically better?" He questioned as she was looking away from him trying to get her to look him in the eyes.

"Typically yes, but it would break your soulbound," Pearl held out a Notch Apple, "but I don't think you want that."

Tango's eyes widened, he hesitated, "woah, woah, there is no way I'm doing that!" he hated to admit he thought about it for a second saying they were on their red lives, "I can't just do that to him."

"That's fine, you just need to tell me what's wrong then," Pearl said, trying not to sound bugged.

Tango looked at her thinking about her disunion with Scott wondering why she hadn't used it on herself, "well when I fell I got pretty winded and I tried to stop myself while falling and I already got this nasty gash on my arm," Tango extended his arm to show a winding injury that went from his inner wrist to the bump of his elbow.

Pearl looked at it and didn't say a word, she silently dug through her bag and pulled out a pink potion, "start with this," she pushed it into his hands.

"This is different than the apple?" He fiddled with its cap, "it won't affect our bond?"

"It shouldn't," Pearl said simply looking at him kindly, "I assure you it shouldn't."

Tango looked at her and drank half of it, it was very odd tasting and not too enjoyable, "bleh," he said sticking out his tongue, "It does seem like it's helping though." Tango smiled, pulling out his communicator.

<Me To: SolidarityGaming> Hey is what she's doing helping on your end Jimmy?

<SolidarityGaming To: Me> Yeah it's definitely working, whatever witchcraft she's using is amazing!

<Me To: SolidarityGaming> Yep!

<SolidarityGaming To: Me> I'll start trying to mend bonds like you said

Tango looked up at her, "well that works super fast," Pearl was busying herself again with her items, "I need to ask, why does everyone think of you as-"

"The crazy ex, a demoness, insane, weirdo," she looked up at him, "because I was abandoned back to back, I think if anyone else was in my boat they'd react the same way as me." Pearl took off her hood which made her green galaxy of freckles almost glow.

Tango sat up "I don't think you're some sort of demon, I think you're right, but people don't wanna see your side," after listening to Jimmy talking of him and Scott's falling out, he'd grown to have neutral at best feelings towards him.

She giggled, "I think you'd go crazy in this murderous loop as well," for once her smirk seemed rather malicious which admititly freaked Tango out just a tad.

Pearl smiled back at him in her normal innocent wonder way, "but, you are distracting me, I came to help you, not be reassured," Pearl pet the puppy who'd fallen asleep and had not been disturbed by their talking.

°~-–~°~--~°~--~°~--~°~--~°~--~°

Jimmy swatted at a low hanging branch as he walked through the wooded area between him and Pearl's base, he felt the need to leave her at least some sort of gift. Jimmy was holding a young calf over his shoulders and had his pockets filled with small eggs, he thought it was a simple enough gesture from The Ranch that surely even a dog could enjoy. He sat them down in the base of her tower only to sit with them for a moment to ponder his next move. Jimmy did admittedly want to reconnect with Scott, they had been husbands in the past after all. He was in so much denial of Scott pushing him away, and he thought maybe he could change his mind this time as if he hadn't tried a million times. He loved Tango and all, but in no way was it in the same way as he'd been attached to Scott. Tango was his best non-romantic lover he'd ever had, he would do anything for him, but he couldn't just let go; he'd always been adored for never letting go. Jimmy gave the calf a good pat before standing up leaving it turning out the building towards him.

°~-–~°~--~°~--~°~--~°~--~°~--~°

"You didn't really know Jim before this?" Pearl questioned helping Tango back onto the bridge, Pearl gave a little yelp as she grabbed onto his hand, which had heated up from his excitement of getting back up.

Tango gave heavy breaths as he stabilized himself back on his feet, "No, but I'm glad they brought us together," he smiled, "proud of us, we're gonna prove this nonsense curse thing being false."

"So that's why you're not afraid of this reversed red riding hood," Pearl huffed

"Possibly," he leaned on her shoulders, "you got good in you, i've got your back till the end if you need it, my last life if you will."

She pushed him off politely, "That's a huge deal, I couldn't do that."

"Okay~, offer will stay open," he added, staying cocky, Tango turned his back to her, eyeing The Ranch, "gotta figure out this mess now."

"Okay then sir, good luck with that and stay safe," Pearl waved as she headed on her way.

"You too Pearl!" He smiled.

<Me To: SolidarityGaming> Do you think you could still pick up some sand?

No response.

<Me To: SolidarityGaming> Jim?

<Me To: SolidarityGaming> You there?

Tango frowned, "I need to have faith in him, he's probably just out of range," he told himself as he fiddled with the antenna of his communicator. He crouched down in the shade of the goat barn and pondered over The Ranch. Maybe he could rebuild it out of brick, or hay, or stone, but he knew his limitation of items within his grasp would not let that be possible. Tango entered the Ranch again looking around the ruins of the main floor.

"Hello there," a smiley Scar on a horse says, "enjoying an almost end to your series."

"Yeah yeah yeah," he swatted at him away while rummaging through chests, "you're lucky I've not decided to turn on you, I don't think you want that either."

"Nope, me and G are really liking our green names and will be keeping it that way," Scar hopped off his horse, throwing its lead over what was once the door frame before entering the Ranch.

Tango turned to him, "is that a challenge?"

"I promise it is not, I have come to apologize," a smile slipped into his voice, "and I swear I'm not being forced to."

Tango sat on a singed chest, "then do it," he looked Scar up and down, "go on."

Scar stuttered over his words, "well, I guess I just wanted to uh, uhm words aren't working," he nervously laughed, "just I'm sorry, I want to just put it simply, but you did start it."

Tango heard Scar's communicator buzz, he took slow steps closer to him, "seems like you're just being used as a puppet," he leaned in close, "I don't think Grian deserves your trust." Scar looked at him but didn't back away, he didn't dare utter a word, as if he did admit it, everything would fall apart. Tango stepped back, "I'm not wrong am I?"

Scar's lips were sealed before spitting out, "I trust Grian," he had a thought filled look, "he's protected me with his life in the past."

"And didn't you turn on him?" Tango slowed, this wasn't where he meant to bring the conversation, he was filled with guilt, "I'm sorry, that was inappropriate of me to say."

Scar looked at him before folding onto the ground, "heh, forgot my cane," he froze, "but you're not wrong," he looked up at Tango, "the lenses are definitely rose colored," he scoffed.

Tango joined him on the floor silently, "earlier Pearl gave me an offer,"

He perked up, "an offer you say?"

Tango glanced at Scar, "you may not like this, I sure didn't," Tango touched the back of his neck, "Pearl had offered me a god Apple," Scar furrowed his brows, "which breaks a soulbound."

Scar's eyes flashed with fear, "you're serious?"

"Completely."

"And you have it?"

"No, I didn't dare touch it, let alone take it from her."

Scar had an unreadable look, "what did she want for it?"

"Are you actually thinking about it!" Tango was genuinely surprised, that seemed so unlike him.

"Oh would you look at that my communicator is going off, bye bye now Jolly Rancher!" Scar fibbed, jumping to his feet obviously too quickly for his body, hobbling towards his horse.

"It's still Team Rancher Scar," he shouted as he pulled himself onto his horse and headed on his way, "I was gonna try to pull a you and swindle for you horse." he laughed to himself.

Tango took a random pain, "ow!" he audibly exclaimed, "that was a lot of damage!"

Tango pushed himself off the ground, he paused looking at the chests, he decided it wasn't quite worth his efforts. It had already been a long day and the non-existent sleep for the past few days was getting to him. Tango took out his horn and gave it a good blow.

No response.

Not answering his communicator wasn't unlike him, but not answering their horns? He blew it again as loud as he could.

No response.

An unfamiliar sensation followed the silence.

°~-–~°~--~°~--~°~--~°~--~°~--~°

His communicator buzzed without him realizing as he entered Scott's own version ranch.

"What do you want this time," a bitter Scott spat at him.

His eyes scanned Scott's base, "I just wanted to say hello!," Jimmy responded with a gentle smile hiding a daisy behind his back.

"Timmy, you are literally a beggar, leave, I don't do charity,"

Jimmy felt struck by this reminder he truly wasn't the same Scott who paraded him around, "well I guess I really only wanted to say hi!" He repeated hiding his disappointment.

"Then hi," Scott gestured him away, "I had plans."

Jimmy continued, "just wanted to see how the worse ranch was doing with your self made soulmate," he said poking at him.

"We have a stronger bond than most for the record, me and Cleo are better than any other partner I've had." Scott said shoving a fence post to correct its wonky placement.

"What happened?" Jimmy walked closer to him, trying to get Scott to look at him while fiddling with the flower, "you have spent this series abandoning, not one, but two past partners who had been just as important to you."

"This is not the same game," Scott growled.

"Pearl is literally bound to you, and you left her," he snapped for her despite the fact he was one of many who was afraid of her, "you lived with her last time and left me!"

Scott got in his face, "I choose my own destiny," he scowled as their eyes locked, and slowly added one word at a time, "it's none of your business Jim."

Jimmy slouched, "I want a reason," he added in a hushed voice, "please."

"Well I'm not gonna give you one," he backed away, "you are not worth my time." He started walking backwards, "you have Tango and you still come back for my praise, pathetic," Scott rolled his eyes.

His heart sank, "you really are that cruel," he hissed, "forget this." Jimmy threw the daisy on the ground stomping on it. He gave a quick glare before crossing his arms huffing as he walked away. Tango was all he needed, Scott meant nothing to him!

Totally nothing.

Jimmy didn't know where he was going but he just let his legs take him wherever they'd dare to, he didn't care anymore. Tango was all he had, he hated the frustration that started to boil up inside him thinking of how Tango was the only one he felt ever truly believed in him. Jimmy started to audibly grumbling to himself as it all started to bubble over his limit, it was all so much. He wanted to not care, but he did, too much.

Jimmy suddenly fell, the ground underneath him stopped. Within his blurry haze of emotions he fell into a cave, It wasn't a shallow cave at that, it definitely wasn't a fun fall, "Why does this keep fucking happining," he whimpered to himself. He leaned his head down between his legs wondering what he did to deserve what had been thrown at him. Jimmy put his hand through his hair realizing Tango's hat had fallen off, he panicked for a moment before seeing it slyly laying on its side a few feet away. Jimmy smiled at it as he stood up to go and grab it, everything seeming to fall back in place as his emotions fizzled away. "I have Tango," he smiled. It was getting dark, he knew if he tried to get out now he'd run out of energy, Jimmy knew he'd have to set up camp there for the night. He reached for his communicator only to find the string that once chained it to his belt had snapped, he grumbled, "hmph, I don't wanna worry Tango, but I really can't tell him."

He nodded his head, maybe a nap would be deserved, but he just couldn't get comfortable. He moved his shoulders and patted his back, but it didn't do anything to help and he knew it wouldn't. Jimmy had spent so long abusing his wings that it truly was starting to come back to bite him. He hated them and the pain they brought, he never dared to tell, let alone show Tango his wings because of it. Jimmy as a stabbing pain ran through him, annoyed he finally caved. Jimmy took off his jacket tossing it to the side, he then untied his bandana he matched with Tango tossing onto the hat on top of his jacket. He paused for a moment, rubbing his shoulders trying to help his pain, his wings had only become more of a nuisance especially as he tried getting his shirt off. Jimmy could barely get his shirt off with his wings sticking to his shirt, he found that with an elongated stretch, he could finally pull it over his head tossing it over to join his jacket. Jimmy then struggled with one hand trying to reach the string he'd used to tie his wings together tightly to his body, Jimmy took one good tug to it and it untied falling behind him. Jimmy was instantly filled with a feeling of pleasure, it felt so good to have them freed, he moved his wings around with a cheeky smile giggling to himself. The pain ceased!

But that joy was instantly taken over by an even greater level of discomfort that rolled over him. It was actually painful, he folded into himself from the pain, grinding his teeth together. He went from sitting happily to laying on his stomach to trying to get weight off his wings. The pain caused him to have a giggly feeling even though it made him feel like he was about to faint, he couldn't help but continue to giggle as he thought about how he got there. Arrived in the game after an unknown amount of time in his own personal void to find his wings maliciously clipped perfectly, with nothing but his clothes to his name. The talk of soulmates comforted him, he thought knowing his track record, maybe his person could help make this short time together pleasant.

Jimmy was hit with another stinging pain as he started to doze off. He was laying his bare chest to the unwelcoming stone hearing distant sounds, but it was not enough to keep him awake.

°~-–~°~--~°~--~°~--~°~--~°~--~°

Tango couldn't take it, he yelled through the horn one more time.

No.

Response.

Panic set in, "I swear if I die like this," he mumbled to himself. He had been leaning precariously against the ruins, he finally threw back on his vest seeing that the sun would start setting within the hour and started running towards The Cake. He called out being the first person he'd seen. "Scar, Scar!"

"Oh, oh, ooh my gosh," a spooked Scar dropped his cane, "you scared me!"

Tango rushed to pick it up, shoving it back into his hand, "I'm so sorry, but have you seen Jimmy?" he pleaded.

Scar had a hand on his chest, "well no, geez, I need a moment."

"I don't have a moment," he wanted to yell. "Take your time," he hummed.

"Come, Come, to the Panda Sanctuary!" he invited, "I need to sit!"

"I'm still sorry, but I don't have time for that, have you seen Jimmy!"

Scar frowned, "well that doesn't make me wanna help," Tango glared, "you're looking good today though, classic Avian slouch is gone."

Tango tilted his head, "What?"

"Hmph, okay then," Scar grinned, "I swear I saw him on the other side of the revine a while ago," He added while turning away, "I'll be with the Jellies if you need me."

Tango sat frozen for a moment before snapping out of it, he looked over the bridge, the Relation. He hopped over towards the wobbly bridge that crossed over the ravine that connected The Cake to the Boat Boy's base. He ran up there path to the boat panting frantically looking around the boat to see noone.

<Tango> aye, SmallEtho, where are you at? It's urgent

<Etho> Nowhere

<Tango> I'm at the Relationship, I have a flint and steel

<Smallishbeans> I'm calling your bluff

<Grian> He is at your base

<Etho> Kinda busy

Tango grumbled leaning against The Relation as the unfamiliar feeling ran through him again. He picked at a splintering piece of wood, he gave a defeated tap to the boat as he started his way towards Cleo's base. He thought maybe she'd be of some sort of actual help. Tango grabbed at random pieces of tall grass within his reach while walking trying to get his mind straight; he'd never felt this way about others in the past games. Was it because of their soulbound or did he actually care? He stuck with that thought, smiling to himself, he really did love his bound. Even if it wasn't the same as some of the others, of whom were more than just soulbounds. Yet he truly loved Jimmy. His partner in this life.

"Oh Cleo!" Tango said extra exaggeratedly, a smile slipped into his voice, "you around." He blew his horn while stumbling around her home, "man she's not home either!" Tango looked down the bridge and grimaced, it was a pretty bridge and all, but he didn't like who was sat on the other side.

"Hi Tango," added a lonesome Scott sitting inside his sheep pen brushing a young lamb, "you having a fun time there yelling all about?"

Tango waltzed up to the pen, "what do you think," he snapped.

"Feisty today," Scott looked up at him, "I swear if you scorch my new fence."

Tango lifted his hand not realizing how hard he was gripping it, "oh, uhm," he stammered, "What are you doing?"

He didn't respond to him, "My fence! You owe me now," he stood up reminding Tango of how tall he truly was, "here, have this."

Scott tossed him the wilted flower, "What's this?" He furrowed his brows, "a daisy?"

Scott made a face, "yeah, I believe it is,"

Tango smiled, "he quite liked daisies,"

"He did."

Color drained from his face, "What did you do."

Scott calmly opened the gate and stood in front of him, "nothing," he had an abnormal smile on his face.

"I won't ask again, what did you do to Jimmy," he threatened standing in his face.

"Well I didn't do anything," he calmed, "Timmy definitely wasn't happy about what I had to say."

"You know his name, stop," he growled.

Scott put his hands in his pockets, "oh I'm well aware, he responds to it, no harm here."

He rolled his eyes, "Stop it, are you really no help either!" Tango held everything inside him to stop himself from putting his hands on him.

"No I don't plan to be, are you gonna keep loitering there," Scott poked him in the chest turning to fumble with something else in his pocket.

"I hate you," he spat on him, "you are so two faced!"

Scott stared at him as if it came out of nowhere, "well that's just rude." He wiped his face, "leave."

"I know you're not telling me something." He gave in, shoving Scott which did nothing, but off his footing.

"In that case, just take this stupid thing," he threw a pile of mini redstone peices, "the canary dropped that and it fell into the pen and the sheep got to it first."

He realized that it was the remains of Jimmy's communicator, he'd lost it and that's why he hasn't responded. Tango felt he may have been a bit irrational with his fear, he scoffed at it. "Why did you call Jimmy a canary?" He questioned picking through the pieces.

"I think that's something you'd want to ask him yourself," Scott started walking away.

Tango looked at him, but he didn't bother. He turned back to the pieces, Tango knew it would take him hours to fix it. Tango frowned as he started trying to separate the old casing from wires, and wires from the mechanical pieces, but with his still injured arm, he struggled to pick up the tiny pieces. Tango slashed through the pieces in frustration, he knew he couldn't fix it even if he did have hours.

Jimmy's weird pain returned to him again in an even worse wave than before. Tango laid back on Scott's wooden path, he wanted to give up there, but he knew he couldn't just yet.

"Are you good Tango?" Scott returned with concern itching in his voice.

"I think I'm dying," Tango closed his eyes, "I'm on my last life, but I'm not out for blood," he pleaded.

He could feel Scott take a step back through the vibrations of the path, "oh," he hushed.

"I don't wanna die like this," he bit his lips, "I'm not ready."

Scott couldn't help but wordlessly stare from a short distance.

Tango tilted his head with his ear to the ground, "we both keep taking turns causing pain the past few hours," he laughed to himself.

Scott squatted down next to him, "where does it hurt?"

Tango elected to ignore how genuine he sounded, "it's grown from discomfort to a stabbing pain, it's all in my upper back and it's not gone away." Tango had pained tears in his squinted eyes.

Scott had his mouth glued closed, he remembered Jimmy going through something similar once when they were together. He had been in no way the same level of pain, but he had sworn he'd never let it happen again because of how much it worried him. He knew Jimmy had become more secretive, but he didn't think he would keep his avian nature secret from his soulmate of all people. "I can't help you if it's through Jimmy," he mumbled.

"Great," Tango gritted his teeth, "I can't, I can't this is," he trailed off.

"Tango?" Scott asked, "Tango, are you okay?" He repeated, he tapped his face to get no response repulsed by his warmth, he froze, "Tango?!"

<Smajor1995> GUYS SOMETHING'S OFF WITH TANGO

<ZombieCleo> I swear I just heard him embarrassing himself on my lawn

<Smajor1995> I'm being genuine, it doesn't seem good!

<RenTheDog> Are we already getting someone out this quick?!

<PearlescentMoon> I'm coming, I'm coming

Scott kept patting very unconscious Tango, "come on, not like this!" He suddenly felt as if he was back at the failed trap that had taken Jimmy's yellow life. Scott remembered peering into a crumbling explosion hole that was a mix of his and two other people's remains. It was the most bloody, gruesome scene he had ever seen in these death games he'd partaken in. The horrors of that scene alone scarred him for such a long time that he still got debilitating nightmares over it. He couldn't peel his eyes away from him the same way he couldn't then.

Impulse jumped over to him, "wow what's going on," he swooped down going to support Tango's head.

"I don't know he complained about Jimmy's pain and he passed straight out," Scott had tears running down his face, he reached to touch Tango's face only to recoil. He swore under his breath, "I keep forgetting he is literally burning hot." Scott scoffed as he wiped his own wet cheeks.

"What do we even do?" Impulse asked, also bugging Tango with the back of his hand.

"Depends," Pearl suddenly stood above them, "I don't think we have a set plan for this type of stuff."

Scott watched as Pearl popped down next to Impulse, "what should we do then," he stared at her.

"Don't pour water on him, that would shock his system," Pearl looked at Impulse who's gloves had holes forming in them, "I'm not as confident on what to do either, is it his problem or y'know?"

"Complained of extreme upper back pain, what do you think," Scott grumbled.

"Ah, then Jimmy," Pearl turned, hiding the smile his acknowledgment gave, "I think we just gotta wait it out though sadly," she stopped, "we don't know where Jimmy is so that's a huge roadblock."

He dropped his tensed shoulders, "We should bring him inside," Scott invited, "I'll grab his feet, you grab him by his shirt," he directed Impulse.

He nodded and Scott tilted his head towards his home. Pearl understood running in front of them and propping open Scott's door. "He's a lot lighter than I thought," Impulse said through a slightly strained voice solely because of his awkward hold of him.

Pearl kicked away small debris on Scott's floor, "Can you grab some wool from my chests," Scott asked, struggling to hold Tango up.

"Yeah yeah I can do that," she shifted over to his chests rummaging through them, "here," she tossed a decently sized clump of wool.

He let it drop on the floor adjusting it with his feet, "okay, let's turn him around and put his head there," he looked into Impulse's eyes.

Pearl watched them carefully set him down, "what now?"

"We have to make a search party," Impulse clapped his hands together looking up at her, "I'll organize it." He got to his feet, made a quick goodbye, then got on his way.

Scott was now sitting rummaging in his own chests while Pearl was left standing there, "I think I'll leave."

"Please do," Scott responded simply.

"Okay," she murmured, pausing by the door as her communicator buzzed, "I guess I'll answer that."

A silence loomed over Scott, Scott kept moving his hand close to Tango making sure he was still alive. Scott couldn't focus on his other plans especially with the sky's color draining swiftly; he had spent the past hours pacing while Tango was under his care. He was struggling with nerves from his lack of understanding of Tango's kind. Scott could hear horns blowing and yells all day, and with the day's light, the shouts ran dry.

Tango stirred and Scott paused, frozen in place. He dropped down next to him, "Hey," he hushed hoping he'd respond.

Tango squeezed his eyes together, he hummed ineligibility, he opened one eye and gave an unimpressed look.

Scott pushed more wool under him inviting him to sit up, which Tango couldn't really argue against.

"Still don't like you," he grumbled, slurring his words together.

"I guess that's fair," Scott scooted away, Scott twiddled his thumbs, "how do you feel?"

"Sleep helped," he replied, continuing to slur, Tango looked at him with heavy eyes that peaked open.

He didn't dare correct him, "probably need something to munch on, lemme see what i've got," he walked up to his counter.

"That'd be nice," Tango faintly smiled.

"I haven't been killing any of my animals, but I have some bread," he returned to him, "it's a touch stale."

Tango happily grabbed it from him, "Thanks," he wasn't wrong about it being "a touch" stale, "is Jimmy okay?"

"People have been searching for him, I haven't been updated, but most stopped going out since the moon started dominating the sky," Scott lit a lantern sitting near them, "I don't believe they have though."

"I gotta find him then!" Tango exclaimed, rushing to his feet.

"You were unconscious for almost five hours, I wouldn't," he said, putting a harsh hand on Tango's shoulder.

"You're not in charge of me," he fought back pushing himself up off his bent knee.

"I can't stop you-"

Tango didn't let him speak, "that's right, I have things to do," he scoffed, "I sound like you."

Scott watched Tango slam his door open and closed, he snapped back to his senses; why did he care?

Tango stopped just outside the door, where does one even start! He peeled his hand away from the handle, he reached for his communicator, it was dead. He sighed putting it back in his pocket, defeated, he stumbled down the steps. Tango kicked a small package and stopped, it peaked his curiosity. It read:

I tried

-Impulse

Tango tilted his head, picking it up and heading towards the exit of Scott's perimeter. He struggled to deal with the leather wrapping around it, Tango paused just outside, pulling a sharp cobblestone from his pocket. He grinned, it was a gold and blue communicator with Jimmy's name etched in it. The gesture touched him, he dashed it into a pocket in his vest, he needed to find Jimmy.

"Jimmy, Jimmy!" He yelled out getting louder, "Jimmy are you around!" He passed Box which was lit up, "odd looking place," he mumbled to himself looking through the darkness of the trees thoroughly. "Jim! Jimmy," he continued yelling, keeping up a swift pace starting through the dense woods.

He noticed something else wandering in the woods. Tango almost ran into a silent Ren and Martyn, they were holding each other's hands while Ren held a nearly out torch. They looked at him unfazed and nodded at him, Tango returned the nod. "Well that happened," he thought to himself.

He continued yelling, staring up at the moon which sat just above him, "Jimmy, where are you!" He coughed, the yelling was not treating him well, he turned to his horn, he blew it as loud as his sore lungs would let him.

No response

He blew it again, one more time; a defeated blow.

A distant response

He froze, "Jimmy!" He yelled out one more time running towards the sound, he abruptly stopped, "woah!" He blurted out, tipping himself backwards avoiding a huge cavern.

"Tango?"

He kneeled, peering over the edge, "Are you down there Jim?"

"Yeah I'm down here, I don't see you," he shouted distantly.

Tango's heart melted, he missed Jimmy, but he wasn't sure if he was gonna hug him or kill him when he got down there, "I'm gonna find a way down," he didn't have any of his tools on him, but the ground seemed too unstable to dig already. He looked at the surrounding woods, he yanked long vines off trees tossing them towards the cavern. He was always surprised by how strong vines were, he braided a bunch of them together. "I'm tossing something down,'" he smiled excitedly, ready to see him again, thinking how it was basically the same their last meeting had left off. Tango stepped back, he blew on his hands trying to keep himself from getting too excited, he turned to tie the long vine to a nearby tree. He neared the edge kicking his feet over the edge, he grabbed onto the vine and scooted off the edge. Tango yelped as he fell, the vines were not a forgiving hand hold, despite that he made it to the bottom safely with only a little skin rubbed off his palms.

"Tango," his familiar voice screamed.

Tango's eyes met Jimmy,

he ran putting him into the strongest hug he could, "oh my god you're alive! And fine."

"Tango, that's starting to hurt," Jimmy's voice reeked of a smile.

Tango loosened his hug, "I'm sorry," he pecked his cheek, "I'm so glad you're okay," he repeated himself letting go of him.

Jimmy stepped back flustered, "me to," Jimmy itched the back of his head nervously.

Tango clocked on, "wow," he stared at him, he stumbled, "you're not wearing a shirt." He cringed to himself, redirecting to the more obvious thing, "and those wings!"

Jimmy's face was flame red, "yeah," his wings folded into himself, "not the most comfortable thing ever."

Tango was in awe of his wings golden color, "they're beautiful," Tango approached him, "so is that the cause of that stupid feeling."

Jimmy shifted his shoulders to let Tango get a good look, "yeah, gotta a lot of junk stuck in 'em and I'm pretty sure they're getting pretty infected in places."

Tango reached his hand into the feathers, "that's fine, we can deal with it, it doesn't make them any less beautiful," Tango couldn't let go of how amazed he was.

Jimmy tensed with his warm touch, it was pleasant on his wings, but it was a surprise, "can you not?"

"Sorry! I forgot about that, I'm just excited," Tango haphazardly pulled his hand away, hitting Jimmy's back.

Jimmy recoiled, "ow, Tango," he blurted with a pained giggle in his voice.

"Sorry sorry!" Tango yelped, hugging his hand to his body, "I'm so sorry, how can I apologize!"

"Sorry is well enough," he insisted, "come on, don't work yourself up over it."

Tango furrowed his brows, "you can see my handprint," he bit the inside of his cheek, "can I say sorry again?"

He scoffed, smiling, "no, you can not," he extended his wings and a single feather fluttered to the ground, "I'll be fine."

Tango bent down grabbing the feather, he smiled up, "can I keep it?"

He grinned back, "the same way I'm keeping your hat?" He knew his face was red, letting others keep feathers had never been a gesture he felt comfortable with before. It was a big deal.

"Then that's that," he stuck the golden feather behind his ear, blending in with his own fiery yellow hair, "this is all this moment needed."

"All," he smirked, "I feel as if another hug would perfect this moment."

"Wait one sec something even better," Tango dug through his pockets interrupting him, "I got this for you- well technically Impulse did." Tango extended his hand with the custom communicator.

Jimmy's jaw dropped, taking it from him, "oh my god you're the best!" He wrapped his arms around him, pulling him off his feet.

Tango buffered for a moment before digging his face into Jimmy's shoulder, "you know it!"

His heart fluttered, they were meant to be together. Jimmy loved Tango in a way that was special to them, he loved Tango's gestures and spark. But that all came from a place of their strong soulbound and not relations like most. Jimmy made a tight smile as he loosened his grip on Tango, Tango lifted his head cracking a smile. Jimmy kissed Tango slowly on the cheek, returning his beloved reaction to reconnecting.

Tango eyes shifted to his not leaving a moment for silence, "can I kiss you?" He never felt a yearning to kiss someone like that before. Tango put a hand on Jimmy's face rubbing his thumb where he had kissed him before.

"Yes please," he melted into Tango's kind touch. Tango giggled, "come on then, kiss me," Jimmy bugged.

Tango pulled him closer wrapping his arm around his waist keeping the other on his cheek, "well okay then mister."

Jimmy made the move in his hesitation, tugging his shirt tightly, smirking, bringing Tango's lips to his. Tango was noticeably shorter yet Jimmy melted into him, causing no need for Tango to tiptoe to his height. Tango lowered his hand off Jimmy's cheek, rolling his hand down his back, running his fingers through his wings. Jimmy returned his hands to Tango's face feeling the moment build up inside him, the world felt as though it faded into blissful nothingness. Jimmy opened his mouth smirking, Tango smiled against his teeth, leaning their foreheads together. Jimmy slid his hands around his neck, Tango reached back in for more of Jimmy's soft love. Jimmy's breath was sweet from watermelon while his was bitter from wild berries, yet they were tied to each other gladly.

Tango pulled back from him gently, all giddy he remarked, "you're the best."

Jimmy brushed his hand against Tango's, "mhm," he leaned back standing on the heels of his feet, "we should really deal with the big problem."

Tango hugged Jimmy close to him, resting his head on Jimmy's collarbone, setting a cool hand against his chest, "yeah, but that can wait," he kissed his neck, "I only just got here."

Jimmy pushed him off shyly, "what about The Ranch though?"

Tango frowned, dropping his hand to his side, "it's about just as ruined," he stepped back as well, "I guess we should deal with that."

Jimmy turned his back to him letting his wings pick up the rising Sun's glow, Tango followed him closely as he wandered towards the pile of his belongings. Jimmy crouched down, causing his wings to smack Tango in the face, Tango spat out the taste of his feathers in his mouth. Jimmy stifled a laugh, "sorry about that," he picked up his jean jacket, "I've gotten real sick of tucking my wings in my shirt."

Tango knew what he was thinking, digging into his pockets tossing him the sharp stone from earlier, "temporary solution, but you could always just slice a bit off for your wings to fit through."

Jimmy turned the rock in his palm, "I could," he draped the jacket over a knee and nicked the fabric with the duller end. He stared at it closely for a moment, before slashing through the fabric swiftly and as evenly as he could. "Perfect!" He exclaimed.

Tango watched him throw the jacket over his shoulders, "do you want any help?"

Jimmy struggled trying to pull his left wing through the tear, "I think I'm fine," he insisted, "okay yeah I do," he quickly backtracked, distressed by feathers that got snagged.

Tango sat down behind him, silently adjusted his feathers as Jimmy kept trying to maneuver his wing through his jacket, knowing his bodily temperature was rising, he feared burning him again. Tango gently grabbed the bend of his wing, straightening it, Jimmy smiled at him, laying his head back on Tango as he pulled Jimmy's short feathers out of his jacket. "This is annoying," he laughed nervously.

"Well you started it," he put his hand through Jimmy's knotted hair, "come on we're half way done."

Jimmy groaned as he threw his head back up, "yeah," he drawled.

"There ya' go," Tango said while helping Jimmy put his wings through first, which was much more successful.

Jimmy tugged at the cuffs of his jacket, shifting to face him, "thanks, I haven't had to put on a shirt with my wings in a long time," he started buttoning his jacket, "what're you thinking now?"

"Well we gotta get out of here to say the least," Tango leaning into him undoing Jimmy's top button smirking, "let's figure this out."

°~-–~°~--~°~--~°~--~°~--~°~--~°

Jimmy flopped into the grass, "told you it wouldn't work."

Tango pulled himself up, "hey we still got up here," he stood over Jimmy panting slightly, "to The Ranch?"

Tango extended his hand to him, Jimmy grinned taking it, "Ranch repair time." Tango launched him to his feet with a simple pull, "woah dude!" He stumbled trying to ease himself, "you're excited."

Tango bashfully touched the back of his neck, "whoops?"

Jimmy laughed, taking his hand, "ow! I forgot about it this time." Jimmy shrugged it off with a smile still plastered on his face.

Tango did not seem to find it as amusing, he gave a low humming grumble, "One second." He grasped his own hand, pacing, Tango gave a quick annoyed breath stepping away swiftly. Tango yelled out as he swung full force at a tree, Jimmy groaned as pain climbed through his arm. Tango growled looking at Jimmy with his red eyes glowing like he'd only ever seen once before. Even with twenty feet between them, Jimmy could catch Tango's bothered expression.

Jimmy approached him kindly, "it's really fine," he paused watching Tango huff. Jimmy knew it wasn't his fault he tipped over the edge, but he knew the way to Tango. Jimmy cornered him against the tree and held one hand over Tango's shoulder, caressing the back of their hands together with the other, "I trust you." Jimmy watched Tango with a tilted head watching him glance haphazardly at the ground avoiding his eyes, his grumbling stabling.

Tango made a muffled sound from deep inside his throat, peering at their hands, he loosened his hands from the fist he hadn't realized he was making, which was digging his nails into his palm, Jimmy flipped his hand rubbing Tango's knuckles softly. He found it quite amusing that he had met Tango's melting point.

Jimmy stepped back giving him his space back, Tango pulled his hand closer to himself only for Jimmy to take his hand and hold it between his own, "there's the boy I know," he laughed as Tango looked up at him square in the eyes, "we have each other," he reminded.

Tango's lips perked up, "mhm," he twisted his fingers into Jimmy's.

Jimmy took a step forward, "ready?"

He nodded, "yeah."

Jimmy started off at a swift pace, Tango squeezing his hand, finding it a tad bit unnatural for him to keep up. Jimmy eventually slowed his pace to account for their lack of knowing where they were. Jimmy kept accidentally peering into the sun trying to figure out which way to get home.

"Maybe we should cut out this way, it seems to be some plains," Tango pointed out.

"Ah I see," Jimmy dropped his hand ducking under a very low hanging branch, "freedom!" He joked, running up ahead.

Tango laughed rushing to catch up to him, he picked up Jimmy giving him a good spin when he did. Tango set him down carefully, bowed kissing his hand like a prince as Jimmy's feet settled. The two pranced together with nothing in their vision but each other, the world around then being blurred. Jimmy squeezed his hand as hard as he could, the two laughing together as one, their perfect moment could never end.

And then it did

Jimmy flashed awake, he was in The Ranch? Jimmy reached in his pockets having nothing but his communicator on, he scoffed, "man we must have died," Jimmy looked to the other bed, but it remained empty, "Tango?" He froze, "This isn't funny, where are you?"

No response

Jimmy rushed to his feet, he could see through where the upper floor used to be, no one. He rushed down to the basement, no one. He peered out from the door frame, no one. He looked at their farm, no one, the goats old home, no one, no one, no one!

Jimmy yanked his communicator out of his pocket in desperation.

Tango fell from a high place

SodalityGaming died

<Grian> OMG FIRST OUT

<PearlesntMoon> NOT TIMMY AND TANGO

<Smajor1995> AGAIN!

<SmallishBeans> Called it

Jimmy furrowed his brows reading earlier messages.

<PearlesntMoon> I gotta call it a night, sorry

<Grian> No sightings in the caverns either

<RenTheDog> I'm not giving up quite yet dudes

<ImpulseSV> Thank you all for trying at least

<Smajor1995> Can someone help me, I don't know how to help him

<Smajor1995> You know stuff about the nether right Martyn?

<InTheLittleWoods> No can do bud

<Smajor1995> You bitch, I don't want him dying dying in my arms

It hit him, Tango was gone, his one love was gone like that. It hit him, and his blood boiled inside him.

<SolidarityGaming> Guys?

<GoodTimeWithScar> Wait, shouldn't you be dead?

<ImpulseSV> You're alive?!

His wings hugged around him, Jimmy couldn't stomach looking at his communicator anymore. He collapsed on the ground into a pile of bones. He felt struck, in shock even, but nothing else. Jimmy looked up to a small calf that escaped the pen staring down at him, he gave a labored breath as he picked up the calf, it happily sat in Jimmy's arms. He walked back through The Ranch slowly, his wings wrapping closer to him as he passed the beds, he turned setting the calf back in the pen and it swiftly returned to its mother. He turned away struggling to bear it, Jimmy thought about his communicator again, not daring to look at what they're saying.

He needed Tango, now what? Jimmy couldn't help but deny what happened, his vision blurred as he stumbled out of The Ranch, "Tango!" He screamed while running, he found himself stuck running with no direction, just wanting to find him okay. Jimmy froze, seeing someone on the ground, Jimmy ran to them.

A single Bdubs was crumpled with a shovel dropped in front of him, he had silent tears running down his face. Jimmy noticed a hole not far from him, confused he peered down the pit; everything stopped.

Tango

Jimmy pulled the shovel away from Bdubs smacking it into the hard unforgiving dirt, he needed to get down there. Jimmy dug and dug until he met the shaft of the man-made hole staring down eyes glued to Tango. He pleaded for Tango to be okay, even though he knew. He glanced up before looking back readying to drop down. The space was no bigger than then five by five feet so he sneaked down carefully by pushing his arms and legs against the wall sliding down. Jimmy's body wasn't ready for it, and it gave out when he was still around fifteen feet up. He fell smacking the ground harshly, hitting his head on the walls on the way down.

Jimmy sat himself up rubbing his eyes, a touch dazed realizing he had passed out. After a moment he stirred noticing an evident commotion starting above him. He snapped back to his senses, he looked at Tango realising their bodies were touching, yet he was cold. Jimmy put his hands on either side of Tango's face bringing their foreheads together. He gave a saddened smile dropping his hands watching Tango's head droop towards him. Jimmy looked up seeing someone look at him, he shot his eyes down to Tango. He took off his jacket, covering Tango's face, Jimmy put an arm under Tango's limp legs and the other behind his shoulders, Jimmy whimpered as he lifted Tango. If Jimmy hadn't looked hard enough, he'd have just assumed he was asleep. Sure Tango had a nasty gash along his face that tracked down to a new rip in his shirt that tinted it a new shade of red, along with that his left ankle and wrist were both bent in a fashion that was oddly sat. But Jimmy thought just maybe if he ignored it, it wouldn't have been real.

He struggled to use a pickaxe to tunnel back up with a Tango draped over him. Jimmy fell into a blurry daze, he could hear voices and steps above him, but none of them he could decifier anymore. Someone's words seemed surprised, while someone was upset, and others flat, but he couldn't process their words or voices.

Jimmy met his old tunnel, he hit it with the dull end of his pickaxe against crumbly dirt, the sun hitting his face. Jimmy glued his eyes to Bdubs as he took his final step up. Impulse, who was kneeling next to Bdubs, stood up patting his back. "Jim," he started looking at Jimmy who was scanning the group seeing Etho, Joel, and Cleo all staring at him, "I would like to apologize for Bdoubleo's actions."

Jimmy's wings puffed while his face was stuck in a grim look, Jimmy turned back to Bdubs who seemed just as defeated as before. He felt a type of anger he'd never felt himself as he stared, "I don't blame you," he gritted to Impulse.

"He is really sorry, he hasn't been able to say anything more than 'I'm so sorry' he is insanely sorry!" Impulse insisted trying to defend his sad lump of a bound.

Jimmy pushed his chest, "I don't need it from you," Jimmy pulled his jacket off of Tango's battered face to let the golden sun attempt to give him his glory back, "I want more than an apology," Jimmy looked at Etho who was grasping Joel's hand desperately; they were not known for showing affection. "I'm sorry Etho," he hummed tapping his shoulders kindly, glancing at Cleo who stood behind him staring down the pit, "and you as well, Cleo." Tango only talked highly of Cleo and the rest of Team BEST, so he took the time for them, excluding him. He didn't want him to get a touch of clouser. Jimmy shifted his hold of Tango, he glued his eyes to the direction of The Ranch.

Joel hushed something to Etho that he didn't dare to even try to eavesdrop on, he could hear Cleo's rich voice yell something argumentative. But he didn't care anymore.

Jimmy kicked open the gates of The Ranch so hard the hinges stuck open, he grumbled not slowing. Jimmy approached the goat barn which continued to sit empty, he popped down on one knee setting Tango down against the building. Jimmy fell to his side, his negative emotions finally hitting the surface, Jimmy gave a pained cry of agony that rang through him. He was gone-gone and never coming back. Jimmy grabbed Tango's hand, squeezing it almost hoping it could jumpstart his fiery self again. He adjusted his feather that had been tucked in Tango's hair, letting his sobbing tears drop into his once flaming hair. He flopped his head into his shoulder, sobbing harder than he ever had, his body serving to dull the horrid sounds coming from his mouth. Jimmy flopped back trying to take back his tears, afraid to get back on his feet as if they'd cause him to fall to his death again. He wasn't afraid of TnT despites its worse connections to death, but this caught him where it hurt. Jimmy cried slowly getting to his feet, side glancing at The Ranch as if it would relight on fire. He marched into it pulling a shovel out of a chest, using it as a steadying stick while walking to the side of The Ranch. Jimmy dug the shovel into The Ranch's rich soil, taking chunks of it out of the Earth, tossing it to the side, the dust from the scoops sticking to his wet face. He cried as the shovel hit stone, stopping him from making it any deeper. He stuck his shovel in the pile of soft dirt, turning away from the shallow grave, scrounging around for anything to make a makeshift headstone. Jimmy yanked loose stones from the of The Ranch's old foundation, piling them up in his arms. He returned squatting down, next to the hole his tears turning from agony to anger as he set up the rocks in a simple fashion. It wasn't a grave fit for any man, but he couldn't do any better, he wasn't supposed to die. Especially like that. He couldn't help but stare at Tango, he was so lifeless, that sight only caused bubbles of emotions to continue popping. Jimmy approached him again, dropping down to Tango's side and one last time took his hand and brought it to his lips gently kissing it. Jimmy picked up Tango bridal style, lifting his limp body the short distance to his depressing resting place, Tango's clothes instantly tinged brown as a dust cloud formed around him. Jimmy collapsed into sobs as he shifted his painfully still body.

Pressure met his shoulder, he turned to see Martyn and Impulse on either side of him, standing each with a hand on his shoulder and Grian standing not far behind them. His fellow former Southlanders bowed their heads with Jimmy out of respect. Jimmy knew he didn't look very pleasant, but he didn't care, he had dirt caked on his hands and face, rips on the knees of his blue jeans, and his jean jacket which was now laying under Tango left him shirtless. Tears left trails of dirtless patches down his face serving as more evidence to the others he was hurt, as if his puffy eyes and sounds of agony that had been heard throughout the whole area wasn't already enough.

Jimmy looked at his former alliance members, "Are you really here for me?" He barely got out.

Impulse extended his hand to him as Martyn stated, "Yes, we are all here for you and Tango of whom we are all deeply saddened for."

Jimmy stood noticing how almost everyone was there, he felt a little silly for standing there in front of all of them. "Thank you," he whispered to the three in front of him. He hugged Impulse who patted his back as he leaned into him, Jimmy felt frozen trying to figure out what he had to say. He had to be the one to say something, he scanned the group looking over his shoulder, "Thank you all for coming, this means a lot." He wiped his face only smudging dirt, he looked back to the grave failing to hide tears forming in his eyes again.

"Tango was lovely," Grian walked up next to him, leaning his head against Jimmy, "he meant a lot to all of us." Grian stepped forwards grabbing the shovel scooping dirt, setting it onto Tango's chest. Jimmy's eyes filled overflowed with tears as he watched the dirt lay there, he gave a simple defeated huff. Grian hugged him, "glad to see your wings again bud, I can help whenever you're ready,' he whispered into his ear. Jimmy nodded slightly, flexing his wings mimicking Grian's natural resting position. Grian dug the shovel back into the loose dirt returning to the group, grasping Scar's hand softly as he stood back. Jimmy noticed that Scar was using his wheelchair that day, he felt horrible knowing he must have overworked himself trying to help find him.

Impulse, who was still standing close to him, breathed in adding, "You're welcome at the mid-century modern home anytime if you ever need a break from all this," he too took a scoop of dirt, "Tango was a tricky soul in the best way possible." He too sifted the dirt into the grave slowly, Jimmy smiled for a moment almost forgetting this was his soulbounds fault.

Jimmy stared back seeing that Bdubs was one of the only ones yet to make an appearance, he grimaced, "I don't think that's something I can take up," his eyes snapped back to Impulse, "your husband has yet to make his homage."

Impulse furrowed his brows making an unfamiliar expression, "I'm sorry," was all he mumbled as he stuck the shovel back in the dirt. "Owww," he whined as he walked back to the rest. Jimmy smiled as he turned to see Cleo grumble something being in his face.

Cleo gave him a good shove, knocking him into the dirt before walking up to him, "hi Jimmy," her voice softened, "I'm deeply saddened by this all." She pulled him into a soft hug, "it'll get better with time," she stepped back keeping her hands on his shoulders, "I am sorry for all my wrongs against The Ranch." She slowed her hands away as she peered at the dirt looking back at Jimmy, he side smiled nodding. Cleo turned grabbing the shovel taking a generous scoop of dirt spilling it gently onto Tango. She set down the shovel, pausing squatting down to wipe dirt off of Tango's face, she fumbled his hair. "Hmph, he seems so peaceful,' she hushed standing up, she crossed her arms in front of her, "I'm gonna go deal with him," her voice itched with anger.

Jimmy dropped his head watching her feet leave his view, he found his once pleasant, well kept shoes were now muddy beyond recognition. For the first time since setting Tango in the grave, he ungrounded his feet and fully turned his back to him. It felt so wrong, he watched others hush to each other. Etho was crumpled sitting on the ground whispering something up to Joel, Joel seemed less enthused by what he was saying. Etho pulled Joel's shirt trying to get him to listen, Joel made a defeated face.

Joel sighed walking up to Jimmy, "Aye, Timmy," he sounded uncomfortable looking at Etho, "well I had no connection to Tango, but uh," he paused thinking, "Etho did though. He wanted me to tell you he was a great hand with all his troubles." Joel forced something into Jimmy's hands, Joel moved away quickly, skipping to the dirt taking one swift scoop then another careful one dropping it at Tango's feet. Joel ran back to Etho, Jimmy could just not quite make out what Etho mumbled to Joel, but it didn't seem happy.

Jimmy loosened his hand, a heart necklace? It had what seemed to be broken loops and "b e s Tango" sloppily engraved in the back. He tilted the heart pendant in his hand noticing the tinged red look of it, it hit him, it was Tango's Last Life indicator. Etho had held onto it, his eyes widened as his eyes shot up to him, Jimmy slowed to him. Etho stood up holding onto Joel's muddy hands the way he had before. "thank you Etho," Jimmy cried, "this means so much." Etho glanced up, he could tell even with his mask on that he had a weak smile on his face. Etho nodded dropping Joel's hand wrapping Jimmy in a hug, he was struck by his act of affection. He looked at Joel confused, who only returned his glance with a half assed smile, Etho pulled away from his hug, eyes brimming with tears. Jimmy didn't know what to say, this wasn't a side of Etho he was used to. Jimmy checked out the necklace again, smiling fondly at it, clipping it around his neck.

He scanned everyone present, Grian was standing with his hands in front of him, Scar sat in his wheelchair next to him whispering something, Cleo and Impulse had both seemed to disappear, Pearl was sat elegantly on the roof of the goat barn trying to ignore Martyn, then Ren and BigB we're standing a bit away from the others watching with unsure expressions. And then there was Scott- no, he wasn't going to even give him a thought!

Scar unclicked his wheelchair, rolling it over to Tango's grave, "come, come," he beckoned Jimmy back after silence had taken over the group.

"Okay Scar," he shook Etho's hand, "thank you," he mouthed. Jimmy hesitantly walked over to him knowing how Scar can be. He paused standing a few feet between them. Jimmy, without realizing it, was starting to feel able to cope with it all.

Scar rolled to Jimmy, closing the gap between them, "Jim, we are all proud of you and Tango even if it's ended with a moment like this." Scar grinned backing his chair up, he locked the wheels on his chair before shakily getting to his feet letting himself fall into the dirt. Scar knelt down pushing dirt into the grave silently with his hands, Jimmy watched confusion washing over him. Pearl quickly joined him on the opposite side of the pile, pushing dirt in to avoid his face. Martyn then Ren joined in then wordlessly, followed by Etho, Grian, and BigB. All in a silent agreement to not make Jimmy have to bury his soulbound.

Joel wrapped an arm around Jimmy in a side hug, "we're a family here Tim," he shook his shoulders before also going to join the others.

Watching it unfold made him feel so secure, he watched as the final clumps of dirt covered Tango's face. He was gone, Jimmy joined them on the ground, setting his arms on top of the rough patch of dirt, but this time tears didn't fall. The numbness returned, "you can leave now," he stated, resting his hands over where Tango's beating heart had once been.

Scar turned to Pearl who was across from him, "I'm gonna need a bit of help then," Scar laughed to himself peering at his chair.

"I can help you," BigB invited looking at Grian, "we got you."

Grian scooted over to Scar, "you grab his chair," he directed BigB.

The others started dispearcing with the bounds back to their homes and Jimmy felt hurt watching those leave in a way he would never again. He watched as Grian and Scar, the last pair, waved kindly goodbye leaving him almost alone. He stared at him.

Scott clenched his fists in his lap while sitting where the chaos had started, Jimmy held everything inside him to keep himself from kicking him off the porch. "Jimmy," he forced, turning to him, "I am so sorry, for everything," Scott gave a labored breath, "and for leaving you."

Jimmy scowled, "and now is the time to gain pity points?" he could see through him.

Scott was silent, "I feel guilty," he stopped himself, "but you don't need that."

Jimmy sat about as far away as he could while still being on the porch, "then apologize," he leaned towards him holding a foul expression.

Scott's words stuck in his throat finding the apology he had planned leaving his head. Scott mumbled nonsense trying to formulate his words.

"That's what I thought," Jimmy stood up rolling his eyes, "good job messing this up."

Scott's eyes widened rushing to his feet, "wait! Jimmy," Scott ran after him, "please just let me-"

Jimmy turned to him, meeting his eye level stare, "no!" He shouted, "you've made me waste enough time thinking about you!"

Scott grabbed Jimmy by his shoulders, "just listen to me, please!"

"You're an asshole," he said between his teeth

Scott grasped the back of his head forcing himself onto him, kissing him harshly. Jimmy was caught by surprise, his wings flying up, he bit Scott's tongue in retaliation, he felt scared. Scott held onto his kiss, trying to pretend nothing had changed and that they were still in the game, when they pranced around together claiming each other as husbands.

Jimmy pulled away from him, "What the fuck!" He yelled, slapping Scott, "you're so selfish, you thought this was the right time!" Jimmy spun where he stood, he yelled out an unintelligible sound shoving Scott to the ground, "never come back!" He was filled with a feeling of agony, sobs taking him over, falling to his knees.

Scott froze for a moment before turning to run away, he royally fucked up.

°~-–~°~--~°~--~°~--~°~--~°~--~°

Jimmy sighed wearing one of Tango's old shirts, that was worn from his risky behaviors he'd partaken in since his passing. Jimmy's body was plastered in burns, scratches and cuts from all of his self sabotaging behaviors he hid behind a yearning for revenge. He just wanted to join Tango, but he was too scared to actually do it. He sat on the edge of the barley intact roof of The Ranch. He'd been working on remaking it within the twenty-three days since Tango's death, but he hadn't made it up there yet much more than to contemplate his existence.

Jimmy pulled off his shirt, "hey Tango, I got him for you," Jimmy was saddened but proud of himself for killing Bdubs that day. He felt guilt soley over the blood soaking into Tango's shirt. Jimmy had a gash that ran from his thigh to his calf still dripping with blood that he wasn't sure if it was his own, but he didn't care anymore. Jimmy smiled thinking, maybe he had fulfilled his lust of revenge. He had tried to kill Scott earlier, but he just couldn't finish him off, but at least Bdubs was no more. "Are you ready for me, my boy!" He screamed standing up, his shoes failing to grip the damp shingles, "give me a sign!" Jimmy puffed up his wings as if ready to fly despite his lack of flight feathers. Jimmy laughed to himself which quickly turned to soft cries as he plopped back down to the roof, "nothing? Still?" He tried to hide his disappointment. He sunk his face into Tango's shirt crumpling it, letting it soak in his tears.

Jimmy looked towards the flaming Cake thinking of Scar, he had broken his soulbound, how he didn't know, but the image of Scar putting his sword through Grian was engraved in his brain. He felt proud of Scar through his confusion of the event, Grian did deserve it for his acts of manipulation to them all; he was the one who tricked them all into these games. Jimmy watched as smoke continued rolling through the sky from that day's main event of chaos, a lot of things had met the same fate as The Ranch. Jimmy watched the sky spotting an unfamiliar star shining brighter than the rest, Jimmy smiled up at it, a mysterious feeling of calm washing over him. Jimmy felt safer than he had in weeks sitting there with the company of the stars, he couldn't explain it. He spoke to himself, "maybe another day," he hushed to himself heading back to the ladder down dreading the nightmares to come.

Tango had proven he wasn't cursed to die first after all.

[frogtanii]

hi! i absolutely loved the most recent chapter and it gave me an idea and inspired me to write this, i hope that's okay! after how you described atsumu's feelings about osamu drifting away it made me think that it's probably been affecting him for a while and i feel like he probably went to y/n at some point about it, so here's a little hurt/comfort drabble about that!

-

tonight, it had been the icy glance osamu sent his way as he prepped dinner on the kitchen island. his twin's stone grey eyes suspiciously following his movements as if he was analyzing and criticizing each and every little motion.

"'samu," atsumu acknowledged his brother trying to ease some of the tension, yet completely ignored the woman latched onto his side. osamu flicked his eyes back to his work, letting out a breathy scoff as he did so. atsumu knew his brother always hated people crowding him in the kitchen when he was trying to cook. so how was it that his own brother seemed to annoy him more than meiko's clingy grasp?

the action plunged a knife deep into his heart, and atsumu found himself frozen, staring at his brother. was it just him, or was the oxygen in the kitchen suddenly running low?

"'m just grabbing a drink, then i'll be outta yer way," he explained, not in the mood to deal with the pair.

but meiko had other plans. stroking her outgrown acrylics up and down osamu's biceps, meiko lifted herself on to her toes, pressing her rouge lips to osamu's ear. locking her malice striken eyes with atsumu's, she whispered into osamu's ear. it was quiet, but atsumu caught a few words. something about you, atsumu, and sexual favors; the same insult always. but what really twisted the knife already stuck in his heart was the way osamu laughed. he laughed. as if his own brother's emotions were something to be taken as a cheap joke.

so when osamu leaned down to whisper a response into meiko's ear with that same malicious gaze, atsumu decided he didn't want to stay and hear what his brother had to say. so he found himself storming out of the kitchen, drink forgotten. meiko and osamu's snickers fading as his feet instinctively carried him to your room.

however, he faultered upon reaching your closed door. would it really be the best idea idea bother you about this? He knows exactly what you'd say, something along the lines of "you could never bother me" or "i'm here for you no matter what."

but part of him couldn't help feeling guilty. here he was about to dump his problems onto your already heavy shoulders. yet his body started moving on its own and he couldn't stop himself; he wanted – no, needed – your comfort. so with three light raps on your door, he called out to you, "angel, it's me, can i come in?"

your voice sounded a muffled confirmation from the other side. wrapping a shaky hand around the doorknob, atsumu entered your dim room. you were nuzzled into your duvet, turned on your side to face the door as you scrolled mindlessly on your phone.

he must have looked pretty pitiful, because as soon as your eyes landed on his hunched form you shot out of bed, fully alert. you were in front of him in no time, bed sheets tossed carelessly to the floor in your haste.

"'tsumu, what happened? what's wrong?" your voice was so soft, so gentle, and your touch even more so. warmth spread across his cheeks as you cupped his face with both hands, your thumb skimming his cheek to clean the trail of tears. had he really been crying? he hadn't noticed.

when he didn't answer, you spoke again. "was it osamu again?" he nodded, god you really did know him so well. it wasn't the first time atsumu had confided in you about his broken relationship with his brother. but still, you just knew, just like how you knew exactly what he needed in this moment.

if you were angry – which you 100% were – you didn't let it show, more concerned with the boy in front of you. one of your hands traveled to the back of atsumu's neck to pull his head down to your shoulder while the other soothingly ran through his hair. "i'm so sorry 'tsumu. i've got you, you're okay." your voice was just above a whisper.

and that was all it took for atsumu to completely unravel. his arms wrapped themselves around your waist to pull you closer into him as he buried his face deeper into the crook of your neck. his tears had surely soaked through the fabric of your shirt by now, but you showed no indication of caring about that. instead, your fingers continued their ministrations in his hair, all the while you whispered sweet affirmations in his ear.

he relished in your warmth. god, was he glad he came to you. you, who had the weight of eleven peoples' hatred bearing down on your psyche. yet here you are, opening your arms to hold him as he sobbed, selfless as always. and in that moment he only hoped he could make you feel as safe in his arms as he did in your's right then.

"thank you," he mumbled into your neck suddenly. atsumu wanted to say so much more than that, but he couldn't find the words. so instead, his fists clenched the back of your shirt and pulled you closer to him, hoping his actions would portray more than his words could.

"of course," you whispered back. somehow, he knew you understood.

-

this turned out to be longer than i thought, sorry! it's a little rushed and not that great but i hope you like it!

— noah (anon)

(i might more in the future so i'll go by this name if that's okay)

WHAT IS W YALL DOWNPLAYING UR TALENTS CS THIS???? THIS????? IS INCREDIBLE BESTIE I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS and you bYE <3333 i would love it if u sent more of ur writing in!!!! l o v e l y

[caxsthetic]

SECLUDED BOOTH — miya osamu

Type: Standalone Movie (One-Shot Fiction)

Cast: Miya Osamu

Storyline: There was this one booth inside a twenty-four hour diner, secluded from prying eyes, yet people knew who owned the seats. It used to be you who sat there with face lit with joy. With his arm draped around your shoulder and lingering kisses on your forehead. Yeah, used to be. 

Genre: Drama, Slice of Life

“One more, please.”

There was disapproval all over her face as you pushed the empty glass of beer towards her. Nagisa was a waitress in this diner that had become your second home, the place that was introduced to you by the one who owned your heart.

The place that even now that he was not yours anymore, still held a special place in your heart.

“That was your second glass, (Y/n).” She let out an exasperated sigh, one that you answered with a simple shrug since you just wanted to forget. After all, you couldn’t trust yourself when you were sober, everything was too much to handle even though it had been months since you broke things off with him.

“Come on, you know I can handle it. Why are you serious anyway?” You chuckled, trying to ease the tension that of course was swatted away by her in an instant. But even though she didn’t like the fact that her friend used alcohol to lessen the pain, she actually knew when too much was too much.

She filled the glass once again, slamming it lightly right in front of you as a warning. Her orbs pierced into your eyes, trying to intimidate you.

“This is the last glass.”

“Why, thank you.”

You raised the glass as if to clink a cheer and smiled, gulping it down your throat like it was the first drink that you drank today. From behind the glass, you could see how she shook your head, yet decided to stay still in her place to keep an eye on you.

Before, she didn’t have to worry that you would somehow drink too much beer. For years, you always came here with someone’s arms wrapped around your waist, dark grey eyes never leaving your body as if you were the only person that mattered in this universe.

For years you had someone that would be there, telling you to stop drinking when you started to show any sign of drunkenness. For years that same person always made sure that you ate well, enjoying the time that you spent with him in this very same diner, both sitting down at the corner booth that was secluded from prying eyes.

And now, without someone else keeping their eyes on you, she was afraid that something would happen.

That somehow if she just averted her gaze for a second, she wouldn’t see you again.

The tingling and familiar laughter could be heard as other patrons came in, one that somehow made you straighten your back for those laughs was the same one that always accompanied you for years.

Your pupils dilated in horror, yet you tried to swallow down the pain for every single gulp that you took. Nagisa eyeing you with concern written all over her face, one that suddenly turned into anger when another laugh came from another direction. The unfamiliar laugh — a laugh that replaced yours.

That was a sign for you to put down your glass. Afraid that in a few seconds, you would tremble all over your body and let it crash to the table, making a ruckus. You were glad when a couple of laughs walked past you, indicating that neither of them recognised your rigid body sitting on the stool's bar.

Nagisa hissed and cursing under her breath, ready to mess up whatever they were ordering.

“That motherfucker I swear—”

“It’s alright.” You swallowed a huge lump, biting your lip as you tried not to let any tears spill from your eyes as the aching feelings started to build up. “I am not going to be here for a long time anyway.”

The air was so thick as you tried not to move around too much, didn’t wanna show how nervous you were. His calloused fingers skimming through the paper as brown orbs read the passages again and again. Sometimes you could even see him raise his eyebrow, forehead scrunched for a millisecond.

"Why?"

It was just a simple question, but you didn't think this through. You already put down the reason why, the professional reason, of course. But seven years he had you under his wing, he could read whatever occurred inside your mind, he knew a lot of things about the woman who had been there for him from the start.

And a resignation paper was something that he never thought he would receive from you.

"I already wrote it there, Kita-san. I—"

"No, the truth."

He let out a sigh, setting down his reading glasses on the table as he waited for you to answer. Right now, he even asked himself why your resignation bothered him so much. Maybe because you have been there from the start, and it would be weird if he suddenly didn't have you around.

"I-I just can't do this anymore, Kita-san." Your voice was like a whisper, so soft that he almost couldn't catch it. "You know this town, everyone talking about the same thing. Over and over I can't bear it!" Little by little, you raised your voice. "I know it's selfish, but I—"

He stopped you, he knew. Kita stood up from his chair and rested his hand on your shoulder without saying anything. A flicker of hurt could be seen for a split second, but replaced again by the professional facade that he always had at work hours.

"When are you going to leave?"

"Tonight."

You knew that this was unfair. Working with Kita and helping him take care of the papers and all the contracts were always your job.

Meeting him in college was a miracle, you didn't have to search for a job. He asked you right away after graduation that he wanted you to handle the financial cycle in his new business. He would enjoy all the work outside, and you would be there signing papers for him.

But meeting him brought you to another thing that used to be a blessing.

You met Miya Osamu a year after graduation day. Kita needed to be away for a family gathering, leaving you in Hyogo to take care of the rice farm. Of course you were flabbergasted at first, you were always behind the desk, and for him to suddenly begging (more like commanding though) you to handle everything, you were overwhelmed.

Though, if Kita did such a thing, then that meant he believed in your ability.

From reminding the workers of what they should do, making sure everything was in-stock, delivering the sacks of rice to close partners. You never thought that the circumstances would lead you to meet the love of your life.

There was this warm smile plastering on his gorgeous face, black hair sticking to his forehead as he greeted all the patrons. And when he finally took a look at you, with one sack of rice on your hand, he excused himself within an instant, eyes never leaving yours as he cleaned his hand on his apron.

It started with just a simple hello, saying with confidence that you must be Kita’s assistant. And you remembered how you were just standing there, starstruck by his presence. When you thought your employer was beautiful before, this man was another meaning of beauty.

What you knew for sure, was that you needed to thank Kita for letting you meet him. Miya Osamu, someone who months after the encounter, became one of the reasons why you wanted to wake up for every morning that came.

He took you one day on this nice diner close to his house, a little place for you and him to hang out after a new routine that you had. Ever since you met him, you have been insisting on Kita taking you to the Onigiri Miya, in hope that you would meet the black-haired man for every shipment of rice.

From there, the simple hello became a confident word of asking you out.

From a shy peck on the cheek, to two bodies tangled under the white sheets.

From just an acquaintance, now a couple that the whole prefecture got jealous of.

And it still ate you alive little by little — as the lovely routine turned into nothing since he was not a part in your life anymore.

"I am sorry, (Y/n)." You didn't want to hear it as you focused on the task in front of you. "I never want us to be like this." At this point, you didn't know anymore if the tears that prickled at the corner of your eyes were caused by him or the heat from the stove. "I don't want this to happen—"

"But it did."

You stopped him from saying any other word before finally turned your heels to face him. He looked at you with the same gaze; with care, worry, and the same warmth that was always visible every time it laid upon your face. "But it did happen, Samu."

Yet there was something that was gone from his gaze, "And sadly, I know you can't control it."

Love.

It was not there anymore as he had his head hanging low, couldn't believe that after all the years of loving you, it suddenly vanished when he woke up one day.

Without the urge to kiss you, without the need to see your lashes fluttering as your eyes looked at him, without a spark that usually ignited as you snuggled your body closer to him.

For days he forced himself to think that he was still in love with you. Something that he couldn't do anymore as he always saw the same orbs that looked at him with so much love and adoration, one that he was sure you couldn't see from his grey orbs.

“I love you.” The words that used to feel so fulfilling, now sounded like just an empty promise — and the two of you could see it. “Fuck!” He slammed his fist on the table, desperate to feel all the sparks that he once felt. “I love you, (Y/n). I love you so much you don’t know that, I-”

“I do know that, Samu.” You couldn’t see him like this, staying for someone that he didn’t even love anymore. “But it has became a past tense.”

He expected you to push him away as he dropped the bomb, thinking that it was the most logical thing that a woman would do when her lover suddenly said that the love was gone. But you were just silent, continuing your turn to cook for dinner as he confessed and apologized.

“Are we done?” He whispered the question, hoping that you would say no, that you would give him time to fix himself. “I promise I will do anything, I know that I love you, and I—”

“Have you felt the spark?” Again, you cut his words as you took off the apron from yourself. “You said you didn’t feel it when you are with me anymore, so…” You trailed off, face so unreadable as a thin line shaped your lips. “So you felt the spark, right? With someone else?”

“No.” He answered in an instant, didn’t hesitate as he manned up and looked at you.

But he forgot that it was you, someone who he shared his house with for the last few years, one that knew him inside and out.

Someone who knew when he was not being honest.

His breath labored as you took step by step toward him, every second felt like a torture, afraid that if he said any other word, it would push you away even further. But he should have known by now that the second he fell out of love from you, you were already hundred miles apart from him.

You didn’t utter anything as you gazed at him with the same warmth looks, eyes scrutinizing every single detail that adhered in his face, memorising the beautiful face that you always adore to see.

“(Y/n)?” Your name rolled down from his tongue like a mantra that always enchanted you. The thin line of your lips slowly shaped into a gentle smile as you closed your eyes, bathing in a little fantasy that you made as you put yourself in the state you were in months ago. “(Y/n).”

Breath tickled each other’s lips, a gap that almost closed if only either you or him leaned a bit more.

His calloused fingers running down your arms before he pulled you close, and you to seek comfort in his embrace.

For you to share affirmation that you were so thankful he became a home, to feel his low chuckle reverberating in his chest.

But then you opened up your eyes, and that was when you were brought back to reality as the grey orbs that used to look at you with love, now just filled with misery as it looked back on you.

“Please,” His adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed a huge lump. “Please don’t look at me like that.”

You knew exactly how you looked at him. Your orbs glimmered with the same affection, same excitement like the first time you saw him behind the counter of Onigiri Miya. And it truly pained him, that somewhere inside your eyes, he could see that you let him go.

“You should catch that spark, you know?” You whispered out as you took one step backward. “Don’t let it go, that could be the spark that would never die out.”

He wanted to reach his arms for you, wanting to feel maybe any remnants of love that he could give. But as you smiled at him with tears cascading down your cheek and yet a smile never left your face — his body just went still.

You gave him a curt nod before you walked past him, leaving the man who you spent your adulthood with without a chance to answer back. Tears blurred your vision as your feet stumbled on the way to the bedroom that you shared with him, grabbing the biggest duffel bag that you could find as you tried to numb your feelings.

You needed to get out from there — fast. You were afraid that he would grab your hand, assuring you that he would get the spark again. You were afraid that you would fall for it, you had fallen for a hopeless dream that he would love you again for the past weeks.

And it was enough. There was no progress, there was nothing that could fix a heart that was already falling for someone else.

When you woke up one day without him by your side, without a smile greeting you as he slid you a pancake for breakfast at the table, you could feel that your relationship had ended ever since then. Yet you were too naive, still hoping that maybe it was just your insecurity eating you up.

You packed all of your clothes, bags, and all things that were there in your life before you met him, leaving any sentimental items behind. Descending down the stairs, you still couldn’t believe that it would be the last time you roamed on the same hallway.

It felt like there was a huge rock on your shoulder, weighing you down as you walked to the living room, walking past the kitchen where you could see him standing still from your peripheral vision.

You didn’t dare to turn your head to face him, but you could feel how your feet slowed down as you heard a bitter chuckle from his direction. It needed all the willpower in your heart not to run at him, for you not to wrap your arms around his large torso as you whispered out that it was alright and you would wait.

But the love that was once given to you, now already belonged to someone else.

“See you on Monday, Osamu.”

And maybe it was their chance — to feel the profound love that was once yours.

You ignored the familiar laugh that rang in the air, slipping inside your ear without mercy as you could see (even from the back of your head) that the couple who sat on the corner booth were so deeply in love with each other.

It used to be you, you and him. The couple who occupied that booth used to be you and the enigmatic gentleman called Miya Osamu. Everyone knew that the place belonged to you, no one ever slid into that secluded booth because they all didn’t want to taint the place that showed a powerful young love.

How tragic, that powerful young love was not the same. But maybe the booth was still filled with the love that everyone adored to see. Though, it was just you that changed. And with how they mostly just wanted to see the lovely couple, they didn’t care about whose heart was broken in the process.

“Hey, I can kick them out if you want, you know that?” You chuckled as your friend whispered the proposal with one intonation that you despised the most — sympathy. “My boss actually likes me enough to control who could dine here.”

“Nah, don’t do that.” But you just shrugged it off, enough with people around you pitying or either didn’t care about you at all. “I am fine, Nagisa. Nothing that I couldn’t handle, actually.” You acted so tough, gulping down the few drops of beer that were still at the bottom of the glass, not wanting to waste any of it.

You glanced a little toward the new couple, and you felt some kind of nostalgic feeling struck at your core. They looked so — happy. So free as they talked on and on about maybe a silly and unimportant thing while casually eating the fries that they ordered.

You wondered if this was how people used to look at the two of you when you were still together.

Radiant, as if by just seeing two people in love so happy made everyone’s heart flutter. You didn’t know what made the tears start to prickle at the corner of your eyes at this moment. Either it was how the couple looked so good together, or how he smiled happily as his arm draped on someone else’s shoulder that made you wonder if he always liked that.

A heart filled with laugh, joy, as he was accompanied by someone who he loved with all of his entire soul.

You couldn’t help but see it all over again.

“You know what’s funny, Nagisa?” Your eyes never left them as the lips that used to kiss yours, now captured by another. “Every time I looked at them, sometimes...” You trailed off, smiling as you saw how happy they were for each other. “I still see her as myself every time they sit in our booth.”

“(Y/n)-”

“Keep the change, dear.” You cut her off gently by slipping some cash on the bar, the amount probably covered triple the beer that you ordered today. You grabbed the duffel bag that was rested on the empty stool beside you, the same bag that you used a few months ago as you left the place you used to call home.

You needed a fresh start, where people around you didn’t whisper in your ear about the new lovely couple that shone so bright. You needed a place where you could find a new routine, the place that didn’t tie you down into the same routine like when you were with him.

With every step that you took as you only looked forward, you left a little piece of yourself inside the booth that you used to call yours. You didn’t look back as you muster all the courage that you could gather before leaving the place for good.

You pushed the door with your arm, making the bell rang a little as you got out gently, not wanting to make any striking exit.

One step, two step,

And then there was a jingle.

Followed yours a few seconds after you walked outside the diner.

“(Y/n)?”

And you turned your head, facing the man who seconds ago was in a passionate kiss with his new lover. “Hey, sorry. I just want to make sure that it was really you.” He looked so normal, so different with the state you were in right now.

His grey orbs fell on the duffel bag that sling in your arm, and you could see how his forehead scrunched for a few seconds, with a panicked look written all over his face. “Are you going somewhere?”

He didn’t even hesitate to ask, and now you were aching to know what was it with him and the urgency that could be heard from his voice just now.

“I am moving apartments, nothing big.” You answered with a gentle tone, attempting to make a friendly conversation. “Finally found one, I didn’t want to burden Shinsuke for too long. You know how much of a handful I am.”

The black-haired man chuckled a little from your last sentence, a flicker of warmth was there as he reminisced the time that he used to have with you. Then it died down, no one said anything as you looked at his eyes one more time.

His gaze found yours, and this moment, you savoured how great it was to have him — even though it was just for a few years of your life.

“You found the spark, Osamu?” You couldn’t hold yourself but ask. “Is it good? You are happy, right? With her?” He bit his lips, still not used with his full first name rolling down your tongue.

Say yes.

You screamed inside your heart, cursing at yourself as a piece of you still wanted to be in his arms once again.

Please, Samu…

You ignored how it took seconds for him to answer, you ignored the possibility that might come if he said the otherwise.

I just need to hear you say—

“Yeah.”

And then you smiled.

“Yeah, I feel the spark when I am with her.”

You took a few steps forward, leaving only three feet apart from him as you memorized how his orbs looked at you right now. It was filled with love, one that you knew for sure it was for the woman that he mentioned just now.

That was enough of a sign, enough proof for you to end the wondering feeling that was still there in your heart once in a while.

“Then I am happy for you, I really do.” You said it with your chin lifted. “I hope the sparks will never go this time, Osamu.” With confidence as you swallowed down the tears and replaced it with a smile. “I hope this time, that booth would be yours and hers, for a long, long time.”

You gave him a playful salute as you took a few steps backward, leaving him dumbstruck in front of the diner where you used to spend time with him for a few years of being in love with each other.

“I’ll see you on Monday, right?” He shouted a little, making you chuckle softly at the reminder of your old routine where you always delivered the rice stock from Kita’s farm to his shop, even after you were no longer together.

“Monday, huh?” You shouted back, looking up at the skies that started to get dark. “Sure!”

You didn’t bother to stop for a second to answer him, eyes fixated back to the road ahead as you ignored how his gaze still fell upon your figure that was slowly getting smaller. Your finger gently fixed the duffle bag so it didn’t fall from your arm, the only piece that would remind you of this lost spark as it was given by him.

And you whispered under your breath, for the last time using a nickname that you used to call him with.

“See you on Monday, Samu.”

Then you kept looking forward after that, taking yourself to a new destination as you closed this chapter of life.

“Monday, someday.”

To hopefully, a better place where you could feel another spark that never died — just like he found it in her.

MASTERLIST

“and it cracks” taglist @roseestuosity @mistypoison @samanthaa-leanne @tycrackculture @aomineavenue @tris-does-stuff @tremblinghearts @p0taytoes @too-many-lanes @ntimacy @sunflwrsandprettyskies @chibichab @tsukkiboii @oikawoahh @hoefor2ds @edvigelacivetta​ @playboygeniusphilanthropist @wompwomphq @himichii @shoyomeow @miyayane @shinhiromi @graykageyama @bakugou-akaashi

[takuyakistall]

letters. | floyd leech

@loolabunnbai

length: 4.5k words

Taku's notes: I'm so sorry for the wait ! I enjoyed making this, fufu~ 

Huffing, you enclosed your letter inside the white envelope- 'To Jade Leech' you wrote, already feeling giddy and excited over his reply. The letter contained a long rant about your shared interest- mountains, the both of you exchanged letters enough to be called pen pals. It all started when you visited NRC to visit your friend who was in Octavinelle, getting in as an outsider wasn't easy- so you had to sneak in. You were unfortunate enough to run into him while sneaking in, all dressed up in hiking clothing. You were a mountain lover- just like him and you just couldn't help but get distracted. Commenting about his gear and asking him about where he was heading to, though Jade didn't let your questions divert his attention from the fact that you, an outsider, was sneaking into Night Raven College.

He almost exposed you to the school staff if it were not for the 'mushroom lover' badge on his bag and you acting quickly enough to mention a hidden cave you discovered a day ago- ever since that day, the both of you became pen pals and often went hiking together. That was three months ago; you just sent another letter to him about how you wanted to visit his school to finally meet his twin brother and the octopus he keeps on talking about in his letters. You just hoped that he could find a way for you to go in, after all- you did say that you were bringing in a rare specimen of fungi if that ever happened.

Jade had a small smile on his face as he opened the door to his shared room with Floyd, a letter in hand. Floyd perked up when he heard the doorknob turn, his twin brother having a gleeful expression on his face and his gaze fell on the letter in Jade's gloved hands. "Ne, Jade~ Is that another letter from your mountain buddy? You look really happy~" Floyd asked in his usual carefree tone, he'd been curious about his twin brother's pen pal ever since the very first letter arrived. "Ee, Floyd. It seems like they sent me another letter, fufu~" Jade neatly opened the letter, his hands scrambling to see the contents of the envelope. He unfolded it and skimmed the whole thing first before taking it all in.

His eyes fell on the words 'rare fungi' and he couldn't help but pay more attention to that part more than anything else. Floyd approached Jade from behind, wrapping an arm around his brother's neck to get a closer look at the letter. "Hehe~ What's this? Your little mountain buddy wants to visit NRC and meet me and Azul?" Floyd giggled, suddenly feeling excited about this whole situation. He was curious about this mountain buddy and it seemed like he was about to meet them. After all, Jade was willing to do anything to get his hands on those rare specimens. Letting in a guest into their school was nothing but a menial task to be completed for his mushrooms.

"Uwah~! So this is what it looks like inside your dorm!" You stared in awe at the aquarium just outside the Mostro Lounge, slowly taking in the sight as Jade guided you inside. You went inside the lounge, the jazz music, and the voices of the customers filling in your sense of hearing. Your eyes darted around, the scent of various dishes overwhelmed you as you walked further into the lounge. You continued to follow Jade, no questions asked, you were too busy taking everything in. Jade simply hummed in delight when he glanced at your awed expression.

Both of you came to a stop in front of a door and your eyes started to sparkle, were you going to meet the others now? You sucked in a breath, hyping yourself up for an energetic greeting. However when Jade opened the door for you, like a gentleman, you suddenly got tackled by someone- making you lose your balance and fall on your back. "Eh~? You're not Jade." You stared at the culprit, he looked exactly like Jade just with droopy eyes and the darker strand of hair was on the other side- opposite to Jade.

Jade chuckled, looking down at the both of you- that little…! Did he know about this? Is that why he let you go in first? The culprit was atop of you, his arms hung loosely around your neck. It seems like he was supposed to give Jade a hug, though you caught it in place of him. The culprit let out a dry sigh, getting off you as Jade helped you up, muttering a small apology for putting you in the spot. Though you doubt that he really meant it, he had that same smile on his face after all.

"Floyd! What did I tell you about doing that?" Another figure emerged from the door, he had purple hair and glasses- shorter than the other two. Floyd just let out a sigh, "Ahh~ I get it, I get it. No need to repeat it the second time." He whined, raising his arm up to sling it around Jade's neck. "Ne, Jade~ who's the little shrimp you got there?" Before Jade could answer his question, the bespectacled man quickly interfered with the conversation- "(Y/N) (L/N), correct? I'm Azul Ashengrotto, Octavinelle's Dorm Leader." He had this suspicious aura around him, something about his smile was off- you knew it deep inside your guts. "I've heard a lot about you from Jade." He added and you glanced at Jade- wondering about how much he's told them about you. You nodded in response to Azul.

"You're correct. That's my name," and you glanced at Floyd who was next to Jade. "and may I know the name of the one who tackled me?" Azul's smile never faltered, "That's Jade's twin brother, Floyd Leech. I'm terribly sorry for what he did earlier, he tends to be quite a handful."

You just smiled reluctantly, "A-Ah! No, it's okay." You felt a pair of eyes scanning you up and down, you turned around to see that it was Floyd- lazily leaning on Jade with an arm wrapped around his neck. You suddenly felt conscious, very conscious and you didn't like it one bit. Floyd was giving off bad vibes and you immediately knew that you should try to avoid him. "Then, shall we go inside for some tea-" Azul's invitation was cut off. "Dorm Leader Azul!" It was a fellow dorm member. Azul raised his eyebrows, signalling the random man to go on. "Th-This is bad! Someone is trying to cause a ruckus at the entrance!"

Azul could only let out a sigh, Jade chuckled while Floyd didn't look even the least interested. "Jade, Floyd. Come with me, let's take care of this matter." Jade put a hand to his chest, "Understood." While Floyd didn't even bother replying properly- "Ehh~ I'm not in the mood." Azul's grip on his cane tightened as he let out another sigh, 'It's one of his mood swings again, oh well.' he thought.

"Very well. Jade, let's handle this by ourselves. Floyd, keep Jade's guest company while we're away." Floyd didn't respond and you were just dumbfounded. Ruckus? You wondered what that might be but- you decided that it wasn't important for the time being. All you know is that you entered the room- that looked like an office, with the person that you just swore to avoid. Life was sure treating you well. You sat down on the velvet couch, not knowing what to do as you watched Floyd plop down across you on the other couch. Well, this was a bit awkward. The silence remained for a few minutes.

"Hey Shrimpy~?" Shrimpy? Was that your new name now? You furrowed your eyebrows in annoyance.

"Excuse me, I have a na-"

"Eh~ whatever. Tell me, what's your relationship with Jade~?"

What was up with this guy!? He cut you off mid-sentence and didn't even bother apologizing. You clenched your fists, trying to keep your smile and keep calm in front of Floyd. Through gritted teeth, "That's none of your business." Floyd stared at you menacingly, you tensed up. He suddenly felt dangerous to you. He stood up from the couch, walking towards you as you suddenly back up- sliding further along the couch as Floyd kept on getting closer. "What do you think you're doing?"

Floyd didn't answer, he just continued walking towards you until he was only inches away from your face. "What did you say to me?" He asked you in a threatening tone- his mismatched eyes looking right towards your own. He took a hold of your wrist, squeezing it tightly and you wince- it hurts. Fear was rising inside of you and you couldn't help but tremble a bit, you didn't answer his question. He squeezed your wrist even tighter, you flinched. Before you could speak up, the door swung open- revealing Azul and Jade. Azul's eyes widened in surprise "Floyd! What do you think you're doing?"

With a click of his tongue, Floyd let go of your wrist and backed away- scratching the back of his head in frustration. Jade kept a straight face, he approached you and gently took a hold of the wrist Floyd took hostage. There was an evident red mark around it- shows how hard Floyd squeezed it. It was painful- yes, painful enough to the brink of tears. It felt like your wrist was about to snap, how was Floyd strong enough to be able to do that? Jade just let out a sigh and stood up to grab the first aid kit placed on a nearby shelf. He went back to you, treating your wrist and wrapping a bandage around it. "I apologize for my brother's behaviour. I shouldn't have left you alone with him." He actually looked regretful, it's rare for him to show such expression. "No, don't apologize. It isn't your fault." You shook your head and averted your gaze to Floyd instead, you lowered your voice and whispered to Jade. "It's him who should be apologizing."

That concluded your first visit.

The second visit was even more of a mess than the last- you thought that Floyd would be still as troublesome as the last time you saw him. However when you opened the door to the VIP room, where Jade told you to meet them, you didn't expect to see Floyd alone. He was leaning against the desk, his hands in his pockets. When he heard the doorknob turn, his head immediately snapped towards the door. He expected you, Jade and Azul cornered him to apologize- and that was he was going to do.

You froze, the unpleasant memories you had with him from the last visit suddenly flooding back. You were very tempted to slam the door just to turn around and run away. However you decided against it- you steeled yourself and entered the room, you didn't sit anywhere and just stood up. You felt like Floyd was going to try something and you were preparing yourself just in case you needed to run away. Floyd took a step closer to you, you took a step back. He took another step closer, and you took another step back- you were having none of this. The cycle continued on for about two more times before Floyd groaned, "Argh! Can't you just stay still for a moment!?" He told you before running towards you- you shrieked and ran away, going in circles around the room. It was a mouse and cat chase, and you definitely did not enjoy it one bit! You let out a painful cry when you suddenly hit your knee against the corner of the couch- you fell down on one knee and was unable to escape Floyd any longer. "Ah~ finally." He had this grin on his face, you could tell that he was about to do something.

He towered over your kneeling figure and you immediately got intimidated- Oh god, what was he going to do now? You didn't really expect his next words. "I'm sorry." He said in a normal tone, his gaze not meeting yours as he placed his hands in his pockets once again. Were you hearing that right? Floyd was apologizing? It shocked you to the core but the apology wasn't unwelcomed- you were willing to forgive him for last time. You were about to, until- "Jade told me to say sorry or else we're having mushrooms for a week." Ah, you should've expected this. Jade forced him to apologize, not surprising but- it's still very disappointing. You rubbed your knee as you stood up wobbly, an unnatural smile plastered on your face. "I see… so Jade forced you to apologize." You clenched your fists tightly in anger, "It seems like we won't be getting along that well, Floyd." You walked towards the door, swinging it open and ran outside- you heard no protests from Floyd.

"Argh! That stupid Floyd! I knew that we weren't suited well for each other but I didn't know he was going to be this bad!" You cried out, kicking over an empty can of juice you found by the hallway. It rolled all the way to the other side of the courtyard, you jogged over to retrieve it but you gasped when you saw where the can hit. It hit someone's eye, a bruise slowly forming around the victim's eye- he suddenly started to bark out orders to the men who were with him. "Grr-! Find out who did this! We'll make 'em pay for what they did!" The other men around him just grunted in response, taking out their magic pens- ready to attack. You felt your pulse quicken, you quickly hid behind the shrub that was conveniently placed in front of you.

You heard footsteps approach you and you sucked in a breath when someone grabbed your shoulder- "Aha! You're the culprit, aren't ya?" Judging from the colour of his armband- the one who caught you was from Savanaclaw. You didn't say anything and stared at the man, you didn't have your pen with you and you weren't ready to have a fistfight with almost 5 people with no help whatsoever. "Hey, answer me." He poked your shoulder harshly, you still stayed silent. The constant poking suddenly got stronger and stronger until it was a full-on shoving now, you stumbled back- falling on your bottom. You couldn't resist the urge to scream at the man now- "Hey-!!"

"Hey." A voice cut you off, you took a moment to glance at the person who just called out- it was Floyd. He had a smile plastered on his face as he suddenly started stretching his arms, "Don't go bullying poor Shrimpy over there~ Why don't you play with me instead?" The man who caught you froze in place, his expression perfectly capturing the essence of his fear. He scrambled away almost immediately, tripping over himself as he escaped. Floyd clicked his tongue, "Chicken." before helping you up. The man was scared away when Floyd appeared, what was up with that? Did Floyd have a bad reputation or something? If he did, it wouldn't be surprising in the least- not after your unpleasant first encounter with him. "Hey Shrimpy, are you okay?" The concern lacing his voice was surprising, though your thoughts didn't linger on that for too long when you questioned him about why he was here.

"I followed you." In a nonchalant tone, Floyd shrugged. You massage your temples as you tell yourself 'I should've expected this.' Though a huge part of you was thankful for his presence- it was a lifesaver. Had it not been for his actions, you would've probably ended up with a few bruises from the Savanaclaw student. Floyd stared at you, "Why didn't you fight back?" The serious tone of his voice caught you off guard, he was curious- and for once, you answered his question. "Do you think I could handle all of them if I picked a fight?" Sarcasm laced your voice as you dusted off the dirt on your clothes, fixing your hair in the process. "Besides, it's not like I wouldn't fight back. I was just about to explode before you made your grand appearance." You trailed off, aggressively looking away from Floyd as you continued. "Thanks for that, by the way. I appreciate it."

Floyd stared at you for a second or two before bursting into laughter, a smile on his face. You felt your face burn up from embarrassment and you couldn't help but walk away- though Floyd didn't allow you to. He grabbed you by the wrist and pulled you towards him, swinging his arm around your neck- just like how he usually does with Jade. He leaned down to whisper to your ear, "Heh~ you're pretty interesting. I like you~" Before letting you go and going on his own way, leaving you as a flustered mess. You buried your face in your palms as various thoughts haunted your mind- "Ahhh, what does he mean by that?" Perhaps Floyd wasn't so bad after all. You were once again willing to get to know him better.

You composed yourself from your flustered state, fanning your face with your hand as you walked away from the courtyard. It was time for you to go back home- and you already knew deep inside that your next visit wasn't going to be peaceful as well. You did manage to catch the interest of Jade's twin brother after all, and a small part of you didn't really mind and looked forward to it. Ugh, what was wrong with you today?

Your head was filled with thoughts about Floyd- about what he did and what he said. Hell! He even started sending you letters in the past few weeks, his handwriting looked sloppy but it was still readable. He often talks about how his day goes in his letters and mentions a lot of unknown people to you such as 'goldfish' or 'crab'. Even though you didn't know of the people he's talking about, you enjoyed reading his letters just as much as you enjoy reading Jade's. Though lately, you found yourself looking forward to Floyd's letters more than Jade's- and that already says a lot. Your replies to his letters were often about your day too- and some small comments about his day and some of the questionable actions he did (according to his letter). You could still remember his first letter.

Shrimpy~!

It suddenly became boring here when you left, you should've stayed longer. Ah~ I completely forgot about squeezing you. I'll make sure to do it the next time you come back- speaking of that, hey~ come back soon m'kay? Goldfish shouted at me when I tried to squeeze him and even compared me to Jade, can't I just squeeze him? There's also Crab-kun running away from me again~ it's so funny to see his panicked expression hahahaha!

- Floyd <3

The nonsense contained in his letter and the sloppy handwriting made it hard for you to like it at first, some letters were flat out unreadable while some were really neat and fancy- you guessed that it was depending on his mood. The playfulness seeping through his letters got to you and you found yourself giggling at them, making small comments as you read through his letters. Floyd had a small habit of adding a lot of doodles in his letters- a goldfish, an eel, an emoticon, or whatever. He used it often and it was contagious. You started doodling in your letters more, sometimes adding a bit of colour if you felt creative and honestly, Floyd wasn't such a bad pen pal to have.

The exchange went on for about three or four months until Floyd suddenly mentioned something in his letters- he whined about how he wanted to see you. You were embarrassed, your heart rate going faster by the second and you couldn't help but just let out a muffled squeal. Floyd wanted to see you? Ah-!! You couldn't believe that you developed feelings of attachment and infatuation for him, especially because of your first meeting- it wasn't exactly pleasant. Though love truly is mysterious if you ended up liking him more than just a friend. You quickly wrote a response letter saying how your next visit was in a week or so and even added a small note at the bottom about how you wanted to see him too. It was a bold move, and you really didn't mind it if Floyd gets the message. In fact- you'd be elated if he did. Now visiting NRC was the only thing occupying your mind- you were excited.

"Jade~! Have you seen Shrimpy's letter? Shrimpy is coming over soon!" Floyd waved the letter in front of Jade's face, looking happier than he ever was this week. Jade just gently pushed the letter away from his face, "I know. Exciting, isn't it?" Jade was excited too, he wasn't just as excited as Floyd was. You mentioned that you found another cave near a mountain and asked Jade out on another mountain date to look for mushrooms. Jade was ready to talk to you for hours and he will do it. Nobody but you shared the same passion he held for mountains and mushrooms, that's why you were special to Jade. "Fufu~"

Floyd seemed to misunderstand a teeny tiny thing about the two of you- ever since your first meeting with him, he hasn't exactly gotten a clear answer as to what kind of relationship you held with Jade. So he just assumed that Jade liked you and you liked him back- he assumed that you were lovers because no one bothered to answer his question. Though after your second visit to NRC, he decided that he didn't care if you liked Jade or not- he was interested in you and he was about to whisk you away from Jade if he wanted to. Floyd didn't particularly care if Jade liked you or not- he was the more selfish one out of the two and it shows. Even if Jade liked you, there was no way in hell that he's just going to be stopped just because of that. This is Floyd we're talking about after all.

Floyd just grumbled under his breath as he lied down on his bed, reading your letter once more before flushing red when he finally saw your small note at the bottom. You wanted to see… him? Floyd couldn't help but grin, suddenly bursting with energy as he rolled on his bed- "Shrimpy is so cute~!"

Floyd didn't really think this through. He was overcome with jealousy when he saw Jade place a kiss on the back of your hand and how flustered you looked when he did that. He clenched his fist tightly as he walked away from the scene, "Tch." You saw him walk away in the corner of your eyes and you quickly followed suit. You caught up to him and grabbed his shoulder "Hey-" "Let go of me." The venom laced in his voice was strong enough to make you flinch in fear and immediately let go of his shoulder when you saw that look in his eye. It reminded you of your first meeting, he had the very same look in his eyes and that made your heart feel like it was being squeezed.

In anger, you stomped away to the courtyard once again. Why was he acting like that again!? Ugh, you didn't even know what you did wrong so why…? Numerous questions popped up inside your head as you tried your best to stay calm, "Why in the world did I like him in the first place…?" You muttered under your breath, calling yourself an idiot for falling for someone as problematic as him. It's only been a few months, your only source of interaction during those months were letters- you felt like absolute crap. You came all this way and he just got mad at you for unknown reasons.

You sat on a wooden bench placed near a pillar and wallowed in your own sadness as you tried to think of the reason why he got mad- Floyd was unpredictable, it made it even harder for you to pinpoint the exact reason. You were lost in your own thoughts when you felt a tap on your shoulder, jumping at the sudden contact. "Ah-!!" You almost screamed had it not been for the fact that the person covered your mouth with their hand.

You wanted to look at the one who was responsible for this but you couldn't- so you resorted into biting the perp's hand and was shocked when you heard the scream. "FLOYD!?" You wanted to apologize but it was his fault for using such suspicious methods! Could you really be blamed for biting his hand? "Shrimpy you-!" Floyd clutched the hand close to his chest, it was painful to say the least. Instead of lashing out at you, Floyd just let out a tired sigh and said, "Argh, nevermind that. Shrimpy, could you come closer for a second~?" His usual sing-song voice was back when he asked you to come closer- you raised an eyebrow in suspicion but you reluctantly agreed and walked closer.

You let out a small yelp when Floyd suddenly pulled you towards him, crashing his lips against yours. It started out rough, his sharp teeth grazing your lips as you tasted the metallic taste of blood. Good Lord, you didn't expect this- but it wasn't entirely unwelcome. Then the kiss suddenly turned gentle, Floyd calming down and just savouring the feeling of his own lips against yours. You pulled back, gasping as you desperately got oxygen back into your system. Your whole face was hot and dozens of things were flashing in your mind. Though Floyd's next words put an end to them all.

"I don't care if you like Jade, I like you and I'm stealing you away from him if I need to."

Your eyes widened from the shock, everything was slowly sinking in. The kiss, his confession- Hell! You were about to explode. Good riddance, Floyd really thought that there was something between you and Jade. Floyd liked you and that what mattered the most to you right now- you were racking your brain up for a response. "First of all- there's nothing going on between me and your brother. We're just really good friends. And secondly-" You grabbed his tie and pulled on it, making Floyd crane over his neck to look at you at such a small distance away. "I like you too."

おまけ！

"Wait a minute! So the reason you stormed off was because....?" You tilted your head in confusion as you tried to rack your brain up for the answer. Floyd flushed slightly, ruffling his own hair as he averted his eyes somewhere else. "It's nothing."

[catxsnow]

ADMIT IT D.W.

Summary: You crush on the great Boy Wonder was a little more than obvious

Warning: Older!Damian fLiRtInG

A/N: Damian is like early twenty’s here. 

GIF not mine

Word count: 2k

It was a stormy night in Gotham. Rain poured from the dark sky and thunder boomed continuously. It seemed like any other night in that dreaded city. Day in day out, nothing but clouds and overcast. It was like the sun never shined in that city. If this was God's cruel punishment against the city, then you couldn't blame him.

Between the crime rates, the horrible citizens, and the corrupt police force, Gotham was no sanctuary. It was a city made for sinners, thugs, and those unfortunate few who had no chance of escape. You hated Gotham, you hated it enough to try and fight against the dreaded nights and sorrow days.

You worked by yourself, but it wasn't a surprise if part of Batman and crew showed up to your fight scene. They allowed you to continue your fight against crime as a vigilante, but they didn't dare trust you enough to take down important missions on your own. Sometimes you appreciated their help, most times, it was a nuisance.

It had been only a few years since you started this gig. Slowly at first, taking down petty thefts and drunk assholes. Then you started reaching the bigger leagues, the crime lords and mobsters. Soon, you became popular enough to be within Batman's radar.

The night was quiet, despite the loud thunder that rolled across the clouds. You saw the outline of Robin standing along the building edge. His cape flowed in the wind and his shadow cast upon the city as lightening struck behind him. You scoffed to yourself, but nonetheless flipped over to him.

"Dramatic much?" you asked. Judging by Robin's build, his voice, even the way he moved, you guessed that he had to have been around your age. At least, he was the closet out of all the others. You were nearing twenty-one, just shy of being able to buy your own drinks.

"Quiet out there tonight, huh?" You asked as he didn't reply. Robin seemed to tolerate you, nothing more, nothing less. He spoke very few extra words than needed and always had a snarky tone. You couldn't tell if that was because of his facade, or if that was who he really was.

Even so, after working with him several times, you couldn't help but be attracted to him. His voice, his actions, the way that he beat the ever living hell out of douchebags. Robin finally turned to face you, jumping down from the small ledge that he once stood.

"It is," he agreed. Truth be told, around you - it was an act. He would never admit that he enjoyed time with you. "That doesn't mean that you need to come bother me."

"But you're my favourite person to bother," you approached him. Damian stood still as you dragged your gloved hands up his chest and rested them at the bottom of his neck. "Why can't you just admit that you like my little visits."

"Because then I'd be falling into Batman's footsteps with Catwoman," Robin scoffed. He would never allow himself to admit that he did enjoy seeing you on the rooftops. Most times when he was on his own, he wished that you would show up to see him, even if it was just a coincidence.

His eyes would linger on you, the suit you wore was tight around every perfect curve of your body. Even the way you swaggered towards him like you knew god damn well that any man watching was eyeing you up. Damian wanted his eyes to be the only ones on you.

"Ugh," You rolled your eyes. You had a few run ins with Catwoman, none of them ending well. "I'm nothing like her. She's a thief, I fight for the good guys. I'm on your side, it's okay to admit it." You took another step closer to him so your chests touched.

You had a bad habit of shamelessly flirting with him. Robin was well aware of your attempts to flirt with him - and if he was any good at it he would have flirted back. Instead, his words came out cryptic. You often were confused by what he was feeling - his body was relaxed near you but his words said otherwise.

"Come on, Robin. Just one little word, just admit it," a Cheshire grin covered your cheeks as you stood on your toes. Your lips just barely brushed against his before pulling away. Fuck, did Damian want to pull you in, to kiss your properly after all these months of teasing him like this. You never gave him the satisfaction of what your lips truly felt like.

Damian's shoulders stiffened. He knew very little about you. Hell, he didn't even know your name, where you came from, how old you were. Yet, without knowing anything about you, he still found himself wanting to agree to your pleas. To admit that he enjoyed your company was to admit that he liked you. How could he like someone without even knowing them?

"I'll get you one day," you promised him. Damian watched as you backed away from him. The sway in your hips was entrancing and he couldn't look away. You stood up on the ledge that he was previously at. With a wink in his direction, you flipped off and soared down. Damian's breath caught in his throat, worried that you were going to fall to your death.

Not even a second later, you came flying back up again. A grappling gun was secured in the palm of your hand and your laugh echoed through the stormy night. Damian furrowed his eyebrows and looked down at his belt. You had stolen the grappling gun from him. Had you just used him to get the tech? Or did you genuinely want him to admit that he liked your visits? He wouldn't know.

"Fuck." Me.

><

Damian wished that he could get you out of his head. As Robin, as himself, he couldn't do it. He spent hours at night thinking about you, who you really were. He wanted to meet you, the real you. He tried finding out who you were, but you were careful - careful enough for Batman to have not figured it out yet.

He wanted to see you again. At night, he searched for you rather than searching for crime. He needed to see you again. This ache in his chest was driving him crazy and seeing you again was the only thing that was going to fix it. Damian was only frustrated by these feelings, he didn't want them to affect his everyday life but here he was.

It was over a week since your last encounter. He hadn't seen you, or any signs that you were even out on the streets. Damian was getting worried about you, he always saw that you were protecting the city at least once every few days. It was far too long to have no signs at all.

Damian overlooked the city from one of the tallest buildings in Gotham. It was stormy out again, this time the rain pounded against his skin, soaking him to the bone. He was cold, miserable, and was ready to call it a night and head back home.

"The Boy Wonder," a voice from behind him spoke. Damian nearly sighed in relief at the sound of your voice. He spun around to see you leaning against one of the arches. The grappling hook that you stole from him was tightly secured around your waist. He looked down at it. "Sorry, I don't exactly have the money to get one of my own, figured you'd have lots."

You weren't wrong. There were tons in the batcave, he just wasn't particularly excited to tell Batman that you had taken one from him. You strolled up to him, wiping some of the water that drenched your face off. It was useless, the rain wouldn't stop.

Damian noticed the stitches that laced up your cheek. His hand went up to your face, skimming just below where you had been cut. "What happened?" He asked, concern in his voice.

"Didn't realize you cared, Robin," you joked. As he moved his hand once more, you winced in pain. He went to lower his hand but you placed yours on top, forcing him to stay there. "Got myself into some trouble right after I saw you last. Thought I could take them, pulled out of pair of brass and well..." you trailed off. "It was nothing bad. Just a cut and some bruises. Had to stay home for a few days."

So, he was right to be worried. You were fine now, but what about the next time? What about the time that you aren't going to make it out with such ease?

"I'm fine, now," You told him, as if you were reading his thoughts. The brief look of sadness in your eyes was instantly replaced. "Better now that I'm with you.” You tried to reach for another one of his weapons but Damian was too quick. He latched onto your hand before you could steal something else of his.

You tried to interlock your fingers but, Damian pulled away and he once again went back to his rigid form. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were up here looking for me." You gestured to the high skyline and then looked back at Robin.

"I was looking to see if there was any criminal activity," Robin corrected. Lies. He was looking for you, but he wasn't going to tell you that. "But I am glad to see you aren't dead."

"Why because you'd miss me?" You teased. You jumped around him, flipping here and there to get some of the pent up energy released. Being forced to stay at home had you going stir crazy. However, with the rain making the roof top more slippery, you had lost you footing and nearly fell right off the edge. Robin had grabbed your wrist just in time, pulling you with so much force that you landed into his chest.

"Because you owe me," he referred to the grappling hook. He didn't mind you keeping it. "Twice, now."

"Mhmm, I could make up for it, right now. Up here, on this rooftop, with no one around," you suggested. The only reason that he knew you weren't completely serious was the joking tone in your voice. Yet, he swore he could feel your finger traceing his chest plate right on his skin. His thigh trapped between your legs, and you were nearly begging for attention. "Just the two of us."

He was tempted. God, was he tempted. Damian didn't care if anyone would show up, he would gladly accept your offer. But he couldn't, he knew he couldn't. So, as much as he wanted to, he denied. You pouted at him, which had made it even harder for him to decline your idea.

"Come work with Batman and I," Robin suddenly countered your offer. "The tech, the protection, at least someone will have your back so this doesn't happen again."

You pulled away from him. Batman had already offered to become a part of his team. You were sure he had a stickler for having young kids under his wing but you weren't eager to become one of them. It was easier to work alone, at least that way you would never have guilt of messing up with them.

"It was nice seeing you again, Robin," you had done the exact same thing as last time, flipping off the roof to dive into the streets. This time however, as you left, the playful smile wasn't on your face, but a frown. Were you really that offended to be working with a team? Damian was sure that you would have jumped on the opportunity to be able to see him more.

Damian frustratingly sighed. He ran a hand through his soaked hair. What was it going to take for you to join him? He just wanted you safe. Damian would never be able to forgive himself if you died while trying to save the city because you couldn't agree to work with him.

><

Avoiding Robin was easier said than done. Firstly, you didn't want to avoid him, you wanted to be there with him, teasing him like you always did. Secondly, between him, the Bats, and the others, it was near impossible to get anything done without being spotted by them. Yet, you managed.

Not being able to see Robin made you realize how much you actually liked him. It wasn't just playfully flirting, but a hope that he would in fact be able to recognize your affection. You wanted to know who he was, as a real person not as some side kick of Batman. Whoever was hiding under the mask was your number one goal to find out.

Maybe the only way to do that, was to join him.

You didn't want the pressure that being on a team came with. People relying on you? No, that wasn't something you were ready for. But maybe, with their help you could be ready for it. Maybe if they were so adamant on you joining, then they needed you just as much as you needed them.

So, instead of avoiding Robin, you searched for him. It had been weeks since you had seen him last. The gap in your visits was hard on you. It made you wonder how you could care for someone who you didn't even know. Robin thought the same thing, you just weren't aware of it.

"You must be getting tired of this rain too," You nearly jumped at the voice from behind you. Robin was leaning against a pillar with his arms crossed over his chest and a satisfied look on his face. Finally, he found you. He just wasn't aware that you let him find you, you wanted to see him again.

"By this point. I'm used to it," You answered. "Besides, getting to see you all wet like this? Mmm, that's a treat all in itself." You dragged a hand through his wet hair, having to stand up on your toes to even be able to reach. God, did you love when he got flustered to the point of not knowing what to say.

"It's been a while," Robin stated. You shrugged at him, pretending that the time that you spent away didn't bother you. Of course it did, but seeing the disappointed look on his face that you didn't seem to care? That was worth it.

"I was busy," You nonchalantly informed, waking away from him and back into the rain. It was true, you did have several busy nights but for the most part, things had been quiet, boring even. "Who do you think put Two-Face back in Arkham?"

"I figured as much," Robin stalked back over to you. He stood right by your side, brushing against your suit.

"You miss me?" You smirked up at him. He should have expected that question, you asked it nearly every time. However, the tone in your voice, the way that you were holding yourself up, it caught him off guard. You were genuinely wanting him to say that he had missed you - and after all these times that he denied it - he admitted it.

"Yes."

You looked up at him in shock. Robin always found a way to change the subject or come up with some sort of quip that ensured you that he didn't miss you when you disappeared. You could always tell that he was lying when he denied it but hearing him finally admit that he missed you meant everything to you.

Damian finally looked down to you. He didn't mean to blurt out the answer but he couldn't hide the truth any longer. Seeing you was always the highlight of his night, he couldn't deny that any longer.

"I want to see you, as much as I can," Damian continued on. He was surprising himself by these words, it was rare that he spoke of his emotions. "These little visits, they're not enough for me any longer. I need to see you, to fill this void in my chest when I'm not with you. Come work with me, please."

You were nearly as shocked by his words as he was. Robin never uttered a word of how he cared for you, how he craved to see you. Hearing him say this was everything that you ever wanted to hear. You cared for him, but could never accept that he cared for you back, he never proved it to you that he did.

After a moment of silence, Damian began to panic. Did you not feel the same way? Was the flirting just a trick? A game? No, it couldn't be.

Damian watched as you reached up towards your face, peeling of that mask that covered half your face. You met his eyes when your face was bare, revealing who you were and what you truly looked like. Damian was in awe of your beauty, everything about you was just as perfect as he had imagined.

"(Y/N)," You told him. "(Y/N) (L/N). I proved to you that I care enough about you, now prove to me that you care enough for me to join." You didn't expect him to do the same action as you - maybe one day but not yet. However, you also didn't expect what he actually did, either.

Damian kissed you.

His hands cupped the sides of your face, wishing that he didn't have these gloves on so he could feel you. Rain drops raced down your skin, between your lips that parted when needing a breath of air. Bodies pressed so close together that nothing could have broken you apart.

He kissed you with all this pent up desire that you constantly left him with. The worry that he had for you when you were on the streets by yourself. The neediness that he felt every time he was near you. He kissed you like he had cared about you for years.

Damian pulled away from you, his fingers still resting your facing. He rested his forehead against yours. This small taste of getting what he wanted didn't come close to fulfilling his desires. He needed you, constantly.

"I'll join you, Boy Wonder," you spoke barely above a whisper. "Just admit that you've been wanting to do that since the day we met because I've wanted you to do that since then."

"I admit it."

[swordofpevensie]

Anything I Do, I Know You're Gonna Watch

[Chapter • II]

warnings: mentions of strict parents, jane eyre appreciation, peter is being annoying but we still love him, i don't know why i made y/n's mother sort of a villain, y/n you go honey!

a/n: writing this chapter was fun! sorry for writing very slowly though :( it really takes some time for me to write because writing in english is can be hard sometimes :( but i sincerely hope you like it! and let me know if you want to be tagged in the taglist! ♡

word count: 2981

Books. Leather bound, thick, and beautiful books. Oh, how much you loved them.

You were in the library of the university. You had an essay to write, therefore you were looking for sources, such as encyclopedias or books that were related to your subject.

Walking between the shelves and wandering inside the library made you feel so good. Libraries were the places where you felt free and truly happy. Books were your saviours, they saved you from reality and took you to the places you needed to be.

This time you were in Thornfield, walking inside the hall with Jane. You knew you were supposed to read scientific researches right now and your mother would've been very upset and angry if she'd seen you reading a romance novel, however you couldn't resist the beauty of the book you were holding in your hands, and you were curious to learn what was going to happen in the next chapter. You gave yourself fifteen minutes to read it, then you were going to start doing some research about your topic.

You touched the page to turn it, your fingers caressed the paper, and you felt the beauty and antiquity of it. You loved to think that so many people had touched the same very page before you did. That idea was very romantic for you. You bit inside of your cheek not to smile. ‘If only my mother knew I am smiling while reading a romance.’ You thought and it increased your desire to smile.

You looked at your watch and saw that you have eight minutes left to read. You frowned a little and focused on your book again.

You changed your position, this time you leaned your right shoulder to the bookshelf. You read for the eight minutes you had left in that position. You were truly captured by the incidents that Jane experienced and it was really hard to leave the book the shelf it belonged, then left the book section you were in.

You walked through the desks, there were so many people studying or reading. You quietly walked and finally reached to the section you were supposed to have been when you first arrived at the library.

You took a short breath, pulled your bag’s handle to your shoulder (you probably didn’t notice it felt down from there while you were reading), and started wandering between the shelves. When you found a book that could help you, you took it and soon, you had a tower of books in your arms. That old but beautiful scent of the books was everywhere and it made you feel good. You loved everything about books, you couldn’t help it.

After collecting the books, you decided to sit down somewhere and take a look at them to see if they could actually help or not. You’d visited the library during summer a few times, for this reason you knew where the studying desks of this section were. You quickly walked there and tried to see whether there were any empty seats beneath your tower of books. Luckily, there was an empty chair and desk. You breathed out; you really were relieved to find a place to study. Otherwise, you would have to borrow them and go home to study. But you really liked to study in the library because the aura of the place had always motivated you.

As you got closer to the desk, you realized there was a boy sitting next to it. He was looking at the books he had on his desk, he seemed completely lost to you because he almost buried his head to them. He had a stack of books consisting of five or six books. He also had some opened and his hand was touching one of them.

You put your books to your desk, took of your bag and sit down to your chair. You took a short and silent breath, and then opened the first book you grabbed and immediately started reading.

At first, you forgot him, the rest of the library, and almost where you were because you were really captured by everything you were reading and also realizing the subject was actually a bit hard and writing an essay on it wouldn't be easy caused your stress level to increase. You were too busy with being stressed and panicking to pay attention to the boy next to you.

However, when you heard someone taking a really big breath brought you back to reality. ‘Oh,’ You thought. ‘At least someone is as stressed as me.’ You turned your head to your right, where the boy was sitting, and you saw that he was already looking at you.

You'd rather have deceased than seen him, and his blue eyes looking directly to you.

You knew what you must do was to look away but for some reason, you couldn't turn your head. Maybe you thought it'd be rude; he was your classmate after all.

It gave him courage to talk to you. Now that you weren't looking away, he could finally introduce himself properly.

“Hi,” He said in a low voice.

You almost couldn't hear him and you didn't know what the reason was. Was it your excitement that came out of nowhere or was he really speaking whisperingly?

“I think we are in the same department and class, aren't we?” He had a smirk on his face after he stopped speaking.

You nodded. You were scared of talking because you really didn't want to be one to bother others.

“Peter Pevensie.”

You saw his hand was waiting to be shaken. Normally, you weren't supposed to do this because your mother wouldn't approve, but you were scared of being that girl again because of your mother and her never ending demands, therefore you took his hand and shoke it quickly, and then let go of it.

“Y/N Y/L/N.” You whispered and turned your head to your book again.

But you couldn't focus at all. Why was he there? No, why on the earth must he be there at the same time you decided to visit the library? No, why the last empty chair was next to his? Why couldn't it be somewhere far away from him?

You put your finger to the page, hoping it'd help you to focus on what you were doing. You shouldn't mind him, at all. He was just your classmate and the person who'd been bothering you for a week.

Actually, you were trying your best to not take it personally or let him invade your mind. You needed to focus on studying, your lectures, and professors. But, oh God, that boy was trying his best to overshadow you during the lessons.

At first, he raised his hand to speak, and it was good. At least he was waiting you to stop talking. But then he started interrupting you in the middle of your speech and somehow, everything he said went counter to your ideas. He was looking down on the things you said and was making of them in a very sarcastic voice.

You were a competitive person and honestly, you liked being challanged. You never held back; you answered him and put him to his place when needed to be. You politely asked if you could continue to talk because you weren't done when he inturrupted you. You knew your calmness and kindness drove him crazy because you saw him breathing out furiously. You enjoyed annoying him and loved to be the cause of his rage.

You never showed it tough. You weren't allowed to get closer with any boy, even if you made them mad and they hate you. Your family was one of those families who didn't approve any interactions between a man and a woman unless it was for marriage.

For that long and tiring week, besides your lessons, duties, dealing with your family, and helping your father in the bakery, you had to put up with him and his hate towards you, whose reason you didn't know and couldn't understand.

It wasn't like you liked him, but at first you didn't hate him. Until he drove you crazy with everything he said. You never thought a person would be able to conflict with a person in the way he did. It felt like he tried to say and defend the exact opposite of everything you said, thought, and defended on purpose. It felt like he spent hours at home to find things to say so that he could put you out of temper.

The only time he couldn't object to you was when you said something he'd absolutely say to see what he'd do. And he did what you expected; he didn't raise his hand and he was quite for the rest of the lecture.

Well, he took his revenge by ruining all the other lessons but you still were happy to beat him.

Oh, God, you wasted minutes while thinking about him. No, not him. You thought the things he did all week and the things that bothered you.

You took a short breath and this time managed to focus on what you were reading.

After skimming through two books, you saw there weren't much information that could help you in them. Therefore, you put them away and grabbed a new book.

But wait, what was he reading so intensely? What was he studying? Was he doing the same assignment with you? You wanted to figure out.

You threw a glance at the books that were on his desk. You could see five books and all of them had titles related to the subject of your assignment.

Oh, how strongly and badly you wanted to hit him with one of those books. You didn't do it becayse you felt pity for the book you'd be hitting him with.

Maybe that was the reason why he introduced himself out nowhere, and although you knew each other already. Maybe he wanted you to pay attention to him so that you could see he was studying with the books you needed.

You clenched your left fist (because he couldn't see your left hand). You didn't react in any other way as you didn't want him to intuit you were pissed off. You wanted to leave and come back later when he set those books free but you couldn't because he'd guess why you left and you just didn't want to give this pleasure to him.

You were going to stay there, read anything you find, and wait until he was done with them. You didn't care if it would take hours for him to finish studying. You were going to wait and meanwhile make the best of the books you had.

You took your notebook and pen from your bag. After opening a page, you started reading again. Meanwhile you took some notes that could actually help you. You were relieved to find a book that really had some information you could use.

Throughout the time you spent reading and taking notes, you heard him and the noise he made. You heard the noise his pen made as he was writing. You heard his breathing. You heard the noise of the book page he turned. The library was so silent that you could hear his hands running on the pages.

You were distracted sometimes but never showed it. You kept your eyes on the words, never looked at him. Thank God, you were a stubborn person, otherwise you'd probably keep looking at his desk to see what he was doing.

You stood up to put the books you wouldn't use back to their shelves and also to see if you could find new books, or books that he didn't see yet.

You felt safe between the shelves. He couldn't see you and all you could see was book covers. You were happy now.

You wandered for a while, picking up some books hoping to find something. When you were done, you went to your desk with three books you held in your arms.

His eyes were on you. He wasn't even trying to hide it. He was watching you as you approached to your desk. He looked at the books. He looked at the ink covering your fingertips. He let himself gaze at your clothes.

You wore an brown skirt with pockets. The pockets had cream lines on them. Your shirt was also brown and it was simple. All the buttons were buttoned up. Your shoes were black, had short heels. Your hair was tied up in a loose bun on your nape. It was loose because you were playing with your hair while reading. He saw you mussing it.

Honestly, you were fine according to him. You were simple, but fine. There was nothing exaggerated or you weren't trying too hard. He of course didn't have any problems with people wearing fancy clothes or trying too hard; once upon a time he himself wore magnificent things. But he liked this simplicity on you. He secretly envied the way you could look fine without even trying.

When your eyes caught his, he immediately looked back to his book and pretended nothing happened. You couldn't understand why he was looking at you but you didn't mind and sit down. Then, you put your books to your desk and got lost in reading again.

Your notes took almost two pages when you were done. You felt good while you were making progress. You were going to start writing your essay at home with a clear and relaxed mind.

You actually weren't done with searching but you felt satisfied because of the things you'd managed to learn and find. After collecting them in a logical order at home, you were going to come back and continue searching and writing your essay.

Despite knowing you said you'd stay as long as he stayed, you also knew you had to go to the bakery and help your family. You were stubborn and competitive but you were also aware of your responsibilites. Besides, he couldn't piss you off enough to make you stay there for hours and forget about your other duties yet. Therefore, you quickly put your notebook and pen to your bag, and left your desk with the books in your arms waiting to return back their shelves.

You heard another chair moving. You didn't look back, and kept walking. You knew he was behind you and probably following you, however you didn't know why. Why on the would he stop studying and follow you? Despite being a girl knowing many things, you didn't know the answer of this question.

When you put the last book to its place, you decided to ask him why he was following you, yet the moment you turned, you realized it wasn't him. It was just a girl you didn't know looking at books.

Why did you think he was following you? Did you want him to follow you? Oh, no, you definitely wouldn't want that. Because if he followed you, he would just bother you and you'd had enough of him today.

After taking a short breath and calming down, you walked to exit door. You were really going to leave until you saw him standing in front of the circulation desk.

He was smiling to the staff member and he seemed having fun. Then you realized the books on the desk. You could see there were more than ten books. It dawned on you.

It was a really cliche and cheap move, even for him. Was he really flirting with the stuff member and trying to borrow books more than allowed? Oh, there was no way way you let it happen.

Besides reading very fast, being pretty witty, and baking really delicious pies, one of your superpowers was being extremely annoying when you wanted to be. Oh, how strongly you wanted to be annoying at that moment.

You walked there and stood next to him.

“Hi, classmate.” You said with a obviously fake smile on your face. “I was leaving but I saw you and didn't want to leave without saying goodbye. What are you doing?”

He was shocked and it was very clear. You wanted to smile so badly but could stop yourself. Victory seemed so close that you could almost taste it.

“Nothing.” He tried to sound casual and shrugged his shoulders. “Just borrowing some books.”

“Yeah, I can see. For our assignment?”

He nodded.

“But, Mr. Pevensie, I believe there are thirteen books. I thought we could borrow only ten, am I wrong?” You turned to the staff member when you finished your sentence.

“Yes, you are right ma'am.”

“Oh, I think you counted wrong then Mr. Pevensie.” You used your most irritating voice.

“Yes, yes, Miss Y/L/N, I think I might have counted wrong.”

He seemed so angry and annoyed that it made your whole day.

“To help you, I think I could borrow these three. Would you mind if I did? I sincerely hope you wouldn't Mr. Pevensie. I'm just a classmate trying to help you.”

He took a short breath and you saw his jaw clenching for a moment.

“You can borrow whatever you want, Miss Y/L/N. Thank you for your help.”

You grabbed three of the books.

“You are very welcome, Mr. Pevensie. I'm always here to help you. Have a nice day!”

He didn't say anything and you weren't expecting him to speak. You left him behind you and walked to the door.

You looked at the books. They seemed they could help you.

You couldn't stop smiling until you arrived at your bakery. You loved that sweet taste of victory and weren't going to let it go easily.

Peter Pevensie wanted a battle but now you declared a war.

•••

taglist: @thegrxywitch @generalblizzarddreamer @bast-s

[trashiewrites]

The Clueless Bachelor and Bachelorette

(Bruno Bucciarati x Reader)

An: hey everyone, I know this is very different content then CoD but I do want to extend my reaches to other fandoms! I'll still be writing CoD but I'll also reach to maybe other games and anime. I hope yal all enjoy my first published Jojo Fic.

There a lot of responsibility when being a Capo for Passione. Taking orders from the boss, controlling a specific area. The last thing Bruno expected when to deal with constant female attention.

Ahh yes, at the prime age of 20. Perfect age for once to start looking for a partner. Undoubtedly, upon the bachelor's list was his truly, Bucciarati. He really couldn't deny that he's attractive but to say he comes with perks was an understatement. If one was to look at the list it would be quite easy to see that.

Walking down the busy streets of Naples with Girno was even a chore. Next thing a group of young women will be walking down the street "Bucciarati!" To look over at a groupie and see the one that (in his opinion) wasn't very attractive waving at him. He wishes he could ignore all of it, but he has a reputation to keep.

"Girls really have been after you huh Bucciarati?" Bruno look back to the newbie, his brow frowned in the slightest hint of annoyance.

"Tell me about it Giorno... I don't know what happened but I've been getting called at by women all the time now." In the distance again, hearing his name be called. This time he wasn't even bothered to look, he just waved. "I mean at first the attention was nice but I can barely go outside without a woman trying to seduce me."

"I feel that, the curse of being pretty I guess..." Giorno shrugged, Bruno could only sigh. "Let's head back to the others, at least give you a break from outside."

"That sounds like a splendid idea."

As the two walked in the the cafe the gang usually hangs, they enter to see the three huddled. Huddled against a magazine. "Wow, they really have a lot to say about Bucciarati!" Narancia moved his head closer to the book.

"Hey watch it! I'm trying to read too!" Mista pushed Narancia's head away.

"What are you all reading?"

"Oh hey, boss?" Mista closes the magazine and pulls it behind him.

"Mista! What the hell! I was reading it!" Narancia pulled on Mista's arm, getting up and personal.

"Like hell you are! You probably can barely read dumbass!" Abbacchio sighed as the two were two seconds away to pulling out the stands.

"To answer you Bucciarati, they're reading that new Local Bachelors and Bachelorette magazine."

"And I'm in it?" Bruno whispered to himself, "hand it over you two!" Mista seemed hesitant, it couldn't be that bad right? "Now, Mista" sticky fingers began to appear from over Bucciarati's shoulder. He shoved it into Bruno's hands and stormed off elsewhere. Bruno felt bad but was too intrigued by this magazine mystery to pursue it.

He gently flipped to the pages to reach the number 1 bachelor and "This is worse then I thought..." Giorno peered in, looking from the side. He noticed how much was written exactly. And well the pics were certainly something.

"Bucciarati, do you remember taking those photos? How did they get ahold of them?" The be frank, Bruno was busy reading the almost a thirst essay about himself to even notice the picture.

Giving the pictures a glance he was surprised he recognized them.

"I remember these..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sunlight shined softly down the busy Italian streets. Tourist and locals alike enjoying the beauty of the day. Bucciarati took a sip from his glass, "nothing better then a cold glass of wine on a day like this. " he would get the occasional hello from locals he knew as well as glances by curious tourists.

One person, in particular, came up to him. A young women, maybe around her late 20's with a camera around her neck. "Signore, if I may ask. May I take a few photos of you? I'm an artist and I often take pictures of things that inspire me!" To any human being the request would be rather offputting. Indeed it was, at least to Bruno. But a normal person would also decline the offer. Bucciarati didn't see the harm of a few photos, if anything he'd call himself quite photogenic despite his semi-cold demeanor. Plus to deprive an artist of inspiration didn't sit right with him; so he agreed.

~~~~~~~~~

"That artist lied... or she sold my pictures. Either or isn't good, but damn..." Bruno skimmed through the pages. Person after person, some of them he even knew. He stopped on one page and well maybe call it fate but it was the page of the number 1 Bachelorette. Giorno auditable gasped as the sight.

"She's very beautiful... I see why they placed so highly..." Mista and Narancia came from the other side taking peaks.

"Yo, you're right Giorno! She is really beautiful. Father owns a successful flower shop too!" Narancia's cheeks turned slightly red. Mista closed his eyes, humming to himself as if he was fantasizing about something.

"Girl has looks, money, and property. She's a guy's dream girl honestly!" Bruno slammed the magazine closed, proceeding to roll it up. Then uses Sticky Fingers to smack him to the ground. "HEY! WHAT WAS THAT FOR!?"

"How dare you think like that Mista. Loving someone for their 'perks'..." Bucciarati stared down upon Mista, disappointment, and guilt filling Mista's soul.

Bruno just took the magazine and left. He needed time to make sense of all of it... "geeze Mista... nice to know who you really are!" Giorno snickered as he took a seat at a near by table.

"Guys, I wasn't talking of myself!!! Come on, I would never!"

~~~~~

Bruno wondered the town, just processing it all. All this attention wasn't out of the kindness of people's hearts. It was some lousy list that said he had perks... To now have to wonder if he was being used was a terrifying thought.

"Please, let me go... I don't want this at all!" Bruno was returning to reality. Overhearing 2 people talking in the alleyways.

"Oh come on beautiful, I've got a lot to offer!"

"I'm sure you do, but I am not wanting a relationship! Please for away! I don't even know you!" Her hands try to wiggle free but she was what Bruno could assume was pinned.

"Look missy, think about your answer real carefully. If you don't date me ill-"

"You'll what?" Bruno stood firmly at the alley entrance. The man turned to see him, catching a glimpse of the girl as well. (H/c) hair laced with small flowers, (s/t) skin, as well of (e/c) eyes.

"Its none of your business buddy! So how about you leave me and my girlfriend alone!" Bruno continued to walk closer, his expression as blank as he could manage. "H-Hey! I said stay back!"

"You know I find it amusing when scum like you exist in this world. The least you can do is accept the girl has no feelings for you."

"Like you know shit pal!"

"I heard it all, the entire conversation. As well, the fear upon her face right now speaks wonders." Bruno's steps were heavy, each one making a distinct clack.

"I said stay back you bastard!!" He dragged the poor girl by the hair restraining her arms. Sliding a knife from his own pocket, placing it above her throat.

"Sticky Fingers!" The girl closed her eyes as the blue figure hit the man square in the face. Knocking him down the alley. The guy cowards back, confused beyond belief "next time don't try to force yourself upon a harmless girl. Or do I need to beat the lesson into you?"

"No! No no no! I'm sorry I'm sorry! Please spare me!!"

"Then run." The man ran off in a rush, terror riddled his face as the bruises started to solidify. The screams echoed as he ran into the darkness. Bruno turned back the the girl, she stood against the wall paralyzed from fear. "Hey, are you okay? Did he hurt you?" She shook her head. Taking a good look the most harm was some scratches and maybe a few bruises, nothing life-threatening. Bruno tilted his head, she looked familiar.

"Uh.. mister, thank you for your help. I was really scared that guy was gonna hurt me." She clutched to her basket filled with different flowers. She picked out a small white lily from the batch, extending it to him. "Men back and forth have been cat-calling me all day. It's quite overwhelming." Her smile showed a sparkle of pure innocence. Bruno clutched his first, glancing at the magazine he held. It struck him, it was her, the flower shop's daughter.

"I believe I can show you why this is happening. Come with me and we can tend your wounds as well." The girl looked up in admiration. A shy smile as well as heated cheeks. She took his hand as a quiet acceptance. "Pardon my manners, I'm Bruno Bucciarati. It's my pleasure miss?"

"(L/n), (y/n) (l/n). I owe you my life, Signore."

AN: I might make a part 2... not sure

[bonesthebeloved]

Everything Stays

Based on this beautiful comic by @chronophobica

Triggers/squicks: brief mention of unsympathetic light sides, crying.

Relationships: brotherly Remus and Roman, familiar Deceit and Romulus

-

Remus has been questing through the imagination out of pure boredom.

After Deceit had gone to the surface to 'spice things up' he'd been bored out of his mind. The promise that he'd be allowed outside soon enough not nearly enough to satisfy his need for a distraction.

So he'd packed himself some food and water, said goodbye to orange and off he went.

Now the plan had been to find some sort of creature or beast and befriend them, maybe wreck some havock while they were at it, but when he found an oddly familiar yet completely forgotten garden he'd decided that a little side quest couldn't hurt.

The garden was big and he knew his way around as if it were his own despite not remembering ever coming here. The feeling that he was missing something pulling him in further. His original plan completely forgotten as he walked through rosegardens and past ponds with beautiful swans and koifish. Cackling in delight as he saw a few bat's sleeping in one of the darker trees and spiders making their webs between the branches.

Roman would love this! Well, part of it anyways.

When Remus approached the middle of the garden, quietly humming and swaying along with the songs stuck in his head, he stilled. Looking closely at the fountain infront of him.

On the very top of it sat an axe.

A very familiar axe.

"Shit. Is that-?"

It was.

Creativities axe, the King's weapon, sat on top of the fountain, glinting faintly in the sun seeming to almost mock him as he simply stared at it.

They'd been trying to find it for ages. He and his brother looking all over the imagination and not a trace. Yet here it was. Out in the open in a huge garden in broad daylight.

He walked forward on autopilot, reaching for the weapon without a second thought. It felt strange, feeling it under his fingers again after such a long time. The thing seeming to almost vibrate (heh) with power as he wrapped his hand around it.

Huh. He remembered it being bigger.

He studied the light pink axe in his hands closely as a flash suddenly blinded him and there he was, a much bigger and much heavier axe stuck partly into the ground and Remus trying to desperately lift it.

He tried and he tried. He tried until he was all sweaty before remembering that he could just will his body to not sweat. He tried until the sun sunk below the horizon and he willed it back to midday with a wave of his hand. He tried until his muscles were sore and his other quest was long forgotten, the only thing on his mind getting that axe off the ground.

And when he finally stopped trying he sunk out and into his own room, not even bothering to change his dirtied clothing or wash his greasy hair before he dashed over to his brothers room.

"Remus!" came his brother's surprised shout as he kicked the door in with such enthusiasm that it hit the wall beside it. Creating a small dent his brother would wish away in no-time.

Roman was sitting at his desk, crumbled up paper and scrapped ideas everywhere around him. Looking tired in every sense of the word as Remus faintly remembered Deceit telling him something about a callback and their hopes and dreams being destroyed.

He wouldn't know either way. His connection to Thomas wasn't nearly strong enough to pick up on such subtle things.

His bond with Roman was however. And he frowned slightly as he felt the wave of stress and mental drainage wash over him before he wove it away. Focusing on the task at hand.

He'd try and talk about it later. They had more important things to discuss.

Like how Roman was going to have to help him lift a giant battle axe out from the dirt. They could deal with his brothers emotional issues later.

-

"So... Why exactly are you dragging me out of my room and into the middle of nowhere?"

They had been walking for half an hour now and Remus had been surprised when his brother hadn't spoken or complained much the first thirty minutes.

They had almost reached the garden. Remus could nearly see the first trees peeking out from over the horizon as they wandered onwards.

"I found the axe."

It was almost laughable. How fast and strong the reaction was his brother gave. "You WHAT? And you didn't tell me before? Remus this is fantastic news! Why didn't you bring it?"

"Too heavy. That's why I dragged you with me brother mine! Maybe you can help me lift it!"

Roman frowned at that. Looking sceptical as he looked his brother up and down. "Why not ask Decei-" "Busy. By the way, he'd start crying as soon as I mention the King." Roman nodded at that and stayed quiet for a moment. "Can't really ask the others. They wouldn't agree with you being there," he said, thinking out loud as they entered the garden.

He fell quiet after that, looking around in wonder and slight recognition. Remus could tell he was having the same experience as he had when first discovering it. "Familiar yet completely new huh?" "I- yeah... Yeah you're right."

It was then that Remus decided to take his brothers hand. Comfort was a thing he was still getting the hang of, but Deceit had been teaching him recently and he knew how to calm others down.

With Roman that ment physical contact and reassurance.

When Roman squeezed his brothers hand and gave the tiniest smile in response Remus knew it had been the right decision. And so they continued onwards with Remus leading the way knowing full well Roman knew the path they had to take aswell, walking through the garden in silence, hands skimming the hedges and statues covered in moss.

When they finally arrived at the center again their hands fell from eachother grasp. Remus eager to try to lift the axe again, Roman standing incredibly still. Staring at the weapon with a faint memory playing just behind his eyes were Remus couldn't see.

"Roro?" the nickname fell off his lips so easily the meaning of it almost slipped past him.

But he noticed how Roman looked up at him. Hopeful and fragile and so much like he had when they separated for good. He noticed how his fingers were twitching to reach out and hug his brother. To make sure this wasn't a dream.

And he noticed how all of the cut strings between the two of them began to slowly reconnect. A spark of hope growing into a little flame burning bright within him. The light at the end of the seemingly endless tunnel suddenly a little closer.

And the axe. Calling out for them to lift it. To hold it in their hands again and feel its power.

"Come on then Ree. Let's show this thing who's boss."

And four hands grabbed the handle, the two of them looking at eachother in silent conversation.

And Remus knew then that they would be alright. That this falling apart would be fixed again. That they had a chance to be brothers.

And two hands lifted the axe high above his head.

The King laughing loudly and open heartedly as he swung it around a few times. The thing light as a feather now that he held it in his hands.

And he danced around, twirling and jumping through the garden and enjoying the feeling of being himself again.

After a while he calmed down enough to form a coherend thought and closed his eyes. Focusing on the two halves and how they were reacting.

"How did this happen?"

"I have to talk to Deceit! He'll be over the moon to see us again!"

"The others will hate us again."

"We're finally together!"

"Why did they hate us?"

-

"Dee? Honey are you here?"

Romulus called out into the darkened livings pace of the serpent side. The axe leaning against the wall glowing faintly. Ponytail tied into a messy bun to prevent it from slapping them in the face when he ran to this location.

The inside of the room gasped loudly and then remained quiet for a full minute before Deceit emerged from the shadows looking small and frightened and oh so fragile.

"Hello buttercup." He called out again. Watching as another part of the snake's defences shattered and he started to shake. Slowly walking towards him.

"I missed you." he said, and that was it. Deceit ran the last bit of distance between them, crashing into the other and hugging him tightly while burying his head into his chest, hat flying off.

Romulus simply wrapped his arms around the lying trait and held him. Shushing and cooing. Telling him that it was alright and that he was here over and over again until the sobbing lessened to a manageable amount.

They didn't speak a word after that. Romulus didn't explain and Deceit didn't seem to want an explanation. He simply led the King inside and summoned a large pile of pillows. Plopping down and looking at the other until he did the same and movie night could start.

Deceit would want answers eventually. Hell, even the two parts of him wanted to know how this had happened. But for now, they all needed some comfort. And watching movies while cuddled close, creativity feeling whole again for the first time in years and Deceit feeling like the part of him that had been missing had finally clicked into place again was the right thing to do right now.

And as Aladin started playing and Dee put his head on the King's shoulder, loosely braiding a few strands of his long hair together, they all felt at peace for the first time in what felt like forever.

And they weren't quite the same as they had been. Their hair had grown and their personality had changed. Their balance lost and connection only now reforming. And maybe there were more insecurities and uncertainties now then there had been.

And the axe was glowing gently where it stood leaned against the closet. And while it may have earned a few scratches over the years, it still remained the same.

Just changed ever so slightly.

-

That ending went off the rails but I just wanted Romulus to hug Deceit so I made them. Sue me (please don't I'm sensitive)

Taglist: @purp-man @crazycookie13o @deceitifullies101 @sapphire-knight @ragingdumpsterfiremess @chronophobica @lance-alt @mylifeisadeceit

[thesunflowerinyoureyes]

Lust and Greed -Michael Gray

Summary: Where Michael has a really big crush on the reader and shows it the wrong way - making her hate him. Michael says to her face that she shouldn't go out with so many men, making her angry. But on one particular night, she starts seeing his words in a different light...

A/N: Poorly written but I did my best : ) -ALY

You wanted to rip your hair out as you stared at the piles of work Tommy had left for you to do that day. Your glasses that sat dangerously at the end of your nose, your unbuttoned dress showed that you were not in the mood for talking to anyone today. As you delved more into your work, the more you wanted to scream. This bullshit doesn’t even make any sense. How the hell am I suppose to get this done today? You put your head on the table, throwing your glasses onto the desk. After a couple seconds, you brought your head off of the table - the only motivation going through your head: If I get this done today, then I won’t have to do it tomorrow. As you picked up your pen, you started scribbling on the paperwork, your eyes skimming but meticulously looking through the words. You were getting on fine until the door of your office slammed open, revealing the person you really didn’t want to see today. It’s Michael fucking Gray. Fuck sake. The only guy that doesn’t knock on the door like a normal human being. You didn’t even bother looking up from your paperwork, knowing that his handsome face had a well known scowl on it, just for you. Yeah it was true. You did find him extremely handsome. But his annoying and extremely disgusting manner towards you didn’t make him an exception for you to be kind to him. Silence filled the room as you carried reading the papers right in front of you. Ignore it, (Y/N). It might go away if you ignore it. Sadly for you, that wasn’t the case. 

“Oi (Y/L/N) How long are you going to ignore me like this?” He asked in the tone he only used with you. His normal velvety tone to the other women was never shown to you. Instead he gave you a low, menacing one. 

“I’m not in mood for talking, especially if it’s with you” You snapped at him, your eyes never leaving the paperwork. Just leave me alone for fuck sake. He didn’t respond to you but he did something which made you wished you looked up at him from the minute he walked on. The paper that you were reading was suddenly covered by a pile of other papers. You looked up in confusion, seeing a smirk tug at his lips. You can’t be fucking serious.

“What in the actual fuck is this?” Was all you managed from the anger boiling inside of you. He cocked an eyebrow at your balled fists - something that you did unconsciously. 

“Some lovely paperwork for you to do. This is has to be done by tonight." He spoke in an amused tone but you weren't finding this funny. You practically jumped out of your seat to close the door. After slamming the door, you turned to look at Michael, who was now leaning against your desk.

"Look, Michael, I don't know what the fuck your problem is with me but I definitely not going to be able to finish that paperwork off tonight. I've got places to go-"

"You're always going places (Y/N) I could care less" Michael said, cutting you off. You scoffed out loud by the man's ignorance. This little bitch.

"Excuse me? Me? Always going out? You must be stupid to think that I'm anything like you" You spat in disgust. But you instantly regretted it. You'd never seen a face dropped so quickly in your life. The once smug look on his face, had now been replaced by a stone cold look. He grabbed your waist a little harshly, pulling you towards him. A gasped left from your red lips as your face was inches away from his. His hot breathe fanned your face as he looked, for a split second, at your lips and then your eyes.

"Listen here, (Y/L/N). I'm only saying this to you because you work with me. Some of those men that you call "friends" are not always what they seem to be. The way they swoon over your looks and particularly at your body is probably something that you like to have. The attention. The way you act practically screams it. But as your colleague, I think it's my job to tell you, for your own benefit, to stay the fuck away from them. Understood?" Michael locked eyes with you intensely for a couple of seconds, before letting go of your waist and walking out of the door. Michael had never been the one to scare you - not in the slightest. But after that little fiasco, you couldn't help but feel a bit of anxiety rising up in your stomach. He basically called me a slag. He thinks I'm a fucking prostitute. You swallowed the lump in your throat and looked at the stack of the paper he left for you. You inhaled a sharp breathe and pushed the stack off your desk in a angrily manner.

By the time the end of the day came, you miraculously had actually finished the work that Michael had given. That'll show his bitchy ass. You smirked at the thought of Michael's face when you were to hand in the work. You grabbed the papers and headed to his office. You knocked. There was no answer. You knocked again but no response came from the room. You walked in and saw that Michael wasn't in his office. So you went and dumped the papers right in front of his desk, leaving a note saying "Happy now?" You looked back at your work once again and left the office to finally have some fun. Or that's what you thought it would be.

You had arrived at the Garrison and saw your group of friends already drinking away. You saw a guy sitting next to your friend that you didn't recognise. They didn't tell me that they were bringing someone. Especially as hot as him. His jet black hair was slicked back, as his eyes that were ocean blue like Tommy's had wrinkles forming by the laughter that was escaping his pink, plump lips.

"Hey guys" You said as you sat down, flashing a smile at the guy.

"You're finally here, you slag! God knows why you fucking work there! They always make you work over time!" Your friend shouted, completely intoxicated by the Irish whiskey that she was consuming. You rolled your eyes playfully, grinning at your friend.

"And where is that you exactly work Miss...?" The handsome man spoke up while he locked eyes with you. You felt your heart racing, his alluring eyes making you feel attracted to him.

"It's okay. You can call me (Y/N). I work at Shelby Company Limited. And you are?" You responded while you brought the whiskey up to your lips, looking at him through your long lashes.

"It's Liam and it's interesting how such a ravishing woman like yourself work for dogs like them" He replied with a chuckle, eyeing you up closely. The last bit of the comment wasn't something you were pleased but you just shrugged it off. Michael is a bitch.

After some light flirting with Liam and gossiping with your friends, you went into the back room to grab some more whiskey. You heard someone open the door and lock it behind them. You turned around to find Liam standing inches away from you.

"Oh hello Liam" You said sweetly, smiling at him. He smiled at you but didn't utter a word. Instead he closed the gap between you two and pressed his lips onto yours. You immediately fluttered your eyes closed, moving your mouth in sync with his. His hand travelled downwards on your back while his other hand tried to unbutton your dress. Ew what the fuck? You broke away from the kiss and moved back from him, anxious and annoyance bubbling together.

"What the hell are you doing?" You barely managed out, as you stared at him wide eyed. He simply scoffed and smirked at you. He slowly made his way to you, every step of his making you take a step backwards - until your back hit the wall.

"Who the hell's gonna save you now? Your pathetic little friends are out there, pissed drunk and there's only you and me" He whispered in a husky way, pinning your wrists to the wall. You tried to hit where the sun don't shine, but his legs had trapped your thighs together. Oh shit. This can't be real. You whimpered slightly when he kissed your neck in the most grotesque manner, moving downwards. Please. Anyone save me. Please just save-

You were knocked out by your mental pleas when the door slammed opened. There stood the guy who you thought was the least person to come and save you. There stood Michael who had his necktie undone completely, his fists balled and a wild look on his face.

"Let her go right now" He said in an raucous voice, his voice livid. You watched Liam roll his eyes and he let go. But instead, he grabbed you harshly by the arm, making you moan quietly in pain, as he made you stand next to him in front of Michael.

"Or what?" Enquired Liam in an amused voice.

The next few moments took a bit of time for your brain to process. One minute you were staring at Michael's raging face and the next moment he tackled Liam to the floor, punching his face. You watched as Michael continuously punched Liam, a pool of blood starting to stain the floor. You stood there, your mouth agape to what the hell was happening. Get him off of him. Before he kills him.

"Michael stop it now!" You shouted at him as you tried to pull him off by grabbing his arms. Michael obliged to your touch, surprisingly, and got off from the man. You gasped at the bloodied face of Liam, blood dripping from his mouth.

"Michael...we can't just leave him like that we have to-" You were cut off by him grabbing your wrist and dragging out of the back room. He carried on dragging you out of the Garrison and pulled you into his car. None of yous spoke a word as he sped down the road, reaching his house. The uncomfortable silence was something that made you want the earth to swallow you up. He got out first, slamming the door with force and opened your one. He grabbed you again and dragged you into his house. Well I'm dead. When he shut the door of the house, Michael's inner temper was released. He took a sharp inhale of breath as he turned around and looked at you. You didn't dare look at him, as you felt the anxiety rushing towards your stomach.

"What the fuck did I tell you (Y/N)" He whisper shouted angrily, his hot breath fanning your face once again. You didn't look up and neither did you respond. You heard him exhale a long sigh. When can I go home man? You flinched when he lightly but firmly grabbed your chin to meet his eyes. You were surprised to see Michael have a gentle look on his face and a softness in his eyes.

"He didn't hurt you did he?" He spoke softly, as he examined your face. You shook your head slightly and then dropped your eyes back down to the floor. He let go of your chin and did another unexpected thing. He gently wrapped his arms around your waist, resting his chin on your shoulder. You felt your heart skip a beat, a bit of blood rushing to your cheeks. You slowly wrapped your arms around his body as well, leaning into his touch.

"Are you okay (Y/N)" He mumbled into your hair, his velvety tone melting your heart. But then it did hit you. He was right. Everything he told me today was true. You felt tears start to form at your eyes, which then left you to have soft sobs escape your mouth. Michael broke off the hug and cupped your cheeks.

"It's okay now (Y/N). You’re safe with me.” He said while wiping away the tears running down your cheek with his thumb. You inhaled a sharp breath and looked at him with blood shot eyes. 

“You were right Michael” You said in a raspy, broken voice. You saw the confusion in his eyes and then you watched his face drop, registering what you meant. He opened his mouth to say something but you beat him to it. 

“You were fucking right and everything you said in my office today was a fucking foreshadow. And it’s all my fault” You chocked out, trying hold back another sob. You opened your mouth to say something else but this time Michael beat you to it. He crashed his lips onto yours, a small moan escaping from your lips. You flutter your eyes closed, as your wrapped your arms around his neck. I can't believe I'm kissing Michael fucking Gray. He slowly broke away from the kiss, his tongue trying to savour the taste of your lips. He leaned his forehead against yours, your heart beating wildly and your cheeks feeling as if they were on fire.

"What I said today was bullshit okay? I didn't mean anything I said. I just have a very hard time expressing how I actually feel...my damn past has created me a cold, foolish idiot. I hate that. And I also hate how all these bastards crave any bit of your love because they don't fucking deserve it. I love you, (Y/N) (Y/L/N). I've loved you ever since the day I saw you walk in with Thomas, wearing that light blue dress and your loose curls making you look like a fucking angel."

You looked at him with slightly wide eyes, never ever expecting those words to escape from his mouth. You tried to process what he just said to you, not giving him a reply.

"(Y/N)? Please give me a reply. I know I'm a fuck up but-" You cut off his rambling with pressing your lips onto his softly, Michael immediately responding. When you broke away from the kiss and opened your eyes, you looked into his. His eyes glistened with happiness and a sort of vulnerability. You smiled at him and bit your lip, taking in his features. But the minute you bit your lip, you saw his eyes have a sort of glint. A glint of lust and greed.

"Don't bite that fucking lip, (Y/N)" He said in a flirtatious way, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"Or what Michael?" You questioned seductively, wrapping your arms around his neck.

"God you make me go crazy" He whispered as he hungrily kissed your lips. You responded with much passion, as you wrapped your legs around his waist. Well. I guess it was a good thing...

[sunhighriptide]

In only a very small, not defense, but possible correction, in that one heart hunter interaction between Portia and Muriel, I don't think that Portia knew that Muriel and Scourge were the same person. Both that she refers to the Scourge and not Muriel, and just Muriel's reaction, it is still very disgusting and why would she be interested instead of revolted, but I don't think she knew she was refering to Muriel. The devs did though so that's still on them.

Shifting focus slighty. I never picked up on any of the racist themes or characteristics. Don't know why it just never hit me. However, I noticed from the beinging how much they skim over Muriel's backstory? Like him being a slave is just a not very nice time he's rather not mention? This man was a gladiator. He forced to murder people with not only a manipulation of his trauma and his solitude, not only under a threat to his own life, but it is clearly implicated that Lucio was threatening Asra as well. The one person who cared about Muriel, Lucio threatened the life and safety of Muriel's only friend, whom Muriel already feared for and felt he couldn't protect, what could he do.

Then Lucio died, which clearly came as a huge relief to lots of people, Muriel is free, Asra is safe, and Asra, the most willfully oblivious person in the freaking world, (I love him but come on), says "Hey Muriel, my buddy, my best friend in the whole world, guess what I did? I resurrected my ex! Isn't that exciting? Now I've got to spend the mext five years teaching them how to be a functioning person again and I'm going to stay in their aunt's shop which I just kind of appropriated while you get to continue living alone in your hut, where I assume you've been this whole time, because I am an oblivious bastard." And Muriel's just got to be like "What do I say to that? No Asra, abandon this person who clearly can't take care of themselves and come back to live with me in the woods?" No wonder he is resentful towards the apprentice at the start of the game. And then the game starts and Asra leaves again and Muriel's got to look after the apprentice who is going to his third least favorite place in the world yay (Coliseum-> docks -> palace), and then turns out, guess what, LUCIO IS BACK. The direct and indirect source of all your trauma! How fun! And then depending on the route of course it takes different paths, but let's say Asra's, he hears Asra is in trouble, and immediatley shows up, to the place the caused his PTSD, to the place where he was chained for years and forced to murder, because Asra needs help so by hell he is going to be there, and even Asra, the oblivious bitch, is like "Whoa dude this must be super traumatic for you I never would have asked you to come here are you okay?" And I don't know if they communicated through Faust or what but they couldn't have had much of a conversation so he is literally intorduced by his slave name and forced to battle in the arena again and he clearly has a flashback when he accidently hits Asra and Asra starts bleeding. Then Julian the dumb b**** jumps straight at him and get flung accross the arena and even though Muriel doesn't like Julian he probably didn't want to hurt him like that and then probably blames himself for Julian's "death" did anyone bother to fill him in on that? No? Because he's no longer moving the plot? I know he dissapears after the fight but Asra of all times the apprentice does not need you now go find Muriel at least send Faust after him by goodness. It's just never mentioned again? Like wow he was inslaved there for years as a gladiator hope that flashback wasn't to traumatic for him. Anyways.

What the hell agghh. And then Muriel shows up again to the Masquerade where they are dealing with Lucio's ghost and he shows zero hesitation in helping even after Lucio returns.

And then Luico's route. Oh my god. I'm not against redemption arcs for even the worst of villains but how was that a redemption arc like "oh I'm sorry maybe that was a little mean of me whoops."

No Lucio. You are a slaver and a murderer. You manipulated and abused everyone around you. And then everyone around him is just expected to forgive him? Oh he said he's sorry he is better now. No I'm sorry years of trauma and abuse aren't just swept aside like that.

Sorry this is turning into a Lucio rant.

Muriel deserves some counseling and aknowledgement and he barely gets that in his own route.

Hmmmm yeah

muriels traumatic background is handled in the most insensitive way possible

The Arcana is a game that indulges in many fantasies that varies from creative (magicians) and just jumps straight into inappropriate (BDSM, slavery) for a PG13 game.

I’m gonna handle the slavery fantasy because Yes. It’s there. Speaking as a diasporic black person, slavery is an incredible touchy subject for me. While never having gone through it, intergeneration trauma is most definitely a thing and even if it wasn’t – empathy exists.

Muriel is an ex-slave. He used to really resonate within me as a character who suffered trauma and considers himself a loner. He is loved by the fandom because of his outcast demeanor. A lot of players probably suffer from social anxiety and thus see themselves within him. But let me get one thing straight:

the way he acts like this is 100% because of childhood trauma and trauma only exacerbated by the treatment of lucio

And that trauma more explicitly is from being held captive and turned into a slave.

From what we know, Muriel grew up homeless and was tortured/bullied by other school children his age. At such a young age, being without a family, being homeless, and being bullied leaves you vulnerable. It’s a vulnerability that most of us could never even dream of relating to unless you experienced it firsthand yourself. Count Lucio literally took a traumatized child’s vulnerability and abused him until he was at his beck and call.

Something that a lot of people don’t seem to realize is that slavery is one of the most traumatizing thing someone could experience

Slavery Literally Ruins Your Life

Slavery literally runs on vulnerable people’s entire lack of agency and safety. And if someone ever defies their owner in choice of having autonomy – they’re punished with any and all kinds of abuse. 

slavery shouldnt be something you take lightly

but thats EXACTLY what nix hydra is doing to this character.

especially in heart hunter:

(cred. anonymous @thearcanasucks)

Muriel was coerced into fight under the guise of “the Scourge”

Lucio basically molded Muriel into a fighting machine persona, just so he could enjoy watching slaves fight and kill each other. He had no concern over Muriel’s physical or emotional health – if Muriel ever died doing what Lucio forced him to do he wouldn’t even care. And muriel was put into a situation where he had to murder if he valued his own life. 

And let’s not ignore race – Muriel is a brown man. He’s big too. And he murdered people (who were most likely stuck in the same situation as him). Nix Hydra thought it was acceptable to make a man of color into a violent racist caricature. And this is racist in so many ways – it just matters how you apply it. And nix hydra gives you plently of room thanks to never confirming his race:

native american men face the violent stereotype of being deemed “savage” and being bloodthirsty warmongers. Muriel being a brown man tied up in chains? Living in wilderness? Fighting to the death? Checks all of the anti-native narratives.

Being a man of slavery? Slavery is already hugely racialized. Some of the biggest and longest standing slave trades involved african, arabic, and native american people. And since we don’t. know. his. race. we can just assume that he’s all of the above and fits yet another racist trope :)))

now we know that slavery is Bad and Traumatizing and we ESPECIALLY know that Muriel Is Traumatized. But does the writing know? because no.

back onto the heart hunter topic (because im a bitch who doesnt know how to organize) Heart Hunter is a minigame where youre meant to collect as many hearts as possible to win a photocard and some coins and stuff. every time you collect a heart you’re shown a cute interaction between you and a character – or a character and a character. These interactions are meant to be lighthearted and fun, maybe even romantic. And it worked for a while.

Until the writers at Nix Hydra somehow thought it would be lighthearted, fun, and romantic to write about Muriel’s slavery. Multiple characters bring up Muriels slave persona as if its not a sensitive topic you should only approach with as much care as possible. Slavery is a repulsive practice and it should be treated as such. 

And even if you ignore slavery being slavery, Muriel as a character is shown being traumatized by his past. he tries to bury it as much as he can even if that means making people forget about him entirely

Muriel is CLEARLY bothered by his past and wishes no reminder of it – but what do the other characters do? exactly that. They explicitly call him and refer to him as “Scourge” his slave name, even right to his face. So either everyone hates him wants to trigger him or the devs hate us and wants to trigger us. 

and this screenshot shows that even years after Muriel becoming a public embarrassment, that he still doesn’t own an ounce of his own privacy. This 2-lined interaction shows us that people are still buying and selling his personal property without his consent. All because they KNOW slaves don’t own their own agency, their own life, their own image. That isn’t okay.

what also isn’t okay is the fact that they brush over it like its some cutesy ‘oh oops!’ moment. Portia shouldn’t be enticed by the fact that her friends underwear is being sold on the black market. She should be horrified. Especially when we see Muriel uncomfortable at the fact and even his reaction isn’t a well written one.

would this your reaction if you found out someone somehow got a hold of your used underwear and sold it to creeps for god knows how much money?

Its obvious that the writers at Nix Hydra also don’t see Muriel as a character with his own agency. They will shove his own trauma in his face, but write him indifferent – because they don’t care that Muriel suffered trauma for nearly his entire life. Nope. Because caring for a trauma-ridden brown man would just be too much work for them.

they’d rather use their time to turn their slave owning, abusive villain into a quirky little power hungry ghost uwu or whatever theyre getting at…

this isnt good. its offensive. and i almost broke out in tears at the way theyre handling this man’s situation. it fucking sucks. stop supporting these racist shit bags please i beg of you