#i might go back and edit chapter 9 so his hair is blonde if not…we shall ignore my mistake PLS

[bvidzsoo]

is mingi already blonde when he went to the pottery cafe with yn?

🤫🤫🤫if you notice this slip up, no you don’t

[he-goes-down]

There Was A Time:

Previous chapters/ warnings

9. Patience:

A/n: THIS IS SO SHIT SORRY, THIS IS A FILLER CHAPTER AND I REALLY JUST WANTED TO USE PATIENCE IN SOME WAY

Additional A/n: edited it because it's shit (still shit cause I haven't wrote in ages)

BUT DON'T WORRY GUYS WE UP AND WE BACK

THE HOLIDAY IS HERE AND THE NEXT CHAPTER IS HALFWAY DONE <3 (kill me)

Second Person POV:

You woke up with a pounding headache. You didn't remember drinking that much last night, in fact you don't remember a lot from last night. You rubbed your eyes trying to clear your vision and see where you are. You felt a breeze on your skin and looked down at yourself. 'Oh shit.' You were butt naked in a random bed. You looked to the left of you, Sebastian was sleeping next you, his hair scattered all over the pillow and his face. You were relived but wanted to scream. You just had sex with your ex. You sighed and rolled over to the other side, you first wanted to focus on getting more sleep to calm down this migraine. As you rolled to your right you were met with another face. David. He sleepily put his arm around you and pulled you closer. You were shocked beyond belief. And not to your surprise He was naked as well as the blonde on the other side of you. You vowed to never have a threesome again after your last one a few years ago but seems like you've been breaking a few of your vows this past year. You could tick this off your New Year's bucket list. You tried to shimmy out of David's embrace, as you got back to middle of the bed you sat up, and a wave of nausea came over you. You quickly jolted and rushed out of the covers and ran to the ensuite of the bedroom to throw up the little food you had last night into the toilet bowl. Sometimes you really couldn't hold your liquor. After what seemed like hours, keeling over into the toilet and getting dizzy from the severely unpleasant experience, you brushed your teeth and numbly stepped to the bed again and stole one of whoever's shirt was on the ground, put it on, and climbed back into the bed to rest more.

You were soon kicked out of the place as the owner wanted everyone out. You and the rest of the band went home but Sebastian and David accompanied you and walked you home and talked and giggled about last night. You appreciated them being cheery and helpful but were too sore and sick to really be enthusiastic, so you kind of zombie walked with them back to the house.

A few days had past, and your nausea hadn't died down. You were starting to get worried. You knew Seb is the kind of guy that 'doesn't dig rubbers', and to add even more fuel to the fire, you don't even remember what David was doing there, there were endless possibilities to who the father was if that was the cased, well not endless, two maybe two point five. You had taken two pregnancy tests although, one came out positive and the other came out negative. 'Shit' you'd have to go to the doctors. You were too frightened to go alone, what if you actually were pregnant and you passed out at the news? Seb and David were out of town, and you telling them about the possibility of you being pregnant might make matters worse too. As well as you were too scared to ask any of the guys to take you, who knows how they would react. You sat on the edge of Duff's bed, the creaky mattress sinking slightly, face buried in your hands and your elbows pressed on your knees, sighing into your palms and rubbing your face in contemplation as thousands of things were rushing through your mind. You heard a small knock at the door, fully expecting it to be Duff, and relaxing slightly thinking of his somewhat comforting presence. You looked up from your hands, only to see Axl standing by the door looking at you with guilty and concerned eyes. "Fuck off, I'm not in the mood." You bluntly told him and went back to dreading into your palms. "I just-..." He began in an irritated tone but inhaled and sighed. "I just wanted to say sorry." He spoke sincerely, his words lingering in the air slightly. ‘sorry’ Axl was ‘sorry’ yeah right, you thought. You responded back in a breathy chuckle. He couldn't possibly serious. It was quiet. You looked up again to see him still standing there, his face showing some kind of disappointment. Shit he was serious. You started to feel bad, his shining eyes showed so much regret and sincerity. "Shit sorry..." you apologised, a bit breathy, for laughing, and you looked down and away, not giving any eye contact in this awkward moment. He then stepped into the room and came over and sat next to you, he raised his hand to put it on your back, but he hesitated and retracted it, placing it on his own thigh. Before, you guys were so close, but now it just felt awkward even being in the same room with each other. "Ax… please, I really don't feel like talking right now." You told him, still not looking at him, just trying to dismiss him. You hadn't called him that in ages, he felt slightly glad that the bond between the two of you wasn't completely gone as you called him that nickname. "Listen… I'm glad you came to apologize but not right now, please." You said, glancing at him, then your face now going back into your hands. He didn't leave, he didn't even consider leaving you alone. He still sat next to you, in silence. You felt his hand touch your back, placed gently, not moving, just softly hovering. 

"You've been throwing up recently." He spoke softly, not with any condescension, not trying to imply or insinuate anything. You didn't think he would notice, or at all care. You thought Duff would be the first to say something. But again, you tried to be secretive as possible. "It’s... probably a bug or something." You said tiredly, getting your face out of your hands and crossing your arms over your stomach. "I'll take you." He spoke, breaking some of the silence. You looked at him with slight confusion. "To the doctors. I know you said once you didn't like going alone." He explained. He was being sincere, and you were willing to at least give him that second chance. You reluctantly agreed after contemplation, getting ready and heading off the hospital. 

Sitting in the boring waiting area, the sound of receptionists typing and soft coughs from strangers on other sides of the rooms. Your leg shook nervously as you bounced the ball of your foot on the floor. Your hands clutching each other in front of you and your elbows rested on your thighs. Looking around, waiting for that one call of your name. You felt a bigger warm hand ingulf your two ones. You looked up to Axl, his soft eyes giving you a comforting look. Your stomach sunk, you felt horrible. Nausea. Nauseous looking at his face. His stupidly good-looking face. The face you stupidly fell for, and feeling like you’re still head over heels for him in this moment. You wanted to say so much. Why was he sorry in this moment? What triggered it? Was it because Erin and him aren't together? Were you a rebound? You opened your mouth about to ask the first question that came to mind, but you were cut off before a word even came out. The doctor called your name. You sighed before getting up from the uncomfortable chair, waving a small goodbye to Axl before entering the room you were allocated to. 

Some normal icebreaker questions were asked, then the doctor got you to sit on the bed, checking your breathing and heartbeat. You told him your symptoms. Your nausea, fatigue, etc. "Is there any chance you could be pregnant?" He had popped the question without hesitation. Still listening to your breathing, the cold stethoscope placed against your back. You just nodded and spoke a blunt 'Yes'. "Well, that's sweet of your boyfriend to come bring you here, most guys these days just run away at the moment it's mentioned." The doctor spoke. You were confused. You just laughed a fake 'yeah' trying to keep a comfortable atmosphere. What boyfriend? 'Fuck, he meant Axl.' "You two make a cute couple." He smiled at you as he finished his general check-up. Soon you were sent off the bathroom, with a cup. Nervous and jittery through every second. Giving your now filled cup to a nurse and the doctor inspected you for other reasons of your symptoms whilst your urine was being inspected. It felt like hours of painfully waiting, sitting on the examining bed with your teeth clenched, silently hissing in anxiety as your leg bounced nervously. The uncanny feeling of the hospital making your nerves prick uncomfortably even more. Your results came back soon, even though it felt like forever. The doctor said a farewell and you walked back to the waiting room and handed you the paper with your results, you clutched onto the piece of paper he gave you, not looking down at it just yet, then you looked up. You stopped. Your eyes scanning the waiting room. Axl wasn't there. Of course, he fucking wasn't. You thought as the same anger from the other night bubbled in your stomach. You began to walk out of the hospital with a storm, walking down the endless white hallways, the thought of Axl just abandoning you like that searing into you as you clutched the result sheet. ‘Of course he left, probably to fuck some hot nurse, who fucking knows… always second in his eyes.’ You thought, as you got to the big spacious lobby at the ground floor of the hospital. But then a glimpse of ginger was caught in your peripheral vision. With a turn of the head, there he was, standing at the till of a gift shop, one with balloons that said get well soon, stuffed animals, chocolates, flowers. In fact, he was standing with flowers and paying for them, giving the cashier a small smile and a wave as he finished paying. Turning around to see you looking at him. Shooting you the smile that make your knees weak and your stomach queasy. "Sorry, I thought you would take longer." He apologised and handed you the flowers, your favourites. You were silent, starring at the flowers, your heart doing small flutters. Subconsciously you knew you never stopped liking him. You looked up at him then back down at the flowers your mouth slightly open in surprise. "So... how was it?" He cocked his head to the side a bit, seeing how silent you are.

"Oh right-…”  You looked down at the paper in hand and back up at him, trying to shake off the countless emotions going through your head. “I was a bug, well more like food poisoning from the party. But the doctor gave me this, so we have to go to the pharmacy." You said holding up the piece of paper, which also had the prescription for nausea pills, giving it a small wave. 

You then both headed to the pharmacy and got your prescribed pills, heading out again just for a late afternoon stroll as there was really nothing else to do. Down by the boardwalk, looking out at the sun setting over the water. The orange and pink cascading and blending into the scenery, and the orange soft light and soft ocean breeze made it feel comforting familiar. You hadn't had one of these walks in ages with him, it was something you and him always enjoyed, it was nice to having something special like this back. You had almost fully forgiven him. Thoughts raced through your mind again. The apology? Was he serious? The flowers? Was it just to make you soft? You stressed. Axl immediately caught on. "You okay?" He asked. Putting his hands on your shoulders, stopping both of you in your tracks. Leading to the empty wooden bench closest to you. Taking a breath as you sat down, a soft sigh as you collect your thoughts and words. There was a pause, both looking at each other. The sun making his eyes glisten. "Why..." you began, trying to collect yourself. "Why did you kiss me?" You asked him. He didn't say anything, thinking of what to say, and he tried hard not to break eye contact. "And Erin?" You added. "What did it mean to you? What do I mean to you?" You emphasised the ‘I’ in last question. His hands creeped into yours, his head hanging slightly as he looked down at your hands in his now. You were about to take your hands away from his, but he held them tighter, gently, but still slightly tighter. "Fuck... I…" He began. "I love you, that’s why. I've been fucking in love with you." His words sent a shock through you, but other emotions were overriding the lovesick ones. "Then why go date someone else?" You retorted quickly with irritation at his inconsistency. "Because you always say you can't ‘date in the band’." He said. "Yes, but a week after? Seriously?" You responded. "I needed an out, I couldn't stop thinking about you after our kiss, it was making me crazy." He said, sighing with a gravel and running his hand through his hair. 

You didn't know what else to say. That it was stupid? That you loved him too? But even if you wanted you couldn't be with him. 

"I still want to... I still want you. I want to be with you." He sighed out softly, squeezing your hands. "You know we can't..." You told him. He began to talk about how he'll wait this time. Wait until you're ready. You knew it wouldn't happen, but at least gave him the chance, and yourself the chance of hope of you together. 

"If I can't have you right now, I'll wait dear."

———

A/n: SORRY THIS WAS ABSOLUTE SHIT, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE INCORPORATION OF 

'I sit here on the stairs 'cause I'd rather be alone'

AND 

'Said, woman, take it slow and things will be just fine'

PRAY THAT THE NEXT CHAPTER COMES OUT SOON

[dreamdepot]

Dreams of the Kingdom Ch. 6 - Stop the Presses!

Edited 7/9/2024 - Updated chapter navigation links

Previous < First > Next

As you and Link head towards Zora's Domain, distractions - err, side quests - seem to meet you at every turn. A prince's work is never done.

Read on: AO3 or Wattpad... or below!

“Think I might have to spring for that special water bed when we get to the Domain,” you said, stretching your stiff back. It had a been a long ride from Hebra. The two of you passed through Lookout Landing for a quick check in with Purah. Scorpis also passed on reports of a Hinox at Trilby Plains. That was short work for the both of you, so you decided to take a short stop at Woodland Stables to the north for lunch before continuing south to Zora’s Domain.

Link rolled his shoulders. “Yeah, not if I book it first.”

“You’d kick your Prince out of a special bed?”

He laughed. “Aren’t you the one who keeps saying you don’t want special treatment for being royal?”

“Not at times like this,” you groaned.

“Well, I suppose I could be convinced to share…”

You did have a comeback, but given you had arrived at the stables and children were about, you settled on a glare. Link checked the horses in at the stable. Both [H/n] and Epona seemed more than happy to rest and chow down. You were about to check your pack for what to cook for lunch when you overheard a conversation.

“…We got in our wagon to go to her. That’s when it happened…”

“Frightful, the whole thing! That’s when the woman with blonde hair jumped out in front of us. It was that woman, I tell you! She did something to the Great Fairy!”

That caught your attention. You saw that two members of a traveling musical troupe were explaining their story to a tall Rito, who was taking notes. “A blonde-haired woman… could it have been…”

“She did look an awful lot like Princess Zelda…”

You snagged Link and pulled him along with you to the group. “Excuse me, sorry to eavesdrop, but we overheard you talking about Princess Zelda?”

The Rito looked up from his notes. “Oh, are you guys friends of the princess?”

You and Link shared a look. “Uh, you could say that,” Link said. “Anyway, I’m Link and this is [Y/n].”

“Name’s Penn, ace reporter for the Lucky Clover Gazette!” He said with a lazy salute. “So, Link and [Y/n], right? Hah, funny, you guys have the same name as Hyrule’s power couple.”

Link was about to correct him, but you just patted his shoulder and shook your head. “Great to meet you Penn. So, you’re investigating the disappearance of Princess Zelda?”

“Not just that, but possible sightings. People all over Hyrule are saying they’ve seen the princess, so I’m following up on all the chirps and warbles.”

“We’ve been hearing a lot of rumors on our travels to the stables, though we never expected to have one of the weird sightings ourselves,” the young woman from the troupe said. “Oh, pardon me, my name is Violynne. This is Mastro.”

“A plea-a-asure to meet you!” The small man said with a tip of his top hat. “We were afraid that people would think we were a few notes short of a song, if you catch my meaning. Do you truly believe us?”

“Knowing my sis- I mean, Princess Zelda, stranger things have happened. Though it’s strange she’d jump out in front of you like that.”

“She was dressed really strangely too!” Violynne added. “It wasn’t anything like people wear today, even with those strange fashion designs coming from Hateno. It was almost like it was some kind of tribal dress?”

“White and green with strange jewelry?” Link asked. Both Mastro and Violynne nodded fervently. “So, it’s just like what I saw at the castle and what we saw in Hebra… when did this happen?”

“It was right after the castle rose into the sky!” Mastro said. “Our horse was scared off, and our beloved Breezer was hurt!”

“Breezer, was that the horse’s name?” Link asked.

“Don’t be silly, Breezer is our noble wagon!” Both you and Link turned to see the wagon with some missing wheels. “We haven’t been able to fix her and have been stuck at this stable since. And here all we wanted to do was perform for the Great Fairy since she’s refused to come out.”

Given the work you did to rebuild wagons after the Calamity for the trading company, you had more experience than most when it came to fixing them. Breezer was in fairly good condition; the wagon bed was unharmed and even looked to be watertight. The front axletree was also in good condition. The rear was another story. Not only had the wheels broken off, but the boreholes for the wheel linchpins was split. Normally, that would require an axle replacement, but you had something better.

“Hey Link, I’ll get my horse. Do you think you can do your thing?”

“My thing?”

“Y’know, with the whole…” You waved your hand around.

“Oh yeah, gotcha!”

By the time you’d fetched [H/n] (who was a bit fussy at being taken away from Epona), Link had slapped two new wheels onto Breezer, fused with Zonai technology. “Superb! Breezer rides again!” Mastro cheered.

“We’ll take you up to the Great Fairy, I’m sure she’d love to hear you play,” you said. As Link helped you hook up the wagon chains, you added, “I bet she has some answers on this too.”

It was a short ride up to the edge of the former Military Training Camp. Breezer rolled along perfectly, good as new, despite the green goopy appearance of the rear axle. “Great Fairy! We’re here to cheer you up!” Mastro shouted to the thorny green bulb. “Ready Violynne? And a one, and a two…”

As Violynne began her solo, you felt the same buzz in the back of your head from when you were fighting Colgera. Your vision blurred as her rosewood violin turned blue. The baton in Mastro’s hand also changed into an ornate silver design. For a moment, you felt as if the wind was moving in time with the song. Yet, just as quickly as it started, the feeling disappeared, right as Violynne finished.  

Suddenly, the green bulb began to tremble, blooming into a massive white and orange flower. Magical energy poured out from the center in a rolling mist. With a geyser of water, the Great Fairy Tera burst forth. “AH-HAAAAAA!!!”

Mastro jumped for joy. “Behold, Violynne! The Great Fairy graces us with her presence!”

“Truly divine!”

Tera leaned forward on the edge of the flower. “Hello darlings, I couldn’t help but come out to enjoy your beautiful music.”

As she started to chat with the musicians, a shout came from above you. “Hey, hey!” Penn swooped down to land next to you and Link. “Wow, you guys really solved this one quick! We should hire you full time!” He turned towards the giant woman. “So, this is… a Great Fairy.”

If Tera was offended, she didn’t show it. “I must admit I’m a little confused. The world isn’t at all how Princess Zelda described it to me. She said an awful gloom was spreading over the land, and that it would be soon lost to monsters. I hid myself away.”

“Zelda told you that?” You asked.

“Well,” Tera thought, tapping her lip with her long fingernail. “Now that I think about it, when she was speaking to me, I had the feeling that something wasn’t quite right. Perhaps it was someone else entirely…”

Penn scribbled furiously in his notepad. “On the bright side, the Great Fairy is back! That’s a big scoop! I gotta get this over to the newspaper!” Penn turned to the two of you. “I’m gonna take this story back, but I hope we can work together again on another story.”

“Penn wait,” Link said. “Have there been other sightings of Zelda like this?”

The reporter thought for a moment. “Well… there was mention of a sighting at the Dueling Peaks Stable.”

Dueling Peaks was a bit out of the way for your trip to Zora’s Domain, but it could be worth the trip if Zelda was there, real or fake. You looked to Link; he was thinking the same and nodded. “We’ll investigate for you,” you volunteered.

“Then, in that case, consider yourselves unofficial reporters for the Lucky Clover. In the meantime, I’ll get this written up. Soar Long!” And with that, the Rito reporter shot into the sky.

“Would you mind terribly if we joined you?” Violynne asked. “We’re heading to Dueling Peaks as well!”

“We’re going to reunite our members and recreate the Stable Trotters!” Mastro proclaimed. Before you or Link could respond, he added. “We’ll spread music across Hyrule and help all of the Great Fairies! We’ll get our things prepared to leave in the morning!”

The two happily left back down the mountain – forgetting Breezer was still hooked up to [H/n]. [H/n] snorted, not at all pleased they’d have to haul the wagon back down. “Well, I’m sure they appreciate you all the same,” Tera said. “If I may ask, would you please find my sisters and help them as well? Since you’re headed to Dueling Peaks, my dear sweet little sister Cotera said she would be there. Perhaps you could check on her?”

“Of course we will,” you said. “We’ll be traveling all across Hyrule, I’m sure we’ll find them.”

“Oh, thank you, this is why you’re my two favorite boys! Now, do either of you need a little boost on your clothing?”

“Just none of the touching,” Link said, arms crossed.

“Cross my heart,” the Great Fairy said. “And I am terribly sorry about that again, it was wrong. Besides, we ladies would never steal a taken man, especially one with such a handsome man of his own.” She winked at you. “Now, where should we begin…”

==============================

Dueling Peaks would be another day’s journey, so you all decided to sleep at the stable for the night. Before crawling into bed, you sat with Link at the edge of the river. He had his shirt off, and you were applying a homemade poultice on his burns. “I’m not sure if this really works for magic burns.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Link hummed. “It feels nice.”

You massaged the ointment in a bit more. “It isn’t starting to itch?”

“Not too bad. It just gets sore every now and then.”

You nodded. “It was really brave of you to do that. I don’t think I ever said thank you.”

“You don’t have to. I’m your knight, and more importantly, your boyfriend.”

“Still,” you laughed. “Thank you.” You looked at the burns, hoping that gloom or not they would heal soon. “I don’t know what I’d do without you – though maybe I wouldn’t have to worry so much about you getting hurt.”

Link groaned a bit as you worked a knot out. “Mmm, I know I wouldn’t have someone to help patch me up after without you.” You let your head drop to his shoulder as you traced the lines of the tattoos that formed from fusing his new arm. “Thanks for doing this, my prince.”

“I’m your boyfriend,” you parroted back.

“Still,” he laughed. The two of you laid back on the grass, looking up at the stars. “When was the last time we were able to just… do this?”

“Do what?”

“Just be two guys. No royal duties, no monsters. Just… us.”

You opened your mouth but paused. “I’m… not sure. That festival in Hateno?” Link was silent. You cuddled up against your knight. “Let’s enjoy tonight then. Tonight, we’re just two guys.” Link still remained quiet, but he leaned into your touch.

==

Perhaps the Great Fairy influenced your dream that night.

“Oh no, no, no! This won’t do at all!” You plucked the pins out of the mannequin with a grumble, tossing the fabric down. “What will Madame Couture say when I can’t get this right?” You groaned, knowing her other apprentice would probably have some kind of comment. “I swear, if that smug, green-haired little shit-”

“You good?”

You squealed, tossing your materials in air. “Oh, it’s you. I’m sorry, your new costume isn’t ready yet. I’ve been having trouble…” You then realized what he had overheard. “Wait, no, when I meant green-haired, I didn’t mean-”

“Nah I know,” Link shrugged. “I’m normally a blond anyway, it’s just green when the Doppel Master does his thing. And don’t worry about being behind. It’s better than anything I can do. I swear, you’ve got to be magic to do this.”

“Oh, it’s nothing really! I’m sure you’d pick it up quickly.”

“Yeaaah no. I used to work for a blacksmith before I came here, and believe me, the only thing I could make was junk. He only let me deliver things.”

“I highly doubt that. You always know how to make the best use of Madame Couture’s outfits on your adventures into the Drablands. I’m sure you’re just as resourceful at the forge.” You frowned as you looked at the mannequin. “I’m sure you know the feeling of having a creative block too.”

“Yeah,” Link muttered. “Maybe you need a break?”

“Well…”

“C’mon,” Link said, taking your hand and practically dragging you out of the store.

“Heading out for a moment Madame!” you shouted. The fashionista didn’t say a thing but waved you on.

Link led you through the town all afternoon, stopping at random shops and cafés, showing you the castle and the odd Lucky Lobby Ball. He even introduced you to his doppels, which was more than a little surreal. Everywhere you went you made notes in your personal notebook. Yet despite all of the inspiration, your mind was just dead for ideas.

You ended the day sitting at the edge of the fountain with Link, sighing. “You know, you can just rest, right?”

“What?”

“Rest,” Link said. “Like, sometimes you need a break. You can’t be ‘on’ all the time. Doesn’t matter if it’s making clothes or fighting monsters or whatever.”

You thought for a moment. “Yeah… maybe I should try resting…” You started to lean back.

…And completely forgot you were at the fountain, flipping back into the water. Link looked down, trying and failing not to laugh. “Are you okay?”

“Peachy.”

You sat back up. Thankfully your notebook was okay, but you had thrown it as you slipped. Link picked it up and handed it to you. “What’s that? Looks like a hat?”

You looked down let out a half-laugh. “Yes… like, I hope you don’t think I’m crazy, but despite what Lady Maud did, and sure she’s evil but not like… Ganon evil, you know?” Link gave a nod that seemed to say he knew a little too well. “So, I do find her clothes interesting. I always wanted to design a hat that makes hers look as drab as the curse she put on Princess Styla.”

Link looked at the design. “I’m sure you’ll be able to pull it off.”

“Thanks… and thanks for the break. I think I’m ready to try out finishing the design. It’s a design for you after all.”

“Really? Think I can try it on early?”

“Not just yet…”

==============================

The ride to Dueling Peaks was uneventful. After helping the troupe once more and coaxing another Great Fairy out of hiding, the two of you met with Penn. “Thank goodness I found you guys! The Yiga Clan kidnapped Princess Zelda!”

Link frowned. “Penn, are you sure? I mean, this could be just another fake.”

“But the Yiga Clan are back! And they sent a message saying they were keeping her at the ‘carved-out heart of the towering twins!’ I figured they meant Dueling Peaks, but I’m not sure where they’re hiding.”

You looked up at the mountains, seeing a small bit of the shallow canyon near the middle of the south peak, then turned to Link. Your knight simply shook his head. “Don’t worry about it, Penn, we’ll look into it.”

Link led the way on the climb up, testing all the footholds for the best path for you. You followed, passing him pieces of honey candy to keep both of your energy up. Soon, you dismounted at the edge of the canyon.

To your surprise, the supposed Zelda was there, trapped in an unstable-looking iron cage. Despite what you saw in the vision back on the Stormwind Ark, this potential Zelda was at least much closer to your Zelda – by appearance at least. “Oh Link, please save me! Thou must get me out of this cage!”

“Thou? That’s definitely not my sister. Oh, wait a second,” you whispered. You pulled out a Mighty Banana and dropped it on the ground. This Zelda’s eyes snapped to it like a magnet before you picked it up and put it away. “Well, that answers that,” you groaned.

The fake Zelda gave you both her best puppy-dog eyes, which was completely ineffective. “Please lift this cage and we can be together again, my love!”

“I am actually offended,” Link whispered back. “Like, sure, we’re not super big on the lovey-dovey stuff in public, but five years. C’mon.”

“I mean they literally have been underground for five years,” you shrugged. “Wanna mess with them?”

“Oh yes.” Link’s eyes gleamed with mischief. He turned to the fake Zelda, clutching his chest. “My Princess, I am so glad to see you’re safe, but I can’t believe those terrible Yiga have trapped you in this cage.”

“Terrible?!” Not-Zelda scoffed before composing herself. “I mean, yes! Yes, and you should free me!”

“No, I can’t let you – for this is my chance!” You said. Both Link and Not-Zelda gasped. “Mwha-ha-ha! I can finally take over the kingdom and depose of Zelda!”

“Y-you what?!” Not-Zelda stuttered. “But, I’m your sister? You want to get rid of me?”

You laughed maniacally. “First, I will take over Hyrule, then the world! Ganondorf himself would even tremble before me! Then, once I’ve taken your kingdom, I’ll take…” you paused impressively. “Your man!”

“No!”

“Yes! And I’ll… I’ll dress him in the most beautiful clothes as my personal muse and servant!” Link shot you a look, but you could tell he was trying not to laugh. You slammed your arms on either side of him, trapping him against the cage. “You dare laugh at me, knight? Maybe I should show you your place.”

“L-Link no!” Not-Zelda said, voice quivering. “Be strong!” Her words were weakened however by the flush on her face and her slowly growing nosebleed. She watched with rapt attention. “Don’t let that evil prince have his way with you!”

Link looked into your eyes, a smolder in his own. “Oh really, Prince [Y/n]? You want me to submit to you? Make me.”

“I… uh… this is a bit public…”

“Oh, come on, where’s your nerve?” Link teased. “Or maybe you’d like me to put you in your place instead?” You felt something poke into your stomach. Your eyes drifted down for just a moment to see Link passing you a bomb arrow. His eyes flicked to the cliffside behind you.

“Oh, I’ll show you nerve…” you growled. You whipped out your bow and fired the arrow behind you, taking out the hidden Yiga soldiers.

“Have I mentioned how much I love watching you fight?” Link sighed. “As for you,” he said turning to Not-Zelda and leveled his bow at her head, arrow tipped with an Ice Fruit. “Tell us what the Yiga Clan is up to.”

Not-Zelda flushed, trying to compose herself. “Not fair, you fight dirty!”

You leaned against the cage with a smirk. “It was just us having fun. Now, come on, you want to tell us, right? Believe me, you don’t want to see my boyfriend mad now, do you?”

“Wait, you guys really are together?”

“For masters of stealth and espionage, you really aren’t that great at your jobs. And we thought Kohga was bad at his job.”

She stamped her foot. “Don’t speak about Master Kohga that way. At this very moment, he’s working on his master plan to help the Demon King!” She clasped her hands over her mouth.

“You’re new at this aren’t you,” Link said, never letting his arrow drift from his mark.

“Only my third week,” she said meekly.

“So Kohga did survive…” You sighed. “Okay, listen. Tell us where he is, and we’ll let you out of the cage.”

“And if I don’t?”

“I think a Lynel lives over the next ridge. Maybe he’ll let you out.” You shrugged and turned, pretending to leave.

“No, no, wait!”

==============================

“This detour is going all over the place,” Link muttered as the two of you landed in the Depths below the Great Plateau.

“If it means stopping Kohga and the Yiga, it’s not necessarily a bad detour,” you said. “The last thing we need is a surprise attack from the Demon King courtesy of the Yiga… though knowing them, it might just blow up in his face. I just hope the Zora can hold out a little longer.”

“With Sidon looking after them, I’m sure they’ll be fine.”

“I hope so,” you said, thinking about how bleak the situation seemed for the Rito. “I wonder where they – whoa.”

“You can say that again.”

Sprawling before you was a massive Zonai facility that made the one you woke up in look like a joke. Minecart tracks spread out like a spiderweb, dipping even deeper into the earth. They all led to the towering smelter and a temple-like building. Even with the little bits of light from the Zonai lamps and your Brightblooms, it dominated the Depths. Massive statues seemed to lead the way towards the entrance, surrounded by clusters of Poes. You snapped a quick picture with your Purah Pad for Zelda and Josha.

It didn’t take long to reach the entrance, and you were slightly surprised to see you weren’t alone. Two Zonai researchers were inspecting what appeared to be a round chest with the Zonai activation sigil. Link tensed next to you, instinctively walking faster to put himself between you and them. You both knew this wasn’t going to end without a fight.

“Oh, did you two pass the interview too?” One of them asked, before muttering something like “Of course they did, why would they be here?” under her breath.

Link nodded, trying to keep things light and friendly – though you knew he would be able to strike both of them before they could move. “So, what’s this?”

“Some ancient statue,” she continued. “It should be able to grant us an ‘ancient power’. From my research, it’s supposed to let you rebuild anything you have committed to memory. Just think of the possibilities! The Yi- I mean, our investigation of this land would be unstoppable! If only we could wake it up.”

“Oh, that part’s easy,” Link said. Before anyone could ask, Link tapped the activation sigil. You and the two “researchers” jumped back as the odd chest turned out to be a construct. Link, however, was unfazed. “Hello!” He waved.

“Greetings,” the Construct replied. “Conferring Autobuild to user now. Please utilize it as you explore and excavate the Depths for zonaite.” A swirl of green energy gathered around Link’s arm, concentrating into a glowing orb, which sunk into his palm.

“Did… did that thing just give you the ancient power?” The other researcher gasped.

“Can you give us a demonstration?”

Link looked to you, and you shrugged. “Might as well test it out?” you said. After all, it wasn’t like the Yiga footsoldiers were any threat to either of you.

“Why not try it on our vehicles,” one of the researchers said, motioning to the two broken platforms nearby. “If you fix the wheel on the first, you should be able to use your power to repair the second in no time flat!”

Repairing the first vehicle didn’t take long, Link had gotten pretty good at the Ultrahand. As for the second, Link simply snapped his fingers, and you watched in awe as the vehicle reassembled itself. “Fascinating,” you murmured. “I wonder if we could use that to mass repair some of the wagons for the stables…” The possibilities were endless!

“Maybe, but we’ve got bigger things to worry about first.”

You looked up seeing the researchers drop their disguises. “Ah, right.”

Behind you, the footsoldiers reappeared in their Yiga gear, but they were joined by their eccentric master. “Great work, both of you!” he congratulated his soldiers. “You strangers too! Credit where credit is due. Yes, yes…” He froze, then stamped his foot. You could feel his glare behind his mask. “If there’s any foe I’d never forget, it’s the one who cast me out of my beloved hideout into these very Depths. It was YOU!” He shook his fists, trembling with anger. “Now I live for vengeance, upon that no-good Zelda, the blasted swordsman Link, and upon my sworn enemy! That means you, [Y/n]!”

“Me?!”

“We are bound by fate, you and I! You, who embarrassed me by sneaking up behind me! The master of ninja!” He pointed at you. “Hear my name and know fear! The leader of the Yiga Clan! The Strong! The Depths-defying! From the ashes, rising! MASTER KOHGA!”

The two footsoldiers clapped while you and Link simply watched. “We… we know who you are. I mean, we knew you were down here,” you said.

“Wait, what?!” Kohga shouted, stamping his foot again. “How did you know?!”

“Your disguises are really good and all, but when you use the same plan every time, it gets to be… predictable?” Link said.

“Yeah, change it up every now and then,” you added. “Try something new, spice it up!”

“Spice it up, eh?” Kohga said. “Well then how’s this for spice?!” In a puff of smoke, a massive vehicle fitted with spikes materialized before you. Kohga stepped on the control pad, lights flashing on and nearly blinding you. “You’ll forever remember the day you crossed Master Kohga! I will have my revenge and steal that ancient power to give to the Magnificent One!”

“Me and my big mouth,” you muttered.

“Move!” Link shouted, and the two of you split off running in opposite directions around the small arena.

“Oh, I’m ready for you this time, you sneaky… sneak!” You dove out of the way of Kohga’s strange vehicle. The ninja master cackled as he spun it around for another pass, rearing it up on two wheels as it turned. “What’s wrong, Prince? Can’t sneak up on me this time?!”

“Maybe not – oof!” You dove again. “But you keep forgetting there’s two of us!”

“Wait, what?” Link leaped onto the vehicle, slashing Kohga’s back. The vehicle disappeared in a puff of smoke. Kohga fell flat on his backside. An evil plan hatched in your mind as you grabbed the sword Link fused for you – the one with the devilishly spiked Flux Construct core. “No, no, no, wait!” It didn’t matter, you had already wound up your spin attack, smacking him with each round before slamming the makeshift torture instrument down on the ninja master.

Kohga popped away, stamping his foot again. “STOP IT! You may have won today, but we’ll return and follow you to the ends of Hyrule! I’ve already found a whole bunch of ruins down here.” He snickered. “I’ve already seen Link use his right hand to activate that construct. I’ll grab the power you cheated me out of for myself at the Southwestern Mine! Then our magnificent Demon King and I will guide this world to its miserable end, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me!”

In a puff of smoke, a large flying contraption appeared. Kohga hopped aboard, taking flight. “So don’t follow me! Mwhahaha-hehe-ho – YIKES!” He veered sharply to the left out of the way of the rock wall and sped off into the darkness.

“Maybe if we leave him alone, things will just work themselves out,” Link muttered.

You sighed. “Since when have we been that lucky?”

“You’re right,” Link groaned. “At least there’s no way he’s going to be able to activate any of the other constructs. I really don’t want to follow him all the way to Gerudo Desert underground.”

“I think we’ll be safe to let him think he’s won for a bit. Let’s head up and check on Sidon,” you said, pulling out the Purah Pad to find the best place to warp to.

Just then a Construct approached. “Pardon me, but we have found an anomaly in this batch. This is not Zonaite, but not an otherwise useful material or waste either.”

“So… what is it?” Link asked.

“Protocol dictates that all anomalies be presented to management.” The Construct looked down at Rauru’s arm. It then reached inside its chest cavity and produced a small bronze rock.

“May I?” you asked, and the Construct nodded, handing you the stone. “Yeah… same bronze color as the one I found when we beat Colgera. You said it’s not a waste rock or precious metal?”

“Correct,” the Construct said. “It does have an unusual radiation pattern but does not appear dangerous to flesh-based life.”

You had to admit, there did seem to be a little tingle as you held it in your hand. Whatever it was, it didn’t seem dangerous, more warm and comforting. “Do you mind if we keep this?”

“It is up to management,” the Construct simply said, looking to Link.

“Uh, yeah?”

“Then yes, you may.” The Construct floated off, seemingly pleased.

You turned the rock over in your hand before slipping it into your pack. You then realized your boyfriend had become oddly quiet. “Link, are you okay?”

Link was staring at Rauru’s arm deep in thought. “Do you think I could combine the Zonai devices to create something crazy?”

“I mean you could, but you wouldn’t make a massive war machine like Kohga, right?”

The evil gleam in your boyfriend’s eyes was more than a little unsettling. Using the Flux Core on Kohga almost seemed like a mercy. You just took his hand and tapped the waypoint on the Purah Pad, teleporting the two of you back to the surface.

[vid-writes]

My Training Starts Early (Ch. 9)

As always this book is for GROWN ADULTS ONLY!!!

Also!!!!!

If you want to read versions of these chapters that have been edited at least three times each then go search Frost and Petals on WattPad. I'm high key refusing to post anything but the first drafts here so that way people who are actually interested in the story have to go support me over there.

After Kari showers and changes, we walk hand in hand to the impromptu court meeting. I'm wearing the starlight silver dress his mother had made for me and the matching crown. He's dressed in Kroqalian Military Regalia—silver accents like the pants and jacket in all of the right places. Even the epaulets look really good. He's also wearing a crown that matches mine. We are a force.

As we enter the cafeteria where this meeting is, since the throne room was all but destroyed, that uncomfortable feeling that made me request this room begins to rise. As these things go on, my parents aren't here yet. I wait at the bottom of the dais, off to the left. Kari stays by my side, his hand refusing to drop mine. Everyone is staring at us, but I'm fixed on the door because Clarissa isn't here yet.

As if my thoughts summoned her, she walks into the doorway, and everyone gasps softly, even Kari and I. She has her golden hair pulled into a long braid she wears over her right shoulder. Golden eyes lined with thick black eyeliner. But the dress is what really stills everyone in the room. It's a full ball gown made of the softest shade of pink I've ever seen. Stitched into the outermost layer of the skirts, it is the symbol for the seer. Over and over and over. There will be no denying who she is now.

Instead of taking her usual place, she continues all the way up to the dais. She stops in front of Kari and me. "Your Graces, if you don't mind, I'd like to stand by you this afternoon. I have something of utmost importance to discuss with His Highness King Ruaridh," she explains with a low curtsy.

"Rise and join us." I lift my hand from Kari's and offer it to her. She takes the spot on my other side, and then the room just stares. But none of us are looking back at them.

Before anyone can think of opening their mouth, Hudson walks into the room. He's wearing slacks that are rumpled and a button-up that is buttoned wrong. Once Hudson is next to Clarissa, she quickly fixes his shirt and pulls out a comb for his hair. He tries to swat her off, but one look from me makes him stand still. She combs his askew gray hair into a more acceptable fashion and then tucks the comb away into her dress again.

The quiet din of casual chatter and gossip has just started when Cillian marches into the room, stops in the middle of the central aisle, and announces, "Rise and greet your monarchs."

The whole room nearly jumps to their feet as my parents appear in the doorway. My mother is a picture of grace in her emerald dress. It fits her body similarly to mine. Her blonde hair and blue eyes might give her away as a non-magic user, but they were my favorite things about her. All at once, the whole room lowers itself into curtsies and bows. We all stay that way as they make their way up the aisle and to the dais. Once seated, my father motioned to Hudson and me to join them. We take our places with me beside our father and him beside our mother.

"You may now rise," he addresses the court. Everyone straightens back up and takes their seats. Kari and Clarissa don't budge from the foot of the dais.

"First thing's first, our country was invaded tonight, right into the heart of our Kingdom. Deep enough into this castle, there were bodies near my daughter's room. We will figure out who gave them the information to get that deep inside because the only reasonable explanation is that we have a spy." His voice is tight, and I can hear the rage trying to sneak in.

"Now, onto the next thing. Clarissa, will you please join us on the dais," he says to her. She curtsies briefly and then climbs up the three stairs that span the entire base of the dais. "Your father made a deal. In exchange for his freedom in exile, he told us the truth about you. Indeed, you are a seer. Your parents, in fact, illegally drugged you from the day you were born because the golden hair and eyes made them nervous. When they had you tested at four, the recommended age, they did so at a shady testing facility. They had the records buried pretty deeply, but Cillian dug them up."

Just then, Cillian walks up onto the dais and hands Clarissa a thick folder. She opens it, and her face lights up. Those must be her test results, but what about the rest? I have no idea. She will probably tell me, though.

"As you can probably guess, this country is in dire need of a seer. However, there hasn't been one in a few hundred years. We do have some of the texts the last seer learned from, as well as all of his journals. If you wish to work for us, you will have access to all of these yourself. However, your training will be up to you and you alone," his offer hangs heavy in the air. The acquisition of a Royal Seer means the capture of the spy will be inevitable and accurate now.

"I will gladly accept the position of Vrathia's official seer," she proclaims as she dips into a curtsy again.

"You may go take your new permanent place, back where you were at the foot of the dais," he says by way of dismissal. She returns to the spot and holds the folder tight to her chest.

"As for you, my dearest daughter Flora," my father turns to me, so I step forward a few steps. "You plan to move to Kroqales after you and Kari are wed, correct?"

"Yes, Father," I reply.

"And in Kroqales, all men and women are trained in combat, correct?'

"Yes, father."

"Then, starting tomorrow, you will begin that training. You will join Kari and anyone else in the training ring every morning for two hours a day. That training may be what saves your life. I know your magic is strong, my darling, but with physical prowess, your magic will only grow more," he explains.

"That sounds wonderful to me, father." I dip into a curtsy. And I'm being serious. I'm glad I'll be starting training tomorrow. I've been looking forward to it.

"As for the rest of you, we need a noble family to contribute the remaining thirty percent of the funds needed to rebuild the throne room. Thanks to Flora's insistence on this cafeteria, I, too, find it weird to hold court where we eat," he says with a wink.

One of the noble families offers to pay for the remaining thirty percent, and then we are all dismissed. Of course, no one moves as my parents rise to leave first. No one would dare. After they round the corner outside of the doorway, everyone else starts to trickle out. I sit on the arm of my father's throne, watching, wondering who among them could have sold us out. Because it had to be a noble, none of them liked having to fund royal family things as a reminder of their places in the hierarchy.

"Penny, for your thoughts," Hudson says as he sneaks up behind me. Though he does this often, I still jump.

"Seriously, stop sneaking up on me," I grouse as I smack him in the chest lightly. He cackles as Kari and Clarissa chat quietly. The folder is still clutched tightly to her chest.

"I was wondering which one of the nobles betrayed us."

"Why do you think it's one of them? Why not one of the castle workers? Or a military member?" His voice grows quieter with each question.

"I'll explain later." I slide off the arm of the throne and head to where Cillian is still standing in his spot. He turns to me with an intellectual look in his eyes. He, too, was watching the crowd, wondering who the traitor was.

"Can we talk somewhere private," I ask as soon as I'm close enough that I'm sure no one can hear me. Cillian nods and heads into the crowd. All of my secret hiding places nearby aren't discreet enough, so I know where Cillian will be waiting for me.

"Leaving without me," Kari whispers in my ear, and this time, I yelp. And jump.

"What's with people sneaking up on me today," I seethe as I turn towards him. Kari already has his hands raised in surrender. Hudson walks by with a laugh.

"It's fun to scare her," he chuckles as he tugs Clarissa along behind him. I raise an eyebrow at her, but she holds up the folder. I mime a phone and then text. She gives me a thumbs-up before they disappear into the crowd.

"Yes, actually, I am leaving without you. I need to go talk to Cillian privately," I say as I turn back to face Kari. He pretends to look hurt for a second before he kisses my cheek.

"Promise to fill me in later," he whispers in my ear again.

"I'll meet you in your suite in an hour," I reply and then place a quick kiss on his lips.

Cillian is indeed waiting for me in the nook of windows by my room. His shadows are already blocking out the windows, and the dimness makes me realize how tired I am.

"You think the traitor to our kingdom is one of the nobles, don't you?" He asks as his shadows seal the little entryway behind me. No one will see us or hear a word we say.

"So do you." My voice is still low out of habit.

He nods as he looks past the shadows to the shapes of the grand courtyard below. With his unusual silence, I get the feeling he knows more than he's letting on at all.

"You know you won't be allowed to be anywhere near the investigation," he says as he finally looks back at me. His eyebrows draw together over his coal-black eyes, which are alight with worry.

"My Father allowed for Kari to be involved in the interrogation," I argue back. Cillian rolls his eyes and smirks. "And don't you even begin to tell me a damn thing about tradition."

"I was going to say your father is worried about your safety. That's why he announced that you would be training in front of all of the court that was present. He wants to make them nervous. Wants them to make impulsive stupid decisions," he explains tersely.

Defeat fills my body as I accept what Cillian has said. I don't particularly appreciate sitting things out, and certainly not because of tradition. But for my father? So he doesn't have to worry. I'll gladly sit this one out and do what he tells me to.

"Can you please keep me in the loop?"

"As if I would ever do anything else, My Princess," Cillian replies and bows a bit. When he straightens back up, I notice he's smiling.

"Thinking about a certain lady friend of yours," I tease. He chuckles, and pink fill his cheeks. Oh, he was thinking of the girl I had caught him kissing in one of my hiding spots.

"I'm just thinking how much she is the complete opposite of you," he teases back.

"Now you're just being mean." I playfully smack his chest, and he catches my wrist.

"You do know since we grew up together that I had a crush on you for the longest time," he whispers as his hand tightens on my wrist for a second before he lets go of it.

"You really pick the worst time to tell a girl something like that," I whisper back.

"I knew your father would never approve of a union between us. He likes his traditions. You are managing to convince him to let you have a say in your fiance, who still has a few people in shock." He rocks back onto his heels, and I can tell by how his eyes dart slightly lower than mine and back to them again he's. He's looking at my lips.

"Don't do anything stupid," I say.

"I won't, but sometimes I still wonder what it would be like to kiss you," he admits. "Don't get me wrong, the girl I'm starting to see is amazing, and I could see myself growing in love with her. But on days like today, I find myself regretting that I never made you trade a kiss for my silence once your father recruited me into his Honor Guard."

"That would have been a trade I would have been willing to make," I murmur. Cillian tenses for a second and then straightens his posture.

"One of my shadows informed me that your father is looking for me to discuss the fate of our prisoners," he says. All at once, his shadows return to him, and he leaves. I'm left blinking in the bright light of the early evening that flooded the space again when he called back his shadows.

Back in my room, Kari is lounging on my fainting couch with a glass of whiskey in the hand he has dangling over the back. The sight of him immediately relaxes me and ignites the spark in my stomach. As I move around the couch, I notice that the glass seems to be slipping from his fingers. I catch it and round the sofa fully.

Kari is sound asleep on my fainting couch. I want to let him stay asleep, but not only did I say I would give him an update, I know from experience that sleeping on that couch sucks.

"Kari, my love," I murmur as I run a hand up his arm. He jerks awake and looks up at me sheepishly.

"Sorry, I didn't realize how exhausted I was until I sat down," he yawns. He pushes up into a sitting position and reaches for the whiskey I'm still holding.

"I know how you feel. I would have let you sleep there for longer, but I know from experience that sleeping on a fainting couch for an extended period wrecks your neck," I explain as I hand Kari the glass. He finishes the little bit that's left in the glass before he sets it on the table next to the couch.

"So, how did your secret meeting with Cillian go?" He stands up and offers me his hand. We head for my bed as I explain what we talked about, of course leaving out Cillian's untimely confession.

"Your father has the right idea," he comments as he starts to strip off his military regalia. I watch as more of his skin is exposed to me.

"He does, so for once, I'm not going to put up a fight about his decisions." This statement makes Kari stop with his shirt halfway off. He lowers it again so he can see my face. There is a genuine shock on his.

"You really are?" The disbelief in his voice is heavy.

"You've known me for two weeks. How are you surprised by this?"

"If there's one thing I've learned, it's that you like to argue about anything you see as unfair. Tradition. Laws. Declarations from the King Himself." He's grinning widely now as he tosses his shirt to the side and starts to work on his belt.

"And I've learned you really like to tease."

"Oh no. You are the only one I like to tease in any capacity," Kari says as he steps out of his pants. All he's wearing is a pair of white boxers. "Do you need help out of your dress?"

"Yes, please," I reply.

He steps up and gently grabs my waist. With firmness, Kari spins me around so that my back is to him. First, he removes my crown and places it in the box on my vanity. Then, he slowly works the zipper of my dress down. His fingers graze my skin the whole time, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake. Once the zipper is open, he tugs the straps off my shoulders. The dress slides off of me like liquid silver.

"You never stop being sexy," he whispers as he kisses the back of my neck. His fingers wind into my hair, and he starts to pull out all the pins holding it into a bun. Once they're all scattered onto my carpet, Kari turns my body to face his.

"Neither do you," I counter. Somehow, Kari's grin gets even more prominent.

"If we hadn't lost sleep over the raid and I hadn't had to exert myself with so many transformations, I would ravage you tonight," he purrs. My whole body shudders, and he chuckles.

I suggest ravaging me in the morning before training. It will make for a good warm-up.

"Sounds like a plan," he concurs as he scoops me up and carries me to my bed. He lays me down on the side I'm used to sleeping on and then crawls in behind me.

Just like every other time we've shared a bed, he pulls me to him until my back is flush with his chest. His cold skin relaxes me right away. As he tucks the blanket around us up to our chins, I already feel sleep lulling on my body. He presses a kiss on my shoulder, and I surrender to the darkness.

I awake a little while later to Kari's cold lips on my shoulder again. They're slowly trailing down my arm. A glance at the clock on my nightstand tells me it's after three in the morning.

"Too early," I mutter as he kisses the palm of my hand.

"I woke up from a wet dream about you." He pressed his hips into my ass, and sure enough, there was a big wet patch on his boxers. His cock is also still hard as a board.

"Don't want to move," I grumble as his hand grabs my thigh and pulls it up and over his hip.

"Then let me do all of the moving." I make a noise of confirmation and his fingers disappear between my thighs. The first stroke of his finger up my slit sends a jolt of pleasure through my whole body. Kari continues to slowly stroke his finger over my slit a few times before he pushes into my folds.

"Feels so amazing," I moan as his middle finger circles my clit in slow deep strokes. My body arches into his hand as he chuckles.

"You're already getting soaked for me," he whispers in my ear. "Already so soaked I could slide inside of you with no resistance."

"Do it," I breathe out.

"Use your manners."

"Please slide your cock inside of me and finally relieve us both of this insane tension," I whimper. As soon as the words are out of my mouth, Kari's hand disappears from my folds. He moves enough that he can take his boxers off, and then his cock is pushing against my pussy.

Without even waiting for me to start complaining, he lines himself up with my hole and starts to slide in. A moan rips its way out of my throat as Kari's cock does indeed slide fully inside of me with no resistance and little effort on his part. His cock is fully seated inside of me from this angle, and he stops moving.

"Please, Kari, please keep going," I whine again. Spurned on by my desperation, Kari slides his cock out to the tip and then drives it back in quickly. He curses and the is pushing me onto my stomach as he kneels between my legs from behind. He pulls my ass up into his hips, and the whole time, he manages to keep his cock inside of me.

Once he's got his balance, Kari starts to fuck me in quick and deep thrusts. Like he's going to cum now and wants to enjoy every last second. Kari's finger returns to my clit, and he's not being as teasing as he was earlier. He presses deep, rough, fast circles into my clit, and I cum in a few seconds. A scream rips out of my throat, and he shoves my face into the bed with his other hand to silence it.

"Such a good girl. I'm about to cum too. Should we get a head start on breeding our heir," he growls in my ear as he pulls me up by my hair.

"Fuck yes, please," I pant out as his fingers drag a second orgasm out of me. The tightening of my walls seems to pull him under, too, because his hips stutter and then stop. I can feel him pulsing inside of me erratically. His fingers continue to work my clit, and I come a third time. Finally, his hand withdraws from my clit, and I collapse into the bed. Kari pulls out and collapses next to me.

"That was fucking incredible," I pant out as I turn my head to look at Kari. He's panting, too, as he looks at me.

"Yes, it was," he agrees as he pulls my back to his chest again. "Still up for doing it again before training for a warm-up?"

"Only if you wake me up with better foreplay next time," I yawn. Sleep is already trying to tug me back under.

"I'll wake you up with my tongue in your cunt," he purrs into my ear. I shudder.

"Sounds like we have a deal then," I yawn again. Kari kisses my temple, and we both fall back asleep almost immediately.

[luxekook]

chapter two.

⇥ pairing: namjoon x reader; eventual bts/ot7 x reader

⇥ genre: college au with fluff, smut & angst

⇥ summary: a series in which the reader meets (and falls for) seven members of the Beta Tau Sigma (BTS) fraternity

⇥ word count: 2.3k

⇥ warnings: 18+, cursing, chaotic namjoon, power tools, hints of poly relationships, overall pretty smut free (who AM i???)

© luxekook. please do not repost, modify, edit or translate.

characters | prologue | one | two | three | four | five | six | seven | eight | nine

Chapter Two

Habitat for Humanity Worksite – 9:26am

When I signed up to volunteer Saturday morning of syllabus week, I should have known I would end up regretting it. I almost punted my alarm clock out of the apartment window this morning, but instead settled a slightly more civil action – punching the shit out of the ‘off’ button.

Don’t get me wrong: I love volunteering. It’s been part of my routine since sophomore year when I was recruited for the all-women’s service society on campus – the Alphites. As a society, us Alphites volunteer around campus and in our local community each week. There’s something about doing service together that really creates bonds, and the girls in the society have quickly become some of my closest friends.

We sign up to volunteer for a variety of different service projects each week, and Habitat is my current favorite project to sign up for. As a nonprofit organization, Habitat for Humanity helps families build and improve places to call home. Currently, our regional Habitat is working on building a house from the ground up for a local family in need.

Disclaimer: I am in no way, shape, or form a very ‘handy’ person. Luckily for me, there are always a couple volunteers with construction or engineering backgrounds who are willing to teach other volunteers with less experience – or none, like me.

Since beginning to volunteer at the site last year, I have learned how to use a power saw, how to fasten siding, and how to mix, pour and level cement. It’s definitely empowering to learn new skills and also to see how my handiwork contributes to someone’s future home. I also feel lowkey badass when I get to use the power drill for anything.

Pulling up to the worksite, I clutch my cherished 24oz. Wawa coffee. I finally feel somewhat human as I park my beat-up Jeep Wrangler and hop out to meet the other volunteers for our task assignments.

The site leader Eddie – a burly retiree with a background in construction management – greets me with a huge grin, “(y/n)-doll, we missed you this summer! I can’t believe you abandoned us during the hottest months of the year.”

I roll my eyes, smiling at his teasing. Eddie’s like a teddy bear disguised as a grizzly – all rough edges and a heart of gold. “Missed you, too, Eddie.”

“Look at our progress now,” he continues, “Pretty impressive, yeah?” Nodding, I greet some regular volunteers I recognize as Eddie leads me around the house. He proceeds to show me what they had done over the summer in my absence – and they had done a lot. The house now had its full foundation and wooden framing with most of the doors and windows installed.

As we walk back to the front of the house to the main area, I sip my coffee and turn to Eddie, “So, what can I work on today, fearless leader?”

Letting out a patented ‘Eddie belly-laugh’, he replies, “I know you worked on the siding at our last site so I'm gonna have you work on where we started the siding on the right side of the house.”

Sweet, I could work with that. “Aye, aye, captain,” I respond with a lazy salute of my coffee cup. Before I can turn to start towards the scaffolding to begin, Eddie stops me.

“Oh, one more thing. I’m gonna need you to orient our new volunteer and let him shadow you today. Kid’s from the same school as you, I think… Mandatory service. Anyway, he should be here any minute.”

Shit, I know what ‘mandatory service’ means. It’s the first form of disciplinary action that the college issues and is usually the only form of disciplinary action for our athletes or for Greek life – a fact I actively resent. During my time in the Alphites, I have had to deal with some of these ‘mandatory service’ characters and they’ve never been much fun to be around.

“Ah, that’s probably him now,” Eddie startles me out of my thoughts of dread and doom as a black gleaming Tesla practically purrs down the block, swinging into the spot next to my Wrangler. Scowling, I cross my arms as I survey the stark contrast between this person’s shiny-ass luxury car and my dirty-ass well-loved Jeep.

The Tesla door opens. A Timberland booted foot emerges followed by a thick leg encased in light jeans, a tanned well-muscled arm…

No. Nope, it couldn’t be— Please, not today, Satan.

He stands with his back to us now, stretching out his large body. In only a cutoff t-shirt, his rippling back muscles might be enough to send me into an early grave.

I sigh in bitter defeat of the inevitable. Seriously, the fucking universe must have it out for me because I can’t seem to shake this stupid fucking fraternity.

As if the boy feels my eyes on him, he turns. His eyes immediately clash with mine as he slams his car door, clicking the lock over his shoulder. Those eyes – golden brown beneath dark brows and a wave of bleached blonde hair. Their focus is absolute – hard – as he strolls towards us. It’s almost as if he knows the maddening effect that he has on me.

I think Eddie is speaking, but my senses are on lockdown, his words muted. My thighs tighten as my pulse picks up. Get a fucking grip, (y/n). I can’t let him know that just one look from him has me thirsty and oxygen-deprived. I can’t look away – that would be succumbing to weakness.

Instead, I hold his heated gaze as best I can as his confident gait brings him closer. God, he’s got to be at least 6 foot...

The goddamn president of BTS Kim Namjoon is getting closer and I can’t help running my eyes over him.

His thighs flex and shift beneath his jeans with every calculated step. His abs are apparent under his tight cutoff shirt emblazoned with his fraternity letters.

Namjoon stops in front of us, hands stuffed into his back pockets, biceps flexing. “Nice to finally meet you, Eddie,” Namjoon takes his eyes off me long enough to greet Eddie and shake his hand, but then they’re right back on me, “Hi, (y/n).”

He drags out my name in a such a sinful way that even old Eddie does a slight doubletake. Clearing his throat unnecessarily loudly, Eddie booms, “You two know each other?”

“No.”

“Yes.”

Our differing replies sound at the same time.

“Yes,” Namjoon repeats, lips turning up in an infuriating smile, “We have several mutual friends that she’s met a couple times now. Want me to jog your memory? I’d be more than happy to do so.”

Eddie takes one look at my face and hustles off, mumbling something about support beams. I guess my inner thoughts of ‘kill, maim, slaughter’ could easily be read from my facial expression.

Namjoon opens his mouth to speak again, but I’m faster, “Listen, Kim, I don’t know who you think you are, and, quite frankly, I don’t care. What I do care about is this house and these people working on it. Don’t fuck this up for me, okay? Let’s just get through today and then you can go back to ordering around your brothers and causing general mayhem.”

I’m feeling pretty proud of my little soliloquy until I realize he’s still smiling with those blasted dimples out in full display. No, his smile has grown even wider now as he simply answers, “The semester.”

My nose crinkles in confusion, “What?”

“The semester,” he repeats, “I’m assigned here every Saturday for the rest of the semester.”

I stare at him.

He smirks back.

I stare.

His smirk begins to fade, “Uh, did you hear me?”

I stare.

“Okay, you’re creeping me out now, (y/n),” Namjoon waves his giant paw of a hand in front of my face, “How many fingers?”

I break out of my trance of denial and hiss, “What did you do? Double homicide? Serial arson? Oh my god, you were the one who blew up the science lab!”

His hand covers my mouth – it’s rough and warm and entirely disarming.

“You have quite the imagination, jagi. I’ll keep that in mind,” Namjoon chuckles, “To answer your question, I did none of the above. Now, answer a couple questions of mine: what did you do to get here and – more importantly – why did you distract Jungkook from doing his fucking job on Monday?”

I glare in response, waiting for him to remove his hand from my mouth. He takes too long, and I lick his palm. It works. He removes his hand, but from the look on his face it seems like he liked my tongue on his skin entirely too much.

Thankfully, Eddie chooses the perfect moment to yell across the site, “What are you doing just standing there, (y/n)-doll? I don’t pay you to just loiter around all day!”

“You don’t pay me at all!” I yell back, already moving towards the trailer with all the supplies to get started. Namjoon follows.

“(y/n)-doll?” his eyebrows are raised as I hand him a pair of the biggest gloves I could find, “What’s up with that?”

Taking a pair of smaller gloves for myself, I turn to look for some hammers and nails as I respond, “I’ve been here a while. He’s like my honorary grandfather at this point.”

I spot the hammers and nails tucked away on the highest corner shelf and I huff. Namjoon follows my gaze, “Need a strong, intelligent, tall young man to grab those for you?”

He’s impossible, but for some reason it draws a small smile to my face, “Yes, that’d be great.”

The smile I receive in response is so bright I wonder if it could make flowers grow, “Okay, but only if answer my questions, (y/n).”

I shrug, trying not to notice how his cutoff shirt rises as he stretches to reach the upper shelf. I catch a sudden glimpse of his abs, and I praise every god out there that hot weather can be blamed for my sudden onset of sweat. 

Clearing my throat, I laugh lightly, “Fine, first of all, I didn’t ‘distract’ Jeon. I just had a temporary lapse in judgement. Besides, he came to me all on his own.” His back muscles tense up at my words, but I continue, “And second of all, there’s no juicy story of how I got here. I just volunteer here every Saturday for the Alphites.”

The sound of a hammer hitting the floor startles me as he whirls around, “You’re an Alphite?”

Namjoon’s tone is one of disbelief and it’s a tone I do not appreciate, “Yes, why is that so hard to believe?” My arms cross defensively, “I’ve been a sister since my sophomore year...”

I trail off. He’s still gawking at me ridiculously. Narrowing my eyes, I stride across the trailer and grab his chin, closing his mouth for him, “Watch out, Kim, you’re gonna catch flies.”

Spinning on my heels, I sashay out of the trailer, nose held high in the air and satisfaction held even higher. He’ll catch up. After all, he’s basically supposed to be my bitch today.

I climb up the scaffolding next to the house’s right side and assess the siding work that has already been started. It looks pretty solid and level. I should have no issue with continuing without having to make any initial corrections.

The sound of a bucket of nails hitting the top platform I’m sitting on alerts me of Namjoon’s impending presence. Saving the bucket from teetering over the edge – a safety hazard for sure – I watch amusedly as Namjoon struggles stay upright and climb up to where I am on the scaffolding. Finally, he plops down next to me – entirely too close. I can feel his stare on my skin as I steadfastly ignore him.

“Hey, jagi,” he pokes my arm, “(y/n), listen, you just caught me off guard. I mean, you don’t seem like the type to be an Alphite – that’s all.”

Fury curls up inside me for the umpteenth time that morning, as I turn to face Namjoon with a sickly-sweet smile that has him flinching back, “Then do tell, Namjoon, what type I seem to be?”

I pick up the hammer closest to me and dip a hand into the nail bucket. The sooner this siding got done, the sooner I could haul ass out of here.

“I feel like that’s a trick question,” Namjoon sighs, rubbing a hand over his chin, “I didn’t mean anything bad by it, okay? I guess I just have always thought that your society was a bunch of mom-types—”

I cut him off with a swing of my hammer in the air, “What’s wrong with mom-types, you uncultured swine? And is serving your community really such a ‘mom’ thing to do? I’m sorry. I must have missed that memo. Here I was thinking that it was public service but go off I guess.”

He blinks, “Did you just call me an ‘uncultured swine’?”

I sniff in indignation, “Get with the times, Kim. I just roasted your ass. Now hand me that piece of siding and make yourself useful.”

“You’re so weird,” Namjoon mutters, sliding my request over to me.

“So what?” I shrug, ��All the best people are weird. Now, do me a solid and explain to me why you and your ‘brothers’ keep suspiciously popping up everywhere I go.”

“Haven’t you figured it out yet?” he grins, “We’re interested.”

“What does that even mean? That you’re interested?” I wrack my brain, “As in all seven of you fuckers?”

“It means, jagi,” Namjoon pauses, leaning closer, “It means that we’re going to date the shit out of you.”

a/n: i love namjoon. that is all. 

taglist (message me to be added):

@catsandstrawberries @h5naaa @meowmeowyoongles @leftflowerprunedonut @rjsmochii @athletes-of-god @karissassirak @weallhavesecretsinthebestway @cvbachacbitch @bewitch3dforivar @honeyspillings @xxonyxpearlxx​  @valiantcollectorofsandwiches @fivesecondsofsarang 

[deadpanglossian]

My reaction watching AOT S4 E64 as an anime-only fan:

This whole episode gives out unsettling vibes. The music is so on point.

The name of the women who had wine spilt on her kimono last episode is Kiyomi Azumabito. An Asian. Mikasa is half Asian. I hope they will meet someday. Wait, she did left the scene pretty early right? So, she must've known of the attack beforehand. She's been good to Udo last time, and she seems to not despise Eldians like others. An ally?

Who was the soldier who split the wariors and trapped them? Highly likely that it was someone from Paradis. Tall, blonde hair, with facial hair as noted by Pieck. Pieck said he looks like someone she's seen before. Blonde hair.. Armin? But when Pieck saw him last time he was burnt to crisp right? The only bearded person from Paradis we've seen in the end of episode 60 was Jean. Pieck have seen Jean before, I believe, when she came to retrieve Reiner in Shiganshina. Also, only Zeke was told to go to the other location. Is Levi there, waiting for the chance to kill him? Wait, we saw baseball glove with Eren last time which I suspected to be from Zeke. SO IS ZEKE AN ALLY? Dammit, I'm so curious! 3 of the warriors are now trapped underground to prevent them from transforming. Or, the Survey Corps might want to capture them alive to steal their power or??? Assuming that Zeke could be an ally, Survey Corps + Zeke might have other plans that need the all the 9 titans to be on the same side??? I might be thinking too much lol

Ahh they used shadow puppets to reenact the history of Eldia and Marley. There seems to be different versions of the history. The one told to the people of Paradis, Marley, and the one from Tybur clan. Also, I don't really remember, but the one from Historia's book with Krista as Ymir. Which one is the truth tho. I bet none of them.

Willy said that they are declaring war because the founding titan is no longer with the royals and is now a threat to the world. If the world knows that King Fritz will not unleash the rumbling before this episode, and if Grisha didn't eat Frieda and the founding titan remains with the royal family, is it possible that Paradis will be left alone and they'll be living in peace? I don't think so. Marley knows about King Fritz's will and have no idea that the founding titan was no longer with the royals, yet they still send Reiner & co. to locate and capture the founding titan.

Kenny & Uri!!!

I feel really sorry for Reiner. His nightmare is coming back to haunt him. Look at how broken he was. He can't take it anymore, he wanted to die, to be killed. Like Annie said in the flashback, he wanted to be punished for his sins. As he said he wants to die, Willy said he has to live on because he was born into this world.

I was right, Eren is like Paradisian Reiner. He thought at the other side of the sea were enemies, turns out the enemies are just like them, nothing as devilish as they were make to believe. Only different circumstances. But he choose to move forward, just like Reiner when he insist to continue the operation without Marcel. Reiner's reason was because he wants to become a hero. What's Eren's reason? To be free from the enemies even when he knew the enemies are not as devilish? Or as a payback for when they broke the walls? A revenge for his mother like what Grisha said before he took Eren to the woods and to turn Eren into a titan shifter?

When Eren transformed, he killed the people inside the building, people of the same blood, Eldians. No different than when Reiner broke the wall and killed the people in Shiganshina. I wonder what did Eren feel. Will he break down from carrying heavy guilt like Reiner? But I feel like Eren has been broken the moment he touched Historia's hand and regained memories. He was like a totally different person when they reached the sea in Season 3.

Eren killed Willy just like that?? Like literally after he declared war against Paradis??? Whoa.. right when the world was about to be united to fight a common enemy. *Cue Armin's voice "On that day, humanity was reminded.."

This episode worth the wait! Can't wait for next episode. Warhammer titan, a titan never seen before. Although not shown in the preview, I hope the Survey Corps will finally show up!!!

I am currently at chapter 86 of the manga. I'll probably gonna catch up to the anime soon and will graduate from being an anime-only fan lol

Edit:

Pieck seems to already figured out that the guy who called them over was an enemy, that line about beard is probably something about Pieck recognizing that the beard was fake and used for disguise maybe? When she hugged a member of Panzer unit, it's possible that she whispered something to them about the enemy.

[wntersfire]

GET TO KNOW ME TAG GAME

Before I start I would just like to say (tw alcohol for now and question 19) sorry for any spelling mistakes or if I ramble a little. To cut a long fuckin story short I mis read the measurements of my shot glasses and so instead of having two cocktails I’ve had the equivalent of four in the space of an hour and a half. Being british, im not gonna let a good drink go to waste either so im onto my third/sixth now.

Tagged by @clints-lucky-arrow (an actual goddess among us mortals)

1. Why did you choose your URL?

So this reason is two-fold. One, I didn’t watch star wars growing up because I was dumb and didn’t understand the politics (it wasn’t until my boyfriend sat me down and explained it literally in January of this year that I actually got it) but I loved Sci-fi and space so the next best thing was Treasure Planet (2003 film, Available on didney+) My favourite scene is the ending when Long John Silver (spoilers) is about leave before he can be arrested and Jim confronts him. Seeing how much his character has grown, Silver says to Jim, “Look at you, glowing like a silver fire. You’re something special, Jim. You’re gonna rattle the stars, you are.” It literally makes me tear up every single time I watch it and its one of my favourite lines of all time. Second, this was actually quoted in one of my favourite book series ‘Throne of glass’ by Sarah J Maas. I adore the character of Celeana and again one of my favourite quotes from TOG is when Queen Elena says to Celeana“ You could rattle the stars. You could do anything, if only you dared.” Every time I read that line I literally get chills and I actually have plans to get this tattooed on me lmao

2. Any side blogs?

Yes my fanfic blog @second-stars-totheright (I like puns and I used to love peter pan)

3. How long have you been on tumblr?

I joined when I was 13 for the fanfiction and lurked for a very long time, just reblogging and liking things until I deleted it when I was 17. Re downloaded the app and got my account back back around February of this year (when I was 19, now 20) and since then I’ve found it much friendlier and actually interacted with people this time around, and actually started posting my work on here!

4. Do you have a queueue tag?

No. This is my general postings blog so I just kind of stick anything funny or worth keeping here, but I probably should make one!

5. Why did you start your blog in the first place?

As I said to read fanfiction (anyone wondering it was 5 seconds of summer fanfiction. Anyone who judges me in the comments its fair game 🥺) but I re-downloaded it this year because I noticed with my work on Wattpad, while I had some do really well (one has gotten 130k+ views) its very difficult to actually interact with readers and get feedback. I’ve only accumulated that high of a number after 5 years of it being on there, and so tumblr is just so much more personal!

6. Why did you choose your icon/pfp?

I did it this morning as I was getting tagged in this lmao. I wanted a cartoon girl who looked like me but because I had a specific colouring (ie my hair is black with a blonde streak at the front & my eyes have both blue and green segments because I have heterochromia) I couldn’t find any that looked like me so I recoloured a cartoon girl I found on pinterest.

7. Why did you choose you header?

The white clouds fit the stars theme and it looks pretty with the purple. ✨💜

8. Whats your post with the most notes?

“That girl is a problem | Javier Pena x Agent!Reader part 1” with 105 notes on my fanfic blog.

9. How many mutuals do you have?

I am still a little tumblr idiot when it comes to this so if someone could tell me how to find out I'll edit this

10. How many followers do you have?

72 on here, 107 on my fanfic blog (AND I LOVE ALL OF YOU ACROSS BOTH OF THEM MWAH, MWAH KISSES FOR YOU ALL 💜💜💜)

11. How many people do you follow?

165 (it was 700+ but the other day I unfollowed a bunch of accounts that haven’t been active since I followed them when I was 13. There were LOTS)

12. Have you ever made a shit post?

I mean all you have to do is look at the Nomad memes I make (UNAPOLOGETICALLY I might add 😤) for @clints-lucky-arrow to know I absolutely have. That series has a hold over me im telling you. I black out when I start reading and I awake with a bunch of meme editing apps open and my feelings tugged at from her amazing writing.

13. How often do you use Tumblr each day?

If I’m with my boyfriend which is like two days a week, rarely, but now I’ve finished uni, I’m on here all the god damn time. I feel so comfy and safe interacting with you all, not to mention some of you guys are funny as hell.

14. Did you have a fight with a blog once?

Not really on here, I haven’t received any hate luckily but I prefer not to spoil how comfy I am here with arguing.

15. How do you feel about ‘you need to re-blog this’ posts?

I’m a little confused by this I dunno whether I’ve just never come across any like this or if Stars is being a bimbo on the tl again. However, I only reblog things I’d like to keep for future reference or if something deserves to be shared to everyone else like a fic rec or a piece of art. (As Mack said, I’ve re-blogged so many in the past promising me money or luck and I am still broke as shit so what does that tell you).

16. Do you like tag games?

Yes!! I love reading everyone elses and getting to know my mutals better!

17. Do you like ask games?

Again yesss because it means I get to send love to my mutuals and get to know them better! I tend to not participate though just read their responses because I sometimes feel like I’m bugging people clogging their inboxes even though I know that’s the point idk I’m a hell of an over thinker sometimes 🥳

18. Which of your mutuals do you think is tumblr famous?

It’s been said before but @clints-lucky-arrow (wow you rlly owning this post bby girl) but I just remember lurking on Nomad early February and liking and reblogging her chapters so I could keep them to re-read cause that’s how much I instantly loved it and when she followed me I realised who she was and lowkey had a starstruck moment bcus id been ciaght up in her work for weeks and too nervous to make contact. Also @arduadastra, I saw her work all over the pedro tags for so long and now I’ve gotten to know her she is the sweetest girl!! We usually fan over Javier Pena gifs together, she’s solely responsible for ‘That girl is a problem’ bcus of her gif sending at 1am giving me Javi thots and now it’s my most successful one on my blog. And most recently @pedrosgirlx followed me this morning and her work is genuinely some of the best I've seen on here, as I said this morning it is the Sistine Chapel ceiling of Mando art it is actually jaw dropping!! I cant believe all these creators are rlly giving us this content for free and yet being so talented AND the nicest people I’ve ever met!!

19. Do you have a crush on a mutual?

No, although I hold a lot of them dearly as friends. 15/10 would treat you lovelies to a drink of your choice if we ever met (any of you from the uk who drink I’d get you a pitcher from Whetherspoons)

20. Absolutely no pressure tags:

anyone who wants to join! a lot of people I would have tagged have already posted theirs so go for it if you like the look of it!

[crowdvscritic]

round up // MARCH + APRIL 21

March and April were a whirlwind of vaccines and awards shows! A full year after we starting staying at home, the end of this weird chapter in recent history seems like it might finally be coming to a close, and this pop culture awards season—typically a time full of fun and glamour—captured our moment weirdly well. (Emphasis on the weird.) This month’s recommendations is filled with more Critic Picks than usual, so without further delay, let’s dive right in...

March + April Crowd-Pleasers

Double Feature — 2018 Action Thrillers: Bad Times at the El Royale + Den of Thieves

In Bad Times at the El Royale (Crowd: 9/10, // Critic: 8/10), Jeff Bridges, Cynthia Erivo, Jon Hamm, Chris Hemsworth, and Dakota Johnson are staying at a motel on the California-Nevada state line full of money, murder, and mystery. In Den of Thieves (Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 6.5/10), Gerard Butler takes on some of the best bank robbers in the world. Whether you like your action with a dose of mystery or the thrills of plot twists, these will fit the bill.

Double Feature — ‘80s Comedies: Caddyshack (1980) + Splash (1984)

In the mood for pure silliness? Take your pick between a mermaid and a gopher! Five years before The Little Mermaid, Tom Hanks fell for Daryl Hannah’s blonde hair and scaly tail, and John Candy was his goofy brother in Splash (Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 7/10). And four years before Ghostbusters, Bill Murray was the goof on a golf course full of funny people like Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, and Ted Knight in Caddyshack (Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 6.5/10).

Double Feature — 1980s Coming-of-Age Films Starring Corey Feldman, Kiefer Sutherland, and Challenging Brother Relationships That Influenced Stranger Things: Stand by Me (1986) + The Lost Boys (1987)

Believe it or not, I had no idea these two ‘80s classics had so much in common when I chose to watch them back-to-back. In Rob Reiner’s adaptation of Stephen King’s Stand by Me (Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 9/10), four kids (Feldman, Jerry O’Connell, River Phoenix, and Wil Wheaton) are following train tracks to find a missing body. In The Lost Boys (Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 7/10), Corey Haim and Jason Patric move to a small California town and discover it’s full of ‘80s movie star cameos and…vampires? One is a thoughtful coming-of-age story and one is just bonkers, but both are a great time.

Spaceman by Nick Jonas (2021)

My love for the Jonas Brothers is well-documented, so instead of going down the rabbit hole I started digging at 15, I’ll talk about how Nick Jonas’s latest solo album will likely appeal to a wider audience than just the fans of the brothers’ bombastic pop records. It’s full of catchy tunes you’ll play on repeat and an R&B-influenced album experience about the loneliness we’ve experienced in the last year and how we try to make long-term relationships work.

Ted Lasso (2020- )

I love stories about nice people crushing cruelty and cynicism with relentless kindness, and Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) is the warmest, most dedicated leader this side of Leslie Knope. Be sure to catch up on these witty and sweet 10 episodes before season 2 drops later this summer.

Double Feature — Tony Scott Action Flicks: Enemy of the State (1998) + The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009)

Tony Scott’s movies have got explosions and excitement in spades. I love a good man-on-the-run movie, and in Enemy of the State (Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 8/10), Will Smith is running through the streets of D.C. after getting evidence of a politician’s (Jon Voight) part in a murder. I also love a tense story set in a confined space, which is what Denzel Washington is dealing with in The Taking of Pelham 123 (Crowd: 9.5/10 // Critic: 7/10) after a hammy John Travolta takes a New York subway train hostage.

Double Feature — Baseball Movies: The Natural (1984) + Trouble With the Curve (2012)

Sue me—I love baseball movies. Robert Redford plays a fictional all-time great in the early days of the MLB in The Natural (Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 9/10), and Clint Eastwood plays a fictional all-time great scout in his late career in Trouble With the Curve (Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 7.5/10). If you love baseball or actors like Amy Adams, Glenn Close, Robert Duvall, and Justin Timberlake, these movies are just right here waiting for you.

Nate Bargatze: The Greatest Average American (2021)

Sue me—I enjoy Netflix standup comedy specials that are safe enough to watch with your whole family. That’s exactly the crowd I laughed with over Easter weekend, and while the trailer captures Bargatze’s relaxed vibe, it doesn’t capture how funny he really is.

The Mighty Ducks (1992)

I thought somewhere in my childhood I’d seen at least one of The Mighty Ducks movies, but after watching all three, I think my memories must’ve come from previews on the VHS tapes for other Disney movies I watched over and over again. The original still holds up as an grown-ups, which is why even my parents got sucked in to this family movie while just passing through the living room. Bonus for ‘80s movies lovers: Emilio Estevez is basically continuing Andrew Clark’s story from The Breakfast Club as an adult. Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 6.5/10

Double Feature — New, Dumb Action on Streaming: Godzilla vs. Kong + Thunder Force (2021)

If you want something intelligent, go ahead and skip to the next recommendation, but if you’re looking for something stupid fun, these are ready for you on HBO Max and Netflix. Thunder Force (Crowd: 8.5/10 // Critic: 6/10) follows Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer as they train to become superheroes who take on superhuman sociopaths wreaking havoc on Chicago, and alongside Jason Bateman, they do it with a lot of laughs. Godzilla vs. Kong (Crowd: 9.5/10 // Critic: 5/10) is, um, exactly what it sounds like, so I’ll skip a plot summary and just say it’s exactly what you want from this kind of movie. #TeamKong

3:10 to Yuma (2007)

All you need to know is Russell Crowe is an outlaw, and Christian Bale is the guy who’s got to get him on the train to prison. I also watched the 1957 version, which is also a solid watch if you love classic Westerns. Crowd: 9/10 // Critic: 8/10

Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)

Marvel’s newest series isn’t nearly as inventive as WandaVision, and it may not land every beat, but it’s worth a watch for the fun new gadgets, Sebastian Stan’s dry joke delivery, and its exploration into themes of what makes a hero and what governments owe their citizens. It’s a pretty satisfying entry in the MCU canon, but I’d also recommend re-watching Captain America: Winter Soldier and Civil War—the canon is getting expansive, and it’s getting trickier every year to keep up with all the backstory.

March + April Critic Picks

Best of 2020 Picks

As per usual, the months leading up to the Oscars becomes a binge period for potential Oscar nominees. In March and April, I watched many of the films that made my Top 20 of 2020, including Boys State, The Father, Judas and the Black Messiah, Let Them All Talk, Minari, Nomadland, On the Rocks, One Night in Miami…, Promising Young Woman, Soul, and Sound of Metal. You can read how I ranked them on my list for ZekeFilm, plus reviews of The Father, Minari, Promising Young Woman, and Soul.

Bonus: If you loved On the Rocks, don’t miss this feature and beautiful photography starring Sofia Coppola, Kirsten Dunst, Elle Fanning, and Rashida Jones for W Magazine. 

Stranger Than Fiction (2006)

What would you do if you started hearing a voice who narrated your every thought and move? If you’re Will Ferrell, you’ll seek out a literary professor (Dustin Hoffman), fall in love (with Maggie Gyllenhaal), and track down the voice (Emma Thompson) who’s making ominous predictions about your future. Stranger Than Fiction is funny thought-provoking, and an unusual but welcome role for Ferrell. Crowd: 9.5/10 // Critic: 9/10

All the Royal Family News

Speaking of stranger than fiction, it’s been a busy few months for the Royal Family. We’ve celebrated 95th birthday of Queen Elizabeth, the 3rd birthday of Prince Louis, and the 10th anniversary of Will and Kate’s marriage. We also lost Prince Philip, and we watched the drama of Harry and Meaghan’s interview with Oprah. No matter what happens to their Crown, I don’t think we’ll ever get over our fascination with the Windsor family. A few pieces worth reading from the last few months:

“In Meghan and Harry’s Interview, Two TV Worlds Collided,” Vulture.com

“The Queen’s Man: Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Dies,” TIME.com

“Obituary: HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,” BBC.com

Goodfellas (1990)

One of my film opinions that makes me feel like a phony is that Martin Scorsese just isn’t my cup of tea. He’s brilliant, but his films tend to be long and dark, two qualities that are never my first choice…and somehow Goodfellas still worked for me? Maybe it was the TV edit graciously toning down the violence or maybe it was that Ray Liotta and Joe Pesci were firing on all cylinders, but for some reason this ‘90s classic didn’t suck the joy out of my evening like Scorsese often does. (Bonus: For a Martin Scorsese/Robert De Niro I don’t really recommend, head to the last section of this Round Up.)

Fearless (Taylor’s Version) (2021)

Her voice has only matured, so Taylor Swift revisiting her old albums is like upgrading a blast to the past. Plus, the six new tracks make me feel like 15 crushing on that boy in Spanish class again, and her Grammys performance (just before her third Album of the Year win) was magical and folklore-tastic.

Double Feature — ‘60s Action Classics: The Guns of Navarone (1961) + Planet of the Apes (1968)

The Guns of Navarone (Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 8.5/10) follows Gregory Peck and David Niven as they destroy Nazi weapons in the Mediterranean. Planet of the Apes (Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 8.5/10) follows Charlton Heston as he attempts to escape from, well, a planet full of apes. The pacing of ‘60s films doesn’t always hold up, but that’s not the case with this pair. Both are still full of suspense, and you can’t go wrong hanging with casts like these.

Let Him Go (2020)

Kevin Costner and Diane Lane play a farming couple who unexpectedly help raise a boy who lost his biological father—sound familiar? But instead of a superhero origin story, they’re part of a thrilling Western with performances nuanced (Costner and Lane) and showy (Lesley Manville). If I’d watched this before completing my Best of 2020 piece, it likely would’ve been on my list. Crowd: 8/10 // Critic: 8.5/10

The Oscars

I’m a ride-or-die fan of the Academy Awards, but I’ll admit even I found this year’s ceremony odd. Instead of focusing on what wasn’t so hot, I’ll recommend a few moments you don’t want to miss:

Emerald Fennell giving a shout-out to Saved by the Bell

Daniel Kaluuya acknowledging his parents’ sex life during his acceptance speech (??)

Yuh-Jung Yoon flirting with Brad Pitt and acknowledging she’s just “luckier” than her fellow nominees

Glenn Close dancing to…”Da Butt”?

You can also read about the historic wins and nominations from this year’s Oscar class and why the Golden Globes were an even stranger production weeks earlier.

Trailer-palooza!

Movies are on their way back, y’all! I’m counting down the days until I can get back to a theatre, and even if some of these movies are duds, I’m planning to see all of them on a big screen if possible:

Those Who Wish Me Dead (May 14)

Cruella (May 28)

In the Heights (June 11)

Space Jam 2 (July 16)

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (September 3)

West Side Story (December 10)

Also in March + April…

To add to the Oscars love, you can listen to a conversation about what we learn about family, community, and society in some of the year’s biggest nominees on the Uncommon Voices podcast. I join regular hosts Michael and Kenneth in this episode, and I recommend all of their thoughtful discussions on their “What’s Streaming” episodes.

I’ve previously recommended the Do You Like Apples weekly newsletter, so I’m proud to share I contributed twice in March! I wrote about Love and Basketball, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, and one of my all-time favorite Julia Roberts rom-coms, Notting Hill. (I also tied to win their Oscars pool, but I suppose that’s less exciting for you than me.)

It was a busy couple of months on SO IT’S A SHOW! New logo, new email list, new Instagram, and a host of new episodes about a flop of a Madonna flick, a Swedish children’s TV show, an urban legend turned into a horror movie, one of the best films about journalism ever, and a Martin Scorsese movie about a real boxer.

Most of what I wrote for ZekeFilm in March and April was mentioned in Best of 2020 recommendations…except for The Nest, a film that couldn’t figure out what genre it wanted to be.

Photo credits: Nick Jonas, Royal Family. All others IMDb.com.

[fallstreakfeathers]

Don’t Look Down

[Ch 1 ] [Ch Rating: T )  [Word count: 4898 ) (Also posted under ‘Arkhelios’ on Ao3. https://archiveofourown.org/works/23956846/chapters/57618382 Do not repost to other sites. ) Update 9/21- grammar/etc has been edited and corrected. Should flow much better and clearer

[ If you had told Kita as she lay herself against her old pillow and pulled the scratchy wool blanket over her head that the next time she opened her eyes, she’d be trapped in a room full of attractive men who claimed to be demons, she would’ve offered to drive you to the nearest mental ward. And yet, here she was.]

 Kita sighed, shifting her arms into a more comfortable position as she shoved her face deeper in her own warmth. The room’s cool air sent a light shiver up her spine. She slowly became aware of the soft buzzing of voices, muffled by the pressure of her ears against her forearms. “... -eird way to sleep,” one said. She shifted in an attempt to hear better. “Looks like the spell is wearing off,” another muttered. Where...am I? She must’ve fallen asleep at the desk again. Go figure. 

She could feel the soft cotton of her pajamas, a t-shirt and sweatpants, and the small granola bar that she always kept hidden in its pockets pressed loosely against her leg.

I was sleeping… Did I leave the television on? “Welcome to the Devildom! As a human, it may take some time for you to adjust here.” What kind of name was ‘Devildom’? What the hell was playing? Some dumb new show, probably. Oh well. She could turn the television off later. For now, it would stay on and mask the sounds of vehicles and people in the streets. It was doing this remarkably well, Kita thought. “...Kita?” That was strange. Television shows rarely said her name. She blinked, raising her head from the hard surface below her and wiping at her bleary eyes before blinking as she tried to focus. She immediately sat straight, eyes wide with alarm as the fog in her mind finally cleared. In front of her was a group of men, eyeing her expectantly or with mild annoyance as she slowly glanced around the rest of the room. With a quick look down, she thanked every deity and spirit she knew of that she’d been too lazy to remove her sports bra that day. How long had she been asleep? No light fixtures hung from the ceiling. Instead, the lighting came from the moon that hovered brightly in the night skies beyond the windows of the room, and the candelabra scattered around the tables. Only a few were lit.

A large banner dangled above each of the cushioned chairs. Each had been decorated in gold, and the black silhouette of an animal stood ominously against the violet material. From left to right the emblems bore a peacock, crow, serpent, a unicorn, a scorpion, a fly, and the last held something she couldn’t quite identify. A bull, maybe? The banners could’ve used some better composition, in her opinion. The red-headed man in the center had paused for a moment for Kita to respond, frowning a bit when she watched him with wary eyes. “...Oh, pardon me. Feeling a bit shocked, are we?” Kita remained silent in her confusion, shifting slightly under the man’s golden eyes. She blinked once, and then again, before finally comprehending her small discovery with a sudden clarity. Gold, not brown or green or blue like most people. Contacts? They looked real. She took a quick look across the line of men seated in front of her. She was met with four sets of irises just as oddly colored. Black eyes watched her from under the peacock banner. She wasn’t sure if the red glow was natural or an effect from the fire. Next was a blond man with bright green-blue irises that looked not the least bit interested in her but had an intelligence she knew was far beyond her own. Beside him sat another male. He bore eyes like the colors of the rising sun and he regarded her with what seemed, to Kita, to be too much interest. The last held a grumpy expression and his violet irises stood out against his fiery orange hair. The seats that corresponded to the crow, snake, and bull were empty.

“I think the human might be broken,” the second to last murmured before the one beside him threw a warning glance.

“I suppose I should start by introducing myself.” It would appear… they kidnapped me? Kita resisted the urge to squint at the warm tone of his words. If this was real, then surely nobody who’d gone through the trouble of stealing someone from their bed...desk… home in the middle of the night would have their captives’ best interest in mind? No. She’d have to escape as soon as possible. She swallowed, her mouth dry and muscles tense, and she shook uncomfortably under the sudden hot flashes and lightheadedness traveling through her like fire. This must all be a strange dream, Kita decided. But it couldn’t be. Her anxiety was too real. The nauseating dizziness, like a ship on rough seas, was too visceral and she could feel every muscle as they cramped.

“My name is Diavolo.” So, when am I going to wake up? She considered making a break for the door, but quickly pushed the idea aside. She didn’t know what this building’s layout was, and there was sure to be people in the hallways. She’d never make it. Besides, the door was enormous and looked solid. It would take too much time and energy to open. Better to wait. “I am the ruler of all demons, and all here know me. Someday soon, I’ll be crowned the king of the Devildom.” He was the prince? Should she bow?… Maybe not. She stilled and blanched, sitting somewhat straighter in her alarm when the next word of the sentence finally registered. Demons? That was... that’s impossible. Demons weren’t any more real than werewolves or unicorns or dragons. Interesting and fun to read about or study in fiction, but completely imaginary. Why can’t I wake up?

“This is the Royal Academy of Diavolo. We just call it RAD.” Kita nearly snorted. She supposed having to go to school in Hell would make sense. She took a breath to calm herself and quiet her trembling. If these men really were demons, the last thing she wanted was to appear weak in their presence. Many monsters, she knew, fed off fear and other such negative emotions. “Why am I here?” 

I’m still tired. What time is it? She clenched her jaw before she had the chance to voice the offhand thoughts.

“I will explain everything to you,” the man in front of the peacock banner stated.

“Kita, this is Lucifer,” Kita opened her mouth as if to speak but closed it just as quickly, eyeing them both with a guarded expression as her discomfort, again, rose, “He’s a demon and the Avatar of Pride.” You’ve got to be shitting me. Of course his name is Lucifer.

“He’s the vice president of the student council and my right-hand man...aside from that, he’s also my most trusted friend.” Diavolo’s laughter was loud, joyous, and startling. She gripped her thigh painfully tight to hide her flinch. She was very much awake now, and she struggled to control her breathing again, cursing herself as the severity of her situation began to set in. She was kidnapped from her small and lonely home, in her sleep, and now she was sitting in what apparently was Hell itself, in a room with not only the Prince of the realm but Lucifer himself and what was likely 4 other demons of the same strength and cruelty. “Flattery gets you nowhere, Diavolo,” Lucifer muttered. “Why am I here?” Kita couldn’t hide the fear and irritation in her voice this time, and she chastised herself. “I’m not dead yet, am I?” She earned herself a slight chuckle from the prince. “You aren’t.” “This one’s really different from Solomon.” Why did that name sound vaguely familiar, Kita wondered. Probably some book she read. It wasn’t uncommon for names to be repeated. “Diavolo believes that we demons should start strengthening our relationship with both the mortal world and Celestial Realm,” Lucifer explained. Celestial Realm? Ah...If the Devildom was Hell, then that must be Heaven. “As the first step towards this goal, we’ve instituted an exchange program. We’ve sent two of our students to the human world, and two to the Celestial Realm. I take it you’ve figured it out at this point?” Kita frowned at the barely hidden smirk on the black-haired demon’s face. There had to be an ulterior motive to this ‘exchange program’. She doubted demons would want to play nice with everyone out of the blue. “I don’t remember agreeing to this.”

She shuddered at the thought of returning to school. She’d never done well in any class back in her own world. She drew, so she took Art, but failed that (somehow drawing was less fun when you were told what to do. Who wants to spend an hour painting fruit when there’s a hundred worlds to be seen instead?). She latched on to some bits of history, but it was always the parts that were glossed over. She hardly passed math (only because the instructor had taken pity on her final exam). Why bother learning some math theorem when the whole of space held a thousand and one secrets? How could she focus on English when the ocean’s depths remained unseen? “Irregardless, you’re here now. Your period of stay is a single year. You will work on the tasks assigned to you from RAD.”

Kita grumbled to herself. What was there that she could do that would prevent this? She turned to the prince in front of her. “I am the worst possible choice for this,” she reasoned, “did you even look at my previous school grades before... selecting me?” “You truly are quite different from Solomon!” he laughed. “After one year,” Lucifer continued, “you will compose a report about your exchange here in the Devildom.” “You mean kidnapping?” She couldn’t stop herself. I could just... not write the paper. They know that, right? “If you must view it that way.” Kita bit the inside of her cheek in an attempt to distract herself from the fear still pooling in her stomach, her expression dark.

“Don’t glare like that,” Lucifer smiled, condescending and borderline cruel, “you won’t be abandoned all by yourself here.” Gee, what a relief.

“You’ll need someone to look after you. I think that person should be my brother, Mammon.” Kita wasn’t sure what it was about his remark that made her think the demon in front of her was up to no good, but she quickly concluding that she did not like him in the slightest. “He’s the Avatar of Greed and... how should I put it…?” he shrugged, “well, you’ll understand soon enough.” She hadn’t thought it was possible to admire someone any less as he handed her a small device.

“This is yours for as long as you’re here. Call Mammon.” She looked between Lucifer and the phone with distaste. “Can’t I just text him?” “I believe a call would be more appropriate.” “Texts are easier, and more practical,” she countered. “Call him.” Kita sighed, thumbing through the contacts and pressing Mammon’s name. It rang twice before a raucous voice erupted from the phone. “Yoooooo.” “Uh… hey?” “Eh? Who the hell are ya? You ain’t Lucifer!” he sounded as confused as he was relieved.

“Kita. I’m a human.” “Huuh? A human?” Was he always this obnoxiously loud? Kita held the phone off her ear, wincing. “Geez, I was gettin’ all chilly here thinkin’ it was Lucifer again. So, what business does a weak little human got with THE Mammon.” She nearly rolled her eyes. Who refers to themselves like that? “Apparently you’re in charge of me from now on.” She did not try to hide the distaste in her voice. Mammon snorted. “Hell no! There’s nothin’ in it for me. Whaddya even mean by ‘be in charge of you’?” The phone fell silent and then exploded in noise again as he yelled excitedly. “AAH! I get it now! You’re the other human exchange student! Yeah, g’luck with that. I ain’t got time to play babysitter. See ya!” “Listen here, jackass,” Kita snapped. She was tired. She was stressed, and she sure as hell didn’t need this. “I’m not happy about it either. You think I want some asshole demon telling me what to do? Lucifer called for you.” Mammon laughed. “Yeah, yeah, whatever. Ya think the Mammon would listen to your bull just ‘cause you’re tryin’ to scare me with that name? I ain’t stupid.” She was abruptly aware of the demon behind her as he turned her shoulder towards himself so he could speak into the phone. She jerked herself out of his grip with a grunt, but allowed him close enough that Mammon could hear him. “You’ve got ten seconds… nine… eight…” Kita held back a laugh at the sharp yelp that squeaked through the phone. “YESSIR!” The call disconnected, and Kita shut off the screen. This is who was supposed to keep her safe here? Are they joking? “Sounds like you had a pleasant chat,” Lucifer said, a patronizing smile adorning his face. She had the sudden urge to throw the device across the room. Or at him. Throwing it at him would be much more satisfying. “Yeah, he seems about as trustworthy as the rest of you.” She smiled as sweetly as she could, hoping the insult would fly past him. It didn’t, and she didn’t miss the brief laughter from the green-eyed man. “You should show us more respect, human,” Lucifer growled. Kita glared back at him, hands clenched tightly as she stood and stared at him. She was silent a moment before she spoke, imparting as much hate and rage into her words as she could. “I will never respect any of you,” her voice left her with a hiss and the shadows in the room seemed to lengthen as Lucifer tensed angrily. “Well, if you were suddenly brought to an unfamiliar place and told that a stranger would take care of you, I’m sure you’d be anxious,” Diavolo interrupted softly. The room returned to normal, although Lucifer continued to glare at her. Kita nodded once at the prince, appreciating his understanding, and recognizing how easily he diffused the situation. “Mammon won’t be the only one helping you out,” he turned to Lucifer, “we still need to introduce our new friend to your brothers. It’s probably better that you do that, wouldn’t you say?” He must mean the others sitting here.

“Yes… As much as I dread the idea of doing so, you’re right.” Kita raised her eyebrow at his words. He didn’t like his own family? Well… there was one matter they shared in common then. Not that it was an excellent thing to bond over. “Come now,” the man in front of the scorpion banner said, his hair bouncing slightly, “you should be honored that you get to introduce a sweet and charming little brother like me!” Lucifer ignored his words. “This one here is Asmodeus. He’s the fifth eldest, and the Avatar of Lust.” Kita nearly cringed. So, what? He’s horny all the time? Gross. “Wh… I can’t believe you just totally ignored what I said,” Asmodeus frowned, “And not only that, you referred to me as ‘this one’. How rude!” The demon in front of the unicorn spoke next, eyebrows pinched together, “Hmph. At least he didn’t ignore you altogether. How do you think I feel?”

“That one there is Satan,” he watched the blond with an unreadable expression, “He’s the fourth eldest of us. At first glance he may seem like a responsible demon with a good head on his shoulders, but looks can be deceiving.” Of course there’s a ‘Satan’ too. “So is insulting each other a thing with you all, or is it just you?” Satan smirked, but Lucifer let her go unanswered. “I am the Avatar of Wrath. Nice to meet you, Kita.” “Likewise.” I guess. “So what’s Avatar of Wrath even mean?” “It sums up what he’s about,” Lucifer explained,” he may flash you a pretty smile like that, but it’s all an act.” Wow, he really does like dragging his brothers.

“If you continue making claims like those,  you’ll just scare her.” Satan smiled. Kita wrinkled her nose. It honestly did look forced, and she leaned back in her seat, anxiety rising, as the surrounding atmosphere grew dark again. Angry. Kita didn’t like anger. It reminded her too much of memories she’d much rather forget. She mentally shook her head to clear it. “Don’t take him seriously, Kita. Lucifer enjoys speaking ill of his brothers. He’s the Avatar of Pride, after all.” “I’ve noticed,” she said shortly. “Are you done?” the black-haired demon sighed.

“Now, the one there with the grumpy look on his face is Beelzebub. He’s the sixth oldest.” It didn’t take Kita more than a second glance to realize the size of the demon. This guy was absolutely enormous and would’ve dwarfed her had they been sitting next to each other.

“Lucifer, I’m hungry,” the orange haired man frowned. He held his stomach with one hand as it erupted in a monstrous noise loud enough to echo through the room. “That’s too bad. Behave yourself.” Beelzebub turned his head, a crestfallen look on his face as he muttered, “I’m Beelzebub, Avatar of Gluttony.” “There are seven of us siblings in all. I am the eldest.” Lucifer said. “Mammon is the second. My other brothers aren’t here at the moment.” Diavolo chuckled lightly. “They will lend you their strength during your stay in the Devildom. To keep you safe, you’re to remain with them at the House of Lamentation.” Sounds inviting. Lucifer nodded before turning to Kita. “Most agree with Diavolo, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t vulgar demons out there who would harm you,” Lucifer told her, “if anything were to happen to you, it’d be our responsibility.” His expression turned dark and Kita could feel the warning behind his words when he spoke, “I won’t betray Diavolo’s expectations.” ‘Don’t make yourself any more trouble than you already have’, was the unspoken message. His face lightened a bit. “Although we will live together, you should still have the means to reach us at any moment. All our phone numbers are already on your D.D.D, along with a messaging app.” “I’ll send you a message!” Diavolo’s cheery tone cut in. “Isn’t that nice, Kita? Now you’ll be friends with the future king of the Devildom!” Satan grinned. “Texting doesn’t make anyone friends,” Kita muttered as she looked at the screen. Diavolo: This is my account. Diavolo: Feel free to send me a text at any time.   

The emoji he sent next was an odd, three footed bird creature. It was obviously angry, and oddly adorable. Have I irritated him already? She shoved the thought away when a glance at the prince revealed a face slightly twisted in concentration. Diavolo: Oh, sorry. Diavolo: I haven’t gotten used to this yet. Diavolo: You see, Lucifer is the only demon who sends me messages…

Kita supposed it would be intimidating for anyone to knowingly speak to the prince, but for Lucifer to be the only one who would text him? It made her almost feel bad for the guy. She replied with an emoji of a shivering shiba inu, confused at the random human world animal amid a hundred demonic creatures. Diavolo: Hahaha, that’s a cute dog! It took Kita a second to realize that he hadn’t laughed out loud, but he grinned at her before putting his phone away at the exact moment she heard muffled shouting from outside the room. “It seems the idiot has arrived.” A door slammed open behind her, crashing into the wall as a white-haired man stormed inside. “Hey!” Oh, God, his voice was even louder in person, “just who do the hell do you think ya are, human? You’ve got a whole lot a’ nerve summoning the Great Mammon.” “I wasn’t aware I could summon demons with a phone,” she smirked, against her better judgement, “thought all that needed a blood ritual or something? Maybe it was a goat.” Mammon glared at her. “Listen up, because I’m only gonna say this once,” he growled, “if you want to continue your pathetic existence, then hand over all your money. And anything else of value, too!” This sounds like a corny mugging. She should just keep her mouth shut. Every fibre of her being screamed at her to stay quiet. Unfortunately, she was never very good at listening to herself when she was frightened. “Do I look like I have money to you?” “Hey! I’ll wipe that stupid, happy-go-lucky look right off your face...by eatin’ you,” he barked. It was hard to take him seriously with the way he spoke, even as he leaned close to her. “Not if I eat you first,” Kita snarled, earning her another amused chuckle from Satan. “Like a weak human could ever do that.” “On second thought, I wouldn’t want to anyway,” she mused, “you look like you’d be tasteless and gristly.” “Why you-” He gripped the edge of her shirt. “Mammon, knock it off or I’ll punch you!” Lucifer snapped. Kita turned her sight to the prince in front of her as Lucifer wasted no time hitting Mammon and drawing a loud yelp from the younger demon. “This is what I’m going to have to deal with for the next year?” “Kita, Mammon here is the Avatar of Greed,” Satan interrupted from his seat, “he oversees all forms of it. Whenever he takes a liking to someone, they suddenly find themselves awash in money. From what I hear, if he breaks it off with someone, that wealth evaporates.” “He’s also a masochist,” Asmodeus snickered, “that part’s important.” Kita eyed him, no longer trying to keep her irritation and disgust hidden. There was no possible reason she could think of that she would ever need to know that.

“Indeed,” Lucifer said, “and it just so happens that I have a job for my masochist of a brother.” “Y’all, stop telling lies!” Mammon groaned, “I ain’t asked for that punch, and I ain’t a masochist!” “Mammon, you will be in charge of seeing to this human’s needs during the entire exchange. I expect your full cooperation.” “What?! Why me?!” Kita tried not to wince at the volume of his indignant shout. It really wasn’t as if she wanted the white-haired demon to tag along with her, and he was obviously about as fond of the idea as she was. That is to say, not at all. “You’re lucky, Mammon... I’m so jealous,” Asmodeus whined. “Then why don’t you do it?” Kita froze. Somehow, she trusted and liked Asmodeus even less than her current assigned sitter. Besides, Kita and flirting went together as well as oil and water. “Hell no, too lazy.” Thank my lucky stars.  “Just give up, Mammon,” Satan sighed, “there’s no getting out of this. You cannot refuse a direct command from Lucifer.” “But why does it have to be me?!” Mammon grumbled, “what about Beel? Why can’t he do it?” “We might as well ask him to eat this human,” Asmodeus said. “Mm. Yeah, I can’t promise I wouldn’t.” Kita wasn’t sure if it was the nonchalant way the man spoke that amused her, but it took all her concentration not to laugh. Maybe it was the absurdity of it all. At least he was honest? “You’re useless, you know that?” “Mammon?” Lucifer spoke softly, his eyes darkened and dangerous. “..Wh-What?” “Surely you’re not telling me you object to this arrangement?” The room darkened again as the flames of the candelabras flickered, and Kita shivered as a sudden chill ran up her spine. Mammon was silent for a moment. The room was quiet enough that Kita was certain she could hear a pin dropping from the hallway. “Ugh… I hate you guys, every last one of ya!” he growled, “fine... Fine, I’ll do it, okay?” Drama queens. She was going to have to spend a year dealing with the seven demons who quickly were becoming the biggest drama queens she knew. Great. Perfect. She placed her index and thumb between her eyes, rubbing in an attempt to quell her growing headache. This was all just too much. Her exhaustion had long since quelled the anxiety and fear she’d felt, and even her anger was slowly slithering back to the confines of her unconscious thoughts. Now, she simply wanted to go back to bed and pretend this hadn’t happened. “All right, human,” he spat the word like it disgusted him, “listen up. As much as I don’t want to look after your worthless ass, I’ve got no choice. It’s an enormous pain, and I’m too important for this kind of thing, but Lucifer told me to do it, so I will. You better make sure you don’t cause me any trouble, got it?” Kita crossed her arms, frowning. “...” “Man, there really is something wrong with this one…”

≿————-　❈　————-≾

It had taken another two hours to wrap up Lucifer’s basic explanation of what was expected of her and by the time it he finished, after countless insults and complaints thrown by her new ‘guardian’, Kita wanted nothing more than to scream and disappear into the void. Her anxiety was back with a vengeance and seemed hellbent on making her suffer. She couldn’t concentrate on anything but the tremoring of her leg as she bounced it off the floor to keep herself awake. “To sum it up for you, you will be an exchange student here at RAD for one year and you must do your tasks,” Lucifer said, “your tasks consist mainly of dance battles, and as you have no magic power, we will lend you a hand.” Ah. Right. Dance battles. These demons are fighting over my soul… by shitty dance competitions, apparently. “Why?” she had asked Diavolo. “Ordinarily, many demons would settle disputes via physical or psychological battles. I believe this is a much more peaceful solution that puts us in a better light,” he had grinned at her, “we aren’t savages.” They could’ve fooled her. She shifted against the intense heat wave that clutched her spine like a vice, tightening and choking her until she could hardly breathe against the lump in her throat and her burning eyes. She was so, so incredibly close to breaking.

Don’t cry. Don’t you dare cry. Don’t you dare show any more weakness in front of these things.

“I wanna make one thing clear right now: don’t blame me if someone gets eaten,” Mammon spoke, as if she wasn’t in the room, “‘cause it ain’t my fault.” “Lucifer, I’m hungry…”  Beelzebub grumbled. So I am... “That’s too bad. Now behave yourself.”

Beelzebub, again, turned his head away and his frown deepened. It was at least the third time the demon had mentioned his empty stomach, and he seemed increasingly upset each time. Oh, Kita’s shoulders relaxed in sudden amusement and understanding. Do demons get hangry? Poor guy. Kita rummaged through her pajamas pocket, pulling out the granola bar she’d forgotten about in the midst of all the chaos. “H-Hey… I don’t know if you’ll like this, but you can have it if you want?” Kita offered the large demon. She nearly snorted at how quickly his face lit up as he nodded. She pulled her arm back to toss the small bar to him and, despite missing her mark by at least two feet, he caught it effortlessly. “Thanks!” His smile seemed to brighten the room as he tore open the wrapper. Oh… it should not be legal for a demon to look that sweet. He looks sorta like a puppy, smiling like that. An enormous, really dangerous puppy… What am I doing thinking about him like that? Kita shook her head to clear her thoughts. Thank God it didn’t seem like they could read minds.

Diavolo seemed enthralled with her actions and she avoided his intense look by awkwardly staring at the ceiling, and then the table. “I have no more food, so don’t ask,” she told the prince, only partly joking.

Kita yawned, eyes beginning to droop in her exhaustion. It had been well past midnight when she’d gone to bed, and she wanted nothing more than to return to one, soon. “Are we done here yet?” she asked, trying to mask her irritation behind yet another yawn. “Yes!” Diavolo said,” as stated earlier, you’ll be staying in the House of Lamentation with Lucifer and his six younger brothers. They’ll escort you there now.” Wonderful.

“Humans, angels, and demons… I imagine a universe where each accepts the other. Where we are brought together as friends.” Kita rose from her chair as the others did, slowly trailing after the group as they moved through the hallway. So much for escaping as soon as possible. They surrounded her on all sides, and she was ready to collapse, anyway. “One year,” Diavolo called after them, “that’s all I ask of you. Good luck, Kita.”

[sinfully-chubby]

Moondust Chapter 1 - The Encounter

Warning: death(graphic), depression, loss of family member, muggle witnessing magic oh no.

There isn’t a whole lot to this I guess and I’m not to proud of it, but I guess I am satisfied with it.

Moondust Masterlist

Chapter 2: coming soon

Words: 2396

@queendominion for the beautiful edit once again

Rushing through the streets of London, you run past people, bumping into others and quickly apologizing. It takes you a while running through the streets of London before you finally reach your destination which happens to be a small cafe that goes by the name Cafe de Espresso. Walking through the doors, you are greeted by the smells of the Cafe as well as your boss walking briskly towards you,

"y/n where have you been?" taking a deep breath you look up at your boss, Jason Myers,

"My alarm didn't go off this morning." hearing Jason sigh you watched as a frown crossed his face,

"This is the third time this week, y/n." looking down at the ground you followed the lines of the tile "It won't happen again." feeling Jason put his hand on your shoulder you looked him in the eye.

"y/n you can't keep doing this. I know the situation your going through is tough what with everything that is going on." opening your mouth to reply you cut you,

"Y/n please listen I think you need a break take a few days off, get yourself back together." Smiling slightly at you Jason gave you a pleading look, you could tell he was worried. Giving a sigh you nodded your head rubbing your hand up your arm.

Patting your shoulder he motioned for you to get to the kitchen,

"You can work for today, but after today I want you to take a break." He said, smiling as you walked briskly to the kitchen grabbing a hair net from the bin. Checking the list of things you needed to get done for the morning shift you put the list down and get to work on the first items, making donuts and muffins. Starting with the muffins you grab the ingredients to make the batter from the cabinet. Grabbing two muffin pans from under the stove you, filling the pan you put them in the oven to let them bake. Making the cupcake next you repeated what you had done before grazing two cupcake pans and putting the batter in them and used the second oven to bake them in. Setting the timer you hear the door swing open you turn quickly looking to see your boss walking into the kitchen,

"y/n could you work the counter for a bit I'll have Susan work back her until I come back." nodding your head him you took of your hairnet throwing it away.

"Susan." turning to look at you, Susan smiled,

"Yeah y/n?"

"Jason wants you to take over my position in the kitchen, says he's heading out for a bit." giving a confused look, Susan stood near the door of the kitchen,

"Do you know why he"s leaving?" shaking your head no she frowned,

"Thanks anyway, y/n." watching as Susan left for the kitchen you turned around to talk to the next customer in line. While taking the customer's order, you thought about how you had ended up here. You had started working here at the Cafe de Expresso about a two years ago. When you had first met Jason he had kinda scared you, he was a big man he stood to a good height of 6'0 he was also pretty fit, but kinda lanky. He is always very sweet and is almost rare to even see him angry even more so to ever see him yell at anyone. Then there was Susan you had know her for a year and a half. She had come to work here to support herself and her twelve year old child, from what sh had told you she had gotten out of a bad relationship and had only stayed with him so that her child didn't have to grow up without ever knowing her father. To be honest you could understand how she felt, of course you never quite been what she's been through, but you could relate on some level.

When you had started working here you were in a dark place, you had lost a lot in the process of your abuse and had finally decided to get away from it all ending a relationship that was to toxic for you to handle. The moment you had gotten out of the relationship you felt like you had just shed some long time weight of your shoulders finally allowing you to breathe again. Drawing yourself out of your thoughts you hear the timer go off for the cupcakes. You pull the cupcakes out of the oven setting them on the cooling rack to cool down before you start decorating. Your making the icing when you hear the door to the kitchen opening, turning around you see Susan peeking through the door

"y/n we got any scones?" raising your eyebrow at her you respond.

"We got scones, but why do you ask?" Looking back over her shoulder she looks quickly looks back at you and whispers,

"There's a guy who wants scones, but we don't got any in the front could you maybe get some real quick." Quirking a brow at her you try to peek out the crack were the door was open, but with Susan standing in the way you couldn't see anything.

Turning around you head towards the back to some already freshly made scones. Grabbing a few scones you put them in one the takeaway bags for the guy before heading to the front were Susan was, who was once again peeking through the door. Handing her the bag full of the scones she says a small thanks and disappears right back behind the door. As the door swings softly I quickly walk towards the door to peek out at the guy and boy did you not regret it.

There stood a tall gentleman who stood at the height 5'9 with broad shoulders with silver eyes, and slicked back silver-ish blonde hair. He was wearing a black suit adorned with a green tie and what looked like a silver pendent. He wore a slim black over coat, and a dark green scarf around his neck from what you would tell he seemed a little out of place awkwardly shifting on his feet as he looked around the cafe with a disdainful look. You watch Susan ring up his order and handing the bag to him knowing he must have paid for his order already and than leaving as quickly as possible. Going back through the door you feel a stinging sensation on your shoulder hissing you rub and your shoulder as the burning sensation gets worse. After a few minutes you walk into the employee bathroom and grabbing a paper towel and running it under some cold water before lifting your shirt away from the skin of shoulder and placing the cold paper towel on it, you knew you would have to check it out later, as for right now you needed to get back to work. After taking a small break you get back to work.

You worked the rest of your shift scratching at your shoulder every once in a while; while changing out the paper towel for a new one. Hearing the door open you see Susan walk in and letting out a deep sigh as she came up to you,

"Hey y/n can you take over my shift for a bit I need a break for a little bit?" You want to say no, but she helps you just as much as you help, letting out a sigh you nod your head she smiles at and gives you a quick hug before walking towards the back door to go outside.

"Thanks y/n." you hear her say just before walking out. Letting out a sigh you go to the front of the store and take over running the front. Usually there were more people that would work here, but today was Sunday and most people usually didn't come to the cafe much so it was just going to be you and Susan that day well except for Jason who would pop out of his office now and than. It was an hour or two of you just working in the front when you were starting to get worried. Susan had taken a break at 7:30 pm and it was 9:30 and you were going to have to close up shop soon. Feeling a tape on your shoulder making you jump, turning around quickly you see Jason standing there with a eyebrow raised,

"Where's Susan?" you shrug your shoulders.

Hearing make a hum sound he looks around

"Did she leave early?" You shake your head,

"She told me he was gonna pop out for a quick break?" Making another noise in thought, he looks at you,

"Well might as well close up for tonight ok so finish up what needs to be done ok." nodding your head he pats your shoulder and walks away leaving the keys on the counter for you. Putting away some of the food away for tomorrow you get your stuff ready for you to leave. Once locking up the front you grab your bag and head out the door making sure to lock up the door behind you.

It was 10 o'clock by the time you were finally out and walking down the alley of the building you walk out towards a small parking lot outside between the buildings. You were taking a shortcut to see if you could catch a ride in a taxi or get to the bus stop. Noticing both Jason and Susans cars were both still in the parking lot, you felt a knot form in your stomach as you walked towards Susan's car first. Not seeing any sign of Susan you walk quickly away towards Jason's car look for any sign of him as well. Not seeing anything there as well you nervously and quickly walk away from the car going out on the streets to the side walk feeling a slight shiver going down your back as you wrapped your arms around yourself. You felt like you were being watched.

Walking at a fast pace through the small group of people you turn the corner and keep the fast pace. You stop for a bit taking in some deep breaths to calm yourself down, you thought about calling the police and reporting Jason and Susan missing, but you decided not to. It was weird to call the police with no hard evidence of them missing and you weren't one for rash decisions, so you pulled out your phone and decided to call Susan just to see were she was. As for Jason he could have walked down to the pub that was blocks away for a drink. Searching through your contacts you go to Susans name and click the call button.

Stopping for a quick you rest you look around as the phone rings. That's when you hear it you take your phone and look around you hear it before you even see the guy standing there. You hear the ringtone of Susans phone the song jingle echoing from across the street. Crossing the street you feel the hairs on your neck stand on end as you shivers ran down your spine as you walk into alley. You look behind you as a car drives by the lighting up the semi dark alley. You hear another group of people pass by hearing there laughter echo around you. The phone rings for a few more seconds before cutting off.

Getting closer to where the phone was ringing you see it lying on the ground a few feet away from what could only be from a nightmare. You see Susans body lying mangled on the ground her stomach ripped opened, her ribs poking out from the jagged skin and blood poured from the open wound. You feel bile rise in your throat looking at her face you see her eye are missing and her face is mangled reveling the side of her jaw and bits of her throat.

Backing away from the body, your eyes shift around the alley looking for any sign that the killer was still there. Taking a chance you turn and start running towards the exit about to start screaming, but you are soon grabbed by someone lurking in the shadows. Their arms wrapping around your chubby frame. You go to scream but hear Jason's voice in your ear "y/n you need to be quiet." Panicking you fight against Jason's hold, getting one of your arms free from his hold you elbow him in the side and step on his foot. You hear him hiss in pain loosening his hold on you as you break free and continue to run. You turn to give Jason one more look before you see something charge at him slashing open his stomach you scream as Jason falls to the ground looking at his guts that are spilled out all over the concrete.

The man who attacked Jason turns to look at you eyes glowing in the darkness of the alley you hear him growl at you as comes charging at you. You feel yourself freeze up bracing for the impact of the attack that would most likely kill you. Closing your eyes you tense as up, you feel yourself get pushed to the ground hitting your head hard against the concrete. Hiss in pain you hear someone shouting something than a bright light flashes behind your closed eyes.

Opening your eyes you see another figure standing a few feet in front of you shooting at the man flashes of light making it very disorienting you watch the other man flees you watch the other guy gives chase. After a few minutes you see your savior come back cursing to himself as turns looking around the alley before staring at you.

It takes you a while to realize your looking at the man from earlier. His tall frame being outlined by the very little lights in the alley giving him a weird glow as he looks you over.

Your last thought before you faint is 'What the fuck just happened!'

[find-the-eyes]

I’ll Try Anything Once: Chapter 28

Written by: Sol, ss, Allegra Edited by: ss

“So…what’d you think of that?” Paul unlocked the door to the flat and flopped down on the couch, exhausted.

“It wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be.” Bob hung his jacket up in the closet and went over to the couch, not joining Paul, but standing over him. He had to admit, he’d never had that big of an adrenaline rush before. By the time he got home there were still remnants of it and he wanted to ride it out.

“I had a great time,” Paul laughed. “Can’t wait to do that more often.” In the soothing, yellow glow of the cheap lights in the flat, Paul looked softer than ever. Bob had the strong urge to cuddle him, but knew he had to hold back. Even though they had shared their moments once in a while ever since the date, they had never actually talked about what their status was. So he stopped himself, even when the adrenaline was pushing him to wrap his arms around Paul and rest his head on his chest. He settled for sitting at the armrest, staring at Paul’s sleepy smile, chipped teeth and an arm draped over his face.

“You can come a bit closer, Bob. I’m not modeling today.”

Bob laughed and sat down next to Paul. “I’m just thinking about a lot of things right now.”

“Like?”

“I don’t know. I’m not used to people paying attention to me… I don’t know if I really liked performing tonight.”

“Well, you did a great job.” Paul sat up and rested his head on Bob’s shoulder. “And looked great too, might I add.”

“Don’t say that…” Bob smiled as his face began to burn. He hoped Paul couldn’t see. After an entire night of other people possibly staring at him, he didn’t know if he could handle any more, even if it was from Paul.

“We all loved being onstage with you tonight. Alex told me you’re one of the best bassists he’s ever heard, and you just started two weeks ago!”

“Ah, I wouldn’t say I’m one of the best, but…”

“You’re just—” Bob felt arms wrapped around him. Perhaps Paul was high from the stage adrenaline rush too, he thought as Paul crushed him in a hug. “You’re the grounding energy we need onstage!”

“But—”

“I mean, Nick’s quite literally vibrating, Alex is up there trying to be all… flashy, I’m going absolutely crazy in the back, and… you’re just so cool, Bobbo!”

Between the pet name and the stage feedback, Bob opted to respond to the easier one. “Am I really that cool?”

“Yeah! Of course!” Paul laughed and tackled Bob, ruffling the blonde hair on the top of his head. “I mean it. I’ve seen gigs, been part of them before a couple of times too. I would know.”

Bob’s body was aching already from all the tension of performing, and now his cheeks had started to ache as well. He couldn’t contain his smile. It felt nice to be acknowledged by Paul, being pampered by compliments as he snuggled him. Everything felt nice and it was one of the rare moments that he felt fully confident in himself. In fact, he was so confident that he decided that maybe it was time that he put himself out there.

Paul untangled himself from Bob and got up. “Heading to bed, you joining?”

Bob tried to act cool. He should be used to this kind of wording from Paul. Bob shook his head. “I’ll catch up later.”

“Alright. Good night, Bob.”

“Good night.”

As Bob watched Paul retreat down the hallway, his thoughts turned back to the gig. The way he and Paul had quickly locked into rhythm together; the way Nick had bounced around the stage, more energetic than Bob had ever seen him; and Alex...everything about Alex, really. The way he managed to hit every note and chord perfectly even as he jumped and danced and occasionally ran around the stage. The way his fringe bounced against his forehead, the way he locked eyes with each person in the audience as though they were the only person in the room, the way he smiled and nodded at them...the way he had smiled at Bob, reassuring him. Bob pressed the palms of his hands against his eyelids, his heart fluttering at the memory. Alex was always so careful to make sure that Bob was alright.

As Bob reflected on Alex, he realized that if he wanted to become closer with him, he had to start being more honest. Although the thought terrified him, Bob was going to come out to Alex the next time he saw him.

--

Bob’s newfound confidence lasted all weekend, and by the time class rolled around on Monday, he felt ready to approach Alex. He made sure to get to class early to save the two seats in the back corner that he and Alex normally occupied, and began doodling absentmindedly in his sketchbook while he waited.

Alex rushed into the classroom a few minutes later and plopped down next to Bob. “Hey,” he gasped, slightly out of breath. “Thanks for saving my seat.”

“No problem,” Bob said, suddenly feeling far less confident. He rolled his pencil between his fingers. It was now or never. “Hey, Alex...I...I wanted to tell you something,” he said softly, now gripping the pencil.

“What’s that?” Alex turned to face Bob. He seemed unusually serious for 9 o’clock on a Monday morning.

Bob leaned closer to Alex so as not to draw attention to himself. “So I was talking to Paul the other day...and uh...we, I, um…I told him...”

Alex tilted his head, unsure of where this could be going.

“...I told him that I wanted our trip to Kelvingrove to be a date. Like...a date date.”

“Oh?” Alex sat up a little straighter. “You and Paul are dating?”

“No! Well, I mean, we went on a date? But...no...no, we’re not...” Bob muttered.

“Oh. But that means you’re…”

Bob looked at Alex, took a deep breath, and said the words he’d never been able to say out loud before. “Gay. Yeah. I’m gay.” The words rushed out of his mouth in a torrent. “And I just...I wanted you to know since you’re...you’re one of my best friends, you know?” He bit his lip and looked down, studying the pattern on the carpet. He jumped when he felt a warm touch on his right knee. “Well, thank you,” Alex smiled. “I’m honored.” Alex glanced around as the last few students trickled into the room - their professor would be here any minute. “Did you just figure it out…?”

“I always knew I was a little different...ever since I was a kid...but I couldn’t really put a name to it for a long time...until I was, I dunno, 14? 15, maybe?” Bob was rambling now, but he glanced up at Alex and figured that he didn’t seem to mind.

Alex nodded. “I always kind of thought you were.”

“Really?” Bob’s voice was a panicked whisper. Had it really been that obvious?

“Yeah. Dunno why, really. Just had a feeling.” Alex looked over at Bob, green eyes sparkling beneath those damned long eyelashes, and Bob felt his heart skip a beat. Alex shifted closer to Bob, leaning his arm on Bob’s desk, just as their professor walked in. “We can talk more later,” Alex said, a sly smile on his lips. Bob could have almost sworn that Alex winked at him.

As Bob went to close his sketchbook at the end of class, he flipped past a certain page with a certain drawing on it. He paused, considered it, then nudged Alex's shoulder. "Hey, I want to show you something."

Alex sat back up from stuffing his supplies into his bag. "Yeah?" Alex said, trailing off as he noticed Bob's opened sketchbook. He leaned closer. It was...it was him.

Alex laughed gently and held the sketchbook. The drawing was quite accurate, but was done in Bob’s signature soft style. Alex also noticed that it was drawn from Bob’s angle sitting next to him in class.

“Well, that’s sweet,” Alex smiled.

“Sweet?”

“Mhm,” Alex’s smile grew even wider. “You know what else is sweet?”

Bob shook his head, his stomach twisting and turning.

“You.” Alex raised his eyebrows, stepping so close to Bob that he could feel the warmth of his soft, rosy cheeks.

Bob giggled softly, looking back up at Alex after overcoming his embarrassment. Was this...flirting? Was Alex flirting with him? "You're sweet too," he said quietly.

Alex smiled at Bob, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "I'm going to head out now, if you care to join." He gave Bob a knowing look and left the classroom. Bob grabbed his bag, nearly spilling the entire contents onto the floor in his rush, and hurried out the door, catching up to Alex.

Once they were in the hallway, Bob looked up at Alex, searching for an answer to what was going on. Alex only grinned and pulled Bob into the corner behind the door where they hid from Dino a few weeks earlier. Before Bob could react, Alex's hands were on Bob's shoulders, steering him against the wall. There was a thunk that Bob vaguely realized was Alex's bag dropping off his shoulder and then, without warning, Alex kissed him.

Kissing Paul had been soft, careful, delicate - but this was different. Kissing Alex was fireworks and sparks and electricity, hands grabbing at hips, Alex's tongue swiping across Bob's lips. Bob instinctively parted them, his own tongue tangling with Alex's.

They stayed like that for a few moments until Alex pulled back, gasping for breath, his cheeks flushed. Bob had never seen Alex like this, but he knew he certainly wouldn't mind seeing more.

As if reading Bob's mind, Alex slipped his hands around Bob’s waist, pulling him close. “We should take this somewhere a little more private,” he murmured, giving Bob a sly smile. He slid one hand down to Bob’s arse and dragged the knuckles of the other across the bulge in Bob’s trousers.

Bob gasped softly at the sensation. His heartbeat thudded in his ears as he brushed his lips against Alex’s again and whispered back, “Let’s go.”

[serenlyss]

For the Sake of a Smile Chapter One

Rating: G Relationships: Teru/Shigeo, Ritsu&Shigeo, Teru&Reigen, Shigeo&Reigen Summary: Hanazawa Teruki is seven years old when his parents leave him to wait on a fallen log in the middle of a lavender field for them to return. He’s seven years old when a boy his age saves him from drowning and reminds him that there’s still light left in the world. Hanazawa Teruki is sixteen years old when he leaves home for the first time in search of a boy whose appearance he can’t quite remember and whose name he never learned, a nine-year-old promise yet to be fulfilled. Now, as he sets his sights on the bustling Seasoning City, he’s determined to do things right this time around. Chapter Summery: "Cooking is at once child’s play and adult joy. And cooking done with care is an act of love." - Craig Claiborne The prologue chapter, basically. Crossposted to AO3: Chapter One

Chapter Two (coming soon!)

Hello all! I've had this idea on my mind for a while and now that I'm out of school for the rest of summer I decided I can finally post the first chapter! As the tags state this is an AU taking place in the Kitchen Princess universe, but will not include any characters or settings from Kitchen Princess, so you don't need to know anything about it to read this. Basically it's a cute and very cheesy romance manga I read when like 8 or 9 years ago in middle school that I've gone back to over time.

As far as updates go, I don't plan to follow any specific schedule for this fic. The chapters are going to be relatively short (around 2-3k words for the most part, which is short compared to my 5-6k normal chapter length lol) and will update as I write and edit them.

Anyway, that's enough notes for now! I hope you all enjoy this fic, if you do be sure to leave me your thoughts in a dm or reblog this to let me know you're interested in reading more.

---

“Teruki, sweetheart, wait for us here, alright? We’ll be back soon.”

Mother ruffles his hair, long and blond and curly around his ears. Her touch is static and her words drip with honey as she speaks empty reassurances to him. He’s seven years old, old enough to use the little knives in the kitchen drawer to make himself a sandwich without calling for help, old enough to recognize that something is wrong, very wrong.

“Where are you going?” he asks. “When will you come back?”

“Mommy and Daddy have some work to do,” Mother responds, and neither of his questions are answered. “I know you’ll do just fine, you’re so responsible.”

The praise would normally make him smile, make him puff out his chest with pride, but now it just serves to make his heart fall further into his stomach.

“We need to hurry,” Father reminds Mother, holding his watch out for her to look at. “At this rate, we’ll miss it and have to wait even longer.”

“Miss what?” he asks, desperation seeping into his voice. He can’t wrap his head around what’s happening. Mother looks away, distracted, and her face lights up in melodramatic surprise when she sees how late the hour is.

“Oh, dear, you’re right!” she exclaims, straightening up from where she’s kneeling beside him. “We can’t let that happen, can we?” She doesn’t answer his question, doesn’t elaborate on what they might miss if they don’t hurry. Father doesn’t even spare him a glance as he turns on his heel and begins to walk. Mother follows him, waving and calling her goodbyes over her shoulder.

He stays sitting on the little fallen log, because that’s where Mother told him to wait. They won’t be long, he tells himself, and then they would all catch their train back home and he’ll pretend the discomfort and apprehension weighing him down were never felt at all. Mother will praise him for being so patient and Father might even smile at him when he sees how obedient he’s been. Those thoughts keep him firmly rooted. He can’t disappoint Mother and Father.

Hours pass. Mother and Father don’t return. The sun starts to go down, and he knows they’ve long missed their train home. He sits and sits and sits until his backside is numb and his stomach starts to growl from not having eaten.

The sun is nearly setting when a stranger finally happens across his path. She’s a few years old than him, maybe twelve, with badly-cut black hair that nearly falls into her eyes and a sharp gaze that seems to know more than she lets on. She introduces herself as Tome and takes him by the hand, and her touch is much softer and more tender than Mother’s had ever been. She leads him to her house, which is filled with kids of many ages whose parents are all dead or forgotten. “I don’t belong here,” he tells them, “my parents told me they’d be right back.”

The sun has long set by the time it sinks into his seven-year-old brain that his parents won’t be coming back for him after all. He lays on his side on an old futon in a bedroom that is too crowded with other children his age and cries into the early hours of the morning.

---

Teru hardly eats or sleep for days after he’s officially accepted into the orphanage Tome lives at. It takes a week of him insisting that his parents will come back and get him, that they must have gotten stranded or held back by something important, before he finally stops trying to defend them. He’s known all along that his parents don’t care for him enough to look for him too hard, but the thought still sickens him enough that his sour stomach won’t take more than the bare minimum. He knows that the sisters who run the orphanage, good women who always treat him with kindness and an infuriating amount of caution, are worried about his health, but he doesn’t care.

He leaves the run-down little house for hours at a time without telling anyone where he’s going. Sometimes the sisters send Tome to find him and bring him back, and sometimes he goes back all on his own, if he’s feeling particularly welcoming.

He doesn’t dislike the orphanage. His caretakers are kind and attentive, and the other children treat him nicely enough. He doesn’t know most of their names, but at least Tome doesn’t treat him like he might shatter if they don’t watch their words around him. Everyone knows he’s been abandoned, and while Tome knows the subject is forbidden, it doesn’t stop her from teasing him and sticking up for him and playing games with him as though she’s his own sister. It doesn’t make him want to stay in the house any more, but he appreciates it nonetheless.

One warm afternoon, Teru leaves the house like he always does, hands shoved deep into the pockets of his pants. His jeans are cheap and the dye is faded, handed down from an older kid who’d grown out of them. They’re not at all like the expensive ones his parents had once bought for him, but somehow he can’t bring himself to care. It’s a particularly bad day, one of the ones that catches him staring at the seams where two walls meet for minutes on end without blinking, the kind where Tome has to ask him three times in half an hour if he’s doing okay, if he needs a nap, if he’s hungry. He’s hardly eaten anything all morning, and his stomach grumbles incessantly, but he ignores the pangs in favor of walking down to the river.

It’s calming here, usually, listening to the rush of water as it rumbles past the rocky, muddy banks. He slips off his shoes and rolls up his pant legs, taking a few steps into the shallows and letting his feet sink into the soft clay of the bank. His hands fall out of his pockets and lay limp at his sides as he just stares down into the water, gaze half lidded and a perpetual frown on his face. He wades in a bit deeper, until he’s up to his knees. The water laps at the edges of his rolled-up pants, dampening their edges with its biting cold. He wonders, briefly, what would happen if he decides to walk out the front door of the orphanage one day and never go back. If he walks far enough, even Tome won’t be able to find him. He has no idea what he would do, though, or where he would go, so instead he just wades deeper into the water, letting the cold sap away the feeling in his legs for just a moment. His feet sink into the clay so far now that it’s hard to keep his footing, the mud slippery between his toes. His pant legs are soaked up to his mid-thigh.

He takes another step, crossing an invisible threshold, and the strong current in the center of the river pulls his legs out from under him. He doesn’t even have time to scream before he’s completely submerged, the icy water soaking through his thin shirt in an instant and sapping the heat away from his skin. He flails, scrambles for purchase, but his child’s legs are too short to find the slippery river’s bottom anymore and he can no longer tell which way is up or which way is down. Water rushes up his nose painfully and steals the breath from his lungs, which leaves his mouth in bubbles that float up uselessly and leave his lungs burning. For a frightful moment, he’s certain that he’ll die here, alone and unloved.

A hand closes around his wrist and pulls, hard. His head breaks the surface and his feet find solid ground again. He’s heaved onto the muddy shore, where he collapses onto his hands and knees and coughs river water into the grass. It dribbles out of his nose, which he sniffs loudly and rubs at with the back of his hand as he replaces the water in his lungs with air.

“Are you okay?” A quavering voice sounds near his ear, and he feels a small hand rest against his back. Teru manages a dumb nod and turns his head to finally get a look at the person who’d just saved his life.

It’s another boy. He can’t be much older than Teru is, and his wide, dark eyes are filled to the brim with worry and concern.

Teru opens his mouth to reply, but finds himself speechless. Tears come to the corners of his eyes and he hugs his knees to his chest, hiding his face as he begins to quietly sob. Part of him is glad to be alive, really glad, but the other, smaller part of him wishes he’d just drowned after all so he won’t have to face the sad reality of what his life has become anymore.

The hand stays on his back, rubbing soothing circles between his shoulder blades. Teru doesn’t look up until he feels the boy press something into his hand. When he does lay eyes on it, he sees that it’s a flan, carefully chilled in a pristine glass cup. There’s a tiny dessert spoon stuck into the top of it, one with an intricately engraved handle that depicts an emblem Teru’s never seen before.

“When you eat something good, you smile,” the boy says, and then offers him a small, shy grin as if to illustrate his point. “Go on, try it!”

Teru’s first instinct is to refuse - it’s not his food, after all - but the boy’s smile is incredibly soft and sincere, and his stomach aches from going too long without eating. He takes the spoon between his shaky fingers and lifts it to his lips, taking a bite of the flan. It’s sweet, with a subtle flavor that melts in his mouth and leaves him feeling lighter. It really is delicious.

The boy looks at him expectantly, eager to hear his thoughts. “It’s good,” he murmurs, and the corners of his mouth tug upward into a ghost of a grateful smile.

The boy’s grin broadens at this, relieved, but before he can say anything else, there’s a call from down the riverbank. Teru looks up, and sees another kid in the distance, waving his arms. He doesn’t quite catch the kid’s words in his distraction, but the hand on his back disappears as the boy who’d saved his life stands up abruptly. “Ah, I have to go!” he says, nearly tripping on the rocky riverbank in his haste.

Teru doesn’t even have time to call out to him, to remind him that he’d left behind his snack, to thank him for pulling him out of the river, to do anything. He disappears into the trees surrounding the river bank and leaves Teru, dripping, in the grass. He cradles the cold flan in his hands and stares down at the fancy-looking emblem carved into the spoon’s shining surface, and vows that someday he’ll make the boy the best dessert he’s ever tasted.

---

Years pass in a blur. Teru’s parents never come for him, but eventually Teru stops waiting for them, stops thinking about them much at all. He turns fifteen and discovers that the spoon he now carries with him at all times comes from a prestigious private academy in Seasoning City, the kind with a sprawling campus that accommodates kids from kindergarten to high school.

The image of the boy who’d saved his life all those years ago fades from his memory over the years until he can’t quite remember the color of his eyes or the shape of his hair or exactly how his voice had sounded. He does remember his words though, remembers his concern and his unwithheld kindness. He calls the forgotten spoon his good luck charm as he studies to take the transfer exam that will let him enroll in Salt private academy.

He learns to cook, too, through a combination of lessons from the sisters who take care of him and his own personal experiments. The sisters call him gifted, say his sensitivity to taste and flavor is beyond anyone they’ve ever seen, and Teru lets it go to his head, just a little. Cooking makes him feel confident, like he has a place in the world at last. He makes treats for the younger members of the orphanage, kids who have grown to become somewhat of a nontraditional family to him, while Tome steals spoonfuls of batter from his bowls when she thinks he isn’t watching. It’s gratifying, the way the younger kids light up when he announces he’s decided to spontaneously bake cookies, and whenever they do the words of the child who had saved him nine years ago flash in his mind: When you eat something good, you smile.

It takes a few months for Teru’s acceptance letter to arrive in the mail, but when it does he has to stop himself from crying out in excitement. He spends the next few weeks preparing for the move, packing everything he owns into a single suitcase and carry-on. Salt graciously pays for his plane ticket and transportation as part of his scholarship, and assigns him to the “special class”. Teru’s not quite sure what that entails, but he isn’t about to argue when he’s finally getting the chance to follow through on his vow.

Tome makes him promise to keep in touch three times over, and she double-checks that her phone number is in his contact list before she lets him leave for the airport. Teru just rolls his eyes at her and reassures her that just because he’s moving doesn’t mean he’s going to forget about her, and finally gets her to stop hounding him by promising to call at least once a week. He pretends not to notice the way she holds back her tears as he climbs into the taxi and leaves behind his childhood home, giving one last wave goodbye as the taxi pulls away from the curb and the long drive begins.

[thelegendofclarke]

GoT/ASoIaF Fandom Meme

I was tagged by @chillyravenart, thank you so much lovely this was really fun! ❤️

Rules: Answer the 10 questions below. Then make up 10 of your own for the next person to answer and tag people.

1. Which Westerosi castle would you like to live in?

DROP ME OFF IN DORNE! I would be more than happy to ~rough it~ in Sunspear and park my ass next to the Water Gardens all year round. I’m very brave.

I feel like I would also ideally really love to live in High Garden... But I have the worst allergies. So that might be better in theory than execution tbh.

2. Would you rather be a rich and influential lord, born into wealth and privilege or would you rather be someone who wields power from the sidelines, like Littlefinger?

Hhhmmm ok SO, given the fact that I am an eldest daughter and also generally who I am as a person, I feel like being born into wealth would not be a particularly nice time for me. There are not even words to describe how terrible of a wife I would be. And there is NO WAY that I could be lady of a keep or castle, honestly you should see my bedroom. So I think I’ll go with welding power from the sidelines… But instead of LF, I would rather be like Varys: knows everything about everyone all the time and might actually be a mermaid.

3. Pick one: platinum hair or purple eyes?

Purple eyes. I would look very, very stupid as a blonde.

4. Based on a tag I made once, based on your physical features, which part of Westeros/which house do you belong to?

I think probably House Tyrell? I have light brown hair and eyes, a round face, kind of small features and (as I am told weirdly often) a really cute nose.

5. Who do you think will actually defeat the Night King?

I know this is an unpopular opinion in ~some circles~ lol, but I really do think in the end it will be Bran… We already know the dragons can be taken down, and now the still living dragons will have to contend with an ice dragon that basically can’t die. And I just really have a hard time believing Bran has spent all this time beyond the Wall learning to warg and do all his crazy Three Eyed Raven shit and actually personally MEET the Night King for ~funsies~. The Army of the Dead? I’m sure will be a combo effort. But the Night King himself? It’s gonna be Bran.

6. Three people you think will die in season 8?

Cersei and Jaime are the two I’m comfortable with saying lol. Other than that I’m gonna Plead the Fifth.

7. What would you name your dragon/direwolf?

I would name my direwolf Artemis.

8. How must Ser Pounce be avenged?

First of all Ser Pounce is NOT dead so JOT THAT DOWN…

9. Whose POV chapters are your favourite? (If you haven’t read the books… skip this and hang your head in shame lol jk jk jk)

Hhhmmm the POV’s I probably look forward to reading the most are Arianne’s. I mean, I love Sansa and she is my child and my baby and my heart… But ohmylortinheaven her POV’s make me so sad.

10. Your favourite ASOIAF/GOT antagonist?

Cersei for sure! Home girl is a trip.

My Questions:

Who is your favorite female character and why? (Yes, I want you to wax poetic about your female fave for me to read... I live for that shit!)

If you could bring back one character from the dead who would it be?

Which Gods would you choose to worship?

What would your personal Westerosi House Words be?

Would you rather be in the Night’s Watch, the King’s Guard, the Faceless Men, or the Khalasar?

Who is your favorite GoT cast member and why?

What is your favorite scene from the books that they left off the show?

Would you rather live beyond the Wall or in the Free Cities?

What is your favorite fandom theory? (Can be books or show)

Rec one (or more) fanartist (original artists, gif makers, or edit makers) or fanfic author from the GoT/ASoIaF fandom whose work you really love.

Tagging: @captainamericas (take a study break and do this chaitali!), @stark, @afewreelthoughts, @sardoniyx, @declermontdiana, @greengableslover, @swainlake, @sansapond, @wynafryd-manderly, @wolfsansastark, @house-martell, @jaimeofhouselannister, @lovableamy, @leejordan and anyone else who wants to play :)

[crashdevlin]

Civil Warriors- 1: Oversight

Civil Warriors Masterlist

Author’s Note: Originally posted to ao3 (This is an edited and improved version) Part Three of the Red Queen Chronicles!

Summary: Cassie Campbell refuses to sign the Sokovia Accords, but it’s not about pride, it’s about right.

Word Count: 2643

Pairing(s): Clint Barton x OFC,

Chapter Warnings: tiny bit of angst and some good fluff, foreshadowing the badness

Cassie sat on the couch in her home in Seattle, drinking coffee and reading through the newspaper. "Did you see this, babe? The United Nations drafted up a law in response to the thing that happened in Nigeria."

"Yeah? What's the new law?" Clint called from the bedroom.

"It's pretty fucking oppressive, actually. Basically, superheroes have to answer to them. Go where they say, do what they want. They decide who our villains are and what is acceptable action against them. All known superheroes are expected to sign these Sokovia Accords."

"And if we don't?" Clint walked in, a piece of pizza in his hand. "If we decide to hero without the UN's consent?"

"If we hero, we end up the next ones on the arrest warrant, hunted down by the legit heroes."

Clint took a bite of the pizza and flopped down next to her. "Good thing we're retired."

"I didn't retire. I took a break. I wanted to finish my degree." She slapped the newspaper into his lap. "This is... ridiculous. We can do things that cops can't do, that the military can't do. To dictate when and where we can go to do these things... what happened in Lagos was horrible, but all the people in that building's courtyard would've blown if she hadn't done what she did."

"Some would say that Rumlow wouldn't have activated that bomb if Steve hadn't been there."

"No, he wouldn't have. But if Steve hadn't been there, he would've gotten away with a weaponized disease that would have caused hundreds more deaths in the long-run!"

"You know an awful lot about what happened in Lagos. Have you been heroing vicariously?"

Cassie looked down. "Nat and I have been talking."

Clint sat up straight, turning to her. "You and Nat? Are good, are friends?"

"Yes. We’re good. You remember Pepper took me out for my... '9 months after conception when they took me out of the goo and let me breathe on my own for the first time' day? And we had a girl's day with Maria? Natasha came along, we had some free mimosas, got our nails and hair done. We had fun, decided we actually liked each other. She said I was good enough for you and I think that was all I really needed to hear to let go of my grudge about the cocktease comment."

Clint smiled. "So, you and Nat have been talking about everything that they've been doing? What, you wanna go back?"

"Not yet, but... we might have to."

"What do you mean?" He asked, munching on the pizza again.

"I mean this is gonna tear us apart. There are going to be heroes who find the idea just as oppressive I do, who refuse to be controlled, and they are gonna rebel. This is gonna cause in-fighting and pain."

"Yeah. And we are gonna stay out of that because we're retired."

"Bullshit," Cassie said, standing. "And get the pizza out of the bedroom, Clint. We've talked about this. Lucky gets into it if you leave it where he can-"

"It's in the side table. Lucky can't open drawers, yet."

"I don't want him scratching at the furniture, either, dude. Put the pizza in the fridge."

"I'll put you in the fridge," Clint mumbled, heading for the bedroom.

"Home, sweet home!" she called out.

"Shit! You know I didn't mean it like that," Clint said, walking out of the bedroom with a cardboard pizza box.

"I know. You just don't think before you speak sometimes," Cassie said as her phone started to ring. 'Natasha' shined up at her. "And here we go," she said, picking up the phone from the coffee table and answering it. "Yeah?"

"Is Clint with you?" Natasha asked, her voice serious.

"Of course, he is. He hasn't left since Christmas."

"Put me on speaker. I have to talk to you both."

"About the Accords?" Cassie asked, pressing the button to send the Russian's voice to speaker. "'Cause I'm not signing."

"I'm retired." Clint walked up next to Cassie.

"This is a big deal. You have to, at least, think about it, guys."

"Think about a group of men who've never been in a room with a supervillain telling me when and what I can do about those villains? Do you think those men would have let you guys come after me when I was with Loki? Do you think they would've let you come to rescue me when I was in Austria?"

"Look, we need some oversight. What happened in Lagos-"

"I'm gonna hate myself for using these words, but 'acceptable losses', Nat. Yes, a dozen people died in Lagos, but Rumlow was gonna blow up everyone in the courtyard. The amount of damage done was cut, at least, in half and these are your words. And when you add in the fact that Rumlow almost got away with a biological weapon... but you didn't know that going in. You thought he was going after the police station. You never would have gotten approval to stop him on that partial information. He would have gotten away with it. Hundreds, maybe thousands, would have died."

"Clint... talk some sense into your girl."

Clint shook his head and smiled at the younger woman. "Natasha. You are my best friend and I love you, but... I don't love you enough to go against the Queen."

"Look, I'm gonna tell Ross that you're on the fence. TBD, just like Wanda. Think about it some more."

"No need. This is an oppressive law and there will always be heroes who do the job without permission. If we wanted to be under the command of a government or governments, we'd have joined up with the Army."

"I'm telling Ross you don't have an answer. You have three days. Think about it," Natasha said, before the phone clicked off.

"Well, I really wanted to be retired, but I get the feeling you just signed us up for a war," Clint said, wrapping his arms around her.

"I didn't sign anything."

"And that's the point." Clint pressed his lips to her cheek and squeezed her. "How long, you think, before this blows up in our faces?"

"The Russian said three days, so... we'll get maybe four."

"Okay. So... head to the farm, drop off Lucky with Laura and the kids before our next big issue?"

Cassie nodded and turned to him. "I love you. You know that, right?"

"I know. We can head out tomorrow, okay?"

"Maybe we'll have time to do something fun with Lila and Cooper before things get bad."

"Ooh, water-skiing. Coop was sayin' he really wanted to give that a try."

"Yeah, but what about Lila?"

"You think she can't water-ski?"

"I think I'm nervous about the water-crash."

"Hey, if Laura goes with it, we can. Come on, we're a circus family. We ain't scared of crashin'."

Cassie laughed. "I love you, circus freak."

"I love you, Frankenstein."

***********************

"Aunt Cassie! Uncle Clint!" Lila ran in as soon as they entered the house. She wrapped her arms around Cassie's middle as Cooper walked in and went for a half hug with Clint.

"Mom and Nate are sleeping."

"Good. Babies and mommies need nappies." Clint laughed. "I don't know why I said it like that."

"Cause you're a dork. And since when am I your aunt, little girl?" Cassie looked down at the little blond girl in her arms.

"Mommy said that the only one she's ever seen Uncle Clint look at the way he looks at you was Aunt Bobbi and he's bound to put a ring on your finger soon."

"Oh, she said that, huh? Gonna have to have a talk with your mommy," Clint grumbled.

"Anyway," Cassie said, pointedly. "Lucky is out in the yard. He's begging for some fetch after that long car ride. You kids up for it?"

The kids ran for the door, excited. "Laura needs to learn to keep her mouth shut."

Cassie turned to him. "Ah, come on. I'm sure it's just more of Lila wanting cousins."

"No. It's Laura... running her big fat mouth," Clint said, putting his hand in his pocket. Cassie's eyes widened as she focused in on the ring box. "I had this whole speech planned, about second chances in life and destinies and stuff, but..."

"Clint... what are you-"

"I can get down on one knee if you want. I mean, that's not really our style, but I can go classic with it, if you-" He smiled, opening the box and bending his left leg. "If that's what it takes to get you to say 'yes' and make me the happiest cliche in the world."

"Don't you dare," Cassie said, pulling him to her and kissing him, her hands burying in his hair.

Clint pulled back and brought the ring up to her face. "It's white gold. Diamonds and sapphire inlay so you can still punch people. I know you don't think you were born, but September birthday, sapphires."

"I don't care about the ring, Clint," she breathed out.

"Yeah, I get that, what with you not looking at it, at all. Also worrisome, you haven't said 'yes', yet."

"Clint, you could have tied a string around my finger and I would have said 'yes'." She laughed. "I'm saying 'yes', Clint."

His lips crashed onto hers again as she grabbed the ring box from his hand. "About damn time. He's had that ring for two months," Laura said, walking into the living room. "So, this is how you do it, Clint? What happened to candles and a string quartet and all those reasons you gave for holding off for the last couple months?"

"Yeah, well, that's how I was gonna do it. I was even gonna ask Tony for his blessing as a funny take on the fact that he's more of a father to you than, you know, anyone else. And I kinda got Phil's blessing at Christmas, like he said there wouldn't be an issue." He shook his head. "But then a Hydra agent decided to blow himself up in Nigeria, the UN decided to make our friends sign up to be international mall cops on their payroll, which fractured us and... shit's gonna hit the fan soon and I wanted to know that, that you're with me through all of it."

"Of course, I am," Cassie said, slipping the ring on her left ring finger. She chuckled in surprise. "It fits."

"Yeah. I measured your finger in your sleep."

"If that weren't so adorable, it'd be creepy. I love you, Clint. I can't wait to be 'Cassie Barton'."

****************************

"Oh. That's not good," Cassie muttered, as the news played.

"A bomb hidden in a news van blew up in front of the UN building in Vienna. More than seventy people have been injured, at least twelve are dead, including Wakanda's King T'Chaka. Officials have released a video of the suspect, who they have identified as James Buchanan Barnes, the Winter Soldier, the infamous Hydra agent linked to numerous acts of terrorism and political assassinations. They're urging anyone with information to contact authorities."

"Clint!" Cassie called. Clint walked in from the kids' play room, a hammer in his hand. "We were discussing four days 'til excrement/fan collaboration? I was wrong." She hit rewind on the DVR and replayed the news.

"Shit. Bucky, that's... that's Steve's bestie, right?"

"Bucky was Steve's Nat. They took care of each other, since they were in school together. Bucky got grabbed by Hydra and brainwashed into being an assassin for them. Steve didn't sign, but there is no way he's gonna sit back and let this shit happen. No way he lets anyone else bring Bucky in," Cassie answered, leaning forward to grab her phone. She dialed Steve and waited. "You're about to do something stupid, aren't you?"

Steve chuckled. "It's only stupid if I get caught."

"What're the consequences if you do get caught? 'Cause I got the feeling the consequence is jail time. Captain America in jail, just seems wrong."

"Like I said... consequences are for if I get caught. If I don't, then I can bring Bucky in with minimal damage."

"Steve, when have we ever done anything with 'minimal damage'? That's the reason the Accords exist."

"I'm going to bring him in... even if someone has to arrest me for doing it."

"Look..." Cassie spun her ring on her finger. "You know Clint and I didn't sign, right? You know, if you need us, we're here."

"Well, I've got Sam on location with me. He's already... pretty much agreed to put himself on the line with me for this. But, thanks. I appreciate it. Oh, and, um, congratulations. I heard about-"

"Nat's got a big mouth. Thanks, but this isn't really the time, is it? Bigger things, that's why I didn't announce it like I'm sure a bride-to-be is supposed to." Clint smiled at her, taking her left hand in his and kissing the back of it.

"Well, I thought you were retired. This stuff shouldn't have anything to do with you."

"Come on. I went on hiatus, fully intended on coming back after graduation. Clint retired, not me. And he's not very good at being retired, either. Listen, Steve, seriously. Be careful. I don't want to have to come visit you with a piece of superhero-proof glass between us."

"I'll keep that in mind, Cass. Enjoy your... retirement."

"Not retired."

"Well, maybe you should be. I'll call you after... if I can."

"Right. Be careful."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Oi, old man. Don't 'ma'am' me."

Steve chuckled again. "I'm gonna miss being an Avenger with you."

"Sometimes, Steve, the end of one thing is the beginning of everything else."

"I'll keep that in mind. I'll call."

"You better." Cassie pulled the phone away from her head and looked at her fiance. "I think we should get our shit together. Just in case. Steve thinks he's got it pretty well in hand, but I wanna be able to hop on a plane to Europe as soon as he calls."

"Of course. I do want to try to take the kids out on the lake, though."

Cassie giggled as Cooper and Lila could be heard in the play room jumping for joy. "Water-ski! Water-ski!"

"We'll go tomorrow morning. Today, let's go out to eat. We'll mall it up today." She lowered her voice and sighed. "I need a bag so I can bring the staff along with me."

"Oh, you're gonna let the Berserker come to play?" Clint's voice was apprehensive.

"I... want that option. I mean, against a suit of armor or two... Berserker strength might be a good..."

"You're pretty strong without the-"

"Clint... I know what it does to me and it scares me, too, babe, but... Sif and Thor think I'm strong enough to deal and... I've come back from it."

"But... you slept half the day after last time and you only had it in your hands for ten minutes, and... you had some-"

"Anger issues after. I remember. It's a Berserker staff. It's not a 'cuddly, happy memories' staff."

"Well, I'd rather you fight with a regular staff. I've got that bow that turns into a bo."

"That joke wasn't funny the first time I heard it, and it isn't funny now." She ran her hand down his face, lovingly. "It'll be okay. It's adrenaline. Massive amounts of adrenaline and my body can take that."

"What about your mind? It pulls out all your worst memories and uses them as fuel for that adrenaline."

"I don't want to talk about this, anymore, Clint. I'm taking the staff. I need a long locking box or suitcase so that no one else can touch the thing."

"When this messes you up, Cassie, I'm not gonna hold back with the 'I told you so's."

"Noted, Hawk."

KITCHEN SINK TAGS @heyitscam99 @wonderlandfandomkingdom @unlikelysamwinchesteronahunt @mrs-meghan-winchester @henrymorganme @lonely-skys @allykat2108 @mogaruke @flamencodiva @team-free-will-you-idjits-67 @pisces-cutie @paintballkid711 @natura1phenomenon @rainbowkisses31 @atc74 @alagalaska @coffee-obsessed-writer @bamby0304 @ilovefanfic86 @sculptorofbeginnings @rainflowermoon @bunnybaby121115 @imperiusimpala

RED QUEEN CHRONICLES TAGS

@fanfictionjunkie1112

[comicgeekscomicgeek]

Their Hero Academia: Chapters 9-12

Chapters 0-8 can be found here

As always, these initial posts are raw and unedited, warts, typos, and all, beyond basic editing while writing.  I’ll have a new link in a couple days when it goes up on AO3 and FF.net

Their Hero Academia –Chapter Nine: Toshi Midoriya and the Taste of Victory

One minute, Toshi was discussing workout tips with Kimiko Ojiro and Daisuke Shoji, trying to take his mind off Katsumi and Izumi.  He was rooting for Katsumi, he truly was.  People deserved to be happy and if there was one thing he was sure of, it was that Izumi did make her happy.  But he wasn’t sure how Izumi felt about Katsumi, beyond considering her a friend. As far as he could remember, he hadn’t ever recalled Izumi expressing romantic interest in anyone, male or female. He didn’t want to see Katsumi hurt. But only by getting her feelings out in the open could she move forward.

The next minute, there was a terrifying booming noise that shook the whole building and silenced all chatter in the common room, save for a terrified, high-pitched scream.  The lights flickered, but quickly came back on.

“Geeze, Aoyama,” Mika Mineta said, “give our eardrums a rest.”

“Excuse me for having a healthy sense of self-preservation!” Takiyo Aoyama snapped back.  “It would be a tragedy the world over were this face to get damaged.”  Toshi sighed. The two of them were probably never going to get along.

“What was that?” Tensei Iida asked.  “It sounded like something struck the fifth floor!”

“Something did!” Katsumi called out, coming back inside with Izumi hot on her feels.  “Some kind of missile or something!  We’re under attack!”

“We do not know that for certain, Katsumi,” Izumi corrected her.  “It could be…  All right, I do not know what else it might be.”

“Wait, the fifth floor?” Ojiro squealed.  “My stuff!”

“Okay,” Toshi said, trying to get everyone’s attention.  Sometimes, wrangling his friends was like herding cats.  He had a pretty good understanding of what to do in disaster situations thanks to his parents, especially his mom.  Dad may have been the Number One Hero and Symbol of Peace, but his mom was one of the best Rescue Heroes in the country.  “Here’s what we do.  Feels like the building’s still standing, but let’s get everybody outside just in case.”

He went on.  “Haimawari?”

“Y—yes, Midoriya?” Isamu Haimawari asked.

“I’m sure the teachers are already aware and on their way, but you’re the fastest on land.  Go find one of them.”

“You can count on me!”

Good.  Haimawari was starting to sound more confident in himself.

Toshi frowned.  It was a risk, but he didn’t like the idea of just waiting around when there was a potential threat on hand either.  “I’m going to check upstairs and see what’s going on.”

“Not alone,” Katsumi said. “I’d never hear the end of it if I let you get your fool ass killed.”

“Me too,” Asuka Tokoyami said.  “If we have to evac, Frog Shadow can protect us.”

Toshi held up his hands. “Okay, okay.  That’s enough.   Let’s go!”

Rushing headlong into danger, getting his friends involved…  Yeah, he was his father’s son.

***

Toshi took the stairs quickly, Katsumi and Asuka hot on his heels.  With the building potentially damaged, the elevator didn’t seem like the safest option.  At least the smoke alarms didn’t seem to be going off.  That was a good sign.

They quickly emerged on fifth floor to find that the East wall had been smashed in, exposing the floor to the elements.   It looked like it had mercifully missed Izumi and Ojiro’s rooms.  But there, sitting in the middle of the floor, was a red-haired girl wearing a U.A. uniform.  She looked like she was about their age and she looked like she’d been crying.

“What.  The.  Hell.” Katsumi said.

“Hey,” Toshi called out, softly.  “Are you okay?”

The girl’s head snapped up, as though noticing them for the first time.  She started scrambling away from them.  “No… no… stay back!  I might hurt you!”   Her body started glowing with a strange, orange-red light.  “I… I can’t control my Quirk!”

Asuka summoned Frog-Shadow, putting it between them and the girl.  A good instinct under most circumstances, but something told Toshi it wasn’t the right call here.  He stepped around the glowing familiar and approached the girl.

“It’s okay,” he said. “I’m Toshinori Midoriya.  That’s Katsumi Kirishima-Bakugo and Asuka Tokoyami. What’s your name?”

She backed a little further away, but she kept eye contact with him.  “Haya Tanaka.  I’m in Class 1-C.”

“Hope you know what you’re doing, Toshi,” Katsumi whispered.

Toshi didn’t answer her, but pressed on.  “Okay, nice to meet you, Tanaka.  What’s your Quirk?”

“C…Comet.  I light on fire and then I fly around real fast.  I was…  I was on my way to class when my Quirk activated all on its own.  I started flying and I couldn’t control where I was going and…  and I guess… I hit… your dorm…   Oh… oh no… did I…  Did I hurt anyone?”

Crap.  He was losing her.  Toshi quickly shook his head.  “You didn’t hurt anybody.  We were all downstairs.  Just knocked a big hole in the wall.  We were thinking of putting a window in anyway.”

That got a little laugh out of her and a groan from Katsumi and Asuka.  But her glow was starting to fade.  “Oh, thank goodness…”

Toshi gave her a little smile.  “See, it’s not so bad, Tanaka.  Pretty sure we’ve all lost control at some point or another.  Katsumi here used to blow stuff up all the time when we were growing up.”

Katsumi gave him a swat on the back of the head.  “Really?”

“Hey, I’m just saying…” Toshi said.  Tanaka’s glow had completely faded now.  He offered her a hand up.  “You feeling better?”

She took it. “Yeah.  I think I am.  Thanks.”

“Are we done revealing personal information now?”

Toshi nearly jumped through the roof.  “Mister Aizawa!  How long have you been behind us?!”

The homeroom teacher kept his gaze focused on Tanaka, his eyes red and his hair floating about his head. Clearly, it had been his Quirk that had really damped Tanaka’s powers and not anything he’d done.

“Long enough,” Aizawa said. “Running headlong into danger, trying to reach everyone… if I had any doubt you were a Midoriya, it’s gone now.”

“Uh… thanks?”

“I’m not sure it was a compliment.”

“That’s pretty cold, Mister Aizawa,” Asuka said.  

“So is life.  You three, get out of here.  I’ll get Tanaka down.”

Well… at least he’d tried.

A strange expression crossed Katsumi’s face.  “…Izzy!” And she took off down the stairs.

Toshi exchanged a look with Asuka.  It was already shaping up to be an interesting day.

***

There’s quite a crowd outside by the time they made their way down the stairs, not just their classmates, but students from the nearby Class 1-B and 1-C dorms as well.  A few of them, Toshi recognized, many he didn’t. There were teachers and staff too: Sato’s dad, Vice-Principal Midnight, the 1-B homeroom teacher Super Ball, the 1-C homeroom teacher Battle Fist, and more, along with Doctor Izumi (though to Toshi, she’d always just be Aunt Eri).

“Only the third day of school, and Class 1-A is already causing trouble?” a blonde kid from 1-B asked. “Why am I not surprised?”

A red-haired girl with metal lower arms smacked him upside the head with a surprisingly satisfying clang. “Oh, shut it, Monoma.”

“OW!  Jeeze, Tetsutesu, easy on my head.”

“Both of you, knock it off,” the rubber-faced (and rubber-bodied) Super Ball snapped.

“I expect better of you, Kana,” Battle Fist said.

“Aaaw, Moooom,” the red-haired girl (apparently Kana Tetsutetsu—he thought he recognized her now, one of Katsumi’s friends) wailed.

Tanaka was handed off to Aunt Eri, and Aizawa went along as well.   Toshi hoped she was all right.  It definitely didn’t seem like it was her fault, but that was a hell of a loss of control.  Sure, Izumi had lost control yesterday, but that was a totally different kind of thing.

Weird, though, hadn’t Grandpa Might said something about a “Quirk misfire” during 1-B’s Battle Trials…?   It was probably just some kind of freaky coincidence.

“All right, all of you,” Vice-Principal Midnight said.  She was dressed far more conservatively than she had been in more active Pro-Hero days, but her suit was still low cut enough and tight enough to raise the pulse rate of anyone interested in women.  She was still fit and looked younger than her years.  And… he was staring.    Of course, so were a lot of other people.  But that didn’t really make it right.  Toshi forced himself to pay attention.

“Everyone get to class,” Midnight said.  “I’m sure you’ve all got busy days ahead of you.   We’ll have the dorm repaired before the end of the day.”

She unclipped her riding crop from her belt, giving it a slap against her open palm.  “You heard me!  Don’t make me have to… discipline you.”

Toshi saw Mineta raise a hand.  “Can I volunteer?” the horned girl asked.

Some things never changed.

***

Classes keep them busy, though Toshi’s still distracted by Tanaka and the events of the morning. He’s lost control in a moment of panic, sure.  More than once, he’s been stunned enough that when he jumped, it’s with zero gravity and he nearly went flying.   But he also always recovered just as quickly.  But to lose control like that?  And then there was whatever happened to Training Ground Beta that they still hadn’t completely fixed.  

But they’d tell them if something more was going on, right?

At lunch, Toshi saw Katsumi hustle Izumi away for a conversation.  Probably the same one that had been interrupted this morning.  Maybe now they’d get the chance to talk that the events of the morning had denied them.  He really hoped for the best.

Lunch was spent in the company of Asuka, Shota, and Haimawari.  As usual, Shota had Hero news to share, spotlighting a battle between the Villain Fullmetal and an up and coming hero called Wreck-It.  Dressed in red and black, Fullmetal had metallic arms and legs that he could reshape into various weapons, while Wreck-It was a behemoth of a man with incredible strength, but whose true power lie in his ability to cause matter to shatter through rapid-fire punches.  It was a hard fought battle, but eventually, Wreck-It did bring the Villain down.  Shota declared it the most awesome thing ever, as he likely would whatever he would share tomorrow.  Toshi was polite enough not to point out the inconsistency.

And finally, the afternoon brought them to their Heroics Class.   This time, Grandpa Might had them working through a variation on Capture the Flag.  They’d been taken to one of the mock cityscapes and had to make it through a horde of robot villains to retrieve a flag, but they also had to make it back to the exit before time ran out.  

With Haimawari and Izumi having to sit a few Heroics classes out, that left them with fourteen.  So they were split into two teams of four and two teams of three.  Toshi was teamed with Akaya Koda, Daisuke Shoji, and Chihiro Kaminari.  It was, in his opinion, a bit of an uneven mix of Quirks.   But you worked with what you had available and none of them would be here if they weren’t already.  He also knew that Chihiro wasn’t half was dumb as she acted around Mineta.

On the plus side, their costumes were finally in.  Toshi’s consisted of yellow boots, blue leggings, a red tunic, and yellow armguards. Across his chest he wore a circle with cut outs at ten, two, four, and eight, split by crossed lines, the symbol for the center of gravity, in gold.  Any resemblance to Grandpa Might’s Silver Age costume was… purely coincidental, of course.

Grandpa Might’s voice rang out over the loudspeaker.  “REMEMBER! YOU ONLY HAVE TWENTY MINUTES TO FIND THE FLAG AND MAKE IT BACK TO THE EXIT!  GO OUT THERE AND GIVE IT YOUR BEST!”

With that, the buzzer sounded, signaling the start of their test.

“Do you have a plan, Midoriya?” Koda asked.  Her own costume was fairly simple, a blue bodysuit, white boots and trucks, and a white leaf pattern swirled over the chest.  Around her waist was a belt with pouches that held various seeds.

He nodded.  “Shoji and I have more mobility than you and Chihiro. We’ll take high, you take low, and work our way to the other side.  Call out if you see anything or need help.”

“Good enough,” Shoji agreed. His costume was rather simple, a black bodysuit, black boots, and a black mask that stopped just short of his eyes and white hair.  His Extendo-Arms remained bare.  Only a white fist symbol, large and taking up most of his chest, broke up the black.

“Got it,” Chihiro said, tossing off a small salute with one of her Cords.  She wore yellow pants with a black stripe up the side and black boots, along with a white shirt, and yellow jacket with black trim.  A black insignia shaped like an electrical outlet adorned her chest.  

Symbols were in lately, in hero-design.

The course of action decided, they moved, Koda and Chihiro taking off on foot, while Toshi reduced his gravity down to near zero and took a mighty leap, landing on top of the closest building.  Shoji followed closely behind, the powerful hands of his Extendo-Arms digging into the side of the building and letting him hall himself up like a muscular spider.

From on top of the building, he could see more of the battlefield.  “There,” he told Shoji.  “See the big one, over there?  I’m betting that’s where the flag is.  Only one way to get there, boxed in by the other buildings, perfect chokepoint.”

“And that’s the direction the robots are coming from,” Shoji said, pointing with one of his regular arms.

“Okay, that too.”

With their Quirks, him bounding and Shoji extending his arms, it was easy for them to move to rooftop to rooftop, out of the way of the streets.  So it’s no wonder Koda and Chihiro ran into the robots (just One-Pointers for this exercise) before they did.

Koda acted first, reaching into her belt and throwing a handful of seeds at the nearest robot. As she did, she activated her Quirk, a soft green glow forming around her hand.  “Grow quickly,” she said, “that I might enlist your aid.”   The seeds sprouted quickly, growing into vines that wrapped their way around the robot, working their way into its joints and stopping it completely.

Chihiro struck out with her Extension Cords, jabbing both of them into a robot’s neck and unleashing a charge of electricity.  The robot sparked, stumbled, and fell over.   “Hope that wasn’t too much of a… shock!” she said, then laughed at her own joke. She quickly retracted her Cords, already attacking the next robot.

“C’mon!” Toshi said to Shoji.  “Let’s help!”   He jumped off the building, aiming for one of the other robots.  He concentrated, raising his gravity up to four times normal. “GRAVITY… SMASH!”

He landed on the robot with a powerful crash, crushing it like an aluminum can.  

But he wasn’t prepared for the second robot, which struck out at him with a large metal fist.   The blow rocked him backwards, hurting some (thank goodness he was tougher when his gravity was up), but his movements in response were slow, clumsy, slowed down by the heavy gravity he’d inflicted on himself. It took him a moment to clear his head enough to bring his gravity back to normal to dodge.

Fortunately, Shoji had his back.  He’d dropped down from above and gripped the robot in his Extendo-Arms, two each gripping one of its arms.  With a grunt, he tore the robot’s arms from its body, letting Chihiro sneak in and hit it with a powerful electric charge.

“Watch your back, Midoriya,” Shoji told him.

“Yeah,” Chihiro added. “You get your face punched in, Mika might stop hitting on you.”

Toshi had to laugh. “Promises, promises!”

***

Twelve minutes later, they had the flag.  But with three minutes to go on the clock, they were far from the exit, blocked by too many robots.

“Away with you, metal beasts!” Koda called out, rapidly growing more vines.   She had her large form in front of Chihiro, who was leaning against a wall, staring off into space.   She’d used too much electricity too quickly and shorted out her own brain. She’d be out of it for a good hour or so.  Too long to be helpful in getting out.

Shoji smashed through another robot with his arms, as Toshi did the same by increasing his gravity when he threw a punch.  They could keep smashing, but there were too many robots for them to make it.  Toshi was further hampered by having to hang onto the flag.

Unless…

“Shoji!” he shouted. “Think you throw me to the exit if I go near weightless?”

The six-armed boy’s eyed widened.  “Of course I can…  But if I miss, or if you don’t stop in time… you’re in for a big crash.”

“Won’t know unless we try,” Toshi said.  “Besides… we’re only got two minutes.  Do it!”

“Your funeral,” Shoji said. But he grabbed Toshi with one of his arms, cranking it bank, then flinging it forward like a trebuchet. With his gravity down to near zero, Toshi went flying through the air like a missile.

He had to focus, keep track of where he was…  Slowly, he increased his gravity so that he began to arc downward to the exit.  Too fast!   Too fast!   He couldn’t slow down in time, so all he could do was increase his gravity enough to protect himself…

He went sailing through the exit, crashing into the ground with a mighty thud.

The victory bell chimed.

“Team One wins,” an electronic voice announced.

“DID YOU SEE THAT? DID YOU SEE WHAT MY GRANDSON DID? I MEAN… AH…  GOOD JOB, EVERYONE!  AND I HOPE EVERYONE WATCHING LEARNED SOMETHING FROM THAT!”

Well, even if his grandfather was embarrassingly proud… the taste of victory was pretty dang sweet.

Their Hero Academia – Chapter Ten: Isamu Haimawari Sits This One Out

Isamu Haimawari was feeling pretty good.   Sure, he’d gotten injured yesterday (not a conversation he was relishing having with his parents and really, one he was hoping he could put off as long as possible), but he’d actually done all right in the Heroics lesson up until then.  And more importantly, he’d made up with Izumi Todoroki, who’d been laboring under the impression that he might blame her or hate her.  Since he wasn’t about to do either of those things, forgiving her had been easy and seemed to put her at ease.

Was it a little forward to take her hand?  Maybe. But it looked like she needed it and, well, his dad always said that small acts of kindness matter just as much as the big heroics.  It was what made him and his convenience store such a fixture in the neighborhood. People knew that if you needed help, you could talk to Koichi Haimawari and he’d do what he could.  Even if he wasn’t the Crawler anymore.  

He looked up just in time to see Kirishima-Bakugo bolting out the door.  She looked… scared?  That was weird.  He didn’t think she had any mood other than angry.  His friends may have claimed she had a softer side and he trusted them, but he hadn’t seen any sign of it yet.  Still…

“Ah… I think your friend’s unhappy about something,” he told Izumi. “Kirishima-Bakugo.”

Izumi frowned. “Katsumi is frequently unhappy. She usually finds a way to take it out on something.  …Or someone.”

“She fan out of here pretty fast,” Isamu said.  “I’d say she bolted.”

Her eyes went a bit wide at that.  “That is… not good,” she said after a moment.  She pushed back from the table and stood.  “Thank you, Isamu, but I should really check on her before…”

Isamu just nodded. He’d seen enough of the explosive blonde to understand at least some of what could follow “before.”

“Sure thing,” he said. He wondered if he should wish her good luck, but decided against it.  It would probably have been rude.  Either way, she headed for the door and after Kirishima-Bakugo.  

It was a shame though that he’d been benched from Heroics Class for the next few days.  Even after being hurt, he was actually looking forward to it.  He’d done pretty good yesterday, he thought.  Sure, he’d been a little scared the whole time, but he’d actually done his part in taking down some of the robots. And he already had some ideas on how he could do better.  Plus, eventually, they’d get to the point where they’d be taking on human opponents and he’d do better there.

Well… he’d just have to take the few days to recuperate and go from there.  

And then the building shook like a bomb had gone off, knocking Isamu from his chair and landing on the floor.  He really had to work on that grace under pressure thing.  Were they under attack?  Did a gas main explode?  Had Kirishima-Bakugo lost it and done something truly explosive?

All right, he didn’t really think the last one was true.

Probably.

***

“Haimawari?”

“Y—yes, Midoriya?” he asked.

“I’m sure the teachers are already aware and on their way, but you’re the fastest on land.  Go find one of them.”

He gave Midoriya a thumbs’ up.  “You can count on me!”

Outside, he dropped into a three-point stance and took off, racing along the sidewalk towards the main school building.  There’d have to be someone there.  Mister Aizawa was always there before any of them were.  Given that he always had a sleeping bag with him, Isamu wondered whether or not he actually ever left.

He banked left and right, dodging around students from the other classes who had come to gawk at the giant hole in their dorm.  There, up ahead, he could already see some of the staff running towards the building too.   He skidded to a stop, and stumbled, nearly falling, managing to right himself at the last second.

And nearly planted his face in someone’s cleavage!

He backed away quickly and fell on his butt again.  He looked up and his eyes went wide.  “V—V—Vice-Principal Midnight!”   Oh, he was in so much trouble…!  “I’m… I’m so…”

The Vice-Principal reared back her head and laughed, before fixing him with a mischievous stare. “Oh, you are a bold one, kid!  I love it!”

What… what was happening?

He recognized the others with her, Sugarman from the cafeteria (and Sato’s father), the 1-B homeroom teacher, the Bouncing Hero: Super Ball, and the 1-C homeroom teacher, the Furious Fighting Hero: Battle Fist.

“Relax, kid,” Battle Fist said.  “You’ve from 1-A, right?”

“R—right,” he said. “Midoriya… he sent me to get help, while he went upstairs to check out whatever hit us…”

“Kenta…!” he heard Sugarman say, and all four of them were off like a shot.

“You still want to help, kid?” Super Ball asked him.  When he nodded, the Hero went on, “Go to the Medical Building and get Doctor Izumi, okay?”

“Got it,” Isamu said. And he was off again.

***

Even if he didn’t get to participate in the Heroics exercise, at least he got to wear his costume. Isamua’s had thick solved red boots that joined protective padding around his knees, blue pants with red stripping on the edges, a blue padded tunic with red snaps and red shoulder pads, red gloves that came halfway up his forearms, and red protective pads on his elbows.  He topped that off with a red bandanna that covered the lower half of his face, and big crimson goggles to protect his eyes.  Maybe not as flashy as some of his classmates, but he liked it.  And with his Quirk, the padding was absolutely necessary, like the protective gear used by professional cyclists or skateboarders.

It definitely did its job of making him feel more heroic.   Considering his heroic career so far seemed to be nothing but one embarrassing moment after another, he needed all the help he could get in that regard.  

When Midoriya’s group won the exercise, he let out a cheer.  His friend had gotten a little battered by his victory, but he’d given it his all and pulled it off.  Midoriya had a confidence Isamu could only wish he had, second-guessing everything he did.

The next group up was Takuma Sero, Kenta Sato, Takiyo Aoyama, and Kimiko Ojiro.  Not really the most balanced group, he thought, lacking for the most part in mobility and limited in firepower.  He wished them luck.  If nothing else, at least they looked good in their costumes.

Sero’s costume was a bit plain.  Black boots and a black body suit, with a white stripe that started on the inside of the legs and went up the torso and down the outside of the arms, before ending in white stripes at the elbow, leaving his forearms bare so he could use his Acid Tape.  He finished it off with a helmet with a clear visor.

Sato was brightly dressed in red and yellow.  A red bodysuit, yellow gloves, trunks, and boots, faceless cowl that left his hair exposed, and a downward pointing yellow wedge on his chest, with a white tooth insignia in the middle.  Isamu had been told insignias were in right now for Hero designs, but hadn’t been able to come up with anything he liked.

Aoyama was, of course, sparkling, even indoors.  His leggings and sleeveless tunic were a dark blue, leaving his arms bare save for the reflective bands that took up his entire forearm.  Tall white boots, along with a white, high collared cape, and a reflective belt completed the outfit.  The belt and armbands were Support items, designed to help him focus his power.

And finally Ojiro. For someone invisible, she was dressed incredibly flashily.  High hot pink boots, practically neon green leggings and a tunic, with a hot pink leotard over that, along with hot pink gloves that went three-fourths of the way up her arms.  She finished it out with silvery-goggles of unspecified purpose and a small utility belt. Isamu guessed that when you were invisible, you wanted to stand out.

For now though, he was sitting in the stands with the rest of the group watching.  Just for today, fortunately.  He still felt a bit worn out from how Doctor Izumi had rewound him, but she had assured him he would be fine by the next day.  He sat with Izumi Todoroki, Shota Shinso, and Asuka Tokoyami, what he’d started thinking of as his friends.  He didn’t have a lot of those, having been thought of as the weird, awkward guy during middle school.  Though if he was honest with himself, he was probably still the weird, awkward guy.  But at least almost everyone here was a little weird.

At least Izumi seemed happy enough.  He’d only know her a few days, so he couldn’t claim to know her well, but after she’d run after Kirishima-Bakugo that morning, she’d seemed lost and distracted. He wondered if her change in mood had anything to do with whatever Kirishima-Bakugo had spirited her away for at lunch.  Midoriya seemed to know something about it, but he wouldn’t say anything about it. If he was a braver person, he would have asked her about it.  But it seemed… personal.  He didn’t think they were close enough that he could really ask.  But she and Kirishima-Bakugo were sitting together and were joined by Midoriya when his group returned, so he supposed it was all right.

His thoughts were interrupted by Mika Mineta leaning over from the row behind him.  Her costume consisted of brown chaps, a purple vest over a low cut brown tunic, thick, fringed purple gloves, and a small purple domino mask.  A thick purple belt and a lariat finished it off.  Leaning over, of course, put her considerable cleavage near his head.

“Looking good in that costume, Haimawari,” she said.  “You like mine?”

Various thoughts and impulses went to war in his head.  On a purely visceral level, Mineta was extremely attractive.  And he had no problem with assertive women; his mother certainly was one.  But Mineta was also unsettlingly aggressive and made him feel a bit like a piece of meat.

“It’s… ah…  it’s nice, Mineta,” he tried, desperately.

“You know where it would look even better?”

Nope, nope, nope, he wasn’t finishing that thought.

Thankfully, Tokoyami came to his rescue.  “Down, girl, *chirp*.”  Frog-Shadow materialized and gave Mineta a shove back into her seat.   “Thank you, Frog-Shadow.”

“No problem!”

“Thanks, Tokoyami,” he said. He considered, then decided to err on the side of politeness.  “And Frog-Shadow.”

The bird-headed girl shook her head.  “Don’t worry about it.  You’ve just got to firm with her.”

Yeah, being firm with attractive women throwing themselves at him?   He wasn’t sure that was going to happen.

Things weren’t going well with the group going through the exercise either.  They hadn’t even found the flag before they were overwhelmed by robots.  Sero’s Acid Tape was eating through a few of them and Kenta was taking bites out of any that got close, but neither was making a lot of headway.  Aoyama and Ojiro weren’t having much luck either. The former’s lasers were effective against the robots, but it looked like he wasn’t managing his power reserves well; his glow was already diminished and his blasts were becoming less and less effective.  And in the crowded space, Ojiro’s invisibility wasn’t especially effective either.  Nowhere to go meant nowhere to hide.

The buzzer sounded.   Time was up and the second team had failed the exercise.  Well… at least they hadn’t gotten knocked out?  That had to count for something, right?  Either way, he’d need to think of what they might have done differently. Since they weren’t participating, he and Izumi had to write up critiques of the other teams.

Frankly, he’d rather have been fighting robots.  He had a hard enough time figuring out what he should do, let alone what someone else should do.

***

Classes long done and homework battled as much as his brain could stand, Isamu’s fingers hovered over the call button on his phone, the contact picture of his parents staring back at him.  He should have called them yesterday, honestly, but he was afraid of what they might say, what they might think.  But how did you even begin to tell your parents that you’d suffered burns over 90% of your body and nearly died, saved only by the fact that the school’s chief doctor had a Quirk that let her rewind you?

His parents understood the cost of heroics.  The man who had taught his father, the vigilante called Knuckleduster, was dead, killed in the line of duty.  And his father had been badly injured helping people, his leg broken in such a way that even after it healed, he never walked right again, ending his career.  His mother had made it through it all unscathed, but had retired in solidarity with his father.

It was one thing to have been injured in the line of duty, in saving people.  It was another to have been so badly injured in training.  He wasn’t sure how they would take it, or what they would say, or what they would do.

In spite of it all, the one thing he knew that he didn’t want to do was go home.  Sure, he’d nearly died.  And sure, he’d barely made it in to begin with.  But… he had friends here, people who believed in him (not that his parent’s didn’t).  He had a chance to be a real Pro-Hero, and he didn’t want to give that up.

He hit dial.  If Izumi could stand up to her parents… then he could stand up to his.

It rang once, twice, and then then voice of his mother, Kazuho Haimawari, came on the line. “Isamu!  Three days, young man!  Three days!  What, are you too busy being a Hero already to call?”

Yep, that was his mother all right.

“N—no, Mom, just… had a lot of stuff going on.”

“Stuff?”  Oh, crap. Her mom radar was probably already pinging.  “What kind of “stuff?’”

In for a penny, in for a pound.  “I’d, ah, I’d really only like to tell this once, Mom.  Is Dad around?”

“I don’t like that the sound of that,” the former Pop*Step said.  “Hang on, I just heard him come in.  Let me get him.”    There was the sound of the phone being put down and then, “KOICHI!”

There was the sound of rushing in the background, and he could tell his father had used his Quirk to speed into whatever room his mom was in.   “I’m the guy who answered your call!” he heard his father say.  That was followed by the sound of his mom smacking his dad upside the head.

“No time for your corniness!  Isamu’s on the phone!”

“Oh, hey, kiddo!  How’s the big hero in family doing?”

“It’s… It’s good, Dad.  I’m doing good.  But I really do need to tell you what happened…”

He swore he could hear the temperature on the other end of the line drop by several degrees. He must have impressed upon them how serious it was.

“What’s going on, son?” his father prompted.

“I…  I got hurt yesterday,” Isamu said after a long moment spent gathering his thoughts.  “One of my classmates, she’s got this Quirk where she absorbs heat and makes ice, but she has to let it out.   Only, she overused it and collapsed.  And I didn’t want her to hit her head or anything, so I raced over and caught her… only she hadn’t let go of all that heat yet.  So when she passed out, it kind of all came out at once.  As fire.  I got burned.  Like… all over.”

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the call, though it was quickly broken by his mother.  “What the hell, Isamu?!”

He quickly tried to press on.  “I’m—I’m okay, Mom.  The school doctor fixed me right up, like I wasn’t even hurt at all.  They got me there in time.”

“No, seriously, what the hell?  You waited over a day to tell us this?  That you almost died?!”

“Pop…” his dad said.  “Maybe you could calm down, just a little?”   It was clear his dad was worried too, but keeping a better level of control over it.

“Calm down? Calm down?!  Our son almost died and you’re telling me to calm down?  What is wrong with you?!”  From the sounds on the other end of the phone, she was probably smacking him.

“Ow, ow, ow! Hey, stop it!”   Yep, definitely smacking him.  “I need that arm, Pop!”

“Uh… Mom? Dad?”

The smacking sounds stopped.  

“Look, I didn’t tell you right away because I didn’t want to worry you.  That’s one’s on me. But I’m okay.  Really.  Got a couple days excused from Heroics, but I’m okay.  Even made nice with the girl who burned me. She was more upset than I was. But if I’m gonna get hurt… at least this was because I was doing the right thing.”

Silence again, then, “He’s got a point, Pop.”

“You’re just saying that because it sounds like something you’d say.  You never held any grudges either.”

“You do that enough for both of u---ow!”

“You sure you’re all right, Isamu?” his mom asked.

“I’m fine, Mom,” he insisted.  “Looking forward to getting back to Heroics.  Plus… I’ve made a bunch of new friends.  You’d like them.  One of them’s even Deku’s kid.”

“Wait, Deku’s kid?” his father asked.  “…Any chance you can get an autograph?”

Isamu squeezed the bridge of his nose, fighting the urge to laugh.  “I’ll see what I can do, Dad.”

Their Hero Academia –Chapter Eleven: Izumi Todoroki Tries to Sort it All Out

“I’m in love with you, Izzy. Been in love with you for a long time.”

For a moment, the world seemed to freeze around Izumi Todoroki, as her longtime friend Katsumi Kirishima-Bakugo confessed her longtime love for her.  There was nothing in anything she had experienced, nothing in anything she had ever done, that could have prepared her for this, told her how to react.  She was not good, she knew, with reading people or knowing how most people would react to things.  And in that exact moment, she desperately wished that she was.

Katsumi had been her friend for longer than she could remember.  She had been her protector, always there when she needed her.  And in return, she had been one of the few people Katsumi would always, always listen to.  And that was something even Toshi did not have.  She truly valued Katsumi’s friendship, in spite of her friend’s sometimes rough edges.

Never, not even if she had been given a lifetime to guess, would she have thought that Katsumi might be in love with her.

Memories came, unbidden. All the times when she had calmed Katsumi down, stilled her from some disastrous path.  All the times she and Katsumi had shared their thoughts and secrets, all the times Katsumi had gone out of her way to look out for her.  Just the day before, when Katsumi had threatened to fight her parents if they tried to take her away from U.A.

Clearly, Izumi was a blind idiot for not seeing this sooner.

Izumi considered herself to be a straightforward and honest person.  Perhaps not quite to the degree that Asuka Tokoyami was, but she was not a liar and she did not avoid difficult situations.  She had asked for this, asked Katsumi to tell her what was the matter. And yet, in that moment, all she desperately wished that she could be anywhere else.  Because she truly had no idea what to do next.

“Katsumi, I…” she began, realizing she had no idea what she was going to say next.

It was almost a relief when a sound like a rocket split the air.  Both of them looked up and watched something streak across the sky towards the dormitory, with a sound like thunder. It looked like a comet, or a missile, and then…  It impacted with the fifth floor of the dormitory, shattering the wall with a colossal BOOM!  Though she prayed no one was hurt, it if meant she did not have to have this conversation right now…

“What the fuck was that?” Katsumi yelled.  “Are we under attack?”

The thought chilled Izumi to the bone, a chill that had nothing to do with her Quirk.  If any of her friends had been injured…   “We must find out,” she said.

Katsumi frowned, clearly annoyed that her heartfelt confession had been interrupted.  But as hot-headed as she could be, Katsumi was not so selfish as to put herself first in a situation like this.  “Ngh… no, you’re right, Izzy,” she said.  “C’mon!”

***

It was quite possibly one of the worst mornings Izumi had ever had.  Her thoughts kept drifting back to Katsumi’s confession and how there had been no time to discuss or process it.  Her sympathies lay heavily with Haya Tanaka, the girl from the morning. To have lost control of your Quirk like that…  It reminded her too much of how she’d injured Isamu.  In both cases, everyone involved had been very lucky.

But she had barely been able to concentrate on her school work.  She had made careless mistakes in her classes.  FireFox, their flame-powered powered math teacher were a head like a red panda hadn’t noticed, but Hawkeye, the blonde daughter of retired Pro-Hero and former U.A. teacher Snipe, certainly had during her English lesson.

Lunchtime was a merciful relief.

She told Toshi and the others to go on without her and waited outside the classroom for Katsumi. When her friend exited the classroom, she stopped her with a small touch.  “Katsumi… may we finish our conversation from this morning?”

Katsumi brightened slightly at that.  She’d spent most of the morning rather sullenly in her desk, almost looking like she was trying to hide, something Izumi never thought she’d see. “I’ll…  I’ll go get us lunches and bring it back here, okay, Izzy?  I know you gotta eat to take your pills.”

Izumu blinked.  She’d been so preoccupied she’d actually forgotten about that.  Amazing. That was how distracted she’d become. “I… thank you, Katsumi.  For remembering.”

It left her waiting for Katsumi again, though.  And that meant she was alone again with her thoughts, absently pacing the rows of desks in the classroom.  She could run (granted, not for terribly long, but she could when required), avoid the conversation entirely.  Or perhaps she could simply freeze herself in a block of ice and wait around in suspended animation for a few centuries (she was fairly certain her Quirk would have prevented that, even without the need to release the heat involved).

Run away… or stay and have a conversation she truly, truly did not wish to have.

All of her options were terrible ones.  No matter what she did, she was certain she was going to hurt her dearest friend in all the world.

Katsumi soon returned with two trays of food.  “Got a few things I knew you’d like,” she said.  “Including cold soba.  Because you have no taste.”

Izumi raised an eyebrow at that.  “There is nothing wrong with cold soba.  My father enjoys it as well.”

“Then you’ve both got no taste,” Katsumi teased.

They are in silence for few minutes, before Izumi finally found the courage to speak.  “Katsumi,” she began, “about this morning…”

Katsumi looked up from her food.  “I… I shouldn’t have said that, Izzy.  I’ve gone and made everything so fu—so weird.”

Izumi shook her head. “You followed your heart.  It must have taken considerable courage to tell me that.  I’m not sure I would have had the same courage, were our positions reversed.”

“Blame Toshi for that one. He’s the one who figured it out. He’s the one who convinced me to talk to you.  For somebody whose entire strategy is “get high up, then fall,” he can be pretty smart sometimes.

“…But don’t tell him I said that.”

“Your secret is safe with me,” Izumi assured her.

They lapsed into silence again, eventually broken by Katsumi.  “You’re not in love with me,” she said.

Izumi looked down.   Katsumi deserved nothing less than her honesty.  She had bared her soul and Izumi could do no less in return.  “I am sorry,” she said.  “But I am not.  I love you as I love my family, as I love Toshi and Shota and Asuka.  There is no one I consider to be a better friend. But I am not in love with you.”

Katsumi looked down and Izumi could swear she could see some of the light leave her friend’s eyes, see something inside of her die just a little.  “Thanks for being honest with me,” she said.  She forced a smile that even Izumi could tell she didn’t really feel. “Is there… anybody you do like? Because I can make them ask you out if they’re too chicken.  Been told I’m very convincing.”

That was a question in and of itself.  “There is not,” she said after a moment.  “I do not know if I have ever experienced romantic attraction.  I can appreciate aesthetic attractiveness, such as the way you look when you smile, or Toshi’s muscles when he takes off his shirt…”

“Ick, ick, ick, he’s like my freaking brother, Izzy.”

“But romantic attraction… No.  I’ve never felt that.”

“That’s… that’s kinda sad, Izzy.”

Izumi nodded.  “I am not sure I agree.  Perhaps I am still waiting for the right person, or perhaps there is no right person for me.  I do not know.  I can only see where life takes me.”

She frowned and looked down. So many serious conversations is so few days.  Her parents, Isamu, and now Katsumi.  “Katsumi… are we still friends?”

Katsumi locked eyes with her for a moment.  “Yeah. We are, Izzy.  I think…  I think I need some time to work some things out, figure out who I’m gonna be if being in love with you isn’t getting me anywhere.  But you’re always gonna be my friend.  I love you, even if I ain’t gonna be in love with you.  Just gotta figure out what that makes me.”

“Thank you, Katsumi. I really hope you find someone who can make you happy.”

“Me too, Izzy.  Me too.”

Izumi rose and indicated that Katsumi should do the same, which she did, albeit with a puzzled look on her face.   Izumi pulled her friend into a tight hug, holding it for several long seconds.  She was not typically physically demonstrative and she could feel Katsumi jerk in surprise before she returned it.

“You will always be my friend, Katsumi.  Never, never forget that.”

***

Izumi always did enjoy the opportunity to see her friends and classmates in action.  True, she was envious of the freedom with which they moved and used their Quirks, but there was something about seeing them in action that did send a bit of a thrill through her heart.  Still, she regretted that she was being forced to sit this round out and would for the rest of the week as well.  She had significantly overextended her Quirk, after all.  But it meant that she would fall behind the others. She would have to work that much harder to catch up.

From what she understood, however, her costume should make it somewhat harder for her to overextend herself like that again.  After her parents had visited her, her mother had apparently made a call to the Iida Twins mother, Mei Iida, and suggested several potential modifications, which the support equipment designer had passed on to the school after making them into reality in the space of a long night.  The combined forces of Momo Yaoyorozu and Mei Iida were apparently very hard to argue with.

Her base costume was split between orange and a pale blue.  Her left boot, right leg, left half of her tunic, and right glove were blue, while the right boot, left leg, right half of her tunic, and left glove her orange.  Silver bands encircled the cuffs of her boots and gloves, matching the silver belt that contained basic field aid supplies and her own medications.  Finally, a silver harness completed the costume. The harness, along with the silver bands, was designed to help offset some of the hear she absorbed, letting her discharge it more harmlessly than letting it out as flame, as well as pulling heat all on its own when she absorbed dangerously high amounts.

The third team of the day had taken the field:  Sora Iida, Shota Shinso, and Asuka Todoroki.  The grouping was a bit unfair, in her opinion.  Sora’s Quirk provided high mobility, Shota’s high versatility, and Asuka’s provided both.   But Hero work was often unfair, and sometimes there were foes and situations to be faced that could not be handled by a particular Quirk.  Adapting even in the face of that was something they would all have to learn.

Sora’s costume harkened back to her father’s and uncle’s (Izumi’s uncle as well, since the elder Tensei Iida was married to her Aunt Fuyumi), having a heavily robotic styling. Silver boots, gloves, helmet, and chest plate contrasted well against the red of the rest of her costume, along with folded silver wings like a jet’s on her back.  Izumi knew that Sora’s costume (and that of her brother, Tensei, which looked virtually identical save for being blue where Sora’s was red) incorporated significant support gear that the twins had designed to enhance their Jetpack Quirk.

Asuka’s primarily wore green:  light green leggings, a light green tunic with a dark green stipe, white boots and gloves, and a dark green cape.  Izumi would not call herself the best judge of aesthetics, but it struck her as a bit plain. Then again, Asuka was noticeable enough on her own, between her bird-head and her Quirk.  Perhaps that was enough.

Shota’s costume was a bit of a mishmash of colors.  He wore navy blue boots with white stripes, white leggings, a navy blue tunic with white arm bands, and blue gloves.  On his chest, he had a series of jagged yellow lines, which Shota had told her was a representation of the sound waves for “Plus Ultra.”

Izumu watched as Sora took off, getting an aerial fix on the flag, while Asuka summoned Frog-Shadow to carry herself and Shota through the streets in great leaps.   Robots tried to stop them, but between Frog-Shadow and the immense power of Shota’s voice, they were quickly smashed.  With Sora’s flight power, keeping the flag and getting it out was easy.

Until the flying robots arrived.  One swatted Sora out of the air easily, sending her crashing to the ground with an impact that made Izumi wince.  Even knowing that injuries could be treated easily enough by the U.A. medical staff, it was not fun to watch someone get hurt like that.  

Shota let out a low pitched sound, one Izumi could practically feel in her bones, even from the observation stands.  It made her feel faintly… unwell.   But its effects on the robots were even more incredible.  Where the soundwaves impacted with the robots, the robots simply… weren’t anymore, dissolving away into dust.  

She was grateful Shota was such a happy, gentle soul.  The thought of his power turned towards malicious ends was truly horrifying and that was only the abilities they had discovered so far.  He was always trying to hit new high and low pitches, to see what they would do.  

Asuka took up the flag, trying to get to the exit on Frog-Shadow.  Unfortunately, their efforts weren’t in time.  The buzzer sounded with time running out.  A failure, but perhaps not as overwhelming of one as the previous group.  But she would already see where things could have gone better.   Izumi would have to reflect some, but she could likely complete her analysis without much trouble.

“Damn,” Katsumi said. “Almost thought they had that one. Who knew Loud Kid had it in him?”

“He is full of surprises,” Izumi agreed.  She was just thankful Katsumi was still speaking to her.  Yes, they had agreed they were still friends, but she suspected heartbreak was not something that mended so quickly.  She would have to be especially mindful of Katsumi and how she spoke to her and what she asked of her for a while now, before the two of them could find a new normal.  Whatever normal was, anyway.

Katsumi went on. “Let’s see… with you and the Newb sitting this one out, that means the last group is gonna be me, the other Jetset, and…”

She stopped, silently mouthing the names or identities she’d assigned to their classmates. “Crap.  Mineta.”

Izumi hid a small smile behind her hand.  Katsumi truly had no filters and was very free with her reactions.  She’d seen it get the explosive girl in trouble many times, but at the same time, she somewhat envied the freedom with which she acted and spoke.  “I am sure it will not be so bad,” she said.  “I think you have threatened her enough to belay her worst impulses.  You have led the horse to the waters of fear and made her drink.”

Katsumi just stared at her before cracking a smile of her own.  “Was that a joke, Izzy?  Are you doing jokes now?”

“Perhaps it was.”

Katsumi actually laughed at that.  “Just when I think I’ve got you figured out.”

***

Later, when classes were over and homework was done, Izumi found herself watching television in the common room with Toshi, Shota, and Asuka.  The dormitory had been repaired by the time they’d returned, a testament to how quickly U.A. could get things done.  And other than a few things knocked off her bookshelf, nothing in her room had been damaged.  Isamu had been invited to join them, but had mentioned that he needed to make a call home. He’d seemed reluctant to be making it, but Izumi understood that.  Parents were very complicated even at the best of times.

She hadn’t been paying too much attention to the movie they were watching, some old classic monster movie, but Toshi and Shota liked it, and her friends being happy was enough for her. However, the television suddenly caught her attention as the film stopped and the logo for the local news affiliate appeared on the screen.

“…interrupt your broadcast to bring you this special report from downtown Musutafu,” the newscaster, a furry man who looked slightly uncomfortable in his suit, “where we are receiving reports of several Pro-Heroes engaged in battle with a gigantified Villain.  We’re going live to the scene now…”

“Turn it up,” Toshi said. Shota, who had the remote, complied.

The scene shifted to the downtown area, where a giant, fire breathing lizard monster was lashing out at anyone and everything.  Giant claws, a massive tail, blazing fire, all of it was being unleashed.  Citizens ran from it, screaming, even as it let out a massive roar.

“Any idea who that is?” Asuka asked.

“No Villain I recognize,” Toshi said.

“Me neither,” Shota added.

Fortunately, there were Pro Heroes on the scene already.  The veteran Hero Kamui Woods could be seen pulling civilians out of the Villain’s path (he’d experienced a bit of decline in recent years, before rebranding himself as a Rescue Hero), while other Heroes attempted to stop the beast, but none of them were having any effect.  Its hide repelled their attacks and none were strong enough to stop it.

“That’s… not far from here,” Asuka said.  “Do you think we should be worried?”

The broadcast answered the question for them.  “There’s no need to worry… for I AM HERE!”

Out of the sky, a green and white figure (with red shoes) dropped, slamming a powerful fist into the creature’s head.

Toshi lit up.  “Dad!”

Deku’s blow snapped the giant lizard’s head back.  He hit the ground with a hard impact that cracked the concrete, but he followed up with a hard flick of his fingers, sending a burst of air into the lizard monster’s midsection.  It cried out in a screech that sounded more confused and fearful than hurt, its eyes locking on him.

They watched as Deku hesitated, gearing up for another blow, but stopping midway through another punch. Instead, he held a hand up to the lizard.  The lizard monster stared for a moment and it looked almost as though clouds were clearing from its eyes.  It reached out with its giant hand, brushing the tip of one of its claws against his hand. And then it simply vanished, replaced on the ground by a woman.

A… naked woman. Fortunately, the television camera cut away, as Deku wrapped his cape around her to try and preserve her modesty.

“…just lost control,” the woman who had been the lizard monster seemed to say, before the camera cut away to Deku, reporters mobbing him with questions.

“That was awesome!” Shota declared.  “He did the air flick!  He did the air flick!”

Toshi grinned.  “Okay, that part was pretty awesome.  But it was even more awesome how he stopped her without having to really hurt her.”

“How do you think he figured that out?” Izumi asked.  She’d seen no signs that it was anything more than a run of the mill giant Villain attack.

Toshi shook his head. “I dunno.”

“That look in her eyes, though,” Asuka said, “it reminds me of the girl from this morning.  *chirp*”

Toshi frowned.  “You know, I think you’re right…”

“That is troubling,” Izumi said.  Toshi and Asuka had filled the rest of the class in on what had happened.  To lose control like that…   Well, she’d already personally seen what happened when you lost control.  People got hurt.  Yet she had a feeling her own loss of control was nothing like what these others were experiencing.  Hers had been pushing beyond her limits.  This… was something else entirely.

What was going on in the world?

 Their Hero Academia –Chapter Twelve: Katsumi Kirishima-Bakugo Picks Up the Pieces

So.  Izzy didn’t love her.  Well, she loved her, but she didn’t love her love her.  And that was something Katsumi was just going to have to learn to live with.  She supposed it was better, now that it was out in the open, even if it felt like her heart had been ripped out of her chest, frozen, set on fire, and the ashes scattered to the four winds.  Now that she knew Izzy was an impossibility, she could try and move on.

Right.

So why was that all she could think about?  Maybe she should have distanced herself more from Izzy.  But that didn’t feel right either.  She loved loved Izzy… but she loved her too.  She really was one of her best friends in all the world.  And Katsumi was well aware she was not the easiest person in the world to like.  Izzy, Toshi, Kana Tetsutetsu, she could probably count the number of people she really considered to be her friends on both hands and would have a few fingers left over.  She could not afford to lose what few friends she had.

Izzy did not love her and she would just have to make her peace with that.

“Are you all right, Kirishima-Bakugo?” Tensei Iida asked, his features hidden by his helmet.  His costume matched that of his sister’s, looking like a robot with silver boots, gloves, chest plate, wings, and helmet, accented with blue where his sister had red.

“You’re, ah, kinda distracted,” Mika Mineta said, actually sounding genuinely concerned, rather than flirtatious.

Well, crap.  If Mineta was noticing, then she must have been in a state.  “I’m fine,” Katsumi growled.  “Start looking for the damn flag already.”

She cracked her knuckles. If nothing else, she did look damn good in her costume.  She had thigh-high black boots with bolt laces, black and gold trunks, a black sleeveless and mid-riff baring top, golden armguards, and black fingerless gloves with a palm cut out.   An insignia like a cartoon bomb in gold on her top completed the look.  Dad would probably flip out when he saw it, but Papa would probably appreciate her embracing her Wo-Manliness.

And then the robots were upon them.  “Jetset!” she growled to Iida.  “Find the flag!  Horse-Face and I will take care of these damn tin cans!”

“Kirishima-Bakugo…” Iida began.  “I do not know if I feel right abandoning my teammates…”

“Get going already!”

Iida recoiled from her, activating his Jetpack Quirk to take to the air to begin the search for the flag.

“That’s your big plan?” Mineta asked, dodging out of the way of one of the robots.  She gave it a kick with one of her hooves, knocking it down.   “Send Iida after it and hope?” She let out a shriek as another robot nearly punched her head off.

“Stop yapping and fight!” Katsumi growled.

She eyed the nearest robot and let a grin creep across her face.  Finally, something she could hit.  And after the last couple of days she’d been having… she definitely needed it.

She slapped the closest robot, then gave it a hard punch with her other hand, knocking it into the next nearest one.  Just in time too, because the explosive charge she’d given the first robot took effect, blowing up its head and taking them both out.

She had to play this smart. Her Quirk worked by means of a liquid she secreted from her hands.  It did something on a chemical level to most matter, giving it highly volatile explosive properties.  But there was a limit to how much she could produce at a given time.  She’d run out during yesterday’s exercise, not something she wanted to experience again.

A purple sphere flew by her head, hitting a robot and obscuring its vision.  “Hey!  Watch where you’re aiming that!”

“Sorry!” Mineta apologized, headbutting a robot with her horns.   “Fired off that one by mistake!  Got a little spooked!”

Gaaah!   Mineta made her so mad!   If she wasn’t flirting with everything that moved, she was being a damn coward.  If she just stopped yapping and fought, she might actually be a halfway worthwhile hero!

Katsumi tore through the robots, touching each one long enough to impart explosiveness upon them. They blew up in a hail of shrapnel and smoke.   A wicked grin crossed her face.  “Damn, that felt good.”

“I am never getting the smell of smoke out of my hair,” Mineta wailed, leaning against a wall. “Did you have to blow so much stuff up?”

“Yes.”

“Teammates!” Iida’s voice cut through the air.  “I have the flag!”

Katsumi looked up to see Iida flying through the air, flag in hand.  Several flying robots were hot on his heels.

“Get it down here, Jetset! Horse-Face!  Start shooting them down!”

“Stop shouting!” Mineta snapped back, even as she peppered the air with sticky purple spheres. “I’ve already got a headache from all the explosions!”

“You’ll have more than a headache if you don’t shut up!”

Why didn’t people just listen to her?

“Jetset!  Low flight, keep going to the exit!”

Iida hesitated for a second, but the look in her eyes was enough to scare him into motion.

More robots were coming now. Katsumi took a breath and slapped both hands on the ground.  “Horse-Face, you might wanna back up!”

For once, Mineta listened to her, jumping several feet backwards with one easy bound.   Katsumi let her power seep into the ground… and then the concrete exploded, showing the robots with flames and rubble.

The destruction was one of the most beautiful things Katsumi had ever seen.

And yet… her thoughts still lingered on Izzy.

“Tensei Iida has made it to the exit!” All Might’s voice rang out over the loudspeaker.  “Team Four Wins!”

At least something was going right today.

***

The next morning, the sun rose.  Not completely unexpectedly, of course, but if the world had ended, at least she wouldn’t have had to face one where Izzy didn’t share her feelings, a world where she’d bared her soul and found rejection (kind, friendship embracing rejection, but still rejection).  She didn’t harbor any ill will towards Izzy.  She wasn’t sure that was something she could ever do.  And she truly hoped that whatever or whoever Izzy wanted out of life, she found it.

They were only fifteen. There was a lot of time in the world for things to happen, for either of them.  But she’d spent too many of the past years nursing an unrequited crush. Now, she had to Woman up and move forward.  And the best way to clear her head was exercise.  It was too early to tackle the punching bag though, as much as she might have liked to let out her pent up emotions that way.

Most of the rest of the class wouldn’t be up yet.  Katsumi had already learned she was one of the earliest risers.  The only one up earlier than her was Toshi, which she had already known.  He was one of the only people she knew who was dedicated to their health as she was and the only one she’d admit to being able to keep up with her (Not that she’d ever admit it, but it was sometimes the other way around.  He was just that good).

Fortunately, he hadn’t left yet.  Katsumi found him about to head out to the door on the ground floor.  He was wearing shorts and a tank top, as he usually did, and Katsumi was reminded of Izzy’s comments about aesthetic appreciation. Toshi was really fit.  His arms and legs were almost as well muscled as hers.  He was also practically her brother (Yes, she had an actual brother. But still.).

“You mind if I join you, Toshi?” she asked.

He only seemed slightly surprised by the question.  “Didn’t think you were that into running, Katsumi.”

She shrugged.  “Need to get moving today or I’m gonna explode.”

He nodded, opting not to ask any follow up questions.  He’d sat and talked with them some yesterday during the training exercise and new the basic outline of what had happened.  He’d push if he felt it was really important, but he also understood boundaries.

“Sure, then,” he said.

***

They kept up a brisk jog, enough to get their blood moving, making their way past the upperclassmen’s dorms and towards some of the smaller athletic fields.  She knew Toshi was actually faster than her, but right now, he was just keeping the pace.

“You’re using your Quirk,” she said.

Toshi blinked.  “How’d you know?”

“You’ve got your ‘Quirk’ face on, Toshi.  You make this weird look every time you use your Quirk.  Have for years.”

“I do?” he asked. “Aw, jeeze…”

She shook her head. “You making yourself lighter to cheat?   You know I don’t stand for cheating…”

“No!” he cried, quickly. “Not that!  Definitely not that!   I’m making myself heavier!  I figured out I can make my muscles stronger by working them under heavier gravity. So I’m, like, five percent heavier than usual right now.”

Okay, she had to admit, that was pretty smart.  “You come up with that on your own?”

He shook his head. “Wish I had.  But Dad suggested it.”

“Saw him on the news last night.  You hear from him today?”

Toshi shook his head again. “No.  Wish I had.  Izumi and Asuka think there’s something weird going on.  Love to talk to him about it, but his phone keeps going to voicemail.”

Huh.  That was odd.  Uncle Deku was usually extremely available, especially for Toshi and his sisters.  There must have been something big afoot, but what, she couldn’t even begin to guess.

Whatever thoughts she had were interrupted by someone coming up from behind them.  “On your left!”

She cast a glance over her shoulder.  “Kana, if you think I’m letting you pass me, you’ve got another thing coming!  Book it, Toshi!”

Katsumi sped up and Toshi did too, even as Kana Tetsutetsu ran up beside them.  The red-haired girl gave them a sharp-toothed grin.  “Only you could turn a morning jog into a competition, Katsumi.”

Katsumi gave her a fist bump as they kept running.  “Only way to get stronger is to keep pushing, Kana.  You know that.”

“Maybe I just like hearing you say it.”

Katsumi just laughed. Like her, Kana was a deeply devoted disciple of the Womanly Arts and Ways of Living.  She hadn’t had much chance to see her since school had started, so she was glad to have run into her.  Katsumi didn’t exactly do “girl time”, but maybe she’d see if Kana had time to talk later.

“You liking school so far, Tetsutetsu?” Toshi asked.

Kana made a face. “It’s mostly good.  Super Ball’s a good teacher, at least.  But I swear, we’ve only had three days of classes and I’ve already had to clobber Monoma ten times.  I’d do worse, if his parents weren’t friends with mine…”

“Yeah, well, mine aren’t,” Katsumi said.  Her father in particular had a rather low opinion of the Hero Phantom Thief.  “You need me to rough him up any?”

“Katsumi!” Toshi said. “You can’t do that!”

“Relax, Toshi,” she said. “There’s a chance I’m joking.” Which she was.  Well, maybe twenty-five percent joking.

“I appreciate the offer,” Kana said.  “But I’ll deal.”

The sound of a scream ruined any other chance of conversation.

Toshi pointed.  “That came from under the bleachers!”

The three of them exchanged a glance and took off as fast as they could.

***

The source of the scream was readily apparent when they neared the bleachers.   There were two students, one male and one female—Katsumi didn’t recognize them, but they looked old enough to be third years—and the woman definitely seemed to be the screamer.  The male, a dark-haired young man, was the problem.  His Quirk, some kind of blue-green laser blade pulsing from his hands, seemed to refuse to switch off.  And it was getting bigger, the blades already several feet long and growing.  He couldn’t even lower his hands, lest the blades start slicing up the ground.

“Get back!” he said. “I can’t turn it off!”

“What happened?” Toshi asked.

“We were just walking to class,” the girl, blue-haired and wide-eyed, with small antenna coming from her forehead, explained.   Given their location and the worry in her voice, Katsumi recognized a woman in love. They’d probably gone under the bleachers to make out, but that wasn’t really important now. “And then...!  We were heading back when Haru’s Quirk activated and he couldn’t shut it off!

“I were going to get help,” she went on, “but he was so scared we didn’t want to leave him…”

“No phones?” Katsumi asked. Who didn’t have a cellphone in this day and age?

My fault,” the girl said. “My Quirk blocks cell signals and it’s always on, so we never carry them.”

Another out of control Quirk, just like yesterday morning. And on the news last night.  And Toshi was wondering if whoever had destroyed the training ground the other day was part of it too.  This was starting to be a really bad trend.

“I’ll go get help,” Toshi said.  “I can cover it in a couple jumps.   Katsumi, Tetsutetsu, can you stay with her?”

“Of course,” Kana said.

“Get going already, Toshi!”

Toshi nodded and took a quick leap, carrying himself a considerable distance towards the main campus.

Which left Katsumi and Kana were an emotionally fragile girl and a guy with an out of control Quirk.  

“It hurts…” the guy—Haru —cried out, and his laser-blades grew longer.  

“Look out!”  Katsumi tackled the girl as the laser blade nearly skewered them.  Kana activated her own Quirk, converting her arms to metal and throwing them up in front of her body in an X.  The laser blade splashed against them and knocked her back, but didn’t cut through them.

“Damn!” Kana cried out, still holding her ground.  “That’s a strong Quirk you’ve got, man!  I can feel the heat!”  She took a single step back and then fell sideways, letting the laser-blade fly past as she rolled away.  She came up, returning her arms to normal.

Katsumi looked to the blue-haired girl.  “You got a name?”

The girl blinked. Maybe she’d been a bit too abrupt. “Rumi.  Rumi Saito.”

“Your boyfriend there, he ever been knocked out?”

“He’s not my…”  Saito trailed off under Katsumi’s glare. “Yes.  Sometimes. He’s in the Hero course.”

“Katsumi,” Kana said. “Are you thinking…?”

“Those blades of his shut off when it happened?” Katsumi pressed Saito for further details.

She swallowed hard, then nodded.  “Yes. They’re supposed to go off if he’s not actively sustaining them.”

Katsumi nodded.  The guy was in danger of hurting someone and hurting himself if this kept up, and Toshi still wasn’t back yet with help.

She’d be the first to admit, she wasn’t a great thinker.  She favored solutions that were simple and direct.  Toshi would probably have tried talking this guy down.  But from the look in his eyes and the steadily growing threat of the laser-blades, that wasn’t an option.

“For what it’s worth,” she told him, “I really am sorry about this.”

His blades were still pointing out to the sides, so she had a good shot at this.  Katsumi sprinted, closing the distance between herself and Haru quickly.  He started to panic, letting out a scream and bringing his hands closer to his body. This caused his laser-blades to lash out and she jumped over them, narrowly missing having her legs sliced to pieces by the energy blades.  She heard the sound of the blades meeting Kana’s metal again and knew her friend had stepped in to protect the girl.  

Katsumi crossed the remaining distance easily and threw a right cross that spun his head around and knocked his lights out.  She heard someone scream.  Probably Saito, given that she’d just slugged her boyfriend.  He let out a soft grunt and fell backwards, hitting the ground. When he did, his laser-blades went out.   Toshi would probably have scolded her for taking such a gamble, but hey, she turned out to be right.

“Katsumi… did you just hit that guy?”

She looked back to see Toshi, along with Vice-Principal Midnight, Doctor Izumi, and Aizawa. Toshi looked surprised, Midnight and Doctor Izumi looked various stages of amused, and Aizawa looked like he was contemplating retirement so that he could be anywhere other than where he was right now.  It was an expression Katsumi was already learning he made a lot.

“I suppose that’s one way to handle it,” Midnight said.  “You’re very direct, Kirishima-Bakugo.”

She shrugged.  “It worked, ma’am.”

Midnight sucked in a breath and her eyes narrowed.  She pointed an accusing finger.  “Never call me ma’am!  I am not old enough to be a ma’am!”

“Nemuri, we’re the same age,” Aizawa said in a deadpan voice.

“Fine, then she can call you ma’am!” Midnight shouted, smacking Aizwa in the chest.

“Ow,” he deadpanned.

Doctor Izumi cleared her throat.  “Dad, if you and the Vice-Principal are through, perhaps I could examine Haru?”

“Of course,” Midnight told her.  “Your dear old dad just loves to try and cut me down.”

Katsumi frowned and she could see that Toshi was thinking too.  “You people ever going to tell us what’s going on?”

Aizawa gave her a blank look.  “What do you mean?”

“I’m not stupid, Teach. And neither is Toshi.  Between yesterday and today and that news thing with the big lizard…”

“And whatever happened on the Training Ground…”  Toshi said.

“This has happened before?” Saito gasped.

“That was Yamaguchi,” Kana said.  “We were doing Battle Trials and her Vibration Quirk went out of control... She leveled the whole Training Ground. She still isn’t back from the hospital.”

Midnight and Aizawa shared a look.  Katsumi was pretty sure they were debating whether or not to reveal something.

It was Aizawa who spoke first.  “You’re both too clever for your own good.  But I suppose I shouldn’t expect anything less from either of you.  There’s more going on than you know.”

“They deserve to know, Dad,” Doctor Izumi said, looking up from where she was examining Haru.

Midnight sighed. “She’s right.  We’ve been putting this off, but the students here deserve to know what’s happening.  It’s going to go public soon enough anyway.  I can convince Nezu.”

Yeah, whatever was going on, Katsumi knew they weren’t going to like the answer one bit.

[all-hail-the-witcher]

questionable government spies: chapter 6

THIS IS MY FAVORITE CHAPTER ITS ALSO THE LONGEST YEEEEEEEEET

_________

ship: platonic ralbert, eventual space, implied spromeo, implied finch and buttons

word count: 5778

warnings: race being race

editing: of course

__________

Despite falling asleep at 5:30 am, Race was up early(ish) the next morning, dancing around his kitchen in his pajamas to the classic Taylor Swift album Fearless, and making his signature banana pancakes. He actually wasn’t sure how he still had this much energy - researching Sean and convincing Albert to sleep had been very tiresome - but maybe it had something to do with the three cups of coffee he’d already drank.

Speaking of Albert, race glanced at the clock. It was almost 11 and jack would be there in a couple of hours to go over the plan, he should go wake him up. Race wiped his hands on the dish towel he had thrown over his shoulder before throwing it down on the counter next to the bowl of pancake batter and headed down the hall to his room where Albert was still asleep.

Usually, Albert would be sleeping in his own room, but his nightmares had been so bad recently that he had ended up in Races room the last two nights. Race didn’t mind, obviously. Albert was the only person left that he considered family - although jack was beginning to worm his way into his heart as a younger brother - and race was more than happy to help him in any way possible, even if that meant sharing a bed a few nights a month.

Race creaked open the door quietly and smiled when he saw Albert sprawled across the bed, chest rising and falling with even, peaceful breaths. Race almost hated to wake him, but he knew how prepared Albert liked to be before a mission.

“Albie…” race sat down on the top corner of the bed, close to Albert’s head, and began to trace his fingers through his hair. Sometimes, he would wake Albert up in obnoxious ways, usually by dumping water on his head or jumping on him or blasting an air horn, but he had the feeling Albert would not appreciate that very much today.

“Mmmmm,” Albert groaned, shifting slightly and leaning into Races touch.

“Albie you have to wake up.” Race continued to card his fingers through Albert’s hair, praying that it wouldn’t put him back to sleep. His mom had used this tactic to wake him up whe-

Race shook his head, willing the unwanted memory to leave and slowing his hand in his friends hair. He hadn’t thought about his mom in years. Why now? Why today, of all-

“Raceyyyy,” Albert whined, pulling him out of his thoughts. “Why’d you stop? That felt nice.”

“I know it felt nice,” race placed his hand on the bed. “Please get up, we have to go meet Sean in a couple of hours.”

“Don’t wanna.” Albert rolled over so he was facing away from race. “I wanna sleep.”

Race rolled his eyes before flopping on the bed behind his friend. “Pleeeeeeease,” he whispered into his ear. “I’m making pancakes.”

Finally, finally, Albert cracked open his eyes. “Banana?”

“Is there any other flavor?” Race hopped up off the bed. “I’m expecting you out here in 5 minutes to guess my pancake shapes!” He announced before exiting the bedroom. Based on the clunks and banging he heard, race suspected that the call of food was too much to keep his friend asleep.

Race cranked up the Taylor Swift and powered up the stove. In no time he had a batch of questionably shaped pancakes on the griddle and was improving to Love Story. He had just landed a quad pirouette between flipping pancakes when Albert walked in, wearing black jeans and a royal blue long sleeve shirt, hair still damp from his shower.

“Hey ba-” be paused, coughing, “buddy,” Albert said, hopping up into the counter.

“Hey yourself,” Race said, turning down the music a little - Albert hated Taylor Swift with a burning passion - and flipped another pancake. “What shapes do you think we got today?”

“Hmmm,” Albert leaned over to look at the sizzling pancakes. Race always made his pancakes in fun shapes using his special technique - blob some batter on the griddle and hope for the best. Albert’s job was to figure out what Races pancake blobs looked like. “That one is definitely a duck.”

“Really?” Race cocked his head and squinted. “I think it looks like a pink peep.”

“A pink peep?” Albert screwed up his face as he stared at his friend in disbelief. “Race, it’s a beige pancake, it can’t look like a pink peep.”

“Eh, tomatoe tomato.” Race turned back to his pancakes, missing Albert’s fantastic eye roll. “What do you think Sean is going to be like?”

“I think he’s going to be a tough gangster who’s going to beat your ass if you’re not carefu- ah!” Albert yelped as race pulled him off the counter, twirled and dipped him dramatically.

“Maybe so,” Race whispered seductively. “But I’ll just whip his ass on the dance floor.”

Race smirked at the annoyed face Albert put on as he set him gently back on the floor. The dip was a good move, he was going to have to remember that the next time he ran into someone hot.

“Race, I’m not sure that’s how it works.”

“Albie, how many times have I told you that dancing is always the answer?” Race turned off the stove and threw his spatula in the sink. Albert chose to ignore Race’s comment. “Grab some plates so we can eat? I’m going to go change.”

“Don’t take forever! I’m hungry!”

Race shot Albert a wink and some unironic finger guns as he slid down the hall in his socks to his room. Luckily for Albert’s lack of patience, Race has been a dancer his entire life and could change relatively quickly when he wanted to. Within a few minutes he was seated at the table, wearing a pair of cuffed maroon pants, a white long sleeve and white high top converse, blonde hair freshly fluffed.

“Why are you actually dressed nicely?” Albert asked as he dumped an unhealthy amount of maple syrup on his pancakes, glancing up to give his friend a once over. “It’s not like we’re going anywhere fancy.”

“Maybe not, but we are meeting Sean, and we’re going to have to work with him for the foreseeable future, so I’d like to make a good first impression.” Race stared at his pancake - definitely horse shaped - for a moment before cutting into it.

Albert set down his fork, staring at Race in disbelief. “He’s a criminal.”

“He’s also a human!” Race declared. “Where do you think criminals come from? Space?”

“No but-”

“Exactly.” Race took a bite of pancake, leaning back in his chair, arms crossed behind his head as he chewed thoughtfully. “Therefore, I am entitled to make a good first impression. After that I can go back to wearing oversized sweatshirts and jeans if it would please you.”

Albert opened his mouth to respond, but was cut off by the apartment buzzer going off in Morse code. The two listened to the brief message before Albert and race yelled in unison: “Hey yourself, idiot!”

There was fumbling and a few muttered curse words before the door opened and jack strode in, wearing one of his signature band T-shirts - this one advertising fall out boy - black jeans and his paint splattered vans.

“Jack, how to you always manage to show up as soon as there’s food?” Race noted as he got up to get jack a plate of pancakes. Race had grown up in a family of 9 people and try as he might, he could not figure out how to make food for only two people - even five years after he left his family - so there were always tons of leftovers.

“How do you two always manage to not respond to my entrance message in Morse code?” Jack countered, digging in to the stack of pancakes Race had deposited in front of him.

Race and Albert shared a look. He did have a point.

“So, is this thing still on?” Jack asked, mouth full of pancake. “Or is race ditching us to go on a date?” He waved his fork in Races general direction.

Albert gave Race a pointed stare. “You know what, I’m glad you asked jack. Race here thinks he needs to give Sean a good first impression.”

“A what now?” Jack looked at Race quizzically.

“A good first impression. You’ve heard of that, haven’t you jack?” Race felt like banging his head into a wall. “Where you get dressed up and pretend to be nice only to reveal that you have terrible fashion sense and a bitchy attitude later on?”

“I know what a good first impression is, race” jack sighed. “I’m young, I ain’t stupid. But I don’t understand why you need to make a good first impression on a gang member.”

“My point exactly.” Albert smirked at Race. “I’ve raised you well, jack.”

Race sighed. If there was one thing he had learned it was that if you can’t beat them, annoy the crap out of them and try again. “Fine guys, if it bothers you so much, I’ll go change.” He placed his fork neatly on his plate, pushed his chair in gently and walked calmly toward his room where he rummaged around in one of the many still unpacked cardboard boxes.

“He’s not changing is he?” He heard jack ask Albert from the kitchen.

Albert said nothing in response and race could almost see him closing his eyes in defeat. Finally he found what he was looking for and ran back toward the kitchen.

“Oh, young jack, I don’t give up that easily.” Race sauntered into the kitchen and draped himself against the wall dramatically. He was now wearing a brown fedora style hat with a feather on it, several rings, and a gold hoop earring in his cartilage piercing. “Who’s making a good first impression now?” He mocked, quirking his eyebrow and flipping his friends off.

Albert all but slammed his head into the table. “This is going to be a long day.”

•••

Race passed out the coms units to Albert and jack as he reviewed the plan one final time. “Okay, so, me and Albert are going to meet Sean inside. Jack is going to be sitting here in the van watching us and the surrounding area through the cameras that he’s hacked in to. We get as much information out of Sean as possible. And for the love of French fries, only use your code names.”

Albert gave him a mock salute and jack merely nodded, he wasn’t thrilled about being stuck on van duty - again - but they couldn’t risk jack saying something he shouldn’t.

“Let’s go kick some gangster butt,” Albert said as he opened the door of the van.

“No butt kicking yet,” race reminded him as he shut the door behind them, giving jack a tiny wave. “First we make nice and steal information out of him. Then we kick his butt.”

“See, there’s a reason you’re always good cop.” Albert pulled open the door to the coffee shop and made a dramatic after you gesture. “Ladies first,” he winked.

Race stuck his tongue out playfully and entered the shop’s entry hallway. Albert had chosen this location strategically. The Bean House was owned by an ex FBI agent and it’s employees were field agents who were waiting for their next case or needed a cover story. Albert and jack were going to start working there tomorrow. Race would have been joining them, but he couldn’t operate the fancy coffee machine to save his life and the last time he had worked there he’d started a flood in the kitchen. So the FBI had pulled some strings and gotten him a gig guest teaching at one of the downtown Manhattan dance studios. He was very excited. But, meeting a gang member at this coffee shop ensured that, if needed, they had an entire staff of highly trained field agents ready on standby.

“Race wait,” Albert called out suddenly, grabbing his shoulder before he could enter the shop. Race turned, looking at him expectantly. He opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again. “What if something goes wrong?”

“Nothing’s gonna go wrong, Albie.” Race smirked. “It’s just a meeting, and all of our friends are here to back us up if we need them.”

“But-”

“Oh come on, we’ll be fine,” race dragged Albert by the hand as they stepped from the hallway into the shop. “Besides, I think romeos working today and I haven’t seen him since that horse gang in Indiana 3 years ago.”

Right on cue, an excited yell pierced the air. “RACETRACK HIGGINS!” Race let go of Albert’s hand and ran toward the counter.

“ROMEO! MY LOVE!” Romeo came out from behind the counter to greet his friend as race tackled him in a hug.

“O race,” Romeo said, pulling away. “I hath missed thee.”

Race laughed, ruffling his friends hair, too excited to speak back in their standard shakespearean. “Missed you too, you idiot.”

“Hey stop that!” Romeo yanked Races hand out of his hair. “I spent 15 minutes styling this mess this morning to impress the ladies!”

Race snorted. Romeo was a bigger flirt than he was, the only difference being he actually had a boyfriend.

“Speaking of impressing people,” Romeo stepped back to look at Race. “Who are you so dressed up for?”

“He’s trying to make a good impression on the gang member we’re meeting,” Albert sighed, staring at his friend disapprovingly as he made his way over.

“Albo!” Romeo clapped Albert on the back. “Good to see you bro!”

“How’ve you been, Ro?” Albert turned to race. “By the way, you forgot these.” He held out Races pair of gold rimmed glasses that doubled as a secret camera.

“Thanks, bro,” Race said, taking the glasses.

“Wait, you guys got the YMONY case?” Romeo walked back behind the counter. “Specs has his eye on that one, but I’m kinda glad we didn’t get it cause it seems next to impossible.”

“We think Jacobs gave it to us to try and get us kicked out,” Race said.

“Oh my god, is he still mad at you about the weapons lab thing?” Romeo had still been in training when that particular event had happened, but everyone knew the story.

“We don’t exactly have a reason to think otherwise,” Albert said. “We’ve got our first meeting with him tomorrow, so we’ll see.”

Before Romeo could respond, Medda Larkin, better known to everyone as Miss Medda after her most legendary case where she went undercover as a member of the British Royal Family (some of the boys also called her mom), blew in from the back room. “Race and Albert! Boy it’s been a while since I’ve seen you two, where have you been keeping yourselves?”

“Never too far from you, Miss Medda,” Race said, giving her a hug. “But at the same time, kinda far because I’m pretty sure your kitchen has a restraining order on me.”

“That restraining order just means you can’t set foot in the kitchen, you’re still more than welcome to stop by the shop anytime you’d like, hun.” She turned to Albert. “And you! I hear you’re coming to work for me!”

“So it seems,” Albert said, accepting Medda’s hug.

“Do you still play that guitar of yours, cause I was thinking that maybe you could play for the customers a few nights a week.” Medda raised her eyebrows at Albert.

Albert had found an old guitar at a thrift store when they were younger and taught himself how to play. He had gotten quite good, but never really performed for anyone, save race, his bedroom wall, and occasionally Jack. Race wasn’t actually sure how Medda knew that Albert played, but then again, Medda knew everything.

“Albert would love to play at the shop,” Race butted in before Albert could say no, throwing his arm around his friends shoulders. Albert shot him a look of annoyance, but said nothing. He knew that arguing with race was never a good idea.

“Fantastic!” Medda clapped her hands together in excitement.

“Dude, you’re working here?” Romeo asked, lightly punching Albert on the shoulder. “That’s gonna be so fun!”

“Yeah,” Albert said, “me and jack, Race has a gig teaching dance somewhere.”

“Who’s jack?” Romeo asked.

“Just a guy we were put in charge of training,” Race said. “He’s really fun, hacks everything and can paint really well.”

“Well I am delighted to meet this jack of yours, maybe he can paint a mural for me on that wall over there, I’ve been wanting to spice it up a little,” Medda pointed to the side wall of the coffee shop. Suddenly, there was a yell from the kitchen. “I have to go, hopefully Specs and Buttons haven’t flooded my kitchen,” she shot Race a look.

“Sorry Miss Medda, it would appear I’m a bad luck charm for your poor kitchen” race called after her.

“Tell Specs and buttons we said hi!” Albert said, and Medda nodded.

“So you guys have an apprentice?” Romeo asked. “Who put you in charge of that? You guys are like the least responsible people ever.”

“We’re not that bad,” race mumbled, digging around in his pocket. “And speaking of jack, he’s gonna be pissed I haven’t turned on my comms yet.” Race shoved the device into his ear. “Vincent? Can you hear me?”

“Loud and clear, rapunzel,” jack said. “Although I would appreciate it if you didn’t forget about me, elbow had his comms in the second you left the van.”

“Yeah yeah sorry about that,” race sighed. Then he turned to Romeo. “Hey, Rome, would you mind being our backup incase something goes wrong?”

Romeo’s lips spread into a devilish grin. “I was hoping you’d ask.”

“Good,” Race plopped a comms unit into his hand. “My code name is still rapunzel, Albert’s is elbow - don’t ask - and jacks is Vincent. Are you still-”

“Nicholas, yup,” Romeo said, cutting him off. “Like Nicholas sparks.”

“You got all that, Vincent?” Albert addressed jack.

“Mmhm, hey Nicholas,” jack responded. “Also, it’s coming up on three, you guys should get ready.”

“Roger that,” Race said.

“What’s this guys name?” Romeo asked.

“Sean Conlon. He’s in YMONY,” Albert responded.

“Damn so what if he goes like full gangster and pulls a gun on you?” Romeo was always prone to drama.

“That my friend,” Race said, clapping Romeo on the back. “Is where you step in.”

“Right, right,” Romeo smirked. “Go have a seat where I can see you, and try not to get killed.”

Race flipped him off as he and Albert weeded their way through the tables to one a few feet away from the counter where Romeo was going to be working. The two of them pretended to leaf through the menu for a few minutes before the bell above the door clanged.

“Rapunzel, Elbow, I think that might be your guy,” Romeo said.

Race looked up at the door and saw the backside of a short figure with brown hair and a sweatshirt on.

“Physical description?” Jack asked.

“Short, maybe 5’ 2’’, medium brown hair, jeans, gray sweatshirt, athletic build,” Romeo replied.

Albert caught the guys eye and waved him over.

“Are you the FBI people?” Man, that guy had a thick Brooklyn accent, but it sounded familiar, where had he head that before? Race looked up from his menu and gasped. “You?”

The man - Sean, apparently - was looking at Race in equal amounts of disbelief. This was the guy that Race has run into on the street the other night when they had been going to the diner. Thankfully, he looked a lot better - Albert had probably been right, there was someone at home to clean him up - but he was still sporting a black eye, bruised jaw line and temple and there were white bandages encasing his right hand. Aside from the visible injuries, Sean was, to put it quite simply, hot. He had dark tan skin and messy brown hair and gorgeous warm brown eyes that looked like pools of melted chocolate and despite his tough exterior, race thought that he looked adorable and comfy in his oversized gray pull over sweatshirt. Race could hear voices in his comms, probably Romeo and jack asking what had happened, but he chose to ignore them, instead deciding to try and subtly get lost in Sean’s eyes.

“Bow tie boy,” Sean said, pulling out a chair and sitting down. “You clean up nice.”

Race felt a blush creeping onto his face and he shot a sideways glance at Albert saying see I told you it’s important to make a good first impression, but he wasn’t paying attention.

“Wait,” Albert said, narrowing his eyes. “You two know each other?”

“Why am I not surprised?” Race heard Romeo say. “Race has always been one to befriend criminals.”

“Shut up, Nicholas,” jack said in Races ear, saying the words he couldn't. “And rapunzel, for the love of Shawn spencer, turn on your freaking eyeglass cam!!!”

Race removed his glasses, pretending to clean them, but secretly switching on the camera. “Sean and I-”

“It’s spot,” apparently spot said. “If I’m going to work with you, you will call me spot.”

“Fine. Spot and I,” race amended. “Ran into each other on the street the other night when we were walking to that diner.”

Race saw the realization click in Albert’s eyes but didn’t push the subject further because he could tell it was upsetting Spot.

“Well, Spot, it’s nice to meet you,” Albert said. “I’m Elbow, and this is my partner Rapunzel.”

“What the hell kind of names are those?” Spot asked, raising his eyebrows and making a face of disgust.

“Code names,” Albert said defensively, leaning forward on his elbows. “We can’t tell you our real ones for safety purposes.” Spot rolled his eyes dramatically. “Speaking of safety purposes, I’m going to have to pat you down for weapons.” Albert stood up and walked around the table to spot.

Over the comms, Romeo snorted. “Just when you thought Elbow couldn’t get any better at bad cop.”

“Shut up, Nick.”

“Whoa, whoa, what are you doin there hot shot?” Spot threw up his hands in surrender. “I don’t got nothin on me.”

“Well then this shouldn’t be a problem.”

Race couldn’t help but smirk as Albert began to pat Spot down. He loved watching Albert play bad cop, it was more entertaining than any tv show. And it didn’t hurt that Spot looked extra cute when he was flustered. Wait- did he just say Spot was cute? Well, he was. Especially now, when Albert was searching him for weapons and he managed to look equal parts annoyed and still manage to be attractive. Maybe it was a good thing he had dressed up this morning…

“See, I knew you were hiding something.” Albert flung a pocket knife into the table, looking very smug with himself. Spot just looked even more pissed of. “At least you didn’t have a recorder on you.”

“You know there’s a thing called voice memos on a phone, right?” Spot sighed.

“Yeah,” Albert smirked, holding up what race assumed was spots phone. “I know.”

“What?! How did you?!” Spot lunged across the table reaching for his phone.

Albert avoided Spots hand and tucked the device neatly into the inside pocket of his jacket, right next to one of his two guns - the other being strapped to his ankle. Race subconsciously patted his own gun, which he kept in his “lassie holster” as Albert had dubbed it.

“I’m not sure, it’s almost like I’m good at my job,” Albert winked.

“Go Elbow!!” Romeo whispered.

“Nicholas, I swear to all things hacking and or acrylic paints if you don’t shut up I will march in there and dump every fancy flavor of iced coffee that happens to be on sale on your head.”

“Fine.”

“I knew I shouldn’t have listened to Elmer,” Spot sighed, mostly under his breath. “Listen, I’ll talk to you guys, or whatever, just this once. That’s it, but on one condition.”

“Which might beeeee…….?” Race crossed his fingers under the table, hoping it was a kiss from yours truly.

“I get coffee first,” Spot said, picking up the menu and flipping through it.

Race and Albert shared a look. They’d dealt with more difficult people before, this should be a piece of cake. “Works for me,” Race said. “I’m past due for a fourth cup of joe.”

“Rapunzel,” jack said, through his earpiece. “On behalf of Elbow, who I can see is glaring at you right now, and the entire population of New York City, I beg of you, please don’t order another cup of coffee.”

Race chose to ignore jack and waved Romeo over so they could order.

“Helllllllloooooooo there gentlemen,” Romeo said, batting his eyelashes. “My name is, er, Nicholas, welcome to the bean house! What can I get for you on this fine November day?”

Spot, very wisely, ignored Romeos act. “I’d like a large, full strength black coffee with four shots of espresso and a side of you making these idiots,” he gestured to Albert and race, “leave.”

“Oooo, burn,” jack whispered unhelpfully.

“I’m not sure what I can do about the second part, but I’ll have your coffee out in a minute.” Romeo turned to race and Albert. “And for you two dashing fellows?”

Albert rolled his eyes. “I’ll have a medium hot chocolate, extra whipped cream.”

“And I’ll have a ⅔ caff, triple ristretto, affogato large, with two pumps mango, one pump classic, 2% milk, mango to the second line, 3 scoops protein, 3 scoops berries, 2 scoops matcha, with banana, double blended, with whipped cream, caramel sauce, salted caramel topping, vanilla bean frappuccino.” Race snapped his menu shut, savoring the look on romeos face as he tried to scribble down Races order.

“Alright, I’ll be right back with that,” Romeo scurried back behind the counter and out of earshot where he was able to curse out race in every colorful way he could imagine.

“Damn, kid,” spot said, pushing up his sweatshirt sleeves. Race could see several tattoos peeking out from under his bandage. From his angle they looked like colorful squares and on the inside of his forearm there was what race could only assume to be the Brooklyn bridge. How typical of him. “Is that even coffee?”

“Yup,” race smirked back at him.

“So, Spot,” Albert said, eager to shift the conversation away from Races strange coffee addiction, “working for, well, you know, is that your only occupation?”

“No,” spot said. “Me and my buddy Elmer co own a tattoo place near the bridge.”

Ah, that would explain the tattoos, Race thought. But- “Aren’t tattoo artists usually, like, covered in ink?” Race asked.

Spot gave him a sly smile. “Sometimes, but all of mine have meaning, and meaningful tattoos aren’t the kind that you can just plop on your body for no apparent reason.”

Race supposed that made sense. He personally did not have any tattoos, although the always thought it would be cool to get one. Maybe Spot could - no racer are you insane? This guy is here to give you information, that’s it, no strings attached.

Race tuned back into the conversation just as Spot was rattling off what race assumed was either his home address or the address of the tattoo place - maybe both? Albert was writing down all of the information into his phone frantically.

“So, this gang,” Albert said. “Tell us all about it.”

Spot seemed unsure. “Are you sure?”

“This is a secure location,” Race said. “No one's listening.”

“That’s a lie and you know it,” jack mumbled.

“Well there are five branches,” Spot began. “Drug deals, which is run by Morris Delancey, Robberies/ Heists, run by Oscar Delancey, Prisoners, Recruits, and Confusing the authorities . They all report to someone higher up, but I don’t know who that is. They don’t really tell us any more than we need to know.” He didn’t say in case we get caught or try to overthrow them but the meaning was still there.

“Which one are you in?” Race asked.

“Robberies and heists.” Ah yes, that would make sense as to why when race had run into him he had been beaten up, probably a robbery gone wrong.

“How much can you tell us about that sector?” Albert asked as Romeo came over with their drinks. He set them down on the table with a smile, which turned into a glare as he unceremoniously thunked Races monstrosity down in front of him.

“Not much,” spot said, stirring his drink. Race noted that he didn’t put any milk or sugar in it, gross. “It’s run out of a used car dealership, Autos For Less, in Brooklyn. We’re divided up into different teams, so if someone isn’t in your team then you don’t have any reason to talk to them. Heists take place usually once or twice a month and the thing you’re stealing could be anything. One time it was a truck of gummy worms, another time it was a brand new Tesla. There’s no rhyme of reason. You just don’t ask questions and do whatever Oscar tells you to.”

“So, you don’t know when the next robbery is, then Race asked, taking a sip of his drink.

“Alright, blondie-”

“Rapunzel.” Race just couldn't pass up the opportunity to make a tangled reference. He could hear jack and Romeo and surprisingly Albert groaning in his earpiece, but he chose to ignore it.

“Gesundheit.” Races head snapped up. Did he just…? There was a mischievous glint in spots eye. Oh, he definitely did.

“OH SNAP!”

“A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN!”

“I CAN ALREADY HEAR THE WEDDING BELLS!”

“RAPUNZEL AND SPOTTIE SITTING IN A TREE, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!”

“Listen,” Spot continued. “Heists are only for people who are in top physical condition. And I missed payment the other day, hence the beating. So, Oscar will keep me out for at least a week, maybe two, depending on how desperate he is.”

“Oh.” Race didn’t even care about the fact that there wasn’t a heist anytime soon. He hated the thought of spot getting beat up for something as small as missing a payment. Whatever that even meant.

“Is there anything else you can tell us?” Albert asked, licking some of the whipped cream off of his hot chocolate. So much for a menacing bad cop.

“No.”

“So what you’re saying, and correct me if I’m wrong here,” Race began, removing the straw from his drink and waving it around for emphasis, “is that we have to wait at least a week, maybe two, until you’re all healed up, tag along with you on a heist, kill some bad guys, and maybe figure out what Oscar is up to and who he reports to?”

Spot didn’t respond, instead he chose to give Race a fantastic glare.

“Why are you glaring at me like that?” Race jammed his straw back into his drink and took a long sip. There wasn’t enough caffeine in the world to deal with hot, annoying criminals.

“I’m hoping you’ll spontaneously combust.” Spot crossed his - very muscular - arms and continued to stare Race down. Race took that as an invitation, and stared right back.

“Right, okay, I’m sure you have a good reason,” albert said, attempting to avoid a physical fight, “but we do need information and that’s the only way I can possibly see is getting any. Other than by joining the gang itself.”

“Even if you did that, there’s no guarantee that we would end up in the same unit,” Spot grumbled, never taking his eyes off of race. “Unless I put in a good word with Oscar, which might not go very well considering the circumstances of our relationship.”

“Perfect,” Race said. “I volunteer as tribute.”

“What?!” Albert shrieked, almost spilling his hot chocolate. Race could see the desperation in his eyes. Albert always put himself into the dangerous situations. But now, especially now, Race couldn’t risk losing him. Specifically because they were in his hometown, his family a mere 10 blocks away, and if he lost Albert here, now, whether permanently or temporarily, he wasn’t sure he would be able to handle it.

“No,” spot said, foiling all his plans of heroism. “I will not risk it. As it is, I’m going to get locked in the prison sector for life when they find out I’ve betrayed them. We don’t need you getting locked up there too.”

Albert weighed out the options.

“I hate to say it,” Romeo piped up, finally with a useful bit of information. “But Rapunzel is right. That’s the only way to find out anything useful.”

“....alright,” Albert said. “I see why you’re saying, but I agree with Rapunzel, we should try to get all the information we can. And since we’re the agents in charge we have the authority to do that. But just for the record, this wasn’t my idea to send him in there.”

“Or mine,” spot added.

Albert removed spots phone and pocket knife from his jacket along with a post it. “Here’s your stuff back,” he said. “You can reach us at that number, call us when you get Rapunzel the gig.”

Spot pocketed his items and picked up his coffee gingerly in his bandaged hand. “See you around, blondie,” he said before turning to leave.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Albert turned to him, ripping out his coms. “Antonio Edward Higgins,” race jumped at the use of his real name. “Would you like to explain to me what the fuck that was?”

“I volunteered for a job.” Race stared back at Albert with expert nonchalance.

“A job that might get you killed!” Albert fumed for a moment before regaining his composure. “I just, I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“Nothing’s gonna happen to me Albie,” race groaned.

Albert let a small smile show on his lips, but race could tell it wasn’t genuine. “Damn, what are we gonna tell Jacobs tomorrow at our meeting?”

“The truth,” race looked up, Romeo and jack were approaching their table, most likely to talk about Spot. “There’s potential that I could get killed, are you kidding me? He’s going to be thrilled. Frankly, I am too. I get to be a real life Disney villain.” Race gave Albert his best evil stare and began to whistle “Ways To Be Wicked” from Descendants 2.

“Oh my god, Race”

__________

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