#i might've had a better answer if i was less sad but i hope this is okay regardless.

[commsroom]

do you have any ideas for what you want for eiffel and hera post-canon?

yes, i do! the answer to that really depends on whether we're talking short term or long term, and what i want vs. what i think will happen is... well, i think they'll be okay. eventually. they'll get there.

i'm firmly in the camp that eiffel gets his memories back (fairly short-term in my mental timeline; given the most likely ways that he could get his memories back, it doesn't make much sense for him to be without them for more than a few months) and that hera gets a body (more complicated, and somewhat more long term), but my reasoning for why i think those things work narratively would be a long post in itself (and i've made multiple posts about those topics already) so i won't get into the why here. just, i think it happens.

the note the finale ends on definitely implies eiffel, hera, and minkowski intend to stick together on earth, and i think minkowski feels a lot of responsibility for them, given everything. so i think they live with her, for the foreseeable future. eiffel's not good at holding down a job, and hera... i think it's important that she gets a chance to try things without fear of failure and to separate her self worth from productivity. eiffel and hera are meant to be minkowski's slacker roommates. hera should be creating unmarketable art.

and the issue of where they live will come up pretty quickly, i think - hera doesn't have any particular attachment to anywhere, except for a desire to see the ocean, but mobility might be a problem. minkowski is a career military woman who's moved around a lot, but her husband worked in DC, so presumably they lived in... probably maryland or virginia? before she accepted the job, and that's a complicating factor if she's choosing who to prioritize. i think eiffel would be pretty adamant about staying in texas so he's at least in the same state as his daughter, even if he can't see her. and as much as i would like for eiffel to be able to be a part of her life again, because i know how much he wants that... i don't think it's very likely. at least not any time soon. and he won't handle that well.

speaking about post-canon wolf 359, i don't tend to get that into potential legal / media circuit stuff because... frankly, i don't think it's that important to what the show is about. i'm sure it will be a scandal, but lots and lots of space-travel-related scandals are going on in that world, and cutter and pryce were very intentionally not the public faces of goddard futuristics. it'll pass. that said, the aspect of that i am interested in is legal personhood - that's going to be a hurdle for hera to be able to live her life, and i think eiffel will worry - even if it isn't totally rational - about whether he'll be able to stay out of prison once no longer legally dead, not knowing exactly what the terms of cutter's arrangement were. being an ex-convict is going to complicate some facets of his life regardless.

there's just a lot of stuff that being on earth is going to bring up for them. and i think they'll be there for each other, obviously - one of the things i like most about their relationship is how much they're able to be a refuge for each other in some objectively horrible situations - but they're both pretty insecure people who feel like everyone is bound to replace them, and earth is going to give hera some serious separation anxiety while she's bound to one location and the others aren't, and those are things they're going to have to work through.

as for what i want for them... well. i think eiffel will give hera a 'promise ring' with a kind of jokey but good natured promise that one day she'll be able to wear it. and she does! but neither of them are sure if that counts as a proposal in retrospect and they dance around it for a while. they get married eventually, and - against her better judgment - minkowski agrees to be both eiffel's best man and hera's maid of honor. and ends up taking on way too much of the wedding planning, even though she said she wouldn't, because they're both super lax about it and it starts stressing her out. she tries to delegate to lovelace, but lovelace just thinks it's all really funny. eiffel gets married in a novelty tuxedo tee and minkowski apologizes to hera, but hera knows the type of guy she's marrying (and isn't concerned about tradition anyway) so it doesn't bother her.

[riewritten]

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A THING

HEAP OF SOLACE: EPISODIC SERIES

LEVI X F!READER, LEVI X YOU, NO Y/N

SUMMARY: Because there he is, giving you refuge as easily as he breathes. The way he does it so smoothly enthralls you, just as if he was born to be the greatest companion ever alive. | AO3

WORDS: 3.7k

TAGS AND WARNINGS: explicit sexual content. read at your own risk. modern AU, fluff & smut, slice of life, masturbation, oral sex, vaginal fingering & penetration, orgasm delay/denial, multiple orgasms & sex positions, squirting, creampie, nipple licking, dirty talk (there was an attempt)

Tired. You were really tired. One of those moments you yearn for nothing but to escape. Life has been either bleak or downright exhausting for you. All the strain you put on your body finally caught up with you too. You couldn't even get up and drink water, let alone reach for your phone and order food delivery, perhaps even medicine.

Just before you could lament how sticky you feel with the hot sweat all over your body, you heard someone knock at your door.

Levi.

Oh god.

Your phone started to ring too. That was when you struggled to reach for it.

"I've been calling you for hours," Levi muttered, flat but stern, obvious worry laced in his tone.

"Sorry, I don't feel well today."

"Are you home?"

"I am," you groaned as you sat up. "Hold on a second."

Every step gets your body heavier. You had to cling to the knob to not let yourself fall.

Levi wasn't impressed with that.

"Please don't berate me again," you tiredly sighed.

"Uh-huh," he scorned, made his way to the living room first to drop his things, then walked towards you to help you walk, “says the one who keeps on getting into a situation she deserves to get berated with." Upon feeling how limped your body was, he added, "How long have you been like this?"

Perhaps it was just you being sensitive or mentally crippled by the physical decline, but the alarm in his voice sank your disposition further. "Levi, I told you to not reprimand me on—"

"Answer my question," but this time it wasn’t stern anymore. He knew better than to keep scolding you when you’re practically begging him to tone it down.

However, the gesture just peaked your emotions further. It was until you huffed a stifled sob that he realized it might've been too long already. Swiftly, he had your head buried in his neck. With lips nuzzled on your hair, he said defeatedly, “What am I going to do with you, really?”

"I'm not crying because I'm sad," you clarified, "I’m crying because my head hurts so bad."

“I’m not saying anything.”

“And I won’t let you.”

“Channel your audacity to argue once you’re better.”

Your weeping went on for a while as you remembered that no, your life was never on the absolute scale of bleakness or exhaustion; not when he’s here, willing to shower you with the solace that you very much need. You yearn for this too aside from escape.

Feeling much better afterward, you whispered a small thanks and insisted on gaining your own balance but Levi was still reluctant. He’s not quite a clingy one but he gets quickly concerned if you fail to contact him immediately. You thought of kidding around then, “Do you remember the time you said I could slouch on your couch?” He raised his brows at you, urging you to say more hence you added, “slouch on your couch as you kiss me?”

He was taken aback, to say the least but the flush on your face quickly replaced his with amusement. Levi figured the fluster might be due to sickness but still, “Elaborate.”

“You know, I have a couch too.”

He hoped you’d be decent enough to spare him your adorability when it’s clear you’re the one who needed to be taken care of.

“If you get well in less than a day,” 

“Only if I get well?” you frowned. “Like, not even in the cheeks?”

He shot you a flat yet knowing look. He surely knew what you were on, tiptoeing towards having him pamper you with his touches. His annoyance with your health neglect subsided as he figured out how to push your buttons thereafter.

He languidly moved his hand to cup your cheek and the other one to stroke your hair. His fingers teasingly slide over your lips but not all the way. He walked until you were pinned to the wall. With his forehead bumping yours, he asked, "You want it?"

Despite the tired demeanor, you managed to demand with a glare, "Give it, Levi."

He hummed in disapproval as his mouth went to your ear, "Do you think you deserve it, though?" His low tone tickled your skin; your already mushy mind weakened.

"I don't but you'll give it to me anyway." Your taunt was quickly replaced by a shriek as he tugged on your earlobe. He knew how it titillated you because when you tried to get away from his grasp to stop his lips, his strong build only pinned you further. He trapped your wrists above your head. He also raised a thigh between your legs to add more of the warming sensations. Heat prickled under your skin as if you weren’t already feeling hot to begin with.

"Levi," you whispered.

"Do you think you deserve it?" he repeated, more taunting.

"I don't, but oh—" your breath hitched when he sucked on your neck.

"You think you deserve it, hm?" he hummed mockingly.

You tried to grasp away again but your weak muscles didn’t cooperate. Admitting temporary defeat then, "I don't."

"Good girl," he continued nibbling, though. He even went to the other side of your neck as he added, "I could pamper you all you want but not when you're acting too spoiled." His spare hand played around your waist up to your chest.

You wanted to say, "Deal with it. You chose to be in this relationship." but then realized that Levi is too amused to not let his point be established. It's easy to get back at him if he's annoyed, but certainly not if he's amused.

"Sorry," you murmured. He still didn't stop his wet kisses. You tried to wiggle your hand away again, but you only felt him sneer. “Sorry, Levi,” you repeated. When you breathed a sigh, he huffed another one, "Baby, please." You nuzzled your lips weakly on his hair.

He let go of your neck with a pop, one that will surely mark, "Go to your bed and sleep." Then he finally unpinned you to the wall.

Your insides are roaring to sleep. "You'll still give it to me, won't you?" you weakly pleaded. You can't even mess around anymore. He knows how to touch you in a way that'd leave you begging for more.

"If you get well in less than four hours."

"You said less than a day! Why did it decrease to four hours?" you exclaimed but instead of answering, he just raised his eyebrows at you, challenging you to repeat that. "Okay, then. I'll get well in less than four hours," you mumbled then walked lamentably towards your bed.

This time, Levi is settling in the kitchen with your apron, about to start cooking. "Take all the rest that you need. I won't give you that later on."

And oh, how you'd love that to happen. You finally perked up; never in your life did you feel the resolution to get away from a simple disease.

That's why when you finally woke up with a relatively better temperature, you rushed to the living room and jumped at him on the couch. You clung to his lap, wrapped an arm around him, and landed kisses all over his face, "I did so well. Reward me."

"You slept for an entire day," he retorted. Your mouth gaped open. You thought only two hours had passed. "Not so well if you'd ask me."

"Seriously?"

"As serious as I can be."

You frowned then leaned your forehead on his, "You must be so worried. I'm sorry." then sadly played on the buttons of his shirt.

"I've been telling you so many times."

You landed a wet kiss on his lips, "Sorry."

"And you didn't even answer my calls."

You slowly worked towards unbuttoning his whole shirt, "Sorry."

"You should've called me as soon as you started feeling unwell."

He didn't move his hand to remove the garment completely so you just splayed your hands all over his toned chest. As languid as ever, your lips rolled over each other. He let you in when your tongue asked for entrance. You muttered soft apologies in between kisses. Not that Levi will ever try to resist. Unlike you, he was never stubborn. He missed you and was worried. You jumping at him like this first thing upon feeling well is the least that you could do to ease it.

"You still hate relying on me, don't you?" he said after the intimate exchange.

“I admit I still have to get used to it but," you smiled at him resolutely, "you're doing so well for me. I'll rely on you more. I'm sorry." It wasn't supposed to be a heavy question; you knew it too. Levi just wanted to confirm it. 

He gently raked his nails through your hair as both of you stayed silent. When he cupped your cheek, you swiftly leaned on his palm. "Have I done well?" he asked a bit teasingly.

"What's with that question?"

"Have I?"

"Always, always the best for me." 

"Very well," he said as he slowly hiked your shirt up, fingers playing around your back. "Reward me then."

You will, god, you will. You wrapped an arm around his neck as you went for another kiss. It's much messier this time, overjoyed at his approval. Without wasting any moment, you worked on removing his pants. You thought the reward he could have was to use your mouth however he wanted, but he appears to have other plans.

"Lie down," he dragged you onto the couch, landed another harsh kiss, and when he finally withdrew, you were panting. Just as he likes. You must feel what you're doing to him.

He tapped on your clothes, "Off. All of it." and you followed suit quickly. He's not in the mood to play around anymore. When your wet heat flashed before him, you almost saw him smile. "Touch yourself as I watch."

"I thought you wanted to be rewarded?" you inquired as you obeyed.

"Well, your pleasure is my reward."

He scooted towards you and played on your chest. Not long after, he latched his tongue on one of them. He didn’t dare break eye contact when he pushed two fingers inside, going faster and faster upon feeling how wet it was. "Don't stop playing at your clit," he breathed before sucking on the other tit.

"Oh god, Levi." His actions were so precise, intended only to exude more pleasure. Curling two fingers inside, tongue rolling around your mound, eyes burning around your face; every pleasure etched in his memory. "Let me love you too, please—"

"You do," his mouth went to shower your face with wet kisses next, "you love me so much that you can't even help but jump on me as soon as you wake up." He punctuated his amusement by pounding his fingers harder, "You'll let me taste you too, right?"

"Yes, oh god, yes—"

As he swiftly scooted down and lapped you open, you were urged to keep your fingers moving. You moaned unabashedly. He hummed in approval, very much pleased at the way you tasted and the way your back arched.

"Hands on your chest," he added in between, "play on your tits, just like that."

The overwhelming sensations teetered under your skin. The actions persisted for a while, and not long after you felt the spark jolting inside your body.

"Levi, close. Please. I'm close."

As if that was the cue, he abruptly halted.

"Shit," you hissed at the barred tension in your lower stomach.

He worked on removing his pants while watching your hole clench on nothing, "Your frustration is my reward too."

"Savor it, you bastard."

“I surely will.”

Levi figured he wasn't patient enough to settle on the couch's limited space, so he carried you to the bed after discarding his garments. You wrapped your legs around his waist and arms around his neck.

When he threw you on the sheets he commanded, "On all fours." 

You pushed your face down the pillows and wiggled your hips up. He stroked himself up and down your wetness, exuding a frustrated whimper from you. "Angry now? Thinking about how your boyfriend fails to spoil you rotten, huh?"

"I told you it's a reward," you murmured in your pillows, grudgingly swallowing your pent-up rage to serve the man who never fails to do the same. "You can use me all you want right now. If you don't want me to cum then I won't."

"Oh?" Levi hummed, impressed. "Even if I don't touch you for days after? Even if I forbid you to even touch yourself?"

No way. He must have gotten really angry at you at some point.

"Answer me," he grunted, pressing the tip of his cock onto you but not going all the way.

Well, all you have to do is to seduce him until he can't help himself. But you doubt that now because he's actually a sucker for your desperation. The torment would surely go on for a while.

"Yes," you bit your lip to restrain yourself, "all that you want. You can do what you want with me."

"Such a good girl," said Levi. Amidst the mocking, he actually took time to gauge whether you were wet enough to take him. He slammed in without warning upon realizing so. "Don't worry, I'm not that bad," he grabbed your head and thrust it down the pillows.

The tempo is completely unrelenting and lurches are always followed by a grunt. Levi's own teasing must've riled him up too. When you pushed your hips in tandem with his thrusts, he went even faster. You can hear how loud the slapping sounds are. It's ringing in your ears, utter pleasure wavering inside. "S-so good, 's too good. Please don't stop. Please–" 

"I wouldn't dare." He drew your shoulders towards him, claiming every skin his lips could reach all over your back.

When his palm pressed on your lower stomach you finally snapped in pleasure, "Yes. Don't you dare—god—don't you fucking dare. You're gonna let me cum, spoil me rotten, fuck me good—"

You couldn't see his face but you’re sure he was sneering, "Yeah? Then why don't you just live with me as you said? Settling like a pretty little flower, waiting all day to be watered like this."

“And I’ll do so—I’ll do so like a good girl,” every inch of you is trembling in pleasure at his words. You never saw yourself completely opening up to someone like this—to have his pledge to take care of you for all he could, to rely on him, to have him transcend the voices inside your head saying you're all alone.

"Live with me. I'll do everything for you. You don't have to worry about a thing. You can work all you want and no damn fever would last on your body—shit, you're clenching hard,” he exclaimed sharply. “You like that, hm? Is the thought of me doting on you that appealing?”

"Yes," you murmured from behind, "I'll take care of—I’ll—"

You can't even come up with a coherent response anymore. He turned you into a babbling mess. Both his words and the way his hips snap send your brain towards further haziness.

"Can I do it inside?" You could feel him twitching as he added, "Can I? Take all of me as well. Come on."

You’ll be the one to do the begging if he didn’t ask. Too debauched to say a word, you concurred by clenching on him harder and meeting his thrusts more ardently. When he felt your approval, he quickly pulled out and flipped you on your back. He opened your legs wide and thrust again.

If you don't know him well, you'd think that he's completely unaffected by this; but his face is flushed, his toned body is drenched in sweat, the wetness where the two of you meet is a bit too slick and noisy to ignore, and oh, the reverence he keeps showering you with. You don't want this to end. 

Levi grasped your chin and tilted it so you'd look at him straight while being ravaged. Both your mouths were partly open, drawn to each other's burning gazes.

"I'm cumming," you said, wrapping your legs around his waist so he wouldn't let go. "Come on, inside, please. I'll take it—oh fuck yes—" his frantic bucks paid off when you spasmed on his cock.

He gave you all of him then, emptied himself with a loud grunt. You tried to utter something, perhaps another series of begging. Shockwaves blurred your vision as his warm essence engulfed your insides. He was whispering silly nothings, too: how good you are, how sweet for him, how both of you will go on with this endlessly for tonight—

"Wait, what?"

"Did I stutter?" said Levi as he finally pulled out, though he scooted his dick towards your mouth and instructed, "Clean it." He didn't even give you the chance to talk more, he just plunged it in and let you lick your mixed essence altogether. "Good. Fuck, so fucking good."

Upon finishing, he gripped your hair and delved his mouth into you—delighted to taste the sinful mess that both of you had made as well.

“Do what I want, you said. What if I want to pump you full of my cum tonight? Who am I to deny if you want me to ruin you so bad?" And there you felt him again. He's stroking himself to your wetness, moaning lowly at the slick of fluids.

But he did it the other way this time. He waited until you weren't stimulated anymore before pushing through. He'd swirl his tongue on your tit while languidly plunging inside. Then he'd go faster, then faster, then stop upon feeling you clench. He stops whenever you're about to cum, countless times. Even your pleas went unheard. He's too pleased to see you desperate to cum.

"Empty," you inaudibly said as you flipped the position. You hovered on top. Levi was taken aback. "My insides are empty without you. Please." Levi realized you were completely out of it this time—lidded eyes, lips partly open, too light-headed to register how taken aback he was. "Fill me up—oh, yeah. Oh fuck." You swallowed his dick with your warmth then engulfed his lips with a warm kiss.

Pleasure crippled Levi's body. He doesn't even have to snap his hips anymore. You swirl yours on him too well without a single care. Levi realized he had overdone his teasing as you’re completely dumbed out now. But god, it felt so good. You really deserve to be pampered to death after this.

"Ravage me. Use me all you want. Pump me with your cum." you muffled with open-mouthed kisses on his neck, "Please, so good, Levi." Then he felt you clench on him. You came without warning, squirted all over, not giving a damn about the sheets.

He huffed a tsk then called your name, "You're just doing as you please now." He continued plunging himself in nonetheless, not giving a care that you just came.

At some point, you feel him twitching inside you too but he stops even before he could cum. He’s intentionally delaying himself to feel more of you inside. Every time he edges, he changes the position—he'll have you ride him, take you against the wall, take you on your knees, slot himself inside while pressing on your abdomen.

As he pushed and pulled on his orgasm, his grunts became louder. He's calling your name repeatedly, every syllable running music to your ears.

You were being ravaged. The longer it takes, the more you can't feel anything but him sinking inside; you’re so delightfully filled. Levi was handling your body as if you wouldn't be able to move without his help.

"Why are you trying to slip away from me?" he grunted sardonically as he felt your limbs shake.

"I—I'll die, hah, I'll die!"

"You would never," he heaved a chuckle—the first time he did for tonight. "I plan on keeping you alive and—oh fuck I'm cumming this time—give you the world, everything I have."

You're certain you're going to squirt again so you tapped on him, "The sheets will get wet—"

“It is already wet,” he knew what you meant so he hyped you further, "go on—fuck I can feel it—let it out, yeah, that’s it." 

And both of you did it at the same time. Your limbs shook for a while and you were too shocked to even mind the mess. Levi’s release lasted for quite a moment too, holding onto your thighs hard to keep you from moving as he emptied himself, staring at you endearingly for letting him do so.

When nerves from the intense orgasm calmed, you whispered with a chuckle, "Can't anymore. I can't feel anything."

"I'm sorry," he pulled out gently this time but slotted his fingers inside to keep his seed from dripping, "There you go, lovely thing. You did so well for me."

You nuzzled on his neck with a moan, savoring his scent that would most certainly be the last thing needed for a best night's sleep. Levi ran his fingers through your hair, encouraging you so.

"Let me rest for a minute. I'll help you clean after—"

"Told you, I'll do everything.” He cut you off while soothing your sore muscles, pretty fingers tingling around your skin. “You don't have to worry about a thing." 

You chuckled, "I'll do that too. Both of us must."

"You just did, though." Then his palm pressed slightly on your lower stomach—plump with his cum, "You took care of me so well. Feel it?"

"You bastard," you mumbled, finally zoning out, trusting the cleaning task to Levi this time. "What are we going to do now?"

"Be stuck with each other for good. That's what we're going to do."

← FLUFF | SMUT →

[silence-burns]

Please Hate Me //part 32

Fandom: Marvel 

Summary: Based on “Imagine having a love/hate relationship with Loki.” by @thefandomimagine

There comes a time in one's life when all is said, but still needs to be done, and in a heartbreaking majority of events, it also requires dressing up. 

You watched Loki pull on the ephemeral, golden threads shifting through the air around his face. "You sure it's working?"

"I know how to cast an illusion, darling," he muttered, focused on the mirror. "It's really not that hard."

"I don't see any difference." 

"You're not supposed to. It'll only work on strangers."

"So… We'll only know if it worked when someone screams?" 

"I'm touched by how much trust you put in my skills," Loki sneered, with eyes focused on his jaw. You wondered what the face he was working on looked like. Given the intensity, it must’ve been a work of art. 

Loki sealed the illusion and checked it from every angle. It felt so much better than the shabby mud that monk had plastered onto his face with little finesse. It might've worked against the less intellectual part of the population, but to anyone who had even the slightest knowledge of the high arts, it was no more than a laughable effort. 

Loki smiled, imagining the clash that would follow if the monk and his excuse of a sorcerer met the Asgardian magic wielders. It would be a sight worth paying for. Loki would make sure to get a seat in the front row. 

On the other hand, even he had to admit that the bracelet they came up with was a piece of work that he would never expect to find on Earth. Oh, he would've figured out how to get rid of it eventually, of course. There was no denying that. Loki might've figured it out earlier, if he… wasn't distracted. 

He looked at the source of his distraction in the mirror. It was that moment you found something in one of the pockets of your jacket. 

It was a phone. 

"I knew we forgot about something." 

"Is this…?" 

"That guy's phone. I didn't manage to unlock it in the end. How about we drop it at the precinct on our way?" 

Loki frowned. "Won't your officers be suspicious how we came into its possession?" 

"Not if we magic it in. Anonymously." 

"...that is not how it works." 

In the end, it was precisely how it worked. 

The phone, with a handy little note of explanation, just found itself at the right place, at the right time, without anyone at the precinct noticing. 

You patted Loki's shoulder. "Nice job. I wish you could teach me a few tricks." 

"It's not that easy. Your world barely has any magic, so it's difficult to make it comply with one's wishes," Loki said with a hint of sadness as you both turned and walked up the street in the direction of Peter's school. 

The streets were full of people, busy on their errands. The sun was blinding against the fresh scope of snow. The sky was clear and crystal blue, with the sort of unachievable intensity that almost felt artificial. 

"What is it like on other worlds?" 

Loki sighed. Walking so close to you, he could feel the brush of his arm against yours. His hands remained in his pockets, though. The reason wasn't the cold, of course, since he could barely feel the bite of it. His hands, for reasons beyond understanding, kept getting sweaty no matter how many times he discreetly brushed them against the fabric. 

"Spell casting is… essentially, wishing for something to happen, and convincing the world around you that it can become true. Magic is the means by which the world listens to those brave enough to wish. In your world, there's barely any magic. But there are others, where a mere thought shapes reality."

"Must be cool to see that." 

"It's almost like lying, truth be told. Ancient scholars used to classify it as the same thing, although mostly due to mistakes in translation of the most ancient volumes. Thankfully, I'm skilled in both. It makes life easier."

"Wait...so THAT'S where the whole 'Loki the Prince of Lies' thing comes from? Not that you're a lying, deceptive piece of—" 

"That's quite a touchy topic, you know. I might've… meddled in the lives of some very vengeful individuals, who out of pure, unjustified spite might've decided to curse me a little—... Wait, why are there children."

Loki stopped dead in his tracks in the middle of the pavement. 

In front of him, as far he could see, stretched a sea of colorful stalls surrounded by a writhing mass of people, dominated by younglings in all shapes, forms, and levels of noise. 

You looked at him and back at the crowd. "It just kinda happens that this huge building right there is Peter's school. And this very school is organising the science fair for the kids attending it. Who, right now, are taking part in it. Here." 

Loki's frown deepened as he comprehended the mess. Groups seemed to form around the stalls, children and adults alike. It would be difficult for a stranger to guess what was being presented on some of the tables, and indeed, Loki couldn't guess it either. Some seemed to flash chemical reactions aimed to showcase colorful effects, mostly to the entertainment of the youngest offspring roaming freely around. Other tables were filled with equipment that surely took a lot of time to build, and even more to explain. Loki was quick to be bored by those. 

While swallowed by the crowds pressing on from every angle, you called Peter, pressing the phone to your ear close enough to hear him over the overwhelming noise. 

There were attempts at bringing order to the gathering, and some spaces had been less prone to chaos than others. Those, usually, were centered around food. 

"Ooh, I like that too," you said, putting the phone away at last. 

Following Loki's gaze, your eyes fell on the delicious looking snacks. The smell drove you insane and seemed to do the trick on the trickster too. You watched as some kids walked by, chewing on the deliciousness. Then you looked at the queue. A very orderly, and very long queue. 

"Hey, Loki." 

"Yes, darling?" 

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" 

"To my great surprise, I think I might be. Magic truly is a blessing." 

Peter found you not so long afterwards, when you were finishing the second round of magically-brought treats. Of course, you made sure an equivalent amount of cash appeared where it should. You didn't fall so low yet to outright steal from kids. 

"Mr. Mischief!" screamed over the heads of strangers was what caught Loki's attention. And the impact of a teenage body jumping right at him was what squeezed the air out of his lungs. 

"Hello, boy," Loki muttered. You gave him thumbs up. 

"I love the way you smell," Peter pressed his face a little more into the god's chest. 

Loki blinked. "Thank you, boy." 

Peter finally unplastered himself from the god and took the both of you in with such genuine joy that you couldn't stop a smile from spreading on your face. He was dressed up in a spotless shirt he kept tugging on. You whiffed a smell of cologne definitely not suited for his age. 

"Someone's nervous," you teased Peter. "I wonder what would've happened if we forgot your ring… " 

"Please, tell me you didn't!" 

"Of course we didn't." You pulled it out of your pocket. So many happy moments were connected to that ring, you almost missed it already. So much cake… 

Peter immediately tucked it away in the pocket on his chest, glancing around himself. If, by any chance, that one special someone was anywhere near, he wanted to know. 

He noticed you watching him. "I'm not nervous. I'm just cautious." 

"Whatever you say, Peter. It's your call." 

Despite his words, Peter couldn't stay in place. "Come on, guys. I gotta show you my project before we present them all!" 

Going any further into the mass of people was the last thing Loki wanted to do. The day was bright and chilly and the place Peter was leading them to was unmistakably a sports hall where the more ambitious, and temperature-sensitive projects had been placed. 

Loki, theoretically, of course, began wondering how he could disappear without anyone noticing. People got lost all the time and no one made a fuss about it. As much as he might not hate the kid, he wasn't interested much in high school projects of dubious chemical reactions, shown in stuffy, smelly interiors. 

As if you could hear his thoughts, you turned your head to face him. "I hope it works out. He's been working his ass off for the past few weeks to impress MJ." 

Before Loki answered, he noticed your outstretched hand. His heart skipped a beat, and jumped into his throat out of surprise. It was a pure coincidence, and a completely normal, random thing to feel, and there was absolutely nothing behind it…

Your hand was warm and felt right in his own. 

Of course Loki didn't get distracted. He just so happened to miss the moment when you reached Peter's lab table, densely occupied by all manner of gadgets and parts, with the main construction hovering above the rest. 

Peter didn't notice Loki's state. He was focused on all the things that still needed to be put in place or cleaned off the table before the presentation began. 

"It's okay, I've got it all under control," Peter said, hiding a few screws in his pocket. "The teachers are probably going to start with the tables over there, so mine would be second to last, which gives me plenty of time to—" 

Plans are good as long as all the parties involved are aware of them. In Peter's case, the teachers weren't. 

Peter's face went pale when he noticed the commission arriving at the table to his right. His eyes were wide and frozen in utter terror. 

And then he desperately tried to scramble everything together in record time.

You tried to help him, but you had absolutely no idea how. All you could do was watch him panic through the preparations at light speed. Loki squeezed your hand. "The boy will do fine." 

The boy was not so sure. 

He barely noticed when his classmates encircled the table, wishing him good luck and sharing advice that vanished from his head in seconds. 

Despite that, Peter managed to clean his table as much as he could before the teachers neared, with notepads in their hands. They tactfully ignored loose parts laying behind him. 

Loki caressed the back of your hand in a reassuring gesture. You both listened to Peter give the explanation of his project, with his voice wavering only a little. Peter started to go through all the steps he had prepared, pointing out all the important details as things you had no idea about changed on the table. The boy was pale, but did his best during the whole process, and as he moved to present the project, you almost believed he had everything under control. 

He didn't. 

In the moment of the biggest tension, when everyone was waiting for the results, they didn't come. 

There was a second of pure, unfiltered panic on Peter's face. He froze, eyes plastered to the unquestionable lack of any result. 

Your elbow jabbed Loki's ribs. The ribs were slowly getting used to it. 

"Please, help him," you whispered with urgency. 

"What am I supposed to do from here?" Loki frowned. He was tall and could see everything from over people's heads, but it didn't change the fact that there was a row of bodies tightly pressed together between him and the boy. 

"I don't know, magic something up." 

"Magic something—It doesn't work like that!" 

"Then make it. Are you the Prince of Lies or not?" 

Loki frowned, torn between looking at you and Peter at the same time. "Oh, blast it…" 

The results, preferably big and flashy, were what the commission was waiting for. Loki gave them results. 

Peter's eyes went wide when his project, that had been completely silent for the past few seconds, suddenly gave fruit to absolutely outstanding results. They were applauded, scored, and noted with grateful smiles as the commission moved to the next table. 

And completely not what was supposed to happen. 

Peter was still frozen in shock as he got encircled by his classmates, and showered in compliments and questions. The shock was still bright on his face as he was dragged further down the line of tables, to support the next unlucky friend. 

Loki followed the boy with his eyes. It looked like no one had noticed that something was not adding up. Loki had a very general idea of what Peter's project was supposed to do, since the lack of time prevented the boy from showing them the final product of weeks of hard work. He wondered which of the girls around Peter was that MJ. 

"I can't believe it worked," he muttered to himself, lost in thoughts just as Peter got lost in the crowd. 

"Thank you. You did great." 

Loki huffed, but couldn't stop the hint of a smile from ghosting over his lips. He supposed he'd have to answer a lot of questions once the boy was freed and jumped him again, but even that idea didn't feel so bad. It felt good to be appreciated and welcome in places and events that were important to someone. He was strangely glad someone wanted him to be a part of their life. 

Loki's breath caught in his throat as your arm slipped around his waist. A nervous, careful presence hugged him for a second, melting any and all resolve he might've still possessed at that point. 

"You're awesome. Wanna steal some more candy with me again?" your voice asked into his neck that suddenly ran with goosebumps. Accidentally, of course. 

But there was nothing accidental about the way Loki leaned into the hug, welcoming it with a feather-light touch to your back. 

"With you? Always, love."

A/N: Please tell me what do you think about this chapter or the series in general! It’s so sad to see the number of notes and comments decreasing with each new chapter :(

[letters-from-eros]

Pairing: Jirou Kyouka x Fem!Reader

Form: Oneshot

Genre: Angst

Warnings/TW: Depictions of abuse and homophobia.

Jiro slowly really did feel herself slip into madness. Idly she slowly watched herself develop feelings for you and simultaneously watched as you slowly broke into pieces. All she wished is that she could find the words to tell you how she felt, but there were too many words to describe it. If she could find words to heal and bring the shattered pieces of you back together the would search to no end for them only to be presented with the fact that it was far too late for simple words to fix the irreversible damage that was done. Was it her fault? The restless nights of contemplation said the answer was yes, but how she hoped it wasn't true.

Best friends is how it started out but the lines got blurred when either one of you tried to figure out when that just stopped being enough. It probably did start with the awkward "glances." That's what they got labeled. It just meant one of you found the other staring at you, but both of you refused the think that was the case. Glances... Yeah.. Just let them be coincidences. Not commented on coincidences.

It was sickening how much time Jiro has racked in spending time with you, which lead to daydreams. So, so, many blissful daydreams. 'Fuck Schoolgirl crushes' is what she always thought when she found herself slipping away thinking about you. But it always returned with the sight of you, and the label of friend that constantly hung above your head. Was she wrong with the loud, ringing thought in her head of 'Lets be more than this'?

So many memories that Jirou cherished and thought were great seemed diminished with a spiderweb of cracks. Why can't she at least have the memories?

Quiet after-school days in each other's company slacking off on homework and reading music magazines gushing over what guitar, microphone or piece of musical equipment you wanted. When she actually first heard you sing and play the guitar it was a surreal experience that will forever release a cage full of butterflies in her stomach. She loved it so much. Might've been the moment when she realized she loved you so much.

She doesn't remember when the love she had for you that could be described as a soft drifting cloud started to turn for the worst. Seemingly crashing with no hope for survival. Not one second of peace, nothing to grab onto, no time to access the situation. Falling, constant falling without knowing when you'll hit the ground, just knowing when you will, it will be painful.

You came in with a black eye and bandage on your cheek but a small, proud smirk on your face, but there was another emotion there. Everyone could see it was pride and just something else no one could put their finger on, but Jirou could, it was her duty as you're best friend to be able to, of course. The emotion was sadness, a feeling that she wish she could take away from your life forever, even if she had to be burdened with a lifetime of it.

It was no surprise that everyone was quick to question it, Jirou was far from the only person who loved you, platonically or not. All questions were lightly shut down with a smile, a "don't worry about it" or "Its no big deal." Yet when Jiro asked with complete terror and worry laced in her words and eyes you had to tell her. You wanted to tell her, after all you were proud of it to a degree. Teen rebellion at its finest in your mind.

"Remember that Pride parade that happened two days ago?"

Jiro was never quite sure on your sexuality, but she did know you were a strong and active supporter. Thinking back on it, she think she did remember you mention it at least once.

It took you and all your friends to calm her down when you told her what happened. You came home, multiple pride flags imprinted on your body and pride flags in your hands and stuffed in your pockets. You had came home happy and feeling accomplished in possibly making a difference, expressing yourself. Meeting people who felt the same way as you did. People always say actions speak louder than words, and your parents were a prime example of such. Their actions? Undoubtedly an expression of the opposite of such feeling.

Your body told more of the story than what you had the stomach to put into worda. The obvious black eye a signal to a some sort of rough hit to the bruised area. Red marks dotted you everywhere, the kind you get after you roughly scrub and scratch on an area. The erasing of colorful rainbows. And lastly tired, yet hopeful eyes that show a sleepless night.

What Jirou would give to see hope in your eyes again.

It hurt Jirou. Made her sick to the bottom of her stomach. But as the words "This has and will only happen once" was repeatedly told to her from you with the remnants of purity in your eyes there wasn't a sound reason not to believe you. God, why didn't someone tell her that the possibility of that being true, no matter how sweet it sounded, especially coming from the voice she loved, were slim to none. This only proved more of a philosophy Jirou had. There is no such thing as miracles, no matter how much you deserved one.

She wished she asked you that day, what your sexual orientation is. Because it only got worst. Even days that weren't after pride marches you came with signature cuts and bruises and tired eyes that slowly became sadder and sadder, losing hope with each time you had to get a bandage. There's no way she could get a truthful answer out of you, on almost anything..

You stopped letting Jirou in, in means and hopes to have her worry less. Things weren't that bad, right? There wasn't a need to worry. Never would you want to burden your best friend with that, is what you told yourself. Rather that was a mask to hide a fear of vulnerability? That was a mystery.

You both drifted apart. More like you drifting away from her by your parents wishes. The constant taking and looking through your phone made it hard to maintain any contact with anyone. Jiro debunked them as little close minded spies that she would yell at and hit the first chance she gets.

Whenever Jiro did get the opportunity to talk to you, it wasn't the same. You were off.. jaded, even. Like if you spoke your mind or opinions, there were consequences. And if you did ever speak something that wasn't declared fact, it was obvious that you didn't mean it. There wasn't that sparkle of passion in your eyes that Jiro came to love when you talked about anything that interests you.

The day when she wanted nothing more than to hug you and show her undying love and adoration for you it was the day she truly realized it was too late to get the truthful answer from you. Her fears, confirmed

"I'm.. I am straight, Jirou." A lie slipped through a beautiful smile. What ever happened to Kyouka? What ever happened to no lies?

Whatever happened to you?

It was such an obvious lie, the way is sounded coming out of your mouth is like you were trying to tell yourself that. She tried to get the answer that you wanted to say and that she selfishly wanted to hear.

"We're all alone now."

"I'm sorry." It was all you could say, voice cracking from the guilt and quickly scurrying out the classroom. Jirou wanted to scream at the top of her lungs, curse everything to hell.

They had taped over your mouth and scribble out your truth. Those little fucking spies you had for parents.

Jiro knew she had to get you out of your parents lives. She had to give you your voice back. She couldn't just let what was being done happen. Hell, even if you were straight she would sleep better knowing that you were safe and not getting yelled at by your parents about your views.

But for now, for this insufferable time of present day, all that you can be to Jirou is her crush, and vice versa...