#i plan on going into this at least a little bit in s&ts because like. holy fuck dude

[syn4k]

c!dec you are so compelling to me for one specific reason and that reason is You are 16 and already the avatar/messenger of a god/the gods. how The Fuck does one get into that situation so young. personally i am a fan of @starry-storm-main's theory which is "he's mianite's son" because that opens up so many oppurtunities backstory wise. im in the trenches yall

[sweet-dreamins]

i’m sorry, i missed you (s+f)

○ pairing: kei tsukishima x fem! reader, soft brat tamer kei x bratty reader (who regrets being bratty)

○ word count: 2.8k

○ summary: after a day of being bratty, tsukki finally puts you in your place

○ content: 18+, d/s dynamics, spanking, use of “Sir” as title, brat taming, light angst, crying but no dacryphilia, traffic light safe word system, fingering, unprotected sex (pls wear a condom lskdjk), a bit size kink, creampie, aftercare, happy end :)

○ a/n: this turned out way softer than i originally planned lol but soft tsukki is good tsukki 😌 hope you like it, feedback is greatly appreciated!!

Huffing, you cross your arms and pout, not meeting his gaze. Tsukki looks down at you with a light smirk, amused by your antics. You had been snippy with him since this morning, and at first, he brushed it off, mistakenly assuming you woke up on the wrong side of the bed. However, as the day went on, your remarks only grew more pointed and intentionally provocative.

“I can do this by myself, leave me alone!”

“Ugh, whatever, I don’t have to listen to you.”

“Be quiet, Tsukki, you’re so annoying!”

He was letting you get in as many jabs as possible, waiting to see if you would show any sign of remorse and apologize.

You did not.

He knew that you were just acting out because you wanted attention. Plain and simple. He had been pretty busy this week with volleyball practice and his job at the museum. But this was getting ridiculous. You needed to be put in your place. You also needed a little help in getting the truth out.

“It’s not like you’re going to do anything about it anyway, so it doesn’t matter.” You taunt him, mirroring his smirk. He hadn’t said or done anything to correct your behavior all day, so you figured you were going to get away with being bad. You thought if he was going to punish you it would’ve been hours ago after the tenth or fifteenth rude comment came out of your mouth. Before disappointment could settle in, he grabs your face, thumb and index finger digging into your cheeks, tilting your face up to meet his stare.

“You want to repeat that, little girl?”

Your eyes widened, heat rushing underneath your skin and in between your thighs. You bit the inside of your cheek, considering you had already dug yourself six feet deep. His smirk grows at your quiet submission before throwing you over his shoulder. You let out a yelp of surprise and he slaps your ass in response. You pout at the floor as he carries you to the bedroom, butterflies fluttering about in your stomach.

The world flips as he throws you onto the bed as if you weigh nothing. You bounce on the softness, your skirt flipping up. He can perfectly see the little wet spot on the center of your pink panties. His smile oozes self-satisfaction as he coos,

“Aww, how cute you’re already wet?”

You look down at your skirt and move to fix it, but he grabs both of your wrists with one hand. He flips your skirt all the way up and cups your clothed pussy. You try not to wiggle against his fingers, knowing that would land you in even more trouble.

“Don’t hide what is mine, understand?”

You swallow thickly and nod, your mouth going dry at the fierceness in his honey brown eyes. He slaps your inner thigh, eliciting a gasp from you. You fight the urge to glare at him, just pouting instead.

“No, you don’t get to be quiet now while you were running your mouth all day.” He looks at you expectantly for your proper reply.

“I understand, sir.” He gives you a small smile of praise, internally surprised at your wise choice.

He leans in closer and gives your cheek a few patronizing pats, “That’s more like it. Besides, I still haven’t decided if I���ll let you cum tonight.”

He lets go of your wrists and sits down next to you. You already know what you have to do. You quietly crawl over to him and lay yourself on his lap. You grab fistfuls of the sheets beneath you in anticipation. He interlocks his fingers and stretches them before rolling up his sleeves.

“You’re going to count every single spank and say thank you.”

“Yes, sir.”

One. Five. Nine. With every spank, you can feel yourself getting wetter. You want nothing more than for his hands to wander lower and sink into your pussy. As you count out loud, you run through everything you said to him today. Technically, you got his attention...but you could’ve gone about it in a much nicer way.

You know that you can be a lot to handle sometimes. On the one day this week you spent together, you were nasty to him. He was probably looking forward to spending the day with you, and all you gave him was attitude. You could’ve just told him you had missed him instead of being mean. What if you had said something that actually hurt him? Who’s saying that you hadn’t already gone too far? Maybe you should’ve just been good for him today.

“Twenty! Th-hank you si-ir.” You choke out the final number, trying to catch your breath. He gently massages reassuring circles on your stinging skin. He opens his mouth to ask you what your color is but you interrupt him with a sniffling,

“Ts-suki?”

He knows not to reprimand you for using the wrong name, the weepy tone in your voice giving away your headspace. He softly asks,

“What’s your color, baby?”

“Yellow,” your voice warbly and pitiful.

Kei easily scoops you up into a sitting position so you’re straddling his lap. Now he can see your glassy eyes and tear-stained cheeks. You hadn’t even realized you were crying until you went to wipe your face. Your bottom lip wobbles slightly as you try to hold back even more tears. Regret is swirling in your head, while your butt is burning, and your pussy is dripping. Your brain is struggling to comprehend this combination of sensations, turning your thoughts into a tangled mess.

“I’m so-orry I was so me-ean to you today,” you hiccup, rubbing at your tears with balled-up fists but they just don’t seem to stop coming.

“I’ve just been mi-issing you a lot, fuck, I missed y-you so much and I should’ve just to-old you that.” You choke these words out through gasping breaths. You want to let him know everything inside your head, but your body is not cooperating. He pulls down his sleeve, raising it to wipe away your tears.

“Take a deep breath, baby.” You stop trying to force words out of your mouth and slowly inhale, hoping it’ll calm your body. In and out, in and out, slow and soothing breaths, tears falling less and less frequently. Kei reaches for his water bottle and brings it to your mouth, controlling the pace of your drinking, knowing you might end up chugging it. He sets it down once you’ve had enough water and rubs your back. By now your breathing has evened out and new tears have finally stopped falling.

Kei presses a kiss to your forehead and mumbles against it,

“You learned your lesson, huh?”

You nod and hum a wobbly affirmation.

You feel him smile against your skin before he pulls away, looking into your eyes while holding your face with his hands.

“Okay. You gonna be good for me now?”

A beat of silence passes.

“I’m gonna try.”

He throws his head back in laughter and you giggle with him. Hooking his arms under you, he turns around and lays you down on the bed. He hovers above you and brushes the hair out of your face.

“What’s your color?”

After your punishment and crying session, you feel so much lighter, no longer weighed down by your rambling brain.

“Green.” You sniffle and give him a soft smile. He looks over your facial expression, making sure that you’re not lying to him. Once he’s satisfied, he drops to his forearms, caging you in, and kisses you.

Your heart soars as he kisses you desperately. It’s clear to you now that he missed you just as much, if not more. You happily let him take control of the kiss, relaxing into his hold. While he distracts you with his lips, he reaches down between the two of you and starts rubbing at your clit. You break the kiss with a small gasp, arching your back into him, wanting more. Kei grins at your reaction and reaches farther, spreading your lips and gathering slick with his fingers.

“Fuck, baby, you’re soaking, is this all because of me?”

You look up at him, and he swears he can see tiny hearts in your eyes where pupils should be.

“Yes, sir, all for you, only for you.” He kisses the tip of your nose as he slips two fingers into your pussy. Slowly thrusting in and out while rubbing your clit with his thumb. As the pleasure builds, you beg him not to stop, worried that your orgasm will be ripped away from you tonight.

But Kei isn’t a monster.

“Shh don’t worry, baby, I’m not going anywhere.” He continues thrusting and scissoring his fingers, stretching you out on his lithe fingers, preparing you for his cock. Pressing open-mouthed kisses to your neck, he sucks at the skin. He pulls away to admire you underneath him, marked up and already getting dumber by the second.

His original plan was to edge you for most of the night and ruin your orgasm anyway, but that depended on your post-spanking state. You were obviously regretful of your behavior and already slipping into that cloudy headspace. He doesn’t want to overwhelm you tonight, especially after you had cried your eyes out, so he’s determined to give you at least one good orgasm.

Instead of focusing on reaching your climax, you let yourself focus on how good he’s making you feel. Goosebumps rise all over your body and your head feels even dizzier than before. You let yourself melt into him.

Kei notices just how much you’ve relaxed and feels a pull at his heart. You trust him so much, trusting him to take care of you, your body, and your pleasure. He especially knows how hard vulnerability can be, and yet here you are. Happily giving yourself to him as if it’s second nature to you.

He kisses you again, this time more desperately, trying to get as much of you as possible. He licks your bottom lip and you open your mouth to let him in. His tongue traces over yours gently before sucking on your bottom lip as you whine in response. When he breaks away, a thin string of spit connects the two of you briefly. He reaches behind his neck, swiftly pulling his shirt off and then tugging off his pants.

You keep your eyes glued to his body as you frantically pull off your shirt and bra. How was he so pretty? All you want to feel is his skin against yours. As your gaze travels up his body, the two of you lock eyes to laugh at your frenzied pace.

He settles above you again, kissing you, placing his hands at your sides while gently tracing your skin with his thumbs. He reaches over to grab a condom, but you stop him. With wide eyes you say,

“I want to feel you cum inside, please?”

He lets out a groan and kisses you as an answer. He strokes his cock, smearing pre-cum down the length. Grinding against your pussy, he coats himself in your slick, the head of his cock bumping against your clit. He smirks down at you as little moans spill from your mouth.

All for him.

He lines himself up and looks at you, making sure that you’re ready to take him. You nod desperately, wanting to be completely stuffed. He slowly pushes into you as your mouth drops open. He stills once he’s fully inside, letting both of you get used to the feeling, already panting. Your warm walls hugging him so, so tight, and his cock making you feel so, so full. You stutter out,

“So full! Ah, ‘m so full. Your cock is so big, ‘su-sir!”

He grins at your praise and near slip up.

“Mhm? But you always take me so well, pretty baby.” He lightly presses down below your belly button, feeling and faintly seeing the outline of his cock inside of you. You cry out in pleasure, feeling every inch of him rubbing against your walls. He isn’t even moving and your pussy won’t stop clenching around him. He gives a shallow thrust, pulling a whine from you.

He keeps his pace slow, building in speed and force. Until he is repeatedly slamming into you, nearly pulling all the way out and then pushing deep inside of you, your cries getting louder and louder. You wrap your arms around his neck, pulling him in for a kiss. The coil in your stomach getting tighter and tighter, your vision blurring a bit. Kei wraps his arm around your middle as you arch off the bed, deepening the kiss.

You whine against his lips,

“I-I’m getting close, so close, so close! I’m so close!”

“I know baby, let go for me.”

He reaches down with his other hand, still holding you close, to rub frenzied circles into your clit. You shut your eyes tight and your mouth drops open, only whines coming from the back of your throat. Soothing tingles of pleasure shoot throughout your body, your orgasm finally washing over you. You feel as if you’re floating, warmth taking over your body, inside and out. You can barely string together a coherent thought, but then you remember he hasn’t cum yet.

Your pussy still riding out your orgasm, clenches over and over around his cock. Kei nearly growls out,

“Fuck, baby, I’m close.”

All that’s bouncing around in your fuzzy mind is how badly you want Kei’s cum inside of you. You want it so, so bad, to be filled up with it, for him to paint your insides white, to feel his liquid heat. Your jumbled thoughts fall out of your mouth as you babble,

“Sir, please! Please, please, please, cum inside of me! I want y-you to fill me up, please fill me up with your cum!”

Your broken pleading pushes him over the edge as he shoots his cum inside you, giving one last thrust to nestle himself as deep as possible. You can hear him breathing hard next to your ear, shaky with scattered moans. You can feel his cum filling your pussy, leaking out onto your thighs, nearly throwing you into a second orgasm.

Kei has a brief internal debate if he should pull out or not. If he does, clean up might take a little longer….but then he’ll get to see his cum ooze out of you. He gently pulls out of you, spreading your thighs apart so he can get a proper look. Creamy white oozing out of silky pink walls, your chest heaving and eyes glassy.

Absolutely perfect.

Bonus:

After grabbing a warm towel and boxers, Kei lays down next to you, pulling you to his chest and wrapping his arms around you. You tangle your legs together and nuzzle into him, pressing a kiss over his heart. He’s glad that you can’t see the ridiculous blush on his face from your simple gesture.

You let out a sigh of contentment, knowing you’re safe in his strong arms.

“I love you, Kei.”

He kisses your temple and rests his chin on top of your head.

“I love you, too. You did wonderfully tonight. ”

A comfortable silence drapes itself around the two of you, like a warm blanket. But of course, Kei being Kei says a little too smugly for your liking,

“I missed you too, you know….I just didn’t need to act out and be a total brat over it.”

“Shut up,” you while with a bashful smile on your face, “I already said I was sorry.” You mumble into his chest with a pout, to which he proudly chuckles.

“I know, I know.”

“Hey, Tsukki?” He hums in response.

“Can we go take a shower now? I’m still kinda...sticky.”

“Fine, but you were the one who was practically begging me to cum inside you, to fill that little pussy up.”

Heat rushes to your face, the post-orgasm clarity arriving in full form, the obscenity of your pleading hitting you like a ton of bricks. You squeal in embarrassment, scolding him, and lightly slap his chest. He laughs and says,

“Yes, we can go take a shower now.”

You let out a rather pathetic cheer, but make no effort to get up.

“....Kei...can you carry me?”

He sighs with such weight, you’d think Zeus had just condemned him.

“If I must.”

He scoops his arms underneath you, picking you up bridal style. You call his name again and he looks at you with raised eyebrows.

“Can we take a bath instead?”

“Fine, I guess.” Rolling his eyes, once again acting exasperated.

He sets you down on the counter as he grabs towels and turns on the water.

“Oh, and can we do a bath bomb?”

He leans down to look at you, eyebrows quirked up as if to say ‘Really?’. You give him a big smile and the best puppy dog eyes you can muster.

“Pleeease?”

He gets even closer until your noses are touching, still giving you that smirk and golden eyes of mirth. You feel your cheeks heat at his closeness. He gives you a quick kiss, whispering against your lips,

“You’re lucky you’re cute, brat.”

[lifenodaijobu]

Just a little list of my soft Draco obsession

For  @vemodalensx

Theres a few here but I’ve left some out since the list was getting a bit long. I might make another list with more.

The list separated between cute Draco and vulnerable Draco just so you can choose whether or not you want a bit of sadness with your softness ^3^

Oh and ofc it goes without saying that the whole list is Bottom Draco hehe

Cute Soft Draco

Flower Crowns (2.4k words)

It started with a single flower 🥀 Draco makes flower crowns for Harry and that is how the whole school finds out about them. A happy dose of Harry with flowers in his hair, and a smitten Draco.

Dreaming of you (21k words)

Harry has nightmares, he wishes for a night when he can sleep without nightmares. What happens when he starts dreaming of Draco Malfoy? Draco left the wizarding world after the war, he's a librarian and lives peacefully in muggle London, what happens when Harry fucking Potter shows up at his work place?

Honey (

Harry is sick of Draco's oh-so-adorable endearments.

The Care and Management of Volatile Veelas 

Harry adopts a Veela. He really didn’t mean to.

Quidditch Wife (Part 2)

Theres no real summary for this except for  It's got all my favourite guilty pleasures, like protective!Harry and vulnerable!Draco, with a side of jealous!Harry and SportyQuidditch!Harry (and I think the top!Harry rather goes without saying).

All our pieces....fall right into places series

The first story:  Draco had had a crush for a while and now that he had Harry in his bed...He was everything that Draco needed.

Trick or Treat

Harry had no idea that he was such a fetishist - a fact which he discovers on Halloween.

Pretty

Harry finds a pair of stockings in the back of their dresser.

The Sweater

After being forced to room together in 8th year, Draco and Harry become friends and decide to continue their living arrangements post Hogwarts. The only problem is, Draco can't seem to stop stealing Harry's clothes.

1095 Roses for a life time

Being woken up by the lips of your boyfriend is always a nice surprise, especially on the morning of yours third anniversary of dating, which leads to hot and passionate morning activity. But all this is just to indulge in themselves, Harry's surprise includes roses and a promise for a lifetime. Will they be the right choice?

Get your kinks out

Harry plays seeker for the Magpies, and he discovers that one of his teammates secretly wears lace panties. What begins as a sexual relationship becomes increasingly complicated by Harry’s fame, Draco’s family, and Harry’s ambivalent feelings about dominating Draco.

Can’t say no

Draco really has the worst friends. When they put a spell on him that he has to say no to everything Harry says.....things don't turn out well.

OR

That time when Harry proposes and gets turned down because of his horrible friends.

What Draco wants

Out of anything a petty fight with Harry Potter could have led to, Draco Malfoy least expected it to end with him bent over a table, questioning his relationship and feelings for Potter, and having the best sex of his life.

Criminal

Things were going just fine for Draco Malfoy. He successfully conned and counted cards across Europe and America, amassing a small fortune, along with a lengthy rap sheet. That was until he made the grave mistake of returning to England for a high stakes card game and got himself caught – by Harry Potter no less. Now, Draco is stuck in England under Auror Potter’s guard with no friends, no distractions, and no escape. How the hell will he pass the time? And since when did Potter get so bloody fit? 

Things Change

Harry and Draco's friends notice something different about them when they fight. See what they find out when they walk down an empty hallway. 

Whats a little veritasium between two sworn enemies?

Draco Malfoy has a nasty habit of always coming across such bad luck no matter where circumstance presents itself and unfortunately that doesn't seem to change when his bloody nemesis Harry Potter over hears him talking about Veritaserum potions in the hallways past curfew. ( It was Pansy fault really)

Harry wants to know what the Slytherin boy is up to, especially with how nervous Malfoy is, but is that ALL Harry wants to know?

Mr Right Now - side note: Cedric/Draco

What do you do when you're feeling down about your ex? Make him jealous! Story features Cedric Diggory and Draco Malfoy trying to win back their loves, but somehow end up falling into each other's arms

For the love a kitten 

With Voldemort Dead, life is not easy for Harry as Old friends become enemies and old enemies become friend. With the return of three Slytherins, Harry life is turned upside down.

How to prepare for a wedding night

I have a neighbour. He is stuck in a loveless relationship and an arranged marriage. He has zero experience in bed. He needs my help so that his love life won't suck for the next few decades. He needs a sex teacher. Oh... and the neighbour happens to be Draco freaking Malfoy. And I might be a little tiny bit in love with the git...

Draco's Scent

In which Harry can't be around Draco for long without the boy's stupid smell messing with his mind, and he really, really hates that.

Turn The Heat Up

Wonky Cooling Charms result in interesting revelations

Flirt

Draco and Hermione make a devastating duo at the Ministry as the respective Department Heads of Wizarding Culture Preservation and Muggle Relations. When Harry Potter gets involved in their latest joint project, Draco can’t seem to stop himself from constantly flirting with him even when it doesn’t seem to affect the golden boy at all. He’s wrong. Harry is most definitely affected. Includes Slytherin shenanigans, Draco sucking at quidditch, and Harry trying not to be charmed. Draco POV.

Angsty/Vulnerable Soft Draco

The Draco Malfoy incident - side note: I cried big time

Draco Malfoy is best friends with a Hufflepuff. A HUFFLEPUFF! He's also partnered with a redhead git, trying to hide from an obsessive green-eyed saviour and has become overly fond with sunrises. It's exhausting. Can't a man plan an assassination in peace around here?

I’m not in your dreams

Draco has dreamt with Harry's voice since he was fourteen, so there's no doubt for him about who his soulmate is. Now, in their Eighth Year, Harry has finally dreamt with his soulmate's voice too. The problem is that Draco was born mute.

Yours for the taking

Draco was raised to be the perfect Omega, but there are things even he cannot endure. When he discovers just what Tom Riddle's plans for him are once he's claimed him he is confronted with an impossible decision. Only one thing remains clear: he will never be able to go back home.

Luckily, Harry Potter is there to save the day

Rough on you - side note: Dark Harry. This is more vulnerable Draco than soft Draco so please read the tags before you start the story :) I was unsure whether I wanted to add this here but hey-ho

"I'm the only one that can give you want you really want." Harry spun Draco around and held his arms at his side and he pressed against his back, whispering against his throat. "That can force you, that can humiliate you… that can hurt you, and you want it. You want me."

Harry is having a bad day. Draco just cannot learn to keep his mouth shut. Neither of them would have predicted it would lead to this.

But who guards the dragon?

This is an expansion of my one-shot, It'll be Okay. You don't have to read it first, it will be in the story. Requested. DMHP Sub/Dom relationship. Slash. Don't like, don't read. Harry thinks a few thinks through, then comes into his creature inheritance. He finds out that he is the dominant mate to one Draco Malfoy. But things are never easy for the boy who lived

Taken For Granted

Having pined for Harry for long enough, Draco decided that it was time to give up and move on. What happens when Harry realizes too late what he's lost?

Mourning

Harry returns to school to complete his NEWTs. There he finds a much changed Draco Malfoy and surprisingly subdued Professor Snape.

In your arms, rests my world

Harry presses his mouth to Malfoy's forehead; he wants to tell him that he’ll never leave, that he wouldn’t dream of it.

“You make me feel safe, Potter” Malfoy whispers. “You keep me safe.”

Inside your mind

Goyle's taken it upon himself to act as Malfoy's personal, one-man guard and Harry can't help but feel like it's only making the bullying worse.

"I'll Protect You," and you can seal that with an Unbreakable Vow

His friends may tease but Harry doesn't feel bad for keeping a close eye on the Slytherin boy of one Draco Malfoy, after all someone has to do it. So when Harry secretly follows the pure-blood boy out past the courtyard, there's nothing strange or unusual about it; nor is it wrong.

Unfortunately the same can not be said for the scenario Harry accidentally stumbles upon as he can't help but stare in horror. It's not just wrong. It's absolutely despicable and Harry, well, Harry just has to do something about it.

A Big Black Sky

Draco shifts his head as he turns to look at Scorpius, his cheek touching the pillow. "Did you know that…" He pauses, his throat convulsing, and it sounds audible in the silence, besides Michael's steady, even breathing from the other bedroom.

Scorpius is staring back at him, in wait of something new to learn, a beautiful and intelligent child. He has Draco's mind. He has Draco's eyes and nose and mouth and hair. He is his. All his. All he has of Michael are his wild curls and the green of his eyes, and sometimes he looks into them and imagines that they aren't Michael's, but someone else's.

Draco leans his head closer, biting the quiver out of his lips before he breathes a laden and shuddering exhale, and he whispers, "You are my star in a big black sky."

Song To Say Goodbye

Draco should have remembered that life doesn’t always turn out the way you want it to. Somewhere along the way he forgot to always be careful and was left with nothing. It was hard enough getting himself together the first time, can he do it again?

Small spoiler for Song to Say Goodbye below

Its not Drarry Endgame: he ends up with a OMC cuz Harrys a big dickhead

[yeahlenas]

yelena belova | best fanfic recommendation list

(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

welcome to my masterlist of yelena (and natasha) centric fanfiction - there’s not too many out there, but i suspect the tag will explode after the movie finally comes out. but until then i thought i’d share with you the works i’ve found and that i enjoyed immensely!!

this list includes fics with yelena as the main character (not too many), and others where yelenat is the main pairing (romantically/platonically), or yelena is not the main character but still is important and featured.

hopefully this list will give you some new epic content and inspiration for your own works! (cause let’s be honest the internet needs more of these incredible characters)

my own works:

starting this off with some shameless selfpromo hehe ≧◡≦. i never really wrote fanfiction before the character of yelena came and gave me so much inspiration and motivation!! 

if i had to perish twice (edge of tomorrow au) 

status: completed 1/1 words: 19,549 

a loooong and good one (unbiased) to get you started!! this is by far the longest piece of writing i’ve ever done and i’m super proud of it! this is an au of the movie edge of tomorrow, and yelena is the main protagonist. there is also implied stucky and a lot of the avengers show up throughout. yelenat is the main pairing! you don’t have to watch the movie to understand it (i hope), i’ve tried to explain it in the fic to the best of my ability! (that being said, watching the trailer helps and ofc the movie is the very best option, it’s on netflix!)

read it here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26082565

i tend not to weep

status: completed 1/1 words: 3,166

natasha and yelena’s cover is blown, and when they escape their plane is shot down - injured yelenat, hurt & comfort and angst.

read it here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27334447

i’ll be the actress (starring in your bad dreams)

status: completed 1/1 words: 2,610 

two russian assassins walk into a bar. it doesn't go how either of them had planned. 

a crossover with killing eve, in which yelena meets the mysterious character of villanelle during a mission.

read it here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/29617044

you’ll have a good time with all of these amazing fics:

drip (that’s the sound of your ledger) | LOVE THIS ONE

“ There were whispers, after S.H.I.E.L.D.'s fall. They followed Natasha wherever she went, until she could ignore them no longer. 

Welcome back to the Red Room.”

status: completed 13/13 words: 86,222 author: songofdefiance

THIS. this fic came out of nowhere and hit me until i was down (and then some more) with the pairing of nat and sharon which i didn’t know i needed!!! great twists, fun adventure, and yelena is giving me all the feels in this one. high re-readability!! the entire fic is incredible and 10000% worth your time - it is also the first in an incredible series, and yelena features more heavily as we go along. i wish i could read it for the first time again!!

read it here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/4156134

part one of the this won’t end with a whimper series: https://archiveofourown.org/works/4156134

black widow: from brooklyn with love

“Rosa Diaz thought her past was dead and buried somewhere out in the Siberian tundra. But when Natasha Romanoff shows up at the 99 with a smile and a bundle of secrets, she knows she has no choice but to finish what Red Room started.”

status: completed 12/12 words: 37,573 author: wonderlander090

i love brooklyn99. i love yelena and natasha. the genius of wonderlander090 wrote a fic of everyone together and it’s SO MUCH FUN! features badass ladies, red room feels and overall epicness.

read it here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/13387431

black widow

“After she released every piece of her secrecy to the world, Natasha Romanoff flees to get back her feeling of being a competent spy. Unfortunately, her old enemies have resurfaced, and have plans that force Natasha to meet old partners and old horrors. “

completed 17/17 words: 58,155 author: clarkesjade

the author’s wonderful take on the black widow movie. personal stakes, dark enemies and espionage with the great trio of nat, yelena and bucky against the world.

read it here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/17284406

taipei

“Yelena is nowhere to be seen, and considering the circumstances, Natalia knows far better than to presume that means she made it out.”

status: completed 1/1 words: 1,518 author: novoaa1 (@ultralightdumbass)

yelenat banter, the best banter there is!! in which yelena and natasha’s paths crosses on a mission. 

read it here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/24994090

part of the chance encounter series: https://archiveofourown.org/series/1809355

remember when we used to play?

“Natalia loves Yelena as fire loves innocence. It destroys and ruins and is doomed.”

status: completed 1/1 words: 2,315 author: hellotomyoldheart (@hellotomyoldheart)

a couple thousand words to step on my heart a couple thousand times :)) a yelenat with red room feels, and just a shit ton of feels in general lol help

read it here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/21664936

youth (makes fools of us all)

“In 1994, a young Widow is assigned an important mission playing the wife of the Red Guardian. In 1994, two students are selected to accompany them.In 1994, against all machinations of the Red Room, a family is made.“

status: completed 1/1 words: 4,871 author: sanctuaria (@aleksandrachaev)

no words for this beautiful piece!! with the release of the new trailer something like this is canon now, and the entire idea of pretending to be a family and then natasha and yelena becoming one in their hearts is just OWWW, run me over instead, it’d hurt less

read it here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/23954776

what a wicked game to play (to make me feel this way)

“after you win the games, you lose.” hunger games au.

status: complete 1/1 words: 60,545 author: taylorswift (not THAT ts haha (at least i dont think so??))

this is a clintasha au, so don’t expect tooo much yelena. i love the relationship between yelena and nat in this one though, so here it is!!

read it here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/24957505

you made it this far (just a little bit more)

“I'm dead, Yelena says, I killed myself in that room, Natasha didn't need to shoot me for that, and isn't sure it translates.”

status: completed 1/1 series 3/3 words: 35,939 author: notcaycepollard (@notcaycepollard)

yelena is the main character in part 3 of this time travel fix it series. feels a bit au because (obviously) a lot of things were changed and their lives end up being very different. very happy take on everything and if you want some good old serotonin and good times for our characters, this one is so good!!

read it here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27913387

part 3 of the a flame in two cupped hands series: https://archiveofourown.org/series/1538677

the end (for now) (◕︵◕)

as you can see i get all my yelena fics from ao3, i think that site is just so wonderful and easy to navigate!! i’m updating the yelena tag often, and i’m constantly looking for new good fics to share - so if you’re interested, bookmark this/follow me for future updates! if you have any personal favorites from ao3 that i’ve missed, or from other sites, do not hesitate to share them with me so i can update the list!!

(also i tried to tag the authors i could find on tumblr but idk if it worked?)

[mongooseblues]

Bless You Father for I Have Sinned (Fleabag, Hot Priest) 1/1

Did anyone watch Fleabag and/or want to read about a hot priest sneezing?

This works just fine as a standalone if u haven’t seen the show but for context: Hot Irish prob alcoholic “cool swear-y” priest and recovering sex addict and all-around hot mess main character (who doesn’t have a name) strike up a “friendship” that is just a poorly veiled excuse for spending time with someone they want very badly to fuck but can’t bc priesthood vow of celibacy and whatnot.

Here’s ~2k words in which I continuously get off on the idea of blessing a priest and unresolved sexual tension I also don’t resolve.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

“Fuck you, calling me Father like it doesn’t turn you on just to say it…”

It happens for maybe ten minutes before it starts to stick out to her. Because it’s cold, as it always is on early-spring nights in London, and while they’re both fully dressed (unfortunately), neither is probably quite dressed enough to be out in a garden at this hour. And they’re a bit drunk—not that drunk, they’re both pretty practiced—on the G&Ts he’s so fond of for whatever reason. He specifically likes the kind you get already mixed in a can, which are especially shit, but it’s almost endearing that he likes those in particular. Well, very endearing actually. Goddamn this man—or… hmm, poor choice of words.

It doesn’t really grab her attention until he combines the sniffling with pinching his nostrils together.

“You alright, you’re quite sniffly?”

“I know, I dunno what’s going on,” he says, and punctuates it with a harsher sniffle than the ones previously unacknowledged, “Think ‘m just cold.” He zips his sweatshirt up a bit as if to illustrate.

“We could get you a blanket and swaddle you up like baby Jesus.”

He laughs. She extracts from her coat pocket a pack of cigarettes, takes one herself and angles the carton toward him in offering. Mostly because she wants him to scoot closer to her on the bench as she flicks the lighter for him. The flame illuminates the angles of his face in orange, the back of his fingers grazing her hand by happy accident, and yes, it’s a little pathetic that this momentary skin-to-skin contact is as erotic as it is to her, but that’s what you get when you fancy a priest isn’t it?

“They’re always describing him as being swaddled. Odd word, swaddled. Sounds kind of violent.”

“It does kind of,” he agrees, leaning back against the bench and exhaling a stream of smoke into the night air. Her plan worked, he’s ever so slightly closer to her now, post cigarette exchange, close enough that when he sniffles she can feel the slight vibration of his shoulders through the loose fabric on her coat sleeve. It unites them like an accidental spark of electricity she can sense just faintly enough to feel jumpy. Or turned on. Or both.

She really shouldn’t be this shameless about trying desperately to corrupt a man of the cloth she wants to get under. Maybe she’d feel properly guilty if she wasn’t quite so fucking horny.

“So you did read more than just the passages I marked for you?” He asks, at once surprised and pleased and maybe nervous, grinning but also looking away for a moment as if he could disguise all of that.

“Not really, just the birth of the ol’ lord and savior. It seemed like it’d be climactic.”

“Was it?”

“Can’t say I climaxed reading it, no,” she says with a cheeky look that elicits the laughter she’s looking for, “No offense but it’s really quite boring, this book you love so much.”

“Yeah… that’s a tragically common sentiment among reviewers.” He’s scratching at his nose with the back of one wrist with such intensity it’s unmistakeable how much it’s bothering him.

“Don’t care much for the writing style either, I have to say.”

If the irritation could be resolved with a mouse-like scrunch of the nose he’d have figured it out by now, and clearly he hasn’t because he still has to shrink into his crossed arms like an accordion with a fairly high-pitched, vocal and thus somehow Irish-accented, “Hehh-ishhYUE!”

“Bless. The only way I was able to get through it was by imagining you in every speaking role.”

It’s a sentence meant to provoke him, not unlike most of her sentences, and for a minute as her eyes are on her own exhaled smoke and he fails to respond, she wonders whether it sounded even weirder than she meant it, but as it turns out he’s just about to sneeze again — squinting into the distance and bringing an arm to his face in slow motion.

“Mmff-SHOO!” He blinks in surprise as he resumes his previous position on the bench, now shifted just a bit farther away from her. Damn.

“Ugh, sorry. Every speaking role?? Ohfuck— ahh-ishSHEU!”

“Jesus.”

“You imagined me as Jesus??”

“No I mean Jesus, are you okay, did you catch something?” Of course she imagined him as Jesus.

“Ooh I hope not,” he says with a nervous look, “that’d be lousy timing.”

“The lord works in mysterious ways.”

“Thuh-that he does—” A sudden inhale, a crooked arm rising at a much hastened speed. It begins in a manageable way, somewhat controlled, but then it seems to get away from him.

“Hh… hehd’SHHUE!”

“Bless you, Father."

He mumbles a thank you bookended by soft snuffling.

“Maybe he’s sent you a plague of sneezing. He does that sometimes doesn’t he? Send plagues?”

His face just scarcely conveys amusement before it’s hijacked again by the same expectant expression, but he still attempts to talk through it, even as irritation becomes evident in every feature. “S-sometimes…”

She thinks about saying bless you in advance but decides instead to just wait for him to succumb to it. A flicker of lashes, a reveal of the very tips of canines, his entire face crinkles around his visibly twitching nose. It pulls him downward and then forward in that order, as he collapses into a crooked arm as if stumbling despite being seated.

An especially desperate, “hehhSCHOO!” that begins quietly but certainly doesn’t end that way.

“God bless you, Father, again.”

“Wow,” he says with a sniff, knuckles swiping under his nose in a single smooth motion, “Maybe I’m allergic to you. My body’s having a reaction.”

“Is it?”

An eyeroll and a grin, and then he goes back to scratching at his aggravated face in a manner that’s becoming aggressive.

“Well stop manhandling your nose that’s clearly not working.” Before she can think better of it, she takes his elbow to pull the offending arm away from his face. She can feel his muscles tense with the movement, but when she looks up at him there’s only a blurry-eyed smile chased by a nervous huff of a laugh. Another line she can’t uncross but doesn’t particularly want to.

The therapist hadn’t needed to point out that her all-consuming attraction to someone she couldn’t have was probably a healthy coping mechanism of her recently adopted abstinence. She hadn’t really expected this though — for her advances to not be rejected entirely. She hadn’t planned for hope to cease feeling like such a daft, one-sided notion.

“Should I even be blessing you or is that overkill? Or am I even qualified to bless you? Can one bless a priest if they’re not like, anointed or something?”

“You can bless me,” he confirms, looking like he’s barely got a handle on controlling his own eyebrows. Or lips for that matter. God, that mouth, those lips. Parting by accident the way she’d like to make them open on purpose.

“Little greedy of you. You’re not blessed enough as is?”

“Neh—neverhurts…” He pitches sidewards with a slurred, tellingly tipsy, “hehh-ESHHyoooo!”

“Bless you…”

“Thank you,” he sniffles with embarrassed necessity, bringing the back of a sleeve to his nose.

“Hold on, I think I have some tissues,” she says as she feels around in her bag in the darkness, “Well, cocktail napkins at least.” Another knuckle brush as she hands them to him. How arousing. How pitifully arousing. She really should come up with ways to hand him things more often.

“Ahh you were holding out on me,” he says, and then after a gentle blow, “Sorry.”

“You are coming down with something aren’t you?"

He thinks about it, bringing the napkin away from his nostrils with a final follow-up dab. “I dunno, maybe?”

“Do you feel ill?”

“Mostly just very itchy.”

How many other chances will she get… She reaches a hand to gingerly press the back of her fingers against his forehead. He blinks a few times in response, rapidly and reflexively, and swallows back a smile. There’s a burning in her stomach that’s neither pleasant nor unpleasant.

“Um, you feel okay I think?” She says, attention course-corrected back to the cigarette crumbling in her hand, but still glancing at him to measure the aftermath of the relatively bold gesture and they lock smiling eyes in the process.

If he really wanted to ward her off he’s doing a phenomenally shitty job of it. She knows he wants her. God if only that was enough, to know he wanted her.

“I think you’re right I’ve been sent a plague of sneezing. Probably trying to tell me something.”

“Something about how your new friend could take care of you?”

He grins with half of his mouth. “Or something about how I probably shouldn’t be drinking G&Ts in the middle of the night with my new friend who I like a little too much.”

Oh he… really shouldn’t have given her that.

“ExxSHHUE!!” He shakes the whole bench with this, then straightens back up, not looking entirely recovered, and says almost to himself, “And about how I probably shouldn’t tell my new friend that I like them a little too much.”

“But you did anyway and he hasn’t, I dunno, smote you down yet.”

Irritation is still etched into his features, his chest slowly swelling with air, hastily fiddling with the napkins.

“Are you actually going to sneeze again? You haven’t finished?”

He shakes his head as his eyes close and seizes into a rushed, “hehESHHyue!"

“It’s a plague I can’t stop! Snf, it’s out of my hands."

She knows the night’s over, she does. She gets the sense that she’d been invited to overstay her welcome, but it’s getting past that point now. Whenever she leaves after being around him her face hurts from smiling like an idiot the whole time and she comes away aching in more ways than one. That ache is starting already, another sign they’ve stretched this interaction too long once again.

However, alcohol. “If you tell me to leave and you sneeze again perhaps we’ll know whether or not it was divine intervention.”

“He might just be punishing me now anyway,” he sighs, remembering a cigarette he may not have taken a single drag from, neglected and foreshortening in his fingers.

“We haven’t done anything we’re just talking. I’m a—what is it, parishioner?”

“That is a word, yes. Snf! Though it implies someone who’s actually going to church to, you know, practice their faith."

“I’m a parishioner here to…” she’s not even sure what to say, she still doesn’t know shit about Catholicism aside from the fact that it’s a massive cockblock, “seek your… counsel? Guidance? Guidance counseling.”

He puts a hand over part of his face, tired but amused. “You can’t act innocent even when you’re trying your best, can you?"

She almost snorts. Is this what he thinks trying her best looks like?—No, don’t actually say— “Who said I was trying my best?”

Why can’t she stop herself from saying things like that to him? The only thing that’s going to stop her now is a ‘no’ that’s actually firm enough not to give way when she presses against it relentlessly. He honestly needs to just get it over with before he really gives her too much to hold onto. She’s not going to win out over God, the guy’s pretty fucking stiff competition.

Goddamnit, just break her heart already, what the fuck is he waiting for? This should have ended ages ago, and now it’s getting dangerously close to too late.

Was it unfair to assume he’d be stronger than her? Or is he trying to hurt himself too? A duetted exercise in masochism, mutually assured destruc—

“—ESSHHYUE!” He looks at her through wet lashes, bleary and sheepish and drunk and cute and fuck.

She sighs loudly, looks skyward and says, “Right, you’ve made your point! I’m leaving!”

[anim3tingz]

'Match-Up' for 011tsukishima

Good morning, Amelia! (At least, it’s morning when I’m writing this. Lol.) Sorry, it took so long for me to get your request done. Thank you so much for being patient with me.

I just wanted to say thank you for getting me back into KPOP. Lol. Mamamoo’s HIP and 4Minutes’ Crazy are total bops. I used to listen to KPOP so much back when I was in HS. I was crazy into BigBang, 2AM, 2NE1, and Boyfriend. I was in love with Taeyang from BigBang. God, that man is fine asf. I recommend watching ‘I’ll Be There’. Ugh. ToT

If you have any more song recommendations, girl, I’m all ears.

Also, I’ve never seen The God of High School before, is it good? I might have to add it to my list of animes to watch. :3

And, quick... your favorite horror movie(s)? (Not my favorite movie, but I highly recommend ‘The Uninvited’.)

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Now onto the ‘Match-Up’.

I match you with...Rin Okumura

Relationship Song: Kiss Me More (feat. SZA) - Doja Cat/ Boy Friend - Boy Friend

Rin is an absolute sweetheart. Like, hands-down the best boyfriend you could ask for. He may be a little clueless from time-to-time, but this guy does his damnedest to show you he loves you.

For instance, if you’re on your period he’d be a little confused why all the sudden you turned into a devil in the shape of his girlfriend. Normal things he would do or jokes he made just seemed to aggravate you. This would lead him to just storming off, confused as to what had gotten into you. He’d confide in Yukio for help on what to do. It’s at this point, thanks to his brother, he realizes what’s going on. To make up for it plans on surprising you with some home-made sweets and a stuffed animal. At the time, he was new to all this stuff. So, he was a little caught off guard.

However, now he’s able to pick up on it and will instantly surprise you with little goodies and cuddles because he’s aware of just how miserable that time of the month can be for you.

One of your favorite things to do with Rin is cuddle with him on the couch as ya’ll watch movies. Now Rin’s up to watch anything, but more often than not you guys end up watching some horror movie, which isn’t exactly Rin’s favorite. At all. Truth is Rin actually scares pretty easily. It’s a bit funny really. Him being the son of Satan and all. Nonetheless, he’ll just sit there with you leaning up against his chest trying his darndest not to show just how terrified he actually is.

So, why would he watch horror movies if he doesn’t like them? He knows you wouldn’t mind watching something else, but he just likes seeing you happy. So, if gripping you tight every time a jump-scare happens is what has to happen, then so be it. To be honest, that’s why you always choose horror movies. You love how the more scared he gets the more he clings onto you. Lol.

You tend to hangout in his dorm while he’s studying. You’ll be lounging across his bed, listening to music (Headphones in, of course. You don’t want to distract Rin from his studies because Lord knows this boy gets distracted easily.), either drawing/writing/reading. Overall, just vibing out as he’s hunched over the desk studying. In these moments ya’ll don’t talk, but simply just enjoy the company of one another. To be honest, having you around actually helps him focus more.

On the weekends, the two of you tend to head out into town. Neither of you ever really have any destination in mind. You guys mainly just end up walking and talking enjoying the sights and sounds of the city around you. Occasionally, you guys come across some cool places like a specialty cafe (cat cafe, anyone?), arcade, or a nice little park. Just some mini adventures that end up holding really special memories for the two of you.

The two of you are sarcastic little sh*ts, especially toward each other. However, you reign supreme everytime. Rin has nothing on you. Your comedic timing is flawless and your comebacks are *Mwah* magnifique. Hell, you even get Ryuiji and Yukio to bust out laughing. Meanwhile, you’re just standing there like...

PDA:

Rin is a handsy MF

While Rin gets a bit flustered when it comes to interacting with girls, I feel when in a relationship Rin isn’t shy to touch his S/O.

The way your curves feel in his hands drives him wild. So, you can just imagine he’d always find a way to touch you in some way throughout the day.

When he’s kissing you his hands will wander. He’ll start off with grabbing your face, pulling you into a kiss, and making his way down feeling you up until he makes it to your butt.

His favorite kisses are wall kisses. He especially loves it when you end up wrapping your legs around his waist. That way he’s able to grip your thick thighs as he presses you up against the wall further.

Kisses with him are very passionate. Bite, his lip and he’ll be a goner. ;)

However, he does love to give you forehead kisses when ya’ll are out in public. He saves the passionate ones for when the two of you are alone.

Rin loves hugs.

Now while he definitely is not afraid to initiate one he absolutely loves it when you hug him first. Baby boy, will turn into a blushing mess. He just can’t get over the fact that someone as cute as you loves him.

Now Rin does tend to get lost in his thoughts from time to time and can get a little down. In times like this he looks to you to be his rock. All he wants in these moments is to just hug you. Don’t try to push him away during these times. Just pull him in close and hug him tight.

Overall, the two of you just have a very sweet and fun relationship that, honestly, most people are jealous of.

Speaking of jealousy...Rin gets jealous easily. Lol. He gets very pouty when he’s jealous. Hey, Ame! Where’s my hug...What’s so special about that baka?...I can do that too. *whispers* I just don’t want to. He’s adorable when he’s jealous.

He’s not beneath hugging you protectively in front of others like so:

*Btw, if you haven’t seen this anime ^^^ Omg. You should. It’s so good. (Junjou Romantica)*

You think you talk a lot? Rin doesn’t mind, he loves to talk a lot, too. To be honest, ya’ll tend to get so caught up talking to each other you sometimes forget about the rest of your friends you guys were hanging out with.

That and sometimes when you and Rin get to talking ya’ll get a little too animated. Because of this Yukio has to make sure to separate ya’ll in class and on certain missions. Otherwise, work might not get done and besides things are just quieter that way. Lol.

It’s not unusual for others to see Rin looking at you like this:

The boy is just hopelessly in love with you.

Because of this it’s not unusual for his tail to wag when you’re around.

He’s legit like a puppy when it comes to you.

And, you can bet if you ever get threatened or mistreated he’d be right there to save you. No one messes with his loved ones, especially you.

[rip-a-dip-dip-you-potato-chip]

Trade ya

based on this ask

TW//Slight violence and a mention of blood

-

Macaque slipped back into the theatre after his little chat with the Monkey Kid.

Boy howdy, that kid had some explaining to do, to his companions. If only he could stick around and watch that mess unfold. But he had to retrieve his lamp.

Honestly, that was easier than he thought it would be.

Wich was concerning.

As Macaque walked over to the stage he paused for a moment, where was (y/n) is all this?

The Monkey King was off doing his own thing for a while, and he'd assumed his kid would be hanging around Mk and his friends, yet the amber-furred monkey wasn't with them when they had entered the theatre.

Did Mk literally forget one of his friends? damn, he was starting to become like the Hero...

despite everything that's happened between them since the whole 'I stole the Monkey Kings powers from Mk and broke his trust leaving him emotionally distressed' thing, he actually wanted to get to know his kid(and maybe convince them to join him)the week of stalking wasn't enough for him to say the least.

Disregarding the thought (though not entirely) he make is way back to the remains of the lap.

And with a little magic it was good an new!

Fuck ya!

As he admirered his handy work for s little longer and sound of clapping caught is attention. Wiping his head around he saw the wired guy in a pin strip suit form the play, if Macaque remembered correctly this was the guy that game my the *Skeleton Key.

"My my, that was such a magnificent performance!"

"Ha, ya well it's over, t-this was the last show actually"

Oh he did not like this for a single second. His fur was standing on there ends screaming for him to just leave.

Just as Macaque was about to use the shadows to escape, in a flash of icy blue light the guy was now behind him, and the next thing he know he was being picked up by the neck and for some reason couldn't, fucking move.

What the actual hell is happening???

"Lady Bone Demon would like a word with you~"

In the blink of an eye, the scenery changed form the damaged auditorium he'd rented out to and underground cave with mechanical parts and machines everywhere.

Just one wif of the musty roten air and he knew he was in the Spider Queens lair. But it looked different then it had been that last time he was there.

Then again it's been centuries since he was last there.

He was shortly let go by the insane suite wareing guy and rubbed his neck where it had been grabbed. And just like that the guy disappeared, leaving the Lady Bone Demon in his stead.

"Why greetings Macaque, its beet long since we last spoke"

" not long enough if you ask me"

The white haired lady let out a hum of acknowledgement as she circled the monkey.

...

"Soo any particular reason why you got one of your brain dead servents to get me?" Macaque questioned, pulling back a bit not wanting to be in her immediate range.

Up purely tactical.

"Ah, well it's come to my attention that you poses something of grate use to me" her icy gaze fixed on the lamp.

"Ya not happening" Macaque said flatly, he went though a lot to get his hands on this thing and he wasn't going to part with it so easily. Besides what ever the Lady Bone Demon was planning, would spell doom for the world as they know it.

Macaque my be a bad guy in some sense, maby even be considered an antihero-that was just more of an ass on a good day- but he wasn't one for wold domination.

In the past he just wanted to wreck heaven with his dear beloved friend befor his change of heart, not enslave mankind. They just wanted to prove there worth nothing more. But this bitch, na she was jack shit crazy. It took the combined forces of Demons and celestials alike to seal her away, himself being one of said demons.

"Ohh what a shame, looks like I'll be keeping this little one then"

In a puff of smoke (y/n) collapses on the foor to her, there fur slightly matted with blood and a visible gash on the left eye.

Similar to where his was-

It wasn't deep and wouldn't cause damage, but it still needed treatment.

Holy hell is this where (y/n) was all this time?

Macaques mind was going a mile a minute but he kept his poker face.

"And I sould care about some random kid because?"

"Oh~ Don't play dumb with me, Six Eared Macaque. You know exactly who this little one is" she started using her powers for lift the amber-furred monkey off the ground there one good (color) eye glosed over and hazy.

"After all this is your child"

"Hate to brake it to ya, but I don't have a kid"

"My sources say other wise"

Several screens descended for the walls and around them, all flicked to like to reveal footage of Macaque during his little stalking mission when he first planed to steal the Monkey Kings powers and found out about his long lost kid, and then some other footage of his watching them from the shadows.

Oh, oh no.

"I had my suspension on the Luner New Years, but your reaction solidify's my assumption"

Wha- shit his poker face slipped! Shiiiit

"So I'll ask again, the lamp or your child- they won't die persay, but I think the underground market would pay a hefty sum for one of such unique lineage"

His heart was beating faster than he thought possible, wait why would it be doing that! He shouldn't care! Should he?

Glancing between the lamp and (y/n)'s beaten form Macaque made a decision he might soon come to regret.

-

(Y/n) was having a good evening, well that was until the Spider Queens minions jumped them while on there way to the theater to meet up with the others(minus Sandy, what he had cats to take care of!)

When the first woke up it was in a dingy cell. And the next thing they knew the Spider Queen tried to get information about the Monkey Kings whereabouts.

"Ya right like the peach loving old man tells me anything! So if you could kindly let me on my marry way that would be fantastic"

You realy needed to know when to such your mouth or just give total bullshit information because Queeni had gotten pissed, and tried to beat the information out of you.

The Lady Bone Demon had to pry the spider off you. Saying you still had a use befor you blacking out.

-

When they woke for a second time everything was hazy, and there was muffled talking almost like they where under water.

Water was nice, you should learn to swim! It seems like fun! Maby you could get Mk or Mai to teach you.

After all the Monkey King was a shitty swimmer- wait no he was crap as under water fights, but wouldn't that require swimming as well-

Uh oh, was you being moved? Nooo das no gooood stop!

Ughhh why won't the muffin voices stop! And why can't I feel my eye!

E-y-e

Y E S spelles yes

E Y E S spells eyes how did that one guy get that confused, and you is moving again ST 0 p

Wait this was more comfy than before, is that red? Oh my moons it is! It's so soft!

And soft it was and you drifted to a more comfortable rest this time.

-

The third and final time (y/n) woke, they weren't in a cell, or had a hazy mindset. Areas not that hazy, but this time it was more so due to medicine than pain.

In fact they lay on a plush mattress, with equally soft pillows and nice heavy blankets tossed other them.

As (y/n) sat up they winced in pain slightly.

Looking down they take notice of the bandages, and a slitting head- and there are bandages on your eye as well fucking perfect.

"Good to see your up" a voice greated. Wiping their head to the side, there stood Macaques with a slight concerned look on his face.

Wha- owowowowowowowow

Probably shouldn't be moving so fast as (y/n) winced in pain again.

As (y/n) tried to steady themselves again and think of a retort, and side of the bed diped and a hand was placed oh your forehead, whilst the other heaped your arm.

"What are you-" "checking to see if you're fever spiked " "I has a heaver?" "Fever, and yes it set is last night after a particularly nasty infection" "oh"

"Wait, why are you-"

"The Bone bitch had you, i-i couldn't just let her harm you any more than she already had"

"That's dumb, you're dumb"

Sigh

"Okay back to sleep with you"

"Where am I?" "One of my safe houses, now sleep"

Sleep but what if...

"I-its okay, it'll be okay I'll be here when you wake again"

(y/n) blinked at him.

"I promise" he said softly as he guided you back down to the pillow, he retucked you in and was about to leave when (y/n) caught his hand.

Well fuck

Uhhh, you know what he's had a long fucking day himself he needs some sleep too.

So discarding his scarf to the side, as well as some armor plating and his shoes, Macaque got into the bed himself and just used himself. As he made himself comfortable, back tuned away for his pup a single thought echoed in his head.

'Im a fucking dad now, geat'

--

*Skelton Keys are said to open any door, plus the cannon key had a skull on it so why not?

UwU Anon you have no idea what this means, you have water my crops cleared my skin and my mind is sane!

I was originally planing to have this thing where the spider queen captured the reader/oc and used the robo parasight to make them a follower, but this, this is so much better sksksksksksk

I did most of this on mobile and my auto correct is bitchy 🙃

[svnflowervol666]

Hey!! Could you write an imagine where the reader is an artist and wakes up early, Harry is sleeping next to her and for a few minutes she's there watching him and then decides to draw him while he sleeps and when she's finishing Harry wakes up? Thank you so much ♥️

Word Count: 1.6k

Warnings: mentions of smut

Author’s Note: Thank you for the request! Like always, if you’re interested, let me know what you’d like for me to write next. Take care and tpwk.

Y/N wasn’t very sure how she’d managed to wake up before Harry considering how hard they partied last night. Her head pounded in her ears and she felt an overwhelming sense of dehydration in her throat. The events of the evening were somewhat blurry after Harry handed her a shot of something wretched and led her immediately to the dancefloor to work up a sweat. She knew judging from the fact that she was stark naked in the bed she shared with Harry and the fact that she could see her dress from the night before shimmering in the sunlight off in the corner of the room haphazardly that they’d at least made love to each other when they got home. Aside from that, her mind was drawing a blank.

Seeing as the blinding light from the harsh, early morning sun made it impossible to go back to sleep, she carefully removed the limp, ringed hand that was draped around her waist and wriggled her way over to her nightstand to grab her phone. Fuck, she thought to herself. Her battery was dead and she couldn’t be arsed to lean all of the way down to the ground to reach for her charger. After lying there for a moment and contemplating how to proceed with the morning, in which she decided she certainly would not be getting out of bed to start the day just yet, she reached a bit further past her phone for the sketchbook and pencil that Harry had gotten her for her birthday last year.

It was almost completely full of her drawings and doodles, something she prided herself in. Often times, she’d lose her sketchbook or spill her coffee on it before she could finish drawing in all of the pages. Maybe it was the fact that Harry had gotten this one for her which meant it was special, or maybe it was just luck, but she’d managed to hold on to this one almost down to the very last page. 

In an attempt to soothe her hangover without getting out of bed, she began drawing away. She started by finishing up the flower she had started the other day after saw the most beautiful bunch of daisies while on her daily walk with Harry. Sure, they were technically an invasive weed that took over greenery like wildfire, but Y/N always thought they were beautiful. 

When she’d perfected that one enough to her liking, she flipped the page and started another drawing. This one was also unfinished, and it was a landscape portrait of the bungalow she shared with Harry while on their vacation to Bora Bora last year. She’d been on many vacations and stayed in many nice houses since that trip, but this bungalow she’d never forget. It was where Harry took her to tell her that he loved her, though she hadn’t known that at the time. They had been having the time of their lives, drinking sugary, alcoholic beverages all throughout the day and lounging lazily by the ocean. Harry finally told her while they watched the sunset on their third night there. It slipped out faster and not as smoothly as Harry had imagined the moment in his head, but the overwhelming, swooning sensation he felt in his chest whenever he looked at Y/N made it impossible for the words to not spew from his lips. She’d never forgotten that trip because it was where she fell significantly more in love with Harry than she already had been.

There wasn’t much that needed to be done on the portrait of the bungalow, just some shading on the roof and a bit more detail on the waves that surrounded the structure. She finished that one fairly quickly then moved on to her next blank page. This one, she fucked up. What she had tried to draw one of her old pets from memory, but for some reason, it wasn’t looking right. She quickly scrapped the piece of paper and moved on to the next page, which was coincidentally the final page in her sketchbook.

She pondered for a moment on what idea in her head would earn the final spot in her book of drawings. She could try to draw her pet again? No, she shook her head softly to herself. Hers and Harry’s favorite table at the coffee shop that was down the block from their London apartment? No, she’d need to get a better look at the place before she attempted something like that. She looked around the now bright and sunny space of their bedroom, trying to find something that would shoot a spark in her brain and cause her to think of the perfect thing to draw. As she turned her head towards the sleeping, seemingly unconscious body that burrowed itself into the gigantic, down comforter beside her, it struck her.

Y/N propped herself up on her side so she could get a better look at the scene in front of her. Harry was sleeping the morning away, though she couldn’t say she blamed him since she didn’t even remember coming home last night (or was it technically this morning?). His face was completely covered by the huge down comforter that he’d hogged from her, but she didn’t mind. All that was visible of Harry was the top of his head, adorned with messy, chocolate-colored waves, and the outstretched palm of his left hand. That was it. His hand.

Her hangover had more or less subsided by now without the need of a greasy diner breakfast or a handful of headache medicine, so she was able to work diligently on her newest and final sketch. She traced over every crease and dip of his long, slender fingers, making sure no detail went unnoticed. Every ring, including the large, gold ‘H’ and ‘S’ rings on his ring and pinky fingers got their own moment in the spotlight. His bright yellow nail polish, the color that she’d picked out for him last week, was slightly chipped at the corners, but it only added to the uniqueness of the piece. Each knuckle she shaded with the closest attention. Unlike her old pet or the table at the cafe, she was almost certain she could draw this from memory, but a little reinforcement never hurt. Plus, she felt like she could stare at Harry’s hands for days on end without growing tired of them.

Harry’s hands were miracle workers for her. They’d held her through both her darkest and brightest days. They’d made her feel safe in times when she’d never felt so alone, and during big moments when she couldn’t be sad even if she tried. Harry’s hands cooked her breakfast on Sunday mornings, carried her to bed when she’d fallen asleep watching Netflix in the living room, massaged her tired feet after a long day of work, brushed her hair out of her eyes before kissing her goodnight each night, made her see stars as he pleasured her over and over again with his skillful fingers. So many times people overlook what hands do in a relationship, but not Y/N. 

It was right when she was shading the corner of Harry’s cross tattoo that was barely visible from beyond the comforter she felt the bed sheets rustle and the sweet creature beside her come to. The peaceful silence of Y/N doodling away was broken when Harry moved his hand, the one she had been drawing, towards his face to rub harshly at his emerald green eyes.

“Wha’ ‘re you doin awake? ‘ts so early,” she heard his groggy, morning voice pierce the walls of the room.

“It’s almost noon, Harry,” she responded softly, letting the sketchbook fall gently into her lap.

“Oh, shit,” the lanky brunette chuckled, “Wha’ did we do last night?”

“I was actually hoping you could tell me.”

“‘ve got no idea, princess,” Harry groaned before reaching over to pat her thigh, feeling the hard material of her sketchbook instead.

“You drawin’? Lemme see.”

He plucked the open notepad from her lap to examine what she’d been drawing while he was asleep. She didn’t feel embarrassed or like she needed to snatch the book away from him before he could see that she’d been drawing his hands whilst he slept. That was another thing Y/N loved about Harry, how she never felt shy or that she needed to hide her art from him. He always praised her work whenever he crossed paths with it, so she was always willing to share her latest masterpiece.

“M’ hand? You drew my hand while I was asleep?” Harry was still delirious from a combination of his hazy, half-asleep half-awake state.

“I love your hands,” she stated firmly but softly, “plus, it was the last page in my sketchbook so I wanted it to be of something important.”

“Hmm,” Harry pondered as he cased over the drawing once more, “I like this one, but I think I much rather prefer the one you drew of my co-”

“Yeah, I’m sure you do,” Y/N interrupted his sentence and yanked the sketchbook from his grasp before placing it back on its home on the nightstand.

She took her rightful half of the comforter back from Harry and nestled herself back into bed, making sure to cozy right up into Harry’s warm, bare chest so they could have a proper, conscious cuddle before dreadfully starting their day. The two of them were adults now and while they were still granted the privilege of being able to party, they couldn’t stay in bed and waste the day away after a long night of drinking like they used to.

Harry traced soft circles on Y/N’s back with the same hand that she was drawing just minutes ago, almost lulling her back to sleep. He watched as her breathing evened out and her eyes began to droop despite her awareness that they had a late lunch planned with Anne and Gemma in a few hours. 

“Baby,” Harry beckoned her back to consciousness.

Her eyes blinked open quickly, unaware of how she’d almost went right back to sleep in Harry’s arms.

“Yeah?”

“We’ve got to meet up wi’ mum and Gem soon. ‘Need to get up.”

“Ten more minutes.”

This made Harry chuckle, seeing how she was acting like a grumpy teenager who refused to wake up for school in the morning. God, how he loved her.

“How about I show you just how important my hands are to you and then we hop in the shower, yeah? Sound like a plan?”

She opened one eye just slightly enough to see that Harry was giving her his iconic smirk that caused one of his dimples to shine through. Leave it to Harry to squeeze in a shag before lunch with his own mum.

She supposed she really couldn’t say no to that.

[jowritesthingss]

only get better

Fandom: Sanders Sides

Pairing(s): Moxiety (Patton | Morality + Virgil | Anxiety)

Rating: Older Teen (for some swearing and slightly suggestive situations)

Content Warning(s): making out, slightly sexual situations (nothing explicit), partial nudity, skin-picking, dermatillomania, blood mention, injuries, panic/anxiety attack, swearing

Length: 4,623 words

Brief Summary: Virgil picks at his skin. It’s not something he’s proud of, but it’s not something he’s been able to stop, either. What terrifies him most, though, is how Patton will respond when he discovers this carefully-guarded secret.

TS Masterlist + AO3 Links

*

They’re kissing. How did they get here?

(His acceptance by the light sides. Becoming best friends with Patton, baking with Patton, watching movies with Patton, learning to knit with Patton, drawing with Patton, laughing with Patton, crying with Patton, crushing on Patton, pining over Patton, Patton Patton Patton, everything is Patton, Patton is...everything. And then, miracle of all miracles, Patton actually likes him back.

Kissing. They’ve kissed before, loads of times: over a snoring Remus’ head as the sides form a dogpile and watch movies, in between folding clothes together, while puttering around the kitchen making lunch, in passing as they do their respective jobs, over wine as they giggle and tipsily fool around a bit. So yeah, they’ve kissed lots, only never quite so intimate. Never quite so heated. Because Virgil...he can’t let anyone in so far. He can’t let anyone see.

He can’t let anyone see the spots and scabs and scratches on his skin—not the battle scars of abuse, no, none of the other sides would ever do something like that to him—only for some reason he does it to himself.)

Virgil is moaning. When did he start moaning?

(Patton is so pretty. Just smiling with Patton would be enough. Just holding hands with him, just snuggling with him, just kissing him. More would be oh so nice, too, but...but then Patton would see, and he can’t see.

But Virgil knows Patton isn’t sex-averse, so of course he would want more too. And Patton would wait for Virgil to be ready, he would, he’s kind and patient so of course he would wait past the end of the world, but is it really Virgil’s right to make him wait? Especially when it’s over something so ridiculously foolish.

He stands in front of the mirror in nothing but boxers. He stands and he stares at himself and his hands are itching and he blinks and they’re picking off a scab on his left shoulder and goddammit, why can’t he just stop? Or, better—why can’t he just get things over with and let Patton down like he knows he’s going to? Best to do it quick, before either one falls even more in love than they already have.)

Patton is taking off Virgil’s shirt. Why—

Patton is taking off Virgil’s shirt.

Fuck. He can’t do this. He can’t he can’t hecanthecanthecanthe—

Virgil’s breath quickens even as Patton’s ministrations on his skin slow, his widened eyes taking in Virgil’s skin. Virgil’s marred skin. Virgil’s ruined skin. Virgil’s shame.

Then Patton is backing up and off the bed, an odd look in his eyes, and Virgil is scrambling backwards, desperately falling hard to the floor and crawling into the furthest corner of the room. He’s shaking shaking shaking and so is his breath and in fact he’s not sure if he’s even breathing at all anymore and god Patton’s gonna hate him so much, that look in his eyes has to be disgust, he must be so disturbed by Virgil and how ugly he is both outside and in.

Virgil makes a pitiful attempt to cover his bare torso with his arms, but it’s not much help. His arms are covered in scabs, too, ugly and scarred and impure just like the rest of his body, unfit to be touched by the softness that is Patton’s fingertips, the goodness that is Patton.

“D—don’t look at me,” Virgil gasps out through clenched teeth and heaving lungs. He wants to curl in on himself, twist into a tiny ball and disappear, but then Patton will see his back too and he, he can’t see Virgil’s back too. “P-please.”

“Oh, honey.” Patton’s voice is soothing. It’s almost too sickly sweet. And oh, god, this is where he laughs at Virgil, isn’t it?

No, no, Patton isn’t that horrible, he wouldn’t do that. No, this is the moment where he pities Virgil. Yeah. This is where he tells Virgil that he just can’t be with someone so...so ugly? No, Patton wouldn’t say that aloud either, even if he privately thinks it.

No, Patton’s going to find a way to softly break it to Virgil that he just isn’t attracted to that, that he just isn’t attracted to Virgil, that Virgil obviously needs to work some stuff out on his own, that the two of them should go their separate ways. And fuck if that isn’t worse than the laughter and the humiliation would be.

A soft blanket winds its way around Virgil’s shoulders, startling him out of his thought spiral so abruptly that he almost starts right back down another.

Virgil looks up to see Patton kneeling in front of him, an arm’s length away, careful not to touch his skin to Virgil’s as he secures the weighted blanket around him.

Noticing Virgil’s wary eyes on him, Patton smiles. “Hey, there you are.” His eyes are gentle with...maybe it isn’t pity, maybe it isn’t disgust, maybe it’s...could Virgil dare to think it’s...understanding?

No. No. He can’t get his hopes up like that. Even if it turns out that Patton really does understand, Virgil can’t let himself hope for that. He has to prepare for the absolute worst. Then maybe the worst will hurt less when it inevitably comes.

Virgil stares up at Patton, mouth half-open as he wheezes for breath through his clogged throat. Stuck in the emotional duress of the moment, unable to process, his body reacts even as his mind freezes. Underneath the blanket his right hand instinctively crosses to his left side, going to scratch at his lower stomach.

Patton seems to notice the movement and, still careful not to touch Virgil’s bare skin, presses a hand to the part of the blanket hanging around Virgil’s lower torso and his hand. He carefully places a slight pressure on Virgil’s hand, just enough to immobilize it and keep him from scratching, and yet not so much that the touch burns and bubbles and froths uncomfortably underneath his skin.

“Do you want something to hold?” Patton asks, holding up his other hand and offering one of his beanie babies.

Virgil’s right hand darts out from under the blanket where it futilely yearns to tear apart his skin, and Patton’s own hand quickly draws back to let him do so. Virgil accepts the purple plushie in his hands and begins to quietly squish and knead at it, relishing in the soft fabric texture and the crunch of the beans in its tummy. The light weight helps him focus and ground himself just a bit more as he juggles the thing in his hands.

“Would you like to run through your breathing exercises?” Patton says, looking earnestly into Virgil’s eyes. The intensity in those wide brown eyes makes Virgil look away, down at the stuffed porcupine in his hands.

Virgil shakes his head mutely in response to Patton’s question. He thinks he has himself under control now. Kinda. Enough to collect his belongings and flee to his room when Patton breaks up with him, at least. Enough to walk out of the door with dignity even as his self-worth is in tatters. Enough to hold himself somewhat steady until he can escape and shatter in private.

“Okay,” Patton says, “okay. So how about you get dressed, and I’ll go make us some tea, and then we can talk a little bit?”

Virgil swallows thickly, but he nods nevertheless. Best to get the talk and the breakup over as soon as possible. If Patton draws this out then he may not be collected enough to make it back to his room after all.

“We’re not gonna talk about anything bad, I promise,” Patton soothes as he stands up. He stretches, his blue polo riding up to expose his soft belly. A light smile dances across his face. God, Virgil’s going to miss that smile being aimed towards him. He’s going to miss that soft belly, the perfect pillow to lie across on movie nights. He’s going to—he’s not going to think about it, because then he’s only going to break sooner.

“Now,” Patton says, “I’ll go make us that tea! You take as long as you need up here, and come on down to the kitchen when you’re ready to talk, yeah?” He pauses. “...Or would you rather us talk in here?”

Virgil doesn’t quite feel like he can speak yet, but he knows that he doesn’t want the other sides to see his shame too, so he sticks his dominant hand out of the blanket to unsteadily sign ‘here.’ His hand jabs downwards once, twice, shaky and barely able to hold its shape.

“Okay then!” Patton says pleasantly. “Change of plans. I’ll go down and make the tea, then I’ll pop back up here when it’s done and knock on the door. You just let me know whenever you’re ready to let me back in, okay?”

Virgil knows it’s irrational, but he feels so bad for just nodding at everything Patton says. He forces himself to croak an “’mmhkay” out from behind the block that seems to have descended into his throat. It sounds more like a grunt than it does an actual word, but Patton is the one to nod this time, so he must understand.

“All-righty!” Patton turns and heads over to the door. “I’ll see you in a bit, sweetheart!”

The door closes, and Virgil is alone.

Well. Not alone, not really.

After all, Patton is just outside the door, and he’s just going downstairs to the kitchen. Plus, the other sides are likely in their own rooms just a few walls away. Then of course there’s the looming cloud of panicked thoughts that hovers around his head. He could never be alone when those whispered lies and cognitive distortions are there, some twisted version of company.

Virgil forces himself to stand up. Clumsy and shaking like a newborn deer, his legs almost collapse out from under him again, but he manages to throw himself against the bed before he topples back down onto the ground.

As he leans heavily against the side of the bed, he casts his eyes about, looking for his shirt. He begins to squish even harder at the beanie baby when he can’t find it, until—wait, there. Slightly wadded up, at the corner of the bed, half-buried in some wrinkles in the comforter.

Virgil allows the weighted blanket to fall from his shoulders as he leans over to grasp his shirt in clammy hands. He grips it tightly and brings it to his chest, holding it in an awkward hug for a few moments before it occurs that he should probably be putting it back on and hiding his skin.

Slipping his arms through the sleeves, Virgil puts his familiar lilac shirt back on, grateful to have the soft fabric shield on his body once more. Still a bit cold, his arms cross over his torso and dip under the shirt to rub some warmth into him.

Virgil bites back a frustrated scream when, in rubbing his sides, one of his fingernails catches on a particularly bad scratch he’d made a day or two ago, back when he realized that he had to stop delaying the inevitable and ruin his and Patton’s relationship. His side feels sticky, and when he retracts his hand the tip is tinted red.

Staring down at his bloodied hand, Virgil can’t help but think back, back, back, to when he first began this weird...habit.

Which, he doesn’t even remember the beginning, not really. Not when it was so long ago.

Virgil isn’t exactly certain how long he’s done what he has. A long time, surely—since before he joined the light sides, perhaps before the dark sides and the light sides even split in the first place. All he really knows is the moment that he actively realized what he was doing.

(He’s in the shower, quiet, careful not to make a sound apart from the running water. Remus has been in a particular mood today, and Virgil’s not keen to draw the other side’s attention. Then he’s turning off the faucet, shivering, blindly reaching out from behind the slimy shower curtain, groping around for his towel.

Wrapping the fuzzy black towel tightly around himself, Virgil steps out of the shower. His left hand, laying on his collarbone and holding up his towel, feels a small bump there on his chest, and he scratches absent-mindedly with his pointer finger.

Normally he would slide on his clothes as quickly as possible and make a break for his room, but he can hear Remus and Janus out in the hallway, screeching at each other and, well. Can’t hurt to take a little extra time in the foggy realm of the bathroom.

Virgil has never much liked mirrors—they make the bags under his eyes much too apparent (he should really try something to hide those)—and seeing his own plain face glaring back at him isn’t too appealing. But as he waits for the others to leave, or at the very least calm down, he finds his finger tracing frowny faces and stormclouds through the clouded surface.

And then through the lines he’s drawn he spots small beads of red on his chest.)

A soft knock on the door interrupts Virgil’s thoughts.

“Virge?” Patton’s voice asks carefully through the wood. “I come bearing tea and treats!” He laughs quietly. “Just wanted to let you know, sweetheart. Let me in whenever you’re ready, mmkay?”

Virgil nods before realizing that Patton can’t see him. “O...okay,” he calls out, voice wavering.

Looking around the room, Virgil spots his precious jacket where it lays discarded on the back of Patton’s desk chair. He steels himself to stand up, and he walks over and grabs it with trembling hands, sliding it on. It’s a familiar weight as it hangs against his skin.

Virgil draws the sleeves over his hands, clutching the cuffs tightly in lieu of scratching at the phantom itching breaking out everywhere across his body. There’s always more of it the more he thinks about not scratching, and it’s always harder to resist when he’s actively thinking about it.

(He’s in the living room this time, with the light sides. They’re arguing and arguing and arguing and arguing and the conscious was supposed to be better than the subconscious he left behind, why isn’t it? His right wrist itches, so his left arm slips under the sleeve of his black hoodie to scratch at it. Then, as the voices crescendo louder and louder and louder around him, he shrinks in on himself and finds that he doesn’t want to stop.

He does it when everything is peaceful and calm, too. Once, after he’s finally been accepted, he’s in the living room again, this time sitting and reading on the couch, and Patton is ambling back and forth between there and the kitchen, and Logan is engrossed in some sort of documentary on his laptop, biting at his fingernails.

“Uh-uh!” he hears Patton say gently, and Virgil looks up to see Patton walking over to Logan, pulling the logical side’s hand out of his own mouth. “You know that’s a no-no, mister. No picking or biting at your nails.” And hearing that, Virgil freezes mid-scratch, hand on the back of his neck, and wait. Is that kind of stuff bad for you? Is that kind of stuff not normal?

He takes in Patton and Logan’s sleeveless arms, perhaps for the first time realizing just how clean and smooth their skin is, and oh, isn’t that great. Of course Anxiety is the one who’s fucked up. Of course Anxiety is the one doing not-normal things. Of course Anxiety is the one with scabs and scars and an urge to keep scratching, keep scratching, keep scratching.)

Virgil opens the door to Patton’s room.

Patton is sitting on the floor in the hallway, back to the opposing wall and tray of tea and animal crackers lying off to the side. He looks up when the door swings open, and a smile stretches across his face. “Hey there,” he croons, scrambling up onto his feet and picking up the tray. “Is it okay if I come in now?”

“Of—of course.” Virgil fidgets with the zipper of his jacket as he stumbles over his words. “I mean, it...it’s your room.”

Patton breezes by Virgil into the bedroom, setting the tray of tea and snacks down on his desk before grabbing a mug—his favorite frog one, the one Virgil gave him, actually—and Virgil can’t help but wonder if the mug will be going in the trash as their relationship does.

Virgil freezes in the doorway, hand on the doorknob. Should he close the door? Leave it open? Just freaking run for it?

Patton seems to notice his hesitation. “You can close the door if you want,” he offers, “or leave it open if you’d rather. Whatever you want to do.”

Nodding, Virgil slowly closes the door before he turns to fully face Patton once more. He stands just in front of the door, uncomfortable, looking about the room at anything but the moral side, trying to figure out where to stand or sit.

“Would you like to sit on the bed, honey?” Patton gestures at it.

Virgil is shaking his head almost violently almost before the question even registers in his mind.

“That’s okay,” Patton says. He carefully pads over to Virgil, tea in one hand, and presses the other lightly into the small of Virgil’s back, gently guiding him to the desk chair. “Why don’t you sit here? That way you can be closest to the snacks! And I’ll just sit over on the bed.”

Virgil allows Patton to seat him and push a mug into his hands. He adjusts his position so that he can lean forward onto the back of the chair, clutching the warm mug tightly with both hands. The tea burns his tongue when he sips at it, but the burning almost feels nice in comparison to the numbness beginning to settle over his body and mind, so he keeps drinking anyways as Patton gets himself comfortable in a mountain of blankets and stuffed animals.

“All right, then.” Patton appears to have gotten himself settled on the bed. He looks Virgil in the eye for all of two seconds before Virgil is ducking his head, setting his gaze fixedly at the floorboards.

“Okay, I’m sure that I already know the answer to this question, but I want to double check just to be safe.” Patton’s voice is subdued, barely reaching Virgil’s hearing where he huddles on the other side of the room. “Did one of the other sides do that to you?”

“Wh-what?” Virgil looks up, startled. “No, no! Of, of course not. They—they wouldn’t—not even Remus—”

“I know, Virgil, I know,” Patton reassures him. “I don’t think they would do anything like that, either. I just wanted to make sure.” He pauses, looking at Virgil’s face like he’s searching for something. Virgil wonders what. “So...you did it to yourself then?”

“I—” The words catch in Virgil’s throat again. He nods wordlessly.

“I promise I’m not judging you for it, sweetheart,” Patton says, his tone sincere yet serious. “And I don’t—I’m no Logan, I’m not that smart, so I don’t know the best way to deal with this, I don’t even know if there’s a name for it, but—”

“Dermatil—” Virgil’s voice cracks. He clears his throat awkwardly. “It’s called dermatillomania. It, um. It’s just a fancy name for skin-picking, I guess? When it’s, uh, compulsive. And you...you can’t stop.”

(He’s holed up in his room, layered up in a long-sleeved shirt and then a sweater and then his jacket, and it’s so hot underneath his blankets and the layers aren’t even discouraging him from picking. His left hand is shoved up under his shirt, scratching at his back. His tired eyes are staring down at the tiny phone screen, where a Psychology Today article stares back up at him, blue and daunting, the white blocky letters accusing.)

“Oh.” Patton chuckles lightly. “Der-ma-till-o-mania,” he sounds out. “That’s quite the mouthful, huh.” He pauses, sipping lightly at his tea. “Is...is that why you’ve been so hesitant over getting intimate?”

“...Y-yeah,” Virgil says. He takes a large gulp of tea to distract himself from what he knows Patton’s next words will be. He’s certain—oh so achingly certain—that Patton is about to end things between them, or at the least tell him that maybe they shouldn’t get intimate after all. It’s easier to pretend the burning in his eyes and the back of his throat is from too-hot tea.

“Hey.”

Virgil looks up, because Patton’s voice sounds louder now, and oh. He cranes his head up to see Patton standing directly in front of him. When did he get so close?

“Can I touch you?” Patton asks quietly. “Or—”

“No, no, yeah, you can,” Virgil hastily rushes out. “I—uh. It’s actually kinda. Kinda nice when you do.” The hand that isn’t holding his tea reaches up to scratch at his scalp, but its path is interrupted when Patton grasps it loosely in one of his own hands. “It, um. I’m not, like, contagious or anything, so.”

Patton tugs Virgil’s hand with his to rest on his chest, and he can feel the steadily-beating heart underneath Patton’s skin. Patton’s clean, unpicked skin.

“I won’t stop touching you just because you have scabs,” Patton reassures. “I’m still gonna ask before I do, of course, but I wouldn’t stop holding your hand or kissing you or anything over this unless you asked me to. And I wouldn’t...I wouldn’t not want to do other things just because of this, either.”

Patton brings his other hand up to Virgil’s chin, tenderly tilting his head up and looking him in the eye, and Virgil is barely breathing as he gets lost in Patton’s warm brown eyes.

“It doesn’t matter whether you have dermatillomania or not, okay, honey?” Patton says. “Scabs, scratches, and scars are nothing to be ashamed of. Needing help is nothing to be afraid of.”

Patton leans in close, slow and steady, and Virgil knows he can back out at any second. But he doesn’t particularly want to. So he sits stock-still in the chair as Patton presses a soft kiss to his lips before backing up just a hair.

“Virgil. Sweetie. I still love you. I love you so, so much, and I’m so proud of you for trusting me with this.” Patton’s breath puffs out against the corner of Virgil’s mouth as he speaks. “I’m not any less attracted to you because of this.”

Well, shit. Virgil can’t exactly blame the tea on the tears brimming in his eyes now.

“Oh, sweetheart,” Patton breathes. Then he’s taking the mug out of Virgil’s trembling hand, setting it on the desk behind Virgil, and he’s enclosing Virgil protectively in his arms.

And then Virgil is sobbing, and he’s not sure that he can stop.

(He’s curled up, alone in his bed. And the tears won’t stop coming and his hands won’t stop scratching because as much as he loves Patton, Patton will never love him like this. No one will. He can’t possibly ask Patton out, can’t possibly confess to him, because laying that secret bare eventually will lead to other secrets that he doesn’t think he’ll ever be ready to let go of.)

Virgil lets go.

At some point Patton gently manhandles him out of the swivel chair, and they end up sprawled on the bed, buried under a mountain of bedsheets. Virgil’s hands clench and unclench at the front of Patton’s collared shirt, and a voice in the back of his head wonders how Patton isn’t annoyed by it, but it’s better than taking his hands to his own skin, and Patton isn’t commenting on it, so.

Eventually the tears slow down, and Patton lays the two of them properly out on the bed.

“I want to help you through this,” Patton murmurs into Virgil’s hair, swiping and blotting at some of the few remaining tears littered across Virgil’s face. “If you’ll have me, that is.”

“I—of course I’d have you,” Virgil says, too exhausted to sound as astounded as he feels. “I thought you’d be the one who wouldn’t want me.”

“Oh, no, sweetie, of course I want you,” Patton promises. He begins to run his hand through Virgil’s hair, and Virgil melts at the sensation. “You aren’t lesser just because you struggle with something like this, just like how you aren’t lesser for struggling with anxiety sometimes.” He pauses for a moment, thinking, and the only sound is their breathing, slow and in time with each other.

“I have...an idea,” Patton proposes.

“Mm?” Virgil sleepily tilts his head back to look at Patton’s thoughtful face.

“When I’m with you, maybe I could hold your hand whenever I notice you starting to pick at yourself,” Patton suggests. “And you can always seek me out if you’re feeling the urge, and maybe I can distract you from it.”

“Sure, sure, okay,” Virgil mumbles. “But don’t...don’t expect it to work. Definitely not at first, at least. I’ve tried to stop before, but I always seem to keep doing it no matter what I try.”

(He tries holding objects in his hands instead, but Roman yells at him for borrowing Mrs. Fluffybottom, and Logan looks at him oddly when he tries to ask to borrow one of his stim toys. He even tries borrowing gloves from Janus once, but it’s too hot and his hands are too sweaty and the fabric chafes uncomfortably against his skin.)

“It’s okay if it doesn’t work at first, even if it doesn’t work at all. But I’m happy to help you try,” Patton hums. The rumble of the words in his chest comforts Virgil, and he relaxes even more.

“And if you’re comfy with it, maybe we can ask Logan for some help,” Patton continues. “He might be able to offer some advice. He used to bite at his fingernails a lot, you know, so he might have some suggestions on how to stop things like that.”

“Okay,” Virgil whispers. “Yeah, okay.”

“And you know I’ll always wait for you. We’ll take everything at your pace. That’s always your right in whatever relationships you’re in, honey.” Patton laughs quietly. “And when I say everything, I mean everything,” Patton stresses. “Be it—be it touching, or stopping you from picking, or, um, bedroom activities, or whatever. Okay?”

Virgil nods, wondering in the back of his mind how it’s possible for Patton to be so amazing. And maybe...maybe he’s a little bit amazing himself. If...if Patton believes so, then...maybe. And even if not right now, maybe someday.

“This can get better,” Patton promises. He pulls the covers more snugly over the two of them, settling them in for the apparent impromptu nap they seem to be falling towards. “This is okay. We’ll be okay. You’ll be okay.”

And Virgil believes him.

He lays there in bed, and he knows things can’t possibly be perfect, but if Patton believes things can be okay, that’s enough for the moment. He lays there in Patton’s arms, and he knows that at least he has his boyfriend by his side for whatever happens. He lays there, toeing the line between wakefulness and slumber, and maybe, just maybe, things will get better, like Patton says. Maybe Patton’s right when he says Virgil can get better.

Virgil believes him.

Fin

*

Title taken from Better by SYML :) Also, this is dedicated to a friend of mine who struggles with dermatillomania! If any of y’all have issues with stuff like this, know that I see you, and even as I see you, spotty skin and all, you are amazing and beautiful and handsome and pretty and gorgeous and e v e r y t h i n g that is awesome.

Want to be added onto any of my taglists? Shoot me an ask or a message here or via my other social media!

[lesdsandoval97]

Hey! So I decided to man up and finally write my first fan fiction. I always love to read fan fictions on Tumblr, Deviant art, & Wattpad. I read a lot of the Haikyuuxreader fan fics. People are so creative & I became inspired.

Please do not judge, I wrote this today at 4 in the morning & it may not be perfect. It is a bit long and cheesy.

By the way, when you get the chance, this story is also on my wattpad. I do plan to continue more fan fictions!

Hopefully you guys enjoy! 💕

*Suga & yourself are married in this story* ❤️

Sorry if this isn't the best, this is my first fanfic story I have ever written. I love Suga by the way! Haha. I am also writing this at 4 a.m. I all of a sudden woke up & decided to write! LOL.

Suga and yourself had made plans with your friends to go to a Halloween party hosted by Mr. Okiawa himself. Suga seemed to be excited when you both got the invitation. You remember him coming home from work and him showing you the message from Oikawa. He was so excited that it made you want to hug him so hard and give him thousands of kisses because he looked so darn adorable. That same night, you both stayed up looking up ideas for Halloween costumes.

"Y/N, what should we dress up as for Halloween? Should we buy couple costumes, or will you like to dress up as something specific?" Suga said while staring at his laptop. You responded with, "Honey, it's kind of late and we both have work tomorrow morning. Why not just come to bed and we can talk about the costumes tomorrow?" With your response, you saw Suga's little gleaming eyes a little dull. With that look, you felt bad and ended up staying up with him looking up costumes. You guys were looking at so many that you guys didn't know what to dress up as. You both did not go to sleep till 1 a.m. that night.

The next day, you both woke up with little eye bags under your eyes. You were dead tired but Suga had made coffee for you to give you some energy. He apologized to you for making you stay up late and especially for not being able to choose a costume. You told him, "Babe, don't stress out, we still have another 3 weeks to choose. Plus why won't we just go to the a costume store and try costumes on? It can be a little date for you and I. We can go grab something to eat while we look for costumes?" Suga loved your idea and you both agreed on going Friday afternoon since you both were out early that day.

*Time skip to Friday*

Suga was waiting for you to get back home. He was out earlier than expected. When you finally arrived home, it was 3 in the afternoon. He was so excited to go, you ended up going as is in your work clothes. He kept telling you that you looked gorgeous as always. You guys first went to go grab some burgers and fries at a burger joint because he knew you will be hungry. Then you guys went to the costume store. There, you guys ran into Hinata, Kenma, Yamaguchi, & Kageyama. The six of you were talking for a little bit before resuming to finding a costume. You asked the boys what they will be dressing up as so you and Suga can get an idea.

Hinata decided to dress up as a carrot, Kageyama, with the help of Hinata, is dressing up as a vampire. Kenma is dressing up as a character from Among us, & Yams was dressing up as a butler. You thought their costumes were the cutest. The boys ended up leaving & now it was time for you & Suga look for your costumes. You were walking around & saw a PB & J costume. You called Suga & asked if you guys can try them on. He was a bit iffy, but saw your excitement & agreed. You both got out of the dressing rooms & looked into the mirror. You began bursting in tears of laughter on how funny but adorable you two looked. Suga was not a fan, but he did ask if you wanted the costume. "Y/N, if you like this costume then let's buy them." You responded with, "Suga, that look in your face is telling me you don't like this costume. Let's look for another one." You gave him a smile, and asked him to at least take a mirror picture in them.

You guys resumed & tried on another 3 costumes. You guys tried on shark costumes, pig costumes, & Pokémon costumes. Suga was Ash & you dressed up as Pikachu. He was not a fan of any but you at least got mirror selfie's. You asked him, "Suga, so is there any idea of a certain costume you like?" You were beginning to become annoyed but tried your best not to bring the mood down. He said, "I really like classic costumes. Maybe like something in the 20's or 50's. Or a costume of a classic movie like Mary Poppins or the Wizard of Oz." From there, your brain clicked and you guys went to look for 20's costumes. All the costumes there at the store seemed in cheap quality & were a bit pricey. So you guys grabbed some accessories like, gloves for you, a cute black laced with black jewels head piece, a hat for him, fake cigs, & some other stuff.

From there, you guys left to a thrift store & bought a dress for you. You told him if you can call Asahi if he can fix up some costumes for you two. (You know, since Asahi is a fashion designer after all. LOL) He agreed & you guys waited for Asahi to show up to the thrift store. Asahi liked the dress you got & had instantly thought of an idea. For Suga, you guys went to another store, bought a white dress shirt, a black vest, & a burgundy & black suit. He also bought a black bow tie & vintage dress shoes. Thanks to Asahi for coming along, you guys finally had your outfits ready!

*Time skip to a week & a half later"

Asahi took about a week & a half to get your dress ready. He ended up taking the dress to your house. Suga offered to pay but he insisted not to pay him. Instead, he asked if you can make him some of your delicious rice balls, & you agreed. Asahi had both of you try on your costumes. When you guys did, Suga was so happy, you couldn't help but smile at his excitement. Asahi said, "you two look so nice! You guys will have eyes all over you."

*Time skip to the day of Halloween party*

"Y/N, are you ready?! It's almost time to go!!" Suga yelled from downstairs. You were rushing to finish up your makeup. Suga was very patient with you, but when the man had somewhere to go, he liked to be a little punctual. Plus, you knew how excited he was. You giggled and responded with, "Yes Suga, I just need to put on my lashes, my necklace, heels, & perfume." When he heard you say that, he rushed upstairs and says, "let me help you." You put on your lashes and he helped you put on your necklace. He looks at you from the mirror and goes, "you're very beautiful Mrs. Sugawara." You couldn't help but blush. He then gave you a sweet but soft kiss on your neck. He helped you put on your heels, you helped him put on his bow tie then you guys took a couple selfies & mirrored selfies.

Suga went to get the car ready while you packed your necessities in your purse. You had a cute burgundy with gold clutch for your costume but also you packed a regular sized purse with necessities just in case. Before you stepped out the house, he asked if you had everything ready. You smiled and nodded and he opened the car door for you.

You guys finally arrive to Oikawa's house. You guys saw about 30 cars parked outside. You mentioned to Suga, "man, Oikawa is super popular." Suga parked a little far from Oikawa's house. He was a little bummed because you guys arrived about an hour & a half late. He wanted to get good parking so you wouldn't have to walk far. He opened the door for you & he held your hand as you guys walked to the Halloween party. As you guys walked in, Oikawa greeted you both with hugs, & told you two how amazing you looked. He had a photographer at the door. You guys posed & the photographer gave your guys a copy of the picture in a Polaroid.

Suga & yourself were complimented almost the whole night. You guys ate, had a couple of drinks, (well mainly you because Suga was your D.D.), & you guys danced your butts off. You guys also ended up winning, "Best Halloween costume" and won a cute trophy & a $50 gift card for a famous restaurant.

Once you guys got home, Suga helped you take off your makeup, your outfit, & slipped you into your nightgown. Suga put the trophy & couple Polaroids you guys had on your nightstand. He Princess carried you into bed, & laid down next to you holding you close. He said, "Thank you beautiful for a fun night. You really looked amazing. Sorry I was a bit difficult when we were costume shopping. I still can't believe we won the contest! I love you, Ms. Sugawara." He then gave you a kiss on the forehead & fell asleep holding you.

[ghost-nabbers-imagines]

Carnival Date Larry x fem reader

Him and Sal came up for the idea while in town together.

Lisa and you were at the apartments and she sent Larry into town to look for a part.

The two discussed the idea over lunch

"So you said you wanted my advice on something?"

"Oh yeah! So dude my 1 year anniversary with (Y/n) is coming up and I want to do something special but I've never been good at that romantic shit. I thought maybe I'd take her to a nice restaurant but that's so cliche."

"Did (Y/n) say she wanted to do anything specific? Maybe just ask her?"

"I would but I know exactly what she'll say. She'll tell me we should spend it in our pjs cuddled up in my bed watching a movie or playing games."

"Ha she really is perfect for you huh?"

"Exactly she's perfect dude! And we do that most weekends we hang out. I want to do something special for her because of how amazing she is to me. I mean do you know what shes doing today?"

"What's that man?"

"She's helping mom clean up Charlie's old apartment. I guess Mr. Addison wants to get it cleaned up for new tenants. When mom and I were in there this morning and she realized she'd need the parts from the hardware store (y/n) volunteered to help her."

"She is really nice. Plus she seems to make you a lot happier."

They finished their quick meal still unsure of what to do leaving Larry a tiny bit frustrated.

Despite a few decent ideas between the two they weren't able to come up with anything that he felt was good enough for his girl.

When the two were checking out at the local hardware store Larry noticed a particularly colorful flyer in the window.

"Hey Mr. Wilks is that carnival flyer new?"

"Oh yeah some of those carny folk came by and hung that up just yesterday. They also gave me some to hand out if you'd like."

The colorful flyer made a brilliant idea pop into his head.

"Sure man I'll take one."

"Sweet a carnival would be fun."

"What if that's what if I took (Y/n) there for our anniversary?"

Sal nod happily seeing the brilliance in the idea also considering asking Travis.

Grabbing both the flyer and the bags the boys left the hardware store picking up some lunch for the girls before heading back go the apartments.

Two weeks had passed and if was the Saturday of Larry's and (y/n)'s year anniversary.

Larry had saved up some money for the last two weeks.

He did anything and everything to earn even a little money.

Mow lawns? Yep

Run errands for older residents? Definitely

Stand out on streets and sketch people? Every Friday.

Selling his supply of pot? You bet.

You would join him for dinner thinking that was all that was planned.

Lisa had helped him prepare a really nice meal.

Despite it being like your millionth date together he was still nervous redoing his hair at least ten times

When he opened the door to you, you were dressed so beautifully he felt his actual jaw drop.

"Woah you look fucking amazing love!"

Ash had helped you pick out an outfit of a black cami tank top, a high waisted purple plaid skirt that went slightly above your knees, knee high tights with ribbons on the knees, and of course your black converse. I

ts moments like these that made Larry realise how much of a goddess you truly are.

"I'm a lucky bastard."

You giggled with a blush before standing on your toes to kiss him on the cheek.

"You look amazing too Larry." You beamed.

Larry was dressed in a dark red button up and his ripped black jeans. I gently grabbed her hand leading her to the table that was nicely set with everything all out and warm.

With the wonderful smell and how beautiful the Johnson dinner table looked you smiled turning around and wrapping you arms around Larry.

"Oh Larry this is so nice!"

He hugged you back but let out a small chuckle.

The two of you took your seats and began eating.

"This is just dinner babe the real fun comes later tonight." He winked giving you a quick kiss on the lips in between taking bites.

You blushed letting out that adorable laugh that Larry loved.

"I figured Lar it's not one of our dates without something happening in the bedroom."

He quickly realized you had thought that he was making one of his pervy jokes.

"Wait no no no! We're going somewhere after this. And it's not a sex thing."

This made you perk your head up confused and interested.

You smiled playfully pushing his arm.

"Are we gonna go see a movie? I didnt think the theater was showing anything you'd like."

"Nope and I'm not telling you so eat." He chuckled making you fake pout your lips.

Once the food was finished he grabbed his wallet and keys as well as a black sanitys fall jacket in case you got cold.

The whole car ride he teased you about where you were going.

"Please just tell me Lar!" You pleaded with a giggle.

"Nope. Sorry love you'll just have to wait and see." He chuckled.

Soon enough he pulled into the parking lot turning to face you once he shut off the engine.

Your eyes were already huge and filled with excitement.

"You're taking me to the carnival?!"

"Yep Sal and I found the flyer in town and thought it would be perfect." He said with a nervous laugh.

He was really hoping this idea would be special enough for you.

"Larry that's so cool! Thank you!" You cheered leaning over and hugging him tightly.

He hugged you back letting out a relieved sigh, so good so far.

Once the two of you got your wristbands you decided to head to the games section first.

You both played a few of the games together having a bit of a friendly competition.

At the last booth there was a Teddy Bear with a little plastic guitar.

As soon as Larry Saw it he knew it had to be yours.

Since it was a basket ball game it didnt take Larry too long to figure out out.

Sure enough after like 6 tries the small bear was yours.

He turned around handing it to you proudly

Of course you responded by hugging him tightly and kissing him on the lips.

The first ride you both rode was a roller coaster, Larry's favorite.

He made sure to hold onto you tightly whether you needed it or not.

The next ride was the tunnel of love they had set up.

AS you can imagine Larry got quite handsy making out with you the whole time.

The last ride was of course the ferris wheel and Larry had timed it perfectly that you were on the ferris wheel at sunset.

The first thing he did was take out his phone and take a photo of the love of his life followed by a selfie of both of you.

The next thing he did as the temperature had dropped quite a bit was wrap his jacket around your shoulders.

"You always look so hot in my clothes."

He smiled leaning down and kissing you softly.

When you two pulled apart you laid your head against him and he wrapped an arm around you.

"This has been so perfect Lar thank you so much."

"Honeslty love I should be thanking you. Everything is perfect with you by my side. Ever since you and I met my lofe has been so much brighter, happier, and all around better. It's like before you came around I was wondering around in one of my drawings. Life was flat, black and white, and sometimes pretty scary. Then I met you, and all of a sudden my life was colored in and beautiful. You're like the Sunshine breaking through the grey storm clouds. I was gonna buy you something nice but my mom suggested this instead. It was what my dad gave to her on their 1st anniversary. I replaced the chain but basically when he gave it to her he said that she was his sun because his world would be incomplete without her. And I think that's so accurate for how alone I'd go back to being without you."

He held out a box with a beautiful necklace with a sun pendant.

You pulled out your own gift for him but it was in an envelope.

"I figured you would be so concerned about doing something special for me that you would forget these just went on sale."

"Holy shit! Holy shit!"

With a perked eyebrow he took the envelope opening it up carefully to reveal three Sanitys Fall tickets.

"It's for their show in a couple months. And theres a ticket for all three of us."

Lardy didn't hesitate to hug you tighter than ever before

"Holy shit I love you! I love you so much!"

You giggled hugging him back.

When you pulled apart he helped you get the necklace on and you couldn't help but admire it.

As you two were walking out to his car that night he lifted you up on his back the whole way.

On the car ride home you ended up briefly falling asleep making him admire you as much as possible without wrecking.

"I'm so gonna marry you some day love."

[kaibutsushidousha]

Artbook Data - Writer Team Interview

I really saved the best for last with this one. This interview was a wild ride, with at least two big pieces of fandom common knowledge being proven wrong.

Interviewees:

Yoshinori Terasawa: The producer for the Danganronpa series. Tasked with the challange of organizing this ragtag band of weirdoes while fighting schedule and budget. This time his title on the credits changed.

Kazutaka Kodaka: The writer, and one of the series’ creators. He created this game in paralell with writing scripts for the anime. Also experienced in writing novels and manga.

Takayuki Sugawara: Involved with the series’ development since the first game. For V3, aside from giving the order for the game to happen and offering many ideas, he also wrote all the secret lie routes for the Class Trial.

Shun Sasaki: This game’s director. Kodaka’s right-hand man, with the important role of transmitting Kodaka’s thoughts to the staff. The many bonus modes were all made at Sasaki’s idea. 

The inital theme was going to be Psychoamerican, with the game being set on a desert!?

Interviewer: It has been a month since the game was released (interview recorded in February 23, 2017), so how much have your thoughts changed since the game’s release?

Kazutaka Kodaka: Not much.

I: Then it must mean everything, including the fan reactions, was just as expected.

KK: Yeah. I was wishing for an unexpected reaction, but everything went just as expected, for better or for worse.

I: How about you, Terasawa?

YT: Kodaka says “just as expected”, but I was thinking the game would be a little bit more well received. You know, when I look at the timeline, I see more critical opinions than I imagined I would.

I: That said, I’m getting the impression that we’re getting more and more positive reviews, compared to how it was immediately after launch.

YT: We’re feeling this too. I’m very thankful that one month after launch, the positive opinion have been getting gradually more vocal.

I: How about you, Sasaki?

SS: Same as Kodaka, no big changes. I'm just still stunned that it’s over.

TS: I’m the opposite of Sasaki. We’ve always finished Danganronpa on the edge of the deadline, but this one we were REALLY improving everywhere we could until the very last second. I feel like the production is still not over even now. Maybe we’re all lying when we said we made it in time (laughs).

I: Was V3 really this hard? When did the project start?

KK: It was late into Ultra Despair Girls’ production. Sugawara called me about a new project and ...

I: So it was Sugawara, not Terasawa.

KK: For some reason, he never calls me directly. Always has someone relaying his message to me. Then me and Sugawara started coming up with some content and wrote the project pitch. It was completely different from what’s now.

YT: It was going to be set in a desert.

I: A desert!? Do deserts have schools?

KK: The design theme at the time was Psychoamerican, so we thought it should be in a desert.

YT: If I recall right, it was going to be a desert where a Future Foundation was stranded...

KK: And so we made the project pitch with loads of American-ish stuff, like Vegas neon lights. I can’t remember much of the details.

YT: But even back then, Kodaka already had the game’s direction and that ending in mind.

I: So the ending idea stayed the same through the how development cycle. Was it Terasawa or Sugawara who asked you to make the V3 project?

KK: It was more the company itself than Terasawa. 

YT: Yeah. I was the one who directly asked for it, but the very company was pointing out that it was about time for a new number Danganronpa sequel. At the time, the DR:AE development cycle was approaching its climax, so everyone was at the mood of “What are making next?” and the next cycle started very naturally.

I: I see. Then, was moving away from the Kibougamine series also decide from the beginning?

KK: Yes. No one ever considered continuing the Kibougamine series with V3.

TS: The Future Foundation ship I mentioned earlier would be set up as the ship from the DR2 ending for a twist of “haha, it was a different ship all along”. It was a red herring planned to draw the fans’ interest. 

I: And why did you change settings?

KK: We all know DR1 and 2 follow each other chronologically as the Kibougamine series, but at first I never said they did. When I say from the start that it’s a sequel, the fans start expecting characters from the previous games. But personally I’m not a fan of having a previous survivor in the killing game, having to experience the murders, investigations and Class Trials all over again. I thought that when I made the next numbered title I should reboot the setting and characters.

I: Let me get this right, all you had defined back at the project pitch stage was doing a reboot and the story’s ending. Yes?

TS: Yeah. We didn’t have a concrete idea of how we would present the ending, but it we were settled on the direction that it was something that would make the player part of the plot. 

I: And how exactly did lies, one of the game’s main themes, entered the stage?

TS: We had decided from the start that we would have the lie mechanic. Lying was actually a gimmick I came up with for DR2 and I really wanted the chance to include it for real in a next game.

I: Any other elements decided from the start?

KK: I think we decided the true meaning of “V3” in our first discussion. Did we? I vaguely recall we see saying it would be clever if V3 actually meant 53.

I: I agree, I was impressed when I played it!

KK: It’s just the part that the first game were also fictional in-universe and that V3 was the 53rd Danganronpa game that we came up with later. At the time we just though of the initial clever curveball. This was back before we had the idea to make the DR3 anime. We went with the name V3 just for this joke, then later we thought “If this is DRV3, the anime should be DR3”.

I: The game was decided first, huh. And how exactly did the “New” and the “Everyone’s Killing Game New Semester” came about?

KK: When we had to present the game for the Sony Press Conference (September 15th, 2015), we thought we should add something before the title, like the Super in Super Danganronpa 2. So we went with “New”.

YT: But for the first logo we wrote “NEW” in English letters.

I: And you already had the subtitle back then.

KK: The subtitle was also put together on a rush for the Sony Press Conference. We basically just added the “Everyone’s” there because the ending was pretty much completely planned at that point.

YT: We need to have these big presentations like the Sony Press Conference, because otherwise we never settle on a title (pained laughter).

The design theme changes to Psychocool! The production finally starts for real.

I: Now I have several questions about the contents of the game. We know you have the decided on the title, then presented the game under the final design theme of “Psychocool”. For what reason did you decide against the “Psychoamerican” theme?

KK: To be honest with you, Psychoamerican was never a design theme I was really serious about...

TS: We just needed something to pitch a project with.

YT: Every good project pitch has a few bluffs on it. 

KK: At the time I was busy with Ultra Despair Girls, so I decided to leave the theme decisions for later. But after watching Sugawara’s presentation at the project meeting, I may have regretted neglecting the subject (pained laughter).

TS: That’s because my project file on the meeting as a blank piece of paper (laughs).

I: (laughs) Suguwara, did you really explain the entire project with a blank paper?

TS: No, each page had a head title. “Scrum Debate” was one, for example. And did the explanations with just that. Judging by the participants’ reaction, the overall tone of the meeting was “What the heck is going on here...?” (pained laughter).

I: And after all these hardships, you settled on the Psychocool theme. What was the deciding factor here?

KK: We started putting some actual thought into it, notice how hard it would be to deal with a desert setting, and decided the American part wouldn’t work. At the time I was considering given a more adult image to it, so we decided on Psychostylish. But we didn’t go very far with this theme, did we?

SS: I don’t think we did.

KK: So, the players who experienced DR1′s Psychopop in their teens grew into adulthood with DR2′s Psychotropical, and now cooled down after their growth... That’s why V3′s theme became Psychocool.

I: So it had a more mature image.

YT: But us changing themes 2 or 3 times before made things hell for the graphics team, since we wouldn’t settle on a direction already.

SS: Because before we decided on the Psychocool theme, the designers had already started working with no design concept. Kodaka already some ideas in mind for a ruined school with growing vegetation and some machines in it, but without any concrete direction, they had to redo their work multiple times.

I: I’ll ask about the design concept in more detail in the designer team interview. The next question is about the story. Is “what could be a lie” something you think about in the earlier plot planning stages?

KK: Include some lie elements back in the plot planning, but there’s nothing that was always meant to be interpreted as a lie. It all started in a project meeting where Sugawara said “I want to use lies”, but without any concrete idea of would that be implemented into gameplay. Later, when I started planning the plot, I was looking back at the project file and the discussion notes, scavenging for content I could use and found that I could use lies to fill the gaps in my plot. And so was born my liar character, Kokichi Ouma.

I: Usually the characters make the plot, but sometimes the plot can make a character.

KK: They are just robots instead of characters, but the same goes for the Exisals. They came from a joke idea told in the project meeting.

TS: We mentioned the Exisal as a mascot replacement for Monokuma. “Next mascot should be a monkey” (laughs).

KK: But not having Monokuma as the mascot feels wrong to me. Yeah, we were rebooting the characters and the setting, but I think changing too much does more harm than good, so I decided to keep Monokuma as the mascot without a second thought.

I: About what you just mentioned about Ouma, did you create all the characters as you were planning the plot?

KK: Yes. I thought 16 was the perfect number of students, as it was in DR2. Before I had any plot, I asked Komatsuzaki for some designs based on his impressions. I was planning the plot as I was receiving the designs and came up with the details along the way, I think.

I: At what point did you decide on the dual protagonist scheme with Kaede Akamatsu and Shuuichi Saihara?

KK: I can’t remember when exactly I decided that it was doable, but I’ve been wanting to do it from very early on. I was thinking that if I could do it, it would make for an awesome chapter 1.

I: The Ikebukuro Namjatown had a poll to guess who would survive. Harukawa was first, Saihara was second and Akamatsu was third, so I thought the fans saw it coming.

KK: I was also weirded out by how high Saihara was, but then I heard about the unfortunate hatless Saihara sprite visible in the PV. Since the ahoge is the symbol of the Danganronpa protagonist, I’m pretty sure this spoiled the twist.

YT: You didn’t notice it when the PV came out?

KK: I didn’t. Sasaki told me about it later and I was like “Oh no, really...?” (laughs).

YT: I see, because it very early on in the video.

SS: It was. What a shame...

KK: That said, a lot of characters were predicted wrong. Our survivor Himiko Yumeno got the very last place.

YT: She reestablished balance.

I: Yeah. Just look at our presented protagonist Akamatsu. While there were a lot of people thinking she was safe because she’s the protagonist, there were also a lot suspecting even the protagonist could die.

KK: I think the majority was predicting Akamatsu would die. But I think that as they watched the PVs and play the demo, a lot of them noticed how we made all the Class Trial assets for her and started thinking “Yeah, of course she wouldn’t die”. At very least, I think not many people predicted she would be executed as the culprit in the Class Trial.

This is how the 16 students watching the new Class Trial were born

I: In this interview for Danganronpa 2, you mentioned that Fuyuhiko Kuzuryuu was supposed to die along the way, but as you were finishing your plot he became a survivor. Did V3 also have a character like Kuzuryuu?

SS: I’m pretty sure no character was changed. Though I vaguely recall we changing the order in which they died as the murder tricks demanded.

TS: When Kodaka was thinking of the murder trick for chapter 1, he asked me “What SHSL should we kill off?”. I answered “Killing the detective would be a shocker”.

KK: For context, I wasn’t too sure if it was ok for Saihara to be the Super High School Level Detective. Because Detective Saihara would mean a protagonist title ripping off Kyouko Kirigiri’s. But I ultimately accepted the idea of him being a detective.

I: I see. So this didn’t have any big changes like DR2 had. Was there any student talent or character trait that you decided on based on their murder tricks?

KK: I always plan the characters and the tricks at the same time. And this time I planned part of the tricks along with Kitayama. Whenever we discussed, I just told him “This is the culprit, this is the victim and this is the type of case I want” and he would come up with the details for me. Otherwise none of us would know what to do with his murder tricks.

I: If any other character had their characterization changed along the way, like you said Ouma did, tell us about it.

KK: I changed Harukawa’s title after seeing the finished desing. I kept her title as Super High School Level Child Caregiver, but made her actually an assassin.

SS: I remember you going with Bounty Hunter Harukawa before you changed it to Assassin.

KK: You’re right. She looked so out of the ordinary in that illustration that I thought she would work out as assassin and changed it, if I recall right. I tend to change my plot points a lot, so that’s why it’s always better to do all part of my work at the same time.

I: Is Kodaka always this nonchalant when talking about major plot changes?

SS: Yeah, he just comes out of nowhere and “I made Harukawa an assassin”.

TS: The script still wasn’t finished at the time, so even I didn’t know the reason for the change, I could say is “Really?” (laughs).

SS: Though I like her a little better as an assassin than as a bounty hunter.

I: Yeah, that’s not a situation where you can say “no” for no reason (pained laughter). By the way, Ouma and Harukawa are super popular. Did you expect them to this many fans?

KK: Sure, Harukawa got a lot of attention on the first teaser visual, and she’s a tsundere character very easy to understand, so I thought she would be popular. And Ouma is remarkably “Danganronpa”. When he is doing so much work to get things his way and getting many big scenes in the process, it’s no surprise he would get popular.

I: I think Kaito Momota got even more big scenes than he did. Not to mention his story role was pretty important.

KK: Momota was a character I was much more unoptimistically hoping to be popular. Because in the previous games I never had any characters as super friendly as him and Gonta Gokuhara. When I was writing the script, Sugawara or Sasaki told “This cast is our tightest group of friends so far”. Now that I think about it, I guess this strongly influenced my decision to put Momota as the leader. Byakuya Togami from DR1 would be constantly on the edge if he was there.

I: He sure would (laughs). Opposite question now, what character did you think was less popular than you thought they would be?

YT: Less than expected? I guess Ryouma Hoshi? Just my personal opinion though, I understand it’s because he died too soon.

KK: A lot of people I know love Hoshi. 

TS: I know lot of Hoshi fans too.

KK: To me, the most unexpectedly unpopular character was Korekiyo Shinguuji, not Hoshi. I mean, his uniform is awesome and his unstable relationship with his sister feels like a classic underground movie. Shinguuji is one of my personal favorites and I thought he would be popular. But the people playing the game called him “gross” (pained laughter).

I: Shinguuji, one-of-a-kind as he is, he’s really not for everyone.

KK: Meh, whatever, I don’t wriite characters trying to make them popular. Be it for Momota or for Shinguuji, I was thinking I would personally love if they became popular but that was not the goal. In fact, the only character I wrote with the popularity polls in mind was Miu Iruma, and the goal there was to get her the last place! I think this gave her strong character quirks, not mention that trying to make everyone popular makes the cast weird and lacking in variety. 

I: I see. Speaking of Shinguuji, I felt that while his motive was quite unrelatable, most of the other students had sympathetic motives. Was that on purpose?

KK: For the motives, I was just trying to avoid a repeat of what happened with Mikan Tsumiki. Yeah, I know Shinguuji’s was close. But this time most of the motives were based on their murder tricks. The first thing I did was give a definite theme for each murder trick: chapter 1 is the protagonist being the culprit, chapter 2 was a fusion of murder trick and magic trick, chapter 3 was a new death during the investigation, chapter 4 was the culprit not knowing that he is the culprit, and chapter 5 was the culprit and the victim working together. That makes chapter 2 the only outlier. I just really wanted to use the twist that Kirumi Toujou was the Prime Minister. I also absolutely wanted to have piranhas in my story (laughs). 

I: (laughs) Another big difference I notice is that I couldn’t predict the culprits based on the murder tricks.

KK: That part was very intentional. I really didn’t want any moments of “I don’t know the trick, but the culprit is this guy” the best I could. Chapter 3 was easy to figure out, but I think chapter 2′s clever hooks did a lot better.

Kodaka is Barack Obama!? The personality felt by Megumi Hayashibara.

I: Sayaka Kanda voicing Akamatsu was a highly discussed topic. How exactly did you decide that?

KK: The initial was to have (non-voice) actors playing the role of the two protagonists. After many twists and tuns, we had only Kanda voicing Akamatsu.

YT: She had a great performance as Junko Enoshima in Danganronpa THE STAGE. I invited her to the Akamatsu with high expectations, not only because she obviously a very talented actress, but also because she is so associated with Junko Enoshima that it would give the fans a lot to speculate about. 

I: Another big surprise was the other protagonist Saihara being Megumi Hayashibara. Hayashibara is not someone most people would imagine voicing a boy...

KK: Hayashibara was my personal request. It looked difficult at first, but ultimately she accepted it. She might have been initially wary but then felt it was okay because she shares a lot of history with Ogata and Takayama, who voiced the previous protagonist.

I: I see. Not that you mention it, in a previous interview Hayashibara made a comment about you: “He’s like President Obama”. She didn’t elaborate on that, so please tell us why!

KK: When we were recording chapter 6, Hayashibara asked me “Does Danganronpa always ends like this?”. I answered “It’s not always like this.” and the conversation continued from there. After I created Danganronpa, many other stories with death games started appearing. I know death games are exciting and easy to employ, but so many of them didn’t think their endings through or were just the using the game as a sadistic system to kill characters. Then, as I was analyzing what it means to “truly escape the death game”, I reached the conclusion that it’s the characters upsetting the death game itself. As I explained to her how I made that ending because I had to take responsibility for creating Danganronpa, Hayashibara said “Wonderful!”...

I: And where does President Obama come in? 

KK: Hayashibara talked about one time when President Obama dismantle bomb facilities in the US to say “It’s important to take responsibility for what you make”, so I answered “Then I’m Obama?” (laughs).

I: (laughs) What a conversation.

KK: Hayashibara seemed to be very convinced by this explation, seeing how she put even more power into her chapter 6 performance.

I: Saihara’s chapter 6 voice acting was indeed on fire. Speaking of chapter 6, I was really surprised by the twist of having the DR1 and 2 characters there. Was that decided from the start?

KK: I didn’t even considered it when I was planning the plot. The idea came to me only when I started writting chapter 6′s script.

YT: That’s pretty late into the process.

KK: I was thinking that just Tsumugi Shirogane’s cosplays would be too weak to express the mastermind’s threat level. As I was thinking on how could I make her a character on par with Enoshima, since the ending was going to be that, I had my epiphany: “She should cosplay every character before her!”. And if I want a perfect cosplay, I would need the real voices. When I talked to Terasawa about how awesome she would be if she could cosplay even voices, and how much of a visual punch it would be to have all previous characters, his reaction was “Wait a minute...”.

I: I can see how he wouldn’t be ready for that.

KK: I was doing the recordings for the DR3 anime at the time, so I was naive enough to believe asking for just a couple additional lines would be enough.

YT: Life is not that easy (laughs).

I: (laughs) But everything worked at the end.

KK: I have to admit, I did some emotional blackmail there. Saying “I already started the script, I can’t go with any other twist now”. I had already resigned to the fact that we couldn’t have everyone, but in the end, the entire cast came to the recordings.

I: Impressive work, Terasawa.

YT: After Kodaka’s blackmail, I had to do my part, too. The result was splendid and very meaningful to the game, but we can’t use that in promotional material, so, from a cost efficiency standpoint, it was really bad (pained laughter).

KK: But one problem I would want to fix if I had a chance is how this made her total dialogue really long. I could have made it all a lot more concise, but you know, leaving one character with only two lines who be such a waste.

I: That said, I think the result was splendid. Just as you wanted, it made Shirogane a lot more awesome, in my opinion. On the topic of Shirogane, was making Super High School Level Cosplayer the mastermind talent decided from the start?

KK: Yes. The mastermind being a cosplayer came first from that ending punchline where she asserts that their entire world is part of her cosplay. Also because I really wanted to have a cosplayer character somewhere.

The Love Hotel was born from a cancelled game mechanic!?

I: Our next topic will be the setting and the special scenes. Starting from how the Kibougamine Academy was rebooted into the Saishuu Academy. Tell us how the academy was created.

KK: I think didn’t put any school name on the project pitch. The thing is, V3 is a project initiated under the idea of being something of a culmination of the series, of putting an end into everything, so we went with the name Saishuu, which carries the nuances of both “final” and “talents being locked up”. Another neat detail I only noticed now is that it’s kanji form is pretty easy to write (才囚).

I: You’re praising yourself too much (laughs).

KK: I love Saishuu Academy’s name, but I like its emblem just as much. The design includes a subtle prisoner aesthetic and a Monokuma. Though I wonder, how will the localization handle this? (pained laughter).

I: That’s a good question (laughs). Then, how was the academy’s design decided?

KK: I only asked them to make the wall. The wall was my utmost priority.

TS: I remember that this wall got its birdcage style because I suggested to include a jail or birdcage motif. V3′s school has a prison atmosphere, but prisons still have sports grounds and whatnot, you know? Because of this, we decided to make the Saishuu Academy with explorable areas outside the school building.

I: The Saishuu Academy has a lot of strange areas. A casino is already bad enough, but it has even a love hotel...

KK: Whose idea was the love hotel again?

SS: It was based on Sugawara’s idea of nighttime raids, from the project pitch.

TS: Oh yeah, at the time we had a set rule where you could only solve the academy’s mysteries at nighttime. The idea was to explore the academy at night and investigate the mysteries, but you could also peek into the students’ rooms.

YT: Yeah, I was thinking of making an investigation game like this. 

KK: The problem was that this was going to make the game too lenghty, so we left the parts where you enter the students’ for dialogue as the Love Hotel.

SS: Yeah, and since we thought it would be nice to have an element where you can flirt with the characters, they became those erotic scenes...

I: I see (laughs). Did you write the Love Hotel scenes, Kodaka?

KK: I gave the Love Hotel scenes to a substitute writer. Except their version were really not acceptable, so I had to rewrite them myself (pained laughter).

I: What an interaction to have. Enough about character scenes. We also had many new secret routes in the Class Trials.How exactly were these secret routes created?

SS: The secret routes exist because we wanted to incorporate the Lie Bullet into the story, not only the gameplay. But lying is something we kind of needed to convince most players to do. You know, we needed to add moments where the player would want to lie. And all thanks to Sugawara, we could do it.

I: You wrote the secret routes, didn’t you, Sugawara?

KK: I was too busy with everything else. Since already had semi-done scripts for the proper route, I let Sugawara have his ideas based on that.

TS: That said, I was also piled up with other jobs, so I had other developers do some bits, like pointing me out where I could lie. Some pointers I followed straight, while others I had to rethink. I tried to include as many secret routes as I could, but this was a work I couldn’t get done in time for the voice recordings.

I: I think making secret routes is hard even when the proper route script is complete...

TS: It was relatively easy to make the new content for the secret routes. The difficult is how to get back to the original route.

KK: I tried not to touch on Sugawara’s scripts too much, but I did edit some character word choices or some parts where the topic got too long.

I: How did the fans react to the secret routes?

KK: I didn’t hear much about it.

YT: I often check Twitter for fan opinions, but that’s never really tweeted about.

TS: I think a lot of people don’t notice where they can lie to get a secret route. I did make them change the song for the Debate where you can do Perjury, but that’s not listed or hinted in any tutorial, so...

KK: Not to mention it’s a really minor change, so I find it pretty difficult to notice on your first go.

The mystery novelist Kitayama adds even more well polished murder tricks

I: Since we are talking about Class Trials, I would like to ask about the murder tricks. First, tell me how Kitayama joined the party.

KK: Once I knew I would have to work on this and the DR3 anime at the same time, I thought I would have to ask someone for help, since the time I would have on the scripts would shorten. I thought that if I could smoothly get all the murder tricks decided, I could handle both scripts just fine, but unfortunately the discussion went for much longer than I expected. In the end I didn’t gain any time from all this, but thanks to Kitayama joining me, we boast higher quality.

I: How was your work?

KK: I told Kitayama the trick themes for each chapter and had him come up with the howdunnit. With that, Sugawara and Sasaki’s developer team can plot out the trick, then I check it all and put it together as the script. 

I: Was there anything big you had to fix?

KK: Depends on the chapter. For chapter 1 I pretty much used Kitayama’s idea exactly as it was. Even the “I tossed away what I was holding” descriptor was left exactly as Kitayama wrote it. On the other hand, chapter 2 was very different from the initial draft. 

SS: The chapter 2 trick was the water slider instead of the ropeway using the floating tube, right?

KK: Yeah, that one. Lining up a lot of floating tube to make the corpse slide on them. Then she would only have to cut the rope connecting them and that would leave just countless floating tubes on the pool. I fought finding the tubes during the investigation would be a fun idea, but when it came the time to script it, I got a lot questions. “Is this really enough water pressure to make a corpse silde?”. “Won’t she get wet from the water on the gaps between tubes?”. “Are sure the corpse can enter the fish tank?”.

YT: I’m a physics major, so this bothers me a lot. One little detail like this can ruin the whole case for me, so I made sure to comment everything I noticed.

KK: Yeah, so I had to change to the whole water slider trick into a ropeway trick. Sasaki, you’re the one who argued the most against this, weren’t you?

SS: I was (laughs). I had to plot the trick for chapter 2. So when Kodaka told me “The water slide won’t work”, I was like “Really...?”.

I: The script is where you start to notice the problems.

KK: More exactly, the plotting stage doesn’t put all that attention to detail. Because the workload for plotting a trick as a lot bigger than it sounds. And we’re definitely not gaining any time if I happen to see plans before they’re ready...So, the issues only start showing up when I’m doing the script.

SS: In chapter 2, even my idea to gather all the students together, the Insect Meet-and-Greet, caused some back-and-forth.

KK: Yes, I let the developer come up with the finer details, like for example the reason why all students gathered together. So, for this one I was like “What’s an Insect Meet-and-Greet even supposed to be?”.  Then he explained to me that the group would be assembled to look at Gonta’s insects, but I still had no idea why they would do that. I still wanted to do it, it was a fun idea, so I implemented Gonta’s Insect Meet-and-Greet on the form of Gonta kidnapping the students under Ouma’s orders.

I: Do you have any other case of struggles to connect a trick’s dots?

KK: Chapter 3, handled by Sugawara, also took a lot of time.

TS: I used Kitayama’s idea for the main trick using the seesaw, but we needed to change all the steps that lead to the crime, and that was the time consuming part. 

KK: Oh yeah, we changed the seance ritual.

TS: At first, the trick was that the students would all hold hands and sing Kagome Kagome together, while the culprit would stomp the floorboard. But if that were the case, when the culprit stomped the floorboard, the people holding his hands would feel the movement, you see...

I: And that’s why you had to edit. Next is chapter 4, how was it?

KK: Chapter 4 also had a murder trick by Kitayama, but it was a trick using a rope. Since we changed chapter 2 into the ropeway, that would make chapter 4′s a repeat. While we were thinking of how to make a ropeless trick, one the developers gave the looping world idea, so I created the trick using the loop.

I: Chapter 4′s trick was an idea that made a really good use out of the game world. Was there any reason to change the characters’ visual into the chibi models?

KK: I was born because we wanted to make a game inside a game. At first, we wanted to make a fully 3D world.

YT: You were calling it “VR”, weren’t you?

TS: But then its main gimmick became the loop trick, so we had to give up because a loop would be too hard and far too costly to portray in 3D. 

SS: We also considered using the bonus modes’ 8-bit sprites, but the consesus what that those were too visually unimpressive, so we made new ones, if I recall correctly.

KK: Also because to make the trick work we need to make the game in 2.5D, not 2D. Most of us thought it would be difficult to use the 8-bit sprites under that circumstances.

I: And for the chapter 5 trick, the twist where the victim and the culprit were in cahoots was very original, and I honestly couldn’t tell which of them was the culprit until the very end.

YT: That one is the hardest to figure out.

KK: I’m glad I could put the Exisal to good use in the 5th trick, with the victim and the culprit switching places. Also, I loaded chapter 5 with a large amount of information to distract you from the truth, so you being confused about it is exactly what we wanted.

The feelings imbued in the shocking finale. And an intriguing plan for the future!?

I: From this part on, I will be asking about the controversial chapter 6 and your plans for the future. I was told that when you were writting the chapter 6 script you added many extra animations and cutscenes of the school being destroyed. 

KK: At the plot planning stage, the only thing I had planned for chapter 6 was the endgame. Only when I actually reached that part in the script that I saw I didn’t know how lead the path to that. In DR2 I prepared some surprises to thrill the fans, like Kibougamine Academy appearing and whatnot. I wanted this game to have an element like this. And that’s when I arranged a meeting with all of Sasaki’s developers. I said “I put Kibougamine in DR2′s finale, so now I want V3 to have a set up as good as that”.

SS: Everyone agreed we should have one, of course.

KK: And that’s where I suggested we should explode Saishuu Academy. With Ki-bo appearing to help us around at the tightest moments, fighting the Exisals and all that. I talked with Sasaki’s team to ask if they could do it, they said “I think we can” and I answered “Nice” (laughs).

I: (laughs) That said, I think that was hard on who was managing the budget and schedule...

YT: You get me. There was suddenly a lot more to make.

KK: But we weren’t behind on the deadlines, were we?

SS: That’s right, we weren’t.

YT: That’s not how it works! (laughs)

Everyone: (laughs)

I: Chapter 6 had a lot more animated cutscenes too, hadn’t it?

KK: I wasn’t expecting that. You know that scene where Ki-bo first appears, flying to the glass? I was think that was going to be just some CG, not a fully animated cutscene. So it was a good surprise, like “Are you really making him this cool? Thank you!”.

YT: And his cutscene was quite a long one, at that.

SS: A CG would be too weak and unconvicing for this. We decided we should have this animated to give it the impact it deserved.

I: And I assume the same goes for all the add cutscene. Was the idea of slapping away the block-pathing debris conceived and added for the same reason? 

SS: It was. Honestly, there was so much more we wanted to do but didn’t have time to...

KK: To be completely honest, I was thinking chapter 6 was going to be a lot more visually simplistic than that. But once we started we didn’t want to stop. I’m glad the finished version is this much better than I imagined.

I: Speaking of chapter 6, can I ask Kodaka to explain the ending? 

KK: I went with that ending because I wanted to change where the player stands in V3. In 1 and 2 the player was an outside observer to the killing game. But in V3 I wanted the player to experience the same shock as Saihara and take part in the debate from the same position as him. Then, as Saihara is shocked to learn “This world was fictional. The Akamatsu and Momota I believed in were all fiction”, the player would also be hit with the fact “Everything I played so far is fictional”. But it’s a fact that everything you played so far still resonated with you and you gained a lot from it, so I was hoping you could synchro yourself with Saihara and take his side in the argument after he gets back in his feet. I was thinking that it if the player and the characters could outgrow this fiction, it could even create a new relationship between player and game.

I: I see. So that’s what you were thinking.

KK: I prepared a lot of tricks to make it easier for the player to sync up with Saihara, like Ki-bo’s “Do you want to save?”. Just empathizing with the characters was not enough for chapter 6, I want to share their point of view. That why, to make it harder to insert and emphatize in one specific person, I shuffled the POV with everyone.

I: I think the finale intentionally avoids stating what’s the truth and what is a lie. Do all of you in the production staff share the same answer to this mystery?

YT: Kodaka might have the answer on his mind, but I think we don’t need to know. We don’t even know if we can take everything Kodaka says as correct. See, the real right answer is the answer you came up with yourself.

I: You mean you just want everyone to think of the answer with their own personal interpretations?

YT: Also, I want to take this moments to tell all the fans that we never had the slightest intent to tarnish or insult the past games. We still think of Danganronpa 1 and 2 as our very beloved children. We love all 3 games from the bottom of our hearts.

I: Kodaka said before that V3 is a culmination and an end to everything, but will the Danganronpa series continue?

YT: Like with the first two games, we are completely burned out after finishing it, so, honestly, we don’t have any solid plans for a next game yet. However, as a producer, I want to answer to the fans’ support and expectations. I need to think long and hard about the future of Danganronpa.

I: What could this future be holding for us...?

YT: Who knows. DR1-2 Reload and Ultra Despair Girls will be ported to the PS4 this year, so I think we’ll get many new fans. If something in this trend incites Kodaka’s desire to write, we could be having a new game. Or at least that’s what I expect. I hope our fans expect the same.

I: I’ll be looking forward to it. Now, one message from all of you to the fans.

KK: Thank you for buying this artbook. How about replaying once more now that you know the game better? Or even better, buy another copy of the game and the book!

TS: I think there’s always something of value, be it good or bad, in someone playing a videogame for the first time. So the words I want to say here are the same words of gratitude said since the old days: THANK YOU FOR PLAYING.

SS: I saw a lot of intense critical commentary both for and against this game, so I’m very happy that this game managed to make this many people feel something about it. I believe leaving you wanting to talk about of you felt is one of the more characteristic traits of Danganronpa, so I love that you can enjoy exchanging your opinions.

[btshogwartsauheadcanons]

Masterlist (finally)

Here’s my masterlist guys!! Unfortunately it isn’t mobile friendly because I don’t know how to make one and honestly I just hate mobile Tumblr at this point. I know it’s not a lot yet so feel free to keep requesting stuff! I really love doing requests.

CHARACTER PROFILES

>>> Kim Seokjin (Gryffindor)

>>> Min Yoongi (Slytherin)

>>> Jung Hoseok (Hufflepuff)

>>> Kim Namjoon (Ravenclaw)

>>> Park Jimin (Hufflepuff)

>>> Kim Taehyung (Ravenclaw)

>>> Jeon Jungkook (Slytherin)

FRIENDSHIP HEADCANONS

>>> TaeJoon 

>>> JiHope

>>> TaeKook

>>> JinSeok

>>> NamYoon ft. Minerva McGonagall (requested)

>>> Reader + Best friend!Taehyung (requested)

>>> JiKook 

>>> YoonSeok

>>> NamJin

>>> YoonKook

>>> VMin

>>> Hyung Line Friendships (pt. 1)

>>> Hyung Line Friendships (pt. 2)

>>> Maknae Line Friendships (pt. 1)

>>> Maknae Line Friendships (pt. 2)

RANDOM HEADCANONS

>>> Jimin’s Awesome Birthday Gifts

>>> Werewolf!BTS

>>> Kim Seokjin and the Lame Ass Red Crocs

BTS + S/O HEADCANONS

>>> BTS + Animagus!s/o 

>>> BTS + Slytherin!s/o

>>> BTS + Ravenclaw!s/o

>>> BTS + Gryffindor!slo

>>> BTS + Hufflepuff!slo

>>> BTS Meet-cutes

>>> BTS + crushing on a girl a year below them who’s really good at Quidditch and music (requested)

>>> Kim Seokjin + slytherin!s/o feat. complicated family dynamics (requested)

>>> Jungkook and Jimin + slytherin!girlfriend (requested)

>>> Jungkook, Taehyung, and Hoseok + crushing on a ravenclaw!girl who they thought was in Hufflepuff (requested)

HOGWARTS AU FANFICS

>>> The Constellation Effect (pt. 1...)

Yoongi x Taehyung; Yoongi x Y/N | slow burn | angst | soulmate au | series | ghosts and constellation tattooes

It’s Yoongi’s last year in Hogwarts, his last year to wonder about what he really wants to do after graduating. He can’t think of a worst possible year to start falling for someone who isn’t even able to leave the Hogwarts castle than this one.

It’s Taehyung’s last year before the Sickness finally causes him to slip into that dreaded coma. If only the ghost of his past self could finally pass over so Taehyung could focus on other things: becoming a Dragon Tamer, and finding out who has the same constellation tattoo he has.

It’s Y/N’s last year, or at least she hopes so. Or maybe she doesn’t. It’s kind of difficult when you’re a ghost and in love with your best friend who happens to be graduating soon.

Connecting all three of them is the Constellation Effect, a universal phenomenon that marks everyone with stars and constellations on their shoulders, connecting them through past lives and dictating who belongs with whom.

>>> So, You Like Pie Too?

Seokin x Slytherin!reader | slow burn | pining | sarcasm | one-shot | rivals to lovers

You and Kim Seokjin have been rivals, in Quidditch, academics, and pretty much everything else, for almost seven years. But even though nothing more has happened in those seven years, you can’t help but feel that he’s a little different around you now. Or maybe it’s you who feels differently towards him? 

Enter Yoongi, your best friend who finally has the guts to ask Kim Taehyung, who happens to be Kim Seokjin’s adopted child, out on a date. Throw in a little bit of coincidental ideas of spying, a slice (or more) of apple pie, and suddenly, seven years of rivalry may come to a surprising conclusion. 

>>> Beating Some Sense Into You

Yoongi x Hufflepuff!reader | slight angst | slow-burn | pining | one-shot | lovers to enemies sort-of

After five years of friendship and one year of being his girlfriend, Min Yoongi breaks up with you in the train on the way to Hogwarts. But something tells you he’s hiding something else. Or maybe it’s just you not wanting to face facts?

>>> The Joys of Transfiguration (and everything in between) 

Namjoon x Hufflepuff!reader | fluff | friends to lovers | one-shot

requested by anon: Hi! Idk if you’re doing requests or anything but I really really enjoy your headcanons!! I was wondering if u would be able to do a namjoon x Hufflepuff reader friends to lovers one?? Where Namjoon is looking for jungkook as a bunny after a prank gone wrong and he finds the reader taking care of him not knowing it’s Kookie or smth like that? Thank you so much ur fantastic :D !!

6k words

>>> The Language of Flowers

Jimin x Beauxbatons!reader | fluff, slow burn | friends to lovers | one-shot

You’ve been so used to living right across Jimin’s house that you couldn’t ever imagine transferring to Beauxbatons while he was in Hogwarts. Fortunately, your time apart ends when an exchange student program between the two schools brings you two together again. 

9.4k words

>>> Don’t Fuck With Love Potion

Jungkook x Gryffindor!reader | fluff | friends to lovers | one-shot

You and Jungkook try to prank your hyungs with some iced coffee but a mishap involving love potion makes your plan go horribly wrong.

5.8k words

>>> Detention (pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3, pt. 4)

Due to mysterious circumstances, or just plain bad behavior, the seven boys end up in detention, on a Saturday, with the much-loved Argus Filch. The caretaker plans to take this chance to make this the most hellish detention ever. His biggest mistake is putting the seven of them in a room together.

10.9k words

NON-HOGWARTS AU FANFICS/DRABBLES

>>> The Chaos Next Door ( pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3)

Gamer!Taehyung x Pianist!Yoongi | fluff, slow burn, slight angst | neighbors to friends to lovers | completed

What happens when a famous Gamer/Youtuber moves into the apartment in front of a nationally-renowned genius pianist?

A. Lots of bickering and name-calling B. Self-discovery (the kind that only happens in fanfictions) C. The two fall in love D. All of the above

Whatever it is, it’s pure, utter, chaos.

33.5k words

>>> camera lens (jimin through jungkook's eyes)

Jimin x Jungkook | fluff | drabble

“jungkook would always look up that word in every dictionary he would pass by in the school library or bookstore. ethereal: extremely delicate and light in a way that seems to perfect for this world. even the definition of it was ethereal ever since jungkook fell in love with jimin. ethereal, because it seemed like the word itself was created just for him.” 

[theearlymorningmist]

Don’t Judge a Book: Chpt. 5

TONY STARK X READER

Plot: Your mother always told you never to judge a book by its cover…But can you remember that when it comes to Mr. Stark, the one person you can’t stand? In order to see what kind of man the great Tony Stark really is, you decide to become his personal assistant…

Chapter One, Chapter two ,  Chapter Three, Chapter Four, Chapter Five, Chapter Six, Chapter Seven, Chapter Eight, Chapter Nine,  Chapter Ten

Warnings: Panic Attack

Word Count: 1800

(Y/N) = your name,  

 A/n- Sorry for the shitty quality of this chapter, i’ve been rlly out of it lately.

You spent most of Friday morning dealing with last minute party plans. Little things here and there. But the odd part was that it was actually getting you excited to attend the thing, and see all your hard work come together. And that excitement was cutting through any doubts you had about going on a boat…

You had just finished confirming what time set up would begin when a commotion outside your office caught your attention.

“Ma’am you can’t be on this floor.” You heard one of your co-workers explaining. You stood up and opened your door to see what was going on.

“You don’t understand, I’m the teacher of the elementary school tour going on today, I’m missing one of the kids.” The teacher explained, worriedly.

Just as you were about to offer to take them around the building looking, the elevator doors opened with a ding. Out walked Mr. Stark with one hand around a young kid and the other nonchalantly in his pocket.

“Lost and found, party of one.” The man smirked, walking over to the frantic teacher.

“I met Tony Stark!” The kid exclaimed, happily.

“Don’t be too mad at the kid for slipping off.” Tony chuckled, flashing you an acknowledging smile afterwards.

“Come on, everyone’s waiting.” The teacher said in a stern tone. “Don’t go running off again.” They added, as the two began walking away.

The kid glanced back at Tony sadly, and the man waved goodbye. “Stay curious, kid.” He called, as the elevator doors shut.

Everyone else went back to their desks, but you stayed just watching Tony smile after the kid. It was such a sweet moment… “Like something you see, darling?” The man asked, catching you staring, and ruining the innocence of the moment.

“No.” You replied sweetly, chuckling.

“So, are you excited for your first Stark Party tonight? Got your notepad and guillotine ready?” Tony teased.

“I’m attending as a simple observer.” You explained. “Like a nature photographer on a safari.”

Tony laughed, shaking his head. “You can’t observe a party. You have to live it, experience it.” He paused, grinning. “Drink it.”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Stark. I’m sure you’ll drink enough for the both of us.” You quipped, heading back into your office.

“Such insubordination.” Tony gasped. “I should have your badge for that.”

You let out a sigh. “Tony…we’re not doing this. The flirty quipping thing. Let’s just try and keep things professional.” You explained.

“Hey, you’re the one that called it flirting.” He winked.

That comment flustered and annoyed you. “I…” You cleared your throat. “I need to get back to work, sir.” You managed, staring at your black computer screen.

“Oops, the S-word. That’s my cue.” Tony shrugged. “I’ll see you tonight, darling.” He added, sing-song, before sauntering out of your office. That man…you thought…Is too witty for his own good.

…

The entire time you were getting ready to go to the party, your mind was going back and forth on the matter. On the one hand, you wanted to go and part of you was excited, but on the other hand you were worried that you were letting your guard down too much with Tony. You found yourself actually tolerating the man, and maybe even having fun talking to him sometimes. But you had to stay impartial. All you had come to do was see what kind of man he was, and then you’d go your separate ways…

Before you knew it, you were ready and about to call a cab, when there was a knock at the door. You answered it and was surprised to find that Tony had hired a car service to take you to the party. A big, flashy, black limo. Inside, there was a note from the man himself.

“(Y/N), can’t have my PA arriving in anything but the best. I’ll see you there—fashionably late of course.

-TS”

You rolled your eyes. ‘Fashionably late’ was asshole code for ‘I want attention.’. Never the less, you decided to shrug it off and enjoy the product of your hard work. The boat looked beautiful- stunning even. Everything had come together better than you could have imagined.

And yet…you found yourself hesitating at the end of the boarding platform. It’s just a boat. It can’t hurt you. You repeated to yourself as you took your first step aboard. As you made your way up the platform you couldn’t help but think- What is it with rich people and boats anyways?

…

About an hour into the party, you were in the middle of an interesting conversation with one of your co-workers when you felt a tap on the shoulder. You were surprised to turn and see Steve Rogers, Captain America himself, smiling at you.

“Mind if I interrupt?” He asked, politely.

“Uh, sure, yes.” You nodded, saying a quick goodbye to the other person. “Are you enjoying the party Mr. Rogers?” You asked.

“Please, you can call me Steve. And yes I am, you did a great job.” The tall man smiled. “Listen, I wanted to apologize if we made you uncomfortable the other night.” Steve began, sincerely.

“No, I’d like to apologize, I was completely out of line to say what I did. I should have kept my thoughts to myself.”

“That’s quite alright ma’am. Everyone’s entitled to their opinion.” He said, almost making you laugh. He was just so polite. The complete opposite to how Tony spoke.

“Hey Capsicle, you trying to steal my PA?” You heard, Tony’s voice from behind you. “Because you can’t have ‘em.” Tony added, patting a hand on your shoulder. “I have dibs.”

Steve shook his head, amused. “Just making conversation. It was nice talking to you (Y/N), maybe I’ll see you again.” The man nodded goodbye, and headed off to talk to someone else.

“You turning traitor on me, (Y/N)?” Tony teased.

You shook your head, rolling your eyes. “Note- ‘fashionably late’ means approximately an hour or so. Got it.” You spoke to yourself.

“So you’re sticking around long enough to need notes on my habits. Interesting.” The man smirked. Before you could comment he spoke again. “Care to dance?” Tony asked, holding out his hand.

“I don’t think dancing with my boss would reflect very well on me.” You replied, hesitantly.

The man took your hand anyways, leading you to the dance floor. “Who cares what other people think? Life’s no fun when you’re worrying about that.” He chuckled, pulling you close.

“Maybe life isn’t supposed to be all fun and games.” You countered.

“Then you’re living wrong.” Tony said, with seriousness, as the two of you began to sway to the soft music. After a moment, the man regained his playful air. “So, how am I doing?” He asked, interested.

“At dancing?” You questioned.

“No, in your little moral tally book. How am I doing?” He repeated.

The man’s tone was amused, but there seemed to be some sincerity to his curiosity. He genuinely wanted to know what you thought of him. You let out a short sigh and met the man’s gaze.

“You’re…complicated. You do objectively good things, like save the world or taking care of your employees…But all when you’re not expecting people to look. And then you scream look at me whenever you’re being a total asshole.” You glanced away quickly. “So I can’t tell if you’re a good guy who’s trying to cover up just how good he is. Or if you’re the asshole who just gets off on the savior thing.”

Tony seemed to process this for a moment before giving you a soft smile. “Maybe I’m both.” He shrugged, spinning you out and then pulling you back in, closer than before.

“If you’re both, then I don’t know what to think of you…” You breathed, heart pounding as you let yourself hold the man’s intense gaze.

The man leaned in close, whispering in your ear as you continued to dance. “Think of me as Tony. Just…Tony.”

You pulled away slightly, wanting to look at the man’s face. “Tony.” You repeated, trying to just see a man. A man that you had to admit…you didn’t entirely hate. In fact you might even like ‘just Tony’ a bit.

As the two of you held each other’s gaze, you felt both of you beginning to lean in. You didn’t think, you didn’t question it, you just allowed the slight movement, closing your eyes as your lips were about to touch…

And then the boat horn went off. And you nearly jumped out of your skin. The rude awakening made you realize all the people looking at you. Your co-workers, the Avengers, it seemed like even the waiters were catching a glance at the two of you.

A sudden wave of embarrassment washed over you and you let go of Tony, stepping away from the man quickly. “I…need to get some air.” You mumbled, walking away quickly.

You walked until you found a place where no one seemed to be. One floor down from the party, at the very back of the boat. You leaned against the railing, taking a few deep breaths.

You had almost kissed Tony Stark. Your boss, and the man you thought you hated more than anyone else. And everyone had seen it almost happen. How could you ever go back to work now?

You shook your head. What did you care about work? You were quitting eventually anyways… At least, that had been the plan.

You felt yourself getting more and more worked up, and you weren’t even sure why this was so upsetting. Every time you tried to think, the grinding of the boat’s engines interrupted you. You just wanted silence from that awful noise. It sounded so much like another engine that you couldn’t forget.

You cursed yourself for coming to this party. You knew you weren’t ready to be on a boat again. This was only too obvious by your erratic heartrate and shaking hands.

“(Y/N)?” You heard Tony call to you. “There you are, are you alright?” The man asked.

You turned to face him, clutching the man’s arm and looking at him with desperation.

“Tony…help me.”

@captainsherlockwinchester110283 @lilylovelyxo @not-reptilian @thevanishedillusion @kilamanjiro @xxcxrolinexx  @txnystarkimagines​ @josislife @hellaoppa @sneakingthroughyourgifs @embrel, @cudan2 @jellybean557@wefracturedmotivation @capandbuck

[maliwarm]

Husk

They’ve taken everyone I know And now I walk these empty streets alone … They’ve erased everyone I know And still I walk these empty streets alone - AU idea: X. - “Watch it, kid!” “Sorry,” K’ mumbled, tweaking his cap at the man as a sign of apology. The motion did a fine job of drawing attention away from the wallet he was slipping into his coat pocket. He weaved through the rest of the crowd quick and quiet, head down; blending in amongst the crush and putting some distance between them before the man became aware of his theft. K’ then veered down an alley, slipping further in to use the shadows and dumpster as cloaks while he flicked through the pilfered wallet. The yield was roughly 8,700 yen and a couple of pictures of who must’ve been the man’s kids. He closed the wallet again with an abrupt snap, hiding the gap-toothed grins so his chest would stop twinging. He’d make an effort to drop the wallet into the nearest police station after he got himself something to eat. With hands jammed deep in his pockets, and cap shadowing his eyes, K’ shuffled back out and into the crush of the crowd. Both the garbs had been “borrowed” in much the same manner as the wallet; the coat had been snagged off somebody’s washing line, and the cap had sat, seemingly abandoned, inside a bus shelter. They did a fine job of hiding his shock of white hair and trademark leather. As well as the myriad of bruises and abrasions marring his skin. K’s left hand slipped out to pinch the skin between his exhausted eyes. He might have to find somewhere to hunker down for the night. Between being dogged by NESTS agents at every turn, and the extreme paranoia that plagued him whenever he did actually manage to evade them… he’d been putting off getting some shut-eye for too long. He’d already blacked out a couple of times yesterday - in safe spots, luckily - but he wasn’t keen on suffering any further repeats. Particularly in less safe situations. So, yeah. He was definitely finding somewhere to curl up and nap tonight. A hotel, or behind a dumpster, even. Just… whatever was available, at this point.

The convenience store chimed at his entrance, the clerk offering him a tired but nonetheless friendly smile as he stepped through the threshold. K’ offered her a slight nod by way of greeting before making a beeline straight towards the snack isle. Two bags of jerky - extra spicy - were snagged right away, followed by some wasabi peas. K’s thickly bandaged right fingers (to hide the telltale gauntlet) hovered over the rows of jerky again, seeking a third bag, until bright red packaging caught his eye. He brought the box up for inspection, faltering at the image of little cookie sticks dipped in chocolate. Oh. It was pocky… After a moment’s internal debate he added the sweets to the pile, gently stacking them atop the saltier snacks, before snagging a bottle of water and heading back to the counter. “Pocky, huh?” The clerk smiled at him between ringing up his purchases and bagging them. “Bit of a funny choice, considering all that salt you got there.”

“… My friend likes it,” K’ mumbled. Didn’t look up from watching the girl’s hands going through the motions with practiced ease. She paused briefly. Chuckled. “Ah. That explains it then.” K’ hummed noncommittally. He tugged the pilfered wallet out and started counting out the required notes, pointedly ignoring the girl’s curious glance towards the thick layer of bandages wrapped around his right hand. He passed the cash over, purposefully jamming his hands back into his pockets afterwards to stop her from staring at them. She flushed sheepishly with realisation, averting her gaze to focus instead on counting out his change. K’s head tilted away, towards the view beyond the glass doors, while she did so. It was getting dark outside. Night was approaching, and the roiling blanket of grey slithering across the sky made things even darker. Looked like a storm was inbound. Street lights began flicking on one by one, casting fuzzy yellow halos of light against the pavement to bravely keep the dark at bay. The stores across the road were also lighting up, all warm brightness and little bits of flashing neons. Amongst all that, K’ almost didn’t catch the flare of twin blue pinpricks from the darkness between two buildings. His blood chilled. “Just keep the change,” he told the clerk stiffly. She startled, sputtering as he snatched up his bag of stuff and made a swift exit. K’ kept his head down and his pace brisk as he skirted around the side, and towards the back, of the convenience store. The chain link fence separating it from some apartment blocks was easily hopped, and he headed straight towards the alleys beyond. He needed to gain some distance. Quickly. Or at the very least, confuse his trail a bit. With that in mind, K’ turned a series of corners at random and jumped up a fire escape. Chilly, rain-scented wind ruffled his clothes and hair, stinging his face, as he hopped over a few rooftops. Time bent and blurred with each successive burst of translocation used to aid his jumps, twisting his empty gut and making his head spin with increasing amounts of nausea and disorientation. But he couldn’t stop. Not now. It wasn’t safe. Perhaps because of his mounting exhaustion and wooziness, K’s next landing was gravely miscalculated. A stream of curses were spat as he stumbled into a roll, overbalanced at the opposite edge of the building, and fell. The wind whistled deafeningly during his unwanted descent, nearly swallowing his own harsh breaths and the plastic bag’s mad ruffling. K’ swiped desperately at passing objects to latch onto, or at the very least slow his fall, but he missed most of them. Ultimately, it was a window sill that saved him, at the unfortunate expense of severely jarring his arm. The remainder of the trip down was punctuated by stifled groans every time he dropped and caught the next sill until, at last, his boots hit cement. Miraculously, his purchases had survived the ordeal, with nothing but slightly stretched handles on the plastic bag’s end to show for it. K’ rolled his shoulder with a hiss, gaze darting between both ends of the alley. He saw nothing but darkness either way. Though that didn’t necessarily mean he was in the clear yet. K’ opted to go left, heading back towards the crowded streets. Things would likely become dangerous for innocent bystanders, but… If he managed to get swallowed up amongst the masses before his tail caught up, then that problem wouldn’t even exist. It was a risky gamble, but one he was willing to make. Besides, it wasn’t as though he had many options available. He turned in place, fully intending to follow through with his plan, only for the hair on the back of his neck to prickle at some impending danger. Acting on pure instinct alone, K’ hurled himself to the side.

A heavy gust of air whooshed by his ear, ruffling his hair, and a cloud of steam hissed and billowed out the corner of his eye, surrounding a large fist. K’ grunted as his body hit the cement. Pushed himself up again from a roll into a stand, dislodging his cap in the process. He came up facing the attacker with fists raised and jaw clenched. The pain in his eyes was obvious, no matter how hard he tried to snuff it. “Hey, moron. ’S been a while.” An empty shotgun-esque shell was ejected with more steam and hissing. It clicked and rolled away into the dark as the pieces of Maxima’s arm canon clicked back into place. His expression was a blank slate. Gone was the nigh-perpetual mirthful twinkle in his eyes, the broad grin, the aura of overt friendliness and kindness… And his voice was equally cold and dead as he spoke. “Agent K’, you are to come back with me to NESTS headquarters for reprogramming. Cease all resistance now or be terminated.” K’ shuffled back a step. His lips tugged up into what was supposed to be a faint grin, but looked more akin to a grimace. “Sorry, partner, no can do. You know that… I can’t exactly fix you if I’m a mindless drone too, remember?” Glowing blue swallowed Maxima’s eyes. K’ was being scanned, he knew. Getting probed for weaknesses and having any potential attacks he may be planning predicted. “You seek to continue this foolish resistance?” “Yeah. Yeah, I do.” His gauntlet heated, steam hissing out from the vents above his knuckles and slipping between the gaps of the bandages. K’ took a step forward, right fist clenched… Only to hurl the bag clutched in his left at the cyborg’s head instead. Maxima’s hand whipped up, arm cannon already primed, and a deafening explosion ripped through the alley as vapour and pieces of food flew. Half a pocky stick bounced off his sideburned cheek, but he didn’t so much as flinch. K’ turned on his heel and ran.

Barely ten seconds had passed before the whine of thrusters joined the soundtrack of his own harsh breathing and footfalls. K’ cursed, pivoting in place to swing a flaming backhand at the encroaching threat. Maxima ducked the blow, a thick arm already heading for his ribs in a retaliatory strike. There wasn’t enough time or space to avoid the blow. With the distinct crack of breaking bones filling the air, K’ was sent flying backwards, blood bubbling up past his clenched teeth and dribbling down his chin. For the second time in the span of five minutes, his body hit the cement. Bounced and rolled with all the control of a rag doll until his back smacked against a pile of garbage bags, bringing him to a stop. K’ braced both hands to push himself up, only to gasp around the fireworks of pain sparking angrily in his chest and collapse again. He wheezed, harsh and wet, clawing at the dirty ground instead of his chest to avoid further aggravation of the injury. Something within swung nauseatingly with every shallow breath. Ribs… Shit. A blue boot crunched into view, drawing K’s wavering gaze upwards. “Further resistance may result in death,” Maxima intoned. Glowered down at him with eyes still glowing, casting strange, harsh shadows over the lower half of his face. “Cease.” “Y-y'know,” K’ gasped out. Slowly pushed himself up onto elbows and knees, swaying unsteadily. “He’d be… d-disappointed… t'see you like… like this. Rocky, that is.” Maxima flinched. It was the first human reaction out of him from this entire encounter and it gave K’ hope. His friend was still in there somewhere, despite NESTS’ best efforts to erase him completely. With that in mind. K’ seized the tiny window of opportunity he’d created, throwing up a wall of fire between them so he could beat a hasty retreat; live to fight another day and plan just how to go about undoing whatever brainwashing and mind wiping NESTS had done to his friend. He staggered to his feet and ran while the cyborg was busy jumping out of the way of the flames and readjusting his vision from the sudden glare. Didn’t stop running even when he broke out of the alley and into the light and bustle of the streets. Would’ve continued to run if his body didn’t give out on him; the injuries and exhaustion finally taking their toll, causing him to collapse on his side in yet another alley. All he could do now was choke down ragged breaths around the swell of copper in his throat, releasing the occasional thin whine of pain, and watch frigid raindrops fall, soaking him and his surrounds, through blurred and darkening vision.

[onlystraightforjongup]

Bangdae Soulmates - Chapter Two

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Summary:  Bang Yongguk’s soulmate really loves fried chicken. And cheesecake. And almost anything else he could get his hands on. It wouldn’t be a problem, if their soulmate bond didn’t cause Yongguk to taste all of it. Meanwhile, he’s just accepted his role as B.A.P’s leader and getting to know his dongsaengs proves to be more challenging than he anticipated.

Jung Daehyun’s arrival was surprisingly anti-climatic considering how much Yongguk had worried about it.

Daehyun entered the dorms when Himchan was doing a short broadcast. Of all the members, Himchan had felt the most upset with TS for the sudden, unexpected addition. Yongguk wouldn’t have wanted Himchan to be the first to greet Daehyun, and as it was, he wasn’t happy with how Himchan handled it.

It wasn’t Daehyun’s fault that TS felt it necessary to add a new vocalist, but he’d talk to Himchan about that later. For now, he had to focus on making Daehyun feel welcome.

“Hi. Bang Yongguk,” he said, bowing and donning that easy professionalism. Daehyun’s teeth bit into his large lips as he looked up at Yongguk.

“Jung Daehyun,” Daehyun said, echoing his bow. His quiet voice and introduction made the professional part of his mind wonder how his voice would fit the role they needed, but he’s deal with that later. Yongguk frowned, wondering how best to help Daehyun considering the situation. Daehyun fidgeted in front of him, unsure of what to do now they’d been introduced. He found it hard to believe Daehyun was older than Youngjae, considering his discomfort and awkwardness compared to Youngjae’s confidence.

“Have you already put your stuff in Youngjae’s room?” Yongguk realized after he spoke that he shouldn’t have called it Youngjae’s room but correcting it would only make it worse.

“Yes,” Daehyun said. His voice had a strange quality to it. Yongguk tried to recognize what caused it, but he couldn’t place it further than just knowing Daehyun had some slight accent. He held back a frown at the new information. “Youngjae-ssi has been very kind.”

“Good,” Yongguk said. “I know this situation – isn’t the easiest, but we want you to fit in here, Daehyun-ah.” Something lit up in Daehyun’s eyes as Yongguk made an effort to reach out to him, and Yongguk felt a smile pull at his lips. Something told him that with a little time, Daehyun would work well in their group.

“Thank you, hyung.” He wondered where Daehyun was from, considering the accent as it became a little more prominent. Yongguk thought TS mentioned to him that Daehyun only moved to Seoul recently, but when the news of a new vocalist came up, he hadn’t focused on those kind of details.

“We were given the evening off; are you up for a movie?” Yongguk asked, smiling at Daehyun, who smiled a little and agreed. He took a seat on the couch, motioning Daehyun over as well.

“Have you met Jongup and Junhong?” he asked. “They’re our maknaes.” Daehyun sat down, leaving a large distance between them. His large eyes glanced at Yongguk and then at his fidgeting hands.

“Not yet,” Daehyun said. He tilted his head forward as he spoke, making his brown hair flop into his eyes. Yongguk knew they planned to bleach everyone’s hair soon, and he wondered what Daehyun would look like blonde. He wondered what Daehyun would look like when he stood next to his fellow members.

Daehyun looked tiny. He knew from his briefing that he officially was taller than Jongup, but Jongup’s sturdy form made him look larger than Daehyun. Jongup also seemed to take up more space than Daehyun. For as quiet as he was, Jongup didn't apologize for taking up space. Daehyun's hunched shoulders did. Yongguk hoped that would improve with time; they didn't need another introvert in the group.

Yongguk didn’t want to leave Daehyun alone when he seemed so out-of-place already, so he just yelled for the others to join them. Daehyun flinched back when he raised his voice, making Yongguk wish he'd done something else to summon everyone even though it was too late.

Junhong and Jongup were the first to emerge from their room and enter the living room. Jongup had clearly said something that made Junhong laugh. When they saw Daehyun on the couch, both froze, shock flickering in their eyes. Yongguk knew they’d known Daehyun was coming this evening, but they’d spent the day dancing and probably forgot.

“This is Jung Daehyun,” Yongguk said, smiling at them. “Our new vocalist.” Of course the two didn’t need that to remember who Daehyun was, but it really said something about Daehyun that Yongguk, of all people, had to step in and help the introductions go smoothly.

“Nice to meet you, Daehyun-hyung,” Junhong said, with a small bow. Daehyun rubbed his hands on his pants, clearly struggling with whether he should stand or not. “I’m Junhong.”

“You’re a rapper, right?” Daehyun asked, biting his lip again. The strange sound of it caught Yongguk again, and he racked his brain because he knew what Daehyun’s voice sounded like but couldn’t put a word to it.

“Rap and dance,” Junhong said. Yongguk appreciated his cute, comforting smiles just as much now as he did when Yongguk had only just met him and wondered how the hell he’d work with him.

“I’m Moon Jongup – I’m dance mostly,” Jongup said. Yongguk wondered if he should correct Jongup and add vocals to his introduction, but he figured he’d let it go, glad that he introduced himself to Daehyun at least.

“Nice to meet you,” Daehyun said. For once, the maknaes sat on the sofa rather than the floor, making Daehyun scoot closer to Yongguk. He met Daehyun’s uneasy smile with his own hopefully-comforting one.

Youngjae and Himchan came out next, both smiling at Daehyun. Yongguk raised an eyebrow at Himchan, whose smile bordered on apologetic. Youngjae probably said something to him, Yongguk realized. Another wave of respect for Youngjae ran through him.

“I – apologize, Daehyun-ah,” Himchan said, his eyebrows drawing closer together as he took in Daehyun’s timid glances and fidgeting hands. “I treated you poorly earlier.”

“It’s okay, Himchan-ssi.” The use of the honorific made Himchan wince. “I know this isn’t easy for you.” He paused. “I just don’t want to mess things up for all of you.” Daehyun glanced at Yongguk as he spoke, directing the comment towards the leader.

“You’ll only make things better, Daehyun-ah,” Yongguk said, swallowing down his own inhibitions about the situation. “You’ll see.” Daehyun thanked him, but his posture still curled in on himself, and his body language still screamed discomfort. Yongguk wished he knew how to help him more, but he figured only time could do that.

“They said you haven’t been in Seoul long, right Daehyun-hyung?” Youngjae asked, clearly intent on continuing conversation.

“I became a trainee in the beginning of the summer,” Daehyun said. “I’d only been to Seoul once before that.” Yongguk nodded, accepting the new information. It had probably come up in his briefing about Daehyun, but still, the news surprised him. Daehyun had only trained with TS for a few months, then was placed with them. He must be damn good for TS to do that.

“Busan, right?” Himchan asked. Daehyun deflated even more at that, and Daehyun’s accent clicked for Yongguk just as Himchan said it.

“You can tell?” Daehyun said, slumping forward and sounding defeated. “I’m supposed to hide the accent.”

“We’re not on camera now,” Junhong pointed out, tilting his head at Daehyun. “Why hide it?”

“I know but – I just – I’m not supposed to sound like this.” Yongguk liked his normal voice better, he decided, accent or not. Removing the fake Seoul accent from his voice made him sound more natural and already more confident.

“Daehyun-ah,” Yongguk said, waiting until Daehyun met his eyes to continue. He kept a light smile on his face. “You don’t have to pretend here. Once we debut, we’re going to be on camera all the time and have to pretend all the time. Don’t pretend when you’re off camera too.”

“And definitely not to us,” Youngjae said, jumping in. “We’re going to be your closest friends.” Youngjae had a wide smile on, and Daehyun’s lips twitched into what Yongguk thought had to be the first real smile he’d seen from Daehyun.

He straightened up in his seat a little. “Thank you,” he said, and he looked straight into Yongguk’s eyes as he did. Yongguk swallowed, pushing down all the thoughts bubbling up in him that wanted him to protect Daehyun from everything and everyone who wanted him to be something he wasn’t. “That’s – a relief.”

“Now, movie time?” Himchan suggested. “You pick, Daehyun-ah. And pick anything you want. Yongguk hasn’t seen anything so we’re trying to educate him.” Yongguk rolled his eyes at his friend, but he smiled once again when Daehyun hesitantly said a title he didn’t recognize. Whatever it was had to be popular because both Junhong and Jongup cheered at the title, and their encouragement made Daehyun smile again.

Yongguk thought this might work out after all.

-------------

Daehyun had a beautiful voice. TS had waited so long to put another vocalist in with them that deciding to add Daehyun now meant he must be amazing. Yongguk knew that. 

Somehow, Daehyun’s voice still surprised him.

When Yongguk asked to watch his vocal practice, Daehyun had blushed and nodded in the timid way Yongguk was beginning to associate with him since meeting him the day before. He’d taken a seat in the corner of the room, waiting while Daehyun ran through a few warm-ups. He glanced at Yongguk every so often as though apologetic about the time it took him to warm up.

Yongguk smiled at him every time he felt Daehyun’s eyes on him, otherwise working on lyric ideas in his notebook. His stomach growled, and Yongguk frowned, the sound reminding him how he hadn’t tasted much of anything from his soulmate in days. He hoped whoever they were, they were okay and tried to bury the anxiety that wanted to bubble up and insist something must be wrong with them.

Then Daehyun began to really sing, and everything he’d been thinking about flew from his head because Daehyun’s voice was powerful and loud and not at all what Yongguk expected but exactly what he knew they needed.

The door to the studio opened, and Yongguk glanced away from Daehyun to see Youngjae walking in. Daehyun looked over at him and his voice faltered, but Youngjae only smiled and motioned for him to go on.

“He’s great, isn’t he?” Youngjae said, his voice quiet so as to not disturb Daehyun. He leaned on the wall next to Yongguk’s seat. Yongguk nodded, finding he couldn’t take his eyes off Daehyun as he sung. “I thought I’d feel jealous, you know? But – I don’t. He’s good at all the stuff I struggled with, and that means I can focus on the stuff I like.” Youngjae sounded a little surprised with himself, but his words made Yongguk smile.

Youngjae always recognized his own limitations. In the past couple months, that meant he repeated high notes over and over, only stopping when his voice couldn’t handle the notes without cracking and breaking through them. Himchan brought up anxiety over him damaging his voice multiple times, but they all knew how important it was to have a strong vocalist, and Youngjae had to hit those notes.

Youngjae hated singing like a tenor. Yongguk had watched him change song after song to fit his natural range when he wasn’t practicing and just singing for himself. Their debut forced him into the role of a tenor, and in retrospect, it seemed obvious to Yongguk that Youngjae would find having Daehyun in the group as a relief rather than something more negative.

“He’s scared of me though,” Youngjae continued. “Thinks I’m going to hate him because of it all. If you don’t mind, hyung, I think I’m going to take him out to dinner tonight, try and get to know him a little. Right now it seems like he thinks I’m going to kill him overnight.” Yongguk nodded his approval, letting out a little hum to show he was listening even though he kept his eyes on Daehyun.

He felt Youngjae’s quizzical glance and looked away from Daehyun, back down to his notebook. Yongguk felt Youngjae lean over to glance at his work. He hadn’t done anything serious, only scrawled a few words down and made a rhyme or too. Yongguk wasn’t even quite sure what he’d written.

“Oh,” Youngjae said, surprise and amusement coloring his voice. He chuckled, a smile pulling at his lips. “I didn’t expect that.” Before Yongguk could ask what he meant, Daehyun hit a breath-taking high note and finished.

He turned to look at Yongguk and Youngjae. “What did you think?” he asked, focusing the words at Yongguk even as his eyes glanced over to Youngjae. Daehyun knew he’d sung the song better than Youngjae could; anyone knew that because their voices were so different, and the song so clearly fit Daehyun better than Youngjae.

“That was great,” Yongguk told him. He’d never been one to give over-the-top praise, but much like with Junhong and Jongup’s dancing, Yongguk accepted singing wasn’t his strong point. He was at ease just telling Daehyun and Youngjae that they impressed him and leaving the technical coaching to their vocal coaches.

Daehyun beamed at him, accepting the praise. His eyes skirted over to Youngjae again, and Youngjae’s wide smile only made Daehyun look even happier. Yongguk wondered how different Daehyun would act once he got comfortable with the fact that they didn’t hate him for joining their group. He hoped he’d get to see it soon. Already his smile alone had Yongguk’s heart pounding and his chest filling with happiness.

Of course, that only happened because he wanted to see his dongsaengs succeed.

Youngjae stepped forward to let Daehyun know his plans for the evening, and Yongguk said a quick goodbye and made his way back into his own studio to work on some other lyrics. He glanced down to his notebook, remembering Youngjae’s comment.

Frowning, he reread the words he’d written during Daehyun’s song and oh – Yongguk understood Youngjae’s amusement because his words were all about big eyes that showed you everything someone couldn’t say with words.

Yongguk pursed his lips, considering the words and Daehyun because these things didn’t just happen to him. But – he found an easy explanation. Daehyun’s eyes were beautiful and big and said a lot. Anyone could see that. It didn’t mean much for him to focus on that while writing. Considering their company's recent request for a love song, Yongguk thought it was a good thing he'd noticed Daehyun's eyes. Inspiration comes from everywhere, after all.

He wrote for a while longer then moved to his computer as his lyrical ideas ran dry so he could focus on mixing music instead. At some point, he began to taste fried chicken, and though he rolled his eyes, he also smiled because that proved his soulmate was safe somewhere.

He was about thirty minutes into the normal cramps when Himchan came into the studio. Seeing him hunched over at his computer, Himchan set the food he’d brought down on the side. Even though he knew he’d regret it, Yongguk pulled his headphones out, facing Himchan and raising an eyebrow.

“Soulmate trouble?” he asked, taking a seat next to Yongguk, who nodded and grunted an answer. “You should take a break if it’s hurting.”

“I need to get this done.”

“Have you eaten anything all day?” Himchan said, ignoring his last statement. Yongguk didn’t bother to reply; they both already knew the answer. Himchan sighed, and Yongguk tried to just ignore him because he was an adult, and Himchan didn’t have to baby him. “I brought you food.” He looked back at the computer.

“No,” Yongguk said, not looking away from his work even though he couldn’t do much without his headphones. “Not now.”

“You need to eat,” Himchan said, stubborn. “I brought ramen.” Yongguk shook his head, moving to put his headphones back on. Himchan stopped him, grabbing his wrist. “You need to eat something.”

Yongguk sighed, realizing Himchan wasn’t about to drop the conversation. “Something small. And something simple.” Himchan beamed at him, and Yongguk snorted but couldn’t help smiling back at his friend.

“I brought plain bread.” Himchan pulled out a loaf of bread from the bag, and Yongguk raised his eyebrows. “You can’t get simpler than that. I’ve got butter and peanut butter too. Even brought honey, just in case Youngjae’s gotten you in that habit too.”

“Thanks, Channie,” Yongguk said with a small laugh. “I’ll at least put some butter on it though.” He stood to do it, but Himchan waved him away, buttering his bread for him. Yongguk wanted to laugh at his overbearing friend, but he couldn’t deny he appreciated the effort.

“Here you go, Bbang!”

“Bbang?” he questioned, taking a bite. Himchan buttered another piece for himself.

“Mhmm. It’s a good nickname.” Yongguk shrugged, not sure what to say about Himchan deciding to call him bread. “You’re right. It’s the greatestnickname.”

When Yongguk returned to the dorm that night, he expected everyone to already be asleep, but the sound of soft laughter proved him wrong. He opened Youngjae’s door – Youngjae and Daehyun’s door, he corrected, curious as to what they were doing.

Inside, the two were just sitting and talking, and Daehyun laughed again, his eyes bright with a happiness Yongguk was seeing for the first time but would get to know quite well. When he noticed Yongguk, he cut off, scrambling to stand up and greet Yongguk, but Yongguk stopped him by holding up a hand.

“Just checking in,” he said. “Make sure you get enough sleep.”

----------

“I thought being his soulmate would be a lot harder,” Himchan admitted, nodding his head towards the maknaes’ room, where they knew Jongup slept. “I was worried I’d start feeling like – like you know – about him. But I really just want to take care of him.”

Yongguk understood what Himchan meant. In the past couple weeks, he’d watched Himchan help Jongup with anything and everything he possibly needed.

“You want to give him every burger he could ever ask for,” Yongguk said dryly, knowing Himchan had taken Jongup out for hamburgers often in the past few weeks. Himchan grinned and shrugged, not shy at all about it.

“I just – want him to be happy.”

“He’s lucky to have you,” Yongguk said with a small smile. His thoughts turned to his own soulmate. Their eating habits had changed dramatically over the past few weeks, and they ate much less than before. Yongguk hoped (in the most hypocritical way possible) they got enough food every day. He just hoped they were okay.

“I think Youngjae might know,” Himchan said, pursing his lips as he thought. Yongguk glanced up, alarmed. “He’s really clever. Surprises me sometimes.”

“How would he know?” Yongguk asked. He’d decided before that the best way to deal with Himchan’s situation was to not talk about it in front of the other members. Sure, he trusted them but this was an important secret, and news traveled fast once too many people knew.

“I always brush my teeth right after I take Jongup out. I think he noticed and considering how much I used to complain about burgers…” Himchan trailed off, shrugging. Yongguk grimaced.

“It’s okay,” Yongguk said. “Just – be careful, okay?”

“Of course.” Himchan sighed, and Yongguk regretted berating Himchan about it. He knew Himchan cared about Jongup more than anything and would never do anything to hurt him. “It’s good to see Daehyun settling in well.”

Yongguk smiled at the new train of thought. Though Daehyun remained somewhat shy around him, he’d opened up to the other members a lot. In the process, he’d no doubt become Youngjae’s best friend, which was something Youngjae desperately had needed.

Yongguk hadn’t heard him use that wistful tone when talking to his JYP friends ever since he’d grown closer to Daehyun, and it seemed that every day Daehyun laughed a little louder and smiled a little brighter. He hadn’t noticed day-to-day, but comparing Daehyun to how he’d been two weeks ago made them seem like totally different people.

They’d begun to learn the choreography to “Warrior,” and he’d seen Daehyun trying Junhong’s rap and laughing when he couldn’t during their breaks. At one point, he’d succeeded, and immediately turned to Youngjae, and they started jumping around and cheering and hitting each other excitedly. Yongguk had just watched it happen, shocked by Daehyun’s loud, cheerful laughter and even by Youngjae’s clear excitement.

“He got so excited when he did Junhong’s rap,” Himchan continued, a smile growing on his face. “Did you see that?” Yongguk nodded, his own smile growing to match Himchan’s.

“It’s nice to see him opening up,” he said. “Hopefully he continues to.”

“Famous last words,” a voice said from behind the couch, and Yongguk jumped even as he recognized Youngjae’s voice. “Talking about us, hyungs?” Youngjae grinned as both Yongguk and Himchan spun around, seeing him standing in the hallway with Daehyun.

He came over to the couch while Daehyun lingered behind him, hesitating for another moment before sitting next to Youngjae.

“Why aren’t you asleep? We have a lot to do tomorrow.” Himchan asked. Youngjae shrugged.

“Why aren’t you?”

“You’re the one who needs beauty sleep, hyung.” Daehyun’s voice still sounded hesitant, and Yongguk knew he shouldn’t support his members insulting each other, but Daehyun’s sweet voice combined with the utter shock on Himchan’s face made him laugh. Youngjae joined in, smacking Himchan once or twice because Youngjae handled amusement violently.

Himchan shoved him off, looking offended in such an over-the-top way that it had to be a joke. “Yoo Youngjae! I know this is your fault. He seemed so sweet before, and look what you did to him!”

“I’m right here, hyung,” Daehyun said, giggling.

“You know what we were saying about you opening up?” Himchan asked him. Daehyun nodded, a wide smile across his lips. “I take it back. I liked you better when you didn’t talk.” Daehyun laughed again.

“Sorry, hyung,” he said, not sounding apologetic at all. “People actually tell me I talk too much a lot.”

“They’re right,” Youngjae said, and his dry tone shocked Yongguk a little. He’d watched Youngjae and Daehyun’s relationship grow but much of progress happened late at night in their room, and this was the first time he got to see the two interacting during their free time. “He never stops talking. Usually about food.”

“Food is important! And I’m going through cheesecake withdrawals.”

“Should I even ask?” Himchan asked. Yongguk watched Daehyun gesture and smile as he jumped into telling Himchan about cheesecake, of all things.

“I take my cheesecake very seriously,” he said. “My grandma made the best cheesecake and even when I moved here there was this place right by the trainee’s dorms. Now, there’s nothing.”

“I know, it’s devastating.” Youngjae wiped a fake tear from his face as he spoke, and Daehyun smacked his shoulder.

“Only good thing about it is my soulmate isn’t mad at me anymore.” Daehyun laughed, his eyes crinkling with amusement. “They started drinking mouthwash anytime I ate some.”

“They probably realize you’ll never love anyone as much as you love cheesecake.” Youngjae jerked away to avoid Daehyun hit him again. Both laughed, and Yongguk wondered when their relationship became so violent.

“Maybe your soulmate is like Bbang,” Himchan said. “He gets cramps from his soulmate.” Yongguk felt his face heat up as Daehyun turned to look at him, concern evident in his wrinkled forehead and small frown.

“I didn’t know that was a thing,” Daehyun said. His frown lightened. “If it is, at least now I’m not bothering them as much. I eat totally different here.”

Yongguk’s soulmate had also changed their diet recently. He frowned, his heart speeding up as he looked at Daehyun. Then he mentally rolled his eyes. That was stupid. With seven billion people on the world, his soulmate couldn’t be Daehyun. Coincidences happen.

“It’s not too bad,” Yongguk said, shrugging. “It lets me know they’re okay, at least.”

“That’s good. I worry about mine sometimes. They hardly ever eat.”