#i should obviously be saving up to hold onto that option if i NEED it but

[foxcassius]

had an interview for a job that seems good and she said if they want me they'll send me an offer by noon today. i'm still holding out for the bookmobile job at the library though that interview is on tuesday next week and if they offer me the job i'm saying yes no two ways about it

[urinarythreatinfection]

Hiii!!! Omg I loved Kindness Isn't Spineless!! Would you be willing to do a part 3?? Where reader and the crew are visiting an island and run into readers ex? Since they ex was toxic/abusive, reader obviously feels afraid. How would Luffy and the crew react? Luffy comforting reader? I hope you’re well <33

Hey so I went totally overboard hope that's alright. I ended up making this way too long and I have a book report to do so I'll make this the 3rd part and the next one will be the last part cuz I don't wanna dwell on this too long. Hope that's good.

Kindness Isn't Spineless

Luffy x Gn!Reader. Lots of fluff, the strawhats are here too. Happiness all around. TW: small allusion to abusive ex relationship, reader gets anxious. 2,820~ words.

Part 1, Part 2, Part 4

“Luffy wait!” You call out to the rubber man as he drags you by the hand happily off of the ship, excited to see a new island. It’s tuckering you out, especially when you’re drowsy from the heat. You try to stop him by standing still, but his arm just stretches as he runs ahead of you. It’s only when it drags you back to him that he realizes what happened, managing to catch you before you slammed into him.

“Woah! Hey you’re being so slow!” He says, putting you down onto your feet.

“I’m trying to be energetic but the nap I took outside ended up just making me sleepier.” You respond, sighing.

“Want me to carry you?” He grins and holds his arms out. You consider that option before shaking your head.

“No, I need to walk around to get rid of the drowsiness anyway.” After declining Luffy nods and almost immediately runs off again, stopping when you squeeze his hand. “Luffy…” You say, your voice stern, and he pouts.

“Sorry…” He doesn’t like being scolded, but listens. It’s not so bad walking like this either, holding hands as he swings them happily. He saved up some allowance so he’s excited to see the kind of food they have here, his eyes shining at the thought. It makes him want to run again but he settles when he sees you looking around.

“It’s pretty here. I know maybe not that different from other islands we’ve been to but they have decorations up. Is there a festival?” You pull Luffy to one of the stalls, buying him an apple to munch on while you ask the stall owner a few questions. As it turns out, there is indeed a festival. It’s why there were other big ships at the dock, people are visiting from other islands to celebrate. “Luffy did you hear that?” You turn to your boyfriend, who nods his head with his cheeks full of apple. He chews a few times before swallowing and licking juice from his lips.

“Festival, right? That’s why they have all the stuff up?” Wow he was actually listening. You give him a kiss on the cheek, earning a “Shi shi shi.” of a happy Luffy. The stall owner mentions that there'll be fireworks too, and even games to play.

“A lot of stall owners are going to be selling food too, which is my personal favorite.” The owner says and Luffy’s eyes light up, looking at you in excitement.

“We’re staying for the festival, Luffy. I doubt the others would want to miss it either. From what the owner said there’s some historic significance to it, we should tell Robin that when we see her.” Luffy seems uninterested until you add “She’ll be happy.” and then he seems more interested.

“Let’s go find her!” He yells, quickly grabbing another apple before he drags you away. He backtracks for a quick second to pay and then you both are actually off, Luffy picking you up and running around looking for your crewmates to give the news. You find Zoro and Nami, Nami seems interested.

“Ooo a festival, yeah we’ll stay.” The prospect of wearing cute clothes and walking around in pretty scenery is appealing to her, especially when she thinks of all the rich bastards that’ll probably come. “Huhuhu.. I’m not giving you more allowance for the festival though, spend it wisely. Unless you want to take out a loan, of course~” She says with a sly smile.

“Crazy woman.” Zoro mumbles and she tugs his ear. “Ow!” They bicker a bit but Zoro also agrees. The festival itself is okay, but the real thing that interests him is the festive alcohol.

“I’m a crazy woman for wanting money but focusing on only alcohol in a beautiful festival is sane?” Nami asks with a scoff and Zoro scowls.

“Okay let's find the others!” Luffy says quickly, picking you back up and running off after waving bye to Nami and Zoro. You find Chopper and Usopp next.

“Festival? Yeah I heard about it, my great great great grandfather actually held the first festival of this island. I even have an ancient relic of the past-” Usopp starts and you cover his mouth before he starts rambling, you’ll take that as a yes.

“What about you Chopper?” You ask the small reindeer and he nods.

“Sounds super fun!” He says excitedly, hopping a little. “They’ll have cotton candy too, right?” You nod and he hops more. “Then let’s stay! I’ll go buy all the things I need before they close up shop for the festival!” With that, the little reindeer runs off with Usopp.

You find Brook and Jinbe next, people glancing at the sight of a huge fishman and a skeleton just sitting drinking tea. “Yohoho, a festival? I agree, what about you Jinbe-san?” Brook turns to Jinbe.

“I agree as well, festivals are always a nice thing to celebrate; especially with friends.” He says with a smile.

“Very wise, Jinbe-san.” Brook says, taking a sip of his tea. “Thinking of spending time with friends at a festival... it brings a tear to my eye, not that I have one! Yohohoho!” Him and Jinbe laugh at his joke, you two leaving after saying bye.

“We already got majority vote, can we go eat now?” Luffy asks as you two actually walk around normally this time.

“True, but this is fun, isn’t it? Telling news to the crew. Plus, didn’t you hear what Nami said? We gotta spend our money wisely. Saving it for the festival food sounds way better.” You tell Luffy and he pouts a little, then grins.

“Okay! And yeah, this is fun!” He says, quickly hugging you. You hug him back, then go back on your festival informant mission. Franky stayed on the Sunny, he didn’t need to buy anything and instead took the chance to look over the Sunny while protecting it. There are a lot of other ships around after all, there’s no telling if one of them is hostile and tries something. “FRANKKYYYY!!!” Luffy yells from the dock up to the ship. A few moments and the cyborg replies.

“Yeah!?” He yells back and Luffy wraps one arm around you, stretching the other to grab onto the Sunny. It launches you both up and onto the ship, in front of Franky.

“There’s gonna be a festival! Fireworks and meat!” Luffy says, excited, and Franky grins.

“Festival? So that’s why there’s so many ships around.” The cyborg notes. “You both want to stay for that, right? Sounds Super!”

“You’re not gonna celebrate?” You ask with a frown and he shakes his head.

“Someone has to look after the Sunny, marines and other pirates might try something.” He explains and both you and Luffy frown. “Cheer up! I’ll be able to see the fireworks from here!” He says, but you and Luffy still seem a little bummed. Franky is mature despite his personality, he has a point. You don’t want him to be alone though, besides the Sunny. Luffy kisses you on the cheek.

“Well, it’s his choice. C’mon we still have Sanji and Robin!” The captain says, spreading his happy energy to you. It makes you feel better; plus, you doubt with some of the crews’ personalities that he’ll be alone for long. You two hop off of the ship and spot Sanji holding groceries, he must be bringing them back to stock the ship.

“Oh, Sanji!” You call out but Luffy beats you to it, grabbing onto Sanji’s shoulders and launching to him.

“Sanji!!” He yells and the cook jolts.

“Luffy you idiot I’m holding things!” He says, but it’s too late and Luffy slams into him. Thankfully, experience and leg strength helps him stay upright. Luffy pulls back enough to look at him.

“Sanji, there’s gonna be a festival!” The captain announces and Sanji’s eyes widen.

“A festival?” He asks and the words echo in his head. ‘Festival… festival..’ His thoughts go to the women crowding the streets in festive clothing, giggling and having fun. Nami and Robin in their prettiest clothes, eating food and playing games. Sanji playing the games for them, winning prizes and offering it to them like the goddesses they are. He can already hear their voices thanking him, praising him, bestowing their beautiful presence upon him.

“Sanji! Sanji! Hello??” You pat his cheek and he snaps out of it.

“Yes I’ll stay for the ladi- the festival.” He quickly answers, blood trickling from his nose to Luffy’s laughter. The rubber man lets go of Sanji, landing on the ground and turning to you.

“We just need Robin now!” He says, having fun on this mission you’ve made.

“Robin-chan should be near the outskirts of the island, saying there were ruins here she’s interested in." Sanji's face darkens. "I wanted to go with her, but I needed to buy groceries.” He seems genuinely bummed. “I can’t keep a lady waiting for me.”

“Cool! Let’s go!” Luffy's too used to Sanji’s woes to take them seriously. You give the cook a pat on the back before you two leave. When you’re at the outskirts of the island you realize you don’t know which part of the island she went to.

“Maybe we should’ve asked around if anyone knows where the ruins are.” You mumble to yourself, bearing the curse of hindsight.

“We just gotta look around, right? Robin always shows up!” Luffy says, swinging your held hands.

“True, Robin tends to appea- AAHH!” You jump with a yelp when you feel a hand on your shoulder, turning around quickly to see a chuckling Robin.

“Sorry, couldn’t resist.” She says with a smile as you put a hand to your chest, your heart thumping. Luffy seems unaffected, just excited to complete the mission.

“Robin! They’re having a festival! There’s gonna be meat and history too but meat and fireworks and meat!” Luffy rambles and Robin nods.

“I heard, I was going to tell you all when we met up but it looks like you two beat me to it.” She says.

“Great! Everyone knows now so we can go eat!” Your captain exclaims, forgetting about your earlier statement of saving for the festival.

“Luffy…” You sigh and Robin chuckles again, able to make out the context.

“Well, eating a bit beforehand shouldn’t hurt, right?” She suggests and Luffy quickly nods.

“Don’t instigate him!” You stare at her, betrayed. She gently shakes her head.

“They’ll most likely make the festival food more expensive, it’s better for him to not hold his hunger." The archeologist points out. “Luffy won’t fill up, but it should help.” She has a point.

“True…” There’s also valid concern that he might eat everything before the festival, but there could be some shops that are selling non-festive food that won't sell during the festival. You might even be able to get some for cheap depending on what it is. “Thanks Robin.”

“Have fun~” She says before you two walk off. You and Luffy go to multiple places that sell food, buying anything that won’t sell during the festivities. It helps Luffy a bit, and he pats his stomach with a content sigh.

“You aren’t gonna eat more?” He asks you and you shake your head.

“I ate enough, I’ll save the rest for the stalls.” You say and he shrugs.

“Well, okay!” He kisses you, tastes like the ham sandwich he just ate.

………………………..

Festival time! It’s bright and colorful, celebrating the moon’s creation apparently. It used to be a more elegant celebration, but time passed and people wanted to celebrate in the best way they knew how. Fun! Games and food stalls galore. You and the rest of the crew walk around, admiring everything. Luffy, thanks to Robin’s genius, gets to eat skewers with “moon sauce” whatever that is. It tastes good, you know that much. When you’re walking around you hear some whispers.

“Did you hear Mante is gonna be here?” Your heart drops as you hear the two people speaking.

“Mante? The hottie dancer?” The other person asks. “The one who works with that charity for the homeless?” Fuck, that’s definitely him.

“Yeah, apparently he’s dancing here for the festival. He’s using 70% of the profits he gets for his charity!”

“No way! Apparently dancing here is a ton of pressure! Giving most of the berri away, that’s crazy.”

“His good looks match his heart, I guess.” With that, the two people leave. Your heart pounds in your chest, this is bad, this is really bad. You knew he was getting popular but you didn’t know he would appear here.

“(Y/n)?” Luffy, munching on a moon themed pie, says your name. You’re out of it, only coming to when he presses his forehead to yours. You jolt.

“Luffy, you scared me.” You respond, getting startled for the second time today.

“You were spacing out all weird, what happened? Do you know this Mante guy?” He asks and you sigh.

“Y-Yeah, I used to know him…” Your voice is bitter and Luffy tilts his head in confusion.

“Does he suck at dancing or something?” The captain assumes from your reaction.

“No, no, he’s good. He wouldn’t be this popular if he actually sucked.” Your sigh only makes him more confused.

“What is it then?” He asks but you’re hesitant to answer, not wanting to ruin the fun by saying he’s your ex. Before he can push more, the sound of music starts. It calms you for a second before your eyes trail to a platform, on it are various dancers; and in the middle is the person of your nightmares. He’s handsome, maybe even more handsome than before in his beautiful dancer clothing. Luffy swallows the pie in his mouth, furrowing his brows as he follows your gaze to the dancer. He doesn’t know what’s going on but he knows you look scared. He quickly finishes the rest of the pie and grabs your hand. “Fireworks are way better anyway, let’s go somewhere else.”

“Where are you guys going?” Chopper, holding cotton candy, asks. He notices your pale complexion and gets worried. “Are you okay? Did you eat too much?” You shake your head and he frowns, holding up his cotton candy to you. “Want something sweet?” You shake your head again and he looks really worried.

“It’s okay Chopper, I’m just a little nervous. Maybe I just need to go somewhere quiet for a bit.” You tell the little reindeer and he nods, still staring at you. He pulls out some chewable tablets.

“Just in case it is your stomach, chew two of these and you should feel a little better.” The doctor says and you take the tablet, pocketing them.

“T-Thanks.” You mumble.

“What’s going on? Did you get constipated?” A voice behind you says, Zoro. He’s with Usopp and Nami, holding whatever they buy or win.

“Ohh is that it? Are you constipated?” Luffy turns to you and you shake your head again. The assumption is a little funny, but it isn’t really helping your nerves.

“Stop assuming gross stuff.” Nami says, annoyed. She walks over to you. “You’re just feeling anxious right? Robin is thinking about going back to the ship if you wanna go with her.” The offer is really tempting, the problem is that you also really don’t want to ruin things for Luffy. Of course, he can choose to have fun without you and leave you to Robin and Franky. He trusts them to keep you safe like this, but there’s also a chance he might be too worried to leave you alone. You can’t properly predict which one it’ll be with him, plus you do want to have fun with him around here. The thought of losing that because of him makes you angry.

“I’ll go somewhere with less people for a bit, then I'll come back for the fireworks.” You settle with and she nods.

“Well, okay.” Nami says, turning around to see Zoro trying to wander off. She quickly grabs him and pushes him to Usopp. “Make sure he doesn’t run off.” She tells him. Usopp doesn’t really want to, but Nami is scarier than Zoro. “I’ll see you, then. Don’t hesitate to go back to the ship if you need to.” She says and Chopper nods.

“I won’t.” You respond and Luffy looks at you, tightening his hold on your hand.

“I’m coming with you.” He says and you look at him.

“You don’t have to, I’ll be ba-”

“Nuh uh, I wanna go with you. I wanna rest too.” He doesn’t want to leave you alone, walking around without you wouldn’t be as fun anyway. You sigh in relief.

“Mkay, let’s go then.” To be honest you don’t wanna be completely alone either. You’re scared being alone might just make the thoughts come back. With that, you both leave after saying seeya to Nami, Zoro, Usopp, and Chopper. 'I just want to have fun without thinking of him.'

[lacontroller1991]

Fluff/WhumpTOBER Day 24: John Hancock

Day 24: Comfort Food/Radiation Poisoning Masterlist Warnings: 16+, radiation poisoning (obviously), vomit, mentions of sexual activity (nothing explicit, it's just there as plot) Word Count: 659

It starts with nausea. A persistent pit in your stomach that never seems to go away. Accompanying the nausea is the enduring fatigue. You play it off as either bad food or a nasty hangover from whatever drug you took with Hancock the night before. But even with limiting drug use and changing your diet the symptoms don’t go away.

Realistically, you know what it is. You knew the potential of getting sick while sleeping with John was high, you just didn't think it was this high.

-pov switch-

Hancock watches you empty your stomach again as his withered hand holds your hair back, the other rubbing your back in small circles. Despite his laid back attitude and ad hoc personality, he’s not stupid. He knows that it’s not drugs or food causing your sickness, it has to be something else.

Radiation poisoning would be a concern but he makes sure to give you rad away so it can’t be that. But as you stand back to your normal height, hand wiping away vomit, John pulls his hand back from your head, a clump of hair tangling between his fingers.

“What the fuck?” John raises his hand closer to his face, carefully inspecting the hair while you heave, your eyes widening at the sight of your hair in his hands. His black eyes flick away from his hands and land on you, an undefinable look in them. “We need to get you some more rad-away.” And there it is. The reason as to why you’re sick. Noting your hesitance, his eyes narrow. “You have been taking rad-away, right?” Your silence is accusing.

“Yeah, I’ve been taking rad-away.” Unlike a certain spy, you’re a shoddy liar and Hancock knows it. Stomping over to you, he grabs your arm and shoves up the sleeve only to find smooth skin, no bruising from a needle. As he moves to raise up the other one, you try to pull away. “Hancock, wait.”

He ignores your pleas as he raises your other sleeve and the lack of bruising is incriminating. John takes a step back, not really sure what to make of it. “You knew that sleeping with me would make you sick. Why are you not taking the rad-away?” “We need to save it for when we really need it. Taking it after each time we sleep together is a waste.” You’re not wrong. The rate at which you and Hancock fool around and have sex with each other is staggering. It would be a waste of rad-away to take it each time. “Besides, what if I want to be a ghoul?” He looks away, pinching the bridge of his nose. The thought of spending forever with you would be incredible, but not everyone who takes on radiation poisoning turns into a ghoul, and you should know this. “I’m not saying I don’t want you to be a ghoul like me, but we both know that it’s never guaranteed. Besides, what you're doing to yourself… it’s not fun, sunshine,” he comments softly, hands digging in his bag before producing a bag of rad-away. “Take it for me. I hate seeing you like this.”

“Bu-”

“If you’re not going to take care of yourself then I’m not going to sleep with you. I will not be complicit in your suicide,” he holds the bag out for you as you weigh your options before you plop down onto the ground with a grumble, shoving your sleeve up. “There’s the smart vault dweller I know.” He beams down at you, helping the needle glide under your skin and into your vein, the medicine mixing with your blood as a visible sigh of relief shudders through your body. “Feel better?”

“Yeah. I was just trying to hold off until I absolutely needed it.” Hancock rolls his eyes in annoyance before taking a seat next to you, lacing his fingers with yours.

“Don’t do that shit again.” “Noted.” 

[necrotic-nephilim]

https://www.tumblr.com/necrotic-nephilim/761747687384252416/i-dont-care-how-much-you-hate-me-you-need-to?source=share

so i'm imagining that tim gets free

(maybe it's steph who's on the outs with tim and doesn't believe him about bruce but sure as fuck doesn't approve of whatever the hell this is or maybe it's damian who's jealous that tim is getting any so much of dick's attention despite the fact that he's the heir and robin)

regardless tim gets the fuck out of gotham and goes on his international art theft adventure to find bruce

unfortunately for everyone dick processes to lose his shit and now damian (and steph to a lesser extent) is doing for dick what tim did for bruce

also a lot of heroes are drawing parallels between this and b reaction after jason died

anyway tim gets his proof (and get saved by jason bc jason's looking at dick all "this is really creepy actually and i don't want you anywhere near tim despite how bad our relationship is")

tim then goes to green arrow with his proof because he knows that man would call dick out no matter what costume he's wearing and he actually does an ok job with all the kids he picks up

there's a jla meeting and dick sees tim and is just as unstable as tim guessed he would be and it's pinging everyone's radar as A Problem now

but obviously they get bruce back and no this is his problem bc literally everyone in the league is like "pls keep dick away from tim, his behavior has passed weird and gone into extremely unsettling"

i can't see what happens next bc i can't imagine bruce actually being help but i can see him being a disaster when he tries and that would be funny

this is SO good anon i love all of these things based on that fic so much aaaa

personally when i was writing it, i imagined Jason being the one to break Tim free. not out of wanting to save Tim or anything, but more so seeing it as a chance to make Tim owe him, and just to fuck with Dick. Jason will cause problems because He Can, and while i don't think he would particularly care for the moral implications of Dick holding Tim hostage (Jason was morally all over the place during Dick's Batman era i fear) he's just morbidly curious. that said the idea of Steph being the one to do so is also fun, because for her it *would* be the moral issue as well as caring about Tim. i think the most fun option is somewhere in the middle, where Jason and Steph are forced to team up, each with different end goals and not trusting each other whatsoever. so when they succeed and get Tim safely out of Dick's hold, there's a deep disagreement and slight scuffle over what to do now, Jason trying to manipulate Tim further against Dick and onto his side, whereas Steph is just prioritizing Tim's safety. i think it's fun if Tim is slightly mentally broken, just from how long he was held captive and the realization of Dick's feelings at the end fo the fic. so he's distrusting of anyone he's once trusted, even Steph, that he just slips away to focus on getting Bruce back, leaving both Jason and Steph trying to chase Tim. and course, Dick.

because Dick would of course try to get Tim back, again and again. Damian is trying to reel Dick back, just because he wants Dick's attention and he does sort of believe they should focus on Gotham. and then Steph is also trying to distract Dick to protect Tim. so everyone's tail spinning in the most complicated game of cat and mouse. Steph and Damian are forced on the same side, trying to get Dick to focus on Gotham instead of Tim, just for now. Steph is promising to keep an eye on Tim, Damian is insisting Gotham needs Dick's attention and combined, they're able to at least keep his immediate focus away from Tim, giving Tim time to find his proof. Jason having to save him is just *fun*, because it reinforces how sort of helpless Tim is. he's not up on his training and his become soft and with Dick's need to catch up to him eventually, it puts him in a vulnerable spot he would *hate.* he'd despise needing to be saved by Jason of all people. it'd fuck him up so bad, because all the bad things Jason is saying about Dick are technically true and somehow, the world is so flipped upside down that Jason is the reasonable one. i think it'd make Tim isolate more and more, distancing himself from the Batfamily, even the ones he should trust like Steph. sure, he's on the outs with her (likely still upset from the Search For A Hero arc) but she's looking out for him. and maybe he knows it, deep down, but Tim is just terrified of trusting anyone associated with the Bat name.

and since he can't go to the Batfam with his proof, him going to Oliver is *so* fun. i adore any concept where Oliver is the one to notice something is very wrong in the Batfam i swear anon it's like you're connected to my BRAIN. because sure Oliver doesn't *like* Bruce, but even Oliver knows this is fucked up. the story Tim tells him is a horrifying one. Oliver has always done right by his kids, or at least tried his best to. so to know what Dick pulled is horrifying. there's this implicit trust the entire hero community has in Nightwing that would get badly shaken up and i think that's fun. the Justice League meetings about it would be a shitshow. someone like Clark who's as close to Dick as he is would want to at least hear Dick out, try to understand his point of view. maybe Dick was in the wrong, but he had to have been doing this out of a place of concern and Tim's just twisted up about Dick's intentions. at the very least, trust in Dick is shattered but no one can agree on what to do, if they can do anything at all. it's agreed to keep TIm safe and away from Dick and long talks are had with Dick, but Dick is disturbingly good at being charming and manipulative, convincing them all he's sorry and he knows he took it too far, it's just the stress of the mantle that got to him.

and Bruce coming back would further complicate things in such fun ways. because Bruce will *always* protect and side with Dick. yes, he's worried about Tim, but he refuses to let any negative blowback hit Dick for this. because sure, Bruce would've never done that, but also, Bruce has done equally shitty things so, he's also not going to fully question it. Dick made a judgment call in the heat of the moment, and now, Bruce is going to defend his right to do so. it sends the League even more out of control, because they didn't expect Bruce to be so deeply on Dick's side. the phase "what would Bruce think?" got thrown at Dick a lot by all of them and now, well. they look a bit like fools for it because Bruce has made it clear what he thinks is that Dick had the right to make the call he thought was best as Batman. so while Dick is socially exiled, he doesn't face any *real* consequences. he's still in hero society and is respected as Nightwing and allowed to exist on the League. Dick just patiently waits for it all to blow over because eventually, there's always something more important to focus on that will make people forget about this outside of just a weird bad mistake Dick made.

and the longterm for TIm is fun. because I think he'd keep his distance from Gotham and Bludhaven, mostly keeping around Oliver, given Oliver is one of the few League members still refusing to let it all go, and it gives Tim some kind of safety net. but i think Dick would still try to pursue Tim. Dick would convince himself he just went about it the wrong way, he came on a little too strongly and he can still fix it. he keeps harassing Tim and trying to get Tim to like him back, making it clear he has no real regret for his actions. i think it's fun if Tim is forced to fake a relationship with someone else to get Dick to leave him alone. maybe Jason, maybe Steph. (honestly, this being JayTimSteph could be fun) and that fake relationship ends up developing into something more real, which would make Dick *insanely* jealous. i'm torn between Dick actually taking it too far (possibly forcing himself on Tim) or keeping his distance because both are fun. i'm partial to him forcing himself on Tim, just for the fucked up non-con that Tim has to cope with, knowing nothing he does will get Dick to leave him alone. he learns the best ways to stay safe, but it essentially kills his ability to have a vigilante career bc it puts him too out in the open. he takes a more Oracle-esque role (Tim working with the Birds of Prey could be a lot of fun) and always lives in some kind of fear of Dick catching up to him. it's so fun and fucked up that even when Tim escapes, he doesn't really and he knows it.

[stargazer-sims]

Broken Glass

♫ Broken Glass - David Francey ♫

This will make more sense if you've already read Full Circle

_______________

"Forest, what are you doing?"

Fox probably doesn't have to pose this question. He thinks he has a fairly solid idea without needing to ask; however, if working with kids on a daily basis for the past twenty-plus years and also being a parent to six kids of his own has taught him anything, it's that jumping to conclusions is almost always the wrong thing to do. He'd much rather hear an explanation directly from the child in question.

Now that his and Takahiro's older kids have moved into their newly-renovated rooms in the basement, everyone has to pass by Forest's and Camellia's doors to get to the laundry room. The fact that Forest's bedroom door is open is what catches Fox's attention initially, but the thing that makes him pause and set his basket of laundry down is what he sees on his second glance. His oldest son is sitting on his bed, haphazardly cramming clothes and other items into a large bag. Forest's green backpack is on the floor beside the bed. It looks full to bursting.

Forest looks up briefly. "Nothing."

"It certainly looks like something."

Fox steps onto the threshold of Forest's room, but doesn't go any further. Ever since their kids were old enough to understand the concept of privacy, he and Takahiro have maintained that the kids' rooms are spaces that the kids control. Unless it's an emergency, they won't go in without permission.

"It's none of your business,” says Forest, in a defensive response that takes Fox aback.

"Papa said you were upset when you got home from school today," Fox says.

"Yeah," Forest acknowledges. "I told him I didn't want to talk to him about it."

"He mentioned that. He said he thought you were waiting for me to get home from work."

"Sort of."

"Would you like to talk to me about it?"

Forest shrugs. "I guess I can tell you, but it doesn't really matter. There's nothing anybody can do."

"Maybe not, but I can listen," Fox says. "Can I come in?"

"Yeah, I guess."

Fox steps into the room and comes over to sit on the end of the bed. There are clothes strewn all over it. He picks up a shirt and begins to fold it. "You know, you'd be able to fit more stuff in your bag if you took your time and organized it."

"What?"

"Your bag," Fox says. "Obviously, you're packing. You'd fit more in there if you folded everything. I presume you want to save a spot for your sketchbooks and pencils, don't you?"

His son stares at him. "Are you, like... helping me pack?"

"Don't I always help you pack?"

"We're not going on a family trip, Dad," Forest says.

“I know.”

"I'm the only one going."

"So I figured." Fox lifts another shirt and folds it neatly atop the first one. "Come on. Take all that stuff out and I'll help you fix it."

"Why?"

"If you're running away, there won't be anyone to help you carry your stuff. You should be economical with your storage space so you can fit as much as you can into as few bags as possible."

"How did you...?"

"How do I know you're running away? Let's see..." Fox pretends to think about it. "A kid packing his bag when he's not going to an overnight camp or to a sleepover or on a planned trip? There aren't that many options left."

"Great." Forest sighs and drops the pair of jeans he'd been holding. "So much for a clean getaway. I can't even run away right."

"There's no right or wrong way," Fox says. "Either you go, or you don't. There's no rule book on how to do it."

For several seconds, Forest doesn't respond. He just sits there and gazes at Fox as if he's trying to look inside his brain, to discern in which direction their conversation is ultimately heading. After a while he says, "Are you... you're like, okay with this?"

"No," Fox replies.

"But, you're not gonna try to stop me."

"Would it do any good for me to try?" Fox asks. "You're not the first person in this family to run away, you know. Your grandparents stopped me the first time I tried it, and that just led to me being smarter about it on my second attempt. I sneaked off in the middle of the night, and I was on a plane before they even realized I was gone."

"That's not true."

"You can ask Granny and Grandpa or Aunt Clancy if you don't believe me," he says. "Anyway, I doubt me trying to keep you here would work any better than my parents trying to keep me at home did. If I told you I don't want you to leave, would that make you want to stay or would it make you want to go even more?"

Forest narrows his eyes suspiciously. "I see what you're doing."

"What am I doing?" Fox asks.

"Psychology or whatever," Forest says. "You're treating me like you probably treat your clients."

"It seems to work on them."

"Dad, I'm not stupid. Not that stupid at least. You're trying to trick me into doing what you want, and I'm not falling for it."

"I'm not trying to trick you into anything," Fox insists. "You're still a minor until January, so Papa and I have the legal right to keep you under our roof until then, but if you really want to go now, I won't stand in your way and I don't think Papa will either. I think you're old enough to make your own choices. If you think running away from your problems is a good choice, you're free to test that theory if you want."

"Who says I'm running away from my problems?"

"Aren't you?"

"I'm running away so I won't be anyone else's problem," Forest tells him.

Fox contemplates this. His instinct is to ask his son why he feels that way, why he thinks he's a problem for anyone, but it occurs to him that he might already know the answer. After all, hadn't he felt similarly at Forest's age? He'd often wished he could just disappear so he'd no longer be a burden to the people around him. Although it wasn't the only catalyst for his own flight from home, it'd certainly been a factor in his decision.

The realization that this might be the case for Forest too is upsetting. Even before Forest and Camellia were born, Fox was determined not to make the same mistakes with them that his parents had made with him. He didn't want to raise them — or any of his children — in an environment where the predominant emotions were fear, shame and guilt.

Fox's parents hadn't handled any aspect of his upbringing in an appropriate way, in his opinion, and things only got worse after he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of six. Because of his illness, his parents sheltered him to the point where he became afraid of everything and could barely do anything for himself. His entire purpose in life had been to do what his parents said was best, and not to make them angry or sad for any reason or cause them to worry even more.

They'd meant well and they hadn't been trying to hurt him, but unfortunately, their own fear had blinded them to the fact that they were actually far more responsible for Fox’s suffering than any outside factors ever were. They were terrified something awful would happen to him and they were desperate to protect him, but what they failed to understand was that by keeping him away from virtually everything the world had to offer, they'd harmed him even more than he might've been harmed if he'd been allowed to experience things for himself.

The older he got, the less content he was with the way things were. Obeying his parents wishes became more difficult as he began to have goals and dreams of his own. Eventually, the situation devolved to where he couldn't take it any more, and he knew he'd have to do something if he ever wanted a normal life. After his first unsuccessful attempt to leave, he secretly planned his escape and didn't tell anyone anything until he was far, far away.

Although he'd spent the first few months of his time in Japan feeling lonely, scared, out of his depth and questioning the wisdom of his choice, he doesn't regret it now. That adventure, born of desperation, had changed his life completely. He'd met his beloved Takahiro, gained independence and self-confidence, and found hope for a better future. When he finally returned to Canada, with Taka by his side, he felt as if he were a totally transformed person.

A better version of yourself, his sister Clancy had said.

When he and Taka discussed growing their family, Fox knew he didn't want any of his kids to have the sort of childhood he'd had. He and Taka have done their best not to coddle their kids too much, instead encouraging them to explore and experiment and not be afraid of making mistakes. That didn't change when Camellia and Forest were diagnosed with diabetes within days of each other at five years old. Fox was adamant that the twins shouldn't be treated any differently than Matsu or the younger kids simply because they were diabetic.

"It's not a disability," he'd told Taka at the time. "Obviously, we'll have to make a few adjustments, but it doesn't mean they can't have a normal life. There's nothing holding them back from doing whatever they want."

The reality of the twins' diagnosis was far more challenging for Takahiro to accept than it was for Fox, but he agreed that Forest and Camellia should be afforded the same opportunities as their siblings.

For the most part, he and Taka seem to have succeeded. Each of the kids has a strong sense of self and most have their own ideas and aspirations and at least a tentative plan going forward. Camellia intends to work in health care, Matsu is interested in law enforcement like his aunt Clancy, outgoing and energetic Takashi wants to be a journalist, studious Willow is considering a career as a robotics engineer, and quirky, free-spirited Midori wants to study fashion design.

The only one who seems to have no direction is Forest.

Fox thinks that if were up to Forest, he'd never do anything challenging, interact with other people, or even leave the house if it wasn't necessary. He'd stay alone in his room all day, every day, drawing and painting and listening to music. Even Fox had socialized more as a teen than Forest does, and it's concerning.

Fox folds some more clothes and considers his approach.

At length, he ventures, "Where are you running away to?" He tries to make his tone as conversational as possible. "Near or far?"

"I don't know," Forest says. "Maybe I'll go to Japan and stay with Uncle Seiji and Auntie Sachiko."

"Okay. Do you know where your passport is?"

"No," Forest admits.

"And do you know how to get more insulin and supplies for your blood-glucose monitor if you're outside the country?"

Forest looks annoyed. "I don't even know how to get it here. You always do that for me, remember?"

"Because you don't want to make your own doctor's appointments," Fox points out. "If you're not going to live with us any more, you should probably learn how to do that. All our passports are in the top drawer of my desk, and you can use my credit card to book your flight. Oh, and make sure you've applied for a work visa so you can earn some money to live on, and don't forget to let Uncle Seiji know you're coming. Nobody likes an unexpected guest."

Forest's reaction is so sudden and so volatile that it catches Fox off guard. The teenager snatches up the nearest thing to his hand, which happens to be a sneaker, and flings it across the room so hard that it bounces off a shelf and knocks several items to the floor. Then, he leaps off the bed and follows the sneaker's trajectory. One of the objects that toppled from the shelf is a framed photo, and he stomps on it hard enough to crack the glass. Fox can hear it crunching under his son's heel.

"Stop it!" Forest yells. "Just... stop it!" He brings his foot down on the photo a few more times before collapsing onto the floor next to it and bursting into tears.

"What do you want me to stop doing?" Fox asks.

"Stop pretending like this is no big deal!" Forest exclaims. "It's not a joke, okay? It's my life, and this is serious!"

Fox gets up from the bed and kneels on the carpet beside his son. He rests his palm on Forest's back. "I know it's serious, Forest," he says quietly. "It's not a joke to me."

"Then stop acting like it is! Scream at me or tell me I'm an idiot or try to make me stay home. Do something parental and stop trying to play these fucking head games!"

"I already told you I won't make you stay."

"But why?"

"Because you're nearly an adult and this is your choice to make," Fox says. "But, I need you to understand exactly how serious this is, okay? You can leave if you want, but you can't leave unprepared. What if you get sick or you need help? Could you take care of yourself if you were on your own?"

Forest covers his face with his hands in what Fox assumes is an attempt to hide the fact that he's crying. His voice is strained when he responds. "What am I supposed to do?"

"Maybe you can start by telling me what's up," Fox suggests. "Tell me why you'd come home from school on an otherwise normal Thursday and decide that running off to another country would be a good idea."

"Because," Forest mumbles.

"Because...?" Fox prompts.

"Because I'm no good to anyone here. I can't do anything and I'm never going to be anybody, and the only person in the whole world who ever loved me actually hates me now."

"Really? The only person in the whole world who ever loved you?"

"Yeah."

"There are seven other people in this house who love you very much," Fox reminds him gently. "All your grandparents love you too, and so do Aunt Clancy, Auntie Aiko and your cousins."

"Yeah, but none of you were going to marry me some day," Forest says.

"Oh, I see." Fox glances in the direction Forest is looking, and his focus lands on the shattered picture frame. "This is about Caroline."

"Who else would it be about?" Forest demands.

"I had no way of knowing, and you know I'm not in the habit of assuming." Fox says.

Beneath the shards of glass and cracked wood, the image of Caroline Okamoto-Nelson is smiling brightly. She's wearing a deep pink gown and her white-blonde hair is piled high in a fancy style no doubt constructed by her grandmother Grace. Fox recognizes the Willow Creek High gym in the background. The photo was taken at last year's Sweethearts Ball, the school's annual Valentine's Day banquet and dance. Fox recalls how overjoyed Forest had been when Caroline invited him to attend it with her.

"Everybody loves Caroline," says Forest. "She's beautiful and she's good at everything and she has tons of friends. She could have any boy she wanted, but she picked me, the fat kid with diabetes, who has no other friends and who's bad at math and even worse at sports."

"None of that stuff defines who you are as a person," Fox says. "Caroline loves you."

"Maybe she did, up until today."

"What happened?" Fox inquires.

"She wants to break up with me."

"Did she actually say that?"

No, but I can tell she's going to," Forest says. "You know how you just believe something so hard because you want so bad for it to be true? I really thought she meant it, all those times she said she loved me and that she'd marry me some day. I thought we'd always be together, and when we were old enough we'd get married and have a family and everything, but... now that's never gonna happen."

There are a dozen ways Fox could address this, not the least of which would be to say that Forest and Caroline are only seventeen and that it's far too soon for them to think about marriage. Then again, Forest and Caroline have been asserting since they were seven years old that they were going to get married some day. They'd never wavered on that, even when they'd hit their teens, and everyone around them seems to have taken their future union as a foregone conclusion.

"Maybe you should explain everything to me from the beginning," Fox suggests. "Let's get off the floor first though, okay?"

"Okay," Forest acquiesces.

It's a bit of a struggle for Fox to heave his bulk into a standing position, so he doesn't notice at first that Forest is having trouble too. It's only after he regains his equilibrium and catches his breath that he observes his son only has one foot on the floor. Forest is balancing on his toes on the other foot. It takes him a second longer to see the bright red stain on the heel of Forest's light grey sock.

"Forest, your foot—”

More tears leak from the corners of Forest's eyes, and he starts to turn away from his father, but Fox reaches out and touches his arm.

"Sorry," Forest murmurs, although Fox gets the sense that he's saying it out of habit rather than believing he has a reason to apologize for something.

"It's okay," Fox says. "We can go to the bathroom and check it out."

Neither of them says anything as they make their way the short distance to the bathroom Forest shares with Camellia and Matsu.

In the bathroom, Fox gets Forest to sit on the wide edge of the bathtub. Camellia has a little stool she uses to reach the top shelves of the towel cabinet, and Fox gets that and carries it over next to the tub so he can sit down facing his son.

With Forest's foot in his lap, Fox carefully peels off his sock so he can assess the damage. There are three small cuts on Forest's heel, but he can't see any embedded fragments of glass.

"Is it bad?" Forest asks.

"I've seen worse, "Fox tells him. "We can take care of it here. I don't think you need professional medical care or anything." He pats the top of Forest's foot. "Here, put that down for a second while I grab some stuff."

Forest lowers his foot, and Fox hauls himself upright once again. He really needs to start working out, he tells himself.

Ambling over to the sink, he opens the cabinet above it and takes out Band-Aids and antiseptic spray. He's grateful that he went along with Taka's idea to keep first aid supplies in all four bathrooms in the house. This isn't the first time they've needed them, and with all six of their kids still at home, he doubts it'll be the last.

He pulls a few sterile wipes from one of the small boxes on the counter next to the sink, where Camellia and Forest keep their diabetic supplies, and makes his way back to his son.

"That was pretty dumb, wasn't it?" Forest comments. "Breaking the picture frame."

"Probably not your finest moment," Fox says, as he tears open one of the little packets of sterile wipes. "Did you do it on purpose, or was it just because you wanted to smash something and that's what happened to be right in front of you?"

"A little of both, I guess," Forest says. "I was just so... I don't know. Mad isn't even the right word. I mean... yeah, I'm angry, but like, I'm sad and hurt and I feel like crap about myself. You know, as usual."

"Why do you feel like that?"

"Maybe 'cause I'm a huge waste of space."

"Forest, you are not a waste of space. Try again."

Forest sighs. "You don't understand what it's like. You don't know how much it sucks when you're not good at anything and nobody likes you. When you're the kid everybody thinks is weird, and they'd rather bully you than be your friend. But, Caroline..." His voice catches and he continues in a near-whisper. "Caroline stood up for me. She treated me like I mattered. But now, she... she sees me just like everybody else does."

"Tell me what happened," Fox encourages.

"Fine," Forest says. "You know this week at school is Futures Week, right?"

"Yes. You were going to talk to your friend Mohammad's mom about interior design at career day today, weren't you?"

"Mohammad's not my friend."

"Your classmate, then. Little sting coming," he adds as he sprays Forest's heel with antiseptic. "How'd your chat with Mrs. Omar go?"

Forest winces, but he doesn't try to pull away like he would've done when he was younger. "I didn't talk to her."

"Why not?"

"You have to promise not to be mad."

"I'm not going to be mad. Do you want the Band-Aids with stars, or do you want one of your sister's Batman ones?"

"Who cares? No one's going to see it on the bottom of my foot."

"Okay. Stars it is." He applies the first bandage carefully. "What is it that I'm not supposed to be mad about?"

"I..." Forest hesitates. "I, uh... didn't go to the career thing."

"I see." Fox can't say he's shocked. He'd mentioned to Taka just last night that he wondered whether Forest would actually follow through. Whether Forest realizes it or not, both his parents are also aware that his decision to take a year off between high school and university is really just a way to buy time. They know he has no intention of getting a post-secondary education, and although neither of them is thrilled about that, they also know they need to respect it. It is his life to lead, after all. "You were at school though, weren't you?"

"Yeah," Forest says. "In the library. That's where all the trouble started."

"Go on."

"It was stupid Mohammad," Forest says. "He was in there for some reason and he saw me, and then he just had to run and tell Caroline I was hiding out. So, of course she came to get me and she tried to force me to go to the gym to talk to people. When I said I didn't want to, she got mad, and we... we kinda got into an argument and got kicked out of the library."

"Did you get detention?"

"No. Caroline just dragged me outside so she could harass me about my future some more," Forest says. "She's turning into a bully, just like everybody else."

"Why? Because she's concerned about you?"

"Because she's bossy as hell," Forest grumbles.

"She's assertive," Fox says. "From what I've seen, she's got leadership skills and she's good at motivating people, just like her parents. That doesn't make her a bully."

"Trying to badger and guilt-trip people into doing what she wants them to do makes her a bully. She wants to make me fit into her idea of a perfect boyfriend, 'cause apparently I embarrass her and she doesn't want to be seen with me the way I am."

"Which is?" Fox inquires.

"She said she doesn't want to be with somebody with no ambition. She said I don't have any goals and she called me lazy and unmotivated, but that's not true!"

Fox uses the excuse of putting a final Band-Aid on Forest's foot to allow himself to be silent. He has no clue how he's meant to handle this. His immediate thought is that Caroline isn't wrong, which is followed almost instantly by a stab of guilt for thinking such a thing about his own child. Still, he can't let himself be in denial about it. He's learned the hard way that pretending issues don't exist is never the solution.

He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly.

"Forest," he says. "If that's not true, then can you tell me what your goals are?"

The answer, when it finally comes, is not at all what Fox expects.

"It's Caroline." Forest is crying again, and he seems barely able to get the words out. "She's my goal. I love her and I want to marry her and have a family some day, but even if that never happens, I still want her to be happy. That's all I ever wanted, to take care of Caroline and make sure she's safe and happy."

"That's an admirable goal," Fox says. "But I hope you know it has to be Caroline's goal too."

"I know, and I found out it's really not, even though she said it was before. She lied to me, and I believed her like an idiot.”

“I don’t think she lied.”

“How would you know?”

"Because I know people don’t always see the world the same way as adults that they do as children,” Fox says. "Caroline's growing up, and so are you."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Forest asks.

"What I mean is, people's priorities change as they get older and more mature. Then they have to figure out what's important and what order of importance each thing is going to get," Fox says.

"I haven't changed my mind."

"No, but maybe Caroline has. I know that sucks and it's hard to hear, but there's not much you can do about it. Sometimes all you can do is accept the truth and try to move past it."

"What if I don't want to move past it?"

"It's okay to feel like you don't want to," Fox says. "Nobody expects you to snap your fingers and get over it just like that, but eventually you'll have to figure out a way to cope with it. If you don't, inside your head isn't going to be a very nice place to be."

"So what? It already sucks inside my head anyway. What's one more betrayal gonna do that all the other rejections and betrayals haven't done already?" Forest stands up and stalks toward the bathroom door, limping slightly on his bandaged foot.

"You don't have to live like that," Fox tells him.

"That's easy for you to say," Forest retorts. "You have everything you want. You're smart and good at stuff and you've got friends and a partner."

"Even people who don't have everything don't have to let themselves suffer. Being happy and comfortable inside your own head isn't about what you’ve got. It's about—”

Forest cuts him off. "I'm done talking about this."

"Okay." Fox acknowledges. "If you ever want to—”

"Why do you think I'd want to later if I don't even want to now? You can't offer me anything useful, like I already knew you couldn't. Plus, you dragged all that information out of me and messed up my plan to leave, so I'm not falling into the trap of having any more conversations with you."

"It's not a tr—”

"I don't care! Shut up and stop wasting your breath trying to convince me how you have my best interests in mind or whatever. I'm staying and you're getting your way for now, so maybe just be happy with that."

"I'm not," Fox says, though he doubts Forest is listening any more. He's not sure where in the conversation he'd lost him. Perhaps he'd never had Forest's real attention in the first place. "I'm not happy at all."

"Good," Forest's tone is acidic. "Maybe instead of telling me I should grow up and learn how to cope with stuff, you should think about how it feels to be me. Maybe being unhappy will get you started in figuring it out."

"If you want to know the truth, I think about it a lot, how it must feel to be you."

"That's bullshit!" Forest shouts. "You don't give a crap about me! You're just upset that I'm not the son you wanted."

"You are exactly the son I wanted," Fox says. "You, Matsu and Takashi are all the sons I wanted. Papa and I love you and your brothers and sisters more than anything."

Forest reaches for the door handle. "Yeah, whatever." He pauses, and then adds vindictively, "You know what? On second thought, I did learn something from you. When I finally do leave, you're not going to know a damn thing about it, and I'm sure as hell not going to call and tell you where I am. Then you won't have to pretend to care about me. You'll never have to worry about me again."

Fox considers himself to be an even-tempered person. He's not the sort whose anger goes from zero to sixty in the space of a few heartbeats, but in the wake of Forest's callous dismissal it's as if something inside him cracks. He springs up from the low stool and doesn't even feel the usual ache in his knees or tugging of his back muscles.

In a few quick strides, he's face-to-face with his son, and he glares with all the ferocity his conflict-avoidant heart can manage.

"Forest Winter Abbottsford, you listen to me." His words come out shockingly, terrifyingly calm despite the racing of his heart. "You can run away from your problems and delude yourself into thinking you're doing it for somebody else's benefit, or whatever. But, I'm telling you right now that if you treat people out in the real world the way you're treating me, you're going to have more problems than you ever dreamed were possible. More problems than you could ever run from, even if you lived forever. Do you understand?"

Forest nods, but it's not in comprehension. It's the most eloquent non-verbal display of sarcasm Fox has ever seen, and it infuriates him.

"Awesome way to express your love, Dad. Great job. Well done."

Some irrational part of Fox's brain is telling him to grab his kid and shake some sense into him, and it's all he can do to keep his arms at his sides. He isn't violent by nature, but still he finds himself needing to actively resist.

Maybe it's because he's done everything in his power for the past seventeen years to demonstrate his love for Forest and to offer him opportunities Fox himself didn't have that Forest's ingratitude feels like a slap in the face. Or maybe it's because, after years of fighting to gain self-respect and working hard to earn the trust and confidence of others, he simply refuses to tolerate disrespect any more.

"I love you, Forest." The façade of calm is slipping away and his voice is starting to tremble. "You can believe it or not, but that doesn't make it any less true."

"Right."

"You know what?" he says. "Maybe you should leave. If you think you can run off and live your own life right now, go for it. Go out and see how hard it is when you're on your own. But when you realize you can't do it by yourself, don't come back and ask me and Papa for help unless you're prepared to apologize."

Forest stares at him. "So, now you're kicking me out?"

"That's not what I said." Fox realizes he's so close to losing it that he's nearly hyperventilating. He can barely catch his breath. "Stay or go. Do what you want. All I'm saying is that if you go, we're shutting the door behind you."

"Fine," Forest says. "I guess my options are pretty clear."

Forest yanks open the bathroom door and storms out, leaving Fox standing there stunned at the rapid and dramatic turn his interaction with his son had taken. He's well and truly shaking now, as the effects of the adrenaline flooding his body fade as rapidly as they'd spun up. He presses his palm against the wall to steady himself. He feels sick.

For an instant, he considers calling for Takahiro, but he's not sure he can draw enough breath to do that. Besides, what could Taka do? A hug and a soft word aren't going to be enough to calm the storm inside him this time.

Of course he'll tell Taka everything later, but what he really needs at the moment is to talk to someone who's removed from the situation, someone who's practical and who's used to managing conflicts in a no-nonsense way.

Someone who knows me better than I know myself.

He uses his hand to guide himself slowly downward until he's sitting on the bathroom floor. Then, he slides his phone out of his pocket and taps out a familiar number.

The line rings a couple of times, and then the clear voice of his twin sister reaches his ear. "Clancy Abbottsford."

"Clancy, it's Fox."

"Holy fuck, you sound terrible," Clancy says. "Are you okay?"

"No." It's an effort to get the single syllable out. "I need your help."

"I'll be right there," says his sister.

He nods, before remembering she can't see him. "Yes, please. Come pick me up."

"Trouble on the home front?"

"You could say that. I'll meet you outside."

"Okay, I'll be about fifteen minutes. I just dropped Grey off at his rehearsal, so I gotta make my way back from downtown."

"Okay," Fox says.

"Don't worry," Clancy says. "Whatever it is, we'll fix it."

I don't know how either of us can fix it, he wants to say, but instead he allows himself to be wrapped momentarily in the protective covering of his sister's confidence. Clancy doesn't even know what the problem is, and already she's sure she can sort it out. This is one of the many things he loves about her, that she's rarely defeated by anything for long. She inspires courage in him, and he can always count on her.

He wishes he had a bigger, better word than thank you, but it will have to suffice. "Thanks, Clancy. You're the best."

"I know," she says. "Take deep breaths and try not to have too bad of a panic attack, yeah? I'll be there soon."

_______________

TBC

[enhaloverss]

Do you hate me? pt. 2

After a dinner full of gossiping, laughing and stolen glances between the Gryffindor and I, we made our way to the dungeons to go to our dorms, me following Violet because I obviously didn’t know the way. While we were walking, she was telling me anecdotes about the castle and the classes we were gonna share tomorrow, which were potions and divination in the morning with students from Slytherin and Ravenclaw and after lunch (the moment I was waiting for the most) we would have flying lessons with the Gryffindors. Not the wisest choice if you ask me, I don’t think after having eaten like you do on Christmas Eve flying is the best option. What was actually cool is that we were finished with our day after flying, by four. Violet told me it was not usual to get that much spare time so we should use it wisely.

Upon entering the common room, I immediately thought it looked amazing. There was a big fireplace surrounded by wooden couches topped by hundreds of fluffy blankets and yellow and green colored cushions. I just wanted to throw myself onto one and stay there until the next morning. The room was illuminated by candles which gave It a really cozy vibe. On one of the walls was hanging a painting of a woman, holding a cup of beverage.

-Violet, who’s this?

She turned to me, before looking at the painting.

-This is Helga Hufflepuff my dear.

She said to me, while putting her hand on my shoulder.

-She’s the founder of our house.

-Yeah I kind of got that with the name you know?

She laughed before asking me how I thought the room was.

-It’s cool, I like it. The plants look amazing tho, do you use magic on them?

-Sometimes, but nothing’s better then just watering them every morning. We’re supposed to do it in rotations but I always avoid it.

-I could take yours if you want, I don’t mind.

-We’ll see if you still think that after being completely soaked ten minutes after you just woke up.

We were interrupted by our prefect telling us that it was time to go to bed since it was already ten, and we still needed to shower and tidy our rooms. And one thing was crystal clear, we needed to wake up at seven the next morning, breakfast was at eight and classes began at nine.

We entered our room and it looked like the common part but tinier and with more furniture of course. There was two desks, one bed for each person of course and shelves to put our clothes and stuff on it.

I was sharing the room with Violet and another girl from our year, Sarah.

I was finishing putting my clothes and all of my other stuff on my shelf when she talked to me for the first time.

-Hey, I’m Sarah, nice to meet you.

She extended her hand and smiled at me.

-Y/n, nice to meet you too.

She seemed like she wanted to say something else for a minute but maybe she thought she could save it for later, or not.

-Look, I know you’re Sam’s sister and I promise I don’t care about it, I just wanna be friends with you, you seem cool.

I smiled at that, maybe not everybody was gonna be interested in my status more than my person.

-Thanks, and it’s cool don’t worry, it’s not like my brother’s in Azkaban or something.

Violet showed me the showers and told me that I could use it in the evening or in the morning but not both, so I settled for the morning, I can’t go to class feeling dirty personally. The three of us changed into our pajamas and went to bed. It was only ten thirty so I decided to get a book and read for half an hour before going to sleep. I picked one about magical creatures that I already started a few weeks ago. I’ve always liked magical creatures, observing them in Beauxbâtons was one of my favorite things to do in my spare time. I hope Hogwarts has as much as my old school. One class I know I was gonna enjoy for sure was magical creature’s care.

The next morning I was woken up by Violet’s loud ass alarm, that I urged her to stop.

-Jeez Violet, did you enchant that thing? Why is it so damn loud?

-I don’t even know myself, I’ve been trying to get it to shut up for the past year but I don’t know how to turn it off.

-Why don’t you just smash it?

-It’s a gift from my mom she’d kill me if I do.

I groaned before getting up and heading straight to the shower and putting my uniform on, a plain grey skirt with a shirt and of course, the famous tie harboring the colors of my house. I decided to also put the high knee socks because why not and got out of the shower. When I came back in the room, Sarah and Violet were dressed and waiting for me. They were both night shower persons.

The temperature in the dungeons was really cold compared to the inside of the room but it got better as soon as we took the stairs to the Great Hall.

There were already a lot of students inside when we got here so we decided to quickly sit somewhere before there was no space anymore. I chose to eat some eggs and a slice of bread, despite the stares of Violet, who was way more of a sweet breakfast kind of girl.

-Seems like we really are opposites, between the shower and this.

I pointed out to her, while she smiled before telling me the corniest sentence I’ve ever heard.

-That’s why we’re made to be friends.

-Oh my god don’t ever say anything like that again.

We were bickering and going back and forth at each other while Sarah was holding her tummy because of laughing so hard.

-By the way y/n, you’re born in December aren’t you?

-Yes, 1st why?

-Oh so you’re the only one who’s still fourteen you baby.

-Hey, there’s only a few months left before I’m fifteen, don’t tease me like that.

-Kidding kidding, we’ll do something big for you birthday I swear.

-Why am I scared.

-With Violet and her weird ideas you should be.

-Hey!

Violet suddenly got up and started chasing Sarah in the hall, leaving me laughing like crazy at the table, but a bit ashamed at the same time that these two were my friends. I was finishing my plate when I noticed a shadow on the table, right next to me. I turned around smiling.

-You’re done chasing each other?

But instead of seeing Violet or Sarah, I met none other than Yang Jungwon, who was staring at me, his gaze once again piercing my soul.

-Hum, hello?

He just stared at me before furrowing his eyebrows and finally letting his eyes wander somewhere else, coughing a little bit when he probably figured that starring at someone wasn’t the most polite thing, and finally carried on to his table.

My eyes were fixed on his back, watching him go away before turning back to my plate, confusion written on my face.

Violet and Sarah came back running probably from having seen the interaction from the other side of the room.

-What just happened??? said Sarah.

-Yeah what the frick was that about?

-I don’t know, he just stopped here, looked at me very intensely and then just left.

-Man that’s weird.

-Yeah, you tell me about it Violet.

I said while turning around, seeing him at a table with his friends, his behavior completely different, laughing with the biggest smile ever.

We realized it was already eight forty five and we needed to head to potion class if we didn’t want to be late, which we definitely didn’t want to be according to Sarah.

-Professor Snape doesn’t like Sarah at all, explained Violet, she’s really bad at potions and blows a cauldron at least two times a week.

I laughed at that while Sarah was sulking.

-I’m trying my best Vi, you know that.

-Don’t worry Sarah, I’m also not that good at potions, we’ll cry together, both from the lessons and Snape.

I said while intertwining our arms.

The door of the classroom was already open when we arrived and we sat at a table with two other girls, both from Ravenclaw. We said hi to each other and got our stuff out.

Minutes later the professor came in and explained really quickly the lesson of today.

We were gonna do a common antidote. Or ‘try to do it properly’ said professor Snape while eyeing Sarah, who just smiled in return.

The recipe was pretty simple and I was actually surprised at myself for doing it right. Maybe I was just struggling in Beauxbâtons, or it was just a simple one and things were gonna get complicated, who knows?

Violet finished her potion in first and Snape allowed her to clean her stuff while he was checking on the other students. I finished mine ten minutes later and I felt like Snape analyzed my face more than my potion.

-Good enough y/l/n, but I must admit your brother was better.

I raised my eyebrows in surprise at his comment but nodded and got up to wash my cauldron, Violet in the background trying to hold back her laugh.

-Your face was priceless.

-Does this dude always get into personal stuff like that?

-Yep, once he told Sarah she was bad because her parents probably never told her about it.

I tilted my head to the side, not understanding.

-Sarah’s parents are muggles.

My eyes went wide at that statement and I whispered for nobody but us to hear.

-That asshole!

-No chatting in the classroom, if you are done cleaning your cauldrons you can go you are dismissed.

We waved to Sarah on our way out and told her we were waiting for her in the corridor to go to our next class together.

She nodded and continued her potion, hoping to finish on time. We waited a little further in the corridor for her and started talking to pass time.

-So, what did you think of your first class?

-I would’ve rather for it to be something else than potions but I’m glad Snape went easy on me.

-Next is divination, I hope you’re ready because this class is something.

-Do you need to be high to understand what the teacher is saying?

-If someone is high it’s her trust me. By the way, I think you were too immersed in your potion to notice, but you got someone’s attention.

She wiggled her eyebrows at me in a playful manner and I scoffed.

-Who?

-His name is Cole, a Slytherin, he is a third year like us.

-God it was already enough to have one guy’s attention on me.

-You should talk to him, he’s cute.

-Thank you for trying to be my wings-woman but you know sometimes being cute isn’t enough, take Jungwon for example.

She nodded before turning her head back at me.

-Wait a minute, you thing Jungwon’s cute????

-I mean, did you see the guy, he’s far from being unattractive and I know I’m not the only one that can possibly be thinking this.

-You’re actually right, he’s pretty cute.

-Oh my god, I’m free, FREE.

We turned around seeing Sarah running towards us while holding her book in a dramatic manner, repeating that she thought she was gonna die.

-Come on Sarah, let’s go to divination, you can sleep all you want in this one.

Her face lit up at that comment and she grabbed our hands to run to divination. Our next class took place in the astronomy tower, a beautiful aisle, the tallest point of Hogwarts. I was glad to finally be able to feel the air and breath, after an hour of class in the dungeons were it smelled like rotten carrots this was heaven. We took place in the middle of the classroom, Sarah complained that she couldn’t sleep well if she was to close to Trelawney, her sudden screaming bothering her.

Professor Trelawney was a weird lady, but quite interesting I must say, I don’t honestly know if she’s believing in what she says or just playing along.

She gave us the work of “reading in the crystal balls to see and try to understand each others future”. Sarah fell asleep pretty quickly, tired from Snape’s harassment and Violet and I were trying to understand whatever we could of this class.

-Okay Violet, I see, hum I see…

She nodded, interesting in what I was about to say, her eyes showing excitement.

-I don’t know I don’t see anything except weird smoke wandering inside that thing.

-I had hope in you! Come on tell me I’m gonna be drowning in money!

-Unfortunately, this might mean that you are gonna end up really poor Violet… Sorry for you.

-Man, it sucks…

We looked at each other briefly before laughing, waking up Sarah by the same occasion.

-Girls, my dream was good.

She said sadly, us apologizing a hundred times before getting back at laughing at whatever stupidities we were saying.

The bell rang and I was actually surprised at how fast students were getting up, not even paying attention to the poor teacher who was trying to give homework. This class really was the opposite of potions. As soon as we got to the Great Hall, my stomach was rumbling because of the delicious smell that was lingering in the air. We opened the heavy doors and found a table to sit at.

We didn’t waste a second and got up to fill our plates with delicious foods. I opted for a slice of meat pie and sweet potatoes. I then filled my glass with water and when I turned around, I noticed that Sarah and Violet weren’t next to me anymore, but a few meters away from me, saying goodbye to a boy I only saw the back of, but recognized the green and silver robe.

-Who was that? I asked as they approached me.

-Remember the guy from potion class, Cole?

Answered Violet.

-He asked your name, seems like he fancies you.

Continued Sarah, wiggling her eyebrows at me and giving side eyes to Violet.

-Don’t pull that face, I don’t even know the guy I’m not gonna date him.

-If you say so… I’m still hoping to see some romance tho, from one of you two!

Violet sighed at Sarah’s comment, before asking her when she was gonna find someone. The pair bickering once again. Seems like the great hall was their favorite place to do so.

-Anyways, we should eat guys, next is flying lessons and we’re gonna need some strength believe me.

We all agreed at Sarah’s comment and decided to dive in our plates and get our stomachs full, but not to much, it’ll be better if I don’t throw up and embarrass myself in my first flying class.

The training stadium was great at this time of the year, a little breeze was making our hair slightly dance and was bringing freshness. We each grabbed a broom and walked in direction of professor Hooch, ready to start the class.

-Okay everybody, welcome to your first class of flying of this year, I’m excepting you to behave as well as to stay focused once in the air since accidents happen quickly. We are gonna learn how to do a roll. Miss y/l/n, I heard that you already learned it in Beauxbâtons?

All eyes were suddenly focused on me from both Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs and it took me quite a second before focusing back on the teacher and answering her.

-Hum, yes, we’ve haven’t learned diving neither loopings but we did learn how to roll.

-Perfect then, can you do a demonstration and maybe help students who aren’t comfortable on their brooms?

-Yes professor of course.

I slowly advanced in front of the group, not comfortable myself in giving a demo, rolling was something I only did a few times last year and I hadn’t flown on a broom since then.

I sat and quickly breathed out, trying to ease my stress before launching. The roll was pretty quick to do and I thanked my muscle memory for remembering how to do it well.

I landed back on the ground, silence overtaking the class before professor Hooch started talking again.

-Wonderful y/n! You fly great, you should start thinking about applying to be in the Quidditch team, 10 points for Hufflepuff.

I turned around to meet the proud faces of Violet and Sarah, smiling at me like proud moms and showing me their thumbs. I went back to them before thanking our teacher, and the lesson started.

Some students started trying, failing most of the time on the first attempt which was normal. All except one. I was looking up the sky when I saw a Gryffindor failing once, before successfully doing a roll and landing on the ground. Yang Jungwon.

Professor Hooch felicitated him, also giving points to his house before also telling him to help the other. The hour went on with me trying to explain to Violet how to do a roll without her breaking her neck and she actually did! I jumped in her arms when she landed, proud of her. Sarah on the other side did her first roll twenty minutes ago and didn’t stop since then.

-Sarah!!!

Both Violet and I screamed from the floor. She came to us, her hair in all places and her cheeks as red as the Gryffindors ties.

-What?

-Stop going around like that you’re gonna throw up.

She laughed and came back down, realizing that we were probably right. Miss Hooch whistled and the class was dismissed and allowed to go. Violet and Sarah were ahead of me when I noticed my shoelace was untied, I crouched to tie it back, telling them they could go again and I’d join them in the library in a few minutes. When I stood up again, something hard crashed in my back, or rather someone. I quickly turned around to apologize, when I came face to face with none other than the dark haired Gryffindor boy.

-Oh, hum, I’m sorry, I didn’t see that you were coming.

He just looked at me with an expression I quite didn’t recognize before getting back to normal and continuing walking.

-Do you never talk?

I asked him smiling even tho he couldn’t see it. He stopped in his tracks, and mumbled something, probably choosing whether to answer or not. After a few seconds, he turned back to me and came closer.

-What exactly do you want me to say?

I don’t know how to explain it but he sounded exactly like how he looked, if that makes sense.

-I don’t know, anything. Are you just gonna stare at me and go away each time we meet?

-Do you want me to start a conversation, to be my friend? Because that’s not gonna happen.

-Ouch okay, hum rude. Anyways, pleased to meet you.

And this time I was the one to go away, passing him before muttering a quiet ‘shithead’ that I hope he didn’t hear.

When I arrived in the corridor, I realized that I actually didn’t know were the library was. I was about to go full on exploration mode when I noticed a familiar figure approaching me. I sighed and mentally cursed, before the person was right in front me.

-Hey, hum, y/n right? We share potion class, I’m Cole.

-Hum, yeah. Would you tell me where the library is please?

-Yeah of course no problem, I could take you there if you want.

He said smiling with a weird look in his eyes, and I wondered for a moment in what sense he meant it. I was suddenly not feeling really comfortable in his presence.

-No it’s fine I’ll go alone.

-Sure?

-Yes sure.

-Alright, it’s on the first floor.

-Thanks.

I continued walking when he stopped me, grabbing my arm. What the fuck. I tried to distance myself a bit for him to stop holding onto me, and he did, thank god.

-I was wondering if you wanted to hang out with me sometime, you know, get to know each other.

-I’m not sure I’ll have time for that.

I answered distancing myself again, trying not to sound like I was lying, even if I was.

-Or we could grab lunch together if you think-

-I don’t think she wants to see you at all Cole.

Interrupted a voice. I looked over Cole’s shoulder to see none other than Jungwon, leaning on the wall only a few meters away from us.

-Jungwon! Nice to see you again.

I honestly didn’t think I’d say that one day but I was actually pleased to see him right now. At least he knew how to read the room.

-Can’t you see the girl’s not interested?

-How would you know that? I believe you don’t have a lot of experience with girls.

-No need to have to understand she doesn’t want you unless if it’s five feet away from her. And if by saying that to me, you imply that you have experience with girls, sorry to break it to you but harassing doesn’t count.

Cole didn’t answer but just fixed him and I thought for a moment he was gonna punch him in the face, but the tension was broke when we heard footsteps approaching.

-There you are! We started getting worried when we saw you weren’t arriving.

Sarah said, before looking between the three of us, surely noting the weird atmosphere.

-On time. I said quietly only for me to hear.

I joined them and looked back one more time, seeing Jungwon going back to the stadium. I’m gonna have to thank him later.

-What was that all about?

Asked Violet.

-Why don’t we go to our room, we’ll go to the library after I explained you guys.

And with that, we were on our way to our dorm.

[mintymarabell]

Useless, no more

A/n; I really just think of these things on the spot I swear..

Summary; A yautja who had a bad accident is shunned for it, when he goes out on a hunt he meets someone new.

Word count; 1255

Useless. Useless. That’s all he heard for the last half of his career, or he had to retire. Useless, that’s what they called him after a mishap with a ic'jit, he tried to save the kid. He did, he really did. The stupid bad blood had a weapon of some sort. It had torn right through his awu'asa, tearing off his right arm from the bicep and up to his face where he was left dismembered, the whole left side of his face, gone, in shreds on some city pavement. After the kid was killed he himself had passed out, letting the ic'jit wreaking havoc on the city. The bad blood was finally out numbered. They had finally taken me to the hospital, where they lasered my arm up, similar to ooman stitches. They had also used some cream for his face, did horrible with leaving no scars.

When he had woken up in the hospital the next day the doctor broke everything down to him, and then made him go home. All his walk home he was looked at with disgust, arriving home he walked into his bedroom, plopping down on the bed. He looked up at the mirror he kept on the ceiling, there he was a bandaged up nub and a horrendous face. The whole right side of his face charred, his eye closed shut. He had put the cream he was prescribed, nothing. It did nothing. He did this for weeks and still nothing.

He used to be an elder, a well respected one. But now people call him useless as he’d walk down the street. They’d call him weak. This had continued for months, when one day he decided he had enough. There were popular beliefs that some yautja went on suicide missions, ones they knew they would survive. They did this either because they are a grieving mother whose child passed or is just someone who wants to end the suffering. He obviously is going because of the second option; how was he supposed to defeat the ic'jit that was clearly stronger than him? It wasn’t his fault the kid wandered off, if anything it’s the parents fault, and yet he gets blamed..

He set off in one of his many ships, taking one that is medium sized. When he arrived at the snowy planet he took his ki'cti-pa in hand. He knew he wouldn’t return from this fight, and he could accept that.

Walking deeper into the forest he finally saw the beast. He didn’t know what it was, he didn’t even read its file. He threw the ki'cti-pa at the beast, it stuck into its neck equaling it to let out a mighty roar. He threw multiple akrei-non, each hitting the beast, each doing a fair share of damage. Should he have read the file? Of course knowing his luck he would take this thing out.

Too lost in thought he didn’t notice the beast up in his face, it swiped at him landing a slash on his side as he was flung into a nearby tree. Snow fell down onto his as green stained the once pure snow. The beast charged at him, to which he didn’t move. It hit him hard as he could feel himself losing consciousness. One more hit. Just one more. As the beast rushed in, he blacked out.

The sound of fire could be heard, and a comfortable weight on his torso. What? Has he died? He opened his eye and was met with fairy lights. They were strung on top of a ceiling of what looked to be a cabin. He sat up, the smell of meat being cooked met his nasal cavity. “You're awake!” You smiled at the yautja from across the sink. “I found you in the forest being beaten up so I decided to save you.” You rounded the corner, holding a trary of bluish brown meat. “I hope this is okay, it’s kind of all I have and you need to eat so you can recover.” You placed the plate on the coffee table as you sat on the counter beside him. “May I check your dressing?” He looked at you dumbfounded as you practically helped yourself to him. Opening the dressing before nodding and wrapping it back up. “I did a pretty good job.” You praised yourself as you grabbed his tray and set it in his lap. “Eat up, I’ll be in the other room.”

It had been weeks, he stayed in your cabin. He found out the beast had left him to die. He had also found out you got to this planet after your ship of friends left you to die. He’s long been recovered but he didn’t really want to say anything, hoping you could let him stay. You didn’t know about what had become of him, only that he’s an old man that’s just trying to get away from everything.

As time went on you developed feelings for the brute, anyone could when a man with a rocking body would cut vegetables and slice the fat off of meats for you. There were times the scar tissue on his arm would flare up, to which you would run an epson salt bath for him, letting him take as long as he needed, to which he did, often soaking for hours on end.

One time your oh so great brain forgot he was in the bathroom, so you barged in with a towel of your own in hand. There you were met with a yautja trying to scrub his bath but failing horribly. “Oh I’m sorry!” You yapped as he grumbled, becoming you closer, he handed you the rag and pointed toward his back. Taking the hint you scrubbed at it to which he let out a low pur. His long tendrils were up in a man bun, one falling out of the rubber band's grasp. Noticing it up close, his tendrils were black with a faded gray around the bottom. You hummed to yourself as you handed him back the rag and walked away to give him his own privacy.

It was cold one night, too cold for you. The wood didn’t burn hot enough and your blankets felt like linen. You knew it was a bad idea but you couldn’t help it as you stood from your bed and walked out to your living room where the yautja laid asleep, his remaining mandibles hanging open. You nudged his shoulder, nothing. You nudged it again and he shot up looking around. “Sorry I woke you. I was wondering since it’s cold and I don’t want you getting sick, would you wanna sleep in my bed with me?” You made up a lie as you took his hand, pulling him up and dragging him toward your bedroom. You didn’t really give him room to answer when you shut the door behind you and led him to the side of the bed. You practically ran around the bed to your side, there you jumped in immediately feeling the heat radiating from the yautja beside you. He turned toward you as you dozed off. He sighed as he wrapped his arm around you, pulling you in close.

He could get used to this..

ic'jit;bad blood

awu'asa; armor

ki'cti-pa; combistick

akrei-non; bombs/explosives

[alpacaparkaseok]

Spooked

Requested by anon - a picture of your request will be at the bottom of the post! Thanks for sending it in, I had so much fun with it! :)

Pairing: best friend!BTS, maybe some secret crushes going on? 👀

Premise: You + all 7 members of BTS visiting a haunted house. What could go wrong?

So, so much.

Word Count: 4k

Warnings: they are touring a haunted house, so there’s gonna be some scary story/spooky things going on. hopefully there’s enough fun things/fluff to counter it? 

a/n: this was longer than I expected it to be...but I was having fun with ot7. hopefully nobody minds lol

It wasn't your fault that Hobi had never seen "A Quiet Place". He had mentioned it as you scrolled through the options on his TV while lounging on his couch like an overgrown cat. Everyone else was in the process of scarfing down their dinner, popping popcorn, and laughing over whatever Jimin and Yoongi were bickering about.

Obviously you had to watch it.

Naturally, the conversation had drifted to a bit more spooky topics. You'd come back from grabbing more popcorn surprised to find Jin talking about his friend that wanted to open up a house they'd inherited for ghost tours.

After nudging Jimin out of the way, you took up your usual spot next to Taehyung. They all watch you with amused eyes, knowing full well that Taehyung is the only one that willingly scratches your back on movie nights.

"Really, like is it the kind of haunted house where people dress up and scare you?" Jungkook asked, his interest piqued.

Jin shook his head. "No, not really. It sounds like they just walk you through the house and tell stories and stuff."

You and Jungkook share a look, already thinking the same thing. A glance at Hobi shows him clutching a blanket to his chest, caught between the events of the film and the conversation taking place.

"We should go," you ventured, immediately earning a startled stare from both Jin and Hobi. The others chuckle in response, Namjoon swatting Jungkook's hand half-heartedly as he tries to steal more popcorn from him.

"...noooo," Jin began. "It's not like it's up and running yet, they're just working on getting it ready for the fall-"

Jungkook picks up where you left off. "Perfect! We can be their test group. That way they'll know what they can do for the general public, get an idea of what works and what doesn't."

You jump in again before Jin can protest more. "C'mon! And besides, this may be your only chance just to go for fun! Otherwise you'd have to find a way to go without running into all of those people, and have to contact management about it..."

Jin sighs, looking at Hobi who stares back at him with an expression of defeat. You grin, Taehyung chuckling beside you.

"Fine."

It was all too easy. Standing here now, you can see just why they want to open this up for ghost tours. Of course you won't admit it, but you already have chills running down your spine.

Or maybe that's just because Jung Hoseok is currently breathing down your neck.

"Alright," Jin's friend, Gina stands at the top of the steps, smiling down at you all. "Everybody ready?"

Jungkook and Taehyung, completely riled up, let out whoops and cheers while everyone else grunts in acknowledgement. Hobi clings to the back of your jacket, whimpering like a lost puppy.

This should be fun.

Jungkook doesn't bother to wait for everyone else, heading straight inside after Gina. Taehyung and Jimin are hot on his heels, joking about something back and forth. You follow after them, glancing back at Hobi with an amused grin.

"Oh," he realizes that he's still clinging to you. "Right." Extracting his hand from your jacket, he lets you move forward. He remains close behind you, Jin at his side.

Namjoon and Yoongi bring up the rear, hardly paying attention to anything that's going on as they chat about a business they saw not far from here.

"We'll begin in the front study here," Gina adopts a spooky tone as she stands in the candlelight. Shadows dance along the walls, making the hairs on the back of your neck stand up straight.

Suddenly you wish that Hobi was still holding onto you.

Slowly, so as to not draw the attention (and teasing) of the maknae line, you step back until you're between Namjoon and Yoongi.

The two of them smirk down at you, knowing full well that you're already spooked.

"What are you doing?" Jin whispers back to you, eyes wide while he rubs his arms as though he's cold. "Trying to abandon us to the ghosts?"

You shake your head fervently, hoping that they don't notice the way you're sneaking your hand into the pocket of Yoongi's jacket.

"No, the middle is the safest place," you argue. Yoongi gives a breathy chuckle beside you, his hand finding yours in the warmth of his pocket and giving it a squeeze. Thankfully the house is dark enough that the blush on your cheeks shouldn't be visible.

Absentmindedly you link your other arm through Namjoon's, hardly able to breathe properly when he instinctively moves closer.

What were you even saying?

"A-and now you've got three in front and three in back. You're totally safe."

Hobi and Jin look at each other like they know exactly what you’re up to, but don't push it as they suddenly begin walking again. Gina leads the way toward the dining room, weaving a tale of how the estranged wife of the owner of the house swore she would never leave the property.

"Did she?" Jungkook asks from the front, peeking in closed off rooms along the way. You can't help but marvel at his fearlessness.

Gina's eyes glow with excitement, almost as though she were waiting for someone to ask that. "No. Years later, when the owner sold the house, the new occupants said they found a sealed off room in the basement." You gasp, the sound echoing through the hallway. You miss the look Jimin gives you, too attached to the story.

"What..." you clutch Namjoon's arm, the fabric of his jacket bunching in your hand. "Did they ever open up the room?"

Gina grins. "They did. They hired someone to come and open the sealed door. However, the man they hired only got about halfway before quitting. He was terrified."

Yoongi leans down to whisper in your ear. "Are you trying to cut off my circulation?"

It's only then that you notice you've been squeezing his hand with startling strength. "Whoops." Going to remove your hand from his, he frowns, holding it tighter before you can move.

Well, if this isn't a rollercoaster of emotions.

"Why was he so scared?" Namjoon pipes up beside you, a hint of a smile gracing his features as he reads the expression on your face. Oh, you're so screwed. "Did he find something?"

"It's not so much what he found as what he didn't," Gina replies. "But we'll have to save that for last. For now, the dining room. Come on in, everyone."

Hobi looks back at you, a mixture of horror and overall curiosity on his face. “Oh, she’s good.”

Indeed, Gina definitely seems to have a way with words. You’re just having a hard time understanding them as your heart beats loudly enough to drown out any other noises. Yoongi has taken to tracing circles on the back of your hand, which you think are meant to be soothing. 

It only serves to send your heart rate skyrocketing. You stare at the portrait on the far end of the dining room, practically boring holes into the painting of the young woman. 

Breathe, don’t do anything stupid.

“...alright?”

You blink, finding yourself to be the sudden center of attention. Jungkook grins widely at you. 

“What?”

Jungkook repeats his question. “Are you doing alright?”

“Oh.”

Jimin bursts out laughing. “That’s not an answer, jagiya. Need us to protect you from the ghosts?”

Your wide eyes immediately give you away, and even Gina is offering you a look of pity before deciding to continue on with the tour. Before you embarrass yourself even more, you slip out of Yoongi and Namjoon’s grasp, sneaking up behind Jin and Hobi.

“Hello boys,” you drawl, making Hobi nearly jump out of his skin. You earn a laugh from the group, Jin chuckling at his scared friend. Hobi just glares at you. 

“This sucks,” he whispers to you, pulling you up to stand between him and Jin. Immediately they stick to your sides like magnets and you realize that you have indeed done something stupid as Jin’s breath ghosts over the shell of your ear as he goes to whisper something to you.

Out of the frying pan and into the fire, it would seem. Your heart certainly agrees. 

“I’m not scared, you know,” Jin whispers. You take a deep breath, reminded yourself that these idiots are your best friends, not menu items. 

You shoot him an incredulous look. “I doubt that.”

He grins at you, eyes lingering a bit longer than usual. “You’ll see.”

Tearing your eyes away from his and hearing his deep chuckle, you wonder if it’s too late to ask Gina where the nearest exit is. 

Don’t do anything stupid.

“Shall we head up to the attic?” Gina asks. “It’s a small space, we can only go three at a time. However, there are some really interesting old photographs up there that we should look at.”

In the blink of an eye everyone is paired off, and you find yourself face to face with Jimin. He grins at you like the Cheshire Cat, making you wonder if he isn’t the most dangerous thing in this house. 

Jin and Hobi have the glorious opportunity to go up together while Gina leads the way, and several screams accompany their little trip. In the middle of the candlelight in the hallway, you chuckle with the rest of your friends. 

“It’s been interesting so far,” Jungkook muses. “I really want to know what they found in that sealed off basement room.”

Taehyung hums in agreement. “Mmm. Or rather, what they didn’t find.”

“What does that even mean?”

Nobody is given a chance to answer Jungkook’s question as Hobi and Jin come scrambling down the ladder, faces pale even as they laugh. Gina chuckles from above, beckoning the next pair to come up.

Jimin looks at you with an arched brow. “Wanna go next?”

“Sure.” You follow him up the ladder, laughing as Jin recounts how he swore the woman in the photograph blinked. 

The attic is filled with moonlight, and under other circumstances it might be pretty. However, amongst the old heirlooms sits an ominous scrapbook, filled with black and white photos of less-than-happy people. 

Jimin reaches down, grabbing your hand and helping you to your feet as you look around. When he lets go you aren’t sure whether or not to be disappointed. 

You’ve hardly made up your mind when he leads you to where Gina stands beside the scrapbook and slips behind you. A moment later his arms encircle your waist, chin propped up on your shoulder. 

So there’s that. 

Gina points to the first photo, a grim-looking man standing behind a chair where a young woman sits smiling. “This is the estranged wife, before she was estranged, of course. And this is the owner of the house. From what we’ve been able to dig up about his past - no pun intended - he was always deathly serious.”

Jimin hums in acknowledgement, the vibrations going straight into your spine. Unsure of what to do with your arms, you gently place them atop his arms around your middle. 

You swear he smiles for a moment before turning pensive again. “Why did they separate?” You manage to ask, applauding yourself for getting a complete sentence out while Park Jimin hugs you from behind. 

“Rumor has it she cheated on him with his best friend,” Gina whispers, pointing to another photo where the solemn owner stands beside a smiling man. “He was driven mad with jealousy. Terrible, isn’t it?”

Gina gives you a long look, and suddenly you straighten your spine. “I-uh, yeah. Horrible.”

She shows us another photo, explaining something about it while Jimin mumbles out a couple of questions. You hardly process any of it, staring at Gina and wondering if she thinks that you are somehow cheating.

But on who? Jin, maybe? Since that’s her friend?

“Alright, send up the next pair,” Gina croons. Jimin detaches himself from you, suddenly leaving you cold. You turn to follow him, but stop as Gina places a hand on your arm. 

“Yes?” You ask, struggling to keep your tone even. Gina motions for Jimin to keep going, pulling you back to the scrapbook. She tilts her head to one side. 

“Forgive me for maybe overstepping a boundary but...” she motions toward the ladder, where everyone waits below. “Don’t tell me you’re flirting with all of them.”

Your eyes widen, and a breathy laugh comes out. “Me? What? N-no. They’re my best friends, why would I-”

Gina laughs, the sound too loud for the small attic. “Well, they’re flirting with you.” She playfully elbows me. “Speaking from girl to girl...enjoy it. For the rest of us.”

Nearly choking, you frown but nod all the same. “...ok?” When she makes no move to say anything else, you head down the ladder. The boys look up at me with confused looks, Jimin waiting at the bottom to make sure you get down safely. 

“What was that about?” Jin asks, looking a little nervous. “She didn’t say anything to make you uncomfortable, did she?”

You blink at him, wondering for a moment if the boys have always been like this around you. Surely not. It’s just the haunted house bringing out this protective side, right?

Right?

“No, she just wanted to show me something else. She’s actually really nice.” You think.

The other groups go up, and nothing else happens to pique your interest. Gina comes down last of all, giving you a wink before walking down the hallway. 

“I think we’re ready to go down to the basement, everyone!”

Somehow you end up at the front, surrounded on all sides by the maknae line. You crane your neck, looking back to see the older boys all lost in a heated discussion. Hobi catches your eye after a moment, elbowing Namjoon who looks up at you with fake innocence. 

You frown, Gina’s words coming back to you. “They’re flirting with you.”

You must have lost your mind. Was the haunted house really that traumatizing as to make you start coming up with such ridiculous things? How silly of you. 

The feeling of a hand resting on the small of your back has you yelping, jumping to face forward again. Taehyung gives you a sheepish grin. 

“Sorry,” he mumbles, gently pushing you forward to stand in front of him. “Are you really that spooked?”

“I...no.” You fail to come up with a complete sentence, but shrug it off. Taehyung smiles brightly at you, gesturing for you to head down the stairs. 

“You seem distracted tonight, are you alright?” 

The way your heart had begun palpitating calms down as you notice the obvious concern on Taehyung’s face. You give him a small smile, allowing yourself to relish the feeling of his fingers splayed against your back as you move down the stairs. 

“I’m fine, don’t worry. Just distracted by the story.”

Taehyung looks at you for a moment longer, not quite believing you but shrugging it off. He brings both hands to your shoulders as you enter the basement, an obvious chill in the air. 

You fight off a shiver, Taehyung noticing and beginning to rub at your arms in an attempt to warm you up. Gina immediately notices the action, hiding a smile as she pretends to cough. 

“Well,” she says once her ‘coughing fit’ subsides. “We’ve made it to the final leg of the tour. How’s it been so far?”

This time everyone cheers with renewed vigor, although a part of you has a hunch that it’s because Hobi knows he’s nearing the end of this scary experience. The thought makes you grin. 

“Earlier, you guys asked me what was found in the sealed off room. It’s easier to show you, rather than explain.” Gina walks backward, motioning for everyone to follow her. It’s darker down here, only a few candles light the way. Despite being surrounded by people you trust, you can’t fight the fear that sneaks inside of you. 

Rounding a corner, you see a small hallway with a half-open door. Jin curses behind you, clearly feeling just as freaked out as you.

“Remember how the estranged wife said she’d never leave this place?” Gina nods toward the door and dark entryway. “In that room there’s evidence that she may have had an...extended stay here. It’s very small, and the door only opens to a certain point. Almost as though whoever designed it didn’t want to have an easy escape point.”

Chills run down your spine, and even Taehyung’s ministrations pause for a moment as he takes in this new information. 

Jungkook speaks up, ever the curious one. “Wait...her body isn’t still here, right?”

Gina shakes her head. “No, although we think that she may have been buried somewhere on the property. We have yet to find her, though.”

“That...” you shake your head, shuffling from foot to foot. “That sounds so ominous. Like she still walks the property or something.”

The smile Gina sends you is enough to make your blood run cold. “We haven’t ruled anything out.” She gestures toward the door. “Due to fire hazards, we can only have two people at a time in the hallway and in the room. Do I have any volunteers?”

Jungkook’s hand immediately shoots up in the air, and he looks at his hyungs pleadingly. You remain still as a statue, refusing to look up for fear of being called on. 

You swear you can almost hear Taehyung sigh before he speaks. “Well, obviously you have to go.” He nudges you forward, and you whirl on him in absolute horror. 

“What?!” You shout. “How could you betray me like this?! I- no way!”

The boys can’t help but laugh at you, Namjoon clapping Taehyung on the shoulder. Taehyung gives you an apologetic look, shrugging. 

“C’mon, I’ll keep you safe,” Jungkook promises, his big pleading eyes on yours.

You hate how you can never say no to him. 

Gina pats your shoulder as you walk past, laughing lightly. “Have fun,” she croons. “Ok everyone, let’s go into the open area just around the corner-”

“You’re leaving us?!” You shout again, stopping in your tracks. “Noooo, no no. Not happening.”

“Jungkook will take care of you,” Yoongi says over his shoulder. “Or do you not trust him?”

Jungkook pauses, looking at you with those big brown eyes. “You don’t trust me?”

Yoongi chuckles darkly before leaving the hallway, and you know he’s aware of what he did. You’ll have to make him pay for it later. 

Possibly in the form of food.

“No, I do Kook,” you sigh. He extends his hand out to you, waiting patiently. 

You take it a little too quickly.

Gina was right, the door only opens to a certain point, leaving you no choice but to shimmy through. Jungkook inspects the entire area, pointing out what looks to be scratches on the doorframe. You shiver. 

“It’s not real,” he reassures you, keeping his hand in yours as he shimmies into the room. You hesitate for a moment, daring to glance at where your hands are connected before following after him. 

It’s nearly pitch black in the room, hardly allowing for you to see anything. “Can you even see anything?”

Jungkook laughs, squeezing your hand. “Nope. I think we’ll have to wait for our eyes to adjust. You good?”

You squeeze back. “Yeah, I think-”

The door is shut.

The door is shut. 

Suddenly delved into complete darkness, your breath hitches in your throat. “Jungkook,” you whimper. “Jungkook, I’m scared-”

“Shhh,” Jungkook hushes you, pulling you closer until you bump into his chest. “You’re fine. They’re just pulling a prank on us.” 

Without thinking anything other than, I’m too young to die, you instinctively wrap your arms around his waist, burrowing your head against his chest as he chuckles. 

“I can’t die, Jungkook,” you mumble into his chest. “I’m too young. I have so much to do. I have a test this week to take, and I’ve studied so hard for it, I have to take it. That’d be so stupid to die before taking that dumb test. And I have to yell at Yoongi or something, I don’t know-”

Jungkook’s giddy laughter pulls you out of your daze, and if you weren’t so scared you would be glaring at him. He laces his fingers behind your back, pulling you impossibly closer.

“You’re so cute,” he whispers into the dark, making every last thought eddy out of your brain. “Have I ever told you that before?”

Finding just enough willpower to move, you shake your head. Jungkook harrumphs above you, the sound almost pulling a giggle from you. Then you remember the situation you’re currently in. 

Jungkook sighs. “Well, you are. That, and a lot of other things. Would you like me to tell you what else I think you are?”

Hands bunching in the fabric of his clothes, you find your voice. “...yes.”

Jungkook takes a deep breath. “Scary smart. It’s horrifying.” A chuckle bubbles up from your chest. “And inclusive. That’s so underrated these days, you know? But you’re always making sure everyone is involved and enjoying themselves.”

You can tell that he’s holding his breath from the way his chest has stopped moving, and you’re about to ask him if he’s alright when he hesitantly runs his fingers through your hair. 

If that wasn’t enough to send you over the edge, he lets out a shaky breath before continuing on. “I’m sorry I haven’t told you those things before.”

You manage a laugh. “I’m sorry that it took us going on a haunted house tour for you to say it.”

Jungkook smiles down at you, your eyes finally adjusted to the dim room. He stares at you for a long moment, and you wonder if he’s going to kiss you.

You wonder if you’d let him.

He must see the question in your eyes, but he gives you a knowing look before heading toward the door, making sure your hand is in his. 

“You don’t have to worry about that,” he says, testing the door and giggling at your sigh of relief when the door is unlocked. 

“Worry about what?” You feign ignorance. Jungkook sees right through your, tugging you along as you head out the door. 

He shrugs, suddenly unable to look you in the eyes as pink no doubt paints his cheeks. “You know...overstepping any boundaries.” He looks down at his feet. “Making a move.”

“Why?” The question comes out before you can stop it, and you inwardly curse yourself. Jungkook smiles softly at your inquiry. 

The sound of everyone chatting makes you almost want to cry with relief. They must be just around the corner, waiting for you to return. 

Jungkook leans over, whispering to you. “Because we have a pact.”

You turn to question him further, eyes wide. He anticipates this, taking long strides until you find yourselves back in the open area with everyone else. 

“We’re back!” Jungkook announces, shooting you a smirk. You can’t help but stare at him, mouth slightly agape. 

A pact?

Gina smiles broadly. “How was the room? Did you find anything interesting?”

You shake your head, trying and failing to stop yourself from overanalyzing every glance the boys give you. “...no. I was too freaked out to even look around after the door closed on us.”

“Yeah, who did that? We didn’t even hear you guys,” Jungkook asks. 

Everyone looks at the two of you before looking at Gina, clearly just as confused. 

Gina, on the other hand, looks absolutely terrified. 

“Ummm...” she begins, rubbing her arms in an effort to warm herself up. “Remember how I said that we haven’t ever found the body of the estranged wife?”

You nod your head but stop, the words sinking in. The hairs on the back of your neck rise up, and you find yourself shuffling over to stand next to Jin, clinging to his arm. 

“Yeah...” Namjoon says, eyes darting around the room.

Gina sighs. “Alright, everyone, single file line. Head out as quickly and quietly as possible.”

You don’t need to be told twice.

masterlist

this has been turned into a series!

 series masterlist ∆∆∆ join the taglist

oooh so spooky ;) 

[misty-wisp]

What's asuka's relationship like with the other thieves? Anyone she doesn't get along with?

OHOHO!!!

it really depends on which point of the story we're talking about, since her opinion on them and relationship with them would change over time. So!! Let's say this is when we have the arc with with Sae's palace!

I'm gonna try to be in-depth about this, so it's gonna get really long, haha ^^'

First off, with good old Akiren, if I didn't make it obvious, she would've been REALLY wary of him around the start of the game. Like c'mon, she sits behind this guy who's making lockpicks and bombs in class. She's not gonna think he's a delinquent, she's gonna think he's a terrorist. So her anxiety's gonna be through the roof every time he interacts with her. Also she wouldn't believe the phantom thieves exist so she's. probably not gonna like him or anyone in the gang very much.

But we know what happens!! Ya boi rolls into her boss's palace to save her (and inadvertently get her to awaken her persona) not even like, two days after Madarame's breakdown. Which, while that is a huge time constraint, it's also really funny, so I'm keeping that. So her opinion on him would go from "possible terrorist D:" to "OHHHH so THAT'S why he was making all that stuff!!" I think she'd still be pretty afraid of what this man is capable of, though, despite. that it's akiren here. the massive dork himself. and a fellow theatre kid in spirit.

She'd definitely warm up to him as her social link(oh right i forgot they were called confidants in this game. oops.) goes on though!! I don't remember if I mentioned this, but it basically focuses around getting her back into theatre acting, since she dropped out of the club two years ago as she took on her rental store/meth-cooking job.

So by the time I'm setting this, Akiren would be a good friend!! Like he is with the rest of the gang!! I don't want Asuka to be considered a romance option, though, because that's...we have enough of that...Plenty enough of that...ghghgghghh

Ryuji's someone Asuka is kind of friends with, but not really. I actually haven't put much thought into what their relationship would be(even though I should, because it's one of the best boys we're talking about here) but I think they'd be alright friends. Asuka's anxiety might stop her from involving herself in the shenanigans he gets into with others in the gang, though.

Okay!! Onto Ann! Long story short, they'd be such good besties!!! Could easily be my bias towards Ann(it's not obvious but I fucking love Ann, she's one of my favorite Persona characters ever and it greatly pisses me off how the game treats her) but I think!!! Ann would be the one to get Asuka to warm up to the gang and calm down her anxiety when around them!!! She did the same for Makoto, so I figured hey, why not have her do that for Asuka?? It'd make sense...I think... They're some girls being gals!!! Gals being pals!!!

I wanna say if Asuka's getting anxious or sad over something, Ann would be there for her lickety-split! She needs a friend like that in her life, and by golly gosh Ann's gonna be that friend. Along with the rest of the gang, of course, but Ann especially.

I think Yusuke and Asuka would immediately be kind of? friends? upon her joining the gang since they'd both be welcomed at around the same time. She'd obviously be put off by his...eccentricity, but I think she'd be less weirded out by it as time goes on. Hell, she'd probably be pretty impressed that he proudly acts like the fucking weirdo he is(/pos) since she's so anxious about being normal and stuff. They're not close friends, but they're definitely not just acquaintances, either.

Hoo boy, Makoto...Makoto, Makoto...yeah, she wouldn't like her. Not because she's like, annoying or anything, but I guess just...stuck-up. Serious. Like girl!! Take a chill pill!! Also Asuka would probably hold kiiiind of a grudge against her since. she's student council prez. and she didn't do shit about neither the entire kamoshida situation or. asuka's wholeass situation. she'd prolly eventually get over that though, like the others did.

Makoto's really just...there, to Asuka. She sure does exist.

Now Futaba...Asuka would not like Futaba at all at first, after her palace. Futaba's an annoying little gremin. Asuka has not once met a little gremlin that is this degree of annoying. She does not know how to handle the annoying little gremlin. It's okay, she learns how to handle Futaba eventually. They'd probably be friends, actually, chatting about the light novels and manga Asuka reads. Asuka would recommend Futaba some good manga, and Futaba would get Asuka into Featherman. A mutualistic relationship between otaku weirdos.

Haru's another bestie Asuka would have!! I like to think of her, Asuka, and Ann as a trio of girl best friends. It just feels right. If I ranked how quickly Asuka befriends people in the gang, Haru would be second, right behind Ann. She's enough of a sweetheart for Asuka's anxiety to actually not do shit to her for once!! It's like...have you ever met someone so nice to you, you can't bring yourself to be any nervous around them? Yeah, it's that rare phenomenon.

I've already talked about Akechi, but it's Akechi, so I'm gonna keep talking about him. Asuka fucking DESPISES Akechi to her very core, and for good reason. At least, I'd say it's good reason. She'd act soooo petty whenever they interact, and from the start, too! I said that she'd call him a "defective prick" live on television when the gang meets him and I'm not going back on that statement!! Because she's right and she should say it!!!

And yeah, their relationship is. Y'know. Not necessarily toxic, but MAN, their bickering would get even the rest of the gang pretty pissed off, like godddd, would you two shut up already, we're in the middle of something important. They'd have literary debates of the century. Futaba brings in popcorn every time Akechi says "-insert character- did nothing wrong." and Asuka replies "EXCUSE ME!?" It's funny to watch.

I wanna give them an enemies to friends arc, with Asuka actually letting go of her grudge against him(probably with Akiren's help), but...you know what happens...

It's her fault, anyway.

Oh!! Right!! Sumi exists!! Yeah, uh, Sumi's so detatched from everyone except Akiren I can't even think of how she and Asuka could interact. So ideas for that'll be on the back burner for now.

I do wanna say, though...she'll have very different dynamics with everyone, come Third Semester.

[t0shii]

hi could i request kita, tendou, and mattsun and it’s your first time sleeping at their place and they find out you cant sleep in the dark and need to sleep with a night light?

% s/o who can't sleep in the dark

.! timeskip! kita, tendou, matsuwaka (sep) x gn!r

.! fluff/ mention of food in kita's, mention of rainstorm in tendou's, water drinking in mattsun's- not proofread.

.! hi! ty for the request <3 sorry u had to wait so long :(( (idk why these ended up to be so long)

kita

to say you were nervous to stay the night as your boyfriends place for the first time would be an understatement... your heart raced as kita placed your back on the ground to unlock the front door, "make yourself at home." he opens the door, "down there is the bathroom... and that's my room." he shows you around and you crack a joke about how clean his house is compared to your apartment. you both decide on a movie night with take out which he insisted you choose.

you yawn and rub your eyes as the third movie of the night ends. you'd been laying in between his legs, back pressed against his chest. you sit up and he follows, wrapping his arms around you and perching his chin on your shoulder, "sleepy? we can head to bed if you want." he mumbles into your neck before planting a kiss there, "mhm, let me change first though." you try standing up to reach your bag but his hold on you doesn't loosen, "i have clothes you can wear." he says bluntly, standing up and bringing you with him. he leads you to his room, rummages through his dresser and hands you a shirt and shorts, "these should fit, yeah? i'll leave so you can change."

you start to internally panic as you both settle into his bed, and he begins turning off every light in the room. suddenly theres only one bedside lamp illuminating the room, he reaches to turn it off and lays down, pulling your body against his which makes you giggle. "good night." he mumbles into your hair, "night." you sigh. 'maybe if you close your eyes you'll forget it's dark' you think to yourself, squeezing your eyes shut. thirty minutes pass you're still awake. you sigh, a little louder than intended, "y/n? are you still awake?" you mentally scold yourself, "yeah" he props himself up with his elbow; you angle your head back to look at him, "what's wrong?" the sleep in his voice evident. "well... uhm... i..." his eyes soften as he notices you becoming nervous and he cups your cheek with his free hand, "you can tell me angel."

you can help but lean into his touch "it's embarrassing" "not it's not" "okay well... i can't sleep in the dark. ever since i was a kid, i've never been able to." you can see eyebrows furrow from the small amount of moon light peeking through his curtains, "why didn't you tell me before i turned all the lights off?" he frowns, reaching over to turn the lamp on, relief filling your chest at the illuminated room. "because it's embarrassing." you mumble as he lays back down and pulls you against his chest again, "it's not embarrassing, baby, at least not to me. so no need to embarrassed, i won't judge you for i and besides, i don't mind sleeping with a light on." he places and kiss on your temple and you sleep well, secure and comfortable in his arms.

tendou

you'd been over to tendou's apartment plenty of times before and every time you made up some lame excuse for why you couldn't stay the night, "i need to feed my cat" "my clothes are still in the washer" literally anything to save you from the embarrassment of having to tell him you couldn't sleep in the dark. tonight was different though, with a storm passing over town and not looking like it's letting up any time soon, he wouldn't let you leave. "ten, i dont have any clothes here, my cat's by herself-" he cuts you off "babe, babe- you can wear something of mine if you want and i'm sure she'll be fine. she's a cat." he holds you firmly in your cuddling position on his couch. "fine." you grumble.

really, if he had to be honest, it hurt tendou's feelings a little bit that you were always against the idea of staying the night with him- but he had no choice but to celebrate this small victory and thank the rain storm, "it's for your safety, angel." he says proudly, placing a kiss on your cheek. you choose to ignore the nervous feeling creeping up your belly and rest your head back on his chest, "yeah yeah let's just continue with the show, i'm invested in the plot." "you mean the hot main characters?" "exactly... the plot." you giggle while he pretends to be offended. three hours later you find your eyelids getting heavier and heavier until you can barely keep them open and your boyfriend seems to take notice quickly.

"are you falling asleep on me? we haven't even finished season 3 yet." he mumbles and you let out a groan, "it's two in the morning, of course i'm getting sleepy." you rub your eyes, "i'm just giving you a hard time, babe. you're the one who wanted to stay up though but i guess we can go to bed now." you sit up and stands from his position on the couch and helps you up, "c'mon sleepy head, you can make it." he grins taking your hand and leading you to his room. he lets you sit on his bed while he looks through his dresser, "hmm is this shirt okay?" you nod as he hands you an old band shirt "i'll be right back." he leaves the room with his own change of clothes. once he's back you both lay down, "oh babe, i almost forgot, you wanna see something cool? he gets out of the bed and you respond with an "mhm" as he begins to turn all the lights off, a familiar nervousness creeping up your belly as the room gets darker and darker.

"okay okay, so i don't sleep well in pitch dark but the lamp is just too much light so i got this-" he plugs in a small object into the wall, stars illuminate his bedroom ceiling as well as your other surroundings and he smiles wide, "see it makes stars, theres a moving option too but i don't really like it that much. oh, and don't make fun of me." he says seriously, sliding back into bed with you, arms wrapping loosely around your waist, "well i can't make fun of you for that, satori." "i was just hoping you wouldn't, honestly." he chuckles. "babe, do you wanna know i always avoided staying the night here?" you ask, ready to confess your secret. "i didn't wanna force it out of you but now that you're ready, yes." you both turn your heads to look at each other. "the truth is, i was embarrassed because i also cant sleep in the dark, been that way for as long as i can remember. but i'm glad theres someone i can relate to." "how ironic" he mumbles, placing his face into the crook of your neck. you sleep like a baby in his arms that night.

matsuwaka

you were over at issei's place so he could help you study for an exam coming up, honestly you didn't want to stay as late as you did and when the both of you finally noticed the time he just wouldn't let you leave. "c'mon baby, it's too late. it would be irresponsible of me to let you go home now, i don't mind you staying the night." he hugs you tight like you'll disappear if he lets go, face buried in the crook of your neck. you sigh in defeat, "okay fine." his head perks up as you say it and he smiles at you, "i can get you something to sleep in if you want."

that's how you got in this situation, awake hours after your boyfriend had already fallen asleep. finally after two hours of laying in the dark listening to his snores, you sigh quietly, slipping out of his loose embrace and tip toeing your way to his kitchen to get a glass of water and sat at the dining table. you'd been sitting there for about thirty minutes before you heard the bedroom door creak open and heavy, rushed footsteps make their way towards you. "y/n?" you recognize a panic in your boyfriend's groggy voice, "i'm in here." you croak out hearing a sigh of relief escape his lips once he sees you. you look up at him, his hair was an absolute curly mess and his eye lids were droopier than they already were, he was obviously still half asleep. "y/n there you are. he sits in a chair next to you, "you scared me, i woke up and you were gone. i thought you left." he leans his head on your shoulder, "sorry." you mumble, bringing a hand up to run through his hair a few times resulting in a groan from the man.

"'s okay, how long have you been awake?" "hmm about two and a half hours now." you reply honestly, "what? baby, why didn't you wake me up?" he raises his head and you both turn to look at each other, "you were tired, issei-" he interrupts you, "so? you shouldn't have had to be awake by yourself." "it's fine, i knew it was gonna happen, i knew i wouldn't be able to sleep" "why's that?" you sigh, internally scolding yourself for the hole you've dug yourself into. "i... i cant sleep in the dark." he looks at you for a moment, "that's all? that's what kept you up this whole time?" he asks and you nod. mattsun can't help the grin that makes his way onto his lips, "baby, you should've just told me, i could've kept a light on for you." "no- look i shouldn't have told you now you'll think i'm immature." you mumble, looking away from him. "no no baby, it's totally normal, honestly and i don't think any less of you. i just wish you would've told me sooner because then we'd both be sleeping right now. he hugs you before standing the both of you up, "c'mon we're going to bed." he grabs your glass and leads you back to his bed. you sleep in his embrace, table lamp illuminating the room the rest of the night.

[chosonore]

part one | calmness

calmness [noun. the state or quality of being free from agitation or strong emotion]

pairing: kamo choso/f!reader

summary: falling in love with choso was a gradual and slow process, creeping up on you so inconspicuously that you don’t realize until the feelings hit full force. he’s become a constant in your life, your sun, your home. but does he return the feelings?

wordcount: 8k

content/warnings: roommates au, friends to lovers, fluff, slice of life, mentions of alcohol, language, some pining but not really, the amount of oblivious reader and choso will kill you, slow burn, characters are aged up if not already obvious, lowercase intended, [UNEDITED]

a/n: [hello this is a re-post because my blog was banned for a few days! so if you’ve seen it before, i’ve had to delete it i am so sorry if you’ve saved it. but it’s here to stay now!] here it is, the long awaited roommate!choso series wehfuhuehw if you’ve lurked around on my blog before, you would’ve seen the little drabbles i’ve sent suki a while back. this idea has been floating around in my head for so long and there isn’t really a lot of plot to it, it’s really just a really long slice of life thing. wanted to explore falling in love with choso, i just... love him a lot ╰(*´︶`*)╯♡ i’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how he would be in situations like this and i hope you enjoy!

masterlist - next

you were pretty sure that you’d scared all the costumers away with your constant sighing – even yuuji was looking at you concerned now although you’d told him that you were fine hours prior. the entire apartment hunting issue was now getting to you; a few months prior, your landlord had announced that he would be selling the apartment, leaving you with no other option than to find a new apartment. but rent was astronomically high and you were already struggling as is. even finding roommates was proven to be a difficult feat, you weren’t sure why but you kept attracting weird people and now two weeks before the moving out date, you still didn’t have a place to stay. worst case scenario, you’d have to rent a storage space and crash at your friend’s place.

“y/n, are you okay? you look… very stressed,” yuuji asked gingerly, after he’d closed the store and helped you clean up the cash register area. “uh if it helps, you can vent to me! we’re friends right? so what’s bothering you?”

you were hesitant. sure, despite not knowing him so well since he’s only been working at the store for a month or two now, you would consider the two of you friends. but you felt bad just dumping the entirety of your worries onto him. so you opted to tell him the… short truth.

“ah it’s just- i’ve been looking for a place to stay because, essentially, i’m getting kicked out of my place but it’s been pretty unsuccessful,” you sighed, scrubbing at the counter more vigorously now. “i need to move out in two weeks but i haven’t found a place yet and the people looking for roommates just seem to be people who would drive me insane.”

“oh really?” yuuji sounded hopeful- wait, why did he sound hopeful? “my older brother is looking for a new roommate! his former roommate recently moved in with his boyfriend so the room is vacant right now. if you want, i could arrange a date for you to look at the apartment and meet him? i promise my brother isn’t weird or anything, he’s pretty diligent with chores and is always up to hang out.”

your jaw dropped; yuuji was your lifesaver. he was incredibly friendly and polite, always helping others and looking out for everyone. you were overwhelmed with joy and relief, maybe you were naïve and too hast in trusting his words but his brother had to be similar to him, you couldn’t imagine them being polar opposites. it couldn’t be that bad and at this point, you were desperate. “i would love that! when are you guys free?”

“ah we could actually head over to his place after clocking out,” yuuji put the boxes and pens back into place before ushering you to the staff room and turning the lights off. “he’s been home quite early lately, so i can just let him now right now if you’re free?”

you nodded in agreement, almost too eagerly, as you threw your jacket on and grabbed your bag, waiting for yuuji outside of the store. it was already dark outside and you almost felt bad for taking up his time like this but he had offered after all. yuuji was furiously texting as he stepped out of the building, screen lighting up his face in a comical way. in the dim light of the street lamps, you clumsily fumbled with the keys before finally being able to lock the door.

“you’re in luck, he’s home right now!” yuuji announced, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his red sweater. “said it’s okay if we drop by real quick.”

you hummed in thought, matching yuuji’s pace as you walked across the street. “does he live far away from here?”

“nope, it’s basically around the corner.”

thankfully, the apartment was within walking distance so you had a slow stroll while talking about work, friends and uni. although you shared the same friend circle, it was almost impossible to have both of you in the same room – yuuji was often busy with club activities while you were constantly studying or working. it wasn’t until he started working at the store that you finally got to know each other, immediately getting along much to your friends’ relief. he had never talked about his older brother before so you were surprised that he had siblings at all. but he sounded genuine when he said that his brother was cool so you didn’t think much of it.

“okay so this is the place,” yuuji stopped in front of a building, pressing the doorbell. “please don’t be too intimidated when you meet choso, he looks unfriendly and unamused sometimes but that’s just his face.”

turning around, you took a closer look at your surroundings. it was an apartment building that looked rather cozy, surrounded by tall, expanding trees. to your relief, it wasn’t a sketchy neighbourhood - you’d always felt wary about walking home by yourself after a late shift. in the distance, you could see a playground and screaming, laughing children. it was harmonious and peaceful, easing your soul and initial doubts.

“oh okay,” you bit your lip in nervousness as the buzzer went off, following yuuji into the building. the closer you got to the apartment, the squirmier you got, anxious about meeting his older brother. the door was already left ajar so you could enter, the smell of food wafting out of the apartment to the hallway. you peeked inside before entering, immediately feeling more at ease upon seeing that the apartment was organized and clean. coats and jackets hung up on the coatrack, shoes lined up neatly along the wall. several photos were stuck to the wall - one of a younger chubby-cheeked yuuji, one of what looked like a garden party, another one of a happily smiling group of people. your heart was warming up; yuuji’s brother seemed like a rather attentive person who appreciated his surroundings and close friends and family.

“choso! did you make dinner for me?” yuuji called out as he kicked off his shoes and stormed inside before you could stop him, leaving you to your own devices as you awkwardly stood in the hallway of the apartment after closing the door. you took your shoes off slowly, stalling as much time as possible. should you just wait for yuuji to come back? or should you come in and greet them with the same energy that yuuji just exuded? but then his brother might think that you were weird and reject you straight away. you froze when a deeper voice rang out.

“didn’t you say you’d bring a friend? where are they?”

you hastily took off your shoes and tiptoed deeper into the apartment, hiding behind yuuji as you looked at the taller man in front of him. his brother looked at you curiously, placing the cooking utensils he was holding onto the counter. so yuuji and him did look like polar opposites. yuuji, for the lack of better terms, looked like a soft peach while the man in front of you had tied his dark, long hair in twin tails and was sporting a huge white shirt with sweatpants but perhaps the most striking thing about him was the face tattoo. you hadn’t expected that at all. he spiked your interest, you couldn’t deny that he was attractive. you had to snap out of it, this was your potential future roommate and you did not need to have any further thoughts. not of that kind.

“hi,” you greeted quietly and held your hand out for him to shake. “i’m y/n, nice to meet you.”

“choso.” he shook your hand, giving you an approving nod.

maybe you stared at his hand a little too obviously, admiring his long fingers, his nicely shaped fingernails and the veins on his hand. yuuji cleared his voice, slightly elbowing you in the side. you gasped in embarrassment, jerking your hand from his and hiding it behind your back. choso didn’t seem like he had caught onto your staring. and if he did, he had enough mercy to not bring it up.

“let me show you your room first,” choso explained unfazed, patiently waiting until you followed him. he walked across the living room, pointing to the side. while yes, he was attractive and seemed to be an enjoyable person to be around with, you couldn’t shake the wariness in your bones. choso switched on the lights, letting you step into the room first. it was empty for the most part, aside from a few boxes that were neatly stacked and placed in the corner. the room had a comfortable size, big enough to fit everything that you owned but not too big so that you’d feel uncomfortable with the empty spaces.

“sorry about the boxes,” choso apologized, turning to you. “i’ve been storing some of the stuff from our studio here, since i sometimes work from home and it was more convenient to have it here instead of my room.”

“i see…” you nodded, trying your best not to peek at the contents of the box. “if you don’t mind me asking, what do you work as?”

“some of my friends and me, we’ve opened a tattoo and piercing studio earlier this year. i only do tattoos though, some of the others do piercings additionally,” he explained to you, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. your mouth fell open, making you look like a fish. you couldn’t hide your excitement, eyes gleaming like you’d just discovered the biggest treasure you’ve ever seen.

“really? that’s so cool! yuuji never told me you were a tattooist, i would love to see your works someday,” you grinned from ear to ear while choso looked away from you, not being able to handle the praise. although he appreciated the sentiment, he didn’t know how to respond to compliments - the feeling was foreign to him.

"yeah, sure," choso replied with a strained voice. in the dim light, no one would be able to make out how the tips of his ears reddened and choso was thankful for that. he cleared his voice, slowly trudging outside of the room to show you the rest of his apartment.

when yuuji had mentioned that he’d found a potential roommate for choso, he didn’t tell anything else. choso didn’t expect it to be yuuji’s co-worker, much less someone whose energy was so bright and happy unlike his gloomy self. he briefly wondered whether you were okay with living here - even if you were desperate to find an apartment, surely you'd at least want someone who was… more open and less intimidating than him.

you trailed behind his broad frame, carefully taking in the entirety of the apartment. it seemed like there was nothing to worry about. even though you've only known him for a few minutes, you felt at ease with him and that gave you a better feeling about moving in with him. yuuji was innocently sitting on the couch, spooning the soup choso had prepared earlier while watching tv. his eyes followed the pair, relieved that there was less awkwardness than he anticipated but slightly suspicious because… there was something.

as choso showed you the rest of the apartment - kitchen, living room and bathroom - he comprehensively explained expenses and house rules to you. there weren't many rules to begin with; choso simply disliked clutter and expected everything to be put back to its original place after use, being noisy was a no-go as well. everything in between was negotiable. by the end of the apartment tour, you joined yuuji in the living room. he shot you a questioning look, raising his eyebrow in curiosity. you were certain that you'd take the offer. there was no way this opportunity would go to waste.

"thank you for showing me around, choso," you smiled at him gratefully. "if you're okay with me moving in, i'd love to become your roommate. i think we'll get along well."

the last box was haphazardly tossed in the corner of your room, earning you a disapproving glare from choso. exhausted, you flopped on the bed and spread across it like a starfish. choso placed the remaining boxes on the floor. moving day was, despite choso coming to your rescue, utterly chaotic and tiring. your muscles were aching from overexertion and there was no remaining energy or nerve for you to attend to unpacking. you felt like a jellylike mass.

"i'll cook something for us. do you have any preferences or dislikes?"

you lifted your head slightly to peek at choso who was standing in the doorway, on his way out. “you’ll cook for me? what are you, an angel?”

choso didn’t reply, simply stared at you. he was used to such antics - it reminded him of his childhood when he was still living with yuuji and taking care of him. lethargically, you shook your head and planted your face back in the pillow. "no, i'm okay with anything. will inhale anything as long as it's edible," though your voice was muffled, choso understood you nonetheless. he made a confused, albeit affirmative noise before disappearing. a long exhale left your lips. truthfully, you were lucky to have an amazing roommate like choso. even though you didn't know each other well and he wasn't very talkative, he was very much willing to help. with time, you were sure he would warm up to you and become great friends. your eyes were slowly drooping, the exhaustion settling in your bones. within minutes, you dozed off into a deep, comfortable slumber. you didn't wake until a knock roused you out of your sleep, startling you in the process.

"huh? yeah?" you scrambled hastily, trying to fix the bird's nest that was your hair. choso did not need to see you in this state - delirious from being woken up from your deep slumber, feeling as if you'd woken up in a new century and with imprints of your pillows and blanket on your skin. before you could make yourself presentable, choso had already opened the door and stared at you unabashedly.

you blinked dumbfounded, staring back at him.

“food’s ready. you coming?” choso gave you a questioning look, waiting for a reaction. so apparently, he did not care what you looked like after waking up. he didn’t even bat an eyelid at your messy state, unfazed by it.

“uh yeah, give me a minute,” you replied after a few moments passed, sitting up tiredly. choso nodded before closing the door behind him as he returned to the kitchen. grabbing yourself a fluffy blanket, you wrapped it around yourself and waddled outside. whatever he had prepared, it smelled divine. you hummed in content as you took a seat at the dining table. the table was already set, dishes still steaming and looking so inviting that you had to stop yourself from drooling. choso padded to the table, placing some drinks on the table before taking a seat as well. as he described the dishes he'd cooked for the two of you, you inconspicuously looked him up and down. this time, without yuuji catching wind of it.

you knew choso was tall and very broad but you only realized the full extent of it seeing how the chair seemed tiny in comparison to his frame. his hair was down for a change, falling just above his shoulders. as usual, he was wearing comfortable clothes; a big shirt, big enough that you could admire his arm muscles and hands every time the sleeves moved. not only was he attractive, he was incredibly attentive and helpful as well, not expecting anything in return.

"thank you for cooking, i really appreciate it. looks really good," you complimented choso, taking a bite from the dish. you hummed delighted, wiggling in your seat happily. "oh my god, this is so delicious! where did you learn cooking like this?"

"i used to cook for yuuji and myself a lot."

"i wanna return the favour too but now i kind of feel inadequate," you joked lightly, smiling at him sheepishly. while you weren't the worst cook, you weren't outstandingly great either. choso however, was probably the best cook you knew.

"i don't mind. as long as you do your best, it's the thought that counts."

you nodded in agreement, taking a sip from your drink. silence fell over you; a comfortable silence however, both of you just enjoying the food. you supposed it wasn't too bad if you took your time getting to know each other - after all, choso seemed like someone who would quickly recoil if cornered. it wasn't too much of a concern.

after finishing the meal, you helped him clean up and wash the dishes. nudging him gently, you asked: "do you want to watch some movies after? yuuji recommended me a few that i have yet to check out."

choso took the plates, drying them with the towel before placing them back to their designated spots. "sure, you're responsible for the movie selection then."

spending time with choso was easy, almost too easy. you were glad that the two of you were off to a good start, he didn't seem to mind your company and you enjoyed his. cheerfully, you put the movie on, snuggling the blanket that was wrapped around you. the way you were laying on the couch was reminding choso of a little burrito. unbeknownst to him, the corner of his lips lifted a little at the sight. he waited until you noticed him and shuffled a little so he could sit on the couch as well. the movie you had chosen was a lighthearted comedy, one that yuuji had highly praised and recommended you watch first.

midway through the movies, the exhaustion was creeping up on you, making you feel heavy and sleepy until you slumped against choso's side. he glanced to the side, observing you to see whether you would wake up. soft and steady breaths left your lips, already asleep within seconds. choso pondered whether to wake you now, worrying that you would miss out on the movie that you were so eager to watch. you looked so peaceful that he felt bad, deciding to wake you once the movie was over. but even choso couldn't shake the tiredness, gradually slumping against you until sleep overtook him as well.

as the sun was rising, light was flooding the apartment, filling it with warmth. you scrunched your eyebrows at the brightness, attempting to move so it wouldn't blind you. the first thing you noticed was your strained neck - probably because of the weird position you had slept in - and the second thing was that something heavy was laying on your lap. blinking in confusion, you peeked, groaning inwardly at the blinding light. black hair was splayed across your lap, connecting to… choso? oh no. oh no. you must've fallen asleep while watching the movie and judging how choso was comfortably using your lap as a pillow, he did as well. embarrassment spread throughout your body; this wasn't supposed to happen, much less with someone you didn't know so well.

now that you were unintentionally watching him, you felt creepy. the situation was too perplexing to you - should you wake him now? or just wait… until he woke up? but what if you had to pee. what if choso wasn’t going to wake up until a few hours later? what if he woke up and saw you staring at him like a creep? though you did think he looked vulnerable and peaceful in this state, unusual from his intimidating, unwavering self. it made your heart tingle with an unknown feeling, softly bubbling with curiosity.

beneath you, choso was moving slightly, shuffling around until he felt comfortable. you stayed still, tensely watching his next movements. he remained still for a while, making you exhale in relief. until he didn’t. choso blinked a few times, trying to make sense of his surroundings until his gaze fell onto yours. and you stared back, frozen in fear. even if he was the one laying on your lap, you felt anxious.

“uh i… we must’ve fallen asleep last night, ha ha…”

“you fell asleep early on and i was going to wake you after the movie ended but fell asleep myself, i’m sorry for making you feel uncomfortable,” choso apologized sincerely and sat up right away, rubbing his eyes sleepily. even though he looked rather deadpan, there was a trace of embarrassment on his face.

“oh no, it’s okay! we both fell asleep after all… ah, since we’re roommates, we’re sort of friends now, right? so don’t mind it too much, it happens!” you gave choso a reassuring smile, showing him that there was no bad blood between you.

choso nodded slowly. “i guess so. i’m glad you don’t mind. "

an awkward pause.

"do you have classes anytime soon? i can make breakfast for us.”

and just like that, the tension between you was alleviated. not completely gone, but barely noticeable. choso stretched like a cat, yawning quietly before he got up. you couldn't help but glance at his toned stomach, eyes almost bulging at the sight. turning to the side, you hid your face and cleared your voice. "i don't have classes today but i have to go to work later. so i won't say no to breakfast if you're making it."

"how's living with choso?" yuuji questioned you curiously, leaning against the counter. lowering the pen and writing board you were holding, you hummed in thought. in the past few weeks, the two of you had settled into a comfortable routine. there were minor hiccups here and there but the issues were easily resolved - somehow, you silently understood each other, an important foundation for a good friendship.

"pretty relaxing, to be honest. he's a good roommate and friend," you replied, clicking with the pen which earned you an annoying glance from yuuji. "you should've told me he was a great cook! i don't think i've ever tasted any dishes that were as good as his."

"he cooks for you?" the surprised tone in yuuji's voice startled you. was that out of the ordinary? you just thought he was being a good friend when he prepared dinner for you whenever you had a late shift.

"uh yeah? mostly when i come home late or when we have movie nights together. i always tell him that i can definitely help but he insists that he's fine doing it himself."

"i see. choso just doesn't like people messing with his cooking routine, that's all. i'm not even allowed near the kitchen, even though i'm not that bad of a cook either," yuuji laughed, scratching his head sheepishly. he wasn't going to tell you why he was perplexed by the fact that choso willingly cooked for you. it was too early to make any assumptions; he just couldn't shake the feeling that there was something at play. no one knew his brother better than him - choso would never do any favours for persons he didn't care about, persons that weren't family or extremely close friends. while they had talked about choso's thoughts about you, he never mentioned anything more than getting along well and often spending time together. for choso's standards, you were a quite close friend.

"oh, and here i was, thinking that he must really hate my cooking skills. so it's just that," you concluded, grinning happily. he was weirdly persistent about it but knowing this detail about him, you'd stop pestering him in the future. "hey do you wanna come over tomorrow? it's movie night again, i'm sure you'd enjoy it too."

"hmm, sounds tempting. if you can convince choso to cook, i'm in."

"pff, who would say no to this face," you retorted mischievously, showing yuuji the best puppy face you could muster up. he groaned, pushing you gently.

"show off," he told you jokingly and rolled his eyes. "i don't know how choso tolerates you."

"you're just jealous, huh? didn't think you had that emotion in you. choso and me are the bestest of friends, of course we get along well," you stuck your tongue out at yuuji before leaving him to his own devices as you bolted to the cash register to help a customer. as you animatedly conversed with them, yuuji shook his head. it was obvious that there was some attraction but that was something he'd let you figure out. cupid wasn't a well-fitting job for him. friends, my ass.

"huh, did you say something, yuuji?"

"no, not at all."

soft, melodious music was playing in the background as you silently sat at the counter, watching choso prepare some meals before yuuji was visiting. this time, you heeded his advice, not pestering his brother about needing help and instead just opting to watch him and make light conversation. choso seemed to have noticed as well, mood ever so slightly lifted when he saw you simply taking a seat and asking about his day. he liked this routine, being able to go about his day without someone unwantedly poking their nose into his business until he felt comfortable enough to talk about it. as you absentmindedly doodled on a napkin, choso casually told you about his day at work. about squirmy customers who were getting their first tattoo done, about those that had interesting ideas that he was still trying to find ways to implement, about how noisy his co-workers were and that they wanted to have a night out soon.

“do you wanna join us? you said you wanted to meet my friends,” choso asked, briefly glancing up at you as he was dicing the vegetables. it was true, you did inquire about his friends at some point, more so jokingly and out of curiosity - although he complained about them every now and then, you could tell that he deeply cared about them. choso was the kind of person who acted like a mother hen around friends and sometimes nagged a lot more than you anticipated. but then somehow, miraculously, every minuscule task that would stress you was completed and topped with a freshly made, warm dish by the end of the day. he wasn't good with words but his actions made up for it.

you didn’t expect him to offer you to tag along. he was comfortable enough to introduce you to his friends, even seemed to trust you with them. it felt… strangely heartwarming. "i would love to join you but i have quite a lot of assignments piling up; i'll have to do some night shifts to finish them," you replied and sighed ruefully, putting the pen away. "i'll tag along once i've finished everything, okay?"

choso frowned slightly. "but don't overwork yourself. you'll end up frustrated and burnt out," he told you earnestly, reaching out to pat your head. you gaped at him, the fond gesture making you feel flustered. it was nice knowing that he was looking out for you. choso stared back at you, seemingly startled by his own gesture as well. his hand had moved faster than he could react - he didn't know what to make of it.

the ring of the doorbell interrupted every trail of thought and you jumped up quickly. "i'll get it!" you sprinted towards the entrance, letting yuuji in. perhaps you greeted him too overzealously, yuuji looked at you like he knew something was up. nonetheless, he didn't mention anything, instead presenting you the bottle of wine and some dvds that he brought. choso gave his younger brother an acknowledging grunt, too absorbed in his tasks. taking in his surroundings as he got comfortable on the couch, he noticed some subtle changes in the apartment - the numerous pillows and fleece blankets littered across the couch, the set of matching mugs as well as choso's sketchbooks and, presumably, your textbooks on the coffee table. it was obvious that the two of you spent a lot of time together.

even throughout dinner, yuuji realized that choso had taken a liking to you, more than he probably realized and let on. he almost felt like a third wheel watching how you animatedly talked about trivial things and even more so when it was movie time. like a little burrito, you were wrapped in a blanket, leaning against choso. though it surprised yuuji to see his older brother opening up to you so rapidly, he was happy about it. although chaotic and clumsy, you were a good person and a positive influence. having witnessing how choso had closed up and how hurt he had been after the break up of his previous relationship, yuuji was glad that he wasn't cautious around you and welcomed your presence. even though… both of you were painfully oblivious.

"should we wake her?" yuuji asked as he saw you snuggling into choso's side, peacefully sleeping while the movie was still on.

"no, it's okay. she often falls asleep midway through movies, i just let her sleep. probably exhausted from uni."

yuuji looked at him as if he grew three heads. "so you just let her sleep? and you… sleep on the couch too?"

"hm? yeah, kind of. i feel bad about waking her and we're friends so it's not that big of a deal," choso replied innocently, shifting slightly so he was comfortable while keeping his arm around you. ever so slightly, he leaned onto you.

yuuji buried his face in his hands, silently screaming. don't comment on it, don't say anything, it's none of your business. you might have pink hair but you're no cupid.

utterly exhausted, you made your way into the apartment. you flopped onto the couch, grunting in irritation when you heard choso calling your name. staying put, you just laid there and listened to his footsteps nearing. "you okay? did anything happen?" he questioned, leaning over the couch to look at you. you weren't even sure what to answer, whatever you were feeling at the moment was an accumulation of stress across multiple weeks. you were frustrated with your projects, feeling like you weren't making any progress and not having time for yourself whatsoever. all you needed was a break, a pick me up.

"do you wanna talk about it?" choso repeated again but you shook your head, lifting your head slightly to look at him. he almost felt bad for thinking that you looked adorable, the way you huffed in frustration with a little pout on your lips. you shook your head, hugging one of the pillows.

"not now, later maybe?"

"okay. i'll make you a cup of tea." he disappeared from your field of vision. you listened to the sound of the kettle, closing your eyes as you focused on it. slowly, your erratic thoughts came to a halt. your breath and heartbeat steadied and you gradually felt more calm. clack. choso placed the cup of tea on the coffee table, taking a seat next to you. he was hesitant to touch you just yet, waiting for another reaction from you. sniffling quietly, you sat up and thanked him quietly.

"choso?"

"hm?"

"can i have a hug?" you inquired meekly. he didn't reply, simply pulling you into his arms. without hesitation, you wrapped your arms around him, nuzzling your face in the crook of his neck. he smelled nice, like freshly washed laundry and the shampoo he was using. it reminded you of home, making you feel more at ease. gently, choso rubbed your back; wherever his fingers moved, it left a trail of goosebumps on your skin. not that he noticed anyways, fortunately. for a few minutes, only the sound of breathing resounded. it was calming and warm - choso was warm, so warm - you almost fell asleep. humming quietly, you moved closer to him.

"today was just really… bad. everything went wrong," you confided in him. "it made me feel like shit, like i couldn't do anything right. i guess i just feel really stressed so i can't concentrate on anything."

choso leaned forward, reaching out to grab the cup of tea. you squeaked in surprise, holding onto him so you wouldn't drop backwards. his left arm snaked around your waist, keeping you in place as he leaned back again. you moved back a little, as far as choso's arm allowed you to, and took the cup from him, taking small sips. "i think you're doing okay," he told you, drawing patterns on your back. "it's only natural to feel this way when everything's been piling up. what you need is a good rest and have a reset, you'll feel more refreshed and inspired to work on your projects. and don't hesitate to ask for help, no matter whether it's a professor or classmate."

"i also told you not to overwork yourself, didn't i? and don't think i can't tell that you've been pulling all nighters," he scolded you, pinching your cheek playfully. it made you giggle, tilting your head to get away from his hand.

"yeah i know, i know. just couldn't help it, it's a bad habit. i'll try to get better at it," you promised him, giving him a reassuring smile. "thank you for listening to me."

"it's the least i can do."

a comfortable silence fell over you. choso continued to rub your back in an attempt to soothe your nerves while you sipped your tea. you were grateful for him, he was an amazing friend - you didn’t even know how to show gratitude to him. awkwardly turning to put the mug back on the table, you then leaned against him. “choso?” you hummed against his chest, snaking your arms around his waist. “you know you can talk to me about problems too, right?”

“what do you think we’ve been doing these past few weeks?” he retorted and chuckled in amusement. “you should try to go to bed now. get some rest, you’ll feel better tomorrow.”

you pouted, not wanting to move. fortunately, he couldn’t see the face you were making - you weren’t ready to let him go just yet, wanting to memorize the expanse of his chest, his warmth, the way his arms felt around you. it made you feel safe, like a temporary relief to your anxiety. “can we… can we watch a movie maybe? i’m not sleepy yet.”

of course, choso saw right through you. “you always say that and then you fall asleep midway. you just don’t want to move, huh?”

“okay, you caught me,” you giggled hysterically as he stood up slowly and pretended to let you fall, catching you before you fell. clinging onto his shoulders, you wrapped your legs around his waist. you refused to let go. unbothered, he held you by your thighs as he waddled across the living room towards the console to choose a dvd to watch. while clinging onto choso, you could hear his heart beating rapidly - you chalked it up to how strenuous it must be to carry you around. choso, on other hand, couldn’t put a finger on the warm, tingly feeling inside of him. did he like having you around like this? stupid, of course he did, you were good friends after all. spending time with you was relaxing for him as well. back on the couch, he let you use his lap as a pillow, absentmindedly combing his fingers through your hair. the two of you remained in this position until both inevitably fell asleep, movie still playing in the background.

“y/n. earth to y/n. dude, can you hear me?” nobara was frantically waving papers in front of your face, rolling her eyes as you snapped out of your trance and took them from her. to your delight, the two of you shared quite a few classes this semester which meant that you could usually share the workload as well. you copied some of her notes, hastily scribbling them in your notebook.

"sorry, i was lost in thought. what did you say?"

"i asked you whether you wanna go out later? the whole crew is coming, it's been a while anyways," your friend repeated, placing her little cosmetics bag on the table to check her makeup and apply another layer of lip gloss.

"ah sorry, i already have plans for today, maybe ano-"

"with whom?" she asked pointedly, narrowing her eyes at you. in recent times, you've been rejecting her offers to hang out a lot; whether it be because of studying or hanging out with… "wait, are you having a date with that roommate of yours again?"

"it's not a date!" you briefly paused, giving her a dirty look. nobara was weirdly persistent about this dating thing, claiming that you would never get anywhere if you didn't make a move. "his name is choso, yuuji's older brother. i told you a million times already. he's been a really good friend and taking care of me when i feel stressed, so i thought it would be time for me to do the same for him."

"a really good friend?" a doubtful look was shot your way.

"yeah, i mean yuuji cooks for us all the time, how is it any different? anyways, i'll join you guys another day, okay?"

nobara stayed still for a moment. you truly didn't realize how much you's been mentioning choso. choso this, choso that, choso here, choso there. even yuuji had confided in her that he thought you might have developed a crush on his older brother though he wasn't certain. nobara, however, was sure. but operation make y/n realize things proved to be more difficult, considering you hadn't had a crush before as you were never interested in relationships.

"fine. but in return, you have to tell me about choso. what do you think of him?" nobara stuffed her belongings into the impossibly full handbag. propping her chin on her hands, she leaned closer to you with a shit-eating grin. you sighed, putting the papers away. it was no use trying to focus on your assignments when she was in an investigative mood. she wouldn't let go of the issue until you gave her a satisfactory answer. and for some reason, it irked you that she was inquiring about choso. why was she so curious about him? couldn't she have asked yuuji instead? it was his brother after all. maybe nobara was… interested in choso? you narrowed your eyes at her.

"i think he's great. might be intimidating at first and not very talkative but when he opens up to you, he's actually a softie. very respectful and polite towards people, always thinks of others first. and not to mention, he's really talented too! he often acts like he's annoyed by people or minds his own business but he really does care a lot. you feel comforted by his presence when you're close with him," you rambled, trying to list all the positive points about him that you could think of. nobara nodded slightly as she was listening to you, making it difficult to gauge her stance on him. was she going to confess now? maybe you should confront her about it. yeah, she would never admit it otherwise. "nobara, are you interested in choso? if you wanted me to introduce you to him, you could've just asked."

nobara stared at you with an open mouth. checkmate.

"you know i wouldn't have judged you at all! after all, choso is handsome too. so really, you don't have to sneak around about this," you concluded triumphantly, patting her arm in reassurance. it filled you with pride to be able to catch nobara off guard for once - usually, she was very composed and ready to give you a sassy answer.

"y/n, sweetie. you're so very wrong." nobara sighed, dejectedly pushing your hand away. you were incredibly dense when it came to feelings and relationships. maybe it would be more amusing to just watch everything pan out. “i don’t really care about choso, that’s your man after all.”

“yeah, yeah, i- wait what?”

thankfully, you arrived home earlier than choso did - for once. and for once, this friday was going to be a relaxing one, seeing as you’d finally finished your projects and assignments and could finally engage in a much needed self care day. placing the groceries bags on the counter, you went through the ingredients again just to make sure you didn’t forget anything. yuuji had given you a recipe for his famous meatballs recipe, claiming that it was one of choso’s favourite dishes. in recent times, choso seemed to be exhausted and sometimes even easily irritable after work - considering how much he did for you, it was only fair for you to treat him as well. surprising him seemed to be the best course of action.

making quick work of the ingredients, you took your time to clean the apartment while the soup was still cooking. yuuji was kind enough to lend you a few dvds, not even asking you whether you were going to watch them with choso anymore. while you felt bad about turning your friends down yet again, you promised yourself to make it up to them in the future by inviting them over for a sleepover or movie night. though knowing them, they would not let you stay in the comfort of your home but drag you to a party or club again. especially nobara would always insist on dragging you along, while megumi and yuuji didn’t really care about where they would be going for the night. her excuse was to find you a partner, claiming that it was about time you realized how cute you were, which you vehemently denied. even maki had told her to pipe it down at some point. all the more, it made you suspicious that nobara had not brought the topic up anymore. you couldn’t imagine her giving up so quickly, considering how persistent she had been for almost a year now.

the jingle of the keys and the soft click of the door made you stop whatever you were doing, peeking around the corner to see choso coming in. giggling quietly, you watched as he stopped in his tracks and sniffed the air, seemingly confused about the scent of the soup. he turned around upon hearing you, a small, almost unnoticeable smile on his lips. “up to no good?” he questioned you teasingly, placing his bag and jacket in the wardrobe. huffing, you stuck your tongue out at him and shook your head. you padded over to him, softly tugging at the sleeve of his shirt to make him follow you to the kitchen.

“since you always cook for me, i thought it would be time for me to do the same for you. yuuji showed me your favourite dish but i’m not sure if it turned out as well as he always makes it,” you sheepishly explained, showing him the pot of soup and the bowls and cutlery that you’d already laid out. choso hugged your side, squeezing your waist gently before patting your head and muttering a quiet thank you. your chest filled with pride, finally being helpful to him for once. if you weren’t careful, it would burst - he fuelled your ego even more as he complimented you, telling you how well the soup turned out and that he really appreciated it. you knew he wasn’t lying, for one because he was a sincere person and always offered heartfelt compliments, and because of how eagerly he was eating, practically inhaling the soup in one go. he even looked like he was in a food coma by the time you finished dinner, making you ban him from the kitchen to take a rest on the couch.

after washing the dishes, you came back to the living room to see him lie across the couch, eyes closed and calmly breathing. he looked like he was taking a nap, until he opened his eyes to peek at you as you approached. giddily, you joined him on the couch, showing him the hair products that you’d already placed on the coffee table. “can i give you a massage and do… uh hair stuff? i really like it when people brush my hair and stuff and i thought you might enjoy it too,” you explain to him. choso contemplated for a few seconds before shrugging nonchalantly. yes! you signaled him to sit on the floor in front of you as you pressed play. with the sound of the movie in the background, you focused on choso’s hair and took off the hair ties first. he got comfortable, turning towards the tv and learning his head against the edge of the couch. gently running your fingers through his hair, you made sure to detangle rough knots before massaging his scalp gently. you could tell that choso was beginning to relax by the way his shoulders were slowly sagging. in silence, you worked through the entirety of his scalp before moving on to brush his hair.

if you didn’t already know that choso was a naturally withdrawn person, you would’ve been concerned by how quiet he was and how he didn’t show any reactions to the movie. you were glad that he seemed to like the entire hair spa ordeal; he didn’t even seem to mind that you were using your hair products on him, the soft floral scent now emanating from his hair as you massaged it through the tips and then brushed it in slow strokes. by the time you were done, he looked utterly relaxed, struggling to keep his eyes open as he climbed back on the couch and sat next to you. without having to ask, he wrapped his arms around you. yawning quietly, you moved closer to him, turning your attention to the tv. habitually, his hands moved against your back, drawing shapes and patterns. slowly, choso could feel the heat in his body rising and chalked it up to the close proximity. it did make him feel a little uneasy however; he shifted you around on his lap until he felt comfortable. abruptly halting his movements, he froze as you turned to him, ass grazing his groin. an electric shock ran through him. subconsciously, he jolted at the friction. the tips of his ears turned red in embarrassment but he reassured you he was fine when you looked at him concerned. what the hell was that? was his body now not listening to him after being so relaxed?

“choso, can i ask you something?” you leaned back slightly to look at him.

“you already did. but yeah, go ahead.” choso grinned at the little huff you let out, grasping your hand in time as you tried to hit his chest and intertwined your fingers so you couldn’t move.

“uh this might sound weird but i think a friend of mine is interested in you. nobara, do you know her?” you squeezed his hand, moving it around with yours. “she asked me about you the other day.”

“huh, really? isn’t that one of yuuji’s friends too?”

you nodded in agreement. “yeah, we’re all friends. i only told her good things about you, of course.”

choso hesitated. he wasn’t sure what to tell you, not wanting to say something about your friend that could upset you. but the truth was, he wasn’t really interested in anyone right now. the recent breakup had done a number on him and he felt like he hadn’t properly moved on just yet. not when the thoughts were still obsessively circling in his head. but when choso was with you, they miraculously seemed to disappear, making him feel more at ease. “i’m not really looking for anything right now, sorry. i don’t really want to disappoint her, i’m just not really up for a relationship right now,” he told you truthfully, giving you an apologetic smile.

you stopped in your movements, nodding slightly in understanding. and still, it made your heart seize up for an unknown reason.

ps.: the story of how it takes reader and choso ages until they realize their feelings or alternatively: nobara and yuuji unwillingly turn into cupids

[boldlyanxious]

Hot and Bothered

Jasonette July SC 3: roommates

All Jasonette July

My masterlist

Marinette had just moved in with her roommate Tim a couple weeks ago. They didn’t know each other very well but he heard she needed a place to live and offered his place. His former roommate had moved out a couple months before. It was an awkward couple of weeks with coming and going at different times and never knowing when they could see each other. So when they both arrived home and neither had anything they would need to wake up early for they decided to hang out and get to know each other a little better.

The best way to do this was obviously while drinking to take the edge off a bit and relax them. It had worked wonderfully. They were both happy and giggling and had learned a lot about each other. But now they were hungry and discovering that they both had been forbidden from touching the stove while drinking. They ate cheese sticks and the rest of a bag of doritos but they were out of easy options that didn’t require cooking.

“Do you think we should risk it,” Marinette asked.

“I don’t know. My brother would kill me. We should call him and convince him to bring us Bat burger.”

“Oh yes! That sounds great. Do you think he would do that for you?”

“Probably not. Here you call him. He likes pretty girls. I bet you could convince him.”

Marinette hesitated but Tim pushed his phone over to her unlocked and another shot when she didn’t immediately move to take the phone. She took a breath before downing the shot and picking up the phone. She nearly dropped it but instead fell back onto the couch and the phone landed on her. The contact wasn’t on the screen anymore so she selected the phone app to find him by his name.

“Who’s your brother?” she scrolled down. “Oh here it is.”

She laughed a little when she saw Bother listed instead of Brother. She supposed that was part of having siblings. Tim looked up at her voice but she seemed to have answered her own question. She smiled at the phone. He was used to people smiling at pictures of Dick so he watched her put the phone to her ear.

“Hey, you’re Tim’s brother.”

“Who is this and why are you calling me from Tim’s number.”

“I’m hungry. Tim said you would bring us Bat burger even though he has you in his phone as bother instead of brother.”

“He said I would do it just out of the goodness of my heart?”

“Oh. No. Hold on. He said you would think I was pretty and do it just to see me. I’m not sure that actually works. Oh. Here is the camera.”

Marinette held the phone out so her face showed on the screen. She smiled big.

“You didn’t push the button so I can’t see you. Do you know how? I guess it doesn’t matter if I can see you. Pretty sure I’m not exactly the kind of girl guys go out of their way to buy things for. But we were hungry and Tim said it would work.”

“Is Tim there?”

“He laid down on the couch because everything was spinning. I’m not sure if he is awake.”

“I think you are exactly the kind of girl guys should buy things for. Try to drink some water.”

The phone went dead in her hand so she set it down on top of Tim where he was laying. His hand automatically went to the phone to keep it from sliding off him. Marinette went to the kitchen to get a couple glasses of water and brought one to Tim.

“He said to drink water. I don’t think he is bringing us food.”

“That sounds like Dick.”

“Definitely a dick move.”

Marinette started a movie and then realized she wasn’t drinking anymore so she went to make another hurricane. She was headed back to the living room when there was a knock on the door. She rushed to open it and saw a tall dark haired man in the doorway with a bat burger bag.

“Oh, food. Tim, I take back everything I said about your brother being a dick.”

“No, his name is--Jason?”

Marinette grabbed Jason’s arm and yanked him into the apartment pushing him down to a chair. He let her move him but she was expecting more resistance or was just more unsteady on her feet than she realized because she landed right on top of him and dumped her drink on his shirt.

“Tim, save the food!”

Marinette handed the bag off to Tim. Then, she pulled Jason to follow her to the bathroom and pushed him to sit on the closed toilet lid. She tugged at his shirt until he moved to allow her to pull it off him. She rinsed the shirt as best she could in the tub and then hung it over the rack. When she turned back to Jason she suddenly realized that she had left him there with his chest bare.

“Oh!” she said. She reached out her hand to touch him before realizing and pulling back. “I don’t think Tim’s shirts would even fit you.”

“Probably not,” he said.

“I think I would be okay if you stayed just like that until your shirt dried.”

“Would you?”

“Would I what?”

He laughed at her assuming she hadn’t even realized she had said anything.

“I might have something that will work. It won’t look as good as all that.”

She motioned in front of him while she was talking. She hadn’t looked back up to see the grin on his face.

“Your boyfriend’s.”

“I don’t have a boyfriend. But I could make you a shirt and it could be my boyfriend’s.”

“Well, I’m not sure you should be making clothes if you weren’t even allowed to use the stove. But I could stay just like this for a bit if you liked.”

Marinette nodded her head slowly.

“Sewing isn’t allowed either. You’re right. Too many finger injuries and the one shoulder injury.”

“How did you hurt your shoulder sewing?”

“Can I touch your shoulder?”

He nodded and Marinette reached out and brushed her fingertips along his shoulder. When they reached his neck she trailed them down his chest. She couldn’t stop there so she slid both palms up his chest to his shoulders, stepping closer to him so she could run her fingertips down his biceps. He stood up in front of her and her eyes were level with his chest just below his throat. She swallowed hard as he reached over her. He opened the door and guided her ahead of him back to the living room. Tim had put out all the food while they were in there. He gave them a funny look, but said nothing.

“Yay, food,” Marinette said. “You are such a life saver.”

She enthusiastically started eating a burger, not noticing the tension between the brothers. They all ate quietly for a few minutes. When Marinette finished eating she laid back on Jason. Tim looked a little like he wanted to say something but Marinette didn’t notice.

“I bet you don’t get muscles like this eating bat burger all the time. You must have a killer workout routine.”

“It is pretty killer.” Tim said.

“It used to be a lot more intense. But it's definitely not as rough as it used to be. I wouldn’t call it a killer.”

“That hasn’t gone unnoticed,” Tim said.

There was a moment of silence while the brothers watched each other. Marinette missed the seriousness of the moment.

“Well, I think it is great either way. No need to push yourself. You will make an excellent boyfriend either way.”

She turned slightly, still laying on Jason, and fell asleep.

It was hours later before she woke. She moved slightly, trying to untangle her legs in the blanket and then looked up to see a man with a very nice looking, bare chest looking down at her. She looked around to see that she was in her apartment on the couch and still wearing what she wore yesterday.

“So um, do you want coffee?” she asked.

Taglist

@jasonette-july-event | @theymakeupfairies | @emjrabbitwolf | @vixen-uchiha | @trythisagainlove | @trippingovermyfeet | @tbehartoo | @adrestar | @zynna

[deaconusdelirium]

Um so I don't actually know how to submit a request so, I've never done it before, but I hope this is right.

So I read this enemies to lovers with Tech where the reader is the Batch's new mechanic/medic/pilot (y'know something like that) and Tech is constantly trying to outsmart the reader and is kinda rude to her. So I am requesting either that or Tech and reader are already together and Tech makes a comment that hurts the readers feelings but Tech doesn't understand why she's upset cause he was merely stating "factual evidence". Also can the reader be female or like no gender. I hope I did this right.

Time will tell

(Tech X F!Reader)

Oh yeah! Either way is good, but I prefer taking requests in DM’s. I’m originally from a different writing platform and I took requests directly in messages, but send in an ask like this is good too. I don’t mind either way. That goes for everyone else who doesn’t know how to send in a request!^^

I love the first one, and I have a little something for that

———

“And that’s… Tech” Hunter sounded disappointed as he seen his brother not only did not look up, but didn’t say anything as he introduced you to your new team, Tech just gave a small wave without looking up and walking off. “He’s a busy guy, I presume” you spoke, watching ‘Tech’ walk off and into their ship. “You’ll get use to him, he’s not all that bad. The worse he could do is fill your head with useless info for hours on end” Hunter explained while putting a hand between your shoulders, guiding you into the Marauder. Ok, so it might have been a bit small but at least you were off Kamino where everything was too sterile and creepy looking. You were all alone in your room after all, no one ever really came in but a few clones, Nala Se and Omega usually handled them all though.

You gave another look around, making sure you tried to memorize everything. “We have a mission in a few hours, so I suggest you grab what you need from your place” “oh, no. I’ve got all I need, I’m going to head back and tell Nala Se we’re leaving soon” you walked out, Hunter nodded in agreement. “Well, we’ll tell you when we’re ready” you nodded, walking away from the ship and back into Kamino to Nala Se

—

Tech had only ever heard your voice, and by the sound of it. He was already annoyed, since when was there ever another person who does exactly as he does? It was only him, but.. the thought of sharing ideas and thought with someone else ‘smart’ would be nice. But no, he wouldn’t take it. He had to see for himself, he was sure you were going to fail, and he surely wasn’t going to be pushed aside, especially for all he’s ever done for his brothers. You weren’t the one who upgrades their armor for them, you’re not the one who has a datapad much like he has, and you couldn’t possible know anything about mechanics. He’s never met anyone who knew as much as he did, and if he hasn’t within his life, then there’s probably no such thing as it.

—

He thoughts were cut short, when you sat in the co-pilot seat next to him. Only Echo sat there, maybe Hunter on some occasions, he still didn’t look, and he grew annoyed as you tried to tell him what to do. “Do you even know what planet we are on?” Tech asked, finally looking at you, “what does that have to do with this? You haven’t told me where we are and I’m stuck with you. So if you could just focus on the task at hand then maybe we could actually try and get along” you spoke, his eyes widen at your words, he didn’t want you to know anything. It may sound selfish, but he thought of it as a training, I guess you could say. How would you go about in a situation where you don’t know where you’re at, and what you’re doing? What is your next steps for an unexpected change of plans?

His gaze was still hard on you, how could you know something about flying? “Tech, if you don’t help them, Omega and Hera could be shot down” you sounded desperate, but he was the one in charge. He was the one flying, you weighed your options, you didn’t know what to do. He only sat there, observing you like it was his job. “Forgive me” you apologized to him as you pushed him out the seat and took over the wheel. “Hey” Tech called from the floor, standing up, but soon holding onto your seat as he seen what you were going to do. “Hang on Wrecker!” You warned the man in the back, you pushed the petal as Tech almost flew back and Wrecker yell from the back. You turned the ship around for Wrecker so he could take out the cannons.

Tech held on as your flying was not something he was expecting, once you had all of the turrets down and Wrecker finished off the clones on the ground, you stood up, grabbing your helmet and gun. Tech grabbed your arm before you ran out, “hey-” you spoke, “careful with my ship next time” he glared at you, but Wrecker broke the both of you up by running through his grasp on your arm. “Your ship Tech? Or all of ours? She did great!” Wrecker said, hitting you on your shoulder as he laughed and ran off. “Still, we got what needed to be done, I suggest we drop this.. this argument and actually help. And for your information, we’re al Ryloth” you ran after Wrecker, and Tech stood there. You were stubborn alright, but that doesn’t mean you were better than him. No, he won’t allow it

—

After Hera was reunited with her parents and uncle, you all took off. For their brother Crosshair was after them, maybe even you now since you were with the Batch. Taking a deep breath in, and letting it out, you continued to clean your helmet, a few new scratches, but nothing bad. “Y/n?” Omega asked you, coming up and holding your shoulder as she stood on one leg. “What’s wrong Omega?” You asked, looking at her leg, “I got a cut, and my legs hurting. Could you look at it for me?” She asked, sitting on the chair in front of you as she turned to meet your body. “Yeah, let me just grab my stuff, stay right there” you told her as you stood up, walking to grab your bag and come back. You pulled her pants up to her knee, seeing a small scrape on it, “hmm, you only scraped it, nothing too bad if we clean it. Glad you came right on time” you tried to lift her mood up. Looking like you did since she laughed and held Lula.

“This might sting a little, but it won’t hurt” you showed her the bottle, calming her down as she was worried what you had in hand. She gave a small nod, handing it back to you, you smiled and slowly poured the liquid over the cut. She winced, hugging Lula tighter as you grabbed a bacta pad and placed it over her knee. “Alright, that should be good. Come back later for another cleaning, I’ll remind you so don’t worry, and if the ache still continues after a few minutes. Tell me so I can give you some medicine, it might be from all the time you haven’t treated it, but be careful next time” you pulled her pants down, patting her lower leg as she set it down. “So you aren’t going to treat the ache she has?” Tech asked, datapad obviously in hand as he watched you, “Tech! She cleaned it up just now, I should be fine. I think it was just dirty” Omega spoke, Tech looked at her, the back at you, he walked over to another seat, making Omega face him as he turned the chair. “What are you doing?” Omega asked as Tech pulled her pants up again.

Taking the tape off and looking at her scrape, he almost nodded in approval, but stopped himself. “Oh come on, I’m not going just throw a bacta pad on there and say I’m done” you told him, “still, you could have left out an important part” he spoke, Omega watched, “and just because you’re a medic, doesn’t mean you know it all” he harshly said, you wanted to just leave, everyone’s been nice except for Tech, “yeah? Well just because your name is ‘Tech’ doesn’t mean you’re actually a technician. You can multitask yet I haven’t spoken one word about your work” you spoke up, gathering your things and leaving. Omega watched as it all unfolded before her, “that was a bit rude Tech, maybe try and be nice, she’s new. You’re probably making her feel bad” Omega defended you

Tech took his helmet off, watching you walk off and disappear down the hall. “Maybe we only needed one, medic aboard. That was only a small scratch Omega, anyone could treat that” he stood up, “maybe you think we only need one medic, but I think differently. You should respect her more, I came to her because you were busy making repairs, and I’m glad to have let you work while she wasn’t busy. She even helped us back on Ryloth” it wasn’t new that Omega put yet another one of her brothers in place. She was right, you did save them, and treat her. He bet, if she would have went to Wrecker, he would have only plugged it up with trash and dirt then throw a bandaid on it.

Omega walked out the cockpit, Lula in her hands as Tech was left alone. So what you knew how to fly and treat a small wound, anyone could do that… anyone who knew what they were doing. And he was intrigued at how much you knew and what you’ve done.

—

Everyone sat in their seat, you sat behind Echo as he sat in the co-pilot chair. Your hands gripping the pen as you worked an equation out on a piece of paper. Tech heard you whisper quite loudly the numbers, so he worked it out in his head as he watched the stars go by while in hyperspace. “205” he said, you looked up, sighing in annoyance and putting on a fake smile, “thanks Tech, I’m sure me working it out and trying a different way of solving this problem was to easy for you. What a pity, me working with pen and paper as you have a datapad? What was I thinking?” You scoffed out, Echo laughed a bit at your bite back. Tech turned to you, “what do you mean ‘a different way’?” He asked, you threw the paper at him as he caught it then glaring at you for doing so.

His eyes scanned over the numbers, this wasn’t right. None of this was, “give me the pen” he spoke, you looked at him, “what for?” “Just give me the pen” he demanded as you shook your head no. Echo was curious to see what you both were arguing about, his head peaked over the paper and was met with messy writings and scrambled numbers. “How can you read that thing?” You heard Echos disbelief in his voice, “here, I’ll explain it” you reassured him as you clicked the pen. Tech watched as you began to explain what this new trick was. He was fascinated, he found himself looking up your arm until he watched your face as you spoke about something that actually interested you… interested him.

He continued to hold the board with the paper on it for you while you worked it out, circling the answer. He wasn’t sure why, but when you turned to Echo to talk about it, he was quite jealous. Echo wouldn’t understand, but Tech did, why didn’t you argue with him about it. He hesitantly tapped two fingers on your shoulder, you turned and faced him, “perhaps, we could further discuss what you put into motion here? I could teach you some new things as well” he offered, Echo had seen his frail to finally try and get closer to you. He stood up, “excuse me” he walked off, giving you and Tech the time together. “Not sure, I feel like you’re only going to insult me further while thinking you’re smarter, you also offered me something. Don’t know if I should take it that you want something or you hit your head” you crossed your arms, looking at him. “I assure you, I have something’s I would like to share” he lightly laughed.

You thought about it, “fine, but if anything” you threatened him, “there no need to get hostile with me now Y/n, I want to see just how much you know” he leaned back into his seat, arms and legs crossed as he eyed you down. But if anything did happen, the Batch was on board. You sat in the seat Echo sat in before, questioning your choice on agreeing.

—

It seems Tech had underestimated you to soon, you we’re definitely smarter than he had thought. Was there actually someone just like him? Someone who he could rely on and wouldn’t have to explain too, mainly going into details. But you, oh you… you just gave him this feeling. He didn’t want you to leave the seat when you both sat, it was interesting seeing how you knew some things he didn’t. You both shared theories and facts about unusual things people would have probably brushed off and thought was annoying or just plain boring. He found himself moving ever so closer to you when you both started getting into.. deeper matters. What you did on Kamino versus what he does for the galaxy with his brothers. You told him how you wanted to get off the planet and explore while he suggested he explores all the time.

That was until you both found each other, knees touching while you both leaned forward. It was wrong, you abruptly stood up, “I’m sorry Tech, I shouldn’t have” you fixed your armor and set out. Just what happened there?

He didn’t have feelings for you, if he did. It’d most likely be jealousy and anger, for he didn’t want to be replaced for someone they had just met. He was their brother, you can’t just remove them from their life. Now you were off somewhere in the ship, probably have already forgotten about him. But his thoughts were stuck on you, was he too mean to you? Now that whenever he got close, you either brushed him off or you walked away. But what if he wasn’t, would you two have been closer? Together perhaps? It was like talking to himself, actually finding interest in the conversation. Feelings were never in his area of expertise, so he couldn’t exactly pinpoint what he was feeling at the moment. He was sure to keep an eye on it and write down anything he feels on his datapad, maybe even do some research.

—

“Y/n!” “Coming!” You replied to Echo as he yelled for your assistance. Walking down the hall to to Echo kneeling before the console trying to fix whatever he was trying to. “Yeah?” You asked, “I need..” he trailed off, trying to get the control panel fixed. “Oh! I’ve done this plenty of times back on Kamino for the clones’ ship when they got back” you spoke while kneeling next to him, undoing the wires as he looked at you, “what are you doing?” “Relax, you can’t just keep the control panel like this, you have to make sure it clean, this this part” you pointed to the corner of the panel as there was dirt inside, “that’s blocking this part, from entering. So brush this aside, and put it back. Now you’re going to want to make sure all the wires and whatnot are still good. Some could burn out and that could ruin the whole thing, and then you’d have to replace it all. But other times, it just needs a little cleaning” you walked him through it, telling him what goes where and how to clean the board without ruining it, while still making it easy for him to understand without using the big confusing words

He nodded, understanding, “Tech would never say anything like this. He does all the repairs like this, the only time he needs help is when he needs tools or for us to hold something” “Ah, I see. I’m sure he means well. I never had anyone to talk to about this and it feels good to finally share some knowledge” you told him to screw the panel back on. He stood up, offering you his hand and helping you up. “Thanks” “no problem, you learn something new everyday” Echo laughed at your joke, giving you a pat on the shoulder and walking off. You kneeled back down picking up the tools and gathering them into a bag. Another pair of hands helped you, as you looked up, you noticed he had no thigh armor. Tech.

“Thank you Tech, you didn’t have to-” you were pushed on your back as Tech was on top of you. You groaned at the pushed, opening your eyes to see Tech giving you a kiss. Your senses finally returning as you felt the harsh action, making your lips hurt. He softened the kiss, making you now blush as you laid there under him. He pulled back, “T-Tech?” You let out the breath you held in, “Y/n. I’m so sorry about before” your brow furrowed in confusion. “What for?” “All those words, bringing you down. It’s wrong now and it was wrong then, but how could I have not appreciated your actions before?” He questioned himself as you now remembered all those things he said and what he did to try and put you down.

“I can’t let someone, so good and loving leave. I’ve seen the way you treat Omega and my brothers when I’m not there too, you’re smart and beautiful. Yet you’re ready for battle when you’re thrown into it. I’ve been thinking, about my feelings, and… and us” your eyes widen at the last part. About, you? Him? Together? You haven’t thought about it, maybe once but that was when you both were talking that night in the cockpit, he was rude and unforgiving when you were introduced and given a task, always saying he knew and could do better than you. And that your tactics were sloppier than his, and to be frank, he didn’t mean that. It was his feelings he was confused about, “Tech.. I actually don’t know what to do. While you say you’ve thought of us, I haven’t, maybe once but that was wrong. We could never work out” you confessed, his gloved hand on the side of your head as he stroked a few hairs out of your face.

He sighed, thinking. This time it was his heart speaking, not his brain, this has nothing to do with what he normally did. So he had to wing it. “Tell me. What do I need to do to show you, how much I appreciate and want you by my side? Tell me what’s making you feel uncomfortable about us and how I can help. I’m willing to give this a chance if you are” he sounded desperate, the first time you’ve heard him like this. But you had to think on it, he was just as smart, maybe even smarter, he was blunt which made you not have to worry about his opinions on others and how you feel. And he was strong, both mentally and physically. You’ve never met someone as close knowing and interesting like you.

“I.. I’m willing to give this a chance as well” your hand came up to his hair, then pulling him down for another loving kiss. All those problems and feelings he couldn’t explain and work out, have now blown away. If seemed like being close to you felt like ecstasy, your aura felt so welcoming and warm. His lips ghosted over yours before coming down for another. This new found feeling was something he could get use to, yours lips felt so soft against his, your fingertips slightly trailed along his jawline and cupped his cheek. “We, better get up before someone sees us” you suggested, he nodded. A quick kiss on the side of your mouth was given before he got up. Pulling you along. He wanted to see where this relationship would take him.

He was excited to have you by his side now, he knew you two could take on anything. The thought of having someone just like him by his side put a warm feeling in his stomach, someone he could protect along with his brothers. Maybe the jealousy before was telling him something, maybe you both were destined to be together since you both could agree that you’ve never met anyone like the other. And he was glad to have someone to return to every time he came back from a mission, or having you on a mission with him in general. He already had hundreds of reasons why he fell in love with you, and if that’s just the beginning, he wondered what being with you forever would he like. Only time will tell

———

I hope you enjoyed, again! If you ever want to send it a request, I take it in DM’s for those who want to stay anonymous, but others can also go to my ask box. Either way is fine, I don’t mind!^^

[baureidalvez]

Angels Chasing Demons • Spencer Reid

This is my first Criminal Minds blurb! I'm new to the fandom and haven't even watched the whole thing yet (at the start of s11!) but I couldn't resist writing a little something. Feedback and reblogs would be SO appreciated, as I'm a little nervous to post this!

Summary: you try to hide your feelings from Spencer after he got shot, with little success. Mainly just lots of fluff and emotions!

Word count: 2,181

Episode: 🚨S9 ep 23/24🚨

“Are you sure you’re comfortable?”

You plump up the cushion behind Spencer’s head, being careful not to jostle him, noting the wince in his throat as he settles against the sofa. He nods as much as he can, a small smile on his lips, now that he’s out of the stiff hospital bed and back in your flat where he belongs. He’s on strict bed rest; Rossi told you to hide his work phone for at least a week, but you know he won’t allow that. You know it’ll barely be a few days before he’s asking for it again.

“I think I’m as comfortable as I can be for someone who just got shot in the neck,” He replies, the usual sarcastic twinge to his voice. “You know, the doctor told me that the bulle-“

“Babe,” You swallow the lump in your throat and try not to let Spencer see the tears in your eyes, this being one of the reasons having a profiler as a boyfriend is so inconvenient. You can’t hide anything. He narrows his eyes as he observes you, a free hand reaching to squeeze one of yours. “When it’s been more than a few days and you’ve healed and rested, you can tell me all about the science behind you being shot. For now, I don’t want to hear it.”

He nods once more and remembers that you haven’t seen the things he’s seen; it’s not part of your daily routine to find dead bodies and analyse every aspect to work out who committed such a thing. It’s engrained in him now, it’s second nature – you can listen to so much, but when it’s regarding the sweet man sat in front of you, you can barely look at him without wanting to burst into tears. There has been many tears over the past few days – first following the call from Garcia, and then again in the waiting room as Blake tried to keep you sane.

“I do need one more thing,” He murmurs, his hand still clutching yours, thumb stroking over the back like he doesn’t want to let go. “Will you lay with me?”

There’s nothing you want more than to be close to him, yet you know you need a minute to compose yourself. From hearing that he got shot to waiting for him to come out of surgery, to then hear that Garcia had saved him from being shot once more in a place that should have been safe – it’s all been a little too much. You lean forward to brush a chaste kiss to his lips, his gaze set on you as he waits for your answer. “Of course. Just give me two minutes, okay? There’s definitely three more care packages outside the door that I need to bring in before one of the neighbours takes them.”

“Okay.” He whispers, and you kiss his forehead before tucking the thick blanket over his lap, with a promise to be back in a moment. He sighs and knows that you’re not okay. He’s not okay either – he knows it’s only a matter of time before the nightmares start again, and he won’t be sleeping, but somehow it was easier to deal with when it was just him alone. Now you’re around too, he hates being the cause of your upset. He lays back against his cushion as you close the door to the apartment, and it’s barely a few seconds before tears are slipping down your cheeks. You were right, there is another care package sat on the doorstep, which you know is from Garcia. It’s not the reason you’re out there though, in the silent hall, the only sound being the sobs you’re trying to conceal at the thought of your boyfriend inside. It’s so hard seeing him in pain. He loves everyone around him, he loves his job, he’s dedicated his life to catching the bad guys and protecting people, no matter what it takes. He doesn’t deserve the pain he’s been through, and every time he’s called to a case, you pray to some higher being to keep him safe. Nothing makes your heart race more than an unexpected phone call or a text, your mind instantly going to the worst scenario possible. In this case, it almost had been.

Spencer may be off work and on bed rest, but it doesn’t stop the profiler part of his brain from being awake. He hears the sound he was expecting to hear as soon as you close the door, and it goes straight to tug on his heartstrings. Sometimes he doesn’t have all of the answers, and he doesn’t know what to do. He knows he shouldn’t get up from the couch, and he’s not sure he’ll physically be able to without injuring himself further. He clears his throat before trying to call out your name.

“Honey…” He calls again, when your name doesn’t get your attention. Not enough to come back inside anyway. “I really want to be able to comfort you right now but I physically can’t move, so, can you come back inside please?”

You chuckle behind the door through your tears and shake your head, feeling silly for thinking even for a moment that he wouldn’t know what you were doing. Swiping the tears from under your eyes, you compose yourself as much as you can, picking up the picnic basket full of snacks and tea before pushing the door open again.

“I manage to salvage this one before next door got hold of it,” You try to laugh it off, but he hears your voice wobble, and his eyes follow you as soon as he spots you. “It’s from Garcia again, she left a not-“

“Babe.” He sighs, cutting you off from rambling about anything other than the current situation. “Come here, please? You don’t have to hide from me.” Warm tears are cascading down your cheeks once more when you realise there’s no concealing it, there’s no way to keep it hidden anymore. You don’t want to push him away, but somehow your upset seems less valid than his – he’s the one who had to go through the physical pain, he got shot, it should be you taking care of him. Spencer doesn’t see it that way, though.

“Please don’t cry because of me, love,” He murmurs as you sit down next to him, pressing your face against his sweater covered chest. He wraps his arms around your body and pulls you in close, tucking your face against his shoulder, wetness from your eyes hitting the material as you cry. “Shh, I’m right here, now.”

He lets you cry it out for a few minutes, soothing sounds slipping from his lips, a warm hand rubbing the top of your back. “Do you want to talk about it?”

You know you should, that you’re going to have to at some point, although you don’t even know where to begin. Spencer stalls for a few moments though, giving you another minute to calm down.

“Did you know, crying is actually a good thing? Research has found that crying actually does make you feel better, and the lump that you feel in your throat, isn’t actually a lump at all. It’s your autonomic nervous system going into high alert, which enlarges the glottis, the opening in your throat which allows you to get more air in to your lungs. It’s the tension between trying to open and close your glottis that makes it feel like a lump.” He keeps going and all you can do is smile, even though the words aren’t registering; you’re just happy to have your Spencer back and in one piece. “But.. even though it’s a good thing, it doesn’t make it any easier for me to see.”

Spencer feels an urge to comfort people, he hates seeing people cry. He remembers the unsettled feeling in his stomach that he feels whenever he sees JJ cry, or he finds a survivor who can do nothing but let out their emotions. He’s no stranger to crying himself, and if he’s honest, seeing you fall apart in his arms has his own eyes burning.

You rub your cheek against the material of his sweater, the smell soothing and familiar, much different to the clinical scent that clung to him after his hospital stay. “Spence… we almost lost you.”

Your mind flashes back to the beeping of machines, Blake’s arms wrapped around you in the waiting room, clinging onto any shred of hope that he was going to pull through the surgery. You vaguely remember a conversation between Blake and JJ, about how Spencer wants to have kids, and Rossi saying he’s too smart to die – he has too much to live for. It’s all true. He has the rest of his life to live and knowing he got close to almost not having that, is enough to scare you to death.

“We didn’t know if you were going to pull through. My heart sinks every time my phone rings, I just get so worried about you… and then I actually got that call.” You explain, unsure where you’re headed, but knowing he needs to hear it. He listens as you cry in his arms, his thumb gently brushing each tear away as it falls. “I know this is your job, your life, and I would never take that away from you. You’re amazing at what you do, and the world needs you. I just wish I could know that you’re safe. People shouldn’t be allowed to hurt someone like you.”

He exhales through his nose as he thinks of the situation from your perspective. Obviously, he was worried, but he always pushes it to the back of his mind when he’s in the heat of the moment, doing anything he can to protect others around him. He pushed Blake out of the way to keep her safe, and he’d choose that option every time. In the moment, he doesn’t think of the repercussions. It always happens so quickly, and the next thing he knows he’s in the back of an ambulance on the way to the hospital. He hates seeing people that he loves in pain, and he hates getting those calls too. He’ll never forget the feeling of finding out that Garcia had been shot, or that JJ had been tortured. It’s a ball of anxiety that sits in the pit of his stomach, and he realises that must be how you feel, every time he goes on a case.

“The world would be a better place if no-one ever got hurt. I like to think my job plays a part in trying to achieve that,” He replies, fingertips trailing up and down your back as he speaks. “There’s always going to be more cases, more bad guys, but every day, we put more of them away. I know it’s dangerous, but it’s a part of me now..”

“I know, and I don’t want to change that about you.” You assure him, squeezing his hand to get his full attention. “I’m not asking you to change anything. I just wish you didn’t have to get hurt, or be in pain. I’m too scared of losing you. You have too much to give back to the world for that to happen.”

“I love you.” He murmurs, making sure to look right at you, your eyes locked on his. “I know I’m not easy to be with, I’m away a lot, and I get hurt… but everything feels easier with you around. And I wish I could move my neck so I could kiss you right now.”

You laugh and carefully sit up as not to jostle him, moving your face closer so the tip of your nose nudges his. “I love you, too.”

Spencer steals the first kiss, his soft but slightly chapped lips brushing yours, moving his head as much as he can so your foreheads touch. You kiss him back with as much love as you can muster up, wanting him to feel every inch of it, knowing that he does. You sigh contentedly, feeling better after your discussion, but knowing he has a long way to go to heal. The kissing is interrupted by the sound of his phone, and you shake your head, remembering Rossi’s orders to keep it away from him and to not let him answer.

“My phone, can you get it? I can’t move,” He asks, looking around the room from where the sound is coming from.

“Nope,” You reply, shaking your head, punctuating the sound with another kiss to Spencer’s lips. “Strict orders from Rossi, no phone for at least two weeks. You need to rest, and I’m about to go and turn it off.”

He watches as you push up from the sofa, going to find his bag, and pulling the vibrating phone from the front pocket. He shakes his head as he hears you head to the bedroom, keeping it tucked away whilst he recoups. He’s in pain, and he knows he doesn’t have an easy road ahead, but with you to take care of him… somehow, things don’t feel so bad.

**

Feedback would be appreciated! Let me know what you think here <3

[angryschnauzer]

Blackwater Lake - Chapter 2

Summary: There’s a little town high in the mountains where everyone has a secret, and every family has something that makes them unique. In Blackwater Lake those that are outcast by nature come together.

Characters/Pairing:  Vampire!Walter Marshall x Female Reader

Warnings (for this chapter); Talk of PTSD, Reader is ex police, Possible home invasion, NSFW sexy times, protected sex.

Previous Parts: Werewolf!Sy: Moonlight on the Sand  Castle Under The Stars.  Werewolf!Sy, Vampire!Walter: Chapter 1

This will be a series of stand alone stories/2 parters, which will revolve around the residents of the town, with some recurring characters. The ‘reader’ for each story will be a ‘new’ reader, so its not the same woman being with all the male characters.

I do not run a tag list, but please follow @angryschnauzerwrites​ and put that blog onto notifications. You’ll then get an alert every time i post something new.

Chapter 2

Walter had managed to recover from the shock of seeing his best friend and his wife being able to make their eyes glow, and as unbelievable as it sounded, had accepted their explanations of how they’d been turned into Werewolves. Much like his own knowledge of Vampirism before he had been turned himself, he quickly understood that what the media made these quirks of nature to be and what they actually were had been greatly exaggerated. 

Sy had stayed up into the early hours of the morning with him, sharing the better part of a bottle of bourbon as he’d described how it affected their family, and how his wife only turned when her period coincided with a full moon, and how they dealt with childcare during the times that they would turn. 

-

Walter woke with a start, the soft mountain light pouring in the windows and for a moment he was confused, not recognising his surroundings until he remembered spending the rest of the night on Sy’s couch. His mouth felt like something had crawled inside and died, and he swore in that moment not to share hard liquor with someone that could howl at the moon. Finding some painkillers high in a kitchen cabinet he crushed two between his teeth before drinking straight from the tap. Standing tall he moved his neck, trying to get the kinks and knots out of his muscles when a pair of fluffy slippered feet appeared in the doorway. Looking up Walter poorly suppressed a laugh as he saw Sy wearing a pair of sheepskin moccasins and what was obviously his wife’s robe;

“Reginald, you look stunning” Walter muttered as he watched his friend shuffle into the kitchen

Sy held up his finger and waggled it, wincing at the sunlight pouring in the window;

“Don’t…”

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t call me that, the only people that call me that are the preacher or my Ma, and unless you’re planning on marrying me or making me biscuits...”

Walter laughed, leaning against the counter as Sy filled the coffee pot as if he was on autopilot, before reaching into the refrigerator and pulling out a baby bottle with the previous day’s expressing date on. Setting the bottle to warm in a bowl of water he handed Walter a tin of coffee;

“Fill that up, i’m gonna go get Luna”

A few minutes later he reappeared holding his little girl in his arms, wrapped in a soft blanket covered in moons and stars. Grabbing the bottle before settling at the kitchen table, he popped the lid off and shook the bottle, before lifting it and shaking a few drops onto his tongue, laughing when he saw Walters eyes go a little wide;

“Better straight from the source but Mama is sleepin’ so its me in Mama’s robe” he explained with a grin on his face. Walter placed a mug of steaming black coffee in front of Sy; “Thanks man… hey, in the fridge there’s a pint of pigs blood from Walkers Meats… ya’know, if you need it”

“Why have you got pigs blood?”

“The missus was gonna make some Scottish thing, some sorta sausage, but if you need it, we can always get another… in fact she’s gonna be too tired to use it before it spoils, what with the full moon and all...”

Sy turned his attention to his tiny daughter feeding in his arms, giving Walter the sense of privacy to do what he needed to do. As Luna finished her bottle Sy held her to his shoulder, rubbing her back until she let out a burp he would have been proud of himself, only looking up when he heard Walter also let out a low belch;

“You need me to rub your back too Walt?”

“Fuck off Sy” the vampire said lightheartedly, a sense of relief in his mind now that the guy that had become one of his best friends knew his secret.

-

Pulling the last crate of bottles off the back of the pickup you thanked the guy from the craft brewery and waved him off, taking a deep breath before slowly climbing the fire escape at the back of the bar that led into the storeroom. It had been a long shift already, starting at 10am you’d opened up and started the ovens, restocked the bar as the cleaners had come through and cleaned the place top to bottom. Your boss was always decent to his staff, paying a good wage and having the cleaning crew come in during the closed daytime hours rather than in the early hours of the morning.

Working around them as they did their job, you restocked the caddy’s on the tables with silverware, napkins, and condiments, before returning to the bar and checking on the ice machine.

“Hey we’re all done now” one of the cleaners said as you looked up.

“That’s great, thanks. You guys always make this place look good”

Chatting with them you walked them through the storeroom - something your boss always insisted on that any non bar staff had to be escorted through - before one reached for the wooden rail on the fire escape. Something made you stop talking and before you could stop yourself, one hand was pushing one of the guys back into the storeroom, the other was grabbing the shirt that was already standing outside. Just as you did the rail slipped away, as if in slow motion, the three of you looking in fear as the heavy wood crashed twenty feet below onto the empty kegs that were stored beneath.

Speechless you stood there, fingers still curled around the shirt of one, hand splayed across the chest of the other;

“Fuck” you whispered quietly, not to anyone in particular.

“You could say that…”

-

Having made sure both cleaning guys were ok, if a little shaken up, you made them leave by the front door then considered your options. Dialling the boss you weren’t surprised to hear it ring out before going to voicemail. He had strict downtime rules, and was more than likely out on his ranch land taking care of his horses. Knowing he trusted you to make the right judgement, you scrolled through your numbers and dialled Marshall’s Property Maintenance;

“Marshall’s, what can i do for you?”

“Hi, i’m calling from Big G’s Sports Bar? We’ve just had the handrail fall off our fire escape. Wondering if you’ve got space to fix it this afternoon?”

There was a pause before you heard a long exhale of breath;

“Yeah, sure. I’ll be there in twenty minutes”

“Thanks Walter”

Hanging up you smiled. You’d worked with Walter when you’d been on the police force, you’d been a patrol cop that would assist with crime scene control and you’d been first on the scene for countless horrific acts of violence. One final call had given you PTSD so bad you’d resigned, finding a home in the small town of Blackwater Lake and a steady job at Big G’s Sports Bar. Your boss was the big quiet type, liked to spend more time out on his ranch with his horse, having enough trust in you to run the day to day operations of the bar as his assistant manager. 

-

It had been well past 9pm when Walter finished the repairs. Your boss had come in and helped him out when he’d got your text, leaving you in charge of the first few hours of opening. When the two men reappeared through the storeroom you smiled at them, getting ready for the evening handover before grabbing your coat and clocking off.

A few minutes later as you hopped off the last step of the fire escape onto the dandelion scattered gravel - your boss liked to let them grow - you smiled at Walter as he was loading his tools into his truck;

“Hey, thanks for today. Really saved our bacon… without the fire escape we wouldn’t be up to code so couldn’t have opened”

“S’ok. Glad you called” Walter admitted; “It’s been a while…”

Scuffing the gravel with your boot you swallowed the lump that was in your throat;

“How have you been? Since… ya know…”

“Alive. Wouldn’t be here if it hadn’t of been for you and your partner”

“We did what was needed… not every day you see va…” you stopped yourself, you still hadn’t completely come to terms with what you’d seen; “V...vagrants doing that… I’m just glad we got there in time…”

There was a moment of awkward silence before Walter rounded the truck and stood in front of you;

“Do you need a ride home? Your boss mentioned that you walk to work and you stayed late where he was helping me get this fixed”

“Thanks, that’d be nice”

-

Over the next few nights Walter would appear at the bar early evening, usually under the pretense of checking the work on the fire escape or dropping off the bill to the office, and you quickly clocked that he would always be leaving just as your shift was ending to conveniently give you a ride home. Not that you minded, the weather had turned unseasonably cool after the warmth of the parade weekend, so the casual conversation as he drove you home in the warmth of his giant truck was a good way to end the day. 

As he rolled into the parking lot behind your apartment complex you wondered if you should invite him in for a coffee, but weren’t sure if you were reading his intentions correctly. Gnawing on your lip you reached into your pocket for your keys, smiling at Walter as he pulled the truck to a stop;

“There we go, home sweet home. Have a good night”

“You too Walter”

Stepping out you smiled and gave him a little wave, knowing he waited until you had gotten into your building.

-

Watching you go Walter cursed himself. When Rachel had left he’d been in the dumps even more than usual, but over the last few days he’d taken a shine to you. He was pretty sure you had clued onto the fact that he had always turned up around the time of your shift finishing, but when he’d found out from Geralt that your car had died and you couldn’t afford to repair it, he didn’t like the thought of you walking home alone. Sure Blackwater Lake was a sleepy little town, but keeping in mind what lurked in the woods - both natural and supernatural - he felt better knowing you’d gotten home. He had been sure you were going to invite him in for coffee tonight, but he’d gotten butterflies in his stomach and had blurted out a farewell before you’d had the chance.

Looking up at your apartment he let out a sigh. 

Then… then something caught his eye. You hadn’t been in the building long enough for the shadow to be you, knowing you stopped to grab your mail each time you entered the building. Killing the engine he reached to the glove compartment for his gun - he still had a concealed carry permit - and raced to the building.

-

Juggling your mail and your purse, you held the letters in your mouth as you searched for the right key on your set when suddenly the sound of thundering footsteps made you spin around, your jaw dropping when you saw Walter appear from the staircase and running to your side. His hand was on your arm and he was pulling you to the side of your door before holding you to his chest;

“There’s someone in your apartment”

“What? No, i locked everything before i left… and there’s no sign of any damage to the door…”

Letting you go he pulled his phone from his pocket and dialled for the sheriff, but as you listened in you could hear the volunteer dispatcher explain that both the Sheriff and the two deputies were out on the highway dealing with an 18 wheeler logging truck that had spun off on a bend. Walter cursed under his breath and hung up;

“Do you still carry?”

“No… not since…”

“Ok. Unlock the door and stay behind me”

The next minute seemed to last both seconds and hours, following Walter through your apartment until he silently pushed the bedroom door open with his gun;

“Freeze!”

The shape in the darkness didn’t move, and when you peered over Walters extended arm and you realised what he was looking at, you let out a sigh and flipped the lightswitch, the ‘threat’ suddenly illuminated and Walters shoulders dropping;

“Oh…”

Your spare uniform shirt was hanging on the frame to the window where you’d hung it earlier in the day so the sunshine would dry it. You let out a deep breath and laughed, resting your forehead against Walters shoulder;

“It’s just my uniform…” you hadn’t realised your voice was shaking until Walter turned and wrapped his arms around you

“I’m sorry i scared you”

Burying your face in the warmth of his sweater, your voice was muffled as you spoke;

“Its ok. I’d rather you have seen the mess in my apartment and saved me from an intruder than the alternative…” you smiled weakly at him, and it was then that the tension in the room was like static before a storm. Like the first lightning strike, when Walters lips touched yours it was as if electricity coursed through your veins, the kiss hungry and needy, contact between two touch starved people needing that connection. Your fingers curled in threads of his knitwear, pulling yourself closer as his arms wrapped around you and his hands splayed out over your ass, squeezing handfuls of flesh so he could pull you flush against his body. The kiss deepend and his tongue sought entrance between your lips which you eagerly granted. He tasted of coffee and peanut butter chocolate, and when he pulled away you were both gasping for breath.

“So, vampires do need oxygen then?”

“How do you…? How are you not scared?”

“Because i was there when it happened. And I've seen you hundreds of times since. I’ve seen you in the mirror, I've seen you outside in the sunshine, i’ve literally served you garlic bread…” you paused; “And i didn’t need to invite you in. Whatever myths are linked to your condition, i know the Walter behind them, i know the quiet and controlled Walter that assesses a situation and ensures everyone is safe…” you paused; “Because I know i’m safe with you”

Walter opened his mouth to speak, but the lump in his throat caught the words. Closing his eyes he rested his forehead against yours, letting out a shaky breath as you gently held his face in your palms, your thumbs softly caressing the skin of his cheeks where his beard ended. You pressed your lips to his, and this kiss was different, this kiss was full of passion, of acceptance and the growing need that was blooming. 

Clothes were scattered as fingers and lips found each new patch of exposed skin, running your fingernails down his massive chest as you both fell to the bed, your fingers curling in the coarse hair that covered his chest before clutching at his belt as his teeth sharply ran over the line of your collarbone and you let out a gasp;

“More…”

“I… I’m not going to bite you…”

“I don’t want you to, but my neck is super sensitive, it's like my biggest turn on…”

At that moment Walter could feel the change, his eyes paling and his fangs growing more prominent as you watched from below him, but what he wasn’t expected was the groans that escaped your throat and the way your body shook;

“Did you just…?” he cocked an eyebrow, he already knew you’d just cum, but he wanted you to admit it.

“Yes, fuck yes, now i need more…”

With a growl he ducked his head down and peppered sharp kisses over your neck, hands working on each others jeans before you were able to kick them off. Your hands ducked into Walters pants and you grasped at his hard length, hot in your palm through his underwear;

“Oh fuck, you’re big…”

“Don’t worry, i’ll go slow… do you… do you have protection?”

“In the drawer”

He reluctantly pulled himself off the bed, and you propped yourself up on your elbows as he searched out the condoms, pulling the box out and swinging something else from his fingertips;

“These aren’t regulation edition”

The pink fluffy handcuffs had been a present a long time ago, and had somehow moved apartments with you;

“Next time…” you reached and grabbed them from him, tossing them aside before grabbing the box and a small foil packet, ripping it open with your teeth as Walter quickly shed himself of his boots and jeans, his dark boxers discarded as you reached for him and smoothed the latex over his fat dick.

He smoothed his hands down your legs, before tugging you down the bed and flipping you onto your stomach, pulling your hips up until your ass was in the air. The rough brush of his beard against your soft inner thighs was quickly soothed by his tongue swiping a firm lick through your soaked folds. He took hold of your hips and you felt him move into position, the firm nudge at your entrance before with a low groan he speared you with the slow stretch of his girth.

“You feel so fucking good… so tight…”

Your fingers curled into the bedsheets and your jaw hung open, the sheer pleasure that was coursing through your veins felt like an elixir as Walter hammered into your tight velvet channel. The carnal slap of flesh on flesh resonating around the room, only joined by the breathless pants escaping your lips and the grunts Walter would let slip as he sought pleasure in your body with his own. He splayed his fingers over your back, running the palm of his hand up your spine until he was able to cup your neck and pull you up, flush with his heated body. His sharp teeth scraped over your neck, his beard rough against the etched skin;

“Look in the mirror. See how amazing you look”

Focusing your attention on the dresser mirror that stood in the corner, you watched as Walter continued to slowly rock his hips, fucking you slow and hard from behind. But it was his eyes that drew your attention, icy pools of white with deep obsidian pupils piercing the tundra, and the flash of danger from his sharp teeth at your neck, just catching on the skin as he spoke;

“You’re so fucking beautiful, dunno what i did to deserve you… will you cum for me?” he slid his hand down your stomach and in the patch of curls at the apex of your thighs, seeking out the sensitive pearl of your clit and rubbing the pad of his finger over it in firm circles; “Will you cum for me?” he repeated, punctuating each word with a sharp thrust of his hips.

“Yes… Walter, please…”

“What do you need…”

“My neck, please…”

Walter knew he couldn’t bite you, there were so many unknowns he’d never explored, but he closed his eyes and focused his energies on bringing you to completion. Thrusting his hips in time to the movement of his hand, whilst sucking a hickey onto your neck, knowing his teeth were rubbing against the skin but not breaking it. The triple stimuli sent you over the edge, your head rolling back onto his shoulder and your mouth open in a silent scream as you came so hard you saw stars, shockwaves of pleasure coursing through your body as your walls gripped Walter tight, before with one final thrust you heard him growl as he came hard.

He held you for the longest time, your heart racing in your chest as echoes of your orgasm ricocheted through your body. As Walter started to soften you felt him hold the condom at the base of his shaft as he pulled out gently;

“Err… bathroom?”

“Just through there” you nodded to the door off of the bedroom as you fell to the bed, laying back with a smile on your face.

A few moments later he reappeared with a warm washcloth, first soothing your neck before tenderly attending to the mess between your thighs. After putting it back in the bathroom he appeared at the side of the bed, reaching for his jeans when you caught his wrist and pulled him onto the bed;

“You don’t need to go”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to overstay my welcome…”

“Look, unless you’re going to turn into a bat or something, you’re fine… we can talk, order some takeout…”

Wrapping his arm around your shoulders, you snuggled to his chest as he smiled sleepily;

“That sounds good. Can i take you out on a proper date at some point?”

“That’d be nice. Though our options are slim in this town, its only Sue’s Coffee Shop or Big-G’s Bar… unless you want to get a take-out pizza and sit outside on the kerb”

“I’ll cook, come to my place? What are you doing Friday night?”

“I’m off, but…”

“But?”

You felt your cheeks flushing with heat;

“I’m due on by the end of the week…”

“Oh. OH…” You looked up at Walter and saw a flush over his cheeks and his blue eyes glinting with excitement and a smirk on his lips.

“Oh… you’re into that?”

“You’re… not? Because i just want to say, i would happily give oral to my girl on her period even pre-vamp status…now its just…”

“A snack?”

He let out a low belly laugh;

“Yeah, you could say that”

Curling up to Walter’s chest you felt a sense of calm you hadn’t experienced for a very long time, the conversation flowing easily and long into the night, before you both fell asleep in each other's arms.

[justfangirlthingies]

Intruders (Helmut Zemo)

This is my first ever finished fic for our beloved Zemo, who definitely deserves to have his sword in the mcu.

I've had this scenario in my head for a while now and usually I find it hard to properly write out my thoughts to text. I honestly have no idea what's gotten into me that allowed me to write my thoughts into a fic, but whatever it is, it can come and bless me with its presence more often

Summary: You were planning on having a relaxing evening when a group of "intruders" turned your plans around

Warnings: I think there's one or more curse words, a sword (but nothing dangerous happens with it) if you think there's anything that I missed and/or should be added as a warning here please let me know

Word count: 2137 words

Transaltion: If you are familiar with Zemo fics you probably know what "draga" means. In case you don't know draga = dear/beloved

You were relaxing in the bathtub, eyes closed, as the warm water embraced you. You dipped the back of your head into the water in order to get all your hair wet properly, a soft sigh escaping your lips. It was peaceful and quiet, until you heard something that sounded suspiciously like the front door opening and closing that is. Immediately, you sat up in the water, which started to slosh from the sudden movement, and pulled your knees closer to your body as you listened attentively. Maybe you just imagined the noise. You were probably just being paranoid. Living alone in a house as big as this just seemed to have taken it's toll on you. What you had not expected however, was to hear more noises. Oh you definitely weren't imagining this. Loud footsteps accompanied by voices could be heard throughout your home.

In distress, you quietly jumped out of the bathtub, your body and hair still dripping with water as you stepped foot on the towel on the floor. Well you certainly wouldn't be able to defend yourself wearing only a towel. You stayed alert while you let your gaze wander through the room swiftly, in order to find something to wear and also something to defend yourself. That's when you spotted it. His bathrobe.

You never bothered to take it off of it's hanger. Doing so, would have made the situation you lived in come crashing down on you and you couldn't have that, now could you? Besides, it still contained traces of his intriguing smell, you'd never find the willpower to discard something that carries his smell still.

Without giving it much thought, you grabbed the robe and put it on, quickly tying it up as you continued to scavenge the room for some kind of weapon or defense. After coming to the conclusion that there was nothing of use for you in this room you sighed silently. Panic settled in your system as you felt your heartbeat and breathing speed up. You tried desperately to calm yourself, your hand wandering to a little ceramic bowl that usually held soap in it. This would have to do.

Only when you reached out for the handle of the bathroom door, you remembered. The sword! There was a sword just conveniently hanging on one of the walls in the hallway. He had shown you how to use it. You probably forgot half of what he had taught you back then, but it would have to do to save your life. That's why he taught you in the first place, to defend yourself.

The bowl made no sound when you put it down, seeing as you placed it on a piece of fabric, in order to avoid making noise. Carefully, you opened the door and tiptoed your way out into the hallway. As soon as you had stepped foot onto the ground of the corridor, the voices grew clearer, but you needed to focus on your current goal, which was to go and get the sword hanging on the wall and not to listen to the intruders. So, that's exactly what you did.

Getting the sword off the wall turned out to be more challenging than you anticipated, as it was quite heavy. A lot heavier than what you remembered it to be. After struggling with it for a good minute or two ,you finally managed to lift it off the wall and the weight of the full sword, without it being supported on the wall anymore, nearly caused you to drop it, seeing as you only held it with one hand. The odds seemed to be in your favour, for you caught the weapon mid-air and while it still made contact with the ground, the carpet covering the floor managed to absorb the sound of the sword clinking against the floor.

You took a deep breath and pushed the big and wide sleeves of the robe up a bit, to keep them from disturbing you. The voices you had been hearing didn't seem to stray far from the living room and kitchen area. Putting on a straight and brave face, you exhaled deeply and lifted the sword like you had been taught, you also tried to keep the stance you were supposed to have as you made your way down the hall.

You came to a halt right around the corner to the kitchen and living room area, where you attempted to calm your breathing and heartbeat once again. "Now what?" you thought. Should you walk into the room and confront them? Or should you pull the attention to yourself from here right away?

You decided on the first option, this way you could still take a few minutes to calm yourself down and- CRASH!

"Oh no. Oh no this is bad. Shit! What do I do now?" You cursed under your breath as you looked at the object you had accidentally run over. Someone had placed a bag, which you accidentally shoved with your foot because you didn't know it was there, right next to a lamp. It is save to say, that said lamp now laid before your feet in shards and the placement of the bag also wasn't your doing. In fact, the bag didn't even belong to you.

"I thought you said this is your place and no one lives here" a man's voice growled. "Show yourself!" shouted another voice in your direction. You contemplated running away and hiding for a moment, but there was no backing out now. So, you gathered all your might and confidence together and tried to keep your voice steady you spoke "Who are you and what are you doing in my home? I will ask you to leave only this once" Your demand came out more shaky than you would have liked, but it would have to do "And-and I'm armed" You added, realizing you had forgotten to mention it previously.

What you were not aware of was that he stat around the corner with the two men and when your voice reached the Baron's ears, his eyes widened, though he promptly covered up his surprised expression from the others. "You knew about this didn't you?!" Sam jumped up from his seat "This was your plan all along!" "I assure you Samuel, I was not aware anyone was here" Zemo retorted quickly. "What a load of crap!" Samuel shouted back.

You however, didn't get a chance to take notice of the conversation the two were having because you noticed someone else approaching you. You quickly took your stance to fight for your life, the sleeves of the oversized bathrobe rolling back down your arms and covering your hands, which were placed on the sword's handle, as you did so. As soon as you caught size of the man approaching you, you noticed a feature he had. An arm made of metal. This was going to be harder than you thought. You swung your sword at the man who caught the blade mid-swing, with ease in his metal hand. "I'm very sorry for intruding. We were not aware that someone lives here." "Well, I obviously live here" you grumbled.

You kept struggling against him even after he had grabbed your arm and rendered your attacks useless. Even when he had started walking you back around the corner, you still keep the sword tight in your grip, ready to put up a fight again as soon as danger was near.

What you didn't expect though, was to see him. Baron Helmut Zemo. You dropped the sword as soon as you saw him, it landed on the tiled floor making a loud reverberating noise, that immediately caught his attention. "Helmut" you mumbled, not believing your own eyes as they began to water.

As soon as the sword fell, all of Zemo's attention was on you. The way you stood in a poise and secure stance, much like the one he showed you. The sword which he remembered to be decorating the hallway lying before your feet. Your (h/c) hair still wet from what he presumed must have been a bath. He didn't fail to notice his robe, which even though it was tied tightly and securely around your waist, still seemed to hang loosely around your body. Your hands were covered by the sleeves of his robe, yet he didn't miss the way something briefly reflected the light of the room from underneath one of the sleeves. So, you still wore the ring he had given to you. Hearing your voice sounded like music to his ears. Another thing he noticed, was that it seemed like you didn't age a day. Were you possibly taken by the blip?

Helmut Zemo could read you like a book, the expression on your face however, was the only thing that was hard for him to read right now. There were so many different emotions covering your features, but as soon as he took notice of your beautiful pools of (e/c) swimming with tears, he jumped up from his seat, ready to take you into his arms and just hold you tightly and securely to his body. "(Y/n)" he whispered back to you.

Sam Wilson queered the Baron's pitch, by holding him back from crossing the room to reach you. You took notice of what Zemo was trying to do. It was something you also wanted. Something you needed right now. It seemed you were in luck once again because the man with the metal arm had loosened his hold on your arm and it was easy for you to slip from his grip.

Without giving it another thought, you sprinted across the room and ran right into Helmut's arms, not caring about the man who was holding him back. You held each other tightly, enjoying his warmth and familiarity. Sadly, the bliss you were experiencing was suddenly cut short by the man with the metal arm.

"Let me go!" You struggled against the man's arm again. "James let go of them." Zemo demanded calmly. "Do you even know who that is you're throwing your arms around here?!" The guy asked you, his voice sounded more like a growl, which caused you to thrash around more. "Of course I know who that is!" you snarled back at him in irritation. "I think I can recognize my husband myself, thank you very much. Now let me go!" you sassed. The statement had caught the man named James off guard and he loosened his grip on you again, the other man doing the same with Zemo.

You had gotten married shortly before the Baron blew up the UN. It was the only way for him to come to terms with his past and while you were not happy with the decision he made, you understood why he did what he did. That doesn't mean you agreed with his ways of doing this. God knows you had tried to talk him out of it many times after you found out about his plans. You didn't even know what you were looking at when you saw the plans and even though Zemo knew you were not aware of his plan, even after looking at some of the blueprints, he wanted to be honest with you. So, he told you everything he had planned. There was no stopping him from at least trying and while you used to give yourself the fault for not stopping him, which would have been impossible anyways, you had come to terms with it over the years.

"Draga" your husband exhaled as he wrapped his arms around you again. His embrace was something you had missed for a long time, a smile formed onto your lips as you hugged him back and nestled your face in his neck. "I missed you Helmut." your voice was muffled by his shirt and skin. "I missed you too" Zemo immediately returned your statement, his lips resting on the top of your head as he inhaled your scent, that he loved and missed so much. "You smell nice" he murmured against your head making you giggle.

"You do know you'll have some explaining to do about all of...well, this" you pulled away a bit, looking at him as you gestured to him and the other two people in the room, who just watched this whole situation unfold in complete and utter bewilderment.

"I know, I know, but for now let us enjoy the moment just a little longer" he smiled at you as he pulled you closer again, before leaning forward a bit to whisper in your ear "My bathrobe suits you well dear" You lightly hit his shoulder for that statement and because you could practically hear the very evident smirk adorning his face.

Taglist: @ateez-star @littlemissnoname13 @gwlvr @handmaiden-of-mischief