#i was asked about shredder the other night this is part of my answer

[violetscacti-art]

Introducing Oroku Koya, named after the Japanese fairytale of a bloodthirsty falcon with wings made of swords. She was Shredder's hunting bird until she was accidentally mutated in battle. He took her in as his own daughter and she was personally trained by Shredder's best: Karai.

[secretsocietyofgamejumpers]

Sparks Fly: Chapter 2

Enjoy the next chapter of Sparks Fly! I told you Kohut fans he’d be getting some love! I’d appreciate any feedback you have for this story!

Corporal Kohut paced the cold metal floor of his barracks, trying to rub some warmth back into his beefy arms. There was a perfectly good cot with a comfy pillow and a cushy comforter in plain sight—after all, being Calhoun‘s right-hand soldier, he had the privilege of much more advanced amenities than the privates—but being Calhoun‘s right hand man was precisely the reason that bed showed almost no signs of use.

The base was eerily silent—only the thrum of dormant Cy-Bugs, waiting for release at the next quarter alert, permeated the air. But Kohut knew that, sooner or later, another sound would join them—the piercing screams of his commander. And Kohut hadn’t been programmed with a triple doctorate in therapy so that he could sleep it away.

As Kohut gazed around the barracks, he gently fingered the dog tags he wore around his neck. There was the standard-issue silver one that all the soldiers wore… and then there was another.

Kohut carefully unlatched the clasp and looked wistfully at the object in his hand. This dog tag was gold, an intricate heart carved into one side. The other side of the pendant bore the names Hugo and Alissa, a small heart embossed between the words. Alissa…Seeing the name triggered a wave of pre-programmed memories for the corporal. Their first meeting in the halls of university. Study dates at the library. Real dates at the skating rink and the art museum. The night she’d decided to hide the wedding ring in red wine instead of champagne, and he wound up accepting her proposal while receiving the Heimlich. Standing at the altar, about to say “I do”, and then getting the call from General Hologram…

Kohut’s reverie was interrupted by a knock on his barracks door. Quickly composing himself, he stood to answer it. He was surprised to find Private Markowski standing outside, looking bashful. “Markowski! Is everything all right?” “Hi, Kohut…” The dejected private gave a limp wave. “Why don’t you come inside, brother?” Kohut threw an arm around Markowski’s broad shoulders and ushered him into the room. Markowski slumped onto Kohut’s cot, staring dejectedly at the floor. Kohut sat beside him. “What’s getting you down, Private?” Markowski stood up, heaving a hefty sigh. “Just…just take a good look at me, Kohut!” He gestured to himself—his big reddened nose, his nearly-bald scalp, his messy five-o-clock shadow. “What girl would look at me and think ‘boyfriend material’?” Kohut chuckled. “Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that, Markowski. You should have seen me in university. I was actually glad when my mullet got caught in the shredder…” Markowski managed a weak chuckle, but Kohut’s comment wasn’t enough to assuage his worries. “It’s not just that…” He sighed again. “Let’s face it…bein’ a complete muck-up is in my code. I’ll never be able to shake it, no matter how hard I try.” Kohut stood up, placing a firm but friendly hand on the private’s shoulder. “There’s no need to shake it, Markows.” He smiled warmly at his subordinate. “If those girls can’t see what really matters, then they need some really high-prescription glasses.”

Kohut knew Markowski still wasn’t convinced. From out of the corner of his eye, he saw a glimmer of gold atop the covers of his cot, and an idea struck him. With a steely sigh, he picked up his dog tag and held it out to the dumbfounded Private. “What are you giving me this for?” Markowski asked, confused. Kohut took a deep breath and gazed up, a melancholy expression on his face. “Tomorrow, you’re gonna be standing out there, seeing those girls for the first time. Your knees will knock. Your heart will pound. You’ll smile so big, your face might split in two. I felt that way once…standing there at the altar…seeing Alissa in that dress…knowing she’d be part of my future forever…and then I got the call.” After a moment of silence, Kohut’s eyes met Markowski’s again. “My love story is over.” He pressed the dog tag into Markowski’s hands. “But yours is just beginning.” Kohut patted his brother-in-arms on the back. “Go get her, whoever she is. And good luck.” “Thanks, Corporal.” Markowski returned the pat, turning it into an embrace between brothers. “I’ll make you proud.”

Kohut watched as Markowski returned to his own barracks, excitedly muttering plans to himself for impressing the new girls, and a smile slowly crossed the corporal’s face. “You already have, Private.” He whispered. “You already have.”

[kudosmyhero]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (IDW) #27: City Fall - part 6

Read Date: April 04, 2023 Cover Date: October 2013 ● Writer: Kevin Eastman ◦ Bobby Curnow ◦ Tom Waltz ● Art: Mateus Santolouco ● Colorist: Ronda Pattison ● Letterer: Shawn Lee ● Editor: Bobby Curnow ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● I’d love to read a backstory as to how Mikey and Woody met ● I need to get my hands on the Micro-Series #6: HUN to see what I’m missing ● Angel is awesome

● there’s that dragon symbol again. curiouser and curiouser… ● oof, flashback to when the 4 brothers were executed. still rough… ● gettin’ ready to try to go get Leo back ● Alopex is so pretty! <3 ● ……. WHAT??? Casey Jones’ dad IS HUN??? I guess that explains that dragon symbol ● Casey saying that his dad can beat him up all he wants, but he’s not allowed to touch Casey’s “family” <3 <3 <3 ● Bebop and Rocksteady have entered the chat ● 👏👏👏👏👏

Synopsis: Outside a seedy joint, Woody and Mike put the finishing touches on their cunning plan. Woody gives Mike (who is dressed as an Italian chef) a fresh pizza and then skedaddles to safety. Apparently, they’ve been at this all night, but Mike has a good feeling about this round.

Mike knocks on the door and a couple of thugs answer. They didn’t order any pizza, but figure they ought to eat before they get going to “the big meeting”. Hearing all he needed, Mikey ditches the disguise (that wasn’t really working) and starts beating some answers out of the thugs regarding this underworld meeting.

At an abandoned warehouse, Angel finally challenges Hun for leadership of the Purple Dragons. She hits him with her escrima, but he feels nothing. Before the fight can escalate, a Foot messenger appears from the shadows with orders to Hun to bring the Dragons to a meeting of gangs where they will all swear allegiance to the Foot Clan. Hun asks the Dragons if they’d rather be a glorified neighborhood watch under Angel’s leadership or filthy rich under his and the Shredder’s leadership. The Dragons side with Hun and Angel leaves, defeated.

Down in the church lair, Don shows off the anti-gravity gauntlets to April and Raph. Suddenly, Mike bursts in with news about the underworld meeting; he has a time and a location. Splinter tells his sons and April that they must prepare to reclaim Leonardo from the Shredder.

Speaking of Leo, at Foot HQ, is lost in a dream. He sees himself and his brothers about to be executed by the Shredder in Feudal Japan. He is confused and thinks everything is all wrong. The spirit of his mother, Tang Shen appears to him and tells him that he does not belong here. The Shredder swings his sword and Leo awakens, screaming. Karai has been watching him with a cruel look in her eyes. Dark Leo asks if everything is ready for the meeting. Karai sneers and tells him that all the "preparations" have been made.

In a parking garage, the Turtles stock up on provisions with Old Hob and Slash. Raph doesn’t like the amount of munitions Hob is bringing along, but Splinter tells him to appreciate any aid they can get in their mission. April agrees to operate as getaway driver and sends Casey a text, telling him she’s going to help the Turtles find Leo.

At Foot HQ, Alopex meets with Kitsune. Speaking in Japanese (as Kitsune does not speak English), Alopex tells her that when she first heard the stories of a fox-woman from Feudal Japan, it helped her feel at peace, as though she wasn’t the only humanoid fox in the world. Kitsune replies in English (much to Alopex’s surprise) and tells her that foxes must be cunning and know when to watch and when to act. Alopex looks surprised, as though Kitsune knows something.

At the hospital, Angel brings Casey his hockey mask which she found outside the Skara Brae. Casey tells her that his dad came by the other day, looking healthier and happier, and gave him a hockey mask as a peace offering. Angel spills the beans about his father, “Hun”, and how he has taken over the Purple Dragons and wants to ally himself with the Foot. Casey grows furious and hobbles out of his hospital bed and gets dressed. He’s had enough sitting on the sidelines and wants to go to the big meeting to help save Leo and face down his father.

At an old abandoned theater, the Shredder takes the stage as all the gangs in New York watch. He tells them that he has taken command of every gang in New York, one at a time, with only a single hold out: The Savate. The beaten Victor is brought onto the stage and Dark Leo hands Shredder a sword. As Shredder makes an example of Victor by decapitating him, the spirit of Tang Shen appears to Dark Leo and repeats what she said in his dream. Leo becomes disoriented and begins to have second thoughts about his allegiance.

Outside the theater, Splinter gives the sign to begin their assault. Old Hob fires a rocket at the parking lot, exploding several cars as Slash charges the sentries. The Shredder orders the gangs to leave the theater and deal with the attackers. Meanwhile, Don uses his anti-gravity gauntlets to levitate a sedan and sends it smashing through the side of the theater. The Turtles and Splinter invade the theater and tear their way through the Foot Soldiers guarding the Shredder.

In the parking lot, Hun grabs a machinegun and leads the fight against Hob and Slash. He nails Hob in the leg and is about to gun down Slash when the weapon is knocked from his hand. Hun turns around to find Angel and Casey (wearing his old hockey mask).

Inside, Don uses his gauntlet to send Shredder careening into Alopex. Dark Leo attacks Raph but can’t bring himself to deliver a killing blow. Eventually, he succumbs to the confusion and falls to his knees. Shredder orders Karai to prevent the Turtles from escaping. She disables Don’s gauntlet with an arrow then calls in her personal reinforcements: Bebop and Rocksteady.

(https://turtlepedia.fandom.com/wiki/City_Fall,_part_6)

Fan Art: TMNT: Bebop and Rocksteady by EGOR-URSUS

Accompanying Podcast: ● Shellheads - episode 46

[katarena]

Living Well Is The Best Revenge, Part 3

Sequel to Raphael's Big Mistake.

Part 1

Part 2

"Hey." April stands in the doorway, a steaming mug in each hand. "Thought you might need this."

"Thanks." The two girls sit side by side on the sofa.

After a moment, Taylor asks: "What are you going to do now? About your job, I mean. Will you ask Bernadette to take you back?"

"I don't know. I guess I could - it's worth a try."

"I'm sorry about your dad," Taylor says softly. April nods at her, smiling.

It doesn't take long for them to talk about the four large green elephants in the room.

"I'm guessing you met them the night you were acting weird?"

"Yeah. The Foot were taking hostages in the subway..."

Taylor sits up. "You were caught up in that hostage situation? You didn't tell me that!"

Now April looks a little sheepish. "I wasn't exactly caught up in it."

"You went into it." Taylor had known April was desperate for a scoop that would make her career, but seriously, what was she thinking? No scoop is worth your life.

"After the turtles stopped the Foot, I followed them and...kind of took their picture."

"You what?"

April grimaces. "I know. Probably not my best idea."

Taylor's stomach curdles when she imagines the turtles' reaction. Then a deeper horror sinks in.

They could have killed April. In fact, she's honestly shocked they didn't.

Maybe she's being a bit unfair. Michelangelo and Donatello seem all right, but the other two...they still frighten her.

"It was scary," April admits, "but I get why. I was going to take that photo to Bernie and once I had..." She shakes her head. "There would have been a hunt. They would have been captured, dissected...or drained of blood, like Sacks intended. But they've apologised for threatening me, so that's OK."

Is it OK? If April had come home first, it would have been her with a bruised stomach and ribs.

Someone knocks on the door. April goes to answer it; it's Casey Jones. He stalks into the flat, his jaw tight and eyes hard.

"Hey, Casey," April says. "Everything all right?"

"They want me to say I took down Shredder."

[moxfirefly]

I have to thank @southernblossoms for this one, she got evil!Leo in my brain and he hasn’t left ever since.

TW: Violence, Gore, Blood, NSFW content below

Rated Explicit (18+ years)

“She said I'm looking like a bad man, smooth criminal

She said my spirit doesn't move like it did before

She said that I don't look like me no more, no more

I said I'm just tired”

Leonardo always knew there was an inch inside of him that was darkness.

If left alone and unchecked, it would spread. Fester like some disease and he feared that someday he’d allow it to course through his body so freely.

And let it win.

It seemed today would be that unfortunate day. A night like any other, just more bloodshed than necessary. But hey, who said they should go and kill his father? Torture him to such an extent and string up his body for his brothers and him to find.

In that very moment that inch had grown in his soul to a degree that it blinded him. All he knew was to destroy, to hurt and erase those who had done this. He felt so cold, hands cupping his fathers motionless bloodied feet, the gentle tapping of blood and the cries of his brothers echoing in his ears.

So when Leo stood, bloodied (not bathed in his own), holding the head of the monster responsible, how could he regain peace? This had only brought a momentary second of reprieve and it was so fleeting. He looked into Shredder’s lifeless eyes, numbness spreading but a need that had started out as an inch. A need to kill everyone who had been part of this, directly or indirectly.

They all deserved so much worse.

They all deserved death.

Slow and torturous.

He had disappeared after that night. His brothers knew that this was the end of their leader, of their beloved brother who wanted to believe that good in this world could prevail.

For them they never imagined that Leo would just let the darkness take hold of him, nestle him with such a loving embrace. For him to embrace it right back felt justified, for his brothers it painted the gory picture of things to come.

They never expected to meet him in the opposition. To view him as foe and not family. Leonardo had quickly taken hold of the scum of the earth. He had molded the darkness to serve him.

Raphael thought Shredder was their worst enemy.

He never expected to have Leo claim that spot in a matter of months.

The Foot had fallen under his ruling, and he wasted no time in setting examples, and the bloody path those examples left behind never seized to churn the brothers stomachs.

There was no means of bringing him back, and perhaps it’s for the better.

Because whatever has eaten away inside of Leonardo cannot simply be flushed out of his body, nor ripped from his very soul. The body counts too high by now as he strays further and further away from what he was taught.

From what his father taught him...

_______________

You run with the unsavories. An eat or be eaten mentality that has caused you to survive years and years of gang wars and mutant freaks. Not like you’d throw about that last bit, much less when you’re standing single file, close to pissing yourself because he’s there.

And Christ he’s a sight to behold.

A rumor, a legend, a monster.

You tell him you’ve got valuable info, you know where to follow the trail that’ll lead to success. Even when your partner tries to push his chin up in front of Leonardo, you’re already wincing at what his demise will be shaped in.

Leo really loves cutting heads off.

A strong emphasis on loves.

You swallow, eyes flying anywhere but the rapidly growing puddle of blood that approaches your feet. Even then, your eyes stray towards the newest leader of the Foot, Leo punctures his katana into the head, a crude skewer as he lifts it and examines the severed body part as if answers lie in the gush of blood that falls. Those dark blue eyes move on you, you swallow.

He walks over to you, blade in hand, blood tap tapping onto the ground “Your information” Leo’s voice is weightless, bored almost. You motion towards your pocket, the crumpled up note with a poorly drawn map the key to your salvation. Leo reaches his hand in and you’re still, stiff and frightened by the intrusive touch and his proximity.

He pulls the note out and examines, the ghastly expression of horror on the decapitated head so close you can smell the coppery scent. “Can you get more of this? The coordinantes?” You crane your neck to look at him, his stature imposing. “Yeah, I’m your girl for that shit, swear on it” He flicks the blade and the sound of the head rolling makes your stomach flip flop along with it.

You feel the tip of a bloodied katana on your chin.

“Don’t make me cut off such a pretty head, hm?” You want to nod but the blade digs and Leo’s mouth twitches in something akin to a smirk. The small cut to your chin stings, but you wonder why other parts of you vibrate.

The danger, the adrenaline, Leonardo.

_____________

Your next meeting doesn’t quell your nervousness. Leonardo is an impressive sight as always and it’s imposible to ignore that maybe you won’t make it out alive every time you both meet. Unless proven useful, which you take to heart. You bring all sorts of information, names, rumors, possible gangs wanting to take him on, the police. Any word you heard in regards to him.

“It’s possible they might try to meet you half way, catch you off guard” The warehouse is chilly, that fall weather starting to hit but Leo’s unfazed, the black tails of his mask move with the gust of winds. “Stupid of them to assume that” The second floor of the warehouse seems to be his own, leaving the rest of the crew bellow. He sits on the windowsill, cloth running up his katana, it had been bloody when you were brought in.

“I’m just repeating what I heard, I’m sure you’re more than adept to take them on” You stick your hands in the pockets of your jacket, you’d been frisked not like you were stupid enough to bring a weapon to this.

But then again, the more he polished that sword, the more you wished you had something.

“What else have you heard? Any word on Karai?” The woman in question had appeared to have disappeared into thin air after Shredder’s death and Leo taking command of the Foot soldiers. Wether she planned to reclaim what was hers or if she had simply quit was beyond you and anybody else. “Nothing on her, she might’ve skipped town or the country” You offered, eyes following the sword as Leo placed it on a nearby table.

“She strike you as the type? A coward?” He walked over towards you, his expression so eerily unreadable.

Yet, your eyes wandered over him. Over muscle and scales. Overs scars and bruises. That illogical part of your brain making you wonder and fantasize, because fear could be exciting.

There was something exciting about Leonardo.

“Well?” He was in front of you, looking down at you. It hits you how minuscule you must look to him.

“Probably plotting? You did murder her dad” You find his eyes, you swallow.

“Well he murdered mine. Eye for an eye...” He spoke gently almost.

“Makes the whole world go blind” You finished for him, and maybe that was stepping on a line but you noticed the corner of his mouth twitch up. For a brief second you catch his eyes scan yours, move across your face and settle at your lips.

Passed your neck, towards your breasts.

He turns around and grabs his sword.

“One week, find more info on her, your pay is downstairs” You’re dismissed and before you process anything a Foot soldier is ushering you downstairs and shoving an envelope in your hands.

That night you dream about what your lips might feel like against reptilian scales.

—————————

Karai’s whereabouts are practically unheard off. If there was a trail it had run cold months back and judging from the word of mouth being passed around there wasn’t anything sustainable. You dig up anything and everybody. Every dirt bag with an agenda, ex Foot soldiers, opposing gangs, the mob and just about anybody you have in your radar.

It yields nothing.

You can’t return to Leo with nothing.

Rubbing a hand across your tired face, you make your way through the back alleys of the city. Your one week was coming up and all you had were weak possibilities and baseless assumptions. In your line of business enough information to create doubt can go a long way, but this was conspiracy levels bad.

So you thought and you thought quick.

Pulling out your phone you called him first. Perhaps a dumb move but at the same time you figured it showed that you were trying. You asked if the two of you could meet, the line briefly went quiet before your text tone startled you. He hung up and you were met with the address of a building in Brooklyn and to go up to the roof.

To say you were scared was to put it lightly.

You were shitting yourself.

The roof of the building had a green house which seemed unused but it looked like it was being kept up with the vegetation still green and alive. Your hand made for the door knob but something you could only name as a sixth sense made you freeze.

Leo was there, the shift in the atmosphere was impossible to deny. Your turned and blinked.

Wherever he had been, it must’ve been worse. There was blood on him, a fresh gash by his arm and the steady drip drip of blood hitting the concrete. “Jesus are you...?” You knew he was ok, but whomever had been on the receiving end of this had it by far much worse.

“Inside, go inside” He motioned for the green house and you did. Your eyes scanned around hoping to find something to help with. There was a nest of sorts in a corner, several blankets and cushions, a table and a chair amidst the plants. You found what you were looking for near the bonsais, a shelf with a box of first aid. Leo went towards a counter with a basin and a jar of water, he went about cleaning the gash on his arm.

You approached him with the box of first aid, blue eyes were cautious as you took out antiseptic and gauze. Leo had turned to face you, giving you more room to work on his arm as you bandaged it. “You alright?” Your voice held hesitation, Leo’s questioning gaze turned to amusement. “I’m fine, what I want to know is why you wanted to meet” You finished bandaging him and took a step back.

Pick your words wisely, you thought with a slight shutter.

“Listen I’ve spoken with any and everyone who might have any clue but Karai is off the radar”Swallowing a lump in your throat you shrugged off your jacket, worry manifesting in heat. “I know this isn’t what you wanted and I’m really fucking good at my job but this bitch is either underground or who knows! Dead for all I know!” The exasperation and worry was clear as day, he either took this the right way or the wrong way.

Wrong way being you end up pushed off this very building, at best ironically enough.

Leo swallowed the information, clearly bouncing it around his head. The dry specks of blood scattered across his green flesh. An odd silence fell amongst you both and even when he rose in all his imposing glory you kept your eyes focused on him. Getting a read on that cold calculated gaze of his was hard enough.

Your throat feels painfully dry once he has you backed up against the wall. Something about dying alone with not even an audience to witness it didn’t sit too right with you.

But then again, Leo’s large hand gripped your neck, nothing too tight but enough to alert you to its presence. Those blue eyes looked haunted but just beneath that laid something you couldn’t just place your finger on. The tips of his fingers lightly caressed you, one of them fascinated with your quickened pulse. You can’t blink, unsure what may happen and when he dips down your adrenaline makes you flinch.

Leo halts his movement, his blood feels like it’s pumping loudly enough for you to hear. Wide eyed you lean up instead and ghost your lips against his, Leo sighs through his nostrils and it stays that way. A pull but not enough of a push because there’s still fear in your blood and a hesitation that you can’t put a name to from Leonardo.

Your phone going off startles you, nearly making you jump out of your skin and to a fraction of your dismay Leo takes a step away. One of your contacts name flashed on the screen which meant there could still be some good news. Your turned away to speak, pulling a marker from your pocket you write down some information on your forearm. It’s a quick conversation and once done you turn to see Leo putting together his gear again.

You bit your lip, whatever was about to happen would just have to take a back seat. ‘Fucking coward’ you can’t help but think about yourself.

“One of my guys says he might have it on good authority that Karai is still here” You watch him turn his head to listen, even if he’s got his back/shell to you. “Well?” He pushes while adjusting his swords.

“He says she might’ve just met up with...with one of your brothers” Tense doesn’t even begin to explain what his body did, the mear mention of his family was a sore subject and you had been warned to not even attempt to open that can of worms. Swallowing and feeling your throat stick from how dry it felt you see him pull out a key and toss it to you. “Send me that address, you’ll get your money at the warehouse” You barely manage to catch the key to the greenhouse, but still you raise a brow at the offering.

“Come back here when you’re ready” Is all he says about it, confusion is painted on your face but when he moved to leave he takes a moment to hold your chin. “Don’t make me regret this” He says and before you can attempt to ask he’s gone.

You stay there, twenty minutes or so in nothing but your thoughts and his words swimming around your mind.

Feeling heat between your legs and a lick of frustration consuming you.

_____________

Two weeks you contemplate the key in your pocket.

Two weeks you let your thumb hover over his number but never press down.

For two weeks you find your pillow between your legs, trying to reach the sensation he managed with just his body close to yours.

But nothing.

It’s not enough.

New York is covered in rain as you make your way through the sea of people. Regardless of the many umbrellas you still get soaked and by the time you’re up on that roof, hand digging out the key to the green house you’re drenched.

Inside you shake off the excess and remove your jacket. The cold hits you and you can’t help but feel silly that you’re here, maybe this is his way of taking you out, you’re not needed anymore by now you assume.

You turn on the few lanterns that are scattered through the room. Kicking off your boots you rub your arms and shiver, flesh breaking out into goosebumps as the door creaks open once more.

Leo’s equally drenched when he steps through, the black tails of his mask sticking to him. The two of you just stare at one another, steady drips of water and the rain outside picking up more strengh.

Carefully you watch him begin take apart his gear, leaving his katanas by the door. He’s trying to keep your apprehension at low levels, his steps slow and soft. You let your arms fall to your sides and as your heart tries to hammer out of your chest you don’t flinch this time, even as his hands go for the hem of your long sleeve. You take a deep breath as his eyes wander across your now exposed flesh. The fascination goes straight to your core, feeling yourself warm up as his hands rest on your stomach.

With trembling hands you unbutton your jeans and step out of them and the inhale Leo takes as he closes his eyes makes you reach for him. He holds you against him and sighs, large frame shuddering at the feel of your skin against his reptilian one. He buries his snout against your neck, breathing harder as his hands run all over your back and rear. Leo grips and kneads the flesh and a groan escapes against your ear that makes your wrap your arms around his neck. He feels the softness of your breasts against his chest, he’d be a liar if he said he hadn’t been dreaming about them for months now.

You can’t wrap your head around it but he feels just as you fantasized about him. The roughness of his flesh, the edges of his shell and god his teeth nip at your neck with a growl. Wiggling out of his hold you start to undo whatever else needs to be taken off and Leo can’t help but smirk at your frenzied movements. He allows you to undress him, he’s gutted when your hands land on his waist as you start to kneel before him.

“No, no, kiss me first” He cups your face and presses his mouth against yours and that’s it, you’re done for, you’re hooked and can’t go back now. His kiss is possessive, forceful and it drowns every thought in your brain.

You pressed against one of the tables with the many Bonsais when Leo’a tongue slithers into your awaiting mouth. He sits you down on the table and nudges your legs apart to fit himself in between them, you crane your neck up losing yourself in his kiss. He can taste rain water, feels the sweat and rain mingle on your skin. God he wants to run his tongue all over you, eat you whole if he could.

It feels like forever when he pulls away, reluctance in his body. Blue eyes search into your e/c eyes, he wants to see something maybe your fear so he denies himself falling into this rabbit hole. Your hands press against his plastron and gently you run your nails down the hard plates, you shake your head fascinated by the texture. He’s rough but strong, a marvel of a species.

With some difficulty you managed to push your underwear off and spread yourself again for his viewing pleasure. “I want you,” You nodded, eyes falling to the hard length between his legs. Leo wraps a large hand around it and pumps slowly, body shivering at the sensation. “God I fucking want you so bad” You feel him come back to you, mouth on yours in yet another harsh kiss.

The tip of his cock nudges against your wet heat and he bites your lip at the sensation. Leo pushes into you so frustratingly slow, even as his girth stretches you to a point you’ve never been before. You want him inside of you now, and Leo couldn’t agree more. He bottoms out inside of you with a lengthy groan, head thrown back in ecstasy. “You feel... so fucking good” He growls out through gritted teeth, hips picking up speed as you wantonly take him in. You press your lips to his chest and moan with each slow but pronounced thrust of his hips.

His hand finds itself at the back of your head, grabbing fistfuls of your hair to keep your gaze on his. The slight tug burns so good and you can’t help but keep your pleasure filled gaze on his own. Lips parted you let him rock into you steadily until his thrust start to slam into you. The sensation spreads all over your body, little shocks of pleasure rocking your body.

“Mine, you’re going to be mine and only mine” He voices lowly, a threat laced in his passion. You’re too far gone to speak, nodding aimlessly at his every word, moans falling from your lips. “Nobody will own you like I do, nobody will touch you, Y/N? You understand? I’m making you mine” He pressed his forehead to yours, lost in this feeling.

“Fuck yes, yours, I’m gonna be all yours” You lick his lips and when he reaches a hand between both your bodies your mind goes blank. A vicious shudder overtakes you as you muffle a scream against his jaw. He fills you up so good and so warm with a strange vibration that sounds like an endless growl. Each rope he pumps into you making his eyes roll back. You’re shattered against, limp and raw throat from the scream that leaves your mouth.

He watches your come down, hand against your cheek, thumb running across your lips. When he pulls out just enough to watch his essence cascade out of your pretty little hole, he pumps himself back into you. His eyes say it all, from here on out whatever your life was up to this point is over and done with. Leo nuzzles you still lazily pumping himself in you, blissful to the little tremors your cunt produces around his member making him harden once again. Picking you up, bodies still joined, he makes his way to the nest of blankets on the floor.

You hold onto him, all you can do is hold onto him.

____________

It’s rather odd to be in this position. With an entire year that’s passed it never seems to feel normal, not that you’re complaining though.

Being in a position of power by proxy has its fucking fun rewards.

For example nobody in this city will ever contemplate taking you out. Unless they want a very pissed off Foot Leader to set fire to the city and maybe even the world. From opposite points to now standing at his side. No one is to address you as below them, or touch you or let alone breath the same air you do.

You can still hear the bones that were cracked when one particularly unruly Foot soldier made snide comment about you. Each crack of the mans arm being slowly twisted until his arm broke still rang in your ears to this day. Leo hadn’t flinched, hadn’t even scowled even as the twist turned to pulling the limb off.

He did in fact fuck you hard against the glass windows of the hotel suite he had you both in. The copper scent lingering on his scales, but enraptured with the heat enveloping his cock.

With the city at war everyone had began to run amok to do their own barbaric things. Each part of the city divided between gangs, mobs, mutants, police and civilians. You were out on active Foot duties, you were still free to do as you pleased but with protection and Leo demanded your whereabouts on the hour due to possibilities of abduction.

He knew you were a weakness.

But did he give a shit? Of course not. Let them try, he hasn’t needed an excuse for his tyrannical acts thus far, but if harm did ever befall you, you only wished you could witness what his methods would be to exact his revenge.

And he was so familiar with revenge after all.

You admire yourself in the full length mirror, examining the body that training under Leo has provided you. The mutant terrapin in question comes up from behind you and wraps his strong sculpted arms around your waist. You can’t help but smirk as he rest his chin a top your head. “We’re heading out in half an hour” He mumbles against your hair, enjoying the scent. You watch through the mirror as his hands rub up and cup your breast, with a sigh you rest against his strong build. “What’s on the agenda tonight? Purple dragons?” You feel him shake his head, fingers dipping inside the cups of your bra. “Mob,” Is his sole reply.

You bite your lip, gripping his wrists. “We’ll be late” You try to muffle a moan as he tweaks a nipple, he grinds against your backside. “I’m killing them regardless, and I much rather have the scent of your cunt on my hands while I listen to their boring excuses for parley” Your knees buckled when you felt his hand slither inside your underwear, finger already parting your lips and humming as he feels how wet you already are.

You feel his other hand wrap around your neck, keeping you upright and your gaze on the mirror as his finger dips into your welcoming heat.

He engulfs your every thought, every sensation; and what’s the fate of the world when you’ve got him? He chose you just as much as you chose him. You’ve never considered yourself good, scumbag street rat who just happened to make a living amongst the other scumbags. But this? With Leonardo and the trail of bloodied heads he’s left behind, it’s hard not to be excited to see gasoline be poured on the city. He trails his lips to the shell of your ear and you can’t help but grin.

“Mine” He says.

Burn everything.

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

scopaesthesia 👁️ chapter 2

Warnings: nonconsensual sex, death, murder, violence, stalking, paranoia, blood, gore, and other warnings to be added

This is dark!Bucky Barnes with a likelihood off dark!Steve Rogers as well and explicit. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Summary: Your stalker gets closer.

Note: Alright, things are ramping up. As always, mind the warnings and take care of yourselves.

Thank you. Love you guys!

As always, if you can, please leave some feedback, like and reblog <3

You didn't sleep much. Shallow spurts laced with fear. Your dreams when they came were vague but horrifying. A shadow, a voice, the feeling of being watched. Always.

You were roused by a creak. You'd left your door half-open last night. 

You sat up, the curtains drawn, and looked around. You rubbed your temple and pushed the covers away from you. You pulled down the hem of your tee and dragged your feet across the room. You elbowed the door open and stepped into the hall.

You looked around the corner into the living room. Bucky sat on the couch where you’d left him the night before. He cradled the tablet on his thigh as he yawned and flicked the screen. 

“Did you sleep at all?” You asked, your throat dry and scratchy. 

“You?” He asked as he looked up. “I just sent the audio into forensics for review. We might be able to run analysis on his voice and they’re working on tracing the call.”

“And what do I do?” You crossed your arms.

“What you’ve been doing,” he set the tablet on the coffee table and stood. He stretched his arms above him, the metal plates of his left contracting as he lowered it. “As far as we know, he has no idea about us. I came in the back and to be honest, as a civilian, you react before you think. He called you to make sure you were still here. To reassure himself that not all was lost.”

“How do you know this? Do you deal with this often?”

“Well, no, I deal with assassins and spies more often but… well, I can’t divulge the extent of our intelligence. I can only say that what we found sets him on par with my usual work.”

“Wouldn’t it be safer if I actually knew what was going on?” You prodded.

“No, trust me. You know what you need to.” He said staunchly.

You poked the inside of your cheek with your tongue and shrugged. “You want a coffee?”

“If you’re making some,” he rubbed his nose as he watched you cross the room, “I’ll leave before you but… I’ll be around.”

“Like last night?” You challenged.

“That’s on me. I shouldn’t have been so careless but the next time he calls, you won’t be alone.”

“Apparently I haven’t been for a while,” you said. “If he has my number, what else does he have?”

“Think about what you have. You have me and the whole of S.H.I.E.L.D. behind you,” he reproached. “And let me tell you, when I’m given a mission, I complete it.”

“I want to believe you,” you said as you took out the canister of coffee, “I really do.”

👁️

You were distracted on your way to work. The voice lingered in your head, the words. The necklace bouncing over the collar of your coat was barely a comfort. What would Bucky do if the killer appeared right then? Could he get to your fast enough? He said he’d be close, watching, but was he closer than your stalker?

You picked a ball of lint from your glove as you ran up the station steps and onto the street. Once you were at work you could forget. You’d be surrounded by people; co-workers, clients, and the occasional messenger. For once, the ringing phone welcomed you. You knew what awaited you on the other end; an appointment to be made or a transfer to another part of the office. Simple.

Your boss, Mr. Drousseau, was often first to the office. He was unlocking the door as you rounded the corner. He cradled a vase of flowers against him, his briefcase clutched in his hand, as he twisted the key and tried to open the door with his other arm. You rushed forward as the door threatened to fall shut again.

“Here,” you grabbed the door and he blinked at you in surprise. “I got it.”

He grunted and wrenched his key out before stepping inside. You followed as he crossed to your desk and plunked the vase down. He flicked a petal from his shoulder as he turned back to you.

“What are those?” You looked at the long-stemmed tulips; out of season and no doubt expensive. ��Is your wife--?”

“Some carrier just handed them off,” He set his briefcase on a chair in the waiting area and took off his long jacket. “They’ve got your name on them?”

“What?” You neared the desk and took the card. Your name was scrawled in slanted letters on the front. You placed your bag beside the vase and carefully opened the card. “I don’t know who--”

You almost dropped the cardstock but instead closed it again. Your cheek twitched as you looked up at Drousseau and tapped the card with your fingernail. 

“A surprise from my father,” you lied. “He lives so far away…”

“Mmm,” Drousseau nodded as he hung his jacket. “Well, next time, tell him to have them sent to you directly.”

“Sure. Yeah, sorry,” you kept the card between two fingers as you unzipped your coat. “I’ll send you a copy of today’s roster.”

He grumbled as he grabbed his briefcase and jingled his keys as he went to his office door. He paused as he unlocked the door. “Coffee.” He said. “Espresso if you’re feeling particularly generous.”

You smiled at his back and let out a sigh only when his door closed behind him. He saw you as a glorified barista and didn’t seem to realise that you organised the chaos of his own success. Without you, he wouldn’t know which way was up. Well, he might learn that soon enough.

You slipped out of your coat and hung it. You pinched the card and shuddered as you carefully opened it again. There were no words on the inside. Only a stark, red splotch. You ran your thumb over it and the edge flaked away. It couldn’t be… blood. 

But what else would it be? Who else would send them?

You closed the card and crumpled it in your hand. Panic squeezed your heart and you raced to the paper shredder hidden behind the copier. You flicked the switch and fed the card into the machine. The grind of the blade echoed your stomach. You hadn’t eaten that morning; you couldn’t.

You looked down at the flower dangling from your neck. You spoke to it quietly. “He sent flowers,” you felt crazy, like you were talking to yourself, “What does that mean?”

Your phone vibe in your bag on the desk and you stepped past your chair. You fished around for your cell and pulled it out.

‘It means he’s trying to scare you,’ Bucky’s text flashed across the screen, quickly followed by another. ‘Don’t let him. I’m here.’

You shook your hand and didn’t reply. You put your phone face down on your desk and touched your temples. You weren’t sure that anyone, even Bucky, could keep you safe.

👁️

It was only the flowers that day. You spent much of your working hours watching the door. You watched over your shoulder on your way home, convinced that every fellow pedestrian and passenger was a monster. When you got to your apartment, you locked the door and checked every inch of your apartment. 

As you paced, your phone shook. You stared at it until it stilled and then it began again. You answered it shakily and let out a long breath as Bucky’s voice rose from the speaker.

“You’re not responding to me. You can’t do that. I need to make certain you’re safe at all times. That’s my job. You understand?” He chided.

“You have the bug, don’t you? You can hear everything.” You sat and fidgeted on the couch. “And you’re close. You’d know if anyone… if anyone…”

“Yes, but you’re cooperation only helps, alright?” He said. “I know you’re scared but right now he’s just playing games. He’s trying to make you do something stupid so don’t do that. You’re doing exactly what he wants; you’re panicking.”

“I don’t know what I’m doing,” you hissed, “That’s the point.”

“Go to your window. The one away from the street in your bedroom.” He said.

“What?”

“Just do it and look up a few floors.”

You sniffed and stood up. You went to your room and rounded the bed. You pulled aside the curtain and searched the brick building just across the alley. A small glint came through a window only three floors up. You heard a tap on the other end; the sound of metal on glass.

“See. I’m close. You’re safe. He won’t get any closer than me. I promise.” He said.

“Oh, uh,” you stepped back from the window. “Okay. I… thank you.”

“It’s my job,” he said, “And yours is to get some rest. You’re no good exhausted. That’s what he wants.”

“Okay,” you mumbled.

The line clicked and you sat on the foot of your bed. You dropped your phone to the mattress and took a breath. You got up slowly and went to the bathroom. You closed the door and looked at yourself in the mirror. You unclasped the necklace and hung it from the cabinet handle to keep from losing it. You undressed blindly and let your clothes heap on the floor.

The rings of the shower curtain chimed as you pulled it open and placed the stopper in the drain. You turned the faucet until it steam and stepped into the rising flood. You stretched before you lowered yourself down into the tub. Your stiff muscles loosened and you felt the day float away.

Just a moment of peace before it would all come back. Just a moment to yourself.

👁️

The next morning was unusually sunny though the night had been little different. Despite your fatigue, sleep was still elusive. Even when you did manage to dose, it was shallow and unsatisfying. You woke with a weight in the back of your head and finished two cups of coffee before you readied for your last day of work before the weekend.

The tulips remained on your desk. You’d forgotten about them even with the stream of compliments on the bouquet. You’d offered it to several coworkers but had met only with polite refusal. You sat and set yourself up as Drousseau shuffled around in his office. 

Your first call of the day was easy enough. One of Drousseau’s oldest clients needed to be patched through. You hit transfer but before you could put the phone down, it rang again. You hit answer and gave your usual greeting.

“You like the flowers?” The same, eerie voice as two nights before. “They made me think of you.”

“What?” You breathed as you pushed yourself away from the desk and your chair rolled back until the spiral cord was taut. “What do you--”

“You’re not the rose type. You’re so sweet. So pure, baby girl.” He continued as your stomach plummeted. You looked around at the flurry of activity around you; the whir of the copier, the clacking of keys, the quiet chatter of employees. It was surreal. “Someone like you in a world like this is made to be used.”

“I don’t know what you want from me. I’m at work. You can’t call here--” Your cell vibed beside your keyboard as you tried to keep your voice down.

“I can do whatever I want, baby girl. I have done everything I want when I want… except you… no, you need to wait. It has to be the right way.” He snarled. “Yes, soon. You will be ready soon.”

“Please--”

The line went dead as your cell began to buzz incessantly. You slammed down the receiver and grabbed your mobile as it shook. You stood and looked around. No one seemed to notice your distress. You stormed off to the restroom and closed yourself in. You slid your finger across the screen and held it to your ear.

“Bucky?” You croaked.

“It’s me.” He confirmed. “You alright? That him?”

“Y-yes,” you trembled as you braced the sink. “He said… he said soon. Bucky, he’s going to kill me. I know it.”

“Shhhh, please, take a breath.” He coaxed. “And count, like I showed you.”

“I can’t, I can’t, I can’t,” you whined. “Please, I can’t do this.”

“Breathe,” he ordered, “One…” He began to count as you stared in the mirror. You nodded in time until your breaths evened out and you huffed into the phone. “Good, good. Now, you have to act like everything is alright. Stay at work. You’re safe there.”

“And… after?”

“You know I’ll be there. I already am, alright? I know everyone who walks through that door, honey. You trust me?”

Your lashes fluttered and you let go of the sink. ‘Honey.’ Your mind lingered on that word but you quickly shrugged it off.

“I do,” you said, “You’ll protect me.”

“I will,” he assured you. “This creep is no match for me.”

“Yeah,” you murmured, “Okay. I’m alright. I gotta go back.”

“Alright,” he said softly. “I’ll be here.”

👁️

When work was done, you didn’t go directly to the subway. You needed to sleep and you needed to forget. There was one way to do both; alcohol. Just down the block was a liquor store. You’d grab a bottle of wine and be on your way. A brief detour before you could hide once more in your boxlike apartment.

You crossed the street and a figure caught in the corner of your eye. You reached into your pocket and pulled out your phone as you turned down the sidewalk. You held up the cell and angled it so you could see the reflection over your shoulder. There was a man a few feet behind; he was tall but walking slowly with his head down, a hood casting shadows over his face. You slowly lowered your phone and squeezed until you thought it would break.

You neared the door of the shop. You knew he was still there. You dipped through the door and the chirp of the sensor made your flinch. You quickly flitted to the back aisle of scotch and whiskey and peered back to the front. The man in the hoodie passed the window but peered back at you as he did.

“A man,” you pulled out the necklace from beneath your jacket, “There’s a man following me. I saw him.”

Your phone quaked and you dropped the necklace. You fumbled with your cell and pretended to browse the aged malts. 

“I see him but I can’t see his face.” Bucky said. 

“I didn’t either. What do I do?”

“Stay calm. What are you even doing?”

“I was… gonna get some wine.” You went to the aisle of imports and scanned the shelves. “That’s all.”

“Well, get whatever and go home. Don’t worry about this creep. I’ll deal with him.” Bucky said. “He’s probably not even our guy, just another dirtbag.”

“What do you mean?”

“Just buy your wine and get to the train.” He hung up bluntly and you sighed.

You grabbed a cabernet and went to the counter. You paid and hid the bottle in your bucket bag. You reluctantly pushed through the door and swiftly turned down the street. The man was behind you. You checked again with your phone, this time with your camera on. You snapped a pic over your shoulder and quickly tucked it into your sleeve.

You looked up and saw another hooded man heading towards you. You almost tripped as he passed you and recognized Bucky’s short stubble poking out. You didn’t stop as a commotion rose behind you.

“Watch it,” Bucky growled. No response and you ran across the street. 

You hurried on and stopped at the corner to look back. Bucky stood with arms crossed against the front of a convenience store and the other man was gone. He nodded and pushed himself away from the chipped brick. You turned back and raced to the subway.

Home, home, home. Just get home.

👁️

Your apartment was already dark when you got home. The days grew shorter and shorter as the winter threatened to storm down on the city. You plopped your bottle of wine on the counter and kicked off your shoes. You hung your bag and coat from the rack and checked your phone.

‘Text when home.’ Bucky’s message seared into your vision.

You sent your response and uncorked the bottle. You poured yourself a glass and carried it to the living room with your cell. You left them on the coffee table as you went to change. You dumped your blouse, skirt, and thick stockings into the hamper along with your bra and panties. You took the necklace off and set it on your night table.

You pulled on a pair of pajama bottoms and an old tee. You scooped up the necklace and took it with you into the front room. You hung it from the lamp beside the couch and took a gulp of wine as you searched for something to watch. The alcohol burned your hungry stomach.

A knock came at the door and you nearly choked as you set your glass down. You peered through the hole. It was Bucky. You unlocked the door and pulled it open.

“What are you doing here?”

“That was pretty creepy,” he said as he stepped past you without welcome. “Wanted to make sure you were okay. I’ve cased the entire building. Didn’t see him around.”

“You think he would’ve followed me here? You said it was likely not him.”

“Maybe not but the guy was leery enough to follow you to the store,” Bucky went to the window and looked out. “You need to tell me when you change your plans.”

“Sorry, I-- It wasn’t far so I thought--”

“If you’re as scared as you’re acting, you’ll get your shit together and listen to me.” He closed the blinds. “You take a detour like that and that’s trouble for both of us.”

He rounded the armchair and neared the coffee table. He ran a metal finger around the rim of your glass. “Hope it was worth it.”

“I’m sorry,” you said again, “I didn’t mean to--”

“You need something, you tell me. I’ll take care of it.” He interrupted. “You go anywhere, you clear it with me. We’re not fucking around anymore.”

“Bucky, I…” you pouted. “I didn’t--”

“Look, I’m not mad but I have to be strict. We don’t have room for mistakes.” He neared you and his face softened. “It’s for your own good, honey.”

You stared at him and reached to the collar of his jacket. He unzipped it and backed away to hang it over your own. You frowned.

“I already sent in an incident report. The Director said I should keep close watch tonight. Just in case.”

“Oh,” you watched him unlace his boots. “I… Okay?”

“I don’t mean to crowd you but better safe than sorry.” He stood.

“Right,” you sidled past him, “You want any wine?”

“Nah,” he waved you off, “Stuff doesn’t really do anything for me.”

You nodded and went back to the couch. You sat and hit continue watching. You picked at your fingernail anxiously. Bucky sat on the other side of the couch and groaned. He stretched his fingers and they cracked loudly.

“You hungry? I can order something? I don’t feel much like cooking.” You offered.

“If you’re hungry,” he shrugged. “You must be.”

You played with your phone and set it down to take another drink. “You like Chinese?”

“Sure,” he said, “Whatever you want, honey.”

You grabbed your phone and tried to hide your discomfort. Were you just rattled from the hooded creep? Paranoid because your life had turned into a murder mystery? Or was this man crossing a line?

You opened up the app and scrolled to the meal for two. You confirmed the order and put your phone on the arm of the couch. “About half an hour,” you said.

You looked over as Bucky reached up to the lamp and played with the necklace. He slowly retracted his hand and chuckled.

“You know, you talk in your sleep,” he chuckled. “Necklace picks it up sometimes.”

“I do?” You wondered.

“Nothing really. Doesn’t really make sense.” He smirked. “But… it’s kinda funny.”

“Oh,” you sat back. You wanted another mouthful of wine but you were already almost done your first glass. “Weird.”

You crossed your arms and looked at the television. Everything was weird. The murders, your stalker, and even this man they sent to protect you. It was all just a little off and that scared you even more.

👁️

When the food arrived, Bucky got up to answer the door. You ate at the coffee table and finished your second glass of wine. The alcohol helped your appetite and for the first time in days, you managed to eat more than a few bites. Bucky didn’t need any help as he threw back fried rice and back ribs.

You cleaned up after and tossed the containers in the trash. You were a little tipsy as you flopped onto the couch and rated your meal on the app. Bucky filled your glass for you and returned the bottle to the kitchen before taking his place once more. You thanked him and took a sip.

“Thought you weren’t exactly happy about this,” you raised the glass.

“I can’t blame you. Hell, if I could get anything out of it, I’d have a glass of my own.” He mused. “So, the phone call, we need to go over what he said to you. Obviously, I couldn’t hear it.”

“Right now?” You set your glass down.

“Before I forget,” he reached into his pocket and took out his own phone. He opened up the notepad. “Doesn’t have to be exact.”

“He didn’t say… much…” You began and you regretted the two glasses of wine. “He said I… I was pure… and that…” Your cheeks burned and you felt the flutter of nerves, “He wants to use me and…” You swallowed as your lips quivered, “He said soon. That he would do something soon.”

You grabbed your wine and drank deeply. 

“That’s all. That’s all he said.” You put the glass down and held your head. “I don’t know what to do.”

“You’re doing all you can,” his hand settled gently on your back and you winced. He rubbed lightly as he shifted closer and placed his phone on the table. “And you got me.”

“Yeah, but I-- I don’t know if you can stop him.” You looked at him as tears blurred your vision. “And I don’t know what I did to make him do all this. He’s killed others because of me and… And how am I supposed to live with that?”

“He did that, not you,” Bucky insisted, “It’s not your fault--”

Your phone slipped from the arm of the couch suddenly as it vibrated. Bucky’s hand dropped away as you took your cell. You held up the flashing screen. There was no number, not even ‘Private’ or ‘Unknown’. Just the two icons; answer or ignore.

You hovered your thumb over the latter and Bucky stopped you. He shook his head as you looked at him. “Answer it.”

You grimaced and he let you go. He moved away from you and you hesitated. You hit answer and the screen lit up. It was a video call. You saw a white ceiling and heard the muffled sobbing of a woman. Goosebumps rose on your skin as the camera moved erratically and the colours blurred together and cleared to form the image of a woman’s face.

She had a gag in her mouth, tied in place by a black piece of fabric. Tears stained her cheeks as she squirmed. 

“Baby girl,” the voice spoke from offscreen as a gloved hand appeared holding a knife. It dragged the edge down the woman’s cheek as she squealed. “She’s nothing. Nothing compared to you.”

You were frozen, weighed down with dread and fear as you sat gaping at the screen.

“I’ll show you…” He turned the knife. “Show you that she can never be you. That there is only you.”

The hand moved so fast and drew a sudden line of red across the woman’s throat. The cut gushed as the woman choked on the gag and her own blood. The sickening noise of her death filled your ears and the man moaned your name. The screen went black and you dropped your phone.

“Oh my god,” you gasped as you shook violently and the alcohol bubbled in your stomach, “Oh my god, oh my god.” 

You stood dizzily and fell back on the couch. Bucky touched your arm and you pulled away as you bent over the side of the couch at the sudden revolt inside of you. You wretched onto the hardwood as tears spilled from your eyes. Your body contracted as you were overwhelmed in fear and revulsion.

“Oh my god,” you cried, “Oh my god…” 

Bucky pulled you back to him and stretched his arm over your shoulders. He hushed you as he hugged you to him and rocked you back and forth.

“You’re okay, honey. There was nothing you could do,” he said, “Shh, calm down. Breathe…” He caressed your head as he held you, “Just breathe. I’m here.”

[punkpresentmic]

Traitor Aizawa AU Pt. 3 — 1, 2:

Shouta ran away in the middle of the night. When Hizashi woke up, it was to an empty bed, to fists pounding at their shared suite, to UA in lockdown. Hizashi was immediately forced outside & taken in for questioning.

Shouta had left Nezu a resignation letter, in his own unmistakable handwriting. It's blunt, concise, & it contains detailed descriptions & evidence of his betrayal. It makes no excuses for his actions & it does not discuss his motivations.

When Shouta visits that night weeks upon weeks later, he says nothing of the letter & nothing of his motivations. Shouta is silent as Hizashi sobs, dutifully keeping his Quirk erased as asked. It's been a pressure building on Hizashi for far too long, so when the dam breaks, there's no stopping it. It's an unwelcome but necessary catharsis—one he needs because of Shouta, one he can have because of him. Hizashi cries himself to sleep in his husband's arms.

& in the morning, again, he wakes up alone. It could have been a dream, but this time there's a note on his nightstand. It's painfully simple, the script rushed: I'm sorry I couldn't be here when you wake up. I'm sorry it has to be like this. I want to talk with you soon. I love you, Hizashi.

He should report this. Shouta betrayed UA, he's a wanted villain, & he expressed interest in taking Eri. Hizashi should turn in the letter.

Hizashi makes himself a coffee, & he sets the letter in front of him, & he stares at it blankly while the Sun rises slowly outside. The moment the light hits it, it's like the decision has made itself. Hizashi puts the letter through their paper shredder, tucks the pieces into his pocket, buys a muffin at a coffee shop, & throws half of them away in his napkin in one trash can, half of them in another down the road. He doesn’t tell a soul. Not Nemuri. Not Eri. Not Nezu.

He has to see Shouta again.

It’s two weeks before there’s another Shouta sighting. One day Hizashi comes home & senses the difference immediately. &, oddly, it's not a bad different. He knows exactly what it means. So, he takes off his gear in the entryway. Locks the door. Takes a few calming breaths before he calls into the apartment: “Honey, I’m home.”

He steps into the bedroom. Sure enough, Shouta is sitting on the bed.

Hizashi stops. He looks like shit. Exhausted, face sallow like he hasn’t been eating, eyes red & irritated like he hasn’t been using his eye drops. It occurs to Hizashi that his prescription probably ran out. He can remember the last time he picked up a bottle from the pharmacy; he’d teased Shouta about his 'special eyes' that regular eye drops don’t work on. “How did you know I was here.” His voice is rough too. Hizashi wants to offer him water, a meal, something. He hovers in the doorway.

“I’ve felt your absence since you left. Of course I know when it’s changed.”

Shouta says nothing. Hizashi relents slightly, asks him if he’s eaten. As expected, he gets a shake of the head. Hizashi turns on a heel, brings the both of them tea & leftover takeout. Shouta scrunches his eyebrows in confusion when Hizashi hands him what’s always Shouta’s order. Hizashi shrugs, nonchalant as if he didn’t take up ordering it after Shouta left. Shouta opens his mouth to speak, but Hizashi holds up a hand. “Eat.”

& they do, in silence. Shouta is positively ravenous. Hizashi has so many questions. So many questions. But he shares this strange meal with his husband, wordlessly offering Shouta what he doesn’t finish as well. Finally, Shouta clears his throat. “You didn’t tell anybody about me.”

Hizashi doesn’t have it in him to glare—to make any expression, really. It’s all very… heavy. Fragile. Ephemeral. Breakable. Dangerous. Wrong. Hizashi purses his lips. “You’ve got some ‘splainin’ to do.”

He winces. "Hizashi, I wish I could tell you everything, but I can't."

Hizashi swallows the emotions that rise like bile in his throat, a potent mixture of fury & nausea. He has little control of what falls from his mouth. “You know, somebody referred to you as my ex the other day.”

Shouta’s expression is pained. He shakes his head & pulls his wedding ring out from its necklace tucked away as always in his ratty costume. Hizashi almost laughs. When Shouta commits to something, he commits fully, with his whole chest. It’s why so much of this doesn’t make any goddamn sense. It all threatens to choke him, but he laughs around the lump in his throat & shakes his head too, taking Shouta’s hand & squeezing hard to imprint the indent of the ring he put there into his palm. “It’s just not right, man.”

This time, Hizashi takes a page from Shouta’s book & bumps their foreheads together like a cat. Hizashi offers a watery smile. Shouta lets his eyes fall closed, inhales deeply. “I know it was too much to ask in my letter for you to believe that I'm still the person you believe me to be, but…” Hizashi freezes and pulls back, causing him to trail off.

“Shouta… what are you talking about?”

A flash of confusion, then fear crosses Shouta’s face. “The first letter I wrote to you. When I… When I left.” Shouta’s eyes search his for any sign of recognition, clearly troubled when he finds none. “I wrote everyone in my class letters. & Nezu. & Kayama. Hell, even Yagi—do you really think I wouldn’t face you of all—”

“—Shouta. None of those people received letters. Besides Nezu. I read your… resignation letter. Saw the evidence you laid out so logically for him. But I…” Hizashi’s blood suddenly grows cold. “Shou, the police took me down to the station that morning & searched the apartment. I didn’t think they took anything.” His breathing picks up. “They never told me anything about a letter—”

Shouta is barely breathing. Finally, after a long pause he swallows. “Nezu. Nezu must have found his first & arranged for a search & seizure. He would have extrapolated there were more.” He wipes a weary hand down his face, shaking his head. “You never… None of the students…” He covers his eyes, which must be aching. Hizashi has never been hesitant to offer physical reassurance to Shouta Aizawa, but he hesitates here & hates that he does. He pulls Shouta close with an arm over the shoulders.

“It’s alright,” he lies. Shouta knows. “We can talk now.”

So Shouta reiterates what was in the letter: what he’s done, how he loves him, how he wouldn't leave or do this without him if he had a choice, how he intends to return when this is settled, how in the meantime he would trust nobody else to watch over his students & Eri, how he needs Hizashi to trust that he is who Hizashi knows him to be.

“How am I supposed to be certain of that?” Hizashi whispers when he’s done.

It hurts him, Hizashi can see that. But all of this hurts. “I don’t know how to answer that.” They’re still holding hands. “But I want to,” he adds. “I want to prove it to you.”

“I want that too.”

There’s a tension in the air as they hover, faces close, uncertain if it would be okay to kiss each other. They think better of it, pull back with small sighs.

Instead, they discuss Eri. Shouta has been watching from afar when he can safely. He knew how she was struggling with her Quirk. He saw the doctor visits that hadn’t improved anything. He wanted to help. He also knew that he couldn’t sneak into UA forever, that the instant UA caught wind of it security would render it impossible & arrange for his capture. But if she’s with him, he can still help.

Hizashi shakes his head. “Shou, wherever you’ve been, it’s nowhere fit for a child. Your Quirk helps her, but her support network is here at UA. You were part of that network. & now you’re not. She is not leaving UA.”

Shouta shrinks, & after a moment he nods. He was always one to listen to reason. Hizashi, again, has to relent. As far as he can tell, Shouta only wants what’s best for her & it’s killing him not to be able to participate in that. So Hizashi elbows him lightly & pulls up pictures on his phone of all Eri has been up to lately, some of the students also making appearances. He leans Shouta onto his shoulder. It’s a tender moment. Almost normal. But all too soon it has to end. It’s not safe for Shouta to stay the night & there’s a certain window of time he has to catch to slip past security.

Shouta says he’ll return. He squeezes Hizashi’s hand as he goes to the window—the hand with his ring on it. Promises.

(pt. 4)

[heyheydidjaknow]

Hey! I was wondering if you could do a story where the reader and 2012 Leo are best friends and after Leo wakes up in the farm house he tells her that he doesn't think he's a good enough leader and she says something like "you'll always be good enough for me" and kisses him? Sorry if it sounds stupid

Not at all. I hope this lives up to your expectations. It’s a bit shorter, but I wanted to have it done for you ASAP, so here ya go.

‘He’s been working himself too hard.’

You rest your head on your knees, staring at the television. It is not your place to criticize him—people deal with these sorts of things differently, you know—but you cannot shake the feeling that there is something you can do to help him, if only somewhat. You have elected, for the most part, to stay out of it, to let his brothers help in his recovery, but…

You get up, shutting the television off.

It is about three in the morning. You spend a lot of nights up at odd hours, now. As much as you have come to love the guys—Leonardo in particular—you miss the privacy.

You hear a knock on the wall.

Your eyes shoot to the door, a hand going to your chest. “Leo.” You sigh, trying to remember how to breathe. Since you have known him, you have become infinitely more skittish.

“Oh, did I scare you?” He rubs the back of his neck, leaning into his cane. “Sorry. I thought I was the only one up.”

His voice is taking you a bit to get used to. It is not a downgrade, but it still feels strange, matching it with his face. At least the rest of his body—now covered in more little scars than you can count—matches his damaged larynx.

“N-not at all,” you lie. “Same here, actually.” Your fingers find the switch again. “Did you wanna-?”

“No, I’m alright.” He limps over, sitting down on the couch. “Were you going to bed?”

“Nah.” You sit down next to him. “Just zonin’ out.”

He pauses. “Can I talk to you about something, then?” His tone is oddly tentative as he leans back, sinking into the cushions with a gentle sigh.

You blink. “Of course, man.” You turn to face him properly. “What’s up?”

He looks straight ahead, apparently stealing himself.

“Leo,” you press gently, “is something up? Actually?”

He sighs. “Am I a bad leader?”

You blink. “Huh?”

“Am I a bad leader? Be honest.”

You try to think of how to answer that question properly.

“You think I am.”

“What brought this up?”

“Answer my question first.”

“Leo,” you say simply, “there is no possible way I could answer that question in a way that you would be happy with.” You take his hand, lowering your voice. “As your friend,” you promise, “you have my full support, but I need to know what brought this up before we proceed.”

He does not meet your eyes. He takes another breath.

“I failed you.” He says it simply, factually. “I failed my brothers, my sensei, you. You can’t say I didn’t,” he cuts your objection off calmly, “because you know that, if I were a better leader, we would still be in New York right now and they wouldn’t be miserable.”

You do not say anything. You keep holding his hand gently, letting him talk.

“If I were more forceful in my decision,” he goes on, “we would have all gotten out on our own terms, Splinter wouldn’t be…” He shakes his head.

His hand is trembling in yours.

“And,” he continues, “I know that the other guys think it too.” He leans forward, holding his head in his free hand. “I mean, look at me.” He chuckles half-heartedly. “I can’t even walk on my own, let alone lead a team.”

You let him finish, get it off his chest.

“I can’t go to the others about it; how could I?” He sits back up. “Honestly,” he shakes his head, “I shouldn’t even be talking to you about it.” He looks over at you. “You probably think I’m weak, right? I would if it were me.”

You look down at his hand in yours.

“Are you going to say anything?”

“Are you alive?”

He blinks, confused. “Huh?”

“Are you,” you repeat, “or are you not alive, sitting next to me on the couch?”

“Barely.”

“That wasn’t the question.”

He hesitates, then nods.

“Your brothers? Casey? Me? Are we all alive?”

“Master Splinter—”

“We aren’t talking about him right now,” you cut him off. “Are we alive or not?”

He nods again.

You pause, trying to phrase your next question correctly. “When we were being assaulted by the Kraang,” you ask, “who led them away?”

“Who got defeated by Shredder?”

“You mean the ninja master with decades of experience who needed to send an army before him so you were weak enough to get taken down by his best men, who you would’ve decimated otherwise?”

“You don’t—”

“I do,” you say determinedly. “Would a lesser leader have put himself in harm’s way for his team?”

“They’re my brothers.”

“So? Answer the question.” You hear your voice rise.

He pauses. “Selflessness doesn’t make a good leader.”

“You’re right.” You squeeze his hand, voice as firm as ever. “It’s a leader’s job to ensure the success and wellbeing of his team, which you did.” You put your hand up to stop him from denying the statement. “You did all this, might I add, while being actively targeted by two groups who, on paper, should dominate you in intelligence, wisdom, and resources. Logistically,” you conclude, “ we should be dead.”

You take a deep breath, softening your tone. “Do you know why we’re alive and talking right now?”

He does not say anything.

You reach over with your free hand, fingers tracing his jaw as you tilt his head to face you. “The reason,” you lock eyes with him, the only sounds either of you can hear being your voice and his breathing, “that we’re sitting on this couch, alive, is because you pushed us, because you lead us better than any man I can think of.”

“But Splinter—”

“Splinter is your senior by almost four decades,” you remind him simply. “You can’t account his failure to yourself.”

‘His eyelids look so heavy.’

“Stop doubting yourself.” You lean closer to him, sliding your thumb across his cheekbone, eyes grazing his features tenderly. “You haven’t the right.”

You do not remember who leans into who.

You feel his fingers lace with yours as your lips meet, the contact soft, gentle. His free hand rests gently on your hip as you feel his lips curl upwards.

Your own lips tingle as you pull away, your face flushing as you feel your breathing deepen. His face is similarly pink, a bashful smile gracing his face as you brush the hair out of your eyes.

“Thank you,” he breathes. “For everything.”

You offer a shy smile in return. “Don’t mention it, man.” You clear your throat, placing your hands on your lap. “I should—uh—probably get to sleep.”

He nods, leaning back into the couch. “Yeah,” he sighs. “I think I’ll sleep out here tonight.”

You stand up. “Want me to turn the TV back on?”

“I’m good.” He looks up at you. “Y/N?”

You raise your eyebrows, ignoring your pounding heartbeat. “Yeah?”

“Was that…”

“Out of pity? No, it wasn’t.” You kiss the top of his head as you walk past. “Sweet dreams, Leo.”

He feels his face become hotter still as he watches you leave, licking his lips absentmindedly.

He feels his smile widening. ‘What a girl.’

List of Works

[jujutsu-headcanons]

Megumi Fushiguro + chubby s/o

First things first, before we get to the fluff, there are some things we gotta point out

Megs has stated very clearly he doesn't care who he falls for, as long as they have admirable traits. Seriously, Todo, stop asking. His "boring" answer isn't going to change.

This screams bi/pan rights, but also, that means he doesn't give a fuck if you have a little junk in your trunk

I'm so proud of that line please laugh at it

Anyway, when you were introduced as a new student, he didn't talk to you much

Well he did, but only about work and missions and stuff

Does this kid talk to anyone about anything that isn't curse related?

You seemed to gravitate towards Yuji anyway because honestly, he's the embodiment of happy he's just a cool dude

You didn't really catch his eye until he overheard you talking with Nobara about how upset you were with Gojo

He never passes an opportunity to be angry at Gojo. He was intrigued.

Apparently, Gojo had taken the liberty of designing your uniform for you, just like he did Yuji, but he fucked up the measurements

Big time

You seemed to be fond of baggier clothes because it "hid" your tummy and thighs

Nobara was supportive but struggling. She knew how to hem clothes to make them tighter, or shorter, not looser. She really was trying.

Yuji got involved because he saw you were stressed while Nobara tugged here and snipped there and nothing seemed to be working. Yuji learned that making silly faces and doing Fortnite dances doesn't help teenagers going through a body image crisis.

Megumi looked at the chaos and spoke before he really even knew what he was saying 

"Does it feel too tight? Does it restrict your movements, like in a fight or something?"

This kinda caught you off guard, but you shook your head. No, the material was naturally flexible and breathable, and the reason you couldn't breathe wasn't that the uniform top was too tight, it was because you felt you looked terrible

Megumi just shrugged. "Then you shouldn't worry about it. You fill it out nicely. It looks better than us, in our baggy uniforms."

Where the fuck did that come from Megs?

He felt the need to excuse himself with a polite bow and leave in his typical cool Megumi way even though his heart was beating faster than anything

He didn't see the way your face lit up, both with excitement and blush. Nobara did and caught on instantly, while Yuji just assumed you were hot and started fanning you with his notebook

Megumi didn't avoid you after this, but he did tend to freeze when your conversations strayed away from typical shaman things

He wasn't trying to, he was just constantly lost in thought

Why did he say that? Well, he means, it was obvious he said it because it was true- that uniform clings to your body in a way it wouldn't fit anyone else. Its kinda hot

Megumi Fushiguro this is your classmate stop having those thoughts

Maybe he wasn't just trying to cheer you up. Maybe there are some things he hasn't discovered about himself. He actually really never had a crush on anyone. Is that was this is? Feelings?

Ew. But keep going.

Megumi noticed things over the next couple of things that were unsettling to him. You used self-deprecating humor. A lot. Always poking fun at yourself. He didn't mind it at first because, well, you laughed about it, but still. It's like you thought you really looked like the Michelin Tire Man.

He never knew what to do in these situations. Should he laugh? It seemed to bring you joy. But he didn't think you looked bad at all.

He also noticed you didn't eat much. And when you did you avoided sweets and grease. Megs was known for being the only one that ate healthy in the group, but even he didn't have salad all the time. You acted like you were embarrassed to eat in front of people, so you chose the tiniest meal.

This worried him a lot. At first, he bored you with the importance of eating three well thought out and balanced meals with the proper amount of proteins and calories and shit. But that seemed to ruin your appetite more, so he stopped.

He started sliding part of his meals onto your plate. He considered it a success when you would eat it.

The last thing Megs noticed was that you pushed yourself to the absolute limit during sparring practice and he hated it

See, you actually didn't need to be physically strong. Yes, it helps in battle, but your particular cursed technique kinda made up for being average strength. If no one could get close to you, and you can't get close to them, then you don't really need to deliver a punch, right? 

But you would just keep at it oh my god

One hundred push-ups. One hundred sit-ups. One hundred squats. Every day. He was worried you were gonna go bald at this point

He'd still love you but still, spontaneously losing your hair because of rigorous training as not good

You'd fight with one of them until you were pink and dripping with sweat. It was obvious you were breathing heavily and, honestly, it's been two hours. Even Yuji was getting tired, but you wouldn't stop.

Megumi found himself doing something he thought he never would. Ever.

He invaded your privacy, of course. 

"Shoko-sensei, Gojo-sensei asked for a copy of (l/n)-kun's physical and related medical records"

At first, he just wanted to see if you were anemic. You don't really show any symptoms, but also, you don't eat a lot. All this exercising can't be good if you are. Then his thoughts strayed to "oh god .... What if they have heart problems? Lung problems? They shouldn't push themselves so hard if they do. What if they avoid certain foods because of a stomach issue? What if-"

You're healthy. Just as he initially thought.

Megumi was baffled, to be honest. 

He can get avoiding certain foods if they hurt your tummy. But what if you were just afraid of being made fun of because of stupid cliches?

He can get casual exercise if it was important you lose weight so you don't get sick. But what if it was because you really hated how you looked?

This hurt Megumi. He threw his copy of the reports in the shredder and went on his way

He wondered around, lost in his thoughts until he spotted you just outside of the girls' dorms doing something

He could have sworn you were fresh out of the shower but somehow still exercising

Yoga? Maybe? He couldn't tell and he didn't care

You were wearing the cutest set of pajamas, and your hair was still damp

And when you raised your arms up your shirt rose and he could see the tummy in question, complete with stretch marks and whatever other blemishes resided there (scars, freckles, etc.)

He did the most ooc thing I've ever made this lil fucker do

He runs up, gets on his knees, and kisses the tummy

All over the tummy

Just as he thought. Warm and soft. Both the skin and the texture are soooo soft-

As you turn into a flustered mess, "Fushiguro-san what the fuck", he throws his arms around your knees and throws his over his shoulder

"You aren't that heavy if I can do this... (Y/N)-chan"

Oh god the way your first name rolls off his tongue

Well, as long as he's near the girls' dorms, he might as well let himself in-

As you flail and giggle, trying to break away, he sees your thighs jiggle out of the corner of his eye

This sets something off in him he doesn't understand, but also, who the fuck cares

It isn't hard to find your room and he allows himself in, still pardoning himself for the intrusion, and he sets you down on your bed

Still doesn't give you a chance to speak as he wraps his arms around you and nuzzles his face in your stomach

"Warmmm...~"

He's never cuddled anyone ever, but he already knows this is ten times better than cuddling someone who's built like a wall

Squish > muscles

"You know you're beautiful right?"

This makes you blush, but you reluctantly bring your fingers through his hair. "You think so?"

Megumi furrows his brows and looks up at you. "You don't?"

Megumi stays with you all night. You two stay up until three am talking about insecurities, everything you admire about each other, and Megumi practically worships your body through words and praise

He decides he's going to help you feel more confident about your body and your looks

All while loving every inch of your body

The next morning was a mess though because he had to somehow sneak out of the girls' dorms without anyone noticing

Gojo would be pissed if he found out

Had he not orchestrated this whole thing

Seriously, you honestly thought Gojo made mistakes? 

He hates seeing his precious students down themselves, and even though he only knew you for a couple of days back then, he knew this would be a problem

Precious little y/n, who is beautiful in every aspect but insecure about their looks, surrounded by muscle-bound idiots

He had to do something, how could he not

He knew one of them would enjoy your body

He knew it would be Megumi too, he sees how he looks at plus-sized girls-

Even he thought you were cute and was proud to have you as his child

All of his children are cuter than everyone else's children

And now all is well

You became more confident in your body and eating in front of others, toned down the exercise, and Megumi became the most whipped boy in the school

Tags: @wasabito @kittaliapenn

[bleachanimefan1]

Turtles Forever Part 78

Exodus Part One,

As Splinter was meditating in his room, he had a strange vision. Sitting across from him was his former master, Hamato Yoshi. He had warned Splinter that the Shredder had found a way off of Earth and that their friends, the Utroms were in terrible danger. Splinter gasped as he woke up snapping out of his trance. Later that day, the master told everyone about his foreboding vision of warning. They all decided that it was the time to strike to take down the Shredder once and for all. D with some persuasion, Donnie and Venus, considering she wasn't fit to fight because of her shoulder injury, agreed to stay and watch over Elizabeth.

Everyone started to prepare for the upcoming battle until night had fallen in the sky. Alopex noticed that Mikey was acting a little more nervous than his normal self. As everyone slept, Alopex felt the bed shift beside her. She slowly turned around to see Mikey getting up.

"Where are you going?" She asked him. Mikey made a startled yelp, now that he was caught.

"Uh, I'm just going to check on a few things to see that were fully prepared!" He quickly told her. Alopex frowned and sat up.

"We are prepared. What YOU need to do now is rest for tomorrow night." She told him. "This is going to be big battle and we need everyone at their best and full strength. Everything's going to be fine-"

"How do you know that?" Mikey asked her, immediately, almost shouting. He flinched as he listened in on the others to make sure they had woken up. He sighed in relief, Raph loud snoring from across the Lair in his room. He looked back to Alopex, whispering to her. "How can you be so sure that nothing is going to happen? This is the Shredder that we're talking about! Mr. Big bad ninja overlord!" Alopex made a small laugh.

"Stop laughing. Alopex, I'm serious. I don't want to lose you or anyone." He tried to tell her. Suddenly, Mikey was caught off guard when Alopex grabbed him and pulled the turtle back into his bed. He gulped nervously as she was now sitting on top of him. He got lost in her moon colored eyes stared back into his.

"If this is to be our last night together, then let's make it last." She told him.

"U-Uh, and what do you mean by that?" Mikey answered sheepishly. For some reason, Mikey couldn't feel his mask on his face, now realizing that Alopex had pulled it down, so it was now resting around his neck. She leaned in and kissed Mikey gently on his lips and whispered a few words to him that he will remember for the rest of his life.

"Make me yours."

"Excuse me, may I have your attention please? It is with a heavy heart that I stand here today to say goodbye to one of the greatest men that I've ever known: Oroku Saki, the man who single handedly responsible for restoring the great city of New York to it's full glory is leaving us. I would like you to put your hands together and show this fine man how much we are truly going to miss him." The crowd clapped for him and he stands up.

"Too kind. Thank you." he shakes the Mayor's hand. "As my good friend the mayor has just reminded us, this is a farewell dinner, my way of saying thank you and goodbye. Fortune has smiled on me in many ways. The opportunity to rectify certain matters at home has now presented itself and I must go. In my absence, my lovely daughter Karai will handle all of my business affairs. I assure you, she is more than capable." Karai stood up, she was wearing a black dress with a red collar and black gloves.

"The city has been good to me. It is...my adopted home. I hope someday to return. Please, enjoy your dinner and let us make this an truly unforgettable evening."

Saki's guests clapped again and he turned to the Mayor. "My daughter and I must attend to the details of my departure," the two of them walking up the stairs, heading inside the mansion.

"Please, keep the guests entertained."

April was standing outside to the gates of the Saki estate, wearing a long red dress, with Michael and Sarah, Yuuki's parents, who were dressed up as well. The guard was standing in front of them while April was digging around in her purse.

"We have our tickets here somewhere," She said. Then Casey wheeled up to the group, with a cart wearing a white waiter uniform.

"I need to see some identification." The security guard inquired to her again.

"Come on, man, the vishie sushi's are gonna get cold!" Casey insisted.

"I need to see some identification, now!" The guard dismissed.

"Why are you busting my balloons here?" Casey said as he pushed the cart to the guard. "These dishes gotta get in there! Do me a favor, just check that cart and take it in there yourself, will ya?" The security guard bent down and lifted up the tablecloth revealing Mikey and Raph hiding underneath of it. Mikey smiled and waved.

"Hi there, nice party." He smirked. Mikey quickly kicked the guard in the face, knocking him out. The two pulled the guard under the cart with them. "Oh, yeah, like it wasn't crowded enough under here already." Mikey complained.

"Quiet." Raph slapped him.

"Ow!"

"You guys done or what?" Casey asked. Raph gave him a thumbs up.

"Casey, April, Raph and Mikey are in." Leo said as he looked through the binoculars, seeing April and Casey heading inside of the estate, pushing the cart with Mikey and Raph inside of it. Splinter was standing beside him, along with Yuuki, Mona and Alopex.

"Leonardo, perhaps we should rethink this," Splinter replied. "It is very dangerous. I feel perhaps I should have-"

"Please, Master Splinter," Leo told him. "We've been over this."

"Which does not alter the fact that I've dragged you all into this very dangerous situation, all because of a vision I cannot explain." Splinter said, unsure.

"I'll put my faith in one of your visions any day, sensei," Leo said. "If the Shredder's up to something, we'll get to the bottom of it and we'll stop him. It's what you trained us to do." He pulled out

"Shredder's security is still hot," Leo said. There were lasers scattered throughout the estate as well as security guards. "Team three, what's your status?"

"We're in place," Donnie answered. He, Venus and Leatherhead were walking in the sewers to the estate. "Sewer access security is also still active. Team two, what's your status?"

"Don, ask the professor if a security camera wire will serve his purposes." April told him.

"Oh yes, that will do nicely." The Fugitoid replied. April pulled out a hacking device linking up to a wire beside the estate. The Fugitoid hacked into the systems. "Link established. Give me a minute to hack the system." The lasers were successfully turned off, unnoticed so far. "Gentlemen and lady, I am in." The Fugitoid said. "Security systems are down, and they don't even know it."

Splinter fired an arrow with a rope tied to it and shot it at the roof on the estate. Leo, Yuuki and Splinter slid down it, the other two girls as well, landing on the estate's roof. However, as the group was not alone as they didn't know that they were being watched by someone else who was about to join the party. Bishop was watching not too far from a rooftop with a couple of his soldiers behind him.

"Well, this is interesting, very interesting indeed. Check with our man on the inside. I get the distinct feeling there's something he's not telling us." He told one of his soldiers.

"Yes, sir."

In the sewers, Leatherhead tore open a door as he ripped it off from it's hinges. Donnie, Venus and him walked stepped inside as they continued further down the sewers to the estate. Donnie lit a flare, seeing that they were in a rail room of some sorts made for something very large.

"This tunnel is huge!" Donnie exclaimed.

"And recently constructed." Venus added.

"It appears to lead from the Shredder's mansion all the way to the river." The Fugitoid explained.

"At least the coast is clear." Leatherhead replied.

Suddenly, Donnie was punched as he was knocked back. "Donnie!" Venus shouted. She was also kicked from behind. Then Leatherhead was attacked next. "Oh dear!" The Fugitoid cried out.

"Foot tech!" Donnie shouted. "They're cloaked!"

The invisible ninjas were attacking Leatherhead, making the crocodile more and more angry. Then he let out a menacing growl. He reached out and managed to grab the two invisible foot ninjas and slammed them against each other, knocking them out. "Suffice it to say, I'm glad I brought you along, Leatherhead." Donnie said. He picked up the flare and the three continued ahead as they followed the tracks. "Let's move."

Further down the tracks, the three saw another door in front of them. Leatherhead busted it open, and they walked inside.

"Guys, we're under the Shredder's mansion," Donnie told everyone through their headsets. "And you know that really big thing that the Shredder's up to? I think I just found it!" It was a giant space ship.

"Shredder has a starship?" Leo questioned.

"He has finally found a way to leave this planet." Splinter said.

"And that's not a good thing?" Leo asked.

"He will bring this evil to other worlds." Splinter explained. "He will attack our friends, the Utroms. Millions will suffer at his hands.

"We'll just have to cancel his flight," Leo said. "How we doing, guys?" He asked Mikey and Raph who were scaling the ceilings through the hallways of the estate.

"This is team...uh...team...are we team three or four?" Mikey asked. Raph slapped him on his head. "Ow!"

"We're in." Raph answered. Down below the two were several foot ninjas who were patrolling the halls. "And the place is crawling with foot creeps."

"Understood," Leo replied. "Team two, commence with Operation Lockdown."

"You heard him, professor," Donnie answered as he started connecting his palm top to a control panel, letting the Fugitoid do his work. "Close sesame."

Saki and Karai were in his office as the foot leader was looking over schematics of the starship designs.

"Dr. Chaplin reports that all starship systems are nominal," Karai reported. "Congratulations...tonight will be your last night on Earth."

"After centuries of being imprisoned on this primitive backwater, I will finally return to the stars! When my Utrom enemies return here to imprison me, I will be gone. And when they least expect it, I will be at their throats!" Saki stated.

"And what of me, father?" Karai asked him.

"Karai, my time here was not a total loss," He told her. "I have forged a powerful dynasty with the Foot and I have raised a daughter to rule that dynasty until my return. You will serve me as you have always served me." He tilted her chin up with his hand. "Faithfully and without question. Now, see to our guests. This is a celebration, not a wake."

"Yes, master."

"This is completely unacceptable," Bishop was talking to someone on wrist communicator. "Why didn't you tell us Oroku Saki has a starship?" It was Stockman.

"You didn't ask." His floating head replied smugly on the screen.

"Sarcasm is no way to build a working relationship with me, Stockman." Bishop retorted.

"Relax, Agent Bishop. We have a deal," Stockman assured him. "I'll keep my end of the bargain as long as you keep yours, huh?" He saw Chaplin had walked into the room, holding the ship's designs, the sliding doors closed behind him. "Must go. Bye now." Stockman quickly told Bishop as he cut off his connection to the agent.

In the estate's communications room, Hun was looking at the layout of the manor. He noticed that the guard at the front gate was gone. "I don't like it." He said. "Where's the guard at the front gate? Send someone to check it out." And ordered an foot soldier.

"Sir, there's a glitch in the system. Something...I don't know what it is." A foot tech replied.

"Well, find out," Hun demanded. "The master can't have anything go wrong. Not tonight."

"Alright,"The Fugitoid managed to get into the launching chamber's control panel systems. "Taking complete control of the internal systems. Commencing internal lockdown...now." Every door and room inside of the estate was sealed shut and barricaded.

"What the?" Hun questioned confused. "Who ordered a lockdown?

In the sewers, Bishop and his men were following the tracks as they were heading towards the starship.

"I don't know what Saki's up to and I don't care. Rig this tunnel for demolition. I don't want to allow Saki any chance to move his ship." Bishop ordered.

In Saki's room, Saki was still going over the blueprints. He sensed Mikey and Raph behind him and turned around, facing them, surprised to see them.

"Planning a little trip?" Raph called out.

"A little outer space mayhem, perhaps?" Mikey joked.

"Not if we have anything to say about it!" Leo shouted. He jumped down from the ceiling along with Splinter and Yuuki.

"Your evil ends here and now, Shredder!" Splinter declared and fired an arrow at the ninja leader. Saki caught the arrow with his hand, snapping it in half.

"I shall relish destroying-" Mikey and Raph kicked Saki from behind, knocking him towards Leo, Splinter and Yuuki. Leo tried to strike at him with his swords, but Saki defended himself with his arms. Leo pushed Saki back, breaking the table. Mikey tried to swing his nunchucks at him, but Saki grabbed the ends and tossed Mikey to the side. Raph charged at Saki with his sais pinning him to the corner of the room. Splinter fired a few arrows trapping Saki's wrists to the wall with them. Then fired two more into the ninja's chest and stomach. Saki let out a scream in anguish and pain. He pried himself from the wall and pulled the arrows out of him.

Leo, Splinter, Mikey, Raph, Alopex, Mona, and Yuuki all stood in front of him.

Bishop and his men had managed to make into the launching chamber and found Saki's star ship.

"This starship. It's-It's unbelievable," Bishop murmured. "How could Saki have-" One of his soldiers ran up to him.

"Sir, tunnel wired for demolition, sir!"

"Then blow it," Bishop ordered him. "I'm not letting this ship slip through my fingers."

The soldier pressed a button on the remote setting off the demolition charges in the railway caving it in.

The shockwave was felt from above as they party was still going on. Several guests noticed it. "What was that?" The mayor questioned. He turned to Karai who was standing next to him.

"Miss Saki, are you sure everything's alright?"

"Mayor, honored guests, do not be alarmed," She reassured him and everyone. She gestured up towards the sky, fireworks exploded above them as they boomed loudly. Everyone watched in awe. "This is my father's way of saying thank you and farewell."

"Very nice."

"Oh no, oh no, oh no!" Chaplin cried out from inside of the spaceship as he noticed Bishop and his men in the tunnels, seeing that they had caved it in. "Those crazy commandos! They've completely collapsed the transport tunnel! I gotta tell the boss!"

"Mr. Saki, it's that Bishop guy! He and his men blew up the transport tunnel!" Chaplin told Saki was he was fighting against Leo, Raph, Mikey, Yuuki, Splinter, Mona, and Alopex. Parts of his suit was ripped, revealing his metal endo skeleton suit underneath it. "There's no way we're moving the starship to the river!"

"Bishop?" Saki said in disbelief. "Here?" Leo knocked Saki down with his sword. He growled. "That changes everything!" He quickly jumped up, surprising everyone. Saki kicked Yuuki, Splinter, Leo, Mikey, Raph, Mona and Alopex back. Leo, Mikey, Raph, Yuuki, Mona and Alopex all were sent flying into the wall. Splinter jumped, bringing his sword down on Saki. Saki quickly caught it in his hands. He kicked Splinter in the stomach sending the ninja master flying and crashing into the chair. As everyone tried to get back up, Hun busted through the room, carrying a huge hammer in his hands. There were several Foot elites as well as foot ninjas behind him as they ran into the room.

"Protect the master!" Hun shouted.

"Hun!" Saki shouted at him. "Control this situation! I need to get my ship to safety!" He quickly headed towards a giant statue of himself. Saki pressed a button on the remote he pulled out, revealing a hidden elevator and ran inside of it, taking it down to the launch chamber.

"He's making a break for it!" Alopex shouted.

"Get him!" Raph shouted.

"Chaplin, prepare the ship. We must launch immediately!" Saki said to him.

"But, Mr. Saki, we can't move the ship," Chaplin replied. "They're destroyed the transport tunnel!"

"No, you fool! Commence the emergency launch sequence!" Saki shouted.

"But...but, all those people are on the emergency silo doors." Chaplin said hesitantly.

"Do it, Chaplin! NOW!" Saki shouted. Chaplin sighed and slowly reached over towards the switch and flipped it.

"Opening emergency launch doors."

Up above at the party, a waiter was serving to a couple. "I'll be right back with that ma'am," He stopped when he noticed the ground beneath him, starting to move. "Huh?"

He screamed as well as everyone else as they tried to get away from the moving platform, some sadly fell in. Casey, April, Michael and Sarah tried to help a few people as they pulled them up from the launch platform.

"Sir, it looks like Saki's is trying an emergency launch," A soldier informed Bishop.

"What?" Bishop said in surprise. "How could-" A table fell from above almost hitting him. "Bring in Strikeforce Bravo! Shut this whole place down!" A helicopter flew in from above and several soldiers slide down the ropes, landing on the ground, while more came in on motorcycles.

"This is Bravo One. Roger that, commander. Nothing goes up, nothing gets out." The soldier told Bishop. "Bravo Two. We have control on the ground, commander." The helicopter fired a couple of missiles into the entrance of the estate. The elevator doors opened to the launch chamber and Saki stepped out of it.

"What?" He was shocked to see Leatherhead fighting against some of foot techs and scientists. Donnie and Venus jumped over him and ran over to Saki.

"We thought you might try the back door!" Donnie shouted. Saki tried to dodge around him but Donnie pinned Saki back with his staff. "That's why we're here."

Raph pried open the statue with his sais while Splinter, Mikey, Alopex and Mona fought against the foot elites. Leo and Yuuki were holding the foot ninjas back. Mikey and Raph pushed the elites back, knocking them into Hun. The four quickly followed after Saki, jumping down into the elevator, leaving Leo and Yuuki.

"Stop them!" Hun shouted. Hun chased after the group, the elites following behind him as he tore open the elevator ground with his hammer and jumped in. Leo and Yuuki were about to chase after them when Karai stopped them.

"Wait, Leonardo, you must not do this. He is finally leaving our world," She begged him. "You must let him go!"

"Are you kidding me? Do you know what he's planning to do once he leaves Earth?" Yuuki said to her.

"He's going to destroy and enslave the Utroms. And who knows possibly other worlds as well!" Leo told her as well.

"The Utroms have hunted my father all his life. They are heartless monsters!" Karai exclaimed, bitterly. Yuuki glared at her, looking like she was about to fight her. Leo held her back.

"He's lied to you, Karai," He told her. "HE'S the heartless monster and we're going to stop him!" He and Yuuki ran towards the elevator hole and jumped in.

"Leonardo, no!" Karai cried out to them.

"There's no way we're letting you get on that starship, Shredder!" Donnie shouted as he, Venus, and Leatherhead fought Saki in the launch chamber.

"The three of you cannot stop me," Saki told them. Splinter, Mikey, Raph and Mona jumped down from the elevator behind him.

"Together we will stop you!" Splinter shouted. Hun as well several elites appeared behind the group, too.

"Step away from the master, now!" Hun roared out. Suddenly, everyone stopped, confused as they heard beeping from a distance until it grew rapidly. An explosion went off and several of Bishop's soldiers ran into the room.

"Well, well, well, isn't this cozy?" Bishop replied as he walked in. "On my mark, destroy them all!"

"You gotta be kidding me." Venus replied.

"Open fire!" The soldiers fired their guns at everyone in the room and they quickly ran to take cover, trying to dodge the blasts. Leo, Yuuki and Karai had jumped down from the elevator, seeing the soldiers, and tried dodged out of the gun fire as well.

"Shredder, you cannot be allowed to return to the stars, to wreak havoc on other planets, or to revenge yourself on the Utrom homeworld!" Splinter said to Saki as he faced him.

"What?" Saki's eyes widened in shock. "How do you know of this?"

"My father Master Yoshi was a guardian," Splinter told him. "He protected the Utroms. He forbids your journey. And in his name, I will not allow you passage!" Raph jumped from behind Saki, stabbing his sais into the Utrom endo-skeleton. Sparks flew out as Mikey swung his nunchucks hitting the endo's mouth, knocking it off.

"No!" Hun shouted. He swung his club, knocking Mikey and Raph back. "Go, master, get to the ship!" As everyone was fighting against Bishop's soldiers, Leatherhead noticed Saki was getting away.

"Shredder!" Leatherhead shouted, angrily as he saw him, his eyes turned to slits. "Shredder!" He roared and charged at Saki, striking him repeatedly with his claws.

"I'm coming, master!" Hun shouted. He punched Leo back and ran over to him, pushing Leatherhead off of Saki. The crocodile crashed into a glass containment tube. Hun turned back to Saki as he helped him up. He froze in shock as he saw the endo skeleton. "Sir..." Hun gaped and stammered. "You...huh?" He ripped off the remaining of Saki's suit, revealing the red Utrom, inside. "You're an Utrom?"

Leatherhead roared and tackled Hun before he could react. The two crashed into the glass window, falling down into the depths of the launch chamber. "Oh Cruuuud!"

Saki slowly began walking towards the starship when Donnie noticed him. "Oh no, you don't!" Donnie shouted. He knocked down a liquid nitrogen canister popping the cap off with his staff. "You're not going anywhere, Shredder!" The nitrogen sprayed all over the Utrom's exoskeleton, freezing it. "A little liquid nitrogen should slow you down!"

Splinter threw a chain with a hook at the Utrom's endo suit pulling it back, taking the Utrom along with it. The suit shattered to pieces, leaving the red Utrom completely helpless. Everyone stood over the Utrom ready to deliver the final blow as they raised their weapons and fists in the air. However, Karai stopped them as they watched in surprise when she jumped over them. She quickly scooped up the Utrom and took off, heading towards the spaceship.

"Chaplin, we are leaving!" She shouted to the scientist inside as everyone chased after her.

"All systems go. Countdown already in progress. This is totally gonna be sketchy." Chaplin said as he began to start up the ship. Karai ran inside of the ship as the door closed down behind her. Raph and Mikey crashed into it. The four turtles tried to pry open the door but it was sealed shut.

"Professor, you have to open this door." Donnie urged the Fugitoid as he linked his handheld to a panel to the door.

"I'm on it, Donatello." The Fugitoid said as he started to get into the ship's systems.

"No! Saki's not getting away! I want that starship. Team Bravo, disable the ship. Don't let it take off!" Bishop shouted as he ordered the helicopter flying above ground.

"Roger that, fire in the hole." A soldier fired a few missiles at the ship. The to the ship released itself as it slid open just as the Fugitoid managed to do so.

"Way to go, professor!" Donnie smiled.

"Incoming!" Mikey cried out as he warned everyone. They saw a missile headed straight towards them and quickly dodged out of the way as it destroyed half of the bridge to the ship. Donnie was on the other side holding on to the edge of the ship as the clock started to countdown.

"Ignition!" Chaplin started the ship. It slowly began to take off as Donnie was still hanging onto it.

"Uh, guys?" Donnie called out nervously to everyone.

"We have to jump for it!" Leo shouted.

"Come on!" Raph shouted.

Everyone leaped off from the bridge as they fell towards the ship.

[remmushound]

@brightlotusmoon @errorfreak88 Part 3 of my bay/rise crossover.

Leonardo didn't know where he was, and frankly he wasn’t sure he cared. He was more concerned about not knowing where April and Splinter and Donatello and Raphael were. His brothers— his family! He had reached out to them, felt his fingers brush against Splinters, and then they were being pulled apart again. Pulled away from each other. Then Leonardo was flying out of the rift, clinging with all his might to the only one he had managed to protect. Michelangelo. He landed hard, skipping across metal with solid thuds like a rock on water as he clung to the box turtle’s shell, his baby brother still hiding within. The bouncing eventually turned into a slide that brought Leonardo to crash against a wall. Pain shot through his extremities, but it only made him hold on to Michelangelo even tighter.

The minute they stopped, Michelangelo popped out his shell with a sharp yipe, his arms shooting out and wrapping around Leonardo to cling to him like a security blanket. Leonardo couldn’t help but smile and rubbed the younger mutants head in a comforting motion.

“It’s okay, hermano. Just a little bit of a bumpy ride.”

Michelangelo whimpered and his nose went back into his shell.

“Oh come on! Don’t be like that!”

Michelangelo pulled his arms and legs back in as well.

“Awww, come on~” Leonardo pushed himself away from the wall to lean over Michelangelo and peek into the shell as his shadowed face. “You know you wanna come out!”

“Where is out?” Michelangelo asked, his voice carrying a strange echo.

“Er…” Leonardo looked around. He didn't recognize the place, a giant metal ball with a spiraling floor design and a high ceiling, a blinking light at the top of it. He hummed and narrowed his eyes at the luring draw of the light, but didn't acknowledge it Past that. “Pokeball?”

“What? No we’re not!”

“Well how you gonna know if you don’t come out?”

Leonardo smirked and leaned back to give Michelangelo enough space to emerge. Michelangelo peeked his nose out once more.

“That’s it! Just a little more!” Leonardo encouraged.

Michelangelo’s full head poked out, and his neck too so he could look around at their surroundings. “Woah. This is so cool!”

“Cool isn’t exactly the word I’d use.” Leonardo whistled and stood up, reaching for his sword naturally. It was nowhere on his body.

“Hey uh— you don’t happen to have your yoyo, do you Miguel?”

“Um…” Michelangelo reached to his belt and frowned. “No. It’s gone somewhere… do you have your swords?”

“No.”

The structure gave a powerful groan and Michelangelo yelped, attaching himself to Leonardo’s side like glue. “It’s spooky here…”

Leonardo would be lying if he said that a similar anxiety hadn’t grown in his gut the moment they entered this strange place. Cold, dark, mechanical— everything Donatello loved, except without the eccentric nature. But he couldn’t be scared now. He has Michelangelo to look after, and right now his baby brother needed him.

“Hey hey hey, don’t get soft on me now!” Leonardo beamed, leaning down to Michelangelo’s level. “We just escaped the mother-freaking Shredder and you’re scared of a dingy little metal ball?”

“It’s not very little, Leo…”

Leonardo scoffed and waved a hand dismissively. “Potato potahto! Tomato tomatoh! Shredder, Giant Metal Ball of Doom! What’s the difference?”

Michelangelo didn't answer.

“The only one I can think of is that Shredder was waaaay scarier!”

“Oh really?”

Both turtles froze at the new voice. Leonardo gently placed his brother down, keeping an arm still wrapped around him to keep them both close.

“Well? What are you waiting for?” The new voice laughed in a mocking, wheezing tone, “Turn around.”

Leonardo could see no other option other than to obey. He gave Michelangelo a reassuring pat and held his brother just a little tighter before turning to face whoever it was that had called out to them.

The creature was big, a body near as broad as Raphael’s carapace and a shape that was loosely spherical. It’s entire body gleamed with a layer of slime that oozed out from folds on the sides of it’s head, and every so often a tentacle would reach up to gather the accumulating mucus and spread it throughout its body to keep itself moist. There was a crown on its head, a ridge higher than the rest of its body that slightly resembled the crown of certain dinosaurs. Leonardo could almost swear that whatever it was, was the brain of some massive creature, escaped from its body to do whatever it is that giant, tentacle-having brains do.

“Well?” The creature stroked feelers on it’s face, what could pass as lips parting to reveal tiny, dolphin-like teeth.

Leonardo only allowed himself enough time to blink before he forced his smile to come back and meet the strangers smirk. “Well what?”

The creature lunged forward, supported by pipes that extended out from the misproportioned battle suit, bringing it within inches of touching Leonardo. “Aren’t you scared?”

“Scared of what? A chewed up wad of bubble gum that gained sentience?”

It growled and one of its tentacles came down upon Leonardo, covering him in the thick, viscous coating of it’s body.

“Oh I’m sorry! Did I get some slime on you?”

Leonardo didn't flinch. He reached out a hand and poked the creature on the nose. “It is not slime, it is mucus!”

It growled and swatted Leonardo before pulling back again closer to its suit. “Who said you could touch me with your foul, disease-ridden hands?!”

“Hey hey hey!” Leonardo threw his hands up in surrender, “I bathe regularly! It’s Raphael you gotta look out for.”

“You think you’re funny, do you?” It squinted its eye at Leonardo.

“I think I’m adorable. Don’t you?” Leonardo put his hands under his chin and batted his eyes.

“I think you’re an obnoxious freak of nature.” It tried to draw forth a violent reaction, but Leonardo remained cool.

“Eh, aren’t we all?” Leonardo shrugged, “But this obnoxious freak of nature has a name. Do you?”

The creature seemed to consider Leonardo’s question for a moment before saying, “It’s Krang.”

Leonardo snickered.

“What?” Krang snapped, almost defensively, “What’s so funny?”

“Sorry— sorry!” Leonardo almost keeled over laughing.

“What’s so funny— what’s so funny, it’s just my name!”

“It’s just— ahahaha— did your mom hate you or something?”

Michelangelo started to finally get in on the laughing, and soon both brothers were almost falling over.

“I chose my own name— the Queen doesn’t have time to name all of us!” Krang defended, grunting as its features scrunched up.

“So you’re saying you have a face not even a mother could love?” Leonardo smirked, recovering from his laughter at will. “Man, that is depressing!”

“ENOUGH!” Krang shot two wired pipes forward to grab Michelangelo and Leonardo, squeezing them harshly. “Now you listen here, little turtles! I am not in the mood for games.” It’s eyes glanced between the brothers in an almost alien way, “And if all you’re going to do is play with me, then I’m going to put you away in my toybox.”

“Sounds fun!” Michelangelo piped.

“Fun?” Krang shifted to look at Michelangelo.

“Yeah! In a big box with a whole bunch of other people, having slumber parties every night!” Michelangelo hummed and sighed.

“Well, I’m glad you’re going to enjoy yourself. It’s an extended stay.”

Krang shifted slightly, its armor suit slow and topheavy, and at the press of a button on the suit the floor began to open up and reveal a spiraling display case. Rows upon rows of small, frozen containers. A thick layer of frosty smoke escaped through the opening and filtered out through vents. Krang hung the two brothers over the drop and loosened his grip just to feel the fear of his prisoners. Looking down into the endless abyss of bodies distorted by frost and age, Leonardo felt a sense of vertigo overtake him. It seemed Krang latched onto the fear almost immediately, judging by the evil expression on its face.

“Not so eager to visit the other toys now, are you?” Krang laughed and pulled Michelangelo and Leonardo back over solid ground, putting them down as the ground closed once more. “Now maybe you’ll play nicely.”

“Where are my brothers?” Leonardo demanded, “My family?”

“They’re fine. They were spit out somewhere or other. Does it really matter?”

“Yes.” Leonardo snarled.

“Hmm…” Krang rubbed their folds in concentration, “Then why don’t we make a deal, little turtle?”

“What kinda deal?” Leonardo returned to hugging his brother as Michelangelo cowered against him.

“I didn't just call you here to chat.”

“Well you’re sure doing a lot of talking anyway.” Leonardo grumbled under his breath.

“I brought you here for a far more important reason.” It folded its tentacles over its mouth.

“Care to share with the class?”

Krang huffed. “You have something that interests me— or more like had. You see, a year ago today I tried to take over the earth.”

Leonardo laughed. “Didn't do a good job— you didn't even make the news! I’m sure I would know if there was a broadcast about a giant brain in a robot suit tried to take over the planet.”

“Not your earth. A different earth.”

“There’s more than one?” Michelangelo asked.

“Oh, there is a plethora of earths, all slightly different from the last! But yours… intrigues me. It’s one of the more recent ones, and the use of your ‘mystic magic’ caught my attention.” Krang circled Leonardo like a cat with a mouse, “The way you teleport around with such ease, even without a beacon to guide you~”

“Spit it out, Gellatinous, I haven’t got all day.”

“You’re very impatient for someone whose at the mercy of one far smarter.”

“Eh, I can handle Donnie, but that has nothing to do with this.” Leonardo snarked off, “What do you want?”

“I have you, and I have your family, and I have your sword.”

“Great. And what does that have to do with the price of jelly doughnuts?”

“I want you to show me how to use the magic you possess, and afterwards I will let you and your brothers go back on your merry way!”

“I thought you were all knowing or whatever.”

“I never claimed that. I too need to learn like every creature does.”

“How do we know you’re not lying about letting us go?” Michelangelo pouted, sticking out his lip.

“Do I look like the lying type to you?”

“Yes.” Michelangelo and Leonardo said as one.

“Mm. Clever boys. Well, the answer is that you don’t know. But you don’t really have many choices either.”

“Mm. Fair.” Leonardo shrugged. “Whatchu need me to show you?”

“How to activate the rift that you’ve seemed to master.” Krang tapped its tentacles together.

“Oh that’s easy! You just take the sword and go woosh woosh,” Leonardo made vague gesture, “Then it goes all whoooooo whaaaaa bwaaaaa!” He made a motion of a rift opening. “Then you go all ‘take me so and so’ and badda bing badda boom, you’re done! That work?” Leonardo clicked his tongue and wink.

“What.” Krang narrowed his eyes.

“Well, you take the pointy part and go whish woosh, then slish slash, hundred yard dash, and you’re in Paris!”

“I— I don’t understand what you’re saying!”

“Well you take the thing and do the thing so it makes a thing then you go through the thing and bam: the thing is done! Take a break and get yourself a pizza for your hard work.”

“You’re getting on my nerves.”

“Exactly how many nerves does a brain have anyway?”

“I’M NOT A BRAIN I’M AN UTROM!”

“A who-trom?” Michelangelo tilted his head.

“AN UTROM!”

“You-tron?” Leonardo asked with a smirk.

“GRRR— just show me how to do it!” Krang pulled Leonardo’s sword out of thin air and dropped it into Leonardo’s hands. “And don’t think you can outsmart me!”

“Wouldn’t dream of it, K-Pop.” Leonardo took the sword and pointed it, dragging it to make a circle. His face illuminated the glow and he smiled.

“Yes!” Krang cheered, smilingly widely and holding out its tentacles to Leonardo. “Give it to me!”

“Yeeeeah, no.” Leonardo stared a moment and then winked before stepping through the blue and disappearing along with the mystic portal.

“NO!” Krang launched himself forward and grabbed at the space where the turtles had once been, “GET BACK HERE!”

[kinglazrus]

Twice is (Never) Enough

Phic Phight for @syrren, continuation of the deadpool AU

AO3 | FFN

Summary: Danny remembers promising his friends two deaths was enough for him. He remembers when keeping track of how many times he died felt so important. Now, hundreds of fatal wounds later, he can't remember why.

Word count: 2374

A moaning wind pushes the fading storm clouds across the sky. Danny first saw them around noon, gathering on the horizon. From the streets of Amity Park, the clouds started as heaps of grey peeking above the buildings. Although the wind was rough and cold, the city basked in sunlight. If you found a spot to stand safe from the breeze, the sun's warmth was rather pleasant. Danny likes this kind of day the best. It helps, sometimes, when his body can't decide whether it's too hot or too cold, switching rapidly between sweats and chills at such a rapid pace that it might have killed a normal person.

Maybe it killed Danny, tool. On those days, it is normal for him to suddenly fall asleep, succumbing to the dizziness in his head and the shortness of his breath. He wakes up minutes later feeling healthy as ever. Then the struggle starts over again.

On those days, when the weather is as indecisive as Danny's body, he can hop from the comforting cold of the wind to the soothing warmth of the sun as needed. However, it only lasted a few hours today. As Danny's patrol took him to the edge of the city, he stopped by the bridge leading to Elmerton and found the distant clouds looming overhead, threatening to suffocate what little sunlight remained. Standing on the bridge's rail, overlooking the expanse of the river, he could finally see what the city had hidden from him before. The distant sky was a dark, stormy blue, filled with the haze of falling rain.

Within the hour, Amity Park was drenched. Freezing rain pelted against the sidewalk, rattled windows, blinded drivers. More than once, Danny had to swing down from the rooftops and rescue a pedestrian from certain death. These kinds of heroics weren't normally part of Danny's job description, but he was there and had nothing better to do. It earned him a few bruised ribs, a broken arm, and one skull cracked against the sidewalk. He got better, though. As he always did.

But that had been hours ago before the Fight Knight decided this gloomy weather was the perfect time to lay siege to the city. His mistake. He could only do so much as a one-man army, especially against a kid who doesn't fear death.

Danny shakes the Fenton Thermos, knocking around the occupant inside.

"Stop. Invading. My. City!" He throws the thermos in the air and boots it down the street. It pings off street lamps and cars (oops), nearly all the way down to the next stoplight. Danny, bored, watches it bounce with dull eyes. Maybe that will knock some sense into the knight.

A gust of wind tears down the streets, buffeting against Danny's back and knocking him forward a few steps. Danny hisses when his feet jolt against the pavement and the pain in his chest flairs. Right, the sword.

Gripping Soul Shredder's hilt, he braces himself before yanking it out. The blade bites at the edges of his wound, one last pointless strike against him. In his hand, the hilt burns, crying out against his possession of the sword. He hefts the blade over his head and waves it.

"This is mine, now!" he calls out to the thermos. The sword, as if protesting, burns hotter, but Danny is too stubborn to let go. Even as the heat burns the fabric of his gloves, his grip stays tight.

Another howling wind hurls its way down the street. It catches the thermos and sends it spinning away into the street and out of sight.

"Shit." Danny takes off after it. His chest, not yet fully healed, burns. Blood drips down the front of his suit, at least Danny calls it blood. He can't remember the last time he actually saw red dripping from his open wounds. Everything inside him turned black long ago.

He finds the thermos easily, caught beneath the tire of a parked car. It rattles when he picks it up. The Fright Knight is obviously displeased with his circumstances. Good. Maybe next time he will think twice before invading the city. This had to be, what, the sixtieth time? He stopped keeping track when it hit the double digits decades ago.

This isn't the first time Danny has thought about keeping Fright's sword, either. The temptation has followed him ever since he stopped bothering to sheath it in pumpkin near thirty invasions ago, but the sword never stays with him long. These past few minutes have been the longest he's ever held it without it disappearing on him.

Danny clips the thermos to his belt on one side and slides the sword into the other. The blade slaps against his leg as he walks. His belt pulls from the additional weight, too, but he can put up with it. With the threat gone and the city quiet, he stops in the middle of the street, hands on his hips, and sighs.

"Now what?" he asks the cold night air.

The wind answers him with a low moan.

"You are a terrible conversationist."

If the wind is offended it doesn't say, which only proves Danny's point. A good conversation needs some back and forth, none of this moaning and wailing stuff. He tried that for a year. It doesn't work.

With no more ghosts left to fight, Danny heads home.

—

The Master Mansion used to be the nicest house in Amity Park. No one could deny its grandeur; only the old Manson estate could challenge Vlad's house in size. But years of neglect have taken their toll on the Master Mansion. The once well-manicured lawn grows wild and tangled, the grass well past Danny's knee. Weeds fill the cracks in the driveway. Hedges, once trimmed to perfect circles, having become hulking green beasts of tangled limbs.

The mansion itself fairs no better. Broken windows, missing shingles on the roof. The garage house collapses inward, closer, and closer to collapsing every year. Once, a long time ago, Danny thought about fixing the garage, since it's his fault it ended up in such a state. It didn't take him long to decide he didn't care.

"Hey Fruitloop, I'm back," Danny calls as he walks through the door. His body, too flesh for an act so ghostly, resists. Walking through the solid would is like pushing your way through a lake of ectoplasm with a broken leg and deadweight hanging off your shoulders. Danny should know.

Opening the door like a normal person would have been easier, but if Danny's predicament is going to give him slightly convenient ghost powers, then damn it, he is going to use them. He has earned it.

Vlad doesn't answer him.

"Are you alive?" Danny shouts.

Still no answer.

He deposits the thermos by the door, leaving it on the front table. There will be time to release its prisoner later. He keeps the sword at his hip, though. During the long walk from the city to the mansion, Soul Shredder's weight has quickly become a comfort at his side. The blade still burns, but in the lingering cold of the storm, the heat comforts him more than it hurts.

Danny walks to the main hall, heading up the grand staircase to the second floor. The entire North wing of the mansion is Vlad's, while Danny has laid claim to the rest. It's more than generous, considering Vlad's a nutcase who doesn't deserve so much care. He can barely walk most days, anyway. If he tried to shuffle his way from one end of the wing to another he might just collapse and die.

Vlad's room lies at the far end of the wing, with large floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the backyard. It must have been quite the view when Vlad had dozens of domestic workers managing his estate from day to day. When Danny pushes open the door to Vlad's room, the first thing he sees is the curtains draws open, letting in dull moonlight. Outside, the clouds are finally blowing past Amity Park.

The bed is empty, covers rumpled and hanging off the mattress. Scanning the room, Danny can't find any sign of Vlad.

Danny peeks into the dark bathroom. "Did you crawl off like a cat to die alone?" Empty. He moves on to other rooms, the study, the library—which is basically the study but with a few more books—the Packers room. All of them empty.

"Remember when Maddie did that?" Danny continues his one-sided conversation. "I found her in the garage under that dumb Lexus you loved so much?"

He heads away from the North wing. Maybe Vlad didcrawl away to die. It is a miracle he could have made it so far. Danny's tempted to give up, but he spurs on anyway. He doesn't care for Vlad, despite living with the man. It is more for convenience than anything. And, perhaps, because they are more alike than Danny wants to admit.

His search carries him to the back of the house, through the kitchen, toward the entertainment room where Vlad used to hold parties. Sliding glass doors along the outer wall lead to the backyard. One of them is open. When Danny steps outside, he finds Vlad instantly. A shadow slumped over in a garden chair, looking out over what used to be the pool. Now it's just a hole in the ground surrounded by pretty tiles.

"Damn. I thought you'd be under the car," Danny says.

"Do I want... to know... what you mean?" Vlad has to pause every few words and take a breath. His comes out low and raspy, so rough that hearing it makes Danny's own throat itch. Danny can't hear a trace of the silky voice Vlad used to have.

"I don't know, do you?" Danny asks.

"Still... after all this time... so juvenile."

"What's the point of being an adult if you can't be a kid sometimes?" Danny says with his young voice in his young body, neither of which has changed in over fifty years. He leans against Vlad's chair, elbow resting on the back. His arm barely brushes Vlad's shoulder, but it's enough to make the man groan.

Vlad, like the house, has grown withered and neglected. Nothing but sagging scar tissue and brittle bones. It must have taken him hours to get down here, perhaps the whole day. It would surprise Danny if Vlad had still been making his way outside when he got home.

The hole where Vlad's right eye used to be serves as a bitter reminder of what, or who put him in this state. Perhaps comparing him to the garage house is a better analogy.

"What is it... like?" Vlad asks. It is hard for Danny to pick emotion out of Vlad's voice, but the tremble sounds stronger now. Not the tremor of a weak throat, although Vlad certainly has that, but a waver of fear. A small admittance of weakness that he rarely ever allows, much less shows to others.

But Danny isn't other. Everyone else is, always has been. He doesn't need to ask what Vlad means. "I don't know."

Vlad tilts his head. "How?"

Danny shrugs. "I used to know, I think, but..." Things change. Dying changes you. And dying over, and over, and over again changes you so much that sometimes it is hard to tell what you were like before. So many sensations. So many memories.

Jazz told him, once, that patients with dementia have an easier time recalling old memories, those earlier in their life, then later ones. It doesn't matter if the later memories formed before dementia set in, they're just too new. When someone remembers something for decades, it passes through their head again and again, etched deeper into their mind the more often they remember it. It makes it easier, later, when their minds start slipping, for them to recall those moments they burned into their brains over the years.

For Danny, one such memory comes from the early days of his abilities. At that point, he had only died twice, and he made a promise with Sam and Tucker. Twice is enough. It sounds ridiculous now.

Twice is enough? He died at least four times today, maybe five. He still hasn't decided if he blacked out from his fever that morning or if it boiled him from the inside out. His hand drops from Vlad's chair to Soul Shredder, fingers curling loosely around the hilt. It feels heavier than ever.

Twice is enough. Twice is a fool's dream, the passing wish of a child who knew too little about the world and about himself.

Closing his eyes, Danny reaches inside himself and finds a burning light. Thousands of them, little pieces chipped away from a part of him so far beyond his comprehension he didn't know it existed until Skulker, so rudely, opened his eyes to it. Together, they shine as one solid mass, but he knows the truth. Inside, Danny is broken.

He used to have a notebook. It was Jazz's idea. Confront your trauma through words. Write down what kills you then burn the pages. She got the idea from some therapy textbook. To this day, Danny isn't sure what burning the pages was supposed to do. Whatever great expectations Jazz put upon the ritual, they didn't work. Mostly because Danny never followed through.

He can still picture those first few pages, written with more care than he put into his English homework. Electrocution, suffocation, burning, bludgeoning. Every time he died, he made an entry in the book, put down the details. It seemed so important at the time. Include every detail, how he felt, what it felt like, how fast he healed, who was there to see him die. Pages upon pages of his most traumatic experiences bound together in a neat little coil ringer notebook.

Danny remembers the promise. He remembers writing those words. He remembers believing it meant something. There had to be a reason for it, an explanation beyond the science that would reveal to him some great truth about why this happened. He's not foolish enough to believe that anymore.

Twice was never enough.

[seokiloquy]

Word Gets Around - Inarizaki

AU: Gang / Organized Crime 

Requested (Hopefully you’ll like it, dear requester)

Tags/Warning: GN! Reader, a little cliche...I’m running out of ideas for gang aus sjdfk, not much plot...just random times with some of the inarizaki boys, I hope you get a kick from it though (it’s a bit different than how I usually write...at least in my opinion)

Word Count: 5.2k +

The most unexpected thing to happen to you was something that you should have expected, which was kind of sad, to be honest. 

You tended to stay away from your family’s business: running one of the most powerful gangs in Miyagi prefecture, Shiratorizawa. You made that decision very early on in your life, knowing where the money for your food, house, and clothes came from made you want to vomit. 

Your father hadn’t liked your decision but didn’t actively protest it either. However, whenever he tried to talk you into it, you would walk away and then hear him mumble, “They’ll change their mind eventually.” 

You always resisted the urge to say, “I doubt it.” But even you wouldn’t provoke him like that. Not directly at least. 

Since the pressure to take over the business had started at a young age, younger you thought the only way to combat your predestined fate was to be inherently bad at all of the skills that your father had deemed “worthy”. 

He would give you a gun and you would accidentally shoot him in the foot. If he gave you reports and paperwork, you would spill your coffee or tea on them or accidentally place them in the shredder. If he gave you a group of people to manage a job—which you knew would be illegal—you would give them the day off or not show up at all. 

Your father would lecture you and yell at you, but you learned to find joy from the look on his face when it turned blue and red from all the yelling. He tried to con you into it further, only bringing you into meetings and making you sit in his office for hours on end to convince you otherwise. It didn’t work. Hearing your father’s plans and account numbers was the most boring and dull thing on the planet. 

You were great at being terrible and your father thought that you were terrible. After a while, he stopped trying.

You would spend most of your spare time doing schoolwork or helping your mom with whatever she needed to do that day. 

As you helped your mom prepare dinner for that night, one of your father’s lackeys pulled you aside. You frowned. You didn’t recognize him, which was strange because you knew almost everyone who was a part of Shiratorizawa. 

“Your father requested to see you,” he said. His face was pinched into an annoyed look. You doubted that he joined Shirtorizawa to be a messenger between parent and child.

“Okay,” you said. “Do you know what it's about?” 

He glanced at you for a brief moment and then looked away quickly. He shook his head and then walked away. 

Well, he definitely knows something, you thought. You called back to your mom and told her where you were going. 

Though you’ve lived here your entire life, your house still amazed you. It was bigger than any house on the block, the floors were white and grey marble, all of the doors were taller and wider than they need to be, and there were more pieces of art littered around than a museum. You didn’t know how they were all acquired, but something in you never asked. 

You knocked once on the door to your father’s office and let yourself in. 

Your father sat behind his desk like he always would, back straight and arms folded and balanced on the edge of the desk, but there was something different. 

A group of people sat around him. An older-looking man sat back in the chair that was across your father’s desk. You could see the edges of his glasses poke out, but he otherwise didn’t look at you. You had, however, caught the attention of the two boys that were standing on either side of the man. 

They couldn’t have been much older than you. The taller of the two had dark brown hair, parted directly down the middle with little strings at the front that stood up. He looked at you rather indifferently, giving you a glance over, narrowing his eyes slightly, and then turning back to your father as if he took a mental picture of you for him to dissect later. 

The other one had a head of grey hair with black tips on the ends. He looked at you softly, but, still, after a moment turned his attention back to your father. 

Dread filled your stomach. You mentally ticked off all of the things your father could have called you up here for. He wasn’t the type of person to yell at you for being a disappointment in front of an audience. Unless he decided to switch things up a bit.

“Am I interrupting? I can come back,” you said, steeling yourself. You clenched your jaw tightly. 

“No,” your father said. “Take a seat, (Y/N).” 

You walked through the silence and sat in the chair that was opposite to your father and beside the unknown man and boys. 

You looked between the two sets of people. “No.” 

Your father raised his brow. “Excuse me.” 

You shrugged. “Whatever is going here, I disagree, so no to what you’re going to ask me.” 

The boy with the brown hair snorted, earning him a jab in the side from the older man sitting in the chair beside you. 

Your father sighed. “You don’t really have a choice.” 

“I don’t?” you said, questioning the words as they left your mouth. 

“You don’t,” he repeated sternly. His voice was low and rough. You recognized his tone as your queue to stop talking. You learned the hard way that if you pushed past that point, it would end badly. 

You looked away. “Then why am I here?” 

“I can answer that,” the man said. He adjusted his glasses and turned to you. “Your father made a deal with us and lost. So, you will be working for us until his debt is paid off.” 

You blinked. “Excuse me?” You looked pointedly towards your father. “Is that true? You traded your own child? So you could what? Avoid whatever they threaten you with? You’re pathetic.” 

Your father glared at you, his fists tightening into balls on his desk. “Do not speak to me that way. And you will go with them.” 

“No, I won’t,” you said, “and I’m pretty sure that this is illegal.” 

“All that we do is illegal, (Y/N).” 

“All that you do is illegal,” you spat back. 

Your father bolted up from behind his desk and walked over to your side of the table. He excused himself, curtly, to his guests, then grabbed your arm roughly and pulled you outside of his office.

He closed the door and turned to you. “Go along with it.” 

“What is your problem,” you said, ignoring the pain in your arm from where his grip held on. “Even though you do shady things all of the time, I thought you’d at least draw the line at giving your kid to someone, which is definitely illegal and out of some wacky-ass fanfiction.” 

“Calm down,” your father said. “This is all a part of the plan.” 

The plan? You thought. He has officially lost it. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” 

“You’re going to go with them,” he said again, “and you’re going to gather intel about them and report back. You’ll be at the heart of Inarizaki. You’ll know everything that they do, plan, and you can come back and tell me everything that they do and plan. You’ll redeem yourself and then be ready to take over.” 

You scoffed. “The only thing that I will be doing is getting axe-murdered or worse.” 

He ignored you. “You’ll come back after a year and it’ll be like nothing happened. They aren’t going to harm you either. It’s a part of the deal that we made, they just wanted to have someone do grunt work for them and they wanted you because you’re my child.” 

Maybe you should axe murder him. When have people in his line of work ever kept promises they made? You’ve seen him make and break more promises than you could keep track of. 

“What deal did you make?” You already knew you were fighting a losing battle. “What about mom? You’re insane if you think she’ll forgive you for this.” 

“It’s nothing bad,” he said. Lie, you thought. “I made a bad bet—” 

“And I’m paying the price.” 

“You’re just going to live with them for a bit and your mother is going to think that you’re going abroad. Listen—” 

You stopped listening. You couldn’t believe it. You shook in rage and hatred for the person standing in front of you. You always knew that he did awful things to a lot of people, but you never expected that you would make it onto that list. 

At least if you were murdered in the middle of the night wherever these Inarizaki people were taking you, you’d be far away from him. 

“Fine,” you said. “Let’s lead me to my death.” 

“We aren’t going to kill you,” the man in the glasses—Kurosu, you reminded yourself, the leader of Inarizaki—said as he pulled out of your house’s driveway. 

You got some time to pack up your things and got to hug and say goodbye to your mom before leaving. Your father had offered you a smile and a knowing look, but you barely cast him a second glance. It probably never occurred to him that you could spill all of Shiratorizawa’s secrets without blinking.

Yes, you did your best to stay away from all of the technical and logistics of Shirstorizawa’s operations, but that was the sole reason that your father had been flimsy and unaware of all of the stuff he said to the members of his gang while you were in the room. 

You looked at the rearview mirror, catching the eyes of Kurosu. “And I totally believe you.” 

The boy sitting beside you, the one with the dark hair, the one who snorted at your previous comment, laughed. 

“Suna,” said Kurosu. 

“Yes?” he said. 

“Would you like to add something?” 

Suna turned to you. “We don’t axe murder people.” 

You glared at him. “And I totally believe you too.” 

Suna fixed his gaze out the window again. “Kita? Much longer until we’re back home?” 

The grey-haired boy shrugged. “10 minutes. Maybe 20 if there’s any more traffic.” 

Kita, who was sitting in the passenger seat, turned around and looked at you. His eyes drifted to your arm and then back up to your eyes. “Do you even know what you’ll be doing?” 

“Planning my funeral?” 

Kurosu sighed and made a left turn. “You will be doing what you did for your father.” 

Your eyebrows drew together. “What do you think I did for my father?” 

“You were trained to take over Shiratorizawa were you not? Paperwork, running jobs, fieldwork. Sound familiar?” 

You caught eyes with the grey hair boy again. You almost felt bad for them. Has your father really made this deal? He told you that you’d be doing grunt work, so it looks like they weren’t the only ones being lied to. 

“Unless paperwork includes shredding files; running jobs means getting groceries; and fieldwork means taking the bus to school, then my father really oversold my skills.” 

“What do you mean?” Kita asked.

Something rude to say sat at the tip of your tongue. You paused. It wasn’t their fault. They didn’t know that they made a deal with a lair. But how intelligent could their organization be if they wanted the child of someone else’s gang to help them? How intelligent was your father for sending you over with them?

“I never wanted any part in Shiratorizawa,” you said. “So, I refused to learn everything that came with the job. I never did any of the things you listed and never wanted any part in it.” 

As Kurosu pulled up to a red light, he turned to look at you. You felt all three pairs of eyes on you. You tugged at the sleeves of your sweater and looked out the window. 

“Congrats,” you said dully, “you’ve hired the most skilless person for the job.” 

It wasn’t as if you were expecting a grand entrance with a red and gold carpet, but it did shock you when absolutely no one was standing at the entrance of the Inarizaki house. You could tell that the house was full of people too. There were shoes scattered along the entrance and you could hear quick footsteps and backtracks from the floor above you. At your house, there were always people patrolling and walking through the halls. 

They were completely unguarded. 

You made a note of that. Even though you were going to tell your father that they were heavily guarded and armed, you never knew when the information you took in would be of use. The unguarded doors meant that they were trying to keep people out, but they weren’t trying to keep you in. 

“Excuse me,” Kurosu muttered. He made the first left and disappeared around it. You hoped that he was going to yell at your father. Maybe he would send you back in the process. 

Suna had left quietly. You hadn’t noticed he was gone until you turned around and only saw Kita. His expression was unreadable.

So far, you had only met two of the members of Inarizaki and their leader, and you couldn’t tell if they liked you or even accepted your presence in their home. 

“Do I get a room?” you asked. 

He didn’t answer, only tipping his head to the side slightly. 

“Or am I sleeping in a barn or something?”

You took a step further into the building. From the outside, you couldn’t make out the size of the building. One thing that you could discern was that it was definitely bigger than your house. This was a place that was meant to hold a lot of people. 

A grand staircase stood at the centre of the main floor—the floor that you were on—and led to a second landing which branched off into opposite directions. 

“The second floor is where all of the rooms are,” Kita said. He walked up beside you and pointed to the left, the hallway that Kurosu had disappeared down. “That is where Kurosu’s quarters and office are. It’s not off-limits, but no one really goes there unless they need something or it’s an emergency”—he gestured to the right— “the kitchen and training room are over there. There are smaller hallways that lead elsewhere, but I’m not sure that you’ll be staying here for that long.” 

“What makes you say that?” 

Kita took a step forward and then turned to face you. “I’m not sure what the deal was exactly. I overheard that picking you, specifically, was just to tick off your father. Kurosu thought that you’d be helpful in something, but since you said that you don’t have any skills for what we could use you for, he might send you back.” 

You ignored the fact that you were being spoken of as if you were talked up to be a prized cattle, only for the person who brought you to realize that you couldn’t make milk. Now, you were being sent to the slaughterhouse. 

“What do you think?” you asked. 

“About what?” 

“About this situation,” you said. “Would you have taken someone away from their family as a power move? Made them do something to settle a score?” 

Kita paused. And you waited. You didn’t know how long he was going to think for his answer, but you wanted to know and it’s not like you had anything else to do. 

“I would like to think that I wouldn’t. I’m sorry that this happened to you, but it’s not something that anyone else but Kurosu and your father had control over. I’m sure you’ll find a way to settle the score.” 

You swallowed. Oh, he had no idea what was coming to your father. 

“Does your arm hurt?” he asked calmly. 

You blinked. “My arm?” 

He pointed at your arm that your father had grabbed. Without a word, he carefully held your wrist and pushed up your sleeve. You winced when the bunched up cloth rolled over the spot where your father’s grip was the strongest. The faintest marks of a bruise were starting to form. 

Kita dropped your arm and started walking to the right of the staircase. “Stay there.” 

What was that? you thought. After a moment, you were sure that he had abandoned you. You only took a couple of steps forwards when he rounded the corner. In his hand was a blue gel pack. 

He handed it to you. “Put it on your arm,” he said. 

“Thank you.” 

Kita nodded and then started up the stairs. “I’ll show you to your room.” 

You kept your eyes busy. There was still no security of any kind, no bars on the windows, or cameras everywhere. 

He stopped in front of a door. “Can I ask you something?” 

The coolness of the gel pack made you shiver. “If I say no, are you still going to ask?” 

“Probably.” 

You sighed. “Go ahead then.” 

“What did your father tell you when he pulled you aside?” 

You squeezed the pack between your fingers. Kita’s eyes were marked on you, unwavering. You knew he wasn’t going to leave it alone until you answered. 

There was no point in lying, is there? These were the people who you’d be staying with for who knows how long—they said a year, but that could always change and it wasn’t something that you were in control of. 

“He told me to spy for him,” you told him. 

“Are you going to?” 

“I haven’t decided.” 

Kita clicked his tongue and then opened the door. “I think you have.” 

He took a step back. As you passed him, he leaned down to whisper, “I pity your father.” 

Sleep did not find you. At all. Maybe it was because the room Kita showed you was so unfamiliar—and surprisingly well-furnished—that it just made you miss your own room. But your unrested mind brought you back to the fear of being axed murdered. 

Your stomach growled. You frowned. Right, you were in the middle of preparing dinner before you were suddenly ripped away from your home, and now that it was in the middle of the night, you were nervous, anxious, and hungry. 

You opened the door to your room. The hallway was brightly lit and empty. All of the footsteps you heard on your way up to the room had gone quiet. You turned back into your room and grabbed a candle holding that was placed on one of the mantels. 

Their father’s words echoed in their brain. In an unknown place, never go without a weapon. 

At least he was good for something, you thought.

Closing the door behind you, you made your way down the hallway. You recognized the familiar landmarks in the hallway that had led to the staircase—a picture frame a few doors down, a vase that stood on the podium at the corner where you had to turn.

Soon enough, you found your way back to the grand staircase. The tall door loomed over you as you placed your hand on the doorknob. 

I could leave. 

You began to twist it. 

You jumped in alarm as a small crash sounded to the left of the hall. You glanced back at the door. It was probably locked and you didn’t have any of your stuff. How far would you have gotten? And even if you got far, where would you go? 

Despite your better judgment, you followed the sound. This is how people in horror movies get killed, you thought. This hallway was darker than the one upstairs, but a strong crack of light shone through a door. You raised the candle holder. 

Toe-ing the door opened, you straightened your spine and held the holder tighter. As your line of sight got wider, you saw a boy standing behind a long metal table. A backdrop of fridges and cabinets came into view. He had his head down, his rough grey hair fell in front of his forehead and eyes. He focused on something that was in hind hands.

The creaking of the door gave you away. The boy’s head jerked up, dropping what he was working on. His hand cautiously slid over the knife on the table. 

His eyes locked onto yours and then travelled to the candle holder in your raised hand. He frowned. “Are you (Y/N)?”

You swallowed. “Maybe.” 

The corners of his lips tugged up. “Are you going to hit me with that thing?” 

“Maybe,” you repeated.

“Okay,” he said. His eyes lingered on you for another moment before he shrugged and picked up the thing he had dropped. 

Were all of the Inarizaki members so...carefree? If you were back at your house, the slightest creak in the floorboards was enough cause to have security roaming around the halls. 

You took a step closer. The item that he dropped was rice. You glanced at the table. A bowl of rice was beside him as well as various fillings and dishes. A cutting board that was covered in pieces of cut seaweed was in front of him. His head was back down and his hands were shaping rice into triangles.

“Are you making Onigiri?” 

He met your gaze again, his eyes gleaming in a way they hadn’t before as if the topic cheered him up. “I am,” he said. He cocked his head to the side. “The finished ones are over there if you want some.” 

He watched you. “Unless you want to beat me to death with a candle holder.” 

You glared and tentatively put the holder down. “It would be a waste of a candle holder. It’s probably expensive too.” 

“It is,” he said, “it’s also stolen.” 

You scrunch your nose. “Pleasant.” 

You picked up the Onigiri closest to you. It was still warm. “It’s not...poisoned is it?” 

He scoffed and looked at you offendedly. “You can threaten me with a candle holder, but do not insult my food.” 

You raised your eyebrows, a small smile finding its way to your mouth. “I’ll take that as a no then.” 

The rice melted in your mouth. It tasted so much like your mother’s; if you closed your eyes, you could picture yourself standing back in your kitchen. Your mother would smile at you and then scold you for moulding the rice too harshly. 

“A lighter touch, (Y/N),” she would say. “Take your time. No need to rush.” 

“Are you okay?” the grey-haired boy asked.

You wiped your tears away hastily and turned to him. “These are really good,” you said, a light tone in your voice. You finished off the Onigiri in silence and then picked up another one. He didn’t pressure any more information out of you. “Do you need any help?” 

He glanced at the bowl of rice beside him. Despite the full try of onigiri, there was still quite a bit of rice left. “Do you know how to make them?” 

“My mom taught me.” 

He regarded you thoughtfully. “There are gloves under the sink,” he said, “or you can just wash your hands. It doesn’t matter.” 

Shortly after you washed your hands, you joined him at the table. The first few were done in silence. You focused on the repeated motion. 

“I am (Y/N), by the way,” you muttered. “In case you didn’t notice.” 

He chuckled. “I’ve noticed.” He paused. “Miya Osamu.” 

You nodded. You slowed your pace, not wanting to go back upstairs yet. 

“I heard you think that we’re going to axe murder you,” he said. When he saw you look at him, he shrugged. “Word gets around. My brother got a kick out of it.” 

You jutted out your chin. “Maybe I should kick your brother.”

Osamu laughed, a sharp, cheerful sound that made you smile. “I would love to see that.” He looked at you from the corner of his eye. “We’re not that bad, you know.” 

“I don’t think that you’re all spawns of demons,” you said. “I just think that it would be easier if I could...hate all of you,” you admitted. “It’s obvious that I don’t want to be here, which you probably know. I have zero skills that are helpful to Inarizaki as a whole and if I hate it here then it’ll be easier to go back.” 

“To the father who gave you to us like nothing?” 

You shrugged. “My mother’s there. The little details don’t matter.” 

Osamu smiled. “Okay, but don’t say that you’re skill-less. You know how to make Onigiri and probably a lot more, if you ask me, that’s a solid skill in my book.” 

Word gets around. 

You thought about it when you parted ways with Osamu and until your eyes closed for the night. The words still lingered in your mind when you woke up. 

You washed up and changed clothes. 

When you had arrived at Inarizaki house, it couldn’t have been more than a couple of hours for word to get around. The members either had a way to get a message around or they were all super chatty among each other. 

You frowned. Texts messages you dumbass. 

“Why. Am. I. So. Stupid,” you muttered, banging your head against the door for each word. But if it was something else, you wanted to know how they did it. 

Your door opened and you jumped back. 

A golden-yellow head of hair popped out from the crack in the door. The boy widened the door and stood up straight. He had a lazy smirk on his face and looked like Osamu. My brother got a kick out of it.

“Did you knock?” he asked. 

You narrowed your eyes. “Were you waiting for my knock?” 

His lazy smirk grew. “I wait for a lot of things, lunch for one. I’ll walk you?” 

You hesitated. All of the people you’ve met have been kind to you, or at least didn’t harm you, but you couldn’t be sure when that would end. 

“Unless you’d rather kick me first? Word—” 

“—gets around,” you finished. “I know.” You cleared your throat. “I said that your brother could watch when I did.”

He laughed. “I bet he did. Let’s go.” 

He—Atsumu, he introduced—walked ahead of you, only glancing back every now and then to make sure you were following. “Were you just lying about not being able to do anything?” 

“I know how to make Onigiri and I’m surprisingly good at cutting out paper hearts.” 

He rolled his eyes. 

You continued, “I can also hold my breath underwater for—”

“You know what I mean,” he cut off. 

You grinned. “I know what I’m supposed to do, I’ve just never done any of it.” 

Atsumu furrowed his eyes together. “But you know what to do.” 

You matched his pace as he descended the stairs. “Is there something that you want in particular or are you just full of fun questions?

Atsumu turned around. You pulled yourself back from nearly crashing into him. He eyed you weirdly. It was reminiscent of his brother’s gaze, but it had a level of confidence and menace that made you feel like you were on the losing side. 

If I’m getting axe-murdered by anyone here, it’ll definitely be by this guy, you thought. You pulled your shoulders back. 

“Are you usually this straightforward?” he asked. 

“Are you usually this vague?”

“I want to know what you know.” 

You blinked. “Yeah, I’m not following.” 

Atsumu looked around the room. There were loud sounds coming from the kitchen, but otherwise, the main room was empty. He leaned in, smirk gone. You forced yourself not to move away. 

“Kurosu doesn’t tell us much in terms of how Inarizaki runs, like he just assumes that he’s going to live forever and won’t pass on any information to any of us. You, out of all odds, probably know more about how to run a gang than any of us.” 

“So you want me to tell you what I know?” You shook your head. “That requires the assumption that I actually know what you want.” 

“But you do,” a voice said. 

You and Atsumu whipped your heads over the banister of the stairs. Kita, Osamu, Suna, and a few other people you didn’t recognize gathered to the side of the stairs. 

Kita’s eye’s flashed as he took a step forward. “You can’t tell me that your father didn’t make you sit through meetings and forced information on you. I saw the way you looked around when I was showing you to your room, you were taking in information the way that Kurosu did when we went to your house, the way that we’re all trained to do. Even if you claim that you’re skilless, it doesn’t mean that you are.” 

“It could be a partnership,” Atsumu suggested, his eyes back on you. “Kurosu told us this morning that you’re staying until the deal is over. Your father said it was his own fault that Kurosu didn’t verify if you had the skills or not.” 

“Sounds like him,” you said. “What an ass.” 

Atsumu snickered.  

You went around Atsumu to level yourself with the rest of the Inarizaki members. They all had the same gleam in their eye of determination...and something else. You couldn’t put your finger on it. Atsumu footsteps followed behind you and then joined the side of the other members. 

You stood away from them. “Are you going to tell Kurosu?” 

“No,” Kita said.

“A partnership,” you repeated. “Doesn’t that mean we both benefit from this? Not that I really need or want anything, but there’s got to be something right? Are you going to get me a lifetime supply of ice cream?”

“We can get you that, or at least try, if that’s what you want,” Suna said, his quiet voice took over the room. “A lot can happen in a year. For instance, your father could have an unfortunate accident.” 

“You want to kill him?” 

Suna shrugged. “It can be arranged is what I’m saying.” 

You sighed. “No killing, please.” 

“Then what do you want?” Osamu asked. 

You could picture yourself clearly. A year from now you would walk into your father’s house and recite all of the things that you’ve learned from Inarizaki. You would stretch the truth until it became paper-thin. You would watch your father fall so slowly, it would be as if he willingly pushed himself off the cliff

You smiled. “I’ve got a thing or two in mind.” 

A lot could happen in a year and you would make the most of it. 

Tackling these requests slowly because my tiny peanut brain can’t come up with any ideas of how I want stories to go. 

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed - Kiwi

Posted: 16/05/2021

[five-rivers]

Long Night in the Valley chapter 9

“But what if it’s the hospital?” Inko asked, still staring at the phone, cheek cupped in one hand.  “What if it’s an emergency with one of your patients?  It could be important.”

It wasn’t.  Mostly because nothing could possibly be as important as dealing with Midoriya Inko.

Without a doubt, the woman was the most difficult to deal with person in the entire world.  It was no reflection on her personality, of course, but rather on her unique position.

Garaki could cope with rabid villains.  He had handled heroes cursing him.  He could even converse normally with All for One.  

But then, compared to this woman, All for One was easy. As long as she wasn’t part of the picture, all Garaki had to do was follow orders.  When she did, every interaction became a balancing act between All for Ones previous orders and not upsetting her.  

Garaki was too valuable to All for One for the man to kill him, which only meant that Garaki had been on the receiving end of some truly creative punishments in the past.  

Also, Midoriya Inko once threatened to pull his pancreas out of his nose if he ever spoke ‘like that’ to her son again.  Truly, she was a match for All for One, who had threatened much the same thing only hours later, despite the fact the results presented had been ordered by him.  

This was truly a terrifying situation, and he had to face it without even little Johnny at his side.  How pitiful…

“Really,” said Inko, “I think you should answer it.  Maybe it’ll give you some idea about how we can help Izuku.”

That seemed unlikely at best.  Even so, it would be unwise to go against the wishes of All for One’s chosen queen.  

He smiled tightly.  “I’ll have to step out,” he said.

“Of course,” said Inko, nodding.  

He stepped out if the dining room and checked the phone.  It was Shigaraki Tomura.  Because of course it was.  Normally, he would have scrambled to answer, but…  He looked over his shoulder, to make sure Midoriya Inko hadn’t spontaneously appeared there.  

One way or another, he feared, he was going to die today.  

No, he told himself, focus on the positives.  

For example, Midoriya Inko seemed to have taken quite well to the longevity quirk All for One had slipped her while they were dating.  Very well indeed.  He’d already known that, of course, but it was good to see it in person.  All for One’s youngest son was now in conflict with the heroes, even if he was still clinging to All Might’s emaciated skeleton.  The call from Shigaraki Tomura meant that Gigantomachia hadn’t killed him while Garaki was distracted.  

Overall, this day was going wonderfully.  

He answered his phone.  

“You f—”  

Ah, so it was Shigaraki Tomura.  

“How did you and Sensei manage to lose an entire-a—” And there he went again.  “—ing feral child?”

Wait.  Garaki knew about Midoriya Izuku.  How did Shigaraki Tomura?  “Er, what feral child?”

“The green brat!  Except he’s not green anymore.  He died his stupid puffball hair white—”

“—honestly, I always thought it was more broccoli—HA! He’s a cauliflower now-!”

“Shut up, Twice!  He was wearing a suit, using Eraserhead’s quirk.  Did you guys think I was stupid or something?”

“What?”

“Do you not have the news in your crappy lab?”

“Erm.”

“What are you even doing, that it took so long for you to pick up your phone?”

“Well…”

“Never mind.  We need a fast travel out of here.  This place is crawling with heroes, and the giant boss is going to wake up soon—”

“I can’t,” said Garaki.  “I’m not in my lab.”

It wasn’t quite silent on the other side of the line.  

“What do you mean, you aren’t in your lab?”  A pause.  “What are you doing, old man?  Where are you?”

“I have to go, now,” said Garaki, feeling oddly detached.   The phone beeped as he hung up on Shigaraki Tomura. He opened his news app.  

Masterfully, he avoided crying as he read through the top local stories.  The real shock was that All for One hadn’t broken out of prison yet.  

Oh, and Eraserhead’s quirk, because he absolutely shouldn’t have been able to do that.  The quirks of the past users, yes, fine, that made sense.  The mechanism between All for One and One for All was presumably sufficiently similar.  But Eraserhead’s, that was a different story.  

Unless…  The remnants…

Garaki found that he was very afraid.  

He replayed the video of the incident.  Mentally calculated the trajectory of All Might and the younger Midoriya.  Perhaps… perhaps rather than taking a phone call, he should be making one.

.

“’S like Ragdoll,” explained Izuku, as the pair of One for All members limped through the forest.  “Shiretoko-san, I mean.”

“Mhm,” said Toshinori, lifting Izuku over a spot that would give his sprained and swollen ankle some difficulty.  

“Even though she can’t use Search anymore, there’s still remnants.  She can- She can keep track of a lot more objects at once.  Her organizational skills, visual acuity…  Some things have actually improved, now that she’s not using that part of her head.  The point is, not all of the support structures disappear when the quirk does. And I think- I think not all of the quirk itself goes away, either.”

“I’m not sure I follow you on that part.”

“It’s—It’s a, um.  All for One, I think, physically, obviously, there has to be psionic component as well, the way it works is by destructively copying the quirk and the quirk factor of the target individual.  It’s like—Like if there was a copier in a shredder?  I guess?  Can’t copy without destroying the original.  But, yeah.  There has to be a mental component.  So, my—So, what, I mean, I mean what I—Hmmnnng.”

“My boy?”

“My head hurts.”  He swiped ineffectively at his sluggishly bleeding nose.  

Toshinori pressed his lips together, concerned.  Izuku rarely admitted to feeling pain, no matter how beaten up he was.  This must be serious.  

“We have some painkillers,” said Toshinori.  

“No,” said Izuku.  “I’m okay.  What was I-? I was saying…  Quirks.  My quirk when he—There’s still remnants, and the emergent behavior—” He took a deep, shuddering breath.  “The bits left behind when he took my quirk, with One for All—assuming that’s what happened, and they’re not wrong—they let me access the past users’ quirks, and also since Saito-san’s quirk seems to interact with quirk ghosts, at least partially, it can use that to pick up Aizawa-sensei’s quirk.  Probably could get the others’ as well, although I’m less confident about mutant quirks like Iida’s.”

For a moment, they let the conversation lapse.  

“I think we’re handling these revelations very well,” opined Toshinori.  

“I know, right?”  Izuku giggled like someone at the edge of a very tall cliff.  “Anyway, One for All uses more of a passive copying mechanism, but I’d guess there’s something wrong with its writing mechanism, unless the stockpile quirk just takes up all its time, or something, or there was a problem with interpretation?  Or, or! The others are wrong about me ever having a quirk, and it’s really just One for All finally processing and writing in the other quirks.  Maybe because I’m genetically closer to One than any of the others?” Izuku’s breath caught.

“Izuku?”

“Toshinori,” he whined, “it hurts…”

“What does?”

“Everything,” said Izuku.  “My head.  My eyes.” He’d mostly relied on Toshinori’s vision while navigating through the forest.  Since using Aizawa-sensei’s quirk, he’d barely opened his eyes.  

“We’ve made some distance since we landed,” said Toshinori. “Why don’t we rest for a little while?”

“We can’t,” protested Izuku.  “We’re still too close.”

“Izuku, you’re suffering from quirk exhaustion.”

“Oh,” said Izuku.  “Oh. I guess I never felt—Never felt it before?  Because I’d just break my bones first.”

Toshinori visibly cringed.  “If I understand what you just said correctly,” he said, taking Izuku by the shoulders and guiding him gently towards a fallen tree, “what you did back there with young Aizawa’s quirk was akin to running a race with a broken leg.”

“W-well, I mean, only if—only if—they’re right about it being my quirk.  And n-not just something One for All can do.”

“Mm,” said Toshinori, dubiously.  “Even then, it isn’t something quite natural for you, is it? And this right after receiving Float.”

“It,” said Izuku, frowning, and letting himself be directed. “Actually, it felt…  Good?  Right before it started hurting.  Like… satisfying, almost?  Like when I used One for All for the first time…  Well, before I realized all my bones were broken.”

“It wasn’t quite all of them, was it?”

Izuku shrugged.  He blinked slowly as he sat down on the log.  “It’s cold.”

“It is December,” said Toshinori, unzipping his coat.  “Let me see here, I had some winter clothing for you in here somewhere…  and we should take a better look at your ankle.”  He sat down next to Izuku, who immediately leaned towards him, not quite touching.  

On impulse, Toshinori wrapped the open edge of the coat around Izuku, pulling him close.    

Izuku rested his head against Toshinori’s chest and brought up his knees to hug them.  “This’s warm,” he mumbled.  

“How about,” said Toshinori, “you just rest for a few minutes. Then we can sort everything else out.”

“Okay…”

.

“Well,” said Recovery Girl, entering the conference room the hospital had lent them, “no one is in any danger of dying.”

“But?” said Hitoshi, bracing himself for bad news.  

“No but.  They’re all fine, beyond not waking up, but you all already knew that.  So.”  She hopped into a seat at the table they’d all squeezed around.  “What have you found out?”

She directed the question to Hizashi, who had his head in his hands, his elaborately styled hair almost hitting Jirou and Kaminari, who were seated across from him.  

“Midoriya has a sentient quirk and no one bothered to mention it.”

“I’m not sure Midori knew,” said Tsuyu.  “It does seem like something he’d mention.”

“I don’t know,” said Kaminari.  “He’s, like, weirdly cagey about his quirk.”

Tokoyami crossed his arms.  “Hm.  He may have been hiding it.  Possession of a sentient quirk casts one into the shadow of the commission’s regard.”

“Huh?”

“People with sentient quirks are monitored by the Hero Commission,” said Hitoshi.  “Just like people with ‘villainous’ quirks.  

“He was not hiding, mes amis,” said Aoyama.  “That’s absurd!  He was simply a late bloomer, like myself.”

“Does it really matter if he knew or not?” asked Jirou.  “Everyone has stuff they’d rather not tell other people.”

“She’s right,” said Kayama-sensei.  

“Well,” said Yaoyorzu, “we’re going to try to help him, aren’t we?”

There was a murmur of agreement.

“But how?”

“Overthrow the government?” suggested Jirou.  

“Start a social media campaign?” said Kaminari, at the same time.  

They looked at each other.  

“And you call yourself an anarchist,” scoffed Jirou.  

“In my defense, I have never once called myself an anarchist.”

“As much as I like the idea of overthrowing the government, the social media idea is probably more doable,” said Hitoshi.  “I mean, there’s only fourteen of us here.  What are we going to do against the government?”

“As much as I hate to say it,” said Kayama-sensei, “we do have more resources than just the people in this room.  Like the person who sent us to extract you in the first place.”

“You mean,” said Shouji, voice hushed, “the rat god?”

Kayama-sensei blanched.  “Where did you hear that?”

All the students, including Hitoshi, pointed at Hizashi, because, really, she should have known that.  Actually, wait, one of them hadn’t and had instead buried his face in his hands.  That was… Kouda.  Yeah. Kouda.  

“What’s up with him?” asked Hitoshi.  

Mineta snickered.  A baleful collective glare was turned on him.  

“What?” he whined.  

Aoyama sighed.  “Midoriya once asked him if he could control our fantabulous Principal Nezu, since Principal Nezu is technically an animal.”

“Ever since then,” continued Yaoyorozu, “he has a crisis whenever the principal is brought up.”

“Man,” said Kaminari, nodding in Hitoshi’s direction, “I bet that if Midoriya was here, he’d be asking you if you could control Principal Nezu, since he’s not human.”

… That was a good question.  

“Speaking of Midoriya,” said Satou, as if they hadn’t been doing exactly that all along, “I don’t think we can overthrow the government without him.  He’s our plan guy, usually.”

“Even with Nezu?” asked Hizashi.  

The members of class 1-A seemed thoughtful.

“Maybe.”

“Yeah, maybe.”

“Wait, wait, wait,” said Mineta, “we’re serious about that? I thought it was a joke.”

“Okay,” said Yaoyorozu, “perhaps we should discuss our other options first.”

“Oh!” said Aoyama.  “We could become vigilantes!”

“What…  What would be the point of that?” asked Hitoshi.  

Aoyama did not have an answer.  

Hizashi’s phone started ringing.  “Oh, no,” he said, “it’s him.  Does he know I’ve been calling him the rat god behind his back?”

“Probably,” said Kayama-sensei, “but I don’t think that’s what this is about.”

Hizashi answered his phone.  “Heeeeeyyyyyy, Principal Nezu, what-?  Oh!  Oh, yeah, yeah, we were planning on that, but we weren’t sure—yeah, yeah, I’ll tell them, and –” He went pale.  “You already knew about that, huh?  Haha, yeah, yep, okay, okay.  See you soon?”  He cringed as he hung up.  “He wants us all back at school before the commission decides to interrogate us. Also, he said to check the news.”

“It’s just going to be more slander of Midoriya,” said Jirou, looking at her own phone, “why both—Oh.”

“Still can’t believe they think Midoriya kidnapped All Might,” mumbled one of Shouji’s free mouth hands as Hitoshi unlocked his own phone.  

“I know.  Do you remember when he came into the cafeteria to ask Midoriya to eat lunch with him?” asked Kaminari.

“Which time?” asked Dark Shadow, cackling.  

“It was cute, kero,” said Asui.  “I have pictures.”

“We can use those for the social media campaign!”

Hitoshi’s news app loaded.  He looked up and met Jirou’s eyes.  Judging by her pale face, what he’d seen wasn’t a hallucination.  

.

“Am I a dog, a mouse, or a bear?” chirped Nezu as he answered his phone.  “One thing’s for sure, I’m Principal Nezu?  How can I help you, Mr. Hero Commission President?”

“I’m sure you’re following the news,” said the president.

“Of course,” said Nezu, patting Eri’s head.  She’d been staring at his phone like a predator faced with prey since he answered.  They had, indeed, been watching the news.  

“We need Midoriya Izuku’s medical records and the blood sample you have from him. You should have it ready by the time our investigators arrive.”

“Oh?  Investigators?”

“To search Midoriya Izuku’s personal effects for clues. You should also prepare Chisaki Eri, Togata Mirio, and the teachers involved in Midoriya Izuku’s education for questioning.”

“Thank you for giving me a heads up, Mr. President.”

There was a suspicious silence on the other end of the line.  “What are you planning?”

“Nothing at all!”

“You aren’t going to win this fight.”

“What fight, Mr. President?  Aren’t we both on the side of heroes?”

“If you get in our way, I will make sure your precious school goes down with Midoriya.”

“Oh-ho!  Is that a threat, Mr. President?”

“A promise.  Public opinion isn’t something you can think your way out of, and UA has been on thin ice since the attack on the USJ.”

“I see,” said Nezu, fighting against the urge to bare his teeth and snarl.  “In any case, I will not stand in the way of the law.”

“Good.”

The line went dead.  “Oh, dear,” said Nezu.  “He really doesn’t understand me at all.”

“What areya going to do?” asked Eri.  

“Follow the law,” said Nezu.  

Eri scowled.

“Bothering by the book, sir?” asked Togata, who had been hiding in Aizawa’s kitchen, baking.  

“Oh, yes.  The good heroes who were here earlier had the authority to request a piece of Midoriya-kun’s clothing, but what Mr. Hero Commission President is asking for is quite different.”  

“How?” asked Eri.  

“They need certain forms and paperwork in order to force me to do so much as let them in the front gate.  Which cannot, of course, be opened to outsiders by teachers without my express permission.  And if I am involved in an emergency involving one of my wards at the time…”

“That’s me!” said Eri, bouncing on the couch.  

“Indeed, it is.”

“So,” she said, “I’ve got to be an em-er-gen-cy?” she asked, carefully sounding out the word.”

“You don’t need to do anything,” said Nezu, “except say that I was occupied with you when the commission representatives arrived.”

Eri nodded very seriously.  “Can we watch Deku kick the bad guy again?”

Nezu chortled.  

“Did I say something funny?” asked Eri, her face pinching again.  

“Not at all, not at all.  I’m just imagining how others might react to you calling Hawks a bad guy.”

“He’s fighting Deku, so he’s a bad guy.”

“Immaculate logic, young lady,” said Nezu, patting Eri on the head.  

.

Izuku walked through Nana’s misty memories, searching for her and Suzuki.  

Hopefully, Nana hadn’t reached through the dream to kill the guy in real life.  He didn’t like Suzuki.  In fact, he pretty much hated him.  But murder was still, well, murder.  

He had some things to talk to Nana about.  

The far more comprehensive connection he currently had to One for All, thanks to Saito-san’s quirk, meant that he knew far more than he usually did, about One for All, the others, All for One, and even himself.  Enough that he was twitching for his notebook and pencil, because he was afraid he would forget once the quirk wore off.  

One of the things he knew now was that One for All had usability adaptations.  Little things that tweaked the user’s body and subconscious in such a way that made the quirk actually viable.  Required secondary powers, to use an older term.  

A common one was the heat and burn resistance most fire users had.  Bakugou had lighters in his palms to set his sweat off.  Tokoyami had amazing night vision.  Hagakure was resistant to cancer.  

One for All read the DNA of potential recipients, to see if they could handle the quirk.  One couldn’t go shoving quirks into random people all willy-nilly, even if the quirk in question was One for All.  That’s why the noumu were so messed up.  All for One didn’t have that compatibility-checking adaptation.  

But since compatibility here was a function of both mentality and DNA… that meant…

“Were you ever going to tell me that we’re all related?” he asked Nana.  “Speaking of which.”  He pointed at the memory-shade of a young Gran Torino.  “How is it that everyone I’m related to is so tall?  Why are Mom and I midgets?  And where did the green hair come from?  I’m having a crisis.”

Nana chuckled, but it was a sad sound.  “Thanks for trying to cheer me up, kiddo.”

(The effect would have been better if her boots weren’t stained with blood.)

“Okay, but seriously,” said Izuku, sitting on the railing next to Nana.  They watched the memory play out.  “You guys all knew.  Why didn’t you say anything?  I think Toshinori’d be happy to be related to you, even if it’s only tangentially.”

“But would he be happy with the other part?”

“Huh?”

“Being related to him.”

“I think he’d overlook that.  I mean, One was related to him, too.  So it doesn’t really matter.  And I’m…”  He faltered. They had yet to confront this particular thing.  

“You should talk to One and Four,” suggested Nana, gently. “Their perspective is probably closest to yours.”

“Will I have time?”

“As long as we’re with you, eventually,” said Nana.  “This,” she gestured at the dreamscape, “changes things.  You know this feeling, now.  You won’t forget.”

Izuku nodded.  “Should I call you grandma, now?”

“That makes me feel old.”

“You are old.”

“Ouch, kid.  But sure.”

“That aside, I do want to know where the green hair comes from.”

Nana sighed.  “It’s from me.  I used to dye my hair.  Then I got a stylist to permanently change it with a quirk.”

“But… why?”

Nana slumped sideways.  “The kids at my school…  They were always saying, ‘Oh, Nana, you’re so green.  Just like your name.  Green Vegetable Nana.”

“Name related trauma is something we have in common.”

“Unfortunately.”

“So.  Suzuki.”

“Under that rock.”  She pointed to a massive boulder.  

Izuku sighed.  “What are we going to do with him?”

“Your call,” said Nana.  

“Does it have to be?”

.

Gigantomachia shrugged dirt and trees from his shoulders and sniffed the air.  The radio around his neck crackled as the doctor stopped transmitting.  This, he decided, catching the scent of the Little Lord, was a joyful day.  

Only once before had he received the privilege of smelling this scent.  That day was eternally carved into his memory.  The Little Lord had been so small, but so smart!  So cunning!  So much better than Shigaraki Tomura!

Machia wondered if he would still be small, or if he had grown up to be as big as Lord!  Or even Machia!

Probably, he would not be as big as Machia.  Still!

How wonderful!  

Machia wondered if the Little Lord would smile at him again. That had been nice.  

[hawks-is-kinda-chicken-little]

Voicemail

Hawks X Reader

Summary: Commitment is sometimes scary, especially when Keigo already has so much on his plate. So instead of communicating that to his lover, he grows distant.

-part 1-

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

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One moment Keigo was flying through cloud nine and the next he was falling faster than ever.

(Y/n) was the first one to break his walls. See the broken man through the believable facade portrayed by the media. She loved him, the real him, not the picture perfect model on the tv young boys and girls dream about and idolize. All his flaws and scars never repealed her for even a moment, she loved him unconditionally. She was the first to do so, the first to show him that he didn’t have to be perfect.

Keigo remembers when she shattered those barriers. Oh, how he cried. It was only a week until their one year anniversary. But, this was the first time (y/n) had seen him all battered and beaten from a fight earlier. No feathers on his back, nasty gashes on his face and arms, Hawks might as well have been fresh out of a human sized shredder. Really, he should have gone to the hospital, but he figured he could just handle the damage himself. He remembers being frozen in place when his eyes landed on her after just walking into their shared apartment. She should have been asleep already, yet there she was standing in the dim lighted hallway with the worry shining in those doe eyes of hers. Her cheeks were puffy and her eyes were red as if she had been crying moments ago. Quickly, she scurried over to him scanning over his torn form. From there gently but quickly guided him to the bathroom where they kept the medical supplies.

He was sitting on a stool near the bathroom sink as (y/n) sat right next to him with her legs folded on the floor. The silence was deafening, no questions were asked. Hawks quietly watched her shaking hands delicately wrap one of the bandages around his wounded arm. Making sure the fabric was not to tight, but not too lose that it would come undone. Sighing, he reached the hand she previously wrapped and cupped her cheek, rubbing his ever so gently under her eye, causing her to stop her actions and place her hand upon his own, closings her eyes. She lowered her head as her shoulders started shaking ever so slightly with every sniffle and hiccup that came from her. Hawks used his other hand guide her face towards his wiping away freshly dropping tear that cascaded down her puffy red cheeks. It was only a couple for minutes before she broke the silence.

“I saw it on the news,” Her bottoms lip quivered more as she spoke.

“What did you see, my love?”

“Them hurt you,” She sobbed “It was all over the news, you were- you were thrown through the building and pummbled into the ground, the- then the power shut off and I did know if- I didn’t know-”

The poor thing couldn’t even finish the sentence, she was now curled over her knees sobbing into her hands in attempt to muffle her cries. Hawks was in shock, he knew she cared and worried for him, but apparently underestimated the extent at which it went. Never in his life has someone genuinely cried on his behalf, not even his so-called parents. This was the moment he broke down. This was the moment he knew she truly loved him and he truly loved her.

Shifting so that Keigo was now on the ground with her, he pulled her to his lap, rocking them both from side to side, as he burying his face in her hair. In this moment both of their hearts beat for each other and nothing could change that. He hadn’t even realized his own tears that were falling until she pulled back just alittle to stare into his eyes and wipe them away. There was nothing but love and care in those glazed over her eyes.

Hawks remembers sitting on the tile of the bathroom floor the rest of the night in eachothers embrace. No one in the rest of the world mattered, it was only them, both vulnerable to each other’s love.

She meant so much to him, she was like the feathers on his back, freeing and always there to lift him up. Everyone at the agency loved her, she was motherly to the interns and alway there to vent if someone needed to talk. She was a true blessing to all those around her. Time went on and there love only grew stronger.

Lately something had seemed off with Keigo, he was acting cold and distant, and not even he could pinpoint why. Maybe it was the stress of all the hero work piling up. Being the number Two Hero came with a lot of responsibility and a lot more work which he had to keep on top of. Keigo had been staying at the office later doing paperwork into the early hours of the morning for the past three days. And when he did return home (y/n) was always draped over the arm of the couch in her night time attire asleep. It was obvious that she was trying to wait up for him, but always seemed to fail. Shaking his head with a small smile at her silliness, he picked her up and brought her to bed. It wasn’t long before he joined her, but Hawks was always gone before she would wake up.

She would leave him encouraging texts and voicemails throughout the day, to which he never replied to. It seemed like they hadn’t even really had a real conversation in a couple of months. Every time she would try and reach out to her, he’d blow her off, avoiding any sort of confrontation. Keigo already has so much going through his head with all this league of villains stuff, the last thing he needs is another person giving him problems.

Today marked the 3 year anniversary of their relationship. It was a quiet day at the agency, so (y/n) came to visit. Of course a bunch of the women pulled her into the break area to gossip. They were all talking and giggling when he was walking by. Hawks stopped to listen at the door when one giggling in particular reached his ears making him smile. The ladies wanted juicy details about Hawks and his lover’s relationship. He couldn’t stop the smile creeping up his face hearing her stutter out haste responses obviously embarrassed by their questions.

A couple more questions were thrown around and he put his hand on the door getting ready to barge in and save his poor baby like the hero he was. Hawks was half way through the door when one of the ladies asked about marriage making him halt. All eyes were on him, but his eyes were on (y/n)’s as his smile slowly fell. He shifted his gaze to the ground as he backed out the door, the sound of a chair being pulled back followed by the hurried steps of his lover close behind him. Her hand reached out and grasped the hand in an attempt to make him stop, which was successful and he turned to look at her, his face void of emotion.

“They were only joking, you know,” She said, hoping to lighten the mood, but there was some sort of panic or desperation hidden in her voice, Hawks could hear it.

He didn’t say anything, he only stared at her with a straight face. By the grace of whatever higher ups there were, his work phone went off signaling an emergency.

She squeezed his hand “I don’t know what’s going on in that head of yours, but know that I love you and I will listen if there anything you want to talk about when you come back, we can skip our dinner reservations and just chill at home if you want.”

“I can’t talk about this right now, ill see you at home,” He muttered, ripping his hand from her hold.

Keigo turned around, walking away from her, but not miss the shocked and pained look that spread over her face. As he walked towards his office, the employee’s mouths hung open in shock. With shame and guilt beginning to set in, Keigo quickened his pace to his destination, slamming the door behind him as he arrived. A frustrated sigh escaped his lips as his hands tugged at the untamed locks on his head. Pulling himself together, Keigo grabbed his gear and headed to the destination at which he was needed.

The mission was a breeze, but he didn’t return to the office, instead he opted to clear his mind soaring through the night time clouds. He flew out of the city bounds and landed on a tree that stood miles away, facing the glowing outline of the city. Hawks sat on one of the sturdier branches leaning against the thick core it sprouted from and closing his heavy eyes.

What was his issue? What had changed to make him act so harsh? God, (y/n) probably hates him now. Can’t say he would blame her though, he’s been nothing but a jerk to her these past couple of days. Damn, he was such an asshole at the office. Ignoring her, snapping at her, pushing her away when she had done nothing wrong.

But that’s not what she thought. These past days all she could do was pick her own mind over and over again. This has been going on for an entire month, nothing has been resolved, it only seems to be getting worse. She tried staying up and waiting till he got home to talk to him, but he was always home so late. (Y/n) tried calling, but that never got anywhere. It was alway go straight to voicemail. The same old:

“Heyyyyy, sorry I can’t answer at this moment. If its urgent or you have chicken that you can eat/ just want to give me chicken call my bussiness number at (***)***-****. Talk to ya later.”

She would alway leave a sweet and encouraging voicemail, sometime she would ask when he would be home, or if he maybe wanted to meet her for food or something.

So now here she sits at 1am, holding the tiny wrapped box she was going to give him for their anniversary while tears streamed down her face. Stuffed inside is a pregnancy test, they always joked about kids before this issue started. She found out about two weeks ago, deciding to wait to give it to him today, or yesterday, since she could never really get a hold of him lately.

She can’t do this much longer though, it was really starting to get to her, maybe it was the hormones talking, but it hurts nonetheless. No matter how she twisted it in her head she couldn’t understand where they went wrong. Setting the present on the counter, she walked to their shared bed room so she could grab a couple of necessities for the night. As of right now she was planning on crashing at a friends house who was already informed of (y/n)’s current predicament. Rumi Usagiyama always knew how to cheer her up.

After stuffing the duffle bag, (y/n) wrote a little note and left it at the edge of the night stand before grabbing the car keys and heading out the door. Making sure to turn off all the lights and lock the door on her way.

Unfortunately, in her rush she left the small box neatly wrapped bright colors and a golden bow resting forgotten on the counter.

It was hours till Keigo finally got the courage to head home to her for the night, or morning, as it was past 1 am. It felt cold inside, it felt empty. Keigo didn’t like it. Normally (y/n) kept the kitchen light on as she would always try and wait up for him when he came home.

The further he walked in the more he panicked, (y/n) wasn't passed out on the couch. Uneasiness settled deep in his gut as he started searching the apartment in a frenzy. Heading towards their bedroom, he froze at the door frame seeing, it was empty, she wasn’t there.

He started yelling out her name, desperate for some sort of response while he searched every room. Keigo checked his phone, nothing. He called her, no response. Maybe, she was somewhere outside. Yeah, (y/n) loved going on early morning walks.

While rushing back towards the front door, a shiny gold sparkle caught his eye. It stood out of place in the dark kitchen. The glittery glow illuminated from golden ribbons wrapped around a package all connecting to form a bow on the top.

Cautiously walking over to the counter he picked it up, immediately eyeing a tag that had flopped to the side. Two fingers grasped it, flipping it from one side to the other. On the opposite side was written ‘To: Keigo’ in the beautiful handwriting that could only belong to (y/n).

His heart sunk as guilt started eating away at him. Pulling the ends of the ribbons, he slowly unwrapped it, taking the lid off the small box. At first he was confused, inside was just a bunch of tissue paper and some kinda plastic stick. When Keigo saw the 2 bright red stripes going down one side, it clicked. It was a pregnancy test. A positive pregnancy test.

Keigo’s mind went blank as the world around him froze. Tears started racing down his now damp cheeks. God what has he done. After placing the stick back in the box and then shoving it in his coat pocket Keigo bolted to the closest window, phone in hand attempting to call her phone.

All calls went to voicemail. There was no sign of her anywhere. Keigo could feel his wings shake in panic and desperation. Two hours had gone by and there was nothing.

Where was his (y/n), where was his angel? The woman who put up with all his shit throughout the years. The woman who loved him unconditionally, even when she saw how truly broken of a man he was. The woman who worried for him, cared for him, healed him, knew him. The real him. The woman who was carrying their baby, the woman- the one he pushed away. The one who he ignored and made cry. The one he hurt.

He needed to find her, try to mend all his mistakes. Hell, beg on his knees for her to forgive him. Ask how he could make it up to her. Let him show her that he can be a better man for not only her, but their baby. Oh, god they were going to have a baby. Just the thought of the little chick, made his heart cry out of joy and love.

There was so much he had to say to her. So much time he wanted to make up for. He wanted, no, needed to hold her, encase her and their little chick away from the world in a cocoon of red feathers. But, first he had to find them.

Landing on the barren street he began searching on foot, choosing to call up a few other heros in hope that they had either seen her or would help search for her. No one had seen her, not even Rumi, her best friend, had heard from or seen her the whole day. The few heros that were awake in the early morning, including Endeavor and of course Rumi, went out to start looking for her.

Another hour went by and there was no news, at this point Rumi was using her phone to try and call her. As Rumi was calling, Keigo faintly heard the familiar tone of (y/n) ringtone.

It was faint, but if he followed its sound, it kept getting louder and louder, and almost seemed to be more distorted from its original sweet tone. He followed it right to the entrance of an alley. The ringing stopped signalling the reject of the call. Leading into the dark shadowy ally was a smeared red looking substance that glistened in the moonlight.

Rumi caught up to him, eyes following his gaze to the ground. She watched as her friend shakingly pulled his own phone from his pocket, calling (y/n). A lump formed in her throat as the ringtone of her best friend went off a couple feet before them as a light illuminated from the receiving device.

Neither of them could move as Endeavor came from behind them, witnessing the whole thing. Endeavor used his fire to create a light source, giving them a better view.

Before the heros was a blood splattered ground, all over the brick walls and objects on the ground. But there was not a source of where that blood might have come from. The reminisce of a duffle bag lay abandoned on the side next to a dumpster. It’s contents were scattered all around, ripped clothes and other items which blood splattered all over.

There was only one person who all there’s items belonged to. They all knew it. Especially Keigo.

He took a couple steps in stopping right before a bright screen in the center of it all. The device displayed warped images of the two of them on the shattered glass of the screen. Keigo could make out both of their faces, he was holding her on a bridge. Arms wrapped around each other, him kissing her blush covered cheek as she sweetly giggled.

Keigo fell to his knees in front of it. Rumi started wailing, yelling to (y/n) that this was not a joke, demanding she come out. Endeavor stepped to the side calling for backup and a forensic team.

Curling over his knees, Keigo started sobbing hysterically. His wings slumped to the ground shaking with every sob that racked through his body.

The phone kept ringing, as if it was mocking him. Ringing. Ringing. And ringing. Over and over again. Until it went on, until it stopped and caused his phone to go to voicemail. Her angelic voice came from his speake

“Sorry if I couldn’t answer right away, make sure to leave a message and i- hey! Keigo stop, no, Keig-,” “She obviously busy, if it is urgent call a hero or something,” “Keigo for God sake, give me my phone” “Leave a message or call later, i really don't care which,” “You dorky chicken leg, give it back!”

Then it cut out, ending the voice over. Her voice faded out, leaving his broken cries the only thing to be heard.

Keigo never moved, he sat there hurled over in the middle of the alleyway, wings splayed out over the ground.

Endeavor had to drag Keigo to his feet and haul him out of the way so that the investigators could get to work. He made Keigo sit on a bench by the front of the building next to the alley. A bunch of heros were trying to console Rumi through her mentally breakdown, as she cursed the world, threatening the worst to those who took her family.

Keigo stared back towards the ally littered with a team of investigators through blurry eyes. He felt his world come to an end. No damage he could or had taken amounted to his current pain. It squeezed at his chest and restricted his airways. He couldn’t control his muscles, everything ached from head to toe.

The one person who kept him from falling was stolen. Not even the wings on his back can keep him from falling into the cruel hell hole that is society.

Reaching into the coat pocket his coat pocket he pulled out the box, holding it in his lap. Tears once again spilling down his face. She was pregnant. They were going to have a baby. Someone took away his babies.

She always called Keigo her hero. She promised him that nothing would ever change that.

(Y/n) could be alive somewhere, the investigators came over and informed that there is no sign of a body, but a blood trail that leads to tire marks through one of the connecting alleyways.

Keigo is going to find her. He’s going to bring his babies home. Shower his angel in all the love she deserves. He’s going to fix everything.

Hands clutched the box in a tight grip as razor eyes narrowed at the alley. Keigo could feel his feathers sharpening from his state of anger. There was going to be Hell to pay. Blood to shed. Bones to break. May God have mercy on those who took (y/n), because Keigo will have none to give.

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Edit: I’m not sure if I should just leave it there or make a part 2 so let me know what all y’all think.

[kurlyfrasier]

Terrified: Part 3

Raph x Reader

Synopsis: Raph saves you from ruffians one night in an alley after watching out for you for weeks without you knowing. Which leads you to getting to know the guys and becoming part of the family. But Raph keeps a distance and you don’t understand why. 

Word Count: 1447

Warnings: I switched the readers pov to first person, just fyi. I thought maybe it would sound better.

I knew the moment I stepped out of Dusty Books and put my headphones on that he was watching. He was always watching. Following. Protecting. I made the mistake of asking him why once and still regret it to this day, because not only does he guard me home, but now his brothers do too. 

They take turns. And now I feel like a burden to all of them, not just to him.

I know it’s Raph’s turn because the other three will actually walk with me when they can, like through the alleys- which I am no longer afraid to walk through, thanks to them- and on the subway when it’s empty. But not him. Never him.

And I still didn’t know why he would barely look at me, let alone, talk to me.

Except on movie nights. Those were my favorite nights of the week. Those were the nights I got to cuddle with him and pretend to fall asleep so he would carry me to his bed. I had hoped he would share it with me, but alas, he never did.

His brothers and Master Splinter liked me just fine. So, why didn’t he? The thought had me rushing to the subway station, the sooner I got home the sooner I would stop bothering him. I got there just in time to jump on before the doors closed. I sat down with a huff and willed the sting of tears away.

Why didn’t Raph like me? He saved my life weeks ago (definitely more than a couple of months) and is still practically a stranger!

I spent the ride deep breathing, hoping maybe I could run home before he knew I had gotten off the train. It was only a few blocks, I could do it. I wanted to be strong. I wanted to be able to move on from him because, obviously, he wasn’t my biggest fan.

Would I have to stop going to the lair?

Maybe I could start texting one of the guys to make sure Raph isn’t there before heading over...except movie nights, of course. I’ll always see him on movie nights. I sighed, realizing I would have to give up on cuddling with him.

Maybe I could pretend nothing has changed on those nights?

This was going to be hard.

The train stopped and I stepped out, took an encouraging breath, and ran- holding tight to my backpack. Thankfully, I didn’t have to worry about anybody thinking I was crazy because, well, nobody ever got off here at this time except for me.

I felt his eyes on me the second I was visible to him on the sidewalk. I also knew- somehow- that he was furious. My headphones fell off, landing hard on my shoulders as I continued to run.

“Y/n,” he shouted.

I ignored him on the rooftops and made a sharp turn into the very alley he saved me in, almost slipping on the wet pavement. I hadn’t thought it rained that day, but maybe it had.

“Y/n!” Raph roared, sounding much closer than before.

I pushed myself faster, harder. I was almost to the end of the alley when BAM! Raph stood before me in all of his furious glory. I always thought I would be scared of a man with a temper, but I’m not. Not with Raph, at least. His fury was beautiful. His eyes shone emerald, chest heaving as he pinned me with his gaze. I stood there frozen, breathing just as heavy as he.

“What’s wrong?” He asked through clenched teeth, scrutinizing our surroundings for… something.

“Well?” He demanded, eyes raking up and down my form. I would’ve smiled if I thought he found me attractive, but I knew better. He was only looking for injuries. He did this every time I walked into the lair, toothpick between his teeth, and grunt of approval before walking away when he saw I was unharmed.

“Who’s after you?” He said once his eyes met mine once more, confident, like always.

“Nobody,” I whispered.

“Then why were you running as if someone was about to murder you!” He shouted, no longer able to keep the anger contained.

“I just...felt like running?” I answered, looking at his fascinating feet. Everything about him was fascinating. Everything.

“Come on,” he huffed out, picking me up as if I were a toddler and holding me on his side

Quickly, I wrapped my arms around his neck, taking advantage of the proximity.

“Hold on,” he told me, jumping up to climb the building to the roof.

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You sprinted out of the station as if Shredder was after you himself. Raph stayed for a few seconds to wait for the idiot who scared you. Whoever he was, he would pay. When nobody came out he ran inside to find nobody there. With a growl, he ran back out to the rooftops, shouting after you as he followed you to the alley where he cut you off, chest heaving as he tried calming down from the chase.

What were you so afraid of? There had to be something that spooked you because there was no way you would be running as if your life depended on it knowing that he or his brothers were following you home.

To protect you, of course.

Definitely not to get every moment he possibly could with you.

“What’s wrong?” He asked, teeth clenched as he searched the surroundings for any danger.

“Well?” He demanded, finding nothing as he checked you for blood.

“Who’s after you?” He said, finally able to breathe when he didn’t see any outward injuries. If he had the right to strip you, he would. 

If anything were to happen to you…. He mentally shook his head, ridding himself of the thought. Nothing was going to happen to you. Not while he and his brothers were around. He made them promise, even though he doubted he needed to. They loved you almost as much as he did.

“Nobody,” you whispered, your eyes watery, causing his fisted hands to clench. Had someone made you cry? He was going to kill the bastard. Nobody made you cry. Nobody.

“Then why were ya running as if someone was about ta murder ya!” Raph shouted, unable to hold back now that he knew you weren’t in danger.

“I just...felt like running?” You squeaked out, staring at the ground.

“Come on,” he breathed out, placing you on his hip. You immediately wrapped your arms around his neck as if this were a normal, everyday thing he did.

“Hold on,” he said under his breath, jumping for the rooftop so he could carry you home. If you were scared or wanted to get home faster, all you had to do was ask.

All you had to do for anything from him was ask.

Raph opened your window once he got to it and watched you climb in with a quiet ‘goodnight.’ He wanted to press you for answers because there was no way he believed your lie about wanting to run. You never ran anywhere that he knew of, so why would you suddenly start running now? But you looked so weary he didn’t have the heart to ask. Besides, tomorrow was movie night. He didn’t want to leave you on bad terms. He didn’t want anything to mess with movie night. So instead, he hopped up to your roof and stayed there for the night, listening to you weep for hours until you finally fell asleep.

His heart broke at the sound. 

He wanted to hold you tight and tell you everything would be okay.

He wanted to choke the bastard who did this to you.

He vowed to figure it out during movie night as he ran home with angry tears in his eyes.

“Whoa dude, what’s wrong?” Mikey asked as Raph stomped through the lair.

“Nothin’, Mikey,” he spat out before stopping in his tracks. Maybe Mikey could help him? “Actually, somethin' is wrong with Y/n.”

“Yo!” Mikey yelled out loud enough to reach every corner of the lair. “Bros! Something happened to Y/n.” Less than a minute later Raph’s three brothers and Master Splinter were waiting for an explanation.

“Yes, my son? What has happened?” Master Splinter patiently asked.

At the end of his short tale, they were all nodding in agreement to figure out what was wrong. Unfortunately none of them knew which turtle you would open up to the easiest, so they figured they would take turns. Starting with Mikey to cheer you up when he left later to walk you back to the lair.

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Part 4