#i would look dead in the eye to a teacher explaining something and not hear a word about what they were saying

[isadibus]

I was trying to organise my bedroom when I found an old notebook where I wrote one of the most ADHD and daydream things I ever read, and I think I didn't knew what these words meant when I wrote it.

It says:

"Sometimes I think I have a curse and a blessing at the same time.

I will focus on something so deeply that I forget everything around me, I forget about myself or others, I can be looking at something and don't see anything; only the thing I'm focusing about exists.

It can be a video, a project, draw or even just thinking of an idea.

That's untill something brings me back suddenly to reality.

And lately, I feel reality more and more disgusting.

So sometimes, I try to stay out longer.

It's a problem, don't you think?"

I be getting a little too much poetic when I am sad

[colonelarr0w]

singledad! nanami having the hots for yuji’s kindergarten teacher who has the tendency to overwork herself to the bone in the name of her precious students

he gets her to unwind with him 🫣 they fuck LMAOOOLLL

Sypnosis - Read above request.

Pairing - !SingleDad Nanami x !Kindergarten Teacher Reader

Warning(s) - None besides some foul language.

Word Count - 2.6k

A/N - Hi, yes, okay, I know the request had a smut element to it, but I took a fluffy route. If you want a part two that has that smut element or an alternate version that focuses on that smut element, please send me a request and I will get to it as quickly as I can! But I hope you enjoy reading this just as much as I enjoyed writing it!

! PIECE BEGINS UNDERNEATH THE CUT !

ENCOUNTER 1 : 

“There! He’s over there!” Yuuji says happily, his grip over your hand tightening as he points to a blonde-haired man standing in the crowd of awaiting parents. You follow his gaze, smiling kindly as the man lifts his hand in a wave, grinning at both you and Yuuji.  

“Alright, off you go then,” you smile down at Yuuji, releasing his hand and watching as the six-year-old toddles over to his father, wrapping his arms around the taller man’s leg and smiling widely up at him. His father stands straight, waving once more to you before vanishing into the crowd. 

ENCOUNTER 2 : 

"Mr. Nanami, correct?" You cast a glance down at your clipboard before your gaze returns to the blonde male standing in front of you. He nods, smiling apologetically as Yuuji tugs once again on his arm, trying his hardest to get his father's attention. "You can both come inside." 

Nanami smiles again as he walks past you, taking a seat on the too-small chairs that you had set up in the center of the classroom. His knees curl up to his chest, but he says nothing as you sit in front of him, smiling first at Yuuji before your gaze shifts to settle on him.  

"Yuuji is an absolute pleasure to have in class. He's very helpful with others and myself, he focuses on each task he's given – he's a very gifted student," you explain, lifting up the pages on your clipboard and smiling as Yuuji's toothy grin widens, gleeful with the praise you were giving him.  

"Is that so? I'm very glad to hear that," Nanami nods, turning then to Yuuji and placing a palm over the top of his head. The six-year-old giggles, leaning into his father's touch with a closed-eye smile.  

You watch the interaction with a gentle smile of your own, fingers releasing their hold on the papers of your clipboard and listening as they quietly fall into place.  

ENCOUNTER 3 : 

"Papa, look! It's Miss (Y/N)," Yuuji bubbles happily, tugging on Nanami's pant leg and pointing in the direction that he had seen you. Curious, Nanami allows his gaze to follow Yuuji's finger – the scolding he wanted to give about pointing falling dead in his throat.  

You're preoccupied with whatever shopping list is curled between your fingers, lips pressed firmly together in thought as you struggle to decide which brand of potato chips to buy. Nanami can't help but silently admire you from his place farther down the same aisle. His lips tug upward in a soft smile – maybe one day he would have enough courage to stride up to you. 

ENCOUNTER 4 : 

"Oh, hello. Did Yuuji forget something at home?" you inquire curiously, raising an eyebrow as a very disheveled Nanami straightens himself out in front of you. His fingers fiddle with his tie, trying to make it look a touch more presentable – but to no avail.  

"I apologize for my appearance, this morning has been hectic. But yes, Yuuji accidentally left his lunchbox," Nanami answers, holding up the small metal lunchbox decorated with superhero stickers – some scratched and some brand new.  

You smile gently at him, reaching out to take the lunchbox from his fingers. "Don't worry, we all have those mornings," you say reassuringly, chuckling gently at Nanami. He returns your smile, cheeks warming at the lingering feeling that your fingers had left behind.  

ENCOUNTER 5 :  

"Hey, isn't that Yuuji's teacher?" Gojo asks, lifting his index finger to point across the bar. Nanami's eyes follow Gojo's finger – which then widen at the sight of you mingling with a few friends, nursing a fruity cocktail in your hand.  

Nanami hums in response, trying his hardest to return his attention to his drink, but your outfit is much too tight, pushing up exactly what needs to be pushed up and making your figure just that much more attractive. Behind his eyeglasses, his gaze roams up and down the dips and curves of your body, his lips quirking up in tune with his wandering eyes.  

"Yeah, it is," he mutters offhandedly, lifting his glass to his lips and resting it against the skin there. Gojo smirks, lowering his finger before standing from his place at the bar. Nanami's eyebrows pinch together in curiosity, watching the snowy-haired male swagger his way across the bar – not stopping until he reaches where you stand with your friends, then throwing a slender arm over your shoulders.  

The once loose grip Nanami had over his glass is replaced by a tight curl of his fingers, one that could surely shatter the glass should he apply the right amount of pressure. His eyes narrow in an almost predatory manner – watching as Gojo smiles at both you and the friends that had come along with you.  

You return his smile and laugh at the cheesy jokes that he throws your way, but Nanami can see the hint of discomfort that lies behind the curl of your lips. Oh, so that was Gojo's plan. 

Downing the rest of the whiskey in his glass, Nanami stands from his place at the bar, striding across the small space until he stands just a few inches away from you, your friends, and Gojo – the latter of whom is wearing that shit-eating grin he always wears when his plans work out just the way that he wanted them to.  

"Oh! Mr. Nanami! I didn't expect to see you out here," you say, turning quickly to glance at the blonde as he wanders into your line of vision. Your smile, once uncomfortable and forced, was now that same smile that you flashed at him when you noticed him at dismissal. "It's nice to see you." 

Nanami's cheeks heat, and he silently thanks the bar for being so dim, its lighting hiding the gentle pink hue that imbues over his face. "It's nice to see you as well Miss (Y/N)," Nanami nods at you, feeling himself smile as you shift an inch closer to him.  

"Oh, would you like to join me at the bar? Your friends can as well, if they'd like," Nanami offers, shooting Gojo a pointed glare. Gojo only smirks, shrugging his shoulders indifferently. That bastard. 

You glance to your friend, who nods encouragingly at you. You turn back to Nanami, smiling at his offer and reaching a hand out to squeeze his arm – your touch lights a small fire underneath his skin, one that he most certainly does not complain about.  

"We'd love to, thank you." 

ENCOUNTER 6 : 

"Where's your father Yuuji?" Your voice is a quiet mumble, your fingers still closed around Yuuji's as the both of your gazes sift through the crowd of awaiting parents – and yet Nanami is nowhere to be seen. The pink-haired boy sinks back onto his heels, a saddened look falling over his face as he leans into your side.  

"I don't know," he mumbles in response, his eyes already glossing over with tears. You soften, kneeling down to be at eye-level with the boy and smiling as reassuringly as you can at him. "Did he forget me?" 

You shake your head quickly, squeezing the tiny hand that still rests in yours. Yuuji sniffles, his cheeks puffing out in an adorable pout. "No! No honey, your father did not forget you. It could just be that work is keeping him a little later." 

Seemingly satisfied with your explanation, Yuuji nods, rubbing his free hand against his tear-filled eyes, sniffling. You smile again, squeezing his fingers before guiding him back to the entrance of your classroom.  

He follows, sitting down at his seat and taking the coloring sheets and colored pencils that you offer him, already scribbling away at the black-and-white monkey that laid in front of him. You take the seat at his left, feeling your heart warm as Yuuji tilts the sheet towards you – a silent invite for you to color with him.  

You take one of the colored pencils that he offers you, coloring in a small section of the page and occasionally looking up to your classroom door – where the hell was Nanami?  

"Wait here for a moment Yuuji, I'm going to call your father, okay?" You lift a hand to ruffle the boy's hair, smiling at him before silently moving towards the chorded phone tucked into the corner of your classroom, located just behind your desk.  

Just as you finish dialing in the now familiar number, the door to your classroom opens, revealing a disheveled Nanami. He leans quietly against the doorframe for a moment, catching his breath before Yuuji turns, smiling widely at the sight of his father.  

"Papa!" 

You turn from where you stand beside the phone, smiling in relief as you watch Yuuji bound up to Nanami, wrapping his little arms halfway around his father's legs.  

"There you are. I have to admit, I was getting a little worried about you," you admit with a smile, waving to Nanami as you walk closer to the pair, watching through softened eyes as Yuuji reaches for his completed coloring page, wanting to show his father.  

"I apologize for my lateness. I had not expected my office to keep me as late as they did," Nanami apologizes, bowing his head at you. You wave him off, then folding your fingers together in front of you.  

"It's not an issue at all. Though you did give Yuuji quite the scare," you admit, not failing to notice the way that Nanami's smile fades for a quick moment, but returns when Yuuji lifts his coloring page up to him.  

"Oh," he hums, turning to Yuuji and laying a palm against the youngster's head, lovingly ruffling his hair. "I apologize Yuuji, I didn’t mean to frighten you." 

"It's okay Papa! Miss (Y/N) and I colored together!" Yuuji bubbles, his eyes crinkling in a wide smile as his eyes momentarily flicker to you. "See? I made this one look like you." 

Nanami smiles fondly, then turning to you and once again mouthing his thanks. You merely wave him off, watching with a smile of your own as Yuuji continues to explain each little character that he had colored in.  

ENCOUNTER 7 : 

"Good morning Miss (Y/N)!" Yuuji exclaims happily, smiling brightly up at you as Nanami leads him forward, releasing the little boy's hand as he tugs his father towards you.  

Biting back the yawn that rises in your throat, you will yourself to smile back at your student, waving politely at him and watching through half-lidded eyes as he lets go of Nanami's hand. He opens his mouth to question you, but is immediately distracted by the call of one of his friends.  

"Good morning Miss (Y/L/N)," Nanami bows politely at you, one that you return clumsily. His eyebrows pinch together in a mixture of curiosity and concern – you weren't acting like your regular self. Your once bubbly attitude and bright greetings were replaced now by half-assed "good morning's" and small waves that carried none of your usual warmth.  

"Morning Mr. Nanami," you return, your smile wobbling as your eyes flicker to meet his own. It's then that he notices the exhaustion that weighs heavy on your eyelids, practically tugging them down to a point where you look as though you're about to fall asleep standing upright.  

"Are you feeling alright this morning?" 

"Oh yes, just tired is all," you wave off his concern, smiling once again at him before a comfortable yet uncomfortable silence falls over the both of you. "I'll be seeing you later?" 

"Yes, have a good day," Nanami smiles at you, his heart warming when you return it – though it doesn't quite reach your eyes that way that it would normally. You wave again at him as he walks off, then turning to your awaiting students and clapping your hands once together.  

ENCOUNTER 8 : 

"Oh! Miss (Y/N)! My papa wanted to talk to you after school today," Yuuji mentions to you, smiling as he glances up from the worksheet that he had been previously occupied with. Your eyebrows pinch together in intrigue, glancing down at the pink-haired boy and tilting your head at him.   

"Alright then, I'll be waiting for him," you reply with a kind smile, then continuing your routine check on the rest of your students, being sure that none of them were struggling with the work that you had handed out.  

< … > 

"Yuuji mentioned that you wanted to speak with me?"  

Nanami swallows the growing lump in his throat, suddenly feeling oddly choked up as you stand in front of him, lifting his hand to scratch at the back of his neck. His shirt feels tighter than before, the air surrounding him is suddenly hotter than it had been previously.  

"Yes – uhm – my apologies if I am taking up your time," Nanami begins, fiddling with his fingers and scratching at already existing hangnails, "but there is something that I wanted to ask of you." 

You smile kindly at him, a gentle laugh falling from your parted lips – a sound that Nanami wishes that he could commit to the very depths of his memory.  

"You're not wasting my time at all," you're quick to reassure him, your gaze momentarily flickering to Yuuji as he takes advantage of the empty classroom, organizing the books in your small-shelved library.  

Nanami inhales deeply, holding the breath in his chest and wondering if what he was about to ask would make you view him in a different light – though he sincerely hoped that you wouldn't.  

"I was wondering...and forgive me if this is too forward...if you would like to join me for coffee sometime this weekend?" His voice is dangerously quiet, a light shake to his voice as the fear of being rejected finally sinks into his bones – maybe he shouldn’t have said anything at all.  

Your laughter dies down, fading completely as you stare at Nanami – you certainly hadn't expected him to ask you that.  

Just as Nanami opens his mouth to apologize again, you cut him off.  

"I'd love to." 

With cheeks dusted pink and a smile that could only be compared to a lovesick fool, Nanami glances up at you, feeling his chest warm at the sight of your dimpled cheeks and crinkled eyes.  

< ... > 

"So that's how you and Papa fell in love?" Yuuji tilts his head curiously, biting back his yawn as he nestles further into his comforters. You smile gently at him, reaching a hand out to affectionately ruffle his hair, threading your fingers through his pink locks.  

"That's exactly how Papa and I fell in love. He took me for coffee that very weekend, and the rest is history," you recall with a lovesick smile plastered onto your face. Yuuji smiles sleepily, a sight that you mentally commit to memory.  

"I'm happy you and Papa met," Yuuji whispers adorably, yawning again before his heavy eyes finally flutter shut, exhaustion taking over him. You smile again, leaning forward to place a gentle kiss against his forehead before you stand from his bed. 

You turn your head, jumping at the sight of Nanami standing in the doorframe to Yuuji's bedroom, leaning against it with crossed arms and a gentle smile on his face. "How long were you there for?" Your voice is almost accusatory as you walk into your husband's arms, resting your own around his neck and tracing your fingernails along his nape.  

"Long enough to hear you retell that story for – what – the eighty-fifth time?" Nanami perks an eyebrow at you, leaning down to slot his lips against yours. You hum against his mouth, tugging him a bit closer and biting playfully at his bottom lip.  

He pulls away after a moment, the tip of his nose affectionately brushing against your own, his large hands squeezing playfully at your waist.  

"And every time I tell it, you hang off of my every word, don't you?"  

Nanami smiles, his lips ghosting over your own as he tugs you impossibly closer, your chest pressed flush against his own.  

"That I do." 

[gaypirate420]

Stars // Jasper W. Hale.

Jasper Whitlock-Hale x gn!reader.

Summary: You're bored in class and doodle on Jasper's arm.

Fluff. Jasper's Battle Scars.

A yawn scaped your lips as you stared down at your teacher as she gives a lecture that is not registering on your mind at all. She's talking something about the history of Forks, you don't care, she's boring and it's making you sleepy.

You stared down at your notes, empty except for today's date, your eyes travel to your right to find Jasper actually paying attention and writing down what he finds useful.

"Isn't that a bit useless?" You whisper to him, Jasper's eyes meet yours and he smirks, he raised an eyebrow.

"Writing down notes for history, I mean, I don't think you need notes, you where there." You explained, whispering very low the last part, Jasper lean over closer to you.

"I don't, but you need them, darlin'." He whispered back with a small smile. You smiled and felt your cheeks warming up after hearing the nickname. Your hand went up to his messy hair and brush it down with your fingers, he smiled at your action and let you be.

He quickly stealed a kiss off your cheek and kept paying attention to the class as if nothing happened while you felt your cheeks burning.

Jasper saw how your attention went to anything but the class, you took your pencil case that's full of scrunched up post its and colorful pens and started doodling on your notebook.

Jasper doesn't mind helping you, he gets to spend more time with you and you get a handsome vampire tutor to explain you what you missed over and over if necessary and never gets angry.

The vampire looks back at the teacher, as he hears your pen moving all around the page.

He feels you lifting the sleeves of his sweater and cursing under your breath when you found his dress shirt.

"So many layers, can't even get cold." You murmur teasinly, if it wasn't from his increased hearing he would miss little things like this. Jasper smirks and continues to write before he feels the pen against his marble skin.

He stayed still for a second, his eyes moved to look at you.

You can't see them, his scars, not all of them. But the ones you do seem to be treated with extreme care as you started doodling on his pale arm.

They don't itch, they don't hurt, but, for him, it felt so nice, so important.

Jasper felt flustered, almost like his dead hearth skipped a beat at the sight of the tender scene.

You drew stars, it felt right. You smiled widely as you keep adding more and more, along with little hearts and even a flower on his forearm.

"Do you like your tattoos?" You whispered with the cutest smile he's ever seen. Jasper nodded.

"You're very talented, pumpkin." He could feel your heart skipping and of course your emotions going wild. He smiles as your happiness rub off on him.

"Now you do mine." You offered your pen to him, Jasper looked back at the teacher who spoke nonsense by now, he could make the teacher look like fool on another day for now he smiles and picks up the pen.

His icy cold fingers gently grabbed your arm, bringing it closer to him, you felt a shiver down your body at the sensation.

Your felt the tingly sensation of the pen against your arms, making you giggle silently.

Jasper drew flowers, some skulls that matched your wristband and of course, stars. Your eyes admired him, his blonde hair falling on his face and his furrowed eyebrows showing the absolute dedication to this task.

"There, sugar." He spoke gently, you looked at your arm and grabbed his hand. You saw his wrist and with your free hand you passed two of your bracelets from your wrist to his.

Jasper smiled again, it's odd for him to doing that so many times on so little time, he's getting giddy in the best way possible.

"Now we match." You spoke with an excited whisper. Jasper nodded, your eyes went wide with an idea.

"We should wear matching outfits one day." You smiled wider at the thought. The vampire nodded in agreement.

"That's a great idea, dear." His golden eyes looked at you before he leaned and kissed your lips.

"Mister Hale." The teacher called his name and he pulled away from you, your cheeks were burning again and you looked at the floor in embarrassment.

"I'm sorry, Miss." Jasper spoke with a victorious smirk as the teacher's frown disappears and turns into a smile, and of course the rest of the class magically turning their heads from you and Jasper.

"Don't worry about it." The teacher spoke with a following chuckle before returning to give her lecture. You giggle softly and shaked your head in mocking disapproval.

Jasper steals another quick peek on your lips before focusing back to writing notes for you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N: Little fluffy one shot for y'all, I'm working on the requests do not worry. Hope you like it!

[rey-129-fan]

Gotham-Amity Co-op AU Part 3

Part 1 | Previous | Next

“Hola beauties, and welcome back to Fashionable History, I’m Paulina,”

“And I’m Star, and on this channel, we teach you how to be at the height of fashion, no matter what time period you find yourself in.”

“Now for our long-time viewers who missed our community posts, you might be wondering about the change in location.  Well, we are moving up in the world.  That’s right, fam, we are officially-

“College girlies!” The two shouted into the camera.

“Ah, such a big step,” ‘Star’ sighed.

“Indeed it is.  And to celebrate, let us dress up like we’re going to meet the queen of fashion herself: Marie Antoinette!”

***

“So you would think it would be hard to demonstrate Amity Park’s weirdness while no longer living there, but you would be wrong,” a black man said into the camera while walking down a hallway, his glasses fallen ever so slightly down his nose.  There were voices in the background progressively getting louder.  “You see, Danny’s mentor popped by this morning, and apparently, he decided that the perfect way to tutor Danny and piss off his bosses at the same time was to allow a bunch of college kids to summon a historical figure of their choosing to discuss their area of expertise.  Once a week.

“Jazz got to go first.”

The black man stopped in a doorway.  Much clearer in the background was a woman’s even voice.  “And Jazz, being the future psychologist that she is, picked the most sex-obsessed man in history.”

The camera flipped to show a young red-head sitting across an older man with a white beard in a blue three piece suit.  In the background was a younger man, his blue eyes glazed over as he sat there sipping from his mug, his head of black hair bobbing as he fought to stay awake.  Really, it wouldn’t gather a second glance, except for the tiny detail that the older man’s skin was as green as a sunburnt person’s was red.

“-indeed homosexuality is not an illness, and in fact the only link between it and mental health has been observed to be caused by familial and community reactions.”

“That is good to hear.  Indeed, many people throughout history were homosexual, and a lot of them did not show any other signs of mental illnesses.”

“It is.  However, with the recent pushes for public acceptance of those not heterosexual, many have come forward with sexual orientations beyond just hetero and homosexuality, including those that are attracted to both men and women at the same time, as well as those who experience no sexual attraction or are completely repulsed by the idea of anything sexual.”

The camera flipped back to the first man.  “She is explaining how psychology has developed in the last 100 years without trying to rip apart Freud’s work.

“This isn’t even the first time something like this has happened.  Occasionally, we’d get guest speakers that would turn out to be some famous author or pioneer in their field.  It’s how our English teacher got his copy of the Tempest signed by the original author.  I think this might be the first one that won’t end in a raid by government idiots in white, though.

“So yeah, we occasionally get to talk to dead celebrities and don’t bat an eye at it.  Amity Park is very weird.”

***

“Danny!  You left your cups in the sink again!”

“How can you tell it’s mine?”

“They’re glowing green and you’re the only one that drinks ectoplasm!  Now take care of them before you bring the food to life again!”

“Fine…”

The camera pans over to a goth woman giving the camera a flat look.  On screen, there’s some text that reads: ‘When your boyfriend forgets to clean off his dishes after his mildly radioactive smoothies.’

***

“Urgh!” Just die you stupid, lazy skeleton!”

“How long is this attack going to be!”

“I don’t care, because when it’s finally my turn, I am going to stab the dust out of this depressed sack of bones!”

On screen was a couch, and on that couch sat 3 young adults, two women and one man.  One of the women was Valarie Gray, US National Taekwondo Silver Medalist, was jabbing her thumb down on the d-pad of her controller, lips pulled back in a snarl.  The other was Samantha Manson, more known for the TikTok channel Our Strange Lives.  The man was a muscular blond.  All three were focusing on the screen, their eyes emitting faint light and Valarie’s teeth seemed to be getting sharper.

Quietly a blond woman walked on screen, a backpack slung over her shoulder.  The woman was Star Strong from Fashionable History.

“You guys are still streaming?”

“This boss is stupid difficult and Manson and Gray are the only ones willing to play.”

“What happened to the guys?”

“Fowley, Wes, Singh all had work.  Fenton got to the first boss and then lost it because ‘Goat Mom just wanted to protect us’ before getting a call from his lil sis asking for help.  Kwan is working on a lab with a guy from his chem class, and Kyle passed out a couple hours ago.”

“Stop dodging!”

“Wanna play?”

“Can’t.  Going to the library to study for a calc exam I have coming up.  See you guys later.”

“Later.”

“FUC-”

***

“And so, with this polaroid image, we have evidence to prove that-”

“Hey, Wes, do you have something I can use for a collage?  Oh sweet, thanks bro!”

“What?  No!  Kyle!  Get back with that! That was the proof I was going to use to prove the existence of Yetis!”

“Oh damn.  This is some nice creature work!  Danny, your friend has an incredible costume, man!”

“Thanks, Kyle!  I’ll pass it on!”

***

Tim paused the video right as Wesley Weston stood to chase his older brother.

There.

The red-head’s eyes had a slight glow to them.  Tim clicked over to the other images he had gathered of the Amity Park teens, all with their eyes glowing or other signs of something inhuman.

Tim had been introduced to this group by Stephanie when she found a martial arts demonstration Gray did that involved breaking multiple boards, all several feet above her head.  Stephanie had meant it as a ‘check out his cool person doing what we’re doing,’ but Tim noticed something.  All the boards were being held by seemingly the same person- or at least people dressed very similarly.  And not in a way where they’re sitting on a ledge above Gray and are switching out the board each time she broke one.  More that there were multiple companies of the same white glove all holding a board and all floating several feet above where they should have been.  That was already a little weird, but it could’ve been some special effects or just a uniform.

No, what caught Tim���s attention was the quick glimpse of the face of one of the board holders.  It was youthful- late teens- but with paper white hair that showed no signs of bleaching.  Now these features would have been a thing to cement the mysterious person in Tim’s mind.  But it wasn’t that.

No, what got Tim to do some digging to find out about a previously unknown supposed hero from a small town that has been blacked-out by the US government, was his eyes.

His calm, glowing Lazarus green eyes.

***

So we finally get a taste for the shenanigans our liminals are up to. Sam, Tucker, and Danny all share a TikTok where they show off how weird the other two are and how weird their town is. Wes is trying to prove cryptids exist, which Kyle ruins. Dash has a gaming stream that most often Kwan joins in on, and Paulina and Star do dress history. Oh, and Valarie is a national taekwondo because karate has only been an event for one Olympic games, but taekwondo has been an event since 2000 and Val seems more like a kicker than a thrower. Plus, I actually took taekwondo when I was younger.

We do get another Bat showing up at the end. There is absolutely no plot, however, so who knows where this is going. Certainly not me!

I'm still looking for names (please, I need them). As for majors:

Jazz-Psych (obviously)

Kyle- Liberal Arts (I wanna put him in accounting, but Liberal Arts works for now)

Tuck- Comp Sci

Danny- Poly Sci, minor in Astronomy

Sam- Double Poly Sci and Environmental Science

Val- Criminal Justice

Dash- Undecided (both me and him)

Kwan- Pre-Med for now, though he wants to do Child Development/Education

Paulina- Fashion Marketing

Star- Sports Science

Mikey- Music

Wes- Journalism

[pbnbucks]

Kate x Reader!

Strangers, Friends, Lovers, Strangers Again.

word count : 1733

warnings : sad, non happy ending, cursing, crying, toxic relationship, cheating

summary : basically the title, you and kate met when it was your 3rd year and her 6th… once kate was drafted your relationship completely fell apart

From Strangers…

flashback:

after a long day you’re finally walking up the stairs to the top floor to get to your dorm and when you think your day can get any worse you feel a sharp hit in your shoulder, you turn your body to face a Tall, Blonde Woman. “watch where your going asshole” she rolls your eyes at you and you can tell bye her body language you just pissed her off even more then she already was “me watch out? your the one who bumped into me so cry me a river and get over it im not in the mood to deal with this shit right now” theres no way she just said that “are you serious? your mad cause you couldn’t watch where your going? get over yourself and just watch where your going next time” you turn around and walk away hearing her mumble something under her breath. when you thought your night couldn’t get any worse it just did.

To Friends…

flashback:

your close friend has recently been complaining about you being distance and lonely which you didn’t mind but she wanted to see you, so she invited you to the bar with her. “so whats been going on recently you’ve been so distant” and she was right honestly, you have been so busy with school recently to notice that you’re taking her for granted, she is a great friend and you wish you have reached out more. “i know i know school has just been so busy and my annoying family sciences teacher has been so annoying and trying to fail me i’ve distanced myself from everyone.” you where trying to explain yourself but she just kept looking behind you “what?” you say trying to grab your attention “theres a tall blonde staring at you. change of words, you want to tell me who’s made you distant recently?” you shift your body around in you seat to look at who she was talking about and to your luck she was talking about the girl in the hallway from 2 weeks ago… “oh my gosh.. she walked right into me about 2 weeks ago and she had a terrible attitude as if it wasn’t her fault, i actually cursed her out when it happened shes probably still pissed.” she she just looked at you stupid “you know shes on the basketball team right? thats Kate Martin dude, she would probably beat your ass to be honest…” you immediately get offended and quickly back yourself up “come on now i would fuck her up easily, she stands no chance” she just smiles and nods at you comment “well why don’t you tell her that yourself she walking up to you.” your heart drops as you look back to Kate walking towards you just to look back to see your friend ditching you and walking to the bathrooms looking back at you just to laugh at you. you quickly try to get up just to be stopped by Kate in front of you not letting you leave. “look if you just here to complain-” she rolls her eyes at you “can you quit acting like your better then me for a second and hear me out?” you want to argue but just decide to cross your arms and let her talk. “look i just wanted to apologize for what happened and apologize for you bumping into me.” theres no way she could be serious. your whole face expression changes and she smirks knowing she had a impact on your emotions, she knows what shes doing. “so your telling me you came over to me just to state that it was my fault. your the most immature person i’ve ever met, now if you would move out my way so i can go back to my friend that would be lovely.” except she doesn’t move, nor does she remove her famous smirk from her face. “calm down im just messing with you. actually i was telling my friends about it and they where telling me i should get your number.” at first you thought she was joking but she was dead serious as she points to her friend group, you look over her tall frame to see a tall brunette, 2 tall light skins, one with pretty eyes and the other with a low slick back bun, and a bunch of other tall blondes. you debate on giving her number but eventually give in. “now when i text you, you better text me back, i know where you live.” you laugh at her statement watching her walk away staring at her for a moment to turn back to see your friend walking back. “so how’d it go?” “you wont believe it” you turn around to look at her and you see her, and the group of girls your with staring at you and your friend then turn there heads to quickly look away “so first she…”

Friends Into Lovers….

flashback:

Kate💙 6:43

can you come over? i

want to talk to you. you

yea of course! omw.

Kate💙

text me when your

outside.

you

i will im about

5 mins away.

read 6:45

you aren’t confused or concerned because this isn’t a un normal thing with Kate. she often asks you to come over to either watch movies, help with homework, or just because shes bored and wants to see her best friend.

kate’s POV:

“caitlin what if she says no and gets weirded out” i look at my room to see the poster i made on my bed filled with pictures of me and my best friend throughout the 3 months surrounding the big red words saying ‘will you be my girlfriend?’ my hearts pounding thinking about the worst thing she can say. “Kate shes not going to say no you guys already act like a married couple there is no way in a million years she would say no.”

Y/N 👅❤️

im walking up the stairs

right now. kate💙

alright my doors unlocked

sent 6:58

“caitlin shes here i have to hangout up.” “alright Kate just remember she will say yes just be confident.” i say bye as i hang up on her.

your POV:

you open her door to see her pacing around her dorm. “Kate are you okay? what happened?” the looks at you shaking and you can see that shes obviously nervous about something “i need to show you something.” she says quietly. “okay?” you follow behind her trying to hope that she will return back to her normal self. she opens her bedroom door to a big poster with pictures and words on it that you cant quite make out but as soon as you get closer she grabs it and holds it up so you can see. in bright red words it reads ‘will you be my girlfriend?’ you stand there in shock with your mouth open not knowing what to say other then just freaking out because its her. of course you want to be her girlfriend. “so will you?…” a big smile forms onto your face and you burst out laughing. “of course i will Kate oh my gosh your so cute.” she lets go of the breath she didn’t even know she was holding. she walks up to you giving you a big hug not letting go for at least a minute and you pull away to see the board laying down on her bed again, you see multiple pictures that there where surprisingly so many pictures of you together in only the span of 3 months. “oh my gosh i remember that, thats when i suprised you at your opening game of the season. who even took a picture of that?” she started to blush trying to hide her face “i think everyone took a picture of that moment but im pretty sure i used gabbies.” you pull her into a side hug finally feeling whole again now that you finally didn’t have to worry about someone else being her peace.

And Strangers Again.

present:

you woke up to your phone blowing up with 35 messages and calls from friends, family, and Kate. you knew it couldn’t be something good. you open your friends text first

look at your tagged post

on instagram y/n.

okay? whats going on?

just look.

read 1:34

you open instagram to 569 notifications from being tagged in a post followed by Kate and a few of her teammates being tagged in it also. the video started of slow with her teammate Kelsey in a bar talking in the video on a live and then she adjust the camera frame only to see your girlfriend and her teammate aja Wilson in the background of the live kissing on each other with their other teammates surrounding them. you should’ve expected it would happened and part of you did since she was drafted but you didn’t want to believe Kate could ever be like that. you tried to look for a mistake in the video hoping it could be editing or she could just be in a weird position of hugging or anything else, but it was obvious that they where making out in front of 160k people on the live, it was humiliating not only for you hut the entire team as well. as soon as Kelsey saw what she just did she moved them out the camera frame and ended the live. you went to your texts to see 26 missed texts from Kate.

Kate💙

its not what it looked like.

please just text me when

you get this please.

im sorry please just text me.

hello?

sent: 12:15

look baby please just

awnser me i get your

upset but i need

you to awnser.

im so sorry it wasn’t

supposed to happen like

that.

sent 12:34

i know your getting

my text can we just talk.

bro.

sent 12:46

i think its safe to

say that we need to

break up

read 1:43

please just call me

and we can talk it out

you cant be serious.

Kate we are over, your

probably with her right

now so please stop

texting me

Blocked 1:45

you guys where only together for almost 7 months it shouldn’t hurt this much right?

[breaddwoo]

-Just a Few Scratches-

pairing: xavier thorpe x reader

word count: 4.36k

warnings: injury/blood

desc: you get injured trying to solve xavier's problems for him. silly you :)

a/n: im having a field day writing all my fic ideas :)) can't decide if the next one will be another xavier or wednesday

edit: pt 2 is now posted! 🦭

"fuck, fuck!" xavier yelled, sprinting across the field of pine needles before him and leaping over bushes and rocks.

cold sweat dripped down his flushed face; he could feel tears sting the back of his eyes. xavier felt like he could puke as he ran, but only one thing occupied his mind:

"(y/n)!"

> > >

-5 hours prior-

“are you doing okay, xavier?" you ask with worry. after class you had to stay late to ask the teacher something, so it was a surprise when you found xavier sitting on a bench in the hallway with his head in his hands.

he jolted. looking up, he seemed tired. really tired. you noticed the purple bags under his eyes and the way his breathing appeared to be unsteady.

xavier tried to smile, but it instantly fell off his face when he met your gaze. he bit the inside of he cheek to keep salty tears from spilling out of his eyes.

"I... " he began, but it came out as a strangled sob.

the sight of his pitiful state filled you with worry, and you picked up your pace as you sped over to him.

standing in front of xavier, you ask, "have you been sleeping? you look like a wreck."

xavier laughed at this, quickly wiping away a tear that dared to escape, "yeah, i know. I'm just.." he looked down, "I'm just really stressed."

you stepped closer and he pressed the top of his head to your stomach, refusing to look at you as he loosely wrapped his arms around your waist.

you began to move your hand to pat his head, but hesitated. "can i...?"

without hearing the rest, xavier said, "please."

this consent allowed you to weave your fingers through his hair. "do you want to talk about it?" you asked in a low voice, afraid that somehow, despite the hall's vacancy, someone would hear this sensitive conversation.

he was quiet for a few moments, considering his words.

"it's... wednesday. i'm so, so tired of her- of her blaming me! always saying i'm a mass murdering monster! it fucking hurts and she keeps finding new evidence that genuinely makes sense, " his voice is strained as he tightens his hold, "but i can't do anything to convince her it's not me. and she even found my art studio, which just makes me look worse."

seeing him like this made you want to cry, but you restrained yourself because this wasn't about you; this was about xavier.

"i'm so fucking scared that she's going to get me locked up. i can't even blame her- all of the evidence points directly at me! and these nightmares, they plague me in my sleep and i wake up screaming and then i can't go back to sleep so i've just been painting that fucking thing so i-" his rambling is cut short when he hiccups through his frustrated tears. he felt angry and hurt and afraid.

you leaned down to hug his head, pushing his face into your tummy as he sniffles. "i'm sorry, xavier. i wish there was something i could do."

xavier looked up from your (now wet) shirt to say, "just listening is enough. don't worry about it, hopefully everything will fix itself soon."

and as he rested his head once more, an idea came to you.

there's a way to help xavier.

> > >

three knocks and wednesday was ready to order thing to strangle the person at the door.

she lifted from her desk, about to tell off the perpetrator for interrupting her writing time. when she opened the door, however, she recognized you as the person that xavier constantly follows around.

"enid isn't here," she said point blank, beginning to shut the door. you stick your hand out and risked amputation to make sure it doesn't close, "actually, im here to see you."

wednesday narrowed her dead eyes, "go on then. explain."

"i need to know where the hyde's lair is."

wednesday's facial expression didn't change, but you could tell she was confused.

"why don't you ask xavier? he would know."

the fake smile that you wore to feign being nice dropped. instead, you replaced it with a tight, irritated line on your lips.

"haha, yeah, i would. yknow, if he were the hyde. but here i am, asking you. why do you think that is?" you said all this with a lighthearted tone through clenched teeth.

wednesday could read the passive aggressiveness of your words but decided to press on, "try looking at his gallery of police evidence. that would give you the answer you're looking for."

with that, the door closed and you soon heard the sharp clicks of a type writer. you knew she was talking about xavier's art studio, but he hasn't allowed you in since people started dying around the school.

you decided that the only way to enact your plan would be to sneak into the renovated shed. sneaking in you could do, but distracting him for enough time to find something was completely different.

fuck, this is gonna be hard.

> > >

in the end, enid was your best bet. your plan was for enid to ask him for help on a subject and get him to tutor her for a bit in the library.

she agreed immediately, hoping it would also make ajax jealous; it was a win-win situation.

though, when she asked, you would not tell her why you needed her to do this in the first place. she was skeptical but trusted that you were doing it for a good reason.

finding the studio was easy, you had been there so many times that you knew the trail like the back of your hand. you were xavier's rock after his breakup with bianca, so it made sense that he'd commonly invite you to paint with him in his secret hideout.

when you made it there, you took no time to begin searching every single art piece for a deeper meaning. xavier mentioned that he was having nightmares about the foretold monster, but wouldn't allow you to see the art "for your own safety".

there was nothing of value on the walls and canvases, so you turned to plan b.

you bent down to the trash, fishing through it, hoping you'd find something important. about ten pieces of paper had been uncrumpled by the time you found something worth your dumpster diving.

"there it is!" you excitedly whisper-scream to yourself.

it was a drawing of the monster in front of a familiar cave. though its name and exact location eluded you, there was someone who would know those exact details.

later, after asking eugene if he knew anything considering you'd seen him working alongside wednesday on the investigation, you set the final steps of your plan in motion.

it is here that you will find out who the hyde is, if only to relieve xavier of his stress.

> > >

"enid, we've gone over this topic, like, ten times. i think you're just a lost cause," xavier said in exasperation. he had been attempting to teach enid the different geometrical formulas but she hasn't understood a single word he's said in the past two hours.

xavier, giving up, grabs his phone off the library table to check his notifications.

"huh, that's weird."

"what?" enid asked.

"(y/n) hasn't texted me. usually she'd have sent several messages asking to hang or something by now," he frowned, his expression a dark overcast.

enid, feeling something was off, finally broke, "uhm, well, (y/n) kind of asked me to distract you. im not really sure what for, but she did mention something about an art studio?"

xavier's heart lept in his chest. "what?"

"yeah, sorry, i felt she had a good reason but now i'm a little worried, " enid replied with an awkward laugh.

he wracked his brain for any reason that you might have had to go to his studio. a surprise? was she curious about the paintings i wouldn't let her see? why would she need to sneak around to do it?

instead of searching for an answer that wouldn't come to him, xavier stood from the table, gave a small "thanks", and left the library in a hurry.

at the studio, he found nothing amiss. none of the paintings were gone and nothing had been moved.

that's what he thought, however, until he saw the trash can laying on its side in the corner of the room. kneeling, he sifted through the scattered, unfolded papers.

his eyebrows knitted together in further confusion. what is missing?

then it hit him:

the drawing of the hyde's lair.

xavier didn't know exactly what you were up to, but he knew with every fiber of his being that it was definitely dangerous. he was absolutely terrified.

the doors burst open as xavier ran out of the studio, an unwelcome gust of wind blowing many of the drawings off the walls. at that moment, he couldn't have cared less.

a mirage of trees passed him by as he sprinted. the nighttime autumn air was far too cold for the season.

"fuck, fuck!"

the words were strangled and every noise around him felt muffled; all he could hear was the crunching of the leaves beneath his racing feet and his own hammering heartbeat.

"(y/n)!" he shouted, the distress in his voice echoing back at him.

xavier slowed to a stop, unable to tell where he had gone in his desperation to find you. he took a second to breathe when a shrill scream sounded from an unknown direction.

the scream of a girl. a girl who was horrified, or worse, in danger.

and he would know that voice from anywhere. it was someone familiar; someone close to him. the person most important to him.

"(y/n)! where are you!?" he yelled in response, but the forest had turned into something akin to a funhouse mirror maze and he couldn't tell left from right.

xavier heard footsteps running toward him at a high speed, and just as he began dash in the similar direction, you came into full view.

pain spread through his chest as you slammed into him, sending you both crashing to the moist soil beneath.

you were laying on top of him now; shaking with labored breaths.

it rook a moment for xavier to process what had happened, but he wrapped his arms around you with little delay.

"you- are you okay!? what were you doing!? are you stupid!? there's a fucking monster on the loose and you-"

he shut his mouth when saw a steadily growing red patch on his shirt.

"you're bleeding! oh shit, we need to get you back to nevermore fast," he was quick to hold you, your body laying bridal style across his arms.

you winced in pain, sobbing out the words, "i'm sorry. i'm sorry xavier, i just wanted to help. i really wanted to help. i'm sorry."

xavier didn't give a shit about your apology. he wasn't mad at you. he was mad at that thing that hurt you. he was fucking furious.

he had many, many things to say to you but for now, he'd let you rest in his arms.

he then headed back in the direction he had come from, you now tucked safely in his embrace.

> > >

once the final stitch was in, xavier was allowed to visit your hospital room.

the bright white lights made him feel sick. even more so when he saw you sitting in bed with a hospital gown and an IV drip in your arm.

the moment he walked in, you gave him a warm, content smile.

"is right now really a good time for you to be smiling?" xavier questioned, sitting on a seat next to the bed.

you held the hand that he placed on the edge of the sheets, "well, i was able to achieve my goal."

"at the cost of several pints of blood and a couple scars on your arm? what was worth that?" he asked, unrestrainable anger surfacing on his face.

though, when he took in the finer details of your state, he couldn't help but soften. many scrapes graced your skin from the collision earlier; the complexion of your face much paler than normal.

rubbing his knuckles to ease his frustration, you say, "i was able to convince wednesday that you're not the hyde. how could she believe that out of all the people you could attack, you'd attack me?"

something clicked in xavier's head and it all made sense. this all started after his breakdown in the hallway, caused by wednesday's meddling. the sneaking around, stealing his drawing and going off into the woods.

"so you did this on purpose? you scared me half to death!" he bursted, his emotions a flurry of love, anger, and guilt.

"so what if i did? it's just a few scratches."

god, he loved you. could you believe he had yet to even ask you out?

[xxgoblin-dumplingxx]

How about something for a verse we havent had in a while (if you want to of course, otherwise something for Erik?) Uhhhh maybe something for secret!reader jason verse?? Or whatever you have inspiration for :)

This is what I can see in my head so... here we go.

You knew the dance. The steps were simple. They move forward and you move back. If you toe the line and keep your head down, no one looks at you. If you can keep from being perceived, you're safe.

But you see everything.

As soon as you touch an object, you can know what has happened to it or will happen to it. Gloves help. Sleeves help.

But... it's a crime family. They use you to touch things. To know if the glass will break. If a gun will misfire. If a guy will rat them out to the cops.

Keeping your arms around yourself is safest. Rubbing the patches on your denim jacket. The ones you stole laughing with your friends, the sun shining on your face as you ran up the sidewalk. It's not real, the pictures- and as long as you don't look forward; to know what else happens it's okay.

Because what happens later- that... well. If you look too far forward you're dead.

___________________

Pages turned to ash in the flames curling like rose petals. And you fed more pages into the grate one by one, ignoring the brooding man behind you and the smell of cigar smoke.

"You good, kid?"

"Just cleaning house," you answer, not turning. Ignoring the feel of the flames as you picked up the notebooks to tear them apart. Behind you, you could hear him take a seat and rolled your eyes.

"Gettin' late-"

"Figured if I did this earlier Jubilee and Kitty would be down here tryin' to make s'mores on it," you snort. "Didn't really want to have to explain THAT."

"Fair enough," Logan said.

You could feel him sizing you up. And you knew he had... questions. How a professor that was in the same class as Scott and Jean know how to pick locks and hotwire cars? Why's Charles seem to defer to you when it came to things that were 'criminal' in nature? And how the living hell did you become a teacher with a rap sheet? But you don't know if you have the patience to answer right now.

Writing was supposed to be theraputic. To give you a place to get it all out. Storm told you to just write it all out but... it felt too much like having a written confession. Like it was just all laid out for the cops and waiting.

So you fed the last of the pages to the flames and watched them catch. And that was... Somehow more satisfying.

"Love notes?" Logan scoffed, teasing.

"Sure," you shrug, carefully scooping up scraps of paper from the spirals and the metal that wouldn't burn into the wastebasket.

"It's either that or bad poetry-"

"Not really a poem kind of girl, Logan," you tell him, getting to your feet. "Tequilla is good or it isn't- why do I need to 60 words to say it?"

Logan took a drag on his cigar and regarded you, smirking, "Sometimes it's really fucking good tequila."

[tremblingmuse]

could you maybe do Wally Clark with prompt 6 like fluff level 9/10?

xx

Weird Ass Dream

Wally Clark x Reader

Im very much willing to do a pt.2

Two best friends, died a year apart. How tragic.

Just a year after Wally Clark broke his neck, Y/n fell off the roof. It was an accident, she was having a cigarette and tripped.

Now she was dead, sitting in a circle with other ghosts. And next to her deceased best friend.

She wasn’t sure if they were friends anymore really. He won’t even look at her.

“Yeah I wasn’t wearing my good shoes, what can you do?” She shrugged it off when the teacher in shoulder pads asked her how she felt.

Everyone had been looking at her strangely. Only more so when she didn’t seem to mind her death.

“Is something on my face?” She asked.

“No it’s just, you don’t seem to care that you’re dead.” A boy named Charley spoke up.

“Well it was my fault, my only unfinished business is to stop being an idiot.” She laughed to herself dryly. No one else found it funny.

After group Y/n stopped Wally. “Hey! Wally wait up!” He has been ignoring her.

“Oh hey.” He cleared his throat, feeling awkward.

“Look, I know this is weird. But you’re acting like you don’t even know me.” She lightly shoved his shoulder. She always did that when she was trying to get him to listen.

Like really listen.

“And why is everyone looking at me?” She mumbled as everyone walked out the door. Smirks on their faces.

“I kinda told them we dated.” Wally spoke quickly. So much so she almost didn’t hear him.

It took her a moment. That would explain the girl in black’s comments. And the funny look Charley had been giving her all day.

“You what?!” She smacked him in the chest. He retracted in on himself.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to- stop hitting me!”

“Why would you do that? What if there are any cute ghost boys? They won’t want me now!” She whispered.

Wally rolled his eyes.

“They were just asking why I would follow you around all the time and I told them we were fiends but they didn’t believe me.” He explained.

She sighed.

“So you just told them we were dating?” She asked flatly.

“Well I didn’t think it would matter! Then you just had to go and die!”

“This is not my fault! You need to tell them you lied!” She started to walk away.

Wally grabbed her arm. “Y/n, wait.”

She spun around. Looking at him, she realized how stupid it was to be bad at him for something like that. She had her best friend back, she’s already dogging on him.

She hugged him. “Wally, I’m just glad you’re here.”

“Me too. But I was gonna say we could just, fuck with when for a while. This is a great opportunity.” He looked down at her.

She took a moment to think. And realized the genius of his plan.

“Okay, but don’t mess it up.” She pointed at him.

He gave her a look of betrayal. “I won’t mess it up!”

“I will not let you ruin my dream of fake dating.”

“That’s a fucking weird ass dream.”

“Shhhhhhhh.”

[thetraingotsetonfireonmidnight]

Do u know the ”i chose my path you chose the way of a hero. And they found you amusing for a while…” etc tiktok sound. Or it’s from spiderman originally.

So. What if someone has a quirk that they can show the futute to class 1a and maybe all might. And they see y/n actually saying it to someone. Maybe deku?So he has turned to villain. What would class 1a/teachers think? And what would be the reason y/n did it?🫣

If you want to do character x reader you can choose who.

Interesting prompt! Hope this suits your needs:

𝔈𝔫𝔦𝔤𝔪𝔞

[Class 1-A x reader (no romance)]

Warning: mentions of blood and injury.

Enigma.

He was a mysterious villain that showed up out of no where years ago.

Many theorized that he was the man behind strange and sudden disappearances of random civilians. None of them had anything in common, but they were all killed in a similar fashion. Quick and painless.

More so you.

No one knew who he was or what kind of quirk he possessed, but what they did know was that he wanted Deku and you dead.

You were his main target.

You had to have body guards follow you around everywhere you went.

You were unable to attend your normal classes.

There had been multiple times in the last few weeks when you'd hear a loud bang and immediately duck to hide. You didn't wonder where the shooting was coming from, you knew it was Enigma, trying to take you out from wherever he hid.

The only person you had was Deku, as you two decided to stay close and support each other. It wasn't easy, but you both tried to be as positive as you could.

You'd often catch Deku muttering to himself possible theories as of to why you two could possibly be the main targets. If you had stopped villains that he had connections with, if there was something of yours he'd want...so many theories, not enough answers.

He never seemed to get anywhere.

Eventually, the pros caught Enigma. It was all over the news. Reporters immediately rushed to the scene to get answers. Everyone wanted an explanation.

Though students weren't authoritized to witness villain questioning, they made an exception for your class. You all stood safely behind pro heroes such as All Might, Aizawa, and Present Mic.

There he sat, tied up in a chair. Though he studied everyone in the room, he refused to make eye contact with you or Deku. Almost like he was disgusted by you.

Aizawa was the first one to speak, "Do you want to try to explain yourself?"

Enigma stayed silent.

Beside you, Iida stepped forward, "Are you not going to say anything? You can't back out now! Explain why you tried to kill my classmates!"

"It's not about what they've done." His voice was low and gravely. He spoke quietly, yet that one sentence alone managed to silence everyone.

Ochaco tried to calm Iida down, but all it did was fire him up more, "You've stalked them, terrorized them, and tried to murder them, yet when confronted you can't at least speak to them? Explain yourself villain! What could they possibly have done to deserve this?!"

"You are all doomed if you don't let me kill them...doomed, I tell you."

Enigma didn't respond.

"Why would we be doomed?" Aizawa's voice was calm. He didn't seem to take Enigma's words seriously.

"Yeah, is there something we don't know?" Present Mic pushed.

Aizawa tried a different approach, "What's your quirk?"

"Honest eye...whenever I look at someone, I know exactly who they are and what they'll become."

"Is that why you kill?"

"You should thank me. I cleared out the majority of potential future villains."

If Enigma only killed people who would grow to become terrible people, then...

A chill ran down your spine. Could it really have been true? Had this man been saving everyone?

There had been a popular question that had always been debated; If you could go back in time and kill an evil person while they were just a baby, would you?

The whole idea behind it was that there was no real right answer.

Some saying they would to save everyone.

Some saying they wouldn't because they fear the consequences it could bring.

Thankfully, no one ever had to think about it for too long because it was impossible to do. No one ever had to make that decision.

But Enigma did.

He faced that decision everytime he looked at someone.

You wondered what his victims would've grown up to do had he not stopped them.

Had he made the right choice?

As you wondered about his past targets, you began to wonder about yourself.

"You're doomed," Enigma sang, "doomed, doomed, doomed."

"What did you see in your vision?" Aizawa asked. For the first time during this whole questioning, your mentor actually seemed...slightly worried.

"Cities destroyed. Lives lost. All at the hands of two of your students."

"Young Y/N and Midoryia?" All Might gasped. "No, that's impossible."

A few chuckles were heard, followed by amused whispers.

"Oh please, as if Deku could do any of that." Bakugou scoffed, "He'd break all of his bones, blow up, and die before he'd ever get the chance to kill anyone."

"Very helpful, Kacchan." Deku muttered.

"Do you think this is a joke?"

Everyone went silent.

"Do you think this is funny? The sights I've seen? Oh yes, let's laugh at the crazy man. None of you ever listen." Enigma writhed in his seat, "Let's see if you all start laughing once you see this."

A giant eye materialized before you. Aizawa went to use his quirk, but All Might stopped him.

"Look..."

The eye blinked, and inside you could all see a vision. Enigma's vision.

You circled him, looking at him as if he were a kicked puppy, "Oh get up, Deku. Don't tell me you're already tapped out."

Crumbling buildings, foggy skies. At the center of this horror landscape, lied you and Deku.

Deku sat, his back rested against a rock. He held onto his side in pain, blood spilling from between his fingers as he tried to even out his breathing.

Deku tried to stand on his wobbly feet, his breaths short and shallow. "It's not too late to change. You don't have to keep doing this."

"I chose my path and you chose yours. There's no going back. Why do you even bother? Isn't it tiring always having to be the good guy?" You swept a foot underneath Deku's, and he fell to the floor. "Poor little hero...all alone... with no love or support. The people you're saving aren't even greatful."

"You don't know that."

"Oh but I do. I'm sure your fans found you amusing for awhile...but the one thing they love more than a hero, is to see a hero fall."

"That's not true–" You kicked him in the stomach.

"You've seen how quickly the crowd turns against the heroes. How easily their minds can be changed. What makes you the exception?" You kneeled down, grabbing a fistful of Deku's messy hair. You lifted his head, staring him dead in the eyes, "In spite of everything you've done for them, eventually they'll hate you. Remember that." You dropped his head, letting it land against the cement.

You stepped away, off to who knows where before Deku spoke up, "Will the League...really...make things better?"

You smiled, "Of course."

"I'm in."

The vision ended.

Silence.

"Not so funny now, is it?" Enigma laughed. And he laughed. And he laughed. And he laughed so loud that it was all you could focus on.

You don't remember being pushed out of the room.

You don't remember all of your friends arguing about whether or not the vision was true.

You don't remember Deku avoiding you for the rest of the day.

You just remember Enigma's laughs,

And his promises of the inevitable doom you would bring.

[dark-elf-writes]

I am going feral over your MOD Harry at UA with Oboro au, help

Just Oboro, who had been watching over them for who knows how long, being so grateful he can finally be with his friends again at all.

Him seeing Kurogiri and feeling something is *wrong* but he doesn’t know what, but it feels like he was violated.

Oboro never left his friends.

He had been there for his funeral, standing at their sides as they cried; he was there for that first birthday after his death when Shouta broke his hand punching a brick wall and refused to go to the hospital for it; he was there at Shouta and Hizashi’s wedding, taking his rightful place as Best Bud to mirror Nemuri on the other side.

It hurt that they couldn’t see him, couldn’t hear him, but still he would never leave them. They needed him. They had always needed him.

He had all but given up on the idea of ever being heard when he heard Nezu’s announcement.

“We have a transfer student coming from England. His schooling has been… unconventional but considering his circumstances I have offered him a place at UA.” He doesn’t explain those circumstances. No one is stupid enough to ask. The rat takes his students safety seriously after all, and if he thought they needed to know he would have told them or put it in the files they were now flipping through.

“Necromancy?” Snipe read off of the file. “Like zombies?”

Nezu’s smile was unsettling. “Not exactly. Potter-kun’s quirk deals with spirits and ghosts rather than raising the dead… as far as we know at this point that is. His was a… late mutation.”

Everyone in the room froze. Oboro nearly phased through the meeting room table in surprise. Mutations were hardly unheard of but for them to occur so long after the quirk had manifested usually meant one thing.

Trauma.

Significant trauma.

Oboro didn’t know what to think as he waited at the gates for their transfer student (he totally qualified as an honorary UA teacher at this point after all the lessons he had sat through) but it certainly wasn’t Harry Potter.

He hadn’t bothered with the uniform (wisely as the area around UA was always a pit of vultures approaching term and doubly so with the rumors of All Might teaching this year) instead choosing a rather oversized sweater and jeans that were more hole than pant at this point. But what shocked Oboro most was his eyes.

They were like beacons drawing him in. Glowing a bright green that looked.. otherworldly. Like the first moment of his afterlife. Like death.

No wonder the ghosts of UA flocked to him.

Harry Potter was something different, and Oboro wasn’t going to let the first person who had been able to seen him in years deal with all of that.

(And having Hizashi Shouta and Nemuri see him again was just an added bonus in his mind)

[dgalerab]

Oboro sits by Shouta's hospital bed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Of course he knows that every time they go out on patrol, there's a chance...

...

Of course he knows that. He tries to be an optimist, but in their line of work optimism needs to be colored with realism.

He just wasn't expecting to be hit with that possibility during a random class with the first years.

He'd always thought Shouta would make a good teacher, but if he's honest with himself, the UA position had been a relief in more ways than one. Less time on patrol. Less time in the thick of things.

Less time that Shouta manages to be as shitty at taking care of himself as he is competent at hero work - something they've had many a screaming argument about. (The fact that they scream at each other whenever they argue doesn't really fill the space Hizashi left behind, but Oboro still gets a sense of satisfaction every time he gets Shouta to raise his voice.)

"You really had to take on all those villains, didn't you, Shouta?" Oboro sighs to his friend's bandaged face. He can barely see one eye peeking out from between the layers of gauze, squeezed shut in a nightmare.

It doesn't surprise Oboro. Shouta's new class is loud, frantic, powerful. Of course he'd do anything to protect them. So would Oboro.

He just wishes that maybe sometimes Shouta could put himself a little bit higher up the priority list. It's not like Oboro hasn't told him a million times that he doesn't want to lose two best friends.

He shakes his head. He shouldn't be thinking of what happened to Hizashi right now. It can't be good luck to do so when Shouta is still hooked up to all these machines, both arms broken and skull fractured.

(And yet it's so hard not to.)

As if he hears Oboro's thoughts, Shouta croaks a weak, "Yamada..." beside him.

"You're not dead yet, Eraser," he reassures, leaning back to massage his neck.

He hears the heartbeat monitor speed up, and Shouta's cast thump against his arm, and when he looks down his heart skips a beat.

Shouta's good eye is wide open in horror as he struggles against his injuries and bandages to try to grab at Oboro. "He was there," he gasps. "Oboro, he was there."

"Hey, hey, calm down," Oboro says, nudging him back down before he hurts himself. "That's... That's quite the near death experience, but you're okay, you're..."

"No!" Shouta grits out. "He was there. He was at USJ."

A chill runs through Oboro. The students had mentioned some sort of sonic blast when they'd explained what had happened, but...

He shakes himself. He's not the one concussed and on pain killers here. He takes a deep breath and puts on his rescue voice.

"One of the villains had a voice quirk," he says. "It wasn't him, Shouta. You took some hits to the head so I know it all seems confusing, but..."

"I saw him!" Shouta cries, voice low and insistent. "I saw him, it was his face, his... his... It was something else but it was him."

Oboro wants to protest. Wants to insist that it's some sort of twisted near death experience, but...

He pulls out his phone and calls their contacts at the police department.

---

"You were right," Tsukauchi confirms. "There's no human DNA in the ashes you gave me."

It had been a harrowing ordeal to get them. Reassuring the Yamadas that it was probably nothing, just a strange fluke in an old case. It had already felt awful to lie to them, but now it feels worse.

This isn't nothing.

"We saw the body," Oboro says. "Over a dozen people watched him die, there's no way that..."

Tsukauchi shakes his head. "He did die. UA oversaw all that, and I know the people involved. It seems somewhere between the autopsy and the cremation, however, the body... went missing."

Oboro looks to Shouta, who's staring out the window in silence, still vaguely mummified.

"Say something," Oboro pleads.

"He had scars on his face. Bandages over his limbs, too, and claws. It was like someone replaced his arms and legs with... something else," Shouta murmurs.

"Sewed pieces of his corpse together with... what? Other corpses?"

Shouta shrugs.

Normally this is when one or the other of them would start yelling. Oboro craves that cathartsis, but...

Right now, it feels impossible.

"Is it still him?" Oboro asks.

"I think that question is above my pay grade," Tsukauchi says, not unkindly. "But we're looking into this with as much effort as we can. We'll do whatever it takes to get you answers."

With thar, he leaves them to themselves.

"The sports festival starts tomorrow," Shouta says, and Oboro thanks every god who might be listening that he doesn't have to start the conversation.

"I guess so," They've commentated every year since they started teaching, in honor of Hizashi who had begged and pleaded his way into commentating even as a first year, and then again as a second year when the first year was a mess. "I suppose that comes first, then..."

It's quiet. They usually work rather hard not to let it get this quiet unless they're on patrol and stealth is of the essence. Oboro wracks his brain for what to say.

Their eyes meet, and it becomes clear. "We're going to find him, right?" Oboro asks.

"Obviously," Shouta says.

---

They spend the next few days obsessively going over everything they know (which admittedly isn't much). They've planned for everything - how to catch him, how to test his memory, how to handle the cops if he responds, how to handle him if he doesn't.

They spend almost every waking moment pelting each other with what ifs and emergency plans.

It somewhat helps to quiet the horror as Shouta slowly heals and gets his bandages off.

They're going to figure this out. If they got through Hizashi being dead, they can get through him being... whatever he is now.

... is what he thinks until they come back from patrol one night, crashing into their respective bedrooms, only for Oboro to wake in the middle of the night to Shouta shouting for him frantically.

He grabs his quarterstaff from beside the bed and runs to Shouta's bedroom.

Ah, he thinks, as he looks up at the creature all but racing across his best friend's ceiling, tail lashing and eyes glinting green in the dark, giggling and swiping at Shouta like a small child trying to pull a cat's tail, entirely unafraid of the knife Shouta brandishes at him. Perhaps we've forgotten how much spontaneity Hizashi brought to our trio.

[arlmy07]

Strawhat Crew As Things Me and My Friends Have Said

Nami: "Imma spend my money like money ain't shit. And by 'my money' I mean 'your money' because I kind of need mine for later..."

Robin: "When I was twelve, my teacher asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I looked her dead in the eyes and said without hesitation: 'Deceased'. She sent me to the counselor and told my parents I needed therapy..."

Sanji: "I know things seem pretty bad right now but look on the bright side...my ass has never looked better."

Franky: "According to my expert opinion....I'll need exactly four rolls of duct tape, a two liter coke, a Philips head, three Band-Aids, a whole pack of Twinkies, and twelve screws to fix that...Oh, and maybe some spit in case of a fire."

Luffy: "If I say I'm going on a diet, what that really means is that you should probably keep a closer eye on your food when I'm around."

Usopp: "If I were to write a poem about how I feel right now it'd go something like this: roses are red, melted ice cream is sticky, my foot's stuck in a hole, get me out of here quickly"

Zoro: "The benefits of you all getting me a sword for my birthday: 1) It'd be cool as fuck and 2) I'd never have to hear my neighbor watching romcoms at full volume at 3am ever again."

Brook: "My grandma says that if I get any thinner and paler she's going to hang me up with her Halloween decorations..."

Chopper: "I know I'm cute, stop telling me or I'll punch you."

Jimbei: "I told my dad I was going to sleep with the fishes and he said 'good night, don't let the sharks bite' and now I'm a little concerned for my safety."

Luffy: "Sorry, I zoned out. I was looking at my gummy bear..."

Usopp: "Look at this gourmet cereal."

Nami: "Well when you're five feet then four inches is a lot..."

Zoro: "Sign this petition to make weaponized stilettos legal. I'm not asking in case you were wondering *brandishes stiletto*."

Jimbei: "I think the reason I like the ocean so much is because it tastes like the tears of my enemies. Salty~"

Chopper: "Don't send a search party, my phone is just having an identity crisis."

Brook: "You have no idea how many women I had to seduce to get this music."

Sanji: "What's it gonna take for a guy to get a fancy set of knives around here?"

Robin: "Did you guys put the fun in funeral?"

Franky: "Explain it to me like you would to a five year old."

[fascinatedscrawls]

Phic Phight Prompt: Kwan starts a poetry club and invites everyone at school to the first monthly poetry slam. Some unexpected poets show up.

Word Count: 1881

For TheSilentBard

Summary: When Kwan revives the old poetry club he gets a bigger crowd than expected. Danny's sure no one is going to forget this meeting, especially not Mr. Lancer.

The club room is full to bursting, students - some excited, but most reluctantly - occupying each of the cheap chairs scattered almost haphazardly around the place. Slouched in one of the back corners, Danny watches Mr. Lancer pick his way through the messy array of seats to get to the front of the room with a dead-eyed stare.

"Excuse me, pardon me, please don't leave your - oof!" The teacher trips and nearly falls, barely catching himself on the back of a chair instead of braining himself on it and all Danny can muster the energy for at the sight is a slow blink. "Lord of the Flies, Mr. Baxter! Do be more careful with where you rest your feet!"

Closing his eyes even if he knows he can't sleep here Danny hears a snort which could only come from Sam. Technically, unlike him and Tucker, she isn't required to attend the club session for a chance at extra credit because she's acing the class.

"It hasn't started yet." Tucker points out helpfully, stylus still tap tap tapping away at his PDA. "You could leave. If you actually wanted to."

The teasing barb hits its mark once again and Sam slouches further into her seat with a tsk.

"I'm here to watch how hard this bombs." In her pause for emphasis, Danny can almost hear her rolling her eyes. "I haven't wasted fifteen minutes of my afternoon just to leave before the show even starts."

"So you admit that you're attending the new poetry club for fun." Tucker snipes, smile clear in his voice. There's a scuffle over Danny's head as Tucker ducks whatever Sam threw in retaliation. Used to it and too tired to participate, Danny slumps down until his head is resting on the back of his chair. The smooth plastic is uncomfortable and his spine is already protesting at the angle, but pushing himself back up is just too much work.

Now at the front of the room, Mr. Lancer speaks to Kwan at a volume that's likely a little louder than he thinks. Or, Danny grimaces as something else flies over his head and Sam hisses, it could be some kind of ghostly hearing he's developing.

Ancients he hopes its not that, but it would explain why he's finding it so hard to sleep these past few nights. Even for the evenings without ghostly visitors he's barely getting a couple of hours at a time. He opens his eyes to glare at the injustice of it all, which looks a lot like the pockmarked ceiling of the club room.

"Now, we're all very excited to see the old poetry club get enough interest and funding to finally return after over a decade with no members," Mr. Lancer says catching Danny's attention and likely repeating himself for what must be at least the third time if Kwan's disinterested smile is anything to go by. Two encouraging pats on his shoulder courtesy of their teacher twists his smile into something closer to a grimace for half a second before it settles into a more natural expression. "I know you had something in mind for the first meeting and hopefully, by offering that extra credit today you'll see membership continue to improve. However, if things go off the rails you can count on me to help with your inaugural meeting."

The words would likely be more comforting if someone didn't yelp in the back of the room just as he said them. Wincing, Danny closed his eyes at the loud noise before a tingle at the back of his throat made him straighten up abruptly. Eyes wide and far more alert than before, he stares open mouthed at a handful of ghosts calmly floating in through the closed door, drifting towards the front of the room without any care for who might be sitting in their way.

Another aborted scream or two rings out before Mr. Lancer even has a chance to turn to address it with a, "Edgar Allen P-"

The last of the English teacher's oft stated and highly creative use of the famous poets name as an epithet cuts off in the face of the man himself.

Or more accurately, the ghost himself.

Mr. Lancer coughs behind a hand, clearly having a hard time believing his eyes. At least a third of the room is on their feet, but when the ghosts do nothing more than mutter to each other they clearly start to relax. After months of ghost attacks and at least a few weeks of less dangerous hauntings happening all over town it looks like most of his classmates are willing to risk a sudden, potentially dangerous turn around in an attempt to earn a few more free points for class.

"Poe?" Mr. Lancer finally manages to squeak out. He looks ready to faint as the ghost nods a greeting (the ghostly raven on his shoulder doing the same, pulling a snicker from a few people around the room including Tucker), but holds it together with a gulp as he straightens his tie.

"Shakespeare, Poe, Dickinson, Frost - what do you know," Sam mutters as she identifies more of the ghosts on stage than Danny could have managed. It's no wonder she's actually passing the class. "Maybe this won't be so bad after all."

"How," Mr. Lancer visibly swallows back his nerves even as his hands shake. "How nice of you to join us. Will any of you be participating in our poetry readings today?"

"Yes. As always, we're here to share our works -" One of the ghosts (is it Frost or Dickinson? Wait, Danny corrects himself, he's pretty sure Dickinson is the lady actually) says before getting interrupted by the raven.

"Evermore!"

The ghost sighs at the spectral bird, but they clearly expected the interruption as they don't comment on it. Instead they go back to consulting with the ghost beside them, quietly discussing which poem they'd like to read today if their only faintly indistinct mutters are anything to go by.

"Delightful!" This has absolutely made Mr. Lancers day if not his whole month judging by his wide smile. He turns the slightly manic expression on Kwan who flinches under the force of it. "Perhaps we can hold off on your planned presentations until after our guests have, ahem, graced us with their works?"

It sounds less like a question and more like an order, especially when Mr. Lancer doesn't even wait for a response before motioning Kwan to a nearby seat.

Danny relaxes into his own with a light sigh of relief as the scattered conversations around them take on an edge of awed excitement. Not a fight then. Huh, he's actually not sure why he thought there was going to be one when clearly these ghosts are just here to indulge in their obsessions. 

He quickly puts the thought out of his mind and settles in to hopefully enjoy a performance straight from the horses mouth (maybe that will be what finally helps him understand iambic pentameter), which means he jumps along with half the students when the door gets kicked in.

"Freeze, ecto-scum!" Two white suited men shout in what has to be a practiced synchronization of words and poses. Both of them have ecto guns in their hands. Hilariously, neither of the  blasters are pointed anywhere near any of the ghosts.

"They should probably take off the sunglasses." Sam snarks, now on her feet and sounding more relaxed than her tense posture displays.

"But without them they'd just be odd wedding ushers." On Danny's other side Tucker eyes the GIW agents with all the suspicion they're due.

"I think they'd be just as blind either way," Danny points out, sliding his chair a little further back in case he needs to disappear behind his friends. It's looking more likely.

Or it is before Danny gets a look at Mr. Lancer's face.

Danny has done many things that his teacher does not approve of. He's missed class, forgotten homework, fallen asleep on his desk, and even attempted to cheat on his exams, but never before has he seen Mr. Lancer look like this. Instinctively, he finds himself hunching his shoulders in an attempt to make himself smaller, less noticeable, in the face of someone clearly ready to rain hellfire upon their enemies.

The GIW are making an attempt to aim at their foes only to find themselves blocked bodily by one enraged vice-principal.

"Gentlemen," Mr. Lancer grinds out, frowning hard enough that Danny starts to wonder if the expression hurts him to maintain. His words are polite, but the tone is very clear: he doesn't hold even an ounce of respect for these invaders. "Our poetry club was just about to start. Please see yourselves out if you plan to be disruptive."

The white suited agents protest loudly, but it's abundantly clear that between Mr. Lancer and the students who were excited for a chance to hear from the masters (or possibly, just very invested in this afternoon's extra credit) that they won't be capturing or shooting any ghosts today.

That's good, because Danny's too busy trying to slow his heart rate down after he finally noticed Sidney Poindexter hovering just behind his shoulder. It took Tucker pointedly clearing his throat and Danny's pretty sure he nearly jumped out of his skin at the sight of the glowing teen.

"I see you've found the Dead Poets Society," He pushes his glasses back into place with a bland look in the face of Danny's weak glare. "I had wondered where they got to when they missed our usual club meeting."

"They meet regularly?" Danny asks, but doesn't get more than a nod in response before Sam cuts in with a question of her own.

"Why at the school? I'm sure there's other good places to meet."

"I invited them and offered it as a neutral ground." There's a pause as Danny shares a look with Sam and Tucker, all of them imagining the circumstances behind some famous poets needing specifically 'neutral ground' to meet on. Danny winces as he suddenly remembers every bruise or worse that he's gotten since ghosts started visiting Amity Park's very clearly not-at-all-neutral ground. Sidney ignores their silent conversation, not looking away from the ghosts quietly arguing at the front of the room. "It certainly made the poetry club less repetitive, so I've let the weekly meetings continue."

"So what you're saying," Tucker grins as the door to the classroom is slammed shut and locked, muffling the indignant agents' argument, "is that we're definitely in for a show."

"Well, I could imagine worse ways to spend my afternoon." Arms crossed, Sam settles back into her chair and, following Sidney's example, ignores how Tucker's smile somehow reaches new heights of smugness.

"Well, at least it will be an interesting extra credit assignment."

And maybe, if he's lucky, it'll be a reoccurring one. Danny could really use the extra help passing any of his classes. Besides, if the stars in Mr. Lancer's eyes are anything to go by, Danny wouldn't be the only one checking in on the poetry club's weekly meetings from now on. Danny might as well get some extra points for keeping an eye on some positive ghost-human interactions.

[animeniacss]

Seoksoo - imperfect Part 1 - Chapter 6 - A Lot to Unpack

Synopsis: Lee Seokmin likes a lot of things: karaoke, stuffed animals, his friends, his family (when they're not at each other's throats), and when things go according to plan. It's perfect that way. That is...until Joshua Hong, the Education Department TA, stumbles into his view one day and suddenly Seokmin has to start facing the fact that maybe not everything in life will be perfect...but with Joshua, that might just be ok.

Tags: College!AU, ActingMajor!Seokmin, Teacher!Joshua, Romance, Angst, Fluff, Mutual Pining, Misunderstandings, Side GyuCheol, Side JunHao, Side Verkwan, Other Idol appearances, Anxiety/Panic Attacks, Domestic Violence (not between the main couple), Joshua is a dork 90% of the time, (More Tags will be Added as needed)

Length: approx. 6.1k words

Chapter 6 - A Lot to Unpack

Midterms are the worst. Whichever sick individual thought that it was a good idea to slam multiple tests worth a significant part of your overall grade right before the holidays, was a cruel human. Seokmin liked most people he spoke to, but he did not like this human, and based on the dead-eyes of his friends around the table, they didn’t either.

“I hate this.” Seungkwan groaned.

“Preach.” Mingyu typed away on his laptop. “How the hell am I supposed to write an entire data plan on a student I only have 3 lines of information on? In reality, I would have a whole full human to work with.” Mingyu groaned. 

“I have that one ready to submit,” Seungkwan said. “It’s the week-long lessons for Effective Lesson Planning that is going to make me pop a fucking blood vessel.” Mingyu nodded in agreement. 

“I haven’t even started that one. The last time I opened the document, I wanted to chew on glass.” Seokmin and Junhui chuckled from behind their own textbooks. 

“That doesn’t sound too bad,” Junhui commented, eyeing the two flustered men on the other end of the table. “Can’t they color or something?”

“Tch, no.” Seungkwan rolled his eyes. “As much as I would like to just write that. Each day has to have its own 4-page paper explaining each part and the lesson plan itself is at least 3 pages once you finish writing everything.”

“And you have to do that in each subject?” Seokmin asked.

“No!” Seungkwan only got more fired up. “I asked like 3 people who actually are teachers, and they tell me the plans they have to write are maybe a page at most.”

“Wow.”

“My cousin says she writes her plans on a fucking sticky note before class starts each morning.” Seokmin snorted at Mingyu’s comment, but he didn’t look amused.

“Why are you yelling?” A voice called from the other hall, and the group of boys looked up to see Seungcheol stagger into view. He had his video gaming headset on still, one tucked behind his ear so he could hear. Mingyu groaned, falling onto his back and glancing up as his boyfriend approached, bending at the hips to peer down at the larger college student. 

“I want to quit school, Cheolie...” Mingyu said.

“No.” Seungcheol didn’t seem phased, as it seemed like something Mingyu said often. “You’re almost done.”

“Yeah, with school. I’m dropping out to be a stripper.”

Seungcheol’s eyes widened, Seokmin immediately catching the intrigued glint in his eyes. “Oh?” Mingyu nodded, his grin widening as Seungcheol fell to a squatting position, his face still just hovering over Mingyu’s. “I thought I was the only one you moved your hips for, Gyu~.” His voice was low and husky, which earned a hum of intrigue from Mingyu.

“Well, only when you ask nicely, Hyungieeee….” His comment made Seungcheol cover his face, laughing into his hands at the nickname that has now most likely been reserved for behind closed doors. Seokmin caught a glimpse of rosy cheeks behind his hands, Mingyu’s laughter only continuing, ripping from the belly. He immediately sat upright once again, only to be pulled into a large back hug from Seungcheol. Like one of those little wooden shaped toys for children, Mingyu fit perfectly into his embrace as if he were always expected to be there, grinning as Seungcheol peppered his cheek with kisses. Seokmin couldn’t help but hide his little grin as he looked down at his papers once more. He just loved love, especially the love his best friend seemed to share. 

“Besides-.” Seungcheol added, nestling into the other’s neck. “If you want to put on a show, just-.”

“OH FUCKING GOD, EW!” Seungkwan gasped. “Could you please get a fucking room!?”

“This is my house!” Seungcheol snapped, glaring at Seungkwan. “I won’t let you come over here and watch Music Bank on the big TV anymore if you keep running your mouth!”

Seungkwan gasped. “You fucking wouldn’t.”

“I can and I fucking will!” By now, Mingyu, Junhui and Seokmin were in stitches, Seokmin clapping his hands and laughing as he leaned into a snickering Junhui. 

With the option of stripping shelved for later conversation, Mingyu tilted his head back to face an irritated Seungcheol. He used his hand to take the other's jaw, gently guiding his gaze back. “Then will you go take my midterms in my place? I promise I’ll cook dinner for a month.”

Seungcheol grinned, forgetting about his threat to Seungkwan when Mingyu was back in the forefront of his view.. “You trust me that much?”

“He never said that.” Junhui snickered when Seungcheol now shot him an annoyed glare. Seokmin smiled, watching as Seungcheol sat Mingyu back up and put a little kiss on his head, which left the big puppy dog of a man grinning in content.

“Hopefully that’ll be enough to get you through it. I didn’t drop out of college to take someone else’s exams.”

“Kaaay.” Mingyu called, still riding the little high that Seungcheol’s kiss left in its wake. He chuckled, ruffling the short, black hair on his boyfriend’s head. 

“Get back to it.” he encouraged, before heading back to continue gaming, leaving the rest of them with their studies. 

“You both are disgusting,” Seungkwan commented, and Seokmin snickered when Mingyu was shot a very well-known side eye from Seungkwan. The taller of the two only shrugged.

“I’ll make sure to say that when you and Chwe Hansol are all lovey-dovey in a few weeks.” 

Seungkwan’s carefully planned rebuttal? Shove the straw of the iced americano into his mouth and shut the fuck up, a move that leaves a triumphant grin on Mingyu’s face. He turned back to his open document on his computer, his smile finally fading as he continued to type.

Seokmin glanced between the trio around him, all of whom were in very committed relationships or slated to be before the end of the term if things went right. Mingyu and Seungcheol had been dating for about a year already, Seungkwan was pursuing things with Hansol, and Junhui was living a pretty domestic relationship with another Chinese transfer student, Minghao. While they never confirmed their relationship to others, Seokmin did notice Junhui stopped flirting or even entertaining the idea right after Minghao moved into his apartment as a roommate. That just left Seokmin, a seventh wheel on a very long bus, placed right in the middle of the other wheels because that meant he was able to keep them all balanced, keep one from falling off and sending the bus toppling down a cliff. He was good at that.

“Seokminnie won’t be too far behind, I’m sure.” The teasing tone in Junhui’s voice made his eyes dart to the smirking male beside him. “Double the couples in the honeymoon phase. Great.” Mingyu snorted, eyes still glued to his computer screen as his fingers typed away.

“What?” Seokmin asked, putting a hand on his cheek to make sure it wasn’t heating up – it was.

“You and Joshua Hong?” Junhui asked. “Have you spoken to him since the audition?”

“Once or twice, but he said he was busy with midterms. I haven’t heard from him in a few days.” Seokmin remembered the last text the duo shared; three days prior while Seokmin was sitting waiting for class to begin. It was a reassurance text about their lunch plans once midterms came to an end, a reminder to pick any place that Seokmin’s little heart desired. A white heart and a sticker wishing him luck in his studies was all Seokmin sent back, and by the time he felt like that wasn’t nearly enough of a proper response, a few hours had passed and Seokmin didn’t want to be a double texter. He was working very hard to avoid that.

“He’s been leaving class really early these past few weeks.” Seungkwan said, Mingyu nodding in agreement. “Like he doesn’t even stay behind to talk to kids anymore. He passes back papers, packs up, and books it out of the room before the professor even gets up from his seat.”

“He’s probably really busy. I couldn’t imagine being the TA of one of the hardest professors in the Education Department and working on your own senior classes. I envy the people who can do that.” The group nodded in agreement with Junhui’s comment, and the room finally fell back into silence, all of them back to studying their own respective midterm study guides or working on their mid-year projects. 

Distracted by the silence, Seokmin glanced at his phone, seeing no new messages staring back at him. A cheek rested in his hand, distracted fingers fiddling with the messages. He kept scrolling them down, hoping that another message would pop up in his inbox. No luck, instead just an old message thread. Two-day-old messages that reminded Seokmin he needed to start looking for restaurants because he would be damned if he went into making plans with someone without being prepared.

Seokmin didn’t hear from Joshua the entire week of midterms, but he was too busy focused on his own to care. He spent his weekend hunched over his desk, working tirelessly to make sure he was prepared. Finally, midterms came. As Seokmin headed to his first class of the week, he had gotten several texts from his mother and sister wishing him luck – plus another from his sister asking him to tell Mom to get off her back, but he didn’t read the entire message before heading into class. As he sat down, he reopened Joshua’s text messages, now four days old, and texted him one more time wishing him luck for the upcoming week.

He didn’t get an answer for another 5 days.

⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔(im)perfect🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌

         [Joshua] (now): How did the midterms go? Thank goodness they’re over!

         That was the first text in an entire school week, sent to his inbox Friday evening while Seokmin was on his way back home. He looked down at the message, before showing it to Seungkwan, who was resting on his shoulder and babbling about plans for the entire friend group to go out and celebrate over the weekend.

         “What are you going to say?” Seungkwan asked, eyeing up the older of the two. Seokmin shrugged.

         “No idea.” He admitted. He was stunned Joshua really did message him right after the midterms came to an end. He stared at the message before his fingers began to type.

         Were you really off your phone for an entire five… backspace? Do you actually care??? Delete! I’m glad to hear from you! I was scared you weren’t going to text me… Backspace.

         [Seokmin] (just now): They were fine. You?

         He set his phone on his lap screen down, looking out the window of the bus as the world before him passed by. “Are you still going to go out with him?”

         “I don’t know.” Seokmin hummed. “He might not still want to. He could have forgotten with how busy he’s been…”

         “It’s been like a week. He’d really have to try if he wanted to forget.” Seokmin nodded, though he wouldn’t be surprised if Joshua forgot. However, when his phone beeped again, he looked down and saw another message.

         [Joshua] (now): Exhausting, but good! I’m glad to be done.

         [Joshua] (now): Did you decide on a restaurant? I’m not scheduling anything this entire weekend until we make plans first!

         Seungkwan seemed to catch Seokmin’s growing smile, because he pushed himself closer to his friend and tried to peer down to his messages. “What has you all smiley, Hyung?” he asked in a sing-song voice. Seokmin held the phone close to his chest, all the confirmation Seungkwan needed. “Mmmmm, I see. You have a date, hm?”

         “It’s not a date.” Seokmin said. Seungkwan only laughed more.

         “Yeah…right.” He snickered. Seokmin looked back down at the phone messages.

         “I’ll ask someone who has dating experience if this is a date, thank you.” Seokmin smirked down at Seungkwan as his eyes went wide.

         “OW!” He gasped, hands over his heart in shock. “Jeez, Seokmin, you’re vicious!”

         Seokmin laughed, muttering a quick: “Kidding!” As Seungkwan nudged him. He looked back down at his phone, pulling up the messages to Joshua and planning for tomorrow evening. It took until the next bus stop, but Joshua responded with a thumbs up and Seokmin finally felt excited again.

⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔(im)perfect🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌

         “What do you mean ‘it’s not a date?!” Mingyu leaned forward in his chair, staring into the Facetime camera. Seokmin had propped him up on his end table with support of his lamp while he was busy looking through clothes in his closet.

         “That’s what I said!” Seungkwan said, cross-legged on Seokmin’s bed as he watched his friend. Seokmin turned to Facetime, seeing his best friend’s furrowed brow.

         “It’s just lunch. He never said it was a date.”

         “Well, yeah. But you’ve had plans to go out to lunch – which Hyung said could be expensive. Just the two of you, on a weekend.”

         “…Right.” Seokmin pulled out a black and white striped button up, motioning it to Seungkwan. He immediately shook his head, so it was shoved back into the closet.

         “…Cheol!” Mingyu called, head tilting from frame for a second. Seokmin looked back over at the camera as Mingyu pulled his boyfriend into frame. “Is Seokminnie going on a date?”

         “With Joshua!? Seokmin, that's great!” Seungcheol offered a wide grin. “I knew it would happen.”

         “It’s not a date.” Seokmin whined, and on the other end of the line the couple began laughing. “…Is it?”

         “It is.” Seungkwan nodded

         “How would you know?!” Seungcheol called, making Mingyu laugh more.

         “Why is everyone being so cruel to me today?” Seungkwan’s comment made Seokmin look over at him, mind flooding with the joke he made from the bus. Did he not take it as a joke? Seungkwan was grinning as he eyed the older males on the other side of the camera.

         “Alright, alright, go make out, you disgusting gremlins.” Seungkwan called, leaning forward. Mingyu and Seungcheol called out their goodbyes before the call was disconnected. Seungkwan sighed, setting the phone back down. “They’re so annoying.” He snorted.

         “I was kidding before when I said that.” Seokmin turned to his friend, who glanced up at him from the bed. “On the bus. About the dating experience.” Seungkwan chuckled.

         “I know.” He said. “It was pretty funny, too.” Seokmin sighed in relief. “Now, what else do you have for this date? We need to make you actually look good.” Seokmin’s lips dipped in a frown, but Seungkwan shrugged innocently. “It was a joke~.” He cooed.

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

         Seokmin gave Joshua the name of the restaurant Friday night, a twenty-minute bus ride from his house. It was a nice lunch spot that Seokmin had been dying to go to since it opened the previous summer, rave reviews from friends on his socials only encouraging him more. He had no reason, until now. It wasn’t too expensive, despite Joshua’s requests, but it looked like a really good place. He checked the time. They had agreed to meet at noon, Seokmin arriving by 11:40 to make sure they could get a table as soon as possible and avoid a longer wait. He had spent the night before mentally planning his entire arrival. Get up at 6, shower by 7, eat breakfast and get dressed by 8, facial routine by 9, pre-screen the menu and decide he wants a buffalo chicken wrap and fries by 9:30, mental breakdown at 10 with support of Seungkwan in the form of a water, and at the bus stop by 11 to make it to the restaurant by 11:30 and get a table secured by noon. Foolproof. 

Seokmin didn’t feel his nerves come down from the panic attack until the kind woman at the front of the restaurant told him it would be another 10 minutes until a table opened, so he waited outside on a bench, scanning for Joshua’s arrival. He was early, but he couldn’t help but feel anxious as the minutes ticked that Joshua would be late again. Three strikes and you’re out, right? Isn’t that the term in baseball? He looked down at his watch. 11:50. Still no table, still no Joshua. He looked back at the restaurant as a few groups of people shuffled out, chatting about how full they were or how delicious their meal was. Seokmin looked back at his lap, lips pursed together until his name was called, lifting his head up.

         “Seokmin!” Joshua came hurrying down the street, grinning as Seokmin entered his line of sight. He waved, his running slowing to a jog as he got closer to the bench. Seokmin felt his nerves dissolve into nothing as Joshua got closer, holding back the full extent of his grin as he sat up a little straighter. Joshua, pace slowing to a stop, immediately checked his watch. “11:53. Perfect. I was aiming for 11:55.” He grinned. Seokmin stood up and slipped his phone into his back pocket. “Did you wait long?”

         “No. I got here ten minutes ago and put our name in. It shouldn’t be much longer; do you want to wait inside?” Joshua nodded, and the duo made their way inside. Seokmin dragged behind just a second so he could admire Joshua’s outfit. Both of them seemed to acknowledge the windy spring day upon them, the option for wearing long-sleeves shirts. Joshua’s was a neutral cream while Seokmin sported a light pink sweater. Both opted for jeans and sneakers. Joshua’s hair was still as wavy and beautiful as ever, the caramel locks lightening a bit in the sunlight. Seokmin wondered why Joshua wasn’t a model. He watched Joshua pull open the door, stepping aside and motioning for Seokmin to head in first.

         Seokmin couldn’t help but chuckle. “Very gentlemanly.” He commented. Joshua shrugged.

         “My mom taught me it’s polite.”

         “The same mom with the ‘housewarming gift rule?”

         Joshua slipped in behind him, letting the door close behind them as he grinned. “The very same.”

         “She’s smart.” Seokmin nodded. As the duo headed inside, the wait had significantly decreased, and it wasn’t long before they were seated. “Did she also say you should pull out someone’s seat?”

         Joshua snorted. “Alright, you’re pushing it.” he earned a laugh from Seokmin. However, Joshua immediately stopped in front of Seokmin, pulling out the chair he was going to sit on. “But yes.”

         Seokmin settled into the seat and watched Joshua do the same across from him. He smiled, arms crossed over his chest. “I’m glad to see you looking happy,” Joshua said. Seokmin’s lips dipped just a bit. “The last time I saw you in person, you weren’t. That, and not really talking during midterms, I was worried it would be awkward today. For a few minutes, I wondered if you would even show up at all. Not that I don’t deserve that.”

         Seokmin had to admit he worried about the same thing, hence that breakdown in his living room at 10 o’clock….

----two hours prior----

“I can’t do this. I can’t do this! I cannot do this, Seungkwan!” Seokmin screamed into balled up fists. “I’m going to make a fool of myself, I know it!”

 “Seokminnie…” Seungkwan hummed, leaning over the back of the couch with a cool water in hand. He had been at this for the past 20 minutes, a complete break down after looking himself over in the mirror and hoping he looked good enough. “Here. Drink something and calm down.”

“What if he doesn’t show? What if he doesn’t show up again and I look like an idiot waiting for a table for two?”

“Then I’ll meet you for lunch instead.” Seungkwan smiled. Seokmin hiccupped, a string of whimpers trying to disguise themselves as breaths trickling from his lips. “Now, please drink something. You’ll make yourself sick.” Finally, if only because he knew his friend wouldn’t stop pestering him, Seokmin pulled his hands from his eyes, soaked with tears that pooled there. Seungkwan pushed the water closer to him and he finally took it into his hands, uncapping it and swallowing it all in one gulp to the point where he coughed after pulling it from his lips. “There.” He chuckled. “Better?” Seokmin nodded, setting the empty bottle on the floor. After a second to catch his breath, he numbly rolled onto his side and picked the bottle up, Seungkwan extending his hand. “I’ll throw it out.” His voice was gentle as he took the plastic. “Do you want to go?” Seungkwan was mostly a sarcastic kid, but he was gentle and caring when it counted, and now is a time that it really counted. 

“Yes.” Seokmin choked.

“Then go. Three strikes and you’re out, right? If something happens then that’s it. Drop him. And I’ll make sure to give him lots of dirty looks the rest of the term.” Seokmin coughed out a little laugh, but it didn’t stop him from gasping out shallow breaths, the pain in his chest making his eyes continue to pool with tears. “Seokminnie.” Seungkwan’s hand dropped down and rubbed Seokmin’s arm, but he immediately retracted from the touch, and Seungkwan knew not to press further. The duo stood in silence for a few more minutes, the sounds of Seokmin’s ragged breathing being the only thing to overpower the sound of the clock.

“What time is it?” Seokmin choked out, coughing into his fist. 

Seungkwan eyes the clock on the entertainment system. “It’s 10:30…” he said softly, and Seokmin only let out another pained groan.

         When the clock struck 10:35, Seokmin sat straight up, so robotically that it scared Seungkwan back. His eyes had stopped leaking, and he licked his dry lips. Getting off the couch, he hurried into the bathroom to redo his face and cover up any red blotches. Seungkwan followed him in, asking if he was okay now, but not getting a response. Seokmin simply fixed himself up and grabbed his belongings. He needed to catch the bus. He couldn’t make Joshua wait.  

⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔(im)perfect🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌

         “It’s all water under the bridge,” Seokmin said simply. He thought back to the pain in his chest two hours before, the tight way he gripped the hairs in his scalp and the red blotch marks under his eyes from tears that pooled in them and wouldn’t stop no matter how hard he tried. He hoped he had on enough foundation to mask that. “No big deal.” As he scanned the options, he could feel Joshua staring at him for a minute longer. His stare, gentle yet curious, sent shivers down Seokmin’s spine. “Hm? What are you staring at?”

         Joshua shrugged, his smile not fading. “Nothing.” His gentleness made Seokmin nod his head. “What are you in the mood for?” Joshua picked up his own menu and flipped it open as he asked, humming. “I’m craving a hamburger or something.” Seokmin looked down at the section for burgers when Joshua mentioned them, wondering if Joshua also pre-screened the menu before arriving. “So.” Joshua piped up again. “Your midterms went well?”

         “Yeah,” Seokmin said. “I think I did pretty good.”

         “That’s good.” Joshua smiled. “I think so, too. Can’t believe I’m almost done.”

         “What do you want to teach?” That was a good conversation. 

         “English.” He said simply. “I only need my bachelor’s degree from this year, and a few more certifications to be qualified.” Seokmin nodded. “What about you? I know you’re focused on acting. Movies? TV? Or are you just sticking to musical theatre stuff?”

         “I….” Seokmin pursed his lips. “I don’t know yet.” He frowned. “I’ve only ever done theatre. But a few of my friends over the years have asked me to help with their movies for projects, and that was fun too.” Joshua nodded, shrugging.

         “You’ll figure it out.” Before Seokmin could reply, the waiter came and took their drink orders. When he walked away, Joshua leaned back in his seat, playing with the sleeves of his sweater. He glanced up at Seokmin, his nose scrunched up a bit in amusement. Seokmin thought it was cute. “You doing anything fun for the long weekend?”

         “Seungkwan wanted to have some sort of celebration for midterms being over, but he hasn’t mentioned anything about it since.” Seokmin shrugged. “I was going to head home and see my family, but I don’t know if it’ll be worth the money and travel for less than three days. Especially with Christmas break coming up.” Joshua nodded. “What about you?”

         “I’m going to try and get a head start on some of the latter half of the professor’s work probably. He asked me to lead a few discussions so I have to start preparing everything I would need for that.” Seokmin imagined what Joshua would look like teaching in that large lecture hall, leading a discussion about education practices. He imagined Joshua’s button-up sleeves rolled to the elbows, eyes focused on each and every student as they added to the discussion. Even in the large lecture hall, Seokmin knew Joshua would be the type of person to look them right in the eye, much as he was doing now.

         “You’ll be a good teacher…” Seokmin said, looking down at his hands on the table. When he glanced back up at Joshua, he saw a hint of pink on the other’s cheeks, his nose scrunching up more as flattery took over his expression. “I can feel it.”

         “Thank you,” Joshua said sheepishly. “I’ll do my best.” Seokmin nodded, glancing up at the waiter who returned with their drinks. “Are you ready to order?” Seokmin glanced back down at the menu, nodding his head as Joshua wasted no time to put his own order in, Seokmin not far behind. With more time until their food arrived, the duo continued to fall into casual conversation.

         While Joshua was sharing a story about his midterm studying experience, where he forgot to do laundry for the entire week much to the dismay of his roommate, Seokmin listened. Well, he tried too. No matter how hard he tried, his brain kept reminding him of one thing.

         He was late twice. Sure, he’s here now. But it could happen again.

         It will happen again. It will happen until he stops coming altogether.

         Seokmin pulled his lips into a tight line as if to hold his thoughts back. Joshua was seemingly oblivious to his plight thank God. Seokmin had no idea how he’d navigate the storm of assuring Joshua he was no longer upset when in fact he was.

         You’re allowed to be upset with people, Seokmin. Especially when they hurt your feelings.

         “Mmm.” Seokmin blinked, locking eyes with a confused Joshua. He was still smiling. “Oh. Sorry…” he said. “Go on.”

         “I’m done.” Joshua chuckled. Seokmin nodded, chuckling shyly. Maybe he should start carving into that hole in his brain beforehand, get the headache out of the way early. “What about you?” When Joshua saw Seokmin’s expression contort in confusion, he clarified. “You just listened to me ramble about education and teaching stuff. Tell me about your acting.”

         “Like what?”

         A shrug. “Callbacks. When do you hear from them?”

         Seokmin had to admit, he didn’t even think about the callbacks ever since he left what he considered one of his worst auditions ever. “They usually come out after midterms end. That way we have the rest of this semester and the entire spring semester to practice and put it together.”

         “So soon?” Seokmin nodded. “Then you’ll hear some good news.”

         “I doubt it. I really don’t think it was my best work.”

         “You never know until it happens.” Joshua leaned back in his seat. “Besides, you’ll have to get a callback. I want to be there and hear you sing.”

         Seokmin felt his chest explode, but he couldn’t tell if Joshua’s comment made him feel flattery or fear. He’ll keep being late until he stops showing up altogether. Being five minutes early this time was a coincidence. It won’t happen again.

         Desperate to change the subject, and wondering if the waiter had caught his plea, the food arrived, and Seokmin watched eager eyes widen across from him. “Awesome.” Joshua grinned.

         “Enjoy your meal.” Seokmin eyed the waiter as he smiled, to which Seokmin politely returned.

         “You too.” The seconds the word hit his own ears, he chewed his lip. “Mhm…thank you.” The waiter grinned, amused at the comment he must hear hundreds of times a day. With a polite nod, he headed to a table on the other side of the room to assist with their order. Seokmin covered his face. “Why me?”

         Joshua immediately snorted into his hands, tilting his head back in amusement as he laughed. “Oh, noooo. The classic ‘you too’.” He snickered. He watched Seokmin try to disappear into his chair, hands buried into his face. It only made Joshua laugh harder. “Awww, don’t be embarrassed.”

         “I’m such a dork.”

         “No, it was so cute.” Joshua leaned forward. He reached his hand out, gently brushing his fingers against Seokmin’s wrist, guiding his hands back down onto the table. Seokmin looked down at his hands, seeing his wrist held gently in Joshua’s grip. Seokmin glanced up, lips pursed together in a little pout. “It was so cute. I do that all the time.”

         Seokmin looked down at his wrist in Joshua’s hand, a feeling he never wanted to forget. He licked his lips, which felt dry for a moment. Joshua’s other hand stuck a fry in his mouth, his smile of amusement still on his face. Joshua’s gentle reassurance calmed Seokmin’s mind just a bit, but maybe too much.

         “Why have you been late for our plans the past few times?” Joshua’s smile dropped, the fry dangling from his lips. There was no going back now, Seokmin knowing he’d regret asking later. “I’m sorry,” Seokmin said quickly, pulling his hand back. Joshua’s hand stayed in its spot on the table, palm facing up as if it was waiting for Seokmin’s wrist to come back into his grip. “I didn’t-.”

         “Seokmin, I’m sorry….” He said softly. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

         “No, it’s okay.”

         “No, it’s really not,” Joshua said. “Not if you’re still upset.” Seokmin leaned back in his seat, biting his lip as Joshua took a deep breath. “Midterms took a lot of my time, and I-.”

         “I know. You don’t have to explain anything to me.” Joshua didn’t seem convinced, in fact, he seemed even annoyed that Seokmin kept pushing him. His eyes narrowed a bit, crossing his arms. “Sorry…” Seokmin whispered. “It slipped out, I didn’t want to make it a thing….”

         “Seokmin, I made two promises and came late to both. That’s shitty to do and I’m sorry. You can be mad at me, it’s fine.”

         “I-I’m not…” Seokmin could feel his heart continuing to beat in his chest, his throat threatening to close. Joshua’s words sounded reassuring, but his tone was laced with annoyance and regret. How could Seokmin let himself slip like that? Now he’s completely ruined the lunch. He’s completely ruined the date. 

         “Seokmin…” Joshua’s voice was gentle again, and he looked across the table. “I will work to fix my time management. Not just with you, I could stand to do it for a lot of things...I promise.” Seokmin blinked, head tilting to the side and exhaling a deep sigh.

         “Okay…” he said softly. Joshua smiled once again. With the situation seemingly handled for now, both of them finally began to eat. Seokmin was taking a bite of his meal, glancing up at Joshua. He was sipping his drink, eyes staring out the window at the world passing outside.

“I’ll be right back.” He said, sliding out from his chair and heading towards the bathrooms located in the back of the room. Seokmin watched until he disappeared behind the bathroom door. Alone, Seokmin painted Joshua’s face in his mind, needing to study it without interruption. He noticed the bags he remembered from the first time Joshua came to his house were still there, still caked under the foundation. His eyes, now that they weren’t focused on Seokmin, looked almost glazed over in exhaustion. Apologizing and claiming accountability seemed to take a lot more out of him, a sight that made Seokmin only feel more guilty for his comments. Joshua had his reasons, he shouldn’t have made such an outburst, especially in public. He did the one thing he never wanted to do; cause problems for others without fair warning. He felt absolutely disgusting.

Seokmin pulled out his phone, seeing a text from Mingyu; a thumbs up and a heart sticker as his way of wishing Seokmin luck today.

[Seokmin] (now): What do I do? I asked him about being late and now I think he’s upset with me. I feel awful. I wanted to leave but I couldn’t do that. Could I? No, I don’t want to. I can’t believe I asked, it’s no big deal, I’m not upset with him.

Seokmin watched the wall of text grow and grow as his fingers flew frantically along the letters. Finally, with a ragged sigh, he deleted the entire thing, simply sending Mingyu a smiley face sticker in response and setting his phone back down. He covered his mouth with his hands, watching the bathroom door silently until Joshua returned. He was smiling once again, hands in his pockets as he returned to the table.

         “Are you okay?” Seokmin asked softly as Joshua sat back down beside him. “You look tired.”

         Joshua nodded his head. “Yeah, of course!” Seokmin immediately clocked the forced tone in his voice, mostly from personal experience. He put another bite of his fries in his mouth as Joshua leaned forward. “Hey, do you want to come to my place after this?”

         Seokmin almost choked on his food, turning his head and coughing. When he glanced back, Joshua was offering another small smile at him. “Sorry, what?”

         “Do you want to come to my place?” He asked again, seemingly unbothered in the request. “I just bought a few new beads and boxes and I’ve been itching to break them open and make a bracelet or something.” Seokmin watched him. “I remember you said you wanted to learn.”

         “Oh uhm….” Seokmin swallowed, putting his water to his lips and taking a long sip in hopes he would come up with the right answer this time. When he set his cup down, Seokmin saw Joshua waiting for an answer. “You don’t mind?”

         “Would I invite you if I did?” He cocked his head to the side. He had a point.

         “Uhm…okay.” He smiled. Joshua nodded, grinning in what Seokmin could only hope was excitement.

         “Awesome.”

         Seokmin couldn’t stop staring at Joshua’s eyes for the rest of the meal. Between finishing up their meals and Joshua signing the receipt and sticking his wallet back into his pocket, Seokmin wondered if the bags under his eyes felt as heavy as they looked. But he always spewed too much nonsense for one day, and kept his mouth shut for both of their sakes.

⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔(im)perfect🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌⚔🦌

         “You live here?” Seokmin’s neck craned up at the stunning set of apartments looming over them. Located only a five-minute walk from the restaurant, the building stood tall and proud over the rest of the area. Seokmin’s eyes darted down another street, one that led to his house. He wondered if he could see the apartments from his own with how tall they were. He had never actively tried to look for them, but he would now. Joshua chuckled a bit.

         “According to my key, I do.” He winked, pulling the little silver piece of metal from his back pocket, dangling it between the duo. Seokmin glanced back up at it as Joshua headed towards the front entrance. “Come on, then.” He motioned to Seokmin. “I live on the sixth floor, so we can take the elevator.”

         Without question, Seokmin followed behind him, hands in the pockets of his jeans as they headed in. The apartments were definitely expensive, and Seokmin immediately caught this by the large main area that welcomed him, giving him the feeling of a hotel. It smelt like strawberry, and Seokmin suddenly craved one. Joshua motioned towards the elevator, leading Seokmin past the P.O. Boxes lining one of the walls. He waved to the few people making their way through the halls, all of them knowing him by name and Joshua seeming to know them in the same way. A few polite nods of his head got Seokmin to the elevator, and they both stepped inside.

         The trip up was quiet, Seokmin’s eyes glued to the number as it ticked up. 2…3…4… Seokmin felt his heart tighten at the idea that on date one – pull yourself together! – Seokmin was going to his apartment. What would people at school think of him if they found out? He didn’t have time to weigh the options, as the elevator door rang and Joshua stepped out. “This way.” He turned to Seokmin, motioning down the hall. He hooked a left at the end, and pulled his key out. “I know I already told you I’m an amazing actor, but I’m an even better jewelry making.”

         Seokmin’s lips perked up at the comment. “Yeah? I don’t think I’ll be that good.”

         “It’s not as hard as you think.” He confessed, turning to Seokmin. “Besides, it’s mostly to relax. At least for me.” When he got to his door, he stuck the key in and clicked it, flinging it open. As Joshua stepped in, motioning Seokmin to follow, Seokmin swallowed a big lump in his throat and followed. He had already texted Seungkwan and Mingyu that he was going to Joshua’s apartment after lunch, and he could already feel the vibrating frenzy happening in his back pocket with what he could only assume was their lewd forms of encouragement. As he stepped into the main room of the apartment, Joshua closed the door behind them.

         “Wow.” Seokmin admired the layout before him, an arch to his left leading into what he could only assume was the kitchen, and a small step leading to an L-Shaped couch and large TV hanging on the wall. He could immediately see college parties being held here. “This is really nice.”

         “Thanks.” Joshua said. “At first, I thought it was too big, but I kind of like the space. We have a nice balcony and everything.” When he saw Seokmin’s eyes dart left to right, he smiled. “Want to see it?”

         “Oh, okay.” Seokmin nodded, and Joshua led him deeper into the apartment. As he took a few steps, just about to step into the little dip that was the living room, his footsteps stopped. At the edge of the couch was a man, someone Seokmin had never seen before. His eyes immediately widened at the stunning vision before him. A slender man with flowing black hair that reached his shoulders, and a beautifully delicate face. He was sitting on the couch in nothing but a pair of long pajama pants and a robe that was untied just enough to expose his collarbones and chest. Seokmin had to glance away, so he looked at Joshua to gauge his expression. That didn’t help.

         Joshua’s cheeks were red, annoyance buried in his brows as he put his hands on his hips. The male on the couch glanced over, grinning. “Hey.” He said. “You’re back, Joshuji!”

         “Jeonghan…what the fuck are you doing here?”        

The second those words filled the living room, Seokmin’s feet felt as if they were glued to the floor, and he so desperately wished he was closer to the balcony.

Return to K-Pop Masterlist

Previous / Next

[keepyourpantsongohan]

Ayesha Liveblogs Jujutsu Kaisen S2

Based on people's foreboding comments I have rarely been so certain a show was about to hurt my feelings. But here we are, ready to be hurt again LMAO

"No one else understands what cursed spirits taste like." Do you think Geto is obsessed with converting Yuji because he's the only other person in the world who eats curses

I wasn't expecting the Utahime and Mei flashback but I do enjoy it

"I don't need that, but you do, right?" Is the implication here that Mei's technique give her impeccable night vision. What is with all these Jujutsu Eyes

Are we going to see ALL the teachers' generation as kids? I have never been listening more in my life. TELL ME MORE:

However, the fact the subtitle of this arc is "Premature Death" probably doesn't bode well for my feelings

"Satoru, it's not nice to pick on the weak." "What kind of idiot picks on the strong?" A terrible but fair point, Gojo

I didn't really recognize Ieiri in the intro so I'm really, really glad to hear that the Female Teammate of Gojo and Geto is not Super Dead LMAO

"Jujutsu exists to protect non-jujutsu sorcerers." I know they're just playing basketball but I am giggling and kicking my feet. I loooove a backstory. Also: Geto you certainly had quite a turn, didn't you?

"You should be more polite and humble," said Geto to Gojo, in a lesson that the latter would never learn, ever, in his life

Given that someone has to die, I'm placing my bets on Star-Vessel-Gal-That-I-Bet-You-$5-Someone's-Going-To-Fall-in-Love-With

"I'm not a Zen'in anymore. I took my wife's name. It's Fushiguro now." YOU MEAN THAT GUY PEOPLE KEEP LUSTING AFTER IS MEGUMI'S DAD????? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA. OH NOOOOOOOO. THAT'S SO FUNNY FOR MEGUMI, HAVING AN EVIL, FUCKABLE DAD

"How's Megumi doing?" "Who's that?" ISN'T HE A TODDLER RN? What a terrible father kjnhgghg. We knew, but wow

"Tengen-sama is me, and I am Tengen-sama." I love that Tengen, Mysterious Keeper of Jujutsu Barriers, is in his mini-skirt era

"I wish I could share my senses with [cursed spirits] like Mei-san does." Well, that explains her impeccable night vision. I sort of forgot that she's also a human surveillance camera

Ahhhh so I guess Riko's like 13 to their 16? Maybe they won't fall in love after all

"Riko, you have a boyfriend?" HAHAHAHA this is the school drama shenanigans I was hoping for

"I failed!" There something endearing about Gojo learning how to control his techniques

HAHAHAHA they're not going to explain the cutaway to the beach????? Hello???????

"I still don't have much recollection of being attacked." Ah, so it was to resolve the kidnapping situation for Kuroi with immediate success

OH MY GOD, I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE NANAMI EITHER. LOOK AT HIIMMMMMMMMM. I did not peg him as a long-hair boy:

Also also also. Just based on his place in the OP, I like Nanami's little friend. I do think he must be Super Dead though

"You haven't released your technique since yesterday, have you? You haven't slept either. And you don't plan to sleep tonight, do you? Are you sure we don't need to go back to Jujutsu High?" This arc is I think what is going to make me love Gojo. I like him well enough, but there's a sincerity here that's getting me. Gojo who tries and fails at new techniques and runs himself ragged to give a dying girl her beach day

"Have we met before?" said Gojo, like Megumi's evil DILF father did not have a sword through his chest

"Never before or after that, had anyone noticed me standing behind them." Hey quick question. What the fuck does that mean?

Ohhhh, Maki and Megumi's Dad have the same No Cursed Energy Condition. It's like a reverse Kekkei Genkai

HOW DID BEING SLASHED THROUGH HIS WHOLE TORSO FROM THE NECK ON NOT KILL GOJO DEAD?

"No matter what decision you make, we will guarantee your future." Geto and Gojo deciding before even meeting her they'll fight Curse Wizard God to give Riko her autonomy!!!! That's the Jujutsu High spirit I know 😭😭😭😭😭😭

Update from two minutes later: Rest in pieces, Riko-chan

Geto said: You have actually activated my trauma response, which is unrestrained manslaughter

Ggjkglgjlgkjg Megumi's Dad said: Looks like you brought curses to a gun fight!

Not to poke holes in this monologue, but doesn't changing the size of a cursed spirit require cursed energy?? I feel like this is such a loosey-goosey structure for what is and isn't cursed energy

"I've already decided I'll only see you either for work or in Hell." I want this to be my email signature

Megumi 🤝 His Dad: Accusing your opponent of being high when they act weird

"One, the power to stop: The neutral application of the Limitless technique. Two, the power to attract: the amplified application of the Limitless technique, Blue. And three, the power to repel: the reversal of his cursed technique, Red." Thank you for laying it all out Mr. Megumi's Dad because I would've taken a long time to get there myself. Also does this mean Gojo is like a giant magnet

"Two or three years from now, my kid will be sold off to the Zen'in clan. Do what you will with that." RIP Megumi's Hot, Evil Dad, who I guess didn't sell him? Or pre-sold him? That part's unclear. Also I can't believe Gojo killed Megumi's Dad and then adopted him. And then DIDN'T TELL HIM HE WAS DEAD. GOJO, WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?

(Assuming this actually killed him, that is. He is missing like, a third of his body. Seems pretty fatal.)

Also, after all that, I have finally learned from the episode description his name is (was?) Toji. If they said it, I missed it!

"Does there really need to be any point to [killing people]?" "It's very important that there is. Especially for a jujutsu sorcerer." Geto being the constant voice of reason implies something incredibly drastic must happen to him

Also: I guess GOJO's trauma response is unrestrained manslaughter

"Are you Geto-kun? What kind of woman is your type?" You mean to tell me that the lady who turned Todo into whatever he is has been menacing people for generations??? LMAO

"Rather than hunt down cursed spirits, I want to create a world where cursed spirits aren't born." Tsukumo coming in with some hot takes on Jujutsu Society it seems

"If all of mankind were jujutsu sorcerers, curses wouldn't be born." Is Geto in the present trying to, force all of society to become jujutsu sorcerers by making a curse-dominant society, thereby eventually making everyone equipped to deal with cursed energy, and eventually starving the curses out? What a weird, terrible, backwards plan. Incredible. Tell me more!!!

"Just keep culling non-sorcerers and force them to adapt into sorcerers as a survival strategy." Why do all anime roads lead to metaphors for geno-[LOUD FOGHORN NOISE]

"But unfortunately, I'm not crazy enough to do that." Geto said: No problem, I am!!!!

I was correct, Nanami's Nice Friend Haibara is in fact Super Dead

It is funny that they make out Geto's descent into madness and [GUNSHOT NOISE] being triggered by people being violent towards the youth, considering he spent the whole first season plotting ways to torture teenagers

"So, you're just going to kill everyone who's not a sorcerer? Even your parents?!" "I can't allow my parents to be a special exception." Alright, Anti-Establishment Itachi, chill out

Ahhhhhhh, poor Gojo, unable to kill or reason with his friend:

Geto said: I will raise you adopting Megumi and ADOPT TWO TRAUMATIZED CHILDREN, GOJO. BEAT THAT!

"About this dad of yours. I ki--" "I don't care." OH MY GOD MEGUMI. ALSO. GOJO. HE'S FIVE, YOU COULD'VE TRIED A LITTLE HARDER TO TELL HIM

"If I go [to the Zen'in clan] will Tsumiki be able to find happiness? It all depends on that." MEGUMI HAS BEEN SELFLESS HIS WHOLE LIFE

I do love the very normal but realistic dialogue of Nobara and Yuji talking past each other to convince the other to do an activity the other isn't interested in (shopping and a movie respectively). Also Megumi the Homebody!

OH NOOOOOOOO NOT THE SHIBUYA ARC. THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE WARNED WOULD HURT MY FEELINGS

Ohhhhhhh my god. Nobara being asked advice from this gal about asking Yuji out and immediately bringing Megumi back to the restaurant. I LOVE SCHOOL DRAMA

"Someone who knows Itadori well is on his way here now." Megumi Fushiguro: Yuji Dating Consultant

"Did my heart skip a beat?" Nobara!! What does that mean!!!

Megumi takes his role incredibly seriously. Beautiful. Perfect. Beyoncé:

Also. I know it was just an omake, but the implication that it is understood on Team Gojo that Yuji is allowed to date but Megumi isn't is SO FUNNY. They're like, 'He's OUR special boy, leave him alone!'

"But the way she eats and her handwriting and stuff are super nice." Yuji, my sweet boy, who loves girls for their hearts AND their asses

The slice of life parts of this are really getting my heart <3 Give me fifteen more episodes of Team Gojo's dating troubles and going to see Worm Man movies

Jujutsu Kaisen said: Hey Mechamaru have you considered not being disabled, and being evil instead? It's a fresh new look!!

"I have to use any means necessary to get in contact with Gojo Satoru and tell him about the Shibuya plot." Muta-maru said he's only a pragmatic amount of evil, a means to an end

"I'll be able to see everyone," said Muta-maru, in what I'm sure wasn't foreshadowing of him immediately about to die

"But I want to be even closer to you, Mechamaru. So, one day, I will come see you." Oh, Miwa, I don't think you will

Team Nanami!!! While I am glad to see them, I don't like this for Megumi. That he's here, in Shibuya. Be safe, baby boy!

"Everyone who came up running up to the edge of the veil to escape cried the same thing: Bring Gojo Satoru!" How about we don't do that!

Are they making Maki go on a mission with her grandpa? LMAO

They have made this as OMINOUS as possible. I don't like it. I don't like it at all. STAY AWAY, GOJO!!

"They're making Gojo-sensei do this alone?" MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY!

Mei giving Yuji the option not to fight the people 😭😭😭 The teachers try so very hard to protect them in the ways that they can

"Mankind has long feared, hated and cursed such demonic pests." I am like the opposite of a bug person but I didn't have a specific fear of locusts going into this episode. They're doing their best to give me one though

"Are you clever? Or not clever? I'm clever." "Clever people wouldn't really go around calling themselves clever." There's something very Imperfect Cell about locust's vibes, and it does make me laugh

Yuji praying over the person who was killed 😭💞 HIM!!

"Nee-sama is praising you! Just accept it!" [Yelling] "Thank you! I'm honoured!" Yuji is very willing to accept constructive criticism

"Domain Amplification. It's the same principle as the New Shadow School's simple domain. They envelope themselves with the domain. While it reduces its guaranteed-hit effect, it ensures they neutralize any technique used. That would allow their attacks to hit me." Then why would people not use domain amplification and simple domain all the time?

The way Geto has thought of so many different ways to make sure there are civilian casualties to anything Gojo does!! GET GOT, GETO!

Them starting this horrifying scenario with an I Love Gojo video!!

"Technically, he's my benefactor," said Megumi, which meant, My Really Annoying Older Brother or Uncle or Dad Whom I Love

I do kind of love seeing Gojo go insane on these Cursed Spirits and reducing Hanami to smithereens. He can be a little vengeful, as a treat

"I'm sorry. I can't save everyone. So I promise to exorcise them instead." Oh, Gojoooo 😭😭😭😭

I KNOW THAT GETO KNOWS GETTING HIM TO STAND STILL FOR A MINUTE WILL BE EASY BECAUSE HE MISSES HIS DEAD FRIEND. I HATE THIS. I HATE IT! I WANT TO CRY AND THROW UP.

HEY! HEY! WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"I can pass from one body to another by replacing its brain with myself." WHAT DO YOU MEAN?????????????

It's NOT EVEN HIS FRIEND? IT'S A CURSE WEARING HIS DEAD FRIEND'S FACE? WHAT THE FUCK. WHAT THE HELL. WHAT ON EARTH!

"But it's time for you to wake up. How long will you keep letting it have its way with you, Suguru?" Geto's hand trying to kill the thing possessing him. For his own sake, or for Gojo's, I don't know

"I was killed on October 19th by the special-grade cursed spirit called Mahito." Rest in pieces, Mechamaru. Good of you to help!

"Well, it'll all work out somehow. I'm counting on you, everyone." Gojo thinking of his team of first years to save him!!!!!!!

OH IJICHI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT'D HE DO TO ANYONE!!!!

Yuji dealing with the cell phone issue by yelling to all Shibuya a message for Nanamin ❣️ He is clever, and loud!

"Don't toy with Geto-sama any further." Mimiko and Nanako trying to get their surrogate dad's body back. Extremely fucked up and sad

Nanami asking Ino to look after Megumi and Yuji 🥺🥺

"The Gojo clan is currently a one-man team of Satoru Gojo himself." Where are all the other Gojos??????

Gojo being the one person who is safe-guarding specific people in jujutsu society with his existence 🥺😭 I do love him!!!

I do miss the omake instead of this end-of-ep character commentary but the fact that someone insults Gojo with the phrase, "Acting like he was nothing but leg below his nipples," does entertain me 1) Because it really doesn't translate to me culturally as an insult jnghkghg and 2) It confirms Gojo has nipples, which is a real rarity in anime

"They won't be able to climb up here that fast." [Immediate cut to Megumi and Yuji dropping in via Megumi's giant shadow bird] I love physical comedy

"So, whenever I'm at a loss, I think to myself, 'What would Nanami-san do?'" Oh, Ino, that's very sweet

"I thought this wouldn't take long?" "No comment." Yuji and Megumi's friendship is my whole heart and soul

OH MY GOD??????????????????????????????????? THEY'RE POSSESSING MEGUMI'S FATHER???? WHAT IS THIS, THE MAKE TEAM GOJO SEE A BUNCH OF ASSHOLES WEARING THEIR DEAD LOVED ONES FACES ARC????????

Setting aside the egregious body horror, I love that Gojo has been a menace from birth. Good for him!

"If you're a man, be clear and decisive." [Megumi points at Yuji about to throw a car] "That stuff's not my role." Megumi said: Yuji is my man, actually 💖

Megumi's so smart!!!!!! Figuring out how to be both weak and strong at the same time to combat the Inverse technique

Nanami flashing back to Haibara's body when he sees Ijichi's. Ahhhhhhhhhh.

"Who the hell do you think you're ordering around, old hag?" I KNEW that Toji was not going to be silent. Even dead, he's just. A Very Big Presence. Also, poor Megumi's feelings when he sees him. And subsequently, mine

"I guess it just means that this guy's soul couldn't win against my body." "A soul losing to a body?! No! That's impossible!" There is some interesting world-building between the body and the soul with Geto and Toji having consciousness through body alone. I'd be so thoughtful if it weren't so fucked up

"If I die, you'll kill me, right?" Megumi said: Stay Safe, Love You The Sequel 🌸

Nobara trying to protect Nitta while fully concussed!!!

NANAMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII WIZARD ACCOUNTANT DAD'S HERE TO THE RESCUE!!!

I now have a new appreciation and understanding for everyone's lustful feelings for Nanami. I get it:

Ijichi's alive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh thank god. Stay alive!!!!!!!!!!!

"You would hinder me, and be in the way." A harsh but fair verdict for Nobara

Of all the people fighting on the side of curses, Choso is the one whose motivations are most understandable

"This guy has beaten my brothers before. They wouldn't lose to some idiot." Lot of confidence in that statement, Choso. I'm not saying Yuji's an idiot, but he learns best on the job and with advice. Benefit of Mechamaru's wisdom, in this case

It's fun that when the sorcerers don't know what's going on, they have an omniscient narrator/mission reporter cut in with an explanation

Also, if I were Choso, I would simply leave the bathroom LMAO

"So even if I die, I'm taking this guy out! I don't have to be the one to rescue Gojo-sensei!" YUJIIIIIIIII

UNBELIEVABLE, IS YUJI, LIVERLESS, UNCONSCIOUS AND FULL OF HOLES, GOING TO WIN THIS BATTLE ON THE BASIS OF A FRIENDSHIP MONTAGE?

Are they suggesting Yuji is ALSO the manifestation of a cursed womb. Because I hope the fuck not!!!

It seems Nanako and Mimiko are going to save Yuji because they share a purpose: Getting-Sensei-Dad-Released-From-Horrors

"Ui Ui? Will you die for me?" "Are you sure that's alright? May I die for you?" This sibling relationship has unsettled me from the moment it appeared on screen LMAO

"I guess there's never been a case where I've been better off alone." Nanami's hard line for co-combatants is that he will not intentionally put first years at risk (fair, given his history)

It's interesting how the ocean spirit seems the least aware and battle-hungry, given that The Ocean Has Many Things to Fear

I said this, and the Ocean immediately exploded into a taller, buffer cursed spirit

"Projection Sorcery. The cursed technique of Naobito Zen'in. It splits one second into 24 frames from his field of view, and allows him to trace the actions created in those frames at the start." Do you think it's fun for the animators to animate a power that's based on animation?

So THIS is where the beach domain came from! What a throwback!

Shikigami really do make sense for the Ocean as an attack

MEGUMMMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!! He said: Hey Maki, I heard you were fighting shadows and hating old Zen'in men without me! What gives?

"The other two?" "Ino-san tapped out. Itadori's acting on his own." Nanami's first words to Megumi being about the other kids!!! I LOVE U

WHAT AN ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIC WAY FOR TOJI TO REAPPEAR

I guess that answers the question of if Megumi would be able to recognize his dad. The answer is no!

"His fangs were constantly directed towards the strongest." That doesn't bode well for Megumi later on

Update from 8 minutes later: I WAS RIGHT, IT DIDN'T BODE WELL

PLEASE TELL ME THAT NANAMI AND MAKI ARE FIREPROOF???

"Now there should be at least 15 fingers inside Itadori." Oh. Oh no Yuji. This is NOT good for Yuji!

Also also. Is that the BEST way to say it? Is it?

"Below us, there's a man in monk's robes with a suture across his forehead. Please kill him." I feel like Nanako and Mimiko's request will go over well, purely because they're deferential and they're women and Sukuna seems like the type to be entertained by women. Plus, they're asking him to kill, which he loves doing. Although he does hate being told what to do, so it's a toss-up

Well, I think holding the finger above Sukuna's head (metaphorically) turned the tables against them

Rest in pieces, Nanako and Mimiko (literally, unfortunately)

"You're true to your word, yes?" I thought the pact with Yuji involved Sukuna NOT killing any humans while he's running his body? I feel like that constitutes not being true to your word

Fhkjhkjhgkjhggh you know, fair on what's-his-face for just stalling. He's not strong enough to help Gojo, clearly!

I wonder at what point during getting his ass beat will Megumi learn that it is his father doing the beating

"What's your name?" "Fushiguro?" "It's not Zen'in? I'm glad." Evil Dilf wins one (1) dad point by killing himself in front of his son to prevent his evil instincts from murdering him????

Jogo said: My real desire was the very human experience of wishing for Daddy (Sukuna) to say he was proud

UNWILLING TO BELIEVE THAT SUKUNA HAS A FRIEND. UNREALISTIC. BLOCKED!

"Wake up, you shitty sorcerer!" said Blond Bitch, as if he were not wholly responsible for Megumi being unconscious by attacking him from behind

Ahhh Megumi thinking of Gojo, who has always believed in his strength, and who disapproved of his fallback of giving up his life

"Urgent business." Sukuna said: Team Gojo is incorrect. Megumi is MY special little man 💞🗡️👅 Bye Uraume!

Until Sukuna actively does something to Megumi. I am kind of obsessed with how obsessed he is. He's evil, but he's got weird crush, it feels like. Grimdark Greedl!ngfan until proven otherwise

NOT MEGUMI MENTALLY APOLOGIZING TO YUJI FOR DYING!!!!!!!!! THEY ARE SO 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

"Don't die on me. There are things I need you to do for me." He is healing him! They make no effort to make this sound NOT like a weird crush:

Yuji is not going to be well when he finds out how many mass causalities Sukuna has caused in his body

"You might have defeated me, in the state I was in back then. Now you've fascinated me, Fushiguro Megumi!" OBSESSED

I suppose the implication of Shigemo not knowing of his miracle power is that he has been riding through life on luck alone

Sukuna dropping off Megumi to his teachers. What must they think?!

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH YUJI. Throwing up is an incredibly fair response to speed-running the memories of mass murder

I don't know how Yuji will ever be able to live any kind of normal life after this:

THANK GOD Nanami's alive. It's like they give you just enough to hope for that you won't stop watching completely

Oh god. If Nanami dies now, I will lose it. WHY ARE YOU STILL FIGHTING!! I mean, I know why, BUT WHY

"I've been here the whole time." Mahito, I swear to FUCK

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Yuji cannot witness whatever Mahito is about to do to Nanami, he is already in the throes of PTSD

"You take it from here." NO, NO, NO NANAMI :(((((((((((((((((((((

I HATE THIS SHOW!!!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU ALL

You know, I just don't know what to do with this show. Like I don't see the benefit of continuing. A lot of shows have put me through a lot, but this is the one that I think is hardest to watch, because the deaths mean nothing. It helps nothing. You learn nothing. It's just like, "Enjoy getting to know these people and watch them die in extremely violent circumstances." What am I supposed to root for? That Nobara doesn't die in front of Yuji, like Nanami did? That Gojo gets out of his prison soon enough to see what hell on earth has happened without him? That Yuji doesn't completely fall to Sukuna? That Megumi doesn't end up with all of his friends dead and/or gone? WHAT DO VIEWERS GET FROM THIS

"Itadori Yuji wasn't my only natural enemy?" Honestly. Hard to do commentary now. But good for Nobara:

"You've let me believe that I'm not alone." Yuji <3

I'm back to hopeless. Unless Nobara has some sort of 'you didn't touch my soul, you touched my hammer's soul' trap card

Megumi 🤝 Nobara: Being a menace to bullies as a child

Ah yes, menstrual rice, the tradition we all know about

"Nobara-chan changed after she met Saori-chan." Awww, baby's first role model

Nobara crying for leaving her friend Fumi!!! Sweet girl

"I hope Nobara-chan's doing well," said Saori, before it cut to Nobara definitely not doing well

The visualization of Nobara's previous metaphor of the people with seats in her life, and the way Nobara also has a seat for her younger self. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH:

"Itadori. Tell everyone for me: Life wasn't so bad." NOBARA 😭

The way they all try to fix the shirt together 😭😭😭 Team Gojo

Megumi my boy always ready to take the hit for his friends 💕 Also LMAO @ Gojo, "What's the matter, Megumi?"

I don't blame Yuji for straight up giving up. Me too Yuji

"This is a war to determine which of those will be left standing a century from now." Call me crazy, Mahito, but I don't think people whose main life purpose is torturing people is a legitimate side. Like jujutsu sorcerers exorcise curses BECAUSE of what they do. If a curse's purpose were to make people play baseball or go to the movies, who would kill that?

Even if we buy into the premise of curses fighting for their own existence, it's sort of like, "Team A and Team B are fighting. Team A has killed a lot of Team B over many years. Team B has also done that, but also needs to kick eleven hospitalized children in the face for their enjoyment every day to keep going. What a dilemma!"

We interrupt this programming to say: Never in my life I have been happier to see Todo

"Sukuna killed so many. So I have to save... that many more people." Yuji 😟

"This is not a matter of sins or punishments. The moment we chose to live as jujutsu sorcerers, our lives were no longer bound by such karma." Todo said: Jujutsu sorcerers can do no wrong actually, and that is how I've decided to live my life

Todo said: The greatest punishment is being alive ❤️ Hope that helps!

"Todo-san's little brother doesn't look like him at all." Todo said: Who needs context! Bros for life

"I'm just saying that the chance [that Nobara survived] isn't zero. Please don't get your hopes up too high." Blond Kyoto First Year Baby Brother Nitta sums up energy of this show in a single sentence:

"I'll make sure I take on your share of suffering too, Nanamin." 😨

Ohhhhhhhh I'm glad Mechamaru and Miwa have their chance to talk. Poor Miwa

I honestly fully support Mechamaru manipulating his friends to not be in Shibuya. I wish nobody was in Shibuya, and I'm going through Shibuya this week

"Whatever shape it takes, as long as you're happy, my wish has come true." Romantic Bastard Behaviour

"And that's all thanks to that woman." Wild that Mahito is the first person to acknowledge Nobara's full strength

I appreciate how silly Todo's animations are. They're like, "Here, as a treat."

Back from my vacation in Japan after a couple of weeks and returning to to finish this season, and let me tell you, watching this show in the hours leading up to leaving made for a very harrowing first time at the train station. They use incredibly accurate building modelling in this show. Also, I did get a little Nanami keychain. In any case, I have returned to finish hurting my feelings

Opposite to my prior point, they make all of Mahito's animation as gross as possible

"Forgive me, you pitiful souls." Ahhh, Todo

Mahito using Gojo's split second domain technique to attack his student. GET GOT, MAHITO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Props to Todo for immediately getting rid of his own arm to prevent dying?????????????????????

"And he can't clap his hands anymore." I did wonder how long it would take for the clapping thing to come up. Mahito would probably have won this fight if curses (Hanami, specifically) bothered to tell each other anything. Maybe the real technique everyone needed was communication

Absolute, extreme regret to ever echo Mahito, but: Huh?

Todo touching Mahito just so Yuji could get an opening!!! 😭😭😭

"Instant Spirit of Distorted Killing." Why does the average special cursed spirit form simply look like a particularly sadistic, anthropomorphized tree?

[Narration slide] "There is no sorcerer who can unleash Black Flash at will." Then what's the attack chanting for? Just hoping it'll work?

I don't think I enjoy Yuji's smile being slashed open Joker Style

"I'll just kill you. And if you're ever reborn as another curse, I'll kill you then, too. You can change your name and change your appearance, but I'll still kill you again and again. I don't need meaning or a reason for it anymore. Maybe there will be some meaning to be found from my actions several centuries after I'm dead. But I'm sure I'm just one big cog in the wheel. And I'll keep on killing curses until I rust away." Yuji said: New life philosophy unlocked: Murder your problems until you die 💖

I'm not sure I'm comfortable with HOW Yuji has found inner peace, but he does seem like he has an achievable goal

Fake Geto said: I haven't caused problems in a while! Hope you didn't gain any hope while I was gone.

"No matter what judgment gets doled out to Itadori later now that Gojo is gone, I won't be taking your side. I'm in favour of Itadori Yuji's execution." I can't say I blame Kusakabe for his position

I do wish they'd stop doing this with Mei Mei. Whoever wrote this said: I have feelings for my family that should only be discussed with a psychiatrist 😀

Choso said: Where one brother of Yuji's (Todo) falls, another one rises up (me) like a fucked up little tag team of camaraderie

I also should've known better than to think Mahito might actually die. That's hope! Stupid.

I have never been LESS happy to see the Kyoto School. GO HOME

The payoff for the forced pregnancy storyline they dropped last season is that Fake Geto is Choso's DAD? Disgusting. Terrible. Leave. Kick rocks. You will NEVER be the Evil DILF that Toji is!!!

Alright. Alright. I will allow the Kyoto students to be here for one moment, if only for the comedy of Choso yelling "KAMO NORITOSHI" and Blood-bending Teen Kamo pointing and going, "Watashi? (Me?)" It WAS funny.

"How dare you make me try to kill Itadori? My little brother!" said Choso, like he had nothing to do with that decision

If the payoff for Choso calling Yuji his little brother that Fake Geto is also his dad. I don't want it. I would rather just disintegrate.

"I strongly sensed the death of Itadori Yuji, right before my eyes. Which means that Yuji must also be my blood-related younger brother." 😷😷😷 I don't have words strong enough for how much I wish this episode had ended with 16 minutes ago (it's been 15:55 minutes)

I truly, truly don't want to believe this but does this mean that Kamo and Sukuna had a terrible threesome with Yuji's poor mother to create Yuji? I don't want that. I keep saying it. It's not helping

"Just asking, but you two are strangers, right?" "Worse than strangers. He nearly killed me once already." I like that Todo has set the premise for Yuji simply being called siblings by strangers who have beat the crap out of him, so he's just like, 'Well. It happens.'

"First it was Todo. Are you sure you aren't emitting dangerous pheromones or something?" Panda said: Maybe you just stink of brotherly love, Yuji

Tsukumo said: Me and Choso together will fill the void of Todo being gone

"Japan would practically have a monopoly on cursed energy. Other nations, especially that superpower, wouldn't stand by and allow that." HFFHFJHFKJJH the clouds and angle make the geography a little hazy, but I can only assume this is a shot at the U.S. Yeah, Tsukumo, the U.S. would be the problem with killing everyone who's not a sorcerer! Not anything else!

JJK really said: You thought Megumi was safe just cause he wasn't on screen? SURPRISE. WE ARE GOING TO KILL HIS SISTER:

They are going to elaborate on how the rest of Japan is doing, but NOT on how the Kyoto students get out of this situation

OKKOTSU!!!!!!!!! Resident Nice Little Guy coming to save the day

"That's bad, Rika-chan. Don't overdo it." Hey. Hey. What?

"He cut off Inumaki's arms in Shibuya." WHAT!!!!!!!!! WHEN!!!!!!!

"Satoru Gojo has been deemed an accomplice to the Shibuya incident and is hereby expelled from Jujutsu Society. In addition, any attempt to free him from his seal will be deemed a crime." This is most extreme form of victim-blaming for any one person in anime I've seen

Resident Nice Little Guy Okkotsu is now Resident Yuji Executioner

I can't imagine Megumi will tolerate any of this. He's going self-expel from Jujutsu Society

[Yuji claps] [Numerous cursed spirits emerge out of the water like he's now trying out a Cursed Manipulation Kekkei Genkai] HEY. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

I don't know what to say about this show anymore. I don't know what this was, except exhausting. However, that was more than enough for me. Goodnight.

[trinity-mia]

a story as endless as the ocean

the titan's curse

0.4 i'm walking on sunshine

warnings : mentions of a fear of flying, some allie/apollo banter, nothing much really

word count : 3.1k

0.4 Actually, It's More Like I Was... Driving Sunshine? Does That Even Make Sense?

Artemis assured us that dawn was coming, but she could've fooled me. It was colder and darker and snowier than ever. Up on the hill, Westover Hall's windows were completely lightless. I wondered if the teachers had even noticed that the di Angelos and Dr. Thorn were missing yet. I didn't want to be around when they did. With my luck, the only name Mrs. Gottschalk would remember was "Allie," and people would remember seeing me and I'd be in the middle of a scandal.

The Hunters broke camp as quickly as they'd set it up. I stood shivering in the snow pulling Luke’s jacket as tight against me as I could (unlike the Hunters, who didn't seem to feel at all uncomfortable), and Artemis stared into the east like she was expecting something. Bianca sat off to one side, talking with Nico. I could tell from his gloomy face that she was explaining her decision to join the Hunt. I couldn't help thinking how selfish it was of her, abandoning her brother like that. 

Thalia and Grover came up and huddled around me, anxious to hear what had happened in my audience with the goddess and knowing I was freezing my ass off. 

When I told them, Grover turned pale. "The last time the Hunters visited camp, it didn't go well."

I grimaced. Luke had told me what he'd heard happened, so I wasn't particularly looking forward to their visit, either. 

"How'd they even show up here?" I wondered, changing the subject. "I mean, they just appeared out of nowhere."

"And Bianca joined them," Thalia said, disgusted. "It's all Zoe's fault. That stuck-up, no good—"

"Who can blame her?" Grover interrupted. "Eternity with Artemis?" He heaved a big sigh, an awed expression on his lips. For a moment, it made me grin. Then I realized I was waiting to hear Luke make a sarcastic comment, and my expression fell again. Gods, I wished I knew if he was alright.

Thalia rolled her eyes. "You satyrs," she scoffed. "You're all in love with Artemis. Don't you get that she'll never love you back?"

"But she's so... into nature," Grover swooned.

"You're nuts," Thalia declared flatly.

"Nuts and berries," Grover said dreamily. "Yeah."

Finally, the sky began to lighten. "About time," Artemis muttered. "He's so-o-o lazy during the winter."

I grimaced again. It was no secret that many of the gods didn't know how to feel about me. Most would probably strike me dead if they knew they wouldn't offend my father. I was actually quite worried when Artemis first walked up to me as I was basking on the beach in East Hampton. I didn't know if she was sent there to kill me, but then she offered me a spot on the hunters. That told me she tolerated me, but I knew that would change if I were to offend her. 

Now Apollo, I didn't know about. I could be dying soon, who knew? Two gods at once. That was just fantastic. As if the day wasn't bad enough, we had to add yet another Olympian to the mix. I wondered briefly how she expected Apollo to transport us all. Surely we weren't going to ride in the sun chariot, right?

There was a sudden burst of light on the horizon. A blast of warmth.

"Don't look," Artemis advised. "Not until he parks."

I averted my eyes, and saw that the others were all doing the same. The light and warmth intensified until my dress felt like it was melting off of me. Then suddenly the light died.

I looked. And I couldn't believe it. It was a red convertible Maserati Spyder. I had to force myself to keep from dropping my jaw. Fuck my fetish for cars. It was literally so awesome it glowed. Then, I realized that it was glowing because the metal was hot. The snow had melted around the Maserati in a perfect circle, which explained why I was now standing on green grass and my heeled boots were wet.

The driver got out, smiling. He looked about eighteen or nineteen with sandy hair, blue eyes, and outdoorsy good looks. Tall enough, I guess, maybe six or seven inches more than me. His smile was bright and playful, and he wore jeans and loafers and a sleeveless T-shirt.

"Wow," Thalia muttered. "Apollo is hot."

"He's the sun god," I replied, an eye roll to follow.

"That's not what I meant."

"I know what you meant," I replied, laughing.

"Little sister!" Apollo called. If his teeth were any whiter he could've blinded us without the sun car. "What's up? You never call. You never write. I was getting worried!"

Artemis sighed. "I'm fine, Apollo. And I am not your little sister."

"Hey, I was born first."

I frowned at that. Wasn't Artemis born like, a week before Apollo, then helped with his delivery? Was the story wrong? Unlikely. Chiron always gave us the correct versions so we had accurate information.

"We're twins! How many millennia do we have to argue—" Ah, so Apollo was provoking his sister. Okay.

"So what's up?" he interrupted. "Got the girls with you, I see. You all need some tips on archery?" He was either an arrogant idiot, or completely suicidal. Given the fact that he was a god, I'm gonna go with option A.

Artemis grit her teeth in annoyance. "I need a favor. I have some hunting to do, alone. I need you to take my companions to Camp Half-Blood."

"Sure thing, sis!" Then he raised his hands in a stop everything gesture. "I feel a haiku coming on."

The Hunters all groaned. Apparently, they had met Apollo before.

He cleared his throat and held up one hand dramatically.

"Green grass breaks through snow.

Artemis pleads for my help.

I am so cool."

He grinned at us, waiting for applause.

"That last line was only four syllables," Artemis said.

Apollo frowned. "Was it?"

"Yes. What about I am so big-headed?"

"No, no, that's six syllables. Hmm." He started muttering to himself. I said a silent prayer of thanks to the universe in general that the cabin 7 kids didn't favor their father in attitude. If we had to deal with this on a regular basis, we'd have no medics left. Hades, I'd be first in line to gut them for annoying me.

Zoe Nightshade turned to us. "Lord Apollo has been going through this haiku phase ever since he visited Japan a decade ago. 'Tis not as bad as the time he visited Limerick. If I'd had to hear one more poem that started with, 'There once was a goddess from Sparta—'"

"I've got it!" Apollo announced. "I am so awesome. That's five syllables!" He bowed, looking very pleased with himself. "And now, sis. Transportation for the Hunters, you say? Good timing. I was just about ready to roll."

"These demigods will also need a ride," Artemis said, pointing to us. "Some of Chiron's campers."

"No problem!" Apollo checked us out. "Let's see... Thalia, right? I've heard all about you."

Thalia blushed, and I made a mental note to have her checked for a concussion when we got home. Only explanation for her suddenly acting like an actual girl instead of, you know, Thalia. "Hi, Lord Apollo."

"Zeus' girl, yes? Makes you my half-sister. Used to be a tree, didn't you? Glad you're back. I hate it when pretty girls turn into trees. Man, I remember one time—"

"Brother," Artemis said. "You should get going."

"Oh, right." Then he looked at me and gave another bright grin. "Allie Jackson?"

"Yeah?"

"Hmm... and here I thought Ares and Hermes were exaggerating about how pretty you were." 

"Uh... thanks?"

He studied me for a few seconds. "Well!" he said, as cheerful as ever. "We'd better load up, huh? Ride only goes one way— west. And if you miss it, you miss it."

I looked at the Maserati, which would seat two people max. There were about twenty of us.

"Cool car," Nico complimented.

"Thanks, kid," Apollo replied.

"But how will we all fit?"

"Oh." Apollo seemed to notice the problem for the first time. "Well, yeah. I hate to change out of sports-car mode, but I suppose..."

You and me both, apparently. 

He took out his car keys and beeped the security alarm button. Chirp, chirp.

For a moment, the car glowed brightly again. When the glare died, the Maserati had been replaced by one of those Turtle Top shuttle buses mortals used for out of state school trips.

"Right," he said. "Everybody in."

Zoe ordered the Hunters to start loading. She picked up her camping pack, and Apollo reached out, saying, "Here, sweetheart. Let me get that."

Zoe recoiled from his touch. Her eyes flashed murderously and she rested a hand on the silver knife sheathed at her hip. I have to give her this, she's damn brave.

"Brother," Artemis chided. "You do not help my Hunters. You do not look at, talk to, or flirt with my Hunters. And you do not call them sweetheart."

Apollo spread his hands with an innocent look that wouldn't have fooled a three-year-old on his face. "Sorry. I forgot. Hey, sis, where are you off to, anyway?"

"Hunting," Artemis answered curtly. "It's none of your business."

"I'll find out. I see all. Know all."

Artemis snorted. "Just drop them off, Apollo. And no messing around!"

"No, no! I never mess around."

Artemis rolled her eyes, then looked at us. "I will see you by the winter solstice. Zoe, you are in charge of the Hunters. Do well. Do as I would do."

Zoe straightened. "Yes, my lady."

Artemis knelt and touched the ground as if looking for tracks. When she rose, she looked troubled. "So much danger. The beast must be found."

She sprinted toward the woods and melted into the snow and shadows.

Apollo turned and grinned, jangling the car keys on his finger. "So," he said. "Who wants to drive?"

The Hunters piled into the van. They all crammed into the back so they'd be as far away as possible from Apollo and the rest of us non-hunter types. 

Bianca sat with them, leaving her little brother to hang in the front with us, which seemed cold to me, but thankfully Nico didn't seem to mind. I guess everything hadn't fully hit him yet.

"This is so cool!" Nico said, jumping up and down in the driver's seat. "Is this really the sun? I thought Helios and Selene were the sun and moon gods. How come sometimes it's them and sometimes it's you and Artemis?"

"Downsizing," Apollo said. "The Romans started it. They couldn't afford all those temple sacrifices, so they laid off Helios and Selene and folded their duties into our job descriptions. My sis got the moon. I got the sun. It was pretty annoying at first, having to get up so early all the time, but at least I got this cool car."

"But how does it work?" Nico asked. "I thought the sun was a big fiery ball of gas in space!"

Apollo chuckled and ruffled Nico's hair. "That rumor probably got started because Artemis used to call me a big fiery ball of gas. Seriously, kid, it depends on whether you're talking astronomy or philosophy. You want to talk astronomy? Bah, what fun is that? So boring.

You want to talk about how humans think about the sun? Ah, now that's more interesting. They've got a lot riding on the sun... er, so to speak. It keeps them warm, grows their crops, powers engines, makes everything look, well, sunnier. This chariot is built out of human dreams about the sun, kid. It's as old as Western Civilization. Every day, it drives across the sky from east to west, lighting up all those puny little mortal lives. The chariot is a manifestation of the sun's power, the way mortals perceive it. Make sense?"

Nico shook his head. "No."

"Well then, just think of it as a really powerful, really dangerous solar car."

"Can I drive?"

"No. Too young."

"Oo! Oo!" Grover raised his hand.

"Mm, no," Apollo said. "Too furry." He looked at me and tilted his head. 

"You're eighteen, right?" He asked. I narrowed my eyes slightly.

"Yeah...?"

"Would it be a good idea to let you drive?" 

"Uh... I'm mean I can drive, especially if the practical dealership I have in my garage is any indicator, but the deal I have with Zeus only included airplanes. I don't know if he'd like me driving a huge bus through the sky and I don't know how you feel about risking the sun falling out of the sky."

"Mm, good point." He turned to Thalia and smiled. "Daughter of Zeus!" he clapped his hands happily. "Lord of the sky. Perfect."

"Oh, no." Thalia shook her head. "No, thanks."

"C'mon," Apollo coaxed. "How old are you?"

Thalia hesitated. "I don't know."

It was depressing, but true. She'd been turned into a tree when she was twelve, but that had been seven years ago. So she should be eighteen or nineteen, closer to me and Luke, if you went by years. But she said that she still felt like she was twelve, and if you looked at her, she seemed somewhere in between. The best Chiron could figure, she had kept aging while in tree form, but much more slowly.

Apollo tapped his finger to his lips. "You're fifteen, almost sixteen."

"How do you know that?"

"Hey, I'm the god of prophecy. I know stuff. You'll turn sixteen in about a week."

"That's my birthday! December twenty-second."

"Which means you're old enough now to drive with a learner's permit!"

Thalia shifted her feet nervously. "Uh—"

"I know what you're going to say," Apollo said. "You don't deserve an honor like driving the sun chariot."

"That's not what I was going to say."

"Don't sweat it! Maine to Long Island is a really short trip, and don't worry about what happened to the last kid I trained. You're Zeus' daughter. He's not going to blast you out of the sky."

Apollo laughed good-naturedly. No one else joined him.

Thalia tried to protest, but Apollo was not going to take "no" for an answer. He hit a button on the dashboard, and a sign popped up along the top of the windshield. I had to read it backward (which, for a dyslexic, really isn't that different than reading forward). I was pretty sure it said WARNING: STUDENT DRIVER.

"Take it away!" Apollo told Thalia. "You're gonna be a natural! Speed equals heat," he advised. "So start slowly, and make sure you've got good altitude before you really open her up."

Thalia gripped the wheel so tight her knuckles turned white. She looked like she was going to be sick. I bit my lip, thinking of the secret she had shared with me. This wasn't going to go well. I almost regretted not just saying I'd drive.

"Let's go!" Apollo cheered.

Thalia swallowed, then pulled back on the wheel. It tilted, and the bus lurched upward so fast I fell back and crashed against something soft.

"Ow," Grover groaned.

"Sorry."

"Slower!" Apollo called.

"Sorry!" Thalia cried. "I've got it under control!"

I managed to get to my feet. Looking out the window, I saw a smoking ring of trees from the clearing where we'd taken off.

"Thalia," I said tensely, "you need to lighten up on the accelerator."

"I've got it, Allie," she snapped, gritting her teeth. But she kept it floored.

"Loosen up," I told her urgently. I knew what the problem was, but I couldn't say anything about it here, where everyone would hear me and Thalia would be humiliated. Still, if she didn't calm down, we were screwed.

"I'm loose!" Thalia insisted. She was so stiff she looked like her spine was made out of a plank of plywood.

"We need to veer south for Long Island," Apollo said. He looked tense, and was gripping the back of a seat tightly to keep from falling. "Hang a left."

Thalia jerked the wheel and again threw me into Grover, who yelped.

"The other left," Apollo suggested.

I made the mistake of looking out the window again. We were at airplane height now— so high the sky was starting to look black. Not good.

"Ah..." Apollo muttered, and I got the feeling he was forcing himself to sound calm. "A little lower, sweetheart. Cape Cod is freezing over."

Thalia tilted the wheel. Her face was chalk white, her forehead beaded with sweat. I'd never seen her so afraid, and I was seriously tempted to curse Apollo to the depths of Tartarus for putting her in this position. Even if he didn't know the truth about Thalia's acrophobia, he shouldn't have pushed her into driving when she didn't want to. Damn the gods and their arrogance.

The bus pitched down and somebody screamed. Now we were heading straight toward the Atlantic Ocean at a thousand miles an hour, the New England coastline off to our right. And it was getting hot in the bus.

Apollo had been thrown somewhere in the back of the bus, but he started climbing up the rows of seats.

"Allie… help," Thalia said with gritted teeth.

I managed to get to the driver's seat, and the second I had my hands on the wheel, Thalia bolted to the seat I was in.

Time to hope Zeus didn't feel the need to blast us out of the sky, I guess. 

Down below us was a little snow-covered New England town. At least, it used to be snow-covered. As I watched, the snow melted off the trees and the roofs and the lawns. The white steeple on a church turned brown and started to smolder. Little plumes of smoke, like birthday candles, were popping up all over the town. Trees and rooftops were catching fire.

Thank the gods I did well under pressure, otherwise, we would've just torched a town. I pulled up on the wheel and we made it away from New England. 

"Long Island, dead ahead! How you know how to do this, I have no clue!" Apollo said enthusiastically from beside me. 

"I drive through New York. That's practice enough. Not to mention I've street raced there, and that was... an experience," I replied with a nonchalant laugh.  

"Well," Apollo said with a brave smile, "that sounds fun! You should take me sometime."

"Absolutely not."

"Aw, why not?"

I gave him a look. "Street racing has a lot to do with remaining discreet and not getting caught. I'm not sure anything about you is discreet." 

"You aren't very discreet either there, Miss Triple Threat. Not sure how you'd call being an A-List celebrity and well-known, academy-award-winning actress, singer, and model 'discreet,' but okay."

"I'll have you know, I disguise myself. I'm not that stupid." 

"Ooh, do you put on one of those hot wigs that you wear for some of your movies and model-y things?" he asked, looking entirely serious. 

I gave him a sharp look, then started back out to the sky. "Oh, look. We're here."

*    *    *

previous | next

SERIES M.LIST | MAIN M.LIST | TIPS