#i’m glad i was finally able to take a stab at drawing him

[h-worksrambles]

"Dusk Hound takes off to protect the streets of Schippersburg once more!"

I've fallen in love with Glory Hounds so far. Already another worthy gem in Echo Project's lineup. And a big part of that is down to its loveable lead Alex de Rooij.

[hqmillioncorn]

True love will NOT bloom on the battlefield

“Bull’s eye!” Oleo pumped a fist into the air and let out another holler.  Another dot had pierced their dartboard and even though Oleo had far less points than Butter at the moment he was still glad to celebrate every little victory that he got. “Do you think Momoka would believe me if I told her I hit a bull’s eye?” Oleo asked his best friend Butter.  “I think she’d believe you!” That was just like Butter to say, ever the optimist.  “Ha! Knew it!” Oleo smiled and watched as Butter got ready to take his turn. “Yeah! Get em’ Butter!” Truthfully Oleo had no idea why there was a drawing of B’ig Nunh on Butter’s dartboard but if that’s how Butter wanted to play then who was he to say no to it.  Maybe it would explain how good Butter was doing this game as opposed to the rest but who could really know?

ffxiv write day 19: taken with @windupnamazu 's lunya and @windupiceheart 's vertical and (sorry) b'ig nunh

babycorn practices her reading in what perhaps is the worst way possible

“LUnyaaaaaaaaaaAAAAA!!!!”

The sound of someone knocking about a million times per second was enough to knock Lunya out of her weaving. “Babycorn.” There were only two people in the mansion that ever knocked on her door like that. One of them was Coco and the other was Babycorn. 

And since there was no more than ten seconds of uncontrollable wailing on the other side of the door–the more likely it was that it was Babycorn. 

Lunya stabbed her sewing needle in its cushion and hid it away just outside of Babycorn’s view. “Coming!” She yelled back, hoping that would get Babycorn to stop hitting her door so hard. It did not. 

“Lunya! Lunya! Lunya!” 

Babycorn was knocking and saying Lunya’s name in a rhythm now. It was almost impressive how long she was able to keep it up. 

The knocking finally came to a stop when Lunya grabbed her doorknob, swinging her door open not long after that. As Lunya had correctly guessed, it was Babycorn on the other side of the door all along. “Hi Lunya!” Babycorn innocently waved at her. Almost like she hadn’t been knocking on Lunya’s door like a maniac. “I have a question!!” 

Lunya watched as Babycorn wiggled her raised hand around all over the place. “Hi to you too Babycorn!” 

“Lunya I read a book!” Babycorn smiled. 

Of course Babycorn had forgotten about her earlier question. Lunya figured she would ask again when she remembered. As always. “Oh! Congrats!” Lunya knew Babycorn was slowly learning to read and had even started to practice her writing too. 

She was making progress according to the writing Lunya had seen on the walls earlier that week. “You’re not writing on the walls anymore right Babycorn?” 

“Nope!” Babycorn shook her head. “I’m writing on the ground now!”

“You what?” 

Before Lunya could ask Babycorn to elaborate more on what she had just admitted, Babycorn remembered what she had come to Lunya’s room to do in the first place. “Oh! That’s right Lunya! I wanted to ask you something super duper important!!” 

Things that were super duper important to Babycorn often ranged from either the most mundane thing ever to asking Lunya what she was supposed to do when the kitchen was on fire.

While Lunya tried to smell the air for any sign of smoke let Babycorn know she could ask whatever question she had burning in her mind. Which hopefully was the only thing burning. 

“Lunya! Am I dating B’ig Nunh?”

Suddenly Lunya started to wish there was smoke in the air instead. “...C-Can you repeat that?” By now there weren’t too many things Babycorn did that would surprise or shock Lunya, having known the girl for years now. But every now and then something would happen that reminded Lunya she could never keep her guard down.

Surely she hadn’t heard Babycorn right. Right?

“Am I dating B’ig Nunh?!” Once she asked the second time, Babycorn pulled up the book she had been holding under her arm the entire time. “This book said I went on a date with him!” The book she held up had a picture of B’ig Nunh on the cover along with the very concerning words of Go and date and with. Not in that order. 

The aforementioned catboy was mysteriously shirtless and posing on a beach looking straight at the person looking at the cover. There was a sticker on the cover that gave Lunya all the answers to the newly born confusion in her head.

“Y slash N…” Lunya stroked her chin. She didn’t want to look at the cover any longer than she had to and pushed the book down and out of sight, Babycorn didn’t seem to mind, she thought it was fun. 

“Babycorn what did I say about reading books with B’ig Nunh on the cover?”

“Not to…” Babycorn held the book up, trying to use it as a shield between her and Lunya. “But I didn’t read it! Someone else read it for me!” 

Lunya thought she also made sure to tell everyone she could to not read any books with B’ig Nunh on the cover to Babycorn. The mystery of how Babycorn could have read the books wouldn’t stay unsolved for long. 

A sprinkle of green cookie magic started to come down from the ceiling. Until it all came to a head when Airy landed on Babycorn’s head without a care in the world. “Hey.” Airy greeted Lunya in her own callous way. By acting as if Lunya wasn’t even there. 

Of course. “No Babycorn. You are not dating B’ig Nunh.” Lunya didn’t even want to imagine a world where that even had the slightest chance of happening. 

“Are you sure??” Babycorn sniffled. 

“Yes. Very sure!” 

“Really sure????”

Lunya knew where this was going. “I’m. Sure.” No matter how many times Lunya would tell her the opposite of what Babycorn was afraid of, she wouldn’t take her for her word. Even if Babycorn lived by the singular life rule that Lunya knew everything. No matter the topic. “Alright you know what-” 

Lunya grabbed Babycorn’s hand and spun her around towards the outside. She was sure that B’ig Nunh was home and if even she couldn’t convince Babycorn of the obvious, then surely hearing it from the mouth of B’ig Nunh himself would. 

If not then, Lunya would just have to kill him. 

“Woah where are we going Lunya?” Babycorn smiled, her worries of her dating B’ig Nunh had probably blown out of her head by now. 

“We’re going to go find B’ig and talk to him!” Lunya hummed. She of course was just a very normal lalafell and there was absolutely no danger involved in B’ig Nunh talking with Lunya Lanya about this. 

“And you-!” 

Lunya grabbed one of Airy’s wings and tugged on it. “OW?! Watch the wings!” Airy tried to shake herself out of Lunya’s grasp but her struggle was in vain. 

“You’re grounded.

“You’re not even my MOM?!?!”

Regardless, Airy flew all the way back to Babycorn’s room and spent the rest of the day there. Something about Lunya Lanya specifically scared her out of her wits. 

Outside of the mansion B’ig Nunh and Vertical Height were playing fetch with Cherrypit. Throwing cans at him to watch him catch them and eat them. It was enriching for the tiny little normal baby lalafell and also entertaining to watch. 

“okay cherry catch.” Vertical threw a can way up in the air and watched as Cherrypit caught it, biting down on it. “cool.” Cherrypit crunched the can with his very sharp teeth like it was a soft sugar cookie. 

“Again! Again!” Cherrypit cheered. This was way funner to do than whatever b’oring book his sister was reading. 

B’ig Nunh picked up another can from the pile and threw it in his hands. “Alright I’m gonna put all my strength into this one! Get ready!!” Cherrypit showed him how ready he was by running around in a circle very excitedly. 

“Go!” The can flew upwards! Just as B’ig Nunh had warned, it went really high up!

Just as Cherrypit got ready to leap after it, he heard something. It sounded like a door opening. He turned to see the front door of the mansion opening. Out from the inside of the house came Lunya followed by Babycorn, who was practically being dragged outside. “Bebe! Lulu!” Cherrypit cheered and ran over to hug them both.

Which was entirely possible with the way his arms worked. 

Cherrypit extended his arms out wide and grabbed both girls in a great big hug. “Hi Cherry!” Lunya managed to squeeze her arm out and give Cherrypit a little pat on his arm. “Are you having fun with B’ig and Verty?” 

“Yeah yeah!” 

“How much fun?” Babycorn rested her head on Cherrypit’s arm to ask. Cherrypit nodded and stretched out his arms wiiiiide open, dropping both Lunya and Babycorn to the ground. While one of them gently floated to the ground the other fell flat on her face and no I won’t say who did what,  it should be so obvious by now. 

“hey lunya hey babycorn.” Vertical raised her hand to greet her good friends, while still looking up at the sky. 

B’ig Nunh also got ready to say hi to his friends but happened to be stopped right in his tracks by Babycorn running up to him, crying her eyes out. 

If that wasn’t bad enough the next words out of her mouth were almost shocking enough to kill him.

“B’iggy are we dating?” 

Babycorn was sobbing, snot coming out of her nose.It was very dire. 

B’ig Nunh froze like a statue. “What? What? What? What????” His situation was also very dire. “NO???!!! NO WE’RE NOT???”  What kind of question was that?! Where did it come from!? Why was Babycorn asking him this?! 

B’ig resisted the urge to run away and hide because if he did that he couldn’t explain to Babycorn how wrong she was. Then that would lead to her to actually think what she said was true. Which it obviously wasn’t!!

All of this was hitting B’ig Nunh at once like a…like a…

“like a can from the sky?” 

“Well actually I was going to say like a ton of bric-”

Then a can from the sky bumped B’ig Nunh on his lovely moogle cap, right before tumbling to the ground, free for Cherrypit to bite and run off with. His current plan was to bury it in the backyard for later. 

Lunya let B’ig Nunh gather his bearings before talking to him. “See Babycorn? If B’ig Nunh says you’re not dating, then you’re not dating.” There was a very threatening aura around Lunya,  “End of story! 🤗” 

Babycorn looked down at her book. She didn’t understand a single word on the cover or on the back. All she knew was that her good friend B’iggy Nunh was on the cover and he would never lie to her. “But my book said…”

“If a book told you to walk off a bridge would you?” Lunya asked.

“...Well…”

“Babycorn Corn!” 

“No! I wouldn’t!” She was scared of heights! 

Vertical looked down at the book Babycorn was holding in her shivering hands. There was something about it that she recognized. “is that the book that told you you were dating b’ig nunh?” 

Babycorn nodded, tearfully. 

Now Vertical remembered. “i saw b’ig carrying a pile of those books. he said they were advanced copies made to sell later.” Vertical also remembered seeing B’ig Nunh reading one of them from the time she went to bed to when she woke up early the next morning.  

“They’re part of the B’ig Nunh self shipping collection…sniffle…” B’ig Nunh cried, sobbed, whined, all of the above. There were currently around ten books in the collection. They were best sellers for some reason. 

(the reason was that babycorn always bought half the stock. Something nobody but tataru knew yet) 

“Yeah. I figured.” Lunya huffed. “No more reading those kinds of books. Okay Babycorn?” Otherwise they would have to have this conversation more than once and once was already enough for Lunya. 

“Okay…” Babycorn sighed, “Do I also have to not read the other thing too?” 

Everyone was afraid to ask. Especially B’ig Nunh who was basically already dead. 

“what other thing…” Vertical finally decided to ask. 

Babycorn opened the B’ig Nunh takes you to the B’each book and pulled something out, it somehow looked larger than the book itself. “This!” She turned it around and showed her friends the Sexy B’ig Nunh Calendar for the current year she had. It was a costume edition, featuring B’ig Nunh in all sorts of different costumes for the different months!

“woah.” Vertical said while she also noticed B’ig Nunh dissolving into dust and blowing away in the wind. 

Without even taking a second to ask why she had that, Lunya grabbed both the book and the calendar from Babycorn. “NO! You cannot read either!!” She also made sure to grab Babycorn and carried her back to her room with Cherrypit following right behind her. 

“Aww…” Babycorn sadly sighed. 

“Don’t worry Verty! I’ll get the broom and you can sweep up B’ig when I get back!”

“thanks.” Vertical gave a thumbs-up.

[xiv-wolfram]

Empathy - Comic Script

Prequel - Age 25

Roughly 15 years before the events of A Realm Reborn, Wolfram (the future Warrior of Light) and Raubahn Aldynn have been together for a couple weeks.

Catch up on my WoL Comics (Chronological List)

Part 1

Wolf and Rau walking around the footfalls of Western Thanalan talking. Narrator - "15 years before the events of ARR. Wolfram (cook and future Warrior of Light) and gladiator Raubahn Aldynn have been dating for a few weeks."

Wolf talking excitedly, gesturing as he walks - "-so you cover the onions to make sure they cook without browning. Otherwise the sauce will have a bitter taste." Rau smiling.

Fighting monsters. Wolf rushes one of those crab creatures and stabs it through the eye. 

Rau watching him, beaming. Thought - 'Wow, he really is skilled with a blade. Certainly could be a gladiator if he still wanted it…though I don't know if I could handle seeing him hurt.'

They're walking again. Wolf talking excitedly, gesturing with hands - "Area rugs can be utilized in an open concept to help define individual spaces. " Rau smiling, nods, thought - 'I see he learned a lot growing up decorating inn rooms.'

Fighting monsters. Rau jumps up and slices through a vulture with a downward slash. Wolf thought - 'It's amazing to see him fighting up close like this. I have the best seat in the Coliseum right here…heh.'

They continue walking. Wolf talking excitedly, beaming - “And those that didn't flee to Gyr Abania settled in Thanalan, founding Belah'dia, which eventually broke into Sil'dih and Ul'dah …I’m speaking a lot aren’t I? Usually someone stops me by now.” Rau grins, thought - 'He's adorable.'

Rau beams - "I love hearing you speak so passionately. And besides, you're voice is drawing enemies to us which has been quite enjoyable. I’m excited to finally see you fighting." Wolf smiles smugly - “I’m glad to be met with your approval. I haven’t fought in front of a professional before.”

Fighting monsters. Back to back power couple pose. 

Kissing in the water against a rock. 

Zoomed in shot. Smiling at each other.

Rau grins - "I must say…fighting together like this is doing something for me. I uh…" Wolf grins - "Oh, I'm aware… and the feeling is mutual."

Rau confused, steps back - "Alright now, that's several times that you have mentioned feeling or knowing what I want. What do you mean by that?"

Wolf embarrassed - "Oh…I'm sorry I've not had to explain it before. My family already knew…let me think."

Rau raises an eyebrow in confusion. Thought - 'Huh?!'

Wolf uncomfortable - "So, since I was very young I've been able to sense people's emotions. Not everyone and not always. My grandmother said I'm an empath. That the gift shows up in our family sometimes. …I'm sorry I'm sure this sounds very odd."

Rau surprised - "Oh! I've heard of similar gifts yet had never met anyone with them. So … do you know what I'm feeling right now?"

Wolf smiles - "I believe mild curiosity? And you're quite tired as well. It's difficult to read if the emotion isn't strong. It's also stronger the closer I am with someone. So I usually have an idea with you but I couldn't just walk up to someone on the street and sense them."

Rau awkward, light blush - "So then is that how you um… knew what I wanted in bed?"

Wolf smiles, blushing - "Aye…some of it. I knew you wanted me to take control because of it. Is that a problem? I could understand if it feels like an invasion of privacy. If you prefer I can stop doing it to you. I just… wanted to get things right and make you happy…"

Rau smiles comforting - "No, if this is a part of who you are then I shall love it along with the rest of you. Besides… I often struggle to express myself properly or ask for what I want. This could be a good thing."

Wolf beams - "I must admit I was a bit nervous to tell you. Thank you for accepting me as I am."

Rau holds him. Wolf's head on his chest, turned to the side. They're smiling.

 Rau smirks, looking down at him - "So…what am I feeling now?" Wolf grins - "I think it's about time you showed me your apartment."

Part 2

Rau’s apartment (build set. Small Ul'dah studio/open concept. Minimal.). Rau gestures around - “Well, as you can see it’s not much but -”

Wolf beaming - “It's nice! Cozy, clean, and most importantly feels very 'you'. I love it!”

Rau surprised - “Oh? I’d been a bit embarrassed to have you over. Given how upscale your inn room is…”

Wolf blushes - “Ah.. that…” Rau curious - “What?”

Wolf looking away uncomfortably - “Well, I must confess I picked a fancy room as I wanted you to be comfortable.The regular rooms were quite bare but would have suited me fine.”

Rau beams and caresses Wolf's cheek - “Ah, Wolf you didn't have to do that. Although the gesture is appreciated.”

Wolf beams - “It’s not a big deal. Besides, I’m getting a good rate now that I work there. And I’ll admit having a private bath has worked out nicely for us.”

Rau laughs - "Indeed it has! I suppose the other guests would object to our use of the public bath." Wolf, grins, looking off dreamily, thought - 'That does sound exciting though… Maybe I can convince him some night…'

Wolf refocuses, looking at the open kitchen - "The kitchen is also quite nice… I can tell you're hungry. I'd love to cook you dinner here after."

Rau smirks. Thought - 'He knows when I'm hungry, horny, or tired. This will take some getting used to but his gift is strangely relaxing to me.' Says - "That sounds like a fine idea. After what?" Wolf smug - "Well, after you give me a tour of that shower of course."

Rau grins and picks him up - "Ah, yes we do need to clean up after all that fighting." Wolf winks - "Yeah…that's why."

They kiss as Rau carries Wolf to the shower.

Catch up on my WoL Comics (Chronological List)

[f1nalboys]

Peacemaker S1 Ep3 Better Goff Dead live watch

tagging @tinalbion in the subsequent posts for this <3333 thank u for convincing me to finally start it 🗣️🗣️

-“we know who she is we don’t need to know how much she enjoyed having sex with you” “what if it’s a clue?” “it’s not” “fair. i was just trying to slip it into conversation. hope nobody noticed. my bad” JFKWODNKWD stop bc why do i enjoy christopher sm rn 😭

-he’s just funny!!

-theM YELLING AT VIGILANTE FRIM BEHIDN THE TRASHCAN AND HES LIKE “why do i have to leave i’m just looking from behind a trashcan” IDKSKJD

-ur honor… he’s perfect

-“are u a psychiatrist?” “WHAT?” “then don’t tell me what’s normal!”

-vigilante wants to be chris’ best friend :3

-“even tho i mostly kill white people so…catch ya guys later :D”

-LEOTA AND CHRIS AND ADRIAN NEED TO ALL BE BFFS BY THE END OF THIS SHOW. DO U ALL GET ME.

-lets kill a senator baby

-WHY DO ALL PEOPLE WHO THINK PRO WRESTLING IS REAL THINK CLIMATE CHANGE IS A HOAX

-goff is a little butterfly

-VAGINA

-him laughing so god damn hard at her stop

-CAN THEY JUST TELL HIM WHAT A BUTTERFLY IS

-a butt baby 😭😭

-judomasters little suit

-“any questions?” “yes…is scissoring real i keep getting contradictory reports” “i always suspected u were a butt baby from the beginning” STOPPPPP bffs

-“what? i’m an ally!” “having a lesbian haircut doesn’t make you an ally” I LOVE HER

-let’s see if he can draw the dove of peace

-nope yeah looks like a ghost

-“there. there’s a feeling of mine” murn is just like me

-murn is so funny actually hehe

-she’s sharing her trail mix w him and he’s putting everything that’s empty calories back 😭😭

-not the berenstain va berenstien bears fight 😭

-HEHEH

-judo master eating cheetos he’s just like me

-“i’m not a fucking drawer >:(“

-them shit talking amanda in front of her daughter D:

-the way he is sitting on the ground JDNWOJDIS

-anyways. christopher and emilia weirdly flirting and bonding over their shitty fathers and childhood >>

-i’m glad he doesn’t want to kill kids anymore and is like,,,, becoming a better person

-NOT VIGILANTE FIJWKFJSJD

-vigilante-mobile 😭😭😭😭

-“dude they know ur here get out of the bushes” “i don’t know what ur talking abt” JFKWOFNKWF

-them STILL fighting abt the berenstain bears JDJEKDJJE

-what is this goop

-OH EWWWW

-their butterfly mouths

-is he gonna be able to do it

-he’s :( guys he’s making me sad

-is vigilante gonna do it for him :3

-damn all 4

-JUDO MASTER SAVES PAPA BEAR

-here comes murn 🗣️

-“obviously he feels anger -_-“ JFMWODNWK

-HE STABBED ADRIANNN

-judo master kicking adrian’s ass 😭😭

-harcourt getting mad that leota didn’t want to kill the secret service guy but this whole time she’s been talking abt how they don’t kill innocents and then killed an innocent so 🤨🤨 what’s the truth

-emilia FUCK OFFFFFF

-i am forever in the leota defense squad

-judo master w the cheetos once again <3

-“ur fucking adorable i wanna put u in my pocket. i wanna take u home and play with u with my gi joes”

-“remember when i fucked you up?” period

-the senator is kind of … SORRY

-the soundtrack is so good

- torture time 🗣️

-NOT ON ADRIANS NUTS

-JUDWJIDND judomasfwr flipping peacemaker off like exactly

-they pulled adriens mask and he’s changing his facial expressions 😭😭

-fuck you christopher.

-MY POOR BABY

-james better stop judomaster from leaving

-“uh…maybe you could just give him a little” no fr

-“NO NOT THE FUCKING CAR YOU LITTLE FUCKER”

-“WHAT? my pinky? why me again???” :( STOP BEING MESN TO HIMMM

-the way his face dropped when christopher said to cut off all his toes he deadass went 😦

-HES RLLY CUTTING HIS TOE OFF???

-can these bitch hurry up and blow the fucking door down AND SAVE HIM

-OR CAN HE UNTIE HIMSELF FASTER???

-“WHY IS IT NOT COMING OFF?” “BC UR BLADES R DULL AS FUCK MAN WHY DONT YOU MAINTAIN YOIR TORTURE SHIT??”

-murn getting blown up

-JUDOMASTER LISTENING TO KPOP LETS GO

-HELDOFNAKCN

-JAMES JUST KNOCKED RHE FUCKKKK OUT OF JUDOMASTER W HIS TRUCK

-blew his head off <3

-damn knocked him out of the car and everything 😭

-HE HIT HIM W A CROW BAR AND THEN BACKED UO AND KEEPS DOING IT

-him laughing 😭😭😭 “ECONOMOUS MOTHER FUCKER”

-adrian :3

-OH ITS A BUTTERFLY INSIDE THEIR BRAIN

-economous dancing like exactly

-the butterfly design is cool

-OH DAMN there’s a lot of suspected butterfly’s

-like a LOT

-ok end credit scene

-“but if you just be chris smith people might actually like you” 🥹🥹

-ok i’m excited for episode 4 bc uhm. adrian in his little prison jumpsuit…..gulp

[kiljoius-writes]

Tag - Chapter Nine

Ao3 | FFN

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

First Chapter

Chapter Nine

Jōnin – Part Two

Hanabi – 17-18 Konohamaru – 19

~~~

While the trip back was somber, it was also quicker than expected. The 20-day trip was cut down to just 14 days, and they were all glad to be home. It was tough motivating themselves to go report in to Kakashi with how dead tired and emotionally exhausted they all were.

Hanabi was probably experiencing the worst of it, though. Whenever Konohamaru stopped to check in with her and make sure she was alright, she always lied through her teeth.

Yes, of course. Just dealing with the fact I took several lives and am having a crisis over my identity as heiress. Just peachy.

She didn’t mean to snap at him when he asked her, he was just being considerate of her, she knew. She felt guilty she wasn’t returning the favor, checking in on his wound or how the trip had affected him. He was the one who got stabbed, after all. And he had to watch her beat the life out of several people they had never gotten to find out whether were shinobi or simple bandits, as they were under orders to avoid crossing through the Rock again. Whether he had killed anyone during the fight, she wasn’t sure, she had been so wrapped up in her own vengeance.

At one point during the trip back, she volunteered to take watch by herself, claiming she needed time to think by herself. Konohamaru had put up some resistance, but they were close enough to home she was able to convince him to let her be alone. The first hour was silent as she sat next to a brook, staring at her reflection under the moonlight. It should have been a gentle, serene scene. The soft sound of water splashing as it travelled, the gleam on damp leaves, the light breeze that, despite it being winter, didn’t feel so frigid as it might on some other nights. Perhaps she was craving that numbness, and it wasn’t affecting her like it normally did. She’d never been a cold weather girl, but for now, it was comforting.

As she looked at her reflection, she frowned, a deep, ugly frown that she knew Natsu would scold her for letting take over her features. If she looked too hard, she could swear she was already developing wrinkles in her forehead from raising her eyebrows too often, another thing Natsu chided her for. She wasn’t one to be very concerned about her appearance, everyone around her worried about that for her. But right now, she didn’t want to be attractive. She didn’t admire the person staring back at her, not in the slightest.

“Killer…” she whispered with a scowl. “You’re a killer.”

She shot to her feet when she heard crunching behind her. She had gotten a bit lazy with her byakugan, she probably should have had it activated the entire time she was keeping watch. She relaxed briefly when Konohamaru came into sight, sighing before shooting him an irritated look. Quietly, he asked “is that what’s been on your mind?”

“Konohamaru…” she whispered, turning away from him. “I don’t want to talk about it…”

“You saved me,” he pressed, drawing closer to her. “They were trying to kill us and take you. We had no choice.”

Hanabi didn’t respond, simply pressed her lips in a grim line as he situated himself next to her. She looked up briefly as he stared down at the brook, mirroring their likeness back at them. Finally, she let out a shaky breath, resting on the ground atop her knees. He joined her, sitting lotus. She twisted her hands together, pulling the muscles apart as she debated how to proceed. With effort, she forced herself to speak, “I’m scared of myself.”

She watched his reflection in the water as he considered those words, looking thoughtful for a moment before responding, “I would be, too. But it’s okay to feel that way, sometimes.”

“How?”

“It means you’re not the monster you think you are.”

She stopped herself from snickering out of instinct. When did this boy become articulate? “But sometimes I feel like…I lose control. I lose control and just…”

“Instinct takes over,” he helped with a shrug. “That’s natural. Fight or flight, right? You fight.”

“But…but I did it to you, and I did it again to those guys…and that woman…she was a Hyūga.” To this, he remained silent, keen to hear what she might reveal. She had to get it off her chest. “Her eyes were stolen, and they exiled her. My clan. She already suffered having her eyes stolen and they didn’t even help her…they just sent her away to avoid shame. That…that’s in my blood. That’s who I am—”

“No.” He cut her off quickly, completely turning his body to face her, hand resting next to her on the ground. “No it’s not. It doesn’t have to be.”

“But it does!” She cursed herself for raising her voice, instantly lowering it. “It does. Hyūga are monsters, Konohamaru.”

“What about your sister?” He threw her off guard, causing her to go silent. “Do you think she’s a monster?”

With a sigh, she hung her head, “no. My sister’s the opposite of a monster.”

“But by your logic, she has to be a monster.”

“I get it,” she conceded, wrapping her arms around her middle. “But what if I can’t control that side of me? What if I just turn into my father? Cold and cruel…”

“I won’t let you.” His voice was soft and it make her skin tingle. She didn’t look up as he scooted closer. “You can change things, you know.”

“I can’t…”

“I know you can.” She pursed her lips when she felt his index finger and thumb envelope her chin, lifting her head so she had to face him. She was surprised to find a little smile on his lips. “You’re so much greater than you think, Hanabi. I hate seeing you beat up on yourself.”

“Do you ever feel that way, though?” she asked weakly, feeling selfish hoping he would say yes.

“Scared?” he inquired, carefully pulling his hand back as she nodded. “Well, yeah. Of course I do. Everyone does. Seeing Moegi at knife point…” he trailed his eyes away briefly before looking back at hers, eyes a bit darker, “I was ready to put every single one of those guys in the ground.”

“Understandably,” she reached out to brush her fingers against the hand resting on his knee, “you care deeply about your friends. It doesn’t surprise me you’d feel that way.”

“But it’s scary how much I feel it,” he admitted, his eyes now dropping, “it’s like you said…but,” he raised back up to look at her, turning the hand she was touching over so that their palms were against each other, “I still stand by what I said. It means we’re not the monsters we sometimes feel like.”

The moment felt longer than it actually was. His thoughtful words swirled in her head, and she was surprised by how comforting they were. She wondered how he got so good at this. Maybe it was Naruto, Hinata always gushed about how he could cheer any one up, even when they were on the brink of despair. Hanabi wished she could indulge in his words all of the time.

It felt magnetic, how they both seemed to be drawn together, fingers gently interlacing. Their faces were mere centimeters away, begging to connect when the sound of the earth crunching underneath feet behind them ripped them apart.

“I heard yelling?” Udon asked tiredly as he rubbed at his eyes, approaching the duo without his glasses.

If he had them on, he would have witnessed the sight of two teenagers, red from their ears to their necks, scrambling to put distance between themselves.

Damnit, Udon.

-

Kakashi had congratulated them on a job well done when they arrived home so early. He informed them that they would progress to the next steps soon, but for now, to go rest. She had asked to be left alone with him when the rest of the team tried to wait for her. Once they were by themselves, she struggled to find her words.

“Lord Sixth…did you know?” she asked vaguely, causing the masked man to perk an eyebrow. “About…the woman there…”

“The Hyūga,” he finished for her, eyes never leaving hers.

“Why didn’t you…” She hated how hesitant she was being. Normally, it was easy for her to demand information. This felt so heavy now.

“Tell you? I didn’t think it was necessary,” he said, casually leaning back in his seat. “It wasn’t relevant to the mission.”

“Right, but—” she looked him in the eye as she stepped forward, “—so you must know about her exile. How can my clan just send Leaf shinobi away?”

Kakashi shrugged and it irked her how aloof he could be. “As I’m sure you’re aware, or will become aware as the heiress, it’s part of our agreement. The Leaf does not interfere with Hyūga business.”

“You’re the Hokage, though. Doesn’t that supersede any stupid agreement?” she asked doubtfully.

He seemed to mull over her words before responding. “Unfortunately, no. The agreement goes back to the original founding of the Leaf. It hasn’t been changed since.” She almost missed the way his eyes flashed over hers. “No past leader has felt the need to amend it.”

The words struck her. Was he trying to hint at something? “Lord Sixth, what are you trying to say?”

“Nothing at all.” He hummed, calmly turning his seat to stand up. He rested a hand on his stomach as he waved at her. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m feeling famished.” She turned her body to follow his path, baffled by the fact he just seemed to leave her standing in the middle of his office.

Her head felt too full right now. With a sigh, she exited shortly after him. She nearly jumped when Konohamaru appeared in front of her. “Jeeze, Konohamaru! How are you so damn silent?”

His puzzled look down at her made something inside her feel warm. He was cute. Wordlessly, he pointed at his Leaf shinobi headband with raised eyebrows. She let a little laugh slip at it. He smirked down at her and folded his arms, joining her down the stairs. “Thought I’d just check to make sure you were alright.”

“Don’t you want to rest?” she asked, tilting her head at him. He shrugged. She bit her lips together briefly as she looked out one of the windows towards the neighborhood where her sister was now living. “Do you…want to come with me, to my sister and Naruto’s?”

“Yeah, I’d like that.” He offered her a warm smile and she wasn’t sure she liked the way it made her heart flutter.

Within moments, they were being greeted by Hinata and Boruto. Boruto, nearly three now, locked her legs in a tight squeeze as he greeted her, “sissy!”

“Hey, buddy,” she responded wearily, patting the top of his blond head, his grip unrelenting as Hinata leaned over to embrace her.

“No hug for big bro?” Konohamaru jested lightly, which Boruto seemed to ignore. Hanabi did give him a smile, though.

“Naruto will be home in a few hours. Let me make you two something to eat,” Hinata offered kindly as they settled in.

Despite her nerves and exhaustion, Hanabi gave Boruto her time and relented to playing with him on the ground with his blocks. Konohamaru seemed to fall asleep the instant he hit the couch, so she chose not to disturb him, in spite of her fatigue as well. When her sister came out with little sandwiches, she giggled at Konohamaru’s sleeping form and offered to take Boruto and Himawari out so Hanabi could get a nap in as well.

She couldn’t complain. Hinata packed up Boruto and Himawari and set off for a walk, and Hanabi scarfed down the food. They had been eating rations for the most part unless they stopped through a village, so it was welcome in her gut. As a team, they agreed not to stop for too long, all more than ready to be home sooner rather than later. Shortly after, she situated herself with her back against the bottom of the couch and let her head rest near Konohamaru’s arm, though not touching it, and allowed sleep to take her.

-

They awoke to Naruto’s boisterous voice ringing through the living space. Hanabi opened her eyes to find Konohamaru’s already open and staring down at her with what seemed to be a blush. She wasn’t sure how often she saw him blush—definitely not as often as he had her blushing. She glanced around with a frown, “what? What is it?” She followed his eyes as they trailed downward and she looked down as well, then gasped when she found her robe had loosened, exposing more of herself than she cared to. “PERVERT!” she shouted as she yanked it back closed, tearing away from him.

“What? I wasn’t—I didn’t—” he stuttered, looking back up at her with panicked eyes. She rolled her own and got to her feet, stomping away as she felt her entire body heat up.

“Sounds like you two are awake,” Hinata spoke playfully as Hanabi entered the kitchen with an irritated puff.

“What time is it?” she asked, reaching up to rub her eyes. Hinata informed her it was close to dinner time and that she should go wash up. With a teasing ‘yes, elder sister,’ she dutifully went to the bathroom. Finally, she got to properly see herself in the mirror.

If she was honest, she looked like a mess. Her hair was wild and unbrushed, she had scrapes and bruises all over her neck and collarbone. There was a tear in her robe that she hadn’t even noticed on the shoulder, almost as if a blade had sliced through it. Had one of them almost landed a kunai on her? She looked down at her hands, covered in bandages from the work she had put in during the mission. Her fingernails were stubby, pads calloused. She didn’t look much like an heiress, now, and it made her snicker. She carefully unwrapped the bandages so she could properly wash her hands, then fished out a brush from under the sink to pull through her hair.

When she looked back up, she was much more presentable. Not completely so, but enough. She ensured her obi was tight around her waist and her robe was covering her adequately this time. With that, she returned to her sister, finding Konohamaru in the kitchen as well now, looking cleaned up, too.

Now, he was cradling Himawari, and the sight was a little too sweet for her liking. With the few months-old baby in his arms, he was rocking her and whispering to her in a sweet voice. He poked her stomach in an attempt to elicit a laugh, but simply was returned by the girl latching onto his finger. He chuckled down at her and something in Hanabi’s mind turned over.

How was he so wonderful despite what they had just been through? Even Hanabi was finding it difficult to muster a smile for her niece and nephew. They had killed people, their hands were metaphorically bloody, and here he was, cradling her baby niece with those hands. Those hands that ended lives.

It was a cruel thought, she knew, but she couldn’t get it out of her mind. She wished so much she could be more like him. Able to find the joy in everything around them. Able to comfort others and help them find the joy, too.

It didn’t help that something primal in her noted that he looked good like this. As a caretaker.

He’d probably be an amazing father…

The thought was intrusive and she immediate shot it down.

Don’t do that.

After they sat down to eat, they were able to indulge the two older shinobi with their tale. In his usual style, Konohamaru played up a lot of the juicier bits of the travels, but they both knew where to draw the line in how much they revealed. Hanabi hated the fact she couldn’t tell Hinata about the Hyūga they had delivered to. Konohamaru understood that as well. It was probably why she confided it in him, because really, he was the only one she could confide it in.

She certainly couldn’t try to talk to her father about it.

Hanabi cleaned up the dishes while Konohamaru entertained Boruto, that mirthful expression ever present on his face. She found herself staring at him way too often tonight. When they had a moment alone, save for the little infant Himawari in his arms, she had to ask, “how do you do it?”

“Do what?” He looked up at her with raised eyebrows, still attempting to get a smile out of the little girl.

“We…we went through so much…how do you…” she bit her lips together before continuing, “how do you push it all down? How can you be so happy with them?”

He shrugged, smiling back down at the little purple headed girl, “it’s not their fault. They don’t need to be burdened with our bad experiences.” When did he get so…good with words? “It’s up to us to provide them with positive experiences. Isn’t that right?” That sweet voice came back as he leaned down to nuzzle his nose against the girls. When Hanabi didn’t respond, he looked up to find her staring at him.

The urge to kiss him was the strongest it had ever been in her. Even after everything, the fact he could still make her feel like this…she didn’t understand it. Despite the sugary sweetness of the scene, she really wished he wasn’t holding Himawari right now.

When the little girl gave a small whine, he chuckled. “What was that thing babies needed?” he asked her pointedly with a teasing grin on his face. She did her best to suppress a blush, turning away from him as she rolled her eyes. “Oh, right. Sleep. I think it’s time for someone to get to bed.” She didn’t look up when he left the kitchen, instead slapping her hands on her cheeks in an attempt to force the blush away.

“Keep it cool…” she mumbled to herself, sighing as she stared at her reflection in the window, revealing night outside and her own red face back at her.

When he rejoined her in the kitchen, she fought the urge to run away. She felt like she might do something she would regret. He heaved a pleasant sigh, leaning against the kitchen counter on his hand in front of her. “Ah, she’s too cute, y’know? Looks like she’s gonna end up looking like your sister.”

She crossed her arms as she turned her body to face him, lowering her eyes. “You think my sister is cute?” she questioned with a raised brow, causing him to laugh.

“What if I did? Would it make you jealous?” he asked, exposing his teeth in a grin as he rubbed at the shadow on his chin.

That damn blush just went away!

“I might be a little scared of a jealous Hanabi,” he continued his teasing, “so let’s just say no, how about that?” She rolled her eyes once more, finding it to be her go-to for responses. “Besides, Hima’s cute, but you’re…” Something about the way he spoke felt wicked.

“I’m--?” She found her voice caught in her throat, which was understandable; there wasn't much room with her heart jammed in there. That familiar tightness in her chest. She couldn’t stop thinking about the adorable way he doted on her little niece. It felt like her head was cloudy with the vision.

Before he could respond, she had pushed him against the fridge and smashed her lips against his, causing something from the top to fall. It drew a surprised chuckle from him and she couldn’t find it in herself to care that he was teasing her. She just wanted him to kiss her.

And kiss her he did. He wiggled his arms from his front and slid them around her waist, pulling her body closer into his. She clutched at the material of his jacket, feeling a silly sense of fear that he might pull away. No, she wanted this kiss to last longer than the others. Because she wasn’t sure she’d get the chance again.

Their mouths felt like they slotted together like puzzle pieces. She was surprised to find he was a much better kisser than she realized and pushed down the idea that he might be practicing with someone else. She urgently returned the forcefulness of his movements, pressing her body further into his and reveling in the way it felt to be held like this. It reminded her of their slow dancing at her sister’s wedding, but so much nicer now that it felt intentional, not forced. Like he was clutching onto her as well, not allowing her to move back even a little.

A tiny, surprised gasp escaped her when he yanked her against him after she moved slightly to readjust herself. It felt possessive, and it sparked something in her. He took advantage of her lips parting for the gasp and now had his tongue teasing against her lips. Tongue. She had never experienced anything like it, and despite the act sounding so crude, found she enjoyed it. She enjoyed it more than she could describe and allowed him further.

The moment was swiftly ended, however, when the slam of a door was heard from the living room, and Hanabi tore herself away from his greedy embrace. Breathless, she turned away from him and braced herself over the sink, inhaling as much air as her lungs could take. She heard him repeating that action behind her, head leaning back to rest on the fridge.

“I…” she whispered, clenching the edge of the sink, “…should go…see my father…”

“Yeah…” he gave a similarly breathy response, “my mom…”

“I’ll see you.” Without looking up, she turned on her heel and bolted out of the kitchen, mumbling a goodbye to her sister and Naruto before throwing the front door open.

She prayed no one had seem them, not realizing that the door slam was intentionally done by Hinata to mess with them.

Hanabi would later tell Hinata that perhaps she did have the Hyūga cold streak in her somewhere.

-

To say Konohamaru could be cocky was an understatement. The way she looked at him, with those eyes like saucers, pink cheekbones, lips parted, he knew exactly what was going through her mind.

But they were still playing their game of tag, and it was her turn. Even if he wanted to take her himself. Then he was rewarded for his patience when he found himself being painfully shoved into the awkward surface of the fridge. Despite the sting, it was a wonderful sensation, having the oxygen stolen from his lungs. Wanted so much that she couldn’t even wait for him to finish his compliment.

He meant to say she was beautiful. Gorgeous. Stunning. Breathtaking. Every compliment he could pull out of his brain. He meant all of it. Especially the breathtaking one.

To hold the Hyūga heiress against his body like that and have his tongue in her mouth? Unreal.

He was guilty. He was selfish. He knew that. After all the work he put in to try to ensure they remained just friends became undone in a single night.

And he let it happen, because he wanted it to happen.

Like he’s thought so many times before, he knew he was an idiot. Something about Hanabi made him an even larger idiot, unable to control his own impulses.

He had to give himself credit for restraining. Those eyes she was giving him damn near made him break himself. He was just relieved that this time, it was her who had given in.

He wondered if she was looking at him the same way he looked at her the night Boruto had been born. Adoring affection. Perhaps it suited them. Internally, he cursed these thoughts. It was a constant fight in himself.

He really did mean it when he said she can change things. What she had to deal with, he could never imagine. He was the Third Hokage’s grandson, the Honorable Grandson, a title he himself had spent so much time trying to distance himself from. But he didn’t have to become Hokage just because of it. Sure, it was his dream, but there were no hard and fast rules putting him in that position. For her, she had to become the leader of the Hyūga. She didn’t get a choice. It figured that it would weigh on her. Despite everything, he knew she had a good heart, and he really believed she could change her clan. Something about that made him foolishly hopeful that maybe, just maybe, she could change things and they could be…

Guilt quickly started to weigh him down, making him slow his pace as he walked home. He didn’t want to confront his mother while he was dealing with these feelings, she could always read him like a book. He knew as soon as he got one foot in the door, she would be bombarding him with questions.

It was all borne of the idea that he could find a loophole to have her, but it was always an internal fight between the voice that told him that was possible, and the voice that told him he was being selfish and he would only make things worse. Cause them both pain. Or, at best, she didn’t see him that way.

The way she kissed him begged to differ, however, and it was almost enough to make him wish it hadn’t happened at all.

Almost.

-

“Jōnin!” Eiji exclaimed the next day after Hanabi found her team. “We were wondering why you got sent out on such a long mission without us.”

“That’s great, Hanabi,” Jun complimented. “Tora-sensei was actually talking about recommending all of us.”

“Sorry, I didn’t know Naruto was going to.” Hanabi frowned, folding her arms. Despite enjoying her time with Konohamaru and his team (barring traumatic events), she felt a little guilty surpassing her own team. She had to be grateful though, because if Eiji and Jun had been there, she wasn’t sure she could have kept them safe.

“Don’t be sorry,” Jun interjected, “Eiji doesn’t want to advance, anyway.”

“What?” Hanabi shot Eiji a look, who simply rolled her eyes.

“So what? I’m fine with where I’m at.” She shrugged, Yorimaru giving an agreed whine. “Besides, my cousin wants me to join the police force.”

“You’re gonna be a cop?” Hanabi furrowed her eyebrows and leaned away. “I can’t imagine it.”

“I can.” Jun chuckled, glancing between the two girls. “I think she’d be good at it. Not everyone wants to make jōnin, Hanabi. I think what Eiji’s doing is commendable.”

“Alright, enough.” Eiji jabbed a finger into Jun’s side to silence him. “Jun’s only going onto jōnin because they need more jōnin healers, anyway.”

“I just want to help the village.” Jun shrugged and Hanabi tilted her head. That was commendable. “Anyway, do you know what your next steps are?”

“I’m supposed to demonstrate a new jutsu,” Hanabi responded, fiddling her fingers together. “I’ve already been working on something new with Hinata, so it shouldn’t be too hard. But it has to be a-rank.”

“Really?” Eiji frowned. “That sounds really difficult.”

“It is,” Hanabi admitted, folding her arms. “But my sister and father have been aiding me in preparation for the recommendation by helping me create one. So, I’ll be alright, I think.”

“Can we see it?” Jun asked with a head tilt.

“Well it’s not really…”

“Just show us! C’mon!” Eiji demanded, giving her a little shove. Yorimaru yipped agreement.

“Ahhh…” Hanabi sighed, looking down at her hands. She suddenly felt especially self-conscious, she hadn’t tried showing anyone outside of the clan.

Relenting, she got to her feet and activated her byakugan. She weaved the hand signs of the dog and summoned a chakra waterfall, then began shaping it. Within moments, it had grown into a large wave, and with a forceful shove of her palm, it began swirling into something that almost looked like a water tornado. Then, a gush of wind forced it upwards until it formed into several giant sharp edges slicing through the air that all at once came crashing down in a circle around her, stabbing into the ground. Then, they soaked into the soil, leaving several large holes around her.

“Wow!” Eiji cheered, Yorimaru barking in approval and Jun clapping next to her. “That was crazy! How’d you come up with it?”

“I’ve been at the library studying,” she laughed a bit as she returned to the grass next to them, “it’s based on other a-rank water jutsu’s but I mixed in wind release and used the gentle techniques to shape it.”

“You are very skilled, Hanabi,” Jun complimented, and it made her blush in a way that didn’t bother her, accepting the praise.

“So this probably means we’re not gonna be going on many more missions together, huh?” Eiji asked and Hanabi caught the sadness behind her tone.

“We might, still. We are the successor to your cousin and your sister’s team,” Jun reasoned, and Hanabi nodded along.

“Yeah, right!” Hanabi stated resolutely. “Since Kiba’s on the police force, they can’t send him out on regular missions anymore, we’re gonna need you.”

“I guess.” Eiji shrugged, looking up towards the sky. “Well, congrats, Hanabi. You’re gonna become a jōnin. Don’t let it get to your head.” Hanabi shot her a look and watched questioningly as the girl looked over her head, waving at someone behind her.

“That’s right.” She shot up to her feet at the sound of her sensei. “You’ll always be my little lamb.” She whirled around to launch herself into her, and Tora stumbled backwards, chuckling as she accepted the embrace. “Even if we’re going to be comrades.”

“Wow.” Hanabi sighed before pulling away, beaming at the older woman who she now matched in height. “Comrades.”

“And if you’re promoted, I’ll finally give it up and pass the torch onto you,” she continued with an amused smile, stepping back from the girl. “You’ll be the leader of Team 15. Team Hanabi.”

“So you think we’ll still mission together, sensei?” Jun inquired as he, Eiji and Yorimaru joined the other two in a group. Hanabi, turning Tora’s words over in her head, suddenly felt a touch of dread, visions of motionless corpses surrounding her.

“Certainly, barring anything from happening.” Tora shrugged, shoving her hands in her pockets. “Don’t worry. You four can still be troublesome together.”

“Yes!” Eiji fist pumped, that excitement still present despite their nearing adulthood. Hanabi had to admire it, despite the tension mounting in her head. Their voices became muffled as she reflected on the events.

Her stomach felt tight as Eiji began rambling about ‘all of the cool a and s-rank missions’ they might get to do if her and Jun became jōnin. She wondered if they could even imagine the horrors she had seen during her trip. The swath of lifeless bodies around her. Bloody, bruised, working off adrenaline. How often did jōnin have to face that kind of thing? Truthfully, she wasn’t sure she could handle it again…she almost felt nauseous just thinking about it. No, she did feel nauseous.

The group gasped when she turned around abruptly and vomited away from them.

Gross…

“Hanabi!” Jun exclaimed, rushing over as the first to tend to her. “Are you alright? Are you sick?” He launched into medic mode and began patting at her face and neck.

Hanabi shook her head, trying to swat away his hands. “I’m fine! Fine!”

“Then what was that?” Eiji grimaced down at the pile of puke beside them, covering her nose.

“I’m just—I don’t know. Nerves, probably?” Hanabi tried, hands falling. “I should probably get home anyway.”

“Yes, you should lay down.” Jun’s rested his hands on her shoulders. Hanabi gritted her teeth and reluctantly nodded. “Would you like us to escort you?”

“No, I’m fine. Stop using your medic voice on me,” she brushed away his hands, stepping backwards. She really didn’t want them to join her, she needed some space from what felt like a suffocating situation. “I’ll see you guys later, okay?”

“Alrighty…feel better.” Eiji eyed her suspiciously as she took off, breathing a sigh of relief as she made her escape.

She tried to pull back to Konohamaru’s words.

We’re not the monsters we sometimes think we are.

What would Eiji and Jun have thought if they had seen her wipe out that group? What would Tora think? What would her elder sister think?

She knew what her father would think. He would simply tell her she demonstrated Hyūga skill. Like she was supposed to.

That woman flickered through her mind more times than she’d like. She wondered if the woman lied to placate her by telling her she was happier away from the clan. She couldn’t help but assume it was true. Perhaps Hanabi would be happier if she was away from the clan, too.

Hinata was always too kind for her own good. Despite everything, she still loved their father unconditionally. No matter what they did, Hinata was loyal to her family to a fault. She wished so much she could just shake her out of it. Make her understand that it’s all wrong.

You can change things, you know.

Could she change things? The thought made her heart clench painfully. Inevitably, she would be made the leader of the Hyūga. Could she lead them to a fair future? Could the caged bird seal even be taken off? She frowned as she thought of Neji. Her entire life, she struggled with her identity.

Could she pave the way to less pain? Less turmoil?

Could she have control over her own future? Love who she wanted to love?

She thought of Hinata’s wedding. She didn’t realize it at the time, but she was jealous of her sister.

Because she was weaker, she had freedom. If she hadn’t been weaker, Hanabi would be the one who was free. If she knew back then what she knows now, she thought she would have been happy to take the seal if it meant being eased of this overwhelming responsibility.

Selfish.

And now here she was, entering the compound of the place that put all of this obligation on her.

How she wanted to run away, sometimes.

The urge hit her every now and then. The urge to wake up one morning and take off. Become a missing nin, despite it all. She was pretty sure she could evade arrest. Evading other Hyūga might prove difficult, but it could work. Then she would be drawn back to thoughts of Boruto and Himawari. Of Hinata. Of her team and her sensei. Of Konohamaru.

Konohamaru. Why did he have to put such silly fantasies in her head? Why did he break down every barrier she carefully constructed? Every time, it became harder to build those walls around her heart.

She wished she could just give in. But she couldn’t. She was a Hyūga.

-

Hanabi’s 18th birthday passed quietly as she worked towards becoming a jōnin, simply celebrating Boruto’s third birthday with her sister and family, not much thought of her own. They were evaluated shortly afterwards, and the four recommended shinobi were awarded the title of jōnin. According to Moegi, they simply had to have a party. Hanabi lied to her father and told her she’d be spending the night at Hinata’s. She prayed it wouldn’t come back to bite her in the ass. It wasn’t often she got away with lying to the elder Hyūga.

Later into the night, the four plus Eiji and Jun would meet in the Inuzuka compound, one of the less monitored areas of the Leaf. She and her team converged on top of the roof to Eiji’s home before Konohamaru and his team arrived, and with her, Eiji carried a case of sake.

“Where did you get that?!” Jun asked incredulously once he realized what the clinking in the box was. Eiji shrugged.

“My dad knows the brewer for Lady Hokage’s special sake. Went with him and snatched a box.”

“You stole?!” Hanabi whispered disbelievingly. “Don’t tell people that openly, Eiji!”

“How else was I gonna get it?!” Eiji snapped, looking offended.

“Your cousin is a cop! And best friends with my sister!” Hanabi rolled her eyes and damn near panicked when she saw Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon appear on the roof next to them. “Do not tell them you stole that.”

“Hey guys!” Konohamaru waved, settling next to Hanabi, a bit closer than he normally would. His eyes went wide at the box in Eiji’s hands. “Is that—is that sake?”

“Keep your voice down!” Eiji growled, and Hanabi found the way his cheeks heated up endearing.

“Oh, you’re bad, Eiji,” Moegi teased as it seemed all the boys in the group were flushed. “Can’t wait two more years?”

“I figure this is the last of our days as kids.” Eiji shrugged, setting the box down in between the group. “With all of you promoting to jōnin, soon Jun, and then me…well, I’m moving on, too. We should celebrate, right?”

“That seems so sad, Eiji.” Hanabi frowned as the girl yanked a bottle from the box, swiftly twisting off the lid.

She took a hurried drink before shoving the bottle into Hanabi’s hands. “Drink this, and you won’t be sad anymore,” she snickered, Hanabi instinctively reaching up to grasp the neck.

“You—uh, don’t have to drink if you don’t want to, Hanabi,” Konohamaru cut in, looking worried.

“Well, I’m gonna!” Moegi declared, grabbing another bottle for herself. “C’mon, at least cheers me!”

“Moegi’s got the right idea!” Eiji hooted, grabbing a fresh bottle as well. The boys looked at each other apprehensively as Eiji and Moegi lifted their bottles in the air. Hanabi meekly raised hers to tap theirs, and finally, Konohamaru sucked in a deep breath and took a bottle, too.

“I’m not drinking, but I suppose I’ll cheers you.” Jun conceded, and both he and Udon picked up the last two bottles.

“Cheers!”

Eiji and Moegi giggled together as they took swigs from their bottles, looking expectantly at Hanabi.

Would the Hyūga heiress partake in illicit activity?

She thought back to her previous anxiety about what she perceived to be her dark side.

Could she really justify this being her first step to changing her path? Her destiny? With sake?

With friends.

Finally, she looked up and brought the neck of the bottle to her lips and drunk deeply, doing her best to ignore the burning sensation coating her throat. When she pulled it away, she gasped for breath and stuck out her tongue, glancing at Konohamaru who had been watching her with eyes blown wide. She raised her eyebrows expectantly at the dumb look on his face, lips parted as if surprised by her.

Good. She wanted to make sure she kept him on his toes.

Finally, he looked intently at the bottle in his hands and nodded, taking a deep drink as well.

“Whoo!!” Moegi and Eiji hollered despite Eiji’s previous scolding for making noise.

“We’re getting the Hyūga heiress and honorable grandson drunk!” Eiji whisper-yelled, looking so very smug. Hanabi rolled her eyes, her cheeks instantly heating up at the connection everyone seemed to make between them.

“You guys are awful.” Jun frowned, setting the bottle on the ground unopened. Finally, all eyes turned to Udon, who was the last one left that hadn’t taken a drink, save Jun who Hanabi knew they would probably never be able to convince.

“C’mon Udon!” Moegi jeered, shoving her elbow into his. They watched him inhale a long breath before taking his pull from the alcoholic beverage. And so there they were, a bunch of 18- and 19-year old’s, drinking illegally to celebrate their promotions.

“To new paths!” Eiji toasted, and something about it felt very on the nose.

“To new paths!”

-

Being drunk was an odd sensation. Her stomach felt warm with the liquid, and as she drank, it became easier and easier to tolerate the burning of the sake. It barely even burned, now. Eiji had failed to mention that the ‘Lady Hokage special sake’ had a far higher alcohol percentage than most sake, hence why it was preferred by Tsunade. The teens were a bumbling mess within hours, and eventually, Jun grew tired of it and told them to be safe before he took off.

It was just the five now.

“I been thinkin…” Konohamaru mumbled, swaying a bit as he sat between Udon and Hanabi. Moegi and Eiji looked across at him expectantly. “I bet Yorimaru weighs more than you do, Eiji.”

“Hey!” Eiji snapped, lurching forward to hit his shoulder as he and Udon descended into laughter. “You’re just freakishly tall!”

“Ouch,” Konohamaru taunted, rubbing his arm.

“I’ve always wondered,” Moegi changed the subject as she reached for Udon’s glasses, “what does your world look like, Udon?”

“Moegi!” Udon yelped, trying to grab the pair back from her.

Moegi gasped as she slid them on, “Udon, you are legitimately blind!”

“Let me see!” Eiji snatched them off her face, giving a similar dramatic gasp. “Whoa!”

“My turn!” Konohamaru grabbed them from Eiji, leaning away from Udon’s reaching hands trying to retrieve his abused glasses. “Wow buddy, I am so sorry I ever made fun of your eyesight. Look, Hanabi.” She squinted as he clumsily slid them on her face and she giggled even more at the blurry sight of Konohamaru. He leaned in very close to her and she could barely make out his features, all she could hear was, “you look pretty cute with glasses, Hanabi.”

Cheeks already flush with the effects of alcohol, the comment made her turn fiery. Quickly, she gave Udon a break and handed them back, turning her face from Konohamaru’s. Moegi whistled from across and Eiji made a gagging sound, “you guys are too sappy for me!”

“You two are devilish together!” Hanabi accused back with embarrassment as Moegi clutched her stomach from laughing. She glanced out of the corner of her eye to find Konohamaru grinning his smug grin down at her, looking pink in the face as well.

“Yes, you are,” Udon mumbled agreement as he wiped at the glasses with his shirt. “Glasses are expensive! If you guys scratched ‘em, I’m gonna be pissed.”

“Oh nehh—” Moegi stuck her tongue out playfully, which relaxed Hanabi as she forced another shot of sake down.

Hours flew by, and soon, each of the group began passing out—first Udon, then Eiji, and Moegi was the last to hold out, Konohamaru and Hanabi’s discussion clearly boring her.

“Oh shit.” Konohamaru interrupted whatever Hanabi had been rambling on about, staring over her shoulder.

“It’s damn near daytime!” Hanabi whirled around to see what Konohamaru had gone pale at: an irritated looking older Inuzuka she unfortunately knew. “Hanabi?!”

“Oh no.” Hanabi gulped audibly as a tired looking Kiba stomped towards them.

“Eiji! What have you done!” He grabbed the passed-out girls’ collar to shake her awake. Hanabi briefly considered fleeing, only for Kiba to hiss at her, “don’t even think about trying to run off.”

“What’s going—oh gods—” Udon roused with the activity, face turning white at the sight of him.

“Ow!” Eiji groaned as she awakened as well to her cousin’s rough handling of her. “Let me go!”

“Did you get the freaking Hyūga heiress AND the Hokage’s grandson drunk, Eiji?!” His voice was in complete disbelief, loudly whispering as he kicked at the now empty box. “Fuck, you’ve really done it, little one.”

“Kiba—please—” Hanabi tried, gritting her teeth as he shushed her.

“Just—I have to think!” he snapped, roughly letting go of the younger Inuzuka. He rubbed at his face, glaring at Moegi who was well and truly dead asleep, snoring loudly. “Alright, Eiji, take them to my place. I’ll clean this up. Just be fucking quiet, got it? And don’t stop to talk to anyone, you guys smell like a goddamn brewery.”

“Yes, big brother.” Eiji voice was dejected as she and Konohamaru grabbed either of Moegi’s hands, heaving the girl up.

“Do not tell your sister about this,” Kiba whispered bitterly to Hanabi as she got up, looking at her warningly. She nodded in understanding as she wobbly attempted to follow behind the group.

Eiji shoved the door of a little home open with a great yawn, holding it open for the rest of the group. They shuffled in, Udon helping Konohamaru lay Moegi down on the couch.

“Do you think he’s going to arrest us?” Udon whispered as Eiji dragged her feet towards the kitchen

Eiji snorted, “no way. Why would he send us here? He’s just a cranky old man.” Hanabi couldn’t help but snicker at the comment. It was just like a teenager to call a 23-year-old a cranky old man. “Just make yourselves comfy and sleep the inevitable hang over away.”

“How often do you drink, Eiji?” Konohamaru asked in disbelief as he settled on the ground, back against the couch Moegi was passed out on.

“Just once before! With my cousins,” she snapped as she returned to the living room with water for the group. “Nighty night.”

They watched as Eiji pulled out a sleeping bag from the closet and made herself comfortable, Udon seemingly passing out within the minute his head hit the ground. Hanabi sighed as she situated herself next to Konohamaru, leaning against the couch. “No use worrying about it right now, I guess.” Konohamaru whispered, shimmying so that his head rested on her shoulder. She bit her lips together and nodded, resting her head against his as well.

-

“It’s pretty funny you guys think I’d let you sleep in after the shit you pulled.”

Hanabi groaned at the sound of Kiba’s voice, struggling to peel her eyes open. As soon as she lifted one just a tad, she hissed at the bright light piercing her eye.

“Doesn’t feel good, does it?” Kiba mocked and though she couldn’t see him, she knew he was standing over them with his hands on his hips, glowering down at them.

“Big bro, c’mon…” Eiji grumbled as she flipped in her sleeping bag. “Hanabi and Konohamaru and stuff just made jōnin…we were just trying to celebrate.”

“Oh yeah, I’m sure Kakashi totally promoted you all to jōnin and assumed you’d all go binging right afterwards, huh?”

Hanabi threw her forearm over her eyes, grumbling irritably as she felt Konohamaru’s head leave her, causing her to fall towards him slightly. Normally, he’d probably laugh and straighten her back out, but instead just held her up and put her back against the couch, no playfulness in his movements.

“Let this hangover be a lesson,” Kiba continued, “and you’re all coming to the nursery to wash the dogs. Every single one. I want their fur to feel like satin.”

“Right now?” Udon’s tired voice chimed in.

“Yup. Now make sure that one isn’t dead.” Hanabi finally got her eyes open enough to see him pointing at Moegi, still passed out. Hanabi sighed as she turned around, gently shaking the girl until she roused as well.

“Where…where are we?” Moegi yawned, slowly lifting up, then turning pale white at the sight of the older Inuzuka. “Shit.”

“Shit is right. Bullshit you’ve put me through,” Kiba grumbled, turning away from them. “You’ve got ten minutes to get ready. Go wash your nasty mouths out, I can smell the sake pouring out of you.”

-

Spending a day with puppies would normally sound delightful. But here the group was, soaked from head to toe in dirty dog bathwater, fingers pruning, and the smell of wet dog permeating the air around them. They all glared at Jun when he arrived, and in a rare act, it was to tell them: “I told you so.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Eiji grumbled as she scrubbed a brush through a pup’s fur. “We’re suffering enough already!”

“Oooh, I wonder what they did to deserve this.” They looked up to see Kiba’s older sister Hana join his side, gloved hands folded in front of her. “I’m always happy to have free labor!”

“Yep. They’ll be doing this once a month for a while.” Kiba fangy grin glimmered.

Hana laughed as the group groaned, slumping over. “Well thank you lot for whatever stupid thing you did. I’m glad to have you.”

The older Inuzuka’s eventually left them and Jun gave in to his loyalty to his team and ended up helping them, reasoning that he should have tried harder to be a better influence. Hanabi wondered how they ended up with such a compassionate teammate. Soon, they were down to the last few pups, and all felt relieved as noon rolled around.

“I’m going to reek for weeks…” Hanabi grimaced, brushing at her robes. She gasped when she felt a wet handful of bubbles hit the top of her head, soaking her hair. She looked up to see Konohamaru grinning at her and she lowered her eyes. “Don’t start what you can’t finish.”

“Oooh, those are dangerous words,” Konohamaru teased, only for his face to turn to one of shock as another pile of bubbles clung to his cheek, courtesy of Eiji. “Inuzuka!” he yelled accusingly, only to double over in laughter when Moegi returned fire to Eiji. Soon it became an all-out war of bubbles, soap and water intermingling as everyone shot bubbles and sponges at one another and received hits back.

“Look what you did!” Hanabi exclaimed, though her tone was joyful. “Jun! You got me!”

“Sorry!” Jun yelped, ducking to avoid Udon’s incoming sponge.

A few minutes passed of this before the group tired out, the hangover still affecting them (except for Jun, who was just relieved not to be getting hit anymore).

After they cleaned up the nursery, Kiba returned to inspect their work and decidedly nodded, satisfied. “Hanabi, you can clean up at my place,” he started as she began walking with the group. She stopped and tilted her head, “you really shouldn’t go home like that, and I don’t want Hinata to find out. It’d break her heart.”

“Oh, right,” Hanabi sighed.

Konohamaru cleared his throat, “you could uh…clean up at my place, Hanabi. My mom could never turn you away, y’know.”

Kiba eyed him with a smirk, then rolled his eyes before turning. “Do what you want. Just be back here in a month. I’m holding you to it.”

Hanabi raised her eyebrows as she looked up at Konohamaru and gave a little nod, deciding to follow him home. As the five walked through the village and broke off for their homes, Hanabi and Konohamaru went up the steps of his home. He gently opened the door, clearly trying to be at least a little bit sneaky, and quietly ushered her in. He pressed his finger to his lips and she nodded briskly, silently following him through his home. Lightly, he pushed the door to the bathroom open and allowed her inside.

“I think my mom’s clothes will be too short for you,” he frowned as he rummaged through his dresser, “so here’s my sweatpants and a t-shirt you can wear while your robes are washed. Better baggy than short, right?”

“Oh.” Her face began burning as he handed her his clothes. To wear. With a wink, he gently pushed her inside so he could shut the door for her, leaving her alone.

In Konohamaru’s bathroom. With his clothes in her hands. About to shower in his shower.

What a strange scenario to be in.

As she washed up, she examined his shampoos and conditioners. She was a little surprised to see his good taste in scents and moisturizers. As they grew older, he had been looking more and more well-groomed, a far cry from that pre-teen who often had dirt under his nails and grime in his hair. The change was gradual, so perhaps she hadn’t even really noticed. Once she exited and toweled off, she gingerly pulled his clothing over herself and felt herself heat up at the feel of his clothing on her. Clothing that had been on Konohamaru now clung to her body. How intimate.

When she exited the bathroom, she cringed inwardly at the sound of his mother. “Oh, sounds like she’s out. Send her over, Kono.”

They weren’t as sneaky as she thought. It was tough being a teenager in a shinobi family.

He rounded the corner and gave her a weak smile when they met eyes. He held out his hand for her, assuring “don’t worry. She’s not mad.” She glanced at the hand and while she wanted to hold it, she couldn’t bring herself to. She stepped forward and simply brushed her fingertips against his before retracting, and he seemed to get the hint.

“I see you two had some fun last night.” Her voice was light as she patted the chair next to her upon Hanabi’s entrance. Hanabi’s face went white at the accusation, and Moriko gave a small giggle, “I don’t mean it like that, dear, no worries. Tea? Go shower, Kono. You smell like—”

“—like a brewery, yeah, I’ve been told.” He chuckled as he pulled out a seat for Hanabi, which she reluctantly accepted. He leaned down to whisper in her ear before he left, “we’ll never live this down.”

She shuddered at his voice in her ear as he swiftly took off, leaving her alone with his mother. She had a hard time meeting her eyes. “Uhm…I apologize, Moriko.”

“Forgiven,” she said, simply, pushing a cup of tea towards her. With a deep breath, she bowed her head and accepted the tea. “Everyone needs their chance to rebel a little bit. I just hope it’s out of your system.”

“Hopefully that sake will be out of my system sooner rather than later,” Hanabi grumbled, eliciting a laugh from the older woman.

“Konohamaru tells me you all impressed Lord Sixth with your jōnin testing.” It surprised Hanabi how she could so easily change the topic despite what they had just been guilty of doing. “I always thought you two would work together well.”

Hanabi paused, thoughtful. She wondered if Moriko was ever angry with her like Moegi had been during the chūnin exams. It was before Hanabi had become acquainted with Moriko, but she must have witnessed the battle. However, when they first met properly, Moriko had been nothing but kind. She almost had a silly sense of jealousy of Konohamaru, with such a loving mother who was so quick to forgive and show love. Hinata’s stories of their own mother were similar to her. “Konohamaru is…a very good leader.”

Moriko’s lips twitched upwards. “Yes, he is, isn’t he?” Hanabi nodded in agreement. “And he says you do well as his partner.”

“P—partner?” Hanabi gulped, shooting her eyes up.

Moriko shrugged as she nonchalantly sipped her tea. Hanabi was surprised to feel Konohamaru’s presence behind her already, turning to find him toweling drying his hair. He looked down at the two women before giving a little smile. “Sometimes I wonder if you love her more than me, ma.”

“Oh stop!” His mother swatted at his arm with a laugh and Hanabi felt a little smile creep up.

“Then what’s this about—” his voice turned mocking, “’oh, it’s so good you got to rebel, and by the way, I heard you did so amazing on jōnin testing’,” the mocking turned to a more serious tone, “but then with me, it’s ‘how dare you get her drunk! You’re a bad influence on that girl!’ When it was her who took the first drink!”

Moriko clicked her tongue while Hanabi’s face went beet red. Had he heard their entire conversation? Did he have keen hearing or something? And he was throwing her under the bus! “You’re older, my dear boy. You should know better.”

“Oh whatever!” Konohamaru laughed as he pecked a kiss on top of his mother’s head, grabbing a seat next to Hanabi. “And no tea for me on top of it all. I see how it is, mother.”

“Don’t use ‘mother’ on me!” Moriko snapped and Hanabi had to admire their playful relationship, despite her embarrassment.

She watched them banter with amusement until his mother looked up at the sound of beeping. “That’ll be your clothes. I’ll go pin them up.”

“Let me,” Hanabi interrupted, getting to her feet. His mother looked up at her slightly surprised but shrugged, nevertheless.

“I suppose it’s the least you can do,” she teased as Konohamaru got up to join her, winking at his mother. He guided her to the washing machine and loaded them into a basket before carrying it outside. Together, they began methodically hanging clothes, and found herself hanging up some of his shirts and pants. She did a double take and her eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when she saw him very casually clipping her panties to the line.

“Ko—Konohamaru!” She choked out, launching to grab the garment, “what in the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“What?” He asked, a cheeky grin present. “Just clothes, Hanabi! Don’t get so worked up.”

“Those are…” she started, feeling her face go deep red with both embarrassment and anger, “intimate!”

“So are these.” She stumbled backward when he grabbed a pair of his boxers and waved them in front of her face. “But it’s normal, who cares?”

“I do!” She stammered, hastily shoving her underwear into the pocket of his sweatpants she was wearing. Her eyes blew wide when she realized his eyes had trailed down to follow the movement, and now he was turning pink as well. “I didn’t know you were that big of a pervert, Konohamaru!”

“Hey!” He defended, hands raised. “You’re the one doing all that!”

“I—ugh!” She slapped her hands over her face, dragging them over her bloodshot eyes. Suddenly, she felt incredibly out of place. Konohamaru and his mother were so…different, from her own family. Her father, her sister, herself. She was embarrassing herself and she knew it. “I have to go!”

“But your robes are—”

“It’s fine!” She snapped, grabbing the clothing in question out of the basket and pulling it on, despite their dampness. She fished out of her obi and secured it before stomping back towards the house, desperate to escape.

“What about—my clothes?” He jogged after her, a little weakness behind his voice.

“I’ll drop them off later!” She continued her mission through the house, feeling guilty as she avoided Moriko’s lingering gaze. She yanked on her sandals quickly before pulling the front door open. “Thank you for your hospitality, Moriko!” She called, and she knew it sounded accusatory, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself. She tried to drag the door shut before Konohamaru could stop her, but was unsuccessful.

“Look—I’m sorry!” he tried, following her out the door, “I really didn’t think it was that big of a deal!”

“It’s fine, Konohamaru,” she huffed, still on her mission to her sister’s without looking back. “We’re just fundamentally different, okay? I feel idiotic that I ever thought I could fit into your world.”

She winced when she heard his footsteps stop abruptly behind her, but tried to keep going. His voice drew her back. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

She cursed herself for stopping. Why did she keep doing this to herself? With a deep sigh, she glanced around to make sure there were no prying eyes, then turned to look at him. “I’m not like you, Konohamaru.” His eyebrows furrowed at this. “It’s like I said earlier. I’m…a Hyūga. What my father is, that’s what I am. You and your mother are the opposite. You know how to be calm, relaxed, kind. You never let anything bother you, even if it should.” She regretted how deep his frown was becoming, his grimace as if she was punching him in the gut. She should have just cleaned up at Kiba’s. Her eyes dropped to the ground.

“That’s not…that’s not completely true, Hanabi—my life isn’t all sunshine and roses, you know—”

“Yeah, well, if that’s true, then mine is truly something awful,” she snapped her interruption. “I’m not you. I can’t…we can’t…’

“My life isn’t something to envy,” he breathed, staring at her despite her unwillingness to meet his eyes. “This is my life,” he gestured towards his home, “just me and my mom. We’ve lost a lot, Hanabi. When you go through that, you learn to look for the positive, alright? It can’t all be angst and anger, you know?”

She finally looked up to glare at him, feeling the sting of his insult, even if he hadn’t meant it. After a pointed pause, she finally ground out a response “is that right? Well, sorry, Konohamaru, but that’s all it’s been for me my entire existence on this gods-forsaken planet! So yeah, this,” she gestured behind her towards where the compound lay, “this is my life, and that’s yours! You don’t fit into mine, and I don’t fit into yours.”

“Yeah.” His flat tone caught her off guard. “I guess I can only take so much, Hanabi.”

“What?” She leaned back as if he had pushed her, but they were several meters apart.

He shook his head, and the chuckle he gave was not the usual playful one. “I’ll see you around, okay?”

Hanabi’s mouth fell into a silly looking ‘o’ shape as he turned away from her, still clad in sweatpants and a t shirt, hair glistening from the shower it just had. She watched him take off back to his home without looking back at her and something inside of her felt like it broke. Like she had expected him to stay, to come after her, to grab her and shake her and tell her all of the right things, like he always did. But not this time. This time he took her at face value and simply…left.

Tag - Chapter Nine

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Chapter Nine

Jōnin – Part Two

Hanabi – 17-18

Konohamaru – 19

~~~

While the trip back was somber, it was also quicker than expected. The 20-day trip was cut down to just 14 days, and they were all glad to be home. It was tough motivating themselves to go report in to Kakashi with how dead tired and emotionally exhausted they all were.

Hanabi was probably experiencing the worst of it, though. Whenever Konohamaru stopped to check in with her and make sure she was alright, she always lied through her teeth.

Yes, of course. Just dealing with the fact I took several lives and am having a crisis over my identity as heiress. Just peachy.

Keep reading

[deltas-writing-corner]

Can you do a one shot or head canon about How would you take poly satosugu meeting the new trio? How would y/n and Gojo feel about them, does Geto feel some sort of bond with Yuuji since they both have to deal with swallowing gross things lol, yeah

Sure thing!

Megumi obviously knew the dynamic of your relationship with Satoru and Suguru, but Yuuji and Nobara weren’t exactly given the heads up that you three were a throuple. They initially thought there were witnessing some type of cheating drama when they saw Satoru kiss you, and then kiss Suguru when he dropped off some paperwork a few hours later. They’re even more concerned whenever they see you guys hanging out and being all buddy-buddy with each other during lunch breaks.

This isn’t the first time you’ve had to deal with people thinking you guys are cheating on each other. You guys just go about your business as usual until someone brings it up. That person would be Nobara, who thinks it’s you that’s getting stabbed in the back.

She’s said it herself, point-blank and without an ounce of hesitation, about how much she respects and looks up to someone like you. You’re damn good at your job, and you do things your own way. Her reasons for coming out to the city and studying as a sorcerer are selfish, but you never discouraged her from being true to herself. Just as you want the best for her, she wants the same for you.

“Seriously, that blindfold idiot is nothing but a two-timing scumbag!” she snarls. “And so is that freak with the bangs and creepy smile!”

Why do they always zero in on the bangs? You humorously wonder. And the smile. People are always put off by his smile.

“And-” she slams her balled hand on top of your desk, rattling the picture frame that has a picture of Satoru, Suguru, and you back when you three were students yourselves, “He has the nerve to do it right in front of his students, in the middle of his dumbass lectures of all things!”

“Kugisaki,” you calmly interject. Thankfully, she gives you her full attention, but she’s grumbling a few heated words under her breath. You’re able to make out “bastards” and “perverts”. Oh, this is going to be a good story to share over dinner. “While I’m glad to know you’d have my back if someone was ever cheating on me-”

“Of course I would!” she gasps. “I can’t stand watching those two flirt in front of me. They’re practically sucking each other’s faces off. It’s gross!”

“They tend to do that.”

“Seriously?! Ugh, that must be so…so…”

Finally, you see her connect the dots inside her head. She looks at you, body stiff as a rock, and asks, “Are you…and him…and him…”

“Are the three of us dating?” you finish the question for her. She nods. Her eyes are sparkling with a bit of embarrassment. “We are.”

“(Y/N)-san!” she whines. You’re nearly knocked out of your seat and onto the ground when she suddenly tackle-hugs you. “Why didn’t you tell me?! Now I feel like such an idiot!”

Her behavior reminds you of how Satoru was when he was a student. Clingy and a bit slow on the uptake. You probably shouldn’t tell Nobara that. She’ll kill you for making that comparison.

Meanwhile, at the exact same time Nobara was piecing together the truth, Satoru and Suguru are desperately trying to explain to Yuuji how you’re all dating each other and that there's no cheating happening. For some reason, it’s not sticking to him. Suguru, despite his poise demeanor and high levels of patience, is getting ticked off. They’ve been going at this for half an hour.

“Yuuji, it’s not that hard to understand,” Satoru groans. “See? I even made a simple diagram,” he points to his elementary level drawings of you, Suguru, and him on the chalkboard. “I’m dating (Y/N), who’s dating Suguru, and he’s also dating me.”

“And together,” Sugru grabs another piece of chalk and draws a big circle around the entire graph. “All three of us are in a relationship.”

“Oh…Oh!” Yuuji gasps. “I think I get it now!”

Suguru lets out a sigh of relief. That sense of calm is then shattered by Satoru asking, “You still don’t get it, do you?”

“No,” Yuuji admits. “Please, just explain it to me one more time!”

The piece of chalk Suguru was holding snaps in half.

I think Yuuji would be the one to feel a sort of bond with Suguru first when it comes to their shared experience of eating gross things for the sake of jujutsu sorcery. Yuuji might even ask if he could have a taste of the curses Suguru captures because he finds his technique very fascinating to witness. Funny enough, the first time he witnesses Suguru swallow one of his black orbs he thought it was chocolate. You then made a joke about how much Suguru has been obsessed with chocolate since high school, only for him to put you in a painful headlock.

Don’t worry, Satoru caught onto the joke and he happily played along.

Satoru: Yeah, he just can’t get enough of that chocolate! He’ll disappear for a couple of days because he’s so obsessed with it! Sometimes, I think he loves it more than he loves us!

Suguru: It sounds like you guys want to sleep on the couch tonight, maybe even for the rest of the week. Is that right?

You: Shut up man!

Satoru: It’s alright babe! If we give him some chocolate he’ll forget why he was ever mad in the first place!

Suguru then made you both sleep on the couch for the rest of the week.

All jokes aside. Suguru would keep a bottle of water and a few snacks on hand whenever Yuuji has to swallow one of Sukuna’s fingers. He’s somewhat envious that the kid can laugh about how awful the object tastes, but he figures it’s just his way to distract himself from the discomfort. He always gives a proud pat on Yuuji’s back and the kid beams every time. He won’t ever say it out loud, but Yuuji is definitely his favorite first year. Don't be surprised if after he dies and then comes back to life he suggests having Yuuji hide out in your guys' house.

[hmmdelicioussoup]

So I just finished The Lost Book of the White and I really want to talk about Simon.

I’d tried reading this book sometime last year but didn’t really get into. Then after listening to the TMI audiobooks and TFSA I was motivated to try again since I knew it took place after Simon lost George. Second time round I absolutely loved it, Malec, baby Max, Magnus x Ragnor x Catarina friendship, all so good. But Sizzy! My god so so good. Getting to see them finally be together as a couple honestly made me so happy. But despite the happy moments, it’s also occurring during a time when Simon is grieving, and that grief is very fresh. TLBOTW takes place only 4 months after Angels Twice Descending.

So, throughout the whole book I was waiting for Simon to crack. From his first scene in the book it’s mentioned how different he seems.

Magnus says upon the TMI gang arriving at his apartment about Simon:

“…it was obvious [Simon] wasn’t doing well” pg 36

From the start I was strapping myself in for some pain. Even just a couple of pages later Magnus notes that Simon is acting ‘very unlike himself’ pg 39.

Simon has gone through a lot, they all have, but I think it’s different for Simon. Just on the basis that he kind of got dragged into the shadow world. He wasn’t raised in it like Jace, Alec, and Isabelle. It wasn’t his birthright to be a part of it like Clary. He’s had to fight stay beside Clary, to earn the respect of the Shadowhunters who even though they would eventually become his friends, didn’t think much, if anything of him, when they first met him. He had to really fight to show he was worthy of their respect. And he did. He fought beside them, lost beside them, sacrificed himself for them and all the while maintain his morals. I’m not saying he never changed, on the contrary, he developed significantly throughout the series and throughout it all always managed to be the optimistic one. Magnus says of him,

“Through all of it, Magnus had grown impressed with his morale, his willingness to persevere and keep a brave face even when the situation seemed worse than impossible” pg 40

Even knowing all Simon has been through, even Magnus who kind of seemed the least invested in Simon during TMI, expects him to have the same attitude he has always had. They’ve legit been to hell twice now and all seem pretty chill about it. They’re all making jokes, Magnus and Alec get it on basically every time they’re alone lol. I think they feel almost invulnerable. There’s very much this energy of well we’ve survived one hell dimension before, surely we can survive another. But they seem to be forgetting that they very nearly almost didn’t survive Edom. They only got out because of Simon. And I think Simon is painfully aware of this. He’s not one to brag about saving them but he understands maybe better than anyone the risk of having to make sacrifices.

Simon’s truly at his tipping point throughout TLBOTW. Despite all he went through in TMI, mainly with him losing half his memories and as a result losing important pieces of himself, he’s able to find himself again throughout TFSA or at the very least gain some idea of the type of Shadowhunter and person he wants to be. But then he loses George, once again he’s faced with unbearable loss. One as well that didn’t come from noble sacrifice or dying in battle protecting the people you love. George died drinking from the mortal cup and even though he was a good person, even though he was more than worthy, more worthy than Simon according to him, the cup didn’t want him.

“[George] was no different to me. No less worthy of Ascension. If anything, he was more worthy than me.” pg. 283

So when they all travel to Diyu and Simon is taken and tortured by Sammael, and Magnus has been stabbed by Svefnthorn and Isabelle gives herself up to demons, it’s all just reinforcing Simon’s worries about loss and how easy it is to lose what you love. Honestly I am so glad to have content where Simon is appreciated and allowed to show how much he cares and be more than just comic relief.

When they are in the Cathedral and Simons calm finally wavers I was so keen for it. And boi was I not disappointed. We get to really see how Simon is coping, how the loss that made him stronger is now what’s making him fall apart. Everyone else is so shocked and confused by his reaction:

“[Clary] looked wary…“This isn’t like you,”” pg. 282

“….“This isn’t even your first trip to a hell dimension,” Jace pointed out” pg. 282

It really shows how no one expected Simon of all people to be the one to break. It gives the others the chance to crumble a bit too. Isabelle who has always been very noble, always ready to fight, doesn’t know how to answer Simon when he asks how they all keep risking their and their loved ones lives. Before this book we never really got to see how they coped with the trauma they gained from TMI. We saw them in TDA but that was about four (I think?) years later, in the midst of someone else’s story and another fight. (As someone who very much prefers character over plot being able to read moments like this with some of my all time favourite characters really is my favourite thing. Like yes it’s sad as hell but oh isn’t it the best kind?)

Simon needs this moment. They all do. The desperation in Simon’s voice, everyone else’s inability to give him an answer. Because he has a point.

“How do you risk yourself and everyone you love, over and over again?” pg. 284

The Shadowhunter motto is just as much ‘we often die young’, as it is ‘facilus descensus averno’ and George’s death made this painfully clear to Simon. I think that Simon is definitely prepared to risk his own life, we’ve seen him do so many times before, but it’s the risk to the lives of the people he loves that he cannot deal with. The others kind of accept it, they definitely don’t love the idea of it but they know it’s a dangerous job. Both Jace and Alec literally say so.

It’s a moment that makes everyone grateful for their love.

- Clary tells Simon and Isabelle she loves them.

- Jace wraps his arms around her ‘drawing her close’.

- Alec reflects on the choice to love someone.

Writing this is really making me realise that maybe that’s what the whole story is about. Love. They’ve all found their epic loves, their families, they should all be happy. And they are, you don’t go through what they went through and not come out of it happy to still have the people you care about. But with the presence of love now it’s apparent, especially for Simon, that fear of losing it. And while it’s a hard thing to cope with, as Alec and Simon put it:

“That’s being a Shadowhunter,” said Alec.

Simon shook his head, “No, that’s being a person,”

[caretaker-au]

CHAPTER 10

Bright light spilled into Chara’s vision as the world manifested around them. Their body—heavy and fragile—struggled and dropped them to their knees.

As they fell forward Chara caught themselves with their hands. They stared out at their small, feeble fingers that were splayed on the lavender colored floor, each digit tipped with a dull, flat fingernail. Where were they? And what was that awful pounding sensation? They pulled a hand to their chest. That’s right. Their heart. No longer made from monster magic, Chara’s human flesh felt comparatively sluggish and dense. The body they were never supposed to return to. Chara crossed their arms and gripped themself tight. Fierce emotion flooded through their body: a touch of grief for their own death, relief for their survival, and most of all, rage.

“Asriel…” they breathed, their voice a shaking whisper, “How could you?”

After everything they had done, after all that they sacrificed for him, Asriel had betrayed them. Again. As he always had. It didn’t matter how hard Chara worked or how many timelines they chased, their wretched partner threw away everything they had to protect accursed humans. This time was the worst, however. Asriel’s betrayal ended in orchestrating a shared execution.

“You really hate me that much?” Chara’s voice was little more than a shaking growl. They wanted to scream, to declare that they wouldn’t allow it, that they would find someone else who would respect them and carry out their plan. But they didn’t believe it.

“Chara?”

A small voice broke through the fury. Chara looked up and saw them. A child hesitating in a stone doorway just ahead of them: Frisk.

The child’s expression relaxed into a smile, “I’m glad you’re okay.”

Anger flashed across Chara’s face. They pulled themselves to their feet, wavering slightly. They staggered towards Frisk with heavy steps, increasing their speed into a run. Frisk’s eyes widened for a moment before they scowled. The child braced themself and held out their arms, “Chara, stop!”

The caretaker grabbed Frisk by the collar and wrenched them up against the doorframe. The kid’s teeth chattered as their skull thudded against the stone behind them.

“Why?!” Chara barked, hatred seeping from their every pore, “You took everything from us! Our lives, our future, the salvation of all monsters!” Frisk turned their head away, clenching their eyes tight as Chara berated them. “Nothing was stopping you from leaving. So why?” Chara demanded, “Why did you return? To mock me? To torment me?”

“No…” Frisk answered quietly, “To save you.”

Their answer didn’t make any sense. Chara stared back, unable to even articulate a response. Instead, they slammed Frisk against the wall again. “Liar!” Chara cried out, “You expect me to believe that?”

“It’s the truth!” Frisk squirmed and pulled on Chara’s hands to no avail, “Escape isn’t worth anyone’s life. Not even yours, Chara!”

Chara’s fists clenched tighter around the slack of Frisk’s sweater. With a heave, they tossed the child to the side. Frisk splayed across the floor with a grunt.

“You are wrong,” Chara huffed, “And you… are a fool. Did you not learn the first time? I don’t care about your mercy.”

Frisk pulled themself to their feet. They straightened and returned Chara’s frenzied glare with a quiet gaze.

Chara continued, “I will not stop. This time I’ll take the souls, ignore you, and escape to the Surface. There, Asriel and I… we’ll…” Chara trailed off as Asriel’s face crossed their mind again. They sank to the floor, the air feeling heavier and heavier. “That traitor… he will never… he will never cooperate.”

The realization was like a knife twisting in their gut. Even with his betrayal, Asriel was always the most devoted. No one would be able to replace him. Despair crept into their heart as Chara realized they needed him more than Asriel needed them back. Chara had considered Frisk their greatest opponent, but it was Asriel who truly stood in their way.

Chara’s vision swam, so they turned their head away from Frisk, their hair falling in front of their face. Knowing the human was seeing them like this made their skin crawl, and they wished the ground would swallow them up. As Chara spoke, they held their breath to keep their voice from shaking. “Leave.”

Frisk hesitated, surely coming up with a response. Mockery? Pity? Chara wouldn’t bear it.

“Out of my sight! Now!” Chara shouted; their roar made the air tremble. Frisk didn’t wait to be told again. The sound of scuffling footsteps faded from earshot, and soon Chara was alone in the silence once more.

Finally, Chara let the tears fall from their eyes. They were disgusted with the way their breath hitched and sobbed no matter how much they tried to stifle it. Asriel did this to them. Asriel would have to pay.

Chara indulged in several minutes of sickening self pity before they finally wiped their face. Looking around, it took Chara a moment before they registered just where they were. They were deep within the Ruins, just outside the chamber Frisk had fallen into. But that didn’t make sense. From Chara’s experience, time could only be turned back to the most recently fixed point. Frisk should have been returned to just before their battle, perhaps in the jail. Instead, here they were, back to the moment they first met. Was Frisk not confined to the same limits of time travel?

Chara shook their head. They couldn't think about this now. Only one thing mattered: Asriel’s punishment. Drawing the will to stand, Chara pushed themselves upright to follow the child.

In one way or another, Frisk had made it past all the traps, through the house, and—presumably—out the exit. It was for the best; Chara couldn’t stand to cross paths with the child again. Inside the house, they paused to collect a large padlock they had stored in a table drawer. It was heavy and nearly the size of a text book with ornate designs engraved across it. The lock was imbued with abjuration magic, made specifically to lock the Ruins after Asriel was nearly killed by the human years ago. The lock would render any door unbreachable by human or monster, and Chara held the only key.

Chara carried the device with them into the basement, down the hall, and to the large exterior doors that lead to the snow draped forests beyond. The doors were slightly ajar, revealing a set of footprints that dotted the snow off into the distance.

Chara sighed, taking one last look at the snowy view, before pulling the doors shut. For decades, the lock had only been placed on the outside, removed only when Chara came through to patrol the ruins or escort monsters between Home and Snowdin. Today, for the first time, the doors would be locked from the inside with Chara within. They looped the padlock through the handles of the door, and when they snapped it into place, the doors shuddered and clamped together with a jolt. Chara traced a fingernail down the seam of the two doors. No one would be passing through without their permission.

Confronting Asriel directly was not an option. After all, any progress made with Asriel could be undone by Frisk. Not to mention they weren’t even sure what they could tell him. Asriel’s traitorous inclinations were buried deep into his core, waiting until Chara was at their most desperate to stab them in the back.

But there was one tactic that Frisk would be unable to interfere with. Silence. If Chara withdrew to the Ruins without a word, Asriel would surely blame himself for Chara’s sudden absence. Chara knew Asriel well: he’d beg for Chara’s return and apologize for things he didn’t do, all the while ignorant of his traitorous compulsions. Cruel, perhaps, but nothing was as cruel as what he had done in those erased timelines.

Chara checked their phone. They already had one message from Asriel inquiring as to when they’d return home. The caretaker marked it as read before slipping it back into their pocket.

---

As predicted, Asriel came to the door and stayed all night long. Knocking, calling, pleading-- Chara relished each pathetic attempt at reconciliation. He deserved to be confused, heartbroken, and alone, just as Chara was. Over the course of the day Chara received messages from Asgore, Toriel, and many other monsters. They all asked the same thing: Are you okay? Do you want to talk? We found this human named Frisk, do you know them? Even Muffet demanded an explanation. Chara would have to deal with her later.

Leaving everyone wondering and begging for answers was the only power Chara had left. Word was getting to the monsters in Home as well, evidenced by the additional messages piling up on their phone. Chara ignored them too. Eventually they would realize they were trapped on this side of the door as well, unwilling hostages in Chara’s scheme.

No matter. The monsters deserved to be trapped. Every one of them was just like Asriel: eager to please and sentimental to a fault. Chara had devoted their entire life to serving them and in return they never offered to help collect the souls that would free them. In fact, Chara had to resort to time travel to push them in the right direction for just an ounce of support. They all deserve to rot in this dark, claustrophobic hell.

---

“So you just let a human walk on by?” Muffet inquired in a sing-song voice, “That doesn’t seem much like the great caretaker at all!”

The two of them were sitting in her parlor, each on a lavish chair. A full tea set complete with baked goods sat on a low table between them, though Chara knew better than to partake in it. Spider legs stuck out of the scones like coarse hairs, and they couldn’t even imagine what the tea had been steeped with.

“Yes. Well.” Chara said, looking down at their lap, “There is not much I can do about it now.”

“Oh yes, I imagine the sweet thing is the new royal favorite, aren’t they?” Muffet’s fanged smile turned up in a mocking grin, “The queen has always had a soft spot for filthy little strays. You know that better than anyone, right, dearie?”

Chara bit back a retort. With time no longer under their control, they had to be careful while inside of her lair. It had been a week since they sealed the Ruins, and Muffet was the only person they had spoken to since. The crime lord wasn’t their first choice of confidant, of course, but she had been insisting on meeting and they knew better than to reject her invitation.

“I suppose so,” they responded softly.

Muffet giggled to herself, then suddenly reached for the plate of cookies between them. It was only after she grabbed a couple treats that Chara realized they had flinched when she moved. They tried to relax but the attempt only made them more tense.

“So, is that why you locked the exit? Had a bit of a falling out with the in-laws?”

“Something like that.” Chara frowned, “I’d rather not talk about it.”

“Oh of course, a lady like me wouldn’t dream of indulging in distasteful gossip! Instead, I have a business proposition~”

Chara straightened. In their current circumstance, they didn’t have much in the way of influence or leverage.

“How can I be of service?” they asked.

“I want to relocate,” Muffet paused to bite into one of her cookies. It sounded... crunchy. “You see, the Ruins are awfully drafty, and the cold isn’t good for my constitution. I was thinking about moving in the next year or so, but now that you’ve so... graciously sealed us all in here, I predict the traffic in my shop will be slowing down considerably.”

“Understood.” Chara nodded, “I will make an exception for you and open the d—”

“I wasn’t finished, Chara.” Muffet said, her voice lowering. There was a tense pause before she smiled again, “I want a limousine~”

“A—A what?” Chara asked, incredulous.

“A heated limousine that will chauffer my employees and I all the way to Hotland,” she gestured to the spiders that skittered between the tea cups, “A necessary luxury to ensure we make it safely through the biting cold of Snowdin. Should be a simple task for a monarch, correct?”

“Of course. Leave it to me.” Chara smiled, “Is that all?”

“Not much for business, are you, Chara?” Muffet smirked, “This is where you negotiate the terms of the agreement~”

“No need. I am happy to do this as a gesture of goodwill.” Chara outstretched their hand—it wasn’t trembling anymore, thankfully—and Muffet gave it a dainty shake.

Once Chara was safely out of Muffet’s lair, they heaved a sigh of relief. Somehow they had managed to leave in one piece despite Muffet’s attempts to bait them. Now they just had to figure out how to serve her outrageous demands. Chara fished their phone out of their pocket, dismissed several dozen missed calls and text notifications, and opened their address book. They were going to need to call in some discreet favors.

---

One month had passed since they sealed the Ruins. It wasn’t easy, but Chara managed to arrange for Muffet’s departure without alerting the Dreemurrs. Eventually, the royals found out the Ruins door had been briefly opened which led to a fresh barrage of calls, messages, and knocking on the resealed door, all of which Chara ignored, of course.

Chara walked the streets of Home late at night, the crystals in the ceiling sparkling above. They could feel the eyes of the monsters on them, but after weeks of Chara ignoring and scowling in return, the monsters had given up on approaching them. Wordlessly, they did their weekly shopping at the local market. As a member of the royal family, Chara had never needed to pay for any necessities, and it seemed the benefits even extended here. It was only fair compensation, of course. After all, Chara was still serving the undeserving monsters by patrolling the Ruins every day for human threats.

---

“Ugh, really?” Chara muttered. They were nearly done with their patrol, having reached the large trap of spikes that was circled with a moat. Chara pushed down on the edge of the spike panel’s pressure plate with their foot, but the spikes failed to retract completely, the deadly points standing out by a few inches. It wasn’t a good sign: the springs inside were starting to give out. And if the springs snapped while Chara was standing above it…

Chara shuddered. They had witnessed that messy result and they didn’t care to experience it first hand. Typically, Chara would order replacement parts and perform maintenance themself, but the machinist that created the pieces was in New Home. Unsealing the door again was out of the question.

“Of course this would happen now,” Chara grumbled. They moved their foot off the plate and the spikes shot back into place. How many more compressions would it tolerate before it broke? Before Frisk came to the Underground, Chara could risk it and undo any unpleasant accidents, but if the past five months were any indication, Frisk was not nearly as eager to manipulate time. In fact, time had been rolled back only two times since Chara let the child go.

It was inconceivable. How could Frisk resist the urge to erase the inevitable little mistakes that ruined every day? Embarrassing moments, broken tea cups, scraped knees… all could be fixed in an instant with the right application of their power. To have such power and yet choose to carry the weight of their failures—it defied reason.

More importantly, if Chara suffered a tragic accident while isolated here, no one would come to their rescue… whether through time manipulation or otherwise.

“Unfortunate.” Chara said to themself with a resigned sigh, “I will have to dismantle them. All of them.” They turned around and headed back home. While they didn’t have access to their machinist anymore, they did have a few hand tools and plenty of time.

---

Eight months had passed since Chara had let Frisk go. As they walked the path of the now defanged Ruins, they revised and repeated their old plan over and over. If they could just get one more soul to replace Frisk, they would have the seven required to break the barrier and purify the Surface. The only thing missing, of course, was a willing monster to absorb them.

They reached the end of their patrol: the entrance to the Underground for lost, unlucky humans. The chamber was empty, as it had been every day since Frisk fell in. Chara walked into the center of the room and stared up into the vacant darkness looming above. One hundred years had passed on the Surface and only eight humans had fallen in that time. How long would it take for another to arrive? Ten years? Thirty? Without the help of their powers Chara could very well die before seeing the next human soul.

Chara turned to leave, but did a double take as they glimpsed a glimmer of gold on the ground. They kneeled and pushed the grass aside to reveal a small yellow bud, barely beginning to open.

“It cannot be…” Chara breathed, “A Golden Flower?”

Golden Flowers were common on the Surface, but had no presence in the Underground. Chara was so sure of this that they had incorporated them into their original plan over 20 years ago. By requesting to see the wild flowers on their deathbed, Chara could ensure Asriel would cross the barrier with their corpse in tow.

Or at least, that was what should have happened.

Chara clenched their teeth at the bitter memory. It was the first of many perfect plans ruined by Asriel’s cowardice. The caretaker grasped the plant and ripped it out of the ground by the root.

Immediately, Chara felt a pang of regret. They stared down at the pathetic thing. Their favorite flower, somehow growing in this dark, sunless prison. When had it taken root? Did some seeds blow in from the Surface? Or were they brought in by a... passenger?

Chara shook their head. Regardless of how it was introduced to the Underground, it was now a part of the Ruins—their Ruins. It didn’t deserve to suffer for Asriel’s mistakes. Reflexively, Chara attempted to turn back time, but nothing happened.

With a sigh, they returned the flower to where it was and buried its roots back into the soil. The stem was bent and it wouldn’t stay upright, but weeds were resilient. With a little help, it might still make it.

---

Chara hesitated before their latest masterpiece, knife in hand. Resting on a serving plate was a beautiful, hand crafted chocolate ganache cake. Strawberries perched on top of the silky dark topping, and the intoxicating aroma filled the house. Somehow, even without their powers, it had turned out almost too perfect to eat.

Emphasis on "almost". Carefully, Chara slid the knife through the decadent construction and placed a slice on their plate. They paused to admire the moist cross section before sliding a fork through the end and taking a bite.

Absolute bliss.

"Not bad for a humble birthday cake," Chara said to themself. They were thirty-seven today. Chara looked across the dining table into the empty living room. The only sound was the fire crackling in the hearth, emitting heat for a one person abode. They wished this house wasn’t nearly identical to the one in New Home; the similarities made it too easy to imagine Toriel in her chair, Asgore in the kitchen, and Asriel leaning on the table with his elbows, big goofy grin on his face. The Dreemurrs loved birthdays, always spending weeks preparing for a large and lavish party.

This was the first birthday they had spent alone since they were thirteen. They had forgotten how miserable it could be.

Chara checked their phone. They had over one hundred notifications that had come in just today. They scrolled through to find the only contact that mattered: Asriel.

“Happy birthday, Chara!!” the message read, “Mom and Dad and I are thinking about you lots! We even got you a gift, so I hope we can give it to you one day! Wherever you are, take good care of yourself, okay?” A line of party and heart related emojis followed.

Chara read the message over and over. Asriel’s texts would always fill them with disgust and hatred, but not today. Instead Chara just felt… lonely. It was a pathetic, shameful feeling, but a true feeling nonetheless. Despite all the ways Asriel had disrespected them, Chara couldn’t hide from the fact that they missed him.

The caretaker allowed themself to vocalize a thought they had been pushing out of their mind for months. “Maybe…” Chara spoke, their soft voice breaking the quiet, “Maybe it is time to go home.”

They sighed, resigning themself. The eternal silent treatment was never a realistic plan, and while Asriel was the intended subject of the punishment, it was unpleasant to Chara, too. Scrolling up through his messages, Asriel had sent hundreds upon hundreds over the past year begging them to “just talk”. All had gone unanswered. The confusion and desperation in those messages were clear; he was perfectly primed for a reconciliation.

But Chara wanted more than reconciliation. More important than companionship was freedom. Freedom not just for undeserving monsters, but most importantly, freedom for themself.

“There is still a way,” Chara muttered to themself, “I simply… pushed Asriel too quickly. Asriel always responded better to a softer approach.” Chara stood, pacing.

“We will delay soul fusion until the end of my natural life. Nothing barbaric or tragic. My dying wish will be to live on within him. He cannot turn down my final request.”

Chara nodded, they could see it now. After a few decades, Chara would peacefully pass from their old, frail body into Asriel’s strong, youthful one, a benefit of his species’ long life span.

“Then we gather the rest of the souls. But not right away. Asriel will need some time to adjust to sharing a vessel with me. But he will with time. Perhaps even the child can be convinced to willingly donate their soul to the cause.” Even though Frisk wouldn’t be a child anymore, it was hard to imagine Frisk as anything but a meddling brat. Honestly, they’d probably still be a brat in thirty years.

“If not, that is... fine. The child can be suffered to live.” The decision was a reluctant one, but giving mercy to such an undeserving creature gave Chara a pleasant feeling of self-righteousness. After all, it didn’t really matter if Frisk lived or died. The important thing was purifying the Surface and breaking the barrier. One human would not make a difference.

“Yes. This will work.” A smile crept onto Chara’s face and their heart thrummed with excitement. They would return to Asriel, who would embrace them with utmost relief and joy. After all, absence makes the heart grow fonder, and Asriel had shown no signs of giving up on them.

Chara would enjoy a long life in the company of their loved ones until the day they would embrace their prophesied purpose as the Underground’s savior.

It would require patience, but their splendid utopia was once again within reach. They began planning their grand return.

chapter 10 // end

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[stargazer-sims]

44 - Kaji's New Friend (part one)

Kaji is happy.

He's been living with Félix and Davian for two whole weeks now, and he's learned so many new things and had so many new experiences that he's already lost count. But, he’s not really concerned about counting. All he knows is, he feels more comfortable and safe than he's ever felt before in his life, and he doesn't want to stop learning and having fun with his new family.

Today he's excited because he’s going to get to play with some babies. He’s going to meet a possible new friend, too; another polychromatic male. His name is Sri and he's Dr. Zira’s husband, and the babies are their twins, Kadan and Kia. Kaji is looking forward to getting to know them.

When Félix first mentioned the meeting, Kaji hadn’t wanted to do it. He’d been scared that Félix was just going to drop him off with strangers and not come back for a long time. Sixamish strangers, no less, and what if they did something bad to him? The thought of that had made him panic, and it’d taken a lot of cuddling and reassurance and also a small bowl of ice cream to calm him down.

Snuggled next to Félix on the sofa and wrapped in his favourite blanket, his belly comfortably full of ice cream, he listened while Félix explained what would take place. Kaji would come with Félix and Davian to their support group, and Sri and the babies would come with Dr. Zira. While everyone else was in the peer support meeting, Kaji and Sri and the babies would have a special room all to themselves where they could play and talk. Félix wouldn’t be far away, and if Kaji got scared, he’d be able to reach him easily.

Kaji is glad to know Félix will only be down the hall, and that it won’t be anything like the time he went to the mysterious dentist. Kaji had stayed with Félix’s friends Artie and Emma that evening. He’d been worried the whole time because he didn’t really understand why he couldn’t go, since Félix brings him everywhere else. Artie and Emma are nice, and he'd had fun with Artie, drawing pictures and learning how to build things with LEGO bricks, but he was very relieved when Félix finally came to collect him. He doesn't like being apart from Félix, and he's always afraid something terrible will happen if either Félix or Davian isn't nearby to protect him.

Davian says he thinks Kaji has something called separation anxiety, and maybe it's true. He always feels anxious when he and his Earth parents are separated.

But, he doesn't have to worry about that today, because right now they're all together in Félix’s orange car, on the way to the clinic. Davian is driving. Kaji can hardly stay still in the back seat, and he keeps leaning forward so he can talk to Félix.

“Félix, I’m going to tell Dr. Zira that I got dressed all by myself today,” he says. “Do you think she’d like to know that?”

“I’m sure she would,” Félix says.

“And I have to tell her I started using a fork, but I’m not very good at it and I accidentally stabbed my chin, but I really like carrot salad even though I hurt myself eating it. Oh… and I have to tell her that we painted my room! And when I see Artie, I have to tell him that I got a bed with a ladder. He said he used to have one.”

Félix laughs. “You certainly have a lot of news, don't you?"

“I do!” Kaji agrees. “It’s because I like my life now, and a lot of good things are happening to me. Like bubble baths and movie night.”

"We're going to build your bed when we get home from our meeting," Davian tells him. "You can sleep in it tonight."

“Okay,” Kaji says. “You and Félix are still going to tuck me in, right?”

“Right.”

“And Félix has to sing me the star song.”

“Of course,” says Félix. “That’s part of our bedtime routine now.”

“Do you know why I picked a bed with a ladder?” Kaji says.

“Why?” asks Félix.

“So monsters can’t hide under it. Not like the camp bed.”

“Yeah, we’ve had a pretty serious bed monster problem with that one,” says Davian.

“Luckily, you’re good at chasing them away,” Félix says. “Do you think we’ll be able to put Kaji’s new bed together by ourselves?"

"How hard can it be?" Davian inquires. "We assembled the crib by ourselves, didn’t we? Besides, it comes with with instructions, and they’re probably in English. Anyway, I was chatting with Zahir earlier in the week, and he said he'd come over and give us a hand if we can't figure it out."

"Speaking of Zahir, did he happen to say how Dylan is doing? We usually keep in touch, but for the last few days he hasn't been on the group chat and he hasn't replied to any of my texts."

"Yeah, I noticed Dylan hasn't been on the group chat," says Davian. "It's weird, because usually he and Tae are on there constantly.”

“I hope he’s all right.”

“Zahir didn't say anything, but maybe it's something he didn't feel like talking about with me. I mean, it's not like we're best friends or anything. If he was gonna tell anybody about his and Dylan's private stuff, it'd probably be Emma or Sunny. He gives off a serious 'gay best friend' vibe around them."

Félix looks amused. "He does, now that you mention it. Particularly with Emma. It was the fact that Artie didn't seem the slightest bit bothered when Emma and Zahir hugged each other that made me notice it, actually. I don't think you or I would get the same result if we hugged her."

"Because you gotta be legitimately gay to be the gay best friend," says Davian. "If you're a guy who's also into women and nonbinary folks, it doesn't work. Plus, I'd be super jealous if you started hugging other people."

"What about me?" Kaji says. "Félix hugs me all the time, and he hugged Auntie Sophie."

"That's different," says Davian. "He's allowed to hug you and Sophie all he wants. I'm talking about people who aren't members of our family."

Kaji smiles. "I like being a member of your family. You're nicer than my other family."

"We're glad you like being a part of our family," Félix says. "We like having you."

"Yeah," Davian adds. "I wasn't too sure about you at first, but you haven't tried to scramble my brain or anything, so it's all good."

"We can't do that, Davian," Kaji says. "It's just a made-up story from bad Earth films."

"Are you sure?" Davian asks, but Kaji can tell from his tone of voice that he's teasing him, so he's not worried.

"Sometimes I can make you feel what I'm feeling, but I can't feel what you're feeling, and I can't do anything bad to your brain."

"Yeah, I think I've experienced you making me feel what you're feeling," Davian says.

"I only do it when I get really scared," Kaji says. "I always try hard not to, but I don't know how to control it. Adults are supposed to be able to control it, but I think someone has to teach them."

"Maybe that's something Sri will be able to teach you," Félix suggests. "Not today, perhaps, but when the two of you get to know each other a little better, maybe you can ask him to help you."

"Maybe," Kaji says. "Do you think he's going to like me?"

"i don't see why he wouldn't," says Félix. "You're very likeable."

"Your friend Tae doesn't like me."

"I'm not sure why."

Kaji thinks he knows why. It's probably the same reason why most monochromatic males don't like males such as him. They're jealous because polychromatic males are prettier and more valuable than them and that they generally get treated better by females and have more comfortable lives.

But, it's not always true. Of course Kaji knows he's soft and graceful and extraordinarily pretty, and it's understandable that a big, ugly, clumsy male like Tae would be envious of his delicate beauty, but he has also come to realize that being a polychromatic male doesn't always guarantee a life of luxury and protection. Maybe Tae doesn't understand that, though. Perhaps he thinks Kaji is just a lazy, useless ornamental possession of some important female, and he doesn't comprehend why Kaji would choose to run away.

He wonders if Sri will understand. Sri is polychromatic, so maybe he will. Or maybe he'll turn out to be like the vain, empty-headed boys from Kaji's former class at the educational facility, who seemed to think of nothing more than making themselves attractive to rich and powerful females who could give them everything they wanted.

Kaji pokes at his lower lip with one of his pointed front teeth. "Do you think I'll like Sri?" he asks tentatively.

Félix turns slightly in his seat so he can glance back at him. "I can't answer that," he says. "The only way to know is to meet him."

Kaji nods. Of course Félix is right. Some things can't be predicted, only determined by experience. The problem is, not being able to predict exactly what'll happen is scary.

He's quiet on the remainder of the ride. By the time they arrive, he's still excited, but he's also a little nervous. He really wants things to go well. He hopes Sri will become his friend, but more than anything, he wants to be able to trust him like he trusts Félix and Davian.

Unfortunately, he's learned that he needs to be wary of males from his world. Every Sixamish male he’s met on Earth so far has either been someone who didn’t like him or someone he didn’t like because they were rude and mean and wouldn’t help him. On his own world, it had been much the same, and he’s discovered that even males who are nice to him can’t always be trusted.

Aside from his baby brothers and one of the servants, the only Sixamish male he knows who’s never harmed him in some way is his father. He’d tried to protect Kaji, and had only gotten hurt himself when Mother got angry at him for disagreeing with her about giving Kaji to the ambassador.

Kaji tries to convince himself that Sri will be like his father; that he’ll be kind and gentle, and beautiful on the inside as well as the outside. He tells himself Sri must be like that. After all, Felix wouldn't arrange for him to meet someone cruel or dangerous, would he? And he doubts Dr. Zira would bond with someone untrustworthy. Maybe it'll be all right.

He'll have to be careful, but he's still going to try to stay optimistic.

[writethelifeyouwant]

Come On

Pairing: Cordell x Reader 

Rating: 18+

Tags: Daddy kink, dom/sub, punishment scene, age difference, secret relationship 

Word Count: 3.2k 

Created for: @walker-bingo - Spanking | @anyfandomgoesbingo - Lingerie

Dividers: @firefly-graphics 

Your phone vibrates on your desk, the sudden noise nearly making you stab yourself in the eye with your mascara wand. You glance down and see Cordell’s face flashing on the screen, and you smile, accepting the call and hitting ‘speaker’. 

“Hey there,” you chirp as you return to doing your makeup. 

“Hi,” the smile in Cordell’s voice is audible. “So, I just heard from Stella that you’re coming over soon? Why didn’t you tell me I’d get to see you today?” 

“I wanted it to be a surprise,” you giggle. Of course, you hadn’t told Stella that you were trying to surprise her dad by showing up unannounced, so it’s not her fault that she ruined your plan. You felt bad sometimes, keeping your relationship with Cordell secret from your best friend, but how are you supposed to tell someone that you slept with their dad – and that you plan to keep doing it? Plus, Cordell had been very insistent that no one could know about your relationship, so you couldn’t betray his trust by telling his daughter what you two had been up to for the past few months. The secrecy just made it hotter most of the time anyways, so you didn’t mind the sneaking around. 

“Well, I’m glad I get to see you tonight, baby girl.” The register of Cordell’s voice drops when he says your nickname, and you shiver pleasantly. 

“I can’t wait to see you either, Daddy,” you smile, smacking your lips together as you put the finishing touches on your lipstick and smile at your reflection in the mirror. 

“Do I get a sneak peek at your dress?” Cordell asks. You’d sent him an excited text from the store when you’d finally found the perfect outfit for your graduation dance at school, but you hadn’t let him see it yet. You pick your phone up and carry it to the closet where your dress is hanging on the back of the door, and you snap a quick photo of the corner of the bodice, so he can get a look at the deep, jewel tone colour of the lace. 

“Sent you a pic,” you call down the receiver of the phone as you set it down to pull on your stockings. You fasten the stockings to your suspender belt as you wait for Cordell’s reaction, and you tug the bustier you’re wearing back into place once you have everything on and clipped together. 

“You know how much I like lace on you, baby girl.” You smirk in satisfaction-- that’s precisely why you’d chosen this dress. “I bet it will look beautiful on you.” 

“Do you want to see what else I’m wearing tonight, Daddy?” You keep your voice innocent and coy, knowing he’ll take the bait. 

“Of course I do, darlin’. You know the rules, I always get a picture if you wear one of the things I picked out for you.” You smile wickedly as you arrange yourself in the mirror to show off the new lingerie that you’d bought especially for this night. Cordell is going to love it, but he isn’t going to be pleased with you when he sees it. The two of you have rules. He gets to pick out all of the lingerie you buy, and any time you wear it you have to send him a photo of you in it. Cordell didn’t pick out the set you’re wearing now, so you know you’re going to be in trouble with him later when you get to Stella’s house – and you can’t wait. 

You pose yourself in the mirror to highlight your curves, which are wrapped in glittering lace and ribbon details, and push your hand into your hair to muss it up for the picture. You take a few and pick one you’re happy with, sending it to Cordell with the caption ‘can’t wait until you get your hands on me in this 😉’. Then you sit back on your bed and wait for Cordell to receive the text. 

“Did you get it, Daddy?” You ask when he’s silent for a few moments. 

“Is that some new underwear, baby girl?” Cordell asks measuredly. 

“Uh-huh,” you giggle. 

“I don’t remember picking that out for you, angel,” Cordell’s voice drops in pitch, growing threatening, and you smile widely. 

“It was another surprise for you, Daddy,” you answer innocently, acting like you didn’t notice the change in Cordell’s tone just then. 

“I hope you were about ready to leave, baby girl, because I expect you here in 20 minutes. If you’re late, there will be an extra punishment, do you understand?” 

“Yes, Daddy,” your voice has climbed higher in excitement. 

“Good.” Cordell ends the call without a goodbye, and you know you’re in for it now. 

You ring the old iron bell on the porch by their front door when you arrive, with just a minute and a half to spare. Cordell opens the door with a friendly smile and ushers you into the kitchen with a call behind his back of – “Stella! Y/N is here!” – before turning back to you and giving you a quick hug. 

“Hey Mr. Walker,” you smirk, knowing it drives him crazy when you call him that. He rolls his eyes at you but smiles – from how he’s acting now you’d never know that he’s about to punish you for breaking his rules. 

“Come on, do a little twirl for me darlin’,” Cordell spins his finger through the air and you whirl around on your toes, demonstrating the movement of your dress. The hem flips up as you spin, showing off the slightest hint of lace and the tops of the stockings that you’d teased him with earlier in your photos. “You look beautiful, Y/N,” his eyes soften as he looks you up and down, admiring the dress, and you in it. 

“Thanks,” you blush, tucking a stray hair behind your ear. It astonishes you that he can still make you feel butterflies like this, just by saying something so simple. The sound of a door from the hall draws your attention and you look up to see Stella running into the kitchen, still in her bathrobe. 

“Y/N, you look so awesome!” Stella squeals and gives you a big hug. “You’re early, I wasn’t expecting you for another hour,” she laughs exasperatedly. 

“Well you know me,” you shrug, “I got impatient,” you giggle, your eyes flashing to Cordell, who smirks at you behind Stella’s back. He knows just how impatient you can be sometimes.  

“I’m still doing my hair, come hang out in my room,” Stella pulls you along behind her. 

“Yeah of course, but can I use your bathroom first?” 

“August is taking a shower, but he should be done soon,” Stella says. 

“You can use the one in my room,” Cordell offers, like you knew he would. “Here, I’ll show ya.” He moves in front of you and Stella, and beckons you down the hall after him. 

“Thanks, Mr. Walker,” you smile, and follow him to the master bedroom at the end of the hall. Once inside, he shuts the door quietly behind you and his demeanor instantly changes. 

“So,” Cordell gives you a tight lipped smile, his eyes darkening as they once again rake up and down your body, but this time he lets the hunger seep through. 

“Sooo,” you draw out the word, moving closer to him and swirling your skirt around your legs as you go. 

“Someone decided to break one of our rules, hmm?” He crosses his arms over his chest and looks down at you stonily. 

“I just thought you’d like it Daddy,” you pout up at him. “I know how much you like me in lace, and I wanted to look pretty for you.” You press your hands against his chest and flutter your lashes, but you know this innocent act isn’t going to get you any mercy. 

“You look very pretty in it, but that’s not the point baby girl. We have rules for a reason.” Cordell smiles at you sympathetically and reaches out to rub his hands up and down your arms in a comforting gesture. The heat of his skin against yours makes you shudder, and you let him draw you closer to him. “So you know I’m gonna have to punish you now, yeah?” 

“I know, Daddy,” you nod meekly. 

“But you’re gonna have to stay real quiet, so Stels and August don’t hear us. Can you do that for me?” he checks. 

“I can be quiet, Daddy.”

“Okay, good girl,” Cordell smiles and lets you go, moving to sit on the edge of his bed. “Come on,” he twirls his finger in the air and pats his knee, and you go willingly, acting penitent but secretly loving this inside. You drape yourself over his lap, your ass in the air right over his groin, and you can feel the stirrings of his arousal beneath you. He flips the hem of your dress up, revealing the offending lace panties that had gotten you into trouble in the first place. His hands run over your thighs, pinging the suspenders against your skin and making you jump a little against him. “Easy, baby,” he soothes, chuckling. “So, how many do you think you deserve for breaking the rules this time?” 

“I don’t know, Daddy,” you squirm. As much as you love to provoke Cordell, and get him to punish you, you’re never good at this part. You hate how he essentially makes you ask for what you want done to you, which is exactly why he does it. 

“Well, it is your graduation dance tonight, so maybe I can go a little easy on you. Should we say ten, baby girl?” 

“Okay, Daddy,” you nod into your arms, which are holding you up on the mattress. 

“Alright then, count them off for me baby.” And without any more preamble Cordell brings his palm down firmly against your right asscheek. You gasp at the sting, wriggling on his lap. 

“One,” you say quietly, pressing your head against your arms and bracing for the next hit. It comes swiftly, his hand smacking your left side. “Two.” You can feel yourself getting wet now, and you know Cordell must be able to see the moisture seeping through the lace between your legs. The embarrassment at that thought makes you squirm even more, turned on by the humiliation that you like your punishments this much. 

Hits three and four come hard and fast, not even giving you time to count between them. Cordell’s big hand rubs across your skin to soothe you, and he gives you a moment to breathe before he doles out hits five and six – each harder than the last. Now you can feel the slick starting to drip down the crease of your thigh, and Cordell notices too, because he reaches out and draws a finger through the trail that’s winding its way across your skin. 

“What’s this, baby girl?” he coos from above you. 

“N-nothing, Daddy,” you stutter. 

“What a little slut, getting all wet for Daddy while he’s spanking you. You really are a bad girl, aren’t you baby?”

“No,” you protest quickly. “No, Daddy, I’m good, I promise.” You have to be good during your punishments, or else you won’t get your reward after. 

“Yeah? You’re a good girl?” Cordell teases his finger below the lace between your legs, brushing his fingertip through your folds, and pushing lightly against your entrance. 

“Yes, I’m a good girl, Daddy,” you whine, pushing your hips back against his finger. “Your good girl Daddy, please.” 

“Please what, baby?” 

“Please keep punishing me, Daddy,” you push your ass towards his hand, moaning when he digs his fingers into your flesh. 

“Alright baby, just four more for me, you’re doing really good.” You smile to yourself as you count seven and eight, pushing your hips back into the harsh contact each time, relishing in the heat that blooms in the wake of each slap. 

“Spread your legs a little for me baby girl,” Cordell pushes at your thighs, moving them apart himself. You let him position you how he wants, following the pressure he puts on your lower back and sticking your hips farther back, exposing the visible wet spot between your legs to the open air. A harsh strike lands directly over your pussy and you cry out briefly before you remember to muffle your voice against your skin. 

“N-nine,” you gasp, your pussy throbbing beneath Cordell’s hand, which is rubbing between your legs to soothe the burn it had just caused. 

“Keep quiet f’me, baby,” Cordell breathes, and you can hear how worked up he’s getting just from punishing you. You’re glad that at least you’re not the only one. 

He lands one more cruel spank over your pussy and you bite on your forearm to keep from crying out, whimpering a quiet “ten” into your skin as you squirm in is his lap, trying to press your hips into his fingers, which are brushing lightly over the sopping lace covering your core. He lets you press into him, rewarding you by dragging his fingers up to your clit and running a few teasing circles over the little bundle of nerves. 

“Did so good for me, baby girl,” Cordell whispers gruffly, stroking more earnestly as he teases you through your underwear. 

“Thank you, Daddy,” you whimper softly, thrusting needily against his fingers, trying to get more friction against your aching core. “Please Daddy, please,” you beg, not even able to conjure the words for what you need, you’re too desperate. All your brain can think is please, need something, need more. 

“Okay baby, c’mere,” Cordell manoeuvres you off of his lap and you stand on shaky legs before you lean against the nearby dresser for support. Cordell stands and follows you, undoing his belt and zipper, and pulling his hard cock out of his boxers. Your mouth always waters when you see it, and right now is no different. If you had more time you’d drop to your knees and suck him down – you love the ache you get in your jaw every time he fucks your mouth – but right now you both have a different goal in mind. 

Cordell lifts you and sets you on top of his dresser, so he can reach your mouth easier, and kisses you deeply. You moan against his lips, letting your tongues tangle together and reaching up to run your fingers through his hair, tugging on it gently and giggling when he lets out a groan and bites at your lip. He runs his hands down your back and scooches you to the edge of the dresser, grabbing his dick to rub the tip against your centre, pushing your panties to the side as he does, so he can press into your entrance. 

When he pushes in, oh so slowly, you have to bite into his shoulder to keep from moaning too loudly. He fills you so completely, it feels like every nerve between your legs is on fire, and you would happily burn in the flames. Cordell gives a few shallow thrusts, probably not wanting to move too quickly and accidentally hurt you, but the dresser thumps against the wall with each movement, and he stills again, needing to keep quiet. In a flash, he’s hooked his arms around your back and lifted you up in the air. You wrap your legs around his waist, locking him inside you as he moves the pair of you to the wall, pressing you against it for support and shifting his hands to grip your ass and hold you up. 

Slowly, he pulls out and pistons back in, testing how quiet your new position is. Satisfied that you can be sufficiently sneaky this way, he starts to pick up the pace of his thrusting, and this position has his hips dragging across your clit with every press forward. You bury your head against his shoulder and bunch your hands in his shirt. You’re just along for the ride at this point, letting him use your body to chase his own release, and you can tell he’s close when his thrusts get quicker, messier. He bends his knees a little to change angles and get a better grip on you, and on the next thrust in his cock drags right over that sweet spot inside you and you can’t hold in the whimper of “Daddy” against his neck. 

“Yeah, that’s it baby girl,” Cordell breathes against your ear, bucking his hips into you faster and faster, and you can feel your pussy start to twitch around his length, desperate to reach your peak. “I can feel how close you are baby, your little pussy feels so good squeezing around Daddy’s cock like that. C’mon and come for me baby girl, come for Daddy.” He ducks in to swallow your whines in a bruising kiss, and you let yourself come undone around him as he kisses you through it, drinking in your moans and letting them spur him on.

 As you come down, and feel yourself start to loosen around him, losing the strength in your limbs to keep yourself locked in place, you feel Cordell’s movements quicken, becoming jerky and erratic, and then they still as he holds himself inside you, grunting through his own release as he buries his head into the crook of your neck. When he’s finished, he slowly drags his head away from your shoulder and pulls out of you. Immediately, you feel his release start to drip from your entrance but Cordell pulls your panties back into place to catch the cum that’s leaking out of you now. The thought of going to this dance with his cum pooling in your new panties is deliciously wrong, and you love how dirty it makes you feel. 

“Thank you, Daddy,” you smile up at him, and pull him down for another kiss. “I promise I’ll be good from now on.” Cordell scoffs, good naturedly but completely disbelieving. 

“Now, we both know that’s not true, don’t we?” he smirks down at you. 

“Well…” you muse with a teasing smile. 

“Yeah,” Cordell laughs derisively and places a short kiss against your forehead. “That’s what I thought.” He swats at your ass and pushes you towards the door to the bathroom in the corner of his bedroom. “Now, go clean yourself up and get out of here. Have a good time at your dance tonight.” You smile and nod, heading for the bathroom. “And, Y/N?” You turn and look back at Cordell, leaning against the dresser and watching you with a smirk. “You know the rules – I better get a few more pictures of you in those panties while you’re out later. I wanna see what a mess I made of my baby girl.” 

You grin, squeezing your legs together and feeling his slick pressing against your core. “Of course Daddy,” you smile. “You know me, I always follow the rules.”

Tag List: @vulgar-library @tintentrinkerin @negans-lucille-tblr @fandomfic-galore @petitgateau911 @whoreforackles @schaefchenherde @kickingitwithkirk @little-diable @laxe-chester67 @kassyscarlett @sonofslaanesh69 @lovealways-j @delightfullykrispypeach @stoneyggirl @walkersbabygirl @austin-winchester67 @sams-sass​

[sarahjtv]

BNHA Chapter 327 Spoiler Analysis: Home Sweet Home

OH MY GOD, GUYS!!!  DEKU GETS A BATH!!!! 🎉🛁 🧼   My broccoli boy finally gets squeaky clean, gets some sleep, and we finally get some R&R time with the Class 1-A kids.  It’s not close to the happy-go-lucky days of old, but it’s some time with the kids nonetheless.  I’m glad Horikoshi put some heart and humor in this chapter because god knows we needed it.  But, let’s be real, this is the calm before the storm:

The chapter starts off with what everyone and Horikoshi has been wanting for Deku since he went on his mission: A motherfuckin’ bath 🛀 🧼🛁!   Kaminiari and Kirishima lead the Class 1-A boys to carry Deku into their side of the UA Alliance bathhouse (looks real nice btw) and give him a good power-wash.  The whole sequence is very comical!  The boys are rushing in and poor Deku has this O_O face on him like “what is happening?” 😂 We also see some of the boys butt naked 😳  It’s clear that Horikoshi had fun drawing this thing and it was fun to read 💚

Bakugo is with them of course and you can actually see his scars from when Shigaraki stabbed him.  He’s not bleeding, but you can see those scar patches on his skin.  I’m curious of how fan artist are going to draw him from now on.  I would like to see that fan art 👀

There’s also some bubble sfx coving Bakugo’s crotch and a translator said it might say dick or penis.  I’m curious what the officials will say.

But, Bakugo being Bakugo is still aggressive towards his classmates.  More playfully than before, but still.  He reminds everyone that he still intends on being the best there is and that everyone is still his rivals (also friends, Bakugo).  HE EVEN MAKES AN ATTEMPT TO CALL DEKU IZUKU!  LIKE HE ALMOST SAID “DEKU” BUT HE CHANGED IT TO IZUKU AT THE LAST MINUTE!  AND DEKU SAYS THAT CALLING HIM DEKU IS JUST FINE LIKE THAT ANGER THAT ORIGINATED FROM THE NICKNAME ISN’T THERE ANYMORE AND IT’S A FREINDLY NICKNAME BKDK FRIENDSHIP GROWTH YOU LOVE TO SEE IT 🧡💚  

After Deku’s bath, he’s sitting in the commons talking to the rest of Class 1-A.  Well, most of them.  Mina tells Deku that Ochako and a few other students went to bed after everything became ok again.  So, I definitely didn’t see Tsuyu, and it looks like Shoji, Aoyama, and Hagakare weren’t in this chapter either.  Ochako I understand; her speech must’ve been emotionally taxing.  Aoyama and Hagakare are the top suspects for being the traitor in the fandom and this isn’t helping their cases.  I don’t know about Tsuyu and Shoji though.  They’re both mutant-types, but characters like Ojiro or mutant-like people like Jiro, Mina or Tokoyami didn’t get outcasted.  Horikoshi did hint that Shoji would be getting something soon.  But, I really am just speculating here.

Now that Deku’s back, everyone has questions for him.  Though I understand why, this has gotta be overwhelming for Deku.  At least they’re not mad at him for hiding OFA.  They seem very understanding actually.

Then my ❄️🔥 boy, Shoto Todoroki, comes in all handsome right out of the baths 💙  He’s drying his right side while you can see a steam cloud on his left.  So, it is canon that Shoto drys himself naturally with his heat. His entrance is so pretty that even Mineta’s questioning it (shut up, Mineta, you’ll never be as beautiful as him).  And yes, I might be a Shoto simp, don’t judge me I see y’all too 👀

Anyway, Shoto asks everyone to let Deku sleep since that was pretty much the whole reason they brought him back.  Problem is, Deku can’t because he really needs to apologize to All Might for abandoning him.  AND AFTER HE SAYS THAT THERE’S A DETAILED PANEL OF SHOTO POINTING TO ALL MIGHT LIKE “UH, MIDORIYA? HE’S RIGHT THERE” AND ALL MIGHT LOOKING FROM THE WINDOW LIKE A HORROR VILLAIN WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE 😭

All Might comes in and apologizes to Deku for not being able to support him when he needed it, but Deku says that All Might support him more than enough.  Mina also scolds All Might for not saying anything when he left.  She wants All Might to apologize to everyone for that.  Though I’m glad Deku and All Might have reconciled (I honestly thought that last convo between them was going to be THE LAST for a hot minute), Mina has a point.  All Might did bail on all of them without any warning.  Kinda messed up in general.

All Might apologizes and he is going to fight with everyone regardless of his physical state so that he can see that flame continue to shine.  However, he warns the kids that they got info on the villains and that the final decisive battle is coming soon.  If the whole “Final Arc” thing hasn’t been hammered into your head, there you go.  I’m also glad that Stain’s speech did end up motivating All Might further.  Who knew?

So, All Might is off to help Endeavor since he’s got unfinished business to take care of.  But, the kids are wondering why Endeavor (and probably Hawks) isn’t entering UA entirely yet.  Shot reminds them that Endeavor is still connected to Dabi and that his presence alone would cause more discourse.  People’s minds can’t change that easily.  Shoto of all people would know.  

As Deku FINALLY SLEEPS 💤 and Shoto puts a blanket over him (possibly warmed by his left side 🔥) 💙💚 Shoto acknowledges how his presence might be making people anxious too even though it’s not his fault at all (thank you, Kirishima for doubling down on this btw ❤️🪨).  But, things are different and Shoto’s going to show that so that everyone can be at ease like he wants as a hero.  There’s even this sweet small smile on his beautiful face as he says this.  He’s grown so much and he’s pretty to boot I love him so much *HANDS IN FACE* 💙❄️🔥 

EVEN KIRISHIMA’S CRYING FROM HOW MANLY SHOTO IS I LOVE THESE KIDS!!!!

And now Jiro steps up and says her piece.  That she knows how hard it is to convince everyone to change their minds for the better.  Like with those two critics from the Culture Fest.  Even so, they accomplished this before, so she thinks they can do it again.  She even gathers all the band members to emphasize on this.  I love how Jiro uses her earphone jacks to rally the band and how she literally drags Bakugo by the shirt for a cute group shot.  None of these kids are afraid of Bakugo anymore LOL 😂!  Also, Momo is the tallest out of all of them in this line up shot (except for Bakugo who’s still being dragged on the ground).  I think she’s roughly 5ft 6-7 inches?  She’s the tallest of the girls I know that, but damn.  She towers all of them.  Even me...  She’s also very pretty in this shot and it’s her birthday as I’m posting this, so happy b-day Momo ❤️

And we get a beautiful panel of Jiro leading everyone to make sure that they’ll go beyond with making everything better than it was before.  We get a nice group shot of the rest of the class agreeing with her with a smile including Shoto with a small one (did I mention that I love him?) 💙💙💙 And Deku’s in the center still sleeping away.  I hope he has good dreams *kisses forehead*💚  And go Jiro for stepping up to the plate too 💜!  All these kids have grown so much.  There is a light at the end of the tunnel. 

Finally, the last pages show Endeavor, Hawks, and Best Jeanist going somewhere, maybe Tartarus.  They got info out of Dr. Ujiko via polygraph and the Nomu Research Group at Central Hospital.  They predict that they have 2 months until Shigaraki’s ready to go again, so they’ll need 1 month of preparation.  But, the info Stain gave All Might gave them more info.  His letter ended up being a personal letter to All Might (Stain really is that nuts...), but there was a microchip in the blade Stain left containing the security records from Tartarus.  It’s not stated how this info affected the mission at hand, but it sounds like it has to do something with the time frame.  So, I’m curious if they have less time to prepare or more?  Given how this is the Final Arc, Imma say less.

Finally, the teaser asks “How are the villains moving?”  I wonder if that means we’re switching to the villain’s next week.  I would love to hang out with the kids more, but I would also like to know what our villains are up to.  Like, where the hell is Himiko Toga?  Is Spinner still questioning shit?  What happened to Mr. Compress after he mauled himself to help Shigaraki and the others escape?  Also I think we need more info on this dude’s backstory given he’s the grandson of the famous Robin Hood villain who’s name definitely didn’t escape me... 😐  Is Dabi laughing his ass off from the utter chaos he started?  Is AFO still smiling like the evil mastermind he is?  Is Shigaraki as crispy as he was earlier?  I was going to ask about Twice but... 😭

So, yeah!  Love this chapter.  Really good transition chapter into whatever happens next.  I’m kinda sad we didn’t see Deku fight off more past villains during his vigilante days.  We got Muscular and Overhaul and I think that’s it?  Didn’t see any of Overhaul’s minions or that teeth-blade villain (Fish-something?; he broke out, but we haven’t seen him since) or Re-Destro or his goons.  I don’t count as Gentle or LaBrava as villains anymore and they were never truly evil to begin with.  Regardless, it was a really cool arc to see a more dark side of Deku.  I’m really glad Horikoshi made great use of his bunny hood and metal mask finally.  Deku really did look demonic for some time.  Also, seeing Deku badass is always a plus.  And seeing the deconstruction of hero society and the possible reconstruction of it was really good too.  Not everything is sunshine and rainbows, unfortunately, but we can do our best to make it that way.

I’m also glad that we finally got our kids back in top form.  Not just being heroes, but being teenagers too.  They all had great moments especially Iida, Ochako, and now Shoto as they should.  But, Bakugo’s apology was peak for me.  Over 320 chapters of development and build-up lead to that moment and it really is one of the best in the series.  It lives in my head rent free.

So, we got 1-2 months in-manga-time until what is probably the final battle of the series.  God, I can’t believe we’re actually nearing the end of this series.  I started reading it back in 2018 when shit was rough for me. I found this series after listening to the music and reading the hype around it.  I watched the show then I read the manga and it really helped me.  Saved me from a dark place actually.  I will miss this series when it’s done and I will be greatly for the joy Horikoshi has gifted us.  I’ll try to save the farewells for later.  I’d say this series has at least 1-1 1/2 years to go.

Me @ the kids and All Might:

[floral-and-fine]

Linger Part 2

Beorn x female reader

Part 1

Summary: Beorn worries about the reader’s safety shortly after meeting her and the company.

A/n: Thinking about writing a third part. Sorry, this took so long. Thank you @luna-xial​ for helping me stay motivated!

The woods had been abnormally quiet lately, the air was still and all the woodland creatures appeared to be in hiding, there was no rustling in the trees and all the birds had stopped singing. 

Beorn hadn’t encountered any orcs either nor seen any sign of them for the last several nights now. However, he continued his patrols, making his rounds, keeping an eye out for any clue that would hint at what the orcs were planning. Their absence was an eerie one, a sign that something terrible was going to happen. 

Beorn wasn’t a fool, he knew their disappearance coinciding with the dwarves retaking their home was anything but a coincidence. 

He knew their little venture was a risky one, especially with Azog's interest in Thorin. No telling how far the orc would go to end the Durin line. 

He growled, wrinkling his snout as he prowled through the forest on all fours, the idea of you getting caught in the crossfire between Azog and the dwarves, angered him. He feared the worst would happen to you as a result of it. 

Beorn had, on occasion since your departure, imagined what it would’ve been like if you had stayed. What it would be like to have your company in the evening, your presence nearby as he worked, to be able to listen to you talk and laugh. 

He had been without companionship for so long, after the pain of losing his people, he avoided anyone other than his animals. Who would've guessed had become so lonely? That deep down he longed to be close to someone again?

As Beorn traveled to higher ground, he froze when he realized that in the distance a massive army of Orcs was marching towards the lonely mountain. With an army of that size, there would surely be a massacre. 

His choice seemed clear at this point, he would need to travel quickly to the Lonely Mountain if he was going to be of any help. 

…

Beorn staggered forward, his body shifting from bear to man. He fell to the ground, barely able to hold himself upon his hands, groaning as every bone in his body changed shape and readjusted position. 

The battle had been chaos, Beorn and the eagles arrived just moments after the orcs struck. Without hesitation he had joined the fight, biting and clawing his way through, while keeping a hopeful eye out for you. However, there had been no sign of you with the dwarves. 

Once the fighting had finally ended, and the remaining orcs had fled, Beorn resumed his search, even fiercer than before. 

Getting back on his feet, he grabbed a discarded banner and wrapped it around his hips, and held it up with his left hand.  Men and elves gawked over his size, watching as he stumbled towards the camps. 

His bones and muscles ached from transforming in such quick succession, his energy drained from fighting, but he was desperate to find you. 

Beorn pressed on, limping forward, passing by nameless faces belonging to men, elves, and dwarves. His eyes searching for any sign of you. Many thoughts crossed his mind, should he remain hopeful that he’d find you alive and well or brace himself for the worst should he find you dead or not at all?

“Y/n,” he called from the center of the camp, his eyes darting back and forth. 

Tilda, Bard’s youngest, spotted the giant man calling for you. Too intimidated to approach him herself, she decided to find you for him instead.

She quickly made her way around the tents and rumble of the old city, finally finding you speaking with her father. 

“Y/n,” she said, tugging on your sleeve drawing your attention away from Bard. 

“Yes?” You chirped. 

“Someone’s looking for you.”

You furrowed your brow, “Who is?”

She shrugged, “no idea, never seen anyone like him.”

Filled with curiosity, you followed Tilda. You had no clue as to who would come looking for you, you had already seen the company. 

You stopped dead in your tracks upon seeing a very bewildered and naked Beorn calling out for you. 

Beorn?” You shouted, still utterly surprised to see the skin-changer here of all places.

He spun around and the moment he saw you alive and well, he collapsed to his knees. Without thinking, you rushed to his side and knelt down beside him. 

“Are you alright?” He asked immediately, his large hand cupping your cheek.

“I’m fine,” you shook your head with a small smile. “it’s you who needs tending to.” You looked behind you towards your tent, then back to Beorn, “Are you able to walk?”

He nodded, wincing as he rose to his feet. You guided him forward towards your tent and helped him settle down on the blankets. 

“You weren’t you with the dwarves...” he started, groaning as he laid down. 

“It’s a long story,” you sighed, preparing to tend to Beorn’s various cuts and bruises.

“I’ve got time,” he encouraged. 

You laughed. “I suppose you're right… well, after our encounter with the elves, we met Bard, who was kind enough to smuggle us into Lake-Town,” you began, wrapping his hand with a bandage. 

“Thorin offered the townsfolk a share of the mountain's riches for their help. I stayed behind when they departed... Kili had fallen ill, I offered to stay and help care for him.”

Beorn listened intently to your story. His eyes observing you carefully as you effortlessly talked and worked at the same time. 

You explained how Bard and his son slayed Smaug, and how you rejoined the rest of the dwarves, but by then Thorin had succumbed to the Dragon Sickness.

“He had become so cruel,” you continued, cleaning a long scratch on Beorn’s forearm. “the rest of the company was concerned for him as well.”

You sighed, setting the rag down and retrieving a salve.  “I believe what Bilbo did was justified, so when Thorin called Bilbo a traitor, I left too and joined the others,” you shrugged. 

During most of the battle, you were with Bard’s children, trying your best to protect them, despite not being much of a fighter. 

“I’m glad you’re alright,” Beorn said softly, looking up at you. 

“What about you?” You asked, lifting your brow. “I can't imagine that you were anxious to help the dwarves out again.”

He looked away for a moment, before quietly answering. “I’m here for you,” he said with a serious look. 

“For me?” You stuttered, wide-eyed.

He nodded, his cheeks turning a faint shade of pink. 

“I’m happy you’re here,” You smiled, lightly pushing back his hair from his face and stroking his cheek tenderly, as you admired the rather gentle skin-changer.

 “Now, sweet man, get some rest,” you urged, before pressing a kiss to his forehead. 

Beorn fell asleep easily enough, in fact, the sound of his snoring could be heard from all corners of the camp. 

He had traveled quite a distance in such a short amount of time, then immediately fought his way through an army of orcs just for you. The thought alone made you feel as though you were floating. 

Quietly, you tiptoed out of the tent in search of fabric. You doubted any of the spare clothing here would fit him, he was far taller and larger than most of the men at the camp. 

It was dark out when you returned, Beorn was still sleeping soundly in your tent. You found the sound of his snores oddly comforting. The nights here and on your travels had been far too quiet for your liking, making you feel rather lonely at night. 

Sitting in the corner by a lit candle,  you worked on using spare fabric to make Beorn some pants. You couldn’t imagine what people had thought seeing him wandering around practically naked. 

Your face heated up as you pictured him standing there with nothing but a raggedy scrap of cloth to cover himself with. He was an attractive man in a wild sort of way, muscular with untamed hair. 

Lost in your thoughts, you accidentally stabbed your finger with the needle, hissing you sucked on your fingertip to help with the pain. 

Beorn stirred at the sound, “are you alright?”

“You heard that?” You perked up. 

“Mmhmm,” he answered, still partially asleep. “I can hear the mice outside the tent scurrying about, and even the horses braying in the distance.”

“That’s quite amazing,” you noted. 

He laughed lowly, “I suppose it is… what are you doing up so late Busy Bee?” 

“Just need to finish something first.”

He closed his eyes again, “you should be sleeping.”

“I will shortly,” you smiled, running the needle through the fabric again as you worked on finishing the seam. 

…

Beorn stared at you with an unreadable expression, his eyes focused on the pants you were currently holding out towards him. 

“It’s not my best work,” you started, fidgeting slightly. “But I figured it had to be better than nothing. I guessed your measurements, and I think they’ll fit at least well enough for you to walk around the camp, and if they’re too loose, I can take them in a bit. That wouldn’t take too long, I suppose.”

You continued to ramble as Beorn sat there somehow quieter than usual. This gift presented an odd dilemma with it. 

You made something for him, you had considered his needs and worked almost all night on it. According to skin-changer traditions, this could be considered a marriage proposal, a symbol of you willing to provide for him. 

Of course, he was aware that you were unfamiliar with skin-changer practices, but that still didn’t make this any easier on him. As the last of his kind, he was the last to maintain their customs and traditions.

“I’m afraid I cannot accept,” Beorn finally admitted.

Your shoulders slumped, your hands lowering, “why? I made them for you.”

Beorn sighed, “For skin-changers giving gifts is a romantic gesture to put it lightly.”

“Oh, I see,” you nodded, feeling rather embarrassed. 

The truth was you wouldn’t mind becoming romantically involved with Beorn, it wasn’t something you had given much thought to. But you couldn’t deny the attraction that was there. 

Not sure what else to do, you went about your day as he continued to rest. 

It didn’t take long for Beorn to heal, by the second day he looked as good as new. 

He sighed, sitting in your tent alone with his thoughts. He had no excuse to stay any longer, the animals at home needed him to return. He accomplished what he had set out to do, he fought orcs, found you safe and sound. It was time for him to leave. 

But that didn’t mean he wanted to leave, and he was completely aware of why he didn’t want to leave you. 

"Beorn?" You said lightly shuffling inside the tent, and successfully drawing him from his thoughts.

His intense gaze falling upon you. “Yes, little bee?”

You inhaled deeply and held out the pants to him again.

His brow furrowed, “y/n-“

“I know,” you interrupted him. “But please hear me out, my feelings for you are rather new, but I’ve traveled a long way to get here, and of all the amazing and terrifying places I had seen, the only one I wanted to return to was your home.” 

Your heart was racing, your face was flush, and you didn’t dare meet his gaze, instead, you stared at the ground praying he’d say something.

Suddenly you felt his fingers lightly brush against yours as he accepted your gift. 

Your head snapped up, as you looked at him with big eyes. A content smile formed on his lips as he leaned down and his forehead touched yours gently nuzzling against it while his large hands softly caressed your arms. 

“We’ll depart in the morning,” he whispered. 

[dialovers-translations]

Diabolik Lovers DARK FATE ー Reiji [VAMPIRE ENDING]

Monologue

Reiji-san draws his sabre.

The inescapable dark fate,

is now set into motionーー

*Cling*

Reiji: ーー Father, be prepared.

Karlheinz: Hmph...You too, have grown a lot.

*Cling*

Karlheinz: Well then, this is the beginning of the end.

You should use that sword to question.

Both mine, as well as your own feelings.

And, try to surpass me. My son, Reiji.

Reiji: ...

Yui: ( Reiji-san...! )

ー Yui closes her eyes

*Cling*

*CLASH*

*STAB*

Yui: ...

( ...Everything went silent? How did it end...? )

ー She opens her eyes again

Karlheinz: ...Ugh...

Yui: ...!!

( Reiji-san’s sabre has pierced through Karlheinz’s chest... )

Reiji: Haah...Haah...

Karlheinz: ...Excellent...job...Outstanding, Reiji...

...Uu.

ー Karlheinz collapses

*Thud*

Yui: Karlheinz-san...!!

Reiji: ...Father...!!

*Cling*

ー Reiji rushes to his side

Reiji: Hang in there, Father...!!

Karlheinz: Uu...

Yui: ( The left side of his chest has been pierced... )

( He may be a Vampire, but when stabbed through the heart this badly, there’s just no way he’d... )

Reiji: ...Why did you hold back!?

You are the mighty King of Vampires, Karlheinz. There is no way you would lose to your mere son...

Karlheinz: I did not hold back...You simply surpassed me in strength, that’s all...

Reiji: No way...

Karlheinz: Heh...Why are you making that face...?

You finally...defeated me...You should look a little happier...

I’m pleased, you see...?

Because not only was I taken down by none other than my own blood, I get to spend my final moments in the arms of my son like this...

Reiji: Father...

Karlheinz: Like this, I can finally put an end to it...This long...everlasting life, can finally draw to a close...

Right now, I can only feel joy...

Thank you, Reiji...You are the one, true Adam.

...Guh...

Reiji: Father...!

...What have I done...?

...Uu.

Yui: ( ...I never thought I’d see Reiji-san, who is always so composed, cry out his eyes like this... )

( Death may be something considered a blessing amongst Vampires. )

( But even so, the pain and grieve felt from losing a loved one, is no different between Vampires and humans. )

( If not, he would not be crying right now. )

Karlheinz: ...Why do you cry? This was your wish, no?

Reiji: I...

I loved you. You were the only person in this world I truly respected.

Therefore, I wanted you to turn my way. To acknowledge me. To love me.

I wanted you to look at me...even more than at Shuu...!

Yui: Reiji-san...

Karlheinz: ...No need to tell me, I already know.

Reiji: Father...

Karlheinz: Did you realize? Why I gave you that pocket watchーー

Why I gifted you the pocket watch of demise...?

Reiji: Was it...to praise me for my mental strength?

Karlheinz: Exactly. And that was my wish as well...

Reiji: Your wish...?

Karlheinz: I wanted you to be strong.

While you may not be the eldest son, you understand me better than anyone, always trying to follow in my footsteps.

And now, you have surpassed me...

Therefore...You must stay strong. In the past, and in the future as well...

...

Reiji: What is...!?

Yui: ( Karlheinz-san’s body is fading away...? )

Karlheinz: ...Show me your hand, Reiji.

Reiji: Eh...?

*Woosh*

Reiji: ...! This is...

Yui: What’s wrong?

Reiji: Something is...flowing inside of me...Wave after wave...

Ugh...Guh...Aaah...!!

Yui: Reiji-san...!?

Reiji: Haah...Haah...

Father...What on earth did you...?

Karlheinz: I entrusted you with my powers. Use that to bring an end to the demon species.

Reiji: To the demon species...? What do you meanーー

...Don’t tell me...!

Karlheinz: Exactly...The report on the Endzeit gene...You saw it, did you not?

Reiji: Yes...

Karlheinz: In that case, I suppose I do not need to explain any further.

Reiji: Father...!

Yui: Karlheinz-san...!

Karlheinz: ...This is farewell. Reiji, Eve.

You must work together, and guide this world...

Into the right direction...

Until it reaches its ideal state.

ー Karlheinz disappears

Reiji: ...No way...

Yui: ( Karlheinz-san vanished... )

Reiji: ...Father...

Yui: Reiji-san...

( My words of comfort would mean nothing to him right now... )

( The only thing I can do, is quietly join his side. )

ー She carefully approaches

Reiji: Yui...

*Rustle*

Yui: Ah...

Reiji: ...Father has entrusted me with his powers.

That means he wants me to follow in his footsteps.

Yui: Yes...

Reiji: In what waits ahead, a daunting dark fate will most likely stand in our way.

Will you stay with me regardless?

Will you love me?

Yui: Of course. How could I ever want to leave you?

I will follow you. And I will always be by your side.

Reiji: ...Thank you, Yui.

I will never let go of you either. Even if you would wish to do so yourself.

Neverーー

Shin: ーー Seems like Karlheinz has kicked the bucket. 

Yui: Carla-san! Shin-kun!

( Why are they here...? )

Carla: I knew you had it in you, Reiji. It did take you long enough, however.

Yui: What do you mean...?

Shin: Reiji swore his loyalty to Nii-san in exchange for getting Ayato back.

Then, Nii-san ordered him to kill Karlheinz.

Yui: ( So that’s what happened... )

Carla: Reiji. You attempted to make things work in your favor...But I am the winner of this game.

This is checkmate.

Reiji: ...

Yui: Reiji-san...

Reiji: ...No, victory is mine.

Carla: I beg your pardon...?

Reiji: ...Heh...Haha...

Power is overflowing within me...A force so strong, it could probably destroy this whole world...!

ー He tosses his glasses aside

Reiji: ーー I doubt I will lose.

Yui: ( Reiji-san...? For some reason, the mood suddenly.... )

Shin: What nonsense are you spouting? Did you go crazy from killing your own Father, perhaps?

Carla: ...Shin, be careful. Something is off.

Reiji: Hmph. ...Weaklings.

Shin: Uu, aah...!

Carla: Guh...!

*Thud*

Yui: !!

( No way...How did he send the two of them flying just from extending his hand...? )

Carla: What on earth...?

Reiji: Seems like you did not consider that I would inherit my Father’s powers, First Bloods.

Carla: Excuse me...?

Reiji: This is your loss. Get out of my sight.

Yui: Reiji-san...!!

*WOOSH*

Yui: Uu...

( What happened...? )

Reiji: Are you okay, Yui?

Yui: Reiji-san...Where are Carla-san and Shin-kun...?

Reiji: I threw them into oblivion using my powers. I doubt they will ever make it out again.

Yui: ( He defeated those powerful Founders in just the blink of an eye... )

( This is Karlheinz-san’s power... )

Ayato: Oi, Chichinashi...!

Yui: Ayato-kun! Shuu-san as well!

Shuu: Yo...

Yui: ( ...! He’s terribly wounded...Could it have been the Founders...? )

Ayato: Geez, you just recklessly dashed out of the castle. Well, glad to see you’re safe at least.

Look, I was so kind to save Shuu’s ass. Better be grateful? 

Shuu: You didn’t exactly save me. Ayato just happened to pass by right as I made it out of the Founders’ castle on my own.

Ayato: S-Shut up! Why fuss ‘bout the details?

Shuu: ...More importantly, what happened to the Founders?

They left the castle, leaving me behind, so I was convinced they would be headed towards Reiji...

Yui: Well...

Reiji: ...I took care of them.

Shuu: What...?

Ayato: You took them down? All by yourself?

Reiji: Yes.

Ayato: No way...Those dudes were hella strong. How did you...?

Shuu: ...

...You inherited the Old Man’s powers, didn’t you?

Reiji: Hmph. ...I expected no less from you, Shuu. Sharp as always.

We will part ways here.

Ayato: Aah? What are you sayin’?

Anyway, you’ve been kinda weird this whole time, you know? Is somethin’ wrong?

Reiji: I am still myself. I have simply been entrusted with an important duty.

Ayato: Haah...?

Reiji: The Demon World will soon be swallowed by waves of conflict. Until all demons roaming these lands have taken their final breath...

Therefore, you guys should retreat to the human world.

Ayato: What will you do?

Reiji: I have a duty to fulfill. I must keep this promise I made to Father.

Together with Yui...

Yui: Reiji-san...

( The words Karlheinz-san left behind. We must join forces, and guide the world towards its ideal state... )

( Reiji-san wants to realize that. As the one following in Karlheinz-san’s footsteps. )

Shuu: ...Gotcha.

Ayato: Oi, Shuu...!

Shuu: Let’s go, Ayato. There’s no point in us staying here any longer.

...Yui.

Yui: Yes...?

Shuu: I’m leaving Reiji in your care.

Yui: ...

Ayato: The fuck? Geez...

Oi, Reiji. You better drop by every now and then, ‘kay? Things just don’t feel the same without you ‘round.

Reiji: ...I will consider it.

ー Shuu and Ayato leave

Yui: ( They both left... )

( We might never see each other again... )

( However, even so, Iーー )

Reiji: Come here, Yui.

Yui: Ah...

Reiji: The lunar eclipse will soon come to an end. Let us witness it from here.

The dawn to a new world.

Yui: Yes...

( Even so, I will follow Reiji-san. I will never leave his side. )

( Together, foreverーー )

*TIMESKIP*

Yui: ( ーー In what followed, Reiji-san used the powers he inherited from Karlheinz-san to put an end to all demonic species. )

( He eventually defeated even the Vibora, solidifying his position as the Demon Overlord who stands at the very top of the whole Demon World. )

Reiji: ーー Almost all life in the Demon World has ceased to exist. It is basically just us two at this point.

It is quiet. Truly comfortable.

Yui: I agree.

( Soon everything will come to an end. )

( I am sure that this is the end of time ーー what that pocket watch was meant to point out. )

Reiji: Yui, come closer...

*Rustle rustle*

On certain CGs, little black roses will appear on the screen. If you click on them, you get an extra line of dialogue.

“It is only because you supported me at all times, that I am able to stand here right now. My feelings for you have not changed at all. ーー And I doubt they will ever waver. I will continue to love only you, for eternity.”

“As long as you love me, I feel as if I can accomplish anything. I want you to remain by my side, until the moment I finally fulfill Father’s wish which he entrusted me with.

Yui: Ah...

Reiji: Right now, we are still in the process of demise ーー There is still some time left until everything truly comes to an end.

Yui: Yes...

Reiji: However, even if that moment has passed, I will continue to protect you.

Yui: You made that promise before as well, didn’t you?

Reiji: Yes. Even now that I have become the Demon Lord, that has not changed.

My beloved Yui...

No matter what kind of destiny lies ahead of us, we will always be together.

Forever, and everーー

Yui: ( I will stay by Reiji-san’s side forever as well. )

( At all times, no matter what happens, I will continue to support him. )

( Until the end, and beyondーー )

ーー THE END ーー

[has-gilgamesh-doneanythingwrong]

Learning how to use the runes with Caster Cu (FGO)

I spent 6 hrs writing the most shamelessly self-indulgent headcanons ever Here, Caster will teach the FGO master the basics of the runes. Follow the master as they learn a bit about their origins, face rigorous testing, make their own set of runes; and use them for the very first time!

*Disclaimer: These headcanons will focus on the use of the Elder Futhark runes. (In fgo, they use both elder and younger futhark) As I’ve only been researching the Nordic runes for around 9 months, please take these headcanons with a pinch of salt! (also, fgo master will be gender neutral! Please enjoy.)

As soon as you broach the topic to him, Caster Cu’s face pales considerably; as images of Odin hanging upside down on the world tree for 9 days permeate his mind. Hopefully you weren’t asking him if you could do that... you weren't, right?

‘Shit...I knew this day would come.’ Awkwardly lowering his hood over his face (so then he can avoid looking at your expectant expression); Caster sighs. “Ah, yeah...Rune magic. Sure, I’ll teach you later...yeah, later.”

Hoping that his bluff is successful, he tries to dematerialize away as fast as possible. However, once you latch onto his pale blue coat to ask what you should do first, he finally caves in; knowing that there’s no way for him to worm his way out of this perilous situation.

“You know, you could try asking Skadi. Or how about Shishou? There’s a hell of a lot of other servants who know bits and pieces about the runes as well. How about you give ‘em a try first?”

When you admit that you want to learn from him, due to your deep appreciation for his extremely flashy use of the runes; Caster stifles a laugh. Yep, there really was no room for escape now.

“Well, I can’t fault you for that; I do look pretty damn cool in action!” Twirling his staff, Caster strikes a pose. “But I don’t get it. You’re already training in other arts. Why would you wanna load rune magic on top of that? You like drowning yourself in work or something??”

As you excitedly flapped your arms around, explaining how you liked watching him trace sparkling runes with his hands; and wanted to take his tree branch summoning skills for yourself, his eyes widen with surprise. He wasn’t expecting you to be this observant.

“Ah, you mean the Berkana/Berkano (ᛒ) rune? Yeah, that one represents the birch tree, so I can summon it. It also commonly symbolizes new beginnings and fertility...” Caster trails off as your braincells physically implode at his explanation.

Berkana? Birch trees? Fertility?! You had no idea what he was talking about right now. As a dour silence weighs heavily upon the two of you, a lightbulb of inspiration strikes Caster right in the head.

“Oi, master. Read up a little on the runes, and remember at least some of their names first. As your new teacher, that’ll be your first assignment. See ya!” And with that, he was gone, vanishing into thin air. Realizing that he had just agreed to teach you, your face sparkles with glee. Clenching your fists with all of your might, you march towards the library. Time would wait for no man!!!!

Exchanging friendly greetings with Murasaki, as you trundle through an entire emporium of books; it takes hours for you to find a book on the runes. Many of the books were in a language that you couldn’t read, however this one looked rather easy on the eyes.

Titled ‘Easy Rune Magic for Modern Mages’, you flick through a rather simplistic guide that provides you with the names and a single definition for each rune; but it provides you with little to no information on how to truly understand their meaning. With subheadings such as ‘How to use the Fehu (ᚠ) rune to generate wealth to pay for your magecraft PHD at the Clock Tower’ and ‘Is Thurisaz (ᚦ) more effective to use as a defensive spell or curse spell?’ you were officially BAMBOOZLED. Tired, you decide to throw in the towel for today.

However, on your way back to your room, a stroke of excellent luck manifests itself before you. Situated upon a sturdy pine table are none other than Sigurd and Byrnhildr, who are reading together. Although you find this scene to be rather adorable (seeing as they were both entirely intact, with no stabbing wounds to be seen); you decided to interrupt their date anyway.

“O-oh, master...” Byrnhildr blushes, as Sigurd waves politely. “What brings you here today?” Slamming your hands on the table, you passionately declare that you wish to learn more about the runes, but can’t understand them without gaining some insight into their history first. As Brynhildr’s eyes glimmer with a sense of appreciation at your open display of interest of their culture, Sigurd haphazardly pulls out the chair next to them.

“I’m glad to see you profess such a profound interest in the runes, master. Please sit down and join us.” Glasses sparkling ominously, Sigurd explains a little bit more about how the elder futhark runes work. He not only explains how Odin discovered their wisdom after hanging from the world tree Yggdrasil; but also tells you about how Odin shared their power with humankind, making him none other than the ‘Allfather’ of the runes.

At the mention of his name, Byrnhild’s expression sours somewhat; making you realize that the two most likely share personal ties with him.

“They’re a special alphabet that we can use to invoke the power and wisdom of the Norse gods, so be careful with them.”

Sigurd then goes on to explain how all 24 runes are separated into three Aetts- which are basically a means of dividing the runic characters into different categories.

“Each rune comes with a short poem. That way, you’ll be able to understand them and their context a little more.”

Once you thank him for the information, he replies with a “I hope I was of use. I’m very proud of you for asking us for help.”; as Byrnhildr returns with an entire truckload of books tucked within her arms!!!

“These books will be helpful! This one’s about the myths associated with the runes, and this one is a practical guide that’ll help cultivate understanding. As for this one, it explains their etymology.”

Byrnhildr chuckles at your gobsmacked expression, as the two of them heap the books into your own arms. “You don’t need to know everything about them, but it’ll be handy for you to develop a little bit of historical and lexical knowledge as well.”

‘I thought I only had to know their names and descriptions...!!’ Tears pooling within your eyes at the mountain of books, you thank them for their help and leave, as they wish you all the best with your studies (and prayed that one day you’d wish to speak to them in the language as well. They couldn’t wait for that opportunity!)

Sighing all the way back to your room, you gasp in surprise as you bump into none other than Skadi.

“Oh, good timing.” Passing you a bundle of golden-trimmed strips of ancient paper, Skadi smiles vigorously. “You can use these as flash cards for your rune training, as well. I’m surprised that you didn’t ask for my guidance, but that may have been for the best. I would’ve trained you thoroughly in the arts.”

A chill jolts through your spine at that. Who knows just how hard she would’ve trained you? Part of Skadi was Scathach, after all. Thanking her for her assistance, the two of you split paths.

‘I seem to be bumping into a lot of people today...’

Was this a mere coincidence, or perhaps something more?

A busy month full of book reading and writing notes onto your flash cards passes within a blur.

Mash had also shown great interest in your studies, and would help test you with your flashcards every day! However, you were still pretty confused about how long this stage of research would last for.

Whilst reading up on how runes could also be used to predict the future and provide advice for one’s dilemmas; and how the Nornir (3 deities of fate) determined this form of divination, you groan.

All of the people within the books had their own sets of runes, which they would use to communicate with the gods.

In other words, they could be used for divination as well as magic.

‘Why can’t I do that yet?’ You pout indignantly; snapping the book shut.

If Caster wouldn’t teach you rune magic, he could at least teach you about divination! Patience running thin, you decide to leap back into action.

It was time to confront your teacher, once and for all.

However, as soon as you exit your room; you are greeted by none other than Caster himself.

Almost tripping onto the floor with surprise, you gawp in shock at his appearance. With his staff and a mouth-watering cup of Darjeeling tea he had brought from one of Marie’s posthumous tea parties in his hands, Caster smirks. “Yo, master. Looks like I came just on time.”

As the two of you settle in the canteen for class (?), after a bit of small talk; you declare that you want to learn how to use the runes for divination. “If you won’t teach me magic, then I would like to learn how to communicate with the runes first, please!”

At this, he lets out an unusually loud guffaw of laughter. “Ahaha, so you finally worked it out, huh? Before you can use their magic; you gotta understand and communicate with the runes, as well. You’re a faster learner than I thought you’d be.”

Unsure whether this was a compliment or not, you enquire as to what he means by that. “It’s pretty simple: you can’t cast these bad boys without building a relationship with them first. On that note, let’s see how much you’ve learnt from your studies.”

His test is a nightmare.

As he barks the name of each rune from the First Aett (the first eight runes), you are forced to draw each and every one. If you get a rune wrong, he repeats it consistently until you draw the right alphabet for each one.

Afterwards, he takes you through a hellish journey as he asks you to provide at least one definition for each rune.

By the time you are done, night has already swept its veil over Chaldea; the halls devoid of any signs of life.

In other words, the two of you had been at this for the entire evening, which had definitely garnered you both the attention and pity of many staff and servants.

Stomach rumbling, you beg Caster to finish class for today.

“Yeah, sure. Whoops, looks like I got a bit carried away right there.” He has definitely inherited his deadly teaching style from Scathach.

When you ask him if you’re ready for the next bout of training; he frowns. “Nope, that was only the First Aett. You’ll only move to the next stage when you’ve memorized all THREE. In other words, get to learning all 24 runes!!” As you cry in despair, Caster shoots you a mischievous wink as he helps himself to the bar.

The dreaded tests continue on a weekly basis.

Not only do you have to deal with the challenges of the saving the world, helping out your allies and maintaining your own health; you also have to leap into the hellish jaws of rune testing with Caster Cu.

Albeit suffering greatly from the challenge, your spirit was also greatly roused. Learning about the runes was fun!

So much fun, that you’d often dream about them, and see their shapes in the food that you ate; and would even accidentally use their names in conversation sometimes, like saying: “Oh, I’m sure the energy of this rune would help with your headaches,” to a very bewildered Mash; or comparing the sunrise to the runes (which confused Shakespeare and Hans greatly. Actually, they are now worried about your health).

All in all, your studies were starting to take effect!!

It was finally time.

As Caster more or less yelled the name of each rune at you, your response was astounding. Not only were you able to draw the shape of every rune in a matter of seconds, you could also provide multiple readings for all 24 of them.

Eyebrows quirked with surprise, Caster sighs with relief. ‘Phew. Looks like class will be shorter than usual today.’

“Holy shit. You’ve done a damn great job, master. You got them all right!” As you roared with joy, pumping your fists into the air with glee; Caster almost fell off his chair- clutching his sides as he tried (yet failed) not to laugh. “Alright, buckle up. We’re gonna get you a set of runes now.”

A set of runes?! Your eyes sparkled at the prospect of finally being able to have runes of your own. It was about time, as well. You had grown sick of using your flash cards, you wanted the real thing!

However, you were confused about the concept of needing your own set. If Skadi and Caster Cu could manifest them just by using their hands, and magical devices; why would a person need to have a set of them? As you expressed your concern, Caster nods his head in understanding.

“I see your point. But even I have a set of runes, you know? It’s every bit as useful a method.” Unleashing a small, worn-out felt pouch; glimmering gems -whose rune inscriptions were engraved upon them in gold- splashed across the dining table. They were beautiful. “’Sides, there’s something exciting about making your own set.”

Your mind swims with excitement, as he describes the different materials that runes can be made from: bones, metal, gemstones, pebbles, glass, clay...there were endless options.

However, when you asked him if you could use your collection of Evil Bones to make a rune set, he chokes on his coffee- pure horror drenched across his features.

“No way in hell! You trying to get yourself killed? Never invoke the power of the runes on cursed items, master.” 

Then how about using QP or Mana Prisms as a base to inscribe the runes instead? Once you suggested this, his face paled somewhat. “Yeah, about that...don’t even think about it. You need those materials, you know.”

Grumpily threading his hands through blue locks of hair, he sighs. “Look, I’ll help you find some materials. Guess we could rayshift the next time I’m free or something...” As you cheer exuberantly, he can’t help but crack a small smile.

Being a teacher was a lot more amusing than he originally anticipated it to be. There was something fun about departing his knowledge. Besides, he had dedicated himself to becoming the guiding light of Chaldea anyway. ‘A little teaching hurts no-one.’

Using the light of the Soliwo (ᛊ) rune to guide the way, the two of you traverse through a forest heaving with verdant green trees and wildlife.

No matter how many pretty trees and tumbled pebbles you found by the riverside; you weren’t sure if they were the right material for you.

Just when you were about to give up, a powerful jolt of electricity beckons you; almost as if it’s calling your name. As soon as you alert Caster of your instinctual powers, he looks rather flummoxed at first; but is somewhat awed once his Soliwo rune’s light begins to shine in exactly the same direction as the one you’re pointing in!

‘Huh, that sure is weird.’

Things only get weirder, once you both come upon a ginormous slab of Labradorite. Situated neatly upon a bed of leaves. Placed carefully within the middle of the forest.

This timing was too good to be true.

As the electricity coursing through your veins triples in intensity, Caster has to hold you back before you cut loose. “Oi, wait up. Let me test this stone for safety first.”

Placing an Algiz (ᛉ) runestone in your hands to guarantee your protection, he saunters towards the massive hunk of Labradorite.

Chanting an incantation beneath his breath, the forest glows in an eerie blue light; as a pale magic circle glimmers beneath the stone. “Yeah, it’s safe. Pretty strange for it to be out here, though.”

As he sketches Thurisaz (ᚦ) (which not only symbolizes thorns, defense and danger, but can also be used as a means to channel a power akin to Thor’s hammer, mlonjir) onto his staff, he smashes it against the mass of Labradorite; splitting what was once an enormous rock into 24 neatly divided; brilliant blue gems.

Gathering them up, he thrusts them before you. “Here you go. That was a pretty lucky find, if I do say so myself.”

You thank him for your help- making sure to also pay homage to the awesome power of your intuition at the same time, which tickles Caster right in the funny bone.

As soon as the stones drop into your hand; they crackle with an immensely powerful energy, as if these gems were waiting for you!!

As you turn them onto the side; you are gobsmacked to see rune inscriptions already engraved onto each and every stone, as if they were reacting to the mana flowing within your body.

You ask Caster to take a look at this strange phenomenon for you.

“Whoa, are you kidding me? That’s pretty awesome. Let me take a look, too.” As you gently stretch your palms towards Caster- trying to keep the runestones steady in your hands- he gently takes your palms, leaning towards them.

As he catches sight of the engravings lying upon them, his crimson eyes widen with bewilderment. “Holy shit...I think the gods just made you an offering. You’re secretly packing a shitload of power in there, ain’t you? Great job!”

Ruffling your hair, Caster grins. “Think you’ve got time for more teaching?”

As you nod your head, anticipation clear on your features; he plonks onto the ground, handing you a felt pouch. “Put them in there. Try doing your first reading, see what rune speaks to you first!”

Eagerly plonking all 24 runes into the sparkly pouch, you close your eyes and concentrate; beseeching the contact of the gods. Imagining yourself encountering the Nonrnir, as you visualize dropping into the center of the world; you place a hand within your pouch.

Rummaging around the bag, a single rune sends energy rippling through your fingers. That was the one! Pulling it out of the bag, you grin excitedly...only to see that it was none other than...

Nauthiz (ᚾ).

‘Aw shite...’ Disappointed by the rune, you sigh. You wished that your rune could’ve been a more positive one! However, Caster’s reaction was rather different to yours.

“Hey, it’s not as bad as it looks.” Figure illuminated by the sun, he looked much more chill than usual. “Nauthiz is all about your needs, you know? With all the singularities popping up recently, I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re pushing yourself too far.”

“But this rune is basically saying ‘lol you’re suffering’...It’s frustrating.” You counter him.

You knew all too well about the massive strains your body was going through, the transformations you were forced to undergo. Sometimes, it was just too painful for you to bear. Seeing this rune only served as a reminder of that fact.

“How about you look at it from a different perspective? Even though things are way outta wack for you, a small fire still burns. Doesn’t Nauthiz look a bit like two twigs that you’d see in a fire?” Now that was a funny observation. As you smiled at that, he continued. “It just means that no matter how hard things become; all you gotta do is balance your needs and continue to fight. Nauthiz is also screaming ‘oi, damnit! Don’t give up here, you can survive and make it out the other side sparkling like brand new, you hear me??’”

You were very grateful to hear that. Now you realized that even the most ominous of runes also came with signs of fortune and peace.

In other words, they would be there to support you all the way. Thanking him for his great insight, he replies with a simple “Well, I’m the wise one you know? Anyway, you know the saying. Even the coldest of ice thaws someday.”

As you correctly link his adage to the runes, he claps with pride. “Nice, nice. Well, that’ll be all for my teaching. Soon you’ll be able to do readings with nine or more runes!”

But once you yell to him about how you want to use runes such as Kenaz (ᚲ) to fulfil your long-standing desire to set shit on fire; his expression hardens.

“I ain’t teaching you rune magic until you learn how to master rune divination. Don’t push your luck too far~ Come visit me again once you learn how to read the past, present and future with them!” As you indigently complain about how you still want to summon birch trees, and about how difficult it was to learn about the runes; he bursts into rancorous laughter. “That’s not my problem! C’mon, lay off a little...”

Frustrated, you finally give up, asking for one last request. “Caster. What rune will you get if you do a single reading? I would like to see.”

Begrudgingly adhering to your request, he unearths none other than the Ansuz (ᚨ) rune.

“Ah, my favorite. Well, that’s it for today. Let’s go back.” As he turns away, a frightening wind blows through the trees, as a dark shadow drifts over his figure.

In that very moment, he becomes a dark specter within a bountiful forest filled with brilliant light; as his form briefly flickers and shifts, melding into an entire kaleidoscope of distinct beings.

But all it took was a single blink for his form to return back to normal again.

How strange...Was that none other than an illusion? Were your eyes playing tricks with you? Silently trailing behind, you contemplated the meaning behind the rune he had drawn.

Ansuz...It commonly symbolized communication, breath, and chiefly of all...it was the rune that represented none other than Odin himself.

In addition to that, you saw how the rune landed on its side when Caster drew it, and the mysterious glint in his eyes.

Was Caster hiding something? You couldn’t quite put your finger on it.

‘Just who is Caster Cu really?’ Such a thought weighed dangerously heavy within your mind as the two of you took the steep path back home.

By learning more about the runes, you may have unlocked the door to an endless chasm of mysteries; one that had ties directly linking to the deeper truths lying behind Chaldea...

THE END

Omg this was only meant to be like 1,000 words. But I got extremely invested within this concept and was burning with great excitement, which lead to this becoming SUPER LONG XD Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this ;; Also dw learning runes in real life isn’t as hardcore as this, I promise you!

[yandere-mha-blog]

Chapter 1: Boredom

Words: 2130

Boredom, Sure most people hated the feeling of fear the worst, or some people even hated the feeling of love. But you hated the feeling of boredom, so why you chose to take this excruciating lackluster lecture for your class was beyond you. You were tapping your nails against the desk scribbling down a few notes here and there, stuff you already knew. Why this college made you take classes that were so painfully basic was beyond your understanding, oh wait a second, money that's why.

“Hey (Name)?” your seatmate said to you

“Hmm?” you said

“Can I please see your notes? You always know the right stuff to write down,” she said

“Sure,” you said pushing your notes over a bit so she could get a better look at them

“Thank you.” She said, you nodded your head and kept listening to the drone of a lecture. Once it was finally done and over with you packed up your bags and were going to head to the courtyard.

“Man, that was boring. I don't know how you pay attention to this so well.” Your seatmate said

“I can’t really.” you said putting away your pencil case “Hope the notes help.”

“They will, hey you want to eat lunch together?” She asked

“Sorry but I like to eat alone,” you said

“Ohhh, okay we'll see you in class tomorrow (name).” she said and left, you followed suit and went to the vending machine, got a quick snack, and headed back to your dorm, the next class was in an hour and might as well relax a bit for the time being. You pulled out your phone to read the latest news.

Villain dubbed the Name NightHawk strikes again, police are looking for any leads.

“This guy again huh, he must be stalking this area.” you thought “Wonder how long he is planning to stay around this boring area.”

After looking at one too many cat videos you headed off to your next class, Mutation quirk and medication. With the wide range of quirks, there were many issues that could harm the quality of life. Studying to become a doctor sure did take a lot of work, even more work now that humans could have any range of growths, bumps, dry spots. Could that be a part of their quirk or is it a tumor that needs to be removed? This was one of the classes that interested you, the hands-on approach, if you didn't have a strong stomach you shouldn't take this class, takes you back to high school when you had to dissect a frog, then a squid, and who could forget the pig fetus. The teachers were not too thrilled that you used your quirk to open up the animals though and sent you to the counselor afterward.

Oh well

Drawing down the diagrams, your seatmate who you seem to have a lot of classes with looked over

“Man you are really good at drawing, can I take a photo?” she asked

“Sure,” you said

“You are a woman of few words huh.” she said, “but you are really nice (name).” “Thanks,” you said, trying to pay attention to the lecture, she must have gotten the hint and went back to her note-taking. Still with this being the last class of the day you were finally ready to take a nice hot bath and relax.

“So (name).” she said, “I was wondering if you want to come with me and a couple of friends tonight, we are getting some drinks.”

“Hm I don't know, I don't like getting drunk on a school night,” you said

“You have classes tomorrow?” She asked, sounding let down by that news, well not like you had anything else to do and maybe a couple of drinks with some people would curb your boredom a bit.

“Oh wait, today is Friday, I have tomorrow off.” you said “I don’t like to stay out too late, I'll still go just won't be there the whole time.”

“That's fine, I've been wanting to hang out with you, I'll pay as thanks for helping me with the notes.”

“Sounds good, which palace are we meeting up at?” you asked

“Oh, it's called cherry steam.” She said, “You know I just realized I never told you my name, it's Fumiko. Also, we are meeting there at six so in two hours

“Okay I'll meet you there,” you said and left, it had been a while since you went out so finally an excuse to wear that new dress you bought months ago, you didn’t get invited out often because most of your classmates thought of you as aloof so this was a nice treat.

So when you arrived outside Cherry Steam and it only hit you then that this was a mixer, and they were short a girl for this group of five men, just great. You sat at the end sipping away at your, you lost count, fruity drink as the guy across from you tried to make conversation.

“So uhm what are you in school for?” he asked

“Doctor, what about you?” you asked taking another sip

“Business major,” he said

“Is that so,” you said swirling the drink around your glass, god could this be any more painful, this guy was incredibly duel.

“So what's your quirk, not to brag but mine is really cool.” he said “I'm able to see behind my head with a third eye.”

“Huh that's neat, guess it must be hard for people to get the drop on you.” you said “My quirk has a habit to scare people off, so not sure if you can handle it.”

“OH come on you can show me,” he said, finally something interesting, so you held out your hand

“You sure you wanna know.” you teased

“Well now I can’t, not see it,” he said, as you flexed your fingers and your five-inch talons came shooting out of your nail beds, he jolted back. “Holy…”

“Told you.” you said taking another sip, this got the attention of the others “I'm able to flex my fingers and these talons come out.”

“Wow you could become a hero with those.” the other guy said as they looked over “can I touch them.”

“Only if you want to get cut,” you said putting your talons back in under your nail beds.

“Does it hurt when they pop out like that?” another guy asked

“Not really.'' You said, as you continued to have the conversation with these guys, you didn't notice the other girls getting a little pissed off by the lack of attention they were getting. Till Fumiko tapped your shoulder

“Hey, I need to go to the restroom. Can you come with me?” she asked

“Sure, I don't mind,” you said getting up and walking out of the booth and following her, only for her to stop outside

“(name) I'm glad you are having fun but the other girls came here as well, can you dial it down a bit?” she asked, you were now confused

“Dial what down?” you asked

“You are flirting with all of them.”She said, “So can you just, you know tone down the flirting a bit.”

“...I think I should leave,” you said

“(name) wait that's not what I meant.” She said

“Look it's getting late anyway I wasn't planning on staying out past ten.” you said “I want to make a scene I’ll just leave so you can all have fun.”

You walked back to the booth and grabbed your purse slinging it over your shoulder.

“Heyy where are you going?” the guy asked

“It's gotten late.” you said “I need to head back, thanks for the drinks.”

“Awwww, what lame.” Another guy said

“Maybe another time, bye-bye.” you said and left the booth, Fumiko came back

“Fumiii your friend left, I didn't even get her number.”

“Hey who said you would be the one getting her number?”

“Hey who said, who said you would be getting her number!” his other friend yelled at him, they started fighting amongst themselves they didn't see their other guy friend leave, till Fumi looked

“Hey didn't we have an extra guy just now?” she asked

“Hey, where is Akio?” His friend said, “That lousy bastard ditched us.”

Well, at least now we have a perfect amount of people.” One of the girls Fumiko brought said

“Greta another round then!”

You were walking down the street rather pissed off, first, she tells you it was just a couple of drinks, not the fact it was a mixer, and that they needed another woman to come. Secondly, the second that they start paying attention to you, they get all pissed off. You never understood people as you kept walking down the street in a huff letting people know to stay out of your way.

“Hey (name).” you hear a males voice oh it is one of the guys

“Huh what are you doing here?” you asked, man you felt drunk this is why you didn't drink you can't handle your booze.

“You just left all of a sudden, you okay?” He asked

“I'm fine, I'm fine, you can go back to your friends now,” you said your words were a bit slurred but you could make it home by yourself

“It's no fun when there isn't the same amount of men and women, here let me walk you home.” He said, and oh no you knew what that meant with these guys

“NO need, I can take care of myself,” you said and kept walking, he must have not gotten the hint because he kept walking behind you, before putting his arm over your shoulder

“You are stumbling let me help,” he said

“I told you I am fine,” you said slinging his arm off and kept walking, you just wanted to get away from this guy, there was a shortcut you thought not thinking correctly as you tried to lose him.

“Hey (Name), can you just listen to me, I'm just trying to be nice,” Akio said grabbing your wrist

“I don't want you to be nice, I want you to let me go before I cut you.” You said as he grabbed your other wrist.

“You won't be able to cut me if you can't move your hands.” he said, his tone shifting yup he was getting violent “You do have such an amazing quirk you know.” “Let me go already.” You said struggling before you flexed your fingers and pointed them down to stab him in the arms

“AGH YOU BITCH.” He yelled pulling back his arm and you booked it down the alley shortcut, you could hear him chasing after you. When he grabbed the back of your dress and yanked you into his chest.

“What's this, a lovers quarrel?” you heard someone else's voice, having no idea where it was coming from “You know women don't like pushy guys.” “Who the fuck said that?” Akio said not letting go of you

“I did up here.” the voice said with a whistle, and you looked up to see a man who looked around your age on fire escape legs dangling down as he was eating take out.

“This doesn't concern you,” Akio said, as you kept trying to crack loose, Akio was freaking out and now this strange man was just watching on.

“It kinda does, because here I am trying to enjoy some take out after a long day and now I see some brute manhandling someone who isn't interested.” He said as a can of coffee hit Akio on the head, not even in front of the direction the man was in. Akio must have thought it was not worth it and shoved you down and ran for it.

“Yeesh what a load of work.” The man said, “You good down there.”

“I'm… fine,” you said trying to gather your thoughts as you got up, great you skinned your knee, the man got up on his feet and looked down.

“I saw that you have a pretty neat quirk.” He said, “ Reminds me of bird talons.”

“Most people say cat paws.” you said getting up, was this guy trying to lift your spirits or something “I really wasn't thinking while coming down here, do you know the way out?”

“Yup, strength down that way to the left, wouldn't recommend going that way,” he said pointing the direction Akio booked it at.

“Thank you,” you said grabbing your purse and walking down, As the man looked in the direction Akio came to. Before an arrangement of red feathers came out from hiding in the alleyway and attached to his back, he had one more thing to do.

[eclecticstarlightconnoisseur]

VISIONS IN THE SNOW

Good Evening All! I have a new one-shot that was inspired by the horrific weather that recently swept across the U.S. It caused so much grief, suffering to so many people. I hope this would bring a smile to some faces. This was written with one particular person in mind (and you know who you are) and I’m glad you like it.

Thanks as always to @scubalass for the read through. Your suggestions were, as always, spot on. It made the final story so much better.

Status of Edinburgh to Boston: There is progress but it is painfully slow. There are two characters that are essential to this chapter whose voice I do not hear as well as I do Jamie and Claire. I write something, then I delete it and I do the same thing over and over. We will come to an understanding at some point so dinna fash. There will be A/N at the end to explain words or terms.

Without further delay I give you Visions in the Snow.

Here goes nothing:

VISIONS IN THE SNOW

February 1968  - Boston

The responsibility for hosting this week’s poker game fell to Joe Abernathy.  He took his duties in this regard very seriously. It was the way the surgeons decompressed after a week of stressful surgical procedures and this week was no exception. 

“It must have been a full moon,” he thought. Motor vehicle accidents, stabbings, gunshot wounds, volvulus, a ruptured esophagus, the works. It was during these times that he dearly missed his friend. Claire. He cast his glance over to the card table set with one extra place, Claire’s place. On the seat was her green visor that she wore when she played poker with the boys. It sat in repose like a memorial to a fallen comrade.

Silly thing! She believed wearing it masked her glass face.  Nothing could be further from the truth, but none of her colleagues had the heart to tell her. They all knew what Claire Randall was thinking. So much so, they often let her win which caused her to think she was good at playing poker.

He glanced around the room and saw that everything was in readiness for the evening. The sideboard groaned beneath the bounty of food, snacks, and brews.  

Outside, the wind blew fiercely rattling the windows drawing his attention. Joe looked out the window watching the two front trees bowing to the brute force of nature. Their skeletal fingers scraped at the roof almost as if trying to gain entry. It had been snowing for the last six hours with no sign of it letting up. He had considered canceling the game but a majority of his colleagues soundly vetoed that idea. Only Callahan and Peterson dissented. Callahan’s wife would kill him if he left her alone to deal with their six small ones while he went to play poker. Peterson lived thirty miles away. The remaining players all lived a short walking distance from his home, on Doctors Row. It was so-called because many of the physicians who worked at the hospital lived on the same street.  These surgeons were gambling men betting they had enough time for some comradery, hands, and beers before the brunt of the storm arrived.   

For a Boston snowstorm, it hadn’t accumulated very much. Yet. Regardless, it would not hamper these hardened surgeons accustomed to driving through Boston’s worst to get to the hospital. Without warning, the storm picked up intensity driving the snow hard enough to erase the landscape before him. Amid the squall, a hazy light glowed like the high beams of headlights in the snow. A wraithlike figure emerged from its center. Joe wasn’t able to make out any of its features. Man? Woman? He wasn’t sure. But one thing was for sure, it was headed directly toward his house. 

Joe leaned closer trying to see if the person was in distress as they were caught out in the snow. Maybe they had abandoned their car and were seeking help.  His warm breath met the cold pane fogging it, wholly obscuring his view.  Using his shirt sleeve, he wiped away the condensation hoping to improve his ability to see. As the person drew closer, it became apparent that it was a young woman and her attire was totally inappropriate for the weather. She wore a long dress whose hem floated across the snow. It looked like a green and black plaid and a white scarf crossed her neck to cover her bosom. Her hair was dark, curly, piled high on her head, and tendrils framing her face. She looked a lot like… It couldn’t be, could it? She came closer. So close that he could see her eyes. Eyes the color of a fine whisky. Claire? Claire! How? She had left for Scotland, disappearing into the past, to find her true love.

Anxiety flowed through him. He needed to speak with the woman. He needed to know if it truly was Claire. Joe tried to open the window, but it wouldn’t budge. The frame had swollen from the moisture, he thought. He rapped on the window calling her name, but she paid no heed.

Claire was running and laughing bright and merry. Stopping suddenly, she turned and extended a hand into the haze. A man appeared laughing and chased after her. He was a big son of a bitch standing at least six feet four inches and as big as a brick…Well, he was big. He had a mop of red hair, but to simply say red would deny the richness of the color. It was a curly thick mosaic of cinnamon, auburn, gold, and cinnabar.  And his eyes were the deepest blue Joe had ever seen. The man was kitted out in traditional highland garb right down to the sword strapped to his side. Reaching her, the young man made a courtly bow. He straightened, then took her hand to bestow a kiss. A moment later, he lifted and spun her around. She tossed her head back and peals of joyous laughter rang through the air. He set her down gently settling his hands on the swell of her hips. His eyes danced with love as he lowered his head to kiss her most thoroughly. Joe felt his cheeks burn as he watched such intimacy. 

Time advanced in front of him. He became witness to a lifetime, to a marriage, to the bonds of love that could not be broken. The vision changed from the blush of first love through to a life fully lived.  He wept at their trials, tribulations, and heartbreak. And he reveled in their accomplishments, triumphs, and joys. But through all their hardships, and there were many, their love for each other never wavered, never changed. 

The final event showed the couple had aged. The woman, Claire, had streaks of grey in her hair while the man’s hair had lightened. They stood atop a ridge overlooking some land. The man had his arm securely around her waist pulling her protectively close to him. Claire stood on her tiptoes wrapping her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a fiery kiss. She nodded her head and started to pull him toward a cabin. He scooped her up and carried her across the threshold kicking the door shut. 

As the vision faded back into the vapor as a voice called out, “I am happy Joe. I found my Jamie.”

Resting his head against the cold pane of glass provided a sense of comfort to his unsettled mind and spirit. Uncertainty gripped him as he grappled to understand what happened. Had this been a dream? Or a hallucination? Or had the fabric of time somehow been rent apart? He shook himself, much like a dog dispelling the rain from its coat, hoping to lift his state of bewilderment. 

Psssst, pssst, ssssssss! The homely sound of the radiator hissing brought him back to himself and away from his ruminations.

Mercilessly, the wind blew about the house ferociously shaking the windowpanes in their frames then suddenly died away. Out of curiosity, Joe tried to open the window. This time it slid open with ease. The blinding snow stopped returning to light flurries. As he turned to walk away from the window, he noticed the clock on the mantel. It was one minute later than when he last looked at it. “Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ,” he muttered.

Joe walked over to Claire’s chair and picked up the visor cradling it to his chest,  “Wherever you are Claire, I’m glad you’re happy and you found your Jamie. Jamie, if you can hear me, take good care of our girl.”

With that, the doorbell rang and Joe went to greet his guests.

                                                        *************

Claire woke with a start bringing Jamie to instant alertness. He grabbed the pistol he kept by his bedside in preparation for any threat. Seeing none, he turned to look at Claire. She looked like she had seen a ghost.

“Sassenach, what’s amiss? Are ye alright?”

“I dreamt...I dreamt I was back in Boston going to play poker with the other surgeons. It was our regular night to play. The game was at Joe’s house and there was this blizzard.”

“Poker? What kind of game do ye play with a poker?” he was afraid to ask. Claire had told him so many peculiar stories about her time that he thought this would be another one. The only poker he knew about was the kind used in a fireplace.

“It’s a card game. I was rather good at it too. Someday I’ll have to teach you.” Claire snuggled up against Jamie seeking his heat, his comfort. She yawned greatly, “Except I will miss my green visor.”

 “A vi-zor?” All he could envision was a knight’s helmet with a visor covering the eyes and face.

“It’s a sort of hat with a green brim. It shades your eyes and some of your face. People use it to hide their facial expressions when they bluff at cards.”

Jamie looked at her as if she were a bit daft. He knew nothing could hide her thoughts on that glass face. He tucked her head under his chin, “Come, Sassenach, rest yer head, aye? I think ye had a bit of the nightmare. I’ll keep ye warm and safe.” He lowered his head placing a kiss on the top of her head.

Jamie closed his eyes and thought about the black man he had seen in his dreams too. “Aye, dinna fash, Joe. I’ll care for her with my life,” he whispered just before lapsing into sleep.

A/N:

VOLVULUS: A volvulus occurs when part of the colon or intestine twists. The twisting causes bowel obstructions that may cut off the blood supply to areas of the bowels. This can cause the bowel to die or left untreated the person can die.

RENT: This involves a story. When I was in catechism class the teacher was telling the story of Christ’s trial before the Pharisees. When Jesus was condemned one of the Pharisees was said to have rent his garment. You say that to a bunch of kids and they start to giggle. They wanted to know who he rented his clothes to and for how much. So the teacher explained that to rent something meant to tear it apart violently. I fell in love with the word’s usage and I never thought I would get to use it in this way. But I did!

And poor Jamie, Claire’s stories always leave his surprised, confused, shocked among other feelings.

The truth behind this story was that it was supposed to be smutty. Instead, it evolved into this. It was supposed to happen that the Ridge was also snowed-in. Claire was bored with playing chess with Jamie and wanted to play something else. She wanted to teach him strip poker. So I left myself an opening if I chose to do a second chapter. But I have to finish E2B first.

I hope you liked this and it brought a smile to your face.

You can find me on AO3. There I am LadyJane518.

Thanks for reading!