#i’m scrolling through this sound CACKLING IN GLEE

[mollyrolls]

one thing abt me is i love when there’s a tiktok dance that makes the men doing it so clearly feel themselves, like yes girlie pop off

[i-used-to-wear-the-fedora]

Venom Let There Be Carnage Alternate Ending

"What would Venom do?" Eddie asked himself as he tapped on the desk, scrolling through his computer for something to help him. "We're fucked." The reporter banged his head against the desk when there was a knock on the apartment door. Despite their fight, as Eddie got up he hoped that maybe it was Venom coming back.

"Yeah, what's u-" Eddie trailed off when he saw the woman at the door. Frances Barrison had a large grin on her face.

"Hey there Eddie." She stepped in the apartment as the man backed away. "You're invited to mine and Cletus' wedding."

"Do I get a choice in this?" Eddie asked as he scrambled for something to defend himself with.

"Nope." She opened her mouth and began to shriek.

~~

"C'mon Eddie. Pick up, pick up..." Anne sat in her fiance's minivan, trying the man's number again but still got nothing.

'He's not picking up. Typical.'

"Well you're right there." Anne said as she tried to dial again, Venom manifesting over her shoulder to look at the phone screen.

"I'm sorry but how are you so can about this? There's literally an alien inside you right now. You kissed Mrs. Chen so he could go inside you. Don't your think that's weird?" Dan said as he looked at both his fiance and the alien incredulously.

"We know it's weird, at this point we're just used to it."

"How do you get used to that?" Dan asked as he pulled the car into park in front of Eddie's apartment building. The trio getting out and moving inside. Dan reaching for the elevator button but one of Venom's tendrils extended out and slapped his hand away.

'No time need stairs.'

"Venom said we don't have time for the elevator."

"Well tell him that I have tender calves and am taking the stairs." Dan pressed the button again when more tendrils shot out and grabbed the doctor. "What the hell-?" The doctor didn't get to finish as he was thrown up the flights of stairs followed closely by Anne and Venom. "Hey! What the hell was that? ...ow..."

'Tell him I think him and his tender calves are full of shit.'

"Venom said this was easier."

'Liar.' Anne rolled her eyes at the symbiote and instead focused on finding Eddie's apartment. Wasn't hard considering the door was blown almost completely off.

"That can't be good." Dr. Dan commented as they stepped over the door.

'Thank you for the commentary Dr. Dan.'

"Hey he's doing his best." Anne defended her fiance. Facing the room she was greeted by a mess. Not unusual save the large claw marks along the wall and all the busted out windows. "Don't suppose you had anything to do with this?"

'No. Not that we can remember.' Venom peeked of the woman and called out. "Eddie, we're here and willing to take an apology for your stupidity-wait where's Sonny and Cher?"

"Sonny and Cher?" Dan asked as he looked around the small apartment.

"Our chickens."

"Why do you have chickens?" Anne asked as she took a deep breath. "Uh gross. What's that smell?"

"The answer to both of those questions are, you don't want to know."

"Hey!" Dan came towards them holding a card in his hand. "Found this...I don't think it's good." Venom had one of his tendrils lash out, grabbing the card from Dan's hand and holding it in front of his and Anne's face.

"It's...."

"...a wedding invitation."

~~

"Oh what a happy day! Aren't you excited Eddie? Me and Frances finally getting out promised wedding." Cletus danced in the chapel's aisle excitedly. His suit covered by a ridiculous fur coat as he hummed before taking a seat in the pews next to Eddie. Eddie glared at Cletus as he wrapped an arm around the man's shoulders. "Or you at a loss for words too?"

"I'm gagged you asshole." Came out a muffled grunt as he tried to pull away from the man. Looking across the aisle he saw Detective Mulligan still slumped over unconscious. Eddie had been in a lot of not good situations before. But trapped with a serial killer that had alien symbiote in his body and they both wanted to kill him? Probably near the top of the list.

"All we have to do is wait for our guest of honor to arrive and we'll have a full on family reunion! Carnage sure was excited when I mentioned both his daddies were gon be here."

Daddies? Eddie narrowed his eyes. He was barely able to take care of himself, the idea he had a part in making a baby was somehow more terrifying than the situation at hand.

"Don't worry about him baby." The woman who brought him here laughed as she pulled Cletus away and dipping him for a kiss. "All that matters right now is you and me."

"Don't think I don't know that darlin'." The serial killer returned the kiss and very openly shoved his tongue down her throat. Eddie watched in horror as he tried but to vomit in his mouth. Instead focusing on his hands that were bound in front of him and trying to save at them on a broken off chunk of wood from the pew.

He didn't get very far when the doors to the church slammed open. Both he and the psychotic couple took pause and turned to see Anne standing in there doorway, a very angry look on her face.

"Anne!" Eddie tried to call out excitedly. Cletus pulled away from his to be wife, eyebrow raised.

"And who exactly are you?" Cletus asked. In response Venom appeared, taking over the woman's body and snarling.

"You took our Eddie."

"Oh! Well I guess the show has begun!" Cletus backed away and allowed his body to fade as a large red body took over. He looked like Venom only taller and if Eddie was being frank, much, much more terrifying. It seemed Venom agreed. The symbiote backing away with a loud ,"Shit!"

"Hey there daddy." The symbiote spoke. Extending his arm and grabbing Eddie. Yanking the man in front of them. The other arm turning into a large blade against Eddie's throat. "Don't think we've got the chance to meet. I'm your son. And it's time to pay up."

~~

'Shit, shit, shit!'

Venom cursed as he retreated back into Anne's body. The woman stood there, trying to make the symbiote come back out.

"Venom, what the hell?"

'That's a red one!'

"I can see! What's so scary about that?"

'That means it combined with the blood of another species.'

"And....?"

'And it's a lot stronger than normal ones!'

"So you're saying we're in trouble."

'An understatement but yes. Very much so.'

"Can you come back out now?" Anne yelled as she scrambled back when the symbiote began to approach them. Eddie in his grip, looked almost as terrified as they were.

.

'No way, we'd definitely die.'

"We're definitely going to die of you don't come out!" Anne screamed as she dodged out of the way of a tendril. It narrowly missed her head as she began to crawl under the pews away from the creature.

'No you're definitely going to die. We'd probably be fine.'

Another tendril wrapped around Anne's ankle, starting to drag her back to the creature.

"Yeah but Eddie won't be!"

'Hmmmm....'

"If you come out I'll let you eat people!" Anne was now full out panicking as she clung to the leg of a church bench for dear life.

'Really?'

"Yes! Everyone! Just help me out!"

'Okay!' The bench finally gave way but Venom took over the woman's body. As they were pulled up to the creature, Venom jumped up and punched the creature with a hard uppercut. This surprised them enough to drop Eddie. The reporter quickly crawling out of the way as the red symbiote retaliated. Bringing the makeshift blade down on Venom as they just further their own shield. The two trading blows when the church bells started to ring loudly. Both the symbiote screeched in pain. Retreating into their hosts bodies.

This left Anne and Cletus staring at each other. Anne getting ready to run when she was grabbed from behind by the strong arms of a woman.

"Hey there blondie." The other woman giggled as Cletus approached them.

"Ah Frances darling, got me another wedding gift? You shouldn't have." The bells continued to toll when the man grabbed a stray plastic bag from the dirty floor and wrapping it around the woman's face. Anne choked and gasped while the couple just stared at her with glee. Darkness starting to creep into the woman's vision when there was a loud shout.

"Hey! Get the fuck away from my fiance!" The grip on Anne loosened allowing her to fall to the ground. She immediately took the bag off to see Dan holding an aerosol can in one hand and a lighter in the other. "Say hello to my little friends!"

By now the bell had stopped and everyone was clearly able to hear this terrible quip.

'He did not just say that.' Venom spoke in Anne's head.

"No...he did."

'I still don't get why you left us for him.'

Venom couldn't complain too much as he took over Anne's body again. Dan lit his makeshift flame thrower and backed the couple away. The red symbiote taking over Cletus' body again and growling.

"This isn't over." The creature hissed out, grabbing the woman and swinging out of the chapel she cackled, them disappearing into the night. But that wasn't what was important. Instead they rushed over to Eddie who was sprawled out on the floor.

"Eddie!" Venom rushed over to the man. Leaning down they ripped the gag out as he opened his eyes.

"Mmm...Venom? You actually came?" He sounded surprised. The symbiote sliced through the ropes and brought the man up in a hug. "Whoa there buddy....you must've really missed me."

"We're still angry at you."

"Yeah. I kind of figured."

"Is there anything you want to say?"

"I'm an idiot?"

"And?"

"You're not a parasite?"

"And...?"

"And....I'm sorry. I was a huge asshole and I could probably be a better host."

"Isn't there anything else you want to say to them?" They turned to see Dan who had been intently watching them from a distance.

"Anything else?" Eddie asked confused.

"Like I love you?" Venom asked and Eddie made a face before leaning in.

"Yeah. I guess. I love you sounds about right." Venom leaned down, lips locking with Eddie's as they left Anne's body and took over his.

"Aww..... that's sweet. I think." Dan spoke as Anne stepped back. "You okay?"

"Yeah. I think so. Honestly I'm glad they're finally working through their issues."

"Yeah....here's hoping they don't have anymore kids though." Dan laughed as he said this. "I mean, what are the odds?"

[witchygirl99]

finding a photo of your enemy as a toddler, inukag

Ask, and you shall receive.

1800 words under the cut. Not edited. Written at work so it was a shoddy rush job and everything is very vague and you'll just have to accept this.

I'll write a proper, better video gamer AU one day. For now though...

Won't You Say (You Love Me, Too)

The thing is—

The thing is that Inuyasha isn’t meant to be here. Sure, he’s a little drunk. And sure, Koga’s stupid face dared him, because Koga is both stupid, has a face, and that face is stupid. Inuyasha didn’t have to listen, though. Inuyasha could have done a billion other things, like walk away, or laugh the dare off, or – or – could have even gotten himself another drink.

That… That would have been the smarter plan.

Inuyasha hiccups, flinching at the noise. He is so not supposed to be here.

“Inuyasha,” stupid Koga hisses from below. It’s probably supposed to be a whisper. It’s not. It’s like…quieter yelling, but yelling nonetheless.

Haughtily, Inuyasha glares down at his teammate. The window that he’s jimmied open to break into the Priestess House is still open. It’s unseasonably warm for an autumn night, but it’s strangely comforting. At least, Inuyasha thinks so. That could just be the alcohol talking, though.

“Inuyasha,” Koga hisses again, “what do you see?”

He blinks, frowns, and then squints into the dark room. There’s not a ton of illumination from either the moon, or the streetlights. He thinks, dimly, that this is a…bedroom? A bedroom. This is not, in fact, the office that they thought they were breaking into.

[Read the rest below the cut.]

He takes in a deep breath, brain pinging at him worriedly. He knows this scent. It’s familiar. Too familiar. Inuyasha should know whose room he’s in and it’s on the tip of his tongue – his nose? No, that’s not a saying – when Koga makes another hissing sound.

Ugh.

“What?” Inuyasha snarls, so desperate to glare out the window at his stupid teammate and at said stupid teammate’s face that he nearly stumbles. Bracing himself on the little table underneath, he makes a point to roll his eyes when the wolf demon waves alarmingly at him. “What is so urgent that you need to—”

“I hear them,” Koga whisper-yells, because he’s stupid. “They’re just down the street.”

“What?” he exclaims, but this time it’s desperate rather than irritated. “I thought Miroku said the girls would be gone for at least an hour.”

“Well, his intel is shit,” Koga replies. “Now get out!”

So much for sneaking into their offices to find out if any of their playing strategies would be visible. The regional gaming tournament is only two days away, and every single member of the six-person Priestess team has been dominating the competition. Their battle strategies have taken weaker characters and turned them into something surprisingly efficient. It should be impossible. Character stats don’t lie.

And yet. And yet. The women of the Priestess House have made a mockery of nearly everyone there. And the worst of them?

Kagome Higurashi. The absolute bane of his existence. She came onto the scene about three years ago, rising up the ranks. Inuyasha hadn’t even given her a second thought until The Incident last year.

The Incident, in which she—

“Inuyasha,” Koga hisses again, like an angry cat. A cat. Not a wolf. Inuyasha should tell him this. Inuyasha is desperate to tell him this. “You need to jump out the window, you fuck.”

Right. The Priestess girls were coming back. Kagome would be with them and that would be— That would be bad. Not just because of the breaking and entering, or the trespassing. It would be bad because Inuyasha would have to be around her for likely more than a minute, which would mean that he’d have to stare into those dark eyes and that too-kind smile – like they’re friends, which they are not – and then—

“For fuck’s sake, I’m going to leave you,” Koga states, and that finally drills through Inuyasha’s pretty drunk skull. Can skulls be drunk?

No?

Maybe.

“I’m coming,” Inuyasha replies, pushing upwards, but he’s an idiot. The table underneath him isn’t that sturdy, and so his pressure on it to climb back out the window from which he entered sends a picture frame crashing to the ground.

“Inuyasha!”

“Oh my god, say my name one more time and I will murder you!” Inuyasha snaps. Koga is not helping, that fucking fuck. “Hold the fuck on, we can’t let them know—” And he bends down to grab the frame and put it back. Hopefully whoever’s room this is won’t notice.

And then he sees the picture in the frame, practically mocking him. It’s fucking Kagome Higurashi, no more than four years old and clinging to a small baby who looks distinctly unhappy by the entire experience. It’s undoubtedly her. While there’s more chub to her cheeks, those are the same sparkling eyes and that’s the same beaming smile. He would know that smile anywhere because it always makes him feel off-balance, confused. No one just smiles at people, at strangers. No one just smiles at you while they’re getting destroyed in one-on-one battle, and then shakes your hand with that same happy smile when they’ve lost. They don’t use that exact same smile when they see you again later in the year, at another tournament, and only stop smiling when they beat you so badly—

Oh god.

Oh fucking god.

This is Kagome’s bedroom. This is Kagome’s bedroom and he’s in her room and—

Kagome Higurashi at four years old smiles the exact same way, and she’s clinging to a little boy and that’s a big purple dinosaur right beside her on the couch. A dinosaur. She likes dinosaurs, oh god this is the worst—

“Godspeed, fucker,” Koga whispers-yells. “We hardly knew ye!” There’s the distinct sound of bushes rustling. His own teammate has abandoned him. Inuyasha is going to commit murder.

Firmly putting down the picture frame, Inuyasha starts the careful climb back out the window. He’s got one leg out, half of his body strained to reach the little lip in the brickwork he climbed up earlier. His hands grab at the sill, twisting him, and then he sees it.

It.

The purple dinosaur.

It’s on her bed, perfectly placed and disgustingly cute.

“Oh no,” Inuyasha groans, and then promptly shoves himself out the window. It takes him ten precious seconds to balance, and then another ten seconds to close the window and hide the fact he ever broke in in the first place. At the first sound of voices, Inuyasha freezes against the brick, propped up in a little corner and distinctly not looking down. It’s not a far drop, but the last thing Inuyasha needs is to lose his balance, topple into the garden, and then have the Priestess women come running to see what the fuck happened.

He waits, breath nearly held, until they start opening the door. There’s enough fuss and discussion that Inuyasha feels safe in making his escape, running away like the hounds of hell are chasing him. He doesn’t stop. He doesn’t look back.

When he finds Koga, lounging on the couch and drinking yet another beer at their shared gaming house, it takes a solid ten seconds of very slow counting to remind himself that murder is bad.

Besides, they have a tournament to win on Saturday.

X+X

The next day, Inuyasha finds himself looking for purple dinosaurs on Amazon.

This is, well, not ideal.

“What are you doing?” Hachi asks, eyes narrowed in confusion and then widening in concern when Inuyasha flinches to hide this embarrassing lack of restraint. “Wow, okay.”

“Fuck off,” Inuyasha replies, but he’s too mortified to even make it mean-sounding. He just comes off as pathetic.

There’s a snort in the doorway, and Miroku comes bumbling in with a clipboard. He takes his duties as team manager far too seriously. “What did Hachi do wrong now?”

“I didn’t do anything wrong,” Hachi replies, eyeing Inuyasha again. “He’s the one that went all crazy when I asked him what he was doing.”

“And what was he doing?” Miroku presses. He’s grinning like a fool because he’s the worst. The worst best friend a guy could ask for. Inuyasha doesn’t know why he’s teammates with these idiots. It’s bad enough he’s got to deal with Koga.

“I wasn’t do anything,” he tries, but Hachi’s just shaking his head.

“Looking at his phone. I don’t know.”

Miroku turns to him, a shark that smells blood in the water. “Your phone? Who are you texting?”

“No one,” Inuyasha scoffs. “Fuck off.”

This gets a nod, and he has one moment of hope that Miroku won’t push the issue when his best friend hums. “You’re right. You have no friends outside of this team.”

“I’m not his friend!” Koga yells from somewhere else in the house.

Inuyasha sighs.

“So you must have been watching something.”

“No,” Hachi argues, “he was holding his phone like this. He was reading something, or maybe scrolling?”

“Inuyasha can’t read!” comes Koga’s voice again. They all ignore him.

“You’re not on Instagram,” Miroku hums, playing fucking Sherlock Holmes. “And you’re definitely not on TikTok. Discord is just another form of talking to people, so that’s out.”

Growling, he shoves his phone in the pocket of hoodie and gets up. “I am leaving.”

“Ooh, he’s leaving,” his friend continues, blue eyes alight with something dangerously close to glee. “Fuck, it has to be about Kagome then. That’s the only time you get this pissy.”

“Ha!” Hachi laughs because he, too, is the worst.

“That’s my future wife!” Koga yells from the other room, but that’s just because he’s delusional. As if someone like Koga could fucking rub two braincells together enough to impress her. Inuyasha’s face does a thing at the very thought.

“Oh my god, it is!” Miroku cackles.

“No,” Inuyasha answers, and he thinks he does a pretty good job of remaining calm. “But fuck you, anyways.”

“Are you reading her Wikitubia again?” his friend asks and that is it—

“One time!” Inuyasha yells, storming away from the main room. “That was one time!”

His teammates’ laughter follows him all the way back to his bedroom. Shippo, rubbing at his eyes after his nap – because he acts like a literal child, it’s embarrassing – just stares at him confusedly. “What did I miss?”

Inuyasha doesn’t stop walking. “Absolutely fucking nothing.” He gets into his room, shuts the door with a disturbing amount of care, and then leaps onto his bed to try and suffocate himself with a pillow. The walls of their gaming house aren’t that thick. If he tries hard enough, Inuyasha could hear the shit they’re undoubtedly still talking about him.

One time, Inuyasha pathetically whines in his head. He was only caught staring at her Wikitubia page one time. He was sizing up the enemy. Looking for weaknesses to exploit. That’s the only reason he did it. Just like that’s the only reason he watches her YouTube videos religiously, at least once a day, and always at night once everyone else has fallen asleep.

It’s not because of anything weird. It’s because she’s the enemy. She’s the competition. Inuyasha must figure out a way to destroy her.

Later that night, when he goes back to re-watching an old YouTube video of hers – one Kagome had posted within the first month of her rise to so-called fame – that he sees it.

It.

The purple dinosaur.

Sitting propped up on some pillows, like a prized treasure.

“Motherfucker,” Inuyasha snaps. He doesn’t stop the video, though. There could be secrets. Weaknesses to exploit. Yadda yadda yadda, he’s not in denial, this is only his third time watching it, blah blah—

Kagome smiles in the video and his chest does the thing.

Inuyasha sighs. Miroku can never, ever see his browsing history.

X+X

Tagging: @ideasthatbuildcities​ @wolfcry77​ @alerialblu​ @misspepperpottss​ @sailorbabydoll92​ @willowandfog​ @amethystablaze​ @fawn-eyed-girl​ @noyourenotreal​ @hnn-wnchstr​ @liz8080​ @nsr0716​ @superpixie42​ @itzatakahashi​ @mandirox89​ @inussunflower​ @cstormsinukagblog​ @nartista​ @hopidoodle​ @princessinume​ @lavendertwilight89​ @anxietyaardvark​ @omgitscharlie​ @theinuyashareader​ @ruddcatha​ @umacaking​ @kagometaishostory​ @cammysansstuff​ @sacred-arrow-writes @sacred-arrow @gicu2 @neutronstarchild @kalcia

[waveypedia]

The Real Deal

Ao3

Lena comes to the Nine-Tailed Diner just often enough for the waiters to know her face, but not often enough for them to know her name. She prefers it that way. The anonymity is comforting, but she knows in her gut it’s just an illusion when the waiters give her familiar smiles as she slides into her usual spot in the corner.

There was a time, before she met Webby, when Lena would scowl and duck her head away from the waiters’ friendly greetings. Where the mere notion of being noticed would make her gut churn and blood boil.

Not anymore.

Lena taps her carefully manicured nails against the smooth table as she waits, watching the cozily bustling diner. She’s not usually one for nail polish, but Dewey was just so excited when he saw the color that perfectly matched her magic, and despite her snarky exterior she couldn’t say no to Dewey’s infectious excitement when he bounced up to her with the bottles of nail polish. She smiles at the memory.

If Lena from a year and a half ago could see her now, she’d be unrecognizable. That’s not such a bad thing, Lena muses.

She pulls out her phone and quickly scrolls through social media, smiling when a picture of Webby pops up on her feed. Webby doesn’t post much, but when she does, just seeing her face never fails to make Lena smile.

The noise of the city and the harbor outside eventually fades into a calming white noise in the back of Lena’s mind. She’s used to the city. It was her home for fifteen years. But the sound of a particular car pulling up to the curb jerks Lena out of her thoughts, and she presses her face to the window, filled with an almost childlike glee.

A familiar car, light green and blocky and just as eccentric as its owner, putters at the curb. Lena can only see into the drivers’ side, but she snorts as she spots a familiar stupid-looking hat and chuckles to herself. Soon enough, a familiar face pops out from the other side of the car, looks to the corner window expectantly, and waves enthusiastically. Lena grins and waves back.

The bell on the diner door jingles, right on schedule, and Lena’s friend nearly sprints over to her booth.

“Hi, Lena!” Boyd chirps, and Lena grins.

“Hi,” she responds, significantly less energetic but with the same sentiment behind it.

Every month, Lena and Boyd meet at the Nine-Tailed Diner, just the two of them. It started one day when it was supposed to be all of the kids, but the McDuck kiddos were called away on an adventure, Violet had a school project, and Gosalyn was busy in St. Canard. It doesn’t take a genius to recognize how similar Lena and Boyd’s unique situations and backstories are.

Lena didn’t realize how lonely she was until she had someone who shared her experiences.

Boyd rubs at his elbow. It’s a nervous stim, and Lena’s attention is piqued. If Gyro said something insensitive to him again, well, he may be tall, but he’s a skinny twink, I can take him—

“Lena?”

Lena bites back a swell of nervousness and feigns casualness. “Hm?”

“How… do you feel about Webby?”

Lena blinks. “Well, I like her. You know that, dummy.”

“Yeah, but… how does that feel? You know… liking someone?” Boyd won’t meet her eyes.

Lena frowns. “What do you mean? Doesn’t everyone feel that way?”

Boyd stares at the table, lip trembling, and Lena ponders.

She doesn’t entirely know how to describe how she feels about Webby. Before Webby, it was just her and Aunt Magica. The two of us against the world, Lena always told herself, but it was always the world against Aunt Magica, with Lena sandwiched in the middle. And then she grew to hate Magica as well, like she always should have. For so long, Lena only knew hatred and apathy, whoever it may be directed to.

And then she met Webby.

And then she met Webby, and everything changed.

Webby was—is—a literal ray of sunshine. When Webby’s smiling face pops up in Lena’s view, when her bubbling laugh or high voice makes Lena’s heart sing. It’s stereotypical and cliché beyond belief, much to Lena’s chagrin, but that’s how she feels . If Huey offered her a thesaurus he must have stored in his Junior Woodchuck Guidebook somewhere (that thing has everything — it’s kind of ridiculous, honestly) she wouldn’t change it. There’s no other way to describe it.

“I… don’t know,” Lena hums. “Just… whenever I see her, I instantly feel better. It’s free serotonin, y’know?”

Boyd hums in acknowledgement, and after a moment of semi-awkward silence Lena continues.

She’s never been all that good about putting her feelings into words. She’s not particularly wordy like Huey, and she doesn’t have Violet’s extensive vocabulary (although she’s picked up quite a few words and phrases from the Sabrewing family). Not that she cares about it. It makes these kind of conversations difficult, though. But for Boyd, she will try.

“She was the first person to ever care about me,” Lena muses, fidgeting with the hem of her oversized sweater under the table. She’s had it forever. It feels like home, in the same way Webby does. “She has a special place in my heart. She was my first friend, but it’s different than my relationship with the boys, or Vi, or you.”

Boyd nods and avoids her gaze. He’s unhappy with that conclusion, although Lena can’t fathom why.

“So… by that logic,” Boyd begins, “I should be in love with Huey, right?”

Lena shrugs. It is true that Huey directly parallels Webby in their respective situations. “However you want to define it, dude.”

Boyd flexes his fingers. He’s still unhappy.

“Look, I’m not gonna judge you,” Lena says, snorting slightly and raising her hands placatingly in front of her. “I know homophobia is A Thing, but I literally just talked extensively about how I’m head over heels for another girl, so…”

“Homophobia is terrible,” Boyd responds finally. “I genuinely do not understand how people could think such a thing! How does one act so cruelly to another just because of something so trivial as sexual orientation?”

Lena presses her lips together. “Beats me, dude.”

After a moment, she adds, “So what’s your problem, then?”

Boyd’s head jerks up. “Huh?”

“You’re clearly disappointed about something ,” Lena says, gesturing with her arms and raising her eyebrows. “I know you well enough, ‘cause of these dumb meetings. I’m just gonna point out they were your idea.”

Boyd smirks, ever so slightly. “You love them, though.”

Lena looks away and crosses her arms pointedly, but allows the smallest of smiles to slip through her mask. Boyd cackles at that.

“But seriously. What’s botherin’ you?”

“By all accounts… I should feel that way about Huey. I don’t care about genders, and I feel differently about him than I feel about you and the other kids. But saying I love him, it just doesn’t feel right.” Boyd rubs at his arm.

“Hey, that’s fine!” Lena replies. “That’s kinda how I feel about labels, y’know? Webby likes ‘em, but I don’t.” She narrows her eyes and leans forward with her elbows on the table. “Is Huey pressuring you? ‘Cause if he is I’ll—”

“No! Nononono, Lena, it’s fine,” Boyd chuckles nervously, raising his hands placatingly in front of him. “If anything, I guess I’m pressuring myself. Logically, based on all accounts I have consulted, I should be in love. But…”

Lena gives an exaggeratedly frustrated sigh, making Boyd chuckle despite himself.

“Look, Pink tells me aaaaalll the time that my magic isn’t logical. Especially friendship magic. It follows its own rules, and it’s about looove and the power of friendship or whatever. So cheesy. But I guess your love might be the same thing.”

Lena takes a deep breath and leans back in the diner booth. “Stop pushing your feelings into dumb little boxes they don’t belong in. They won’t fit.”

Boyd smiles at her, small but not muted. “Thanks, Lena.”

Lena glances away, staring pointedly out the window. “Whatever. Don’t expect it to happen again.”

Boyd just giggles at that. His laughter is frustratingly infectious, and after a moment Lena finds herself chuckling alongside him.

The rest of the afternoon flits by, and for the life of her Lena cannot recall what they talked about. But their first topic of conversation, and Boyd’s worry, sits heavy on her mind for a while to come.

--

When Doctor (unofficially, shh, if the news got out that he had never finished his doctorate because of those ridiculous geese Gyro would be ruined ) Gyro Gearloose secured a job with McDuck Industries, he did not expect his precious lab would be run afoot by small children. Not even by Fenton, who acts more like a small child than some of these literal small children sometimes.

It’s almost closing time, but that has never mattered to McDuck Industries’ research branch. Even if Fenton and Manny go home eventually, Gyro has spent weeks on end in the lab. He will outlast them all.

Well, he used to. Before his team and his boss dragged him out to see the sunlight. And before Boyd.

For the record, Gyro did not forget about closing time. Not this time. He was working with that infernal little rodent, who, along with the blue nephew, had somehow wormed Mr. McDuck into allowing her to take some freelance work in the research department. Gyro’s department.

...He did have to admit that Gadget Hackwrench was frustratingly proficient at mechanics and machinery. Especially since she was so small. She was a great help to Gyro’s newest project, which required a lot of rough mechanical know-how.

Gadget, unlike the rest of them, was not incredibly self-sacrificial and actually liked clocking out when she was supposed to. She had to go home to her Rescue Avengers, or whatever they were called. Gyro couldn’t wrap his head around her way of thinking.

So they were tinkering away at the panel of the machine when Gadget glanced at the clock and reminded him of her obligations. She was packing up when Boyd came in.

“Dr. Gearloose!” Boyd, chipper as ever, entered the lab and bounced up to Gyro’s workstation. He was a bundle of energy, reminiscent of the blue and pink children. His hands darted around him like a hummingbird, never quite staying in one place long enough for Gyro’s tired brain to process. After a minute of unconsciously trying to watch and comprehend it, Gyro glanced away and rubbed at his forehead under his glasses while Boyd greeted Gadget with the same enthusiasm.

Wait. Was it really enthusiasm?

Pushing his glasses up his nose, Gyro watched carefully as Boyd flitted around Gadget, mentally comparing his movements and stims with what he knew of happy Boyd. And yes. It was off.

Gadget packed up, and Gyro slowly but carefully placed his wrench down and turned to face Boyd, leaning against his desk in a facade of casualness.

“So.”

“Can you fix me?”

Gyro pinches the bridge of his nose. “What did you do?”

Boyd clasps his hands nervously in front of him. “No. No. Nothing! I just… I know how I’m supposed to feel, but I don’t feel like that! So I must be broken!”

Gyro stares at Boyd like he’s grown a second head —- which, with Gyro’s robotics, is actually plausible. “Pft, you’re not broken. You think you could be broken?! I made you, kid. I fixed you up after Akita tampered with you. The great Gyro Gearloose does not make mistakes.”

Manny taps something unsupportive, and Fenton and Gadget both —- purposefully badly —- hide their laughter. Gyro screeches something incomprehensible at them. It doesn’t matter what he says; the point gets across.

Boyd is still staring up at Gyro, with that hero-worship puppy-dog look in his eyes that he wears so well, and he looks so scared that Gyro’s heart twists. His body sags, and he sighs and rolls his eyes and gestures for Boyd to follow. He perks up, and is immediately at Gyro’s heels with a characteristic grin, but his hands are trembling. Did he teach himself to do that?

Gyro kneels in front of Boyd, behind his desk, and stares into his eyes. Not in a symbolic way —- if he focuses just right, he can see the circuitry in his head.

Gyro purses his lips. “Everything looks fine. I told you I don’t make mistakes.”

“But—- But Lena’s in love with Webby and Dewey’s had three crushes in the past month and I don’t feel anything like that, ever! Lena says it’s fine but she’s had one girlfriend and that worked out for her perfectly and I’m happy for her and Webby, I really am, but I don’t know how to make it work for me and it must be some sort of error in the programming and I—-I just want to be a real boy!”

“Whoa, whoa!” Gyro shoves his hands in front of him reflexively. He pulls them back, out of Boyd’s face, when he processes and realizes how overwhelming that gesture could be. Boyd buries his face in his hands. “You are a real boy.”

Boyd gives him a tiny nod and doesn’t respond. Gyro’s throat feels tight and constricting, bile building up inside. He wants to say something and break the tension and silence, but he doesn’t know what or how.

“Love isn’t everything,” he says lamely after a minute. “I didn’t fall in love until Fenton, honestly. Not for real. Della said something about ‘demiromanticism,’ whatever the hell that is, and she says Mr. McDuck is the same way, but honestly I don’t really care. I don’t need to compartmentalize and hyper-analyze every aspect of myself that way. But if you want to, you could talk to her. Or the red nephew. He’d know.”

It’s weird, being this open and honest about his thoughts and feelings that aren’t inventions and blueprints. A part of Gyro is screaming at himself to close, shutter the windows and pull the walls back up and raise the prickly spikes to defend against anyone who dares get close. But he doesn’t. He doesn’t know why he’s doing this, really.

Strike that. He knows why. It’s Boyd . He’ll do anything to bring that kid’s sunny disposition back. And he knows why he’ll do that, too.

“Demiromanticism?” Boyd places a finger on his chin and tilts his head ever so carefully to the side, testing out the feel of the word. “What’s that?”

Gyro shrugs lazily. “I dunno. Some fancy way of saying I only want a relationship with people who get close to me. Which is a very exclusive circle.”

Boyd pauses. Blinks. Gyro can nearly see the wheels turning in his head. “If there’s a term for that, do you think… there’s a term for going all the way? A term for never wanting a relationship?”

Gyro raises his eyebrows. “Probably.” He reaches for his phone. Boyd could search for it in his internal search engine (proudly programmed by Gyro two months ago, since search engines didn’t exist twenty years ago, but for the record if he had thought of it Akita hadn’t had him on such a tight schedule he could have done it. For the record.)

“Aromanticism,” Gyro muses, reading out loud. “The lack of romantic attraction. Does that sound about right?”

“Hmm,” Boyd puts his finger to his chin again. “It fits! I like it!”

Gyro smiles, that soft and gentle smile reserved exclusively for Boyd (and Fenton, sometimes). “Perfect. Now get out of my lab. It’s past closing time.”

Boyd sticks out his tongue, playful. “Like you care. Don’t stay up too late!”

Gyro just smiles in response and resolves himself to not make any promises he won’t keep.

Boyd gives him a quick, tight hug goodbye. He always gives hugs, to say hello and goodbye and everything inbetween, and Gyro is never quite prepared for them, although he certainly doesn’t mind them. Gyro isn’t very comfortable with touch or affection in general when it doesn’t come from a select few people, but he never protests. Boyd is one of those “select few people”.

If today’s hug is a bit tighter and longer than usual (but still brief, since Boyd knows well how Gyro clams up with physical affection, even if it’s from him, and he respects that), neither Boyd nor Gyro say a word.

Boyd says his goodbyes to the rest of Team Science (Gadget is long gone by now) and skips out of the room. “I can’t wait to tell Huey about this! He probably knows all about aromanticism! It’s probably in his Junior Woodchuck Guidebook!”

Gyro leans against his desk, the cuffs of his shirt catching on the corners. “You do that, kid.”

“And Lena! She’ll be happy to know I figured it out, even if she won’t say so!” Boyd chirps. “Thanks, Dr. Gearloose!”

Gyro’s wry smile turns into something monumentally more sincere and real. “No problem, kid.”

The elevator dings and Boyd is gone. Gyro used to revel in the lab’s silence, but even with the background noise of Fenton, Manny, and Lil’ Bulb tinkering away at their respective projects (and decidedly not saying anything), it feels uncomfortably quiet without Boyd’s incessant chatter.

He hums softly to himself and picks up his phone to call Della before she hears about this from Huey and berates him for not telling her right away. He puts on a new pot of coffee for when he comes back, and lets Fenton know he’s going on his break.

“You know the workday technically ended half an hour ago, right? You don’t need me to clock you out,” Fenton replies, grinning. He can read Gyro like a book.

Gyro rolls his eyes and grumbles under his breath, but waves his former intern off.

As he walks out, he pictures Boyd. He would be sitting in the limo, brimming with excitement, tapping his fingers eagerly on his legs with barely contained enthusiasm. Launchpad picked him up for a sleepover at Mr. McDuck’s, so by this point he should be almost home. He’ll burst into the mansion and spill his discovery to Huey before he catches his breath, and he, Huey, Webby, and Violet will make a board and a list of thoughts and information on aromanticism while Dewey tries to catch popcorn in his mouth and Lena and Louie add snarky comments. They’ll all chime in with their own experiences and eat lots of sugary snacks until they eventually fall asleep in a pile of pillows and blankets and each other on the living room couch. Boyd will come into the lab on Monday and tell him all about it, and maybe Huey will as well.

Gyro smiles fondly to himself as he steps into the hallway outside of the lab and leans against the wall, pulling up Della’s contact on his phone. The tab on aromanticism is still open on his phone, and he scrolls through it idly, taking note of all the information and how it could relate to Boyd.

He’s not fit for this role in Boyd’s life. But he loves Boyd, so he’ll do his best. And Dr. Gyro Gearloose’s best is a feat they tell tales of.

Across town, in the mansion, sitting on her sleeping bag in her pajamas and sneaking handfuls of gummy bears behind Violet’s watchful eye, Lena shares a similar sentiment. Boyd explains what he’s learned, bursting with excited energy in the form of overenthusiastic gestures, and Lena wonders why this little, enthusiastic kid decided to choose her as a sister figure.

But she’s not complaining.

Lena sneaks another handful of gummies and wraps her arm around Webby, who makes a bright, contented sound and snuggles into her side. No, she’s definitely not complaining.

~

i wrote this almost a year ago actually, for the Because We're Family LGBTQuaranzine! (@ducktaleslgbtquaranzine) This is a nonprofit pay-what-you-want zine, with all of the money going to DirectRelief, a charity dedicated to Covid relief in countries that have been hit hard by it. I had a lot of fun working on this zine and this particular piece, and I worked with a lot of great people. The zine is chock-full of amazing pieces and really talented, skilled people, and all the proceeds go to a reputable cause. I cannot recommend it enough!

this piece is pretty close to my heart because it encompasses a lot of my favorite things - weblena, lena & boyd friendship (they have SO many parallels i think they would get along so well!), and gyro being a father to boyd! in all honesty, this was my very first zine and i was really nervous, but i had so much fun writing this and i'm grateful it was such a good experience!

a lot of boyd's confusion about aromanticism is taken straight from my self-realization process. that's some good ole projection, baybee! i didn't have anyone like huey, but it's certainly difficult to figure out what romantic love really is and how that affects you and your relationships. it's like a puzzle. it's not explicitly mentioned in the fic, but i'm autistic, and boyd is pretty heavily autistic-coded (and god i could go on for hours about that, and i have before, but i'll spare you all the tangent, although i'll happily talk about it if you want me to), which adds this whole other obstacle when figuring out aromanticism, because we struggle with social relationships and fitting them in boxes. sometimes labels feel really comforting and satisfactory, but sometimes it's a real puzzle to fit into these boxes that weren't always made for us. sometimes they fit, and sometimes they don't. it was pretty fun exploring that from a slightly different perspective, as well as putting some of my own thoughts and experiences into words.

if you ever wanna talk ducktales, writing, these amazing characters, or really anything hmu here or on my twitter! thank you for reading, and please leave a like/reblog/comment (i read tags) if you enjoyed it!

[taetaespeaches]

“You can’t fight destiny.”

hoseok x reader (or oc) genre: fluff word count: 3.6K

a/n: Hi lovelies!! Here is Hoseok and Petal/reader’s first date. Petal is expecting dinner and then Hobi hijacks the date. It’s kind of chaos but :( they like each other so much :( ok, thanks for reading and I hope you all enjoy! :))

DINNER was safe. Simple and lowkey. The perfect first date for two people who were taking it slow. Probationary friends, you reminded yourself.

However, when you stepped out the doors of your apartment building to spot Hoseok leaning against the passenger side of his car, his arms crossed over his ribcage wearing that sunshine smile, you had to admit it was hard to remember why exactly you were taking things slow.

“Petal,” he called out in excitement, you holding back a giggle as you smiled at him.

“Sunshine,” you replied happily, Hoseok opening the door for you. “Oh, he’s chivalrous,” you noted teasingly, the man chuckling.

“Just a gentleman,” he responded, adjusting his non-existent bowtie, making you roll your eyes playfully.

“Thank you,” you told him sincerely, Hobi giving you a small smile that made his dimples just above the corners of his mouth pop out.

“Hi, Petal,” he whispered, wrapping an arm around your lower back, pulling you into a hug. Your arms easily draped over the back of his neck as he kissed your cheek.

“Hey,” you grinned. “Where are you taking me?” You asked, pulling away from him, but leaving your hands at the nape of his neck as your fingers toyed with ends of his hair.

“Well,” he nodded to the car. “Let me show you.”

Nodding to him, you crawled into the passenger seat, Hoseok waiting until you were situated before shutting the door and jogging around the front of the car. You watched as his hair bounced atop his head, dyed blonde with a pinkish highlight throughout making it appear almost peach. It looked good on him.

As Hoseok opened the driver side door, hopping into the vehicle, you appreciated the way the black jeans hugged his thighs, his white t-shirt tucked into them neatly, a jean jacket finishing the look.

“You don’t mind less than classy foods, do you?” He asked as he pulled out onto the street, you giving him a questioningly look.

“I’m not picky,” you confirmed. “What are we eating?” You pried with a small chuckle.

A smile curved on the man’s lips as he continued looking forward, driving you to an unknown destination. “I’m trying to surprise you, Petal,” he giggled, you rolling your eyes as you settled in your seat, though you wore a fond grin.

“I’m not used to surprises,” you told him, the man humming thoughtfully.

“Well you better get used to them,” he noted, making you let out a small breathy laugh. Hoseok’s presence in your life has been nothing but a massive surprise, and a bright one at that, so you had no doubt that the longer this went on the more surprises and brightness he’d bring.

The car ride was relatively quiet but comfortable. It was as though Hoseok was trying to ensure you’d be relaxed without the pressure of filling the air with nervous talk. However, the silence was shattered when the man pulled into a parking lot for a massive carnival.

“I thought we were getting dinner?” You gawked at the man, Hoseok giggling as he nodded.

“We are. They have food at these things you know,” he joked, you letting out a scoff of disbelief.

“You said, ‘a casual dinner, nothing major’,” you pointed out, Hoseok giggling happily. “You’re insane,” you told him through a massive smile, the excitement of the carnival already making you giddy.

“A good insane?” He questioned as he parked the car. Turning to look at you, he smiled vibrantly, you looking at him scrutinizingly.

“Undetermined,” you teased, the man letting out an open-mouthed unabashed laugh, the image and sound giving you a sincere feeling of happiness. “But this is amazing, I wasn’t expecting this at all,” you told him more seriously.

“Should we go eat our casual dinner?” He asked, you scoffing through a laugh.

“Lead the way, Sunshine.”

The man was insane, and you weren’t even sure he was fully aware of how loud and unapologetically gleeful he was. Screams were leaving the man as you competed against him in a carnival game in which you shot water guns into the mouths of some creepy little clown heads to try to fill a water balloon up until it exploded. The first to pop the balloon won and you were definitely beating him. The contrast between you both, Hoseok yelling and making loud sound effects as he struggled to keep his aim and you with your silent focus as you shot your own water gun, was stark and hysterical.  

A particularly ridiculous scream-laugh that sounded from Hoseok had a giggle slipping from you, making you lose your aim, you letting out a small grunt of surprise before quickly recovering. It was only seconds later that your balloon popped, the sound startling Hoseok as he jumped before laughing.

“How are you so good at this?” He asked through his grin, both of you looking at his nearly half-filled balloon, you tossing your head back in laughter as Hoseok watched you fondly.

“Sunshine, I don’t think I’m all that good, I think you’re just that bad,” you teased him, the man letting out a sound of disapproval though he wore an amused smile. “Which stuffed animal do you want?” You asked, the man looking at you with wide eyes that appeared innocent and touched.

“I’m supposed to win you something,” he noted, you giggling. “That one looks like my dog,” he cooed, you gasping in response.

“You have a dog?” You asked him in excitement, Hoseok’s smile widening in response to you unfiltered happiness at the information. It was as if he was making a mental note. Loves animals.

“Yeah, Mickey,” he told you. “You’ll have to meet him.”

Pouting you nodded quickly. “I’d love to.” Turning back to the carnival worker, you asked for the stuffed dog and as soon as it was in your hand, you turned to the man with a wide grin. “For you, Sir.”

“Now this is cute,” he commented as he took the stuffed animal, cooing at it as he inspected it. “Thank you,” he beamed at you. Yeah. This is cute.

“Yeah, yeah,” you dismissed through your fond grin. “Come on, I wanna kick your ass in bumper cars.”

Hoseok watched you wide-eyed as you headed toward the bumper cars, frozen in his place for a moment. “You can’t even win in bumper cars,” he called out, his feet finally moving in a jog to catch up with you, you turning around to flash him a smile with a giggle. “Can you?” He asked, his pitch higher than before as he thought out loud to himself.

“You can win anything,” you responded, shooting him a feigned very serious expression.

“Ah, you’re competitive,” he realized, you smirking as you raised your hand to your face, squinting at your index finger and thumb that were pinched together to silently indicate ‘a little bit’. Hoseok giggled and you realized it was quickly becoming one of your favorite sounds, just behind the carefree cackle he often let out with an open mouth, completely unabashed. Paired with his sunshine smile, you found yourself wanting to make him laugh as much as possible. Lucky for you, he wasn’t stingy in the slightest with sharing his joy.

You watched fondly as Hoseok crawled into a bumper car, sweetly tucking the stuffed dog into his jean jacket, patting its head before looking toward you with a playful glare. “You’re going down, Petal.”

“Calm down, Hoseok, you can’t even win at bumper cars,” you teased, the man scoffing through that adorable laugh, the feelings of utter fondness filling your chest almost making you bashful under his gaze. What the fuck?

The first crash into Hoseok’s bumper car had him screaming with a massive smile, the man trying to steer into you as you smashed into him once again, the jolt of his body within the car causing him to look at you in surprise. Eyes blown wide, you burst into cackles at the expression, crumbling against the steering wheel giving the man an opportunity to drive into the side of your car, your laughing figure flailing to the side as Hoseok’s amusement sounded overtop all of the crashes and screams from other drivers.

Now you weren’t one for romantic cliches, but perhaps Hoseok was the exception as the world seemed to slow down around you at the sight of his glee. As he wore that smile you already adored, it felt like you’d been thrown into a scene from a romantic comedy, and you’d arrived to the moment where you realized how much this person was going to mean to you.

It was still new, and of course you were taking things slow, but somethings you just know. And you and Hoseok always did have a weird undeniable chemistry that you felt even when you were trying to deny it. It wouldn’t be a bad thing if the man who tucked a toy dog into his coat for its safety during bumper cars stayed in your life for a while.

The sun was setting and you were still roaming around the carnival, a hot dog on a stick in one hand as you made a peace sign with the other, smiling happily at Hoseok’s phone.

As he lowered the device, scrolling through the shots, he sighed, shaking his head. “That bad?” You asked, the man tsking.

“You look so good in all of them,” he informed you, you pulling your eyebrows together in question. “You make me look bad,” he added, looking up at you with a smile.

“Oh shut up,” you immediately negated, appearing grumpy in an instant. “You’re handsome, don’t be silly.”

The man giggled happily at the seriousness behind your words, enjoying your brief moment of anger. “You get riled up so easily,” he teased, you rolling your eyes as you leaned toward him to look at the phone screen.

“I don’t tolerate nonsense,” you told him with a small smile, Hobi staring at you as you inspected the photo. “Send this to me.”

“You’re cute,” he told you as he looked to the photo. “This one? You sure?”

“Yeah, you look adorable and the pup is in it,” you smiled, patting the stuffed animal on the head that Hobi held in his inner-elbow. He smiled giddily at you just before sending the photo to you.

As you took a bite of your hotdog, you scanned your surroundings mindlessly, making eye contact with an older woman who smiled, you shooting a polite smile with a small bow back before looking back to your date.

“What’s next, Sunshine?” You asked, the man humming as he looked around.

“I’m- not- sure,” he said slowly as he looked around. “More games? Just standing here doing nothing? I just really don’t want the date to end yet,” he smiled shyly, you nearly cooing at how sweet and cute he was.

“Don’t worry, I don’t want it to end either,” you assured him easily. And you really didn’t. Being back in your apartment alone was the last place you wanted to be in that moment. You both started walking through the carnival once again, eyeing different vendors and booths. “Games sound good, but do you really want me to kick your ass some mo-” you started but found yourself interrupted by a tap on your shoulder.

Turning to your side, you spotted the woman who smiled at you moments ago. “Would you like a reading?” She asked you, gesturing down to the tarot cards in her hands, and that’s when you realized she was a fortune teller for the carnival.

“Oh, no, that’s ok. Thank you,” you tried to evade the reading, smiling but shaking your head.

“Free,” she grinned, you shaking your head more adamantly as Hoseok placed a hand to your lower back, giggling as he guided you to the table.

“Come on, Petal, it’s just a little reading,” he teased you through a massive smile.

“Would you stop it?” You whispered to him quietly, the man giggling in amusement, you cursing him under your breath as the woman and the traitor pushed you into the chair.

As Hobi entered behind you, the woman closed a curtain so you were secluded in a weird little booth set up. Fucksake. It hardly even felt professional and you were not one to believe in this kind of stuff anyway. You quickly took the remaining bite of your hotdog, handing the stick to Hoseok for him to deal with as the woman took her seat across the table from you.

Laying out five cards that you didn’t know a single thing about even after her explanations, she hummed thoughtfully. “Have you had any recent changes take place in your life?” Looking behind you toward Hoseok, you nodded your head. “A new lover perhaps?”

Refusing to answer, you simply stared at the woman. “Well, the cards show that you’ve had new factors enter into your personal life and that this is quite the transitional time for you,” she explained. “Using lessons learned from the past, you are now ready for new life experiences that could be lasting.”

“That sounds promising, Petal,” Hobi teased from behind you, you holding back a smile at his words, the man giggling at your expense.  

“You might have a particular barrier, perhaps an emotional one, holding you back from your full potential with this new factor, but the cards show that you are destined for a bright future,” the woman told you, you nodding slowly. If you didn’t know better, you would have though Hoseok had set this whole thing up.

“Bright, huh?” You asked through a small smile, Hoseok’s hand squeezing your shoulder. “I wouldn’t say that bright,” you teased, the man laughing happily.

“Would you like me to elaborate more?” She asked, you quickly shaking your head.

“No no, but thank you,” you smiled sincerely. “Let me pay you,” you smiled, standing up. “Hoseok,” you greeted, patting his chest. “You can cover the cost for the reading right?” You smirked, Hobi grinning as he pulled out his wallet.

“Fair enough,” he agreed, handing some money to the woman.

Pulling the curtain open and stepping outside, you began walking away as Hoseok called your name, the smile and laugh evident in his voice.

“You are so obnoxious,” you commented, turning around to lightly hit his arm, the man cackling at your expense, wrapping you up in a hug.

“I know I am,” he admitted, you reluctantly folding your arms over his waist.

“Annoying,” you added, the man giggling near your ear.

“But bright,” he noted cheerfully, you groaning against his chest as you pulled away from him. “I’m just saying,” he started teasingly, “You can’t fight destiny.”

Reaching for your hand, he interlaced his fingers with yours as he pulled you to stand beside him. “Yeah, yeah,” you dismissed, though the smile on your face told him were far from annoyed by him in that moment. Letting out a mixture of a groan and a laugh, you leaned your head back with your eyes closed as you exhaled deeply. “I can’t believe you made me do that,” you giggled, opening your eyes, the full moon coming into view. “Oh my god,” you said in surprise and excitement.

“Huh?” Hoseok responded with wide eyes.

“The moon,” you pointed, the man’s eyes following.

“Ah, it’s full tonight,” he noted, both of you staring up at the big shining beauty.

“I love the moon,” you said quietly, mesmerized for a moment by the glowing orb. The sounds of the carnivals surrounded you, but you didn’t pay them any mind as you allowed yourself to be submerged by the feeling of being underneath the full moon with Hoseok. “I try to track its phases but I usually end up forgetting the day of the full moon,” you explained, your date looking from the sky to you, appreciating the way your eyes beamed underneath the moon’s illumination. He thought you looked stunning and he was tempted to kiss you. “My fatal flaw,” you joked, Hobi smiling in response.

“I’ll try to remind you,” he replied, a hopeful tone to his voice that had you looking from the moon to the man’s cheerful face.

You both stared at each other for a moment before you glanced down toward his lips. “What exactly are the terms of this probationary friendship?” He asked with a smirk, you giggling as you met his gaze once again.

“I figured we’d just make it up as we go,” you shrugged.

“In that case,” he grinned, “Can I kiss you, Petal?”

Though the thought of teasing him entered your mind, you wanted to kiss him just as badly. Smiling back at him, you nodded, leaning closer to the man. Hoseok slowly closed the gap, his eyes flickering from your eyes to your lips a few times as if he was making certain you were sure. You squeezed his hand that was still holding yours, and his eyes fluttered shut as yours did just before his soft lips met your own, greeting you in a sweet and graceful kiss.

The action didn’t last long but it was perfect, Hoseok pulling away, the kiss lingering on your lips as you grinned, opening your eyes to see his own joyful expression.

“I’m quite enjoying our friendship,” he joked, you giggling as you nodded.

“No complaints from me,” you agreed.

“Not even about the tarot reading?” He asked in surprise, that same teasing smile.

“Ok, one complaint,” you corrected, the man chuckling as he tugged on your hand, leading you through the carnival, you watching him from behind with a big dumb smile on your face.

Spotting an ice cream stand, you pulled on his hand, the man turning around to look at you with wide eyes. “Do you want ice cream?”

“Ooh,” he said in a timid excitement. Pulling out his wallet, he began walking toward the stand, you quickly placing your free hand to his chest.

“No, it’s on me,” you told him, Hoseok cocking his head at you. “You just relax, watch the dog,” you smiled, Hoseok giggling. “What kind do you want?”

“Mint chocolate,” he told you, you pulling a questioningly look.

“Really?” You asked, the man nodding.

“What? Don’t tell me you’re a mintcho hater,” he spoke as if he was preparing for disappointment, you shaking your head with a chuckle.

“No, no, it’s fine, stay calm, Sunshine,” you giggled. “Just not my favorite either,” you informed him, your date clutching his chest in feigned relief. Shaking your head at his reaction, you pulled your hand from his as you turned toward the ice cream. “One mintcho coming up,” you called to him.

As you waited in line for the ice cream, you couldn’t help but think of the tarot reading. You really didn’t believe in that stuff all that much, but why was it so fitting? Why did she all but demand to give you of all people a reading? What were the chances of that night being the full moon? And why was Hoseok someone you could see spending a lifetime with after only one single date?

Collecting the cones, one mint chocolate and one vanilla, you turned back to where you left Hoseok to find the area empty. Scanning the crowds of people, he suddenly walked into your view sporting a massive beam that almost had you nervous about what had caused it. But fuck it was stunning.

Looking at him skeptically, you held the cone out in his direction. “Why are you so smiley- what the fuck is that?” You asked, spotting the plastic bag filled with water that he held in his grasp down by his thigh, a small goldfish circling the perimeter.

“I finally won you something,” he told you cheerfully, taking the cone from you and immediately taking a big lick.

“You won me a fish?” You asked in shock, the man giggling as he nodded. “Hoseok, what the hell am I supposed to do with a fish?”

“Well, feeding it would be a good start,” he informed you jokingly, you huffing at him.

“I cannot believe you,” you shook your head, staring at the little fish that swam around in the bag.

“You have to take it, I already have Mickey,” he noted, you rolling your eyes.

“Well of course I’m gonna take it,” you told the man, taking a lick from your own cone. “Have I told you that you’re obnoxious?” You asked jokingly, crouching down to take a closer look at your new pet.

“Maybe once,” he joked back, you glancing up at the man to scoff at him, though your lips were positioned in a smile.

“It needs a name,” you pointed out, Hoseok humming in thought.

“How about Luna?” He asked. “To commemorate the night and the moon you’re so fond of,” he explained, you smiling, completely smitten with the man. Nodding at him, he gave you a single nod back. “Maybe Luna here is the new factor in your life that will lead you a destined bright future,” he said, you standing up straight to look at his face, your eyes scanning his gorgeous features.

“I don’t think so, Sunshine,” you whispered to him, watching in utter fondness as his beautiful smile stretched across his face.  

There was nothing brighter than the sun, after all. And looking at Hobi’s beaming grin, in that moment, you and him, a future together, it all felt pretty damn destined.

[pennamesmith]

Secret of the Skeletor

Skeletor sneaks out. Some less-prominent former members of the Horde receive community outreach. More Skeletor stories! 

*

Skeletor sat alone in the laboratory.

He had strict orders not to go anywhere or do anything. As one of Horde Prime’s drone bots, he knew the importance of rules. But ever since Entrapta had reprogrammed him with a name and a unique personality, he also knew the importance of breaking them.

Skeletor chuckled. He stood up, paused, then sat back down again and laughed some more as he pondered his options.

Just about everybody else in Bright Moon was busy. Even Wrong Hordak’s usual support group was canceled while he attended the queen’s cabinet meeting about Entrapta’s new interdimensional research findings.

This meant it was the perfect time for Skeletor to venture outside the kingdom. A community outreach day. He grinned. Pausing only to giggle again and leash his beloved robot puppy, Relay, Skeletor snatched up Darla’s ignition crystal and shambled out the door.

“Now for a little vanishing act!” he declared as he left.

It was going to be a good day.

*

Kyle braced himself as soon as he heard the ship engines come to a stop outside the window.

“Hey, guys?” he called to the other two inhabitants of their modest home. “I think —”

He was interrupted by the sound of splintering wood. “Strong, but not strong enough!” Skeletor yelled as he cheerfully kicked in the door. Rogelio, who had been going to open it, bristled in shock while Lonnie yelped and grabbed a frying pan from the kitchen, brandishing it like a club from behind the counter.

A long, stale moment passed.

“...It’s all part of the game!” Skeletor explained apologetically, as he turned and tried to replace the door on its hinges. “We don’t want to hurt anyone!” At his feet, Relay peered inside the room and barked, tail wagging.

All three of the former Horde soldiers relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief, though Lonnie’s battle-ready expression did not change.

“Do you really have to do that every time you come over?” Kyle asked, poking at the loosely swinging door.

“Yes,” Skeletor replied honestly.

Rogelio shrugged and growled something indistinct.

Lonnie quirked an eyebrow. “What? You asked him to come here?”

“We both did,” Kyle piped up. He reached for Rogelio’s hand in reassurance. “We… kinda wanted to get some more information on Wrong Hordak’s support group.”

Dutifully, Skeletor produced a sheaf of pamphlets and papers detailing schedules and services and handed them over to the two young men. Rogelio accepted them all with a brief roar of thanks.

Lonnie shook her head, still frowning. “Oh no. I already told you, I am not interested. Going over there for wellness day was one thing, but there are too many people there that I still just… can’t be around. And he’s nice and all, but I don’t think Wrong Hordak really gets me.”

“Running away. So impolite!” Skeletor scoffed.

“That’s okay!” Kyle hastily added. “You don’t have to come with us. We’d never force you into something like this.”

“Running away sounds like a terrific idea!” Skeletor said.

Kyle looked at Rogelio. “It’s just, we’ve been talking, and I think we want to give it a try. Even if it doesn’t work out, we might be able to learn some stuff that could help. Taking the first step can be really hard, even when it’s the right thing. And we’ll be here if you decide you’re ready, but we’ll be here if you don’t, too.”

Lonnie’s expression softened, slightly. “Thanks guys,” she said, and meant it. She went to hug the other two. “Now, let’s see about making this robot fix our door.” She pounded a fist into her palm meaningfully.

“I think it’s time for me to leave and take care of another matter!” Skeletor squeaked, and beat a hasty retreat.

*

Darla hovered serenely above the water on the Salinean coast. While Relay napped in the captain’s chair, Skeletor strolled unhurriedly along the docks. He stopped in front of a small, shabby storefront and looked curiously at the sign above the door.

Sea Hawk’s Ship Disposal and Firewood Emporium, it read. You Crash ‘Em, We Burn ‘Em!

“I think I’ll make him my court jester, if he’s funny enough!” Skeletor proclaimed, and walked inside.

However, it was instantly apparent from the lack of off-key sea shanties being sung that the shop’s namesake proprietor was currently absent. This suited the skinny robot just fine. The real subject of his visit was the new part-time hire, who sat slouched at the register behind a gossip-scroll and an eyepatch.

Octavia brightened when she saw Skeletor enter. “Hey, I was wondering when you’d make it back here!” she called out. Skeletor waved in response and marched over, holding out a laden bag.

“I’ve brought you a present!” Skeletor announced.

Octavia’s good eye shone as she reached inside and pulled out a glittering, silver fishing net. “Oh, wow, Entrapta finished it already!” she gushed, holding the netting up to the light to admire it.

“That net is made of elastium!” Skeletor boasted. “It’s not only one of the hardest substances in the universe, it also stretches!”

“Hey, thanks for helping me commission this,” Octavia said, looking back. She smiled wistfully. “Entrapta really was the best part of the Horde when we were all there, you know? She was so nice to everyone, and Hordak was loads calmer, and all our maintenance complaints got fixed practically overnight!”

“That’s just peachy for you!” Skeletor said.

“Plus, it kinda took some of the sting out of having to take orders from the kid who did this when we were six,” Octavia added, gesturing to her eyepatch. “I had ambitions, you know? I was the first of our class to make Force Captain. I was going places! Of course, none of that matters anymore.”

Her sour expression melted as she looked back at the new net. “But that won’t stop me! With this I can make some extra money on the side selling seafood. Then I’ll buy this place from Sea Hawk — honestly, I think he forgets he owns it sometimes — and turn it into a crafting and antique shop, Octopus Cove or Mystic Isle or something. After that I’ll take over all the shops on the dock one by one, and then the beach tourism market will be mine! Ha ha!”

She cackled with evil glee. Skeletor joined in, politely.

“Too bad about the others, but at least I escaped!” Skeletor concluded, and left to continue his mission.

*

“Beast-Man!” Skeletor sang as the door opened.

“I still don’t know who that is, but it’s good to see you again too,” Grizzlor grinned. “Come on in, buddy!”

Skeletor followed the wolffish giant inside while Relay trotted happily at his heels. Grizzlor’s husband, fellow former Horde Commander Cobalt, was relaxing in their living room and waved when he saw the bot.

“Skeletor! How’ve you been?”

“Sitting down on the job?” Skeletor barked. “I’ll help you, if only to be rid of you!” He offered Cobalt a thick folder of paperwork. “Here, here it is!”

Cobalt accepted the folder reverentially. “Really? I knew it was a long shot asking Hordak for help, but all the red tape was getting to be such a nightmare that I just didn’t know what to do anymore.” He sniffled and wiped a tear from his eye. “Thank you so much!”

“You’re crying for Hordak?” Skeletor huffed. “I don’t believe it!”

“I can’t believe that worked,” Grizzlor admitted. “I mean, I always thought Hordak hated me,” he added sheepishly. “Especially after that thing with the two neckties.”

Cobalt shook his head. “Nah, I don’t think Hordak ever really hated anybody. He just didn’t know what to do with anyone. Now, Shadow Weaver on the other hand…”

“Most unpleasant!” Skeletor muttered.

“Exactly. But I think Hordak did care, in his own way. He saw how scared we were of combat during the early days, in the Scorpion uprising. I think that’s why he kept me teaching the cadets and you on the easy patrols, Grizz.”

Grizzlor chuckled. “Aw, I can’t imagine you being scared of anything, big guy!”

“Oh, I wasn’t always like this!” Cobalt demurred, flexing his shoulders. “Back in my cadet days I was so skinny everyone called me ‘Mantenna’! Used to joke that I’d fall through a crack in the floor if I wasn’t careful.”

“Another piece of the puzzle!” said Skeletor.

Cobalt slung an arm around Grizzlor. “But listen, Horde or no, I’ll always be there for you.” He held up the adoption papers Skeletor had delivered. “And now, we might have something else to protect together.”

*

Skeletor’s last stop was a recently-refurbished tavern just inside the Crimson Waste. He nodded approvingly at the osseous architecture and then pushed his way through the curtain while Relay ran ahead, yapping.

Inside there was a wide, smoky space filled with outlaws and ruffians of every species imaginable. They all turned to look as Skeletor entered.

“That’s it! Kneel before your new master!” Skeletor bellowed.

Everyone immediately went back to what they had been doing. The chatter and plinky piano music returned. Relay found a small lizard and began to chase it around the floor.

“Skeletor! It’s good to see you back, friend!”

An enormous purple hand clapped the robot on the shoulder. Skeletor looked up into the smiling face of a towering barbarian.

“Can I get you anything?” Huntara asked, conversationally. “Minions to yell at? A ribcage chair to sit in?”

“Unnecessary! Because we’ve already found you!” Skeletor replied.

“Good, I was hoping you’d say that. Zed! Sunder!” Huntara called out. Two Horde clones who were staffing the bar — one seeming slightly shorter than the typical clone brother, and the other a bit older and wrinklier — glanced up at the sound of their names and hurried over.

“Keep an eye on the door, willya? I need to talk to bonehead here for a bit. We’ve got… business to discuss.”

The two clones nodded seriously, and Huntara escorted Skeletor to a secretive back room behind the bar. Inside there were many potted cacti, two comfortable chairs, and a little table with a miniature sand garden on top. It had a tiny, handheld rake for making soothing patterns in the sand.

“I’m so glad you’re here!” Huntara sighed in relief, dropping into one of the chairs. Relay jumped into her lap and she patted his head gratefully. “I have so much to talk about! You know how last time I was telling you about Grox and all the things she was saying to me? Well…”

“Easy, don’t overexert yourself! It’ll only cause you to weaken more quickly,” Skeletor cautioned. He settled into the other chair and leaned forward, listening intently.

“Yeah, I know. It’s just nice to have someone to talk to, Huntara said. “I don’t feel comfortable in big groups and I can’t always open up to the people around here. So thanks for stopping by.”

Skeletor nodded. “I’m right here, old friend! Release the shadow beast!”

A weight seemed to leave Huntara’s shoulders. “All right. Now, like I was saying…”

*

Long after the stars had come out, the laboratory door finally swung open again. Entrapta and Hordak, looking exhausted but accomplished, strode inside with their arms full of rolled-up diagrams and data sheets from that day’s presentation.

“...And they listened to everything I said!” Entrapta exclaimed as they came in. “I can’t remember the last time anybody besides you paid attention to me for that long. It was kinda scary, but it felt kinda good, too!”

“They were fools if they never attended to you before,” Hordak purred, smiling proudly. “And I cannot imagine they would disregard you now. After all, you are talking about the prospect of rescuing —”

“Sounds like we’ve got company!” Skeletor interrupted, welcoming the couple back to the lab. He was sitting, hands primly folded, in exactly the same spot as he had been when they left. “I’ve been expecting you!”

“Oh. Hello, Skeletor,” Hordak sighed, reluctantly looking away from Entrapta. “Did you follow my instructions to stay put today?”

Skeletor crossed his fingers and nodded.

“Did you follow my instructions?” Entrapta whispered, after Hordak had gone on ahead. Skeletor nodded again, much more enthusiastically this time.

“Good robot!” Entrapta replied, with a wink and a smile. “Thanks for helping out!” Then she scampered away to keep up with her lab partner.

“Ha! My plan has worked perfectly!” Skeletor gloated. “Now I have the power!”

[rvmmm21]

. half that, at best .

summary : lying over text will get you far. seulgi considers herself quite the catfish connoisseur, in a sense, acting twice her size to swoon her date. unfortunately, that only works if you don’t live with four -- very determined people -- who’ll stop at nothing to pry the good and honest truth out of you.

small note : not an original idea, my role is messenger, nothing more. just here to fulfil my promise to drag the very... *perceptive*... reaadvelvet (whom you can all thank for this delicious torment) down with me. also wow, first time i’ve written about vibrators and they’re... hard to write for. also dirty talk y i k e s. hands up, who can tell i was running on 2 hours of sleep when i wrote this? i proofread later i sleep now.

[cocky(g!p)seulgi x wenrenejoyri]

tw : dubcon, degredation, humiliation.

...

Yerim cracks the door open and peers into her room. The air is so damp and heavy with perfume her nose crinkles and she has to practically swat at it to clear the soft lavender fog.

“Unnie, I asked Joohyun unnie and she said yes to pizza tonight,” she says, leaning into the doorway and speaking into the direction of the girl sitting on the bed hunched over her phone, texting furiously.

The younger girl speaks again, louder this time. “Yah! Unnie. Are you listening?”

Seulgi shoots up from the bright LED screen and casts her attention on her impatient housemate, who’s now standing before her, open-palmed and waiting. “… ngh, sorr – sorry, Yerimie, wha – huh?”

Yerim rolls her eyes. “Phone. Give it. I know you have coupons.”

“… mm, yeah… just…”

She’s so distracted, it’s annoying, Yerim thinks. Both her and her unnies are starving for some pizza goodness out there and all Seulgi can think about is getting her dick wet with her dumb little date tonight. With a final head shake, she looses the patience she’s never had, reaching down to snatch the device out of Seulgi’s grasp.

“No!” she yelps, a little too much desperation in her tone, “… Minji’s gonna be here soon, I –”

But Yerim’s already scrolling.

“Wow, can you stop texting your stupid tinder date for like one minute? I’m trying to – wait, what?” she pauses to properly read the screen again before throwing her head back in the loudest cackle the other girl has ever heard, “… I’m going to fuck you till you can’t walk anymore?!”

Seulgi knew she was going to be discovered the minute her phone left her hands. She hadn’t had time to close the app before an impatient Yerim had rudely swiped it out of her clutches. Still, it didn’t stop the crippling embarrassment eating away at her from the inside out when she heard all her steamy, filthy exchanges coming off the lips of their mischievous maknae. All lies, of course, but Minji didn’t have to know that. She had already come up with a list of excuses for why she wouldn’t be able to spend the night or why they’d always have to do it ‘next time’. But all that seems to be falling apart before her eyes, now that Yerim’s the one with the power.

“Yah!” she screams, jumping up from her bed and frantically trying to pilfer it from the girl who’s too wildly curious to let go. “Stop! Shut – no! Give – give it back, shush!”

Yerim’s folded over on the floor now, clutching at her sides with how apparently hilarious Seulgi’s sexting is. “Unnie – unnie!” she manages between fits of laughter, “how are you gonna do that when you can’t even… you can’t even last like twenty seconds!”

Before she knows it, the whole house has gathered into her room. Seulgi grits her teeth at how Yerim’s obnoxious cackling lured the other four in. They simply observe for the moment, poorly concealed enjoyment painted on their faces, seconds away from partaking in the ‘fun’ themselves.

Suddenly, they’re interested in something else… and it isn’t how much they can get off of their next pizza order.

“Another one, another one!” Sooyoung’s taken to egging Yerim on, who’s more than beside herself with glee. The youngest wipes a tear from the corner of her eye and gracefully proceeds, doing her best impression of what she assumes Seulgi sounds like all hot and bothered.

A red-faced Seulgi, wishing the ground would just swallow her whole, just buries her face between her knees, having long given up trying to get her phone back. Any attempt she’s made to preserve the shreds of dignity she’s clung onto since this whole episode started is about to be torn from her when Yerim opens her mouth.

“A-And… and I hope you’re ready, cause I can… oh my god, cause I can go for ten hours, baby!”

This triggers an entire wave of laughter, from everyone, this time. Not that it matters to the girl in question. Poor Seulgi can barely hear them over the sound of her own utter horror pulsing heavily in her ears. She can’t even fucking leave because Joohyun and Seungwan are barricading the entrance, arms crossed out in front of them like bodyguards. And they’re wearing those awful grins, too.

Seulgi has to wonder if they’d planned this all along… or if they’ve just been practicing their non-verbal cues during their spare time and conveniently leaving her out. Either way, it’s all she has time to think before they’re pouncing on her, all at once.

God, they’re fast. And she’s helpless.

With Sooyoung and Seungwan on either side of her pinning her under their full bodyweight, she’s left with little to no wriggle room and swiftly depleting sensation in both arms. She can already feel the sweat dripping. Joohyun humming a little tune to herself as she scans her bedroom doesn’t help either. She’s searching for an appropriate tool of ‘quality control’, as she so forebodingly put it.

Finally, in an open drawer, she spots the perfect solution, with its cord dangling out far too invitingly to overlook.

When she hears the flip of a switch and the horribly familiar whirr, Seulgi does her best to crane her neck up, struggling to see past the tangle of limbs draped across her and weighing her down. She knows what it is, and she isn’t keen. “… wh-what… unnie… why have you … what do you –”

“Ah, ah, ah,” Joohyun cuts her off before she has the chance to finish. “Big girls don’t need to know what’s coming at them to be able handle it, do they?”

“Ten hours, huh?” Yerim asks in an incredulous giggle from the corner of her room. “I mean, that’s super impressive, so we just wanna see for ourselves, you know? Right, Seungwan unnie?”

Just like that, Seulgi finds her fragile fate in Seungwan’s hands, and she doesn’t seem nearly as careful with it, almost like she wants to see it shatter. “Mhm,” the smaller girl concurs with a nod before turning down to face the crimson one of the girl below them. “What’s a more realistic time, d’ya think? Five? Five minutes?”

Sooyoung quickly interjects. “Five? Hah!” she scoffs, “I’m not even giving her two. Look at it.”

All eyes laser downwards to the tip of Sooyoung’s finger, where -- to everyone’s delight (and Seulgi’s repulsion) -- there’s a very obvious tent in her jeans. So obvious, in fact, that her arousal is perfectly highlighted through the thick denim that has moulded around it to create a very captivating shape. 

Seulgi opens her mouth like she has any hopes of defending herself, but the potential words break off into a breathy whine when the faint whirring she hears above her directly translates into sheer jolts of pleasure that rip through her body from her crotch. It’s incredibly difficult, but she squints down to see Joohyun holding a purple vibrator between her spread knees, intermittently running it up and down the growing length.

They all watch as it vibrates her to a full erection, helpless and hard and just begging to be taught a lesson.

“Here’s the deal, Seul,” she deadpans. “Since you’re sooo good in bed… since you’re apparently going to fuck Minji till she can’t walk anymore, I think it’s only fair that you prove it, don’t you?”

Oh… there aren’t words that can possibly describe the dread now coursing through Seulgi’s veins at that prospect, despite herself.

“So, yes, I think I agree with Sooyoung. Two minutes. If you last two minutes, we’ll forget this ever happened. And you’re going to last, aren’t you? You’re going to last.”

She hadn’t even noticed Joohyun hadn’t offered the consequences of her failure to hold out. She couldn’t. That was the least of her concerns, for now, anyway. The sensation of being vibed through her trousers was… deafening, to say the least.

You’re going to last, they said. Seulgi chants that in her brain like it’ll make her last longer, like it’ll help her succeed. But… but she’s not sure she can. No, she has to. No matter what, that’s not happening… she can’t – she’s not going to – cum in her trousers.

Oh but it’s getting harder and harder not to want to. Not when Joohyun hasn’t even given her cock a chance to get used to the tingly sensation, going in at the highest setting to begin with. It’s unbearable, even over her jeans… especially over her jeans.

“… uh – uh – nnie…” she’s panting out, screwing her eyes shut to prevent them from going glassy, “… p-please… please don’t… I… it’s… too – too high…”

Joohyun knows she’s referring to the setting, and of course, does anything but what Seulgi wants her to do, which is lower it… or stop. In fact, the younger swears she feels it stronger now, pressed unforgivingly flush against her straining boner, just enticing her to lose her load right into her underwear. Seungwan’s fingers skim over a flushed cheek, cruelly teasing as she wipes Seulgi’s tears with the pad of her thumb.

“But our little Seulgi likes it high, doesn’t she?” she smirks down at hips bucking up into thin air, desperate for some friction other than the intense sparks of electricity zipping through her from the vibrator. “Gosh, baby, you’re so hard you’re poking through your jeans… poor, poor Minji, hm? Don’t you feel sorry for her? I sure do! If she knows she’s been talking to nothing but thorough lack of self-control and a pair of cum-stained jeans this whole time… my, my, what would she think?”

Sooyoung adjusts her weight so she’s leaning to purr into Seulgi’s ear with barely contained amusement. “Should we tell her, unnie? It’s only fair to the customer… we’ve inspected the goods, and uh… they don’t seem to be in ‘working order’.”

There’s a whimper and then a slight shift. Joohyun picks this up.

“Gonna cum, Seul?” she asks, eyebrow raised.

“… hgnh – noo…” Seulgi shakes her head vigorously.

However, when the oldest sees chestnut locks gracelessly splayed across the bedsheet, erratic breathing and probably the teariest eyes in the history of teary eyes, she has to laugh. It’s not like she believed her sniffling Seulgi in the first place – not when she can literally feel her cock twitching under her palm, leaking precum by the gallon. Fingers tighten around the trapped boner, and Seulgi lets out a pathetic mewl. “Oh I think you are.”

“I – no – I’m… I’m – ah! No… nooo…”

“Aw, poor baby can’t control herself. Is your little cock all leaky?” Seungwan’s got an arm across her chest to shove her back down whenever she tries to push up, to keep her pinned as the threat of cumming in her jeans stalks closer and closer. “You still have 30 seconds.”

Goddamnit, 30 seconds? The fact she didn’t shoot the moment that godawful vibrator was in her line of sight was no less than a miracle… how the hell is she supposed to last 30 bloody seconds longer? The thought of soiled underwear and wet spots strikes a crawling heat in her cheeks, up her neck and down her arms. A heat that almost overtakes the one between her legs. Almost. It’s built up to an ache so pulsing, she just can’t ignore it. The room is spinning, and she feels dizzy and heated and it hurts… it hurts so good. The way Joohyun has the vibrator meticulously positioned so it teases the sensitive underside of her cock just right almost off-sets how ashamed she is that this is even happening at all.

“… n-not – a – baby,” she stutters, each word punctuated by an involuntary thrust of her hips against that numbing sensation driving her mad. Every upward motion has the zipper line rubbing harshly over her shaft, the thin fabric of her underwear doing little to shield her from the rough stimulation.

“You’re nothing but a baby!” Sooyoung coos, scrunching her face at Seulgi, who can’t even see her clearly through that sheen over her pupils. “Big girls don’t cum in their little panties just from a vibrator.”

“Ten seconds left.”

It’s a voice, but Seulgi’s so dazed she can’t pinpoint whose.

“Poor Minji, she’s gonna be so upset when she finds out our little Seul still makes messes in her underwear!”

“Nine…”

“Seulgi-ah, why did you bother putting make-up on? It’s not like she’s gonna be looking at your face tonight.”

“Eight…”

Searing rivers of tears are streaming down reddened cheeks because of how mean everyone’s being to her. If it weren’t for the raging stiffness threatening to bust through the seam of her jeans, you’d almost think she wasn’t enjoying this.

“Seven…”

She’s practically giving herself whiplash from how much she’s jerking and twisting, trying anything to escape the stares of the four girls looming over her – watching and waiting for the inevitable with ear-to-ear grins.

“Six…”

Just as she thinks she’s actually going to make the full two minutes, Joohyun slides the vibrator up to settle on the head of her cock, so sensitive, so painfully overstimulated –

– that she can’t take anymore.

The teasing, the vibration, the humiliation… god, it’s too much and it’s making her – making her cum.

Her jaw goes slack and she arches up despite the combined weights of Sooyoung and Seungwan holding her down. She reaches her limit with a tiny, broken whimper as warm liquid spills into her underwear, seeping through and soaking the dense fabric of her jeans.

That’s going to be an orgasm to remember. The high is magnificent, if not a little excruciating, and it leaves her a dishevelled, breathless heap of nerves. Oh but… but her date! Oh no, she needs to regain her senses as quickly as she can and she needs to get cleaned up and she needs a new pair of jeans and –

“No, you don’t, Seul,” Joohyun interrupts her frantic thoughts. “Don’t even think of a fresh pair of jeans right now. You’re already running late. She’s gonna be here any minute now.”

She’s too weak to even protest when she feels two strong arms hoist her up and only wobbly knees. When it’s obvious she can’t walk on her own, they resort to physically escorting her out of her room… past the living room… and, oh gosh… right for the door.

She wants to beg, to plead with them not to do this, but she’s outnumbered, and she knows it’s pointless. This is happening whether she wants it to or not.

“It’s okay, little baby,” Seungwan winks, gesturing to the wetness on her jeans, obvious as ever. “At least that’s one thing you can be truthful about.”

She almost sobs when the door shuts in her face, and it only intensifies when she hears the childish giggling behind it. The evening air feels cool against the sweat on her back and absolutely frigid against that spot on her crotch. She barely has time to shiver and collect herself before she’s holding an arm over her eyes to shield them from the blinding pair of headlights that are now in front of her.

Oh god no. She hadn’t been through enough tonight? But this is what she gets for lying.

She has nowhere to go, and she can only pray that she’s doing a good job at hiding her embarrassment from the pretty girl now winding down the window with a cheery, “Hiya! Seulgi?”

[perseusjackson-jasongrace]

Day 6: “What book is that?”//”Is that smut?”

masterlist

non-descript, non-canon-compliant AU

Leo Valdez sighs as he stares at the gloomy weather taking over his Saturday. It seems that while winter is well and truly underway the sun would not be making an appearance, or at least it hadn’t for the last week. He looks back at the rough sketches he’s drawn for his practical assignment due after winter break and decides he’s worked hard enough for the day. Writing down measurements and ruling a few lines counted, right? He didn’t care. Heaving himself out of his chair he pulls up the socks that had slowly started slipping down and shoves his feet into his giant Yoda slippers that are truly a wonder and a disgrace in equal parts. His friends take turns wearing them and pretending to be everything from big foot to Yoda-crushers. He has a polaroid hall of fame behind his door.

As he trudges across the wooden floor of his apartment his mind wanders to the upcoming days and the time that stretches before him. His roommates are gone to their homes for the break but Leo, ever the orphan, was still stuck in their shared apartment, the weather and his lack of plans keeping him steadfast. He hops onto the kitchen counter and slides across it, landing on the other side in a smooth glide to the fridge. With a self-satisfied smirk he prepares a hot chocolate, laced with coffee because he doesn’t need a sleep schedule when he’s on holiday! He dances at the thought, slurping up a marshmallow and burning himself on the steaming mug.

A knock at the door interrupts his little moment. He glances at the time on the microwave and frowns as he sees 13:30 flashing on the little screen. Who would be here at this time? Everyone he knows is well on their way to family homes or tropical vacations. Stupid Piper and her stupid rich father. He should call her and check in. The knock sounds again and he hurries to open the door.

“Jackson?”

Percy looks up from his phone, a small smile tugging at full lips, “Hi Valdez, can i come in?”

Leo instantly moves aside, as his mind runs a mile a minute. It’s not unusual for Percy to pop around, considering they went to the same university and hung with the same people. It just seemed odd that he’d be here now. When he was supposed to be in New York.

“Is uh, is everything okay?”

That signature smirk takes over that lovely face and it makes his heart beat just a little faster. Well that’s a new reaction. “Everything is fine. I just wanted to come back before the semester reopened, so I could catch up on sleep and video games without Estelle trying to press every button.” His nose scrunches in what’s supposed to be irritation but the soft look in his eyes offsets the whole charade.

“Oh, well make yourself at home.” He gestures to the lounge, which looks relatively neat for once.

“Thanks,” Percy looks around, setting his keys on the kitchen counter and flopping onto the double couch. “Want to play a video game with me?”

“Sure, mind if i go shower first though? I kind of got distracted with school stuff and haven’t actually gotten any self-care stuff in.”

A laugh that reminds him of forest brooks, catches around the apartment. “Go shower, you hazard. I’ll wait for you.” 

Sticking his tongue out at the jab he hops off to the bathroom, all the while thinking how nice it is to have a friend here. Even if that friend came back from two months of holiday with sun-kissed skin the colour of maple bark, and green eyes that twinkle as bright as the evening star. It’s never really been fair how gorgeous Percy Jackson was, with his whole skater boy-badass-saving the world-looking-out-for-the-little-people thing going on, but now he seems to be from another galaxy. One where they make humans out of gemstones. It is almost a shame he’s still dating Annabeth because Leo would happily set his heart on fire for a chance to be Percy’s flame. But no matter. He is allowed to appreciate without disrespecting.

His shower is quick and steaming as he tries to fight off the strange chill in the air. Soon he’s in a fresh pair of sweats and is running his fingers through damp, unruly curls to try to organise them into something that won’t resemble a bird’s nest when it dries. He doesn’t have much luck but at this point his interest is far below his luck. With a shrug in the mirror to make sure his top is on the right way- inside out, back-to-front shirts are a common occurrence- he pads across the cool wooden floors and into the lounge. There he finds Percy, sitting on the floor, back against the couch, with his nose buried in a kindle and the most adorable wire-framed glasses pushed up his nose.

Without saying anything he comes up behind him and settles himself on the couch. He knows his friend notices his presence because he shifts slightly so Leo can get comfortable and then settles back down. He sees two video games lying on the table and the controllers connected and waiting to be used.  And then he glances down at the book Percy is reading, curiosity pressing on his lungs.

“What book is that?” He leans in closer, his curls brushing the balck-haired boy’s cheeks. ”Is- Is that smut?”

Instantly his friend blushes, skin turning a deep red. “N-no.” He stammers.

“It totally is.” Leo smirks, delighted by the recent discovery. “You trying to learn some tricks for Annabeth?”

“Oh my gods Valdez!” He blushes harder and it is possibly the cutest thing he has ever seen.

“Well there’s no need to be embarrassed. I think it’s very cool that you’re putting in the effort to try and impress your lady. I know Annabeth would love this, she’ll see it like studying.”

Percy drops his head into his hands and groans in embarrassment. It sets Leo off cackling with glee.

“Annabeth and I aren't together anymore.” His friend mumbles.

‘Wait what?”

“Yea she went halfway across the world and we felt it was better to break up, If we find each other again then so be it.”

“Holy shit are you okay? Do you want to talk about it?” The scandalous book is all but forgotten.

“No, I’m good.” When he sees Leo’s raised eyebrow he rolls his eyes. “I swear. I was a bit all over the place in the beginning but the holiday with my family and talking it over with my therapist really helped. Besides we didn’t lose all contact. She’s still my friend.”

“Okay,” He is still a little skeptical but he drops it. “Let me know if you ever want to talk.”

“Will do love.” And he goes back to reading.

But Leo sits there frozen in shock as he processes the words Percy had just said. Love, love, love. Oh gods. This little crush was turning into a big problem in his life. 

“Want to play a video game now?” He asks a little too loudly.

The black-haired boy gives him a weird look but locks his Kindle and grabs the controllers from the table. “What am i beating you at Valdez?”

He scoffs, as he scrolls through the options, and then grins when he lands on the perfect one. “I’m going to absolutely crush you at Mario Kart.”

“Oof, wrong choice love. I’ve been playing this game since before i could talk.”

“Big words for a man who chooses Luigi over Princess Peach.”

“Hey don’t judge my avatar. Luigi is a beast.”

“He looks like the creepy brother who’s plumbing business is a front for the mob.”

“Good then at least you know not to mess with him.”

“Oh you are going down Jackson!”

The screen flashes with 3, 2, 1. And they’re off. Yelling obscenities at each other and slamming their little cars off the roads. Percy lands up in the ocean, and growls so loudly Leo is sure he has a stray animal in his apartment. But then a blue shell is hitting him and he’s the one making animalistic sounds, as he shoves Percy’s shoulder and zooms past Luigi’s car.

“I’m getting the family inheritance sucker!” He whoops as he crosses the finish line.

“Listen Mario. If i’m tied to the mob you’re tied to the mob so buckle up buddy, we got shit to do.” Green eyes flash, dark eyebrows knitting in faux seriousness and then they’re both keeling over with laughter.

Percy flings his head back and it hits the couch seat with a soft thud, but he’s too busy laughing to notice. Leo’s head falls forward until his curls are brushing his friend’s forehead and they are breathless with amusement.

“You’re a clown Jackson.” He whispers, still only centimeters away from beautiful brown skin. His lips a mere inch from brushing against the crease between those eyebrows

“At least i’m not Princess Peach.”

“Maybe you should be, and then you could actually win.”

“Oh you did not just say that!” He gasps, and Leo feels the intake against his knees, which are pressed to his back.

“Round two?”

“You’re on, mobster.”

And with a determined gleam in those green eyes they race into another round. And Leo thinks, maybe this is what paradise feels like. And Percy laughs as he releases a blue shell. And Leo knows this is what happiness looks like.

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

Tags:

@spoopylucy​​

@leydiangelo​​

@nishlicious-01​​​

[multifandom-kpop-scenarios]

hello, i saw ur skz scenarios, which are very cute. i wanted to know if i can get one with hyunjin where ure both in college and ure crushing on him. if its not too much to ask can it be like the uni experiences u see on tv or in movies with lit parties and stuff? thank u!

Hello, anonie!!! I know this might be kinda late - I’ve been busy - but here it is! I really hope you enjoy it! It was a lot of fun to write this!

Admin Rex

(Word Count: 2977)

Listen: you came to this party because you knew two of the party hosts own the cutest dogs. Also maybe because Changbin insisted you go to socialize and have fun because you both haven’t seen some of your friends in so long, and he didn’t want to go without you. You had told him that it was okay, that he could go to see his friends. Still, Changbin can be very persuasive when he wants to - his puppy eyes always got you no matter how adamant you were to deny him something. You’d already begun relenting when Changbin pulled his phone out and scrolled through an Instagram feed full of pictures of the same two dogs, one of them being Chan’s dog Berry. At that point, you knew there was no refusing. Your best friend had ensured you that the dogs would be there, you could play with them when you went.

Currently, you were groaning internally at the loud music. Its bass thrummed constantly through your chest and the sound rattled in your skull. Normally, you’d enjoy the hectic atmosphere, but you were running on pure determination at this point. Maintaining passing marks in all of your classes and keeping in touch with your friends was draining, to say the least. That was also on top of your job. You’ve been at the party for an hour and a half, and you already managed to lose Changbin. Not to mention you hadn’t even seen the dogs. You were headed to the kitchen to find something to snack on when someone grabbed your shoulder. When you turned to face the person, your scowl transformed into a bright smile, “Chan! It’s so great to see you!” The blond grinned, dimples on full display, before pulling you along with him. He leaned closer so you could hear him, “Changbin said you came for the dogs.” You pulled away to give him the most hopeful look you could muster. He laughed and pulled you along towards the stairs you really couldn’t bring yourself to go up without permission.

When you entered the first room on the left, you were relieved. It was much more quiet in here, despite the thrumming that was ever present in the walls of the house. There were a few friends you knew - Changbin, Felix, Jisung, Woojin, and Minho - and two others you didn’t. You noted Jeongin wasn’t present, which your protective heart told you was for the best. After greeting everyone with a small smile, you couldn’t help but drop down to greet Berry and the other dog, who’d come over to sniff at you. You cooed quietly at Berry before turning to the other, “Who must you be?” You weren’t really expecting an answer. You were surprised when a soft voice replied, “That’s Kkami.” You look up at the speaker. He almost comes off as intimidating, but you catch the friendly gleam in his eyes and know that he’s probably incredibly nice. You grinned at him before turning back to Kkami, “Well, Kkami, you’re very cute. Almost cuter than Berry over there.” At that, Chan squawks a “Hey, don’t say that about my child!” from the bed you’re leaning against. You laugh, surprised once again to hear the boy from earlier joining you. 

He smiles softly before waving his hand in greeting, “I’m Hyunjin! Kkami’s proud parent.” You smile, opening your mouth to respond before being cut off, “Y/N! Save me!” Jisung practically jumps over you before crash landing on the bed behind you, gasping dramatically as he rolls and collides with the wall. Changbin follows him seconds later, grumbling about how his phone is not something to be tossed around. Chan is quick to scoop Berry away from the mess that is Jisung and Changbin. You grin sheepishly at Hyunjin’s wide eyes and stare at each other before breaking out in giggles. Hyunjin straightens up before gesturing to the person sitting beside him. The other boy was in a deep conversation with Felix and Minho, Hyunjin introduces him as his best friend Seungmin. You get a feeling that Jeongin would get along well with said boy, if his mischievous grin was anything to go by.

You spend the rest of the night cackling with your friends at stupid jokes and sad attempts at playing video games together. You would suggest playing a board game, but you’d hate to almost dissolve friendships. The music is still thumping loudly by the time you decide that you should probably return home. When you gather your belongings up, you’re joined by Changbin and Seungmin, who apparently lives near to you and your best friend. The three of you decide to split the cost of a ride. 

The next time you see Hyunjin, it was during a break you had between your classes. He had approached you with a warm smile and food in his hands. Eager to get your mind off of your math calculations, you waved him over. You ended up talking with him about your classes, and he told you about his. You learned that he’s majoring in dance, which you think is fitting because just seeing Hyunjin walk gives you the impression of a dancer. You told him about your major, but didn’t spend too much time on it as you just wanted a break from anything related to academics. 

Over the next few days, you had to turn in a total of 6 assignments, one of which was an essay. At this point, there was a slight lull in the workload for all of your classes and Changbin somehow knew. “(Y/N), please? Chan, Felix, and Jisung will be there! Even Minho and Woojin! Maybe Jeongin, too?” Changbin was currently trying to talk you into going to another party on Saturday. As if you both hadn’t attended the one two weeks prior. You were pretty set on staying home this time. Changbin couldn’t bribe you with Berry this time. Chan said you were welcome to visit Berry anytime.

You shook your head at him. You had a full day of classes and just wanted to sleep at this point. Changbin pouted at you. Before he could use his special power, you pushed his head down into his history textbook before gathering your notes into your arms and hopping out of the chair, dashing down the library stairs. Changbin texted you seconds later about how you’re so mean to him and that he was going to tell Woojin - a threat that scared you only a little. You weren’t really paying attention to where you were heading because you were texting Changbin back. Before you could even hit send, you rammed right into someone’s back. Changbin received a text that just said oh dont cry you big bafkjdskkldjs. You only had a few seconds to lament the message before hearing your name being exclaimed. “Oh, (Y/N), are you okay? I really hope your nose is fine, you were walking really fast!” You rubbed slightly at the end of your nose before absentmindedly nodding. You noticed you must have wandered to the nearest restaurant without paying much attention. Makes sense, you hadn’t eaten yet.

You ignored the burning in your cheeks, chalking it up to being embarrassed about running straight into another person. Your phone vibrated a few more times before ceasing all together, and you knew Changbin had given up on you while you were busy picking up a few loose papers that had slipped from your hands. Hyunjin smiled at you when you were finished hastily stuffing the notebook into your school bag. Hyunjin’s smile, you note, is incredibly cute. His smile really shows genuine glee at seeing his friends, and you’re suddenly glad Changbin dragged you to that party. You don’t stop spacing out until Hyunjin’s smile droops, “Hey, are you hurt?”At the concern lacing his voice, you quickly shake your head, “No, no, I’m fine. Just. Thinking.” You smile wide at him, grinning more when Hyunjin nods and returns your smile. You look down at your shoes, not really knowing what to do now. You’d just met Hyunjin, and you really didn’t know what to say. You’d barely had any time to get to know him, aside from the time you hung out between your classes, which wasn’t much time, to be honest. Hyunjin sighed, a little hum coming for him before he clapped, “You came to eat, right? Why don’t we eat together? Seungmin’s still in class, and I’m a little hungry. We haven’t really talked much, either, so now would be a good time!”

You’re a little surprised. You thought that maybe Hyunjin didn’t want to eat with you. You don’t share any classes with him, and you’re positive that you aren’t majoring in the same thing. You nod anyway, not wanting to miss a chance to talk to Hyunjin. He smiled, and you’re once again amazed by how genuinely happy he looks. He begins to walk and pauses to wait until you’re in stride next to him. You both choose some food to eat before settling yourselves in a booth that is tucked against a window. About half way through your meal, you glance out the window and scowl when you see Changbin looking at his phone while attempting to stuff his textbook into his bag. Seconds later, your own phone vibrates with a new text. You remember that you never checked the last texts from him and take a moment to do so.

big bafkjdskkldjs???

whats that?

are you ok?

(Y/N)??

youre a big bafkjdskkldjs you know that

fine ignore me

The next message is the one that he just sent, which just says “youre eating right now arent you im coming your way.” You should’ve known he was going to know where to check to find you, especially since he knows you normally eat here after your Thursday classes. You sigh before smiling at Hyunjin who smiles back. You tap out that you’re not eating and that you’re studying at home. You knew Changbin wouldn’t believe you, but there’s nothing wrong with hoping. A minute later, Changbin approaches the table you’re seated at with Hyunjin, who surprisingly doesn’t look surprised to see your best friend there. Changbin looks down at your food before swiping some of it, “I see you ditched and replaced me.”

You stifle a sigh, as Hyunjin protests, explaining that he just wanted to get to know everyone better, including Changbin. That is how you ended up sitting squished between the window and Changbin. Across from you, Hyunjin is smiling softly. Somehow, you’re not sure how or when, Minho ended up sitting with you as well. He brought news of the party that Changbin had been trying to convince you to go to with him. Minho declared he’d be going, and Changbin already wanted to go. He turned to Hyunjin, who shrugged in agreement to go. When Minho turned to you for an answer, you felt like you had to nod - you could hardly say no to Minho. The fact that Hyunjin was going didn’t help. “Jeongin better not be going this time around, either.” You mumbled, and Minho smiled and explained that he’s busy with his own classes and the like.

When Saturday finally decides to roll around, you’re feeling less tired. You’d been able to rest and relax. (You believe that texting Hyunjin as much as you had been contributed, but you wouldn’t tell Changbin this.) Honestly, you were looking forward to seeing your friends, but not the party. Sometimes, the music was a great distraction from your studies, but it was also hard to talk to anyone over the noise. You and Changbin arrived to the house hosting the party. Honestly, you didn’t even know the host. You wandered around a bit, after separating to search for your friends. You first ran into Felix who was playing darts with Minho. They had terrifying accuracy. The next person you encountered was Hyunjin who was mingling with a few others. You waved to Kang Chanhee and Heo Hyunjoon, some of the only other people you recognized, aside from your friend group. Hyunjin beamed at you, as you came to stand between him and Chanhee. You talked with them a bit before they decided to join the mass of other bodies for dancing. You easily agreed, not wanting to be showed up, as you were quite confident in dancing. You were finally feeling your body loosen up as you challenged Hyunjoon.

Eventually, you left the “dance floor” - if a section of uncarpeted living room could be called one - to find something to drink, hopefully something like soda. When you returned from your search, you couldn’t help but feel captivated by the way Hyunjin moved to the music. Saying he was a good dancer was a severe understatement. He looked like he loved and lived to dance, which made sense, given his major. You stared at him a little longer before your eyes locked onto someone else. You speedily walked, “Jeongin! What are you doing here?” He explained he finished studying early, and only dropped by to greet everyone. You offered to walk him back home, which he insisted you didn’t have to, that he wasn’t even that much younger than you, but you honestly wanted to leave the party and you’d love to just talk to the younger. As you walked out to the sidewalk, the front door swung open, and Hyunjin looked surprised to see you leaving, “Going home?”

You smiled at him. His cheeks were pink from dancing the way he was, which made him look cuter than he already did. You motion to Jeongin, who looked between you and Hyunjin, “Not really. I’m taking him back home, then I might head home.” Hyunjin’s eyes flickered to Jeongin, who stared back just as challengingly, before walking down to stand beside you, “Could I come along?” You agree easily. During the walk to Jeongin’s house, you introduced the two and felt proud to see how well they got along. They acted very similar to brothers, if you were being honest. It brought a wide smile to your face. When Mrs. Yang opened the door, her eyes lit up at the sight of her son. She thanked you and Hyunjin for walking with him, before offering to let you come in, which you refused. 

At this point, you felt awkward trying to head home and basically ditch Hyunjin, so you decided to ask him if he wanted ice cream from a nearby convenience store. He agreed ecstatically - which, cute - and you explained that you would be paying for the snacks, no buts. He laughed at you, eyes growing soft. You and Hyunjin chose a few different flavors before deciding to just sit at a table set up outside the door. It was quiet for a few seconds before Hyunjin spoke up, “You’re good at dancing, (Y/N).” You look up at him and nod slightly, mostly as a way to thank him for saying that. You wait for a few seconds, “And, you’re amazing at dancing. I figured that you were good, but - wow. I’ve known Chanhee for a long time, and you really gave him a run for his money.” Hyunjin smiles, almost shyly. You let the lull in the conversation drag on for a bit. You watched as Hyunjin looked like he wanted to say something, but was hesitating. “Hyunjin? Something on your mind?” 

He took a deep breath before exhaling slowly, “I’ve kind of got a bit on my mind. Nothing bad! Just.” He laughed a little. You could tell he really didn’t seem like he wanted to talk about it, so you left it alone. You continued scooping little spoonfuls of your ice cream out of the small container. The silence was getting a bit stifling, but you really didn’t know what to say to Hyunjin. It’s not that you didn’t like him - in fact, you really liked him - but he just seemed preoccupied with his thoughts. He finally set down the little ice cream container and spoon. You raised a brow at him, “Hyunjin, are you sure you’re okay?”

He nodded before looking directly at you, “(Y/N), I think I really, really like you.” He looked so serious as he said it, but you could tell that he was really nervous about his confession. Honestly, you weren’t that surprised, but you were pretty stunned. You thought that this would be like all the other crushes you had that you didn’t act on. To say you were happy was an understatement. Unfortunately, all you could say with your brain freeze was a small “Thanks.” When you processed what you’d replied with and Hyunjin’s dazed - almost disappointed - expression, you scrambled to clarify. You quickly grabbed his hand, which was retreating from the table, “Wait, no, that’s not what I wanted to say! I had a brain freeze, like, wow, someone I really like just confessed to me! And, I really was going to say that I really, really like you, too, but - ” You stopped when Hyunjin started to laugh, the one that was thoroughly amused and so soft sounding at the same time. You paused, before pulling your hand away.

When he stopped laughing, Hyunjin smiled at you again, all kind and soft. You smiled back, despite the burning of your face. Neither of you said anything for a while. The only noise were leaves blowing in the Autumn breeze, occasional cars going by, and the sound of the few customers that visited the convenience store. “Are you free after class on Wednesday?” You asked tentatively. Hyunjin looked up, surprise showing a bit on his face. It took him a few seconds to nod, but when he did, he looked captivating with his small, shy smile.

[wardennews]

IronStrange Bingo 2019 - Happy

Alternative Title: Den of the Dragonborn Troll

Rated - T (minor mention of maybe NSFW)

“You know there is a Tumblr page dedicated to you and Zeymahi, yes?”

The tea that Stephen had been drinking was spewed across the table in a rather spectacular spit-take, and the Sorcerer Supreme whipped his head in the Dragonborn’s direction even as he was errantly waving his hand to clean the mess he’d made. “First of all-- how the hell do you know about Tumblr? Secondly, how would you know there’s a Tumblr for Tony and me? Thirdly, why is there a Tumblr about Tony and me??”

Minowa arched an eyebrow with a droll look on her face. “I am perfectly capable of using the internet, Stephen. I was curious what would come up if I were to google myself in both name and in the capacity of ‘Field Commander Dragoon’, as per my New Avengers title. I am surprised at the amount of art that has been created with myself as the subject. Some are really quite stunning. Others… well, it would be best if my lovers never saw them. They would either hunt the artist down or get ideas.”

“Focus, Minowa. I don’t want to think too hard about that.”

Burning crimson eyes flashed with amusement before the woman continued. “I found myself intrigued and decided to repeat the process with all of our names and titles. I must say, there are fans out there who drew some truly beautiful pieces of the Boone family… however, when I did so with your name, imagine my surprise when one of the results featured both you and Anthony.”

Stephen rose from his seat, reaching for his tablet nearby. “But Tony and I haven’t gone public yet! How do they know about it?!”

The clawed gauntlet of the Dragoon armor gently rested on his shoulder, stilling the man. “They don’t know. They simply like the idea of the two of you together… I believe the phrase is that they ‘ship it’. I am unsure why they would use boats in such a metaphor…”

The sorcerer felt like he’d had the rug pulled out from under him as he did his own search. Sure enough, the Tumblr site popped up as one of the first options. “Wait, they call our pairing ‘ironstrange’?? And people are actually into this enough that they’re… by the Vishanti, there’s art, and... are these stories??”

“I believe they’re called ‘fanfiction’.”

The tablet was thrown back on the table. “This is too surreal. Between you knowing about Tumblr, you finding an entire page dedicated to Tony and me on Tumblr, knowing the lingo they use on Tumblr… I’m going to Kamar-Taj for an hour or so-- at least magic makes sense to me.”

Minowa tilted her head in consideration as she watched the man open a portal and disappear through it. Her eyes shifted to the tablet as it closed, and a grin slowly slid across her face as her eyes lit up with glee. “FRIDAY?”

“Yes, Minowa?”

“I would like your help with a project…”

---

“Stephen, you will not believe what I just found on the internet!”

The sorcerer blinked down at the genius that had collided with his chest not a second prior as he exited a portal. “What did you find, love?” Tony didn’t reply, simply gesturing to the tablet on the table next to him. Blue-green eyes narrowed as he reached for the device, and it only took a second for him to realize what he was looking at. “Hey, Tony, babe, it’s okay. I know we didn’t want it to come out yet, and it’s just crazy fans--”

Tony’s head snapped up, and Stephen realized his soulmate wasn’t upset in the slightest. “What? No, Stephen, look!” He plucked the tablet from the gloved hands, scrolling through and pointing at random bits. “Look at how beautiful the art is! And it’s about us! I mean, I know that the public still doesn’t know about us, but the fact that they draw things that show us happy because it makes them happy… and the stories, Stephen!” He scrolled to another piece. “They’re always so sweet and sappy and so well written-- I’m tempted to find a few of these artists and writers and have them come work for Stark Industries. These people are so talented, and just…” He looked back up at Stephen, a sheen of tears in his eyes and the biggest smile on his face. “They draw us together and love us together, Stephen.” He finally managed to get out, tone soft and filled with awe at the thought.

Blue-green eyes softened at the look, and the sorcerer swooped in to pull Tony into a kiss. “Yeah, they do babe.” He said softly, a grin of his own on his face once they pulled apart. “Want to look at it together?”

The bright grin on Tony’s face was all the answer he needed.

---

“So you knew we were a thing on the internet?”

Stephen ran his fingers through Tony’s hair and smiled down at the brunette. “Yes, it was brought up to me about a week ago. I didn’t think too much about it at the time-- just thought it was fans being fans.” He pressed a kiss to the genius’ brunette curls.

Tony snuggled against his soulmate, a silly grin still on his face. “Did you see some of the comments, though? ‘Tony Stark and Stephen Strange both deserve to be happy, so I drew them happy together’, and that one that said ‘leave my chronic pain babies alone’... There was just so much love, for us.”

The sight and sound of the genius feeling so happy pulled a grin from the Sorcerer Supreme, and he kissed the brown hair under his chin again. “Just imagine how they’ll react once we actually come out.” His soulmate cackled in reply, and Stephen fell into thought as Tony quieted again. “This isn’t the same page I saw before, though… what’s the name of this one?” He scrolled to the top to check the name. “The IronStrange Lair? Kind of a weird name… Hold on, who’s the moderator?”

The genius in his lap shifted, reaching out to tap something on the screen. The information came up a moment later, and silence fell over the duo.

‘DragonBornBAMF’.

“MINOWA NORDDAHL!!”

-

From her place seated precariously on the roof of the Spire, the Dragonborn cackled with glee, approving another happy, positive entry for the Lair. There would be no hate for her OTP here, not if she had anything to say about it. A soft ‘bling’ caught her attention, and she looked back to see another post had been approved. She arched an eyebrow, looking towards her companion next to her. “Are you sure you don’t want recognition, ‘CloakyCaptain’?”

Levi shook his collar in reply as one corner of his fabric clutched a smartphone. He preferred to remain anonymous, thank you-- especially knowing what Stephen and Tony would likely do to the Dragonborn later.

He was more than happy to remain the hidden captain of the IronStrange ship.

[suspiciouswarriorhonmayan]

Super late Birthday fic and art! by the amazing @almightyyuna (a higher res version of the art is here) for @harleymar I apologize that this took me forever (and that I keep having to make you wait). I decided to split this into parts because it was getting really long and because I thought I should at least give you something to read to tide you ever until I finish the rest of this oneshot turned short story lol 

So here is Part 1! (Also available to read on AO3!)

Summary: 

"She knew how to kill a demon in fifteen different ways with a fucking toothpick if she wanted to. She’s mastered all kinds of different weapons, spoke six different languages, has survived an eight hour stakeout with Nana and her stupid jokes….And yet, she couldn’t manage to show up on time for her own sister’s birthday."

In which Jonishi Kei is a good demon hunter, but being a good, older sister is harder.

You think you spent the best of your life like a puppet on a string 

You think you got none of it right and there’s no time left to change So many memories, they’re all so bittersweet So many avenues back to where we were

Don’t you worry about a thing You’re just lost inside a scream Don’t blow it, and make your life Nothing less than you could own it Make it right, Nothing less than you should be Don’t you worry about a thing My sister

Jonishi Kei considered herself to be a good demon hunter. Maybe not the best, or the brightest, but good (and also the hottest looking, Momoka’s stupid opinions be damned).

As any good (and hot) demon hunter worth their shit knows, there are protocols in place for containing and sealing demon portals that were expected to be followed. Had it been any other day, Kei would be fine with doing the usual extermination routine.

But today was not any other day. And unfortunately for Kei, she just couldn’t catch a break.

The demon was a level four. The gaping portal that it tore through meant the extermination and sealing process was more complex and therefore more time consuming. She couldn’t shortcut the process even if she wanted too.

“Just my fucking luck.”

Kei narrowly dodged a sweeping claw strike to the face as she pressed a hand to her earpiece. “Oi, Momoka, you finished with those seals yet?”

From the other end, she could hear Momoka cursing up a storm, most likely facing as much opposition as Kei was. “I would be, if you would get off my ass and stop asking every 2 seconds!”

Kei rolled her eyes, but was too preoccupied to give a snarky response back.

The demon in front of her was a nasty looking one. It’s withered pale skin stretched tight across a hunched skeletal frame. Bony protrusions jutted out of its back and curled all the way down to the base of its scorpion like tail that swayed to and fro, waiting to gut Kei any chance it got.

The demon towered over her by at least a good 4 feet. Deep red eyes reflected only malicious hatred.

“Pathetic hunter, I’ll enjoy eating your heart from your fleshy corpse.” It’s voice sounded like pieces of glass being scratched against a blackboard. Kei scoffed at the proclamation. Kei jumped back to put some distance between them, but she was mindful of how close she was to the water.

The area that the level four demon and it’s minions had ripped a portal into what was the Osaka North Port Marina. The cold, biting wind of the Osaka Bay caused a shiver to crawl down her spine more so than the demon did.

With trained precision, she pulled out a scroll from her hunter satchel and unfurled it. Nicking her thumb against sharp her teeth, the blood swipe darkened and in its place apparated the curved long blade of her falchion.

The glowing glyphs engraved on the metal pulsed with crackling energy. Kei knew that she needed to keep her distance from the demon’s tail. She’d rather not become skewered human meat. With a flick of her wrist, the blade extended out into a piercing chain held by integrated electro magic magnets.

The demon snarled. It’s sharp teeth bared at the sight of her falchion. With inhuman speed, the demon lunged at her. Kei barreled out of the way and unleashed two successful strikes to its weathered skin. Acidic, black blood oozed onto the pier.

The demon screeched, sending reverberating waves across the pier. Kei’s ears were ringing, but she wasn’t given any reprieve as the demon rushed to continue its onslaught on her.

She reformed the whip back into the sword and narrowly deflected a bite attack. She kicked the demon in the face and went into a defensive stance, a finger on her communicator.

“Momoka!”

But the only response was static. She tried again.

Nothing.

Kei took off into the direction where Momoka was trying to seal the breach. A quiet Momoka was never a good sign.

She double tapped her communicator and switched radio channels to HQ communications. “Rippopo! Gonna need some help over here.”

Riho’s monotone voice cut through the static. “Reinforcements are already inbound. Just hold on a little longer.”

The demon easily gave chase. It’s deep rumble of laughter echoed through the deserted pier. “No one can save you now!”

Before she could react, the demon slammed into her. Kei skidded across the ground, giving her the worst road rash. Her falchion falling just out of her reach. She scrambled forward to grab it, but the demon’s tail wrapped around her ankle and whipped her right into the window of the pier’s nearby restaurant.

The impact was so hard it left a Kei sized dent on one of the walls. She’s pretty sure she cracked a rib.

Small shards had torn the backside of her jacket and cut deep into her skin. As the demon tore into the seaside restaurant, it unleashed a flurry of claw strikes. Kei, who was still seeing double from the hard fall, failed to dodge the strikes effectively. The demon’s claw shredded the left sleeve of her jacket. Ribbons of blood poured out from Kei’s arm.

“Fuckin’ shit!” She rolled away on unsteady legs. The demon cackled at her attempts to get her bearings. He was definitely just messing her around, or at the very least keeping her long enough away from the portal and Momoka. “You’re really starting to piss me off.”

“And what will you do about it, hm?” It was baiting her. Red eyes shined with glee at her injured state.

Kei hurled two smoke bombs on the ground causing them to explode and give her the cover that she desperately needed. She quickly pulled out another weapon scroll. Bloodied hands smeared messy sigils onto the magical parchment.

The demon hissed. It swung its tail wildy, completely thrashing dinner tables and chairs out of the way. “You can’t hide from me. I can smell your blood...and your fear.”

“Smell this, you basic bitch!” The demon turned just in time to see Kei jump from out the smoke and slam two metal javelins into its left side.

The demon let out a screech of pain as it went crashing backwards. The demon scrambled to get its bearing but Kei only dug the the javelins deeper. She ignored the sizzle of her skin as the demon’s blood splattered against her skin and clothes. She pushed deeper until she heard the crack of its bones under the pressure of her force.

But in her focused state, she failed to notice the demon’s tail looming behind her. It took it’s chance to take a reactive swipe, catching Kei in the shoulder.

Kei instinctively pulled back. She held in a scream of pain as she stumbled back into the cover of smoke.

The demon clawed itself back up.  It claws and tail thrashed around the desecrated restaurant in frantic paranoia, but it’s range of movement was limited. “Pathetic hunter, my death will stop nothing! My master’s plans will soon-”

A loud whistle interrupted the demon. It swiveled its head in the direction of the sound. The last thing it saw, as smoke slowly dissipated, was Jonishi Kei giving it the middle finger as she hurled one last javelin right through its head.

The squelching sound of a dead demon was sweet music to Kei’s very tired ears. She took out a minor sealing scroll from her satchel and unfurled it with another easy swipe of blood.

She draped it across the still body of the demon and started the process of containing the it’s body into a ring of sealing. This ring would prevent it’s residual demonic energy seeping into the area, causing to be more susceptible to demon attacks in the future.

It wasn’t going to be perfect, given that sealing wasn’t Kei’s specialty, but it would do until help arrived to clean up the mess she’s inevitably made.

Once she drew the last seal on the floor with her blood,  Kei collapsed. Her exhausted body was no longer able to hold her up. At this point, she was wheezing more than breathing.

The amount of blood she lost was starting to take its toll on her.

As she lay there, She was finally able to take stock of how ruined her favorite leather jacket was. She groaned in annoyance. There was pretty much no way she could patch this up into something salvageable.

God, sometimes, she really hated her job.

About five minutes of debating whether she should bother getting up to check in with HQ and to make sure Momoka was still alive, she heard footsteps approaching. Kei tensed and took a peak over from her hiding position. The tension in her body eased at the sight of a familiar face.  

“Keiichi! You still alive?” Hearing Sayaka’s voice was a relief to Kei, but she made no motion to get up.

“You bastards are late!” Kei called out from her prone position. Sayaka jogged over to her and let out a low whistle.

“You look like shit,” Sayaka said with a toothy grin. She helped prop Kei up against one of the turned over tables.

Kei only glared. “Yeah, well, at least I’m the hottest looking shit here.”

She tilted her head in the direction of the demon that she had murdered.

“Yeah, it’s kind of hard to miss. Sit tight, I’ll start the re-sealing process, just to be extra secure. Nana should be on her way.”

Kei gave a weak thumbs up. “They really don’t pay enough for this shit.”

She watched Sayaka pull out some scrolls of her own with a couple of vials of stored blood. Kei probably should consider carrying her own sealing and blood pack around instead of having to bleed herself dry, but she was never willing to sacrifice the space for it in her satchel. She’d rather have all her weapons at her disposal instead.

“How’s Momoka, by the way?” Kei wasn’t going to bother listening to all the chatter over the comms. It would just give her a headache she didn’t need.

“She’s alive, but looks as bad as you do. Yuuri, Milky, and Akarin are with her now. Oh and she broke her foot, too. Momoka told me to curse you out for leaving her alone to fight a swarm of two level demons and to do the sealing by herself. ”

Kei let out an indignant snort. “She’s the one who was bragging that she could do it before we left HQ. Besides those puny little demons were nothing in comparison to this guy.”

“Maybe you should have pulled some of your old Keiichi charm on it? You could have had an easier time,” said Sayaka with a teasing lighthearted tone as she continued to paint seals around in a circle.

Kei motioned to her chest. “Hey, my charm gets me by most days.”

“But by the looks of it, your boobs could only get you so far today, though.” Another voice cut in. They both turned to see Nana arrive with her usual big medical bag she carried with her. Sayaka only shook her head and laughed as she continued to finish off the seals.

If she wasn’t so tired, Kei would have had the energy to be offended.“I don’t have time for your petty boob jealousy right now. Please heal me so I can go the fuck home.”

Nana pouted, but trudged up to Kei, healing incantations and bandages at the ready. Kei would usually play a long with Nana’s dumb jokes, but she wasn’t in the mood for it.

Today was supposed to be an important day. She shot Nana an apologetic look, though given her often teased resting bitch face, it probably looked more like grimace than anything else. As the magic took effect, Kei felt herself begin to breathe a little easier.

Once done cleaning and dressing her bigger wounds, Nana pulled out a change of clothes, a blanket, and a bottle of orange juice from her medical bag for Kei. “Try not to move so much, I healed most of your ribs and the major cuts but there’s still a lot of bruising and bleeding. Stay here, I still have to go back and help Akarin heal Momoka. You know how fussy she gets when we have to do the healing for her.”

Kei wasn’t usually one to sit still. Most days she tried to at least try to listen to Nana’s instructions, but she couldn’t today.

With Nana heading out, Kei tore off her battered shirt and jacket for the plain black one she received. She made an attempt to get up quickly, but that proved to be a mistake as the world started to spin.

She pitched forward only for two strong arms to catch her. “Woah, Keiichi, what’s the rush?”

There were currently two Sayaka’s standing in front of her. Kei blinked in an attempt to put the Sayaka’s back into one person.  “You know what today is. Or yesterday? What time is it, anyway?”

Sayaka looked confused for a second, before her face lit up in recognition of what Kei was talking about. “It’s about two in the morning.”

Kei cursed. It was way later than she had thought. Kei pulled away from Sayaka, thought Sayaka was reluctant to let her walk on her own.

“Hey, I’m sure she’ll understand, Keiichi.”

Kei shook her head. She was too tired to bother arguing with Sayaka. “I need to head home. I’ll give my report to HQ later. Tell everyone I’m sorry for bailing on clean up duty.”

This time Sayaka didn’t make any attempts to stop her, but Kei could tell her friend wanted to say more on the subject.

She trailed Kei a little ways before stopping. “You did good today, Kei. I know as a hunter, we have to sacrifice a lot. Our duty can take its toll, but you’re one of the good ones.  You’ve helped save Osaka today and countless more times in the past, that’s got to count for something, right?”

But being a good demon hunter sure as hell didn’t make her a good older sister it seemed.

Her cracked phone screen read 2:45 a.m.

Rei-chan’s birthday had passed her by and all Kei had to show for her late arrival home was some bruised ribs and blood soaked clothes. Sayaka’s usual, lingering words of encouragement did Kei little good to her morale or her conscience at the moment.

“And the worst sister award goes to me.”

She knew how to kill a demon in fifteen different ways with a fucking toothpick if she wanted to. She’s mastered all kinds of different weapons, spoke six different languages, has survived an eight hour stakeout with Nana and her stupid jokes….

And yet she couldn’t manage to show up on time for her own sister’s birthday.

She hung up her satchel and what was left of her tattered leather jacket up on the coat rack, but the heavy weight of guilt remained on her shoulders. Along with her exhaustion, Kei was nothing short of a mess. A hot mess, but a mess all the same.

She padded silently through the apartment. All the lights had been off when she arrived so she could only assume Rei had gone to sleep. Nevertheless, Kei stopped in front of Rei’s door. She lifted her hand to the door knob, but hesitated.

She didn’t even know what she would say to Rei to make up for missing her birthday, again .

A simple sorry stopped cutting it three missed birthdays ago. Kei’s apologies were as worthless as her broken promises.

Disappointing her sister was worse than having to face a level six demon while wearing nothing but her underwear.

Ever since their parents passing, Kei had to be the strong one. However, she never knew how to really answer Rei’s questions about the kind of work she did or why she always ended up coming home at late hours of the night with dark bruises and barely healed scars.

Rei probably thought she was doing something illegal or working for the yakuza.

If only it was that mundane.

Kei sighed, but squared her shoulders.  

Even if she had failed to show up on time and was about to wake Rei at this ungodly hour, she still owed it to her sister to at least attempt a make it up to her. “C’mon Kei, you got this. Sayaka is right. It’s just Rei, after all.”

Her sister would probably try to kick her ass, but Kei would do her damnedest to make it up to Rei. No matter the cost.

Kei turned the door knob slowly. She opened the door, but in the darkness of Rei’s room, instead of seeing her sister’s sleeping form, she was greeted by four rapid beeping lights glowed in the dark.

Kei’s eyes widened in recognition.

She slammed the door shut just milliseconds before the blast of the force sent the door and her careening into the wall behind her.

Through ringing ears and hazy vision, Kei cried out for her sister. “Rei! Rei?!”  

She managed to weakly push the door off her and crawled hands and knees towards Rei’s room. Fear clutched at her heart. “I swear Rei if this is some goddamned prank for missing your birthday I’ll-“

As Kei stood on shaky legs, she gasped at the sight before her.  Besides the obvious set up of magical explosions by the wall, Rei’s room was in complete disarray. The stuffing and springs of her bed had been completely torn out. Rei’s desk and bookcase was overturned and her stuffed animals were scattered across the floor, dirty and blood stained. The light pink walls had deep gouges all over.

On the far wall, around the single window in Rei’s room, was a ring of red glyphs. Kei recognized it as the protective ward she had secretly placed in Rei’s room. Except all the glyphs had been made visible and completely nullified. The ward was supposed to be incredibly difficult to bypass and even if it had been, she should have felt it happen.

All Kei felt now was nauseous. Her eyes trailed down to center of the ring. On the window, written in blood, was a single nullified glyph.

The magical word for detonation .

Moving like a clumsy newborn, Kei backpedaled out of the room. Fear drummed against her ears. She scrambled around the apartment calling for Rei, hoping against all logic that this was some kind of sick joke. She ripped open closets and overturned their whole apartment for some kind of clue to Rei’s whereabouts.

At one point the landlord banged on their apartment door yelling at about the noise. Kei slammed the door on his face. She didn’t have time for this shit.

When her frantic search turned up futile, Kei hastily pulled out her phone.

With shaky fingers, she dialed Rei’s phone in a last ditch attempt at regaining her composure.

“Please pick up, please pick up, please pick up…”

Kei paced the floor. The ringing of the dial had never been so nerve wracking.

She almost gave up when she heard the other end finally pick up. “Rei! Thank fuck, what the hell-“

There was a deep, dark chuckle. Kei’s heart leapt to her throat.

“I’m sorry Miss Jonishi, but little Rei can’t pick up right now.”  The mocking tone was not lost on Kei. Whoever this was, knew they had the upper hand.

Kei’s hard grip dented her phone a little. “Whoever the fuck you are, if you hurt her I’ll shove your head so far up your ass-”

“Language, Miss Jonishi,” cut in the voice. “After all, you wouldn’t want little Rei to pick up your bad habits.”

Kei heard some shuffling on the line before Rei’s bright voice burst through.“Keiichi! This is the worst birthday surprise ever, you better kick this freak’s ass to make up for-”

Her voice was muffled before she could finish. Kei heard a struggle go on the other end. “Rei!”

The amused voice of the man filtered back through. “Hm, the sisterly resemblance is uncanny, truly.”

Kei was already getting her hunter satchel and heading out the door. “Listen here, you tell me where she is and I promise I won’t rip your spine out from you the moment I see you.”

There was a pause and for a moment Kei regretted letting her anger get the best of her given that Rei was at their mercy. She heard more shuffling and suddenly she heard what she assumed to be Rei’s distant muffled screams. “Stop! Don’t touch her!”

The man came back, but there was a weird distortion of his tone, as if the voice was layered with another. “Miss Jonishi, you’re really not in a place to make threats or demands. You want your sister back unharmed, you’ll do as I say, no questions asked. And don’t even think about contacting any of your little hunter friends. I have my ways to know if you do.”

Every fiber of Kei’s being burned.

She burned to scream, to curse, to kill.

She punched a hole in the nearby wall instead, but the feeling of helplessness didn’t go away. She no time and no options. She didn’t know the truth to the man’s words or if he was even a man to begin with. She was left to scramble for a solution in the dark and her prospects at the moment weren’t looking good.

In short, she was fucked.

Kei’s luck really was the worst. With gritted teeth and hands curled into fists, Jonishi Kei did what she’s rarely ever done in her life.

She conceded.

“Okay...What do you want?”

Kei could practically feel the man smile on the other end. It made her feel sick to her stomach.

“Good. Now, we can get down to business.”

It was 4:30 a.m by the time she arrived to HQ. She had twenty-four hours to get what she needed and then to meet at the rendezvous point that was texted to her.  Getting to Tokyo would still take about four to six hours if she where to go by normal means. At least this would give Kei a couple hours to prep for her meeting with the demon and possibly scout out more information about what she was up against.

She slowly headed inside of HQ. Osaka’s demon hunter HQ was hidden behind the image of a normal “office” building.

The first few floors were actually empty and covered in illusionary magic and seals. Building access was restricted, though even if anyone went in, they would find themselves lost in a series of of never ending halls. To even get inside, a person would have to traverse a maze of floors intentionally put there to confuse and keep regular people out. Kei remembered having to learn to navigate the maze with a blindfold on as part of her hunter initiation.

The real “first” floor was the hunter exclusive bar. And even the initial entrance to the bar was layered with illusions and trap spells it was enough to make even the most persistent of intruders lose their patience.

Kei slipped in with practiced ease.

The actual bar didn’t scream subtle at all with its gaudy cheetah print cushioned seats, bombastic neon lights, and disco ball in the center. It’s weirdly bright pink wallpaper was mostly covered in several picture frames of the girls goofing off, having a good time, or posing with a famous kill. The bar even had a small stage that was reserved for karaoke or the monthly comedy nights.

Kei was just hoping she wouldn’t run into the usual crew. She just needed to get in and out quickly. The elevator up to base was just across the the threshold. Namba girls loved to have fun, so there was usually a few of the older girls passed out in some of the booths, or in Maachun’s case usually on the stage, and that seemed true today as well. Given the time, she didn’t expect anyone else to be around or at least conscious enough to notice her.  

But as she crossed the dance floor, she wasn’t in the clear as she had thought for sitting right at the bar was Airi, Milky, and a what looked like a very drunk, barely awake, Momoka.

And of course, it had to be Momoka who spotted her first.

Life just liked making things hard for Kei.  

“Oi, Keiichi! You bastard!”

Kei had to stop herself from sighing. Nothing could ever be easy could it? She reluctantly approached the bar where Airi had already poured her a hefty glass of beer. Honestly no amount of alcohol could help her right now, but she took the glass with a nod of thanks. Momoka looked like she was trying to get up, but in her drunken and still recovering state she was having a hard time.

Momoka pointed an accusing finger at Kei. “You owe me, fucker. Not only did you bail on me during the sealing, you even had me and Sayanee cover for you in briefing and you know how long that shit takes.”

Kei took a sip of her beer, only half paying attention to Momoka’s rant. She did feel a little bad for making them take on a part of her workload, but her mind could only think about Rei and how different things could have been if Kei had been there to protect her.

Rei’s safety took priority. Stll, she needed to placate Momoka or she’d nag Kei about it endlessly. “I’ll cover your training shifts with the newbies for the next week to make up for it.”

“Make it two weeks and you have to take my next night shift with Nana,” said Momoka. Her tone implied she would accept nothing less than her terms.

Kei grimaced, but shrugged. It’s not like any if will matter in the long run anyway.  “Fine.”

Momaka sloshed her drink to and fro spilling its contents all over the place as she happily yelled about not having to deal with “newbs or old hags” as she put, before completely downing her drink and passing out almost immediately after.

Airi laughed at her antics. Kei could see the tint of red on her cheeks. While not as drunk as Momoka, Airi was at the very least tipsy. Still, she turned to Kei with a big, welcoming smile. Kei hid a frown behind her drink. Regardless of her reason, Kei wasn’t deserving of receiving that sentiment, especially with what she was about to do.

“Keiichi, we thought we wouldn’t see you until later tonight. Sayanee told us you had to head home for something important,” said Airi.

“Yeah, family stuff,” replied Kei. She could feel Milky’s piercing dark eyes on her, internally Kei cursed.

Airi and Momoka wouldn't be a problem. They wouldn’t think twice about her excuses. Milky on the other hand...

She was the one Kei was the most wary of.

After all, the most dangerous demons never looked it.

They looked ordinary, harmless even. They looked so human . Maybe that said more about humanity than anything else, regardless, this ability to blend in with the normal population is what made level five and six demons so dangerous.

Milky being a level five demon was always at the back of Kei’s mind. She recalled that fateful night so many years ago when the heartless corpses of her parents lay beneath the form of a grotesque demon. It’s sly smile, too much like Milky’s own, still haunted Kei’s nightmares to this day. Kei’s hand tightened over her cup.

Airi took another heavy gulp of beer. “Oh, is there a reason you came back this early?”

“Had to pick up some stuff from my locker.” Kei left her answers vague. Airi was already on her way to being drunk enough to not care enough to press for details and for that Kei was grateful.  

“What’s so important that you couldn’t wait to pick it up later?” chimed in Milky. But of course, Kei still had another hurdle to bypass. Kei shot a glance Milky’s way. Her “innocent” smile only served to make Kei more nervous.

Kei tried not show any outward irritation or skittishness. Milky was perceptive and if Kei gave her an inch, Milky would take a mile.

“It’s my sister’s birthday present,” was her easy reply.  

Airi piped up at the mention of birthday. “Keiichi, you should have told us it was your sister’s birthday! We all could have chipped in to get her something. Oh! Or thrown her an awesome party!”

Kei brushed her off. “You know I keep my work life separate from my home life.”

Airi was a little miffed at being shot down so quickly, but said nothing more on the matter as she continued to down the rest of her drink.

Kei took one more sip of beer. She was in desperate need of liquid courage, but refrained from drinking anymore, after that. As anxious as she was, her mind needed to stay focused. “Anyway, thanks for the drink. ”

“Leaving already?” asked Milky. Kei continued her path to the elevator.

“Just wanted to get the present and have it ready before Rei wakes up,” said Kei. She hoped her tone sounded more nonchalant than she felt.

Kei punched in her employee code on the elevator keypad, and stepped in as the doors opened. At the very least, she’ll get some reprieve before heading up.

Her sigh of relief was cut short, as Milky’s hand caught the elevator door before it closed. Kei tensed as Milky stepped into the elevator with her.

“Sorry,” she said. Her voice overly sweet and definitely not apologetic at all. “I remembered I had to go up and ask Sayanee something.”

Kei wanted to punch something. Because of course the two people she didn’t want to be here had decided to stay late.

The tension in the elevator was nothing short of suffocating. If Nana hadn’t healed her ribs, Kei would think that they were the reason why it was so hard to breathe.

It was actually rare for her and Milky to be alone like this. Most of the time, there was someone tagging along their group with them. They hadn’t even gone on a mission alone together once in the four years since Milky had joined their merry band of demon hunters. But given Kei's history with demons, many of the hunters knew it was best to keep them far apart from each other.

As the elevator began its ascent up, Milky’s gaze locked on her. Kei’s mind was racing. Did she know? Would she attack Kei? What did Kei really know about Milky?

Milky’s unusually quiet question cut through the torrent of Kei’s paranoia. “Do you remember when we first met?”

Kei remembered Sayaka coming back after she was marked missing in action for a week. Many of the hunters thought she had finally kicked the bucket, only to come back alive and with a level five demon in tow.

If it hadn’t been for Sayaka stepping in, Keiichi would have cut Milky’s head off on the spot out of reflex. “What about it?”

“Well, the first time I met you, you were so tense and reeked of death incantations.” Kei finally turned to look Milky in the eyes. Her fingers gripped her satchel strap as her thoughts briefly flickered down to her bag’s inventory.

Milky stared back, unblinking. “Kind of like now.”

An oppressive silence followed. Kei mentally weighed her options. She was hoping that she could get in and out without having to engage in a fight. Her chances of escaping out of this alive were slim, but Kei was used to the odds never being in her favor.

She’s been friends with a lot of the hunters since she was young. In a lot of ways, they had become something like family for Kei. But if she had to fight her friends to save Rei, Kei could not hesitate to do so.  

Kei’s fingers twitched. She mentally prepared herself to retaliate the moment Milky made a move.

Before the tension could escalate, however, the elevator dinged and the doors opened to reveal Sayaka and Yuuri standing very close to each other and chatting. Kei’s and Milky’s attention temporarily pulled away from each other.

Kei let out a small, shallow sigh of relief.

Sayaka’s face lit up in happy surprise, and let go of Yuuri’s hand as if she’d been caught doing something inappropriate. Yuuri appeared a annoyed at the interruption. Kei refrained from rolling her eyes at both of them.

“Keiichi! I thought you went home,” said Sayaka.

Milky’s attention had zeroed in at the closeness of Sayaka and Yuuri. Her and Yuuri locked eyes and immediately got into a glare off. All mention of Kei and Milky’s discussion gone from the demon’s mind. Never was Kei more thankful for the love triangle squad getting distracted with their usual bullshit.

Kei got off the elevator. She needed to make a quick exit while she still could.

“I just came back to pick something up from the locker.”

She bypassed Sayaka without so much as a glance. Kei knew that if Sayaka caught wind of her nervousness she’d ask what was wrong. Kei wasn’t sure if she had enough resolve to rebuff her questions or the doe-eyed worried look Sayaka would give her.

Because deep down, Kei desperately wanted to tell her.

To tell her how she failed to protect her sister.

To tell her how much she needed help.

To tell Sayaka, that for the first time since Kei’s parents died, she was afraid.

She pushed back against the feeling and buried it deep within her. There was no turning back now.

“You should have texted me. I could have picked it up for you and dropped it off at your apartment,” said Sayaka, who was trying to hold her attention between the already squabbling teammates in front of her, to Kei who was walking away from them.

“You know me, I’d rather do things myself,” said Kei.

Sayaka wedged herself between Yuuri and Milky in a vain attempt to get them back to amicable terms, but she was still trying to hold a conversation with Kei while doing so. “You don’t always have to, though. Rely on us more often, won’t you?”  

If only that were true, thought Kei.

She didn’t bother with an initial reply.

“Keiichi?” called out Sayaka from behind. Kei imagined Sayaka’s face lined with worry.  She willed herself to keep walking away.

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll catch you later.” She disappeared around the corner before Sayaka, Milky, or anyone else, could drill anymore questioning looks into her back. She took hurried steps down winding corridors. The underground base was huge and she had several floors she would need to traverse to get to her destination.

With Milky’s suspicion and Sayaka being prone to sticking her chin in everyone's business, Kei didn’t have a lot of time to get the plan rolling.

She did stop by the locker room and armory on her way. She picked up a communicator and took as many weapon scrolls as she could fit in her already stuffed satchel. She was careful to not rattle the bombs she had acquired from the cache the kidnappers had instructed her to use.

She took one in her hand and examined it. The outer shell of the explosive was lined with demonic sigils. Demon’s blood was dangerous on it’s own, but mixing it together with death incantations was a whole other level.

This was something only a level six demon could pull off without accidentally disintegrating themselves with their own magic. Kei didn’t want to think about a level six demon could do to her sister if she didn’t follow through with his demands.

Most of her locker didn’t have much in the way of possessions, just some extra clothes and a couple of empty scrolls. But, there was one thing that was important to Kei. She had a picture of her and Rei on one of the Kei’s rare days off. The photo was a little worn and crease lines were evident in the places were Kei had folded it for safekeeping in her pockets multiple times before. She gently took the picture in her hands.

She surprised Rei, by coming home early that day. There was a local festival happening nearby and Kei figured it would be nice to take Rei there. They played (and lost) a lot games and ate way too much food and watched the beautiful array of fireworks.

And when Rei pestered Kei for a piggyback ride home, which Kei did begrudgingly, Rei pulled out her phone and snapped a picture to commemorate the small and happy moment together.

It was a good day.

She tucked the photo in her pants pocket. Kei took a deep breath, but it did little to calm her nerves. Kei thought of Rei, alone, with demons ready to tear out her heart and eat it without a second thought. Or worse.

If only Kei had been there. Should have been there, she thought.

Her promise to protect Rei was broken like all the rest of she’s made before.

She clenched her fists until nails broke skin. With blood dripping down her hand, she slammed her locker shut.

A red blinking light barely visible in the dark of Kei’s locker hummed to life as the sigil for detonation was smeared with blood onto Kei’s locker.

“Don’t worry, Rei. I'm coming for you.”

This was a promise she couldn’t afford to break.

It’s too bad that breaking was all Kei has ever been good at.

The lights of the elevator flickered violently as an explosion rocked the building.

Funny thing about explosions, they made great distractions.

Kei tried to be careful in her placement of the bombs. She didn’t want to actually hurt anyone if she could help it.

“Fireworks,” the demon had said over the phone. “I want a wonderful explosion of fireworks all over your little hunter hole you call a base.”

Emergency alarms blared as Aina’s voice shouted orders over the speakers.

Kei could only imagine the chaos outside. She ignored every ounce of her conscience telling her to turn back. “In too deep now, Kei,” she muttered to herself.

She shook her head. There was still one more thing the demon had instructed her to do.

The elevator had jolted to a stop five floors before her destination. Since she had to stop by R&D to pick up a couple blood vials, the bombs had detonated before she could arrive at the highest floor.

Blasting open the elevator hatch with a minor spell, Kei hauled herself up.

She was about four floors down. Unfurling a scroll, Kei summoned a grappling hook. The metal beams were just big enough to hook into. With a powerful throw, Kei launched the grappling hook as far as she could send it. Once it was latched securely, Kei began ascending up as fast as she could.

Halfway through her climb up another explosion rocked the building. The rope of the grappling hook swung dangerously. Kei tightened her grip.

“Don’t fall, don’t fall, don’t fall.” The last bombs she placed were finally setting off, but the timing was seriously the worst. As she reached the top of the beam, another explosion shook the building. Kei’s tentative grasp slipped and she scrambled to get a secure hold. In her rush, the rope tangled itself around her as her descent came to a spiraling halt a few feet from the top of the elevator.

“Glad no one is here to see me look like an idiot.”

Roughly untangling herself, she continued her ascent until she reached the right floor. Kei took the grappling hook and wrapped around the nearest beam to use it as a leverage. She took out a combat knife and pushed against the slit of the door. With all her strength, she managed to pry it open enough to get her in.

Kei stepped into the eerily quiet floor. The red emergency lights cast the floor in a dark, red glow as most of the normal office lights had been shut off.

Retracing her mental map of the area, Kei stealthed her way through dark halls to get to an alcove hidden behind several twisting corridors of offices and grand meeting rooms.

Arriving in front a set of two large, red oak doors, Kei stashed her combat knife back into her bag and took out one of the vials of blood she had stolen.

The label on vial was written in archaic magic, but Kei knew it well enough to know it was Riho’s name. She poured the vial of blood all over her hand and smeared the sigil for open onto the door.

The blood, instead of leaving a print on the door, vanished as if it had been absorbed into the red oak and slowly opened to let Kei in. Once she stepped through the doors shut behind her and Kei was left to take stock of the her surroundings before her.

The archive room wasn’t a typical one. The room was not filled with rows of books and tomes, but rather a giant maze of server rooms that stretched, as far as the eye could see. It was just another set of traps and illusions that were set up as a safeguard. “HQ really likes its mazes and illusions.”

She had been in here only twice before and one of those times she’d was drunk for. But the second time was when she helped Riho carry a couple of server equipment in.

Technically she didn’t have access to enter the archives, but Riho had been struggling to carry all those heavy boxes and Kei had offered her help. Riho trusted her enough to accept.

A small whisper of guilt pulled at her for using the trust Riho put in her, against her friends.

Kei had watched Riho write the specific sigils to dispel the illusions from the corner of her eye that day. She hadn’t memorized the sigils for any other reason than to possibly to prank some of the drunk members later, but it seemed that someone had to have known she had this knowledge. What other reason would they target her and her sister for?

But she couldn’t think of the possible leak in HQ now. Everyone would just assume she’d be the leak at this point anyway. As much as Kei loved her friends and wished them no harm, she doubted they would forgive her or bother to hear her out after this.

HQ wouldn’t care if she did this because her sister was in danger. They would tell her to put her duty and loyalty as a hunter first.

Too bad for them, Kei wasn’t Sayaka. Her duty to her sister came first.

She pulled out the second vial of Riho’s blood, and muttered a small apology to her old friend. She broke the vial on the ground and ran her fingers through the same pattern that Riho had done before.

As she traced the last sigil, the air around her shattered into pieces and Kei was left standing in the real archive room. The several rows of server rooms were still present, but the end of the room computer console was visible against the wall.

She dashed to it and took a usb hard drive out from her satchel. The hard drive had been in the bomb cache. The demon had directed her to simply plug it in and let it do its job.

The moment she plugged it into the port, the console screen turned a dark red. Flashes of code scrolled through at an unreadable rate. The console crackled with dark energy that forced Kei to step back. The fluorescent lights flickered as the dark electricity surged throughout the room.

A red screen flashed on the screen and a large icon of dark wings appeared. Kei swore she had seen that icon before, but couldn’t quite place it. She watched as several personal files on several of the hunters flashed across the screen for several minutes. The portable hard drive pinged before the whole console fried in an explosion of sparks.

Kei coughed and waved the smoke away. The hard drive was unharmed, but the same couldn’t be said for the poor console. Kei bit her lip. Hell only knows what the demon would do with all this classified information, but Kei knew it wouldn’t be good.

It was bad enough she had already blown up half the base, but this was a different matter entirely.  

She stuffed the hard drive in her satchel. She’s already made her choice, but damn if it didn’t hurt her conscience to do it. As she silently debated with herself, the vault doors to the archive were blown open. Kei darted behind a couple of servers. Weapon scroll already pulled out from her satchel.

“Shit,” she whispered. With her new electric baton in hand, Kei had to formulate a plan quick. She didn’t have a lot of time left. Most of the hunters would soon figure out that the bombs were just a ruse to the real goal.

She spotted Riho and Fuuko running in. Fuuko’s long naginata drawn out. Her hair tousled as if she has just woken up. Irritation painted on her face. Riho was more skittish. Her eyes darting back and forth.

They stopped a few paces away shy of the console, examining were Kei had drawn the nullification sigils.

Riho rarely spewed curses, but Kei could see how stressed out and shaken she was.

“Looks like you were right, Rippopo,” Kei heard Fuuko say.

Riho pushed her glasses up. The moment the spell broke I was notified. But I didn’t think that they had used my own blood to break it.”

Kei didn’t account for that, but given that Riho was the best at illusions, Kei should have taken more precaution. Nothing she could do about it now, though. She took out her last two smoke bombs and held them ready.

Riho wrung her hands together. Her fingers twisting this way and that as if recounting spells in a nervous habit. “It’s possible who or what ever managed to infiltrate had someone on the inside.”

Fuuko’s eyes narrowed into a glare. “Be careful with what you say, Rippopo.”

“We can’t rule out if one of our own turned,” said Riho, who’s eyes were now looking towards the direction of the console. With hurried steps, she approached the fried console. “We need to call back up. If they stole something from the archive, which I’m pretty sure they did, then we need all hands on deck.”

The moment that Fuuko reached to press her communicator button, Kei lobbed both smoke bombs.

“Shit!” Shouted Fuuko. “The intruder is still here!”

Kei was already upon them. Using the cover of smoke, Kei unleashed two shocking strikes from her baton into a slow-to-react Riho.

Riho crashed against the broken console. Her body spazzing from the surge energy. Kei cringed as Riho collapsed on the ground. Kei hadn’t meant to hit her that hard, but didn’t have time to be guilty about it as Fuuko’s naginata nearly took her head off. Kei tumbled out of the way, but didn’t manage to avoid getting her face cut.

Fuuko swiped the blade upward. The sigils in the blade pulsed and the smoke was swept away by the strike. Fuuko’s eyes landed on Kei. Her expression molded into one of surprise and disbelief. “Keii-”

Kei took advantage of her shock and sent electricity coursing through her baton into Fuuko. The blast sent her flying back into a couple servers. The electric bursts from her baton would only stun them temporarily. She only had a few moments before the whole base would be upon her.

“Sorry, nothing personal,” said Kei as she dashed out of the archives.

Her original escape plan was to take the emergency stairs down to the garage and steal a bike. Now, she’d be lucky if she would even be able to get off this floor unscathed.

Kei veered down the hallway corridor. The archive room was on the forty-eighth floor. Any hopes of getting out without being spotted were slim, but Kei didn’t have any other choice other than to push forward.

She headed back to the elevator door, only to hear several footsteps and voices around the corridor. Kei backpedaled into a nearby storage closet. She heard to pairs of footsteps pass, but the shadow of one lingered at the front of the door. Kei held her breathe. She readied her baton to strike the moment the door opened.

The shadow remained still for a couple seconds before trailing off with the others that had passed.

Kei put the baton down, but the grip on her weapon no less tense. She waited a few tense seconds until she was sure she was in the clear.

She stepped out carefully and instead turned to head into the direction of the nearby offices. The stairwell could leave her too exposed, but she remembered that on this floor there was a conference hall that had a small open balcony. If she moved quickly, she could scale off the side of the building and make her escape. She ducked into another corridor, being careful to stay out of line of sight of the archives.

As she entered into one of the adjoining office rooms, the emergency alarms blared to life once more.  The intercom speakers crackled with a hum. The muffled sound of voices arguing could be heard before Riho’s voice boomed throughout the speakers. “All available hunters, your orders are to find and neutralize Jonishi Kei. I repeat, all available hunters find and neutralize Jonishi Kei.”

There was a jostling sound heard and suddenly Fuuko’s voice filtered through. “Keiichi if you’re listening I’m gonna kick your ass-“

She was promptly cut off.

But the cat was out of the bag now, and Kei didn’t have a moment too lose.

She quickly arrived in front of a hefty metal door. The conference halls were usually reserved for events with visiting hunting units from other parts of Japan visiting or bigwig government officials coming to sniff around their base of operations. But the one on this floor had a balcony that was used mostly to let people go out and have a smoke.The door was password protected, but in true Namba style, that meant that the password was the same that they used for all of conference halls was the same. It was a badly kept secret that the hunters would sometimes use the halls as party rooms. Kei thanked the stars for the rare leniency in security when it came to having a good time.

The doors slid open, but the conference hall was not empty as Kei had hoped it would be. She should have known by now that she wasn’t that lucky.

Standing with her weapon drawn, was Sayaka. She was covered in dust, most likely from the debris of the explosions. Her expression of surprise molded into one of seriousness.

A tense beat of silence followed.

Kei let the doors slide shut behind her. She jammed her baton into the door’s control panel. Static surged through it, blowing out the panel completely. Shutting down the door would only delay people from getting in, but at least it would spare Kei a little more time. She yanked out another weapon scroll and unfurled it in preparation.

Sayaka did not move. She simply pressed against her communicator. Kei quickly nicked her thumb to summon a weapon. Sayaka continued unbothered by what Kei was doing. She taped her communicator and broke the tense silence. “I haven’t found her yet. Keep heading down to the next floor.”

That made Kei pause. The short sickle and chain she had pulled out hung limply in her hands. “What are you doing?”

Sayaka pointed an accusing finger at her. “I should be asking you that, idiot!”

Sayaka paced about the space, as if the situation was more of an inconvenience than the “betrayal” it was supposed to be.

“Milky mentioned you were acting weird, so I went back to check on you. And then the explosions happened and I thought you were hurt or worse. But this?”

Sayaka made an exasperated motion to Kei. “Blowing up the base, stealing classified info, attacking other hunters . Kei, what the hell is going on?”

Kei didn’t speak. She wrapped the chain of her Kusarigama around her hand. Her grip tightened on the handle of the sickle.

Sayaka was one of her best friends. They trained together, fought together, and occasionally, drunkenly made out together. Of course, Sayaka would know if something was up. Unlike Kei, she’s always been willing to see the good in people and give them a second chance. Had it been anything else, Kei would have caved into Sayaka’s questions or demands, because that’s the way it’s always been.

Sayaka charged forward, Kei followed without question.

Sayaka brought home a demon, Kei stayed her blade.

Sayaka came knocking at her door at late hours, Kei would let her in.

Always.

Kei clenched her jaw. She could do it. She could drop her weapon and tell Sayaka everything.

She could give in .

The sigils on the hilt of her sickle hummed. The world around slowed. Grim determination etched on her face.

But she can’t .

She won’t .

She took a step forward and unleashed her attack on Sayaka.

She’d burn every bridge to save her sister.

[askguyslikeus]

((thank you to guest writer @actualbird !!!))

See the thing about Evangeline is that it's pretty much as old as Jeremy and Michael's entire friendship. Probably older, actually. Evangeline, of course, being the minifridge in their dorm that houses the Jeremy’s fantastic stock of Mountain Dew Red.

It was passed down into the Mell household from a distant relative before landing in Michael's basement for prime snacking purposes. There, high on sentimentality and weed, teen Jeremy and Michael named the fridge after roughly an hour of scrolling through baby names while Evie ("Holy shit," Jeremy remembers saying to the ceiling. "Evie can be its nickname. That's so cute. Evie.") kept watch in the corner.

They take Evie with them when they go to college ("Ohana means family," Michael had said. "And family means no fridge gets left behind.") and it's been smooth sailing ever since. Evie doubles as a bedside desk. Evie's fridge door is home to various post its, three weird magnets, and the loving “P1” sign. Evie's soft, steady hum rings out through their dorm without fail.

Well, without fail until a few weeks ago when Evie's hum sputters from a constant thrum to an erratic buzz. Jeremy didn't think it was a problem because Evie was still refrigerating and a good smack usually set the it back on track for a few hours, but when the smacking stopped working, he just gets used to the weird buzzing beat. At one point, Michael says he could probably make a sick song from the beats, but before he can help Michael record Evie, Evie makes a final, desperate, pathetic sounding thunk.

The next day, Evie is nothing more than a lukewarm cupboard filled with equally lukewarm soda.

Which is how they end up at a Target that weekend, staring down at the overwhelming magnitude of the kitchen appliances section. Jeremy, in the face of an entire aisle of minifridges, feels uneasy. Out of depth. Intimidated. Out of everything he's faced in his life, right now, slowly walking past fridges that look cooler than he is, this feels like war. Which it absolutely isn't but the connotations of buying a fridge seem monumental at the moment. This is a life milestone. Buying a fridge.

Jeremy says none of this. Instead, he looks at a fridge, turns to Michael, and very intelligently says, "Fridge."

"Fuck, man," Michael nods sagely, placing a hand on Jeremy's shoulder.  "They sure do."

They indulge in maybe three seconds of solemn eye contact before Michael breaks, his poker face splitting into a smile before turning into straight up cackles.

"Shut uuuup," Jeremy rolls his eyes, trying to shove Michael but he slings an arm around his shoulder, still snickering.

"Nah, dude. Do you have like, any other wise words to tell me?"

"Yeah, two. 'Fuck' and 'off'." Jeremy sticks his tongue out because he's like five, whatever. "Look at the fridges, dude. We have to pick a fridge."

"We have to pick a fridge," Michael repeats, but his words have a rhythm to it. Jeremy's seen this happen enough to know what'll happen next.  "We have to. Have to pick a fridge," Michael says, bobbing his head to the beat he's making. Michael can turn anything into a jingle. Jeremy once read him the ingredient list on a box of Nerds and he turned it into a theme song. Dextrose, sugar, malic aaaaaacid, corn, corn, corn syrup. It was awesome. It was catchy. It was stuck in Jeremy's head for days. "Gotta pick a fridge. A fridge. A fridge." Michael croons, turning his gaze to Jeremy. "Because we are---take it away, Jer."

"Uhhhh," Jeremy thinks, hoping real hard that he doesn't just say 'fridge' again. "Fffff--" he says. Fuck. Salvage the situation. "Fffffridgehunters. We are Fridgehunters."

"Oh, shit, that sounds rad.” Michael grins, high fiving Jeremy. “Fridgehunters. Hunting for a fridge.”

For the lack of anything better to do, Jeremy adds some harmony. “Hunting for a fridge,” he sings before realizing they do have something better to be doing. “Dude, we can’t be singing about hunting for a fridge if we aren’t even looking at the fridges.”

“Compelling point,” Michael says valiantly. “But consider that, for some reason, I feel really intimidated by all these fridges.”

“Oh, thank fuck. Me too.” Jeremy sighs in relief. “Inheriting fridges is one thing but like, getting one? Choosing one? We’re going to die here.”

“No. No we won’t,” Michael says, suddenly determined. He lets go of Jeremy and stomps to a nearby fridge. “Come on, Jeremy. Let’s fucking do this. For Evie.”

They both look at the fridge. Jeremy reads the, what, the fridge stats (?) printed on the little card on the door. “These sure are words.”

“Yep,” he pops the ‘p’ and offers nothing more. They’re going to die here.

Jeremy belatedly realizes this all is ridiculous, but this is never a surprise. He'd be more worried the day he and Michael sit down and do something sensible and serious. Jeremy says, "We should've brought somebody else with us. An adult."

"We are adults," Michael winces. Yeah, he knows. Terrifying concept.

"An adult-ier adult," Jeremy explains, before he backtracks and realizes that they know nobody who fits that criteria at all. "Or just anybody who'd be helpful. We should've brought Rich."

"That would be entertaining, but not helpful." Michael opens a nearby fridge for no apparent reason, seeing as he’s looking at Jeremy and not the fridge. "Though, he'd make a great backup singer for the Fridgehunters theme. Have you heard him beatbox?"

"I mean, I've heard him choke on milk, so close enough." Jeremy looks into the fridge. It's got some heavy compartment stuff going on in there. Advanced shit. Too advanced, so Jeremy closes the fridge.

"We could've brought PJ. She seems like she'd know how to...fridge."

"Wrong," Michael opens the fridge again. "You see what I'm doing here? The weird nervous opening and closing this fridge thing?"

"Yeah?"

"PJ would open every single fridge in this aisle. And she'd do it out of glee," he shuts the fridge for emphasis. "Face it, man. Nobody's got it together. Collectively, I figure we could like, Voltron our way into becoming a singular functional human, but individually?" Michael pulls open the fridge door with a flourish. "Nah."

Jeremy nods, until he feels a literal lightbulb go off in his head. "Jake."

"Oh, fuck. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely,” Michael takes Jeremy by the shoulders. “We should've brought Jake. God, we're idiots. Jake could buy a fridge. Jake looks like he could put together IKEA furniture correctly."

"He's been doing that thing with the Rubik's cube." Jeremy says, moving him and Michael to a different part of the aisle, one with simpler looking fridges, hopefully.

"What, solving it?"

"Yeah."

"Who the fuck actually solves it?"

"Jake. He caught me staring and explained, like, algorithms."

"Burn the witch." He hears Michael mutter as they walk. “Dude, is it just me or are these fridges like--”

“Needlessly complicated? Totally,” Jeremy says. Thankfully, it seems like the fridges are getting more and more reasonable. “Evie was a good, cold cube. Probably from eighties, but still straightforward.”

“No nonsense whatsoev---FUCK.” Michael yells directly in his ear.

“Agh, holy shit, what?” He whips his head to Michael. Michael who is pointing at a fridge like it committed a murder right in front of him, but when Jeremy sees it, he understand. “No way.”

“Yes way.” Michael smiles, walking over to open the fridge. “Jeremy,” he says. “Same fridge.”

“Same fridge,” he murmurs in disbelief, looking at a fridge that was pretty much exactly Evie sans the bit where he hopes it’ll work. What are the goddamn odds. “So like. Evangeline the second?”

“You read my mind, man,” Michael crouches down to look inside the fridge. “But uh. Evie the second who is also the P1 fridge. So P1 the second? Player one two? Twelve?”

Jeremy crouches down due to peer pressure caused by literally one person and shrugs, “Don’t make us do numbers, Michael.”

“Fair enough,” Michael nudges Jeremy and raises a fist. “The Fridgehunters have a fridge.”

He laughs, solemnly tapping his own to Michael’s before saying, “I mean, technically, we haven’t bought it yet.”

“You’re ruining the moment.”

“We probably need to go find somebody and---”

“The moment, Jeremiah.”

“Reality, Michaelmiah.”

They do end up finding an employee, or rather an employee finds Michael mid-tackle and they try to make themselves presentable in under three seconds, scrambling from the floor and standing up. Because they’re adults. Who are going to get this fridge right here.

We wanna get this fridge, Jeremy thinks. What Jeremy ends up saying to the employee, “Uh, fridge.”

To his left, he hears Michael do a terrible job at holding in laughter, and Jeremy jabs him in the side with his elbow.

Just another day in the life.

[aspen-arts]

Price of Freedom Ch 13

Whoop! Chapter 13 up and running!

Oh geeze, you guys are going to hate me for this...

CH 13

Cagney spent the next few weeks traveling in the Phantom Express and going around all over Inkwell Isle. The first stop they made was Inkwell Isle One and he was able to get a chance to see familiar friends with Specter. Weepy sobbed with joy when he saw Cagney. Moe acted apathetic but Cagney knew he was glad to see him again while Psycarrot kept on patting his back as if proud of him for coming to visit.

Cagney was also able to revisit his old home, Fleischer Fields and was overwhelmed by so many memories of the place. Some good, some bad. Yes it was truly a memorable day for Cagney, revisiting his old home and encountering the Root Pack again. However he felt happier going back to the Phantom Express and being with Specter in the caboose area.

“Hey Cag?” Specter spoke one time during their nightly cuddles. “Can I ask you something?”

“Hmm?” Cagney opened one eye.

“Well…are you bored with all this?”

“All of what?”

“The areas we usually stop at. I mean sure, we visit a lot of places but usually it’s the same routine. First Inkwell Isle One, then Two, then Three, and then the Casino. It must be getting boring.”

“Not really,” Cagney smiled. “I mean, there has been a lot of stuff happening in the train that I don’t really get bored of the regular stops. It’s like…something new happens inside here.”

“Like when T-bone chased after the twins when they stole his conductor hat?” Specter cackled.

Cagney couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, that’s one.”

“Well, what I was meaning to say is…is there any place you want to visit? Like, you really, really, REALLY want to visit.”

“Well…” Cagney drummed his leaf fingers. “There is one area I would love to see…but I don’t think—”

“Name it,” Specter said instantly, “and I will take you there myself.”

“Oh,” Cagney wilted a little bit. “You don’t have to do that.”

Specter smiled and kissed the flower’s forehead. “I want to.”

Cagney thought about it for a minute before reaching down for a magazine laying on the floor. Specter sat up as he watched Cagney flip through the pages before he stopped and pointed at a page. The page was a landscape image of a green forest filled with trees and flowers. The words on the page said, “Come visit Tyrus Gardens!”

“I’ve always dreamed about visiting that garden,” Cagney told Specter, “it is said to be the best garden there is in all of Inkwell.”

Specter grinned. “I think it sounds like a great place. Maybe we’ll be able to visit it sometime soon.”

Cagney smiled and nuzzled into Specter. “Hmm, I’d like that.”

The ghost hugged the flower closer to him as Cagney yawned. “Getting tired?”

“A little bit…”

“Well you go right to sleep. It’s getting late after all.”

“Okay,” Cagney closed his eyes. “G’night Specs…love you…”

Specter smiled. “Love you too, Cag.”

 The dawn sun peeked over the mountains of Inkwell Isle bright and early and not a cloud in the sky. This suited T-bone fine. Despite being a skeleton, he did enjoy watching the sun rise over the horizon while sipping his usual morning coffee. Which he was about to do at the moment. The skeleton stepped out of the caboose car and leaned against the railing as he watched the sun rise above the mountains. He took a sip of his coffee which he instantly spat out in disgust.

What was in this?!

T-bone looked closer and noticed several lumps floating in the coffee.

“Morning, T-bone!”

“Morning!”

T-bone glanced up to see the Blaze Brothers grinning down at him.

“Morning,” T-bone raised his coffee cup towards them. “Say, you wouldn’t know who made this coffee, right?”

“Sure do!” One of the brothers grinned. “It was us!”

“Yeah! Us!”

“Oh?” T-bone had a bad feeling about this. “And…what did you put in it?”

“Can’t tell you, T! Made it with our very own recipe. Top secret, you know?”

“Yeah, top secret.”

Oh, so that was it then.

“Where’s Spec’s?” One of the Blaze Brothers asked. “Still asleep?”

“Seems that way,” T-bone nodded. “Heard him still sleeping upstairs along with Cagney.”

“Can we wake them up?”

“Absolutely not.” T-bone snorted. “You two are going to go back to your posts and do your duties. I’ll wake Specter if he sleeps in too late. Got it?”

“Yeah, yeah,” the Blaze Brothers slithered away, grumbling. “We heard ya’.”

T-bone waited until the brothers were out of sight before dumping out the rest of the coffee. Suddenly the train came to a sudden halt which nearly toppled the skeleton over.

“What the—?!”

T-bone straightened his conductor’s hat and stormed into the railway cars. “All right! What’s the hold up?!”

He found the Blaze Brothers hidden in one of the railway cars and they looked absolutely shaken.

“Hey!” T-bone snapped. “Why did we stop? Did you two mess up with something again?”

“You don’t want to go out there, T…” One of them whispered in fear.  

T-bone raised a brow, his annoyance switched into concern. He had never seen the Blaze Brothers this terrified. Something must be really wrong. The skeleton got off the train and went to the head of the train.

“Hey Head, what’s going—”

He froze when he saw the expression on the train’s face. His usual grinning mouth was turned down in a grimace of fear and his eyes were wide with terror. T-bone looked over to what he was staring at and a hand of fear gripped him.

Standing before them was the familiar black furred devil with eyes narrowed in malicious glee while behind him the feared King Dice was standing silently with a smug smile on his face.        “Gentlemen,” The Devil spoke in a calm voice. “It’s been awhile since we last spoke…”

 Inside the caboose, Specter and Cagney awoke when the train had skidded to a sudden stop causing them to fall out of their bed.

“Oof!” Specter grunted as Cagney landed on top of him.

“Sorry!” Cagney yelped.

“It’s fine,” Specter sat up and frowned. “Something must be up with Head.” With a sigh he floated up in the air. “Guess I better go see what’s going on…”

“Should I come?” Cagney asked.

“Nah, you go back to sleep.” Specter smiled. “It’s probably for train employees.”

“But you said you’re not an employee.”

“True, doesn’t mean I can’t eavesdrop and figure out what’s going on.”

“Well,” Cagney smiled. “I guess not.”

“And as long as we’re up, I’ll see if I can snatch us some breakfast as well.”

“Sounds great!”

Specter gave Cagney a quick peck on the cheek. “I’ll be right back.”

The ghost floated through the caboose door and headed towards the front of the train. He blinked when he came upon the Blaze Brothers cowering in the car. Odd, he had never seen them this terrified.

“Hey guys…what’s going on?”

“Get back to the caboose, Specter! It’s too dangerous for you to be out here!”

“Why? What’s going on?”

“It’s the Devil and that lackey of his, King Dice! They’re the ones who stopped the train!”

The Devil?  Specter froze in horror as the words of the Devil rose in his mind.

“Don’t even think about running away from this debt or else I will have to drag you here myself.”

Was he here to do that now? And where was T-bone? Ignoring the cries of the Blaze Brothers for him to come back, Specter rushed over to the front of the train. Getting to the front of the train he floated towards Head’s big wheels and hid behind, peeking his head out to watch the scenario before him. T-bone was standing tall in front of the Devil and had his fists on his hips. 

“Just what’s the meaning of this, Devil?” The skeleton asked in a calm voice.

Specter felt a wave of pride come over him. He had no idea how T-bone could remain so calm and unafraid in front of the Devil but his admiration for the skeleton heightened.

“I’m here to finish a little bit of business one of your crew members have with me,” The Devil answered simply.

“What business?” T-bone snorted. “There is no business. We’ve already signed that lousy contract of yours and we’re paying it by bringing souls to your casino.”

“True,” The Devil grinned, “however there is one who hadn’t signed until now. Where’s that blind ghost?”

“Specter?” T-bone sounded confused. “Why would you want him? He’s a good kid. He wouldn’t—”

“Wouldn’t sign one of my contracts?” The Devil laughed. “Oh how wrong you are! Dice, the contract if you will.”

King Dice stepped forward and took out a scroll from his suit pocket. He unfurled it and handed it over to T-bone.

“There’s all the proof you need. You can see he signed it with his own signature and everything. Now we’ll just take him back to our place and we’ll—”

T-bone looked up from the contract and Specter was shocked to see pure hatred on his face. “Over my body, you two! I have no idea what you guys did to him, but he’s not going with you!”

The Devil sighed sadly. “Oh, I feel sorry for you…well actually…”

There was a burst of light and T-bone was thrown back, landing hard against the Head of the Train.  The Devil gave an evil grin. “No I’m not.”

He casually walked over to the skeleton and placed a foot on T-bone’s skull. “Now I’m asking you one more time…where’s that blind ghost?”

“F-forget it!” T-bone coughed. “You ain’t getting the kid’s soul!”

“I see…well if I can’t take his soul…” The Devil suddenly pressed his foot against T-bone’s skull harder and T-bone began to choke in pain. “Guess I’ll have to take yours.”

“NO! WAIT!”

The Devil looked up to see Specter rushing towards him. Specter stopped and glared up at the Devil. “Leave him alone! It’s me you want!”

“Spec!” T-bone gasped. “Get away from here!”

The Devil chuckled. “Like I said, you’ve got a lot of spunk for a shrimp.” He then bared his teeth in a twisted grin of delight. “You’ll make a fine addition to my little collection of souls. Dice, take him.”

Specter yelped as King Dice’s huge hand grabbed him and lifted him up. The dice gave his own monstrous grin as he held up Specter up to his face. “You’re going to enjoy the Devil’s place, kid. It’s the hottest place in town…literally!”

Specter glared straight into the Dice’s eyes and tried so hard not to show any hint of fear. It wasn’t easy when you were really terrified out of your mind.

“Specter?”

Specter gasped at the sound of a familiar voice. “Cagney! Cagney, get back in the train!”

The carnation stepped down from the railway car and stared at the scene in front of him. “W-what’s going on?”

“Cagney huh?” The Devil turned his attention to the flower. “So you’re the guy this kid sold his soul for?”

“What?” Cagney’s eyes widened. “What do you mean, sold—”

“Oh he never told you?” The Devil threw back his head and laughed. “That’s priceless! I heard the entire story, kid. You were being pummeled by your old fling and in order to save your precious life, this guy sold his whole soul to me so that you can escape.”

Cagney took a step back as if he had been struck. He stared at the Devil and then up toward Specter. “Spec…is…is this true?”

Specter closed his eyes and sighed deeply. “I-I’m sorry Cagney…I did it.”

“B-but…selling your soul?! W-why—”

“I did it to save your life!” Specter cried out. “I didn’t know what else to do! If I hadn’t…you would have died! I love you too much to let you be killed by that bastard!”

“Aw,” The Devil smirked, “young love…touching, but idiotic. All this talk is making me bored. Now if you don’t mind, we’ll be on our way.”

“No!” T-bone desperately began to crawl towards King Dice. “You can’t take him! He’s—”

A swift kick to the head from Dice knocked the skeleton to the ground.

“Haven’t you learned nothing?” The Devil snorted as he glared down at the crumpled skeleton. “I’m the Devil…you can’t fight against me and expect to win. Now if you don’t mind—”

“STOP!”

The Devil glared down at the carnation who had yelled. “Oh what is it now?!”

“I…” Cagney faltered for a bit before standing up straight. “I’ll make a trade.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah…you let Specter remain here in the Phantom Express…and I’ll…I’ll take his place.”

“What?!” Specter gasped. “Cagney no!”

“Shut up!” Dice snapped, giving Specter a hard shake.

“Hmm,” The Devil leaned closer to Cagney, eyeing him with interest. “You’re saying that you’re willing to give up your newfound freedom, your very own soul…all because of him?”

“That…” Cagney swallowed. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

“Why?”

“Like you said…young love…”

“Hmm,” The Devil rubbed his chin and thought it over. Finally with a snap of his fingers a contract and a quill pen appeared in front of Cagney. “Very well then. He’ll stay…but you come with me.”

“Cagney, don’t do this!” Specter cried in desperation. “Don’t worry about me! I can handle it!”

Cagney froze at this sentence. He had said that before and what had Specter said to that?

“No…you can’t…”

“CAGNEY!”

Without another moment of hesitation, Cagney grabbed the quill pen and signed right on the dotted line. Once he was finished, the Devil snapped his fingers again and the contract disappeared. “Dice, let the ghost go. Take the flower.”

Specter wriggled out of Dice’s grasp and flew towards Cagney, throwing his arms around the flower and pulled him into a tight hug.

“Cagney, you idiot!” He sobbed. “You…idiot! Why…why did you do this?!”

“Same reason as you,” Cagney tried to keep his tears at bay as he hugged the ghost. Suddenly he felt himself being pulled away from Specter’s embrace and he desperately tried to hold on longer.

“No, please!” Specter cried as he tried to hold onto Cagney’s leaf hands. “Don’t take him away!”

“The time to say goodbye is over, kid.” Devil snorted as he jabbed his trident on the ground. “We’re on a tight schedule.”

A large black portal opened up and the Devil leapt in.

“CAGNEY!”

Cagney glanced up to see T-bone holding Specter back as the ghost tried to get to King Dice.

“Cagney!” Specter was yelling. “No! Please, don’t do this! I can’t lose you like this!”

A single tear finally escaped Cagney’s eye and rolled down his cheek. He stared straight at the ghost and uttered a single sentence.

“I love you.”

That was the last thing Specter heard before King Dice leapt into the portal taking Cagney along with him and the portal completely disappeared.

“CAGNEY!” Specter pulled himself away from T-bone and tried to glide down the railway tracks heading for the casino. “Cagney! I’ll save you again! I’ll—AAAGH!”

It was like an invisible chain had grabbed onto his wrists and neck and he was pulled back to the Head of the Train. After catching his breath, Specter tried to glide away once more but again he was pulled back

“Spec,” T-bone’s voice was low and hoarse. “Stop…”

“What’s going on, T-bone?” Specter’s voice was rising in panic. “Why can’t I leave the train?!”

“It was part of the deal…you are now an employee of the Devil working in the Phantom Express…and now you have to stay in the train…forever.”

“What?” Specter stared at T-bone with despair. “So…I can’t…I can’t—”

“I’m sorry Spec…”

There was a period of silence as Specter stared at the skeleton. Finally the blind ghost clenched his fists together and pounded them on the ground, screams and sobs erupting from deep inside him. Stories have been told for years about the ghastly noises coming from the train that took souls to the devil. Now the noises coming from the train was more terrible and more heart wrenching than ever before and one would be surprised to know it came from a ghost grieving over the loss of his one love.

[kpopfanfictrash]

Firelight

Author: kpopfanfictrash

Pairing: You / Jimin

Rating: 18+ (explicit sex)

Word Count: 5,044

Summary: You surprise your boyfriend, Jimin, with a trip to the mountains. [Genre: smut + fluff]

Jimin: what are you doing? [3:42 PM}

Y/N: Working. You know, like you’re supposed to be. [3:44 PM]

Jimin: :( [3:44 PM]

Jimin: … but what are you doing now? [3:51 PM]

Y/N: [img.jpg] [3:53 PM]

Jimin: is that my coffee mug? Hey, wait. Is that my t-shirt? [3:54 PM]

Y/N: … no, to both. [3:55 PM]

Jimin: you look so cute… I love when you wear my clothes. Gah, stop distracting me at work [3:57 PM]

Y/N: YOU are the one who texted ME! [3:58 PM]

Jimin: yes, but I was in the middle of a boring meeting then. Now I’m not bored. Now, I want to be at home, tearing my t-shirt off you [4:01 PM]

Y/N: yes, but that would be distracting from my work [4:02 PM]

Jimin: I can be your work [4:03 PM]

Jimin: please [4:03 PM]

Jimin: let me be your muse [4:04 PM]

Y/N: Go back to work, babe. I have a surprise waiting for you when you get home

Smiling, you set down your phone. You know that last text will drive Jimin crazy. As possibly the most impatient person on the planet, Jimin loves surprises but if he knows one’s coming – he’s like a puppy. He won’t sit still, can’t concentrate until he finds out what it is. That’s part of the reason you kept this one hidden for so long.

That, and you just like surprising him. You love how wide Jimin’s eyes get, the little o his mouth makes in excitement. How he shifts anxiously from foot to foot, almost dancing with happiness – even if Jimin doesn’t know why yet.  

Chewing your pen, you jot down the image suddenly painted stark in your mind. A misty forest, with shapes emerging from sodden branches. They solidify into two beings, which walk noiselessly forward. Upon meeting in the center, one of them wears a crown of gold. The other, silver.

Your pen scratches paper, wondering what happens next.

Then, your phone beeps.

Jimin: that’s not fair. You know I can’t deal with ambiguity!! [4:10 PM]

You laugh, swiveling around to shut your laptop. You’ve just finished the chapters you wanted to get done for the day – all that’s left is editing Monday/Tuesday, to send back to your publisher. Placing your phone to the side, you push yourself up from your desk. One of the large benefits to working from home is that you can just walk around in Jimin’s t-shirt.

Overall, Jimin is jealous of this fact. Especially when it’s early in the morning and he’s heading off in a suit and tie, pouting forlornly. That’s when you remind Jimin he loves his job, he loves being the client manager for different music groups. He thrives in the fast-paced environment, loves being a part of the music, is ecstatic whenever he helps make someone’s dreaming come true. Even if he gets frustrated occasionally – who doesn’t? That’s every job, every career and oh, right. He looks great in a suit and tie.

It’s just as you’re thinking this, the front door slams open. “Y/N!” Jimin calls, jangling keys hitting the table. “What’s my surprise?”

Looking up, you see the clock – and nearly laugh out loud in response. It’s 4:30 PM. “Jimin,” you groan, wandering into the front hall. “What? Why are you home so early?”

Jimin looks up guiltily, mid-shrug from his jacket. “I, uh. I told Seokjin I wasn’t feeling well, and I left,” he mumbles, smiling adorably.

Folding both arms over your chest, you stifle a laugh. It’s hard to stay mad at Jimin for long; especially when he’s grinning at you like that, bounding down the hall happily to fling his arms around the small of your waist.

“Hi,” Jimin smiles, pressing a kiss to your lips. Then, your jaw. “What’s my surprise,” he mumbles into your neck.

“Patience,” you caution, pushing him away. “Patience is a virtue.”

As you return to the bedroom, Jimin follows. “Huh,” he comments, coming up from behind. “I always thought it was, ‘Patience is a Virgo.’ Couldn’t understand why people cared so much.”

Snorting, you turn around to bop him on the nose. “Okay, are you ready?”

Jimin nods, dark hair falling into his eyes. “Ready.”

“Then – ta-da!” you sing, reaching behind you to open the door to your bedroom.

Jimin looks past, scanning the walls. “I don’t understand,” he frowns, brow furrowed. “Are we going to the gym?”

This, because there are two mostly empty duffel bags laid out on the bed. “Nope,” you grin, walking inside to unzip the red one. “Get packing, baby – we’re going on a trip.”

Jimin’s eyes brighten. “Really?”

“Would I lie to you?” you tease, disappearing into the closet. “I was going to pack for you, since I was supposed to have another hour – but then someone decided they just couldn’t wait to come home!”

“Me,” Jimin calls, springs bouncing as he lands on the bed. “I couldn’t wait.”

Shaking your head amiably, you push through the multi-colored racks of your clothes. Yanking down a few pairs of jeans and bringing these out into your room, you find Jimin lying on his back, phone overhead while he scrolls through his email. The buttons of his shirt are halfway undone, tie is loosened haplessly at an awkward angle.

That’s not packing. “Jimin,” you groan, walking over to reach for his phone. “No work this weekend!”

When you jump on him, a small oof leaves his throat. Jimin laughs, rolling sideways; grinning, when you clumsily fall off him. “How dare you,” Jimin growls. When he starts to tickle, your knees draw into your chest and you cackle with glee. “How dare you jump on top of me – and fully clothed! That’s just insulting, that’s what.”

“Jimin,” you gasp, swatting his hair with both hands. “Let me go.”

Jimin is merciless though, rolling you underneath him. “Never,” he mutters, pancaking on top of you. “I’m very comfortable like this.”

“Jimin,” you giggle, wrapping both legs around his waist. “We’re going to miss the light if we don’t start driving soon.”

Exhaling dramatically, Jimin pecks at your cheek. “Fine,” he admits. Forcing himself to stand, he undoes his tie and walks straight to your closet. “I will allow this, given my excitement for the trip. It just barely outweighs my need to take you on this bed.”

Heart beginning to pound, you push yourself upwards. “Just barely?”

“Mhm,” Jimin nods, disappearing into the closet. “If it weren’t for the promise of tonight, I wouldn’t be so agreeable.”

Shaking your head, you roll from the bed. As you stuff the jeans and tops into your bag, you take one, last glance around the room. “We’re going to the lake,” you call out. “Bring hiking stuff, the usual.”

Jimin pops his head out, just to smile. “Okay,” he grins, then disappears.

Bag full, you head into the next room to continue your search. After a quick glance at your laptop, you decide that no – you told Jimin he couldn’t work, which means neither can you. Heading into the kitchen, you lug out a plain, blue cooler. You’ll need snacks for the drive, food for the cabin – of course, wine and some more snacks for tomorrow.

Jimin enters just as you’re finishing. “You should have let me do that,” he scolds, scooting around the kitchen table. Jimin has changed into blue jeans and a t-shirt, a plain black hat slung over his head. He lifts your chin with his thumb when he reaches your side, kissing you softly. “Ready to go?” he asks, nuzzling your nose.

Nodding, you slide both hands into his back pockets. “Let’s go.”

The drive into the mountains is cool and sunny, speckled with shade from the evergreens and firs. Jimin keeps one hand on your leg while he drives, right thumb brushing your thigh every so often, as though to ensure you’re still there. He sings along with the radio; loud and off-key, despite his usually perfect singing voice. You keep the map open on your lap, despite having come here so often you barely need directions at all.

Service is spotty up here though, and you don’t want to be caught unawares – something Jimin teases you incessantly about. “How long have we been coming here?” he laughs, fingers skimming your knee.

“Since we first started dating,” you smile, because this is true.

The very first time you and Jimin both visited was a group camping trip. ‘Camping’ is a loose term, since the cabin is equipped with basically every amenity you could possibly want. It’s part of a larger resort, though the two of you only ever stay in the smaller cabins.

The first camping trip was back when you first moved to the city. The only person you knew was your friend Nina, your roommate from college. She invited you up with her group of friends and, despite your usual hesitancy, you ended up going. The first time you saw Jimin though, was outside the car. He was climbing down from Namjoon’s truck bed, wearing the same black baseball cap he has on, sunglasses tucked into the front square of his pocket. He was discussing something with Nina’s friend Hoseok, laughing hilariously at what his girlfriend, Vikki, had said.

The sight of him stopped you dead in your tracks. For the first time, you thought you understood the meaning of the phrase, ‘hit me like a brick.’ Jimin was all-consuming, all-encompassing and for a moment, you could only stare. Before, you never really believed in love at first sight. You still don’t, really – but even you must admit, the moment was extraordinary. Jimin looked up, he saw you, and it was almost as if he knew.

Somehow, he knew you’d be important. You felt the same.

You still remember his lips, lifting into a smile.

The group was large enough that you were split between vehicles and as luck would have it, you and Jimin ended up in separate cars. The feeling was disappointing, but only slightly – there was still the entire weekend before you, after all.

It was nearly an hour into the drive when you finally spoke. “So,” you sighed, trying to sound nonchalant. “Who was that guy talking to Hoseok, back at the truck?”

Nina glanced at you over the top of her seat. “Jimin?” she grinned, draping both arms over the console. “Why? Do you think he’s cute?”

Blushing, you slid even lower. “No, it’s not that,” you muttered. “I just didn’t recognize him.”

Nina raised both eyebrows. “Oh?”

Hoseok turned around. He’d been sitting backwards before then, playing some sort of card game with Vikki over his headrest. “Jimin?” he asked, looking from you to Nina. “That’s so funny, he was asking me about Y/N back at the truck.”

Your head whipped sideways to stare. “He was what?”

Hoseok nodded, slyly grinning. “He asked me, ‘Who’s that?’ and I said, ‘I don’t know.’ And so, he said, ‘Is she single?’ and I said, ‘I don’t know.’ So, then he asked, ‘Well, who would know?’ And I said, ‘I don’t know, probably Nina.’ And then he said –"

“Dear lord,” Vikki interrupted, struggling not to laugh. “Please let there be a point in there somewhere.”

“Oh, there is,” Hoseok continued, barely able to keep a straight face. “That’s when he said, ’Who am I kidding – someone that pretty can’t possibly be single.” Then I asked him a question about the weather.”

Seokjin laughed from the driver’s seat, not looking away from the road. “A truly awful story but hey, at least now we know the stage is set for Jimin and Y/N to hook up this weekend.”

Sputtering, you forced yourself to stay calm. “We are not hooking up,” you groaned, burrowing into the seat farther. “I don’t even know the guy. What does it matter if we’re both single?”

Of course, you and Jimin did end up hooking up that weekend – several times – but that’s beside the point. The rest of the car ride was spent with multiple people reassuring you that Jimin was awesome. You heard story after story of him rescuing kittens, helping grandmothers across streets and going out of his way to return lost wallets. By the time you pulled onto the fir-covered driveway – you were beyond nervous.

“Listen,” you hissed, grabbing Nina while leaving the car. “This is too much. I can’t talk to him. I can’t do this.”

Nina merely smiled, linking your arm with hers before walking inside. “Relax,” she sighed, shaking her head. “There’s absolutely no pressure here. Yes, Jimin is great – but nothing needs to happen! There are tons of people up at the cabin this weekend. You probably won’t even talk to him.”

Another lie.

You and Jimin ended up sitting beside one another at the campfire that night. Everyone else left the circle in twos and threes, until it was just you and Jimin sitting under the stars. You were the only one there, when he asked to go for a walk. Blushing furiously, grateful for the dark, you agreed.

It was on a moonlight-drenched dock by the water, that he kissed you.

Thinking about this now, you glance at Jimin in the driver’s seat.

“What?” he grumbles, trying hard not to smile. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I was just thinking about our first night here,” you respond, watching his cheeks redden accordingly.

You’re not normally the kind of person who sleeps with others on the first night – but Jimin, as it turns out, is all the exceptions to your rules. Slightly buzzed from wine and whiskey, you held his hand through the woods and fell headlong into his arms. When he slid both hands into your hair at the boathouse, you knew you were a goner. You were just as eager as he was, untucking Jimin’s shirt quickly from the confines of his jeans. Running your tongue over his lower lip, you pulled him forward, drawing him into you.

It was lucky you two even made it to the room, that night. You barely convinced Jimin to leave your bed the following morning.

Jimin’s thumb traces your leg. “I could have said I loved you that weekend,” he admits, smiling faintly. “That’s how crazy I was about you.”

“Was?” As you prop both feet up on the dash, you sigh heavily. “Has our flame died so quickly, Park Jimin?”

He laughs, glancing over. “Twisting my words, as usual. How’s this,” he smiles, removing his hand from your leg to turn on his blinker. “I loved you then, I love you now, I’ll love you always.”

Exhaling, you lean your head against the seat. “See,” you smile, tracing his cheeks with your eyes. “You recovered smoothly from that. I love you too, Jimin.”

“You better,” Jimin grins, lowering his shades. “I shaved an entire twenty minutes off the estimated road time – who does that! Yes, I am amazing,” he sighs, turning onto a thin, dirt road. “You truly have the best boyfriend in the world.”

“The humblest, too.”

“That’s a given.” Jimin rolls down the windows, allowing a soft breeze into the car. He lowers the volume on his music, letting the sounds of nature drift past. It’s only a few minutes further to the lodge, and Jimin knows this is your favorite part of the drive.

The peaks of the valley flick by, dappled in the golden hour of sunset.  The lake becomes visible upon cresting the ridge, a shiny film of silver nestled in the slopes of the hills. You sigh, watching it all unfurl before you. The drive towards the lodge is the best part – when you’re leaving the cabin, the view never seems quite as good.

After a quick stop at the main lodge for cabin keys and more snacks, your car begins the winding journey to Cabin 37. Jimin hops out first, raising his arms overhead and stretching. “We’re back!” he yells, though no one hears. “Did you miss us, cabin?”

Walking to the trunk of the car, you bend to grab one of the duffle bags. “Jimin, come help!”

He immediately obeys, trotting over to hip-check you out of the way. “Get the cooler,” he motions, grabbing both duffle bags on his shoulders. “Let’s make a fire before it gets too dark to see.”

You follow him into the cabin, setting the cooler down inside the door and wandering forward. Everything is just as you remember it – only a couple of months before today. Of course, back then it was the end of spring, not of summer. The nights were cooler then, the leaves just starting to blossom.

Now the evening is full and heavy, ripe with the knowledge of what’s past. Lightning bugs buzz on the lawn, the soft light of sunset flickering throughout the forest. As Jimin goes to place your bags in the bedroom, you unpack the kitchen to organize the fridge and the cupboards.

Jimin appears in the middle, snaking both hands around your waist and pulling you backwards. “I’m going to light the fire,” he murmurs, kissing your neck. “Come outside when you’re done, okay?”

You nod, as his hands fall from your waist. Once you’re finished, you make dinner for the two of you. Nothing fancy, just sandwiches and all the supplies for s’mores. On your way out, you grab a bottle of wine, along with two plastic cups.

The sun has sunk nearly below the horizon. It’s already disappeared past the hills, the rays casting long, reaching shadows on the ground. The blanket you carry practically trails on the ground – when Jimin sees, he leaps up to his feet to assist. The fire crackles cheerfully behind him, burning through kindling before catching hold of the larger logs. Taking the wine and blanket from your arms, Jimin turns back around to head towards the fire.

“Here.” Jimin spreads the blanket on the log, leaving the other one aside to use for warmth later. He pokes the fire with a stick, moving a few logs around as you sigh, collapsing down beside him.

Far above you, the stars are emerging and Jimin leans back on his hands to wistfully study them. “It’s so clear out tonight,” he sighs, as you lean your head on his shoulder. “But see, this is why we need Namjoon. He’d be out here, explaining which constellation is Cassiopeia. Then, of course, he’d give a live recitation of the Greek myth of Cassiopeia. Crazy bastards. Why does everyone die in those stories?”

“Well,” you consider, peering up at the stars. “I can step in for Namjoon, if you like. See that one over there?” you point at a tiny cluster of stars hanging low over the lake.

Jimin nods, unscrewing the cap from the wine. He pours first one glass for you, then another for himself.

“That’s Snorlax,” you announce. “He’s sleeping, which is why he’s so still. And see that, the bright star on the horizon?”

Jimin bites his lip, struggling not to laugh. “Uh-huh.”

“That’s Ash, mythical hero of great lore. Constantly trying to catch Snorlax but as you see – uh, Ron Weasley is standing between them.” Coughing, you motion to the thin line of stars down the middle.

Jimin’s shoulders begin to shake with laughter. “Ron Weasley – the redhead from Harry Potter?”

“The one and the same,” you sigh, waving a hand. “He’s salty because Hermione was placed so far away in the sky. Right beside Harry, which some conspiracy theorists still maintain was the actual pairing of –"

Jimin bends to kiss you, effectively cutting off your speech. “You’re amazing,” he mumbles into your lips.

“Yes, true.” Smiling, you settle your head back to his shoulder. “I will accept s’mores as payment for my storytelling services.”

Jimin bends, poking a marshmallow onto a stick. “I would – but you know how I like to burn mine. Go crazy.”

Nodding in acceptance, you grab the dessert. You stay out there like that for hours, talking and laughing while the stars shift overhead in the sky. The two of you argue, but only about the important things. Like – is there truly no wrong way to eat a Reese’s? Or, which wine gives you a worse hangover – red or white? When the fire has burnt itself to embers and you no longer feel the need for more firewood, Jimin nudges your side with his elbow.

“Come on,” Jimin smiles, lifting your head from his shoulder. “Up. Let’s go inside, let’s get some sleep.”

Nodding, you begin to help put out the fire. Spreading the ashes around, you move to bring in the trash, fighting back yawns as you trudge through the tasks. Jimin locks the door to the cabin, putting everything back in its place and when he’s finished, he pours two more glasses of wine.

When he hands you one, you immediately take the glass, place it onto the counter and push Jimin’s back to the wall.

He laughs, hands slipping into your hair while your lips tangle with his. His hips arch, pressing upwards as he kisses you slowly, lazily. Jimin’s hands skim the top of his jeans; undoing first one button, then another. He grows impatient after that, grabbing the backs of your thighs to nestle you snug around his waist.

You wrap your legs tighter, pressing yourself as he walks steadily backwards. He’s not paying attention to the lights of the cabin, using his knees to push open the door. Jimin presses light kisses to your lips, your neck, his hands grasping your butt to hold you closer.

Jimin tumbles you both onto the bed, not wasting time to wrap your legs firmly around him. He grinds into you, nose tracing quickly down the column of your neck. “God, I love how you smell,” Jimin murmurs, fingers groping for the edge of your shirt.

“Like smoke and firepit?’ you tease, arching upwards.

Jimin shakes his head, kissing your collarbone. “Like sunshine,” he murmurs, moving upwards. “And citrus.”

Smiling, you watch him push up your shirt, exposing the length of your stomach. Jimin continues moving, lifting your shirt higher to reveal the swell of your breasts. Helping him, you slip your arms through the sleeves, removing the shirt in its entirely to fall back on the bed.

“Ah,” Jimin sighs, his gaze darkening at the lace that you’re wearing. He skims your waist with his fingertips, trailing lower to open the front of your jeans. One finger slips under the zipper, tracing circles over the soft fabric.  

Moaning, you arch up into him. Your hips follow the same pattern his fingers make as Jimin bends forward, mouth opening yours. His tongue traces insistently, finger slipping back past your panties. Circling once, Jimin pulls back; then exhales quickly, pushing inside your body.

Breaking free from his lips, you throw your head back. “Jimin,” you moan, hands slipping around his neck. “Please.”

“Please what?” Jimin smiles, kissing your neck.

“Take off your clothes,” you demand, opening your eyes. “I want to see you.”

Jimin withdraws his hand to sit back on his heels. Slowly, he tugs his t-shirt overhead, continuing to look at you while his fingers trace over his belt, tugging this free from its loops to toss down on the ground. Jimin lifts onto his knees, pushing his jeans past his boxers and your lips part at the motion, seeing his erection strain against the fabric. His eyes glint in the dark.

“Lay down,” you murmur, pushing yourself up on your elbows. “I can’t take it anymore. I want you in my mouth.”

A smile tugs at Jimin’s lips but he obeys, dropping down on the sheets. Jimin loves to be praised, loves it when you touch him and tell him you love him. You love it too, the tiny hitch of breath that he makes. The sharp inhale of sound that exudes, alongside his soft groans and rather fervent swears. Pushing yourself up on both knees, you shove your pants off and to the side.

Jimin’s eyes follow the motion, suddenly dark with desire.

When you straddle his waist, you grind your hips on his thighs. Brushing your mouth against his, you press yourself teasingly downwards. “You’re so hard,” you whisper, trailing lips down his jaw. “I can’t wait until you’re inside me. But first,” you smile, and push him back on the bed.

Your hands tug at his boxers, allowing Jimin’s cock to spring free. He hisses, looking down when you slowly bend to take his head in your mouth. Groaning, Jimin arches against the softness of pillows. Your tongue swirls once over the sensitive slit and you smile, uncontrolled, at the noise he makes. Reaching a hand up, you start to play with his balls, using the other to stroke the length of his cock.

Groaning, Jimin pushes himself upwards. He thrusts his hips into your mouth; you let him, dropping even lower before twisting your lips on the way up. Jimin’s breath quickens at the sight, his breath shallow when you do it again.

“Fuck,” he groans. “You’re so fucking good, Y/N. So, fucking good, when you’re sucking my cock.”

“Mm,” you sigh, allowing his dick to fall from your mouth. Your hands fist around him, wet and fast while you sloppily jerk him off. “It’s because you’re so big,” you sigh, bending lower to lick him from base to tip. “I can’t help but want you in my mouth.”

Jimin tilts his head, looking at you. “Then what are you waiting for?” he murmurs, pushing a hand through his hair. “Let me fuck your throat.”

Without another word, you relax your throat, taking him farther and letting him have his way. His fingers curl into your hair, thrusting harder as his cock finds its rhythm. You move to sit sideways, ass up in the air while Jimin’s hand wanders towards the apex of your thighs. He trails over your ass, one finger slowly pushing into your wetness.

Groaning, you nearly forget to suck as you pull yourself upwards. It feels so good like that, so tight as you push needily onto him. Jimin just chuckles, breathy while he continues fucking your mouth. “You like that, huh? Do you want more?” Jimin murmurs, slipping another finger inside you.

A moan escapes you and this time, you do pull away. “Jimin,” you gasp, reaching around to unhook your bra. It falls to the floor. “I want you.”

Jimin smiles, pushing himself upwards. “Of course.”

Grabbing your waist, Jimin flips you onto your back on the bed. Sliding off your underwear, he stares at your legs, spread open before him. “You’re so wet,” he groans, dropping down to his elbows. “I just want to taste.”  

You nod, even though what you really want is Jimin inside you. He’s always great with his tongue though, and tonight proves to be no exception to that rule. Jimin trails gently over you and immediately, you forget your former reservations. Exhaling sharply, your knees rise to frame his head and Jimin tugs your clit with his lips, spreading you further. He flicks over you, sucking until you reach down frantically to pull him back up.

“Inside me,” you gasp, and Jimin nods.

He doesn’t reach for a condom. This is new for you; Jimin is the first man you’ve ever slept with entirely bare. He’s the first man you’ve fully let your guard down with, the first you’ve allowed to come deep inside you. Only after months of dating and STD testing did you agree, but now – a gasp leaves your lips, when he fills you completely.

Jimin might not be the biggest, but he’s without a doubt the best sex you’ve ever had. You never lie, telling him that. He’s the most eager, most passionate, most perfect fit imaginable and when he pushes inside – it’s suddenly hard for you to breathe.

Jimin’s elbows fall on either side of your body, as he pauses. His chest rises and falls with your own; when he starts to move, he nearly pulls out entirely. Hand drifting down, wrapping around your knee, he pushes back into you. Pulling out once more, to slide slowly back in.

You groan, arching against him. Jimin kisses you gently, refusing to move any faster than this. He slides in and out of your body, circling his hips before thrusting back up. This torture continues, hitting your g-spot and making you cry out his name. “Jimin,” you moan, hands fisting in his hair.

He continues like this, hips rocking against you. Over and over, pushing you to the brink of the edge and making you gasp. He pulls back, lips moving softly with yours. “I loved you,” he whispers. Out. “I love you,” he murmurs, pushing back in. “I will continue to love you.”

“You will?”

“Yes,” Jimin confirms, hand sliding down the length your body.

“Promise?”

“Promise,” he whispers, fingers brushing over your sex.

Breath stuttering, your vision blurs as your walls start to tighten. “Always?”

Jimin nods, fucking you harder. He finally lets go, thrusting completely inside you. Hips snapping forward, he moves even faster, harder to send you over the edge. “Always,” he grunts, slamming into you.

His name is on your lips when you come. The orgasm is blinding, even as his hips continue to move, continue until he comes as well, filling you up to slowly come to a stop.

Jimin collapses, though he doesn’t pull out. Not yet. Instead, he brushes kisses to your face, your shoulders until you giggle and shove him back off. With a grin, Jimin reaches for a Kleenex and wipes yourself clean. Then, he drops down beside you, tugging you into him. “That was amazing,” Jimin groans, smile already sleepy.

Nodding, you wrap both arms around him. Head falling onto his chest before –

“Babe?” Jimin’s voice is soft, in the dark.

Warily, you lift your head. “Yes?”

His smile at you is soft and innocent. “Could you… grab me my phone? It’s in the back pocket of my jeans.”

Arching a brow, you continue to stare. “Are you kidding me?”

Jimin just blinks, the picture of an angel. “Please?” he begs, pressing his hips hurriedly to yours. “I promise I’ll make it up to you in the morning. I’ll eat you out twice.”

Heaving a sigh, you sullenly move to kick back the covers. “Fine,” you grumble, rolling from bed. Bending, you scoop Jimin’s t-shirt from the floor and tug this over your head. Jimin’s pants are beside yours, and you grab these as well. “You owe me big, Park. Your ass is mine,” you grumble, reaching into the pocket and fumbling around. “The back pocket?” you repeat, looking up dubiously.

Jimin just nods, pushing himself onto his elbows. “Yes – back pocket. Keep looking.”

Frowning, you spread fingers out to the corners – and freeze. Pausing mid-motion, your head jerks up to look at him. Jimin stares back, suddenly nervous and he swallows, when you shakily pull the ring from his pocket.

“J-Jimin?” You can’t stop gaping at the gold in your palm.

When you manage to look at him again, Jimin is no longer on the bed. He hops awkwardly on one foot, while he tugs on his boxers. “I know I’m supposed to kneel,” he mutters, unable to keep from smiling walking closer. Jimin reaches out, gently removing the ring from your hand. “I kind of wanted to see your face, though, when I did this. Y/N,” Jimin sighs, leaning to press his forehead to yours.

You’re already nodding, sliding your hands around his waist.

“I’ve been waiting for the right time to ask you this, but I don’t want to let another minute go by. I love you,” Jimin murmurs, lips finding your cheek. “I love you now, love you always. Will you please just, marry me?”

It’s the please which gets you. Exhaling shakily, you wrap your arms tighter around him. “Yes,” you nod, looking up from his chest. “Yes,” you say – half-laughing, half-crying as Jimin wraps his arms tighter.

“Yes.”

© kpopfanfictrash, 2017. Do not copy or repost without permission.

[captainswanapproved]

Birthdays and Broomsticks

So since my blog got deleted, over the next few weeks I’ll be reposting most of my old one shots. 

Summary:

This takes placed during 3B. It's Killian's Birthday, and it's rather wicked to say the least.

Word Count: ~3K

Killian chuckled, the sound echoing through the cell.

Emma whipped her head around and narrowed her eyes at him. "What on earth are you laughing about? Personally, I don't find anything amusing about being locked in a cell while the Wicked Witch is torturing our loved ones."

Killian sobered immediately. Of course there was nothing amusing about the situation. The witch had captured them a few hours before, throwing them in a cell, before telling them in excruciating detail just how she was going to torture the denizens of Storybrooke. Still, Emma had said our. She'd been doing that more and more ever since their return to Storybrooke. She often referred to them as a unit, and it never failed to make him smile, no matter what the situation.

"And now you're going to ignore me?" grumbled Emma.

"I apologize, love," he said. "I was merely lost in thought. We will get out of here and we will save everyone. Remember, I've yet to see you fail."

Emma smiled despite herself and shifted closer to him. "Yeah, well, things look pretty bleak right now. Do you want to tell me what you found so amusing? I could use good moment right about now."

Killian looked a little embarrassed. "Well it just occurred to me that I am spending the day of my birth in a jail cell. Which is a first for me, despite being a pirate."

Emma's eyes widened. "It's your birthday?"

"Yes, but its nothing worth celebrating," said Killian. "I've had over three hundred of them."

Emma reached for his hand, which he gladly accepted. "Happy Birthday, Killian," she said softly, "I'm sure this isn't the best birthday you've had."

"On the contrary, I may be in a cell, but I'm here with you. In fact, this is the best birthday I've had in 300 years," he pulled her to his side, and she let him, his arm curling around her.

She rested her head against his shoulder. Despite the fact that the world was falling apart around them, in his arms she felt safe, loved and wanted. Just like she always did when she was around him. "So how did you celebrate your birthday in the Enchanted Forest?"

Killian shifted so he could look at her. "Nothing extravagant. My brother would give me a gift, usually a journal or a star map or the like, and then he'd drag me to port and try and persuade me to have a drink. After Liam died, there was nothing worth celebrating. I let the day pass unnoticed. Then in Neverland the day became a way to count the years as they passed by. Nothing more. Almost all of them have been spent alone," he said, his voice slightly pained.

Emma cuddled against him. She was continuously surprised by his ability to be completely honest and open with her. She understood having to celebrate alone, thinking of the cupcake on her 28th birthday. The day that had changed everything.

"What about you, love? How do you celebrate your special day?"

"Every year I would get a cupcake and a single candle. And every year I would make a wish that I didn't have to be alone. It took 28 years to come true," she whispered, surprising even herself. She had never told anyone that before.

Killian's arm tightened around her. "We have a similar tradition in the Enchanted Forest, blowing out a candle to signify the passing of another year, and to bring luck upon the individual."

Emma took a breath. "We have another birthday tradition here in this world," she tried to keep her voice from shaking, and for the life of her, she didn't understand why she was even mentioning it.

"Do tell," he said.

"When it's your birthday, if you're lucky enough, you get a kiss."

Killian's eyebrows shot up. "Pray tell, Emma, am I lucky enough?" he asked with a roguish grin.

Emma blushed. "I don't know," she said.

Killian nodded, accepting her decision. "Well, whether I get a kiss or not, I'm glad to spend this day with you. Now how about we try and find a way out of this cell?"

Emma smiled. "Let's do it."

-/-

After several failed attempts of unhinging the door, and trying to open it with strategic leverage, Emma had sunk to her knees in frustration, whishing that the damn door would open.

Killian laid a hand comforting hand on her shoulder. "We'll find a way," he said.

Perhaps it was his faith in her that made it happen.

She raised her hand, palm facing the door as she channeled what little energy she had left. By magic, her magic to be precise, the cell door sprang open.

"Emma, you never fail to impress me," said Killian, taking her hand. "Let's go find your family."

-/-

Killian and Emma hurried through the darkened streets. They had no idea where they would find the witch, or where her wickedness was keeping her family.

A piercing cackle split the silence. "You'll die one by one, by the hand of the Dark One" said the familiar voice of the witch.

Killian grabbed Emma and pressed her against the wall of the alley. He pressed a finger to his lips, and peered around the corner. In the center of the town square, the witch stood with the Dark One's dagger, waving it about menacingly at Snow, Charming, Regina, Tink, Belle and Neal in turn. The dwarves were huddled behind them, with Granny, Ruby, and Whale. Rumple, stood just behind the witch, powerless to do anything to stop her.

"We have to save them," said Emma urgently.

"I'll save your pretty little daughter and her pirate for last," said the witch.

Emma flinched. Her pirate? Emma attempted to move past him, but he held her back.

"Normally I'm not averse to charging headfirst into dangerous situations," he hissed, "but this is different. I will distract the witch, and you'll get Henry, your parents, and everyone else and get the hell out of dodge." He pressed something into her palm. It was a tiny scroll.

"What is this?" she asked.

"It's Cora's cloaking spell. Take everyone to the Roger and cast it. It should be powerful enough to protect you all and give you time to formulate another plan."

"I'm not going to leave you with the witch," said Emma fiercely.

"It's the only way. I'll be fine."

"You can't know that," said Emma. "I don't want to lose you."

"You won't," said Killian, cupping her cheek in his hand.

Emma leaned into his touch. "Promise me?"

"I promise, love, you'll not be rid of me so easily. I have a knack for survival, and now I have something to live for."

Emma's heart melted at his words, and before she knew it she was kissing him fiercely.

He was surprised at first, but his arms wrapped around her as he kissed her back, just as passionately. When they drew apart they were both breathing heavily.

"Was that my birthday kiss?" he asked teasingly.

"No," said Emma. "You'll get that when you get back to the ship," said Emma.

"I look forward to it," said Killian. "Are you ready?"

"Yes," said Emma.

Killian squeezed Emma's hand before releasing her and charging out into the square. "Oi, green isn't really your color, your wickedness!" shouted Killian.

The witch turned toward the pirate, and Emma took advantage of her distraction and hurried towards her family.

"You have no idea who you are dealing with," cried the witch.

"On the contrary, lass," he said, "I think I'm dealing with a woman who has never been loved a day in her life and is now taking her frustration out on those who are fortunate enough to have found love."

"And what does a pirate know about love?" taunted the witch. "Who could love you?"

Killian kept himself from glancing towards Emma. He was the distraction after all. "I bloody well know a lot more about it than you do."

"Prove it, Captain," she waved her hand and conjured a bag of powder. Killian knew what it was. He glanced over the witch's shoulder; relieved to see the retreating backs of everyone save Rumplestiltskin retreating and heading towards the docks.

Despite the fact that the witch was controlling the Dark One, the imp was apparently not bound to tell her that her quarry was escaping.

"If anyone actually is capable of loving a one-handed good for nothing pirate, then one day you'll awaken. But I highly doubt it," said the witch, cackling with glee.

Killian barely realized what she was about to do, before the witch through the poisonous powder in his face.

His eyes slid closed as he fell to the ground.

Emma will save me.

-/-

Emma paced rapidly across the deck of the Jolly Roger, wringing her hands and looking back towards the town.

Everyone else was considerably calm given the situation. The protection spell had been cast successfully. They were safe for now, all because of Killian. He was risking everything for her, for her family, and for Storybrooke.

A warm hand rested on her shoulder. "He'll be fine, Emma," said David resolutely. "Jones is nothing if not adept at surviving."

"I haven't felt this worried since Neverland," said Emma. "I don't want anything to happen to him. He does have a tendency to charge headfirst into danger. He's reckless."

"He'll be more careful now," said David. "He's got you. He loves you, Emma."

"I know," said Emma.

"He'll make it back, but right now we need to formulate a plan to take down the witch.

-/-

"Someone is just outside the barrier," said Regina, her arm was around Henry. Her gaze flickered back and forth as if trying to spot the invisible danger.

A familiar voice then rippled through the barrier. "Miss Swan, the Wicked Witch has a message for you. Your pirate is under a sleeping curse and only you can save him. Surrender by sunrise or he will die." Rumple's voice faded away.

All of the color had drained from Emma's face. Without so much as a word she hurried towards the gangplank. Two strong arms pulled her back.

"Let me go," she demanded, wriggling and trying to break free from her father's grasp.

"Emma, if you leave, the protection spell will shatter and we will all be vulnerable."

Emma scowled at the former queen. 'If I don't leave, Killian will die. I'm not going to let that happen," said Emma fiercely.

"It won't happen," said David. "We'll come up with a plan.

"Sunrise is in ten hours. That doesn't give us much time."

"We'll figure something out," said Mary Margaret. "Regina, do you have any idea how to take her down?"

"I'm guessing that a bucket of water won't work," said Emma sarcastically.

"Water most definitely won't work," said Regina. "And since my dear sister is in control of the Dark One, we'll have to get through the imp first. There's not enough time to save the pirate by sunrise."

"That's not good enough," said Emma.

"Emma, there is nothing we can do to save your pirate," said Regina. "He went under a sleeping curse to give us a chance to save Storybrooke. We shouldn't let that sacrifice be in vain."

Emma moved to stand toe to toe with the former Evil Queen. "Maybe you can't do anything, but I can."

"Ugh, you're more stubborn than your parents," said Regina. "If you want to risk your neck for the pirate, then be my guest." She flicked her wrist and a band appeared around Emma's wrist. "This will allow you to leave the ship without breaking the barrier. There's nothing more I can do for you, though. And you should know that you'll be walking straight into a trap."

"It doesn't matter. I'm not going to leave him behind," she said. "I'll bring him back to the ship, and we'll all figure out a plan to send the witch back to Oz for good. Together."

Emma turned away from Regina and went to her parents. "Any last minute advice."

"You love him, don't you?" asked Mary Margaret.

"I—I" said Emma. She knew that she did, but she still couldn't say the words aloud.

Mary Margaret kissed her daughter's forehead. "True Love is the most powerful force in all the realms. Believe in the strength of your feelings for each other and you'll be fine."

"And take this," said David, unsheathing a second sword.

Emma recognized it. "Mulan gave it to us. It repels magic," said David. "You can do this, Emma."

Emma took the sword. "Thanks."

Emma hugged her parents and her son before leaving the ship. "I'm coming for you, Killian," she said resolutely, as if he could hear her.

-/-

Under the spell of the poppies Killian was forced to relive losing everyone he'd ever loved, over and over again.

Memories of Liam's death, Milah's death and saying goodbye to Emma replayed in is dormant mind as if on a loop.

It was a miserable state, but in the recesses of his mind, Killian knew that Emma would pull him out of this nightmarish sleep.

-/-

Emma crept through the darkened streets, hiding in the shadows as she approached Town Hall. She couldn't be certain that this was where the witch was keeping Killian, but it was as if some sort of force was pulling her towards him.

She opened the heavy oak door of the building, hoping that she would find him.

Her heart skipped a beat. There he was, lying on a table in the center of the massive room. It was too easy. She knew it was a trap, but that didn't matter. She just needed Killian alive and by her side. Ever since he'd found her again in New York, she had come to depend on him for nearly everything. She knew that he was her future, even if she wasn't ready to say it to him out loud.

Emma went over to the table, running a hand along Killian's cold cheek. It was the moment of truth. She knew that they loved each other, but was it True Love? Would she really be able to break this curse?

She brushed back his unruly dark hair, lips hovering above his. "Come back to me," she whispered. She pressed her lips to his, and a pulse of dazzling white light pulsed from the point of contact.

Killian's eyes didn't open, though, as Henry's had.

Emma held back tears that were threatening to fall.

It didn't work.

It should have worked. The pulse of light meant that it should have worked.

Perhaps she didn't deserve to have True Love.

A voice interrupted her train of thought. "I don't think it worked, my love, perhaps you ought to try it again."

Emma looked down. Killian had opened his eyes and was smirking up at her.

Emma resisted the urge to slap him, because a moment later, he sat up and pulled her onto his lap and kissed her deeply. Emma melted into his touch and kissed him back with unbridled passion.

Emma couldn't believe it. She was kissing her True Love. Never in a million years did she imagine that this would happen.

Finally the need for oxygen forced them to pull apart.

"My beautiful Emma," he whispered reverently, "I knew you'd save me."

"Never leave me again," said Emma firmly.

"As you wish, love," he said.

A cackle pierced the silence. "Ah, lovely to see you, Miss Swan."

Emma stood up and whirled around to face the witch, drawing her sword.

"Look's like someone is capable of loving this good for nothing pirate," said the witch with a grin, waving a green hand and causing the sword to fly out of Emma's grip.

"Killian is better than you will ever be," snapped Emma.

"Oh, someone is rather defensive," said the witch, coming to stand in front of Emma. "You know, it's actually good that you saved your pirate. Now he can have the pleasure of watching me crush your heart into dust."

"No!" gasped Killian.

Emma gripped his hand in hers. "Do your worst," she spat at the witch.

The witch buried her hand in Emma's chest. Killian cried out in agony. He couldn't go through this again, now that he knew that Emma was his True Love.

Emma's grip tightened reassuringly; as if she knew something he did not.

The witch tried in vain to remove Emma's heart. "What is going on?"

"I'm the product of True Love," said Emma triumphantly. "My heart can't be taken."

With that, a pulse of light burst forth from her chest, knocking the witch back and sending her sliding across the hall.

Killian stared at her, his mouth agape. "Emma?"

"I'll explain later. Let's get out of here. She'll only be unconscious for a short time. We need to get back to your ship."

Emma grabbed his hand and pulled him out of Town Hall.

"Emma," said Killian, as they rushed down the main street and towards the docks.

"What?" she asked.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"About my heart? I hoped the situation wouldn't come up," said Emma.

Killian nodded. He was just relieved beyond measure that Emma's heart was safe, and that it apparently belonged to him. He was the most fortunate man in all the realms.

They arrived at the docks a few moments later, and Killian pulled her into his arms, his lips crushing against hers.

"What was that for?" she asked, after they separated.

"I was claiming my birthday kiss, my love."

[perseusjackson-jasongrace]

Jason and Percy: beautiful, terrifying gods

Masterlist

I am so happy I managed to finish this!! It's probably the longest piece in my "baby fanfic series" that I've ever done but I lovvveeeee it! I hope with all my heart you do too <3

Also I have no idea how to add the Keep Reading thing on mobile and I cannot use my laptop right now so I'm sorry for all the scrolling. Please forgive me!

Anyway, enjoy the Dark Jercy, my loves

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

The sky was the most brilliant shade of blue Percy had ever seen. It was like the ocean had found heaven, it was like the world was made only yesterday.... it was like Jason Grace's eyes.

Today was the first day of summer vacation and for once in his long and bloodied life Percy didn't have to do a damn thing. He wasn't off to camp, or summer school or on some deadly quest. No he was off to the beach to surf and then grab a bite at his favourite diner on 6th street.

It had been a long time since he had felt peace like this. And he couldn't help but breathe in deeply at every opportunity. Albeit not the best idea in New York City but it calmed something in him that had been brutal and active for so many months, years.

He stepped onto the sand, readying himself to take on a dead sprint right into those crashing waves.

1

2

3

And he was gone, feet sinking, ocean spraying and his board bouncing against his hip.

"Hey yo Jackson!" a voice rumbled from across the ways

Percy skidded to a halt, looking around. And then grinned a grin so dazzling Jason Grace saw stars.

There were few things more addictive in life than the ocean, and hardly anything more addictive than one certain ocean boy going for a surf.

Jason was sure he could die in this feeling.

"Yo Jase, what's up?"

"Nothing much bro, ready for the hols that's for sure."

"Tell me about it," Percy rolled his shoulders, relief shuddering through him.

"So I know you aren't going to the camps this year, what are you up to?"

Percy stared into the horizon, his eyes impossibly green, as they always were near the sea.

"I think--I think I'm just going to live." He finally said.

Jason nodded, understanding more than anyone what his friend meant, "Let me know if you need someone to share that with"

Percy smiled softly and together they walked into the waves, content to live.

Having completley lost themselves to the rhythmless rhythm of the ocean, Jason was shouting excitedly; he was on the verge of catching a really good wave.

Suddenly he was being pulled under, under, under.

It happened so quickly he didn't even have time to yell before water was filling his lungs. Unable to help but think, This is what you get for stepping into Poseidon territory.

Something grabbed his leg and yanked, pulling him from his thoughts and any hope of rescue.

Whoever- whatever- had ahold of him was dragging him into dark waters. Jason knew there wasn't much longer before he passed out but he fought and struggled against the grip on his leg, trying at the very least to kick up enough of a splash to notice it above.

Claws gripped into his skin, drawing blood, and suddenly he couldn't fight it anymore. His whole body was exhausted; he just wanted the burning in his lungs to stop, and the fire crawling up his leg to go away and most of all he wanted to sleep. A single thought rattled in his head.

I hope Percy is okay.

Jason Grace surrendered to the sweet bliss of nothing.

Percy was feeling many things: surprise, frustration, shock, and, fear— never-ending icy fear.

Where on earth did his friend dissappear to?

One minute Jason was catching a wave and the next his board was floating towards the shore.

Before Percy knew what he was doing he untied the strap from his ankle and dived into the ocean-deep.

Swimming furiously, willing his eyes to adjust to the murky darkness, and finally after too many long moments he spotted a group of creatures zapping towards the coral reefs only a few strokes away.

He was about to call out for help when he saw a flash of blond hair bobbing weightlessly between them.

Fear morphed into rage. Cold, lethal, jagged rage.

Percy Jackson was not a boy from New York who loved his mom. He was a halfblood-warrior who only lived to protect the people he loved. And by the seas he would show them how much of god was in his demigod.

He willed the currents to bend to his command and shot off like an arrow towards the monsters. In mere seconds he was upon them, using the water to tug on their limbs, the multitude that there were. He didn't pull very hard, just enough to get their attention. He wanted to face his enemies and look them in the eye before he killed them.

A gurgling hiss greeted his smirk.

"You seem to have something of mine," Percy's voice dripped sickly sweet.

"What do you want Perrcccyyy Jackson?" The one clawing Jason gurgled.

"I want my friend back thank you. He is under the protection of me and Lord Poseidon and to refuse my request would be a very, very bad idea."

The three things laughed, a vile drowning sort of cackle, "We do not answer to Poseidon and we have no obligation to you Percy Jackson"

"See I was afraid you were gonna say that," He sighed.

And without another thought Percy grabbed onto the water in their body, searching for those molecules that sung to him.

"The thing about descending from humans," He grinned manically, "Is that there's still some intricate parts of you that are just like me,"

The creature flanking Jason's limp right side, started gasping, before any of them could react Percy twisted its body obscenely and continued

"How about a quick biology lesson? Did you know that cerebrospinal-fluid is ninety-nine percent water? And I guess that's the part you share with us puny humans because—"

The monster started shaking, seizing up— Percy rushed forward and with one tap to the center of its back, a deafening crack sounded.

"CSF protects the spine and the brain and without it, your body is really really vulnerable. Now how about we give my friend back, mhm?"

That grin was so very sharp .

Jason Grace cut off the arm of the monster still holding his legs and pried those bony, slimy webs off his skin.

The monster shrieked but did not have time to react before his head was being sliced off, mouth framed in a silent cry.

"Hello Jackson, what took you so long?"

"You lucky I even came to find you. The only thing that tipped me off was your lack of incessant prying questions,"

Jason smirked, "Thanks for the air bubble, drowning sucks."

"Tell me about it," Percy rolled his eyes.

"You've drowned? How is that even possible?"

"Long story but there was a lot of mud and way too many nightmares afterwards." He shuddered

Jason nodded and then turned to their last little friend, only to find he had called for some back up.

"Honestly do they ever get tired of going to tartarus?"

"Maybe Son of Poseidon," a particularly nasty variation of whatever monster this was, piped up, "Maybe it will be you going this time?"

"Been there done that, got the trauma, try again."

They simply hissed at the two demigods and surrounded them, cackling and gurgling menacingly.

"You ready?" Jason smiled wide.

Percy's smirk made three monsters scream and flee, "I just wanted a godsdamn peaceful vacation, so let's make this quick."

With a dangerous, throaty laugh the two boys became weapons of destruction.

Jason took the left flank, following in his partners lead, but instead of using CSF he charged the ions in the monsters' blood. Flooded them with so much electricity, they just collapsed. One by one the creatures were electrocuted from the inside out.

Their eyes glowed, red and green, blindingly bright. It was like their brains were exploding. Jason watched in glee as these disgusting creatures convulsed around him.

Percy was just as intoxicated. Laughing as he broke spines, and made contortionists out of bodies.

For so long these two heroes had fought fair, but it had only gotten friends killed and hurt, it had made their wars so much longer, so much bloodier. Well no more. This was easy and painless for them, and so very very fun.

Back to back they called on lightning and water.

Percy figured out how to drown them from the inside out, Jason figured out how to make their brains short circuit. Together they learnt just how lethal lightning and water could be.

Just how beautiful crackling blue and ocean blue can look.

Together they learned to be terrifying.

When there was only swirling sand and some variation of bone around them, they finally turned to each other.

"Well that was a morning workout if I do say so," Percy breathed hard.

Jason laughed, "Come on let's go wash off the stench,"

"We're in the ocean, how much more water do you need?" Percy motioned.

"It's not so much the water as the soap Jackson,"

And as they lazily swam up, Percy using the currents to do all the hard work, the glow in their eyes slowly faded and the look of human seeped back in.

"I should really get this leg checked out," Jason frowned.

"Can't you just use your lighting and zap it better?" That green-eyed boy smirked

"Haha, not all of us can use whatever domain we control to heal."

"That sucks," He nodded sympathetically even though the sparkle in his eye told a different story "Come on we can go back to mine I have ambrosia and I think my mom just made some chocolate-chip cookies"

"You owe me for taking so long,"

"You lucky I saved your ass Grace,"

"Not as lucky as you are for having this ass to save."

"Can't argue with that logic,"

They grinned at each other, and the world trembled. They didn't notice. Lost in whatever they were, whatever they could become.

Jason and Percy: Beautiful, Terrifying Gods

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