#if I make the doodles adorable and funny enough maybe people will not notice that I erased Isha from existence

[wishfulsketching]

Some not so serious doodles about the idea where Silco survived and Warwrick!Vander found him. I did these as fanservice for ME! Especially the clothes thing

(have fun trying to figure out the reading order of the third sketch dump)

[scfttwice]

lines and squiggles

> chaeyoung likes doodling “temporary tattoos” on jina. fans jump to conclusions every time they catch sight of the drawings.

jina adored chaeyoung's drawings. the latter had her own unique art style that distinguished her works from those of others. sometimes when jina saw chaeyoung doodling something, she'd eagerly sit by her to watch, or try to join in and draw something as well while asking chaeyoung for pointers. and every time jina did so, chaeyoung was always happy to guide her.

jina also loved chaeyoung's tattoos; some of them were designed by chaeyoung herself, after all. two out of the ones that weren't her design—the arrow heart under her right ear and the flowers on her left fingers—were designed by jina (and modified by chaeyoung), an honor which chaeyoung offered and jina gladly accepted. during some of their few lazy evenings, when the maknaes would do nothing in particular except lie around in their dorm's living room, jina would find herself absentmindedly tracing and admiring the tattoos on chaeyoung's skin while she busied herself with her phone.

during their 'more & more' promotions, as twice were waiting in a waiting room for their turn to pre-record their performance in a music show, chaeyoung spent the time sketching in her notebook. when jina noticed this, she was almost immediately at chaeyoung's side.

“whatcha drawing there, chae?” she asked, her question accompanied by a curious head tilt. chaeyoung grinned as she looked up at jina and showed her her notebook. drawn all over the page were various fruits and drinks—strawberries, grapes, watermelons, soda cans, and cocktails, to name a few—all in chaeyoung's signature style.

“you're such a great artist, chae,” jina complimented as she continued to admire the drawings, eyes scanning over the same page repeatedly. “you can make any lines and squiggles look like a masterpiece.”

“hey, your art has been improving too,” chaeyoung reminded her. “still, i'll never be as creative and artistic as you,” jina countered with a subtle pout.

chaeyoung only shook her head slowly in amusement as a response, before she gently took jina's hand and rested it on the table. grabbing her pink, purple, and red markers, she began drawing little flowers on jina's wrist. it made jina smile, out of both happiness and feeling ticklish.

chaeyoung had drawn on jina's skin many times before, mostly on her hands and arms. although she'd get ticklish every single time, jina loved it when chaeyoung did so. “it's like getting a temporary tattoo,” jina had remarked once. “designed by someone close to me, so it's much more precious.”

“will you ever stop being a scaredy cat and get a real tattoo?” chaeyoung had asked her upon hearing her comment. jina immediately shook her head. “no way. i admit, i'm way too scared for that.”

when twice were called to record, jina performed with her members on the stage just as they had rehearsed, having had completely forgotten about the flowers drawn in marker ink around her wrist. it wasn't until after they were done recording and were back in their waiting room did jina catch a glimpse of the colors on her wrist.

“oh no, i forgot about this,” she muttered to herself as she gently rubbed her wrist. “i hope it wasn't caught on camera.”

back in the dorm later that night, as the school meal club were having dinner together, the flowers on jina's wrist still hadn't washed out. not that she was complaining though, she loved them.

“uh, jina,” dahyun, who had been scrolling on her phone, called out while eyeing jina's “temporary tattoo”. “you might wanna take a look at this.”

jina turned her attention to dahyun, who showed her her phone screen. it displayed an article posted not even half an hour ago, talking about how fans online were in a heated debate over whether jina had gotten a tattoo or not. the article made sure to provide a zoomed-in picture of jina's wrist from their music show performance earlier, which clearly showed the colorful inked flowers.

scrolling down, jina found that even the comments section of the article itself was filled with heated discussions over the matter.

“i think jina really did get a tattoo this time”

“no way, i'm sure it's just chaeyoung's drawing again”

“it's exactly like the previous issue about jina's airport picture!! the hearts spotted on her arm weren't actual tattoos!!!!”

“the flowers....it looks like a real tattoo....”

“maybe it's just make up for this stage?”

jina let out a huff of frustration after skimming through the comments of arguing netizens. “looks like i'll have to give an explanation...again.”

chaeyoung was also reading the article and comments over jina's shoulder. she gave a sheepish grin as she turned her gaze to jina. “i guess i shouldn't draw on you right before we have to record.”

“even when we're not recording anything,” tzuyu chimed in. “our fans still manage to find chaeyoung's drawings on jina in any pictures.”

“they have a really keen eye when it comes to idols,” dahyun added in a lighthearted tone.

jina sighed. “yeah, that's true. i'll start a short vlive later, to clear things up.”

she stayed true to her words. she washed up after dinner and went back to sit in the living room, turning on a vlive on her phone titled “talking about my tattoo”.

in hindsight, the vlive title was a huge click bait, but at least it'd attract the attention of more people to watch. it would get the word out faster.

“hi, everyone,” jina greeted once there were enough people in, waving using the same hand that had the flowers. “i'm sure many of you are wondering about this,” she said while holding up her wrist.

“i actually came on vlive tonight solely to address this matter. i saw an article earlier, discussing the rumor that i've gotten a tattoo according to pictures of me taken during our music show performance today. but actually, it's not real. chaeyoung drew on me again, like she had drawn the hearts on my arm a few months ago. that picture of me also went viral and rumors circulated. so this time i wanted to quickly explain to everyone that i don't have a tattoo.”

the chat section of the vlive was full of differing reactions. some fans were disappointed, some were relieved, and there were even some who boasted about knowing the tattoo was fake from the start. jina stayed on vlive for a little bit longer to continue entertaining her fans, before she wished everyone a good night just after she had passed the 15 minute mark.

once the vlive was off, chaeyoung poked her head into the living room. “you're not asleep yet?” jina looked up at her and asked, a soft smile on her lips, which chaeyoung returned with a wider one. she walked over to jina and sat next to her on the floor. “i couldn't help but overhear your vlive,” chaeyoung said. “you shouldn't have told them the truth so soon. it would've been fun to watch them make funny theories.”

jina chuckled. “true, but i'd rather not let them make a big fuss over it.” chaeyoung nodded. “you're right.”

“so now that you cleared the rumors up, can i...?” chaeyoung trailed off, continuing her question by holding up an orange marker pen while smiling cheekily. jina laughed when she understood what it was that chaeyoung wanted. granting chaeyoung's wish, she held out her arm to her.

jina watched in amusement as chaeyoung happily doodled little paw prints along her lower arm.

[tendermiasma]

i’m not even into overwatch anymore but i just wanted to say I ADORE your art style and hope to develop my own into a similar semi-realism leaning...have you made a post about your art journey? I’m assuming I just need to buckle down and do anatomy studies but any tips are very welcome!! Ty for your time <3

Oh man thank you! I’ve never made a comprehensive post about how I got to *gestures* whatever this point in my art this is, and I definitely sat here wondering what “art journey” means for me since I always feel like I’m stumbling around so I’ll answer as completely as I can. But a great way to develop a realism-minded eye is to draw from photos and life. Everyone in the world has said it over and over but it really gets it done, it’s not any more complicated than that. It’s how I started when I was little and it’s not something I planned, but the Legolas posters were right there so how could I not? Your own non-realism “stylistic” touch will bubble up whether you want it to or not and that’s a beautiful thing. It’s not something you need to look for because it happens on its own, whether it’s you seeing something another artist is doing that you like and assimilating it into your work, or it’s your own unique way that you absorb information from the world and use it to solve problems in the drawing in front of you. Some new artists also still have the idea that using references is cheating-- I’m not blaming them, sometimes this weird thing is circulated by more established people as well-- but this is a very small minority. Please use references. I’d be lost without them. The Castlevania team has a giant collection of references for faces of every character from every angle, props, etc. and I always have a second screen up with 10 different sheets of whoever I’m drawing. Feeding yourself info is essential to getting better. Look at how other artists handle something you’re having a problem with too. If they’re doing a similar pose or something, study their drawing and ask yourself what specifically, extremely technically about that drawing is convincing-- what marks are where, and what is the quality or direction of the strokes? Try it out on your own drawing. If you’re stuck, become aware of if you’re holding on too tightly to what you think something should look like. I have to remind myself this as well. Really try to let go of the idea you have in your head about how something works and simply try instead to draw what you see, even if it feels weird. The results are often pleasantly surprising. 

I have a funny relationship with studies. You seem to be looking at them like a chore and I feel the same way. It’s impossible for me to sit down and just draw something over and over, disconnected from emotion or a larger narrative. I think a wonderful way to “study” is to incorporate those studies into a project that you wanted to do anyway. I’ve used my minicomics to get better at background painting or specific figure poses that I needed for the story but wasn’t sure how to do. I’m a very “oops I need it now better learn TODAY” kind of artist, if that suits you better than buckling down and doing anatomy studies for hours. Both are great ways to improve, but you have options for how to get there. 

In terms of how much time I spend drawing.. well lol it’s a lot. I almost typed “but I don’t do it every day” but yes, my jobs have made sure that I do (I tend to separate personal drawing and job drawing). But the truth is, to get better, a lot of very focused drawing time is important; how much of it is up to you and your schedule. You can sit down for 6 hours and doodle or you can sit down for 3 with an extremely critical eye. It’s about the volume of time as well as focus and I don’t have a clear answer for it, but I can point to one specific year in my life where I made artistic progress like I’ve never seen from myself since. I drew a comic with regular updates during that time and, looking back, the art was not good. But the point was, I was drawing for 7 hours a day after work, at least 5 days a week, and actively looking to draw things that I hadn’t done before or knew that I wasn’t good at, and the result was that every single update was almost like it was drawn by a different person-- readers noticed and commented on the progress as well. It was very much an art bootcamp and I wouldn’t have the skills I do at this point if I hadn’t done it. It’s important that you’re loving what you do if you do it for yourself! That’s how you get through big projects and continue to be excited with where you are. Love is one of the most important motivators and discipline-keepers in art, in my experience. Draw what sets your brain on fire and attack it wholeheartedly even if it’s really weird or niche, not what you think you should be drawing, and you’ll improve a million times faster.

Art journey in terms of what I’ve done with my life (if this is what you meant from the beginning I’M SORRY I’m just trying everything you might have meant) uhhh I haven’t been to art school. I have no idea what my relationship with art would be like now if I’d had any formal training and I don’t really dwell on it. I could either be a testament to being able to get by without it or an example of someone who has no idea what she’s doing at all and lacks many basic foundational art skills. I have an architecture degree. I love architecture, I love the language of space we build for ourselves, and I’m truly, deeply glad for that eye-opening and often grueling experience, but I think my current field is a much better fit. Before animation I worked as a graphic designer mainly drawing storyboards for commercials and internal-industry stuff-- lots and lots of quick colored sketches (one of our main clients was a big glass company and my god I never thought I’d draw so much glass in my life). I was able to do that job due to the skills I developed through personal work. Maybe I’d be a hundred times more powerful if I went to art school! Maybe I’d be completely burned out and bitter and not drawing anymore at all! I just don’t know. I have friends who have had both experiences. Whether you choose art school or not it’s best to keep tabs on if the art you’re currently making brings you joy. Joy and struggle aren’t mutually exclusive. Oftentimes I’m drawing something I care deeply about but it’s VERY FUCKING HARD and I’m frustrated but it’s worth it.

I also do everything while being very scared of the thing. I have a lot of deep-seated anxiety that I’m constantly trying to root out and my brain compulsively twists things around into why I can’t do something, why people secretly know I’m below-par and are just too nice to tell me, how I’m “tricking” people into thinking I’m better than I am, etc. It’s so bad that my first thought when I was initially offered the art test for my current job was to say no; not because I didn’t want it so badly it hurt, but because I thought I’d be too much of a disappointment.  After completing the test I spent an hour figuring out the most gracious way to apologize for not being enough. It’s common, but not something to accept and we’re all working on it. I just thought it was important to mention because art is also a mental journey and forces you to do all this navel-gazey shit in order to advance, and feeling like you are Not Enough is rife in the creative community. The work feels entangled with my value as a person because art is a massive part of my life. Something I’m learning is that I don’t have to be confident or sure of myself all the time. This ensures that the process is usually painful and frightening. Often there’s no way to make it less painful or frightening, and I just have to hold my breath and do it. An oddly comforting thing to me the past couple years is to remind myself that the scary thing I’m about to do won’t be the scariest thing I’ll ever do. I implies both that this isn’t the pinnacle of my progress and also that I will inevitably get over it. If you continue with art you’re going to run into things like this and I guess if it was me it would’ve been helpful to know I’m not alone in it.

I hope that maybe answered some of your questions, maybe? If you have some specific questions feel free and I’ll try my best. Hope you have a good day/night!

[carcinized]

Analogince Headcannons

Because the Analogince tag is severely lacking in fluff. (Also, expect a bullet fic soon, cuz boy have I got ideas askskdkjjsjsns)

Note: This is a human au! :)

Virgil and Logan will debate conspiracy theories. They both love watching them, and Logan is extremely critical whereas Virgil just finds them outrageously funny. Sometimes Roman has to mediate when Logan gets really passionate.

Roman is extremely touch-starved, contrary to what you might expect. He’s not good at initiating touch for himself, only doing it to make the others feel better/for their pleasure, never his own. So when Virgil or Logan holds him close and presses soft kisses to his forehead, he absolutely melts.

Logan reads the others fairytales when they can’t sleep. Virgil will usually make fun of them in some way or another while Roman shushes him, adorably wrapped up in the classic stories. Logan finds both of their reactions extremely endearing.

Logan is the only one who can drive. Roman and Virgil usually fight over who gets to ride shotgun, so Logan had to create a turn-taking system. Every once in a while, though, they’ll sit together in the backseat and cuddle.

Despite Logan being the only one who drives, he usually lets the others pick the music, once again alternating each car ride. Whoever’s in the backseat gets to pick the music as a compromise for not getting to sit up front.

If one of them moves to the backseat, they’ll usually use Virgil’s earbuds and phone to alternate between their music tastes, though they both secretly like the other’s as well as their own. No Logan will check back in the mirror every once in a while and smile at his adorable boyfriends, who often just cuddle closer once they’ve got earbuds connecting them.

Roman writes and Logan edits his work, making it better without hurting Roman’s feelings, unlike previous editors Roman had worked with.

Roman and Logan often work late into the night, not realizing how late it is. Virgil will make sure they eat and drink water, then once it gets late either use his powers of being Cute™ (aka puppy eyes and begging, plus little kisses to distract them from what they’re doing) or being Annoying™ (aka drawing on their arms, whining, calling their names, draping himself over them, etc) to get them to come to bed.

Roman likes to sleep in the middle of the two of them. As I mentioned earlier, he’s touch-starved, and the others definitely notice. Logan will usually play with his hair to help him sleep, while Virgil just pulls Roman closer so he can cuddle into his chest.

Roman usually falls asleep first, after which Virgil and Logan will say goodnight to each other, maybe share a sleepy kiss, and go to sleep next to him. Roman knows they do this because he faked being asleep once and felt Logan press a kiss to his hair then wish Virgil sweet dreams. Virgil did the same to Logan and adjusted Roman to pull him closer. Roman just smiled happily. He never told them that he knew, though it wasn’t a secret, either.

Roman loves forehead kisses. Like, LOVES them. He wasn’t planning on telling the others because he wasn’t sure how, but his reaction when Logan kissed him there gave it away.

Logan was carrying him to bed after a long day. He set a half-asleep Roman down in the bed and crawled in next to him before pulling him close and pressing his lips to Roman’s forehead. He lingered there while Roman melted against him with a sigh.

“You like forehead kisses, huh?”

“Mm... Mm-hm.”

Roman assumed Logan had told Virgil because ever since then, they both went out of their way to kiss his forehead. Whether it was before bed, in the morning, or just a protective kiss before they went out into the world, they always did it, and it always made Roman extremely happy.

Roman loves PDA but rarely initiates it. Logan is indifferent to it but is happy to take Roman’s hand if it makes him happy. Virgil dislikes it but sometimes does it anyway because he knows Roman enjoys it.

Despite being stand-offish outside their apartment, Virgil is extremely clingy at home. He’s shy about strangers knowing who he loves, but has no problem straddling Roman or Logan’s legs at home when they’re innocently watching TV and kissing them breathless. Luckily, both Roman and Logan love it when he’s affection with them.

Each of them have a certain part of their body that being touched just makes them melt. For Roman, it’s his forehead, like I said. For Virgil, it’s his hair. And for Logan, though he’ll never admit that he enjoys physical touch, it’s his hands and arms.

Virgil likes to draw, and he’ll often doodle on Roman or Logan’s arms or legs, with or without a pen. If he’s got a pen, he’ll draw flowers or patterns or something like that. If he doesn’t, he’ll just trace his finger over their skin. Sometimes he writes things with his finger, too—often the words I love you. He sometimes doodles little hearts, as well, which the others will recognize, unlike the words he writes, which are just for him, and no one else—not even the person he’s writing them on.

Or so he thinks. Actually, Roman figured it out, and as soon as he realized, grinned a ridiculous smile. He didn’t say anything until Virgil left to go to the grocery store, after which he squealed happily. Logan came out of the bedroom, asking what was wrong, and Roman excitedly explained to him that he finally figured out what it was Virgil always wrote on them. Logan smiled when he found out, as well. Neither of them told Virgil that they knew, knowing he’d stop doing it if they did.

STARGAZING. These idiots could stargaze for hours. Logan will tell the others the story of how the stars were created scientifically with the Big Bang and whatnot every time. Roman will tell stories about the mythology of the constellations, or random star gods and goddesses. He’ll tell the story of the Egyptian goddess, Nut, the story of Orion and his bow, and Cassiopeia’s story. Virgil will just listen and watch the stars as the others talk. Sometimes he’ll make up his own constellations and let Roman create a story about them, with him and Logan sometimes piping in with little details.

Sometimes, Roman does a planetarium voice to make fun of the stuffy people who’re hired to work there. He’ll even play “planetarium music” from his phone to “set the mood,” as he calls it. Logan hates it—“Planetariums are wonderful scientific places of learning and disovery!”—but Virgil loves it—“Yeah, yeah, Specs. But they’re hella weird. Let Princey poke fun at ‘em.”

Roman is the king of flirting, but on one of the rare occasions when Logan or Virgil flirts back, he’s a flustered mess. He’ll walk up to one of them, wrap his arms around them, and dip them backwards so they’re nose-to-nose and just look at them. If they flirt back, for example, asking, “Like what you see, babe?” his eyes will widen in surprise and he’ll nearly drop them.

Okay, that’s it for now. You’re welcome to add onto it in the comments, but please keep it fluffy because there’s not enough Analogince fluff, okay?

Oh yeah, and seriously, expect a bullet fic.

[boozenroses]

❝ 𝘿𝙧𝙖𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 ❤︎ ❞

﹀﹀﹀﹀﹀﹀﹀﹀﹀﹀﹀﹀﹀﹀﹀﹀﹀﹀﹀﹀﹀﹀﹀﹀

៚ Soo, I wanted to make this one because why tf not...plus other people inspired me to make my own hc about drawing on them 😏

៚ With: Suna and Atsumu

┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

ଘ(੭ˊ꒳ ˋ)੭✧

𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐚 𝐑.

Soo- it was the start of the weekend, you and Suna wanted to binge on childhood movies. You guys also wanted to see who could stay up the longest 😏

You already took a nap before he came over because ✨ fucked up sleep schedule ✨ plus you wanted to beat him. He noticed you already took a nap because when you opened the door, you had a sleepy look on your face. "Cheater-" he had a little pout.

You guys were on your 3rd movie and he was already passed out. You could tell because you heard small snores coming from him. You turned your head and saw his peaceful sleeping face, which you thought was absolutely adorable.

You were getting pretty bored, you looked over at his arm and had an idea. With a small smirk, you reach over and grab a pen that was on the table in front of you.

You grabbed his hand and held it in front of you, starting to doodle on his hand. Once you were done you let out a small yawn and laid your head on his shoulder, starting to doze off.

Suna's pov?

Suna had woken up to a snoring Y/N laying on his shoulder. He rubbed his eyes and grabbed the TV remote, about to turn it off until he saw his hand. He saw many doodles like stars and small spaceships then he turned his hand and saw the words. "Y/N was here." With a little heart next to it.

He felt his heart squeeze a bit, because he thought it was adorable that you drew on him while he was sleeping. He turned off the TV and got up, looking down at you.

He then picked you up and started carrying you like a child, to your bedroom. When he got to your room he gently set you down, getting ready to leave. Before he could, you grab his arm and look up at him, sleepily.

"Stay please,,?" He had a small blush on his face, but it was too dark in your room to see it. He nodded and got under the sheets with you, wrapping his arms around your waist. You both started to doze off and soon enough you guys were asleep.

𝐀𝐭𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐮 𝐌.

This one was more of a prank and getting back at him for pushing you in a cart and letting go. You were scared for your LIFE when he did that because he sent you down a hill.

You were doing your school work while Atsumu was laying on the couch, watching TV. "Y/NNNNN- give me attention..." he whined and looked at you. You rolled your eyes, still giving him silent treatment for what he did. "Fine- be that way." He pouted, starting to watch the TV again.

You were finally done with all your school work after about an hour of doing it. You walked over to the couch, where you found a sleeping Atsumu. He was spread out on the couch SNORING. Mans sounded like a bear👽

You tried to hold in your laugh because...it wasn't the greatest sight. You then thought to yourself. 'This is the time where I can get back at him...what should I do though?' You thought to yourself for a few minutes until you finally remembered you had markers in your bag.

You started to smirk, having many ideas of what you'd draw on him. You walked over to your bag and started digging in it to get your markers, when you finally found one you had an evil little giggle.

You tip toed over to the couch and kneeled down in front of it. You opened the maker and put it near his face, thinking about what you wanted to write. It finally came to you and you started to draw a pp on his face >:)

Once you were done, you took one good look at your masterpiece and snickered. The snickering is what woke him up, he looked over at you with a sleepy yet confused look on his face.

You smiled innocently at him. "Rise and shine, hon." He groaned in response and got up. "What're you laughing about?" He questioned you, rubbing his eyes.

"Nothing-" you responded, refusing to make eye contact with him. "Tsk, weirdo." He got up and started heading to the bathroom. Once you heard him enter the bathroom, you started to laugh.

You were flipping through channels on the TV, until you heard this man stomping towards you. You were screaming internally, yet you had an innocent look on your face. "Something wrong, love?" You asked him. He was standing in front of you with his hands on his hips like an upset dad.

You looked up at him and busted out laughing. "This is not funny! Why is there a penis on my face!?" You wiped a tear from your eye and shrugged. "Maybe it just walked there."

"Y/N, is this permanent marker?" You giggled. "Who knows, I sure don't." It wasn't permanent marker, but you wanted to mess with him. He looked down at you, his face getting a bit red with anger. You laughed even harder, because to you he looked constipated.

You eventually got up after laughing and stood in front of him for a second, you then started running which caused him to run after you. To sum it up y'all were running around the house until Osamu came home 💀

꒰ᐡ ˵ - ˵ - ˵ᐡ꒱

I hope you enjoyed this one :D

[something-fanfiction-ie]

Rough Drafts

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Reader

Warnings: Explicit descriptions of a murder scene, argument, angst, and cursing.

A/N: Okay, so I know I said I was gonna publish this yesterday but I got Cassandra Clare’s newest book and I couldn’t put it down. I seriously love that lady. Omg. Anyways, it’s here now! And it’s angsty! And there’s gonna be a fourth part soon I promise! For real. Don’t forget to reblog, comment, send me an ask or a message and overall just adore me so that I may continue to feel good about myself. As always thank you for supporting me and I hope you enjoy!!!

[ Part One | Part Two ]

___

An incredulous laugh bursts from your lips, your nails cutting crescent moons into the palms of your hands as you try and convince yourself that this isn’t actually happening.

“Do you have alibis for your whereabouts on Monday, June eighth, Saturday, June thirteenth, and Thursday, June eighteenth?” Spencer can see your leg bouncing rapidly under the table, your eyes flying over the pictures and the expression of Emily Prentiss. You seem genuine, but he can’t trust himself to get an accurate read of you anymore.

“I, uhm, I- I wouldn’t know off the top of my head. I keep a planner, I’ll forget things otherwise.” The burst of iron in your mouth is not something you’re unused to, having chewed your cheek so badly that the skin there has broken under your teeth.

“We’ll need to see that.” Emily isn’t sure whether or not she believes that you’re guilty, watching the way you seem to unravel before her. When you look at the crime scene photos, it isn't with any pleasure, but with disgust. Your nose wrinkles a little at the bridge and you keep looking away as the blood from your face starts to drain. 

Either you’re a really good actress or you aren’t the unsub.

Emily says as much as she flips through the small teal planner that you’d willingly given them. Due dates for chapters, publishing events, book signings and days for book tours fill most of the pages in your most neat handwriting. Dates you plan to go visit your mother, grocery shop, doctor’s appointments, even plans to go somewhere and write.

Everything is explicitly stated, that way you’re never unsure of what you meant to tell yourself. That is, until around three weeks ago when a handful of days are notated with an ‘S,’ followed by a random doodle. Sometimes it’s a tiny heart drawn absentmindedly while you discuss the plans over the phone, other times it’s a cartoon bunny or a top hat.

Garcia is the first to take notice of it, her fingers faltering in their constant thrum against the keyboard in front of her. She glances out of the side of her glasses, raising her eyebrows suggestively.

“Looks like lonely girl found herself a boo.” 

“That makes sense,” JJ says from the chair she’s pulled into Penelope’s office from the bullpen. A pen is stretched between her hands, her posture relaxed into the curve of the stiff, government-issued rolly chair.

All the girls have gathered into the tech analyst’s room while the men take turns interrogating you. Well, all except Spencer. He just stands behind that window watching your every move with eyes like a hawk. “What doesn’t make sense is why she keeps it secret even in her personal planner.”

“Maybe she has a stalker? That could be who is doing all this?” 

“Then she wouldn’t keep careful notation of everything else going on in her life. A stalker would follow her every move, not just her romantic interests. Even if he is in love with her.”

“A partner, maybe? Like the days they planned the murders or days they were acted out?”

“None of the days line up with the crimes, save for this one,” Emily leans the book toward the two women with her finger just underneath June fifth, the day Alison Crane was abducted from outside her campus dorm room. It’s the third ‘S’ scribbled into the corner of a day in the entire book.

“And there is nothing else written in relation to this ‘S’ character?” JJ shakes her head, looking for any clues that could be nestled among the loops and curls of your writing. Reid would be better at this, he was the graphology expert among them. So why wasn’t he back here helping?

“Then I guess we better try and get her to talk about it. Meanwhile Garcia, we’ll get Rossi and Reid to head over to her apartment and you can hack into her computer?” Penelope spins the chair, a flash of bright colors and blond hair. She clicks her tongue in response, throwing up a fingers gun and winking.

“Whatever you need me to do, I’m on it like sexy on Derek Morgan stepping out of the shower in a towel.”

After some arguing, and maybe just a little bit of pleading, they manage to convince Reid to join Rossi on a trip to your apartment. He can’t help but feel a little uncomfortable, standing in your living room. Not because he’d been here before, but because he’d never been here before.

The empty mugs that litter every surface, smelling of old coffee and your favorite coffee creamer (he only knows it’s your favorite because you explicitly ask for that creamer at every coffee shop the two of you have ever gone to), is unfamiliar to him. He’s invited you to his apartment at least three times. How come he had never been to yours?

Small pages and notebooks of scribbled ideas and dialogues cover just as many areas as the coffee cups do, your handwriting messy and cramped in every note. It’s almost like you couldn’t get the idea out of your head fast enough.

The bed in your room is meticulously made without a wrinkle in sight, but that could be because of the obvious bed you’ve made yourself along the salmon pink couch that stretches out in front of your TV. A multicolored crochet blanket is thrown haphazardly over the back, a pillow still slightly squished against the arm.

On the coffee table is a half opened laptop, a notebook with red and black ink scribbled in the lines, and a still full cup of coffee. Rossi makes quick work of calling Garcia and helping her get patched into your computer. It’s strange, watching her move the mouse on your screen from miles away.

Reid never stops moving, walking the length of your studio apartment with his eyes peeled for any kind of information he could find. It’s obvious that you spend most of your time in the main room, which houses the kitchen, a small dining area, and the living room. A door leading into your room branches off to a small bathroom which is just as disorganized as everything else in your house.

Hair products, skin washes, and all kinds of makeup are scattered across the sink and back of your toilet. It’s funny because every time he’s ever met up with you, you’re bare faced and your hair is still drying from the shower you took before leaving your house. The tube of lipstick he picks up makes him think he doesn’t really know you at all.

On the nightstand in your room is a bottle of water with the label ripped off and the two Rossi books you’d bought that fateful day in the bookstore. The label from the water bottle is stuck between the middle pages of one of the books. The passages in question don’t lend anything to connecting you as a homicidal maniac, let alone a serial killer.

Back in the living room, Garcia is snooping through every aspect of your computer.

“I don’t know whether or not the be freaked out by her web history. There’s a lot of murder-y questions here. ‘Signs of a post mortem amputation,’ ‘How much blood can you lose and still live?,’ ‘Most brutal ways to be killed.’ It’s creepy.” Rossi is flicking through the notebook from the table, his eyes squinted as he tried to make sense of the abbreviations and scribblings of another writer.

“She writes crime novels so it isn’t entirely strange for her to be looking at those types of things.” Thankfully, the defense of your web search history comes from the older man who looks up as Garcia delves deeper and deeper. Spencer had thought it first, but hadn’t said anything to avoid suspicion. He’s smart enough to know that the truth has to come out eventually, but he wants to be sure of your innocence (or guilt, he reminds himself a bit glumly) before he reveals your link to him.

“I’m not seeing anything she could be using to contact a partner unless her partner is one of the publishing people she’s constantly messaging via email.” At this Spencer stops, leaning against the back of the couch with his weight resting on the heels of his hands. The stance appears relaxed. He is anything but.

“Why do we assume she has a partner?” Reid asks, impatiently pushing a stray curl away from his face. Rossi glances at him curiously, otherwise undistracted from the shake the movement gives the couch.

“Oh, Prentiss, JJ, and I were looking through her little teal book earlier and the only thing not explicitly stated was just the letter ‘S.’ It’s why they came back to interrogate and they sent you guys to her house. I thought they told you.”

Spencer wants to beat his head against the wall.

“That isn’t a lead, Garcia. You have to tell them that ‘S’ isn’t her partner.” The mouse on the computer screen falters, several saved documents for different rough drafts of books or drabbles are pulled up the way you might have papers scattered about in front of you.

“What is it? Do you know who ‘S’ is?” Rossi is turned sideways on the couch, looking over the back and up at the distressed man in front of him. It doesn’t take him long to connect the dots when they make eye contact. Penelope impatiently whines over the phone.

“I’m ‘S,’ I’ve been seeing her for the last three weeks. I’m sure if you tell me the dates then every single one of them will be days that we’ve had plans together.”

“I’m sorry, what?!” Before anyone has the chance to say anything else, the door to Garcia’s office opens and a second voice filters through Rossi’s phone speaker. It’s JJ.

“Let Reid and Rossi know there’s just been another murder.”

This time it’s a fifteen year old girl. Her hair is black and wet, her lips are as blue as the sky, and she’s naked. Water droplets from her skin have soaked into the sheet of paper that was layed over her chest. The bathtub she’s in is completely empty, but it doesn’t take a genius to know that she was drowned there. The bruises on her shoulders from the force the unsub used to pin her down are dark against the contrast of her already pale skin.

...The man leaned over the tub, his eyes squinted in thought and his lips skewed a little to the side. Ryder stayed focused on the crime scene, for the most part. But even detectives of her caliber, and higher, could easily get lost in the eyes that look up at her from beneath long golden-brown lashes.

“Detective?” She blinks the distraction away, looking back at the girl, her black hair wet and spiraling like the snakes on Medusa’s head against the ivory siding of the drained tub. Ryder can’t help but wish the girl had been lucky enough to turn her killer to stone. Maybe it would have saved her.

“Agent.” She crosses her arms, looking anywhere but at the man across from her, pretending to look for any useful clues. Ryder had gotten to the crime scene fourty-five minutes before the pair of FBI Agents had walked in. The man, who had introduced himself as Supervisory Special Agent Matthew Gray, had decided to join her in the second floor bathroom. His partner, a woman named Katherine Swift, had taken to looking for clues through the rest of the house.

Agent Gray is beautiful. It’s the only adjective that seems to stick to him with certainty, every other aspect of his personality just as elusive as the exact color of those eyes. Even as short as his hair is, the golden brown tendrils are unkempt and curl every which way. Ryder has to force her hand to stay at her side and not reach up to smooth an alfalfa that does nothing for the serious expression on his face.

She keeps imagining what it would feel like if he reached out to kiss her, curling his fingers into her hair and bringing her unworthy lips up to meet his. He’s tall so she would probably have to stretch a little, but she wouldn’t mind. Not when his hands are tangled in her hair and he’s giving her the kiss she’s been silently begging for since the moment he flashed that crooked grin at her.

The imagination is so vivid that she jumps when her own partner, Detective Russo, comes around the corner of the hallway and straight into the bathroom...

The paper crinkles in the evidence bag as Morgan places it on the table, trying to ignore the daggers being glared into him on the other side of the mirror.

Nobody on the team had been very happy with Spencer when they heard the news about your relationship, Hotch had nearly snatched him by the scruff of his neck when he made to go into the interrogation room. But after several minutes of thoroughly explaining himself, Hotch had sent Morgan in. To say Spencer was infuriated was an understatement.

“Do you know what this is, (Y/N)?” You look down at it, twisting the evidence bag so that you could read the Times New Roman font you always wrote in when writing in Microsoft Word. The words cover the front and back of the copy paper, but you don’t have to read it through all the way before you know what it is.

“It’s a page from my newest book.” The bag scratches against the tabletop as you push it away from you, crossing your arms over your chest. Your face is stoplight red with embarrassment at the thought of Spencer reading this page, mostly because you had pulled so heavily from your own thoughts when first meeting Spencer to write Ryder and Gray’s first meeting. You created Matthew Gray to write about Spencer Reid in a way that felt less ‘high school diary entry.’

“More specifically, it’s from the book you just started working on about a month ago. The one that only you and your agent have access to.” Finally, Morgan sits. Before, he’d just been pacing around you the way a lioness might stalk around her prey before she launches an attack. It made you uneasy, but that was the whole point, wasn’t it?

“Do you know where we found it, (Y/N)?” His muscles bulge against his shirtsleeves when he leans them up on the table. Derek Morgan is a very attractive man, you’ll give him that, but if making you uneasy and putting you in the room with a attractive man to fluster you was their strategy then they should have sent in Spencer.

“My computer.”

“We found it on the body of a dead girl.” Another picture joins the ones already shuffled around the table. You can barely look at it, nausea and tears building in your throat at the sight of another person dying the same way you’d written in a story. When you don’t respond, Morgan continues.

“‘She was found at the bottom of an empty bathtub, a pale leg hooked over the edge of the porcelain siding, and her arms pinned to her sides in death. Bruises discolored the skin at her shoulders, and Ryder knew at first glance that her cause of death would be asphyxiation by drowning.’” He drops the paper back to the table, having picked it up to read the passage from the end of the page.

“That’s wrong,” You say, leaning back over the table to look at the paper again. Derek looks down, like the words might have changed in the moment he looked away, but the text stays exactly the same as before.

“That’s exactly what is written here.” You shake your head, pulling the bag back to you and wrinkling your forehead in thought.

“I don’t doubt that is what you read, Agent Morgan,” Your eyes fly over the page, reading the end of the excerpt with overwhelming relief. The bag sticks a little to the pad of your index finger as you tap over the paragraph in question. “But I rewrote this scene only two nights ago. It’s on my computer, I’m sure your tech analyst can confirm my claim. This girl, Bella, she doesn’t die from drowning anymore. Her hands are tied above her head to the faucet and she’s strangled. I couldn’t decide if I wanted it to be by her sister or her girlfriend.”

JJ rushes back to Penelope’s office, on a mission to confirm your statement just as you had suggested. Meanwhile, Morgan’s mind is rushing to figure out the mess he is currently sat in. You lean back in your chair now, unsure if the dizziness you feel is from lack of food or the sudden realization that they couldn’t pin this to you anymore.

“I’m not your bad guy. If I was doing this to prove to my mother that my writing is good, that I chose the right career, as your profile says, I wouldn’t change the scene in my book and not change the murder.” In Morgan’s earpiece, Hotch tells him that you were telling the truth about editing the scene two nights ago.

“Unless you planned it to throw us off track. We know about your relationship with Spencer, you’ve probably found out all kinds of things to do to keep us from catching you.”

You clench your teeth, straightening into your chair and pinning Derek down with a look you’d learned from your mother. It makes him think of his mom, your eyes narrowed and your gaze so cold that it could cause frostbite. He watches curiosily as you tilt your chin up a little, trying to hide the pricks behind your eyes and the wobble of your lip. Derek notices them, the entire team notices. They’re trained to notice.

“I want a lawyer.” You say simply, you voice is sharp and quiet but it does the job of slicing through the tension already building in the room.

“Come on, you don’t need a lawyer.”

“That’s where you’re wrong again, Agent Morgan. I do need a lawyer. Because even though I have full-heartedly trusted the justice system since I was in diapers, and even though I came to these offices willing to help your team in any way that I could, you are still trying to use me as a scapegoat instead of actually doing your fucking job and finding the bastard who is killing people in my name.

“A study from criminal law bulletin says that 10,000 people are wrongfully convicted of serious crimes every year. One in every twenty-five people sentenced to death are innocent, Agent Morgan. Just since 1973, more than 160 people were exonerated from the death penalty. That’s not even counting the people who were killed. But you sure as hell aren’t about to make me apart of that statistic because you want to waste your time trying to piece an investigation around me. That’s not how you’re supposed to do your job. So until you can remember how to do it correctly, I do need a lawyer. Thank you.”

By the time you finish you’ve leaned over the table, your index finger jammed into the wood to make your point. It feels like your chest is on fire as you slam back into your seat and cross your arms, determined to keep your silence for the rest of the time you were forced to sit here.

Everyone on the opposite side of the mirror is stunned into silence, their eyes focused on you even as Derek gathers all the things from the desk and walks out looking a little flustered himself. If Spencer was totally honest, your outburst was actually kind of hot. He has to remind himself that you may have killed eight people in cold blood.

Your lawyer makes it to the BAU in record time, his red hair expertly gelled back from his face. His icy blue eyes only cracking when he sees you sitting by yourself in the interrogation room. Spencer can tell by the way that he lowers himself on the balls of his feet to talk to you, reaching out to touch the hand that sits on your thigh, that he knows you personally. He likes you, actually. Spencer tried to tell himself that it doesn’t make him glad when you pull your hand out of his and awkwardly pat his arm.

He’s been lying to himself a lot today.

Hotch is the one to go back in the room, he was the best at dealing with lawyers. Unfortunately his best wasn’t enough to keep you in custody and soon your lawyer, who Spencer learned was named Jeremy, was walking you out of the room for the first time in six hours.

Your back cracks when you stand, your shoulders rolling back to try and ease some of the stress you’d been holding there since this morning. The sound of the door swinging open for you is almost heavenly, the feel of the air outside of the room is damn near enough to make you cry.

When you look to the side, ready to leave out the second door that leads into the hallway and away from this mess, you meet eyes with the only profiler of the BAU that you hadn’t seen that day. Spencer looks back at you with an expression that you find hard to put into words.

He almost looks sorry, the regret evident in the slight widening of his eyes, but at the same time his chin is tilted up like he is facing an enemy he has vowed to take down no matter the cost. His shoulders are squared, but his arms are uncrossed and his palms are open.

And even though you knew you wouldn’t be there without him knowing, the reassurance that Spencer knew and even suspected you is like a blow to the chest and stomach. It robs you of air, causing you to stumble.

Jeremy reaches to steady you. You shake him off, pulling your eyes from the young doctor and focusing all of your attention on the door knob.

“I’m fine, Jeremy.” Your tone of voice is more harsh than you intended but you’re still struggling to collect oxygen, even when you slide into your car by yourself, it feels like you can’t get enough air. The walk from the BAU offices to the parking lot had passed in a blur. Jeremy’s talk about staying at home and keeping your head low had gone by even faster, and now that you have time to truly be by yourself, everything hits like a ton of bricks thrown at you from a speeding train.

In the midst of your panic attack, gasping for air into the palms of your shaking hands, questioning everything about yourself and your career, you don’t register the shuffle of movement in your backseat. You’re so deep in your mind that you almost don’t notice the cool press of a gun barrel against the back of your neck until a familiar voice lifts your head from your hands.

“Drive.”

[dweetwise]

have a semi-rushed riconti one shot because i couldn’t not write them for valentine’s day 💕

ship: ace x felix warnings: none word count: 4180

The problem with secret admirers

Holidays usually weren't something the survivors had the luxury of celebrating.

The occasional seasonal decorations in trials along with some ridiculous, thematical outfits seemed more like a sign of their Eldritch captor's morbid sense of humor than evidence of the passing of time. But sadly, lacking calendars and all, it was the most accurate estimate they had.

So when the Entity plopped down some fireworks and talismans on the generators to proclaim the Chinese new year, it barely affected any of them.

Yui and Feng seemed more on edge than usual, the decorations crude imitations of the festivities they were used to back home. Adam had told the group about the year of the ox and the Chinese zodiac, the teacher donning a new hoodie he’d received for the occasion.

For Ace, the holiday meant nothing more than looting as many firecrackers as he could manage, along with making questionable “horny” jokes to the few killers that had received ox-themed outfits.

But in the midst of the survivors' celebration or lack thereof, they'd completely forgotten about another well-known February celebration.

When Ace returns from a successful trial and goes to stash yet another firecracker into his generous collection of items, he immediately notices something that doesn't belong.

Inside the trunk, on top of the organized chaos that is his pile of items and add-ons, lies a note.

Curiously unfolding the piece of paper, Ace makes out somewhat messy handwriting on a worn piece of paper.

'Your smile lights up the room'.

“Oh, ha ha, very funny,” Ace says, turning to face the small group of survivors by the campfire.

“Huh? What's up?” Steve perks up, others following suit and turning to watch the spectacle.

“Someone left me a little prank note,” Ace says, rolling his eyes and flicking the slip of paper over his shoulder.

“What?” Claudette says with a frown, immediately reaching for the discarded note.

“What does it say?” Cheryl asks curiously, coming up beside the botanist.

“'Your smile lights up the room,'” Claudette reads.

“Aww, that's adorable!” Kate exclaims. “A Valentine's day card!”

“The joke being that we're continually outdoors,” Ace explains. “Meaning my smile does jack shit.”

“Are you sure? Maybe they meant figuratively,” Claudette gently prods.

“Yes Claudy, I'm sure I'm not getting mystery love notes,” Ace snorts at the incredulous suggestion, before turning back to the others. “Come on, whose idea was it? Fess up!” he demands, looking over the group

When nobody makes a move to come clean, others also looking around in confusion, Ace eventually focuses his stare on Nea, Meg and Feng, the trio of troublemakers sitting together by the fire.

“The hell you looking at me for?” Nea cusses.

“That’s lame as fuck,” Meg agrees.

“I'm tempted to make one now just so you’ll see—” Feng starts.

“That's a great idea! We should all make Valentine's day cards for each other!” Kate suggest, missing the gamer's point entirely.

“Look, there's a drawing too!” Cheryl suddenly exclaims, pointing at the back of the mystery note still in Claudette’s hands.

Ace sighs and leans over to look, fully expecting a doodled caricature of himself or even a crude phallic sketch.

Instead, he finds a pretty good drawing of some sort of flower. It’s not perfect, but it looks like someone clearly put a lot of work into it.

“It's a clover,” Claudette informs, glancing up at Ace with a smile. “No doubt for luck, even if it doesn't have the iconic four leaves.”

“Uh. Maybe,” Ace says, a little taken aback at the information. Someone really went through a lot of effort just for a small prank.

“So? Who's it from?” Steve asks impatiently.

“It still doesn’t say, Steve,” Cheryl sighs in irritation.

“I mean, Jeff and Jane are the artists,” Quentin points out.

“Uh-huh, sure, Jeff would draw a flower card for Ace and not his botanist girlfriend,” Meg snorts, making Claudette duck her head bashfully.

“And Jane—" Steve starts, excitedly turning to the former talk show host.

“No,” Jane interrupts the teen. “I mean this in the nicest way possible, but hell no.”

“No offense taken, sweetheart,” Ace grins good-naturedly, the cheesy flirt making the woman grimace.

“What about Bill?” Nea suggests out of the blue.

“What the hell are you on, kid?” Bill snorts, and even Ace has to bite back a laugh over the thought of the gruff veteran writing love letters.

“Just trying to think of someone in his age range!” Nea protests.

“Well, did anyone see anything?” Quentin asks. “We can’t all have been in a trial when the note was placed.”

“I’ve been in like three trials today,” Feng complains.

“I don’t think any of us really keep track of people at the fire,” Kate says. “Anyone could have walked by and put it there.”

“Aww, so we’re not gonna know who it was?�� Steve frowns.

“Maybe that’s for the best,” Jane says.

As the commotion seems to die down, Claudette hands back the note back to Ace.

“You should keep it. It seems you have a secret admirer, after all,” Claudette says, smiling.

“Guess it can’t hurt,” Ace says, reluctantly pocketing the card. He’s still not sure it's genuine, but is intrigued by the sudden turn of events nonetheless.

Surprisingly, it seems the kids aren’t quite ready to give up on finding out the culprit. Some time later, Ace sees Cheryl, Steve and Quentin huddle together by one of the tree stumps, Cheryl looking to be taking notes on a map.

“Did you ask the ones who just got back?” Cheryl asks.

“Yup! Steve says. “Jeff was mostly confused, and David laughed his ass off. Laurie said she hadn't seen anything weird before she got taken to the trial. And Tapp just looked like he'd lost all hope for humanity,” Steve summarizes.

“Sounds about right,” Quentin huffs.

“Okay, so we've ruled out us three, Laurie, Jeff, Claudette, Jane, Bill, Tapp and David,” Cheryl recaps.

“And Nance has Jonathan, and Felix has his girlfriend,” Steve reminds.

“We should definitely rule out Nea too, since she’s way younger than him,” Quentin says. “Meg and Feng too, I guess."

“You're right, they always bully Ace too,” Steve casually remarks.

Ace rolls his eyes behind his shades and keeps shuffling his cards, not understanding why the group is so hell bent on talking about him like he’s not even there.

“Oh, and Yui,” Cheryl says.

“Good point,” Quentin says.

“Huh? Why?” Steve asks, confused.

“She, uh…” Cheryl falters. “Girl talk. I know it's not her.”

“Okay!” Steve beams.

And that pretty much sums up Ace's expectations for their little operation to succeed. If Steve somehow still hasn't figured out that the Japanese woman is solely interested in other women, Ace doesn’t have much trust in his detective work.

“Kate?” Cheryl suggests.

“She’s making Valentine’s cards for all of us as we speak,” Quentin snorts. “I don’t think she’d play favorites.”

“What about Dwight?” Steve suggests.

“Well… it’s definitely awkward and weird enough to fit his MO,” Cheryl considers.

“I thought he was into Jake?” Quentin says.

And that’s about the time Ace tunes out and goes to bug Tapp to play cards with him, hoping the detective will be happy to pretend like this entire thing never happened.

Ace doesn’t know how long it is before he’s finally taken to a trial, but it feels like an eternity. The atmosphere around camp is awkward as people trickle in and out from trials and someone always feels the need to point out he was on the receiving end of an anonymous person’s affection. The reactions, unsurprisingly, range from awkward confusion to straight up laughter.

So when the fog finally surrounds Ace, he actually welcomes it. The familiar sight of the Autohaven gas station is enough to take his mind off the teasing back at camp, at least momentarily.

But another problem presents itself right as he rounds a corner of scrap and finds Élodie on a generator—

“Hey, come here often?” Ace jokes, crouching down next to the machine to get to work.

—And the woman immediately gets up to leave.

“It wasn’t me, so don’t get any ideas,” Élodie scowls in his direction.

“Huh? I didn’t—” Ace tries to explain, but she’s already taking off in a sprint, and Ace thinks he hears her mutter “creep”.

Ace sighs and barely resists the urge to bash his face against the generator in frustration. This day just keeps getting better.

To Ace’s utter delight—that is to say, absolute annoyance—his mystery admirer becomes the biggest source of entertainment for the survivors. He doesn’t mind playing along for the first few jabs at his expense, thinking the others will surely get bored after just a few hours.

They don’t.

Most of the group still seem determined to figure out the person behind the note, others are content to gossip and joke about the possibilities, and some go as far as to blame Ace for intentionally stirring up drama. His not-so-subtle suggestions to let it go are shrugged off, and after a few days, Ace resigns himself to his fate and figures the sooner he lets the whole thing sort itself out, the better.

It doesn’t mean he’s happy about it.

To add insult to injury, even the killers seem to have a sudden hard-on for him, focusing Ace with single-minded determination every chance they get.

It's only a few days later, when the Pig kneels down Ace's prone form to place a trap on his head, that he realizes why.

“There you go, lover boy,” the woman's voice sounds mocking despite being muffled by her mask.

“Wah?” Ace asks, the device attached to his jaw making it hard to speak.

“I heard someone has a little admirer,” the Pig says. “I figured it warrants some special treatment.”

The word is accentuated by throwing Ace up on a hook, and the gambler's following scream is as much from pain as it is from frustration.

When Ace gets back to the campfire after having his head popped by the killer’s trap, he sits down on a log furthest from the group, hoping to get a breather—

“Hey, look who it is!” Ash immediately interrupts his moment of solitude, sitting down uninvited next to Ace. “How you doing, champ?” Ash grins, elbowing him in the side.

“What do you want?” Ace asks, feeling much more irritable than usual because of the constant teasing.

“I mean…” Ash says, before looking around and lowering his voice. “Have you figured out who it is?”

Ace rolls his eyes and resists the urge to slap the man with his own prosthetic hand.

“Come on, you can tell me!” Ash grins in a very suspicious way.

“If I find out, you’ll be the first to know. Trust me,” Ace whispers, lying out of his ass.

“That’s what I’m talking about!” Ash laughs, way louder than necessary. “I’m happy for you; at least someone around here will be getting laid!”

Half of the camp erupts into snickers and the other half turns to glare at Ace, notifying him that their conversation was definitely loud enough to overhear.

“Not in front of the children!” Jane sneers, like Ace enjoys having his sex life publicly broadcasted.

“Oh, would you look at that!” Ace quips with fake cheer as fog starts creeping up his legs, thankful for the Entity’s timing even though he barely got back to the campfire. “Time for another trial!”

When the fog clears from around him, Ace is in the killer shack in Red Forest with Cheryl and Felix right beside him.

“I'm gonna go find Zarina,” Cheryl whispers to Ace, informing him of who their last teammate is.

“Sure,” Ace says, knowing it’s good to split up, as Felix has already started repairs on the generator in the shack—

“I need to privately ask her about the note!” Cheryl beams and is sprinting away before Ace can reply.

Which is just as well, because he might have said a few choice words to the kid through his annoyance. Thankfully, he's left with Felix, one of the few people who have treated Ace normally throughout this entire thing.

“Fuck this,” Ace curses, joining the handsome German on the generator. Felix glances up but doesn't ask, and Ace appreciates being given the space to rant. “This is the worst thing that's ever happened!”

“The note?" Felix asks.

“What else? It seems it's all anyone ever talks about!” Ace rages, throwing one of his hands up in frustration and nearly causing the machine to explode. “I swear, this is worse than middle school,” Ace huffs. “I have girls gossiping, kids pestering and killers bullying me. And for what? A shitty piece of paper!”

Damn, it feels good to get this out. Ace doubts Felix cares, but it's nice to get to vent to someone he knows won't make the situation worse.

“Whoever left the note must be an idiot,” Felix comments bluntly, and it gives Ace pause.

Sure, Ace is frustrated, but he's still a little sentimental over the note and cute gesture behind it. Regardless, he shouldn’t be surprised that the no-nonsense architect would find the notion ridiculous.

“I'm just so done with it,” Ace sighs. “At this point, I'd take any explanation. Even an 'oops, wrong trunk, it was never meant for you'. Sure, I like being in the spotlight, but this is getting unbearable.”

Felix doesn't say anything, only keeps working away; probably embarrassed being forced to discuss Ace's (lack of) love life.

“I—” Felix starts after an awkward silence.

“Shit, I'm sorry,” Ace interrupts with a chuckle, not wanting the German to be any more uncomfortable than he already clearly is. “Didn't mean to talk about ear off about this stuff. Let's get this gen done, huh?”

Felix immediately seems relieved, and Ace jumps at the chance to change topics.

“You ever been to China?” Ace asks, nodding at the firework decoration on top of their generator.

As they chat about one of Felix's business trips to Shanghai, Ace is simultaneously glad for a distraction from his Valentine's fiasco and melancholy about their shallow friendship.

Maybe he'd take this whole thing more seriously if there was any possibility it would actually lead to something with the one person he's even remotely interested in. If Ace was in his prime, he'd probably have made a move on Felix months ago, girlfriend and heterosexuality be damned. Young and reckless Ace wouldn't have cared, happily flirting his ass off.

Meanwhile, old and slightly less reckless Ace has to settle for shitty jokes and sneaking glances at Felix.

When the Ghostface finally makes an appearance during their second generator and proceeds to chase and tunnel Ace to death despite the others' best efforts to save him, Ace isn’t even surprised anymore.

“I'm starting to wonder if the note is even legit,” Quentin says one day.

“How come?” Kate asks, cocking her head.

“Don't you think Ace's secret admirer would have come clean by now?" Quentin prods.

“Maybe it was just the Entity messing with us?” Laurie suggests.

“If it was a prank from someone, I’m kinda proud of them for pulling it off,” Nea says. “Especially for this long!”

“I think it’s mean,” Claudette says. “They’ve allowed this to go on for way too long. Just look at poor Ace!”

Everyone turns to collectively look at Ace, who is just trying to play some goddamn solitaire in peace while the rest, again, seem content to talk about him like he’s not even there.

“He looks the same as always,” Meg snorts.

“He’s been tunneled to death the last then trials in a row,” Laurie scolds.

“I’m fine,” Ace insists.

“I think his secret fan is just shy!” Kate continues and sparks another debate, oblivious to Ace’s annoyance.

When Ace gets back from yet another unsuccessful trial and sees a group of gossiping people and a grinning Nea, he groans in exasperation.

Before anyone can bring up Ace’s least favorite subject, Felix butts in.

“Ace,” Felix addresses, coming up beside the group. “Do you have time to teach me that perk you used the other trial? With the longer aura-reading?”

“You want… one of my perks?” Ace asks, surprised.

Felix has always seemed more altruistic than others, and it’s no secret Ace's perks were only used by… Well, Ace.

“Um, yes. If it’s not a bother,” Felix says, discreetly glancing at the group of gossip-hungry survivors waiting to attack Ace’s misery.

And it dawns on Ace that Felix is giving him a distraction to slip away.

“Oh, of course!” Ace grins. “Right this way!”

As soon as they’re out of earshot from the campfire, Ace starts prattling away.

“Thanks for covering for me!” Ace beams. “I thought they’d have gotten bored by now—"

“It was me,” Felix interrupts grimly, making Ace pipe down and turn to look at him.

“Uh… come again?” Ace asks, confused.

“I did it. I wrote the note,” Felix confesses, looking at Ace in determination.

“What? Why?” Ace asks, incredulous. When Felix's bravado falters, he keeps going. “Look, you don't have to cover for whoever it was,” Ace sighs. “I don’t blame you for wanting this entire thing to be over—"

“I'm serious,” Felix says. “I've been lying for way too long. I should have come clean before, but I was too much of a coward.”

Alright, what the actual fuck? Why would Felix, of all people, have sent Ace a love note?

While he’s gaping stupidly, Felix continues:

“Claudette was right, it’s my fault for letting this go on for so long. I’m sorry.”

“But… your girlfriend—” Ace starts, struggling to wrap his head around the whole thing.

“Will hopefully move on once she realizes I'm not coming back,” Felix says. “I've started to accept that I'm not getting out of here.”

“Well, that sounds cheerful,” Ace comments.

“Sheiße, I didn't mean it like that,” Felix winces. “I just… thought I'd do things differently this time. Since I never had the courage to, in my old life.”

“So… where do I come into the picture?” Ace asks, skeptical.

“I…” Felix says, wringing his hands in a nervous gesture. “Wanted to see how you would react to the note. It was stupid.”

“Huh? How come?”

“I caused you nothing but harm,” Felix sighs. “First you thought I was mocking you, then the others kept bothering you, and even the killers were giving you a hard time. I'm sorry, I should never have done it.”

“No, I mean—” Ace flounders for an explanation. Sure, he'd been annoyed, but none of the things that happened were Felix’s fault. “Why give something like that to me?”

“Isn't it obvious?” Felix says, scratching at his neck while averting his eyes. “I admit I haven't celebrated Valentine's day much, but I assumed…” he trails off.

What? Felix was seriously trying to test the waters of… getting together with Ace?

It slowly starts to make sense. Felix’s strange behavior. The messy handwriting on the note, probably from Felix’s nerves. The surprising artistic talent of the sketch, after a lifetime of architectural drawings.

“Well, this is unexpected,” Ace says with a smirk, not able to keep the cockiness from seeping into his voice at the knowledge that Felix, somehow, seems to be interested in him.

“Sorry—”

“I said unexpected, not unwelcome,” Ace interrupts.

And then gets to watch the realization slowly dawn on Felix, the perpetual worried frown on the other’s face smoothing out as his eyes widen in hope.

“You don't mind?” Felix asks.

“Let's just say I'm surprised you haven't caught me looking,” Ace grins. “I never expected someone as handsome as you to return the attention,” he can't resist flirting.

“Ähm, well, I…” Felix flusters from the compliment, looking at the ground. “Am not very good at this.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” Ace says.

Then, he reaches into his breast pocket, pulling out the infamous note he’s kept on him this entire time. Felix’s gaze follows his movement as Ace carefully unfolds the paper, crumpled and smudged from having been with him trial after trial.

“I thought you threw it away,” Felix says quietly, eyes wide in awe.

“You don’t just throw away a good luck charm,” Ace chastises playfully, pointedly brushing his thumb over the clover drawing. “Especially not one that’s the nicest thing anyone’s done for me in a long time.”

Ace bites his tongue to stop prevent more mushy sentiments from slipping out. Felix is still staring way too intently and not saying a word, so Ace clears his throat self-consciously tucks the note safely back into his pocket.

“I can’t believe you kept it,” Felix finally says, an adorable smile on his lips as he meets Ace’s eyes.

“Well, seeing as we’ve now established that we’re both sentimental saps…” Ace starts with a smirk, stepping closer to Felix to test the waters. “I have a question.”

“Oh, umh… Yes?” Felix says, straightening his back but still seeming nervous.

It's adorable, and Ace wants to kick himself for not noticing anything sooner. Still, there's no time like the present.

“Be my valentine?” Ace asks with a grin.

Felix's posture instantly relaxes, and the smile is back on his face.

“I'd love to,” Felix says.

Ace’s grin widens until he feels like it’ll be permanently etched onto his face. This is a much better outcome than he ever expected when he found an unassuming note with his items.

“So, ehm…” Felix starts after they’ve been staring at each other for a beat too long, snapping Ace out of it. “Do you… should we…?” Felix falters, nervously brushing a stray lock from his face.

“Wanna find a place to sit down and chat?” Ace suggests, not feeling any need to rush things now that he knows where they stand with each other. “I don’t know about you, but I could use a break from the others.”

“Me too,” Felix says, seeming relieved. “I admit I’m not looking forward to what the others will say about this.”

“Fuck em!” Ace says. “They’ve had their fun, I��m not gonna let them put you through the same shit as they did me. We don’t even have to tell them.”

“No, I want to,” Felix insists. “If I have to hear one more rude joke about you from Feng…” Felix’s mouth pinches into a thin line.

“Aww, babe,” Ace teases, the pet name slipping out before he can stop it. “You don’t have to defend my honor.”

“I do, and I will,” Felix says with surprising determination.

“Well, in that case, I won’t stop you,” Ace grins.

“Good,” Felix says with a smug little smirk.

And the sudden assertiveness makes heat creep up Ace’s neck, quickly starting to regret his suggestion to take things slow.

“I, uh, I think I saw a pretty cozy clearing not far from here,” Ace says, eager to get the chance to get to know more about his companion.

“Lead the way,” Felix agrees.

They end up sitting next to each other under the stars and talking for what has to be hours, but goes by in the blink of an eye. No longer having to filter himself and keep their conversation casual is a much-needed break from the past few days, and the smile never once leaves Ace’s face.

Talking to Felix makes the feelings Ace has tried so hard to ignore come back full force, reminding him of why the man caught his eye in the first place. Sure, Felix is still more attractive than anyone has the right to be, but he’s also insanely smart and surprisingly witty past the initial anxious exterior. The way he smiles and gives his undivided attention even when Ace talks about silly, insignificant things not only makes Ace forget all about his recent frustrations, but also takes his mind away from the strange world surrounding them.

And when Felix eventually scoots even closer and looks at Ace with nothing but fondness in his eyes, Ace has no trouble throwing his initial hesitance out of the window and going in for a kiss.

It’s not earth-shattering or particularly intense, it’s just really, really nice and makes Ace’s heart do stupid leaps in his chest. It’s been so long since he even kissed anyone, and getting to smooch the person he’s been secretly pining over for months and have said person eagerly return the kiss?

“Why the hell haven’t we done this sooner?” Ace voices his thought when he pulls away from the gentle kiss, making Felix huff a quiet laugh into their shared breathing space.

“I should have just signed the note,” Felix says.

“Good thing you can make it up to me now, Valentine,” Ace grins.

Felix chuckles warmly and a callused hand comes up to gently cup Ace’s cheek before tilting his head up into another kiss.

And even though Ace isn’t normally one for holiday celebrations, he’s looking forward to spending many more with Felix by his side.

[chaerrie-on-top]

five

The night comes to an end eventually, as it always does. The girl's finish gradually finish their meals, however, they sit and chat for a while with their full bellies settling. The girls talk about everything and anything, like the classes they would ultimately have the next day, homework, fussy professors; <i> anything and everything </i>. More likely than not, the girls would burst into a fit of laughter every few minutes. It was a good time, really, and by the end of the night, Dahyun's cheekbones were burning hot from how much smiling she'd done.

The girls eventually cleaned up after themselves before exiting the restaurant as a group, standing just outside as they bid their goodbyes. "We had so much fun," Tzuyu comments, hooking her and Momo's arms together at the elbow. 

Momo nods in agreement and smiles warmly, "We need to do this again soon. Maybe this weekend?"

Dahyun and Sana nod simultaneously, the cute action of the pair makes Tzuyu chuckle. Sana, cutely oblivious to this, doesn't notice. "Sure, we can plan tomorrow or something once the weekend gets closer," Sana offers. "But, we'll see you around, right?" Dahyun, however, can feel a blush creep its way to her cheeks.

Momo and Tzuyu wave, "Yeah, bye! See you guys later!" Momo says, before her and Tzuyu turn around and start to disappear down the darkening, almost foggy campus as nighttime creeps up on the town.

Sana and Dahyun's homes were towards the opposite side of campus, so once the others left, the two friends turned around and started their own trek home.  Walking side by side along the sidewalk, the girls head for the grand entrance gates of the campus which protrude under the glow of bright streetlights. Their shoes create a soft, rhythmic beat on the ground as their movements fall in sync. When Sana steps forward with her left foot, so does Dahyun. Sana smiles at this, sneakily glancing at Dahyun to see if she notices (which she doesn't). It's a Wednesday night, and the campus is surprisingly quiet. Everyone must be busy tonight, Sana figures, perhaps getting their studies out of the way so they can have a fun weekend.

“Thanks for coming to the meeting with me," Sana breaks the comfortable silence that had settled over the girls as they walked. "I'm sorry for forcing you to pretend to be a foreigner."

Dahyun giggles, tucks a long strand of hair behind her ear as the two pass through the entrance gates, turning left so that they end up on the sidewalk of the main street. She thinks about how absurd such a statement would sound to an unknowing bystander, and laughs more. 

"What?" Sana asks innocently, chubby cheeks pushing her eyes into crescents as she smiles at the other. "What's so funny?"

"Ah, nothing," Dahyun smiles at her, melting on the inside at how cute Sana could be. "Anyway, It's okay," Dahyun feels Sana playfully loop her arm into Dahyun's, locking them together at the elbow. Sana puts a little hop in her step, gleefully skipping alongside Dahyun. "You know what? I had fun. And-" 

"And?" Sana quizzically persists, looking at Dahyun with a playful gaze. 

"We made new friends, so..." Dahyun smiles. "No harm done."

Sana points at Dahyun, playfully booping the youngest of the pair on the nose. "See, I told you! I knew we'd have fun-- and the whole reason I made you come was so that we could meet new people!"

"What, am I not enough?" Dahyun teases. 

Sana halts in her steps so fast trips over her own feet. Dahyun steadies her, watching with wide eyes as Sana laughs at herself for being so clumsy. "Of course you are," Sana tells her once she's composed herself. "You're more than enough."

Dahyun's mind goes blank as she stares back at Sana's beautiful face; her features are illuminated so nicely under the moonlight and her soft brown hair frames her face just right. It felt like Dahyun's entire world had stopped-- to be talked to so sweetly by such a perfect person made her insides feel all warm and tingly. It sounded gross, really. Like, seriously cliché. But Dahyun adored this new feeling she got when she was with Sana. She adored the feeling she got <i> because </i> of Sana.

"I don't think I've ever seen someone as clumsy as you," Dahyun teases once she finally crashes back down into reality. Sana playfully pushes her, erupting into laughter when Dahyun stumbles a bit. "Okay, guess I deserved that."

The pair are too busy laughing and fighting, as Dahyun jogs ahead with Sana following closely behind, playfully swatting the younger on the arm. Both girls feel as though they are the only ones in the world as they run along the street, crying out and laughing as they go. They slow to a stop at the bus stop deemed as the area where they would part ways, as it was an equal distance from both of the girl's respective homes. 

"I'll see you tomorrow, Sana," Dahyun shyly casts her gaze toward the ground, suddenly feeling sheepish standing before her like this. 

"Okay," Sana smiles, leans forward and tenderly snakes her arms around Dahyun's waist in a hug. Dahyun, taken aback, stands motionless with her arms at her sides. Electricity runs along Dahyun's back under Sana's touch, a tingle running up her spine and almost making her shiver. "You're supposed to hug back, you know..." Sana's voice is muffled from burying her face into Dahyun's warm body.

"Ah..." Dahyun, feeling stupid now, hurriedly wraps her arms around Sana and hugs her back. Sana giggles, "You're so cute, Dahyunie."

The younger blushes as they pull away. "See you tomorrow."

Sana steps back and waves goodbye. "See you tomorrow, Dahyunie!"

"Goodnight!" Dahyun calls, standing alone under the fluorescent light at the empty bus stop. Her arms hang at her sides as she watches Sana playfully skip down the road. Sana whirls around every few steps to wave goodbye, and Dahyun waves too. Once older girls has disappeared around the curve of the road, Dahyun lets out a deep sigh, her lips tugging upwards into a smile.

***

The next day rolls around and Dahyun begrudgingly finds her way in her early afternoon math class (the one she's only passing thanks to her "magical" Amethyst). She greets her professor with a respectful bow before trudging towards the rows of seats, settling on grabbing a random one in the middle, towards to the back of the lecture hall. As she goes through the rows of seats, a voice whisper-yells out to her. "Dahyun! Over here!"

She whips her head towards the sound where she finds a familiar girl with long brown hair and shimmering brown eyes. Dahyun's mind goes blank as she looks at the girl, jogging her memory of yesterday's events before suddenly realizing it was Tzuyu! Feeling both surprised and relieved, Dahyun ducks into Tzuyu's row and grabs the empty seat Tzuyu gestures for her to sit at.

“So this is where I knew you from," Tzuyu is smiling at her, watches as Dahyun sits her bag down and gets her supplies out for class. "I knew you looked familiar!"

"Ah, I'm sorry, I feel so stupid for not recognizing you," Dahyun blushes under Tzuyu's curious gaze. "Don't take it personally; I'm always so preoccupied with not failing this class that I just don't pay much attention to my surroundings."

"It's okay," Tzuyu waves it off. "I'm, like, decently average in math, so I can help you if you need me to."

"Oh, I'm okay. My Ame-" Dahyun cuts herself off, biting at her bottom lip as she wracks her brain for a cover up. "I mean, my um... My roommate has been helping me a lot lately, but I'll definitely come to you if I need anything!"

"Okay! I'm still around just in case," Tzuyu picks up her pen and starts writing her name and the date at the top of the notebook spread out on the desk before her. 

"Thank you, Tzuyu. Anyway, how's Momo doing? Have you talked to her today?"

"Mhm, we have a morning class together so I see her every few days. Besides that, we try to hangout outside of class too," Tzuyu explains, doodling at the top of her paper. "Later we're going to that new café down the street, actually. If you and Sana don't have any plans then feel free to tag along!"

"Ah, thanks. I'll see what Sana's up to, but I should be free."

"Mhm," Tzuyu labels the current page of her notebook as 'notes'. "You know... Momo and I were talking and... Ah, how do I say this?"

Dahyun is curious now, and a bit nervous as she worries about whatever is on Tzuyu's mind. "What?"

"Um... Are you guys dating?"

Dahyun nearly chokes on her own spit, clearing her throat as she scrambles for something to say. 

"I mean, if you guys are then that's okay. Don't take this in the wrong way," Tzuyu hurriedly adds, her youthful face softening sheepishly after Dahyun's reaction. 

Dahyun blushes, adverting her eyes out of embarrassment. "We aren't; we're just friends."

"Oh okay. Just wondering since Momo kinda has a bit of a crush on her," Tzuyu blurts out, before her eyes suddenly go wide as she turns to look at Dahyun. "Oh God, don't tell her I told you! She'll kill me.”

"Momo has a crush on Sana?"

Tzuyu nods, "Mhm... Don't tell anyone, please."

Dahyun nods in agreement, and after a brief moment of silence Tzuyu goes on, "Momo really likes her. I mean, we both do. You and Sana are seriously the nicest people I've ever met," Tzuyu thinks for a moment. "I mean, I only view you and Sana as my friends though."

Dahyun feels her stomach flip in circles, her heart clenching as she's faced with this new dilemma. Tzuyu raises her eyebrows at Dahyun. "You have a crush on Sana too, don't you?"

Dahyun blushes. "Um... Well-"

"No way," Tzuyu giggles, seemingly proud of herself like she cracked some type of code. Dahyun bites her lip, looks down at her blank notebook as she processes this new information Tzuyu has shared. "Ah, it's so obvious."

"Good afternoon," the professor comes and stands at the middle of the room, looking up into the eyes of the students gathered in rows. 

"Really?" Dahyun whispers, looking up at a smug Tzuyu. The youngest of the group nods, smirking to herself as she prepares to write down whatever the professor had to say. Feeling a bit anxious (not entirely sure what was making her anxious, too) Dahyun chews at her thumb. The professor continues to talk and Tzuyu maybe whispered something, but Dahyun has accidentally tuned everything out.

***

"So, are you doing anything now?" Tzuyu asks once the lecture has finally ended and everyone is left to freely chat and pack up their things.

"Um," Dahyun hesitates; she was about to text Sana. "Not that I know of, why?"

"I figured we could grab lunch. I invited the girls," Tzuyu tells her as she drops her notebook into her bookbag.

"You did?"

"Mhm, you should check your phone."

Dahyun pulls her cellphone out from where she left it in her bookbag during class. Upon turning the device on, her screen is littered with tons of new messages. "You guys made a group chat?"

"Pretty sure Sana made it while we were in class," Tzuyu tells her. She stands up and stretches, her back cracks so loud that its almost comical. Tzuyu smiles down at Dahyun as she slings her bag over her shoulder. "Well, are you coming? I'm starving; sushi sounds really good right now.

[alphasmoonlit-selfships]

🍃 🐚 ⭐️

Hello mystery anon! Thank you so much for the ask! I forgot as I was writing that that were asks meant to be answered by me for my F/o, but considering my recent f/o takeover by my dearest Atsushi, he answered a few of the asks too! UwU;

"It is a shared blog between us, Darling," Atsushi commented lightly, resting his chin a top the petite brunette, "I'm sure they won't mind at all!" 🥰

"Well let's just jump right into it, shall we?"

🍃:  Do you live together? If not, would you like to? How would you or how do you decorate?

Atsushi: We do live together actually! You can know more about that here in this ask!

Though the second question is new to answer; it was a slow and gradual process to decorate our place after it was entirely cleaned and ready to inhabit. We started with basic things we could afford, the Agency definitely helping us to get a few other things to fill in the space and make it feel more homey. Which we were grateful towards nonetheless!

Even so, I think the decorator between us is Dany, she usually suggests colors and what might fit well with the setting of a certain room in our condo. As well as how the layout should be. Of course, I pitch in my own suggestions that she usually considers and takes full validation of 😄 it definitely helps her figure things out as she often hits a dead end and is left a bit irked when she runs out of ideas 👀

We often buy things at random that might make the condo more homey, be it buying some items for the living room or dining, some plants to make the place more lively, either inside or on the balcony space, or paintings and frames. Which might I add, we have hung some pieces we worked on together!

It was some quality time building when we painted and made a messy, yet nice piece done! I may not be much of an artist, but Dany does know how to boost someone’s confidence when it comes to the subject U///w///U she is very sweet, comforting and patient.

But yeah! We are a bit of a mix of traditional, minimalist, and modern through the home!

🐚:  Which one of you brings the most physical or emotional energy to the relationship? Are there ever times where it’s overwhelming to the other, or are you pretty evenly matched?

Atsushi: I think Dany and I have shared a decent amount of offering each other that physical and emotional and mental energy to our relationship. It varies a lot with what we experience individually, but overall it is evenly match. We have a deep understanding of one another and share a few similarities when it comes to how we think and want to act on our emotions and affections.

I think Dany gives more of the physical energy as she isn’t one to always put things into words as it sounds in her mind. Her affection is warm, sweet, comforting, it’s soothing and brings out any tension I feel personally after a bad day. She often sings and hums to offer a bit of vocal response, or asks questions for me that give me the door to open if I want to talk about something. She doesn't press instantly and allows space for me to figure out what I would like to say.

I do worry that sometimes I may be a bit overwhelming for her; she is rather emphatic and has the tendency to take other’s emotions that often do drain her later on. It..often leads her to be apathetic when she feels her own bad days.

Which leads to the opposite of me, she is more withdrawn from speaking about her struggles and worries. Always giving a lot of herself to me or others that she forgets about herself. That’s where I have slowly began to draw her out of that mindset, I can understand where she comes from in that regard and offer what she usually craves the most; To be listened without being interrupted or bringing up an assumption she hasn’t stated. She use to apologize,,, frequently for how she just kept rambling about some feelings and teared up out of emotion. She still does occasionally, but not as often as before.

We have been through a lot, uncovering old wounds and healing together. Giving each other that reassurance and validation we both crave more than anything. I think that’s a great positive to our relationship, is how well we share a wavelength in our emotions and how we naturally crave physical bliss from each other. It’s a steady and comforting recovery to just cuddle in bed together after a draining day, for either or both of us.

On a positive note, we are very affectionate and sweet together, so a lot of other people tend to say. Sometimes saying how we are wholesome, or adorable together. It is nice and validating to hear. I tend to be more loving in public when given the chance, Dany isn't much into PDA as she doesn't like so many eyes on her. But has gradually learned to not care too much on it. She has gotten more confident in that regard 🥰 especially with surprise kisses U///w///U

I think the first time she ever kisses me a bit...passionately in public was when someone was apparently flirting with me? I didn't have a clue about it if I have to be honest 😅 and I do think her wolf ability may have given her that forward reaction to kiss me. Surprised I was, but not at all opposed to it~ it was so cute to see slowly realize what she did later and how she practically combusted into embarrassment for her forward action. She definitely needed some reassurance and words of encouragement from me 🥰🥰🥰

Needless to say, she is adorable and I love my darling, tiny lover UwU <3

⭐️: Does your FO have any habits that you only noticed after spending a significant amount of time with them? Do they notice any of yours?

Habits eh? Hmm, Atsushi has some peculiar ones that are caused by his tiger ability... I mean so do I, but I'm normally like that since I was a child. 😅 He is like a cat sometimes and it is honestly endearing to witness and very comforting 🥰 he purrs when we cuddle and has these big eyes sometimes when I give him praise and kisses UwU. Sometimes dilated during more... affectionate times~

He also still bares some habits that stem from his time at the orphanage that I never noticed until we started living together. Such as his early sleep and morning wake up schedule. I’m not much of a morning person in the slightest 😅 I can be very irked and tense and need at least an hour to mentally wake myself up as I move about the place. I especially need coffee and some sort of protein with my food to wake me up.

I’m not very lively and may look irritated to a fault 😔 the amount of times I worried mi Tigre at the start because he thought he did something wrong ;;;w;;; of course with time he understood and got use to it and definitely gave me the space to compose myself. He definitely makes it easier to wake up with a few affectionate kisses and preparing breakfast ;;;w;;; I, of course, in the rare times do the same for him, I just have to be up prior to his now 6am wake up 😮‍💨

Hmm.. he also has his bad days, usually when a memory of his past flickers in his mind he kind of shuts down and it leads to nightmares occasionally. They were more frequent earlier on when we moved in together in the dorms and the first few weeks in our new home and have gradually slowed down. But sometimes I would wake in the middle of the night to him gone, immediately picking him out cowering away in a closet. Huddled in a ball and attempting to stifle his tears when I find him..

I was concerned, but not overly as before when he first did this prior to our relationship. Instead I joined him and offered him my comfort to ground him back from his terror and memory. Usually wordless, gentle comfort and letting him cry out all the emotions that twist and pained his heart. Once he calmed a bit, I offered any words of validation and usually pitch the question if he would like to talk about it. Sometimes yes, sometimes no, either or I don’t let up holding him and keeping him steady to present time.

It’s definitely helped a lot, mi pobre tigre… he feels bad sometimes for the disrupt sleep or mental toll it brings me. But I always remind him, gently but stern, that in those moments he is the one that matters and I am not about to abandon him in his time of need.

Maybe it’s because I understand him deeply in that sense, while our lives may not have been the same, we understand the toll our traumatic past takes on us, individually.

Atsushi has definitely been there for me a lot of the time, I have a lot of self doubt and need plenty of reassurance. I’m..overly sensitive too so I don’t like arguing or any rise in anger, it’s hard for me to…really stand up for myself in that regard; hee..to literally not cry because I am trying to make a point…

Ah sorry, about the small downed turn this took; I don’t normally talk about these things. Am trying to get better by talking more about it, especially with mi Tigre who honestly listens when so many … often don’t.

Nonetheless, some more positive, funny/cute habits from the last; Atsushi tends to ramble on about new things he learns and enjoys telling me more about it. I remember he spoke for a whole hour about chameleons, I drew him some cute doodles as he told me more about them. He keeps the image somewhere in his phone. He also rubs his neck or cups his chin a lot when confused, nervous or in deep thought.

He on the other hand has noticed how often I tend to sit on my legs, that I don’t have a single perfect posture no matter where I sit. Could be the most comforting chair or very stiff, hard ones and I still keep my legs up with me. I just can't for the life of me sit still at all, it'd last like less than 5 minutes at most 😅 but he finds it adorable and cute how often I can just curl myself into what looks like an awkward position to others but for me is rather comfy and just how I prefer to sit.

His lap is the most comforting place to sit tho 👀👀

Atsushi: You also have the bad habit of biting your lips, Darling 👀

👀...Noooo... okay yes I do, a lot, like a lot more as of recent,,, And I crack my fingers a lot too...and tap my feet, more so in public out of nervous jitters I think...

Well, that's enough of that~ we greatly appreciate the emoji asks and honestly love doing these kinds of asks 🥺 it gives me so much more of a chance to explore the dynamic and relationship between mi Tigre and I ❤️😍🥰 Leaves me warm and fussy and soft. A melting puddle of silly and foolish love U///w///U...

Please by all mean's don't be shy to send asks or talk with me! I do my best to respond when I can and want to give all my love and support to every self shipper! Till the next asks! Take care!

[fluideli123]

A Story

So, I’ve recently been inspired to write a story for Ninjago and I’ve only written the prologue since I wanna write it for everyone, people even not in the Ninjago fandom and all that. I’ve also been editing the hell out of it and listening to it from text-to-speech stuff because I just all of a sudden got really passionate about this story. I even have my co-editors editing it in their free time I’m so invested in this story. Anyway, I wanted to post the first chapter (Still being edited) here before I actually post it, because, well, why not? I havn’t posted in awhile and I’ve been working on this story nonstop for maybe, a week? I don’t know, it started out as a prompt and practice and than ended as a whole story with twists and stuff. So, I’m just going to leave below the line on what I have so far,  I hope you enjoy it?

The link if you just want to see this story is here: X

Cole's head softly nodded to the beat of the music playing loudly in his ears from a newly bought headset, continuously humming the lyrics from the songs by heart. The earth ninja had his back against his pillows with a notebook and pen placed on his lap doodling mindlessly. His mind was alive with thoughts and memories for an unknown amount of time.

Some days he would be with his team with no need to fight, saving people, and with no missions to complete. Other days where he had either enough time on his hands to sit down and lose himself in more than just additional training or had too much time than he knew how to deal with. He didn't know which was worse sometimes.

However, Lloyd had it the worst out of the whole team, he spent most of his life, if not all of it, fighting and training. Lloyd even lost his entire childhood to become the destined Green Ninja. Cole still felt sympathy over the day that Lloyd lost his childhood. Cole and his teammates, Kai, Jay, and Zane, met Lloyd when he was only nine years old. But one day, the whole team was turned into kids. An extinct Grundle was brought back to life to hunt them all down, leaving Lloyd to help them get back to normal since he was unaffected. Cole still remembered how he and his team members were in fear as the once extinct ninja hunter towered over them. It was a hideous creature with thin sharp teeth and razor-sharp talons, its scales were blood red, its body was littered in spikes, and long catfish-like whiskers on either side of its lips. They were all quivering in fear until Sensi Wu appeared with Nya, they were carrying a tea that they tossed over to the ninjas. This tea would reverse all the effects that caused them to turn into kids. But as Sensi Wu forewarned, the tea would also affect Lloyd, turning him older with the rest of them. Lloyd had heard this, yet, he still grabbed the brew and threw it at the monster, it turned to bones while the rest of them spontaneously aged older. He selflessly sacrificed his own childhood to save them, adding more weight to the things he already bared at such a young age. The kid could use a break just as much as everyone else.

Sadly, Cole doubted that would ever happen for any of them.

Cole frowned, his thoughts now souring his peaceful mood. He closed the notebook and placed it back in its proper spot, a drawer within his nightstand. Tidying up his pens, he sets them by the journal, closing the drawer before also pausing his music, taking off his headphones, and setting the two items on the nightstand.

Cole let out a sigh, closing his eyes and running a hand through his messy black hair. He was overthinking again, a byproduct of the peace in the world, as unfortunate as that was. The earth ninja stood up, stretching his arms above his head to work out the kinks in his back before making his way through the hall, trying to clear his mind before heading into the kitchen. As Cole stepped into the kitchen, he smelt the scent of strawberries and honey, noticing that the temperature was also mellow. What the earth ninja saw, though, was a sheen on a metallic body and the white of a gi with quick hands slicing something on the counter.

Only one name appeared in Cole's mind, one that was accompanied by a warm feeling in his chest and a small soft smile on his lips.

Zane.

The Nindroid faced Cole, his once focused icy blue eyes turning into their usual warmth as he beamed, realizing Cole had entered the room. Cole's own smile grew from the sight of Zane's smile, a swell in his heart forming, making the feeling in his chest rise. Even though Zane was the master of ice and a Nindroid, he had the most sunshiny smiles and had tender eyes, softening you from the inside out.

"Cole," Zane said, his words calm and witty with only a slightly robotic tone. "I see you've finally decided to leave your room. I was beginning to wonder whether you'd be trapped in there forever."

The earth ninja rolled his eyes as he made his way over to the ice ninja, becoming enthralled with the remark. Cole had recently been in his room more often than he was training, the team, for some reason, found that as something to make quips about. Cole would be lying if he didn't enjoy some of the banterings that would sometimes ensue, especially with Zane. He wasn't too good at understanding humor or joking, but when he did, it always made Cole chuckle, even if it wasn't something exceedingly funny.

"Oh, me being stuck in my room?" Cole answered, placing a hand on his chest dramatically, his words dripping in a little bit of playful sarcasm. "I could never! How could I ever stay in there without the most delicious thing ever made to keep me company? I, of course, need a cake to keep me thriving if I were to be trapped."

Zane shook his head a bit as Cole chuckled at his own comment, still smiling as he looked back at the strawberries he was cutting. Remembering the smell in the air and seeing Zane slicing the fruit, Cole looked over to the oven out of curiosity, seeing the light on.

"So, what are you making there, frosty?" Cole asked, looking back to the Nindroid and leaning to the side to peak over Zane's tall form.

"Strawberry Bread," Zane affirms as he places the knife down, lifting the cutting board to pour the fruits in a green plastic bowl. Setting the board down he quietly, says excuse me to Cole, who moves out of the way. Zane bends down, grabbing pink oven mitts in the process, and opens the oven pulling out a pink and golden brown bread. He stands up and places it on cooling racks on the counter, the opposite side of the stove where he was slicing the berries. The smell was sweet and had Cole's mouth-watering as Zane continued to speak. "Jay had spoken about how I cook so well that I should try making some more desserts instead of dinner foods. He suggested I start on something with fruit, so I did."

Cole nodded, sitting down at the table. Zane had always been the one to cook for the whole team after they realized how much everyone else's cooking sucked, and how the ice ninja's cookery was remarkably good. Zane could cook anything you wanted after he researched as much as he could on it, whether that be from books from the libraries in Ninjago City or from any digital device hooked to the internet. He liked to be informed and probably knew facts that no one else knew about, just because he enjoys learning things.

Zane has always been strange to everyone, even when Zane himself didn't know he was a Nindroid. It was just a feeling that Zane had given off. Of course, the team loved him like a brother, yet that didn't stop everyone from recognizing how different Zane was. When Cole, Kai, Jay, and Zane lived in Wu's Monastery, everyone would notice how Zane lived in his own world, while training. He would possibly bow at a wooden training dummy, or be utterly confused with expressions. Zane couldn't understand humor at all either, but Cole still found it often endearing, even back then when they annoyed him sometimes. 

Nevertheless, one time the whole team, including Sensei Wu and Nya, got in a food fight during supper. Zane had stood there watching them throw his food around, unable to understand why everyone was laughing and enjoying themselves. Cleaning up after the ninja's ruinous fight, Zane had left outside with all the wasted food and tossed it in the trash. Zane had told the team that while doing so, he had met a falcon sitting on a branch above him, the bird following his exact movements as the ice ninja felt an ease with the bird. Unable to explain it, the bird had appeared another day, guiding Zane to Lloyd's secret hideout when he was with the Serpentine, which were snakes that wanted to get revenge on Ninjago for sealing them underground. Zane had gone back to the Monastery after finding Lloyd's lair in the trees to notify the team.

Cole has known for a long time that he has feelings towards Zane, even if it just began as a physical attraction. But that didn't prevent Cole's emotions growing over the years, his attempts to try and repress his feelings and only focus on viewing Zane as a brother like he did everyone else, had backfired on him. He often caught himself daydreaming about Zane without meaning to. There were just so many things about Zane that Cole couldn't help but to like about the ice ninja.

One of the first things that Cole liked about Zane was his eyes, whether that was sappy or not, it was true. When Cole first met Zane, his eyes were more human-like, a dull icy blue, still soft and kind when he looked at his teammates and friends but also appeared to be inquisitive or searching as if trying to understand something or learn something when he looked at you. Cole enjoyed the color more than when Zane looked at people back then, especially when it was dark, and his eyes would look too bright to be human. Nowadays, Cole just liked everything about Zane's eyes, like how they were robotically inhuman. Cole adored how they always seemed to be vivid and definite than a typical human's eyes, no matter how intense the light was, they would be slightly brighter.

The second thing Cole liked about Zane was his hands. He remembered how perplexed Zane was when he inquired why Cole had been gazing at his hands strangely. Cole had stated that he had never felt hands so cold before, even though it was the truth too, it wasn't the real reason why he sat there blatantly staring like a fool. Cole just liked that even after all the labor of training and fighting, that the ninja's hands weren't rough and hard like you'd expect them to be. In fact, they were soft and smooth like delicate fallen snow that doesn't cling together and as smooth as a thick formed icicle hovering from the roof. Now, the only thing that has changed is that his hands are sleek instead of soft from not having his albino synthetic skin, more gentle when they touched things now too. It's something Cole constantly daydreams about more often than anything else, as much as that irritates him. He regularly tries to push away the intruding thoughts, but the skin on his hands and face always tingle, even after he snaps out of his thoughts and into reality. Like if Zane was the ghost instead, and he couldn't truly touch Cole.

Cole could go on and on, describing every little detail about how beautiful Zane was from the inside out. But, out of everything he can explain, there is one thing he cherishes about Zane over everything else he could ever try to describe. It's something even Cole can't always name sometimes, and it's just how Zane is, well, Zane. The Nindroid will invariably do something outlandish like randomly stop moving and sit there for a while doing something in his head, or till someone questions what the hell he's doing. It's the same thing when he'll spend hours talking about how absurd people's theories are on multiple topics or randomly start talking about a fact no one else asked to hear. Even if Cole couldn't understand what Zane was prattling about or thinking, Cole would listen anyway.

Cole shakes his thoughts out of his head before he looks at Zane as he takes off one pink oven mitt and grabs a spatula, stabbing at the sides of the bread pan, the tip of his tongue sticking out in concentration. As the earth ninja took notice to the sight of no honey on the kitchen counter, he opened his mouth to ask why it smelt like it too if it was strawberry bread that Zane was making. That was, however, cut short when Jay walked into the room, answering his question before it even left his mouth. The lightning ninja held a white platter in his hands that held crumbs, strawberries and what could, and hopefully be, smeared honey on it. He placed the plate down in the sink before turning to the ice ninja with a toothy smile on his face.

"You are so good at cooking, I swear!" Jay exclaimed before he looked to Cole and made his way over, almost bouncing in place. "Have you tried it yet, Cole? Because you should! Zane made a hell of a new dessert, and oh my gosh, it's so good! You have to try it!" Jay whipped his head back to Zane, who was smiling proudly from the comments Jay was shouting left and right, no doubt. "Did he already? Oh, come on, he had to at least have stolen some when you weren't looking!"

Zane shook his head in negative, triggering a dramatic gasp from the lightning ninja, who quickly turned his head back to Cole. He looked determined, and before Cole could add his two cents to the conversation, Jay took him by the arm and drew him to the counter where he had formerly been standing with Zane, and grabbed a slice of bread and shoved it in his hands. Jay let go of his arm and looked at him expectantly, a look that gave off a false superiority sometimes, as it did now. Cole just raised an eyebrow at Jay, who pursed his lips and placed his own hands on his hips. It reminded Cole of those Ninjago City mom's who was about to say "excuse me?" bitterly because someone cut in line or did something offensive to them. Cole snorted at the thought, giving in and taking a large bite out of the bread only to cover his mouth when his eyes widened, and a muffled surprise escaped his throat. 

The damn bread wasn't chewy or crumbled apart too effortlessly, and it wasn't bland either, it was right in the middle and tasted like the berry it was made with without being too sweet. If Cole was incapable of loving cake as much as he did, he would probably just go off and marry this dish instead. Actually, no, Cole should go off and marry Zane, who is capable of making not only this bread but also cake, which would make a triple-win scenario.

That thought knocked him back into the present, his cheeks slightly gaining color.

Jay laughed and patted Cole's shoulder as he swallowed down the piece of bread. Apparently, he was amused by his reaction to Zane's baking skills. This shouldn't be a surprise, he was a badass in the kitchen like in the battlefield, as stated before.

"What I tell you," The lightning ninja beamed at Cole as he continued. "It's good, isn't it?"

Cole rolled his eyes. "Well, yeah, duh, Zane made it, of course, it's going to be good." He looked over to the ice ninja, who was patiently slicing the now cooled batch, Cole witnessed Zane pull out of the oven before. "You really outdid yourself again, Zane." "Why thank you, I was honestly about to think that Jay was overreacting to not hurt my feelings on possibly not making the bread well." Zane replies as he places all the pieces of bread in a clear plastic container. "However, I believe I should put these away till after dinner. I can already tell you two might try to grab for more, even though Jay has already eaten quite a few."

A loud, “awe man, no fair” came from Cole as Jay crossed his arms and seemed to now be sulking. Zane chuckled as he closed the lid and placed the container on top of the fridge, out of reach from anyone who didn’t grab a chair, climb the counters or who were tall enough to grab it by themselves. Sadly, no one was as tall enough to reach Zane’s height completely without putting something under their feet to gain a few more inches. It seemed the bread was held captive for the time being. That reminds him.

"Wait, how many did you eat, Jay?" Cole inquired as he looked over to the ninja in question. Jay looked over at Cole with wide eyes, as if caught in a terrible act that shouldn't be spoken about.

"Uh," Jay looked around the room as if it was supposed to help him answer the question. "Would you believe me if I said two slices was all I had?"

"No."

Jay frowned before he crossed his arms and pouted like a young child, a quiet "damn it" being muttered under his breath before he lifted a hand with five fingers up.  Cole stared at the ninja's fingers. Why was he holding up-

Oh.

He burst out laughing as he high fived Jay's hand. "Oh my god, you couldn't have beaten my record! I can't believe you actually ate five!" Cole joked, Jay huffed again and stuck his tongue out at Cole, causing him to laugh harder.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up dirt boy," Jay poked Cole's chest. "I only did it because Zane's cooking is awesome, and it was just a warm-up to when I beat you at your own food game."

The food game Jay was speaking of was a competition between him and Cole about whoever beats the other's score on eating the most in one day, wins. Every month, there was a day that the person surpasses last month's score, or tries to and fails. If you retain or beat the score, the loser must do the other’s chores or buy them something out of their own pocket when asked. So far, the high score was held by Cole, with three plates of two giant full-sized flour tortilla cheese and bean burritos. The whole team, Cole, Zane, Jay, Nya, Kai, and Lloyd, all went out last month to Kai and Nya's favorite restaurant, Taco Loco Pequeño César's. It was there that he not only won that month for his game but also won a sombrero and cool black sunglasses from the restaurant to congratulate him on winning their eating competition. It was the best day to see Jay's face go red in anger and brood for the rest of the day, Cole just rubbed it in his face by walking around wearing the sunglasses and sombrero he won. Kai even taught him some Spanish words, specifically "gané" and "perdedor" to further torture, Jay. Plus, the only reason Jay wanted Cole to believe he only ate two slices of the bread Zane made today was that he has to be ashamed of only eating five pieces and thinking that could beat the burritos.

"Say whatever you want sparky," Cole said, poking Jay back. "You can't beat the master."

Jay scoffed, looking to Zane, who was silently cleaning up after himself. "Zane, come on, Cole isn't the master of eating, right? I mean, I've eaten just as much as him, right?"

Zane looked up from pulling on his household gloves, staring at Jay for a moment before answering.  "According to what I've witnessed, and from other information about both your eating habits. There is a twenty percent chance that you have eaten anything slightly near the amount Cole has consumed. Ten percent being-"

"Yeah, yeah, I got it, Zane, you don't have to hurt my pride more." Jay insisted, cutting off Zane with a wave of his hand in the Nindroids direction. Zane frowned before he turned away from the two, and moved towards the sink where he collected all the dishes. 

"I don't understand why you two believe the consumption of the most nutrients, is something to be made into a competition," Zane commented, his words less chipper than they had been moments ago. "You could harm yourselves by consuming too much that you get yourselves sick, or consume too much of a substance and damage yourselves."

"Well, then we'll have to be careful," Jay said, shrugging, walking towards a chair and sitting down on it, folding his arms on one of the legs placed against his chest.

"Yeah, plus, if we get hurt, it'll be our fault anyway," Cole chimed in, sitting on the table with his feet swinging below him as he watched Zane. "We're just a couple of competitive dumbasses."

Zane continued to wash dishes, silent. Cole sat there for a moment, wondering if Jay had interrupted the ice ninja a bit too harshly, that being the cause of the Nindroid’s silence. That was debunked, however, when Zane's shoulders fell as he let out a sigh of defeat. 

"I know," Zane replied, turning around and leaning on the side of the kitchen sink, a sponge in hand scrubbing a big white mixing bowl. "I'm just concerned for your well being, especially after Cole's appetite last month." He gave Cole a pointed look. "You could have gotten ill after devouring all of those burritos." 

Cole let out an airy chuckle as he brushed a hand through his hair, looking away from the look he was being given. Ah, yes, he almost forgot the lecture the ice ninja had given him afterward.

"You made a point there, I doubt Jay could eat that much without getting a major stomach ache," Cole noted, laughing at Jay's insulted face as he quickly looked back to Cole. Zane laughed too, a smile on his lips again as he turned away and placed the white bowl down on the other side of the divided sink with other soapy dishes.

Time flew after that, Cole had stayed in the kitchen with Zane and Jay since they had nothing better to do than talk, jabbing jokes at each other. Zane had spent most of his day cooking and reading a new book he'd gotten, named Sunrays of Serenity. It was a poem book that someone had recommended to him at the library one day, saying it was something Zane should read. It seemed to be something that the ice ninja could try and think about. Zane said it had plenty of hidden meanings and was chock-full of phrases, giving Zane material to analyze and ponder about, unlike the science and machine books he'd usually borrow. 

 Jay, on the other hand, had spent his day with his girlfriend Nya, building and brainstorming new ideas that they could work on together, or by themselves. The two were in love with constructing and understanding machines, and most of the time, worked well with each other, taking turns fixing things around the place and talking things out. The two were the perfect match in Cole's opinion, for more than one reason, of course, even if he did place a wedge in between them at one point. Cole's anger had gotten the best of him, creating one of his least proud moments, but one that he regrets every day.

It's also something Cole had recognized over the years when being with his team, actually, since Nya is stubborn and her brother Kai is short-tempered, Jay being the embodiment of an unpredictable explosion. Cole, however, he was just angry. That's all it was for him. The earth ninja wasn't headstrong unless it was necessary, he wasn't gruff, having things irritate him quickly and he wasn't inconstant. He felt angry from time to time, like an itch under his skin that wouldn't go away. It was often bothersome and only made him more upset when he realized the feeling. 

He wished it would go away.

The notebook he had been doodling in before, holds pieces of what he lets out of his anger, at least the ones captured on paper, that is. Drawing himself engulfed by green and black, or standing in a battlefield of fallen enemies, him standing above them all. Cole even once drew a picture of himself standing in front of a mirror, his reflection showing something dark and fiery on the other side, like a melted creature representing how Cole viewed his rage. The journal wasn't even for merely his anger. He had pictures of his family lying dead upon the ground, his team being a part of his family, while he kneeled with them, the only one alive out of everyone he ever cared for. His slightly better pictures, like when he drew himself treading on lily pads, the pastel colors, conflicting with his dark gi and skin, revealing his misplacement in tranquil environments. His happier pictures, which were always sweet, were drawings of his friends happy or doing activities. 

Ones where he drew Lloyd sitting in a field of flowers seeming serene, his shoulders no longer tense, his jaw no longer clenching and eyes showing no sign of the constant sorrow they hold. He had sketches too, like ones of Jay sitting over his workshop, tools scattered every which way. Kai and Nya asleep on the couch, her head on Kai's shoulder.

One of Cole's favorites by far, though, were the drawings of the landscapes of the places he's been to as a ninja. They always seemed to come out steady and how Cole had meant them to look, which is hard to do because there is something that comes out wrong each time. There would be times where Cole had paintings of his team where they're poses were wonky, their eyes different from the left, or he accidentally colored with the wrong color. But, the landscapes and places never had the same problems.

What was strange to Cole, was that he would have never guessed that when Sensi Wu had handed him the large red covered journal, when the group split up, that he would confide in it to express himself, when he didn't feel like training. Cole had usually just trained to let out all his emotions, not finding another outlet for them to flow. He was thankful to Wu for giving him another place to let everything go. It often helped him when he woke up from his constant nightmares. 

"Hey, ya'll," A familiar voice said, breaking Cole from his thoughts as he was listening to Jay think out loud about making a mechanical dog for him and Nya, instead of going out and buying a dog, and Zane informing him of what that choice would intel. The earth ninja looked to the doorway along with Jay, seeing white blonde hair and emerald green eyes, accompanied by a green gi. "The others were wondering if you guys started dinner yet, or not."

Cole didn't have an answer for Lloyd, he had been trying to avoid looking at Zane in fear of staring like a crush infused creep. But when Cole looked over to Zane, who was wearing a pink apron now, he was about to answer their leader without even looking up from the pot he was stirring, reading the poem book. When did he even start cooking again? Did Cole really get that wrapped up in Jay's talk on robo-dogs, and his own thoughts? Well then, at least he gets to eat soon.

"Dinner is not quite finished, but it should be in a few more moments," Zane stated, raising the scoop from the pot, where Cole sat, he could see baby shrimp, noodles, and various spices before Zane took a sip, tasting his soup. The ice ninja placed the spoon back in the large pot, he continued to stir as he picked up a salt shaker and added some salt. "I would recommend rounding everyone up and having them sit at the table. It should be done when everyone has a bowel ready and is seated properly."

Lloyd nodded his head in acknowledgment, gesturing for Cole and Jay to follow him. The two did instantly, joining him in the hall, Lloyd asked for Jay to go get Nya, and Cole to go get Kai, while Lloyd went to see if Sensi Wu and his mother, Misako, wanted to join them. Cole split from the small group, and after Kai, the fire ninja was likely blacksmithing locally at Herald's Shop, a place just down from where the whole crew stayed. Cole summoned his earth elemental dragon, Heath, and quickly made his way to the small shop, jumping off his dragon and into the shop without knocking, knowing Kai was most likely expecting someone to come in. 

"Hey there," Kai greeted, sticking a long metal thing into a barrel of water, steaming rising quickly, loud sizzling in the air around them. Kai had more long metal poles on one of his tables, each one having some sort of difference engraved on them that Cole didn't care to examine right now, but, even from afar, Kai's work was still beautiful. "Is it that time already?"

Cole cocked a crooked smile at the fire ninja. "Apparently so," Cole went over closer to Kai, who was taking off his blacksmithing wear, a pair of gloves, a dark apron, and a face protection mask. "Ready to leave your things here and get some food?"

Kai chuckled, picking up all the engraved poles and setting them to the side safely, including the one he had witnessed get placed in the barrel. After Kai cleaned up his place in the shop, he thanked the owner and said he'd come back tomorrow, the man just waving him off as he continued to read a magazine. 

The two made their way back to their home swiftly, talking about how they enjoyed being able to do their hobbies or favorite activities a lot more, but how much of a hassle it was to handle all that time given to them. As they walked into the hallway, Kai said that he had finished at least three of the poles the earth ninja had seen, telling him that they were going to be put up somewhere on or in their home. Cole found that impressive, Kai had been a terrible blacksmith before, his forges were, as Nya once stated, a wet spaghetti noodle. After regularly practicing in his free time, he rose up to the title of a blacksmith.

The rest of the day was spent with the whole team, Sensi Wu, and Misako after Kai and Cole arrived in the kitchen. All of them chatted together, the table crowded, loud, and noisy every which way. To Cole though it, was just one big family get together at the end of the day, talking their head off while enjoying food. It was comforting, to say the least, Cole was used to large group dinners, his father's job as a famous dancer meant big parties of all types.

Soon as the conversations died down and people were getting full, Zane took the job of picking up the dishes along with Misako, who helped him. People started leaving one by one, saying their goodnights, each one headed off for bed, soon Cole did too. Everything in Cole's life seemed perfect to other people's eyes, as it should have been, nothing but training, drawing, and family times. Sadly, that wasn't at all the case.

Not one bit.

[virgilsinferno]

meet me in the middle || logince

chapter 2 — leave the window open for me

summary: the twins try to set up patton & virgil by hosting a sleepover. remus makes questionable life decisions. 

pairings: high key moxiety, dukeceit (if you squint) 

tw: mentions of hospitals & injuries

word count: 2987

[logan is not in this chapter but he is mentioned like once]

taglist: @dragonwithproblems​ @b0mblebee​

ao3 || 1 

♡

At the back of the shop, there’s a tiny storage room filled with boxes and a wall of post-it notes. It’s a cramped space, but the twins figured out a way to make it bearable. There’s a bookshelf, some fake plants, a few pictures, and of course, the whiteboard. The whiteboard was previously used for reminders, but bit by bit, they started filling it up with random doodles. 

They constantly tried to one-up each other with every new addition to the whiteboard. Who could draw the most accurate anatomy? Who was better at dynamic poses? There was always an unspoken competition between the two siblings. It was practically in their nature to be competitive. 

So far, Remus was winning but only because Roman’s usually the one at the counter while Remus took care of packages and inventory. Or at least that’s what Roman liked to tell himself. 

Working at his dad’s flower shop wasn’t too bad, in fact, Roman loved working there. During his first few months at the shop, he was obsessed with flower meanings. And making bouquets. What he didn’t expect though, was cleaning. He had somehow forgotten that he was working with plants, and working with plants got messy. Petals and leaves kept falling off, dirt got all over the floor, and children loved messing with everything they could touch. 

It’s been a busy day. Roman sat behind the counter, thinking that he’ll finally be able to relax after he finished trimming flowers and sweeping the floor. He was thankful that he only worked on Saturdays, otherwise, he’d have to stress about strangers’ wedding preparations as well. 

Speaking of weddings, he had to attend one in about 3 weeks. They weren’t in charge of the flowers so he didn’t have to stress about that, but he strongly disliked a certain cousin of his. He was not looking forward to it. He’s probably ranted about how much he hated this particular cousin to all his internet friends. 

“Boys, you two go on ahead, I’ll close up the shop!” their dad yelled from the storage room. The twins shared a look.

“Race ya!” Remus said as he dashed out of the shop. Roman quickly ran out after him, chasing him down the street. 

It was part of their post-work ritual. The racing, that is. After work, they would run to Espresso Feelings and whoever arrived last was paying. Sometimes Patton would be there and they’d talk about the latest gossip they’ve heard at school. 

The sky was getting dark and droplets of rain began to fall. It was only a matter of seconds before it would start pouring. Neither of the two brought an umbrella, but the coffee shop wasn’t too far away. A group of kids passed by, running and giggling with their arms stretched to the side, enjoying the breeze that came with the drizzle. They reminded Roman of him and his brother when they were much younger. They still do that sort of shit as teenagers.

Remus was winning, but only because Roman was waiting for the rain to lash down. Or at least that was his excuse for not running faster. It was getting chilly though, which only gave him more reason to buy coffee at this hour. 

“You’re paying, slowpoke!” Remus said as he dramatically opened the door to the shop. He immediately went to the counter to order their usual. 

Roman sat down at their usual spot, the table near the corkboard. He spotted Patton speaking to some guy in a purple hoodie on the other side of the shop. The guy looked familiar, so Roman assumed he had seen him around at school before. He called out Patton’s name and waved, and he waved back as well.  The guy left with a brown paper bag in hand and Patton walked over to the twins’ table. The rain was already pouring, so it was a good thing that the guy had an umbrella with him. 

“Ro, you’ll never guess what just happened!” Patton said with a huge grin on his face. He was practically bouncing with excitement.

“You won the lottery?” Roman asked, eyes wide, with the same level of excitement Patton had.

“No, even better! I got Virgil’s number!” Patton squealed with delight as he sat down next to Roman, flaunting Virgil’s contact on his phone.

“Oh, great,” Roman said with fake enthusiasm. Who the fuck?

Remus sat down opposite to Roman and placed a tray down on their table. “I didn’t know Emo was your type.”

 “Wait, are we talking about the guy with the purple hoodie?” Roman asked as he pointed to the front door. 

“Yeah, him!” Patton said, stealing a forkful of Roman’s chocolate cake. “I assumed you would know him since, you know, he’s Logan’s best friend? And you hate-read his social m-”

“I do not!” Roman interjected, taking his fork back from Patton in a playful manner. 

“You do,” Remus said in a sing-songy voice. “Sometimes he barges into my room in the middle of the night just to tell me what atrocity Logan posted on Instagram.”

“It was one time!” Roman finally admitted. “Why are we talking about me, we’re supposed to be talking about Patton’s love life!”

“Oh, right! I do have to get back to work though, but I could come over later and we could talk about boys?” Patton suggested. They often had sleepovers especially during finals week, but as much as they’d try to focus on studying, they always ended up goofing off and doing typical sleepover activities. 

“Fuck yes, sleepover middle-school-style!” Remus said, high-fiving Patton.

Patton patted the top of their heads before returning to the counter. Since Roman had already finished his chocolate cake, he stole a piece of Remus’s blueberry muffin. It quickly escalated into a competition between the two of them to see who could finish their coffee first. That was the fun part of having siblings. Everything was a competition. 

Roman slammed down his cup, grinning from ear to ear. He basked in his moment of victory as Remus scowled. By that time, the rain had already stopped, which meant that it was probably time for them to go home. The twins waved goodbye to the baristas before walking out the door and heading home. The pavement was wet, and knowing Remus, he was going to run, slip, and end up with an injury. Roman kept a close eye on his brother just in case. Remus had already been in and out of the hospital 4 times in the past two months and frankly, Roman was getting tired of his constant injuries and poor decisions.

Their house wasn’t too far away, so they walked home most of the time. They learned not to trust Remus with a car after the whole driving-on-the-wrong-side-of-the-road incident. No one liked to talk about it. Well, except for Remus, who mentioned it several times to everyone he had ever sat next to in class. 

Once they arrived in front of their house, Roman got momentarily distracted by the sound of soft meows. An adorable little kitten was playing in their garden, and as much as Roman wanted to pick it up, he was highly allergic. 

“Ree, look! It’s a-” Roman paused and looked around, noticing that his brother was no longer beside him. “Oh no.”

He frantically ran to the backyard and spotted Remus already on a tree branch, attempting to get to his room from the tree. He saw his brother and waved at him. 

“Ro, could you open the window from my room?” He yelled, gesturing to the closed window. He momentarily lost his balance, but caught the tree branch above him before he could plummet down to the ground. 

“Absolutely not, you incorrigible buffoon!” Roman yelled back. He sighed, tugging at his hair. On one hand, it would be funny. On the other, they would get in trouble and that won’t be funny at all. 

“Aren’t you even the slightest bit curious? I know you are!” 

So maybe he was a little bit curious. But that didn’t mean it was safe to do. Then again, he wasn’t the most reasonable person either. As long as Remus knows what he’s doing, he should be fine, right? Then again, Remus never knew what he was doing and he turned out okay. 

“Okay, I’m convinced,” Roman said after much thought. Remus cheered and did a victory dance, careful enough to not fall off of the tree. 

Roman ran inside the house, greeting his parents a quick “hello” as he passed by the kitchen. He dashed straight to Remus’s room, opened the window, then gestured for him to get in.

“Wait, get this on video,” Remus said as he tossed his phone through the window. Thankfully, Roman had good reflexes and caught it, otherwise, it might have shattered.

Roman gave him the signal. Remus pounced off of the tree and caught the windowsill. Using his upper body strength, he pushed himself upwards and rolled right into his room. 

“Holy shit,” Remus panted, clearly out of breath. “Give me my phone, I wanna see!”

“I am never letting you do that again,” Roman said as Remus replayed the video.

“Oh you will. I can tell.” Remus said, forwarding the video to multiple group chats. Several people were typing. He watched in amusement as people freaked out over his little stunt. The twins could tell that it would be the talk of the school on Monday. Not that they didn’t like the attention, in fact, they loved receiving attention.

After the excitement and adrenaline died down, Roman lied down on the bed, listening to Remus rant about his plans for the upcoming auditions for the Battle of the Bands. They held the auditions as early as 3 months before the event, which would give enough time for the contestants to practice. 

“So far, there’s me on the bass, Virge on the drums, and you as lead vocalist. You think Jay would wanna be lead guitar?” Remus said as he tuned his electric bass. 

“I don’t know, ask him.” Roman replied. “Hold on a sec, Virgil? As in Patton’s crush?”

“Of fucking course, how many damn Virgils are there at school?” Remus rolled his eyes, chucking a pencil at his brother. 

Roman sat up. He had a brilliant idea. “So, Patton’s coming over. Why don’t you invite Virgil and we do a little bit of matchmaking?”

Remus’s eyes widened. “Fuck, shit, you’re a motherfucking genius!” He scrambled to get his phone and sent a quick text to Virgil. It only took Remus mentioning that Patton would be there for Virgil to agree. Patton usually arrived around 10-ish, so Remus told him to come around 9. It would give them enough time to pull some strings.

Roman returned his attention to his phone, which apparently had dozens of notifications from Twitter. As always, he checked his dms first before the mentions. He was sure that several people had already posted Remus’s stunt and tagged both him and his brother. 

Vi, his internet friend, was at the very top of his dms. It could only mean one thing. Or two things, rather. Boy problems or life problems. Or both at the same time. Ironically, they started out as enemies on the internet. A misunderstanding, of sorts. 

personification of anxiety

@vergeofdeath

vi: yo princey

vi: fuck

vi: i’m spending the night with my crush

vi: holy shit

vi: i just gave him my number like a few hours ago??

princey: 👀

princey: don’t be too loud

vi: BITCH

vi: NOT LIKE THAT

vi: we’re staying over at my friend’s house

princey: that’s funny ‘cause my bro & i are hosting a mini sleepover too

princey: he invited over a friend bc our other friend has a crush on him

vi: dude 

vi: coincidence???

vi: i’ve never spoken to my friend’s bro before but he’s gonna be there ofc

vi: he’s like enemies with my best bud

princey: omg that’s so weird

princey: my twin’s bff is my enemy

princey: but like,, you know that,, i tell you that all the time

vi: woah hold on u have a twin??? u never mentioned a twin??? 

vi: i just assumed ur bro was near ur age??

vi: bitch my friend has a twin

vi: the fucking coincidences,, they’re everywhere

princey: don’t tell me ur a drummer too jhksdgfks

vi: BITCH

vi: I AM A DRUMMER

princey: holy fucking shit

vi: holy fucking shit indeed

“Boys, dinner!” Their mom called out from the kitchen. The twins immediately dashed out of the door, pushing each other as they tried to get to the dining table first. 

Since it was a Saturday, they were having seafood. Dinners were always eventful. Roman and Remus told their parents about the sleepover and Remus jumping off of the tree, which should’ve gotten them in trouble but their mom found it hilarious and let it slide. Their dad talked about his clients that were planning on a halloween-themed wedding, and their mom talked about the new tv show she was in. 

Overall, dinner went well. It was Remus’s turn to wash the dishes, so Roman returned to his room. His room was bigger so they would be using that one for the sleepover. He noticed that his nail polish was starting to chip off, so he brought out his pouch of nail polish from under the bed. There was a lot of clutter there, things such as old textbooks from freshman year, Remus’s broken drumsticks, some guitar picks, and expired makeup. He should get around to cleaning that, though he’s been meaning to do that for months now. 

By the time Remus finished washing dishes, there were several post-it notes stuck to the wall with various reminders such as to clean the space under the bed, buy new shoes, upgrade to a loft bed, buy oil paints, and water the plants. Roman already started on the pillow fort, so Remus lounged on the bed and looked up what good horror movies are on Netflix. 

Another reason why they often used Roman’s room for sleepovers was that he had a tv. It was originally supposed to be in Remus’s room, but he had a habit of breaking everything he could touch. It was a wonder they could trust him with dishes. On the other hand, Remus’s room was good for band practices or jamming out in general. He had instruments all over the place and they had it soundproofed so that the neighbors would stop complaining about the loud drumming at 2 a.m. 

Once Virgil arrived, their plan was set into motion. 

“So, I know we don’t talk at all, but just pretend that we’ve been good friends for a long time. I have a plan.” Roman said as he led the way to his room.

Virgil looked at him skeptically. “You know, Logan’s told me a lot about you.”

“All good things, I hope?” Roman asked. 

“Quite the opposite actually,” Virgil smirked. He notices a few posters put up of Fall Out Boy and Waterparks. “But since you do have a good taste in music, so I’ll let it slide.”

During the short period of time that he left his brother alone in his room, Remus managed to trash his vanity. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. 

Roman took this opportunity to strike a conversation. “Ree mentioned you play drums?” 

“Yeah, we’re planning on auditioning for the Battle of the Bands.” Virgil said, sending a quick message to one of his internet friends. “Has he asked you to join our band yet?”

Roman’s phone buzzed.

“Well, yeah. He sort of asked? I agreed, of course. Then he was like, ‘Oh good, I was going to poison you if you didn’t’. I’m used to it by now.”

Virgil chuckled. “He tried to poison me once ‘cause I stomped on his foot with my combat boots.”

“That was you? Oh my god, I owe you for that one!” Roman said, laughing at the memory of his brother crying in the school clinic. Turns out, they got along quite well. 

Their conversation was cut short when they heard knocks at the door. It was Patton and he arrived way earlier than expected. Remus pushed Virgil towards the door and mouthed “open it”. The twins high-fived each other and hid inside the pillow fort.  

“Hey Pat-”

As soon as Virgil opened the door, Patton’s face turned pink. He took a deep breath, puffed his cheeks, and closed the door. Virgil was too confused to move and the twins were slightly worried. 

Patton reopened the door and held out a container of cookies. “Hi Virge! I uh, didn’t expect to see you here… haha… what a coincidence?” He said awkwardly. 

Virgil took the cookies, but Remus bolted out of the fort and took it from Virgil’s hands. 

“You fucking gremlin!” Roman yelled, chasing Remus out of the room, who had started devouring cookies. Remus laughed maniacally, shoving past Virgil and Patton in order to get away from his brother. 

“Are they always like this?” Virgil asked, pointing at the twins who were now wrestling in the hallway. 

Patton hummed. “Yeah, most of the time.” 

The twins fought over the cookies for a while until realization hit them. 

Roman paused. He whispered something to Remus, and he stopped as well. The two began cursing and muttering something about “the plan” whilst pointing in Virgil and Patton’s direction. 

Right, the plan.

“Music!” Remus shouted, dragging Virgil and Patton to his room.

“What he meant to say was that we should play something together,” Roman informed the two. They nodded awkwardly. 

“Is Janus coming too?” Patton asked.

Shit. Roman forgot to invite him. 

“Oh um, I don’t know? I’ll have to ask.” Roman said. 

He took out his phone and sent a text that read “COME OVER ASAP”. Janus replied immediately, saying to leave the window open and that he’ll get in the room in a Remus fashion.

Great, he was going to be the fifth wheel tonight. 

[mikauzoran]

Lukadrien Drabbles: Nachtmusik Chapter Four

A Little Night Music (Eine Kleine Nachtmusik) Chapter Four: The more things stay the same...

“My father would kill me if I got a tattoo,” Adrien sighed, twirling a pen between his fingers as he leaned in to get a better look at the simple reference doodles Luka had drawn.

“You’d have to get it somewhere no one would see,” Luka hummed, going over the runes beneath the leftmost raven to thicken the lines.

Adrien scoffed. “Luka, I’m a model. My body is public property. There is no ‘somewhere no one would see’.”

Luka looked up and frowned. “Your body is yours…and whoever you decide to share it with’s…not public property.”

Adrien set the pen down on the counter and put his hands up in surrender. “Aren’t you getting discouraged yet?” he wondered.

“How so?” Luka went back to the doodle of the ravens.

“Trying to teach me self-worth,” Adrien explained. “Isn’t it frustrating having to repeat the same things over and over?”

“Not particularly.” Luka shrugged. “I mean, you’re only the way you are now because some people—who shall remain unnamed yet obvious—have been telling you you’re worthless and undesirable for years. Realistically, I figure it’s going to take me a solid two or three years of constant fussing and lavishing of praise and affection to get you back up somewhere close to normal. Why would I be frustrated after only four months?”

Adrien didn’t reply.

Luka looked up, an eyebrow quirking.

Adrien stared. “Are you serious?”

Luka’s brow pulled together into a frown. “It…probably is going to take longer than two or three years, honestly…but I’ve got time.” Luka’s eyes flicked back down to the doodles on the back of the flyer announcing a Greek music festival that weekend.

Adrien continued to stare, wondering what he had done in a former life to deserve this man’s friendship and devotion.

“…You could get a tattoo on your stomach,” Luka broke the silence after a minute or two had passed without words.

Adrien rubbed his stomach just above his bellybutton. “I pose shirtless or with my shirt unbuttoned sometimes. I think they’d see it.”

Luka snickered, looking up to surreptitiously wink. “I was thinking…lower, Angel.”

Adrien frowned, looked down, and then burst into laughter. “Geez. What kind of tattoo would I get on my pelvis?”

Luka shrugged, self-satisfaction still clinging to his lips. “What kind of tattoo would you get anywhere else?”

Adrien bit his lip. “Haven’t really thought about it.”

“How about a snake?” Luka offered.

Adrien smiled incredulously. “On my lower abdomen? Isn’t that kind of…I don’t know…suggestive?”

“I think the only people who would see it would be in a suggestive mood anyway,” Luka reasoned.

Adrien covered his face with his hands, shoulders trembling with laughter as he shook his head. “I think I’m too pure to be having this conversation.”

Luka rolled his eyes. “Please. Says the guy who has made suggestive jokes at my expense on numerous occasions.”

Adrien removed his hands from his eyes to playfully slap at Luka’s arm. He glanced furtively towards the stairwell to the upper deck. “What if your mom or sisters walk in?”

Luka snorted unconcernedly. “Juleka would gang up on whomever she most felt like seeing blush at that moment, Rose would go into hysterics over how we’re supposedly a couple now, and Maman would tell me to make sure my box of condoms isn’t expired and remind me how long it’s been since I last had need of them.”

“My father would…I don’t even know,” Adrien sighed. “Have a heart attack? He wouldn’t be supportive of me having a physical relationship with anyone like your mom is.”

“I kind of wish she was less supportive,” Luka grumbled. “She thinks it’s strange that I don’t have any interest in sleeping with people until I feel a really strong connection with them. She thinks I should experiment more.”

“I wonder why, if you’re happy the way you are,” Adrien hummed.

Luka shook his head, going back to tracing the runes on the doodle. “She comes from an era of free love, so it’s weird for her that I would only want one partner in a long-term, committed relationship…. Like…even though she was with our father for a long time, I’m not actually certain that Juleka and I have the same biological father. We look pretty different, and…Maman and my father’s eyes are both blue…but Juleka’s are brown. Genetically, that’s…”

Adrien drew in a slow, deep breath.

“…Part of me feels like they shouldn’t teach kids about genetics and Punnett squares until they’re old enough to deal with the reality that they’re adopted or their siblings aren’t full-blooded siblings,” Luka snorted. “…But we were talking about tattoos.”

Adrien nodded. “You should get the snake tattoo on your pelvis. You could pull it off.”

Luka grinned at the flattery. “You think?”

“It fits your image.”

“Because I was seriously considering it,” Luka informed.

“Were you really?” Adrien leaned in closer, picking up his pen once more and twirling it between his fingers. “What kind of snake? A cobra like Sass?”

Luka shook his head. “Something more stylized, more Zen, less threatening. Maybe a sleeping snake coiled up. Maybe a Chinese calligraphy-style snake.”

Adrien nodded in encouragement. “That would be kind of cool. I’d like to see that!”

Luka blushed. “I’m giving you the opportunity to remember the placement of the tattoo and adjust your enthusiasm.”

Adrien grimaced. “Pretend I made some kind of flirty, teasing comment to save face that made you feel slightly flattered but also a little uncomfortable.”

Luka gave him a thumbs up. “I actually think it would be cool to get an entire Chinese zodiac…plus a cat.”

Adrien’s face lit up. “Like Fruits Basket!”

Luka’s eye twitched as Adrien completely missed the implication. “Uh…what’s that?”

Adrien’s brow scrunched into an unimpressed frown. “You’ve never heard of Fruits Basket? It’s an anime…and a manga, but you have to see it. It’s one of the classics!” Adrien insisted adamantly. “I’ll have to show you. Marinette and I have been getting together for take away Chinese food and anime on Saturdays the past few months. We’re almost done with the anime we’re watching now, and, after that, we’re going to have to have you over to show you Furuba.”

Luka tried not to let the conflicting emotions show on his face. “That sounds like a lot of fun, but I don’t think Marinette would appreciate me intruding.”

Adrien rolled his eyes. “Marinette wouldn’t mind. She loves having you around. It would be fun, all three of us together.”

“Yeah,” Luka sighed, imagining an alternate reality where both Marinette and Adrien were ecstatic to have him around for all of the reasons he wanted them to be. “But it sounds like anime and Chinese is your thing—just the two of you. You would feel kind of off if Marinette started coming to our jam sessions or family meals, wouldn’t you?”

Adrien shifted awkwardly on the kitchen stool, his nose crinkling. “…That’s different.”

“Maybe it’s not to her,” Luka suggested kindly. “I’ll tell you what, you and I can watch that anime together, just the two of us. How does that sound?”

Adrien’s smile came back, and he nodded. “Deal…. So…tattoos?”

Luka grinned, motioning down at the doodles. “I don’t want a sleeve or anything too big or noticeable. Just some little decorative tattoos here and there that can be hidden easily.”

Adrien switched hands so that he was twirling the pen in his right, freeing up his left hand to point. “I love the concept of Odin’s ravens on your shoulder blades…and a snake around your wrist under your usual bracelet is too funny.”

“I’m also thinking about getting a little pawprint on my finger where I usually wear my ring,” Luka announced tentatively, awaiting Adrien’s reaction.

“A pawprint?” Adrien’s head slowly tipped to the side. “Why a pawprint?”

Luka fought not to show his chagrin. “You know,” he replied conversationally. “like Chat Noir.”

Adrien’s eyes widened, and his face took on an amazed gleam. “Really?”

“Of course,” Luka replied smoothly, inwardly steeling himself. “I am his biggest fan after all…both in and out of the mask.”

Adrien let out one of those dazzling, marble machine laughs, hitting a jerky collection of pitches that somehow managed to sound just perfect to Luka.

“You’d have to fight off hordes of fangirls for that title,” Adrien cautioned.

Luka shrugged. “I’d take them…and I would win.”

“You’re wasted on Chat Noir and whoever he is behind that mask,” Adrien replied in awe, a wide grin spreading from one corner of his mouth to the other. “He could never appreciate you the way you deserve. He’s too full of himself.”

Luka shook his head. “I’ve met Chat Noir. He may come off as a flirty goofball in public, but in private he’s sweet and considerate.”

“Wow,” Adrien chuckled. “If you like him so much, you should marry him. I’m sure you two would make adorable kittens together.”

Luka’s entire face went burgundy as he burst out laughing. “Oh my God,” he gasped, burying his face in his hands.

“As for me, Viperion is much better,” Adrien continued, smirking in triumph as Luka continued to laugh convulsively in a mix of misery, disbelief, and genuine amusement.

“Seriously,” Adrien pretended to pout. “He’s all mysterious and suave and sexy. I’d like to see him in a suit…. Though…Chat Noir is pretty hot. I mean, his butt…”

“Perfection,” Luka snickered.

“Exactly,” Adrien emphatically agreed. “…Do you think Viperion would think I was a slut if I wanted to have occasional threesomes with you and Chat Noir?”

Luka looked up from where his head rested on the countertop. He wiped a tear from his eye and wondered, “How did this become a thing?”

“What?” Adrien hummed, satisfied with his work. “The whole pretending to be gay for Chat Noir and Viperion thing? Remember when Rose got us to play Kill, Screw, Marry last month, and I said I would kill Chat Noir, screw Ladybug, and marry Viperion? And then you said you would kill Ladybug, screw Chat Noir, and marry me? And then Juleka made a joke about foursomes. And then I observed that it seemed like the best of friends always made jokes about sleeping with one another? Like Marinette and Alya and Nino and me, so…it seemed like a logical leap to start doing that with you?” Adrien frowned as a thought occurred to him. “…But is it weird because you’re bi? I know a lot of friends joke about being gay for one another, but…is this insulting? If so, I’m really sorry,” he backpedaled hard. “I’m still kind of new to this whole ‘acceptable casual social etiquette’ thing. Tell me if I cross a line. Please. I don’t want to screw this up.”

Luka straightened and shook his head. “You’re okay. I don’t mind your flirting and teasing. I know you’re a flirty person to start with and that it’s not just me. I don’t have any delusions about that. I mean, I’ve seen you and Nino. You and Nino need to get a room and work out some of the sexual tension between you two sometime. Put the poor man out of his misery, Angel.”

Adrien rolled his eyes. “I think Alya is doing a fine job. She doesn’t need my help…but we’re okay?” He eyed Luka anxiously.

Luka nodded. “I know you’re just joking. No offence taken.”

“Good,” Adrien sighed in relief. “…So…tattoos?”

The side of Luka’s mouth rose in a fond smile. “I think I’m going to get the pawprint tattoo on my finger. Do you think this looks accurate?” He indicated the doodle below Munin the raven.

Adrien frowned, pulling the paper in closer.

“I mean, I’m always distracted when I’m around Chat Noir, so I haven’t paid very close attention to what the pawprint on the ring looks like,” Luka explained.

“Distracted?” Adrien hummed, peeking up mischievously. “By his butt?”

Luka had mostly meant the akuma, but…

Luka bumped Adrien’s shoulder and replied a little too genuinely, too tenderly, “By his eyes. I’m a sucker for his eyes.”

Adrien’s heart jumped. “…Mine are prettier.”

“Jealous, Angel?” Luka snickered.

“Confused,” Adrien thought.

Confused because he kind of wanted Luka to be serious. Sometimes, Luka would say something painfully sweet, and Adrien’s heart would ache for Luka’s words to be true. And that was extremely confusing because Adrien wasn’t interested in guys. At least…he had never been interested in guys before. It had only ever been Ladybug, but…sometimes Luka confused him.

“Super jealous,” Adrien snorted.

“Don’t be. He’s not interested in me, so I’m all yours, Angel,” Luka chuckled at his own expense.

“Don’t you forget it,” Adrien clicked his tongue, switching the ink pen to his left hand to draw. “The pawprint is more like this.”

Luka nodded, impressed by the likeness. “…How is it that you have such an intimate knowledge of Chat Noir’s ring?”

Adrien looked up and answered with a straight face, “Oh? Didn’t I tell you? I’m sleeping with him.”

“Oh?” Luka snickered. “Be a friend and get me his number, would you?”

“I don’t think I want to share,” Adrien pouted.

“Share which one of us?” Luka arched an eyebrow.

Adrien smirked, twirling the ink pen playfully. “Either.”

Luka rolled his eyes. “In all seriousness—”

The pen went flying from Adrien’s hand, landing over by the wraparound couch.

“Oops.” Adrien smiled sheepishly. He hopped down from the stool into a feline crouch, scooped up the pen, and slowly rolled up, his posterior leading.

Luka’s brain blew a fuse. He knew he shouldn’t, but he couldn’t help watching. It had happened so fast, and now he couldn’t keep from staring. He was already a little riled up from all the suggestive flirting, and now…ngeh. His mind was in the gutter.

Did Adrien know what he was doing? He couldn’t. He couldn’t have any idea. Even if he did, he wouldn’t. Adrien may have been a flirt, but he wasn’t a tease. He would never.

Adrien turned back around, and Luka scrambled to put a lid on all thoughts of Adrien’s butt and Adrien naked and sinking his teeth into the flesh of Adrien’s hip until he left a mark and Adrien’s laugh and Adrien’s eyes and how bad he wanted this guy. Because Adrien had no idea, and it was an abuse of Adrien’s trust to be sitting there staring and having those kinds of thoughts when Adrien was under the belief that their flirting was only all in good fun.

“Sorry. What were you saying?” Adrien smiled innocently as he sat back down on the stool next to Luka.

Luka shifted uncomfortably, mentally cursing his preference for wearing skinny jeans that were too tight to begin with.

Belatedly, he realized that Adrien had asked him a question. “Um… Was I talking?”

Adrien nodded, waiting expectantly.

Luka gulped, trying to discretely regulate his breathing. “Uh…I forget.”

Adrien shrugged, not suspecting. “Well, just let me know if you remember.”

“S-Sure,” Luka replied thickly, shrugging off his overshirt because suddenly the main cabin was sweltering.

And then Adrien took hold of his hand.

The touch felt like a hot iron on Luka’s unexpectedly hypersensitive skin.

“May I?” Adrien inquired, motioning to take Luka’s ring off.

Luka nodded, not trusting his voice.

With the retrieved ink pen, Adrien carefully traced the pawprint onto Luka’s flesh, blowing on it to help it dry before slipping the ring back over it.

Internally, Luka was panting. The contact, the way Adrien bit his bottom lip in concentration, the way he puckered his lips to blow the ink dry…simultaneously too much and yet not enough. He almost whimpered when Adrien withdrew his hands.

“Done,” Adrien announced proudly.

Luka pulled the ring back off carefully to inspect Adrien’s work and immediately came to a decision: he was going that very evening to get that pawprint permanently tattooed onto his skin before the ink had a chance to smudge or wash off.

“I love it,” Luka breathed. “It’s perfect.”

“Glad to hear it,” Adrien chuckled, obviously pleased with himself.

Luka caught Adrien’s right hand. “Would you be comfortable with moving your ring to a different finger for a second?”

Adrien nodded, slipping his ring off and sliding it onto the ring finger of his left hand.

Luka picked up his own pen and made two little dots on the finger, reminiscent of puncture wounds. “Done,” he announced.

Adrien frowned, inspecting his “tattoo”. “Bite mark?” he questioned.

“Snake bite.” Luka winked.

Adrien tittered in amusement. “Oh no! Aren’t viper bites lethal? You’d better suck the venom out before I die!”

“Drama queen,” Luka snorted even as he grinned.

“Seriously!” Adrien insisted, hamming it up as he held out his hand. “Quick! I’m already feeling woozy!”

Luka took Adrien’s hand and delicately brought it to his lips for a feather-light kiss.

Adrien’s heartbeat tripped. His stomach fluttered. His breath caught.

Luka looked up, his eyes meeting Adrien’s as the most perfect blush skated over Adrien’s cheeks, highlighting the dazed look in Adrien’s eyes as his pupils widened.

Luka’s breath hitched.

At the same moment, a thought occurred to both boys:

“Shoot. I’m in serious trouble.”

[kawa-boru]

KanaTyy collaboration

KawaBoru Week: Day One

Prompt: Pranks

Rating: T (for language)

Work count: 4,700

War

Boruto yawned as his history teacher dragged on about some ancient psycho queen. No matter what the topic was or what time period they covered, history in general was just so boring to him. He would rather be out in the world making his own history than hearing about a crazy woman that got off on other people’s pain. The blond couldn’t even be bothered to take notes, his cheek resting in his hand as he fought to stay awake. A light snore from right beside him revealed that Kawaki had long given up that battle. He was out cold and probably dreaming about something way more interesting than this.

It was unfair, that bastard had left Boruto to suffer alone while he got some shut eye. Wanting to teach him a lesson, an old school prank crossed his mind. He dug into his pencil pouch until he found his black sharpie. It was time to turn history class into art class and the blond was feeling inspired. There was no waking Kawaki once he was out, not until he was good and ready to get up. Boruto took advantage of the fact and reached over to start doodling on his boyfriend’s face. By the time class was over, his masterpiece was complete and looking utterly ridiculous. It was difficult not to burst into laughter right then and there.

Kawaki woke up and palmed his face, it felt a little tingly, as if it had been tickled with something light like a feather. Class was finally over, so he leaned over to grab his bag and then got to his feet, though not before he noticed Boruto snickering. The blond was still in his desk, covering up his face and trying to contain his laughter. The way he was avoiding Kawaki’s general direction was enough for him to know Boruto had done something that was going to make him mad. It wouldn’t be the first time.

“What the hell did you do this time?” Kawaki asked, slamming his palm down on Boruto’s desk and leaning over him threateningly.

The action only caused the blond to shake harder, soon laughing uncontrollably. “I-I can’t, hahaha, fuck, don’t look at me!”

Kawaki moved his free hand to grab Boruto by the scruff of his shirt and yanked him until he was forced to look at him. “I’m not playing around, Boruto.”

“I know, I know, but . . .” He trailed off, chuckling. It was just too good. “It’s impossible to take you seriously like that.”

“Like what?” Kawaki hissed, leaning even closer. So close that their noses nearly touched.

Boruto grinned at him before closing the distance, placing a quick peck on his lips. “Nothing, dear. I was only making sure you had your face mask on while you got your beauty rest.”

After shoving Boruto away with a growl, Kawaki dug his phone out of his pocket and checked himself with his camera. The sight he was met with had his blood running cold and his head twitched as he turned to look back at Boruto who was already running out of the classroom.

Payback was going to be so sweet.

Kawaki had no choice but to leave school after finding out Boruto had drawn all over his face. He didn’t want to be seen at all, so he went straight home and scrubbed his face until it was raw and he had to take a break. He still hadn’t gotten the marker off completely, which only irritated him more. While he was furious, he was also bound and determined to get his boyfriend back for his little stunt. So he fumed and brooded until he decided what he was going to do.

Luckily for him, his boyfriend was soft to a fault. Even if he was a little devil at the same time. Kawaki knew just how to play him, and he planned to do something to get the blond really really upset. It wouldn’t be hard, but if he could do well enough, he could effectively end the prank war before it really began. This wasn’t the first time they had gone at each other, though it had been a while.

Kawaki could be a little ruthless when he was feeling petty and even though Boruto should have known better, he was sure he’d overreact and not think things through properly. So he sent him a text, which held the prank itself. It was simple, two words to start it off, but they were harsh enough to hopefully get his point across.

‘I’m done.’

‘With what? Pouting? Come on, you have to admit it was funny.’ Boruto responded seconds later.

Kawaki laughed, because it was funny. Not getting his face marked all over, but the turmoil his boyfriend was about to experience.

‘I’m done with you.’ He texted back after a couple moments, wanting to make him wait for it.

‘??? What? You’re not really that mad about it, right? It was just a prank.’

Kawaki could feel his panic already. ‘Not mad. Just done. I’m going through your shit now, I’ll drop everything off with you tomorrow.’

The next response wasn’t as quick as the others. ‘Quit messing around, you don’t mean that . . . do you?’

He almost felt bad, he almost gave in right then and told Boruto he was just kidding. Instead, he kept at it. ‘Yeah. I do. I’m done. I’ll have your things to you by noon tomorrow. I’d appreciate it if you could pack my things up too. I want my hoodie back.’

‘Wait a second, I didn’t mean it! :( Kawaki, we can talk this out.’

Kawaki didn’t respond. If he wanted to make it seem real, he had to play the part and he couldn’t sit around texting him. So, he went around his room and really started packing up everything he had of Boruto’s. There were some of his clothes here and there, lots of notes he’d given Kawaki over the years, pictures and keepsakes and gifts. Everything, he packed it up.

‘Don’t ignore me, I’m sorry. I won’t do it again, honest.’

When Kawaki noticed the other text, he decided to reply. Just a quick, ‘It’s too late. It’s over.’ and then he returned to packing everything away. He was going all out to pull this off.

The next day Boruto was waiting for Kawaki to arrive, having gotten himself all worked up. He tuned out his sister’s constant questioning and kept trying to get another response from Kawaki, but he had stopped answering altogether yesterday. Breaking up over a prank? He just couldn’t believe it and yet the bastard had talked about taking his hoodie back. The hoodie that the blond had finally stolen after many attempts, the one that he couldn’t wait to wear during fall and when it got cold. It was his favorite one and there was no way he was giving it back.

In fact, there was no way he was going to let Kawaki break up with him. Especially not over a fucking sharpie. Despite knowing how the other boy felt about him there was still a voice of doubt. Maybe this was the last straw, maybe he really was tired of dealing with him. Boruto was beyond nervous and he hadn’t packed a single thing. He refused to because that meant he was accepting that they were finished. He jumped from the couch when he heard a car pull into the driveway and went out the front door, blue eyes widening at the sight of his things in Kawaki’s backseat. He was really trying to give them back to him . . .

Kawaki got out of his car, slamming the door shut and purposely avoiding the sight of the blond who was now outside. He opened the rear door and grabbed the box he had and the few bags, able to carry everything at once. After closing the door, he schooled his features and made his way over to Boruto. Boruto didn’t like the look on his face at all and it hit him like a punch to the gut. The air of indifference made it feel too real and for a moment he was frozen still from the shock of it all.

“Don’t you dare bring those in my house.” He told him, blocking his way. “I’m not taking them.”

“Yes you are. I can carry them in and get mine in return.” Kawaki said, brushing past the blond’s smaller frame easily and heading towards the door.

“No, wait! Don’t do this.” Boruto pleaded and hurried after him. “I don’t want to be over, please just stop and listen, okay?”

Kawaki almost smiled, but he fought the urge and turned around to glare at his panicked boyfriend. “Go ahead, talk, Boruto. It won’t get you anywhere.”

The blond nearly flinched at the glare and swallowed hard. “If I had known it would have made you this upset then I never would have done it.” He had never gotten this angry before, enough to want to end things with him. They had pranked each other plenty of times. “Give me one more chance, I-I’ll do better. I can prove it to you.”

“Prove it? How?” Kawaki pressed, already ready to tell Boruto it was all a prank.

“I promise not to mess with you anymore.” Boruto started off with, but that wouldn’t be enough. Kawaki was really mad at him. “I’ll make you lunch everyday, I won’t bother you when you’re studying . . . and . . . and I’ll even stop dragging you to that burger place every weekend!”

Nothing or nobody could come close to rivaling Boruto’s cuteness. He was so adorable that the taller boy couldn’t prevent himself from smiling any longer. “So, no more pranks? Lunch everyday and you’ll stop being annoying? Wow… I don’t know… I think I’d kind of miss going to your favorite burger place every weekend…”

Boruto was thrown off by the sudden change in mood, but wanted to take it as success. “Then . . . then what?” Would he give him another chance?

“I was just fucking with you. Karma is a bitch, huh?” Kawaki smirked.

He was . . . but he . . . it was all a . . . “Huh?”

“It was just a prank.”

Boruto was stunned into silence for a few seconds, hoping he had heard wrong. “ . . . . excuse me?”

“You heard me. I didn’t stutter.” Kawaki huffed and walked past Boruto again, on his way to his car.

“You . . . you . . . you bastard!” The blond yelled. “What the hell is wrong with you?!”

Kawaki snorted as he opened the back door and returned all the items inside. He closed it again and reached for the door handle to the driver door. “See you.”

Boruto’s jaw dropped. After all that he had the nerve to just drive away? Oh no, no no no. He needed to sit down before he hurt himself, he was so ticked. He watched as the other boy backed out of the driveway and then turned on his heel to go back inside. If that was how Kawaki wanted to play it then fine, so be it. He wasn’t going to let him get away with a stunt like that.

When Kawaki made it back home, he returned all of Boruto’s things to their rightful places. His phone was dry, which meant Boruto was more than likely still pouting over the revelation. It amused Kawaki to no end and he didn’t even feel bad. It was all worth it as long as Boruto didn’t try anything like that again. Kawaki could be drastic if he ever wanted to be--though Boruto was the one who’d made the word all that it was.

After a few hours, Kawaki took a shower and then decided to send a few pictures to his boyfriend in hopes of cheering him up. He couldn’t sulk forever and Kawaki was hoping to see him again that night, so he hoped Boruto would act right. Boruto didn’t take long at all to open the messages, but he didn’t send a response. If he wanted to be a big baby, Kawaki would make him regret it. He tossed his phone on his bed and went into his closet, grabbing a pair of jeans and his favorite black vest. He got dressed and ready, stepping into his boots when he finally prepared to leave his home.

Once he was in his car, he took another picture of himself, making sure to show off his open vest. ‘Wanted to take you out. I’ll take myself instead.’ He sent the message with a tongue emoji at the end and waited.

‘Good, I hope you get used to it.’

Kawaki rolled his eyes and set his phone down to get on the road. He thought he would pick up Boruto, go to Thunder Burger and spend the rest of their Saturday together. He supposed he couldn’t really blame his boyfriend for being upset, but Kawaki knew him well enough to know that he would still be upset later in the night, possibly even more so than he was currently.

He ended up at Iwabe’s, a safe enough place, though his friend was older, a few years older, and he normally had things going on at all ours of the day and night. Kawaki wasn’t surprised when he arrived to find several other people already there, socializing. Iwabe made his way over to him just a few seconds after he walked through the door.

“Where’s Boruto?” He asked instead of greeting Kawaki properly.

Kawaki shrugged a shoulder. “Didn’t want to hang out with me tonight. I pissed him off a bit.”

“Really? On a Saturday? Damn…” Iwabe sounded impressed. “I don’t think it will help that you know who is here.”

Oh. “No, it probably wouldn’t.” Kawaki chuckled, already knowing who he was referring to. If Kawaki was smart, he would turn around and leave right then… but he wasn’t. “Oh well, it’s his own fault. Besides, I’m not doing anything wrong.”

“It’s not you I’m worried about.” Iwabe muttered and Kawaki rolled his eyes. It wasn’t like he wouldn’t defend his relationship or put anyone in their place who dared try to intervene or cause any problems.

Still, it was risky. So, just to be safe, he texted Boruto along with sending a picture of himself. ‘Came by Iwabe’s.’ He sent, deciding to break it to him slowly. When no reply came though, he followed with, ‘Inojin’s here…’

‘I see how it is . . . well go ahead, dig yourself into a dipper hole. I wonder how far you’ll get before you can’t get out of it.’

Kawaki huffed at the message, not liking it one bit. ‘Don’t go threatening me. I tried to spend my night with you instead, but you acted like a little prick. Bye.’

‘Me?! You’re the one who faked a break up, you dick! Mission fucking acomplished, I won’t be pranking you anymore.’

‘Damn right you won’t.’ Kawaki replied, frowning in annoyance. ‘I’m not arguing with you and I’m not sitting home bored on a Saturday night.’

‘Fine, I’ll leave you to your fun.’

Returning his phone to his pocket, Kawaki turned back to Iwabe with a sigh. “I’m going home.”

“What? You just got here?” Iwabe frowned.

“Bye.” Kawaki called, already on his way out. Boruto really knew how to make him feel like shit so even though he didn’t want to, he would go home and be bored all night. Maybe he’d go to sleep early.

Boruto was already in bed, staring daggers at his phone. Kawaki was so stupid. He was really going to hang out with Inojin, knowing how Boruto felt about that handsy flirter? It made him sick. Deep down he knew Kawaki would never cheat on him or anything like that. Even still, his boyfriend wasn’t careful enough and knew how to piss him off. The bastard just didn’t get it. The blond understood the whole point was to put a stop to their pranking altogether before it turned into a big mess. Again. They both could get carried away.

However a sharpie wasn’t nearly in the same league with what he had done, he crossed a line and Boruto wasn’t going to let him sweep it under the rug. He got the message loud and clear. No more pranks, period. Now it was time for Kawaki to learn not to joke about their relationship. Boruto wasn’t going to fall for his seduction or his attempts to make him jealous and lonely. Thinking he was actually done with him, it hurt. It was scary to think they could fall apart over something so idotic and having Kawaki act like that towards him was his worst nightmare.

The blond liked him more than he had ever liked anyone, but it irritated him when he tried to use his own anger against him. When he tried to make him give in and get over it because he wanted him to. Yeah, he was mad alright, but he was serious too. He was going to pout and sulk all he wanted and there was nothing the other boy could do about it. He went to sleep that night, sticking to his resolve and not giving into his urge to go to Iwabe’s party. He would wait and see what their relationship meant to Kawaki.

When Kawaki woke up the following morning, he was still groggy from sleeping too much and didn’t want to get out of bed. He did though, checking his phone which had no messages from Boruto before he went to take a shower. After his shower, he dressed in a pair of shorts and played some music on his phone as he wandered through his home, heading for the kitchen. He couldn’t believe Boruto hadn’t texted or called or anything. It really pissed him off.

While he ate some simple toast, Kawaki sent him a text. ‘Still ignoring me and acting like a baby?’

‘That’s right.’

Kawaki scoffed and shook his head to himself as he chewed a bite of bread. ‘You ruined date night. Thanks a lot.’

‘You’re welcome.’

Kawaki scowled at his response and set his phone down, rolling his eyes. He would not follow that up with any response. If Boruto wanted to pout and act childish, then he would let him.

‘ . . . . did you have fun last night?”

‘Yep.’ Kawaki replied as soon as he read the text, annoyed that Boruto had the audacity to ask him such a thing.

‘Hmph.’

Having nothing to say to that, Kawaki finished up his toast and then walked into the living room, realizing by now that he was alone at home. That was nothing unusual. He sat on the couch and turned on the tv, but kept the volume down since he wasn’t really going to watch it. He was far more interested in his music. Now he had a whole day to do nothing and all thanks to a stupid prank war.

Boruto was in a similar state, holding up in his room and watching romcoms in his boyfriend’s hoodie. So he had fun hanging out with Inojin? The blond wanted to punch something. Not only that, but it seemed that Kawaki couldn't care less. This was the worst weekend ever. The pair continued to be stubborn and ignore each other until they were right back where they started. Sitting in his desk, the blond tried to mentally prepared himself for whatever his history teacher had planned for the day. He pointingly didn’t look at the desk right beside him and for once in his life had the intention of taking notes.

Kawaki was watching Boruto blatantly ignore his existence until he began to wonder if they actually had broken up without ever coming to the decision aloud. Maybe he had taken things too far, but Boruto started it and he shouldn’t have been acting like this. They should have spent their Saturday together, going for burgers and hanging out until midnight as they usually did. However, that hadn’t happened. Kawaki had been in bed before nine and that had never happened in his life. Boruto didn’t even text him, he was bothered, but he was being silent and that wasn’t like him at all. He wasn’t falling for any of Kawaki’s moves and Kawaki didn’t like that one bit.

He wanted to call Boruto out, right in the middle of class because it was eating him alive. He wouldn’t though. Not a chance. Despite his determination in the beginning, Boruto couldn’t fake interest in what the teacher was saying. His paper was as blank as always and he inwardly groaned. He curiously looked over at Kawaki to see how he was holding up, but cursed himself for giving in and turned back around soon after. He was still upset even if he did miss his stupid face. Those eyes weren’t going to work on him, no way. The blond started moving his hand to make himself write something only to end up drawing in his notebook.

By the time class came to an end, Kawaki was furious. Just who did Boruto think he was? Ignoring him? Ha! It was completely laughable and yet, Kawaki wasn’t laughing. He was torn between losing his mind and unleashing his frustration out on his maybe boyfriend, or storming off and never speaking to him again. The decision to confront the blond seemed to be the best route to take.

“I’m not joking anymore with you. Now I’m really pissed.” Kawaki snapped at him as soon as they were in the hallway. Boruto had tried to just walk away but Kawaki wasn’t having it. He’d been quick to grab his wrist and pin him up against the nearest lockers.

“But not the least bit guilty.” Boruto said, but didn’t try to break free. He knew he wouldn’t be able to.

“I can see that you’re not.” Kawaki huffed. “You should be apologizing already.”

“Me?” He had lost his mind. “For what?”

“For ruining our whole weekend, asshole! For ignoring me! Hell, the list goes on…”

Boruto narrowed his eyes at him. “You’re the one that was being a jerk and then drove away as if nothing happened! So what, it’s only a problem if you’re the one who’s angry?”

“I planned to go back and pick you up, you idiot.” Kawaki growled, glaring down at the blond. “Once the pranks were over, you should have let them go, but you didn’t. I guess it doesn’t matter, since you had a great time.” They weren’t getting anywhere and Kawaki was only becoming more frustrated by the second, so he forced himself to take a step back and distance himself. Maybe they just needed some time.

“I did let them go, what do you think this is? What do you think I’ve been doing?” Boruto asked, having to spell it out for him. “This isn’t some fucking prank. You’re not allowed to say we’re over no matter what. I don’t care if it’s a joke, I don’t care if you’re trying to teach me a lesson. I don’t want to hear you say it . . .”

“At least I wasn’t serious. I could have been—after what you did to me in public. And now, look at us. What the hell is this?”

Boruto didn’t have to look around, he could feel the stares and the judgement. But that wasn’t important. “I thought you were and that’s my point . . . it wasn’t funny at all . . . and I already said sorry. I’m sorry.” He said, though perhaps they had caused enough of a scene for the day and he was done arguing. That’s not what he wanted. In the end, he started walking away so he wouldn’t have people gawking at him.

The look on Kawaki’s face as he followed Boruto was enough to have other people scurrying along and minding their own business like they should have been doing to start with. He walked next to his boyfriend for a few minutes and eventually sighed.

“I’m sorry too, Boruto. It wasn’t easy for me to go through with that prank, but you almost act as if you wish it were true. If we’re not going to be together then are we really even together at all?”

“Of course I don’t wish it were true.” The blond told him, holding his books to his chest. “But I didn’t want you to think something like that was okay . . . I didn’t want you to brush me off. I want to be together, but I want you to understand my feelings too.”

“I understand all of that. But what about my feelings?” Kawaki asked, speaking a little softer now. “I missed you all weekend and you didn’t even care.”

That was how Boruto had wanted it to seem. “I did care and I missed you too. I don’t ever like being mad at you, Kawaki, and I couldn’t even ignore you properly either. I still gave in and looked at every text message and responded to most of them.” He said and then added under his breath, “not to mention that party . . .”

“What party?”

“The one where you had fun at. With Iwabe and . . . and him.”

Kawaki snorted and shoved Boruto with his elbow as they walked down the hall. “You’re so stupid. I never even saw him and I left right after you texted me that last time…”

Blue eyes looked up at him. “Really?”

“Really.” Kawaki sighed again. “I was hoping to coax you into meeting me so we could do something together… but that was a major fail.”

“I thought you just wanted to pretend like it never happened.” Boruto confessed and laid it all out there. “Like the prank didn’t hurt my feelings. . .”

“I know it did.” Kawaki smiled and wrapped his arm around Boruto’s neck. “I’m sorry, but you should blame yourself. You think I’d ever leave you—let somebody else have you? Not ever.”

Boruto blushed at his words, looking away again. “It’s not my fault you were putting on some Broadway performance. Trying to take my hoodie . . .”

That made Kawaki laugh. “My hoodie.” He corrected. “If it was yours, you probably wouldn’t even care.”

“It’s my hoodie that was given to me by you after I stole it.” Boruto said, getting the facts straight.

“Did I ever say that you could have it though?” Kawaki asked, cocking a brow.

“Maybe not in words,” the blond admitted as they stopped around a corner, “but yes. Definite yes.”

Kawaki hummed, knowing he had never agreed to it, but was unable to take it away from him either—even if it was so big on him. Kawaki liked it. “You’re right. Since you’re so cute, I may even give you another one.”

Boruto was quick to jump on the offer. “I want the blue one.”

“Then it’s yours.”

Boruto grinned, stepping forwards to lean his head against Kawaki’s chest. “In return, I’ll make you lunch everyday and only bother you sometimes while you’re studying, but we have to go to Thunder Burger and . . . and I’ll give you a free favor.”

“Boruto, you’re full of shit. I’ve heard all of this before. Except… this favor, I’ll believe it when I see it. Thunder Burger is a given and you know it. You’ll never let me study in peace if you’re around and I’d be lucky to get lunch once.”

“Wow. No faith whatsoever.” He rolled his eyes, but was still grinning. “It’s totally different from what I’ve said before, Kawaki. And I’ll show you, just you wait.” He was going to make him so many boxed lunches that he would get sick of them. “As for the favor, name it. Any time, any place, anywhere.”

Smiling fondly, Kawaki ruffled Boruto’s hair. “Alright then, I’m looking forward to it.”

A/N:

Tyy: Kawaki and Boruto are ridiculous, but I love them. Had a lot of fun writing this! I can’t imagine these two pranking each other a lot more. It was funny and dramatic, kept me rolling my eyes and laughing. Don’t write high school kawaboru often, so it was also refreshing! XD

Kana: High school idiots still working out their relationship and each other. The smallest things turned into the biggest problems in their little world just like it does for other people at their age. It was fun, but frustrating too because they were both so hard headed, hahaha. They were troublesome, but still cute and perfect for each other.

[giranswife]

The Confession (pt 2)

Summary: It’s been a little while since Giran confessed his feelings, and Ash finally found the perfect moment that she wanted to tell him. Bringing him to a spot that meant a lot to her when she was on her own, and something that she was finally able to let go of thanks to him. Giving her the confidence to finally let go and fall in love.

W: self insert, self ship, self insert x canon, fluff, slight suggestive mention, mild alcohol mention

Disclaimer: This fic includes my self-insert/oc that is shipped with a canon character. Ash is my self insert/oc.

(( Here’s part two! It kind of wraps up Ash’s development in a cute little bow, without giving too many details since I want to do that properly in fics that I have planned. And I’m very sorry that they are both so freaking cheesy, but I absolutely love it XD ))

Part One

She wasn’t sure what came over her. But the night was going so well, and honestly… she couldn’t stop smiling. After spending most of the time being so vulnerable and open, she was starting to see why this time felt different. She couldn’t see it entirely before because of her past. Everything was new and exciting, and no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t see any of it coming.

But that didn’t scare her away. In fact, it was the entire reason why she was falling for him in the first place. She was content with the fact that she couldn’t wrap her head around him at first. The mystery is what kept her coming back. Not just of him but also of their relationship entirely. Wanting to know him more and wanting to know where this would lead.

Then, there was the sense of comfortability that came from being with him. She never felt like she had to be something that she wasn’t, even the parts of her that others would run away from. The parts of her that everyone used to make her feel bad for. It never felt like baggage to be herself, and he never once made her question anything.

And tonight when she was sharing vulnerable parts about herself, he was just… there for her. He listened and he didn’t judge her for her past, because how in the hell could he? He understood her in ways that not a lot of people could. There was so much comfort in not only the lives that they lived but just the way that he made her feel.

Ash took him to one of her favorite spots that she’s never really showed anyone. It wasn’t really romantic either, but it held some sentimental value. That and it had some history, which she was planning on opening up about. And it was a little bit of a surprise, which she thought was cute given that he’s always surprising her. But it was the perfect way to open up, in a way that she should have a long time ago.

He knew some parts about her, but he didn’t know everything. She kept some things in the dark, mainly because she was afraid of how he’d see her. But tonight she was changing that, especially after he had opened up to her not that long ago. It just felt like they were at that place that she trusted him with her life.

“Should I be worried about where you’re taking me?”

Ash laughed, turning around to see the smirk on Giran’s face as he tossed his cigarette onto the ground.

“Maybe… don’t you know better than to follow someone to such a quiet and private place in the middle of the night?” She teased, “I mean… this is textbook shit, isn’t it?”

The smile that grew onto her face was breathtaking. Just the perfect amount of sexy and beautiful to make anyone’s head spin. And the way she bit her lip was just as tempting as everything else about her was.

It had been a month since he told her how he felt about her, and ever since then it’s been incredibly hard to keep from coming on too strong. Ash is the kind of woman who’s also hard to pinpoint, but only because she hasn’t been honest with herself. She’s exciting and strong willed, but she can also be easy to scare. He knew that it had something to do with her past, but with little to go on, he's been a little too hesitant.

Which is funny considering how in any other way he hasn’t held back.

But Ash has always been a fucking powerhouse. With any other person that could be intimidating, but it’s one of the reasons that he fell in love with her. Hell the first day they met she was probably the most intense and erupting human he’s ever met. And he’s met quite a lot of characters in his life.

None of them seemed to beat her, though. Because even through all of that personality and impulsiveness, she had a heart like no one else. When she cared about someone she’d do anything in her power to protect them. She holds a lot of herself inside, the hard outer shell a way to keep people away. To keep people at a distance. Those who really wanted to stay would willingly get to know the real Ash.

She tilted her head, noticing that he wasn’t fully paying attention to her words.

“Right? Did I lose you there, Babe?” She asked with a giggle at the end of her sentence.

Her tail swished behind her, and she continued to walk backwards on the edge of the sidewalk like a pro.

“You’re right,” He played along, eyeing the movements of her hips and not even caring that she noticed, “Shouldn’t trust a woman this sexy and not expect any strings.”

“Oh, shut up. I’m not that sexy.”

She was flirting. Knowing that he was going to come back stronger. She knew that she was attractive, and she knew what affect those hips had on him.

“Sexiest fuckin’ woman I’ve ever seen.”

“Now, you’re lying. But I like it.”

Winking playfully, she stopped a little and kissed him softly. It was only one, but it was enough to linger even after she pulled away. This woman was impossible, and she had no idea the true validity of her intoxication. It may not look like it on the outside, but she truly had him wrapped around her finger. Everything that she did just proved that point over and over again.

The way that her laugh sounded like fucking music to his ears, and the look of her smile when she wasn’t forcing it. Her happiness was like a drug, which is why he was constantly trying to make her happy and keep her happy. Everything felt so much better when she was happy and comfortable and safe.

Ash really didn’t know the power that she had over him. At all.

“This have anything to do with where you’re taking me? Find some place interesting to have your way with me.”

She laughed out loud, walking again ahead of him and throwing her head back in a rather dramatic way.

“Fuck I love how bold you are! Course your mind would go straight to that you horny bastard.”

But she bit her lip, obviously thinking about it herself.

“Well, yah bring me to a suspicious location like this and I’m inclined to believe it’s for sex or-”

“Something much more sinister? If I was going to do something to you, then I would have done it already.”

The look in her eyes was seductive and smooth. If it weren’t for her having a surprise for him, Giran would’ve shoved her against the nearest wall and turned this night into something else entirely. But she knew what she was doing. She had to have been with those shorts on this cold late-afternoon and that smile on her face.

“But don’t worry,” She said as she turned a corner and motioned with her head for him to follow, “Have I ever steered you wrong before?”

Her eyebrows wiggled, and she let out a loud laugh.

Using his own words from the past against him. She was a clever woman, he’d always give her that. Clever and sexy. Complete package, and yet she was still surprising him with more every goddamn day. How in the hell did he ever get this lucky to end up with her?

They were definitely going somewhere he wasn’t too familiar with. This part of town was one that he hadn’t been in a while, and the stairs that she took was also one that a person wouldn’t find unless they knew the building. At first he was a little confused, but decided not to ask since she was so excited to surprise him.

This was the first time that she’s ever been this excited. A little nervous from the way her tail swished, but mainly just excited. It was adorable, to be honest. This place clearly was one that she’s been to before, and he was honestly a little intrigued. He knew that she brought wine from the bag that was in her hands, which meant that wherever they were going she planned on staying for a while.

Whenever they reached the roof, she opened the door and held it out for him, the sound of her boots clicking against the floor. She smiled a little, dragging him over to a spot where she’s been several times before. So many times that there were scuff marks from her boots and drawings that she had doodled when she was bored. A lot of memories were made on this rooftop, not a lot of them were the best, but some made her who she was today.

“It’s not much,” She said, outstretching her arms when they reached the small little corner, “But this is my safe place. Or… was… a long time ago.”

“What’d you come here to do?”

“Oh, y’know… Smoke, drink, think, fuck. Just kinda somewhere I can go when shit was too much for me. The city was also pretty to look at, and I can just watch everyone else fuck about their lives.”

She pulled out the bottle of wine and sat down on the ground, crossing her ankles underneath her and motioning for him to follow.

“Sit with me. Or are you worried about messing up that suit I told you not to wear.”

She chuckled softly, her teasing smile growing on her face the more comfortable she became.

It was all coming back to her the moment that she sat down, looking out at the city in front of her and the lights of the nightlife. The sun had just set, and it was a rather beautiful color in the sky with the stars coming out slowly. She wondered if this was a good idea at first, but given that they were closer than ever… she really wanted to show him every part of her. Even the not so good parts.

Plus, this place was special to her. It was the one place that she could be away from everything when the entire world seemed too much. Because the wilderness was nice, but she realized how much she hated the silence. Not to mention it was usually a trip, and she tended to link coming here since it was easy to come up here and get lost in the moment.

Giran rolled his eyes at her comment, but obliged her request.

“Don’t worry, if you need help getting up I’ll gladly leave you here all night.”

She winked, popping open the wine without so much as a hesitation.

“Like to see yah try.”

“Don’t tempt me.”

Ash took a sip from the wine, leaning back on her palms and watched the sun finally disappear on the horizon. It was really nice for the two of them to sit there and be together. There was a lot that she wanted to say, but she also just wanted to enjoy the silence with him some more. This was about more than just him seeing a different side of her. It was also a date.

Breathing a sigh, she offered the bottle to him and shifted a little closer. It didn’t really bother her that she forgot to bring glasses, considering it’s not the first time that she’s just had the bottle. It was pretty much her fucking staple at this point. But it honestly spoke to the moment, given that she would do something similar in the past when coming up here.

“I’ve had this spot for a long time,” She said, “Since before… what happened before I joined the league…”

Her voice trailed off, and she knew that she didn’t want to talk about it again. He already knew that part of her, but tonight she wanted to bring up a lot happier things. Nothing that was going to ruin the mood that was already set in the beginning. After all, she was leading up to things that were important and that she wanted him to hear.

“I have a lot of good memories here, and I wanted to bring you here. Since I haven’t really been here since I joined the league. You’re the only one I’ve brought here that was… important to me.”

She hesitated a little, but once she said it her cheeks turned a little red. Opening up was always hard for her, and for some reason it was just as difficult to admit how she felt. But she was determined to move past that. They’ve grown so much together, and she wanted things to be different with him. She wanted to be open and honest and allow herself to fall for him the right way.

Even if she was scared and worried, there was so much good happening here. She didn’t want to let all the things of the past ruin it.

“Sorry if you were expecting something more,” She said.

“It’s fine, Princess. Nice to see a part of you.”

She smiled warmly, taking back the bottle of wine and having another long sip.

“Also nice to hear I’m important to you.”

Rolling her eyes, she laughed and leaned her body against his. Her cheeks were warm, but there was nowhere to hide. Even her hair that she usually used as a curtain in times like this was blowing from the subtle wind. But it was actually a good thing, because she was even more adorable when her cheeks were getting redder and redder.

“You are important to me, and I think it’s only fair that you get to know this side of me too. I don’t really need to come here anymore, because you kinda… are my safe place now? If that makes any sense.”

Ash was getting a little embarrassed to say this out loud. She didn’t want to seem like she was dependent on him in any way, but she was also hoping her words would speak for itself. She’s never been the best with this kind of thing, and she gets way more nervous than she expected. But she was extremely happy.

“Oh yeah?”

She nodded, pursing her lips and taking a small sip of the wine.

“Since being with you and having like… friends… it’s been… I don’t really rely on this place much anymore. It’s kind of weird, because I didn’t realize that I needed this place as much as I did back then. It seems kind of ridiculous saying this out loud, but… I didn’t really have anybody else to fall back on. So I came here to remind myself that as long as I had myself I was… I was okay.”

Chugging on more of the wine, her face got a little serious and she did what she really didn’t want to do. Change the mood.

“It does sound pretty ridiculous now that I’m thinking about it,” She mumbled.

“It’s not ridiculous, baby girl. I understand completely.”

“You do? Well.. uh.. That’s good.”

She felt Giran’s hand touch her chin, and her smile came back to her face.

“Yah don’t have to feel ridiculous for sharing a part of yourself with me. I told yah I loved you, and I meant that. Every part of you.”

That was the first time that she’s really ever heard anyone tell her that. It meant a lot more than he realized, and she tried hard to hide it. But that was incredibly hard to do when her emotions were already incredibly high. And he knew her better than anyone.

Swallowing hard, she sat down the bottle beside her and leaned her head against his shoulder. It was a way for her to smile to herself, hiding her face in the material of his coat and feeling the pressure of her cheeks from how happy she was. It was a feeling that she honestly never wanted to let go of. And all she knew to do was sit and smile.

“Thank you,” She said, “I’ve kinda… rehearsed this a lot since I planned this whole thing. I didn’t want you to think that I was… I don’t know what I was thinking. It just means a lot to me that you listen, I haven’t really been able to let go because I was scared. I guess. Of being dependent on someone and giving someone the power to hurt me… again…”

She was being honest, maybe a little too honest. But it was the most honest that she’s been in a long time. Giran knew pretty much what was holding her back, but hearing her say it out loud was a big step for her. It’s one of the reasons why he was giving her space, to let her figure it all out on her own. 

Saying it all out loud really helped her come to terms with what was making it hard for her to fully trust him. Deep down she knew that she would do anything and everything for this man, and knowing that he loved her made everything feel more real. And she wanted to love him in return, she just needed a little bit more time to figure out what she wanted. What she expected and to finally realize how far she’s come.

To not be afraid to let him see every part of her. Because he’d love her regardless of it all. He’s already proved that enough.

“I know that’s kinda not fair to you, but… it also wasn’t fair to me keeping this all to myself. It’s just you’re the first person that I have felt this way about. And I didn’t want it to be like the last time, even though I knew you wouldn’t do that. I just…”

Her voice trailed off, and she was losing her point very fast.

Giran shifted her hair from her shoulder, caressing her neck in a way he had done plenty of times in the past to calm her down. It was honestly the perfect gesture he could have done in that moment given how she was slowly losing her point. Not wanting to say the wrong thing, but also not knowing how to explain herself either.

“It’s okay. I’d never hurt you, Princess. I can promise yah that.”

“I know that… I feel safer with you than I have with anyone.”

“Good, that’s all I want.”

He cupped her face, rubbing his thumb against her cheekbone.

It warmed her heart to see the smile that he was giving her. So genuine and soft, making her head spin while her heart raced. She was truly falling deeper for him every single day, and this moment was clearing all of her thoughts. But she just couldn’t spit out the words that she wanted to so desperately.

“You’re the best fuckin’ thing to come into my life. I don’t want yah to ever forget how special you are. In fact, if I could get rid of every goddamn fool that’s hurt you, I would.”

She swallowed hard, hearing the seriousness in his tone. Having someone say that and mean it was more than she’d ever be able to wrap her head around. She’s never had someone want to protect her like this, but she trusted Giran with every bone in her body. He was the one man in her life that she knew without a shadow of a doubt that he wouldn’t hurt her.

“Giran…”

“I’m glad that you wanted to share this with me.”

Ash giggled a bit, leaning into his touch.

“I know that I haven’t really been the uh… the best person to deal with sometimes, but I promise that I want to be with you. I’m ready to let you have all of me… no more hesitations and no more hiding behind all these walls. ‘Cause I trust you, and I mean that.”

He chuckled, kissing her forehead in such a way that made her cheeks burn.

“I…” Ash opened her mouth to speak, but she couldn’t seem to get out the words still.

It would be so perfect, but it just wasn’t the right time right now. Her heart just wouldn’t let her say it, and he noticed the small amount of hesitation on her face. Instead of watching her struggle, he pulled her into a soft kiss. One that made her head feel light and her chest flutter, but she was relieved that he wasn’t rushing her still.

Instead of pulling away, she climbed into his lap and continued kissing him. Deepening the kiss and lacing her fingers through his hair, her lips curled into a smile. He grasped her hips, holding her still and close as she could get. But it still wasn’t close enough, and she noticed that with her arms around him.

A soft moan escaped her lips, muffled against his own. When she pulled away, it took a lot of holding back not to shove him down onto the ground. But the night was also still pretty young for that.

Giran rubbed her sides, listening to her soft giggles as she kissed his jawline.

“So… yah wanna make another memory up here?”

She slapped his chest gently in a playful manner, rolling her eyes as she nuzzled underneath his chin. With a laugh, he held her closer against his chest and felt her get comfortable and heavy in his arms. She listened to the sound of his heartbeat against her ear, closing her eyes and feeling the wind against her skin.

This was a much better memory to make, and it almost felt like a completely new chapter. Closing the book on the past and starting something fresh with him. All of these moments with him, talking about her past and letting go of all of her worries seemed to be just what she needed.

And she couldn’t wait for everything that was in store for them now that she was completely letting go on who she used to be.

Whenever they got home, it had already been very late into the night. But they got so lost in conversation that time seemed to pass by without them realizing it. Ash was a little tipsy in the beginning, but by the time they arrived at his apartment she was pretty sober. But it was also obvious that she had a calmer air about her.

She was still her happy self like she was earlier, but there was something different about the way that she carried herself. Her heart was light in her chest, and she felt like telling anyone that she saw what she was feeling. Ash was no longer afraid of the emotions that she felt, and there was no reason to hide it anymore.

So whenever she had walked passed Giran to get dressed for bed, the words slipped from her lips casually. The exact way that would be expected of her, given that she doesn’t like to call too much attention to things. Hoping that he wouldn’t call too much attention to it, but that was just wishful thinking.

“I love you,” She said, passing him by on her way to the bedroom.

She honestly should have known that she couldn't make a comment like that and walk away. Not whenever he’s been waiting patiently for her to finally say it in return. And after tonight it felt like the perfect end to it. There was no way that he was going to let her get away without him getting a proper confession.

“Don’t make a big deal out of it.”

She might have said that with a smile on her face and a wave of her hand, but he knew better than to believe that. This was the same woman who said not to surprise her with things, but loved every god damn special occasion he made up to give her something. This was the kind of thing that she does, not wanting to be “cheesy” when in fact she definitely wants that.

Which is why whenever he grabbed her waist and pulled her closer, she let out a small yelp.

“I said not to make a big deal out of it!”

“Too bad. I want to hear it again-”

Ash let out a loud giggle, biting her bottom lip as her cheeks stained brighter.

She grasped both sides of his face, another giggle escaping as she pressed her body against his. It was cute that he was actually making a big deal out of it, clearly happy to hear her say it. Which she would have probably regretted had he not pulled her back. This was honestly a big deal for her, given that she’s never been in love before.

And it was also proving the point clear by the way that she smiled. Tonight was so amazing, and feeling the pain in her cheeks from smiling was only making her happier. She couldn't believe that she could ever be this happy, but she wouldn’t change it for the world.

“I love you,” She said again, loving it the second time, “So fucking much.”

He pulled her closer, kissing her softly and making her moan happily and contently. Immediately she melted into his arms, not caring that her face was about to explode from the heat alone. It just felt so right, and she had never been more in love in her life. Now that she felt confident to say that, she knew that she would be able to love him like he deserved.

Things may have felt a little different, but they felt that way for the better. She knew that deep within her heart as she deepened the kiss, knowing that she wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. She was truly in love with this man in every sense of the word.

[mysmedrabbles]

Broken - [Yoongi x BPD!Reader]

requested: by @edgythiccboi (request is pictured above)

a/n: long overdue and with about the most rough drafts ive ever written for something, its finally here! i hope you enjoy and it takes your mind off of some of the hurt from your past and present. know that the whole of the bpd/ptsd community knows what you're going through and supports you (even though we're all just a bunch of bamboozled and 3dgy kids)

warnings: quite realistic description of a bpd episode, tiny self harm mention, some splitting, self deprecation (it ends in fluff i promise)

-ghost mod alex

-hollowed lungs took struggling breaths in the condensed room, steam and water droplets covering every surface like a disease, a disease from which you could not get away from. you sat on the edge of the bathtub, wheezing into seemingly nothing, chest heaving as you strained against invisible bonds, tying you to the tub, restraining you in your own mind, a prisoner of war against your past.

-a familiar pounding in your head clouded your thoughts, and you could feel yourself spiraling through various personas, each personality you'd tailored for everyone in your life; it hurt too much, it felt like you were being pulled in a hundred different directions.

-who were you today? the bubbly friendly girl in the back of the class? the dark, almost suspiciously angry person, hiding in the shadows? maybe just a quick witted friend, always there with a funny rebuttal, making everyone laugh but yourself. what was the point of "being yourself," and "living life," when you didn't even know who that person was? that person you could have grown into died that day, the day,,, the day it happened. 

-you'd been lucky enough to have survived, to live to today, but what was the point of it all really? 

-you stared at your shaking hands, and for a second you see blood, draining you of your life as all you can do is sit there and watch; but you blink and its gone, only a thin white line serving as a memory. 

-you'd promised him you'd never hurt yourself again, and a part of you knew that you should call to him, for he was only in the other room, no doubt writing another extraordinary song. he was always so smart, so sure of himself and an absolute genius. it wasn't an exaggeration when people complimented him on his music, it came naturally to him, he had a passion and he pursued it. 

-unlike you.

-who were you but a stain on his life? he'd be better off without you anyway. 

-a wave of rage came over you, and all you could see was red, red red red. How dare he not notice how in pain you were, not be here to comfort you and take care? Did he not care? was it all just a joke to him? did he even...did he even love you?

-you felt yourself spiraling further, physically bending over to the point of pain, the muscles in your lower back stretched from the lack of support. tears had started to pool in your open hands, and staring at them blankly you were only vaguely aware of choked sobs reaching out the doorway, small whimpers mixed in with cries as you tried to feel anything beside the pain.

-a small knock distracts you, cautious and questioning, and you know immediately that its yoongi. yoongi your sweet angel, the one who always made you laugh when you were feeling down, played card games with you when you needed a distraction, sung to you when you couldn't sleep, kissed your tears away no matter how many times they fell. you didn't say anything, rather let him open the door himself to see you sitting there hunched over, looking up at him with puffy eyes. 

-he assessed the damage first, scanning the bathroom for anything sharp, any blood or a wad of suspiciously thick toilet paper shoved forcibly into the trash can. upon seeing nothing of the sort his eyes soften, seeing you in your fragile state. he never thought anything less of you, in fact he always thought you were so brave to be alive, to still be fighting after all you'd been through. you were a pair of survivors, people who bonded not only over trivial things like favourite band and your shared humor, but the experiences the two of you had gone through added an extra layer of understanding to the relationship.

-he sits next to you quietly, letting you take a breath before speaking, his voice softer than usual, and yet still with edges of his usual roughness, but he's kind. He looks at you, and you can tell it's taking him all of his energy to not to reach to your face, wiping away your tears and holding you in a tight embrace. he knew the drill, and his main priority was your comfort. 

- "can I hug you?" 

-it's a small thing, but it's enough to bring you back to tears as you nod shyly, too afraid to speak. you close your eyes and you can feel his arms wrap around you, holding you securely close to his chest, steady rhythm of his heart beating against your own chest like a metronome. steady, present, there. he's whispering tiny comforts to you, affirmations of his love and your worth, that everything was going to be okay. you lean into his touch, closing your eyes hesitantly as your head falls on his shoulder, hiding in the crook of his neck. 

-he smells fresh, faint smell of laundry detergent intermingled with his pine shampoo, and something else; he smells like home, the smooth cotton of his plain black shirt on his thin frame under your fingers just adding to the notion of comfort, and your own sobs cant help but die down, calming under his soothing presence. you start registering his voice, his hand tracing soothing circles on your upper back.

- "it's okay," you hear him say, "you're going to be okay. it's over now baby, nothing can hurt you.. i love you so much... i wont let anything bad happen to you.. it's okay... you're going to be okay..."

-his voice drills a hole in your chest, striking a cord and unable to get it out as you struggle to catch your breath. He pulls away, making sure you see where his hands are clearly before cupping your cheeks, stroking away any stray tears. he examines your face soundlessly, giving you a chance to speak if you so choose. you study him right back; he looks tired, like he hadn't slept in a while, soft hair a very definitely natural shade of silver. He saw you revisiting the dark circles under his eyes with your own, and as if reading your thoughts he replies, "work has been a bit long, nothing else princess."

-you open your mouth to make a counterclaim, but he cuts you off gently, "I promise," he says, and yet you struggle to believe him.

-a small pause settles over the two of you, and you could see his sincerity in his words, mirrored by the gaze that falls upon you. sweet kind yoongi with his easily irritable self and cutting humor, his stoic side and his adorable smile which you swear could light rooms.

-did you really deserve him? how could someone as amazing as him be in love with someone like you? Even as you began to speak, you could already feel the guilt washing over you, shame at the notion of manipulation as you asked, 

-“Why do you love me?”

-yoongi smiles, just the tiniest bit as he pulls you closer to him, kissing your forehead, taking your hand in his before responding, “why do i love you? ah well thats a complicated question with too many answers,” he looks at you, hoping to notice a change in your expression, but seeing no results he presses on, “I love you because you’re you, because you get up every morning and face the world even though its told you repeatedly to stand down,” he brushes a stray hair behind your ear as he goes on, carefully as to not set you off in some way, “I love you because even though you’re characterized by a mental illness thats seen as horrible and dark you constantly show up with your brightest smile and kindness in hand, and theres never been a day where being by your side hasn’t been a gift. I love you because of the way you’re attentive, how kind you are to complete strangers, your smile when you think no ones looking. the way you doodle in the corners of my lyrics sheet and fall asleep next to me at the studio when im up late working.”

-he shifts, fully facing you, tilting your chin up so you’re looking him directly in the eyes, piercing into your soul, trying to bring back any piece of hope you have to the surface, “I love you because theres that insatiable force pulling us together,” he playfully tugs on your arm, earning a teary chuckle from you as you look away, feeling the tears start up again. damn him and his talent with words.

-he’s just saying that because you asked him that

-your brain, a genius

-guilt courses through you at his words, a stab to the heart marred by the sweet tone of lies. this was manipulation. great. you’d manipulated your way to validation was an excellent girlfriend you were, truly inspiring. You feel the headache start up again, but yoongi catches you, placing his hands firmly where your shoulders connect to your neck, seriousness overcoming him as he cuts off your thoughts, sword at the ready, “I’m a logical person y/n, you know this, you say this to me all the time, and I wouldn’t have said any of this if it weren't true.”

-he searches your expression for anything, a twitch or a change, and is surprised to have you curl up in his arms, burying your face in his chest as you breathe for seemingly the first time since the conversation started, letting a full sigh as you try to clear your head, willing to pay anything to just believe his words. yoongi pulls away, hand running softly through your hair as he admires you. he slowly leans in for a small kiss, not passionate, leading to nothing, but just a kiss to let you know he’s there, and he’s not going anywhere and for now, just knowing he’s here is enough

-after what seems like forever of him holding you, the rim of the tub digging into your thighs, he presses a gentle kiss on your temple, intertwining your fingers with his before he stands up, extending his free arm to help you up. “come on princess, lets go to sleep,” is all he says.

[lunartearrose]

Because i can't decide on what else to do: headcanons

Some assassination classroom headcanons about Gakushu, Karma, and Nagisa within the seven year gap. Or it all can be taken as just in general stuff because heck, it probably counts for other parts of their lives. Here we go!

For Gakushu:

-got addicted to coffee and now constantly has a mug of the stuff with him. He's got different mugs to keep variety.

-his highest amount of coffee cups per day is 15. But thats just on record its no quota

-rarely ever sleeps unless someone knocks him out or he has a sort of crash

-everyone refers to him as Asano, even himself. One could say he's kind of having issues with a problem of being unable to separate his own identity from his fam, but if you throw this in his face he'll deny it and be extremely conscious about it for a while.

-morning involve him getting out of bed, having a bagel or something and lying to his dad's face about getting enough sleep. Lets all face it: they both lie to eachother about sleep and just kind of keep it that way, neither wanting to bother to fix their issues enough to validly bring up the other's

-gakushu, if ever involved in a scheme where nagisa would usually be put in the dress, openly volunteer to both spare the boy and reason it as upstaging, specifically because either karma or rio said "nobody does it better than nagisa". He does it better because he's actually confident with the look, and nagisa was pretty grateful.

-he still group texts his big 5 pals

-can imitate voices crazily easily

-nagisa is helpful for asano. He helps him figure out his feelings and maybe reveals what emotions he tries to cover up.

-he at some point wonders how he would look with long hair and one summer, against his father's wishes, Gakushu grew it out. And due to his superhuman devil fam genes, it grew out pretty quick and shocked his class

-actually pretty impulsive when it comes down to things. Things got a little ugly when he tried to quit his addiction, and so karma had to be summoned to stop gakushu from, well, drinking pure caffiene he extracted from basically sciencing a bunch of coffee.

-expert at other people, fool when it comes to himself

-has heard stories and hates nagisa's mom. Zero trust

-supports nagisa and karma in things, tho usually subtly

Alright! On to Karma:

-prankster that can't resist doing what he thinks is funny, especially if it involves Asano

-tries to remember to call Asano by his first name as much as humanly possible. Though Gakushu is longer saying wise, its the guy's name.

-texting nagisa at any opportunity

-adores guys, adores guys in dresses, and just. Yeah he's gay keep scrolling

-visits good old E class to pick the lock and hang out in the empty rooms. Keeping desks clean, doodling on the chalkboard, all sorts of that stuff. He doesn't admit it, but he sometimes cries soley because he misses people

-karma is really emotional but does a good job at surpressing this when he needs to and generally acting chill all the time

-would throw hands with any enemy if they return, especially takaoka the friggin bastard

-and yes, be will put his pals in dresses. Anything that looks nice, yes

-catch him off guard and he still gets that full face blush

-throw hands with him he dares you

-if its a fun impulse he will let gakushu do it, and in fact, encourage it

-visits the guy through his lil balcony. Wants to visit nagisa but nagisa is far away and it makes him kinda sad

-apprehensive and embarassed at first, but yes, he shall dawn the dress one time. Gakushu and nagisa have bunches of pictures. The tables have been turned

-finds it fun when people get passionate over things - this is why he likes to fight gakushu in academics and the occasional spar if the guy wants.

-will call u cute in that certain tone he uses for people

-supports nagisa's haircut. Like hell yes!!! Nagisa is being himself!!!!

Now, finallyy, Nagisa:

-really just polishing his already perfect assassin skills

-paints his nails so they look shiny like snake scales, like that metallic green that shines to blue to purple in certain lights. Who said nail paint had to be a girly thing? Especially when it looks so cool

-still working on getting his mom to leave him alone and undo some of the damage she's left him with. Also uses his knowledge on how to cope to help Gakushu get past his sleeping habits and air out the bits of toxicity that remain between him and his father. Remember, if you get more sleep than your jerky father, you're better than him and winning

-will decline crossdress requests until further notice. He wants to be comfy with his own body and until he can get himself away from the thoughts of his past with his crappy mom that still bother him, no skirts.

-goes to therapy because he wants to get better and get past feelings he has trouble with letting go

-the afformentioned boys love his spooky faces and smiles

-will give a cheek smooch to close pals if they ask him. Cheek smooch is platonic in his eyes usually!

-he and kayano are gossip buds and often talk over feelings. She supports him and he does his best to do the same

-he wants to visit karma but... there is so much schoolwork.... hfkjgh

-also! Deathly afraid of growing apart from his friends, esp. Karma

- "asano please for the love of god take the dresses mom keeps sending me i dont want them burn them"

-if takaoka ever became a problem again things would probably escalate to bloodshed this time

-he is still the best assassin and can definitely sneak into wherever his classmates or even where asano starts work to visit them

-will give other pals nails the snake gradient paint job. Karma's will have a firey scale look and asano gets a cool purple to lightish red

-suggested the new hairdo karma has

-rlly honestly just cool and love his friends and supports them

Thats all i can think of for the moment! Hope y'all enjoy these. Ive been writing a fic featuring some of these so i hope you enjoy these until im finished w that💖