#if reno thought he was a freak before

[rt0001]

a wise guy, huh? the kid goes up against an identified kaiju and thinks he's hot shit, huuuh? well, there's no denying that it definitely does provide some bragging rights — there's only a small handful in the defense force who could say that exact same thing. but narumi stands just as straight, a smirk absentmindedly forming at the mention of kaiju no. nine.

❛ you're afraid of no. nine? that's fair, you are still a rookie, after all. and the report mentioned that kaiju really did a number on you and your friend. ❜ eyes narrow at the memory of the enemy, looking almost inhuman in the light. ❛ what i wouldn't give for that monster to appear one more time.. oops, guess i shouldn't really be wishing for something like that, huh? ❜

𝙲𝙾𝙽𝚃'𝙳 𝙵𝚁𝙾𝙼, ft. @rt0001.

it's undeniably true, reno supposes. they're all here for a reason, whether it be heroic or selfish in nature, and even now, against unimaginable odds ... they haven't left yet. a normal person would have turned tail and run, wouldn't they? yeah, no one in the defense force would even dare.

still, reno can't quite find it in himself to concede so easily, especially after hearing all of kikoru's stories. and the thought of giving her another reason to gloat? pass, thanks. ( huh, no wonder she and narumi are such good friends. ) ❝ captain narumi, ❞ he says, back straight and hands hands crossed behind him, ❝ i went up against kaiju no. nine. with all due respect, sir, i'm probably be more afraid of that monster than i am of you. ❞

[villainsandvictimsalliance]

So many lonely people on Kaiju No. 8 had found companionship with Kafka.

He's the personification of support. A senpai, a role model, a hero, a friend, a cadet, a reliable worker, even a crush. He's someone you can trust and someone that wants to be there for you. Even the comedy relief guy or the saviour of the day!!

In the latest manga chapters he was a plushie for a little girl.

There's Reno who lost his entire family. Kafka took the role of the senpai with him: guide and teach the guy, talk with him, show him how to survive and inspire him. Reno met a genuinely good guy that was openly offering his help and friendship, so he went back to thank him and do the same. Hey, your dream is not over, Reno said. What did he get in return? Kafka sacrificing his life for him, telling him to run, giving up the most important thing in his life for Reno.

There's Mina, who is terrified of being alone. She found a personal clown in Kafka, yes, but he was also the boy who helped her keep her hope and made things easier. He would always go with her to the shelter during a kaiju attack, even if he was in another school. He told her she didn't have to kill kaijus all alone. He promised to be by her side. Mina was thrown into a world of giant burdens and expectations, where her failures could mean death and destruction. Kafka saw her not as the weapon she was, but as Mina.

Hoshina was constantly disrespected, overlooked and ignored. He gave Kafka a chance because he reminded Hoshina of himself. For his troubles, Hoshina got a guy that would work hard to reach his expectations, that would rival him, that would call him first thing and spend all that time worried and would apologize before turning into a kaiju to save their lives. Kafka became a friend of sorts to Hoshina through hard work and respect.

Kikoru was used to all types of reactions from the people around her, but not to the level of worry and pride and trust Kafka gave her. It was not for show, he was completely open and sincere in his feelings. Kikoru you're an asshole, Kikoru you're amazing, Kikoru pleaseeee take care of yourself, Kikoru I won't disappoint you, Kikoru you have my permission and gratitude if you kill me if I ever lose control, Kikoru I trust you to finish this battle.

The first thing Kafka did during the second part of the recruitment was support Aoi and Haruichi during their subjugation of a kaiju.

He saved Minase's life by partially turning and risking his life for it. He saved Iharu and Reno that day against No. 9.

Narumi told Kafka that only they knew the weight of the burden they carried for being there the day Isao Shinomiya was killed. Freaking Narumi, who wouldn't share that burden with anyone else.

Like it was noted by his boss while he was still part of the Cleaning Corps, Kafka would do his job after complaining, but he'd do it perfectly and do it again if asked to.

He's reliable. I know I said it before, but he is.

In a world where anyone can die any minute, in the Kaiju Country, Kafka is a presence you don't want to vanish. It's what Mina says: everything is easier with him around, anything is possible.

When in the first chapters Kafka tells the little girl to not be afraid because he'll go and everything will be okay— the girl thanks him. In the anime, the little girl even asks Mina to please not hurt the good kaiju. Once people have met him, they don't want him to go. They'd do anything for him not to go, not to die. When Kikoru saw him losing control and remembered her promise, she decided that she'd rather believe in him 'til the end. When Isao was about to disappear, he thought about Kafka and said he'd leave things up to him too.

Isn't that what it means to be a hero? To be able to say "leave it up to me" but also trust others to help you when you need it? Inspire people to support you because you supported them first?

The only thing scarier than the kaijus is to be left alone in the world— and Kafka fights that.

[sonicasura]

Kaiju Cores and Relics

I decided to expand more on the Knack x Kaiju No.8 concept from my asks. I'm including some things from Knack 2 alongside a few Species Swap shenanigans. The latter can be found at the bottom! Let's get started!

A good chunk of Knack's new moveset like the Sunstone Shield stems from experimenting with Kafka. Both want to get a better handle on their powers so don't be surprised at the sometimes whacky shit they get into. Lucas and Reno may had to melt Kafka out of a ice block once.

Knack is the first 'kaiju' to be marked for alive capture by the Defense Force. It's pretty clear that someone had created the golem and the higher ups want to know who. Knack barely escaped Vice Captain Soshiro multiple times thanks to his size manipulation alongside usage of the environment.

Lucas often sends letters to Charlotte, Ryder and the Doctor. He does mention his new friends in them but nothing about Kafka's unique condition. Ryder finds out when an group camping trip goes wrong.

Kafka once terrorized a horde of goblins. He gotten separated during a trip in the woods and the goblinfolk thought he would be an easy target. Rumors of a skull faced demon disguising as a human quickly spreads afterwards.

Knack wears a cat costume to walk around in public. Thanks to his small size, people think he's an eccentric mute little kid. Kafka definitely lied that Knack was his son and Lucas being his nephew so the two could get visitor passes for 3rd Division base.

Story time goes a bit wrong when small golem mentions the times he got blown up or poisoned on his first big adventure. Kafka and Reno were definitely sweating to hear Knack had been on the end of a giant teleporting mech. Nevermind the massive doomsday prophecy almost wrought by a billionaire's greed.

Kaiju No.10 vs Vice Captain Soshiro and Knack. Also the time Lucas brought a mech suit to aid the 3rd Division after convincing Charlotte. The officers absolutely didn't expect some peculiar help but takes it.

"How To Keep Your Dad Friend From Killing An Idiotic Man" Or Knack tries to stop Riot No.8 before he kills Isao. High enough friendship with both sides of Kafka, sunstone barriers and the new Relic Stockpiler are his best tools here.

Kaiju No.8 terrorizes High Goblin City. Or how Kafka officially made himself Enemy #2 to Gundahar in a short amount of time. You can't exactly trap his friends in a super hostile environment and expect him to not bust down the gate.

Lucas' gadgets become very invaluable to Kafka's friend group. Especially when Reno and Iharu get attacked by Kaiju No. 9 during their first mission. Or how the Time Dilator plus Freeze Rounds are a perfect match to stall dangerous threats.

Kafka has a built in cult radar and it immediately goes off upon meeting Xander. His golems also seem to agitate Ai so that's another red flag right there. Kafka secretly requests Charlotte to do some spying just in case.

(Special Species Swap: Golem)

Kafka's Golem form is around 2'6 at his smallest size and 34'8 at his largest. Black relics serve as his hair/fur/scales with a teal claw shaped jewel on his chest orb. When increasing in size, Kafka's visage looks similar to his kaiju form but if it had a tail.

Himbo accidentally discovers an unknown artifact and is turned into a Relic Golem. Kafka freaks out for a good five minutes before running over to Lucas. Thankfully the transformation is more controllable like an Off/On Switch and doesn't have an alternate personality to it.

Guaranteed mirror moment between two golems. Knack feels less lonely despite his concern about Kafka dealing with new side effects. The image of his older friend sneezing and falling into relics pieces is the golem's most haunting thought.

Guaranteed freakout when Kafka accidentally combines with Knack. (Think Co-OP mode in Knack 2.) It was definitely weird since both can hear each other's thoughts amongst other things. Kafka and Knack tend to combine if the situation calls for it.

Apparently Ai can also control their new golem form. It definitely feels weirder than manipulating Kafka's human body but not by much. Should Ai be in control then the gem on his chest orb will glow green to signify the swap.

Kafka uses this new form to avoid Vice Captain Hoshina and defend himself against General Isao. The Defense Force definitely mistakes him for being Knack's creator after the former incident as he swaps before Soshiro finds him. Sunstone Barriers still sit at the top of Kafka's favorite list.

Element Powers Up go a bit awry. Or Kafka almost becomes a walking forest fire when he tries to do a Relic Tornado with Wood armor. Apparently relics are good firestarters than just sticks and friction.

That's all I have for now. Until next time folks, I'll see you later!

[chickensarentcheap]

Bedtime snippet :D Chapter 21 of Lost and Found

@tragiclyhip @munstysmind @mrsmungus @secretaryunpaid @youflickedtooharddamnit @residentdormouse @alisbackalleybbq @ninjasawakenedmystar @thebejeweledwatercat @themaradwrites @asirensrage @kmc1989 @karimac , @theesirenteller

After the cut. I got carried away ;)

For context: If you've seen E2, picture the scene where he's in the hotel room checking on his supply case and the kid starts that whole "do you think you're a hero?" conversation :) Picture Tyler doing what he was doing before that kid approached him ;)

“What is it you want to hear?  What exactly do you want from me, Esme? Do you want me to completely freak out? Totally lose my shit on you? Bust up my hotel room? Put holes in the walls? Is that the kind of reaction you want?”

“I don’t know.  I mean, I’m glad you never got like that.  But I’m also a little weirded out, I supposed. That you didn’t go off the rails more than you did.  I thought seeing Millie and realizing she was yours…”

“Seeing Millie and realizing she IS mine is what stopped me from going totally off the rails.  Made me realize you had other reasons for staying under the radar.  I’m not exactly well-liked.  Not in this circle, anyway.   I’ve pissed off a lot of people. Burnt a lot of bridges.  There’s quite a long list; there's tons of people who wouldn’t mind getting revenge.  I just figured maybe that’s why you kept her a secret.  That maybe you were worried  if word got out that I had a kid, they’d make her a target.”

“I never once thought about any of that. You weren’t the issue, Tyler.  You didn’t do anything wrong.  It was never about you.  I mean, it WAS. But not like that.”

“I wouldn’t have blamed you. If  you’d thought that.  It’s pretty reasonable; not wanting trouble to show up on your doorstep.  You wanted to protect your daughter.”

“OUR daughter,”  she gently corrects.  “She’s OUR daughter.  And I never felt like I had to protect her from you. Or because of you.  It was all me.  I didn’t want you to turn us away.   That’s what I was afraid of.   That you wouldn’t want her because of me.”

“I would have wanted her.   And I would have wanted you, too.  I’ve only wanted you for the last five years.”

“I didn’t know that.  No one ever talked about it.  Your personal life.  Nik never mentioned how you were doing outside of your firefighting and your reno business and doing the odd job here and there for her.  And to be honest, I was scared to ask.  I didn’t want to hear that you found someone else.  That you’d moved on.  And I know that sounds selfish as fuck, but…”

“Want to hear selfish as fuck?” Filling the last magazine, he snaps it into its holding spot and then turns to face her, arms crossed over his chest as he leans back against the table.  “I used to hope that you were dead. Not because I was angry at you and felt you deserved it.  Because I would have rather you be permanently gone than with someone else.”

She blinks at his brutal honesty.

“I could handle you being dead, but not with another guy.  Now who’s the selfish one?  What kind of person even thinks like that? How messed  up does someone have to be to come up with something so fucking twisted?”

“You’re a human being.  You were hurt.  And when we’re hurt, we don’t exactly think properly.   We don’t…”

“It wasn’t because I was hurt. Or angry. It was because I didn’t want you with anyone else.  Because all I could think was how if I couldn’t have you, I didn’t want anyone else to either.”

“I felt the same way.  Every time I thought of you with someone.  It fucking killed me inside. To even go down that road.  I didn’t want you with anyone else. Which is pretty messed up considering I’m the one who left you.”

“We both have our issues.  We always have.  It’s never been one hundred percent healthy. I mean, look how we met. WHERE we met.”

“Doesn’t mean it’s wrong, though.  Us.   I’ve never felt felt it was wrong. Have you?”

“I’ve never regretted a single thing.  I’d take that bullet to the neck a million times over  if it meant I got to be with you.”

“Don’t say that, Tyler.  Don’t even think it.  Because I don’t deserve it. That kind of devotion.  I don’t…”

“I think the problem is that you WANT me to be angry.  Or angrier than I am.  You WANT me to totally lose my shit on you.  You want me to yell, scream, tear shit apart, and make you feel like complete and utter shit.”

[twistedtummies2]

How would your twst ocs react if someone proposed to them?

Ohhhhh...oh, this is gonna be a HARD one. XD I'm really not good at the hyper-romantic type stuff! But I'll try my best... First of all, let's completely disregard the gender of the other party: male, female, undecided...it doesn't matter, love is love, a proposal is a proposal. So if you're looking for explicit M/M or F/M stuff, not happening. XD With that said... I feel like, with James, Elias, Grit, and Maelstrom, in particular...no one would propose to them. Oh, no. THEY would propose to YOU first. Inarguably. Why? Well, James has a swashbuckler's sort of cavalier chivalry, despite his piratical attitude at times, so I think he would feel it's his duty to be the one to make the proposal first. Elias, meanwhile, just has a tendency to be very melodramatic in general. So he'd WANT to make that proposal first. He'd have a freaking speech or poem or song prepared for it and everything. Grit and Maelstrom...I feel both of them have a commonality of being raised a certain way by their parents. In both cases, they were taught to be the ones to make the proposal, so propose they shall. So ask not how they would react to someone proposing to them: ask instead how YOU would react if THEY proposed. ;) With those four out of the way, that leaves us with Nakoda, Billy, Reno, Smitty, and Theodore. In all five cases, I think there's a better chance of the other party proposing before they do, for various reasons. With both Smitty and Billy, I think they'd be very, very blushy. I mean, they're both still getting over the fact they have an S/O to begin with, somebody who is "more than a friend," someone who will give them hugs and even kisses and say loving things to them and go out on dates and so on. They're honestly very content there already. So when the other party reveals they're ready to go the next step...it's a mixture of excitement, nervousness, and absolute bewilderment this is happening at all. And you can be darn sure it's going to end in a LOT of cuddling...in Smitty's case, it's like hugging a teddy bear. In Billy's, it's more like the teddy is hugging you. ;) In Reno's case, he'd be caught off guard, but he'd also try to recover and save face as quickly as possible. He'd smirk and try to show off, laughing about how he wondered how long it would take you, before sort of snorting and saying that he'll accept, provided you give him a kiss right there and then. Just ignore the way his pale cheeks turn a bit pink, or how fast his heart is beating. ;) Theodore would, I think, just sort of freeze up, his eyes VERY wide. He'd be absolutely stunned. After you finish, he'd actually start laughing hysterically; a high-flying, cackling, almost insane laugh, wiping as he eyes and cackling about how he thinks you MUST be joking. Once he gets it through his head that, no, you are VERY serious...I think he'd switch instantly from cackling at the "joke" to sort of scowling as he tries to figure out what you even see in him. But eventually he'd accept it and give you a rare, soft smile before saying yes...mind you, with the added (affectionate) taunt that you have to be very dumb to propose to him. The kiss on your nose indicates he doesn't mind. As for Nakoda...he is different from all the rest. Because while all the rest will accept right then and there...he won't. He won't say no, either. He'll say he has to think about it. And he means it: he DOES have to think about it. Nako, as I've indicated many times in the past, isn't really used to long-running romantic relationships. He's used to one night stands...and a lot of those end with his partner ending up as food. So, even more than Smitty and Billy...he NEVER thought he'd get this far. He's been trying hard, mind you, but the very IDEA that this could become something more...that's something he almost can't wrap his head around. And it now means he has to really figure out what it's going to mean if he says yes. It's not that he doesn't trust you with all this, it's that he doesn't trust HIMSELF. Eventually, he'll say yes...then it's all a question of what comes next.

[bitterarcs]

Tranquility and kindness rolled as a sudden aneurism. The room was flooded with a level of quiet which was typically distasteful and best suited for moments of contemplative solitude ; surely the kind which Tseng and Rude adored — those freaks. ShinRa knew no tranquility. As one office jockey stole away for a nap or a Turk very much like Reno just existed, there were SOLDIERs undergoing a painful metamorphosis and something sinister brewing in the laboratories under the guidance of Professor Hojo. It did not feel right in the slightest. The level of quiet which accentuated the dropping of a pin caused the monsters inside his soul to feast on his mind, and in Rem's part ... it brought forth a side of kinky curiosity or feral boredom.

In lieu of occupying his mouth with a cigarette or yapping away about literally anything, Reno took to chewing a jaw numbing amount of gum. Fruity and fresh. However it wasn't nearly enough, and fingers of his left hand idly rubbed at his bottom lip and along his chin. Zoned out, the red head had only registered the toying of right fingers like white noise until the damn broke. He had never excelled at blowing bubbles ( never really tried before ), and just as a promising one blossomed between pursed lips Rem's teeth found the meat of his forearm. Bubble popped as his body stiffened with the rigidness of a cat being dumped into a tub of water ... or y'know, a man being unexpectedly bitten. He spat his gum out, the pink wad flying out metres away, and whipped his head down to glare at the woman.

(  ❛  If you have rabies, I will put you down myself. I knew you looked freakin' weird this morning!  ❜  )

Bitten arm flailed but only slightly, not really attempting to produce more damage by agitating arm against teeth. Instead, Reno dropped his left hand and pinched Rem's nose hard. Two children going at it. ShinRa's top assets.

Lounging on the break room sofa, keeping herself occupied by playing with his fingers. Sudden urge to chomp. Intrusive thoughts won. Pulls his arm down and gently chomps his forearm. / @axgmented

(   is this a love confession, rem ?  )

[lokissweater]

hey wifey! it is i, i am back yet again to spread my chaos in my wake😈 anyways the response you gave to my last ask cracked me tf up lol but i genuinely think i have deluded myself into thinking i can pull any jjk man with a little bit of effort😏 realistically though if they were real, i could probably have choso and megs on their knees for me irl. there is just something about an emo looking man with some unresolved (daddy) issues😮‍💨 i know i’m going to sound insane sending this in but yolo and i have missed talking to you pooks💋 another fun question i thought to ask was if you had to pick any other character to date or just smash irl if you had the chance, who would it be (non jjk) mine would probably be touya from mha i think i just KNOW in my bones that i can change that man😩 (i need to be medicated) anywayssssss i need to wrap it up before my therapist finds this but much love bb

-🪻

UGHHHHH YESSSSSS you freaking understand. it’s the emo men who bark and bite and hate everything but treat you SLIGHTLY better than everyone else is when i start thirsting like a rabid dog and i need to be strapped down bro it’s NOT FUNNY !!!! 🫦🫦🫦 U ABSOLUTELY DO NOT SOUND INSANE you actually sound so incredibly intelligent bc everything ur saying is viable and BIBLE !!!

and oh i have absolutely NO DOUBT in my mind that you would pull choso and megs and have them wagging their little tails ready for your every COMMAND HOE !!!

FUCK YESSSSS I LOVE YOUR QUESTIONS SO MUCH MY BABYYYY !!! BIITCCHHH TOUYA 😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩 PLSSSSSS 😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩 omg my legs just opened what the heck !!! 🤣🤣 i would ABSOLUTELY PICK HIM TOO DAMMIT but bc he’s been stated i’ll say a diff one 😻😻😻

i’m a BIG FAT WHORE for reno ichikawa from kaiju. no 8 dear god it’s actually crazy the amount of scenarios i had with him on character ai like 😀🫵 i hope the cops don’t find my phone !!! 😋😋

ANOTHER BIIIGGGG ONE IS YAMADAAAAAAAAAAA DHEVUEWBHE FROM LV 9999 WHATEVER THE FUCK omfg i need him he’s megumi in a different font i need him i need him please—

I LOVE YOU SOOOO MUUUCCHHHH AND I ABSOLUTELY LOOOVEEEE TALKING TO YOU MY HONEEEYYYY !!! I WILL AWAIT FOR YOUR RETURN !!!! 😼😼😼

MWAAHHHH !!! TAKE CARE <3333💕💕🥹

[ramblinganthropologist]

N7 24 15 - Tradition

Summary: Alistair has some spots he has to go to when he's on shore leave on the Citadel. With everything that's changed since he died, are they still going to be there?

---

Apparently, the Citadel had really changed since Saren had really messed it up before he died.

“You ok, Al?”

No, he was not ok. Alistair’s head was spinning as he sought a seat in front of a sign. Right then, he was supposed to be seeing Anderson before visiting the Council and getting his Spectre status reinstated. It was an easy enough trip, or at least it should have been.

Unfortunately, he hadn’t considered what some renovations and two years on ice would do to him.

The Citadel had always been busy and noisy, but it felt as though they had jacked it to the 10th degree and made everything worse. The lights were hurting his eyes, his ears were ringing from the passing crowds, and even the smells were weird. He had never been a big fan of the station, but that was quickly passing from neutral to outright dislike.

Maybe it was because of the implants? Unfortunately, his face and body were still showing the implant marks. Dr. Chakwas had assured him they would close with time and good behavior, but he had only been back for a short amount of time. They still looked open and red, so it probably took a little longer than a few weeks.

It was great for the battlefield, but he was getting some stares.

In the end, he pulled up his hood both to block out the light and give himself some cover. The fabric didn’t mute all the sound, but it provided some mental comfort to him. It allowed him to breathe a little easier as he sat there, trying to adjust.

It was good he wasn’t in armor – that would’ve just made things worse.

“Al? You dead or what down there?”

Right – Bo had been talking to him. With his head spinning less, he was able to look up in order to talk to her. With the harsh overhead lights, her pink hair looked even more vibrant and her eyes were glowing like his implants. In a weird way, she was like a biblical figure – like the patron saint of krogans and ass kicking.

Saint Bo Peep, holy day of February 29…

“Sorry, I thought I didn’t think this was going to be a problem.” He gave a sheepish smile. “They really redid the place.”

Bo nodded as she sat down next to him. “Yeah, they had to after we tore it up with Saren. I’m not a fan of the reno, but it’s not like they consulted me on it.”

No, she was more of a demolitions kind of gal. No doubt if they had asked her to knock down some walls, she would’ve put on the hard hat and done it happily. Maybe she had; it wasn’t like she had been wrestling krogans for the entire two years.

“I wish they would’ve, you could have told them the lights suck.” He rubbed his eyes. “I’ll be fine. We should go meet Anderson and get this over with.”

His sister snorted as he stood. “I’m surprised you’re not going back to put on your armor for this. You sure they put you back right?”

Alistair shrugged as he looked for a way to the Presidium – they had moved the taxi stand. Damn it all. “I think Anderson will understand I didn’t exactly want to attract attention.”

Bo rolled her eyes in response. “Because a bright orange hoodie with ears is totally subtle.”

It was better than pitch black armor with the charismatic red and white stripe; that was good enough for him. Hopefully, it would be good enough for Anderson and the Council when he figured out how to get there.

Seriously, why had they moved everything around? Things had been fine the way they were…

---

It had been good to see Anderson again. And, well, it was fun to watch the Citadel freak the hell out when he pulled his hood down.

Bo was still laughing as they piled into the elevator that would let them leave the Presidium. “I thought they were gonna fucking die! I’m never talking shit about that hoodie again, it was perfect!”

He grinned ruefully, scratching his non-implant cheek. “I didn’t think they were going to be THAT surprised.”

“No, people come back from the dead every day.” She kept snickering as she elbowed him in the reconstructed side – oww. “That makes up for the birthday presents you didn’t give me. Please tell me we can get a copy of the cameras.”

Oh, he was already drafting a request from C-SEC. Normally, people couldn’t get tapes from the Council rooms, but when one was a Spectre they had all kinds of special clearance. Maybe he could use it as next year’s present?

Or maybe he could stream it for the entire Normandy. Joker would probably break a rib laughing at it.

Much to his surprise, the doors didn’t open on the bottom floor. Instead, it looked as though they were in a shopping area. At first, Alistair wondered if he had pushed the wrong button on instinct, but then he remembered that he hadn’t been the one to do it. This was all on Bo.

“Do we need something?”

His sister nodded as she nudged him along. “You do.”

He cocked his eyebrow, but then his eyes widened as they stopped in front of a storefront. Before, it had been a smaller window, but it was still in the same place. The sign even used the same font and the image of a smiling furry creature poking its head out from bedding.

Citadel Critters was still around and doing well, apparently.

Bo nudged him towards the door. “I did what I could for Saren when I had him, but you know what he needs best. You always said this place was the best.”

She nodded down the street. “I’ll meet you down there. We have one more place to go before we get back on the Normandy.”

Then she was gone and he was left staring blankly at the shop. For a brief moment, his throat closed, but he shook it off. Bo was right; Saren needed a proper set up if he was going to thrive. And no doubt the Citadel Gift Shop – if they still kept those inbred hamsters, he could only hope they didn’t – was still shit. Citadel Critters was the best place to go, and he had been a regular back in the day.

Time to earn that back.

The bell above the door dinged as he stepped through, breathing in the scent of wood chips and bedding. The cages were full of sleeping creatures, burrowed into the substrate, and waiting for night to come for their time to run on their wheel and chew. He didn’t recognize any of the faces, but that was to be expected.

He could only hope Shadow had left before the Citadel had been wrecked… he had been a good hamster.

“Welcome to Citadel Critters, how can I help you?”

A familiar voice brought a shiver across his spine. Alistair whipped around, eyes widening at the sight of the man behind the counter. Mike, as it turned out, had also survived Saren’s attack on the Citadel. He had a scar through his eyebrow, but other than that he was fine.

He had survived.

“Mike…” His voice wavered. “It’s so good to see you again.”

At first, the owner of the shop cocked his scarred eyebrow – understandable. However, as he processed his words – and no doubt his accent – his eyes began to widen. Then he dropped the rag he had been using to wipe down the counter and made no attempt to pick it up.

It was like he had seen a ghost.

“No way… I saw your funeral on TV.” His voice was shaky too. “Al? Al Shepard?”

Alistair nodded as he pulled down his hood, brushing hair back behind his ear as he did. “The news of my demise are now somewhat outdated I’m afraid.”

In response, Mike chuckled weakly. “Of course the Hero of the Citadel can come back from the dead. You can do anything, Al.”

He smiled all the same. “It’s good to see you. What, did you retire from the Alliance after you came back? That hair can’t be by the book.”

No, no it wasn’t. But technically, Alistair wasn’t reinstated by the Alliance, so he wasn’t beholden to military requirements for personal grooming. He could further argue that as a Spectre, he wasn’t really part of the Alliance either, but he had never seen a need to use that argument. It was a bit of a hair split, but he kept it in his back pocket just in case.

All he could do was chuckle and rub the back of his neck. “Let’s just say I’m on leave from active duty for the moment.”

He glanced around the shop as he did. “You did a good job rebuilding the place. It looks almost like the old shop.”

“I made sure of that.” Mike scoffed. “The renovation is terrible, kept the hamsters up until I got special glass for the windows. Whoever thought it was a good idea to put all that neon in, I wanna talk to them.”

It was one of the reasons why he loved Citadel Critters so much – Mike was as crazy about animal husbandry as he was. That was what had drawn him to the shop in the first place when he had been looking for supplies for Fluffytail after acquiring him from a crewmate. Anyone who got annoyed by lights was ok by him. Better him than the Citadel Gift Shop any day.

Still, he had business to do.

“So, I’m guessing you’re here to pick up supplies for the Colonel?” Mike turned to grab the medicine he had always used for him. “He’s gotta be getting up in age by now, do you want my senior blend?”

Just thinking about his former hamster made Alistair’s heart hurt. “I didn’t get the chance to tell you… Colonel Fluffytail passed on in 2183.”

“Shit… he was a good little guy.” His friend frowned. “Was it the eye infections?”

He shook his head. “Wet tail. He picked it up in FTL and I couldn’t save him. He went quickly.”

Fluffytail had lived a long time considering his background and health history. 3 years was fantastic for a hybrid space-Syrian hamster with chronic issues who had spent time in such a small container. Alistair knew he could be proud of it, but it still hurt sometimes. That was just part of being a small animal keeper: the deaths came sooner but hurt just as much.

“I know you did your best for him. Sometimes you just can’t save them.” Mike knew that better than anyone. “But you’re here, so is there a new little guy in your life?”

Alistair brightened as he went for his omni-tool. “Yeah, I just got him.”

“Not from me, you didn’t.” The man’s eyebrow cocked. “I hope he’s not a rescue from the gift shop.”

He shot Mike a blank look. “That just gives them more money. No, my sister got him for me as a coming back to life present. I know, I know, it drives me nuts too, but she picked a good one and took pretty good care of him.”

Soon, he was projecting a picture of Saren onto the counter. It was probably his best picture of his new hamster, given they hadn’t really built up a relationship yet. Somehow he had managed to catch him out of his burrow, chewing on a seed. His red eyes stared into the camera, and his teeth looked extra sharp.

“Oh, an albino space hamster. They don’t get that big here.” Mike nodded. “Where did your sister get him from?”

Alistair killed the image. “Omega. Apparently they’re all huge there. Must be because krogans like them big or something.”

Did krogan keep hamsters? He had certainly never gotten the chance to ask Wrex about it when they had been together on the Normandy. It was hard to picture the krogan as keeping any kind of pets besides varren, but stranger things had happened.

Maybe he would email him about it later.

“Never dealt with an Omega-bred hamster. You really like throwing me curveballs, Al.” There was a pause. “So, what’s his name? Is he a Colonel, or is he a Commander?”

Now it was his time to chuckle. “Actually, my sister named him Saren Shepard when she adopted him.”

In hindsight, he probably should have considered mentioning any variation of Saren on the Citadel would go over like a lead balloon. Then again, he was military and dark humor was a cornerstone of the profession. So maybe it was just funny to him and Bo.

Mike at least didn’t throw him out of the shop.

“Saren Shepard…” He shook his head. “My husband is right, you marines are all weird as hell.”

Alistair picked up his head, blinking. “Excuse me, your husband? Last I checked you were single.”

That made the man laugh as he started to reach for bedding. “And last I checked you were dead. We all change, Al. He was the guy who worked on the shop renos. We got to talking after he finished, and we just got married about a month ago.”

Nice to know people could find love after all. Maybe there was hope for him yet.

“Congrats, Mike, I hope you two make each other happy.” He checked his omni-tool. “And, since we’re getting to business…”

The next few minutes were a blur as they discussed bedding, hides, and other various things Saren would need for a proper setup. By the end of it, Alistair had more than a few bags he needed to carry back to the Normandy. Had he been a normal man, it would’ve been a great effort.

However, he was a rebuilt super marine. This was nothing.

“Good to see you again, Al. Come back and see me next time you’re on the Citadel!”

He nodded and waved as he left the shop, bags in hand. Alistair honestly felt lighter as he walked down the street, already planning how to set up Saren’s new enclosure when he got back to the Normandy. He had always been a fan of theme cages, and now he had all the room he wanted to really go nuts.

Maybe a jungle cage? He was from Omega…

Bo was waiting for him at the end of the street like she had said. At least she didn’t roll her eyes as he approached with his bags. Even better, she grabbed some from him and hefted it over her shoulder like it weighed nothing at all.

“This is why I waited outside. Nerds talking shop is boring as fuck.”

Alistair chuckled as he fell into step next to her. “Mike got married since I last saw him.”

“He beat you? Damn, we gotta step your game up with Vakarian.”  Bo shook her head. “Anyway, we still have one place to go before we get back.”

Briefly, a smile crossed her face as she pointed to a bright shop front. “Last I remember, you still owe me a cup.”

For the second time that day, Alistair felt surprise at seeing not everything about the Citadel had changed. Hell, the Tea Cozy was still located next to the same shitty bar it had always been. It looked almost exactly the same, barring some minor changed to adapt to a changed environment.

Good to see it had survived too.

“Right, can’t have a shore leave without stopping by.” He found himself smiling too. “Do they still have those cute blue cups?”

Bo shrugged as they walked towards it, avoiding the bar. “Hell if I know, I haven’t come without you. They better have those little strawberry cakes, though. I swear they put red sand in that shit.”

No, he was pretty sure the red stuff was just freeze-dried strawberries. However, something about that touched him as they made their way to the Tea Cozy for their customary pot of tea before returning to the Normandy.

It was their favorite spot on the Citadel – he would’ve felt wrong without her by his side.

Soon, they were settled into a table at the back, waiting for their tea. Like always, the patterns of their sets were displayed proudly on the wall for customers to pick. The air smelled sweet with sugar and herbal hints of what would be coming to them. He spied the strawberry cakes Bo loved so much – they still made them.

“I missed this place.” Bo sighed in contentment as she leaned back. “It’s not the same without you being here to draw the girls’ eyes to me.”

Alistair chuckled softly as he shook his head. “I don’t think they’ll be looking at me with all these implants, Bo.”

“Eh, they won’t see them as long as you keep your hair down.” She snickered. “I’m glad you kept it long, makes pulling girls with you easier.”

All he could do was roll his eyes playfully. “So you don’t have a wife you’re secretly hiding from me then?”

That would’ve broken his heart honestly. As much as he would’ve loved to see her happy, missing her wedding would have been terrible. After all, he was her big brother. While she definitely didn’t want him walking her down the aisle or anything, he needed to be there as her best man or man of honor.

Whatever she decided he should be, he wasn’t picky.

“I wouldn’t be using you to pull girls if I had a wife, dumbass.” Bo nudged him in the side. “Worry more about your own love life instead.”

Well, that was good to know. Alistair let a sigh of relief loose from his lips as he sank into his seat. Besides missing her wedding, he had to tease her about getting a girlfriend. It would have been even worse to miss that part of being a big brother – no way she was taking that from him.

He had a job to do, and he was a pro. No sleeping on the job was his code of honor.

The tea arrived soon after, bright red liquid in the adorable blue cups he loved so much. Bo had her cake, he had his cups, and for a brief moment everything seemed ok with the world. Once he got back to the Normandy and into his armor, he would return to being a CO and the only hope the galaxy had.

But that was light years away when he sat there, holding his cup of tea. Right then, he was just a brother teasing his sister about her lack of game and getting teased in return for his inability to get a boyfriend. It was the tradition he treasured the most about their shore leaves.

Maybe not everything had changed on the Citadel – enough had, but some portions stayed the same. It was a weird comfort, but with so little to go around he would take it gladly.

[cherry-romper]

hey! hope you’re having a fantastic day. wanted to request a OP! reader saving reno, maybe he thinks he’s about to die and BAM reader comes in and saves him and then patches him up, comfort/fluff please! thank you for feeding my delusions:)

-🐟

Reno x OP!Reader

Better late than never >:D

Warnings; Strong violence, themes of spiders throughout

Contains; GN!reader, comfort/fluff

Word count; 2072

‘How many of these bastards are there?!’ Frustration coursed through you; your back pressed against the ruins of an office building. Sweat laced your brows as you relentlessly cut down the continuous onslaught of 8-legged yoju. You didn’t know how long you’d been fighting, nor did you care, if the yoju kept coming, you’d keep fighting. 

Using your gun as a knife, you pierced through the belly of a yoju that had leaped off the wall next to you. It cried out in pain, its grotesque pincers mindlessly biting and slashing the air, a desperate attempt to taste your blood. Staring the beast down, you clamped hard on the trigger, sending a blast of energy deep into the yoju. The shot eviscerated the creature’s core, what remained shook as it curled itself around your gun. Grimacing at the sight, you quickly kicked the carcass off before shooting another that stampeded towards you. 

You knew it wasn’t smart to stick around. You were growing tired, and your max output was decreasing by the second. Soon you doubted having enough power to even shoot through the yoju’s shells.

Why did it have to be spiders? You thought. Fear creeped its way into your mind. These yoju felt different from the rest. Their sheer number was second only to the ant yoju, but these had the ants in size and power. Just looking at them gave you the heebie-jeebies. 

This was not how you planned on dying, but there was nowhere to go. The original area for extraction had been overrun, your best choice was to wait for a new one to be set. 

But what about Reno? The little voice in your head sent you spinning. He had updated his position on the radio about 20 minutes ago, claiming to be headed towards the old extraction site on the very road you were on now. 

It was a gamble, any second you could be overrun and devoured by the monsters further down the street, but it was a risk you had to take to get to him.

Sucking in a breath, you took a brave step forward and began your assault. You kept your form tight, and you gun secure against your shoulder. You moved fast and precise, keeping each movement deliberate and every blast powerful. 

You stepped over debris and yoju alike, laying waste to anything that moved. This is what you’d been trained for. You couldn’t call yourself a Defence Force officer if you couldn’t even protect yourself. 

The more you progressed, the worse the streets became. 

Arachnid and human corpses lay bloody. The walls were painted in a strange, silky sting. You slowed your pace down, taking a moment to examine your surroundings. 

Your eyes widened at the horrors above you. Hanging corpses, wrapped in web, shook and squirmed. The people trapped inside were still alive. 

Your blood ran cold. These poor people would suffocate if you didn’t act quickly. The idea that Reno could be in one of these cocoons washed a wave of anger over you. 

The more you stared at the gruesome sight before you, the more the absence of spiders dawned on you. They were nowhere to be seen, but you could feel their beady eyes on you. The world seemed to stop for a minute. Impending doom taking hold. Your mind raced to find the right course of action. 

‘Don’t overthink, just do’. You recalled Reno words. He had uttered them to you after you froze up during training. 

You couldn’t afford to freeze up again. If you did, you’d be a midnight snack for some 8-eyed freak. 

You braced your legs and unsheathed the blade from behind your back. Leaping into action, you began to cut down web after web. You bounced off buildings and walls, taking great care with your footing to not trigger any vibrations. You freed the hanging cocoons, lowering them carefully to the ground. 

Quickly, you gathered them into a pile on the ground, trying you best to not get stuck to them, all the while, keeping your eyes peeled for any movement, ready to strike at the slightest noise. 

Removing the web from the faces of your fellow officers, you sighed in relief, they were all still breathing. No Reno, you thought. Shushing them, you asked for a sit rep. 

They relayed to you that a larger Kaiju had decorated this place. The cocoons they were in weren't the only ones. Deep into the ticker part of the web system, this beast had dragged more officers. In a shaky voice, one of the officers told you that the thing was cannibalistic.

You looked around to the smaller yoju corpses in disbelief. It had killed its own kind?  This had never been seen before. You attempted to use your radio but to no avail, the webs seemed to be jamming your signal. 

With no other choice, you stared down into the webbed tunnel system that lay ahead you. You knew what had to be done. 

“Get out of here,” you commanded, “it’s not safe for you. Stay together, find somewhere with better signal and call for extraction far from this place.” Handing your gun over to one of the officers, you gave them a sad smile. They knew it best not to argue with you, your mind was made up. 

You removed your mask; it would be no help to you in the upcoming fight. Taking you blade, you wiped it clean on your forearm. Once you were sure the remaining officers were out of sight, you walked over to where a thick string connected to the floor. You sucked in a breath before flicking a small tune on it. It sent a vibration into the thick section of the tunnel. 

You waited a moment, anticipation eating away at you. Then you heard a sticky scurrying and the webs around you started to shake. Due to the web’s movement, there was no telling where the kaiju would appear from. You positioned yourself in the middle, you blade held tightly in your hands. 

Silence followed. The creature had stopped moving. You scanned the abyss for any sign on it, but there was nothing. You steadied your breathing, circling on the spot to get a better look at all the tunnel openings, hoping to catch a glimpse of it; a leg, the shine of an eye, the hump of its back, but there was nothing. Only the scarcity of its presence. 

Your eyes darted around, panic and fear overtaking your every sense. You couldn’t see it, but you could feel it. It was foreboding, like you were already caught in its web. Now, you understood. It was playing with its food. That’s why it had kept they others alive. Blood must taste better when it is laced with fear. 

You calmed yourself as much as the adrenaline would let you. It was here, somewhere, you just had to find it. Straining your ears, you listened for any audible cue. To your delight, there was a faint clicking sound to your left, the beast was readying its pincers. 

Found you.

With a cry you slashed at the webs to your left, taking the kaiju by surprise. It shrieked in pain. You’d sliced through two of its legs, relieving it the appendages. A smug smirk play at your lips. “You shouldn’t have underestimated me,” you chuckled lowly, tracking the creature as it ran circles around you. 

It was huge, quadruple the size of the yoju you’d previously battled. You could see every hair on its dark, mud-coloured body, as though it were covered in needles. It spouted of head of 10 great, bulging eyes and razor like pincers. They snapped and clicked as it ran effortlessly in and out of the webs. It was fast, faster than you’d anticipated, but not fast enough. 

Predicting its movement, you threw your blade, lodging it deep in one of its many eyes. Following quickly behind it, you leaped next to the beast as it swayed and shuddered, not giving it time to recover. Pulling the blade from its eye, you sliced across its face, taking out its bottom row of orbs. A deep blood-lust compelled you to keep stabbing. 

The kaiju wailed, thrashing around trying to get you off it. Dodging its pincers, you used the handle of your blade as a step and twisted your body into a seated position on its back, unsheathing the blade as you went. 

Now, mounted on top of this abomination, you brought down your blade into its head. The kaiju spasmed, gargling on its own blood, as its legs gave out. It fell with a thump to the ground, paralysed. Its core was located in its rump. It watched helplessly as you dismounted. Wiping your blade clean on its back, you spat at the creature. 

Positioning your sword, you sunk it deep into its back, taking pleasure in watching the life leave its eyes. You stood victorious next to its corpse. 

Adrenaline still pumping in your veins, you made a mad dash for where the creature had emerged. Wasting no time, you began hacking away at the webs like they were plants in a forest. The only thought on your mind was Reno. 

What if he was dead already? What if you were too slow? Too weak? Your mind wandered and raced as you chopped away at the white strings. 

Soon, you could see the silhouette of a cocoon, backlit by the moon. The sight made you cut faster, crawling thought the sticky silk, pulling your limbs free where needed. 

Once you reached it, a sinking feeling befell you. It wasn’t moving, and it was drenched in blood. 

No! Please don’t let it be him!

Balancing yourself on the bed of sting, you freed the person from their prison. Brushing away the residue from their face, you could see it was Reno. 

Your heart skipped a beat seeing his sickly pale skin. He’d lost so much blood. Two large holes adorned his abdomen. Cradling him in your arms, you checked for a pulse. 

Relief hit you like a train when felt the rhythmic beating of his heart. It was slow, but it was there. A thankful smile graced your lips. You couldn’t help but hold him closer to you. Resting your head on his, you began to rock, coming down from the high of the adrenaline. 

You weren’t sure how long you stayed like that before he began to stir. His face scrunched up at the immediate pain he felt upon awakening. Memories came flooding back to him and with them panic. 

He began to thrash around only for you to steady him. “It’s okay,” you reassured, “it’s me, you’re safe.”

Bewildered, his big orbs stared up at you. His hands shakily made their way down to his chest, his breathing quickened at the sight of his mangled body. You quieted him, “don’t panic. Let your suit repair your tissue.” 

Sure enough, the suit had begun the healing process, and his wounds were starting to close.

His voice coarse and throat dry, Reno coughed up blood and phlegm. Though he tried, he couldn’t seem to put together a sentence. His hand searched for yours, which you gladly gave to him. 

He looked so confused, so lost. It broke your heart. Your eyes stung at the threat of tears. Keeping yourself composed, you gave him your best smile, squeezing his hand, letting your body language talk for you. 

Gulping a few times, he began to speak, “I’m-ugh-I’m glad it’s you.”

You knitted your brows, confused as to what he meant. You opened you mouth to query him, but he stopped you before you could. “I’m glad you’re the one who save me, I-” he spluttered “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

He smiled the best he could, and you giggled back, heat rising in your cheeks. The moment was interrupted however by bright lights and the thrumming of a helicopter overhead. The spotlight beamed down on the two of you through the webs, you both shielded your eyes from the light.

“Thank god,” you breathed, looking back down at Reno. He gazed back at you, searching deep into your eyes. You both let out a laugh, smiling at each other like idiots. Slowly you came to rest your head on his, your hand still firmly in his grip, happy to finally be going home together.

[je-suis-problematique]

Soooo Reno's story got complicated

Reno becoming more and more unhinged over the course of the RE4 storyline. Just straight up make him unstable and violent. Sol and Estrella's continuous attempts to rescue him from the cult are fucking with his head, Leon and Ada's interference with Saddler's plans are making him feel desperate to be useful, and Alejandro's entire existence is threatening whatever fucked up relationship he has going on with Saddler to its very foundation – You cannot tell me that Reno is well. We keep repeating that he probably kills his siblings but I had a Thought that maybe he only kills Estrella and it was an accident, he didn't REALLY mean to do it, but they had a very heated argument about the whole cult situation or something and Reno ended up snapping and inflicting a lethal wound on his sister. Reno flees the scene before Sol can do anything in retaliation and then Sol just accepts that there's no saving Reno and leaves his fate up to Leon. Sadly for Sol, Alejandro got involved too.

Alejandro basically overpowers Saddler in a fight and pitches the whole down-with-the-Agency plot to him. I'd like to think that Saddler actually kind of vibes with Alejandro's plan to a degree because the way we see it Saddler got fed shit for being a mage at least ONCE in his life and he likes the idea of a world where nonhumans and magic users rule over everyone else. He doesn't like the fact that Alejandro is stronger than him or that he's being degraded in his own home but he DOES agree to kind of repurpose Los Iluminados to achieve world domination in a slightly different way. Saddler's relationship with Alejandro is tense because Saddler isn't used to being beneath anyone but they eventually learn to respect each other as equals. Essentially just two tops in a power struggle.

Saddler can't and won't leave Reno behind though so the poor bastard gets roped into Alejandro's plan by being too cute to kill. Saddler isn't willing to share him either but Alejandro fucks Reno anyway just to spite Saddler. Nobody said Alejandro is a good person.

We're making Saddler TRAUMATIZED and by TRAUMATIZED we mean that his family was fucked up and also he got hurt by people outside of his family too. He got treated like a freak I'm telling you. Abused to Hell and back. Bullied and assaulted. Don't get me wrong there was no point in his life when he could've been considered a good person but after being raised believing that he is lesser for one reason or another or being held up to such high standards that no mistake was tolerated at all ever he kind of just got tired of being stepped on and decided it's HIS turn to step on people. I'm also willing to bet all the money in the world that his experience when it comes to intimate relationships and sex is extremely minimal and that Reno is his first partner in a LONG time. I'm gonna even go ahead and say he might've been sexually abused at some point because we love projecting our traumas on our favorite characters and Saddler is no exception.

The only way I can come up with to make Alejandro and Saddler's Spicy Time fucked up but not TOO fucked up is to implement CNC. We want Saddler to be into it but we also want it to be Bad because that is Alejandro's whole point. Saddler spent a good portion of the story breaking and corrupting Reno. Great! Now Saddler gets completely wrecked by Alejandro and he loves it. 10/10.

We also have a bunch of whump involving Saddler in the sense that he isn't just a parodical Bond villain anymore who's evil for evil's sake but rather someone who's been hurt in the past and is still licking wounds that never closed/keep reopening. We'd like to add in some moments where Saddler feels pain and doubt and fear even. We want Alejandro to alternate between being a source of comfort for Saddler and being someone who just pours salt into Saddler's wounds to show him that he is no longer top dog. We want Reno to be there for Saddler when he is at his weakest. Alternatively, we want Saddler to push away anyone who might come close enough to see him truly unravel. Just Saddler suffering, we snort that shit like cocaine.

The nature of the interactions between Alejandro and Reno also varies because Alejandro barely sees Reno as a person and Reno sees Alejandro as a threat to his Master so it's uh Complicated. Interestingly enough Saddler becomes extremely protective of Reno and won't let Alejandro lay a finger on him despite being abusive towards Reno himself. Alejandro likes teasing and bullying Reno just because he can and he rubs the fact he controls Saddler in Reno's face all the time. Sometimes he also likes making Reno jealous and insecure because he finds his reactions funny.

Thinking of introducing even more OCs into this like making an Umbrella researcher who worked with Luis or somebody to pair with Wesker or maybe even someone who was on Saddler's excavation team when they first unearthed the Plaga. Might also go completely insane and give Saddler an ex for those heartbreak points. Nobody can fucking stop us from doing any of that.

Alejandro uses Saddler and by extent also Reno to control the surviving Ganados since they're the ones who have a dominant type Plaga in them but in HIS vision for Los Iluminados, only "normal" humans should get Plaga'd while he sways nonhumans and magic users to join his cause willingly with a select few of them receiving the dominant type Plaga to serve as his lieutenants. Normal humans are to be used as slaves and cannon fodder in his eyes. Part of the reason why he looks down upon Reno so much is because prior to his infection with the Plaga he was just a normal guy with nothing magical whatsoever about him. Saddler still preaches his usual bullshit deifying the Plaga and stuff but Alejandro straight up just "we're gonna topple the government and rule over the normies but the Plaga is a nice bonus".

Speaking of adding OCs to this story the idea of designing a lieutenant or two for Alejandro and maybe even an oppositional force to his growing army sounds pretty cool actually.

[asoulofatlantis]

Okay... that was a panic reaction. I wonder why he feels like this time he needs to make sure she is behind him. Last time they fought the Turks together and he wasn't as much in "panic-protection" - mood.

Or is it because of what Hojo pulled on the beach AFTER saying he was not after Aerith?

I have nothing against women in a team that is far too... "male" if you get me, but she is kind of annoying and I am suddenly missing Reno. I wonder... was she in the original as well?

Guess we finally jumped back to Zacks timeline. IF it is the timeline from the beginning, that is, because apparently, we aren't sure of that either ^^' (Gotta love Nomura...)

I wanted to complain why it didn't occur to Zack to bring Aerith home... but I guess he thought she would have been a to easy target there.

I think it is save to say that this is the first Zack timeline we saw him in... or... the second? The scene with Zack in the Church kind of irritated me a bit, to be honest, because it doesn't really fit with the first time we saw Zack here. I should have watched out for that darn dog from Shirna to check ^^'

BTW... he really didn't bring her back because her home was targeted. Elmyra confirmed tho that it wasn't anymore. And obviously, she is not taking her daughter with her. But I honestly am surprised that she allowed Cloud along as well. She didn't seem to be too fond of him. Then again, Aerith would want it that way, I guess. (They say, that Aerith and Cloud are in this Coma to protect themselves from Sephiroth, but I don't really get it.)

It seems like Zacks world is... cracking? O.o And the people say the world is ending. I guess makes somewhat sense. With Aerith and Cloud in a coma and the rest of Avalanche possibly dead, no one is stopping Sephiroth OR the Meteor.

I wonder if she somehow saw or felt that. Anyway... our time with Zack is over already. For the fact that they hyped the fact that he is back up so much, he is hardly even there ^^'

Thing is... she is not going home. Like... ever again.

Cloud had one of his... uh... "lost control of his mind" - moments and almost jumped down a bridge, following the robed figures. Not because he wanted to follow them, but because whatever was calling them, was also calling him.

UPS. Ich bin in dem Dungeon voll im Kreis gelaufen. Na so ein Shit.

How cute ♥

So... I guess we have a new pet! May I introduce you to Cloud Jr.? XD

I guess we found Mommy.

Even if Nibelheim is close... with this freaking wound they would have never made it here. What matter of transport did they even us to get to this godforsaken place? I stay with what I said before. It makes no sense whatsoever that Tifa survived and the more she explained how, the more unrealistic it sounds. No wonder Cloud doesn't believe her.

I know Sephiroth is just messing with Cloud and that Tifa isn't the problem, but SE who made this "survival story" full of holes. But still I can not blame Cloud for trusting more in Sephiroths mind games here.

A helicopter would certainly make this faster. But she still had to be carried all the way into a burning Village, which might have been her luck because it might be that that was the reason for a Helicopter being there in the first place. BUT this must have been like a REALLY close call.

That was a quick visit. But isn't it too early for the Gold Saucer?

And I do not get why they blamed Barette. He wasn't the only one in favor of that reactor. Why put the blame on him?

Fu**! Why am I already there? I am so confused! I thought all that stuff happened way later in the game. Like... chapter 12. And if all that happens in chapter 12... what are we even doing here?

Barett and Cloud looking at each other sighting because of the girls excitement made my day XD They might complain, but there sure as hell is no way they are going to stop them ^^'

Our girls are certainly having fun XD

Are we... doing a dance-off? ^^'

[fairlybeloved]

@bitterarcs

❛ i’m not afraid of you. ❜

There was no stopping the surprised snort from its escape, even before he could turn to face one of the only people out there with balls enough to speak such DARING in the presence of a SOLDIER. A SOLDIER whose very existence propagated fear in the best of the populace.

He turned to face Reno, hands spread, brow raised, perplexed but equally curious enough for the sting to bleed out of the words.

"Man... Where did THAT come from? Something on my face?" His mind had been about as far away as the length of the planet.

He didn't ask to be feared. It just sort of... came with the territory.

"So! Does that mean--" he planted his hands against his hips, tilted his head back and stepped forward, keeping pace with his thoughts. "--does that mean you're trying to psyche yourself up for something? Ooooor, is it your way of expressing gratitude to me for pulling your ass out of the fire just now? It's fine!" He folded his arms, smiling wide. "Anyone would be a little freaked out about the skills you just witnessed."

[sonicasura]

All You Got And Then Some (1/2)

Tachikawa Base- Exam Day

Reno: Wow, This is the Defence Force's Tachikawa base!

Psaro: Quite the grand base, I would except nothing less for the Troopers that train here.

Today was the day of Kafka and Reno's exam to become Defense Force members, and Psaro who had to change up there appearence and choose black hair and blue eyes ( like Kafka) along with rounding out there ears and wearing a baseball cap just to be sure that they wouldn't get recognized

Reno: No kidding, I visited the Kumagaya Base on my social studies

Kafka: This place shares a building with The Japan Self-Defence Force's Camp. In emergency situations, they work in conjunction to dispatch officers all over Nishi-Tokyo

Reno: * Scanning the area* That explains a lot.... I would say if you transformed you would be screwed but.... * looks over to Psaro who is still looking over the Base* I think you luckily have a card to get out of that situation.

Kafka: Ya, there a quite a few officers, but don't worry. I'm locked and loaded, and at the top of game. Nothing like that is gonna happen.

????: Hey, Old Man

Kafka: No use chickening out now. Let's go shall we?

????: I said Hey, Old Man

Reno: Sir? * Pokes Kafka*

Psaro: Hmmmm? Who are you?

Kafka: * Turns around and points to himself* Huh....? Me?

????: Yes, I mean you Old Man. That should have been obvious, you simpleton!

Reno: * Thoughts* Is this girl an examinee?

Psaro: * Thoughts* Well she seems quite pompous....

Kafka: I'M NOT AN OLD MAN! I'M ONLY 32 YEARS OLD!!!

The banter countinued on between Kafka and the girl who they learned was named Kikoru Shinomiya, went on for awhile as the dispute was over a parking spot and a lucky number. Though it ended when Kikoru picked up the car thanks to her combat suit and tossed. Naturally the trio freaked out over there car gwtting throne. Then there was a close call when Kafka lifted the car back up-right shocking Shinomiya. Thankfully Kikoru didn't press Kafka about it, chalking it up to having his own suit. After a decleration from Kafka, she countred with one of her own saying she couldn't wait to make a fool out of him. After all that and a brief chewing out from Reno, the duo went too take the exams with Psaro and all the Monster wishing them luck ( before they left the house).

Psaro: Good luck, Kafka, Reno may the Goddess grace you.... Alright let's go find a good spot to spectate.

Spectators Booth Pov

Psaro and a couple of the other Monsters that wanted to watch took to perching themselves on top of a very very tall building. Gooey had brought along snacks in the car ( that thankfully stayed in one piece) and Psaro brought along a couple special small telescopes, so they could watch the exams take place. So Psaro, Fizzy, Gooey, Purrvis, Duffer, and Eileen all watched and cheered for Kafka and Reno.

Running Laps

Purrvis Zoom in Mode: Hmmm, Kafka's form is good, but he is still heavily lagging behind the others.

Duffer Zoom in Mode: Yes, it seems Sir Kafka's running speed needs to be polished more, however he is still doing adimirable. Though I have to say the competition seems stiff.

Eileen Zoom in Mode: Eye couldn't agree more, Kafka is pushing himself to the limit and Reno is doing good too. Eye just hope that it's enough.

Pull-ups

Psaro: Kafka is doing well on the pull ups, that upper body training seems to have payed off. Though his pace compared to the others seems to be shy of the average.

Duffer: While I'm not expert on brute strength, he seems to be letting himself desend down to harshly and straining his muscles. Perhaps some pointers for future training would be useful.

Balance Test

Purrvis: That's good Kafka, breathe in and out. Focus on moving across and don't look done.

Fizzy: Ohhh your doing great love, keep this up and you'll be the break out star of the exams

Climbing

Eileen: That's the ticket Kakfa, don't rush focus on getting a good grip and you'll be seeing the view from the top in no time.

The tests proceeded onwards with Kafka ranking around 204 out of 225.

Purrvis: That's not a bad ranking with how stiff the competition was and it seems Reno managed a 157 ranking.

Duffer: Yes, that quite good, however it seems Sir Kafka does not share the sentiment.

Fizzy: Oh that Eejit, he's singing doom and gloom, before the test is even over. He won't make it through, if he panics before the games even over. * Shouts* COME ON LOVE WE'RE ROOTIN FOR YOUR VICTORY, SO DON'T GIVE UP!!!

Gooey who had been busy snacking in the background, along with Purrvis who joined in eating the sushi that was brought, spoke up

Gooey: It soundze that like Kafka is having a bit of trouble with the exams * Slurp* Do you think he can pull a hat trick and win?

Psaro: Yes I do, I believe Kafka can make his dream a reality he's come this far and can break past his limits. He can accomplish so much, when he believes in something and nothing can stop- annndddd he's getting beat up by 2 guys... oohhh Kafka....

With the first part out of the way the second part of the exams were getting underway. To kill as many Youju and the one Honju that were in the training grounds and unfortunately for Kafka, his combat power was a 0. The call to begin rang out everyone took off like bullet, everyone except Kafka.

Kafka: We're heading out too! Stay close to me Ichikawa!!!

Reno: THAT SHOULD'VE BEEN MY LINE!!!!

Without the suits power to help lift the gun, Kafka was left dragging it. After some banter and Kafka trying to look cool, Kafka made an observation about the exam. That they would be taking note of there actions in the exam and how they handled themselves. So deciding to switch up tatics they moved to support there fellow examinees. Though that would have to wait as a Youju decided too Kool-Aid Man there way through a wall.

Kafka: A Youju!?!? It must have slipped past the others and made it's way to the back!

Reno: * Begins To Fire* Sir, we need too run, this things hide is too tough to break through!!!

As they begin to move back from the advancing Youju, Kafka ends up coming up with an idea.

Kafka: Wait a minute Ichikawa, I recognize this Youju. I remember doing a joint clean up on these types of Youju, there hides are super weak on there belly. If we can get it to rear upwards then we can kill it * looks to see a sharp piece of broken rebar* and have the perfect plan.

As the Youju, began there charge the plan was put into motion. Ichikawa providing cover fire waited a bit until the Youju got in closer. When it was withing a good enough distance, Ichikawa threw out a stun grenade, causing the Youju to recoil in pain. This led Kafka charge towards the Youju, rebar raised like a sword as he focused.

Kafka: * Thoughts* Alright it's now or never, remember what you learned from Percival and... * Brings the rebar forward and shouts* SLASH TWICE LIKE A FALCON

In a stunning display of strength and speed, 2 blink-and-you-will-miss-it slashes were dealt to the Youju's head leaving very deep wounds and causing it to cry out in pain and just as planned the Youju stood on it's hind legs gripping it's face in pain.

Kafka: NOW ICHIKAWA!!!

Not being needed to be told twice, Reno sent out a volley of shots that pierced the Youku's stomach killing it.

The Youju know laid there defeated by Kafka and Reno combined teamwork.

Kafka: Did we....?

Reno: We did.....

Kafka/Reno: WE TOOK DOWN A KAIJU!!!

This was the boost the duo really needed and with renewed courage and vigor they went to go out and help the other examinees. Not knowing Kafka's display of swordmanship had captured the attention of one Vice-Captain.

I love the commentary from the Rosehill Gallery. They definitely cheered when Kafka and Reno manage to take down a kaiju. Also that sword technique got Soshiro's attention.

Despite having a 0 combat power, Kafka managed to pierce through the Yoju's hide using rebar with incredible skill. Soshiro definitely wants to see that talent honed further. Instead of becoming a cadet, Kafka finds himself in the Defense Force through apprenticeship by the 3rd Vice Captain.

[icharchivist]

i'm back home.

it was a religious experience for me for as far as i can say, i'm still so dizzy. I had tears in my eyes the whole way through and some specific scenes or musics would immediately open the floodgates and by the end of the movie i was a complete sobbing mess.

I haven't watched this movie in so long yet it still hits me in all the ways it could possibly hit me. I've never outgrown my ff7 phase huh

There was a mini interview/documentary before the start of the movies about the devs talking about how Advent Children inspired them to do the remake, and this whole section was filled with shots from the remakes and the movies and the original game. I cried at the first shot showing Cloud jumping from the train, i cried even harder when they showed Aerith, and then they showed a demo of Rebirth which was one of the scenes where Sephiroth and "Cloud" work together and then again i was wailing like an idiot.

then it was honestly just jumping from one scene to the next crying.

I watched Advent Children mostly with the English Dub because i was used to it from Crisis Core, so i mostly know the dialogues from there (and would like. mutter them to myself at some times before the lines happened because oughh)

Point is that in the English version at some point when Cloud comes back he says "i think i made through it, all that shilly shally", which was a sweet reference to what Tifa and Aerith told him, but hearing back in the Japanese that he doesn't refer to that at all was one thing, the other thing was to see this line translated in french "i've been carrying my pain for so long, i think maybe it's starting to wear off" (idk how to translate it well bc it's not about how it's disappearing, more just that the pain itself is worn off) and i fucking sat there in the theater like wow why do i still relate to Cloud Strife in the rip year of 2024, i thought i was over this i thought i was over this i th-

(granted all of his scenes still reminded me Why and how it's still accurate but this is because i wasn't used to this punch that it took me by surprise, as if saying "Cloud Strife in Advent Children is so relatable" isn't already a walking red flag.)

Every single Aerith and Zack scenes had me sobbing ugly tears so i'm normal. i'm so normal. I'm so fucking normal.

Bless Reno's soul for being the one thing that would constantly make me laugh in this movie though. God bless him because this amoral freak will never see the light of heaven but he lighted up my evening

also i forgot just how cool the Fusion Sword was. Is it one sword? is it two swords? well it's a Fuck You Sword that's what.

I forgot just how cool Vincent was actually, i think seeing exactly how he moves on the big screen was so much more impactful than all the other times i watched this movie

and honestly the whole screening was worth it if only for the whole fight against Sephiroth near the end. Hearing One Winged Angel blasting all around me just got me vibrating, and man, he's still the worst <33333

ALSO the Zack scene during the Sephiroth fight, everytime i forget that Zack asks Cloud if he needs his help to fight Sephiroth (because what he says before and after that is what kill me on the spot) but with the Rebirth scene i saw earlier today it shot me in the fucking face are you kidding meeeeeeeeee

And aside just from the problem duo, i was crying everytime the rest of the ff7 cast was on screen. It really felt like coming home to your family and all. god it was emotional.

Anyway i'm so normal. I cried the whole way through like a ff7 fan.

I really need to pick up the remake again seeing it as a sequel because i miss them all.

So yeah. I'm back home. I had a normal one

oh and Seiyuu wise it's so funny to me how Suzuken really don't sound like Sandalphon at all but Sakurai does really sound like something midway to his Lucifer and Lucilius' voice and it got me even more psych dmg the whole time.

also i wanted to cry everytime Reno was on the screen because Keiji :(

So i was normal. So normal; I'm the most normal i'm --

At the cinema for Advent Children screening. Sorry if i get out of it more normal than usual. Chewing on my hand.

[greenishghostey]

Hellfire Club Members Headcanons

Note: Okay so, I wrote in the tags of reblogging this photo that I made up names and backgrounds for everyone here, and @manicpixiedreamcurl and @lunatictardis, the gems that they are, encouraged me to post what I came up with so here it is!!!

Further Note: This post is about to be quite long and I'm only a little bit sorry because I'm far too proud of these. Also, the order of them is across the photo from left to right but I have provided descriptions so you know who is who!

Guy with the bandana around his head:

Name: Ethan (headcanon name)

General background: Ethan was Eddie’s right-hand man since Hellfire’s inception since they were in the same grade. You would never see one without the other. Ethan graduated in the class of ‘84 and decided to pack up his car to travel the west coast. He didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life, but he knew he needed out of Hawkins. Ethan sent Eddie postcards while he was travelling until he eventually settled down working at a record store in Reno. 

Ethan is similar to Eddie, and that’s one of the main reasons they get along so well. However, he’s a bit more subdued. He was never a big fan of drawing too much attention to himself but damn could the guy fight. Ethan was the original brawn of Hellfire, while Eddie was the brains. 

Most recent Hellfire Character: Ethan’s character is a sheltered Wood Elf princess named Thia. He wanted to try his hand at playing a character that was so different to him in every way. She is travelling to learn more about the world outside of her small kingdom and to prove herself as an able ruler when the time comes. Thia is a chaotic good Ranger with a particular skill for animal handling and languages. 

Note: Ethan is mentioned a bit in my fic series, Dungeon Master meet Prop Master, have a read if you would like!

///

Jeff:

Name: Jeff Fulton (headcanon surname)

General background: Jeff joined Hellfire in his sophomore year of high school after deciding to embrace his interests. He was bullied in middle school quite a bit because he liked D&D and was really into Drama/History. 

Jeff is a fairly quiet guy outside of Hellfire, where he is comfortable. Officially, he is the vice president of the Hellfire Club because they had to put together a club committee so they could use the drama room. As seen in the show, Jeff is not one for starting a fight but he will get involved if necessary. He plans to attend Indiana State to study European History when he graduates. 

Most recent Hellfire Character: Jeff’s character is a travelling, well-cultured Dwarf named Jeffrey of Birchthane. He is a neutral-good Druid and belongs to the Birchthane grove which is nestled between the Irongut mountain range. Jeffrey is very bad with animals. However, he has a strong affinity with deep forest areas and mountain ranges. 

///

Gareth:

Name: Gareth Campbell (headcanon surname)

General background: Gareth is the youngest member of Hellfire before Dustin and Mike join. He originally worshipped Eddie and Ethan and loved that he was friends with the cool older kids. Gareth is quite snarky and has a hard time holding his tongue on occasion. He’s gotten himself into a few fights over being dubbed one of the “freak’s disciples”. Gareth is very protective of Hellfire since it’s where he felt safe and comfortable when he got to high school. He used to be a quiet kid because he thought he was weird, but now he will always stand up for himself and others.

Gareth is really into physics and math. He’s always had a fascination with space and plans to apply to study Astrophysics somewhere on the east coast after high school. Gareth is the club treasurer even though they get zero school funding; he is in charge of making sure people get paid back for buying snacks and drinks to sessions. 

Most recent Hellfire Character: Gareth’s character is, as we know, named Gareth The Great. He is a lawful good, human paladin, who was originally a knight for the empire’s royal family. He has quite the stick up his ass, but he means well. His weapon of choice is a longsword and his charisma is shockingly low.

///

Unnamed Hellfire member from ST4:

Name: Simon “Si” Walker (headcanon name)

General background: Simon and Jeff are the same age and both on track to graduate in the class of ‘86. Simon is the quietest of the current Hellfire guys, not for any particular reason, he just enjoys keeping to himself. He’s a naturally gifted writer but is a little embarrassed to move on to being a storyteller. Simon and Eddie often share their work with each other. The two have similar taste in books and became friends when Eddie saw Simon reading ‘The Black Cauldron’ by Lloyd Alexander. Simon can read and write Tengwar, the script used in Tolkien’s fictional languages.

Simon wants to study English at college after he graduates but worries about leaving Hawkins. He also thinks his writing, both fiction and non-fiction, isn’t good enough to be taken seriously. Within Hellfire, Simon is the secretary, which he actually enjoys because he gets a title and doesn’t ever have to take meeting minutes. 

Most recent Hellfire Character: Simon’s character is named Rothgar Baljor. He is a lawful good, half-elf cleric who has devoted his existence to the immortal Sun Goddess, Sol Ola. Rothgar is quite the character since he’s still young and is on a journey of discovery for his church. He is naive but arrogant since the sun continues to shine on him - when it does that for everybody. He is a skilled healer but is not well trained in combat, both close and ranged.

///

Brunette guy in the denim vest:

Name: Nicholas, “Nick” (headcanon name)

General background: Nick is Eddie’s counterpart in terms of music - Nick really likes punk music, specifically British punk music. He looks up to Eddie quite a lot in terms of his beliefs; anti-establishment, anti-conformity, that sort of stuff. Nick has a hard time keeping his mouth shut, but he is also very friendly. He is aware that he looks a little scary and can come across as mean. 

Nick graduated in the class of ‘85 and moved to Indianapolis to try and make a name for himself as a punk singer. It went quite well and now he is part of a small punk group that tours various bars across the surrounding states. He hopes they can make it the New York City one day - Eddie said he was definitely good enough.

Most recent Hellfire Character: Nick’s character was a cunning, irresistible human named Nikolai. He is a chaotic good rogue who was inspired by Robin Hood - steals from the rich, and gives to the poor. His choice of weapons is two daggers that he was gifted by his beloved mentor. Nikolai has had charisma and dexterity for days but very little wisdom, sadly. 

///

Girl in the acid wash jeans

Name: Abigail, “Abby” or “Abs” (headcanon name)

General background: Abby was, and still is, the first girl to have been a member of Hellfire - she really prided herself on this fact. She was in the same grade as Nick and they got really cool graduation photos together with the entire club. Abby was a big chemistry nerd and went into Chemical Engineering at Indiana State when she graduated. Her passion for D&D started in middle school and she was hooked from her first one-shot session. Abby could become absolutely anyone she could think of, and damn right she was gonna be someone cool.

Abby was a talented storyteller and had the opportunity to run a handful of one shots with the club - Eddie trusted her to make some good material and keep everyone in line. She wrote some of the most twisted and captivating Halloween sessions and each of the guys had nightmares for days. Abby gave Eddie regular updates about the college D&D club she founded - he was super proud of her for keeping the Hellfire spirit going.

Most recent Hellfire Character: Abby’s character was named Bell Silverstring. She was a chaotic good, halfling fighter who was a warrior-for-hire around her home city. Bell was quite hot-headed and energetic, but she also got everyone hyped up and ready for a battle. Bell was a master with a short sword and was, arguably, the strongest character to ever grace Hellfire because of how well-built she was.

///

Name: Gordon “Gordo” or "Gordie" (headcanon name)

General background: Gordon was in the same grade as Eddie and Ethan. He joined Hellfire in his junior year after realising that his classmates weren’t all that scary. Gordon had a hard time in high school, so Hellfire really gave him a sense of belonging. He was part of the AV club before joining Hellfire and still is an absolute whiz with tech. He helped and taught Eddie how to repair audio equipment when his guitar pedals broke. After high school, Gordon moved to Chicago to study Audiovisual engineering at college. 

Gordon was also a really good bass player, having started playing when he started middle school. He tried out for Corroded Coffin once but felt that his style of playing wasn’t suited to metal - he was a fan of jazz/blues bass. This is why he was so good at fixing musical equipment and was the unofficial part-time roady for Corroded Coffin. But only on the Tuesdays when he had access to his dad’s car. 

Most recent Hellfire Character: Gordon’s character was named Goren Erfina. He was a neutral good, high elf bard who mainly worked as a wedding musician in his home city and the surrounding areas. As a high elf, Goren is viewed as a bit of a disappointment to his family since he has such a commoner career, but he just adores music so much and needs to share his with the world. Goren’s beloved flute and his comrades are all he needs on his travels. Also, he is oddly wise beyond his years, which is helpful in the group since they need some wisdom.

///

[minefield-of-a-ninja]

Prologue to Combat Baby

Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | EPILOGUE

Characters: Dean Winchester x Jo Harvelle

Tags/warnings: 18+ ONLY

Words: 1,500

Author’s notes: for @stusbunker 

page divider by @talesmaniac89​

It’s another long night at the Roadhouse filled with leering eyes and dirty jokes - and not even funny dirty jokes, just dirty; as if the mere dirtiness makes it funny. It doesn’t.

Jo’s cleaning up, Ellen’s in the back counting the drawer and sorting tips. Jo appreciates this time of night the best - no bottles clinking, no glass breaking, no puking. 

Just as she’s wiping down the last table and looking to set on the bar itself, Dean walks in.

Jo feels exhilarated, embarrassed, aroused, and annoyed in rapid succession before standing straight and glaring him in the eye.

“We’re closed,” she says, flipping her hair and turning her back on the handsome hunter. 

She’s still mad at him - she’s always kind of mad at him since that’s how unrequited crushes work - but she won’t give him the satisfaction of knowing she feels anything.

He’s quiet but doesn’t leave, just moves into the space, fills it, his whole self just there like he owns the place. 

Ugh.

Jo looks up at him from behind the bar as she busies herself with side work. Dean’s looking at her with that one stupid brow arched like she doesn’t even know what or why.

“Don’t look at me like that,” she says, reaching for the iPad and cranking the volume on the music. She knows her mission is a success when she sees Dean’s best fish impression, opening and closing his mouth, trying to form words and squirming. 

“I said, we’re closed,” she shouts over John and Jimmy as they spin one of their timeless melodies.

Dean reaches over the bar and grabs the iPad before she can even see what he’s doing. She feels like a hunter failure. She knows her reflexes are better than that.

He turns the music down and looks at her pointedly. “I brought you something,” he says.

“What?” she asks, wiping her hands on her bar rag, dragging her eyes down and up his body.

Then he reaches into the back of his pants and pulls out a knife. But it’s not just any knife, it’s a beautiful knife. Mother of pearl handle, engraved steel hilt, 8″ blade - it looks brand new, but she knows he didn’t buy it for her.

“Where’d you get it?” she asks, openly admiring the thing.

“Off a vamp in Reno,” he answers with an eye roll. “What does it matter where I got it, it’s yours. I thought of you right away.”

She softens as he hands it to her, hefts its weight and grips it firmly. Her eyes dart to his.

“For your freak knife collection.” He smirks and she laughs, dips her head and sheaths the knife in her own pants.

“Thanks, Dean,” she says. “Can I get you something?”

“Nah, you’re closed, remember?” he says as he backs away from the counter then spins on his heel to leave. “Raincheck.” He throws that last reply over his shoulder as he lets the door close behind him.

“Who was that?” Ellen asks, tired and irritated, shoving a wad of cash in her pocket before zipping and locking the bank bag.

“Oh, someone left their car keys,” Jo says, and Ellen mutters something about drunk drivers and lawsuits as Jo looks through the window just in time to see Dean pull onto the highway.

“OK, keep it wrapped, tough guy,” Ellen says, finishing with Dean’s bandage.

“Always do,” Dean says with a wink.

Ellen rolls her eyes.

“Well, good to know you’re bein’ safe out there.” She packs up the first aid kit then turns to Jo. “I’m headed to bed.” 

Jo furrows her brow and motions to the research book she’s leafing through.

Ellen shifts uncertainly. “Dean, you can have the back bunk.” Her eyes dart to meet Jo’s again. 

Jo shakes her head and she throws her hands up in frustration. “What?!”

Ellen eyes Dean again as if his condom joke is directly related to her not-so-innocent daughter before doing as she says she had planned. “Finish up and get to bed, Joanna,” she mutters as she makes her way up the stairs to the apartment she shares with Jo.

Jo rolls her eyes before looking back to Dean. “Good thing you were close,” she says, swinging the knife he gave her the last time she saw him.

Dean looks up at her, and she lets herself look at him. He holds her gaze.

“Yeah,” he says, his eyes dragging down and across her sharp collarbones or maybe her tits, and… it makes her shiver.

“Cold?” he asks, his gaze lazy but warm, slides back up to meet hers.

They’ve fought side-by-side, saved the world together; they’ve had… moments; but Dean will never see her as anything but a little sister. She’s not getting her hopes up. At all.

“No,” she answers, dropping her gaze to the tome in front of her and flipping to the next page. 

He’s high on pain killers, right? And whiskey. He’s just… he’s not looking at her like that. 

“What’d my mom give you for the pain, anyway?”

Dean raises his glass of whiskey. “Advil and Jack,” he says.

“Sure she didn’t give you a roofie?” Jo scoffs.

“What?” he asks. “Why?”

“You’re just…” she shrugs. “Acting weird.”

She won’t look at him. She won’t.

“Weird how?” he asks with that tone in his voice like he’s flirting, and she hates it.

“Stop it,” she tries to demand, but it comes out as a whisper.

“Stop what?” he asks, sliding from his barstool and rounding the bar.

Dean swaggers behind the bar. With every step closer, she feels her skin prickle and her breath hitch higher. 

He pauses behind her and peeks over her shoulder. The air is charged with too close, not close enough.

“What’re you doing?” she breathes.

“Hmm, tryin’ to figure out what the fuck this thing is that attacked me?” he replies, chuckling.

“Do you have to do it so close?” she asks, squirming away and only managing to brush her ass across his hips.

Dean crowds in and rest his hands against the edge of the bar on either side of her. “Since when am I too close?” he asks quietly.

She feels her hackles rise. 

She is so fucking tired of him fucking with her, playing with her, teasing her, making her think-

“Fuck you, Dean,” she says, slamming the book closed and shoving back to make him move.

She storms toward the stairs to make her way to her own bedroom.

“That’n invitation?” he asks, and she stops dead in her tracks.

For three whole breaths, she stands stock still, letting his words ring in her ears. He’s never crossed this line, never gone this far.

“Don’t play with me,” she whispers as he edges closer. 

His warm hands wrap her shoulders and gently run down the length of her arms, over her wrists then twine their fingers together.

“I’m not,” he says, his voice is quiet, the guile and teasing are gone, replaced with heat and craving. “Not anymore.”

She draws a deep breath and turns on her heels, grabs his face in her hands and takes the plunge. 

She pulls him in for a kiss.

His hands are on her waist, gripping and exploring, sliding up under her top. He backs her toward the door to the outside. 

“Your mom’s gonna fuckin’ kill me,” he mutters around her lips.

Jo twists the knob to let them outside, and he kicks the door shut behind them, never taking his hands off her, as they move toward the bunkroom.

He backs her against the door and presses against her full and hot, knee between her thighs, heavy hands on her hips.

His mouth is so warm and slick and demanding, yet sweet.

He lifts her, secures her legs around his hips, and opens the door. When he kicks that one shut, too, he’s kissing her dizzy. Then he sets her on my feet and pulls his mouth from hers long enough to look down at her and ask, “You sure about this?”

She huffs a laugh and shakes her head. “That’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever asked me.” She whips her top over her head before pushing at his clothes, all of them; she wants all of him.

His eyes bore into hers as he yanks her jeans open and pushes his hand inside her underwear and slips his thick middle finger along her wet slit.

“Feel that?” she asks, and his eyes droop, he licks his lips and moves closer. “That’s all for you. Always has been.”

He ducks in to kiss her again, walking her toward the bed. He makes her sit before dropping to his knees and pulling her pants and underwear the rest of the way off. 

As he lowers his face to her cunt, she lets herself fall back onto the featherbed mattress.

“I’m gonna make you feel so good.”

She knows he will. He’s always been good for his word.

Part One