#if they don't address it though i'll be annoyed.

[theotherrookie]

"Yeah, there's no reason to hide from mum. She trusts you to do the right thing while Bill does the funny stuff." Rook reassured.

Besides, the three of them had the expertise to attempt this. Veronica had no reason to worry about them.

"I'm sure she can help with that. Mum will be happy to show off her stash."

"Certainly." Willow raised her hand, motioning Antonio to wait. They would get to organizing their scouting mission in a moment, as soon as they had addressed the first cracks in their resolution.

That certainly didn't take long. Lucien definitely didn't look like the same person who could shake Ratchet from within by uttering a few words just earlier, though he didn't look annoyed either. It was wise to admit that he had only challenged the least competent of Five's subordinates, but it wasn't as if they were short on weapons that even he could use effectively.

The fae's stance was still tense, but he couldn't allow himself to wallow for long with Russell around. That hopeful attitude of his was always so infectious. Lucien couldn't shoot down what were, all things considered, fair points.

"I suppose you're right." he replied quietly, "Perhaps I'm simply scared of Five and worry I might slow you down and cause you to get hurt."

"We're here to prevent that." Willow said calmly, "Rook, I can provide the gear you may need."

"I'll let you know if I want to wear a mask." Rook replied. Her fire breath could still come in handy against Five.

"It's got to be. I don't see why the Twins would bother buying a map if not for that!" Erica held the map up so Simon could have a look at it, "See if these places around the X mean anything."

She then went up to the nearest wall and slapped the map on it. After a moment, four shadow tentacles raised from the ground to hold it in place while Erica went off to retrieve some duct tape.

"Good thing we bought those lights. This is gonna look like something out of Ocean's Eleven!"

"Mum is going to join us." Rook replied. There was no point in hiding their weapons when Veronica was likely going to bring something even worse along.

She wasn't going to give up on the opportunity to take on the one who had hurt her daughter.

Willow nodded, "Indeed. Our primary objective now is to account for those differences and combine our efforts to face Five effectively."

They could get to it with the Twins gone. Russell was definitely doing a good job at keeping them on his side, but the plan wasn't for them to know.

The first point would be getting Lucien to snap out of his sudden lack of confidence.

"Beating up a pervert is simpler than facing trained opponents." Lucien replied, letting out a frustrated sigh, "I got lucky."

It had been months now, but Five's visit to his shop was still vivid in his mind. The idea of going up to him next, even as a sideline helper, he didn't feel confident he wouldn't end up bleeding on the floor again.

As a matter of fact, he expected Five to try to single him out as soon as he spotted them.

Erica tilted her head when Simon stopped. "What kind of equipment is that?"

But he was right. She hopped over to where the Twins had left their beloved catalogues and dug out a paper map. That wasn't something she got to see every day.

She lifted the cover and let the map fall out, "...X marks the spot, right?"

[mulders-too-large-shirt]

s6 episode 20 thoughts

i hope that this episode gives us plenty of mulder and scully time, despite the episode description only mentioning the lone gunmen. i love them, but i crave mulder and scully time. it’s part of what i need to thrive. 

but! a return of susanne modeski!! glad to know she is still out there, because it very much seemed like she got killed that last time we saw her.

post-episode notes: wait, this one was really good 🥹🥹 and maybe i asked for mulder and scully time and received absolutely none (beyond one side of a 30 second phone conversation, which WAS genuinely very funny), but it was still SO good. the lone gunmen are my friends. and so is scully. and she suffered deeply. but. she likes hickey and cutie and byers. my poor sweet baby that could kill me with ease!!!

let’s begin!!

previously, on the x files… 

girl, that whole thing with susanne was a while ago. don’t try to trick us into thinking the last episode wasn’t baseball msr!

okay. yes. my memory is jogged. she wanted to expose the plot about the evil chemicals. but she got shoved in a car, and we haven't seen her since. and that was 10 years ago.

BYERS IS NARRATING!!! oh. he is special To Me.

he dreams that JFK was never shot… and he has these little kids who hold his hands. in this dream, america hasn’t been betrayed by its government. and he has a dog. and he’s married to susanne!!! bro kissed her once and has been down bad since.

he says all his hopes are fulfilled in this dream- for his country and himself. which means bro wants two kids and a picket fence and a wife and golden retriever… and instead he has the homies… which isn’t so different, if you think about it… but aww… little teddy bear byers… 

he wanted to save her. but it seemed innocent. not like the sort of manipulative man who goes into things thinking he wants to save a woman, if that distinction makes sense. there’s a naivety about his whole approach. an innocence.

and they kiss in his dream. near the lemon trees. oh. they’re going in for more. damn. he wants her BAD.

but in the dream, he always loses it all. and ends up in a desert. 

NOT cool. we need to give byers some melatonin to ensure he has good sleep and hopefully some sweet dreams.

intro time… love that blurry shot of the agents bursting into a room with their guns…and the intro was very short this time!!!

okay. so now we’re in nevada, at an event for defense contractors. noted. i’m starting to think there will be no agents in this episode. sad.

some people are playing poker. byers is among them! he claims his name is stuart funsten. and he gets the other guys talking while they play. this guy is talking about new tech that allows for cooking people’s brains in their heads. oh! at least he’s enthusiastic about the whole thing. 

frohike is collecting the chips!!! he makes a remark about the dealer being a man of distinction. which probably means about the chip or the brand or something, but idk. i rarely know what frohike is talking about.

byers is still in- the last person left, alongside the dealer. he puts another 200 on it. and gets raised 1000! and byers raises it EVEN more!!! 

frohike clears his throat pointedly. and when the dealer comments on the company byers allegedly works for, langly is in his ear, researching the appropriate response!

aw. you know, maybe not having agent time isn’t such a bad thing. look at these nerds!! 

he starts talking trade secrets on the air conditioner on the planes he very much (/s) works for…. and the dealer raises the pot AGAIN. 

langly tells him to stall and to FOLD, but he does neither!!! byers is doing some improv!

he says they subcontracted the japanese and triple billed the government. same thing they always do.

NOOOOO. the other guy beats his hand, but just barely!!!! a king high flush to a queen high flush!

and dealer says to call security on stuart AND his partner!! he got busted!! he made up that word he asked about!!! which is why langly couldn’t find anything on it!!

they get manhandled out, which leads to frohike asking “hey man, you want to thunderdome?” <- and that is really funny.

langly is MAD that byers lost $3,000, but frohike says that it has to be him that goes undercover and not langly, “because this ain’t woodstock” (grabs his hair) <- LMAO

they didn’t even get any prints off the drink glasses!!! this convention was a BUST! byers says they should look into the dealer guy. 

a knock at the door. 

someone claims to be the CIA. they open up… it’s jimmy and timmy!! i don’t know who these guys are, but they must be friends- or enemies- of the gunmen, because one of them is wearing a shirt that says “government patsy”.

he asks if they were sneaking around… maybe they were… and maybe these two got something… well, maybe the gunmen did too!!

no, jimmy and timmy confess that they did not in fact, get anything. “it’s the t shirt” <- LMAO

t shirt guy says it means he is onto them!!! that he knows this year’s theme is assassination!! but he won’t say where he heard that theme. anyway, he claims there is some new stealth assassination tech being unveiled soon- and they will be front row. 

the gunmen tell them to go ahead to their lobster and “boobage”. which is diabolical.

OH! frohike says byers looks sad- he's the one that pushes the hardest for them to go to conventions, and then gets all squirrely when they arrive. “you’re still looking for her, aren’t you?” he asks.

byers says they met her at a convention! but frohike adds that they both know what happened. byers thinks that she was too important to the government to kill. frohike responds that either way, she is hopefully in a better place than las vegas, and grabs his shoulder, asking him to come along for lobster time.

oh… frohike knows him so well :(

they journey down to the slot machines… and as frohike says he feels lucky, byers SEES HER!! he goes to follow her. but it seems he’s lost where she went…. ah! he’s on her tail!!! 

he knocks a guy over trying to follow her. disaster.

AH!! A PHONE RINGS!!! AND IT WAKES UP SCULLY IN BED!!! SHE WAS SLEEPING! LET HER SLEEP!! DO NOT DISTURB HER SLUMBER!!

but i was thinking there would be NO scully today, so i am pleased :) even if she is not. 

it’s mulder, calling at 2:34 am. asking her to go to vegas RIGHT NOW!!! because the lone gunmen need her. 

LMAO, she says she trusts him, but she’s not so sure about the three stooges, BAHAHA

BUT THE GAG IS: IT ISN’T MULDER!!! it's the gunmen, using some sort of voice synthesizer!!! they literally predicted spongebob voice AI videos…

oh, mulder is going to call her tomorrow and ask where she is, and there is going to be a big mess, i can just tell already.

she sighs deeply. and says she will be there.

BAHAHAHAHA, frohike acknowledges that she will kick their asses. and it’s true. 

he trapped her cell, so if she tries to call mulder, it’ll go to them!!!!

frohike doesn’t even know why they need scully, LMAO, but byers says if they’re up against government agents, they need their OWN government agent. BAHAHA, does he want them to fight it out or something? 💀

but mulder is too high-profile! “he’s virtually a household name to the black-ops who kidnapped susanne in baltimore” <- so you want to bring in SOMEONE ELSE for the black ops to kidnap?! watch it, buddy… you may be a teddy bear, but don’t be stupid with scully…

langly asks byers if he is positively sure that he saw modeski. and he says he is- and they must find her.

he goes to get some ice, and sees the mystery dealer man who beat him in poker before!!! and he opens a hotel room door… and KISSES susanne!!! byers is heartbroken!!!

nooo!!! why’d you call scully here for this?!?

byers submerges his head in the ice, which prompts langly to say he thinks he’s trying to kill himself. “stop trying to kill yourself, byers” <-LMAO

oh, the poor boy is soaking wet and sad. but frohike found that the mystery poker man is named grant ellis, maybe from new mexico judging by the plates on the car. he’s from the D.O.D. and he works for the place susanne did!!!

byers comes to the conclusion that he MUST have brainwashed her. he thinks she ran from the people she used to work for, and there’s no way she would go back to work for them- or kiss that guy. it HAS to be brainwashing! 

frohike says he knows a way to find out. and he’s on the move… watching as the housekeeper enters susanne's room. 

meanwhile, byers is trying to get into the conference, but he can’t, because the guard who threw him out is working the door. langly wants to go instead, but byers again gestures to his hair. 

when they are stopped by their friends or enemies from earlier! with other friends or enemies! it seems they must be enemies of the extreme variety. jimmy says he can get in… when the time is right. he knows a hole in their security. 

but byers tells jimmy he needs to get in there today. so he had better prove he can do it

so jimmy crawls in through the vents… and listens from inside. and records with a camcorder!!! susanne is on the panel presenting!!! what is she doing?!

timmy is inside, too!!! it appears there is a traitor in the jimmy and timmy team!!! 

TIMMY IS ONE OF THE BAD GUYS!!!! he says jimmy really screwed things up!! they wanted to use him for assassinations… and they wanted him as a patsy. 

BLEH... they shoot something into his head. gross.

scully arrives!!! she's asking someone to please take her bag up to her room. and byers and langly are here. the first words out of her mouth: “where’s agent mulder? i’ve been trying to call him” <- BAHAHA okay, yeah. your priorities are abundantly clear!

langly stutters… uh, his phone is messed up, and he might be hard to reach!!

OH she is SUSPICIOUS, LMAOOO.

but they find jimmy!!! he jumped in front of a bus!!! or did he… was he framed?!?! bleugh, that is very bloody. 

no one is answering scully’s questions and she’s annoyed, BAHAHA.

frohike finally sneaks into susanne's hotel room….. he has some gadgets about. he finds a camera recording him!!! but then someone is at the door!!! it’s susanne!!

he hides in the bathroom… and she starts to get undressed. and gets in a robe instead. 

oh… she comes in the bathroom…. but there’s a knock at the door. it’s byers!!!

he straight up asks if he remembers her!!! 

“john, what are you doing here?” <- OH! so she does!!!

he tries to say that he is here to save her…. but she says she hasn’t been brainwashed. he says his friend was killed, and that man you are with… 

“you mean my fiancé?” <- OH! the plot thickens.

byers has had enough. did he not see her get kidnapped?! she says it did happen. but things got better. and then she shuts the door on him. which does not answer much.

how is frohike gonna get out… he climbed up the vents!!! bro is a spider monkey!! he waves around the camera he found.

scully is in autopsy mode!!! she makes sure that whoever she is with really wants to be here. and it is langly, who says he is cool. but he looks like he’s gonna die. and then she’ll have to autopsy him, too.

langly is trying very hard to keep it together, but is quite literally quivering as scully does her job.

oh. she snapped her mask on. and i started blushing. 

oh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

okay. yeah ❤️

she is cutting into the body. and we can see it go down in the reflection from her goggles. very gross! EWWWWWW.

EWWW, THE RIBS!!!

she asks him to please pass the saw on the counter, and also, i have been spelling his name wrong, or perhaps autocorrect has, because there is no e. just langly. so i must edit this in the notes. forgive me if a typo makes it through to the final product.

okay. she’s looking at some ribs. an average day in the office for her.

but he runs out to get sick. and drops the saw. it is a good thing this happened, though, because she sees the injection on the dead body's neck as she picks it up!!

BUT NO!!! timmy sneaks up on her and INJECTS HER!!!! I’LL KILL YOU WITH MY BARE HANDS, TIMMY!!!

langly runs back out, and she’s out cold on the ground!!!!

oh no…. as she comes back to, he proposes that perhaps the blood made her pass out. bro. she’s a pathologist. this is not the most likely scenario.

SHE CALLS HIM CUTIE. and mumbles “done, done, done”. “how do you roll this thing?” <- OH!!! baby is stoned out of her mind!!!! help her!!! get her someplace safe!!! do not let her near a bus, langly!!

I’M FUCKING CRYING…. “what killed him?” “my medical opinion? beeeeeeeeeeeeeep” (she claps her hands) “and that’s all you found?” “that’s all i know” <- BAHAHAHAHHAAAAAA 

she collapses again. but langly doesn’t have an eye on her!!! he just went back to his own room! he says she claimed there was something important she needed to do!!! “man, she is seriously jet-lagged” <- BRO, GO FIND HER AT ONCE!!

frohike plays the video from susanne’s room, where she says she feels like she is being watched. ellis says she worries too much- the plan is on schedule. and they’re cuddling. gross. 

byers insists it is not her. “she would not marry that man” “you don’t know him like i do” “how’d you get in here?” <- BAHAHA

susanne jumpscare!!! she says he saved her life and the lives of thousands of others. and she asks to talk to byers. alone. the other gunmen sliiiiiide out.

she wants to know about his friend being murdered. and she says she is always in danger. 

oh… she’s thought about this moment- reuniting with byers- so many times. all the things she would say. oh!!! well! that certainly has some implications!!

so the bad guys took her and did things to her, and it was like drowning. and ellis pulled her up. even though she wanted it to be byers who did that!!!

ellis worked for them… but she says he was working against them, sabotaging them. he reminded her of byers. OH! so she def loves him

back to slot town with frohike and langly. WHERE IS SCULLY??? i am stressed. frohike insists he could get all the money out of this place if he didn't have morals.

oh no… timmy approaches…. they don’t know he’s evil…! he asks them to come play dungeons and dragons in memory of jimmy. and langly agrees. 

but frohike hears something in the distance. it’s scully laughing!!! she’s acting wildly drunk. SHE CALLS HIM HICKEY!!! AND TELLS THE MAN WHISPERING IN HER EAR TO BE NICE TO HIM!!! SHE SAYS SHE LIKES HIM!!! AND PETS HIS FACE!!!

(she likes him......... oh.....)

OH, THE CIGARETTE SCENE. AND THE 800 LIGHTERS EMERGING AT ONCE. she cannot decide who lights her fire! i have seen this in gif form, and was always wondering what the context to that was. now i know. it makes sense that such a thing would only happen when she is... deeply inebriated. it's just not like her. poor thing.

he's trying to point out to her that she DOESN'T SMOKE. frohike tells everyone to back off!!! that is SPECIAL AGENT DANA SCULLY!! if you touch her, you may be committing a crime!!! go frohike!!!!

“we could’ve been stardust”, says some random guy. “maybe next time” (DID SHE SLAP HIS ASS?!) (or did he slap hers? because i might have to kill him, too)

langly is brought up to play d&d, which again, they are somehow playing for money- but he is surrounded!!!

susanne and byers are watching the tape frohike snatched from her room. he says he didn’t film them, which means “they” know. they were going to try and escape on the last day of the conference and go public with the research. the public is finally ready to believe. but they know everything, and they’ll kill them both. not great.

frohike walks in with a giggly scully, and susanne realizes what is going on at once. she was injected with a gas made by susanne!! ellis thought if they developed a small batch and destroyed the notes, they had the proof they needed to go public. and grant and her are the only ones with the samples…. 

grant evil confirmed?!

poor drunk/gassed scully is looking at them with great sadness as she realizes the weight of their words.

susanne is injecting her with something to counter the effect of the gas- once more, scully calls langly “cutie”- wait, langly made it out?!?! and after commenting on the pain, scully goes DOWN like a ton of bricks. 

“i don’t understand, why would the government want to turn scully into a bimbo?” <- I’M FUCKING CRYINGGGGGGGGGGHHGGHHGHGGGGGGG

BAHAHAHAHHAAAAAA, OKAY HOLD ON. HOLD ON. FROHIKE. 

holy fuck, that is so funny. filed under potential new blog titles. 

susanne says it’s a side effect- it can be used for brainwashing. such as making you forget your autopsy results. 

but what are they planning? frohike says they better find out fast. but langly scratches his wound from where he was injected!!!

langly returns to the room with timmy… where timmy says he is to go into the con the next day, and fire three shots at a target. 

we see langly going in there… with the gun…. will he do it??? susanne is at the panel. and ellis is next to her.

scully is back!! she is better!! i am so happy she made a quick recovery and managed to sleep it off! she wants to get in the room where the panel is happening, but she is not allowed.

ellis is watching as susanne leaves for the break…. and langly is approaching…. he pulls out the gun…… and he fires at her!!!! three times!!! and her blood splatters him in the face!!!! 

they call for a doctor!!! and scully is here to do just this. 

frohike and byers answer the call for help… WAIT, is this a plot…? they’re dressed as paramedics, and scully says to ellis that the shooter got away… oh, they’re in on this. it has to be fake blood. ellis asks who did this. girl... like you didn’t want this very outcome!!!

scully says to detain him!!!

frohike says “good work, party girl” and she makes a face like "why tf did he call me that" <- LMAO, ohhhh........

they load susanne onto the stretcher and take her away…. and timmy emerges… he realizes the blood is fake!!!

scully brings ellis in with frohike, where a perfectly fine susanne is standing!!! she asks for a moment alone with him. which seems dangerous, since he just tried to kill her.

ahaha!!! frohike has his poker chip!!! he says thanks for the tip!!

“big surprise, huh? since your programmed my friend to kill me?” “no, susanne, it wasn’t my idea” <- bro doesn’t even DENY IT?? just claims he isn't responsible?!?

omg… she has very specific spots under her shirt with fake blood containers… which makes that langly is a pretty good shot… very interesting to know!!

she asks why he saved her in the first place if he was just going to kill her. because the project was over. he pretended to love her. what did he get out it? 

he claims he got his life. 

but in walks timmy!!! with a gun!!! and he kills ELLIS!! and then he points it at her!!!!

no!!! timmy takes her at gunpoint to the gunmen's room!! and they let her in!!

(side note, frohike referred to susanne as “mata hari” twice now, and i didn’t know who that was, so i googled it… a very interesting rabbit hole WILL be followed later tonight)

TIMMY TRIES TO GET BYERS…. but byers gets him with the gas!!!!! 

lmao and he says “hi, cutie” too <- bahaha

timmy has confessed to the murders of grant ellis AND susanne!! no!! i was hoping she would make it!!!

scully is yelling on the phone, trying to reach mulder. she says she’s at the hotel. “what do you mean ‘what hotel’? las vegas” <- OH NOOO… 

“you called me… what do you mean, you didn’t call me?” <- BAHAHA

“oh, man… i am gonna kick their asses” <- YEAHHHHHH!!!!!!!

OH!! susanne isn’t really dead!!! byers hands her a paper containing information on her alias!! 

she asks him to come with her?! he thinks about it…. but he says she’ll be safer without him. “leave it to us now. it’s what we do”

she gives him something… and then another kiss…. and says “someday”. then gets in the car.

SHE GAVE HIM THE WEDDING RING MEANT FOR ELLIS?!?!?!

and they go to hit the slots.

the end.

wait, this episode was actually really good… i was going to write it off because i didn’t think there would be agent time… but it was actually quite precious….

oh, scully. i wanted to see her kick their asses. 

poor scully!!! but lord, was her comedic acting funny. BEEEEEEEEP. bahahahaha. i was lowkey worried when she had the scene surrounded by all those men, though. i was like oooooookay... where is this going to go? very grateful she was just flirty and not taken advantage of by creepy men. shoutout to frohike FR FR, he is a real one

“why would the government want to make scully a bimbo?” still has me HOWWWWWWWLING. 

aww! the gunmen… i love them……. they’re so silly…. they love each other...

scully agreeing to go track them down in vegas even thought it was the middle of the night… because it was mulder who asked... yeah <3 she trusts him so much... and she is selfless to a fault....

oh, i hope mulder took her somewhere nice after that. to compensate for the shenanigans they put her through. and the drugging. "BEEEEEEP. that’s all i know". OH. i've said it a million times, but that poor thing!

it was funny to see her so out of it, though. just because she is generally hypercompetent in all capacities. trying to imagine mulder seeing her like this... i wonder if her memories returned to her eventually, or if she will just be really confused forever as to why frohike called her "party girl"... imagine sharing that story with mulder over a glass of wine........

yes. i need the followup MSR date fic.

oh! byers will get his happy ending someday.

what an excellent little side journey. it was a silly one. and you know i love a silly one. not a whole lot of character exploration with our main characters, but a trip into side character land can be very well done.

i cannot believe i am nearing the end of s6! it's been like... 2-ish months since i started?? i think? time blurs together- it's hard to tell. so we still have a bunch of unanswered questions. such as: is spender still out there or is he dead for real? where is diana? and most importantly, is mulder going to tell us why he has been so cranky on and off again? is he all better now that he had a nice little baseball date? will he apologize for his actions? what is going on behind the scenes that he isn't telling us? is this little romp down side character avenue a hint to a future plot? they said that mulder was practically a household name to the blackops that took susanne- have they been messing with him, or something?

i need resolution to the angst! i need an apology video with tears!

i will forever cherish scully mumbling "done, done, done". ah. she has been through so much.

[enhani-ki]

🎀 nishimura riki as your boyfriend and remembering some of your firsts with him 🎀

warnings: smut, nsfw, ni-ki's slightly sadistic, mentions of dying, cursing, etc.

♱ boyfriend!ni-ki likes to annoy the shit out of you and will not say sorry at all unless you get so angry or really about to cry.

♱ boyfriend!ni-ki who's not a fan of pda but will rest a hand on your nape or hold your wrist instead of your hand. it might seem possessive outside but he's just a sweet boy who likes keeping you close.

♱ boyfriend!ni-ki isn't one to get sick often but when he did, you saw how it hit him hard, insisting he was fine even though his messages gets more dramatic by the hour.

ni-ki: i'll rest so i can see my girlfriend right away.

you: yes, do that.

ni-ki: then she can kiss me again.

ni-ki: baby, i think i'm dying.

you'll sigh, shake your head as you read his texts. then he will send you a picture of his thermometer reading 39°C with a caption:

you might as well say your goodbyes.

♱ boyfriend!ni-ki loves to help you give him handjobs.

the first time it happened is when you and ni-ki were cuddling peacefully, his feverish body was warming both of you.

you felt his shaft harden, pressing insistently on your ass, making cheeks heated as you became very aware of his body's conscious or unconscious reaction to being close to you.

and ni-ki who's oblivious, buried his face deeper into your shoulder with a low groan, mumbling "i don't want you to leave" with his drowsy voice, heavy with sleep but his crotch pressed harder, as if seeking more friction.

you turned to face him, your hand gently combed through his hair while clearing your throat softly. unsure of how to address his hardening length. "ni-ki..." you started hesitantly.

"hmm?" he replied with sluggish tone like he was on the verge of falling asleep but then, as if he finally caught on to your stiffened posture, his grip loosened immediately.

you remembered him sitting up a little. his flushed face brighter than before and not just entirely because of the fever that had been keeping him in bed for days.

"oh my God..."

"i didn't mean for that to happen-"

you bit your lip, unsure whether to laugh at the awkwardness or save him from further embarrassment. "it's... okay."

then your hands travelled from his hair down slowly to his back, fingertips were grazing the dips of his spine as it drifted lower, ghosting over the curve of his ass before wrapping around his stiff length and giving it experimental strokes.

ni-ki gasped, mouth opening and his eyes were fluttering shut, breathing "ahh, shit." while arching into your touch. you continued to pump his shaft, it's twitching while you smear the drops of precum to ease the glide.

he was so hard for you already that it made your own arousal surge. you can feel your pussy throbbing in response.

slowly, ni-ki leaned, capturing your mouth in a searing kiss and he tasted like sleep, medicine, but underneath that, fuck... he was all male heat.

a moan vibrated in his throat as you worked on his cock, his hips were rocking into the tight circle of your fist and you swallowed the sound, deepening the kiss while your free hand roamed the lean muscles of his chest.

ni-ki's hand wrapped around yours, helping you stroke his dick faster. you both looked down at where you were connected, watching his hard dick into your joined fists over and over again.

melting under your touch, ni-ki's hand started fondling the soft fat of your tits, completely at your mercy as you brought him closer to the edge then your eyes met, heavy-lidded and full with lust, he crashed his mouth to yours again.

it's sloppy, all tongue, teeth, and desperation.

ni-ki's breaths grew ragged, his fingers moved and dug into your shoulders and with a firm squeeze to the head of his cock, it urged him over.

he came with a broken cry of your name. cum spurted over your hands, fingers. painting his stomach, your knuckles, and the bed.

"i love you so much."

♱ boyfriend!ni-ki who likes it when you asks him for anything whether it'll be something simple as helping you carry things or... something like asking him for head.

he will wrap his arms around you after and pull you into a tight hug, asking "it's good, right?"

"s-stop."

he will just laugh and rest his chin on your shoulder.

"god, this is so stupid."

"it's not, okay?" he will say firmly and look into your eyes. "i told you, you can ask me for anything. i mean it."

"we-well…" you'll try to change the subject by asking "do you wanna go downstairs and eat or something?"

"i just ate you."

♱ boyfriend!ni-ki who seems to lose control when it comes to eating and fingering your pussy. he loves your taste, the texture of your sensitive petals, the way you writhe and moan... it's utterly intoxicating. he becomes completely consumed by it and just can't stop pleasing you even after you already came.

your body spasms, your legs started shaking and quivering while your eyes were also already watering from the intensity of your climax that you just might black out from overstimulation, yet niki's unable to pull away from your slick folds.

his tongue continued to lap at your clit, fingering your hole that juices started gushing out the sensitive flesh and ni-ki's just groaning in delight, totally unbothered by your gasps and whimpers.

"ni-ki, wait..." you'll plead breathlessly, trying to push him back. "please..."

ni-ki also knows that you'll get mad at him after and that he might earn a slap on his pretty face but like a man on a mission, his objective right there is to make you cum over and over until you're a mewling mess and going down on you is the only way he knows how to achieve this feat.

ni-ki can feel your pulse against his tongue and it drives him wild. you've already orgasmed multiple times but he thinks you might just have more climaxes inside you and he won't rest until they're spent.

♱ boyfriend!ni-ki chuckles after hearing you blabber nonsensical words because of the mixture of pain and pleasure that you couldn't quite articulate while having sex with him for the first time.

he whispered "my poor baby" while peppering soft kisses to your cheeks which is a contrast to the powerful movements of his hips.

♱ boyfriend!ni-ki who always misses you already while you were just sleeping beside him. he tucks your hair behind your ear as he watches you breathe, pouting because he can't talk to you. he'll gently lifts your arms, wrapping them around himself before burying his face into your neck, sighing dramatically like he's suffering.

a/n: i'm back, was inspired by a heesung fic i read here but i can't find it anymore T T

if you liked this, you can also try reading fuckboy!ni-ki x reader and fuckboy!ni-ki x reader part ii

read Nishimura Riki as your classmate

マスターリストm.list

[toothfa-1-ry]

MEMORIES WE MADE BACK THEN !!

You and thanos knew eachother from way back then, maybe you'll both know eachother in the future too

Thanos x exmanager! Reader

Angst

Posting one last fic before I officially disappear

"Manager-nim !!" A all too familiar voice practically shouts in your ear, the deep tone sending shivers down your spine and the hair on your arms to stand up

You tilt your head, almost like a reflex as you turn around,

again, a all too familiar frown on your face, thanos thinks to himself

"What the" you mutter as you look at thanos, slightly taken back "What are you doing here" adding more sternly

Thanos shows off his row of pearly whites, his wide grin beaming only what could be defined as pure excitement

"Manager-nim" he calls out again, nudging you softly upon hearing your stern voice

to be fair you weren't his manager. Not anymore. Maybe back then when he was a rapper who seemed to have a promising future career but after his crypto scandel and drug scandel, not only did his career plummet but so did yours

No one wanted to hire a manager who couldn't even take care of their clients

You poke his arm, harsh

"Thanks what the hell are you doing here huh?" You scold him, it was almost a habit of yours, even back then

Thanos immediately moves away his arm with a smirk plastered on his face

"I know all your moves" he teases "cmon try hitting me again, i'll dodge them all-"

You hit him in his shoulder before he could finish his sentence causing him to wince

So dramatic...he should have been an actor instead, you think

"You still didn't answer my question" you say annoyed "prick" adding at the end

Even back then, you and Thanos didnt have the usual manger and client relationship that most entertainers have with their manager.

At the very beginning, you realised that it was impossible to have a civil relationship with Thanos, instead a sort of friendship blossomed between the both of you,

that is, if you consider whatever you and Thanos had going on back then as friendship

Things change though, relationships change aswell.

Your not his manager anymore and he's not your client anymore but you still call him a prick and he still addressed you the same way he addressed you years ago

So maybe not everything is different. Maybe you don't mind it all too much, he surely doesnt

"Agh" thanos scratches the back of his neck like he usually did when he felt awkward, no one knows that though, no one but you

"You know why, manager-nim"

You inwardly groan, ofcourse you know why, but that didn't mean that you wanted him to be stuck here in the games

"Fuck, i think i know why your here too" theres something unusual in his tone. It almost sounds like guilt

You look up to face the purple haired boy who is gazing at you, his lips tightened, drawn into a thin line which attempts to throw you a smile

Key word: attempt

"Yea" you shift uncomfortably, brushing your front hair behind your ears

You hit his shoulder, before locking arms around him "you prick, your still giving me trouble even when I've stopped being your manager"

You throw him your signature grin as you joke with him, it felt weird seeing him look guilty, it felt weird seeing how guilty he felt towards you

"Sorry manager-nim !" Thanos shouts outloud with a gleam in his eyes

You laugh softly at his action

Thanos sees you laugh, a fire is suddenly ignited in him to make you laugh even more

"Manager nim !!" He shouts even louder, shouting up at the sky before bowing at a perfect 90° angle "I'll try to disturb you even more from now on !!"

"Aish what the hell" your curse, though your smiling at his behavior "you haven't changed, your still annoying"

I like that you haven't changed

"Manager nim !!" Thanos screams again, wrapping his arms around you, causing you to you squeal as you cover his mouth to stop him from shouting

You don't notice the way thanos looks at you

I missed you

"Stop calling me that" you say, scolding him "im not your manager anymore remember? Just call me by my name"

"Okay !!" Thanos shoves two thumbs up into your face "ill make sure to do that from now on manager-nim !!"

No, not just "you"

You shake your head, what else did you expect?

"Fucking asshole" you smiling though, and so is the enthusiastic boy next to you

I missed "us"

₊˚｡⋆❆⋆｡˚₊

You watch horrified as some players come out of the bathroom, all bloody with cuts and wounds

Immediately your eyes search for Thanos, frantically hoping that nothing bad happened, holding your breath until you see thanos's limo figure being held by nam gyu who suffered similar wounds like his friend

Immediately your climb down your bunk bed, rushing towards thanos, helping support him along with nam gyu

"What the fuck happened?" You ask nam gyu, your eyes all widened as you soaked in the scene infront of you

Thanos coughs softly, you look at his face, seeing blood all over his shirt, a purple eye and cuts and wounds all over

"I asked you what the fuck happened?!" You shout even louder this time, the other players in the room murmer, also asking what happened in the bathroom

"These guys tried attacking us in the bathroom" nam gyu shouted, pointing at the players with the red X mark in their uniform

"They tried to force some people to change their vote !!" Someone shouts from the X group

Again, another fight emerges with players from the two sides screaming and shouting

However, your sole focus was on the retired rapper who groans in pain, holding his stomach

"Fuck thanos" you mutter as you lead him away from the crowd and to the bunk bed situated in a corner, making him to lie down

Your hands slowly cup his face, examining the scars and wounds on his face

"It was that scammer bastard" thanos growls under his breath before wincing at the pain

"Shut up" you whisper as you move his hair away from his face

"I- i was so angry" thanos says, you could hear the desperation in his voice, the anger "because of him, i lost everything" his voice cracks

All you could do was sit silently beside his bed, staring at his cuts, trying to clean it with your shirt, if that was even helping

"Thanos" you implore as you touch his arm "stop, there's no point in getting angry now, atleast not at this moment"

Thanos looks at you and your furrowed eyebrows, obviously furrowed in distress over his current state. He sees the grimace in your face as you look at his scars and the concern splattered all over your face

It was so reminiscent of the face you made when you first found out about his scandel

"I lost everything" thanos mutters "all I had. Gone down the drain, bye bye"

You shake your head, urging him to be quiet and rest

"Money, fame, respect" he states with a neutral tone "now that I think of it, if it had lost only thag then I would have been fine"

You look over him

"But i lost you too" thanos locks eyes with you "i wish i never lost you"

You stare at him, speechless, unsure of what to say or how to react

"Manager nim" he calls out with a uncharacteristic tone of softness, he looks at you with the same softness too

"Do you know why i really came here?" He laughs softly, mostly at himself, he feels so pathetic right now. Lying wounded and bleeding infront of the person who he had feelings for such a long time

So fucking embarrassing

"Why?" You ask apprehensively, not quite sure of ehat to expect

"To get rid of all the bad memories of the past. The memories of me getting scammed, people hating me, letting my fans down" he pauses "letting you down"

"I thought maybe if I came back with a lot of money i could erase all of that, fuck, i could rewrite everything if i could"

You bite you lower lip, unable to comfort the bow lying down beside you

"But sometimes" he breaths out lowly, before letting out a groan

You move towards him, supporting him to sit upright "but what?"

"Sometimes, when i remember bad memories from back then" thanos looks at you "i just think of you and remember all the good times we had together"

He stops, gazing at your face, his eyes wandering around all your features, trying to memorize them incase he never saw you again

"and then I realise that it wasnt all too bad" he let's out a half smile "maybe back then wasnt all too bad. Maybe I miss back then it's better then here anyways"

You unknowingly sniffle, trying to connect what thanos was trying to say, unsure of how to interpret his words

"Are you speaking in lyrics? Your being so confusing" you mumble softly "just speak straight"

"Are you gonna make me spell it out?"

Thanos smiles, showcasing all his teeth which was once pearly now remained stained red eith blood

"Y/n" he calls out your name "Let's get out of here"

his pinky touches yours "let's get out of here together, and make more memories for us to look back on and remember how we were, back then"

You pause, feeling the contact between his pinky and yours, you enclose it my interlocking your fingers with his

"Even better memories then back then" you whisper with a smile

"Hey" thanos nudges your head with his "as long as it's with you, i'll always look back at it and cherish it"

₊˚｡⋆❆⋆｡˚₊

The vip guest stares down, their usual excitement vanished as they watch the big screen

Though you could not see their faces, it was obvious that all of them seemed to have a glum expression on their face

"I have to say, im disappointed, for the first time actually at the death of a player" a vip member expresses

"Fuck, I was betting on them too" vip 5 bangs his cup on a table, agitation radiating out of his body

"That's why I told you, don't bet on your emotions" a high pitch snarl comes from vip 8 "your such a romanticist, that's your issue"

"So what?! Huh? What's your problem?" Vip 5 says defensively, angered by the comment

Vip 8 with the red gleaming dress simply shrugs taking a sip of champagne

"I have to admit though" another voice interjects from another vip member "I was kind of rooting for them"

"You were?" Another voice asksd

"Hey!" The vip member holds up his hand with a chuckle as if he was being interrogated "you automatically find yourself rooting for young love don't you? Your halfway through and you don't even realise it"

Vip 5 nodds eagerly, pointing his hands at the vip who said that

Some other vips agree while some disagree

"The only thing i'll admit though" vip 8, Stands up from her seat, here red gown training behind her as she walks towards the screen

She, along with all the other vip members watch as the pink guards place you and thanos's lifeless bodies into the coffin after the aftermath of the ambush fight that occurred a few nights after your conversation.

"I was looking foreword to know what kind of memories they were planning to make with one another"

[miihho]

"𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒊𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆"

— 𝐒𝐲𝐩𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬: If you don't want your butler to reach a breaking point and take matters into his own hands by 'disciplining' you, perhaps refrain from behaving like a spoiled brat next time.

— 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: rough sex , unprotected sex , brat!reader , overstimulation , bttm male reader , blowjob , smacking , swearing , dirtytalk , praise , manhandling , dirty talk , age gap , virgin!reader , making out , degradation , petnames , non con , public sex.

PART 1 , PART 2

You sat at the long, luxurious dinner table while the maid nervously watched you eat the food prepared for you. As you took a bite, the maid grew anxious, eyes fixed on your every move. Moments later, a displeased expression crossed your face, and the maid seemed to brace herself for what was to come, as if she had expected it.

"blech!" you spat the meal you were eating. "This is disgusting! Make me another one!" you shouted, throwing the plate of food to the ground, shattering it into pieces. You glared at the maid, who nodded and hurriedly began picking up the broken fragments from the floor.

As the maid cleaned, your impatience mounted. "Move faster!" you demanded. Startled, she flinched, causing the shattered glass to prick her skin, blood seeping from the cuts.

You didn't care. The sight of her blood, her pain—none of it mattered to you. You were a just brat after all.

"Hurry up! I'm growing impatient, you vermin!" you scolded, your harsh words causing tears to well up in her eyes. She nodded quickly and, once done cleaning the mess, ran off to get your new food.

"He wants another dish." the maid announced to the weary chefs. It was the fourth meal you had dismissed.

"Again? What does that brat even like?!" one chef groaned, exasperated. "He's just toying with us. He enjoys seeing us suffer because he has all that power," another chef complained.

The butler, Kyzer, heard their conversation as he passed through the hallways. The chefs and maid flinched when he entered the kitchen. "S-Sir Kyzer!" bowed the maid.

"Oh, Kyzer, what brings you here?" a male chef inquired.

"Pardon me but I accidentally overheard one of your discussion regarding the unfortunate incident with the prince. It saddens me that the boy has, for the fourth time, squandered your hard-prepared meals. I intend to address this matter with him personally, in the hope of curbing this unacceptable behavior." Kyzer declared, his words resonating deeply with the maid and the chefs.

"Kyzer, we appreciate it, but you don't have to do that! We can handle him... I think?" another chef responded, though his voice wavered with uncertainty.

"I must. I don't want your hard work and efforts to go to waste," Kyzer said firmly, his resolve clear.

"K-kyzer, you're so kind to us!" one of the chefs exclaimed, clearly moved by his actions. "I just don't understand why M/n can't be more like you—polite, kind, and well-mannered, instead of such a brat!"

"Well, he's been surrounded by abundance and luxury his whole life. His parents never taught him proper etiquette, so I suppose that's why he turned out that way," another chef remarked.

"Hm... Would you also like me to teach him a thing or two?" "

"Yes! That would be wonderful, Kyzer! Please change his behavior if you can," the chefs pleaded, bowing deeply in gratitude.

"I'll do my best. Now, if you'll excuse me," Kyzer said, bowing before leaving the kitchen. He walked purposefully through the grand hallways of the kingdom toward the dining room where you were waiting.

A few minutes later, Kyzer arrived and opened the large door to the dining room. There you were, sitting alone at the long table, surrounded by empty chairs, waiting impatiently for your food with an annoyed cute expression on your face.

You turned to look at him, his long white hair and piercing yellow eyes sending a chill down your spine. "Who are you? And where is that maid? Why is she taking so long? Ugh!" you grumbled, sounding like a spoiled child.

"My name is Kyzer, your highness," he introduced himself, bowing deeply with one hand on his chest and the other arm behind his back. "The maid is in the kitchen, and it takes time to prepare a new dish for you, your highness." he explained, maintaining his respectful bow.

"Then make them cook faster. I'm getting impatient here!" you demanded, scrutinizing Kyzer from head to toe.

"I'm afraid I cannot your highness. I'm here for other reasons," Kyzer replied, straightening up.

"What?! How dare a lowly butler like you defy my orders?!" you exclaimed, shocked by his refusal. "What even is your reason here?" you demanded, glaring at him.

"You."

"W-what?" you responded, disbelief evident in your tone.

"I'm here because of you, Your Highness," he said, his yellow eyes boring into yours.

You felt a twinge of nervousness under his intense glare, but you weren't one to back down. Crossing your arms defiantly, you retorted. "Me? What for? If it's something insignificant, you get out of my sight!"

"Oh, Your Highness, it's far from unimportant because it's about you."

"About me!? Just what are you trying to say?" you replied while staring at him with perplexity and fury.

He was starting to get on your nerves.

"It's about your behavior and manners, Your Highness. They need to change—"

You snapped, standing up abruptly and grabbing a wine glass. You threw it at him, but it missed and shattered against the wall instead.

"Don't try and give me lessons about behavior and manners, it won't work on me you imbecile!" you shouted, your voice echoing through the grand dining room. As you met his gaze, you flinched at the intensity of his icy glare fixed on you.

You were slowly getting on his nerves.

Somehow, you felt a twinge of regret for your actions, but what was done was done, and there was no turning back. "I'm giving you a chance. I'll let this slide for now!" you scoffed, striding towards him and 'accidentally' bumping his shoulder as you headed for the door. "Tell the maids to clean up the mess." you ordered, but he said nothing.

Weird.

Just as you were about to open the door, he grabbed you roughly by the hair, eliciting a pained sound from you. He threw you to the floor, and you landed hard on your backside, hissing in pain.

"What the fuck are you doing!? If my parents hear about this, your head will be cut off!" you yelled, staring up at him, though part of you wished you hadn't. Behind those intense yellow eyes, you sensed something ominous lurking. Something telling you that something bad was about to happen.

"This is your last chance."

"Change. Your. Behavior."

You chuckled, "And why should I?" you raised an eyebrow, smirking defiantly.

"People are suffering because of you. Your crude and mean comments, your filthy mouth—they need to be purified. And I know you didn't receive proper etiquette, so I'm willing to teach you." he explained.

"Purified!? fuck off! They deserve it. I don't care whether I hurt their feelings or not, they're lowlifes! They don't deserve to be treated the same way. And those chefs and maids? They're just servants, working for us. They're poor, probably came from the gutter, ew! They don't deserve special treatment like us royals!" you retorted venomously.

And then he finally snapped.

As he walked towards you, confusion clouded your expression. "What are you doing—" but your words were cut off as he grabbed you by the collar and dragged you onto the table. You struggled to pry his hands away, but he was too strong.

"Get your dirty hands off me!" you shouted at him, but he ignored your protests. With a swift motion, he threw you onto the table, and you cried out in surprise. Landing with a thud, you quickly placed both palms on the table, using it to support your weight.

As you tried to regain your composure. He forcefully stripped off your pants and underwear, leaving your lower body exposed. Your eyes widened in shock and embarrassment. "Stop! What are you doing with those filthy hands of yours!" you cried out, feeling utterly vulnerable and violated.

You found yourself facing away from him, your exposed backside vulnerable and humiliating. As you attempted to look back at him, he forcefully shoved your head to the ground with his hand, preventing any movement. Struggling to rise, you found yourself pinned in place, utterly helpless.

"S-stop this instant! Someone could walk in here at any moment, you idiot!" you pleaded desperately, but he only inched his face closer to your ear.

"Count." he whispered.

"W-what?"

Smack!

"Wah!" you gasped in surprise as the sharp stinging sensation of his hand striking your exposed ass jolted through you.

"I said, count." he repeated.

"H-how dare you tell me what to do—"

Smack!!

A sharp gasp escaped your lips as he delivered a firmer blow to your backside, the sensation igniting a mixture of pain and arousal that pulsed through your body.

"If you don't count, Your Highness, it'll only get worse and harsher," he warned, caressing your slightly reddened ass. "So please do as I say." he urged, his voice soft yet commanding.

Smack!

"O-one," you stammered, tears pricking at the corners of your eyes.

Smack!

"T-two..."

Smack!

"T—..three." you breathed out, your face pressed down onto the table. Each smack sent a jolt of sensation through you, a mixture of pain and a strange, exhilarating—....pleasure?

He seemed to be truly enjoying your reactions, relishing in the cute gasps and flinches you let out. A smile spread across his lips as he gently paused the spanks, caressing your ass for a moment before resuming with renewed vigor.

Smack!

"f-four!"

As the spanking continued, it eventually came to a halt when you ceased to respond. Sensing your exhaustion, he removed his hand from atop your head, understanding that you had no energy left to fight. Your rear end was now red and throbbing, you had lost track of the count. With gentle care, he soothen your reddened cheeks, offering a moment of relief and comfort.

"How many was it, Your Highness?" His voice was tender as he sought to ground you in the moment.

"I... I don't know," you murmured weakly, your voice barely audible over the echo of pain.

"It's 26, Your Highness," he informed you, his fingers coaxing your face to meet his gaze. As you turned to look at him, he couldn't help but feel a surge of desire. Your flushed cheeks, those endearing hiccups, those captivating eyes, those cute lips...

Fuck... Every aspect of you stirred an undeniable attraction within him, you were turning him on.

He gazed at your lips, inching his face closer to yours, slowly, deliberately. You tried to turn away, but he held your face firmly in place. He was so close, close enough to feel the warmth of your breath on his skin, close enough to taste your plump lips...

Knock, knock!

The sound jarred him from the moment, a surge of frustration coursing through him. Damn it, he had forgotten they were at the dining table.

"Your Highness, your food is ready," the maid's voice came from outside the door.

"Now, if you cause another disturbance, you'll face another punishment. You don't want that, do you?" he said, his eyes locking onto yours with an unwavering intensity.

"F-fuck you... L-let me go and get my pants! T-this is an order," you demanded weakly, still exhausted from the pain and the effort of keeping your screams contained so the maids wouldn't become suspicious and barge in.

Kyzer was going to follow your orders, but his eyes darted down to your shaft, which was standing up confidently. "Are you sure, Your Highness? You're quite... hard down there. You wouldn't want an uncomfortable erection, would you?" he taunted, his hand lowering from your ass to your shaft.

"N-no, it'll go down. Stop!" you stammered, but a moan escaped your lips as he touched you. "Look at this cute little cock, so pretty, just like its owner," Kyzer murmured, beginning to stroke you. You let out a loud moan and quickly covered your mouth.

"Your Highness, may I come in?" the maid called from outside, oblivious to what was happening inside the room. Kyzer continued to stroke you slowly, the deliberate pace heightening your frustration.

"H-hurry up!" you ordered, your voice strained with urgency.

"You want me to hurry? Then beg for it, Your Highness," he smirked, his hand engulfing your tiny lil sensitive cock.

You were embarrassed and humiliated at this point. You, a prince, begging for something? It infuriated you, but the thought of your reputation being ruined drove you to comply.

"P-please hurry up, please let—hng!...M-me cum." you begged, your teary eyes locking with his mischievous yellow ones. He licked his lips, clearly enjoying your submission.

"As you wish, Your Highness," he said, his pace quickening as he stroked you up and down, causing your back to arch off the table.

"Mmhp!?" you moaned, drool seeping from your mouth as you tried to stifle your sounds with your hand. He began to tease the tip of your cock with his index finger, swirling it clockwise.

"Your Highness, please let me hear those beautiful moans... Please let me hear how good I’m making you feel," he whispered. Lost in the pleasure, you obliged, moaning louder, no longer able to control yourself.

"That's it," he breathed, his lustful eyes fixed on your flushed face. Drool was seeping from your mouth, your cheeks were a deep shade of red, and your eyebrows were scrunched up in pure ecstasy. The sight of you like this almost made him cum in his pants. "That's a good boy." he grinned, his own arousal evident as he continued to bring you closer to the edge.

"Are you gonna cum for me, Your Highness?" Kyzer's voice dripped with seduction, his smile widening as he saw you lost in pleasure. "Fuck... You're so adorable when you're messed up." His face flushed as he leaned in, licking the tears streaming down your cheeks. The sensation made you shiver, and he grinned, quickening his pace.

"Nngh—!... Ahh! I-I'm gon' c-cum!!" you cried out, your body trembling as you threw your head back.

"Cum for me, Your Highness. Be a good boy and cum for me."

"A-ahh~!" Your cute little cock spurted, painting the marble floor with streaks of white as you panted heavily, sweat glistening on your skin.

"Well done, Your Highness. I'm very proud of you~♡" he murmured, his voice thick with satisfaction. He leaned in closer, his lips brushing against your ear. "I knew you could do it." He chuckled softly, pressing a kiss to your cheek.

"Your Highness? Are you there?" the maid called from outside the door, her voice filled with concern.

"Let's get you dressed up, yeah?" Kyzer said softly, his voice a mix of amusement and authority. He retrieved your discarded clothing, his touch gentle but firm as he helped you back into your garments. His fingers brushed against your skin, sending shivers down your spine as he adjusted your clothing with meticulous care.

You were still trembling, the aftershocks of pleasure making it difficult to stand. Kyzer's hands were steady, though, guiding you through each movement as he redressed you.

"Remember, Your Highness," he murmured, his lips close to your ear, "I will change your behavior. This is just the beginning." He smirked.

Once you were fully dressed, he took a step back, his eyes scanning you with satisfaction. "There you go, presentable as ever." He straightened his own attire, ensuring he looked impeccable before turning towards the door.

As he opened it, the maid stood waiting with your meal. "Your food, Your Highness," she said, bowing slightly.

Kyzer gave you one last meaningful glance, his eyes lingering on yours. "Enjoy your meal your highness." he said smoothly, before stepping aside to let the maid through.

[leviraaaaaa]

"Hey."

A husky voice spoke right beside your ear, startling you. You felt arms wrap around your waist from behind, warmth pressing against your neck.

"Huh–" You turned your head around, caught off guard. But your shoulders relaxed the moment you realized it was him. "Oh hi, it's you."

Levi rested his head on your shoulder, spreading his legs so they went around where you were sitting, practically slumping on you

"Mhm, were you hoping it was someone else?" Levi mumbled sleepily, snuggling deeper, pressing a soft kiss into the skin before burying his face into the crook of your neck.

"Never." You smiled.

You were sitting on the bed of the spare bedroom, papers and books spread across you. You work best in bed. But Levi was so tired tonight, he had went to bed early, and you hadn't the heart to disrupt his sleep. Which is why you had to seek refuge in the guest bedroom instead.

"You made a mess." He huffed, noticing the absolute chaos of papers and books you have made in the bed.

"We don't have much guests either way. This room is practically going to waste. But fine," You reassure him. "I'll clean up later, I swear."

"You always say that. Weeks will pass, the mess will stay the same." He mutters.

"Alright, you neat-freak, did you wake up just to take a nick at how unorganized I am?" You raise a brow, shooting a glance sideways, pretending to be annoyed. You failed to bite back the smile tugging on your lips though."You should be asleep."

"Shouldn't you too?" He pouted. "I can't sleep if you're not there."

"I know," You raised your hand, ruffling his hair. It was already messy, indicating he'd been tossing and turning in the bed for a while now. "I just really need to finish this article, alright? Go to bed, I'll be there."

"Is your work more important than me?" His head turned sideways, the silver of his eyes glinting through sleep-heavy lids. He almost looked like a pouty kid, needy for attention. You turned your head to press your forehead against his, pressing against the warmth of his body. He was always so warm.

"Levi, I promise. Just 5 minutes."

"I gave you 2 hours." He frowned.

"5 more minutes. Finishing touches."

"In the morning. Come to bed."

"Just 5 minutes!" You laughed when he shook his head, his hair tingling your neck.

"5 seconds."

"Levi."

"5." He began counting.

You rolled your eyes, amused. "No way, you're doing that."

"4."

"I'm serious."

"3."

"Two minutes?"

"2."

You squirmed against his hold, struggling to loosen his grip. You tugged forward, but you couldn't even budge.

Curse Levi and his Ackerman strength.

"1."

"Okay, I'm serious, let me g–"

You didn't even get a second before you were hoisted up in the air, thrown over his shoulder. A surprised squeal escaped you but the next thing you know you were in your bedroom. He dropped you on it, bed creaking underneath the sudden weight. Then he slid in, pulling the covers and tucking the both of you under it, an arm wrapping around you so you were pressed firmly against his chest and very unable to move.

"You work too hard for your own good." He mumbled, voice already raspy from the exhaustion clouding over him.

"Says the workaholic and the insomniac." You protest.

"You talk a lot, don't you?" He sighed softly. "Go to sleep. If you don't get enough rest you get cranky in the morning."

"I suffer from cranky Levi everyday. You should get a taste." You grinned.

"I'm not cranky."

"No. You're like a moody teenager on her period."

"Shut up." He tugged your ear, a playful gesture to show that he was annoyed. But the slightest quirk of his mouth didn't escape your eyes, as small as it was. "Need my sleep, love. Can't have that if you're not here."

"Yeah?" You exhaled, sleep caressing your eyes as well. But the nickname still made you grin. Hearing words of endearment from Levi was such a rare thing, you felt giddy whenever he addressed you like that. It's not that he doesn't love you, it's just he's gets too flustered and embarrassed whenever the words slip out, which just makes the moments all the more special.

Like now, how he screwed up his face the instant he realized.

"No." He said in a warning tone.

Too late. You grinned. "Call me darling."

"No."

"Sweetheart?"

"No."

"Honeypie?"

"Absolutely not."

"Sweat pea?"

"What the fuck." He groaned. "I swear you get worse every day."

"I'm serious. Why not?"

"Because they're ridiculous."

"Okay. How about Fuzzball?"

"What the hell is that even supposed to mean?"

"Pumpkin?"

"Why, just why?"

You reached up, bringing your mouth closer to his ears. "Mommy?" You whispered.

He jolted. "I will smack you with this pillow." He says flatly, keeping his face expressionless. "Go to sleep before I knock you out myself."

You nodded, pressing the back of your hand to stifle your laugher, your shoulders shaking. But you decided that was quite enough for Levi. At least for one night.

"Roger." You sighed, throwing an arm over him. "Goodnight, babe."

"Brat." He grumbled, turning his head and hiding his face in the pillow.

Not before you caught the flush on his face though.

@sad-darksoul

[ashwhowrites]

Hiiii I’m so excited that ur requests are open again!! Could you do a fic with Eddie and reader that are enemies but are in a parenting class and get partnered to take care of a fake baby together this causes them to get to know one another better and eventually fall for each other

I hope this is what you wanted and you enjoy it. Thank you for requesting 🫶🏻

Parenting class

Eddie and Y/N did not get along and everyone knew that. Eddie wasn't sure why he hated Y/N but he knew he did. Y/N thought Eddie was loud and annoying. They bickered anytime they were in a room together.

They only had one class together and it was health. Most of the time Eddie ditched so Y/N lived in her small victories. But a new lesson was being taught- parenting. And to make it worse, they got partnered together.

Y/N groaned as she walked over to Eddie's table and slammed her books down.

"Well hello to you too, gorgeous." Eddie teased. He loved getting under her skin and driving her insane.

"Shut up," she rolled her eyes and sat down

They sat in silence as the teacher explained the project and then handed them a fake baby doll.

"Look, he's kinda ugly, like you!" Eddie smirked as he held the baby and shoved it in her face

"I would rather be a single mom than spend a second pretending to have a child together."

~~~

Eddie had the first shift with the baby. They flipped a coin and he lost. Now he was listening to a fake baby cry non-stop as he tried to sleep. He swore he tried everything, he fed him, changed him, burped him, he did everything Y/N wrote on the list, but the fucker wouldn't stop crying.

He got out of bed and turned on his lamp, he grabbed his dirty jeans off the floor and dug in the pockets. Once he found the piece of paper he was looking for, he walked out to the kitchen to grab the phone.

He tried to zone out the crying as the phone rang, sighing in relief when someone picked up

"Hello?"

"I can't get that baby to shut up," Eddie growled into the phone

"Eddie, I wrote everything down, just read. Goodnight," Y/N yawned

"You don't think I've tried everything? Trust me, calling you is my last resort. Can you come over and just help me?"

"Why should I do that?" she scoffed

"Fine, but if you ever need help I ain't coming," Eddie argued, he went to hang up but she stopped him

"What's your address?"

~

Eddie was cradling the baby doll as he waited for Y/N to arrive. He sighed in relief when he heard a knock on the door. He opened the door and Y/N slipped inside.

"My uncle is in bed so we'll go to my room," Eddie whispered, even though he was sure the baby woke him up

Y/N nodded and followed him into the room

"Hand him over," Y/N sighed, her eyes heavy as the sleep never left her body.

Eddie handed him over, watching with curious eyes as she tucked the baby in her arms. He watched in awe as she cradled the baby and bounced him in her arms, the cries dying out.

Y/N smiled as the baby seemed to calm down

"Do you have a magical touch or something?" Eddie joked, wiping the tiredness from his eyes

Y/N looked up at him, just noticing he was shirtless. She quickly looked at his face and gave him a smirk

"Wouldn't you like to know," she teased

Eddie rolled his eyes but he couldn't help smiling

"Not even if I was dying, dear," he joked.

"Where does he sleep? I'll set him down," Y/N offered as she stood up

"On the bed," Eddie shrugged. He stood up and pulled the sheets back, she stepped next to him. Her soft skin touched his as she set the baby on the bed.

"Hopefully he'll stay asleep until the morning," Y/N said

"I'll walk you out," Eddie offered, Y/N nodded and walked behind him.

"Thank you for helping," he said as he opened the door

"I was helping the baby, don't flatter yourself."

Eddie smiled to himself as she walked out.

~~~

Over the next few weeks, Eddie and Y/N found themselves calling each other for help. Which forced them to hang out and talk to each other.

They learned a few things about each other, which seemed to humanize them. Y/N learned things about Eddie that she liked, and made her look at him differently. Eddie knew that Y/N had struggles in her own life and maybe he was too hard on her.

They didn't realize how easy it was to get along. Eddie found himself enjoying Y/N's presence and wanted her around more. He liked how soft and gentle she was with the baby, it showed a different side of her that he didn't know existed.

Y/N liked seeing Eddie try at something and seeing him care. She even began to find herself attracted to him. He was more open with her and she found herself wishing she could heal all his wounds.

By the time they finished the project, they both formed a huge crush on each other. They got comfortable and began to flirt, testing the waters.

Eddie wanted to ask her out but he was a bit nervous she would say no. He didn't know if being together changed anything or if it was just him. With the project finished, they didn't have an excuse to see each other and Eddie knew the longer he waited the easier it would be for her to find someone else.

He didn't know that she was thinking the same thing. She noticed that he didn't pick on her to make her insecure, but more of picking on her to make her blush. Their comments were less harsh, and he began to compliment her.

Eddie was too chicken to do it in person, so he waited until he got home from school and could ask over the phone.

He gave himself a little pep-talk before he picked up the phone and dialed her number

"Hello?"

He smiled when he heard her voice

"Hey, it's Eddie, I was wondering if you might be interested in getting food together? Like on a date," he swore he was holding his breath once he finished his sentence.

"I'll be ready at seven, and I'd bring flowers if I were you," she said before she hung up, smiling to herself.

@bmunson86 @mxcheese @ladymunson @michaelfuckinglangdon @z0mbie-blah @biittersweet @mirrorsstuff @somethingvicked @micheledawn1975 @ago-godance @magnificantmermaid @tlclick73 @hargrovesswifee @cityofidek @silky-luxe @lokiofasgard616 @loving-and-dreaming @eddiemunsonsbitch69 @thegemaqua @ashlynnkennedy @strangerthingsstories5255 @harringt8ns @pleasinghellfire @whoscamila @stusdollface93 @gretavankleep37 @bellaisswagger @arlx @ineedmentalhelp123

[itoshiexx]

thin line

synopsis: four times itoshi rin said he hated you, and the one time he finally said the truth.

pairing: itoshi rin x gn!reader | words: 5k (insane) | warnings: enemies to (implied) lovers, cursing (rin being rin), rin is a total tsundere and emotionally constipated, banter, teasing, one (1) sexual implication towards the end, i use the word hate a lot, kinda proofread

notes: oh my GOD. you have no idea how hard it was for me to write (and finish!) this. writer's block has been kicking my ass really hard and honestly i don't even know if i like this but i swear to god if this flops i'll kms. (jk. maybe. or not.)

masterlist sae's 4+1

i.

itoshi rin was a hater. 

he didn’t consider himself one, naturally. rin thought he was a pretty chill guy, but apparently, everyone who had some sort of interaction with the younger itoshi felt the same kind of vibe coming from him. at least, it was what his stupid teammates said after claiming rin was always hating on something — whether it was the line in the coffee shop being too long, every pass given to him by isagi or the librarian with “a stupid fish-face”.

on his defense, no one liked long lines, isagi had two left feet when it came to passing and the librarian was a fucking weirdo. even if he was a hater, he had a plausible reason for everything he hated. 

“itoshi.”

that included you, of course.

rin was pretty convinced it was impossible not to hate you. every time he entered your shared biology class, a mere look at you was enough for his irk to grow even more. everything about you was just obnoxious.

you were loud. and, although unpleasant, that wouldn’t be much of a problem if you just weren’t unable to shut the fuck up and stop rambling excitedly at every friend you met. and you had many. you were some kind of weird social butterfly with infinite energy for social interactions — in a way, you reminded him of bachira. 

but bachira was not always jumping at every chance to refute him with a know-it-all smirk. bachira wasn’t perpetually ready to throw witty remarks at his rudeness. and bachira definitely didn’t have a pretty gleam on his eyes every time he headbutted with rin.

in short, you were everything itoshi rin hated. and the worst part was that you knew. you knew how much your very existence annoyed him, and it seemed like you took as your life mission to make the next two years of his life a living hell. 

“itoshi.” your voice reached his ears again. well, maybe if he just ignored you, you would… “itoshi!”

“what the fuck do you want?” he snapped, diverting his attention from the match playing on his phone to look at you. ��i told you not to call me that.”

another thing he hated — to be called by his last name. it reminded him way too much of sae, and that was something rin didn’t want to do. but it wasn’t like he was going to tell you that, so he’d rather let you think he just didn’t want you to address him at all. which wasn’t a lie, either. 

you gave him a puzzled look, tilting your head like an innocent puppy. a fake naivety, of course. “we’re not close enough for me to call you by your first name, though.”

“thank fuck.” 

your eyes rolled at that. “language, itoshi.” he glared at you again, and you fixed your posture, putting your hands on the back pockets of your jeans. the malicious smile you gave sent chills down his spine. 

“well, i just came to deliver you the news since you missed last period. there’s a project worth 75% of our grade to be delivered in two months, and guess what? we’re together!”

oh, hell no.

“you tell terrible jokes.”

“i’m serious, though. if you don’t believe me, just ask your friends,” you said, so absentmindedly that rin felt his blood pressure rising. he opened his mouth to retort, but you beat him to it. “and before you try, the teacher already said no one can work alone and that the pairs cannot be exchanged.”

his left eye twitched, and he was pretty sure all his muscles were tight and ready to combust. life just couldn’t give him a break, could it? it was like he was being punished — forced to work with you, of all people. what a fucking nightmare. 

how the hell was he supposed to endure two months of constant interactions with your annoying sassiness and the pretty curve of your lips when you smirked? it might just drive him crazy. 

“so, when can we start, partner?”

rin rolled his eyes so hard they almost got stuck on the back of his skull. 

“i hate you.”

ii.

the soccer field was probably the only place rin felt at peace. the smell of grass and sweat was as familiar as his home, much like the round shape of the ball on his feet and the path to the goal. despite his rowdy teammates and their dumb antics, there wasn’t much that was able to distract him and break this peacefulness.

“itoshi!”

there was still something, though. or someone, for that matter.

the shock of seeing you in his “happy place” was so big rin nearly tripped on the ball, successfully letting bachira steal it from him. the snickers from reo and isagi made his skin boil with anger, but his harsh glare was directed at you — the fucking source of all his problems. 

and no, he was not being dramatic. 

“what are you doing here.” 

it wasn’t really a question, more like a veiled threat; but you seemed oblivious to it, or simply didn’t care about his reaction. something in him even thought you liked getting on his nerves. he was sure of it when you smirked.

“the project, dummy. we need to start today if we want to get it done in time. it’s pretty long, hence why we have two months.”

“i can’t today,” was all he said. 

“why?”

“because,” rin spat with venom on his tongue, “i have an important game next week.”

you stared at him in silence. rin would have thought about how the sun shining on your back framed you with a perfect halo and gave you a nearly angelic look if he wasn’t so busy controlling the heat on his face from your scrutiny. he hated when you did that. he hated you. 

“we have to start today, itoshi. i’ll wait until you finish practicing so we can go to the library.”

he hated your stubbornness. he hated your voice, too — how it sounded like a siren’s melody, ready to trap him and bring him to the bottom of the ocean.

“fine. suit yourself.”

the young itoshi turned around and went back to the field, ignoring aryu’s pestering and shidou asking about who you were and if he could have your number. rin pondered if a yellow card was worth shutting up the insect, but eventually decided against it; he didn’t want ego to bench him, especially when they were so close to the tournament next week. 

the rest of the game went pretty smoothly, although rin and his teammates could tell he had half of his focus on the sidelines, where you sat prettily at the stands with your laptop. a perpetual scowl was on his face throughout the rest of the match. you were so damn distracting it was annoying. 

once the match was over, some of the boys went home, while others continued practicing, rin being one of them. he was expecting you to grow tired and give up, especially considering it was getting darker and colder, but you didn’t waver. your face was still present on the stands, haunting him even if he closed his eyes. you even had the audacity to smile when your gazes crossed.

he hated your smile. he did. 

hours passed until every one of his teammates had gone home, and rin was the only one left in the field. deciding it was finally enough (and not admitting he was starting to worry for you), he stopped his moves, finishing up with a few stretches so that his muscles weren’t too sore. he stored the footballs on the cart and put away the cones, something that was already routine at that point since he was usually the last one to leave.

finally, rin walked towards you. 

“i’m done,” he said as he approached you on the sideline of the field. his gym bag was right at your side, and he ignored the electricity that sparked his skin when it grazed yours. 

your eyes averted from your laptop to look at him. “oh, hi! thought you’d take a little longer,” you retorted. “anyways, i’m done too.”

he stopped his movement. “what?”

“yeah, i finished the first topic. only fourteen more to go.” the giggle that flew out of your mouth reverberated through his body. rin watched as you stood up and stretched, looking away when your shirt rode up and a sliver of your stomach could be seen. you then proceeded to put your laptop away, and his brows furrowed. 

“i don’t get it. i thought you said… you said it was too much stuff to do by yourself.” you nodded, not even looking at him. rin kind of wished you did. “and yet you did everything?”

“well, yes.”

his scowl only worsened. “what the fuck? why?”

you slung your bag through your shoulder, looking at him with those damn doe-eyes that always sparkled so much. it was annoying. why did they remind him of the stars? and why did rin wanted to watch the night sky on your face?

“you said you have an important game next week, so i figured it wouldn’t kill to do the first topic by myself,” you answered. “don’t get used to it, though! you’re gonna have to help on the next ones, partner.”

the young itoshi ignored the stupid nickname, his brain still trying to catch up to everything. something just wasn’t clicking…

“so why the hell did you wait for me to finish practice?”

you didn’t even falter.

“thought you could use the company.” you shrugged. and although your voice was nonchalant, you were smiling. and not your typical mischievous smirk — it was a sweet, sweet smile, dripped in honey and all things good in the world. 

rin’s heart leaped on his chest. he could feel his cheeks becoming flushed, but he blamed it on the cold. 

coming to think of it, it was really cold. and you sat there for hours… if he looked closely, he could see your frame shivering from the lack of proper clothing. 

a little tsk came out of his mouth, and rin impulsively took off his jacket, throwing it on your face — ignoring the “hey!” you sent his way.

“what’s that for, itoshi?!”

“so that you don’t freeze to death, dumbass.”

rin had to admit your gaping expression was kind of cute. not that he would commit to memory or something… that would be lukewarm, and he was anything but lukewarm. especially when it came to you. 

“don’t get any ideas, though,” he said before you could retort, turning around to follow the path to his dorm room, “i still hate you.”

iii.

things were calmer after the game passed. rin often found himself at the university library with you after his practice, leaving around nine or ten, and walking you to your dorm building simply because he didn’t want to be bothered in case something happened to you. not like he was worried for your safety or anything.

you still got on his nerves, but the project was going surprisingly well. rin learned you were very dedicated and meticulous, meaning you put in a lot of effort to focus and make everything as perfect as it could be. he wished he could say his focus was also as sharp as ever, but the scent of your coconut shampoo always lingered on the study booths and made his mind fuzzy. 

it was tuesday night and you were both on your laptops doing research and writing on your paper, falling into the same little routine you established the past weeks. the library was nearly empty as usual — though you always sat at the furthest cabin because rin didn’t like to see, hear or speak to people — and the only sound in the ambience was the pitter patter of the rain. 

everything seemed to be going fine, but things changed when the rain got heavier and became a strong thunderstorm that made the lights go out.

“fuck,” rin cursed under his breath, looking around to hear other people mumbling complaints and the librarian saying she would turn on the power generator, asking for calm and patience. he squeezed the bridge of his nose, annoyed, and turned to you. “hey, do you think—”

then he stopped. 

the only source of light was the screen of your laptops and the occasional lightning striking on the dark sky, but rin could see you on the other side of the table as clear as day. and he felt his heart squeeze impossibly hard with the sight. 

you were shaking like a leaf, hands squeezed tight and nails prickling your skin, and your eyes were widened and so, so scared. he had never seen you wear such an expression, always familiar with your confidant, cheery self, and he decided he didn’t like one bit. 

“hey,” he whispered, trying to grasp your attention. however, your eyes were focused outside. “hey, look at me.”

slowly, your orbs met his, and rin felt his breath hitch. there were tears on your lash line threatening to fall, and panic began to rise on his throat; but he forced himself to stay calm for your sake. 

“what’s wrong?”

your lips trembled, but nothing came out. he hated your voice, but found himself missing it. so he tried again.

“are you… afraid of the dark?”

his question was answered when the sound of another thunder reverberated again, making you visibly flinch. his gaze softened when a small hiccup left your lips. 

“oh. it’s the thunder.”

you nodded, still unable to talk. rin could see you were forcing yourself to keep your sobs contained, as if the mere thought of crying in front of him was as dangerous as standing at gunpoint. like his words — venomous, harsh, cold words — could hurt you just as much as a bullet. 

his stomach churned with that thought. he hated it. 

so, as carefully as he could so as not to startle you, rin stood up from his seat and walked around the table until he reached the chair at your side, sitting on it. he felt you body tense with the proximity, more so when he slightly turned to stare at you, and felt the need to say something.

“it’s okay,” he murmured, so impossibly soft you could hardly believe it was itoshi rin saying those words to you. 

it was even more unbelievable when he enveloped your body in a hug, bringing your head to his chest as if to shelter you from the thunder. 

rin really hoped you couldn't hear the unrestrained beating of his heart. everything about that moment made him nearly combust; from the ever present smell of your shampoo when he rested his nose in your hair, the evident relaxation of your frame when he hugged you or the small arms that held his waist as if he was the only lifeline in the ocean. 

you let your sobs and sniffles run free, burying yourself deeper in his embrace, and all rin could do was pat your hair and whisper soft reassurances on your ear. 

it’s okay. you are safe. i won’t let it hurt you. 

he didn’t know how long you both stayed in that position, but as he enjoyed the warmth of your body next to his, your sobs eventually died out along with the roaring sound of thunder. the rain became thinner and the lights finally came back, although neither of you made a move to separate. 

the silence lingered for a moment before you broke it, “thank you.”

the male only hummed, trying to hide his disappointment when you slowly backed away. though his hand didn’t leave you, going from your hair to rest on your hip in some type of reassurance squeeze. 

“i-i’m sorry, it’s just…”

“you don’t have to explain,” he interrupted. then, hesitantly added, “only if you want to.”

“it’s not something big or anything… this fear has just kind of been there. i think something happened to me when i was a kid and it was thundering, so every time it happens i just… freeze.” you shook your head. “it’s stupid.”

he frowned. “it’s not stupid if it makes you this terrified. it’s okay, we all have fears.”

you were yet to look him in the eye, seemingly embarrassed about your triggered phobia. “i cried on your shirt.”

“yeah.”

“it has tears stains.”

“yeah.”

you sighed. “i’m sorry.”

he squeezed your hip again. “don’t apologize.”

you finally raised your head to look at him, and rin could very much consider himself a lost man at that moment. your eyes were glistening from the remnant of tears, but that pretty gleam was still there, barging its way through any sadness and any fear to present itself with the shy smile you sent him.

even if it was still dark, he would be able to see it, because you shined. brightly, scorchingly and so, so mesmerizing, like some sort of classic painting worth millions of dollars. if rin had the choice, he wouldn’t want to look away. 

“i think it’s enough for today,” you said, “do you mind if we continue tomorrow?”

“i don’t mind,” rin answered, although he secretly wished to bask in your warmth for a little longer. “i’ll take you to your dorm building. i brought an umbrella.”

because he knew you were a klutz and would most likely forget. not that he paid attention to you or something. 

you smiled again, and rin had to use all of his might to let go of you and go back to his chair to pick up his stuff. silently, you both put away your things and left the study booth towards the exit, where the younger itoshi opened his umbrella and started to walk towards your destination. he felt his skin burning when you tangled your arm with his so that you were squeezed together under the shelter for the rain.

around ten minutes later, you finally arrived at your dorm building. and then, as the little minx you were, you stood on your toes to press a kiss to his cheek before running inside along with your goodbyes. 

“thank you, rin!”

he stood there like a statue for what felt like an eternity, feeling his face impossibly hot. rin touched his cheek in mild disbelief, feeling butterflies erupting on his stomach without permission. 

it was only then he realized you called him by his actual name, and a smile inevitably took over his features. 

fuck.

itoshi rin hated you. but that day, he discovered that he hated seeing you cry even more.

iv.

he didn’t really know what the fuck he was doing there. rin was not the kind of guy who went to parties, much less fraternity ones; but somehow he ended up in one on a saturday night after a lot of convincing from his teammates. he claimed he only accepted so that isagi would shut up and stop pestering him, but the said boy insisted to say he only agreed after learning you would be there. 

which was absurd, of course. a completely crazy, delusional and absurd thought. why would he want your obnoxious self to go and ruin the party? rin hated you. 

right?

the music was loud and the people were even louder. there were dozens of bodies on the makeshift dance floor swaying to the beat, along with some people playing beer pong and small groups scattered around talking as best as they could. rin was part of the last type, although he was tuning out everything that bachira blabbed on his ear like a madman. his focus was solely on the entrance.

and then, you came in. 

it was like a stupid romance movie — the way everything seemed to be in slow motion. from the way you walked, to the slight movement of your hair, to the blink of your curved eyelashes. and god, how much he hated that. 

he hated the way your mere presence prickled his skin. how your voice soothed his lousy thoughts, how your smile lit up the room. he hated this urge inside of him to look for you every time he knew you'd be in the same vicinity, like you were some source of life that he couldn’t live without. 

“are you okay, rin-chan?” bachira’s voice took him out of his thoughts. he blinked a few times.

“yeah, i’m fine.”

now, rin wasn’t a drinker; the red cup on his hand was merely for show. but he gulped some beer at that moment, as if trying to wake up from a hazy dream or get out of a trance. it made sense — he did think you were a siren of some sort. 

there was no other reason for the spell you put on him. 

the party went on, and he spent a few hours avoiding you like the plague and pretending he wasn’t stealing glances at every chance he got. truth is, he was always paying attention when you were swaying your hips on the dance floor like there was no tomorrow, glaring at every guy who thought about getting close while holding back his own desire to do the same.

it was only when you left to the backyard that his teammates finally decided to say something.

“you should talk to them” reo advised, eyebrows dancing in a weird, wiggly way. rin grimaced.

“what? why?”

the boys rolled their eyes and groaned, tired of the younger itoshi’s behavior. 

“rin, man. you are clearly interested in them. and i’m pretty sure they’re interested in you, too,” isagi said slowly, as if rin was a child. “otherwise, they wouldn’t make the effort to pester you.”

rin could feel his face flushing. “i’m not—”

“don’t even try to deny it. it’s kind of obvious, really,” chigiri butted in, an exasperated countenance on his face. “just go, rin.”

he let out a tsk, chugging the rest of his drink and throwing the cup on the trash. “i’m going out just because i don’t want to keep listening to you idiots.” 

“yeah, right,” nagi snickered, and the others followed, watching rin turn his back and move towards the backyard, where he would inevitably find you. 

the chilly air hit his skin the moment he stepped out, and rin kind of thanked the relief it gave to his hot cheeks. quickly looking around, it was easy to spot your lonely frame leaning on the wall, staring at the stars as if they weren’t in your eyes. he walked to you like his feet had their own will, and once he got close enough, leaned the side of his body on the wall, facing you.

“you’re cold.”

not even a hello, how are you to start. great conversationalist, itoshi rin.

you turned your head to look at him, smiling when recognition took over your features. “hey, itoshi! didn’t think i’d meet you here!”

the giggle that went past your lips was the only reason he didn’t scowl when you didn’t call him rin.

“parties are not really my thing, but my friends convinced me to come.” you nodded, understanding. he blinked a couple of times, and said again, “you’re cold.”

you slightly flushed. “it’s just a bit chilly, but it’s not a big deal…”

but rin was already shrugging off his jacket, moving to be right in front of you as if to shield you from the wind. he handed the piece of clothing to you. “here.”

“oh… thank you,” you answered, bashful, taking the jacket and putting it on. 

last time he lent you one, he didn’t stay to see how you looked like. but at that moment, rin was sure there was nothing prettier than the sight of you in his clothes. he swallowed a nervous lump from his throat.

“so… why are you out here by yourself?”

“needed some air. i danced a lot and it was kind of stuffy in there.” you shrugged. then, fiddling with your fingers, you look straight into his eyes. “and maybe… maybe i was hoping someone would follow.”

someone. you had your eyes on someone. 

rin didn’t know what was worse: the stinging pain on his heart or the bitter taste left on his tongue. what he did know was that both felt like poison, one that would spread through his veins and consume him whole. and that he shouldn’t feel like this. because he hated you, after all. 

he must have made a terrible grimace, because you threw your hands in the air in exasperation. 

“for fucks sake.”

and then your lips were on his. 

it was just a fleeting moment — something way too quick and definitely not enough to sate the dormant hunger inside of him. in the blink of an eye, you were already back in your place, staring at him with doe-eyes and a hundred doubts written in them. 

rin freezed for a whole full minute with his mouth agape, until finally lunging forward to kiss you again. his right arm wrapped possessively around your waist to glue your bodies together, while his left hand found a place in your jaw, cradling your face as if you were some precious jewel. his lips were hungry on yours, and you gasped with the intensity, giving him the opportunity to shove his tongue inside your mouth. 

kissing you was exhilarating, like scoring the perfect goal or winning a championship. adrenaline ran high on his veins and his head was a little airy. and rin swore he never felt so alive. 

when you finally parted, you were both panting, chest heaving with every breath. rin rested his forehead against yours, directing both of his hands to your middle as if to look for grounding. 

“you still hate me, itoshi?” you asked in a whisper, mouth inches away from his but still not close enough. that dangerous gleam was still settled in your eyes, and he could swear you were the perfect definition of sinful every time you batted your eyelashes at him.

“call me rin.”

“okay,” you giggled lightly. “you still hate me, rin?”

he could feel his blood pulsing on his ears. “yeah,” he answered, way too breathless for an athlete of his caliber. 

and then, holding your waist tighter, “kiss me again.”

v.

“we should get coffee.”

rin’s words cut the silence as you were exiting the library yet again. you looked up to see his face staring straight ahead, expression unreadable as always, but the light redness on the tip of his ears told you all you needed to know. 

you decided to be a tease, as always. “hm… i don’t know, should we? you sure you want to spend even more time with someone you hate?”

he scowled like usual, but this time, there was a small pout on his lips. you thought he looked the cutest when he was like that, all shy and trying to maintain his stoic act. 

he grumbled something under his breath. 

“what was that?”

“i said,” he sneered, “i don’t hate you, stupid.”

you arched your brow. “you don’t?”

“do you think i would have kissed you if i did?” the smirk you give him is both charming and infuriating. rin would have said he hated it, but he was done pretending. 

“i don’t know, itoshi. you are kind of emotionally constipated.”

“shut up,” rin quipped. then, he snaked your waist with his right arm as you walked side by side, pulling you closer. “and didn’t i tell you to call me rin?”

there was just mischief in your eyes when you answered, “yeah, but i like to get on your nerves.”

the male scoffed, still in disbelief with your antics. 

“you’re a damn brat. i think you just want me to teach you my name tonight.”

rin could practically feel the heat on your face, and he smirked when he saw how red you were. god, you were so cute. 

“at least take me to dinner first before we hate-fuck,” you still managed to joke, despite the slight shakiness in your voice. he rolled his eyes, and pulled you to a stop by the arm. 

you both stood in the middle of campus, feeling the gentle caress of the breeze and listening to the birds chirping. it was a peaceful day, with the sun high up in the baby blue sky. rin thought there was no better time than at that moment. 

his hand traced your arm until it reached your own, and he squeezed your fingers in reassurance. 

“i don’t hate you,” he said again. “i just hate the way i don’t hate you. not even close. not even a little bit. not even at all.”

he watched your eyes light up and smile brighter than the sun, and he almost laughed at the disbelief in your voice. 

“did you just quote ‘ten things i hate about you’?”

it was his time to flush. a small shrug was all rin answered with — he didn’t want you to know he specifically chose this sentence because that was your favorite movie. not like it mattered when you were gleaming at him and making his heart leap on his chest. 

“well, then,” you squeezed his hand back, “let’s get coffee, rin.”

© 2023 itoshiexx. do not plagarise, translate, or repost any of my work on here or other sites.

[nikki0606]

since we were kids | Bakugou X Reader

oneshot; (goes from angst -> fluff)

And there goes yet another day of Bakugou bullying Midoriya, your childhood friend. Of course Bakugou is your childhood friend too, but you sort of snapped it off with him when he started being the devil to Midoriya.

"You don't need to step in, (Name)-chan." Midoriya tells you, "I'll handle it. Kacchan's not that harsh... "

"What, do you need him to kill you for you to understant?" it hurts you to see Bakugou behave this way- the boy who once gloated to you about having a great quirk and being the strongest was now using it to hurt others.

"I need to buy a new notebook." Midoriya stops walking, "It won't take me long. Why don't you go ahead, I'll catch up later. I'll get a warm up run that way too."

You agree and Midoriya hurries off towards the closest stationary.

"Tch, how do I get into U.A. if I get caught doing this shit." an all too familiar voice sounds approaching towards the exit of an alleyway to the side.

Immediately, a frown settles on your face. 

It's been long since you've had a personal talk with Bakugou- you stopped communicating with him ever since he started being a bitch because it broke your heart to see him that way.

Remembering the old days only makes it worse because all that you've felt for him ever since the beginning doesn't seem to fade off- you're hurt by Bakugou's behaviour, yes, but you can't hate him.

But just for Izukkun's sake-

You've made your mind to confront him today.

After all, him telling Midoriya to jump off the roof was crossing the line.

Without another second of allowing worry or doubt to fill your brain, you hurry into the alleyway to come face to face with the ash-blond boy and his two lackeys following behind.

"Bakugou-san." you've been addressing him formally and crudely since a little while now.

"Whoa whoa," the lackeys behind Bakugou who were once your friends too now narrow their eyes in disgust, "looks like someone left her little frail bunny for a while."

"Tsubasa-san." your lips press, "What a pleasant way to initiate conversation after years. How mannered you were back when you were a kid, I wonder where that little boy went." your eyes roll over to Bakugou last second.

After all, your words are just as genuinely meant for him too.

"Let's talk, Bakugou-san."

He tilts his head, eyes dangerously focused into yours. Bakugou walks all the way up to you and towers you to intimidate you and although there's a part of you which somewhat fears what he's become, you know he wouldn't actually hurt you.

All these years of you stepping in when he bullies Midoriya and he's never once caused a scratch on you, though the same can't be said for Midoriya.

"What do you want, dumbass?" the sheer annoyance in his voice is enough of an indication for the other two boys to walk further away from the both of you and give Bakugou his space.

"I... need to talk to you." you avert your eyes to the side momentarily but then force yourself to look back in his eyes, "It's about Izukkun- " his eyes twitch, you jolt and immediately continue, "please, Bakugou-san."

"Fuck off." he almost turns on his heels to leave.

"Katsukkun... " you know he'll stop if you use the nickname you gave him years ago. For some wicked reason, it makes your eyes glassier- it's been years since you've let this out of your mouth.

Bakugou halts just as you think he would.

"Katsukkun, please. Stop the bullying, it's not his fault he's quirkless." there's a sad expression resting on your face now that you've retorted to using a sweet memory from the past to stop him, "He's human too, he can have dreams."

"You literally can't fucking forget your oh-so poor little bunny, huh?" Bakugou looks more annoyed than he's ever been at you, "Go bang your head against a wall or something, bitch."

Without another glance, he turns and walks off. And without a second delay, you turn to run home, eyes dripping down tears for someone you'd committed to never cry over again.

It hurts- that little boy who would smile like the Sun isn't there anymore and it hurts.

.

________________________________________________________

.

You walk into class all alone the next day- Midoriya has texted you asking you to go ahead because he will be late. Taking the opportunity, the girls call you over to join their morning gossip session.

"Hamiri-chan got her first kiss today." one of the girls excitedly tells you while Hamiri covers her face in embarrassment.

You're surprised she got it only now considering she happens to be the prettiest in the entire school. Compared to her, you look like that oddly half-painted crowd member from a nursery grade student's drawing.

Could it be... 

An odd thought enters your mind.

But Katukkun hasn't ever shown interest in her publicly. There's a chance it could be someone else... right?

But the thought doesn't leave your mind- the prettiest girl in school would obviously end up with the most popular and masculine boy, right?

Something churns in your gut and a weight rests on your chest.

"It was Kurotero-kun from the other class." Hamiri mumbles a moment later, "We've been hanging out at a park near our houses recently and well, it just happened."

A deep exhale of relief involuntarily escapes you.

"That's two girls in our class who have had their first kisses." one of the girls cheers, "Wait- that, considering you haven't yet had one, (L/n)-chan. We never asked you."

"Yeah." Hamiri turns to you, "Midoriya-kun looks like he'd explode if we asked you stuff like that."

You laugh but pause once your eyes fall into blood-red ones. It's only now that you notice that all the boys in class are sitting quietly and eavesdropping on the conversation, even Bakugou.

"(L/n)-chan's too bold and generous to lie." one of your friends butters you, "She's the greatest after all. So, (L/n)-chan," she traces her finger over your sleeve, "please tell me you've got a dramatic first kiss story to tell."

"Why," you snort, "did Hamiri-chan's story not fulfill your thirst for drama?"

"Nope." she shakes her head, "It was too sappy and too romantic." and Hamiri laughs at that, "You tell us something interesting, (L/n)-chan."

"Have you had a kiss yet?" Hamiri looks interested to know too. 

Apparently, the long silence before you reply with a "no, of course not" gives away the truth. Now you're really stressed about it.

"So someone literally wasted their time on you?" the class' female bully Hinaya steps forward, her voice sweet and sing-songed in front of the boys (Bakugou), "That's odd. Was it that or did you pay the guy to do it?"

"Hinaya-chan." your friend doesn't look happy with this.

"Oh," Hinaya's eyes widen, "you probably just kissed your hand thinking it's a boy, no? That's the only thing you can get after all." and some boys snicker.

Normally, you've always got something or the other to come back with but it just so happens that this is a particularly touchy subject- that shining boy you shared that kiss with is no longer there, he's been replaced by someone you don't recognize anymore.

"Y-Yeah... " your eyes get glassy, you try to play it off cool, "It was probably just a mistake.. "

"Oh my," Hinaya explains with her hands covering her mouth, voice turned into an annoying one she thinks is cute, "I'm so sorry, (L/n)-chan, but if you're accepting it to be a mistake, the guy would have probably wanted to die."

Your lips shut tight, eyebrows crinkled and an uncomfortable squeeze disturbing your chest.

"Aren't you going to reply, (L/n)-chan?" your friends don't understand why you haven't shut her up yet. It's too unusual of a behvaiour from you, "A-Are you crying?"

"N-No." but a tear is begging to roll down your eye. You turn back, hand raising to clean it off and just to save you at the right time, the door slams open and Midoriya slides inside yelling an "I'm late!"

He deflates in shame the moment he realizes the teacher isn't here yet and that he's made a fool of himself again.

.

You'd told Midoriya to head home without you because you needed some time alone and he was considerate enough to not question back. You're alone in the class now slowly packing your things to leave for home.

The sound of the classroom door opening makes you turn.

"Hey, (L/n)-chan." Hinaya walks in with her lips pulled inot a straight line. You hum in response.

"When did your first kiss happen?" she comes over and leans against your desk, "How old were you back then?"

You're not in the mood to have an argument or spoil your mood in any other way so you decide to give her what she wants and end this unwanted interaction quickly.

"We were like five?"

"Oh." there's an odd relief in her voice, "Well, just so you know, I'm gonna get a kiss by Katsuki-kun soon, I'll make sure of it. You can go on and enjoy your quirkless frail little bunny."

"Okay." you sling your bang over your shoulders.

She frowns, unhappy with your response, "You know, you should just jump off into a river or something. You're such an embarrassment."

"What will you accomplish by me doing that?" the headache she gives you is now splitting your head. You look away to at least not see that disgusting expression on her face.

"You tell me." she snaps, "Why the fuck was Katsuki-kun looking so smug when we were talking about your first kiss, huh?"

"What is he, your imaginary boyfriend?" you hate how she uses his first name, "And about that, Izukkun and Katsukkun," you put emphasis on the nickname, "both know who the first kiss was with."

"It was probably stupid." she eyes you head to toe, "Who'd like an ugly shithole like you anyways?"

"Neither would someone like a disgusting, smelly little bitch like you." Bakugou's voice from a little away from the both of you makes you jolt. You momentarily glance towards the door not having realized him coming in.

Bakugou has his hand in his pocket and his bag slung over his shoulder. His usual scowl rests on his face.

"What?" Hinaya's act is on again, "You're misjudging me, Katsuki-kun."

The next moment, Bakugou's hand in an inch away from his face, "You say my name one more time and I'll explode that empty head of yours."

You hate bullies and bullying but boy, you're loving this at the moment.

"But Katsu-" she realizes he's not joking around once there's sparks forming at his hands, "Bakugou-kun... I'm more closer to you than she is, right? And all she does the whole day is slut around that stupid Midoriya."

You sigh, "Calling me things like slut doesn't make you better than me, Hinaya-chan. You're the trash you are and I'm not. You know that too."

She frowns deep, "You're so full of yourself, (L/n)-chan, you're always using your smartass in front of Bakugou-kun. He wouldn't be impressed by that at all. You didn't even ask him if he was okay after the sludge incident yesterday."

Bakugou's expressions twitch uncomfortably at the mention of this incident you're unaware of.

"Sludge incident?" you look between the both of them.

"Hah." she folds her hands at her chest, "Search it up. I didn't need to go to some browser to know."

"You're gonna glorify stalking me now, eh?" a nerve in Bakugou's forehead twitches, "Sly little bitch, I'm gonna fucking end you someday."

While Hinaya protests and whines against Bakugou's hostility towards her, you're busy getting horrified on reading the article about the sludge incident.

"Katsukkun- " you begin, eyes widened in nothing but worry, "why didn't you tell me? Why didn't Izukkun tell me either- what the fuck?"

Bakugou doesn't reply, he only grabs your arm and drags you out of the classroom leaving Hinaya behind standing in shock to whatever he's said to her before you started to talk.

He continues to drag you all the way out of school into a small, secluded cafe thereby not allowing a word to leave your lips until the both of you are seated under warm yellow lights in a dark aesthetic interior of a surprisingly serene cafe.

"Don't bother me about it." he says, waving his hand in the air in front of you, "I've had enough fucking talks- that old hag wouldn't even shut up."

"Are you okay?"

"The fuck?" he looks annoyed, "You think something would happen to me because of some shitty villain?"

"No, I mean... it was still a villains attack, right? There's always some sort of minor PTSD or something of the sort." you know it's just that he's not willing to talk about it. The bags under his eyes give enough of how healthy his sleep has been the previous night.

"Stop fucking doubting me."

"I don't." you find yourself shifting closer to him, "I'm just worried... sorry if that's annoying you."

It's been some time since your words have been as soft to him. Honestly, you miss moments like these a lot- moments when it was just the two of you sitting in front of each other back when you were little and kept on talking.

This was the setting when he had once pulled your face closer to his and kissed you when you'd only been five. 

The response he had to this cheeky act was that his parents "did it all the time" and that they say one does it with the person they "love".

Sweetest and cutest confession ever.

It's just too sad that the little boy who said that all to you has turned into the gruff, rude bully sitting in front of you.

Bakugou orders a specific ice cream combination the both of you would eat when you were younger. He doesn't once lift his gaze to look at you after that.

Now, you're left to wonder whether he actually remembered or whether his taste hasn't changed in some nine years.

"About what I had to talk about," he starts suddenly, "about all that happened in class today.. " he is cut off by you mid sentence.

"I know, I know." you heart droops, "I won't ever let anyone ever know that you've had an unfortunate kiss with me. It's alright, you're secret is secured with me, Katsukkun."

He blinks, "What's so fucking unfortunate about it?"

"Huh?"

"What's so fucking unfortunate about it? When I become the number one hero, there's going to be lines of girls wishing to get kisses. Why do you think it's unfortunate, then?"

Your lips open, then close. You stare at him for a moment, "I mean, it's unfortunate for you, right? You were too young to think properly at that time and ended up doing something intimate with someone you didn't actually like."

When Bakugou turns to you, his eyes reflect a certain determination- it's as if what he is thinking at the moment is something he has pondered upon for years and years already.

There isn't even a frown on his pretty face, he only looks concentrated. 

When he opens his mouth, words you'd never expect him to say fall out, "Why? Why did you choose him over me?"

"Who?" but you already know who he is talking about. You swallow, "I chose Izukkun over you?"

He doesn't reply but the look in his eyes gives you all the answers you need.

"I didn't choose him over you," tears form in your eyes, "he's been like a brother to me ever since we were little. It's you, Katsukkun, you're the one who chose to behave like a fucking bitch with him and expect everything to be normal with me after that."

Bakugou looks surprised at that although you feel there couldn't be anything more obvious that this. 

"So you don't like him?"

"He's my friend, of course I do."

"Like, the like like him, dumbass." Bakugou frowns.

"No." you rubs your eyes to wipe off the tears, "I don't like him romantically if that's what you're asking."

"Hah." he doesn't look convinced, "All you do is fuck around with him all day and I'm supposed to feel he isn't anything."

"He's like a brother." you're not liking the way there is a percentage of disbelief in his eyes, "And besides, this all shouldn't really be mattering to you."

"Why not?"

You blink, "Why would it?"

Bakugou's head turns away, his eyebrows raising in what seems to you to be frustration. He pauses for a little, eyes flickering around as though looking for the right words to say, then turns back to you.

"Why wouldn't it?"

Wow, genius. You take all the time of the world just to reply with that?

You choose to keep your thoughts to yourself, however, "Why should it?"

"Why shouldn't it?"

"Why would it?" your tone rises the slightest bit. You don't like this game of questions at all, you don't understand what he's trying to get at.

"I don't know, you tell me." he snaps, "You tell me why it would bother me."

"There's no reason for you to." you frown, "You chose to be the guy who bullies his childhood friends, Katsukkun. There's no reason for you to be bothered if I protect my friend from a bully."

Bakugou inhales and exhales deeply, his eyes rolling over to the side and back leaning into the chair. A few moments of silence pass before he turns back to you.

"Do you really not know or are you just acting?"

"Huh?" 

He shifts and straightens to lean forward, "Okay, listen. I'll say this once... " Bakugou inhales deep, "It... wasn't a mistake."

You blink.

"The kiss." he clears his throat, "I... really liked you back then. We were young and whatever but... it was genuine, okay?"

"How genuine can five year olds kissing be?" the words leave your mouth way too quick, "I mean, we should have been doing something like that at such a young age in the first place."

"We were pretty young." Bakugou's lips tighten, "But that doesn't fucking mean it couldn't have been true."

"Are you sure you liked me back then?" it's bittersweet to know he once had feelings for you.

Bakugou is quiet for a moment. When he opens his mouth again, his eyes are dead focused into yours, "I still do. I have.. e-ever since we were kids."

A spark runs down your body, jaw dropping and eyes widening at him.

"Y-You what?"

He inhales loudly and turns away, "I still like you... I don't like it when you're around that damned Deku the whole day. You're not supposed to be with that loser."

"You like me?" your voice is barely a whisper, "What.. no- wait.. what the- wow. What the fuck, wow."

"You like that?" his eyebrows raise at the floods of red filling into your cheeks, "Are you– what the fuck are you crying for?"

You haven't realized the tears in your eyes until now, "Wh-What... no. I'm not crying.. I'm.." a small cough escapes your lips, "uhm.. so..."

"Mhm?" Bakugou is waiting for the response although he doesn't make it too obvious.

"I... really miss you everyday, Katsukkun." you end up saying, "I miss what you used to be, I can't take the idea of you becoming a bully or a mean person. It hurts."

"What?"

"It hurts so fucking much because I... " you swallow and wipe your tears, "I really like you too. But... I-I can't.."

"Because of him?" his teeth grit, "That Deku–"

"Because you kept on saying you'd be a hero but all you are is a thug, Katsukkun." you snap. A tear rolls down your cheek, "Because it's you whose wrong not him. I can't love a guy who bullies. Feelings for you make me guilty."

Bakugou blinks, "Love?"

"Well what do you expect?" you hysterically laugh it out amidst the tears then swallow, "Other than this one thing, you're great."

"You love me?"

"I do." you nod, hands wiping down your tears, "I really fucking do."

An uncomfortable silence falls between the two of you while you clean your face and try to calm down. It's too odd for you to be crying this way while accepting your feelings for him especially when the both of you are sitting in a restaurant.

"If... " Bakugou is staring at the ground, "If I ignore him... " he turns to you, " w-would you give me a chance?"

You blink, "A-A chance?"

"To be with you?" he straightens, "To be together?"

Something blooms in your chest, "I... " there's nothing you could ever have wanted more, "Yeah. I'd... love that."

"Great." Bakugou falls back into the chair.

You pause, "But that does mean now bullying him or anyone when I'm around. And I don't want any drama."

"Hah." his eyebrows raise, "You're the one who'd be causing the drama, okay? I don't care about stupid drama."

A small tug makes your lips stretch to a smile, "If you be bitch, I'll dump you Katsukkun."

"Well I'll dump you before that." he snaps.

"Oh, so you want to dump me?" you dramatically clutch your heart and pick your thinks up, "I should be leaving then, no?"

"Oi." he grabs your hand and pulls you down, "Stop it. And there you are proving what I'm saying, dramatic, stupid little girl."

"Says the guy who is serious about the girl he kissed when was five." you giggle.

Bakugou frowns, his ears now visibly getting redder, "Says the girl who's in love with me."

[brookediamonds]

she was wearing white, and he was like, 'i might be in trouble' | Axel Kovačević x Fem! Reader

prequel to 'the reason why i smile'

Summary: As the newest student to Miyagi-Do, you're the shiny new toy everyone wants to see and play with. Unfortunately for them, you didn't have quite the bubbly personality, but one person who loves a challenge, finds out for himself what lies beneath the hard exterior of yours.

Word Count: 2.2k Warnings: None, cursing, fluff, fighting (karate)

not my gif

Axel couldn't believe his eyes. You stood in front of the class, dressed in your white Miyagi-Do gi, with an emotionless look on your face as Sensei LaRusso introduced you to the team.

When your eyes landed on him, he swallowed the lump in his throat. He thought you were the prettiest girl he'd ever laid eyes on, and there you were, directed to go fall in next to him.

"Welcome!" He greets you with a big smile. It doesn't phase Axel when you barely spare a glance towards him, and nod in return. He loved a challenge.

The next few weeks, your paired with him to spar and it takes everything inside you not to be annoyed because why was this kid always asking you questions?

"Do you have any favorite bands?"

You huffed trying to keep focus on attacking your opponent while still answering his question. "The Strokes."

"I don't think I've listened to them all that much, maybe you can give me a few songs to listen to," he babbles, effortlessly blocking your two strikes.

"Fine," you agree, "focus!"

He laughs lightly before you manage to sneak in a 'ashi barai' foot sweep, and landing a point in the middle of his chest.

"Nice, (Y/n)!" Miguel comments from behind you. Axel is staring up at you in awe, completely mesmerized by the way you were able to take him down.

"I'll make you that list," you smirk at the boy on the grass, walking away as he processed what had just happened.

Miguel ran up to him, offering a hand to stand up.

"You okay?" He asks the awe-struck boy, helping him sit up.

"I think I just fell in love," Axel confesses his eyes searching for you.

"With the new girl?" Miguel questions. "She just kicked your ass."

"Exactly," Axel exhales seeing you take a sip from your water flask.

When it's time to call it a day, you find yourself waiting for your mom to pick you up at the exit of the dojo.

Axel see's this, and takes this opportunity to talk with you.

"Need a ride?" He asks coming up to your side.

"My mom is on her way," you say adjusting your gym bag on your shoulder. "Thanks though."

Axel nods slightly disappointed, and continues to walk to his car. Your phone buzzes in your hand, it's a text from your mom.

She was stuck in traffic and wouldn't be there for another thirty minutes. The sun was nearly all the way down, and you didn't want to stay out in this cool weather for the next half hour.

"Axel!" You call out to the tall boy. He stood by the drivers side of his car, his head snapping up.

You hastily walk over to him tucking your hair behind your ears.

"I could use a ride if the offer still stands," you say a soft blush rising your cheeks. Axel smiled widely pressing the key to his car for a second time so the passenger side could unlock.

"Of course!" He responds running over to your side, opening the door for you. You can't help the small smile on your face at his manners, carefully getting into his vehicle.

He closes the door behind you, going back to his side and sliding in.

"Type in your address," Axel hands you his phone, apple maps already open for you. You quickly type in your address along with something else he would soon appreciate.

You sent a text to your mom telling her she can meet you back at the house, you were getting a ride from a friend.

"Thanks for this, my mom is stuck on the highway," you explain placing his phone on the small holder in his vents.

"It's no problem," he assures you beginning to drive off. "Are you hungry? I can stop by something on the way."

You can't help but feel a warmth spread through you at his kindness, you had been so cold towards him and here he was offering you food.

"My mom is making dinner tonight," you inform him. "But thanks."

"Is it just you and your mom?" He asks quickly glancing over at you.

"Yeah," you sigh scooting slightly down in your seat. "My dad and brother live in Ojai."

"Is that where you're from?"

You nod silently, your parents divorce still somewhat fresh. They had separated for years but finally decided to part ways recently, landing you here in The Valley.

"Are you from here? Your accent," you motion to his mouth making him smile.

"No," he confirms. "Europe, my parents are doing business here in California."

"When did you move here?" You quiz him.

Each question evolved into another, Axel throughly explaining each one with you listening thoughtfully, completely intrigued.

When he pulls up to your home, you're still staring him taking in the words that fell from his lips.

"Thanks again for the ride," you give him a genuine closed mouth smile making his heart stutter.

"Anytime," he says hands tapping against the steering wheel. Before you can close the door, he says "wait!"

You raise an eyebrow, reopening the door slightly. Axel's mouth gaps, the question he wants to ask you, not coming out.

He wants to ask for your number, and continue to get to know you. But you were quiet, he knows you still have a guard up and he didn't want slow the progress he's made with you today.

"Never mind," he shook his head. "See you tomorrow."

"See you later," you say closing the door. He waits for you to enter the house before driving off.

Later that night, Axel is doing his homework, or at least attempting to while thinking about you.

He was remembering the way he your (e/c) eyes stayed focus on the side of his face while he responded to your questions, not leaving a single detail out, and the way you nodded as he talked, letting him know you were listening.

He's caught off guard when his phone buzzed on his desk, a text notification popping up on his screen. He furrows his eyebrows together as he notices it's an unknown number.

When he unlocks his phone, he's taken by surprise when it's a homemade playlist on Apple Music.

And it's from you.

(Y/n): Here, to get you familiar. If you like them, I might have to introduce you to Arctic Monkeys, maybe Cage The Elephant.

Axel fell in love twice that day.

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

As time passed, you found yourself enjoying Axel's company, so much so you looked for him at school.

One of those days, your walking down the stairs with Hawk, listening to him ramble about a new video game that just came out when he says something extremely funny making you laugh.

Hawk glances over at you as you shake with laughter, this new noise coming from you surprising him and the others around you. Including Axel whom trailed behind you.

"(Y/n), is that you laughing?" You hear. Peeking back, you see Axel grinning down at you. "It's so...perfect," he grins.

You roll your eyes playfully, a scoff falling from your lips.

"Shut up," you mutter turning your back to him once again.

He made it his life's mission to hear that laugh again.

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

There's a rare random Friday where the Sensei's decide to give the kids a day off and enjoy their weekend.

As the final bell rang for your last class, you make your way out of the classroom and search the halls for a tall Croatian boy. When you spot his golden brown hair, you mentally smile noticing it's tousled end of day look, just how you liked it.

"Hey," you greet Axel casually.

"Hey!" He gives you his famous grin as you fall into step with each other.

"You doing anything with your free night?" You ask casually.

"I'm trying to decide what I'm gonna do for dinner tonight, my parents are going to a dinner party for my father's business," Axel says. You could work with that.

"Do you wanna try that pizza place off Encino?" You proposition.

Axel nods, completely unaware what you're asking him, and what your intentions are.

"Yeah! Miguel says it's really good," he says, excited to finally try the pizza place he passes on his way to the dojo.

"Cool, we can meet there around six?" You suggest fiddling with your car keys.

"Do you want me to pick you up?" He offers. "You're on my way."

You realize you are in fact on his way to the place and nod in agreement.

"If you don't mind," you say lightly. Axel notices the tiniest sincerity in your voice that he doesn't hear very often making him giddy.

"Of course not," he insists. "I'll text you when I'm there."

"Don't be late," you say flatly making him smile. There's that charm he knows and loves.

You two part your ways for the afternoon, each heading home to get ready for tonight.

Normally your attire is casual, jeans, crop tops, sweatshirts, converse. Tonight you wanted to try.

It doesn't surprise you when Axel doesn't text you but instead gets down from his car, rings your doorbell, and waits outside like the gentlemen he is.

Axel feels his heart begin to thump in his chest when you open your door revealing your beautiful self. 'That's a new sweater' he notices.

The way the white cashmere top fell off your left shoulder, revealing your glowing skin made him swoon internally.

"You're early," you point out, stepping out and locking the door behind you.

"I wanted to avoid traffic, didn't want to risk being late for you," he explains. "Can't have you bailing on me."

You chuckle turning back to face him. "I wouldn't."

The both of you head towards his car, as per usual, he opens the passenger door for you, closing it softly once you get in. Learning to reciprocate the same manners, you reach over the counsel and open the door for him.

The car ride is filled with a comfortable silence, your newest playlist you curated for Axel playing in the background. Glancing over at you, Axel notices something different about you.

It's not a bad different by any means, but he can't quite place what it is.

Your lips are painted with a pink gloss, and the way your hair style went from straight to curled since he last saw you at school made him a little confused.

Not to mention the car was filled with a vanilla scent that lingered from you, it was heavenly to him.

"You look nice," he says sincerely, breaking the silence.

You're caught off guard, noticing his eyes fall to your exposed collarbone.

"Thank you," you respond quietly. It was the first time Axel ever heard you sound so vulnerable.

Axel smiles to himself, enjoying your music and relishing in your perfume.

It's when you're both sat across from one another, having just placed your order, that Axel realizes what was happening.

You were being nice, laughing at his jokes more than usual, sharing just a little more of your thoughts and opinions. The effort behind your subtle but elevated look. You were trying.

"So...what's the occasion?" Axel inquires as you take a bite of your pizza.

You raise your eyebrows, placing your slice back down on the plate to take a sip of your soda. "What do you mean?" Your words are innocent.

"Don't take this wrong way then I say this, you look beautiful everyday," he begins his words making your blush. "But tonight you look like you're dressed to impress."

"Maybe I am," you shrug avoiding his eyes.

"Oh," He grins, his heart doing backflips. "Should I be jealous of who ever you're trying to impress?"

A playful smirk comes across your lips as you pick up your pizza, taking another bite.

"This is a date isn't it?" He draws together, his smile never faltering.

"Date, hanging out, whatever," you attempt to play off. "Don't be weird."

Axel laughs softly, leaning back against the booth, his eyes still fixed on you with an amused glint.

"I'm honored," he spoke completely infatuated by the situation.

You rolled your eyes, the same smile tugging at your lips as you tried to hide behind your normal careless attitude. "You're annoying."

"Yeah, but you like me anyway," he teases grabbing another slice of the pepperoni pie placed between you two.

"Debatable," you snort at his accusation.

"I don't know, the way you've been looking at me recently says otherwise," he taunts you playfully.

"Right, like I haven't noticed the way you smile when I knock you on your ass at the dojo," you push back wiping away at the grease on the slice you grabbed.

"What can I say, I love a woman that can kick my ass," Axel deflects with a cheeky grin before taking a big bite out of his pizza.

"I can't stand you," you can't hold back the laughter that Axel loves to hear.

"But yet, here you are, on a date with me," he grins shooting you a wink.

"That I am," you admit stubbornly picking at the pepperoni.

It was the start of something you hadn't fully anticipated when you first arrived, Axel couldn't be more opposite of you. But it's also what you liked about him.

[pearlescentparade]

Mayhaps a 007n7 drunk fic and as u try to help him out he starts saying how pretty u r or smth . . :] is this fluff ..help ..

ik i posted yesterday saying i wouldn't work on requests until the end of final's week but uhh i lied tehee the requests u guys send r just too cute and i cant stop myself 💔

drinking in 🍔 007n7 x reader fluff 💝

it's a nice evening to drive through the streets. the streetlights intermittently shine on your features in a rhythm as you pass them, and the stars are especially bright tonight. there's rarely anyone on the road at this time, just you and the city. it feels peaceful, like the world is sleeping.

until it's interrupted by the sound of your phone loudly ringing with an incoming call. annoyed at the disturbance of your immersion, you glance to your phone to see who dares to bother you.

...007n7?

what could he possibly want at this hour? you can only hope he hasn't gotten himself in trouble again... when it rings a third time, you promptly press the green button to pick up and immediately put him on speaker.

"hello?"

"ah—hhhhheeeeyyy!" you wince at his volume, promptly turning it down a bit. he must be awfully close to his phone. "...have you been drinking, 7?" you ask, though you can already guess the answer from his overly enthusiastic greeting. recently, he's gotten into the frequent habit of drinking to cope with the loss of his adopted son, and it's been worrying you sick.

on the other line, you can hear him giggle giddily. "maybeeee..! aanywaaay, i missh youuu... wish—hic—wish i could :to you t' meee, heheh!" his tone is high and airy, and he comes across as almost schoolgirl-esque with the way he's talking.

you sigh, "i'll be there.. just sit tight, don't do anything dumb!" after he cheers, you hang up. tonight's going to be one of those 'drunk sitting 007n7' nights it seems... when you tap your gps' search bar to input his address as your next destination, it already pops up as the top result.

"i'm home," you announce monotonously as you open the door to his residence.

"honeeyyy! yer—hic—yer heere-!" upon hearing your arrival, his voice enthusiastically rings out from the kitchen. the affectionate nickname never fails to give you butterflies, it makes you feel like you two are a married couple. 007n7 sits slumped near his kitchen counter, a bottle of whiskey loosely clutched in his hand tells you what you already know. his cheeks are flushed a bright red and a goofy yet endearing smile is plastered on his face when he looks up at you.

"alright, i think you've had enough. let's get to bed." ushering him to bed is the most difficult part of these nights. 007n7 doesn't get aggressive or particularly uncooperative when he's drunk, but he tends to act frustratingly clingy and.. flirty.

when you go to carry him under your arm, he throws his entire body over you and derails it into a hug, tittering all the while. you have to lean your head back to not accidentally kiss him from how much distance he's closed between you two.

even his eyes smile as he looks at you, your faces barely inches apart. "yerr shooo—hic—pretttyy, 's even beetterup clossse, hmhmm.." if you weren't already flustered by the sudden closeness of the hug, you're definitely a burning mess from the compliment. c'mon, regain yourself, he doesn't even know what he's saying!! just tuck him in and you can leave and forget this ever happened!

by shaking your head, you slightly recover your composure and hoist his legs around your waist in a piggyfront position. now to get him to the bedroom. the trek isn't far, albeit 007n7's embarrassingly sappy behavior of chanting how attractive you are and other lovey-dovey comments on the way there complicates it.

"yer the—hic—the prettiest person 've ever seen!"

"mhm." you give curt and short responses, hoping he cuts it out or else you might faint from the overwhelming barrage of love.

"'m soooo lucky—hic—t' have such a beauty takin' care 'f mee~"

"mhm." unfortunately, it's not working.

"'ve gotta be the oooonly—hic—guy who gets thiiish close t' youu—hic—!! ...y' don get like thish wif otha mennn, d' you...?"

"mhm- wait, wh—no! obviously not!! ..you're- you're the only one..." you can't even handle doing this with just him, it's unimaginable to think of being this intimate with several people.

"yaayy! 'm glaadd... we should—hic—get married!"

"...huh?!" HUH?

"cuz ye said—hic—thaaaatt amm the oooonly one fer youu, haha!"

"that's— no, that's not what i— sigh, you're drunk, 7..."

opening the door to his room, you rush to the bedside and attempt to wrench him off of you onto his bed. "c'mon 7, let go.. you need to sleep-!"

but he only holds on tighter, refusing to let you release yourself from him. "nooo!! jusht schleep wif mee—hic—jusht fur t'night? puhleaaaaassee? 's ooonlyy one night!" he digs his head deeper into your neck as he pleads, fervently adamant on keeping you. what's up with him?? he's never pulled this stunt before, so you're unprepared for handling this kind of situation.

after some time and poor wrestling, you give up, moving your hands from trying to rip his off of your nape to resting on his back. it's clear to you that you're not going anywhere, so what's the point of fighting it? anything to get him to rest.

acquiescing to his pleas, you lay yourself and him on the bed and bring a blanket over the both of you. immediately, he snuggles in closer and entangles his legs in yours, embracing you like some kind of life-sized teddy bear. and within seconds, he's out like a light.

feeling yourself drift off as well, you exhaustedly exhale and let sleep take you. whatever, you'll deal with him in the morning...

(this one was a bit short but i hope it's cute :']] idk how to rlly write 007n7 aside from the one line on the wiki saying he's optimistic and worries for his teammates n such and this fic is a bit ooc cus hes drunk😞😞he'll be sober in the next one tho teehee)

[cheesecakeluver]

AT FIRST GLANCE

hamzahthefantastic x reader

ᶻ𐰁 ࣪ °⋆ when you arrive in Toronto, after three years from home, you meet with your close friend Mandy, who has a visitor that you know, at first glance, is bound to be yours.

———————-

As the taxi slows, i find that my stomach turns and churns in excitement. The idea that now, after three years, ill see Mandy again, after being apart for so, so long, enthralls me. We constantly facetimed and messaged after i had to move, for work purposes. Los Angeles was a great city, but once you really got settled and started to understand life there.. it made you miserable. Thankfully, my work as a journalist had moved me back to Toronto, and i could finally see my friends and family.

I retrieve my heavy suitcases from the boot of the car, thanking the driver and sending him away with a twenty dollar bill. I don't think i'll ever get over the price differences between Canada and the USA. I stand outside Mandy's place, which she shared with her boyfriend, Martin. Of course, i'd heard all about him, because as soon as i moved away, they met. She updated me on every date, every exciting occasion, and every detail of their lives together, including his youtube channel, whom he shared with a friend unknown to me, though Mandy constantly called him clingy and annoying, which left me laughing.

I knock on the door, one, twice, and then thrice. I see a figure moving towards the door, and i get excited, recording the whole moment with an old camera. I'd recently started youtube myself, and had had a good amount of luck, my first two videos not exactly blowing up, but doing pretty well for my first time. I see the figure head towards the door, and i shove the camera in front of me, my smile wide, grinning even.

The figure opens the door, and i'm stunned. It was in fact, not Mandy i was met with, who stood at 5,4. No, this was a nearly six foot tall, dark curly haired man, who looked like he'd just gotten out of bed.

"Uh.. who are you?" he mumbled, wiping his dark curls out of his face, pushing his rectangular glasses up on the bridge of his nose, his chocolate brown eyes widening as he stared deadpan at me.

i pull the camera down to my side, revealing my face as my smile drops. i stutter a little, taking a step back. Had i went to the wrong address?

"Does Mandy live here?" i asked nervously, my concern become increasingly evident on my face. I was never good at hiding my emotions.

"Oh, yeah. She said something about someone coming over today. Just didn't mention who." The man said, his eyebrows unfurling as the confusion fled his face, allowing me to view him more. He was attractive, and even i couldn't deny that, as i stared into his dark eyes. The worry wiped off my face as he opened the door wider, allowing me to step into the home, where Mandy was snuggled into Martin's side, a blanket over them on the couch, as i heard the nostalgic theme of 'Gilmore Girls' playing on the tv.

I smile, leaving my bags by the door as i hear Mandy ask whose at the door, until her eyes land across me. She screams, ditching Martins arms and she runs to me, hugging me and jumping with glee spread across her face. I hold her in my arms, happily.

"I've been waiting for you to arrive!" she says, pulling away from the embrace, still smiling so hard i believe it must hurt. "That's Hamzah, by the way, the one who answered the door. He's the one who does the podcast, and youtube with Martin" She explains, babbling on about what the boys did. I listened eagerly, intrigued, as she told me about this podcast, which i'd never known of before. She asks me how i am, knowing how hard Los Angeles hit me, leaving me emotionally drained.

"I'm excited to be back in Toronto, really. I've been wanting to come back ever since i left. Los Angeles was.. alright at first, but god, once you really get settled, and begin actually connecting.." i sigh, drifting off. The people that inhabited Los Angeles, were just not the people i was made for, and oh how glad i was to be back in Toronto. Back home. I look around, impressed at the new house they'd just moved in to, which now looked like a home due to the decorum, as i see dinner bowls lying around.

Martin cleans them up, putting them in the sink and introducing himself. "Sorry, we just ate.. probably should've cleaned that up earlier." he jokes, wrapping an arm around Mandy.

The whole time, the boy i know now as Hamzah had just been by the door, his keys in hand. i came to the conclusion he must have just been heading out when i arrived.

He jingles the keys in his hand, grabbing my attention. He looks a little nervous, his eyes darting around. "I'm gonna head out, it was good meeting you.." he says, finally looking at me, smiling, his hands in his pockets. He lingers on, and i catch the hint he wanted my name.

"Oh, y/n" i smiled, a little flustered as his eyes remained steady on me, a glint in them. I found myself drawn to him, even though this was our first meeting.

Mandy turns to me, Martins arm still wrapped around her. "We were just going out, for ice cream, if you wanted to join us?" she smiles at me, Martins arm rubbing hers and he stared at her, entranced.

I think about it, but ultimately decide against it, as i had ate the shitty food served on the airplane, and felt as though my stomach deserved a break after. That, and i wasn't in the mood to become a third wheel, especially as jet lagged as i was.

"I need to sort through the boxes as well, get my apartment into living conditons, but thank you guys, i appreciate it." i say, thanking the couple in front of me.

"Call me tomorrow though, we'll meet up then?" i ask, and Mandy nods, smiling. "Of course! Im so, so happy your home. Atleast now i've got someone to hang out with when these two are filming. Ooh, and maybe even double dates, and-"

Hamzah coughs loudly, interrupting her, and their eyes land on each other, and something, almost like realisation, hits Mandy.

I look between the pair, an awkward silence filling the room, as the four of us just looked at our feet.

I knew Hamzah had been there a couple of times when i had been facetiming Mandy, as i heard him and Martin in the background, but i never thought anything of it.

I pull my phone out, prepared to call another taxi, and head out of here, as i gather my bags and suitcase by the door.

"Anybody know how much a taxi from here to Parkson street costs?" i ask, breaking the silence

Martin speaks up immediately, as if snapping out of a trance.

"Hamzah, don't you live near Parkson street?" he asks the boy, who averts his gaze from mine, eyes focused now on Martin, as a pink blush cascades over his caramel skin, slightly covered by the messy curls strewn on top of his head.

"Yeah, i live on Parkson street" He replies, and i see Martin wink at him, before he speaks again.

"Oh, okay yeah, do you need a ride?" Hamzah says, eyes on mine as i see his hands fiddle inside of his pockets, causing me to smile.

"Yeah.. thank you. Really, your helping me out a a lot here." i blush slightly as he helps me with a couple of my bags, and our hands brush together, my face heating up, as does his.

"Really, you don't have to-" i say, prepared to take the bag, as he shakes his head in defiance, which leaves me to sigh, smiling as i do.

"I could see you struggling when you first arrived, let me help you" He says, picking the bags i struggled with up easily, impressing me as his biceps bulged whilst doing the action, causing me to stare.

Martin interrupts us, as he begins saying his farewells to Hamzah. I make my way over to Mandy, one last time, knowing ill meet her tomorrow.

"Call me tonight, and tell me everything" she says, with that knowing look in her eye, causing me to softly chuckle as i embrace her again.

We part ways with Mandy and Martin, saying goodbye to the pair as they began to get ready to get dessert. I smile at the couple as i leave with Hamzah, wishing i had the type of relationship they had, watching them laugh and cuddle and kiss. In my dreams i guess.

As Hamzah walks me to his car, we begin small talk. He asks about my life back in Los Angeles, and i tell him about my journalism and my small channel, as he told me of his podcast. He seemed passionate about it, using his hands as he spoke, and all i could do was become entranced by him. I had met this boy less than twenty minutes ago, yet already he had caught me attention, and by the looks of it, i had caught his.

"I originally started the podcast by myself, and did around.. i think thirty or so episodes before Martin joined. Honestly, its much better when your not just speaking by yourself, to a camera." He explained, hooking me in with every word he uttered.

"I guess i can kind of understand. When i film, so far, its always been by myself. My job as well, it gets lonely, because journalism isn't a very.. i don't know.. social type of job. Sure, I sit and write about all the things i love, but sometimes i just wish i had someone to talk to about my interests, instead of people just reading my words via a news outlet, or magazine."

i let out my thoughts, feeling slightly vulnerable when doing so. Hamzah watches me talk, allowing me to explain what's on my mind, and for the first time in a long time, i feel seen.

"Listen, i know we just met, but honestly, i feel like i know you already. I'm here if you ever need someone to talk to, even if its just about the stupid stuff." He says, a little shyly, rubbing the back of his neck as he speaks. I find myself walking close beside him, and we continue talking back and forth, all the way to his car.

Once we reach his car, he opens the door for me, and just when i'm strapped in, does he make his way to the drivers side, causing a feeling of warmth to erupt in my stomach.

Getting in, he sets his phone on my lap, smiling. "Since your a guest, i'll trust you to pick something good" he says, as i notice spotify opened infront of me.

It nearly made me melt, as i saw his recent listens. "Men i trust, Freddie Dredd, The maria's.. you have good taste" i smile, seeing some artist that we have in common.

I see him smile warmly, staring at the phone as i type my favourite song in, hoping, no, praying he would like it.

"Bags by Clairo.. you have good taste" He replies, copying me, as the song begins to filter through the car, and i hum lightly to it.

entranced by the music, and the feeling of content flowing through me, i rest my head against the window, taking in autumnal Toronto in all its beauty, realising just how much i had missed this place.

I feel Hamzah's eyes on me, and i turn to him, a grin erupting from me without my consent, as his curls fall into his eyes, and his hands mark the wheel.

We continue the rest of the ride in silence, the only thing heard is Clairo's majestic voice through the speakers, and both of us are okay with that. Upon arriving at Parkson street, i feel a little disappointed, missing Hamzah's banter and voice already, even though we hadn't parted from each other yet. I needed to get a grip on myself.

We get out, still walking close to each other, our arms brushing against one anothers, and begin walking back to our apartments, noticing we both strode in the same direction.

"Hamzah, what apartment number is yours? Not to be a creep or anything.." i joke, seeing his eyes light up.

"I'm 112.. what about you?"

I feel myself smile, pink flushing my cheeks, and not just due to the autumn chill in the air. We stop outside of his apartment, and he sees where my gaze lies, his cheeks flushing as well.

"I'm apartment 113” i say, grinning, our proximity exciting me like nothing before. maybe, just maybe this meant i did have a chance. endless excuses we’re running through my mind, thinking of ways i could interact with him on the daily.

He smiles, walking me to my door and setting the suitcases and bags in my doorstep, his cheeks tinted pink, and his eyes on me the entire time, looking me up and down with ease.

He smiles at me, one last time. "I'll see you around, y/n" he says, walking the two paces to his apartment, next door. My heart fluttered, and the minute i go inside of my new apartment, i jumped on the bare mattress, not caring about the unboxed suitcases and bags, picking up my phone and dialing my best friend.

"Mandy, i think i’m starting to like him."

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

[theoddest1]

Let's Actually Talk About The Issues With Vivziepop

Okay, first off, hello you beautiful people! Sorry about this foreboding title, but I needed to catch y'all attention on this so I can break down the issues that I and many have with "Hazbin Hotel" and "Helluva Boss" creator, Vivienne Medrano. Now I am sure you all on here are already aware of at least a couple of the controversies that revolve around this particular creator and if you have seen my posts floating around already, some have been greeted with the problems surrounding her social media presence and just her overall as a person. I know seeing another callout on her seems very very tiring at this point, but I felt that a lot of the current callouts missed key details that were not at all addressed or properly delved on. I plan on shedding light on my issues with her and I hope you get where I am coming from when I say that she sucks.

BULLYING

Okay, I am starting off with Vivienne's blatant use of bully mentality, her agreeing or encouraging her fans to call people who see flaws in her works sub-humans or harass those who find issue or simply jest about her works trademark cussing and and overcrowded designs. She has had this issue for YEARS and refuses to grow up and act her age despite many telling her, even her own fans at times, that she shouldn't be acting so unprofessionally. Clearly, she doesn't care and thanks to her fanbase caring more about her feelings than her being better she feels as though she doesn't need to change or do better. This goes for her friend group as well, who defend her tremendously and act as though she is never in the wrong. Name one time a friend of hers called her out for acting childish, I'll wait.

Now, you're probably wondering, "Wtf could they have done to warrant such a response?"

Criticism...That's all they did. (White Text is random peeps they would speak with or maybe mutuals)

Keep in mind...they used to be a fan as well. They were also a minor at this point

But, Viv doesn't care, this person's critical yet harmless tweets about her shows is what lead to her painting them in a horrible light and making them out to be someone who has attacked her personally and as "nasty".

Rich coming from Viv since she is completely fine doing exactly that for "Ava's Demon". Not only does she criticize it, she takes a shot at the creator as well, but GOD FORBID others do the same towards her.

And according to someone who knew her well, it's all cause they felt creeped out by her.

Her hatred for criticism is so prominent that Ima makes that a section of its own. But let's get back on the topic of bullying.

Vivienne has a fanbase filled to the brim with pushy and overall annoying individuals who have harassed, threatened, disrespected, and wished harm on many people, all cause someone had a negative thing to say about Vivziepop's mid af show. One of the earlier known instances is the one revolving around a MEME of all things.

This was what started it all, and it led to both parties blocking each other and people being mad pushy and calling them an idiot and the like over their opinions. Now look, their take and you're opinion on said take is fine so long as you stay respectful and humane about it all, but don't dogpike someone all cause they think HH sucks. And while Viv can not control her fanbase, for they are not a hivemind (some of y'all act it tho, ima keep it real) she is seen here ENCOURAGING the behavior. Tell me how someone who doesn't even like your trash ass show has the sense to tell people not to harass others, someone with a smaller following, but not your grown damn near 30 year old ass?

Oh, but people wanna act like she can handle criticism, is a sweet person, and grew from her past experiences. Fam, she was 27 in this screenshot [December 16, 2019] and has shown no change from 2013 to fucking 2024. Over a decade of the same petty ass behavior, and keep in mind, according to several of her old friends and workers, she is worse behind close doors. WORSE. She's already acting like she got no damn sense out in the open, imagine behind closed doors.

Last but not least, a glimpse into her outright blatant slander towards Dollcreep, a once good friend of hers that she even visited and spoke with frequently!

She stated that they fetishized pedophilia yet according to the victim and friends of the victim who were once friends with Viv as well, Viv actually threatened to end their friendship if he hadn't drawn NSFW art of her character and his character having sex [Addi was 15 at the time this was drawn]

On top of that, she liked the post, something she didn't need to do. The art also depicted things she had regularly drawn on her own. Addi being tied up forcefully, being sexualized, being harmed to some degree through bondage, etc. The claim that she forced DC to draw this out is backed up by her own art depicting similar elements. Also, if my memory serves me well, Viv and Doll were 17-18 years old [Doll was 17 Viv 18] and have a 1-year age gap. The way Viv frames things here is as if DC was way older and imposed some sort of power over DC, which sources say otherwise. If anything, Viv had a LOT of control throughout all of this drama, which deserves its own section.

I'll be making posts that talk about the different issues regarding Viv, so one post isn't too long (this one is already lengthy enough) and that you can just pick at one post targeting certain issues around this creator.

[hunnylagoon]

When I Was Your Girl

Stage Fright

Rockstar! Ellie Williams x pop star! Reader

‘Fame is a poison most would drink happily despite the warning of a slow and painful death’

Premise: You and fell in love as nobodies and fell out of love in the limelight. Now you are forced to deal with ghosts who haunt you like a melody.

Warnings: small mentions of drinking and drugs / wee bit of violence / Ellie is a dick

Fake albums mentioned: Solstice / Smokey Eyes

I've never been anything more than a joke.

I'm so childish they took it for maturity, and I'm so serious they took it for silly.

Even since I began my career, I was spotted at eighteen by a skeezy producer when I sold myself at a strip club to make ends meet, because dreaming never paid the bills. I wish that I had been found somewhere else, maybe one of the restaurants I sang at on karaoke nights or the park where I poured my soul into art through my uncle’s old acoustic guitar. 

"How are you feeling right now?" A tanned woman with slick back hair shoves a microphone into my face while an emotionless man holds the camera. "I mean, seven years in the industry and you've just received your first Grammy nominations."

"I'm feeling kind of freaked out, to be honest," I face the woman with a sheepish smile on my face, trying the best I can not to look at the large camera lurking beside me.

"Rightfully," Her teeth are so white that they almost blind me and I get distracted by myself as I try to figure out whether they are veneers or not. "Do you think you'll be bringing any hardware home tonight?"

She moves the microphone back to my face and I flinch out of instinct, we both laugh for the camera but I can tell she's annoyed "Honestly, I'm just happy to be here, as corny as it sounds it is such an honour to be around so many incredible artists."

"So humble," She smiles then turns to the camera to address the viewers "I think we all know she's gonna be sleeping tonight with a golden gramophone under her pillow," She forces a laugh, trying to capture the raw essence of this overly manufactured moment. The interviewer turns back to me "Now, I know this isn't your first rodeo, is there anyone here you aren't looking forward to seeing, you don't have to name any names."

Fuck I hate these bloodsuckers. She is so obviously trying to milk my broken engagement which was still very much fresh. I uphold my false smile though and shake my head "Nope, if anything I think I'm looking forward to some mingling,"

She looks irritated, covering it up only by a close-lipped smile. "Well, then I'll let you get on with that."

I give her a curt wave and continue my way down the red carpet, maneuvering through other celebrities, we all have common ground, we are blinded by the flashing lights. I try my best to avoid any more journalists but I see Abby Anderson speaking to one and sneak up behind her, tapping her on the shoulder.

She turns around and greets me with a huge smile "I was wondering when I was gonna see you," Abby smiles and slings an arm around my shoulders looking to the journalist while I glance at the camera "I'm telling you, this girl needs to clear some space out on her trophy shelf."

I grin at her, genuinely. Abby had always been kind to me, we first met when I was nineteen and the both of us signed up for Atlantic Records. "She's just being nice," I say.

"And she's just being humble!" Abby squeezes me, it's a simple gesture but it means the world to me, it's her way of saying 'I got you'.

I shake my head "Abby is gonna be the real winner tonight."

The man holding a microphone in front of us smiles "We'll see who's right, my bet is both of you," He turns his attention to me directly "So I understand that you took a bit of a break after releasing your album, Solstice, is this considered your comeback?"

"Nope," I smile despite wanting to snatch the microphone from his hand and beat the camera with it until it shatters "There isn't anything to come back from."

He tilts his head giving the over-animated 'Are you serious?' look for whoever is watching. Every journalist was like a vampire trying to bleed me dry. The journalist, impeccably dressed in a tailored suit that exudes both sophistication and confidence searches his mind for another question "Well your album honestly was such a work of art and there has been talk that you are working on another one, is there anyone here that inspired any of those songs?"

"Nope."

"I think we should ask Ellie the same question," He laughs at his joke like it was funny. 

"And I think we should be heading off now," Abby answers for me and guides me away from the barricade of reporters and journalists, away from the cameras prying into my soul.

As I walk along the red carpet, I don't bother to stop and pose for any more pictures, I pick up the long skirts of my dress and usher myself to weave between the other celebrities. I nearly turn my ankle and take a tumble, wow, sure glad that 30 photographers caught that moment.

I was drenched in a deep, enchanting shade of midnight blue, the gown captivated with its sleek silhouette. The magic shows in the intricate details that adorn the fabric, reminiscent of the cosmos itself. Delicate embroidery of constellations graces the entire dress, forming a celestial tapestry that seems to come alive under the harsh shine of lights. The celestial patterns are meticulously sewn into the fabric, resembling a night sky filled with stars and constellations, creating an ethereal and otherworldly charm. Paired with the constellation dress, I wear a diamond choker and matching teardrop earrings.

I had lost Abby at some point in my little runaway leaving me to get into the auditorium where the award ceremony is to take place. 

Nearly the very second I walk in I hear a man yell my name, he is seated in the second row and it takes an awkwardly long amount of time for him to jog over to me. "Hey, kid!" He grins, hugging me, I don't hug him in return, I just freeze. It was Graham Wilson, I could smell the liquor on his breath.

Graham Wilson was a man who used to write very successful rock songs in his twenties with his band (the majority now deceased), he was nearing his sixties and was the definition of a has-been. I remember when I was a kid and I would listen to him on my iPod; though in recent days he's become known for ridiculous stunts, DUIs and homophobic tweets, even better known for how he found out I was gay and announced that he was no longer homophobic because, in his words 'Those gays can sure write good music' and then thanked me in his tweet, even tagging my account.

His frame carries the weight of a bygone era, specifically his beer belly. His once-lustrous, shoulder-length hair has succumbed to streaks of gray, hanging limply around his face like faded echoes of a rebellious past. Despite the passage of time, a few remnants of the rockstar allure linger - a faint scar above his right eyebrow, a reminder of a wild night in an underground club, and the subtle tattoos peeking out from under the sleeves of his wrinkled suit jacket.

"Hey, Graham," I give him a tight-lipped smile out of courtesy, in no means do I wish to talk to him. 

"You better win best album tonight," He gives me a hard slap on the back. Every time I see him he acts like we're friends just because he was a judge on a singing reality show that I was on seven years prior.

"I'll try my best," I try to excuse myself but he speaks again.

"I said seven years ago when I saw you on that stage that you were gonna be a star so don't let me down," He points a finger at me and gives me a weird smirk. When he smirks I almost think he's having a stroke until he starts to laugh and reveals his rows of teeth that are beginning to rot from his not-so-subtle drug abuse.

"Okay," I give him a nod and a quick wave goodbye to sneak away and pretend that I didn't converse with him. It seems like I'm early to take my seat, people are still piling in and being ushered to their spots, and seat fillers are standing around sheepishly while they try to take discreet photos of celebrities.

My seat is on the end of row two, right on the aisle, I feel myself split into a grin. If you weren't aware, Who sits where is a major status symbol. And though awards show organizers may deny it, it's awfully convenient to be sitting in the front row or on the aisle if you're about to accept a ton of trophies.

I was shaking with nerves, I got nominated three times and maybe there was hope that I would win at least one category.

When I saw Ellie I almost wanted to hide my face, she walked in with a new girl she slung her arm around, Jesse, Dina, and Cat in tow. I'm thankful to see that they're sitting front row of the opposite section of me and have yet to notice me.

I'm not sure if you have ever fallen in love, dated, gone on tour, moved in together, adopted a dog, written a couple of songs, got engaged, then broken up with someone and had the entire thing be documented publically but it's not the best feeling when you have to be in the same room as them again.

Everything with Ellie used to be so perfect.

The first thing I ever noticed about her were her eyes, her sad eyes. She looked like a puppy that had been kicked around for far too long; neglected and mistreated by whoever was cruel enough to show her such torment. Her eyebrows furrowed like each thought running through her head was a worry.

It's hard to look at her now, I know this girl inside out but we are strangers. 

I liked to pretend that the beautiful girl she was with was just there for show but I knew it was untrue when I saw her snake her hand around her waist just like she did to me. She runs through girls like they're cigarettes, she uses them until they burn out or she grows sick of them.

Two years ago at this very same award show, Ellie accepted Song of the Year for the song she wrote about me, 'Everlong'. She had even invited me on stage during her speech and announced to the world how in love she was with me.

If only I knew I could come to hate someone I used to love to death.

My hate was only solidified when Ellie and the Ashmen dropped their most recent album titled 'Smokey Eyes' just three months after our broken engagement. The entire album was about me and dear god it almost ruined my career.

Ellie had managed to paint me in a horrible light that made me seem like the scum of the earth. She wrote about me having substance issues and overall just sang happily about how much she despised me. Her song 'Me vs Your Friends' wrecked me. After speculation began over that song online, her fans decided that they loathed me just the same as Ellie did; this meant that I was doxxed, sent death threats, had my home broken into, and forced to move.

She wasn't the slightest bit sorry.

I spent the award ceremony dazed out, to be truthful, these types of events were boring. They dragged on for ages and you had to sit through the same generic speeches over and over again of people thanking their parents and producers, I hated both of those.

I watched as Amelia Swan walked on stage, she was a nepotism baby, the daughter of some big-shot director and beautiful all the same. In the glittering spotlight of the grand award show stage, a vision of elegance takes center stage as the next announcer for the evening. A beautiful woman, her porcelain skin seemingly kissed by moonlight, graces the audience with a timeless allure. Her dark, cascading hair frames her face in a sleek, sophisticated manner, accentuating the delicate features that radiate a captivating charm.

Draped in a resplendent pink gown, the fabric sits tight against her slim body. The gown is a masterpiece of design. Its silhouette accentuates her figure with tasteful precision, while the soft hue of pink complements her fair complexion.

"Hello!" She smiles and the crowd begins to cheer "I'm going to cut to the chase because I know all of you are as excited to find out the winner as I am."

Amelia begins to go through the nominees, my breath hitches in my throat when she says my name, though I play it cool the best I can and smile softly when the camera zooms in on me in the crowd.

Her eyes, framed by carefully styled lashes and a hint of rosy eyeshadow, exude warmth and confidence. Lips adorned with a subtle shade of pink curve into a welcoming smile, inviting the audience to share in the excitement of the announcement. 

"The winner of Album of the Year is..." I could've sworn I nearly passed out when Amelia said my name.

Nothing felt real, it was like I was living the dreams that I made up when I was a little girl staying up late in my uncles back yard, talking to the indigo sky and speaking to it with delusions of security and stardom.

I shake when I stand up from my chair. The person next to me hugs me and I don't even know who she is but I hug her in return.

Amelia gestures for me to join her on stage with a huge smile on her face. I make my way down the aisle and up the steps leading to the stage. Amelia handed the statue of the golden gramophone to me along with the microphone to give my speech.

At this moment, the stage is my kingdom "I didn't prepare anything because I honestly didn't think I would win but I'd like to thank my little sister, Marceline, and my late uncle, Richie, god rest his soul. Everything I've done leading me to this moment has been for them, every lyric, every night I'm up till dawn writing. Even though Richie can't be here in person, I carry a little piece of him with me everywhere I go, he's all around me, I see him in the songs I write, in the melody of an acoustic guitar, and in the faces of those gentle enough to show me kindness."

The audience applauds for me, even Ellie who stares me down bitterly. I had sung in front of thousands of people but it would never compare to this moment.

I wipe a tear away from my eye "I would also like to thank all of my fans, you guys are just the fucking best," I giggle through my crying "I feel like you've been sent down by Richie and Marceline I know you're watching me right now, please give my dog some love for me. Please know that I don't come from anything, I was born from dirt and dreams for something more than a ratty town in Canada."

I lived for the applause.

"I mean, I've always been good and never great so this means a lot to me-

Ameilia places a hand on my shoulder to stop me "There was a bit of a mix-up," She announces "I'm sorry, love, you didn't win," She says just to me, dark eyes full of remorse.

"What?" I almost think it's a sick joke.

Amelia holds the microphone to her face to be heard by the audience "I'm not joking," She shows the contents of a card to the crowd "The real winners for album of the year are Ellie and the Ashmen for their album Smokey Eyes." Gasps sound from the audience and I can only imagine what those watching from home are doing

The camera pans to where Ellie, Dina, Jesse, and Cat sit, Ellie is laughing; not laughing, cackling, it only grows and now she's laughing so hard she can barely breathe. Suddenly I didn't feel like I was king of the world, it felt like the desolation of a hangover had hit me in the span of 90 seconds.

Dina gives Ellie a harsh elbow to her bicep, telling her to be respectful. The four of them rise from their chairs and make their way up to the stage, where I stand, paralyzed.

"Congratulations," I give Ellie a tight-lipped smile and hand the award off to her.

She smiled smugly at me and took it "Thanks, smokey eyes," Ellie held the statue up to display it. Smokey eyes was a nickname she had given me when we first met since I always had dark circles she said they looked like smoke from a forest fire. I told you that album was about me. What made me more mad is that it was such a stupid fucking nickname.

My mouth goes dry, it tastes like salt and failure.

I take many steps back, trying to hide myself at the back of the stage while I watch the Ashmen bathe in the glory I thought was mine.

"I didn't prepare anything because I honestly didn't think I would win," Ellie begins to mock me "But I'd like to thank my best friends, Dina, Jesse, and Cat, I couldn't have done it without you," She motions at her band members beside her "But I also couldn't have done it without my dad, thank you, Joel, you're out there in the cheap seats but I fucking love you," She waves out into the crowds somewhere before handing the microphone off to Dina.

"I am so beyond grateful-

"No!" Someone yells from the ground and all attention turns to him "This is not fair!" Graham shouts, walking up the stairs. Everyone in the room looks at one another trying to figure out what is going on. Graham snatches the microphone from Dina "I'm proud of you four but listen."

Everyone is silent completely, no one is sure what to do so we let Graham continue.

"I met everyone on this stage seven years ago," He throws one arm out for dramatics "Except for Amelia, I don't know you," Graham is more dishevelled than he was when I saw him earlier that night "Let me tell all of you that Ellie was in love with this girl since the day they met!" Graham points at me, now things are getting weird, well weirder. “I know because I was there and you all saw it on TV!”

It was no secret that Ellie and I were together since we met on Road to Stardom, a singing reality show where people compete for-well, stardom. Every step of our relationship had been very public, not by choice but by unfortunate circumstances. It is for this reason I was afraid of what Graham would spout next.

"Without her, Smokey Eyes wouldn't have ever been written, Ellie would've had no inspiration for it," He babbles "But more so my point is, Solstice deserved to win, Smokey Eyes is mediocre at best!"

People in the audience look genuinely concerned, I spot Abby in the third row. She has one hand covering her mouth from pure shock, her eyebrows are furrowed and she almost looks like she's going to throw up.

 "Solstice is the best album to listen to when you're high off salvia on your bathroom floor!" Graham points back at me.

I see Cat mutter something to Jesse along the lines of "He's not wrong."

"Smokey Eyes has three good songs and Solstice has thirteen!" Graham suddenly stops to turn and look at me, he grabs my wrist "Come up here and finish your speech," I shake my head no but he pulls me up anyway.

I freeze, petrified. My eyes are wide and my lips are pressed together in a thin line. I didn't know what to do. Why wasn't anyone doing anything?

Graham's head suddenly snaps from me to Ellie where he takes an intoxicated step closer to her "Give me that damn award, you don't deserve it, especially not after mocking the woman who inspired it!" He lunges for the statue, at first Ellie is stubborn and holds onto it tight.

After 30 seconds of Graham trying to pry the stature away, Ellie gives up and releases it, figuring it best not to fight with a drunk man; in doing so Graham's elbow flies back from sudden loss of resistance and hits me dead in my nose. I yelp out in pain bending over into a crouch and clutching my nose. Graham stumbles back and trips over me, though he is still holding on tight to the statue.

Jesse approaches him slowly. "Hey, man, It's me, I think we should all just settle down and talk this through," He tries to act cool but his eyes are full of worry "I agree, I think Solstice is a great album and it really deserved to win."

Graham clumsily rolled onto his stomach and then stumbled back onto his feet. He was staring Jesse down like this was the Wild West.

Dina rushed over to me to make sure I was okay "Let me see," She gingerly moved my hands away from my nose, it had been knocked crooked and blood was pouring down to my chest where it pooled at the neckline of my dark dress.

Graham chucked the golden gramophone at Cat who jumped back when he did so and took a swing at Jesse who didn't move an inch or even shudder from his drunken punch. It also didn't help Graham that he was a solid four inches shorter than Jesse. Just as Graham was hyping himself up to send another hit, two bulky men grabbed either of Graham's arms and dragged him off the stage and out of sight.

I went home that night with nothing more than a broken nose, and no award but I could rest knowing that night went down infamously in history. My blood dripped onto the stage of the Grammys.

That was the night I truly became famous.

Grade eight- Age thirteen 

Middle school is hard.

Even harder when you have two friends, one of them is a guy who is obsessed with Star Wars and is hardly at school because he's always having an allergic reaction, and the other friend is my English teacher. I ate lunch in her class while he graded schoolwork on days that Milo was too sick to show up for school.

I never understood why kids are so fucking mean. Like sometimes I'm having a good day and then I remember when I sang at the middle school talent show.

Some kid who was destined to have a blunt in his hand finished doing tricks on his skateboard rolled off stage and it was my turn.

In the dimly lit auditorium, adorned with colourful decorations for the annual school talent show, I took center stage with my guitar, a blend of excitement and nervousness etched across my face. The hushed whispers of the audience faded as I strummed the first chords, the notes carrying the beginning to the first of many performances in my life

"If you gave me only one wish,

I wouldn't want to feel this way.

They told me I'd have your memory

But all I want is you to stay

And I can't stop my mind from haunting me,

It's like a scar on a butterfly's wing,

I wanted you to know."

I had worked tirelessly to perfect the lyrics to my first ever song, begging my uncle who was far more practiced for his input. This was way back when I still lived in fuck ass nowhere Alberta, I had that country twang in my high voice though it carried a specific tenderness.

"This beautiful pain that I feel is all because of you

And one day these bones will heal

And they'll leave me with the truth

And I'll give you everything if it's the last thing that I do.

This beautiful pain, this beautiful pain

This beautiful pain for you."

However, as I sang my little heart out, a different melody began to play in the background - the snickers and hushed comments of some classmates who couldn't appreciate the vulnerability I laid bare on the stage. Their laughter, like discordant notes in a once-harmonious piece, reverberated through the auditorium.

"If I sailed the world on stormy seas

Chasing sunlight that I can't see.

I was a dreamer here before,

Before I woke up and fell to the floor

And I'd climb to heaven if I could find you,

Even with a scar this butterfly flew.

I wanted you to know."

I spotted one group in particular, they hated me already and this would give them all the more reason to bully me.

"This beautiful pain that I feel is all because of you

And one day, these bones will heal

And they'll leave me with the truth

And I'll give you everything if it's the last thing that I do

This beautiful pain, this beautiful pain, this beautiful pain."

Maybe the lyrics were the slightest bit corny but I was thirteen and these girls were being little cunts. I bit back the tears I so clearly wanted to release when I saw a teacher had to walk over to the group of girls to stop their laughing. It wasn't just that one group though, kids scattered all over were fighting back giggles and that made it hurt all the worse.

"And all I'll ever need

And all I'll ever be,

Within every part of me is this,

This beautiful pain that I feel is all because of you

And one day these bones will heal

And leave me with the truth

And I'll give you everything 'cause it was all I ever knew.

This beautiful pain,

This beautiful pain,

This beautiful pain,

For you."

As the last note hung in the air, the room was divided. Some applauded, recognizing the authenticity of my performance, while others continued their derisive comments. So the majority who liked my singing were teachers, but that didn't matter, at least my music got through to someone.

The rest of the day was even more difficult than my three-minute performance, at least that was over quickly but the comments from Kennedy and her friends left me leaving school in tears.

I didn't go home that day, I walked the extra ten minutes to get to my uncle's house. Lugging my guitar and newfound hate for music with me. The façade, adorned with a mismatched collection of potted plants and a welcoming, hand-painted sign that read ‘Home Sweet Home’ hinted at my uncle's efforts to infuse joy into his surroundings. The paint on the wooden shutters might have faded, but they held stories of many seasons gone by. The roof, patched with a variety of materials, showed the resourcefulness of my uncle in their attempt to shield the interior from the whims of weather. 

He tried to make the house look nice for me and my little sister. He was by no means rich in money but rich in what mattered, the love he had for me was overflowing.

It wasn't a particularly nice neighbourhood either, his house was small, with two bedrooms and a basement I wasn't allowed in. But every time I think of the chipped blue walls, I feel a warm sense of nostalgia run down my spine.

"Who's there?" I hear Uncle Richie call from the kitchen where he is cooking something.

"Just me," I yell back, dropping my guitar case on the ground and belly-flopping onto his old brown leather couch that had more tears in it than I could count; he had tried to stich some of them up with embroidery floss but ultimately gave up, deciding to let it be since he couldn't afford to replace it.

"Why aren't you at your mom's, Chickadee?"

"I don't wanna see Mom right now, she's gonna put me in an even worse mood," I call back grabbing the TV remote off of the water-damaged coffee table.

"What happened?"

"I don't wanna talk about it."

Minutes later Richie walks into the living room to join me, he carries a bowl of Kraft Mac and cheese with two forks shoved in it, he taps the bottom of my socked feet, signalling for me to move them so he can fit on the couch with me. Uncle Richie has a buzz cut and beard stubble that I have never seen him without, he has never been seen without a flannel on, not as long as I've been alive. What I remember the clearest about him though was the scar beneath his right eye, when I was younger he would tell me that he got it from a pirate though I stopped believing that. "So are you going to tell me why you're sulking?"

I ignore him and he reaches for the remote to turn the TV off "Hey, I watching that," I mutter.

"Well I'm waiting for you to answer me, Chickadee," He tilts his head "Or you won't get any kraft dinner."

"I sang at the talent show today."

"And?"

"Everyone made fun of me."

He furrows his eyebrows "Why would they do that?"

"Why do you think?" I snark "Because I'm not good enough and I'm a bad singer and I have a shit guitar." I immediately regret my words. Uncle Richie was the one who gave me that guitar, it was all he could manage with his income, it was his back when he had dreams of his own but he fixed it up so I could pick up where he left off. The guitar itself had a cracking between the face and the side that was being held together with duct tape, not to mention the whole thing was basically reinforced with superglue and there were Sharpie drabbles on it of poems and potential songs Richie started that I will be sure to finish.

"This is the best guitar in the world," He reaches behind the couch where I left it slugs the case onto his lap and opens it to showcase the guitar "Because it's full of something money can’t buy, there is love built into this guitar and every time you play it you feel that love."

"I don't feel love when I play," I say, eyes brimming with tears.

"Then you're not playing right," He smiles, discarding the case on the floor "Did you play the song I helped you write?"

I nod "Kennedy said it was worse than shoving nails into her ears and that my guitar was decrepit and even more fugly than I am."

"Well Kennedy is a little cunt," He answers "Don't tell anyone I said that." His words make me giggle. I watch him intently as he begins to strum some chords on the guitar, the beginning of Beautiful Pain, he stops when I don't sing the lyrics, glancing at me until the words finally fall from my lips.

After the first two Stanzas, he hands the guitar off to me, nodding his head along to my gentle strums.

When I finish the song and strike the last chord, Richie claps a huge smile on his face "Do you feel the love yet?"

"I dunno."

"Then play again," He says "Don't think about those bitchy little girls," His tone is dead serious "You just gave all of those people a free performance, in ten years they are going to be paying hundreds just to get a bad seat at one of your shows and they will buried so far in the back of your mind that you won't even remember their names or all of those awful words they say to you, the only words that will matter are the ones you sing."

"So what do I do?"

"Play music because you love it, it doesn't matter if it takes you anywhere or if it makes you any money. That's why you should play, play for love not greed."

Wordlessly I begin the song over again, blocking out the rest of the world while I softly sing the lyrics. I strum each cord perfectly, my singing to match. I will forever think back to this moment, this is where I can pinpoint the exact second I fell in love with music.

I wrap up the song and Richie speaks up "Do you still want to watch TV?"

I shake my head "Can you help me write another song?" 

-

Sinjinisoverboard: I love love love the new single but does anyone else miss her debut era?????? I feel like she's sold out

     woodmonkey92: Reply to Sinjinisoverboard╰┈➤ this is so true, I remember when she would sing in parks and she was actually happy just being herself

     theend_is_n3ar: Reply to woodmonkey92╰┈➤ bruh you don't remember that, she was a nobody when she sang in parks plus she literally got heckled and ridiculed by her classmates so bad that she gave up on singing in public and almost gave up on music as a whole

     user37768638493: Reply to sinjinisoverboard╰┈➤ as much as I love her it really seems like she's fallen off the rails

conner_stoll_it: She's not even the same person anymore. I fell in love her original music and who she was when she wrote it, then she signed with a record label now she's an in-genuine copy of every pop star.

     Alina_b12: Reply to conner_stoll_it╰┈➤ you fell in love with her old music?? 💀💀💀 she wasn't even past 100 subscribers when she released her debut album and after she released she literally gained 11 listeners on Spotify to get a total of 24 so don't lie and say that you heard it before hearing her mainstream music

     Luciaisdonewithlife: Reply to conner_stoll_it╰┈➤ Her old music was so relatable, she got famous and it’s kind of hard to relate to someone who's net worth is more money then I can even fathom

     hazeinmorningcraze: Reply to Luciaisdonewithlife╰┈➤I think that's why it was so easy for everybody to side with Ellie during the breakup, Ellie kept true to who she is, her girlfriend however did not.

     Luciaisdonewithlife: Reply to hazeinthemorningcraze╰┈➤*fiancé

     hazeinthemorningcraze: Reply to Luciaisdonewithlife╰┈➤ ew don't remind me

     maiya_onthec0ast: Reply to conner_stoll_it╰┈➤ We should remember that no one listened to her when she released her debut music. She said in an interview that before she signed with Atlantic Records she had 24 listeners and 76 subscribers. We only know who she is because of her mainstream music, you aren't better than anyone for needlessly hating on her.

stargirlthesequel: God who else misses the southern twang she used to have in her voice?

      Vampire_empire2: Reply to stargirlthesequel╰┈➤LMAO acting like you know her is crazy

      Aline_b12: Reply to stargirlthesequel╰┈➤parasocial relationships are really becoming apparent rn

thismightbeskylarwwhiteyo: It's soooooo annoying when people hate on Solstice for being mainstream like all Ashmen discography isn't top on charters since they dropped their first album

     dancedancerev0lution: Reply to thismightbeskylarwwhiteyo╰┈➤I've been saying this! Ellie has been in the industry way longer, she's always had a big fan base, even when she was still a solo artist!

    elliespurplemonster: Reply to thismightbeskylaarwwhiteyo╰┈➤ Ellie Williams on 🔝

    call_urm0ther: Reply to elliespurplemonster╰┈➤ kys she treated her fiancé horribly

    elliespurplemonster: Reply to call_urm0ther╰┈➤ how would you know that????? Were you there??????

    follow_kendra88: Reply to call_urm0ther╰┈➤Ellie was the one who was treated horribly in that relationship, have you even listened to Smokey Eyes?

    ellies_no2girl: Reply to call_urm0ther╰┈➤Ellie was so in love and just got used for fame 🥺💔

     call_urm0ther: Reply to ellies_no2girl╰┈➤fuck off with your cringe ass emojis

sorryyileft___:You guys are so weird for saying Ellie was used by her ex for fame, they literally were on the same show at the same age at the same time and got thrown into the limelight at the same time, Ellie and the Ashmen just got more popular.

   mybodyisacage: Reply to sorryyileft___╰┈➤Ellie had a bit of a YouTube presence before she was on Stardom, it wasn't a crazy number but it was a cult following and that's why she won Stardom, bc she had fans to begin with then gained even more after being on national television

    elliespurplemonster: Reply to mybodyisacage╰┈➤She didn't win bc of following she won bc she's a good artist

    mybodyisacage: Reply to elliespurplemonster╰┈➤I never said she wasn't

bodhi_van34: I thought the whole thing at the Grammy's was an act until I saw all those news articles about Graham Wilson getting arrested

  carlyswarly: Reply to bodhi_van34╰┈➤They did a drug test when he got arrested and found coke in his system

    may0mayyyo: Reply to carlyswarly╰┈➤A busboy who worked the event said that Graham was doing cocaine in the bathroom

   body_van34: Reply to may0mayyyo╰┈➤ LMAO WTF 

charlotte_5freakingdidit: EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT ELLIE WILLIAMS BEING MEAN TO HER EX BUT GRAHAM WILSON LITERALLY ASSAULTED A POPSTAR ON STAGE AND TRIED TO THROW HANDS WITH JESSE LMAO IM DIFFUSING

juliaa__stirling: The way Ellie was laughing when Amelia said she messed up the cards was so rude and immature. Her fans are insane for defending her. All of that just because her ex fiancé gave a speech about working hard, imagine how she felt after being so honest with everyone just for her to not actually win and think about how she feels now reading all of these posts.

botoxangel: Celebrities have feelings too, Amelia made a mistake she's probably embarrassed but not as embarrassed as that poor woman is for putting her soul into a speech just for her ex and all of her fan girls to ridicule her for a mistake that wasn't even hers.

    karaleaah778: Reply to botoxangel╰┈➤exactly! And why are people blaming Amelia??? She was given the envelope by someone else, she genuinely thought her friend won.

carlosislost: Why is Graham even invited to these events?????????

katie_katelynsm1th: Reply to carlosislost╰┈➤Bc it's funny when he causes a scene

howto_nevrst0ppbeingsad: I know you guys think this Grammy situation is so funny but it's really not. Graham is clearly mentally ill, this is a cry for help.

   elleryc3llery: Reply to howto_nevrst0ppbeingsad╰┈➤Dude it's hilarious

  3emmettttt: Reply to howto_nevrst0ppbeing sad╰┈➤The way you're worried about the has been and not the girl whose nose he broke

allysaaaa663638: LMAO THE WAY SHE ACTUALLY THOUGHT SHE WON THE AWARD AND SHE DESERVED IT SHDBDBEGHWWBSV

jessicadacoolest: Ellie is so real for laughing bc I would've done the same tbh

hennyrumwine: Dumb bitch deserved to be hit lollllllll

4444carmencarmen4444: I love the Ashmen's music but I hate Ellie sm, I just feel like she's a fuck girl and she gives me very rude vibes. Like laughing at her ex and then mocking her heartfelt speech is INSANE anyways stream Solstice

sittingwaiting_wishing: I honestly have hated Ellie since the breakup, she's changed so much since then. She used to be funny now she's just mean.

carissaandher_h0ttakes: I still think it's kind of crazy that Dina and Jesse followed through with Ellie on Smokey Eyes because they were really close to her when she was engaged to Ellie, can't imagine how many ties that album severed

    elliessmokeyeye: Reply to carissaandher_h0ttakes╰┈➤I think about this all the time! She was literally the god mother for Dina and Jesses kid

     carissaandher_h0ttakes: Reply to elliessmokeyeye╰┈➤it make me think that she might've done something to them to make them hate her the way Ellie does, Ellie did say that she didn't write all of the songs for Smokey Eyes 🤔🤔🤔

"Do you see how this backlash doesn't look good for anyone?" My agent, Caroline asks after showing me several Twitter posts that are under the trending tag.

"Well, it's not really my fault."

"Nonetheless, I think It's time for a rebrand." She sets her phone face down and looks at me from across her desk "Do you remember when you went on tour with the Ashmen when you were around twenty-one?"

My eyes go wide, I'm already shaking my head "Please-

"This is an awful event that you can turn into an amazing opportunity and capitalize on it," The backdrop behind Caroline is almost blinding, it's an annoyingly hot LA day and I want nothing more than to be back in Canada and swimming in lakes with my little sister.

"Caroline, mentally I can't handle a tour with Ellie."

"Mentally, you're gonna have to," She says, getting stern "Your fans either hate each other or they love both of you and feel like their parents have divorced."

I know that I will argue with Caroline for the next hour and threaten to fire her but eventually, she will win, so until then I am preoccupied with thoughts of everything but Ellie, soaking in the last moments I will have until she envelopes my brain and suffocates me from the inside out.

I am sure that with Ellie, I will die before winter comes and I am doubtful that I will ever bloom again.

[starlightandfairies]

Ok ok I really love you! That's the last request hahaha I don't wanna annoy you ❤️ I had this somehow cute idea where you've fallen in love with him but he doesn't know and one time you get a little drunk with the girls, later deciding to grab a taxi to the Mikaelson house. Klaus is the one letting you in but Elijah already felt your presence and tries to keep you safe around Klaus, or as you start playing with their swords and stuff. Klaus watches with amusement at his brother taking care of a human girl and makes a comment like "better keep her before I do", and that wakes something in Elijah that he takes you to his room, just to keep you safe. You end up cuddled on top of him, admitting your love to him before falling asleep. He also realizes that he has feelings for you, but he decides to tell you properly in the morning when you wake up 😊😙

Description: A drunken reader leads to playful chaos between the Mikaelson brothers and feelings being revealed.

Warnings: she/her pronouns, drunkness, fluff, swearing

*Requests are open, please send through as many requests as you want, check my character list and requesting rules.*

Thank you so again for requesting! No! You're not annoying me! I'm really enjoying getting requests so don't feel bad! I hope you also enjoy this one!

Key: Y/N = Your Name, POV = Point of view

Word Count: 1,156

First Person's POV

Girls' night out was amazing, I haven't had a night like this in ages, away from all the drama and finally able to just relax with the girls and just be us. I knew I was getting tipsy, I could feel my giggles becoming more and more prominent than normal. The girls were going home, so I decided to head towards the Mikaelson house, I stood on the street hailing a taxi and stumbled into the vehicle once it arrived. I asked to be taken to the address, the walk to the porch of the Mikaelson resident seemed like an incredible challenge, I'm sure that to an outsider I just looked like a fawn learning to walk but I felt as if I was climbing Mount Everest. 

I giggled to myself as I fell against the door, I sucked in a breath, trying to pull myself together as I knocked waiting for someone to answer. I was surprised when it was Niklaus, I waved almost childishly, smiling brightly at the Hybrid who clearly seemed amused by my current state.

In all honesty, I have no clue how I ended up sword-fighting with Niklaus, however, somehow this is where we ended up. Sword fighting in the parlour. I highly recommend it, however, do take care. I grinned brightly seeing Elijah walking forward with his usual look of concern plastered on his face, however, once he was at my side he smiled. 

"Good evening, Y/n, I didn't realise you'd be joining us." 

"Spur of the moment type thing." I turned my attention back to Niklaus, continuing our little sword fight, I jumped as Elijah used his speed to appear in front of me, I grinned excitedly but quickly pouted as he took the sword off of me. 

"How about instead you sit with me, and tell me all about your night?" The pout faded away, I nodded in agreement, sitting on the sofa with him and instantly began rambling on about every little detail that went on tonight. I'm sure I shared details I wouldn't typically share in normal conversation, my filter was non-existent and oh, how I know that if I could watch myself right I would wish for it badly. 

"Am I okay to take my shoes off?" I questioned glancing down to the hells that were now becoming painful and unwanted. Elijah nodded, though, after watching my struggle he lightly took my hands and proceeded to continue to charm me with his gorgeous smile that drew me in the first time I saw him. 

"May I help you?" I nodded, frustrated with my inability to undo the damn straps on my shoes, Elijah kindly took my shoes off for me and rested them to the side. The vampire stared at me for a good minute, assessing my needs and whatever else that was needed to be assessed. 

"I'll be right back, I'll get you some water." I threw my arms around him, giggling happily, thanking him and plopped back into the couch. I waited patiently for both vampires to return, I fiddled with my hands, staring at everything in the room and running my finger over my lips making odd sounds just for the sake of it. 

Elijah's POV 

I began pouring some water, and getting some things prepared for Y/n knowing that in the morning the hangover would come, I wanted her to be okay and wanted her to be safe. So I was quite glad that Niklaus chose to follow instead of causing more havoc with Y/n. 

"You know, brother, you better sweep her up before I do." His smirk and words struck a chord. He knew of my feelings, Niklaus knew that I would do anything for her and knew that he would follow through on his words. I made my way back to the living room, stopping in my tracks seeing her laying upside down on the couch, he head on the floor and her legs dangling over the backrest of the sofa. 

I bit back the smile dying to show, I sat beside her, smiling as she waved happily and awkwardly twisted and turned trying to get back into an upright position. I took her hands, smiling as she rested her head on my shoulder and that gorgeous smile just permanetly stuck on her lips. 

"Come with me, will you, please?" Y/n nodded, taking my hand and following me to my room. I handed her the glass of water, watching as she plopped onto my bed finishing the glass of water within a gulp and began curling up underneath the blankets. 

'Would you lay with me, please? I couldn't refuse, I nodded and kicked off my shoes and rested besides her. I wrapped my arms around her as she began to lay upon me, her eyes were fluttering open and shut her words escaping in a mumble. 

"I love you, Elijah. I really love you. Like a lot. Super a lot." Before I could even deny anything, I could feel her swiftly fall asleep, I didn't want to disturb her, I didn't want this moment to end. I knew that in this moment I wanted to confess my feelings for her, so I thought it would be best to do so in the morning. 

First Person's POV 

As the light shined into the room, I knew my headache would be a bitch to deal with, I pushed myself up into a sitting positon in the boat. I stretched briefly, jumping slightly to see Elijah walking into the room with a glass of water and a packet of painkillers. 

"Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you." I whispered, sipping the water and taling the painkillers. Elijah sat on the bed besides me, I rested my head on his shoulder and began sharing my apology. 

"I'm so sorry, was I a complete mess?" 

"No, not at all." 

"You're a liar." I whispered. 

"You were just really giggly and silly. You told me you loved me- I don't know how much of that was true..." 

"That was true, I meant that." I confirmed, seeing there was no point in denying the fact that I loved him. Elijah sat in silence for a good moment, I could feeel my heart halt for a second fearing that his reaction cold be poor and that he would react in a way that ruin our friendship. 

"I love you too." He whispered, his eyes focused on me, I glanced to him surprised and shocked about the outcome of the confession. I smiled pushing myself up and grabbed ahold of his face. Looking to see if the noble vampire was lying to me, he grabbed my hands, his look gentle and comforting. I knew just then that it wasn't a lie and that this was all true. 

[woso-dreamzzz]

Little Buddy

Arsenal Women x Teen!Reader

Summary: Three members of the team take you under their wing

"There you are!" Steph said as you pulled open the car door, slipping inside and immediately placing your hands in front of the heater," I thought you got lost!"

You rolled your eyes. "Ha, ha," You said dryly," I didn't hear my alarm go off."

"Didn't your parents wake you up?" Steph pulled off from the curb, turning down the music from the radio.

"Dad's on the early morning shift and Mum was on the night one, she's knocked out in bed," You replied. You dug through your bag to check that you'd brought everything.

Waking up with twenty missed calls from Steph and another one coming in was not exactly the nicest wake up calls - especially when it was paired with getting dressed and ready for the day in under five minutes.

You yawned slightly as you tugged your bag closed again, head moving to rest against the rest.

"There's breakfast and a drink in the back for you," Steph said as she turned onto a roundabout. "You look like you need it. Have you eaten yet?"

You gave her a deadpan look at you leaned toward the back and snatched up the brown paper baggy. "Well, seeing as you woke me up this morning. I'll let you guess."

Steph laughed as you practically attacked your breakfast wrap. "I didn't think I would get your sass this early."

"Thanks," You said brightly, your mouth full of food," Leah calls it my moody teenage hormones."

"Don't listen to Leah," Steph said as she turned another corner," She's just jealous that you're younger and fitter than her."

Your ride to the training grounds made you feel much better than when you woke up and by the time you and Steph pulled up, you were energised and ready.

"Mornin'," Katie said, getting out of her car at the same time you two were.

"Morning," You said brightly and she groaned.

"How can you have this much energy so early?" Katie looked annoyed but you knew she wasn't by the way that she threw an arm over your shoulder and steered you inside.

"Steph gave me food!"

"This wave of energy is recent," Steph assured her," I had to get her up this morning. Her alarm didn't go off."

Katie gave you a look. "You parents couldn't get you up?"

You gave her the same excuse as you gave Steph. "Besides," You continued," It's not really a big deal. Mum and Dad are always busy. I'm pretty self-sufficient."

"You're sixteen," Katie deadpanned.

You shrugged. "And? I'm doing better than most kids my age." You puffed out your chest in pride. "I have a job."

Katie laughed, ruffling your hair as you approached the locker room. "Look at you, superstar!" She said, a hint of teasing in her tone," A job?! Wow!"

"Stop teasing me!" You batted her hands away as she continued to knock you about. "I'm going to bring this up in therapy in a few years!"

She laughed at you again, knowing that your threat was meaningless, but still let you scamper off to your cubby to change.

As usual, Alessia was already there. She wasn't changed yet though, typing away on her phone. You leaned over to read what she was saying. "You spelt that wrong."

She rolled her eyes but corrected herself. "Anything else, grammar police?"

"Actually, yes." You dug through your bag and pulled out your school planner. "I have to go in tomorrow morning and I need someone to sign off on my schoolwork." You offered her a pen.

"Gladly!" Alessia signed with a flourish and you gladly took your school book back.

"What?! Why couldn't I sign?!" Steph sounded outraged.

You rolled your eyes as you pulled your training shirt over your head. "Because you don't know a thing about my schoolwork."

"That's a lie!" She said and you sent her a pointed look.

"Oh, yeah?" You challenged," What classes do I take? Hell, where even is my school?"

"I know your address, isn't that enough?"

"Not when I need a responsible adult to sign off on my work."

This seemed to get Katie's attention.

"I'm responsible!"

"Yeah, for more than half of the yellow cards we get," You said with a laugh.

"Alright, that's it!" She leapt across the changing room and got you into a headlock. A rough noogie was pressed onto your head and no matter how much you tried to get away, Katie wouldn't release you.

"Say you're sorry!"

"Never!"

You howled with laughter as you were suddenly shoved into Steph, who hoisted you over her shoulder like you were nothing but a sack of potatoes.

"Don't know what you're laughing about, Russo," Katie said," You're next!"

●～●～●～●～

You panted as a cross came in from Katie. You barely had any space but you still went for it.

Your foot kicked out and connected with the ball. You didn't try to watch it go in, more focussed with landing on your feet after your bicycle kick.

But suddenly, you were eating dirt.

A body crashed into yours, pushing the air from your lungs.

You were stunned for a moment before you felt more force on your back and then the pressure was released. You gasped for breath, groaning in pain. You could feel a pain and ache in your face.

A hand turned you over and you looked up into Alessia's eyes. She looked concerned and reached out to steady you, helping you sit up. She wiped at your cheek.

"That was a nasty fall," She said," How are you feeling?"

You didn't answer at first, still struggling to draw in the breath that had been forced out of you. You smacked your chest a few times as Alessia rubbed your back.

"Wh-What happened?" Your breathing was still shaky but you had enough in you to speak.

"Ouahabi tried to stop your kick," Lessi said," Crashed into you as you landed. You wiped out." She rubbed a bit of dirt from your cheek and you leaned away, the pain becoming worse when she touched you.

"Did I get the goal?"

Steph laughed as she jogged over, catching your last question. "Of course you did."

"Did it look cool?"

"Real cool."

Together, she and Lessi got you to your feet. With the dirt rubbed off your face, it became clear to both of them that there would be a nasty bruise on your cheek in a couple of minutes.

It seemed Katie came to the same conclusion because she squared up to Ouahabi without prompting, shoving the other woman back with force.

"You wanna have a scrap?!" She demanded," I'll have a scrap if you really want!" She looked like she was a second or two from getting another yellow card so you hurried over and took her hand.

She quietened for a moment and allowed you to drag her away.

"You should watch your back, Ouahabi," Steph warned as Katie tucked you under her arm and walked you back to your position.

"I think I can handle McCabe for another two minutes or so, Catley."

Alessia stepped forward. She was taller than Ouahabi put not by much so they were practically eye to eye. "She wasn't talking about Katie."

Across the pitch, Katie wiped at your cheek. "We'll get some ice on that as soon as its full time. You're gonna have quite the shiner."

"It'll look cool though."