#if you saw this earlier no you didn’t. i hit post too soon like a real pro

[help-itrappedmyself]

Liminal Jason part 3

For those of you that saw the blip earlier, when I tried to post this but it broke cause it was too long, here is the real thing. Masterpost for earlier parts.

Sorry again. And slight tw for panic attack

Jason woke up slowly, taking in his surroundings as he adjusted to being awake. It was quiet, and a little humid. He was on a bed, could feel the sheets beneath him, and he wasn’t restrained at all. There was a moment of confusion, because when you wake up after being attacked like that you usually end up dead or a hostage. There was a creeping realization dawning in the back of his mind. He didn’t want to acknowledge it. He opened his eyes, not wanting his suspicions to be true. But he was in a holding cell in the cave, and he realized what must have happened. Then he was pissed. 

He let out a growl, pushing to sit up on the bed. He thought they were doing better. He thought his family trusted him again. His growl was angry, foreboding, telling of the danger and anger in his thoughts. But his head was pounding from the sedative. They knew he hated needles. Hated drugs. Why would they do this to him, trick him like this when they knew how he felt about it. The haze in his head, making his thoughts heavy, and doing nothing but reminding him of all the harm drugs have done to the people around him. He stopped growling, hoping the quiet would help. Much less angry, the clouds in his head starting to make him sad and breathless. He hopes the effects wear off soon. He can’t focus. There is something important that he is missing. He is forgetting something, the spiral of his thoughts and emotions starting to lean towards hysteria. He’s alone. Trapped and alone, mind heavy with fog. He can’t think, why is he stuck here? His breath starts coming faster, increasing while his heart starts to race. He tries to keep quiet, and calm down. A whimper escapes him as he finds a corner and slides down the wall. Then he heard a keen. Close, probably coming from one of the other cells. The sound cuts through the haze. Important, a strike of clarity hitting him with a pulse as he remembers the kid. There was a kid with him. 

Danny. Jason hears him call out again, a sharp keen of panic-confusion, and Jason needs to help him. Jason stumbles up, leaning on the wall for support. He heads towards the door, but he was familiar with how the cells worked. He reached it and of course it was locked. He attempted to manually override, but the pad inside the cell was locked down. The cell can only be opened once someone on the inside clears whoever is inside it. Created for instances where one of them has been incapacitated by a new strain of fear gas, or a new Ivy concoction. To hold someone until an antidote can be created. There was no getting out of here before the other came by. 

Hopefully, they’re on their way now, seeing him awake on the cameras. Jason has some choice words to be had about his situation, angry seething inside him as the panic from earlier recedes. 

Danny lets out another keen, breathy and biting and Jason hears him start to panic. Jason still has to do what he can. He can’t reach him, but he can try and calm him down. They’re in this together, and Jason is going to do whatever he can for the kid. He let out a rumble, steady and calm in response to Danny’s cries. His rumble is filled with annoyance, but still said okay-here-safe. 

Danny is silent for a moment before he hums back a confused-trust. It’s closer, louder, like Danny has moved to be right on the other side of the wall from Jason. This kid, who just had his world destroyed, came here alone and afraid, and he trusts Jason. Screw yelling at the Bats. Danny needs him, and priority one is getting Danny to a place he can feel safe. 

A soft churring sound leaves Jason, sweet and caring, and Jason hopes the kid knows that he is going to do everything he can for him. Then Jason hears Danny let out a short purr, a quiet susurration, that ends as quickly as it starts. Jason is stunned by how much faith Danny is putting in him. How much Jason cares for this boy he just met. 

The bats can pry this boy out from his cold, dead hands.

[delulupunk]

How the batboys would react to shopping!

Quick A/N: Thank you for all of the support! I appreciate every single one of you!! I have also added Duke just send an ask if you’d like him to also be included in my previous posts and I’ll make it happen.

Dick Grayson

You would both spend an equal amount doing shopping for yourselves. This means you’d also help Dick with his shopping too.

Dick would make no secret of trying to find clothes that match the ones you just bought- he’ll hold up your new dress to a jacket in the store, to check the shades of colour are the same.

You’d most likely spend a long time at the shopping centre if you both love shopping. However if you aren’t the biggest fan of shopping then you’d still spend a fair amount of time shopping, just because Dick likes it so much.

Dick is one of the best men to go shopping with opinion wise. He gives the best advice and slowly steers you away from the less than attractive pieces of clothing. You’ll find you have plenty of fully planned outfits by the end of the trip.

The time you’d go shopping is the morning- Dick would make an entire day out of the spree, which means you’d wrap it up between late noon or evening time.

Jason Todd

Unless you’re shopping for something Jason has an interest in, like books, he won’t be contented following you around like a guard dog. So you’d have to be sneakier with planning your shopping trips.

You’d have to ease him into the day gently by shopping for books and then going to a shop you’d want to go to. Then you’d have a meal and continue shopping, ensuring you drop in shops you’ll know he wants to go to so he doesn’t get bored.

Your plan works, but Jason gets wise and realises. He pretends not to notice, because he adores the fact that you’re not selfish. You make the day fun for him as well and act on what he wants to do.

The shopping day would most likely begin at noon, because Jason’s tired from patrol the night beforehand and has slept in.

If you tell him how excited you are about the trip though, he’ll make the extra effort to get up earlier and show he’s more enthusiastic.

Tim Drake

Tim’s not afraid to spend money on you and frequently you’ll find you don’t even need to go shopping. Since as soon as you mention one little thing you need, it’ll be right in your hands. He isn’t wrapped around your little finger though, but he wants to communicate to you that he listens to what you say.

Tim’s more of a business now, fun later type of man, you’ll go past shops that perhaps aren’t the highest on your hit list and he’ll grill you to make sure you don’t need anything from them. This leads to you going grocery shopping during your shopping trips.

He’ll hold some of your bags for you though, but only if you really need him too. He’s a firm believer that if he didn’t buy it, he shouldn’t have to deal with it.

The shopping trip is usually in the evening time, since he likes to do them after work. Nevertheless he’ll try and be sneaky occasionally by taking you earlier (this is when you end up going grocery shopping).

Damian Wayne

Damian genuinely doesn’t want to go. He’ll tell you to just go with your friends instead. So you’ll have to be cunning to try and inadvertently get him to agree to go shopping with you.

After a date you’ll make sure you walk a specific way past a store you want to go to. When you mention it Damian begrudgingly takes you, because it would be counterintuitive not to take you when you were so close to the store.

You two go to stores sparingly, it’s not something Damian finds necessary- the internet can be just as useful for shopping in his mind. Although you do argue that you can’t try clothes on- which circles back to the ‘just go with you friends’ solution.

Duke Thomas

Duke absolutely loves going shopping with you. He enjoys walking with you and going window shopping. Sometimes the pair of you will go on impromptu shopping sprees just because you saw something you liked in a window.

Your shopping days are well planned out and he’ll be more than happy to take the day off patrol just to be with you- instead he’ll go patrolling in the night.

Duke loves dragging you around various shops and explaining all his interests in intricate details. He’ll have a massive smile on his face the whole time, as he holds up various things to you and explains their relevance.

Duke is more than happy to wait outside changing rooms for you, no matter how long it takes. He’ll try and be nice about all the clothes you show him- if he doesn’t like any he’ll ask you nicely why you want it.

[flowercrowngods]

ronance yearning hours

Mornings like this are becoming Nancy’s favourite thing, with the rising sun painting the room in golden light that always, always lands on Robin, who usually sleeps long past sunrise when she can. Nancy lets her; there’s nowhere for her to go anyway on this slow Saturday morning in Steve’s house, and the boys will only wake in an hour or so.

Nancy has taken to using that time to watch the picture of absolute serenity that is a sleeping Robin, with her cheek smushed into the pillow and her hair falling over her face in a way that never fails to make Nancy smile.

It also never fails to make her fingers twitch, itching to reach out and brush that hair behind her ear and see if her cheek is as smooth to the touch as it looks.

It gets stronger, this urge, with every slow Saturday morning that she wakes in the same bed as her. The journalist inside her wants to find a better word for it, a stronger one, to avoid repetition and ensure clarity. But all the words are big and carry implications for which Nancy is not yet ready.

She refuses to call it longing, this need inside her to touch and linger. She refuses to call it yearning, the way she looks forward to Friday nights at Steve’s with Robin and Eddie, or the way it fills her chest with excitement and giddiness just to think about sharing a bed and waking next to her and watching as all the things that overwhelm Robin on a daily basis are held off for at least another hour yet.

What’s in a word? she’ll scoff when it comes to interviews and articles and hours of agonising over sentence structure and synonyms.

But it’s on mornings like this that she realises that some words require bravery and tenderness rather than simple contemplation and calculation. Some words take time.

Beside her, Robin sighs quietly in her sleep, and Nancy shuffles closer. Because if she can’t be brave with words yet, not even with herself, she can at least be closer.

Using the momentum of a moment unguarded, her right hand comes up before she can stop it, finding a home on Robin’s cheek as she slowly, reverently brushes the hair out of her face and behind her ear. Her touch is light, fingertips ghosting over soft, warm skin — and feeling that softness upon her touch, she wonders if falling in love with Robin would be just as soft, just as gentle; just as warm.

Not a second later, Nancy pulls her hand away as if burned, her heart racing in her chest as if it were signalling her to run, you should be running, i’m racing like you’re running for your life before you’re caught and found out. Nancy balls her hand into a fist and scoots further back on the bed, feeling a heaviness inside her chest that has only been there for a few of these mornings. A fear. A panic.

Because terrible things happen when Nancy Wheeler wonders about love and touch and tenderness. And worse things still, because it’s not supposed to be like this. Not with Robin.

So she stays on her side of the bed, watching the sun dance along Robin’s skin, her hand still warm, the ghost touch of Robin’s soft cheek still present. And she watches, hand cradled to her chest to stop herself from reaching out again. She watches and wonders if maybe she should start using bigger words, because the pit in her chest is growing larger with every passing second and she needs something to fill it.

~*~

It happens again the next week. And the week after that. It seems like the first time broke something in Nancy, or maybe it came alive, but either way she can’t really stop reaching for Robin now. And her repertoire of words is growing with each Saturday morning, too. Longing, aching, yearning — they are classics. But there’s basking, too. Hoping, wishing, and imagining. God, does she imagine.

She imagines Robin’s lips turning up into a smile with Nancy’s hand on her cheek, she imagines her hand coming up to capture Nancy’s and just holding it. Or an image that makes her heart race again: kisses brushed to her knuckles. Or her lips.

She imagines, and she wishes, and she longs. But there’s also belonging. In fact, there’s a whole novel Nancy feels she could write in those early morning hours. A thousand pages dedicated to all the words that exist around Robin Buckley. Words that live inside Nancy; that part is important.

Four weeks have passed and the feelings have only grown stronger, developed more words that will forever remain between her and the morning sun. And Nancy can’t stop herself from trailing the back of her finger along smooth, warm skin, the touch too light to disturb the sleeping beauty.

Sleeping Beauty, who stills and stiffens minutely, but Nancy is too mesmerised to notice until it’s too late.

“You’ve gotta stop this,” Robin whispers, her voice hoarse from sleep, and Nancy’s heart leaps out of her chest in panic and embarrassment.

“Sorry,” she whispers, pulling her hand back toward her chest. She’ll explain. Robin had something on her face that Nancy brushed away, that’s all. It’s fine, it’s fine, it’s—

“Or I’ll fall madly in love with you if you don’t.”

Oh. Oh?

Oh.

Nancy swallows as her thesaurus dissolves and all words escape her. She blinks. Robin’s eyes are still closed but there’s a shadow of a smile on her lips, dimpling the skin that Nancy caressed just seconds ago.

There is the chance to just ignore that this ever happened, with Robin not looking at her, not making this moment real yet, on the brink of sleep and wakefulness. All she’ll have to do is wait. It’s the best chance she’s ever going to get, to forget about all this and get over it. Over her. Over whatever she has been building inside herself under the light of the rising sun over the past weeks.

All she’d have to do is remain still and silent and wait for Robin to fall back asleep.

But there was something about big words and bravery, and even though her thesaurus has left her and the thousand pages of things to feel, to say, to do, to think around Robin have torn themselves up because they were bleak and bland and not enough, Nancy feels brave on this particular morning.

Because the world hasn’t ended yet in all those weeks that she’s been thinking about Robin. In fact, the world has stopped ending since she started seeing Robin for who she is. And in a world where bravery is not about surviving, it is always about love.

And maybe that’s what she feels, maybe that’s what she wants, what she allows herself to want when she lays her hand on Robin’s cheek to caress the softest skin and gently comb back the strands of hair that are threatening to fall back over her face again. Her beautiful face that’s pulling up into a smile now — and Nancy is not imagining it. In fact, she’s smiling, too. She’s smiling so wide that a tiny little laugh bubbles past her lips.

Robin scoots closer, eyes squinting open now, as if to make sure this is real. As if she’s feeling the same. As if she meant it, what she said just now.

Nancy swallows thickly when Robin tucks her head under her chin, her body curling into Nancy’s, finding one of her hands to hold it. She still feels too raw, too vulnerable, and she wants to ask. Wants to be sure. Wants it to be real.

“Five more minutes,” Robin says, already on her way back to a deep sleep. “And then we’ll talk about this. I’ll tell you all about this girl I like. Think she might like me back. And she’s so warm.” She buries a little deeper into her side to chase that warmth that is now filling her whole body.

And Nancy gasps out a laugh this time, a tiny one, gentle and tender and all those words that are slowly coming back to her now that Robin is curled into her side and holding her hand. Her free hand comes up to comb through Robin’s hair in steady motions to lull her back into a slumber.

“Sleep,“ she breathes. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Robin hums, cuddling impossibly closer, and Nancy feels herself drifting off again, too. With a smile on her face. For the first time in years.

[once-upon-an-imagine]

You're Still The One - Sirius Black

A/N: ahh! well here it is! I really hope you loves like it as much as the preview! so, here we go!

Requests: - Anonymous asked: Sirius x Potter!sister where she raises Harry and they reunite once he’s out of Azkaban but she has to tell him that he’s a father too (up to you if they had a son or daughter) - twilightlover2007 asked: I would love to see post-askaban Sirius with a single mama(witch or muggle). The little one could be hers or she adopted the child when her friends were killed, thinking the little one is 6months to a year and when able to walk the little one just FOLLOWS Sirius everywhere. Even bumping into his legs when he stops walking suddenly. His own little duckling! Please and thank you!

Warnings: this is very much AU because Sirius gets out of Azkaban earlier and Remus was kinda working his case and visiting him there, so if you don't like that then, this is not the story for you xD, also mentions of sex and I think that's it but let me know if I missed anything!

Disclaimer: I don’t own Harry Potter :) gif isn’t mine :D  

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

You're Still The One

You’re still the one I run to The one that I belong to You’re still the one I want for life

“Hey, Remus, do you have any milk? I ran out and didn’t have time to go to the store-”

As soon as you walked into Remus’ home, Sirius instantly froze when he heard your voice. That beautiful voice he hadn’t heard in three years. It wasn’t something unusual for you to walk into the next house as casually as you did. But this wasn’t the way it was supposed to go. Sirius was still getting ready to see you. Which is why, when you came back up, the milk bottle slipped out of your hand and broke down on the floor as soon as you saw someone standing in the living room— a half-naked someone covered in tattoos, who definitely wasn’t Remus.

“Love” Sirius smiled, looking at you. The same smile he always had when he looked at you. He was about to walk your way, but you quickly grabbed what was nearest to you, which happened to be the newspaper on the table. You cursed silently for leaving your wand in your own kitchen. “What are you gonna do? Kill a spider-?”

“Who are you?”

“Bambi, it’s me-” he started, but you backed away.

“No! Do not call me that! It can’t be you! Y-you’re not here!” you said, feeling your eyes welling up.

He couldn’t be here. Sirius was in Azkaban. You knew that. You hadn’t seen him in three years. He couldn’t be just standing here in the middle of Remus’ living room.

“Sweetheart, I can explain-”

“REMUS!”

“What?” you heard Remus’ voice coming downstairs with clothes for Sirius. “Oh shit” he muttered when he spotted you.

“What the fuck is going on?” you asked, still with the newspaper in front of you.

“Calm down, okay?”

“Calm down!?”

“Bambi-”

“Shut up! Don’t call me that!” you said, turning to Sirius with your paper and he placed his hands up in surrender.

“Okay, put the paper down” Remus said, walking closer to you and pointing his wand to clean up the milk on the floor. "Just calm down, and listen to me, okay?"

"I'm listening..."

"Are you calmed?" Remus asked.

"...I'm listening" you repeated.

“Look, first of all, please don’t be mad at Moony, okay? I asked him not to tell you I was getting out until we were sure” Sirius insisted.

“Oh, and just how long were the two of you in on this?”

Sirius and Remus exchanged a look you had seen too many times back at Hogwarts before Remus responded.

“Two months” he said, taking a few steps back when you were going to hit him with the paper again but Sirius got in the middle.

“TWO MONTHS! You have been in touch with Sirius and you knew he was getting out and you hid this from me for two months?! You knew all this time and you didn’t tell me? You kept the love of my life away from me?”

“So, I’m still the love of your life?”

“I don’t know! I’m still mad at you!”

“What? Why are you mad at me for? Be mad at Moony!”

“Oi! You just told her not to be mad at me!”

“I know but I’d rather have her be mad at you than me!”

“Enough!” you yelled, making the two of them look at you. “One of you just… tell me what the bloody hell is going on!”

“I didn’t do it, love” Sirius told you.

“Well, I obviously know that part” you frowned.

“Y-you do?”

“I told you” Remus repeated, rolling his eyes. “Look, I didn’t want to tell you until we were certain and we could actually have enough to get him out” Remus explained.

“Why are you two looking at me like that? The last time you looked at me like that, you told me Remus was a werewolf” you said, nervously.

“It was Peter” Remus told you.

“W-what?” you asked, feeling your heart drop. You slowly sat down on Remus’ kitchen table. The two friends looked at each other and sat down with you. “B-but Peter’s dead-”

“He’s not” Sirius told you. “We decided, James and I…” he said, noticing the pained expression on your face when he mentioned your brother. “I suggested Peter should be the Secret-Keeper and not me. We didn’t tell anyone” he explained. “I- I didn’t think he would-” he choked as a few tears ran down his face. “I am so sorry, love” he said, trying to grab your hand but you quickly pulled it away.

“James would have told me” you said, not really knowing what else to think. You always knew it wasn’t Sirius. It couldn’t have been. You knew Sirius would die before he’d let anything happen to James or Lily. But you couldn’t believe it was Peter either. “H-how come none of us knew?”

“We thought it was best that way” Sirius confessed. “After… what happened” he continued. “I tracked Peter down and when I cornered him, he yelled for the whole street to hear that I’d betrayed Lily and James. Then, before I could curse him, he blew apart the street with the wand behind his back, killed everyone within twenty feet of himself- and sped down into the sewer with the other rats” he explained.

“Scabbers” you muttered. “He’s been hiding as Scabbers this whole time?” you said as more tears ran down your face.

“I didn’t want to tell you because I had to find him first” Remus told you. “I couldn’t get Sirius out if they still thought Peter was dead” he explained.

“So you-” you said, looking at Remus. “Y-you found him? You found Peter?”

“I did” Remus nodded.

“And he’s-?”

“He is” Sirius assured you.

“H-how long have you known it was Peter?” you asked Remus, who nervously looked at Sirius.

“Since the night Sirius was taken away” Remus replied and you only nodded.

��D-do you have any other questions, love?” Sirius asked.

“What time is it?” you questioned, getting up. “I have to go back and make breakfast and-”

“I’ll take care of that” Remus said, getting up too. “I think there’s still a lot you two need to talk about he said, looking between you and Sirius before he pulled you closer to him as Sirius went back to get the clothes Remus had brought for him. “He doesn’t know” he informed you and your eyes widened in surprise.

“Y-you didn’t tell him?”

“I couldn’t” Remus admitted. “Look, I know you begged me a million times to take you to see him-”

“You always said no!”

“Yes, because he made me promise to never take you there and he’s right. You don’t ever want to see that horrible place” he said. “And you wouldn’t want to see him that way” he continued. “He was completely shattered, and the biggest part that was killing him was that he had failed you and Harry. So, I didn’t have the heart to tell him there was someone else. It would have killed him” he explained.

“Okay” you nodded.

You knew it wasn’t Remus’ story to tell. You had to do that. It just made you incredibly anxious but when you looked back at Sirius, you felt the same butterflies you did so many years ago. This was Sirius. Your Sirius.

“It’ll be okay, love” Remus said, kissing the side of your head. “I’ll be next door when you’re ready” he smiled.

“Thanks, Rem” you smiled back at him, giving him a hug.

“Just please don’t have sex on my bed… again” he muttered, making you push him off.

“No promises” you chuckled.

“I mean it, Potter!” you heard him yell as he left.

“What’s he on about?” Sirius asked as you entered the living room.

“He doesn’t want us to have sex on his bed” you told him. “Again.”

“Well, there goes my question to know if you wanted to go have sex on Moony’s bed again” he said, raising his eyebrow suggestively at you and making you chuckle slightly.

“I think we scarred him for life when he walked in on us in school” you reminded him, making him laugh. Merlin, how you had missed his laugh. You slowly walked closer to Sirius and sat on the sofa too.

“Hi, sunshine” he smiled at you.

“Hi” you said shyly, playing with your hands, which Sirius knew meant you were nervous. He slowly reached out and held your hand in his. “I’m sorry” you smiled, shedding a few tears and squeezing his hand tighter.

“Why are you sorry, love?”

“I don’t know” you chuckled. “For threatening you with a newspaper?”

“It’s not the first time” he reminded you before you threw your arms around his shoulders and he quickly wrapped his around your waist, bringing you closer.

“I missed you so much” you said, clinging on to him, feeling that they would rip him away from you again at any second.

“I missed you too, my love” he said, feeling his eyes watering as well.

“I-” you said, sighing. “How-” you stuttered. “I- um-”

“I’m fine, love” he assured you, knowing that’s what you wanted to ask him. “I’m here with you and I’m gonna be fine, and that’s all that matters, okay?”

“I knew you didn’t do it” you said, with your voice breaking a little. Sirius pulled you away and cupped your cheeks with his hands. “You know that, right?”

“Of course, I know that, sweetheart” he assured you. “You and Harry were the only thing keeping me sane in that place” he said. “I knew I had to make my way back to the two of you” he smiled.

“S-Sirius-”

“Oh, and Moony, if he asks, I mean” he smiled. “How is Harry? He’s about four now, right?”

“He is, b-but um, Sirius-”

“Merlin, I am dying to see him! I bet he looks just like…” he stopped, not wanting to mention James’ name again and make you upset. “Um… does he- uh… does he know about me?”

“He does” you nodded, making him smile brightly at you. “But… um… Sirius, there’s… something we need to talk about” you said, nervously.

“Oh, I… well, I understand if you don’t want me to see him… right away, I mean, I don’t want to come back here and expect you to change your whole life for me. That’s regarding us as well, I mean, I guess we should have that conversation-”

“Sirius!” you said, getting up and walking away from him. You took a deep breath and tried to calm yourself down. “I know that… there’s a lot of things that we have to discuss and talk about but… um…” you said, looking away and sitting down on the coffee table in front of him. “There’s something very important that I need to tell you” you said feeling extremely anxious.

“What’s wrong, love?” he asked, worriedly. “Is it about Harry? Do you not want me to see him yet?” he said. “Cause I would understand if-”

“No, um, is not about that” you said. “Well, I mean, it is, but… umm… Sirius” you said, taking a deep breath as he held your hands in his. “There’s… there’s someone else” you said, making him let go of your hands instantly.

“Oh” he said, with his expression stiffening a little as he felt his heart shatter into a million pieces. “I uh-” he cleared his throat. “Well, I uh-” he said, brushing a hand through his hair frustrated. “I didn’t think you’d be waiting for me and- I um-”

“W-what? No! Sirius, that is not what I mean!” you said, grabbing his hands again and he looked at you, still a bit unsure. “Sirius… you are the love of my life” you said, with a few tears rolling down your cheeks again. “That was never going to change. I would have always been waiting for you” you assured him. “What I meant was is… there’s someone else… other than Harry” you added.

“W-what do you mean?”

“Um… a few weeks after they took you away I… I found out I was pregnant” you informed him.

“Y-you-? W-what?” he asked, looking stunned. “Y-you- um- we, we have a child?” he asked, feeling his heart beating incredibly fast and breaking at the same time.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, I… didn’t really know how. And Remus wouldn’t let me go with him-”

“No!” he snapped a little, bringing you closer to him. “I never wanted you to go there or see me like that” he said, cupping your cheek with his hand. “Sweetheart, I am so sorry you had to go through this all by yourself! I- I wasn’t here for you! I-”

“No, Sirius, you don’t have to be sorry” you assured him.

“I can’t believe we have a kid” he said with a beautiful smile appearing on his face and you gently grabbed his hand from your cheek.

“Her name is Lyra” you said, making Sirius’ heart stop again as he felt tears rolling down his cheeks.

“We have a girl?” he asked, choking a little and you nodded, smiling.

“Would you like to meet her?”

“R-really?”

“I know there’s still a million things we have to talk about but, if you want to, I would love for you to see Harry and meet Lyra” you said getting up and pulling him with you. “Ready?” you started walking towards the door but Sirius didn’t move. “Sirius?”

“D-do you think they’ll like me?” he asked worriedly, warming your heart. You cupped his cheek and smiled at him.

“They’re gonna love you” you assured him. “They already do. Harry has always been dying to know his uncle Padfoot” you informed him. “I told him he was traveling around the world so he’s probably going to ask you a billion questions” you said, smiling. “And he’s always telling Lyra how cool you are” you added. “She smiles a lot when she sees your picture” you explained. “I told you, I knew you didn’t do it” you said. “And I was not going to let Harry or your daughter grow up thinking you were a-” you choked, not able to finish that sentence. You were never able to. You never believed Sirius would kill your brother and his wife. He would have died before let anything happen to them.

“I love you” he said, hugging you closer to him. “I love you so much” he said with tears streaming down his face as he brought you closer, kissing your forehead.

“I love you too” you smiled, wiping away his tears before you pulled him closer and kissed him. It felt like every single time you had kissed Sirius. It didn’t matter what else the two of you had to discuss. Your feelings hadn’t changed. You knew that. Sirius was the love of your life. And now, he was back.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

As soon as Sirius walked into the house next door to Remus’, he instantly felt at home, just like he did when he ran away to your parents’ house all those years ago. Except it was a lot cozier and it certainly had your touch everywhere.

“Please don’t mind the mess” you smiled nervously at him as you started grabbing some things and finding your wand somewhere so you quickly fixed everything up. “I would have cleaned up but- um… well, I wasn’t really expecting-”

Sirius cut you off by giving you a peck on the lips. “Please don’t ever apologize for that. Not to me, love” he insisted and you smiled back at him.

“Harry, are you up, sweetie?” you asked, hearing noise coming from the kitchen.

“I’m in here, Aunt Bambi” you heard. You were about to walk over there but Sirius pulled you back.

“Aunt Bambi?” he asked with an arched eyebrow.

“He kept pestering me one day asking why Moony had a nickname, his father had a nickname and you had a nickname, and I didn’t, so Remus told him you used to call me Bambi, and… it kind of stuck with him” you explained.

“I’m glad you kept hearing that nickname you claim to hate so much” he smirked.

“It kinda grew on me” you admitted, rolling your eyes a little. “Hi sweetheart” you said, spotting Harry with chocolate all over his face.

“Uncle Moony made chocolate chip pancakes!” he said, excitedly.

“I can see that” you chuckled, walking over to him and cleaning his face. “And where is Uncle Moony?”

“He’s upstairs, changing Lyra” he replied as you finished cleaning him up.

“Um, honey, I would like you to meet someone” you said as Sirius stood at the entrance. You saw Harry’s face light up as he got off the stool and ran over to him.

“UNCLE PADFOOT!”

“Hey, bud” Sirius said, kneeling to pick Harry up. “You’re so big now!”

“It’s so cool that you’re here!” Harry said excitedly. “Uncle Moony has told me so many stories about you!” he said, making Sirius smile back at you. “What are you doing home?”

“Well, bud, I guess I just… missed you all so much” he said, kissing Harry’s head before putting him down.

“Do you want to see my broom? Aunt Bambi says it’s just like the one you and dad had, but she never lets me fly it-!”

“Hey, that’s not true” you complained.

“She won’t teach me Quidditch either-!”

“That’s because I don’t play Quidditch and neither does your Uncle Moony” you reminded him.

“But you said Uncle Padfoot played” he said, excitedly before turning back to Sirius. “Would you teach me?”

“Of course, I would” Sirius said, feeling his eyes water a little.

“Are you okay, Uncle Padfoot?” Harry asked a bit confused.

“Yeah, mate. I’m fine” he said, giving him another big hug. “I just… missed you so much” he said, with his voice breaking a little.

“Why don’t you go get your broom, love? I’m sure your uncle Padfoot would love to see it” you said, kissing his forehead.

“Yes! I will be right back!” he said excitedly, jumping up and down before he ran upstairs.

“You okay?” you asked, Sirius who was still looking Harry’s way.

“He just…” he said with a few tears rolling down his cheeks. “He looks so much like…”

“James, I know” you finished for him, pulling him closer. “He has Lily’s eyes though” you smiled.

“He does” Sirius said, kissing your temple. “I’m so sorry, love” he said, making you look at him a bit confused. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t here for you” he said, cupping your cheek. “I-” he sighed. “How-” he stuttered. “I- um-”

“I’m okay” you smiled sweetly. “I mean, there are good days… and not-so-good days” you admitted. “I just miss him” you said with a few tears falling from your eyes. “And I hate that he and Lily aren’t here to see Harry” you said.

“I know, love” Sirius said, wiping away your tears and hugging you to him.

“Hey” you heard Remus walking down the stairs with someone in his arms. You pulled away from Sirius and walked over to them.

“Good morning, my love” you said, taking the toddler from Remus’ arms.

“Mummy” she smiled brightly at you as you kissed her cheek.

Sirius felt like his heart was going to explode. He had no idea how he could love you even more. Or how he could love someone at first sight. And there you were, holding the most beautiful girl he had ever seen in his entire life. She was the other way than Harry. She looked just like you, but she had his deep grey eyes.

“Sweetheart, I’d like you to meet someone” you told her as you walked back over to Sirius. “Sirius, this is Lyra” you said, as Sirius felt his entire heart melting when Lyra smiled shyly at him. “Can you say, hi, honey?” you asked as she waved her little hand at Sirius.

“H-hi” she said, resting her head on your shoulder.

“Hi, Lyra” Sirius said, as new tears rolled down his cheeks. “You are so beautiful” he smiled.

“Uncle Moony says I look like mum” she said.

“You do” Sirius nodded. “You’re just as beautiful as her” he smiled.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

“I made this for Uncle Padfoot, do you think he’ll like it?” Harry asked you, showing the new drawing of him with Sirius.

It had been a few weeks since Sirius was back and each day, both kids were getting more attached to him. He was basically Harry’s new favorite person, and you couldn’t blame him. Harry spent the entire day asking him questions about James, playing Quidditch, and Sirius basically doing whatever he wanted, and spoiling him with gifts.

And then, there was Lyra. at first, she was a bit shy but it wasn’t long before she started warming up to him. Every single time Sirius appeared in a room, you saw your daughter’s face lighting up just as much as his did. She followed him everywhere. She cried whenever Sirius had to leave again because he was still staying with Remus since he said he didn’t want to turn your life upside down or the kids’ lives for that matter by him being back.

And it was no secret that Sirius was instantly wrapped around Lyra’s little finger. You could tell he loved Harry as much as you did. He was practically becoming his best friend and he loved spending time with him. But Lyra had brought something out in Sirius that you had never seen before. Which is why, you wanted to ask him to move in with the three of you. Firstly, because he was practically living here already. He came in before the kids woke up and he left when they were tucked in. Mostly so Lyra wouldn’t cry when he left. But also because you had missed him so much, and now he was back. And you wanted him back. With you.

“I’m sure he’ll love it, sweetheart” you said, kissing Harry’s head as he and Lyra had breakfast on the kitchen counter.

“Are you going to marry Uncle Padfoot?” he suddenly asked, making you choke on the coffee you were drinking.

“W-what?”

“I asked Uncle Moony if you and Uncle Padfoot were married but he said no” he said, casually. “I think you two should be married” he shrugged.

“Why do you think that, love?” you asked, as you fed Lyra.

“Because you’re my godmother and he’s my godfather” he said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“W-well, I’ll… think about that” you smiled. “But… how would you guys feel if um- uncle Padfoot comes stay with us?”

“You mean live here?” Harry asked, excitedly.

“Yes” you nodded.

“With us?”

“Yes” you repeated.

“Where would he stay?” he asked, curiously.

“Um, well… he would stay with me” you explained.

“So, you are getting married?”

“I don’t know, Harry, I mean, I would have to ask him first” you chuckled.

“Uncle Moony said he asked you” he replied.

“What? Stop talking to your Uncle Moony!” you complained.

“Uncle Moony” Lyra repeated, smiling.

“Look, I will talk to Sirius today and I will ask him if he’d like to live with us” you explained. “So, I wanted to know what you guys think about it” you smiled.

“Really?”

“Yes, because we are a team. And you two are the most important people in my life” you said, poking each on their noses. “So… what do you think?”

“We love Uncle Padfoot!” Harry insisted. “Right, Lyra?”

“Yes!” she smiled, looking up at him.

“Okay, then. I guess I’m going to have to ask Uncle Padfoot” you smiled, nervously.

“Ask Uncle Padfoot what?” you heard Sirius walking in on the back door. “You monkeys are already up?” he said, messing Harry’s hair with his hand and picking up Lyra from her chair, kissing her cheek.

“Aunt Bambi wants to ask you to marry her so you can come live with us!” Harry said, excitedly.

“Harry!” you widened your eyes, feeling your cheeks burning instantly.

“W-what?” Sirius asked, looking at you.

“We want you to mawy mummy” Lyra repeated.

“Okay, that’s enough” you said, taking her from Sirius and placing her back on her seat. “Um, Sirius, could I see you in the other room for a moment?”

“Sure. Lead the way, Bambi” he smirked.

“Bambi” Lyra giggled.

“So, what’s this I hear about you wanting to marry me and move in with you?”

“Shut up, Black, and stop looking at me like that!”

“Oh, it’s Black now” he smirked. “I see you’re really riled up, Potter” he chuckled.

“Look, I just… wanted to ask you…” you started, avoiding his eyes. You knew he was enjoying this.

“Yes?”

“Well, I was thinking about the possibility of you… moving in with us?”

“That’s not what your kids said” he smiled.

“First of all, they’re your kids too” you glared at him. “And secondly, it’s only because Harry asked if we were going to get married” you explained.

“Really?”

“Yes, he thinks we should because you’re his godfather and I’m his godmother” you told him.

“Kid’s got a point” he said.

“Sirius! I’m not joking!”

“Neither am I” he said, dropping his smile and looking at you.

“What?”

“I don’t see why we shouldn’t get married” he shrugged. “I asked you before. You said yes” he reminded you.

“That was three years ago. A lot has changed since then-”

“Well, my feelings for you, haven’t” he clarified. “Have yours?”

“No, of course not!”

“I’m not saying we have to do it right away” he told you, smiling sweetly. “I’m just saying… if you’d ask… I’d say yes” he said.

“You think I’m going to ask you?”

“Why not? I asked you last time! It’s only fair, love!” he mocked you as you crossed your arms in front of your chest with a raised eyebrow. “You know, I forgot how cute you looked when you were mad” he said, pulling you closer. “I’m not going anywhere, love” he said, cupping your cheek with his hand. “You are the love of my life. You always have been. And you, Harry, and Lyra are the only thing that matters to me” he continued. “And Moony, if he asks” he said, making you chuckle. “Look, I’ve missed three years already and I don’t want to miss another second” he said, making you smile. “So, I will ask you, however you want me to, whenever you want me to, as many times as you’d like me to, my love” he said, wrapping his arms around your waist and you gave him a peck on the lips.

“I love you” you said, smiling.

“I love you too” he said, kissing you again. “You wanna go tell the kids?”

“Yeah, might as well” you said, kissing his cheek and pulling him towards the kitchen where the two of you saw Harry helping Lyra get down from her seat. Sirius felt you stop at the entrance and he grabbed your hand. He noticed the look on your face. In the past weeks, he noticed you getting that look whenever Harry was with Lyra.

“Harry’s a really good big brother” he said, kissing the side of your head.

“Yeah” you smiled. “He doesn’t just look like James” you said, resting your head on his shoulder.

“He’d be really proud of you, you know that, right? So, would Evans” he told you. “They picked right” he smiled.

“Yeah” you said, kissing his cheek. “They did” you told him. 

The End

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

A/N: I hope you loves liked it! and I hope this keeps rolling xD I have a few 9-1-1 imagines coming up, and also Stranger Things, and/or Remus, James hopefully!

tags: @twilightlover2007 , @hisparentsgallerryy

[forthelostones]

humans can lick too ─── ⋆ (kinktober)

☄. *. ⋆ fem!reader x dom!abby x perv!ellie ☄. *. ⋆

synopsis: halloween night just turned into another day for you, until you're visited by two desperate ladies.

warnings. 18+ (mdni); threesome, perv!ellie, dom!abby, fingering, nipple play (all receiving), and strap penetration & sucking (r!rec), jealousy, breaking & entering. pet names: baby & dove.

an: this will be my last (purely) smutty post for a while, i want to focus on a different style these next couple of days! this isnt my best & its a bit silly i think but i love this urban legend and i saw someone KB list this as an option. also thanks for 200 follows, much love. (i am taking any requests!)

wc: 2.5k

most halloweens you spend it doing a bar crawl or sitting on your porch, wine in hand, passing out treats. this night was different, you weren’t going out or even entertaining the idea of halloween - it became a normal day to you. earlier this afternoon you took your pup on a walk around the neighborhood and waved to your neighbors who were setting up for tonight. 

“well, city hall sent out an email saying it was imperative that we stay vigilant tonight, y’know.” your across the street neighbor mentioned.

“that’s every year isn’t it? i thought it was typically some teens who come and ruin the fun for all the little ones.” 

“i don’t know, tonight feels different, i'm turning in before 9 tonight just in case. especially with those incidents that happened last month.” 

you took what they said with a grain of salt. you were the youngest among your neighbors and they were always shaken up by the smallest occurrences. but tonight it felt like they may have been right, you couldn’t help but feel a dark cloud follow you on your walk. almost as if someone was watching you. every crunch on the ground your body stiffened, what if something bad is supposed to happen tonight? you and pup rush home in a paranoid frenzy, triple-checking if the front door is locked. 

as soon as you unleash your baby and remove your muddy shoes, you notice how warm the house has become.  you checked the thermostat and it wasn’t set, but you still couldn’t ignore the beads of sweat forming on your forehead. you walk over to the window above the kitchen sink and make a mental note that you should close it before sunset.

 after lounging lazily on the couch you hear the beginnings of laughter and soft screaming in the street for the holiday. you decided you’d do the bowl method tonight and place a note on the front porch, take candy, please! you scroll on your phone waiting for your dinner to heat up and you receive a phone call from your on-and-off against fling, abby.  you guys have a strictly fuck only relationship — she comes and bends you over, then leave. this didn’t bother you, for the most part.

"you coming out tonight?" she questions. 

"nope, staying in." 

your ears perk up at how quiet she’s speaking, but you didn’t care, you liked hearing her voice ring so sweet in your ears. 

"i would love to see you tonight, baby.”

you hear the shuffling of what your paranoid brain assumes to be footsteps coming from your bedroom. you walk towards the steps leading upstairs and get hit with the dial tone. 

“abs? hello?” 

you grip your fingers to form a fist, attempting not to breathe too loudly. just when your foot reaches the first step, the timer on your phone blares, startling you into a silly laugh. you can't believe how spooked you felt.

hey, what happened, why’d you hang up?

sorry, idk bad service, sorry. 

can i see you tonight?

you just throw your phone on the counter as you finish your food and wash your dishes out before going to bed. you reach down to pet your sleepy pup who is also ready for bed. you both travel to your bedroom, belly full and eyes heavy, ready for your head to hit the pillow. you strip off your clothes, throwing them on the floor, not even bothering to throw your laundry in the hamper. you look at abby’s message, wondering if you should reply or not, but you just let your mind drift off. 

in the middle of the night, your neighborhood stood silently as you tussled in bed, wrapping your legs in the sheets. you reach over the edge of your bed to feel your pup. their tongue tickles your fingertips and you smile into your pillow. your heart beats violently when you realize you didn’t close the window downstairs. in a blur you run down and close it, you peer out the window to see the leaves running away in the wind, it brings you some relief. 

you flop back in your bed and stroke your pup again to help you drift away. you feel their tongue caress your palm as you try and regulate your anxious mind. but then they didn’t stop and you became worried, you lean over the edge of your mattress, heart in your belly, and you see a woman in all black. she was lying under your bed, eyes closed, tongue wrapping around your fingertips. she had today's panties laced in between fingers pressed against her nose.

you tremble as you pull your hand away slowly and her eyes shoot open, her arms wrapped in a dark hoodie come from under the frame and she pulls herself up. you blink twice in attempts to see if this was one of those dreams when you’d open your mouth to scream and it was silent. 

“happy halloween,” she mutters from her mask and from initial examination, she didn’t have any weapons.

she brings her hand to the underside of the mask and removes it completely. the familiar face stunned you as you recognized it was your next-door neighbor, ellie. she came from the nicest house on the block, freshly repaved driveway and new cars adorning it, you couldn’t think of a reason why she would want to rob you. in this moment the memories of her flash before you as you two stand toe to toe. you had visited her house a few times for dinner with joel, who had introduced you to everyone in the neighborhood. but she would sit quietly and oftentimes just stare intensely at your face. 

“ellie, dont be rude.” joel would spit, and she would scurry off to her room. 

“ellie? what’s going on?”

“i watch you sometimes, dove. i knew you would be spending this wonderful day alone. i thought i should come and treat you.” 

“treat me how?” you feel a curiousness glaze over your anxious body. 

“i see her every time,” she begins to pace. “she comes over here, fucking you in my face.” 

“what?” 

your mind went blurry. 

“the blonde one.”

“abby?” 

she says walking towards you slowly. “do you remember that one time we almost fucked?” 

her hands come around your waist. “i do, ellie, i don't understand—”

“but then you said it would be weird because we live so close and if it ever went south…” 

her lips were close to your ear, you could hear her tongue snap against her teeth, and feel the heat brush gently against your cheek. her fingertips were playing a tracing game against your lower back. you recall the passionate kiss you both shared at the local bar, her desperate longing to just touch you in a tipsy frenzy. 

“i know, el.”

the florescent haze of headlights pulls into your driveway and interrupts the scene, blasting the sounds of call me little sunshine by ghost— it was abby. ellie’s face scrunched up as the familiar red pick-up shut cut off quickly. 

“what the fuck!” she groaned. 

“ellie, it’s okay, i can talk to her.” 

angrily, ellie snatched your wrist up in her hand and dragged you to the first floor. she shoved you towards the door where abby’s fist was pounding the glass. 

“get rid of her.” 

upon opening the door you see abby scouring the leftover candy in the bowl. she smiles with a faded look behind her eyes. “hi, baby.” 

you pretend to be normal, throw in a yawn, rub your eyes and she comes to pull you into her. her hands come around your ass as she’s one foot in the door already. her lips come to your neck, another leg in the door, and you shove her slyly. 

“what you don’t want to see me or something.” 

“abigail,” you say sternly. “not tonight.” 

she scuffs, “you didn’t get my text did you?” 

“i’ve been sleeping so no i didn’t get it.” 

“well i said, don’t reply if you want me to come see you.” she giggles. 

you grip her toned arms as she walks you backward into the corridor. ellie slams the door behind you both, which causes abby to step in front of you. 

“who is this?” she asks. 

you put your hand on her chest, “this is ellie, my neighbor, we were just about to—“ 

“what?” abby mutters, she gets so defensive that she doesn’t realize she how hard she forced you away. 

“wouldn't you like to know?” ellie smirks. 

in one swift motion, abby is gripping ellie by her hoodie and nearly lifting her off the ground. that’s when you step in between the both of them and make abby release her. 

“you can both have me, how about that?” 

𓆩⟡𓆪

all three of you sat on the edge of your bed. ellie’s hand slithered up towards your swollen cunt, while abby took your other leg and spread you open. ellie was more focused on getting as close to you as possible, desperate. she brought her lips to your cheek and gently pressed it against your feverish skin. she brings her red, bursting lips to yours and crashes into you. it was better than last time like she had been practicing. abby watched her, seeing where she could fit in, and began sucking on your neck. both your hands fall on their thighs, caressing them. 

“so how you wanna do this baby?” abby asks in a whisper. 

“ellie told me she’s been waiting for this. she watches us.” 

ellie looks slightly embarrassed at the fact, but abby smiles mischievously. 

“so you know how good she fucks me?” abby says. 

ellie nods silently, which leads you to then kiss her softly, bringing your tongue past her teeth into her mouth. she moaned obnoxiously at the taste of you. you bring your hands to her shoulders and lay her on her back while abby starts undressing herself. ellie watches you under the bright moon remove her black jeans to expose her nude, lace panties. she cups your face as you see how wet she had gotten throughout the night. 

you bring your hand up her drenched pussy and she trembles, swimming in her hoodie. “you look so cute.” 

she smiles nervously as you pull away her panties to view her swollen clit. abby sits at the head of the bed, completely undressed, skin tickled by the cool air, fingers brushing gently against her nipples, watching you both intently. you look up to her as you begin to bite ellie’s hot thighs. 

“come on, don't tease. fuck her.” abby spat. 

with no hesitation, you indulge in ellie’s sweet slick. she hoists herself up on her elbows to watch you suck on her clit. you knew she had been turned on all night so no foreplay was needed. abby had worked herself up by now rubbing her clit slowly, keeping her unwavering eye contact. ellie swallowed all her moans and flexed her belly at the pleasure your tongue was bringing her. 

she brought her hand up to your head and fucked your face, sloshing all her juices on the tip of your nose and chin. abby gets up and comes around your backside. she slaps your ass, which makes you choke a little. she spreads her lips and comes to the curvature of your ass and starts rubbing her clit against you. being used by the both of them at the same time made your pussy throb. 

“fuck, im so close dove.” ellie moans.

abby plants another smack on your ass, even harder this time. you give ellie two fingers, which instantly causes her to cum in your mouth, she pushed her cunt in your mouth so hard that when she removed it, you were breathless. 

“come here.” she says, dragging you over her body to kiss her. 

she drags her tongue all around your face, tasting herself. abby is now hovering over you both, not knowing if she should be angry or turned on. you crawl over to her and she takes a firm grasp of your neck and leans down to kiss you. she bites your bottom lip which makes you wince and you feel the weight of the bed shift under you as ellie brings her mouth to your ass. 

abby then stuffs your face into her core, lifting up one leg onto the bed so you can slip your tongue inside of her. 

“yes baby.” she melted. you liked when she got like that, submissive. 

“open up for me abs.” you muttered, which was a command you said to her often. while she pulled back her clit hood, ellie brought her mouth to your pussy, which made you moan into abby’s. ellie brought two fingers to your wet hole and started pounding you so hard your ass moved in waves. 

you remove your mouth away from abby’s body and start moaning ellie’s name while looking upwards to abby. she bit her lip out of anger and walked over to your closet to get your strap. she brought your lips up to the toy and commanded you to suck. you knew she hated hearing another woman’s name come from your lips. tears bulb in your eyes from feeling the length fill your mouth. 

once she pulls away, strings of spit coax your chin and abby shoves you on your back. ellie’s fingers popped out of you just when you were so close. abby teases your pussy with her tip and brings her hand to your throat. ellie’s eyebrows knit together, jealous at abby’s dominance. she slips her hand to your clit as abby enters you. 

“say it.” abby said. 

“ellie,” you mewl, leaning over to bring her lips to yours. 

that’s when abby grunts as she presses down on you, making your pussy swallow every inch. 

“spit in my mouth ellie, let me taste you.”

ellie doesn’t hesitate to perch her lips and allow her spit to spread over your tongue, the sight alone makes abby pound harder. she brings her hand to your cheeks and makes you watch her, pulling you away from ellie. you can’t help but pull her in deeper as she slaps into your bruised cunt. ellie wraps her lips sloppily around your nipple and bites it without any warning. you yelp at the mixture of pain both women are putting you in, but it feels so good. your pussy is aching to cum as abby purposely bruises your cervix. abby wraps your legs around her waist and lays her full body weight on top of you, her hips cracking against your thighs. 

“abby! please.” you yell. 

“that’s right scream for me, c’mon.” she says in your ear, sweat dripping onto your neck. 

you twitch under the presser and come so hard that your eyes roll in the back of your head. abby and ellie don’t stop until your legs shake and you try and find the power to push them both away. you twitch at feeling the strap exit your abused hole, feeling gapped, as ellie leaned in to plant a final kiss on your lips. abby exhales and lays beside you and you turn to kiss her too, in disbelief that you’re fucked out of your mind. 

↓ if you don't know this urban legend here's the original! ↓

tw: mentions of pet death, blood, breaking, and entering, & l*nching.

Once there was a nice old lady who had a lovely little dog. One day, the old lady heard on the radio that a crazy murderer had escaped from jail and that she should lock all her doors and windows. So she locked every door and window in the house except one tiny one to let some air in. No murderer would ever get in through there! So that night she went to bed as usual. She knew everything was okay because when she put down her hand the dog licked it. But later in the night, she heard a drip, drip, drip. She put her hand down and the dog licked it. She felt that everything was okay but the dripping was annoying her, so she went downstairs to check on the tap. But the tap wasn’t dripping. So she went to bed again. She woke up again later in the night and thought the dripping sound was coming from the shower. She went into the bathroom, and there was her dog, dead, hanging in the shower, and dripping blood. Written on the mirror in blood was: ‘Humans can lick too!

[philistiniphagottini]

I saw your request post nd I was like SAY LESS 😭😭😭😭

Would you be interested in a Persona 3 Makoto x gn reader oneshot on what they would do for reader's birthday? Or vice versa for Makoto's birthday instead

Much appreciated 😜😜😜 LOVE YOU

Thank you for the request Anon, I'm so happy you asked for Persona I've been itching to write something. This idea was really cute and I couldn't stop myself from writing. I hope you enjoy, love you too Anon 😘

cw. fluff

You’ve never been to a dessert bar before. But when one opened up just outside of Paulownia mall, you were just dying to go and try it out. The waiting list for the new store was ridiculous but you were willing to put up with a lot just to have a chance to try the extravagant dessert menu. So, by the time your birthday rolled around, your boyfriend had already booked well in advance a reservation for two.

You had arrived to the venue much earlier than anticipated and you were immediately shown to your table, where you sat and eagerly awaited for your boyfriend to arrive. Your heart fluttered wildly in your chest as you continued to check your phone, constantly flipping up the screen to check the time. You could not stop fidgeting, your leg beginning to bounce under the table as your hands constantly itched with the urge to fiddle with things. You didn’t seem to care what it was. The menu, your phone, a small wisp of hair that stubbornly tickled your cheek no matter how many times you tucked it back behind your ear. You wore nice, simple clothes for your date, nothing too fancy or over the top. Just clothes you were comfortable wearing on a warm, autumn day.

You flipped up your phone screen once more, fingers rapidly pressing the buttons as you dragged up the last message that your boyfriend sent to you. All it read was: "See you soon." You couldn’t help the smile that tugged at the corners of your lips as you read it over and over again, butterflies erupting in the pit of your stomach as you continued to think about your beloved. How long had you both known each other? You remembered the first day you met like it had just happened yesterday. Your mind slowly started to drift from this plane of existence as you reminisced, the soft talking of the other patrons filling the small, humble shop becoming a distant drone in your ears. Since you became so lost in your own thoughts, you failed to realise when there was someone standing right behind you.

You were completely caught off guard, your thoughts snapping back to reality when every hair on the nape of your neck stood up and alerted you to the presence behind you. Your spine rattled with chills when their warm breath hit the shell of your ear and they spoke two simple, soft words.

"Happy Birthday."

You inhaled sharply, a scream lodged in your throat as every muscle in your body tensed and you whipped your head around. You almost fell out of your chair and if it wasn’t for Makoto’s quick thinking of grabbing the back of the chair to steady it, you would have toppled to the floor. Your eyes were wide but the sudden panic you had felt was immediately doused when you realised who it was leaning over the back of your chair. You took a deep breath, trying to dislodge your heart from your throat as an irritated sigh fell from your parted lips.

"Makoto, you scared the shit out of me" you softly hissed.

Amusement sparkled in the depths of Makoto’s eyes as he gave your arm a firm squeeze, fingers rubbing along your skin in a soothing motion as a silent apology. No matter how many times this same occurrence happened, you didn’t think you could get used to it. Makoto moved like a wraith. He was completely silent, never alerting anyone to his presence. Given his quiet nature, it only made his ability to seemingly appear out of thin air even worse.

You leaned into his touch as he gave your shoulder another firm squeeze, your eyes flicking up to his face as you began to ponder. You only just realised that he had said something to you before he scared the ever-loving daylights out of you. You gently tugged on the sleeve of his dress shirt, peering up at him with curious eyes.

"Say it again."

Makoto leaned closer to you, the tips of his fingers leaving a trail of fire in their wake as they brushed against your burning cheek and tucked a lock of hair behind your ear. A small smile tilted his lips as he pressed his lips to the shell of your ear once more, his voice barely above a husky whisper as he spoke to you and you alone.

"Happy Birthday" he repeated.

If anyone were to look in your direction, they would probably be witnessing you spontaneously combusting right about now. You awkwardly cleared your throat as heat made the tips of your ears burn red hot. A shy smile played on your lips, tongue wetting your dry lips before you spoke.

"Thank you, Makoto. Please sit down before people start staring."

It was hard for you to hide your flustered expression and Makoto was more than willing to spare you from your suffering. He slid into the chair across from you, eyes only briefly flickering around the room as he let the atmosphere of the dessert bar sink in. It took you a moment to regain control of your senses, your face still lingering with traces of warmth even as your heart settled back into place. You picked up the menu once more, eager to order and begin eating your way through the entire dessert menu.

"I’m starving" you remarked. "I think I’m gonna order. Have a look and let me know-"

Your voice suddenly tapered off when you felt something push against your hand. You peered over the menu you were holding to spy Makoto had slid a small little jewellery box across the table and was currently pushing it against your hand. An expectant look crossed his features as his gaze darted between you and the small box. A smile tugged at your lips.

"You want me to open my present first?"

Makoto nodded in response. You placed the menu back to the table, pushing it to the side as you clapped your hands together with a giddy expression. Elation made your blood simmer in your veins as you picked up the beautifully wrapped gift, your mind racing at the possibilities of what it could be as you gently tugged on the delicate bow string wrapped neatly around the box. You slowly peeled the lid back, your curious eyes growing wide when you see what lay inside. You were left completely speechless at the sight of a thin, silver bracelet, intricate patterns engraved on the surface and a single pendant dangling from the jewellery. You tentatively picked it up, admiring how it shimmered under the light as your eyes traced over every detail. Upon closer inspection of the pendent, you realised that your initials were engraved on one side and Makoto’s was on the other.

You swallowed around the lump in your dry throat, tears welling up in your eyes. You couldn’t recall someone giving you such a thoughtful gift before in your life.

"I…don’t know what to say" you admitted. "Thank you. I love it."

Your fingers struggled to undo the clasp. Your hands wouldn’t stop shaking, your heart and soul touched with how thoughtful of a gift you had just received. Makoto gently placed his hands over your shaking one, plucking the bracelet out of your grasp as he undid the clasp for you. You held out your hand, letting him slide it around your wrist and fasten it again. The pendant rested against the sensitive pulse of your wrist, the cool metal touching heated skin and a constant reminder that it was resting there. You threaded your fingers with his, squeezing his hands so hard your nails left imprints behind in his knuckles. Makoto smiled softly as he squeezed back. You could sit all evening, just staring lovingly into his gorgeous eyes with a lovestruck look painting your face. But your stomach had the audacity to remind you to eat. You reluctantly let go of Makoto’s hands, sniffling away your tears as you pushed the menu towards him.

"Pick" you gently urged.

Makoto silently picked up the menu and started to flip through the pages.

"Take your time" you said. "Although, we probably shouldn’t take too long. Wouldn’t want to miss the surprise party Iwatodai Dorm is throwing me."

Makoto paused as he was flipping a page. He peered at you over the menu as he cocked his head slightly to the side, a quizzical quirk to his eyebrow. You chuckled softly as you leaned further back in your chair.

"I overheard Junpei and Yukari talking last night" you supplied.

Makoto sighed softly with a shake of his head. It was supposed to be a secret. One of Makoto’s jobs for the day was to keep you busy and away from the dorm for a few hours while everyone else got everything set up. Well, looks like that idea just flew straight out of the window. His attention went back to you when you giggled softly, a smile on your face and a little mischievous glint in your eyes.

"Don’t worry, I’ll act surprised."

[komorim]

possibilities

ft. kageyama tobio, ushijima wakatoshi

you never believed that you were a partner who needed much affection. until three years into your relationship with him. he was always busy, and apparently your want for attention from your boyfriend went undetected

content warnings // angst. smoking. cold treatment/cold shoulder. cursing. break up. slapping. cursing. workaholic boyfriend and untended feelings.

author’s note // what a surprise! another angst! ok but i felt somewhat bad about not posting for so long so i rushed this a bit :(( i’ll start editing and revising soon later. also happy new year!! (super late)

ミ　KAGEYAMA

you blow out smoke from your cigarette, sitting on the sidewalk as you recall what happened earlier this morning. it was bound to happen sooner or later, you convince yourself.

the breakup was bound to happen.

it wasn’t anything new. you’ve had such feelings for a while now, and the only thing hindering you from executing out this plan forming in your head was the constant absence of your boyfriend. after all, how were you going to break up with someone who wasn’t even there?

though such an idea did not pop into your head out of nowhere. there were many things acting as the reason behind your failed relationship.

you didn’t want to be the one to blame and point fingers, but in all honesty, you saw kageyama’s faults more than your own.

how he always expects you to go to his matches and support him, but has little time to provide the same support for you. this showed the lack of care and the unbalance in what the two of you believe in.

you recall how when the two of you first started to date, he would be there for every competition of yours. after all, he admired your brains quite a lot. it was the whole reason he noticed you out of everyone in school.

the straight c student. the student that everyone came to for academic help. it intrigued kageyama, and because of his curiosity, he had approached you at the library some day before the final exams. he wanted to know why it was that with your less than impressive grades, you still managed to have everyone come to you when they were stuck on a problem.

after he found out how smart you were, much like the rest of the other people who have, he kept coming back to you for aid. however, what was different was the fact that he only used coming to you for help as an excuse to keep seeing you.

it was an understatement to say the poor boy was entranced. how you hit him playfully with a roll of paper when he got questions wrong, how you sighed when he asked a particularly stupid question, how you ran your hands through your hair when you were frustrated, and how you puffed out your cheeks when he teased you. he found it all too cute and endearing. even when you were mad at him, or even when you were too busy to pay much attention to him, he enjoyed every moment with you.

so why wouldn’t he act like that now?

why is it that you can hear his love more than you can see it and feel it?

it was odd, you believe, that the young teenager who was almost obsessed with you had turned into this distant, absent adult who only reassured you with words, and never action. how can someone change that much?

he used to be someone always following you, bothering you for stupid questions that you know he is smart enough to solve. but you always went along with his games and helped him out anyways. but then, he changed.

there was so much possibility for your relationship with him. you were so happy together.

but after volleyball controlled his life, you started being the one who had nagged at him for forgetting his homework and tests, and he would only say that he was too busy. yet it wasn’t that bad then either. on weeks he wasn’t too busy, he would continue to have library dates with you, and at that point, almost everyone believed that you were dating. yet the truth was, kageyama was going to ask you out, but became too busy and forgot.

now that you think about it, you believe that there was never the romantic “will you be my s/o?” question. it was natural for your relationship with kageyama to progress the way it had.

you think that the both of you just naturally started dating, and naturally started visiting each other’s home, until naturally, you both lived together.

there was almost never the need for questions and formalities with you two. you both knew what the other wanted and went along with the natural flow of things. in fact, you believe that if there were formalities in your relationship, it might’ve been a completely different experience overall.

how funny, after three years of believe that formalities weren’t needed, the only formality in your relationship was the break up.

ミ　USHIJIMA

the slap sounded throughout the gym, and your boyfriend, or ex-boyfriend now, as well as his teammates, were terribly shocked at your action.

“y/n-san! i think you should calm down a bit. i understand how ushijima may be frustrating, but talking this out would be the best option. what if-”

you hear one of his teammates try to reason with you, but you can’t bother to hear what he has to say right now.

“how could you do this to me, toshi?”

it was clear that ushijima could not speak, either from the realization of what he’s done, or because he’s still in shock about what happened just now.

“this is the eleventh time this month,” you voice starts to crack, “eleven times. how long even is a month for you to leave me and drop all our plans eleven times?”

ushijima, being the person he is, of course has barely any facial expression present even as he is presented with such a sensitive situation.

“i’m sorry, y/n, it’s just that we have an important match coming up, and i can’t be the only one not attending practice.”

you glare behind you at his fellow teammates, “well? do any of you have a fucking problem with ushijima missing out on just one practice?”

you’re met with silence as you expected. ushijima starts to show emotions for once, and you can’t help but laugh at this predicament.

so he doesn’t care that much when he’s met with a confrontation from his significant other, but cares that his teammates were lashed out at?

“where did we go wrong, toshi?” you speak softly. the sudden change in tone makes your taller boyfriend widen his eyes a bit in surprise. you voice cracks a bit, “can we talk a bit outside?”

seeing how your barely holding yourself together, ushijima believes that going outside to have an uninterrupted conversation is probably the best choice. plus, this conversation was long overdue as well.

no matter how much he doesn’t show it, you understand he truly loves you. yet this was way too much. he loved you, but you weren’t his first priority.

and you can’t take it.

you weren’t a clingy person. both you and ushijima knew this. but no one would be okay with an absent partner.

you could barely call it dating anymore. and that’s why you finally opened your mouth to say those three words.

“let’s break up.”

ushijima’s eyes widen, and he seems confused, though he still doesn’t say anything.

“i really can’t take this anymore, toshi. you’re always at practice, and you have no idea how worried i am whenever you don’t come home or when you continue to play when you’re not well. i can’t stand that you are the reason i’m always up at night, wondering if you’ve collapsed from all the workload yet. i can’t stand that you stand me up for our dates when something happens at the team. and i can’t stand that you do all this but still love me.”

“y/n, i understand that you feel that way because i’m often absent, but i truly love you and i know that i can change. i’ll try to adapt to your needs better, so please-”

“no. that’s enough,” your voice cracks, and with it, the tears come pouring down, “please. let’s just end it here.”

he reaches out a hand to you while you back up and start to leave. he knows he should chase after you, but knows that you might need time alone.

what he doesn’t know is that he won’t get another chance.

you recall how you were the one who courted ushijima. he was so cold and unbothered, and after so many months of going to his games, bringing him food and water, he finally started to notice you.

it started off with simple conversations after his game and became something more. it was the first time ushijima felt something bubbly inside of him, and when he talked to tendou about it, the answer he received was something unexpected.

it took him a long time to recognize his feelings for you. and ushijima knows that even after five years of knowing you, he still has that giddy feeling when you are next to him. but he was never one to express his emotions.

and he isn’t one to do so today either.

do not copy or repost my works. likes, reblogs, and comments are appreciated.

[teaberrii]

Chapter 5: Our First Dance

You and Dan Heng are a match made in heaven until fate takes him away from you too soon. Years later, you think you moved on with a mutual friend who shared your grief and stuck with you during tough times until you meet a mysterious man with a striking resemblance to your past lover and a hidden motive. You’re determined to get rid of him, but how are you going to get rid of a god?

Dan Feng/You

Notes:

Cross-posted on Ao3

Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail crossover

Female reader

Chapter index at the end of chapter one

Support my writing

Later that evening, you’re on a video call with Stelle and March. After telling them about the bizarre scenario you’re in—besides being glad you got your neck back—they’re more than happy to help you pick an outfit for Signora’s wedding. Dan Feng had messaged you earlier, telling you that it’s a dark academia and masquerade-themed wedding, which you think is an interesting choice.

Your phone is propped up on a table near a body-length mirror near the door. An open suitcase with your clothes sits on a chair, but another pile is growing on the bed.

“Mm…” You see March shake her head on your phone screen. “Too flowery. Next!”

You toss the knee-length, strapless dress onto the bed and hold up a long, black halter dress that reveals your back and has a flirty side slit.

“This one!” March and Stelle say at once. Then, March smiles. “I bet Dan Feng will be blown away.”

How funny, you think, that this dress is the one you wore on your first official date with Dan Heng.

You were putting the finishing touches on your makeup when you heard the doorbell. After giving yourself one last look in the mirror, you went to the door where a handsome man was holding a small rose bouquet as soon as you opened it. Dan Heng smiled as soon as he saw you, and he didn’t shy away from admiring you in the dress that you knew he would like.

“Ooh, those are beautiful,” you said, taking the roses when he handed them to you.

“Not as beautiful as the woman standing in front of me.”

You laughed and welcomed him inside. “Where did you learn that pickup line, hm?”

You were walking to the kitchen when you felt his strong arms hug you from behind. “...I was just speaking what’s on my mind.”

As soon as you felt his lips against your neck, you turned around and put your arms around his neck. “Easy there, soldier. We’re going on a date, remember?”

Dan Heng kissed your forehead. “I know.”

But that didn’t stop you from leaning in for a kiss, which he gladly welcomed.

“...I’m not wearing it to impress him, you know,” you deadpan.

“Regardless,” Stelle says before March can retort, “It’s a nice dress. Not too flashy and not too underwhelming. You’ll fit right in.”

“This dress looks kinda familiar, though…” March says, leaning closer to her phone.

“Wait a minute,” Stelle says as if it just hit her. “Didn’t you wear this dress on a date with Dan Heng?”

The silence is loud, and you force a little smile.

“I did,” you say, “but that doesn’t mean I can’t wear it again.”

“Well…” March has her elbows on the table and her chin on her hands. “As long as you’re comfortable with it. If you are, then it’s gotta be this one.”

You put the dress aside just as your friends start talking about makeup and accessories, and it isn’t long before Caelus, Stelle’s twin brother, pops onto the screen. He gives you a quick wave while eating an ice cream cone.

“I heard everything from Stelle,” he says. “...I can’t believe Dan Heng has a lookalike.” He takes a bite out of his ice cream. "What’s he like?”

He’s not Dan Heng, that’s for sure.

“...Could we meet him?” Caelus continues.

“Yeah, I second that,” March says. “We didn’t get a proper introduction yet!”

“You two need to calm down,” Stelle says. “They aren’t even friends.”

“Oh, sorry, I forgot,” Caelus says, rolling his eyes. “They’re”—he bites onto the cone and uses his hands to make finger quotations—”’acquaintances.’”

“No,” March says. “They’re partners in crime!”

“Aren’t they neighbours?” Stelle asks.

Caelus looks into the camera, which he’s supposedly looking at you. “You and Dan Feng are a lot of things, aren’t you?”

“Thanks for helping me pick out my outfit, guys,” you deadpan. “Will keep you updated on the wedding tomorrow.”

And then you end the call before they can say anything else. Of course, that doesn’t stop the texts from coming. But after taking a glance, you clear the clothes off your bed, grab your pyjamas, and head for a shower.

◆◆◆

That night, you are asleep on your bed. The windows are closed, and the room is dimly lit with a small night light on the wall beside your bed. You quietly stir in your sleep, but slowly you feel a breeze brush against your skin. The smell of washed sheets changes into fresh flowers, and soon, you hear footsteps and soft conversations all around you. At first, you can’t open your eyes. Your body feels oddly light, and your head starts spinning.

Slowly, your eyes flutter open, and your heart almost stops.

You’re standing in the courtyard of the Xianzhou palace. You spin around, seeing people dressed in traditional robes and clothing walking from one place to another. You take a step forward and open your mouth but nothing comes out. No one notices you either, despite you being dressed in pyjamas, something that’s clearly out of place in this strange world.

You must be dreaming, and you’re about to pinch yourself when you see a young boy and girl running across the courtyard. Your eyes widen as if the sight sends an electrifying jolt through your body, leaving you speechless.

Is that who you think it is?

You’re about to follow them when another young boy runs past you, and your eyes immediately fall on him. That’s… That’s Dan Feng. At least, a younger version. His features are not as defined but look too similar to call it a coincidence.

“You two are cheating!” he yells.

“You’re too slow, Brother.”

You turn towards the other young boy a short distance away. And that’s… that’s Dan Heng. You're certain. His slightly puffy cheeks and wide, innocent-looking blue eyes. He looks the same when you first met him. Except this time, he’s holding a young girl’s hand.

“We’re going to leave you behind if you don’t hurry!” she yells with a smile.

Dan Feng pouts and immediately runs after them, and his hand brushes against yours. Surprisingly, you feel it. At least… you think you do. It’s like a gentle breeze that runs through your fingers. He stops and turns and you’re staring at each other, except all he sees is nothing.

“What are you looking at?”

The young girl leaves Dan Heng and walks up to Dan Feng. She also looks at you, but of course, she sees nothing.

Suddenly, Dan Feng grabs her wrist and holds it up.

“Looks like I still got the last laugh,” he says.

The girl frowns just as Dan Heng walks up. “You sure about that?” He nods at a nobleman who doesn’t look pleased as he approaches them with his hands behind his back.

“Are you done with your games?”

“If we say no…” Dan Feng says. “Can we keep playing?”

The nobleman frowns. “The three of you can come with me.”

As you watch them obediently follow the nobleman elsewhere in the palace, you hear a woman’s voice a short distance away.

“Who is that girl?”

You turn and see two maids talking and looking in their direction.

“...The only daughter of that famous calligrapher.”

“Ah… Now, why would he bring his daughter to lessons with the young masters?”

One of the maids shrugs. “I heard it was an innocent enough reason… His wife passed away recently, so he’s been looking for ways to get her out of the house a little more… Perhaps befriending the young masters is a way to try to get over her grief.”

“...Or a way to sneak her way into the palace’s fortune.”

Then, their voices start fading until you can't hear anything. And when you close your eyes and open them again, the courtyard is empty.

Suddenly, a strong wind forces you to lift your arms and shut your eyes. The winds get stronger… and stronger… until…

Your eyes snap open.

And you see the shadows of the lights on the ceiling and smell the washed sheets. You immediately sit up, feeling your heart racing in your chest.

It’s a dream. Of course, it’s a dream. But it was unexpectedly vivid. You glance at your hand; you can still feel the breeze and when you close your eyes, you can still hear their voices. You flip off the covers and head to the washroom, but as soon as you turn on the light, you almost gasp when you see the young Dan Feng behind you. You immediately spin around, but all there is is your necklace hanging off the little makeshift jewelry holder.

Once you’re back on the bed, you’re wide awake. As hard as you try, for God knows how long, you cannot fall asleep. You twist and turn, wondering why you'd have a dream like that. Who is that young girl? You must’ve seen her somewhere before... You sit up and glance at the wall separating you and Dan Feng's room before your head hits the pillow again. This time, when you close your eyes, your body relaxes.

And, for the rest of the night, you have no more dreams.

◆◆◆

The hotel is bustling with visitors when you enter the large ballroom reserved for Signora’s wedding. As soon as you enter, a tall man wearing a black and white suit hands you a white masquerade mask outlined in gold. You take it and look around. Of course, no one is without a mask. So, you put it on and walk further inside where there are floating LED candlelights around the room that are reminiscent of a popular fantasy story about witches and wizards. A giant crystal chandelier invites the eye upwards, mesmerizing its audience with all its sparkling splendour. You catch a hotel employee opening a door on the far side of the room, catching a glimpse of the grand dining hall just beyond it.

A man carrying a tray of filled wine glasses is making his rounds, and you grab a glass before he escapes your reach. As you take a sip, you hear:

“Oh…? Is that who I think it is?���

You turn around and see a tall man with short orange hair wearing a dark gray and white suit with a red tie. His mask is white with black glitter, and his eyes are as blue as you remember.

“Long time no see,” he continues, walking up to you. “You look as lovely as the day we met.”

You couldn’t stop fidgeting the entire ride to Dan Heng’s house. Today was the day he was officially introducing you as his girlfriend to his family, and you couldn’t be any more nervous. These were people of power and high status. It was intimidating to think that they would be scrutinizing and questioning you. Once you arrived, and Dan Heng parked the car, his hand found yours.

“They aren’t as scary as you think,” he said. Then, he smiled reassuringly. “They’ll love you.”

“I… Well… That’s the hope!”

He leaned over and kissed your cheek.

You and Dan Heng got out of the car, and he held the door—leading into the house—open for you. You stepped inside and Dan Heng led you to a spacious living room with beige marble floors and dark gray carpets in areas where there was furniture, which was all white with dark wood. The lights were part of the dropped ceiling with a design that looked like tree leaves. But, you had no time to admire the interior design as you were suddenly the center of attention.

Many faces were staring at you when you and Dan Heng walked in, and one of them was a tall ginger with blue eyes. He was the first to walk up to you and looked roughly the same age as you and Dan Heng. Before the mysterious man could say anything, Dan Heng asked:

“...What are you doing here?”

“Something came up,” Dan Heng’s mother said. She glanced at a woman who looked a bit older than her. “We were just sorting things out.”

“But then again… We’re family.” the ginger said, “And family is always welcome, aren’t we?” He ignored Dan Heng’s cold stare, stepped past him, and extended his hand toward you. “...I’m Childe, Dan Heng’s… brother from another mother, if you will.”

“I’ll be honest,” you say, looking away and sipping your wine. “I never thought I’d see you here.”

"You and me both, my dear." Childe stops in front of you, his eyes wandering down until they reach your necklace given to you by Dan Heng. "What reason do you have to be here?"

“I was invited.”

“Invited?” he asks doubtfully. “Enlighten me, love—”

“Don’t call me that.”

“You still keep in touch with Signora?” He puts a hand on the round table behind you and leans closer. You're about to walk away when he steps in front of you. You glare at him. “...What reason would you have to do that?”

You’re too focused on Childe to hear calm, steady footsteps approaching you. Just as a pair of sleek black loafers come to a stop, you suddenly feel someone’s hand around your wrist. You quickly turn and see Dan Feng wearing a black mask with red glitter that almost covers his entire face. You wouldn’t have recognized him if it wasn’t for his long hair combed to perfection. A black tie with red rose patterns rests over his dark red, pressed-fitting shirt made of velvet. It’s tucked neatly into his black pants that emphasize his long legs. Looking closer, his black blazer has an artistic pattern with light sparkles of gold.

Dan Feng smoothly pulls you back and steps in front of you, forcing Childe to step back. You smell a whiff of his cologne that reminds you of fresh lavenders in a forest.

“You’re getting a little too close for comfort,” Dan Feng says.

Childe narrows his eyes. “...Who are you?”

You catch Dan Feng’s stare when he looks over your shoulder. When he looks back at Childe, Dan Feng gives him a cheeky smile and says:

“Her partner.”

While that’s not exactly a lie, it’s easily misinterpreted, and you’re almost certain it's on purpose.

“Partner, huh?” Childe asks, looking at you. “Moved on, have we, love?”

“She’s not a fan of nicknames,” Dan Feng says. “...So, keep those to yourself”—he looks at Childe’s hair—”Carrothead.”

Childe glares at him, but there’s also curiosity and confusion along with annoyance.

“...Have we met?” Childe asks.

Oh? Has Dan Feng found himself another possible friend or acquaintance of his brother’s? Looks like staying close to you definitely has its perks. Dan Feng turns around, offers his arm to you, and says:

“Let’s go.”

There’s a brief pause before you take it and walk away with him as calmly as you can.

“The dress suits you,” he continues. 

“...Are you like this all the time?” you ask quietly.

“Like what?”

You glance at your hand around his arm. “Like… this.”

Dan Feng chuckles. “You just don’t know me well enough.”

“Is that so?”

Just then, soft classical music fills the ballroom, and a few couples are heading onto an open space. You’re looking away from Dan Feng when you hear him ask:

“Shall I surprise you even more?”

You turn back just as he walks in front of you. Then, he offers you his hand.

“...Care for a dance?”

You want to refuse, but as soon as you meet his gaze that’s warm and inviting, your hand is in his before you know it.

Dan Feng leads you onto the dance floor, and just before the official music begins, he twirls you once and pulls you close to him, his hand just barely touching the skin on your back.

“May I?”

As soon as you nod, his hand touches your back, his warm touch sending a brief adrenaline rush throughout your body.

“...Actually, this might not be a good idea," you say quietly, looking at the others. "I don’t really know how to dance."

“Don’t look at them.” His low voice takes you by surprise, and when you turn back, you’re once again staring into his warm, inviting eyes. “...Just focus on me.”

So, you do. You have one hand in his and the other is on his shoulder as he guides you on the dance floor.

Childe, with a glass of wine in his hand and the other in his pocket, watches you closely near the back of the crowd.

“...Not going to dance?”

Childe doesn’t turn his head but flashes Signora a look.

“Now, what’s the bride doing way out here?” Childe nods at the dance floor. “It’s your wedding day, and you’re not dancing?”

“This isn’t my song,” Signora says as Rostam walks up beside her.

Childe scoffs. “What’s the real reason you invited her?” Signora glances at him. “She has nothing to do with us anymore.”

“Someone sure sounds a little defensive.”

“The man she’s with.” Childe nods at Dan Feng. “...Who is he?”

“Why? Does he remind you of someone you know?”

“I’m not interested in playing games, Signora,” Childe says bitterly.

“I have a feeling you already have the answer you’re looking for,” Rostam says, and Childe’s stare turns cold. “...He’s a man who���s supposed to be dead.”

Dan Feng dips you on the dance floor and says:

“You’re a fast learner.”

As soon as you’re upright, you smile. “I try.” Then, your eyes land on Childe who—as soon as he makes eye contact with you—he disappears into the crowd.

“...Who is he?”

You quickly turn back to Dan Feng who still has his eyes on you.

“Childe. Dan Heng’s distant cousin… I suppose. The nephew of a distant relative of Dan Heng’s mother.”

“And what was his relationship with Dan Heng like?”

“Not good,” you answer, holding his stare. “All I know is what Dan Heng told me, which is that Childe wanted power within the company. But, they wouldn’t give it to him.”

As the music picks up, Dan Feng picks you up and twirls you around with your arms around his neck.

“Let me guess,” Dan Feng says after putting you down. “After Tsaritsa took over, she gave him a position of power at Lunae."

“...You did your research, I see.”

“But, there’s something I can’t seem to figure out.”

“And what’s that?”

“His relationship with you.”

You can’t hold his stare after that and look off to the side. But as soon as you do, you also almost step on his foot to which he asks:

“Is that something you don’t want to share?”

“We weren’t friends,” you say. “I barely knew him.”

Dan Feng continues staring at you. Are you telling the truth?

“I’ll take your word for it. But whatever past you have with him”—Dan Feng twirls you one last time, dips you, and pulls you close just as the music comes to a dramatic end—”you might have to start putting those feelings aside.”

You’re looking at his Adam’s apple when the song ends, and when you look up, his eyes are on you. His gaze is curious and it sends an unexpected thrill that makes your heart beat a little faster. But you sense something more beneath the surface. It’s almost predatory as if he’s waiting for something.

He lifts your hand and places a light kiss on the top of your hand where you can still feel it burning even after he lets you go.

“...Thank you for the dance.”

And then he walks off, feeling your stare on him.

The wedding is still going on when Dan Feng steps out for the men’s room. His mask is on the clean, marble sink beside him as he washes his hands. Then, the door opens, and as soon as Dan Heng looks in the mirror, he sees Childe with a look that’s an ugly mix of disbelief, confusion, and anger.

“...What the fuck?”

Dan Feng casually turns around and leans against the marble sink.

“Someone’s angry,” he says calmly.

“How… You… Who—”

“I’m very much alive if that’s what you want to ask.”

Childe walks up to him. “Who are you?”

◆◆◆

You’re sitting at a table, on your third glass of wine, when you notice that Dan Feng has been gone for a while. You glance at the empty seat in front of you and then at your phone.

Signora and her husband had just finished giving a speech, and the guests around the dining hall raised their glass for a toast. You and Dan Feng happened to glance at each other before a chorus rang around the room.

“Cheers!”

You’d wanted to ask about what he meant by putting feelings aside, but ever since you separated after the dance, other guests began flocking toward you and him. But that didn’t mean you didn’t catch each other’s looks from time to time.

Once you sat in your seat, your phone buzzed.

Carrothead has been keeping his eye on you. You didn’t lie… did you?

Without moving your head, you looked at Dan Feng from across the table.

Me? He’s looking at you. You’re the doppelganger.

Dan Feng crossed one leg over the other.

And are you not scared I’ll bring bad luck?

You almost raised an eyebrow at his response, and it took you a small moment to respond.

Then, I wonder if it’s bad luck I’m alive.

Once again, you and Dan Feng made eye contact, and you were about to put your phone back inside your purse when you felt it buzz.

Guess that’s up to you to decide, but…

You weren’t sure why you were anxious about his next response.

I’m glad you are.

…So I can kill you myself.

Dan Feng saw that you still put your phone back inside your purse, but you were almost refusing to look at him now, making it obvious that his words had an impact. Then, he stood and headed towards the men's room outside of the dining hall.

“Where’s your acquaintance?”

You turn and see Signora with a hand on the back of your chair and one holding a half-filled wine glass.

“No idea,” you say.

Then, she nods for you to follow her. So, you stand and start walking with her.

“He’s probably with Childe,” Signora says quietly.

You look toward the table Childe is supposed to be sitting at and find his seat empty.

“...Isn’t that bad?”

“Depends on how you look at it, I suppose,” Signora answers. “But, I’m sure Dan Feng can handle him.”

You hope so.

“It won’t be long before Tsaritsa finds out about him,” Signora continues once reaching a rare, quiet part of the dining hall.

“It sounds like this was your plan all along.” Signora gives you a little smile. “You invited us here because you knew Childe was going to be here, didn’t you?”

“He may be an annoying little brat, but he’s oddly loyal to Tsaritsa. He’s like her eyes and ears.”

“Guess that can also apply to everyone else,” you say.

“True… But, now that he knows… it’s only a matter of time before this gets to Tsaritsa. And, as a result, it’ll get your handsome acquaintance a one-way ticket into their little humble abode.”

“...In other words, you’re throwing him into a lion’s den.”

Signora chuckles. “That’s a good way of putting it. But”—her expression turns serious—”he’s not the only one who’s going to get roped into this. You can either say he’s just a man who looks like Dan Heng… or…”

It was that morning at the hotel restaurant that Signora proposed the idea.

“As risky and entertaining as that idea may be,” Dan Feng said, “it would be too easy to find out the truth. As soon as they take DNA, it would prove I’m not him.”

“You work in law enforcement, don’t you?” Signora put her teacup on the plate. “Tsaritsa pulled strings to make this family completely disappear without a trace. Surely, you could do the same if those records even still exist.”

“And am I supposed to believe you’re doing this because you and Dan Heng and his mother were such good friends?” you ask, keeping your eye on the door to see if either Dan Feng or Childe has returned. “There’s another motive behind your incredulous suggestion, isn’t there?”

“Don’t we all have motives?” You glance at her. “I want to get away from Tsaritsa. My company is still under her control whether I like it or not. Dan Feng… He also seems to have motives for getting close to the family. Whatever that is, well, it doesn’t matter to me because we have the same goal. And, as for you…” Signora fully turns to look you in the eyes. “...You can get closure.”

“...Dan Feng posing as Dan Heng…” you mutter. “That’s…. That’s too risky. They’re nothing alike.”

“Appearance is all that matters, my dear,” Signora says. “People change.”

Finally, the door opens, and Dan Feng walks in. But, Childe is nowhere to be seen.

Signora puts a hand on your shoulder but says nothing and walks off.

◆◆◆

Childe’s phone buzzes just as he leaves the men’s room. He has one hand in his pocket as he reads the text message in the “family” group chat.

It can’t be him.

Childe is thinking of how to reply when he sees a flurry of messages from the same chat.

Should we kill him again?

You’d be wise to watch what you say.

Childe slides his phone into his pocket, ignoring the continuous buzzing.

“...I think that’s a question I should be asking you,” Dan Feng said, holding Childe’s cold stare. “I have no idea who you are.”

“Playing dumb, are we? It’s not like you, Dan Heng. You were always so straightforward when you were with me.” Childe slowly started pacing. “Just like when, in a rare occurrence, you lost your temper when asking me to leave your girlfriend ‘the fuck alone.’ Did you forget about that?”

This man was testing him.

��Did I?” Dan Feng walked right in front of Childe. “Well, considering how you were acting towards her earlier, I wouldn’t be surprised if I did.”

Childe stops in an empty hallway and pulls out his phone. The last text is what silenced the group. A message from Tsaritsa.

Keep an eye on him.

Childe enters the dining hall, and his gaze sweeps the room.

You and Dan Feng are nowhere in sight.

◆◆◆

“I didn’t say who I was,” Dan Feng says.

It's just you and him in a small room somewhere in the hotel. You had texted him before he got back to the table that you wanted “to talk privately.” Without moving his head, he had looked in your direction and saw you nod at a door leading elsewhere in the hotel.

“...You’re not really going to pretend to be Dan Heng, are you?” you ask, keeping your voice low.

“Regardless if I do or not…” Dan Feng slips a hand inside his pocket. “I think”—he gestures to his face—”how I look is simply enough.” You cross your arms. “I bet Carrothead is already thinking of ways to get rid of me, and if they are”—Dan Feng looks you in the eyes—”it means they’re guilty.”

“I just don’t want the lies to get out of control,” you warn. “One lie comes with another and another… until they’ll see right through you.”

“Are you worried?”

Your face remains serious. “I'd be a fool if I wasn't.”

“...I understand you're worried about yourself." Dan Feng leans against a wall. "It's still early. You can still say you have nothing to do with me despite what happened earlier. And, whether I take on Dan Heng’s identity or not, I can say that you’re a woman who simply caught my attention. That explanation wouldn't cause any harm.” He pushes himself off the wall and walks towards you. “But then again, we’re partners and partners talk things out.” You slowly look at him. “So, what's your take on what I should do?"

Before you can say anything else, you hear someone rattling the door handle. And just before the door opens all the way, you act upon instinct and push Dan Feng against the wall beside the door just as it fully opens.

Chapter 6

Tag list: @lunavixia @aerithsthingss @boomie-123

[writertothemaximum]

To New Sight - Part 2

Pairing - Gojo/Yuuji/Reader

Content Warning - MDNI/18+ ONLY, Omegaverse, (fem) Alpha Reader, Alpha Gojo, Omega Yuuji, Non-sorcerers/Strangers AU, Yuuji is a college student, female alphas have both parts, anal+vaginal sex, marathon sex, just tons of sex, that's why you're here right?

Word Count - 8k (this post is very long)

Summary -

After Yuuji agrees to spend his heat with two alphas, you arrive at Satoru's apartment and the week ahead unfolds like a dream.

Read Part 1: https://www.tumblr.com/writertothemaximum/726142562179645440/

When you knocked on the door to the apartment, it was Satoru who answered.

“Oh, there you are,” he said. He was a bit more dressed down than you had seen him before, although it was certainly better than just pajamas. You assumed that you’d be seeing him naked sooner than later, so it’s not like it really mattered, but there was something charming about seeing someone in a different state of dress. He was still wearing those gaudy sunglasses, though. You didn’t really want to ask about it, although by this point, you felt confident that he’d probably give you an answer. Maybe not a proper one, but the point still stands.

“Could you take this?” you said, gesturing to the huge bag of food in your arms. It was a mix of snacks and frozen stuff, as you assumed that none of you wanted to cook during the event. “Ordeal.” Whatever you wanted to call it. Cooking wasn’t happening. Maybe one of you could order take-out one of the nights, that’d be fine.

“Oh, sure, sure,” Satoru said, leaning forward and grabbing it out of your arms.

At that, you let yourself in, slipping your shoes off as soon as you got inside. The place looked quite modern and expensive, and you realized that Satoru was right—This was a nice place to stay. Certainly better than yours, and certainly better than whatever dorm room that Yuuji was in. Raising your nose, you sniffed the air, and although there was a perpetual sense of sweetness, flowers and grass hit you particularly strongly, and off in one direction. Satoru was off the kitchen, fumbling around with shoving the frozen stuff in the freezer, as you waltzed into the living room setting down your bag of spare clothing and toiletries.

“He’s in the back,” Satoru yelled, as you walked off. He added, presumably with a scowl, “I see you’re already showing yourself around.”

There were four doors in the back, and judging from what Satoru told you earlier, one was his bedroom, two were the bathroom and toilet, and the final was the guest bedroom. Not that you needed that explanation, because it was really obvious from the smell. Using the back of your fist, you rapped your knuckles against the door.

“Yuuji-kun, are you there?” you asked, hesitantly. “Can I come in?”

There was a groan, a little yelp, then the sound of furniture moving around. Finally, a crash. He must have fallen over.

The door handle twisted quickly and cracked open just slightly. The pheromones hit you like a wave, your body instinctively clenching up at the sensation, but it was pleasant, it was definitely Yuuji, and certainly the smell of heat. You saw Yuuji in the crack of the door, and he was dressed lightly, in a T-shirt five sizes too large, and whatever shorts he was wearing you couldn’t see. There was a white, plastic brace around his neck. He looked shy, but he was smiling.

Always ask permission before entering an omega’s nest. That was probably the main reason Satoru wanted Yuuji in the guest bedroom and not his. It was a nice gesture, honestly, giving Yuuji his own space to set things up.

“Y/n-san? Sure, you can come in.”

When Yuuji opened the door and you walked in, it was almost embarrassing how dirty the place looked. A mix of clothing was scattered around the place, and the smells were rather overwhelming. Interestingly, you noticed your own smell in the mixture, which was odd, as you normally had trouble picking it out. You had seen only a couple omega nests in your lifetime, but the thing that was certain is that each omega organized them in a different way. It was considered somewhat sexual to take photos of one’s nest, like it was a private thing, mostly because it was. The amount of sex and jacking off that would be done in this space was unimaginable.

Yuuji’s wasn’t clean, but it wasn’t completely unorganized, either. As you walked into the room, Yuuji guiding you to the bed, you noticed that the clothing items were separated by smell. That was something that you hadn’t really considered before, that each article of clothing would have a slight difference in smell, in addition to the individual’s own odor. You had heard from your omega friends that the upper half of pants or shorts tended to smell nice, as people liked to rest their wrists against them, and the pheromones would rub off unconsciously. Same for the collar of shirts, and god forbid you wore something with long sleeves. It probably shouldn’t come as a surprise that long sleeves were in fashion right now.

Interestingly, there were a couple clothing items that were distinctly omega and beta, and you assumed that those must have been donated by some of Yuuji’s friends. It was nice that the kid had a good social circle that he trusted. Not everyone was lucky enough to have that.

Crawling back onto the bed, Yuuji pulled one of the sheets over his body, and you could see his face flash red with fever. It was uncomfortable, now that his heat had just started. It was still supposed to be a week or so before your rut started, but you could already feel the effects of his pheromones rubbing off on you, you’d been feeling them since the meal you had the other day. That was just how it was—An alpha in proximity of an omega in heat would be triggered into a rut, no matter the season. Clearly not comfortable with just a single sheet, he leaned forward and grabbed an armful of clothing, dumping it over his body, haphazardly, almost in a fit of rage. Half of them fell off the side of the bed.

 Yuuji just looked at you like a hurt puppy. Laughing, you bent down to help him pick the stuff off.

“Sorry…” he said, melting into the mattress. “Oh god, is the whole week going to be like this? I’ve never been in front of other people while it’s happening, it’s usually just a big blur.”

“Well, then you won’t remember it,” you said, almost laughing to yourself, placing a shirt, then a hoodie on top of his little blanket burrito.

Yuuji laughed back. “I guess that’s right.”

When you leaned back up, Yuuji’s face was right in front of you. The smell was unbearable. It was like every instinct in your body was telling you to pin him down and touch his body and bit his neck an—

“Are you okay?” He wasn’t supposed to be the one asking you.

You blinked a couple times, letting the oxygen flow back to your head.

“Yup. Fine. As fine as I’m getting,” you said, taking a deep breath. “Can I sit down?”

“Yeah!” Yuuji said, and his smile was radiant. “Yeah, sure, go ahead.”

You sat down and let the world encompass you. You tried to hold back, but did you have to? What was the point in that? There was a frankly delicious omega lying right beside you, and he had even actively invited you into his nest? What more did you need than that? You looked right at him, and he smiled at you hesitantly, clearly somewhat nervous, himself. His lip was shaking and his whole body was underneath the sheets now, seemingly only now comfortable with the space.

His lips looked so edible, and you wanted to drink from the source.

You found your body leaning down, and you could feel the pheromones pouring out of his secondary gland, right from under his jaw. “Can I kiss you?”

“Can you?” he asked back, with a hint of sass.

You grabbed him by the shoulder and flipped him over. He barely had any time to react before your entire body was on top of his, and your lips were flush against his mouth. Saliva draped over your lips as you lapped at him, and Yuuji moaned back at you, submissive and pliable to your touch. Really perfect, really everything about him was perfect, you could shove your tongue down his throat and he’d still be perfect.

Struggling against the bedsheets and these things we strapped to our bodies, you struggled, your hand pressing against the thin, white thing, grabbing his thigh through it, as close as you could get to touching him. It was soft, but you bet that his body underneath would be softer. But his mouth—It tasted like flowers. Like nature, like a spring of water and you were drinking it up, as he pushed into you, asking for more.

“Woah, starting without me? In my own house? Not cool.”

You felt Yuuji’s body freeze under you as Satoru’s voice graced your ears, and you froze with him. Pulling off with a pop, you leaned up, realizing what you had done, your hands wrapped firmly around his shoulders. Well, then. Rut was coming on a little sooner than you had expected. At least Yuuji seemed somewhat pleased.

“You snooze, you lose,” you said, chuckling at him.

“Can I come in, Yuuji-kun?” Satoru asked, trying to ignore you, but he couldn’t. “I guess someone doesn’t want to eat for the next four or five days. I was busy putting away your instant yakiniku in the freezer, thank you very much.”

“Yeah, you can come in, Satoru-san,” Yuuji hummed, smiling dumbly, still underneath you. “I already told you it was fine.”

“That’s right,” Satoru said cheerfully, strolling right on in. “And, you can drop the formalities, we’re about to have our dicks in you in less than—” He paused to check the non-existent watch on his wrist. “Well, it’s soon.”

Pulling off of Yuuji slightly, you rubbed your hand gently against the outside of his chin. His face was hot, his body, too, and you knew heat was starting to hit hard. “Have you been playing with yourself? Do you have toys?”

Yuuji looked at the bedsheets shyly, and you saw him wiggle his hips around, probably thinking about sex. “Yeah, I brought a knotting toy with me. I used it a little last night,” he said, and he looked somewhat shameful.

“I bet I’m bigger,” Satoru said, and the sweetness hit you as you noticed he was standing right in front of the bed. He took his glasses off and set them on the nightstand, before crawling on.

“Oh, so you take them off now?” you asked, crossing your arms. He had really nice eyes. You supposed it must be appealing to some omegas to have sweet smelling, gorgeous alphas. Certainly for Yuuji it was.

“My eyes are sensitive,” he defended, waving you off. Then, he was crawling on all fours over to where Yuuji was, and then he was leaning down, whispering right into his ear. “Can I kiss you?”

“Yeah, go ahead,” Yuuji said, beaming.

You let go fully, letting Satoru lean in, and take Yuuji’s lips in his. A part of you wondered if this is what you looked like when you kissed him, and you were certain that Satoru was just as hungry as you, pushing Yuuji against the bedsheets, as if you hadn’t done the same less than a minute prior. Their hands and fingers were interlocked passionately, and they really looked like lovers. There were pits and pats of saliva, as Satoru sucked Yuuji’s lips, and Yuuji sucked back, moaning softly into his touches.

Their lips parted for a moment, and you could hear Satoru’s voice, soft and warm. Then, his nose was pressed against Yuuji’s cheek, and he was rubbing into him. “So good for me.” Yuuji giggled back, high off the praise, and you could see him pushing his hands against Satoru’s grip, but Satoru didn’t let go, and so he was held there. He didn’t particularly seem to mind, though.

Then, one of Satoru’s hands was pulling back the white bedsheet, and slipping under the hem of Yuuji’s shirt, presumably to the cusp of his ass. “Nice and wet already, too.”

“Well, um,” Yuuji said, his face as bright as a tomato. “That’s just how it is, you know.”

Satoru laughed back, but the laugh was almost sadistic in nature. “Oh, I know.”

This was going to be fun breaking him in, wasn’t it?

“Who’s um,” Yuuji said, still somewhat shy and overwhelmed. “Who’s going first?”

“Oh?” Satoru asked back. “Do you have a preference?”

“No, I um,” Yuuji said, and his face was growing redder with each syllable that came stuttering out of his mouth. “I just wanna get knotted. God, that’s embarrassing. I want to get fucked so hard, shit.”

You could do that for him. You blinked hard, letting the blood settle back into your brain, and away from your groin. It wasn’t quite there yet. You could feel it growing, but your rut hadn’t fully started yet, so it wasn’t fully developed.

“Probably should be Gojo,” you said, clearing your throat. “Unless you want to be inside me.”

Both of them blinked, looking over at you. Satoru’s hand was still on Yuuji’s ass.

“Oh, is that a female alpha thing?” Satoru asked, kneading his hand into it, causing Yuuji to pout. “Never fucked a female alpha before.”

“It um,” Yuuji cut in, trying to explain to Satoru. “They only get penises during ruts. It grows out as they get excited. It’s kinda nice to watch…”

You couldn’t help but let the smirk settle across your face. “Yuuji-kun, do you watch a lot of porn with female alphas?”

Yuuji froze into place. “M-Maybe?”

Caught red-handed. Cute.

“It’s hot…” he defended, pouting just slightly. “I wouldn’t mind putting mine in, either but—” His eyes glazed over to the side. “I definitely want it inside me.”

It was at this point that you could just feel the sweet pheromones radiating off of the body next to you, and you saw Satoru climb up and on top of Yuuji’s body, presumably pressing his erection into the cusp of his ass. The color in Yuuji’s face drained, and he looked a little startled. “Um, Satoru-san, is that um, is that your um—”

“My dick? Yeah.”

Blinking, you asked, “What’s wrong with it?”

Yuuji’s head just turned to the side, his head almost creaking from the tension. “It’s just…is that going to fit?”

Gojo laughed, and then it turned into a devilish grin. “It gets bigger.”

Unable to stop yourself, you started to crack up, pulling the sheets aside so you could actually see what was going on. Yuuji was lying on his back, his T-shirt pulled up to his chest, and he was wearing boxer-briefs underneath, with a very clear wet spot in the back, having already made a little impression in the sheets. Satoru was lying directly on top of him, fully clothed, but you could see the erection in his pants, pressing against Yuuji’s notably smaller one. Not that Yuuji’s was small, either, it just seemed like Gojo Satoru was gifted in many areas.

Satoru’s head was up close to Yuuji’s face, and he was peppering kisses all across his cheeks. “You want me to suck you off first?”

“N-No,” Yuuji said, buckling his hips up against Satoru’s. “Just put it in. I want to feel the stretch, ugh, it was like this last time, too. All I can think about is getting knotted.”

Satoru laughed, pushing up so he was sitting on his knees, and his hands were at his buckle, undoing his pants. “Sooo needy, sheesh,” Satoru mocked.

Seeing where this was going, you followed suit, pulling off your shirt, pants, and underwear while you were at it, and chucking it into the massive pile of clothing. You wouldn’t need any of it if this was going in the direction that you thought it was going. Looking down, you saw your clit a bit puffed up already, but most of your biology was how it normally was. Quickly touching down there, it was also a bit wet. Even still, it was still a day or two behind, typical. Another reason omegas tended to prefer male alphas was that their delivery was more—immediate, was one way to put it.

Yuuji was lying on his back, his T-shirt still draped over his chest lazily, but his underwear was off, and both of his legs were up in the air, his calves resting on his thighs, begging, really needing attention. You could see the trail of slick running down his hole and onto the bed, his cock pert and excited, leaving a bead of precum right underneath his belly button. Satoru was just lapping the attention up. Fully nude, his cock was out and throbbing, twitching against Yuuji’s stomach as he rubbed up against him. “Hmm?” he hummed, teasing. “You want it? How bad do you want it, Yuuji-kun?”

His fingers were at Yuuji’s ass, and squelching noises were getting sent about the room, his fingers deep in his cavity, pushing around that ooey-gooey flesh. You couldn’t keep your eyes off it. Blood throbbed down in your groin as you thought about what it’d feel like to be inside of him, what it’d be like to fill him up with your own pups after Satoru had his way with him. You wondered if both would take. You wondered when the both of you pumped him full of your seed if his pups would be yours or his, and despite the competitive alpha spirit inside you, a part of you hoped it’d be both.

“Inside, please,” Yuuji said, his eyes lolling to the side, a big waft of his now floral smell penetrating the inside of your nose. His thighs rubbed together as his calves separated, making the access to his asshole clear and visible. Pouting his lips, he looked like he wanted to kiss again, and he probably did—The feeling must be unbearable. “Quickly…”

Satoru’s arms were pinning him to the bed, one palm pressed to each side, and he angled up against Yuuji’s hole and pushed inside.

The moan that Yuuji let out was whorish. The way that his body shook as Satoru pushed inside of him, the way that he trembled from the insertion, the way that his eyes rolled back into his head, the way that beads of sweat appeared on his skin, little goosebumps popping up—All of it was mesmerizing.

“Oh? Did I pop your cherry? You’re so tight.” Honestly, you had no idea how he kept his composure, although looking again, you weren’t sure that he had.

“Fuck,” Yuuji moaned out, clearly overwhelmed by the sensation. His hands gripped at the bed sheets underneath him, the fabric pulling up and between his fingertips, his knuckles going white. Satoru leaned up close, pushing himself as far in as he could, and Yuuji gasped, the tip of his cock certainly pressing up against his cervix. “It’s deep…”

“Feel good?” Satoru asked, placing a soft kiss against his cheek.

Yuuji nodded, his eyes half lidded closed, his words slurring just slightly. “It feels good.”

It was at this point that Satoru started to move, pushing his body up with his strong arms, and using the gravity of his body weight to force his cock back inside. It certainly felt good for him, too—What, with the way that the white fluff on his eyelids fluttered closed on each thrust.

You found it difficult to not touch yourself, so of course, you did. There was no point in thinking rationally anymore. It was just about fucking, just about feeling good, and there was nothing else you had to worry about, everything had already been taken care of. The room was full of intoxicating odors, Satoru’s and Yuuji’s being most prominent, of course, but there were occasional hints of citrus, occasional hints of mint, and you began to realize that it was leaking out of you strongly, as well.

Satoru was fucking into him deeply now, pulling out so that the tip of his cock was spreading the entrance of his hole, and driving back in so deep and rough, that the slaps were as debauched as the sounds coming out of Yuuji’s mouth. It was animalistic, the pace he was going at, but his movements were measured, and his motions were fierce. The expression on his face was serious and focused, like all he could think about was fucking into Yuuji and filling him with his cock.

“So good…” Yuuji whined, saliva caked across his lips. His expression was so cute like this, hints of tears in the corners of his eyes, that floral scent pulsing out of him like a meadow in bloom. It drew you close, and you found your hand outstretched, your fingers pressing against his lips. A bit surprised, Satoru leaned up slightly, still continuing the forcefulness of his pace, but letting you have your room. Obedient, Yuuji opened up his mouth and let your fingers inside. He looked up at you, pleading, as you played around in his mouth, feeling his tongue and body tremble each time that Satoru drove into him, hitting against his prostate.

“Such a whore, Yuuji-kun,” you said, looking at him a little disappointed. “You need the attention of two alphas? One isn’t enough for you?” You felt Yuuji’s jaw move like he was going to answer, but as Satoru’s cock struck down on him, he took a nice, deep breath and sucked down on your fingers, getting them all nice and wet. 

“Shit, shit,” Satoru repeated, his humping rougher, clearly getting close. You pulled your fingers out, and you found the pop rather satisfying as Yuuji didn’t want to let you go.

As soon as they were out, Satoru leaned down and his mouth was on Yuuji’s, and they were making out, tongue in tongue, lip against lip. It was so desperate, Satoru looked so close, and surely by this point, Yuuji had already come from the penetration alone. The bed was bouncing with each movement, and Yuuji was squirming under his touch, Satoru’s hands wrapped tightly around his forearms, holding him tightly in place.

Yuuji screamed from under Satoru’s lips, as Satoru groaned against him, very clearly coming inside. “God, you feel so good. Like that, like that,” he said, his eyes flushed closed as he thrust all the way inside one last time. Looking down and over at the point that their hips connected, you could see the base of his cock expand, his knot filling out big and round.

Looking down at yourself now, there were two fingers up your cunt, fucking yourself as you watched the show before you. Against your thumb you felt your clit pulse, growing larger again, a couple inches long now, not quite hard, but not flaccid either, throbbing with want, determined to grow bigger.

Finally pulling his lips off, Yuuji gasped as Satoru panted against him, beads of sweat pouring down his back. Yuuji’s T-shirt was soaked in sweat and pheromones, certainly that would be stripped off of him within the next day, and shoved into someone’s nose as they fervently jacked off or fucked into his mouth.

“Is um, is that,” Yuuji said, huffing, grabbing for air. “Is that the knot?”

Satoru nuzzled against Yuuji’s under-jaw scent gland, marking the floral scent across the head of white hair, feeling good as he pumped Yuuji full of cum. “Yeah. That’s it.”

“Oh god, it’s tight,” Yuuji said, looking a little distressed, his arm pressed against the back of the bed, clearly trying to adjust his body into a more comfortable position.

Satoru’s head popped up, still in somewhat of a delirious state. “Does it hurt?”

Yuuji laughed. “Not in a bad way…Just, um, my back’s kinda feeling weird.”

Humming, Satoru tried pulling out, and within a second, Yuuji’s eyes went wide with pain, and his hands were at Satoru’s chest quickly, desperately getting his attention. “Ow! No, no, ow!”

Stopping right away, Satoru pouted, the tightness clearly feeling good around his cock. “I um,” he said, looking even a little more upset. “You know we’re gonna have to stay like this for the next half an hour.”

“Half an hour!?” Yuuji said, quite shocked.

“Well, yeah,” Satoru continued, running a hand through his hair. “That’s how long it takes to go down. They cut that part out of porn, usually. Unless you’re specifically into cockwarming or something. Some people are.” Then his fingers were pressed up against Yuuji’s skin, right between his groin and under his belly button. It must have been warm and full of cum inside. “Gotta make sure the seed sets.”

Yuuji’s body went limp, as if accepting his fate. “Well, okay, I guess.”

Unable to control it any longer, you burst out into laughter, pointing at the two. “Hahah! Imagine getting stuck inside another person for thirty minutes, couldn’t be me. God, imagine being such a fucking knothead dumbass.”

Satoru frowned, grabbed a pillow directly in front of him, and chucked it right at your face. Hitting a bullseye, it only deterred the laughter for a short moment, ruthlessly mocking him.

“Well, we’ll see how it is when you go for him, Ms. I-can’t-even-get-my-dick-out,” Satoru sniped back, ready and deadly.

“I’m sure he’ll moan just as loud,” you said, grinning right back.

“Guys, guys!” Yuuji said, patting up against Satoru’s stomach, being one of the only spots he actually had access to. 

Instantly, Satoru’s fighting spirit dropped, and he nuzzled back against Yuuji’s jaw gland. “Sorry, Yuuji-kun, didn’t mean to. Still sensitive.”

“Oh, and you’re sensitive,” Yuuji said, crossing his arms, his face flushed red with heat. 

Satoru made a rather cute pleading face. “Does your back still hurt?”

Yuuji pouted back. “...Yeah.”

Then, Satoru’s arms were wrapped around him, and Yuuji yelped as Satoru flipped them around so that he was lying on his back and Yuuji was sitting on his lap. Still connected, of course. They weren’t going to get separated that quickly.

“Hey…Let me know before you do something like that again, okay?”

Satoru laughed. “Alright, honey.”

Yuuji looked like he was going to hit him, but he didn’t.

Leaning forwards, you let your finger drag against the plastic thing on Yuuji’s neck. It was almost see-through, but it was made of a rather solid material, and fanned out near the back. There was a little cutout in the back and when you ran your finger over it, Yuuji’s skin trembled, the scent gland there flexing out at your touch. Embarrassed, Yuuji’s hands shot back there right away, covering it.

“H-Hey…” he said, looking back at you. “Be careful, that part’s delicate…”

Thinking to yourself, you took your finger off. “This is to stop biting, right? I don’t know if I’ve ever seen any with a cutout like this before.” It was just big enough so that the gland was completely showing, but not wide enough that a person could bite down. It was almost kind of slutty in a way, showing off the best part, but concealing any proper access to it.

Slowly, Yuuji’s hands slid down from his neck, showing it back to you again. “Oh, yeah. I release a lot of pheromones during my heat, so if I wear a normal collar, it rubs against it too much and gets kinda irritated…So the plastic collar it is. Sorry if it’s kinda weird.”

“I think it’s kinda hot,” Satoru offered, his arms crossed behind his head, clearly relaxing, despite you know, his knot still being enlarged inside.

Pursing his lips out, Yuuji gave a little look of shame, and it was a little hard to read what the expression on his face was. “You do?”

Then, Satoru’s hands were back on Yuuji’s waist, and he made a crude thrusting motion with his hips, just to prove a point. Yuuji yelped, putting a hand over his mouth, and he looked equally irritated as he did flattered.

Your eyes were glued to the slit in the collar. Unable to stop yourself, you felt your finger outstretch, and press down on the white plastic. To mark someone’s neck gland was to claim them as your mate. Of course there was medicine to break the bond, but the idea is that it’s permanent. That the omega becomes yours. You wondered if Yuuji could be yours. “Can I lick it?”

He turned his head slightly, and you saw goosebumps pump up on the back of his neck, just beside his undercut. “Sure…” It was the voice of curiosity, mostly.

Sitting on Satoru’s calves, you moved so that your chest was pressing up against Yuuji’s back. Wrapping your arms around his torso, you held him close, feeling how his body folded in on itself, still sensitive from the sex. Despite that, you held him firmly, and pressed your face up to his neck, lathering up the inside of your nose with that forbidden scent. He was in full bloom. It smelled like sex, it smelled like heat, and you wanted to shove the flower right into your mouth.

You eyed Satoru out of your peripheral vision, looking at you beyond Yuuji’s neck, and while he was still in that relaxed pose, he looked like he was curious to see what you were going to do. Slowly, you outstretched your tongue, feeling into the slight indentation where his skin parted. Yuuji twitched against the sensation, his entire body trembling in your arms. So close, like this. So intimate like this. You could feel your cock growing in interest, as it had been the whole evening. But Satoru was still inside him, now wasn’t the time for that.

The taste was like nectar. In the way that you can see sounds, you too, could taste scents, in perhaps a much more literal sense. You could taste the way his body trembled, as the ambrosia seeped through the petals, off onto the blades of grass. They wavered in the wind, and so did Yuuji’s body, growing limp under you. It was difficult with the plastic, and you had to stop when you felt your teeth hit against it. But that was the point, you supposed. It was a neck guard. He was just a heat partner, you weren’t supposed to mate him, he wasn’t supposed to be yours. Maybe it was just the rut, maybe it was just this whole ordeal, but your instinct called out to you—Mark him, mark him.

It was when Yuuji moaned at your tongue circling his gland that you came back to your senses.

“O-Oh,” you said, pulling back. “Sorry.”

Yuuji laughed, still kind of unable to move.  “No, it’s fine. Feels kinda nice.”

“No, I should,” you said, interrupting yourself, feeling your body waving back and forth, a ping of hunger settling in your gut. “Do you guys want something to eat?”

Just enjoying the show, Satoru leaned his head to the side. “Sure, something light sounds good.”

You could tell that licking the back of his neck had riled Yuuji up, and he looked like he wanted to keep going, but considering that the knot was still expanded and that they were going to be stuck like this for a little more, he just agreed with it. “Okay…” Then, he smiled. “Thank you.”

Needless to say, you were more than excited for when you would get your turn.

…

It took about twenty minutes more for the knot to come undone, which meant that Satoru was munching away at a granola bar on his own guest bed while Yuuji sat on his dick, having decided that he wasn’t really that hungry after all. About halfway through the ordeal, he started to get insatiably horny again, throwing off any remaining clothing, and he ended up just masturbating on Satoru’s stomach, making a big mess, but this was a given by this point. The two of you seemed to think that it was entertaining to watch how desperate he’d become.

When the knot finally deflated, the sound that came out was foul. Semen oozed out, Yuuji’s hole adjusting to the feeling of freedom, and certainly the act of having his insides become freed again was something that turned him on, Yuuji falling face-first into the bedsheets, his ass sticking up in the air, mumbling something incoherent.

“Hm? What was that, Yuuji-kun?” you asked, getting nice and close.

“Mmh horny,” was all you could make out. “Sleepy…”

And you could swear you could already see his body fading out of consciousness. Satoru just laughed. “One knot and you’re out? I thought you wanted us to break you, Yuuji-kun?”

You could see Yuuji’s hands clutching the bedsheets as his body went limp, falling against the bed. Again, he mumbled something incomprehensible.

“Hm?” Satoru asked, putting a hand to his ear. “What was that?”

Yuuji spoke louder, rolling his head to the side. “I never said you guys had to stop.”

Oh. You understood now. Feeling tension in your arms and legs, your body moved without thinking, lining up your hips right against his ass, nice and flush. Bare and naked, you could feel the slick running down his asscheeks against the top of your thighs, and your clit, now pulsing and extended, a bit bigger than earlier. It could almost sneak inside, just a another couple horus and, you could bend him over and fuck him yourself. It was frustrating, how close you were to being able to fuck him, so frustrating how you couldn’t do it yourself.

Unconsciously, your hands outstretched in front of you, and each of your hands gripped firmly around Yuuji’s shoulders, the skin nice and hot, and you could feel the heat bleeding into you. Yuuji looked at you with half-lidded eyes, and his thin eyelashes fluttered in dreams, soft and pliable. Of course, his dick was firm and hard, and it was pressing against your thigh, and you couldn’t help but want to know what it’d feel like inside of you. You’d never had an omega fuck you that way, and the thought was starting to become irresistible. It’d feel so good, you’d make sure the both of you felt good.

Running your fingers across your labia, you pulled up your leg and sat on his lap, opening yourself up wide to push him in. Cautiously, you rubbed the tip against your hole, letting the clear fluid of his ejaculate run against your natural secretions. Ironic how a male omega got naturally more wet than a female alpha.

“Hm, that feels nice,” Yuuji said, his head rolling against the pair of sweatpants next to his head. “So warm.”

There was no better way to describe Yuuji than completely and utterly soft underneath you, not a single sense of malice in his entire being. It was like being hugged by something you could sink into, but steady enough to keep you firm and stable. Sitting down, there was never a doubt in your mind that this would be any less than comfortable. The stretch was nice, and it had been a while since you had something inside of you. You could feel your body start to fill with pheromones, sucking in everything that Yuuji had to give you, soaking him in a warm embrace.

You looked down at his face, and his lips were parted slightly, his cheeks flushed bright red under those two little marks on his cheekbones, so charming, and you found yourself unable to look away, transfixed by his everything. As you started to move, you could feel him beginning to tremble under you, and you clasped his hand in yours, fitting his long fingers in between yours, holding onto you tightly.

Out of the corner of your eye, you could see Satoru staring at you two. “Shit, you really do have a cock,” he said, leaning forwards and lightly flicking your clit. A sharp sensation went down your entire body, and immediately, your body swung to the right and smacked him right in the jaw. “Ow!” he shouted, holding his nose.

“If you do that again, I’ll crack your knot like a cherry pit.”

He was still holding his nose. “Got it, got it.”

Yuuji just calmly laughed at you two from under you, still holding onto your hand. “I’ve never gotten to do this before!” he said, absolutely beaming. “It feels really nice, I like it.”

You really couldn’t hold yourself back from kissing him, and when you did, he laughed happily against your cheeks, and there was no way that you could get that image out of your mind.

…

About two days had passed, and the three of you were beginning to get exhausted.

“Yuuuuji,” Satoru called out, his legs flailing up in the air, the back of his head resting against the ground while his thighs were supported by the bedframe. He had fallen off after Yuuji had sucked him off, and although he came, he had to forcibly stop himself from knotting in Yuuji’s mouth.

“What?” Yuuji asked, grabbing a couple of loose pieces of clothing, and beginning to stack them around him again, like he was building a protective wall out of soft, flavorful cement.

Satoru wiggled his feet back and forth, petulant, like a child. “I’m hungry.”

“You just ate,” Yuuji said, making his pile higher.

As he bent over to grab another piece to add, you reached forwards and grabbed his wrist. He looked up at you and blinked, looking confused. “Can you get me next?” you asked, your lips wet, almost drooling.

It was time. Your body told you that it was time. Something clicked and it happened, you could feel it—It was so finicky and unreliable, but when your cock was full, you knew, you knew immediately. Yuuji took a second to look down, and you knew right away when his eyes laid down on it, because he shot right back up to look at you. “Y-Yeah, I can um,” he said, almost drooling, his jaw surely sore from earlier, “I can get you.”

Not a second later, and Yuuji was back, bent onto all fours, your extended clit in his mouth, pulsing, hard, and firm. Even at full length, it wasn’t as big or as long as Satoru’s, but that just gave you more versatility in how you used it. The head of your cock twitched against Yuuji’s lips, soft and wet, before he took you in his mouth.

You couldn’t stop yourself from groaning as he took you all the way to the base in one go. He was so fucking slutty like this, taking you and Satoru’s cocks so easily, slurping it up like it was the best thing he’d ever tasted. And it probably was, you couldn’t even imagine how pheromones affected the mind at a time like this, especially to an omega in heat, to an alpha in rut. Tingles ran all the way down your thighs and to your knees, pushing against the sheets. Foul slurping sounds echoed throughout the room as Yuuji sloppily lapped his tongue and throat around you, with gentle kicking in the air from where Satoru had fallen off the bed and still hadn’t found the energy to climb back up.

“Yuuji,” you said, your voice hoarse, barely able to keep your hands off the side of his head, barely able to keep yourself from flipping him over and fucking him loose. “Inside.”

When he heard your words, you could see his eyes start to glimmer with excitement, and he popped off your cock, with a hollow sound from his throat, and strings of saliva coating his lips. “Okay,” he said, and immediately you could see him grinning.

Right away, he turned around so that his arms and head were stuffed into the pile of clothes he set out earlier, and his knees were against the mattress, his ass high in the air, just for you. Reaching out, you pressed your finger against his asshole, and you felt him tremble, whimpering into the touch, but still pushing back at you like he wanted more. You knew he wanted more, he was in full bloom, floral, wanting, ready.

Swishing your hips back and forth, you let your body get used to the way your cock felt in between your hips, your pussy still dribbling out beneath it. It was like your muscles were all clenched in a fist, bundled up, the blood racing, everything in your body telling you to pin him to the bed and hump into him like your life depended on it. And he wouldn’t just let you, he was actively encouraging it, actively asking you to put it in, to fuck him silly.

When your cock finally slipped inside, it felt like heaven. Like the world was squeezing around you in a tight, wet hug and you couldn’t stop yourself from falling forward and feeling Yuuji’s hot skin against your chest, your tits pressing into his back. You felt drool slipping down from out of your lips, the pleasure filling your body, the smell of his scent completely overwhelming your nostrils as your body repeatedly chanted omega, omega from underneath you. Yuuji grunted cutely as you fucked into him, your arms wrapped around his shoulders, feeling the muscles on his biceps clenching tight, holding his body into place. From behind, you felt your cunt aching, dripping with each thrust, clenching around absolutely nothing, absolutely helpless in the face of the pleasure around your cock.

“Satoru,” you choked out against Yuuji’s neck, and you could feel the soft hairs on the back of it pulse up at you.

“Hm? Yeah?” you heard, then you heard the sounds of shuffling as he sat up and climbed onto the bed. There was a light feeling of a human body right behind your thighs, but you could tell that Satoru was trying to give you two some space. “You knot already?”

“No,” you snarled, grabbing Yuuji’s wrist with one of your hands and gripping tight. He adjusted himself underneath you submissively, just getting into a more comfortable position. “Do you want to put it in?”

“Put it in—Him? A bit hard at the angle you’re doing it at right now, no?”

Rolling your eyes, you used your free hand to reach back and spread the lips of your vagina. You could still feel how sloppy it was, there was no way that this couldn’t possibly feel good.

“I mean put it in me. Fine if you knot. Should feel good,” you mumbled fucking into Yuuji some more. 

There was some hesitation, and you could feel Yuuji become still underneath you, waiting.

“Y-You sure?” Satoru asked again, and this time, you felt his fingertips on your thighs, pressing into the fat.

Pushing your hips in and out at his touch, you rubbed his fingers against your pussy, then you pushed all the way back inside Yuuji, causing him to moan into the sheets. “Yeah, I’m sure.”

It wasn’t strange when you felt his cockhead brush up against your lips, and in all honesty, it didn’t feel that much different from Yuuji’s. It was quite a bit bigger, for one, but beyond that, it felt about the same. You just thought that, well, he was here, the two of you were in this together, so why not go all the way? It just made sense. You were just getting off, anyways, there was nothing really more to it than that.

When he pushed all the way inside, your body told you that this was right. To be filled in on both ends. To feel the weight of a human body both above and below you, completely wrapped in the embrace of good, mushy feelings. It was just the way that your alpha brain decided to interpret things—As long as it felt good, it didn’t matter. 

“Is that…” Satoru said, and you could feel his breath against the nape of your neck. “Is that okay?”

“Mhm, yeah, it’s good,” you said, breathing out onto Yuuji’s. You could feel Yuuji chuckling underneath you, and a part of you wondered what he thought, but he didn’t really say anything, and with the way that he was clenching around you, he certainly didn’t seem bothered by it.

“You guys are heavy,” Yuuji said, and you could finally hear him laughing.

Satoru then laughed back, realizing how stupid this whole situation was. “Yeah, guess so.”

It was at this moment that a sense of warmth moved about your body, through your blood, through your veins, and a part of you wondered if you could tell from your scent, but you already knew that you could. That it was obvious how comfortable this was, that it was clear as day how you felt, how good this all was. Honestly, you’d never had a rut feel like this before. Like there was an itch you couldn’t scratch, but now you were just itching it endlessly, the pleasure never fading, your skin rubbing coarse and rough, but you didn’t care—Nobody cared.

It was over before you realized why or how. It was like the world was moving in a dream, and your knot was puffed up in Yuuji’s ass, and he was moaning and mumbling under you, his words completely incomprehensible, already on his third day of heat. Your semen was shot deep inside of him, and if it wasn’t for contraceptives, surely he would be filled with all your pups. And Satoru was inside you, rutting against your ass, and a part of you knew that he’d never had sex with a woman before, but he made an exception for you. Maybe it was just the rut, maybe it was just because he was horny, there was no way that you’d ever know. He didn’t knot inside, and a part of you instinctively knew that was just how alpha instincts worked, but he did come inside, and you could feel the juices leaking out of you and mixing with your own secretions.

“Fuck,” you heard yourself say, slumping onto Yuuji’s back, barely able to keep the weight of your body up anymore. A part of you hoped that you could just fall asleep like this, and even though you didn’t, since everything felt like it was a dream, you considered that you might already been unconscious.

…

“Um, thanks again for everything, you guys,” Yuuji said, standing next to the entranceway of Satoru’s apartment, lightly scratching the side of his cheek. Clearly, he was still a bit embarrassed about everything, but he didn’t look upset. In fact, he looked quite happy and refreshed. You had heard that the week after heat was usually a good one.

You laughed, holding your bag of clothing near you. On the last day, the three of you had finally gotten around to washing up and doing laundry, so you had a fresh, new batch. “Don’t worry about it, it was a pleasure to have you.”

Unmistakably, Yuuji blushed, and you could tell immediately that he was beyond flattered. It was almost like there was a part of him that felt like he didn’t deserve this, but you knew that you felt the same.

“Ah, he’s so cute,” Satoru said, looking down at you. “I was worried that I’d get bored of him, but I really didn’t. That was fantastic.”

You laughed back, having to agree. “Yeah, I’m going to miss you guys.”

Yuuji blinked between the two of you, then popped a bright, big smile against his face. “Well, I mean. We can hang out normally, too. I wouldn’t mind doing that.”

“Oh?” Satoru said, leaning in. “You wouldn’t mind that? Want me to mark you, too? We can do that?”

“Satoru-san!” Yuuji huffed, trying to look offended, but you knew that he really wasn’t. “Well…If we get there, we get there, but for now, let’s be friends, okay?”

For one final time, Yuuji took a couple steps closer, and raised up his jaw, his neck brace now off and for the world to see and smell, and he offered it up to the two of you. Unable to say no to such an offer, you and Satoru leaned in and both scented yourself against his chin, rubbing ever so gently, just right.

When all was said and done, Yuuji rubbed against it himself with the back of his hand, and he looked so happy in that moment. Nothing could replace that smile. “Well, I’ll be going now, have a good night.”

Thank you so much for reading! Please reblog or feel free to share with me any of your thoughts/comments in my askbox <3

[faithst]

“HE MISSES YOU..” ༄ PHB

synopsis where hanbin and reader broke up but still own a pet together and he uses this as an excuse to talk to reader.

pairing ex!phanbin x gn!reader

genre angst, fluff

masterlist<3

it’s been a few months since you and hanbin broke up, and you convinced yourself you have moved on but one thing makes it hard for you to actually believe that.

your pet cat, milo that you got with hanbin when you guys were dating. you loved the feline with all your heart but since hanbin was the one who took care of him, you barely saw him. though, hanbin would occasionally send you a picture of the cat, whether he was sleeping or playing and that gave you something to smile for the day.

you found yourself clicking at every one of his notifications, especially his social media. one time you saw him post a picture of him with ‘someone else’ and you’d be lying if you said you weren’t jealous, especially at how easily you thought he moved on, so you tried to move on as well.

hanbin on the other hand, tried to make it look like he was fine while trying to find an excuse to come talk to you but all of them ended up making him look desperate (which he was). he paced around his room, making scenarios and projecting their possible outcomes.

“what if i tell them i left something at their house? wait no, i haven’t been there in months!” “oh! what about i text them ‘hey can we talk?’. no.. that doesn’t make me look cool.” he sunk into the couch, brows furrowed as he looked at milo, eating away the kibble. then, an idea popped up in his head.

“i know!”

ding! your phone lights up, revealing a message from ‘hanbin’. you open it, expecting a cute photo of the cat but its a text message instead ‘hey, i know its kinda sudden,, but i think he misses you.. can you come over soon?.’ you didn’t think of it that much at the time and never asked ‘who’ but looking back, it’s pretty obvious it wasn’t the cat.

without hesitation, you write back almost instantly as if you were waiting for his message. ‘can i come by tmr morning?’ ‘yeah, sure’. poor cat, he misses me you thought, not knowing which ‘he’ missed you.

as soon as morning hit, you eagerly got ready to visit hanbin and the cat. already memorising each path and shortcut to his house, it was basically engraved into your memory.

were you really excited to see a cat?

upon arriving to his house, reality hit you hard. you are CURRENTLY going to your exes house, happy as ever. you tried to shake off those feelings as they overwhelm you but then the door unlocked, revealing a messy-haired hanbin. its as if he was waiting for you since yesterday night.

“oh, come in..” he said, gesturing you to enter the house. he stretched a bit before bringing you some lukewarm tea that he made for you earlier that cooled down while waiting for you. “wheres milo?” you ask, avoiding hanbin’s gaze by pretending to look around for the feline. “oh, milo? i’m not quite sure..” he sheepishly smiled. “but i thought he missed me?” you ask, unsure of what’s happening.

“well, he does but..” wait, is it really? “is he.. you?” eyes finally meeting, hanbin scratching his nape in response. you stare blankly at him, not believing what you just fell for. he didn’t want you to leave so he blurted out things on his mind

“i really do miss you and i didn’t know how to talk to you in person without looking like a total loser but i probably do right now but thats okay! is there anyway i can make up to you for that day,,? it’s okay if i can’t though, it’s kind of stupid why i’d think this would work but i hope it will cause this kept me up at night and i PROMISE you that milo misses you t-“

“hanbin.” you voice out, holding in your laugh from hearing his blabbering. “i miss you too.” looking down in embarrassment. relieved, he grabbed your hand and put it in his. “let’s talk about it. everything.” he smiled as if he won all the chances

“can’t believe you fell for that text.” “what if i didn’t?” “fair.”

© keiwook

[offside-the-lines]

I’m Sorry, We’re Out Of Time

A/N: I just had to get this out of my brain or I won’t be doing ANYTHING ELSE this week. Truly wrote this on my phone over the past hour or so. Not proofread or edited. I have no idea if it even makes any sense. Also no titles. Fucking I don’t know. IT’S A MONDAY. JESUS. It’s around 800 words. Edit: just found out he was already in nashville with the team and didnt fly out until the following morning but *hand wave* narratives. (Also posted on AO3)

About: Jamie’s trade, unsaid and said words, inner turmoil, angst and sadness

Pairing: Jamie Drysdale x Trevor Zegras

Jamie always meant to tell Trevor that he loved him. Always thought he would have the time. Time for what? He doesn’t really know. Time to find the right words, he guesses? The perfect words. Words that will make Trevor know that he wasn’t joking. Something Trevor won’t just laugh off. Time to figure out their future together.

He plays with his phone in his lap as he sits in the back of the Uber, stuck in the Monday afternoon traffic near LAX.

His phone starts to vibrate in his hand and he doesn’t need to look to know who it is. He sighs deeply and closes his eyes, letting his head drop back onto the headrest.

Click. He hears the call connect but doesn’t know what to say.

He hears the shallow breathing on the other end of the phone. A sharp intake of breath. A “Jamie?” whispered through a cracking voice.

In all the years he has known Trevor, he has never heard him quiet. Even the silent treatment, Trevor did loudly. This quiet unsettles him.

He let out a shaking breath. “Yeah, Z.”

“I — I saw — Is it true? You are — oh god — Are you?” His voice getting impossibly quieter.

In the back of a Prius, Jamie feels his chest clench painfully and thought for a second that if he had a heart attack, he probably wouldn’t have to leave. Philly probably won’t want someone who gets heart attacks over a teammate sounding impossibly sad.

He can breathe. He can swallow down his own heartbreak. Yeah, that he can do; be there for Trevor. “Yeah, Trev.”

“FUCK!”

The sudden change in pitch makes Jamie jump so high he almost hits his head on the roof.

Before Trevor could say anything else — Jamie knew if Trevor asked to see him, he would break — Jamie gently offers, “They already picked me up in an Uber. I’m on my way to LAX right now. I’m sorry. I wish I could have told you earlier. I’m sorry. It just all happened so fast.” He feels his voice catch in the back of his throat; he tries to swallow the lump down without success.

Through the phone, he hears Trevor sniffle. “Oh.” His voice is so small that Jamie can only guess that’s what he said before a small muffled sob trickles through.

Jamie clenches his fist so tight he thinks he might break his hand. What’s another injury anyway. He didn’t know what to say, so he didn’t say anything; just focusing on his breathing while trying his hardest not to hear whatever sounds Trevor was making. Trying not to think.

He’s not sure how long they sit in silence when the driver lets him know they were almost there.

“Hey, Z? We’re pulling up to the airport so I’m going to have to hang up soon. We’ll still talk all the time okay? Like in the summer. It’ll be okay.”

“Yeah?” Jamie tries not to hear the wobble in his voice

“Yeah, bud. You can’t get rid of me that easy.”

Trevor lets out a weak snort, injects fake levity into this voice. “Yeah. You’re stuck with me too. Hey, I’ll see you in Mexico right?”

Jamie hums his agreement even though he doesn’t know if he will be able to do it. To see Trevor again after all this. He’s almost glad the Ducks have already played almost their games against the Flyers this year.

They sit in silence for a little while longer as Jamie watches the car pull into the terminal.

“Hey Trev —” he starts.

“Jamie, I love you,” Trevor whispers, quiet but no shake in his voice.

Jamie feels all the air leave his lungs. He almost chokes on his own tongue. His head spins as he slams his eyes shut. The blood rushing in his ears drowning out the sound of his Uber driver throwing the car in park and getting out to grab his bags.

This motherfucker always has the worst timing, Jamie thinks, panic welling up. There isn’t time for Jamie to dissect what he means by that. If Trevor means that like—

There isn’t time for Jamie to decide what his plan A is. Or Plan B. Or—

There isn’t time for anything.

So he just does what he always does. “Yeah, Z. Duh. Love you too, bud. I’ll see you soon yeah? We just pulled in and I gotta go.”

“Oh yeah, for sure. Have a good flight, I guess. Send me a pic or whatever,” Trevor says.

“Yeah you too. Um, later, dude.”

“Yeah,” Trevor says, “bye Jamie.”

And the line goes dead.

Jamie slams his head on the head rest and lets out a choked scream. “Fuck,” he says to no one as he steps out into the tepid early evening air outside LAX.

[alilbitlesbian]

Goddamn Monsterfuckers, p3

Okay! Chapter three, officially posted this one on AO3 like, a while ago, (check out the story on there for faster updates) but here it is!!!! I think on AO3 we're up to five chapters now, one is a bit of filler though, honestly. But here it is! As always, my AO3 is Fabled_Light, the story is called "Goddamn Monsterfuckers", Please comment if you like the story. Also!! I am looking for a beta reader, please hit me up if you're available <3

“Hey! Mx!!” A young soldier ran after you and Zelda, you paused, stepping in front of Zelda protectively.

The young soldier froze, his eyes flickering from you to Zelda before they widened a bit and he bowed.

“Please rise,” Zelda asked, moving out from behind you, the young soldier listened, straightening and saluting you respectfully. With a sigh, you dropped your defensive stance, regarding the young soldier.

He was frazzled, holding what you recognized to be a wooden training sword, curious.

“I’m so sorry your majesty, I didn’t realize you were busy.” Ah, so he did have manners, he bowed, waiting to be dismissed.

Ah, he did not know Princess Zelda.

“It is alright, what did you need?” Zelda asked, tilting her head curiously, mirth in her eye, she was like that.

“Well, me and some other guards are training, we hoped that your personal guard would be able to join us, as we thought they’d have a different fighting style, but! They are obviously busy! So it’s not going to happen anyway, I’ll return and train as normal.” Zelda glanced at you from the boy, then nodded.

“Well, they’re not actually taken right now, but I’m unsure if they’d be willing.” She turned to you and you immediately nodded.

A chance to whip these soldiers into shape, hopefully, they’d be more of use then, when something inevitably were to go awry.

“Then it is decided! Lead us to the training grounds!” The young soldier nodded quickly, looking to you in amazement as he led the way.

The training grounds was… Between barebones and highly sophisticated.

Strange weapons buzzed as the guards trained, blue light erupting from their shields and swords and solidifying into something which appeared nigh unbreakable.

Zelda looked entranced, she quickly left your side to investigate some of these weapons that had been set to the side, you were about to follow when an older woman approached you.

“There you are! Finally, come to train with us?” The woman seemed to be in her forties, with large ears- just like Sonia’s- ripped and nicked in random spots and her face covered in small scars and one large one that drew from her lip.

A hardened warrior.

Finally.

You nod once, letting her guide you to the largest clearing, smaller fights stopped once they saw you, you set aside your bow and quiver, standing across from the warrior and taking out your sword and shield.

A small ring of spectators sat on crates and around the walls, holding their breaths, you saw Zelda’s golden hair from the corner of your eye.

“I’m Gwen, by the way.” She offered, cracking a smile, you knew the fight could start any second.

“Y/n.” You responded, flipping your sword absently in your sweaty palm, tapping your foot in agitation as you waited.

She was waiting too.

Fuck it.

You lunged forward with a swing of your sword, her eyes widened slightly but she raised her shield just in time, it was too small to protect her anyway, but your sword had a bit too much momentum to stop it now-

The shield lit up in a brilliant blue, much broader than it had appeared, and it stopped you short.

Your eyes widened at the strange light. Just like the swords earlier.

Insane.

Backing off, you had to rethink your strategy.

She lowered her shield, you knew she’d do something soon, you had to act quickly.

Your eyes cut to the small crowd, moreso the crates that they sat upon, your feet kicked off before you even had a full plan, jumping up onto the first crate, a young soldier shrieked and ducked, the next crate was a quick hop, your momentum making you feel like you were flying, a few of the other soldiers fled from the crates, but once you were on the third you knew you had enough ground.

You kicked off the edge of the crate, jumping down from above, sword drawn, the other guard managed to dodge just in time, but the others all gasped and cheered at the move, you barely missed her, after all.

A blue glint caught your eye, and you jumped back from the sword quickly, gathering your footing and avoiding her attacks, it was a barrage, still, you managed to come out mostly unscathed, if a bit more unsteady.

With a few swings of your sword, your opponent backed off, your eyes drew upward when a light caught your attention. Sonia and Rauru stood above, judging you.

Well, you couldn’t let down the king and queen, could you?

With new vigor, you attacked, the other guard parried your swings easily, and the clanging of metal against whatever her swords were forged from was loud, instinctually, after overwhelming her, you left an opening for Link to rush in.

It wasn’t even thought out, just muscle memory at this point, but Link, of course, didn’t rush in, which meant you left an opening for her.

A firm kick was placed to your chest, your breath caught, vision went black for a second.

You were on the ground, in the sand, and you couldn’t breathe, it was a horrible feeling, like drowning above water.

The sand was soft beneath you, a thin layer of looser sand draped over the compacted mass that your fingernails absently scratched. Your eyes raised to your sword where it lay in the soft sand, shield still firmly attached to your arm.

Approaching footsteps, your instincts screamed at you.

You were fighting! 

Quickly snatching your sword, you barely heard the worried “are you okay?” from your opponent, whirling around with your sword in hand, the other nodded and sank back into a fighting stance. You didn’t feel the need to be careful, didn’t feel the need to be kind, instead, your survival instincts took over in full, lunging forward with wild abandon. Your breaths where hitched, short things that didn’t fully complete, just a minuscule bite of air before your lungs hitched and refused to allow more to enter or exit.

It wasn’t even a fair fight anymore.

You hit her shield, and the force of recoil knocked your lungs into drive, you gasped, reveling in the sudden rush of air, but didn’t stop, another strike she had to parry, then a shield bash.

Twirling your sword in your hand, you hit her sword hand with the hilt of your own, she dropped the weapon, not missing a beat before throwing a punch at your face that you couldn’t avoid, your jaw crackled.

This was serious now, the crowd got upset, edging closer to the fight and trying to find a way to split you up.

Another kick to your chest, your breaths rattled as you knocked her shield arm aside and punched her in the throat.

With her caught off-guard, you managed to get her off her feet, she fell backward, arms protecting her solar plexus.

Your sword hung limply by your side, soldiers rushed in to break you two up.

Not that you cared.

You couldn’t breathe.

A wave of dizziness washed over you as the soldiers intervened, pulling you further from your opponent. The world around you seemed to blur, sounds becoming distant echoes, you fought them as best you could, pushing them away when they touched you.

Your chest burned with each attempt for a breath, but it barely hitched before halting fully, and not being able to draw anything in had you in panic’s grip. The fight had drained your energy, leaving you vulnerable and gasping for air.

“Y/n!” Zelda fell to her knees next to you, when had you fallen to the ground? Her hand settled on your shoulder.

“You’re alright.” She promised, drawing you into a hug, your breath hitched again, a panicked, choked noise coming from you.

“Just try to calm down.” She murmured, but her voice was watery and everything was covered in a soft fog. You hacked, coughing, and something wet and cold got coughed up, Zelda pressed a silk handkerchief to your chin, wiping away the residue quickly.

Everything went dark. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You woke up to voices.

Sonia and Rauru chattering loudly, a hand on your shoulder that rubbed gentle patterns into you.

Opening your eyes, you grimaced, a strange feeling overtook you.

Peace.

Some conscious, reasonable part of your mind said you must’ve been subject to magic or numbing herbs, still, the feeling–that you were sure wasn’t your own–was upsetting given the circumstances, you raised a hand to your temple, catching the attention of the others.

Green eyes pinned you.

“Y/n? Are you alright?” The lilt of her accent made you feel loopy, still, you nodded, attempting to sit up, Sonia’s gentle hands pressed you back down.

You stayed down, not wanting to give Rauru an excuse to do the same.

You huffed and noted the concern etched on everyone's face. Sonia's voice carried a tone of worry as she leaned closer. "You scared us, Y/n. That was a brutal fight. Are you sure you're okay?"

Taking a moment to gather your thoughts, the fog in your mind slowly dissipated. The throbbing pain in your chest was still present, but it had dulled slightly. With a soft sigh, you managed to speak, your voice hoarse and strained. "I... I'll be fine. Just need a moment."

Zelda's green eyes softened, and she reached out to place a hand on yours. "Why didn’t you tell us you were injured?” 

You grimaced, unsure what to say.

“It wasn’t relevant, I am your guard, Princess, I had to ensure you and the King and Queen got home safe.” Unhappy with you, Zelda stood a bit taller, frowning.

“You took on way too much! First those wild horses, then the boar- then sparring practice with the new guards!? How will you be in any condition to guard us if you can’t even breathe!” Your cheeks flushed, you knew Zelda didn’t actually care about your ability to guard her, but you only had each other right now, in this strange land.

She didn’t want to lose you.

“I’m sorry, Princess, I understand.” And you did, you really did. She sighed, green eyes softening.

“Well… You better.” She murmured, still a bit upset but with nowhere for it to go, Sonia was the one who broke the moment, setting her hand on the princess’ shoulder and looking at you with her own worried expression.

“Y/n, please tell us.. How did you get injured in the first place? Was it the wild boar attack? When you had to tame the horses?” Softly, Zelda gasped.

“Was it under the castle? When that thing-” She cut herself off, glancing nervously at the company.

“Maybe, but I don’t think so.” You murmured, “I think it first showed when we woke up- I remember feeling out of breath, I thought it was because Sonia and Rauru were there and they scared me, but the more I think about it, the more I think it was something else.” Zelda frowned, then her eyes widened.

“Before you fell unconscious, you coughed up this… Stuff.” She opens a handkerchief, a viscous, black, and red substance lies in the middle of it, it isn’t wet, doesn’t soak through the napkin, but it certainly moves like a thick substance.

“Doesn’t it remind you of…” Her voice lowered, and your eyes widened.

“The beast under the castle!” You hissed, Zelda nodded, glad you now understood. Out of the loop, Rauru and Sonia just looked at one another, then leaned in to see the strange substance.

“I’ll do my best to explain,” Zelda said, turning to the king and queen.

“Before we got transported to this time, my guards and I were investigating under Hyrule castle, and we met a beast, it seemed like something that should have died long ago, but when we approached it... It awoke, Y/n barely fought it before the room crumbled though, I don't understand how it could've gotten to her…" You hummed, considering, maybe, when you had been falling, it had gotten to you. But you had been awake enough to realize something like that… Right?

"Do you think it's some kind of curse? Something it inflicted upon you?" Sonia questioned, eyes dark with worry, you shrugged, hand resting over your sternum.

You nodded, your gaze fixed on the strange substance. "It's possible. That beast... it drained Link. Perhaps this is its way of slowly consuming me." Your pessimistic worldview seemingly got to Zelda, who lightly hit your hand.

“Don’t be like that, I’m sure we’ll find a solution!” You smiled up at Zelda.

“Yes, I’m sure we will.” You hummed, sitting up in bed fully, this time, no one stopped you.

You stretched out, spine cracking from the base to your neck, you noted how Sonia blushed, glancing to Rauru, whose eyes were fixed on you.

“Don’t worry Zelda, I’m not going anywhere, but I’m still your guard.” You reached for your weapons, strapping them to you once more with a sigh, the weight of your equipment relaxed you, Zelda took all this in, sighing.

“You will never be at ease unless you are there to defend me, but please, Y/n, do try to rest more, and no unnecessary strenuous activities.” You nodded, standing and adjusting your weapons so they didn’t sit uncomfortably.

You left in Zelda’s wake, she promised lunch, and in the background, you heard Rauru whisper to Sonia about a ‘Sundelion’. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lunch was an uneventful ordeal, you ate fresh bread with a platter of different kinds of butter and spreads while Zelda nervously chattered across from you, you saw Sonia cross through the gardens once, but kept your eyes on Zelda, conversing pleasantly about the books she'd borrowed from the library, hypothesizing with her about possible ways to go back home, or going for a ride on your newly acquired horses tomorrow.

She went quiet for a while. Glancing at her open palms that lay across her lap. You knew that look.

“Do you think Link is..” You felt a sudden, painful pressure in your chest. Grief choking you, you wouldn't cry, wouldn't grieve, for all you knew, he was alive and well, no reason to grieve him.

“I don’t want to talk about him.” You said in favor of anything emotional that welled up in your chest, refusing to acknowledge the way your eyes shone, remembering how he’d clutched his arm, how he’d screamed.

You supposed your dismissal was an answer enough to her question. She fidgeted with the hem of her new dress, you hummed, thoughtfully grabbing the soft cloth of your own attire.

“Besides being.. Exposing, I do quite like our new attire.” Zelda laughed, appraising your clothes once more.

“I do believe there were plenty of clothes that provided more coverage that you could've chosen, I think you’re not as bothered by this as you say you are.” You smirked at that, mirth in your eyes.

“What!? How dare you! I’m certain that if Link was the one wearing these clothes, you wouldn’t be so mouthy about it!” Zelda gasped in mock offense, blushing.

“That is cheating! Y/n, or shall I bring up how you go weak at the knees every time Purah so much as looks at you? You’re practically as mute as Link when she’s around!” Your face now a matching shade of red, fell into an expression of shock, clicking your jaw shut, you huffed, trying to find something to respond with-

“Oh yeah!? Well, every time you’re near Hateno you just have to bring up the ‘oh dear there’s just one bed’ routine to Link! He knows! You know! We ALL know! It’s your goddamn house, Zelda!” 

“Only cause Link has bad credit…” She mumbles, causing you to snort.

She laughs as well, glad to ignore the strange lands around you, right now, it’s just you and her, teasing one another, even if it's just make-believe, just pretend, it's a moment you two can behave normally, pretend tears don't threaten to fall at the friends you wish to grieve, no, it's just Zelda and her knight, having a teasing girl talk, like two unruly sisters.

You wish the world would fall away forever like this.

But it didn’t. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dinner was an awkward affair, with you pointedly taking the chair next to Rauru, who set at the head of the table., Zelda sitting next to you and chatting casually with Sonia, who sat across from you, the spot across from Zelda being empty.

You refused to eat, eyes focused on Rauru, or rather, his clawed hands, you remained hyperaware of their position on the table, twitching or shifting in your seat whenever he reached for anything near you or Zelda.

Sonia easily wrapped you up in her and Zelda’s conversation, but still, you were aware of Rauru at all times, each part of your body screamed to fight, to defend Zelda, you tried to remind yourself he was a man, a species like the Zora, large and different, but not evil.

But Sidon had never made you this uncomfortable, even his teeth, shark, and of many, were never threatening, forming a perfect, charming smile that he’d use to cheer on his friends or win over strangers, it’s how he won you over too.

Rauru’s teeth were jagged and sharp, more like a dog’s, they didn’t form a sparkling smile, they reminded you of the snapping teeth of a wolf pack surrounding you and your steed. Sometimes, he’d smile or laugh and all you could think of was a Lynel baring its teeth in a predatory smirk before it charged.

“Y/n,” Sonia spoke, and the guard snapped their gaze up to meet Sonia’s.

“I can understand your... Apprehension, regarding my husband, from what you’ve told us, he bears an uncanny resemblance to monsters of your own time.” Your hands rested on your lap, grip tightening around the cloth of your shorts.

“I want you to know that Rauru is not like the monsters you’ve faced in your time.. I understand trust is not easy, all I ask is you try to keep an open mind.” You glance to Zelda, who gives you an encouraging smile.

“I.. Will try.” You murmured in lieu of any promises.

That seemed to be enough to sate Sonia, for the first time in a few minutes, you tilted your head up every slightly–enough to see the glimmer of Rauru’s teeth, and then his eyes, kind as they took you in.

“That’s all I ask.” He answers, and you nod, unable to find it in yourself to be too pleasant with him.

Maybe in time. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You were not prepared for Mineru.

You met her in the hallway as you returned from a short break after Zelda had surrounded herself with five of the palace’s guards, one of which was Gwen, a woman you now held much respect for (and she for you.).

When you saw her, you jumped back, reaching for your sword. The zonai chuckled at your expression, bending over slightly to make proper eye contact, her hand resting under her chin as she, for lack of a better word, studying you.

“Now now, no need to be startled, you are a visitor, after all, it wouldn’t bring you much grace to kill the king’s sister, would it?” Your eyes widened slightly, and despite your body screaming at you to run or fight, you quickly kneeled for the apparent royalty, closing your eyes in apprehension.

Mineru seemed surprised at the act of submission, if you had been looking at her, you’d see her ears twitch in confusion, eyes widening slightly before she collected herself.

“Ah, rise, knight, there’s no need for such formalities.” You did so, but refused eye contact, keeping your head down, at least the rules within court did not change much in the past, it seemed. 

“I did not mean to frighten you, I understand your apprehension toward my race, and I am sure Rauru probably neglected to tell you of my presence in the castle, my brother can be quite scatterbrained at times..” You did your best to hold in a noise at the proclamation- even you yourself weren’t sure it would’ve been a laugh or a scoff, still, you stayed silent, steadfast. The quiet soon turned awkward, but you weren’t familiar with the rules of this court, so you remained silent.

“Right. I am sorry for interrupting your duties, knight.” She left, and after she was out of earshot, you resumed your return to the princess’ side, relieving the other guards of their duty and taking your place once more. Zelda cut you a glance but didn’t ask why you’d left for longer than usual, normally, it’d just be a bathroom break and some time to eat and drink something small, the encounter with Mineru had dragged it out, but Zelda was always insisting you take more time to yourself, something that finally came in useful for you.

Zelda continued her studies into the ancient realm of Hyrule, speaking out her endless stream of thoughts to you, you hummed and intervened where you thought appropriate, listening along thoughtfully as the princess explained her theories and timelines to you. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Despite Sonia and Rauru’s insistence the kingdom, and by extension, they, were safe, you found yourself often looking over your shoulder, aching to cut the air with your sword, nerves pricking at your skin.

You huff, calming yourself, you stand to the right of the king and queen’s throne, to their left stands another guard you don’t know, but he’s not nearly as attentive as you, while you are practically a statue, he will move and twitch, eyes following visitors or delegates, you frown, hands itching to correct him, but you can’t move, it’d risk breaking your own professionalism, instead, you resign yourself to having to suffer through it.

The king and queen decide to leave not soon after, a stroll in the gardens, they say, no need to fret, they can take care of themselves for that long.

You disagree, following them from a short distance, it takes them a second to place your footsteps, they turn to look at you, Rauru sighs.

“Y/n, I promise we can care for ourselves for the moment it takes us to breathe some fresh air,”

You shake your head, resolute, Sonia and Rauru share a glance.

“Very well.” Sonia responds, continuing to walk, you trail behind them, remaining polite despite your unwanted presence. 

The gardens are wide and expansive, you follow Sonia and Rauru for a while but get distracted when you hear rustling, you frown, separating from the two to investigate the possible threat.

You find a small, cutesy robot, it has only one eye, it is blue and yellow, and its eye lights up as it looks to you.

Then it stretches out and emits a series of loud, urgent sounds that echo through the gardens, alarmed, you take a step back, only to hear more whirrs approaching, the small robot somehow looks smug.

You’re confused until a spear is poked at you by a larger, lankier robot, still small compared to a guardian, but absolutely capable of doing quite a bit of damage.

You jump back from the spear when it is stabbed at you again, hearing a surprised (hylian) call from deeper within the garden, and others from where you thought the castle was.

Surrounded by the strange robots, you pull your sword, avoiding the attacks from both the large, spear-wielding beast and its smaller friends who clutch swords and sticks. One has a bow and arrow.

You dispatch of the bow-wielding one first, a sword driven through its eye does the trick, just like with a guardian, and after it stops struggling under your sword, deactivating, you turn back to the others. You immediately receive a near-disemboweling slash from one of its little friends.

Avoiding the largest to save it for last, you easily decommission two of the small sword-wielding ones, there’s still one more, the one you met originally, clutching a branch, but you find yourself distracted by the lanky one, who now tries to fucking burn you to death with a weapon that spews fire.

You avoid the billowing flames, ignoring the strong scent of ash in the air, and strike at the robot, you manage three hits before it manages to recover, your lungs start to ache once more, you flee from the flames that flow around the trees, ducking and weaving through the gardens as the flames lap at your feet.

Once you finally emerge from the shrubs, you see Rauru and Sonia’s concerned gazes from across the gardens, barely seeing them start to run toward you, Mineru calls from above, you think you hear Zelda, but you’re unsure.

You jump over the flames, carving yourself a path to the strange robot with your shield, you approach again, close enough to strike several times, this time, it does something different, activating its little flame-spitter, and it starts to turn in circles, you don’t have the time to lift your shield, closing your eyes-

“Stop!” Rauru’s snarl causes you to jump, eyes opening, an action you immediately regret when you spot the flames whirling toward you-

Only for them to stop, the robot toppled over like its strings were cut.

You look to Rauru, whose arm is extended, and strange, blue energy seems to emerge from it, his face is a snarl, an expression you hadn’t seen before, you stepped back, apprehensive, and at your move, his eyes move from the dead–deactivated?–robot and then to you, face relaxing and a twinge of guilt in his eyes.

You see that Mineru is running down the stairs from the elevated platform she’d been wandering before spotting your mess, but you can’t begin to prepare yourself for her arrival before a weight slams into your side.

Startled, you easily catch the princess’ hug, preventing the both of you from falling, you return the hug apprehensively as the princess scolds and praises you at the same time, you huff, amused.

“Are you alright? I don’t know why the constructs would-” Sonia starts, reaching to set her hand on your shoulder.

“That’s my fault.” Mineru steps down on the ground, glancing at the deactivated ‘construct’ in slight disdain but mostly fascination, you huff, of course, it’d be one of the two llama people when you’d been trying so hard to accept them.

“Sister?” Rauru asked, confused, the woman scratched the back of her neck.

“I was attempting to program them to defend the castle from intruders, it seems it misjudged our dear Y/n here, it’s my fault, I forgot to enter her and Zelda’s profile into the system, I’ll make sure to fix it before I activate them again.” You frown, about to speak up, ask if one of those constructs would have attacked Zelda with barely-concealed anger, but Sonia did it before you could.

“Mineru!” she scolded. “You should’ve at least warned us! Those things could’ve killed Y/n!” The zonai nodded thoughtfully, humming. 

“Yes, they could’ve, but they held their own, didn’t they?” She gazed at you appraisingly, and you responded with an unimpressed frown.

"Yes, but they have yet to recover from their injuries! They've been on rest for a reason, Mineru, you can't just turn our constructs into murder machines the second we look away!" Mineru gave the other woman a deadpan look.

"Is that not why they were crafted in the first place? To carry weapons and attack?" Sonia stuttered, losing a bit of her anger at the response.

Of course, both Sonia and Mineru knew they were wrong, Sonia may be overreacting a bit, but with the amount of effort they'd put into putting their visitors at ease, this is the last thing they needed. And Mineru knew this hadn't been the best time to experiment on the constructs, with delicate visitors around…

With a sigh, they both calmed enough to realize this wasn't the time to argue.

"Later." They both murmured, Mineru turning to the construct to either remove the new protocol or add Y/n and Zelda to the systems while Sonia moved to check over Y/n.

“Your breaths.” She murmured, Rauru, after making sure there were no other constructs (Aside from the three the guards had found, cut to pieces by the knight.), wandered over to join his wife, noticing the rattling breaths’ return just as Sonia had.

His wife turned to him, he looked at the knight, sighing at the spark of fear in them, then back to his wife, her pleading eyes begging him to do what he rather wouldn’t.

“You promised, it’s not getting any better.” Rauru nodded, calling to a guard to bring it.

“What is it?” Zelda asked, watching the guard run to retrieve the mystery item.

“Something we think may help Y/n, we didn’t want to resort to it, we’re not sure how it’ll react to the.. Stuff in Y/n’s lungs, but I think it’s worth a try.” Sonia scoffed, elbowing him lightly.

“More like I convinced you it’s worth a try, after a lot of back and forth.”

“It’s not my fault I’m careful. ” he murmured, to which Sonia scoffed, glancing to Zelda and her knight with a roll of her eyes. “A little bit too ‘careful’ if you ask me.” She murmured, causing Zelda to laugh softly and Y/n to crack the smallest of smiles.

Before Rauru could combat his wife’s playful statement, the guard returned, holding a warm cup in their palms.

Rauru takes the tea, then gently offers it to Y/n. Who glances at the tea, then to him suspiciously. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You gaze at the tea, trying to weigh your options, option A? Slowly succumb to the mystery infection and die a slow, painful death. Option B? Trust Rauru. You’d obviously choose option A, but the begging eyes of both Zelda and Sonia wore you down, reluctantly, you leaned forward, taking a sip of the tea as Rauru still held it out, he seemed surprised, eyes widening, Sonia blushed, ears twitching ever-so-slightly as she gazed from you to Rauru.

The tea tasted alright, it tasted like.. Like sunlight on a summer morning, it was strange, but you took another sip, Rauru carefully tilting the cup to allow you more access, his ears turned backward, you weren’t sure what that meant, but the soft expression in his and Sonia’s eye definitely made you feel a bit too mushy for a moment were you possibly drank a poisoned beverage. You took the drink in your own hands, Rauru making sure you held it right, his fingers brushing yours as he left you to chug the drink.

You definitely felt much, much better after the tea, humming softly. Sonia noted as much, saying your breathing had steadied.

Rauru still looked nervous, but also proud, a slight smirk playing at his lips, you rolled your eyes, standing up and dusting yourself off.

“Thank you.” You murmured to the King and Queen, ignoring how their gazes softened and they smiled at you kindly.

You turned to Mineru.

“If one of those constructs even looks strangely at Princess Zelda I will not hesitate to shred every single one on the castle grounds.”

With that, you left, Zelda following you and scolding you for the unprofessional behavior, leaving a dumbfounded Mineru and a laughing Rauru and Sonia behind.

[phoenix-downer]

I Really Could Stay Chapter 1

I Really Could Stay: ~1700 words. Sora and Kairi are starting to feel the strain of endless battles and missions on their relationship. Neither of them are sure they want to settle down and give up their life of adventuring for good, however. But a looming separation on Christmas makes them both think about what they want for the future.

Story Info: Sora/Kairi. Set Post-Canon. Alternating POVs. Established Relationship. Light Angst, Romance, Fluff, Mutual Pining, Hurt/Comfort, Healing, Christmas.

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5

Sora was in one of his moods again.

Riku had known Sora his entire life, and his best friend had never been particularly good at masking his emotions. Not that he was really trying to at the moment. He was currently gripping the controls of the Gummi Ship with a scowl on his face so fierce that it would’ve been intimidating if it were directed Riku’s way.

Long gone were the days when Sora’s scowls made him look like an angry puppy. Riku was always going to be taller and bigger than his friend, but Sora had finally hit his adult height about a year ago and had the strength and fighting prowess to show for it.

Lucky bastard. He was just the right size to still move quickly while also packing quite the punch, as their sparring session earlier today had proven. Riku was stronger but not as fast, and he had a bruise on his arm from a well-aimed Keyblade blow to prove it.

“What’s wrong?” Riku asked, lounging on one of the nearby seats. He took a swig of his green tea and tried to keep reading his book. High school had to get finished somehow, and Riku was already two years past the normal graduation date. Twenty years old and still a student, how lame. At least he’d be graduating soon.

“I’m fine,” Sora ground out, though his tone made it clear he was anything but.

“It’s Kairi, isn’t it?” Riku didn’t even have to look up from his book to sense the change in Sora’s demeanor.

“It’s already been a week since I last saw her,” Sora said, his voice charged with emotion as the Gummi Ship lurched to the right, “and now I get sent on another last minute mission without any break? And right before Christmas too. What if I miss Christmas with her? How are we supposed to have a relationship like this?”

“You’ve managed this long,” Riku pointed out. A week or two weeks of separation was nothing compared to an entire year.

The Gummi Ship bounced up and down, and Riku’s tea splashed on him. He sensed more than saw the daggers Sora was glaring at him.

“Eyes on the skies,” he wryly remarked as he surveyed the damage to his clothes.

“Things are different now, Riku. We’re not kids anymore,” Sora said with just the note of petulance in his voice that made him sound like he still was one. Riku supposed his friend still had some maturing to do. They all did. It wasn’t like any of them had had normal growing up experiences. In some ways they were far beyond their peers; in others, far behind, and times like this made that very, very clear.

“Then stop moping and whining and ask Kairi to marry you already,” Riku said as he mopped up the spilled tea. His friends would have a lot more official recognition and the perks that came along with it if they would just tie the knot. They’d been dating for several years at this point. Why not just seal the deal already?

Sora groaned in frustration, running a hand through his spiky hair as he began the landing cycle. “But that would be even worse! Being separated from my wife all the time? I’d be a deadbeat husband.” He sighed and examined his hands, still tightly gripping the controls as he steered the ship. “We couldn’t bring kids into that mess either. I don’t want to be a deadbeat dad. I’m already a deadbeat boyfriend.”

Riku returned to his book. “Then you’ll have to make a choice. Do you keep traveling the worlds as the hero of the Keyblade, or do you settle down with Kairi?”

“I can’t make that choice yet!” Sora cried, his eyes flashing. Riku grabbed a spare scrap of paper to use as a substitute bookmark. This was going to take more than just a half-assed conversation to resolve. He waited patiently as Sora landed the Gummi Ship.

“If I don’t stop,” Sora continued once the ship’s engines had powered down, “it’s gonna drive Kairi and I apart! But there are still so many people out there who need my help. How can I turn my back on them?”

Riku sighed deeply. When they’d first started this adventure, things like marriage and family and long term commitments had seemed far away. Now those things loomed closer and closer. He didn’t have an answer for Sora because he didn’t have an answer for himself. And Kairi being a Keyblade wielder too made things more complicated. She was often sent out on missions as well, and even the times when Sora was on a break, there was no guarantee she would be too.

“The hero’s dilemma,” Riku told Sora at last. “We’ll never have normal lives, Sora. If you want a normal life, you’ll have to give up all of this,” he said, gesturing to their surroundings. “And no one can make that choice for you. Someday, you’ll either have to sacrifice your relationship with Kairi or your life as a Keyblade wielder. She’ll have to make that same choice if you want to make a relationship work long-term.”

Sora’s head jerked back at hearing the words “sacrifice” and “Kairi” in such close proximity to each other. But he was silent. The only noise was the faint Christmas music playing from the Gummi Ship’s speakers. It took a moment for Riku to notice the teardrops splotching onto Kairi’s lucky charm gripped in Sora’s palm.

Riku hated seeing his best friend cry. It made him uncomfortable because he couldn’t easily fix the problem.

“Listen, I’ll call Master Yen Sid tonight and ask if we can go back early if we finish the mission quickly,” Riku said. It was the best he could do under the circumstances. Maybe they could still make it home in time for Christmas.

“That sounds good,” Sora said, wiping his eyes. “I just wanted to be with her on Christmas. But I feel like Master Yen sends us out on missions on purpose when I’m more agitated and aggressive. Like he thinks I’ll fight better.”

That was entirely possible. Master Yen Sid was a good man overall, but he was also very calculating and would 100% figure out when each of them was in peak fighting condition.

“Well, do you?” Riku asked.

“When it’s between about four days and ten days of being separated from her, yeah, I do fight pretty well. After that I’m so irritable I’m worthless.” His eyes dropped to his hands. “And before that I’m too lovesick to be at my best,” he mumbled.

“With calculations like those, maybe you missed your calling as Ienzo’s research assistant,” Riku wryly replied as he opened his book again. It was surprisingly interesting and far less revolting than discussing Sora’s love life, and he really did want to know how it ended.

“What else am I supposed to do when I’m bored and frustrated?” Sora whined, flopping dramatically on the seat. “If I know when I’m in peak fighting condition, I’ll also know when I’m not. And that means I know what steps I need to take to avoid getting hurt—”

Riku scoffed. “You, be careful? You and Kairi both love to rush into danger, and then I have to fish you out of it. Imagine if you did get married and Master Yen Sid sent you on more missions together. My job would get a lot more stressful.”

“Hey, I’m trying my best here.” Sora scowled and his eyebrows did their best to express his sass, but then he sighed and rested his head against the back of the seat. “Do you think that’s why we don’t get to go on more missions together?” he asked in a small voice.

“You can’t concentrate to save your life when she’s anywhere nearby. You fight really well together, but the moment she gets so much as a cut, you panic and lose your focus.”

“So it is my fault.” Sora’s head drooped and his eyes were pained.

“I wouldn’t look at it like that. Keyblades make things more equal, sure, but you’ll always have certain advantages over her during combat. Magic can level the playing field, and she is a better mage than you—”

Sora pouted, and Riku rolled his eyes.

“—just barely, don’t look so offended. You’re never going to compete with the light in her heart and you know it. And she and you are both better mages than I am. But even with that advantage in one area of combat, the natural differences in raw physical strength between the two of you are still there. And that goes for any guy she has to fight. It’s only natural you worry about her.”

“Xemnas nearly broke her arm,” Sora whispered, resting his face in his hand. The haunted look in his eyes told Riku the memory might as well be from yesterday instead of four years ago. “Like he was just snapping a twig. And even when it’s just me and her…I’m not a big guy, but it still surprises me how much stronger I am than her sometimes.”

“But you know how to properly use and restrain that strength,” Riku pointed out, “and that’s what matters.”

Sora was silent.

“And did you just admit you’re not that big?” Riku asked, changing tactics. “Someone has finally given up on ever hitting six feet tall.”

“Hey, I made it to five ten, that’s pretty dang good for a runt!”

One look at Riku’s face made them both burst out laughing.

“Okay, okay, five eight and a half,” Sora amended.

“Who knew you had it in you.”

“Doesn’t matter, you’ll always be taller than me.” Sora was so mournful and melodramatic about it that Riku burst out laughing again. Sora grinned, and it was a welcome sight. Riku promised himself he’d complete this mission as soon as possible so his friends could be reunited in time for Christmas.

Sora was right. Riku teased him, but all those separations from Kairi couldn’t be good for their relationship. Helping his friends be reunited in time for Christmas was the least he could do.

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

A/N: This story is based on some ideas Alja and I brainstormed together earlier this year about how Sora and Kairi would handle being separated from each other frequently, and this is both a very belated birthday present for her and a Christmas present all in one. Happy belated birthday and Merry Christmas, @angel-with-a-pipette ❤️

There will be five chapters total, and I'll be updating daily until it's done.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

[havin-fun-imagining-twd]

Thank you, angel...

What -- Following the events of S02's Chupacabra, you give Daryl a massage. The story begins with some discussion of post-concussive protocol for the poor guy to prep the stage for the chapter after his very bad day.

Relationships -- slow burn, canon-compliant Reader x Daryl and the two of you being closed off about possibly like-liking somebody. I mean, he doesn't even eat peanut butter!

Perspective -- You + Him

Pronouns - neutral

TWs -- some crude language

Length -- 6,000 words (15-20 minutes)

When -- a couple hours after "fondness" LOL. It starts off like nothing serious, then gets more tender, sort of like Daryl's muscles after careening down all those rocks.

Which chapters will provide more context? -- it's always good to check out the most recent chronological chapter, in this case "fondness" LOL. Spell your last name, please would be fun to read alongside this one, too. As well, I recommend reading Invisible tugging strings, Part 2 (also Part 1) and souls stripped bare if you like a bit of confused yearning.

Masterlist? -- Shiny and Official one here and Chronological one here

Him

The door opened, waking him up—the hell, where was he? How long had he been asleep?

“Hey,” the familiar voice he liked said, and his muscled relaxed.

Sure enough, there came Y/N into view, giving him a little wave as they walked around the bed. “Remember where you are?”

His memory came back to him quickly as he blinked the sleep away. He was in the farmhouse. 

Still, his sarcastic croak of a response, “In bed,” earned him a tiny huff and a dry “So funny,” from his friend, who carried along a big-ass book. 

Ugh, his stomach didn’t feel too hot. He’d, um, half-woken up a little earlier and saw crackers on a plate near him. And he’d been so damned hungry he’d just reached out, grabbed some, and slammed them into his mouth.

That there'd been peanut butter in between them had been a nasty surprise, except he’d already chewed and started to swallow by the time the taste hit him, he was that hungry. He was so hungry that he’d gone and grabbed more, too…dumb sumbitch.

Now the taste was all up in his nose and mouth. He curled up a little tighter, as much as his stiff joints and muscles and the new hole in his side let him. Daryl just wanted to sleep and for his stomach to stop messing with him, he felt ready to puke…

The old man’s voice met his ears next as he came around the bed, too. “I apologize. You have something of an audience. Carol and Y/N will be keeping an eye on you tonight, they’re in here now, as is Patricia.” 

Y/N frowned into their massive textbook, flip-flipping through the pages as if looking for a specific section. Carol sat across from the bed on the footstool thing and smiled in her sad way. 

Then, the nice twangy blonde lady (he knows her name, it's Patricia) started saying something and helping him sit up, but he wasn’t hearing a damn thing, because he w—he was—no, no, no, he was gonna upchuck—

____________________________

You

Daryl doesn’t look too g—oh, no! 

“Carol, hand me that thingy, please!” you squeak, standing up as the book clatters to the floor while you frantically point to the emesis basin on the dresser beside her.

You zip to the bedside and cradle the back of Daryl’s neck with one hand, the small container in the other, and not a moment too soon. 

“Whoakay, there you go, buddy,” you coo as the poor guy gets sick.

“Pat, please retrieve the oxygen tank from the boy’s room,” you hear Hershel murmur, and Pat is already up and moving. 

They have an oxygen tank?! That, that should’ve been administered an hour and a half ago when he stumbled back onto the farm!

With a final spit into the bowl, Daryl makes a slight groan and exhales. He grunts an apology, gags again.

You lower the basin so it won’t be too near his mouth (and nose), but wait remain for a minute or so with him just in case he’s not done. Lightly, you run your fingers across the back of his neck and up the back of his head as you wait. And not because you have taken a shiney fondness to him, Dale, you would do this for anyone, especially a friend who had a day like this one did. 

When he mumbles that he’s fine, you tell him you’ll be right back, and tuck the sheet over his back for him. You then excuse yourself to clean up, being mindful to hold your breath and not look at the basin so you won’t gag or need to use it yourself. Carol follows you into the hall but slips out the front door.

You empty and wash the basin in the downstairs bathroom and scrub your hands and forearms, and find some bleach spray to clean the sink.

Scrubbed good, you're ready to carry the cleaned container back into the room in time to see Patricia accessorizing Daryl with an oxygen mask. The ever-growing dread in your gut sprouts a new branch.

“Miss Patricia, Mr. Greene, what do we do next?” 

You hope it didn’t sound nearly as worried as you think it sounded. The first pre-hospital guideline for suspected traumatic brain injury is being put on O2.

Granted, ‘suspected’ encompasses pretty much any head bump for safety’s sake—but the man had a very serious fall twice. 

The reality that he’s not necessarily in the clear is now sinking in. 

How would you fix whatever Daryl did to his skull, if he did something? Drill a hole in his head or something? There’s no possibility of getting proper imaging, y'all don’t even have more sterile gloves.

Daryl’s leaning back, now propped against some pillows in addition to sporting the oxygen mask. He looks miserable. You kneel beside him and place your free hand on the bed. Carol joins you. 

“Oxygen will only benefit him, at the moment, even if there’s nothing more serious going on,” Hershel mildly puts it, cool as a cucumber with your EMT textbook open to the head trauma section. But then again, Mr. Greene had the skill to keep himself cool as a refrigerated cucumber while Carl was actively decompensating and dying. “The good thing is, Daryl is negative for any other indication of severe concussion, even moderate, which is surprising in the best way possible. Way I see it, it’s yet another medical miracle among your group.”

Next to you, Carol holds out one of her small tins and shyly says to Daryl, “Ginger?”

The way his eyes got all big like a kid’s was unexpected and rather cute. She pulls the mask away far enough to pop a ginger mint into his mouth. With a grunt, he closes his eyes in acknowledgment and gratitude.

“How do we know he ain’t—” oops, you mean to only use elegant grammar around Mr. Greene. Except, you don’t have a preset sentence in your head so it still comes out messy, but you do use the phrase Mr. Greene used yesterday. “How do we know that it isn’t, um, that h-his concussion isn’t a bigger cause for concern?” 

“Pupils are good, blood pressure is good, reflexes are good, and upon examinin' his skull, there are no irregularities beyond two what Hersh and I both would call goose eggs,” Patricia answers first, as chill as Hershel is. “He’s gotta be kept under watch for the next couple days, of course, but that's more a precaution.”

Mr. Greene nods. “Any more vomiting—”

“—I only hurled ’cause of the peanut butter,” Daryl muffles through the mask.

Because of the…

You squint. “How would peanut butter make you sick? You aren’t allergic.”

“Don’t like it.”

Doesn’t like…what? “Dude, you don’t like peanut butter?”

“Don’t even like the smell.” 

WHAT. 

Mr. Greene resumes what he was saying before you can continue the interrogation. “Do you have an appetite.” It somehow sounded less like a question the way he asked it.

Daryl hums in response.

“Good. Finish up what’s on this plate and we’ll see if you’re able to keep non-peanut related foods down.” Was Mr. Greene trying to make a joke? Well, at any rate, he’s removing the cracker sandwiches to leave just the eggs and spam. Daryl accepts the plate and whips his mask off, prompting you to turn the O2 off for now. A relieved groan follows his first bite and he eagerly digs in to get another forkful. Carol must be pleased.

Mr. Greene nods in thanks that you turned off the oxygen flow. “To answer your question: if there is any more vomiting, a bad headache, changes to his pupillary response or his blood pressure as well as any alteration to his speech and cognitive function, that would be a cause for concern.”

“And we won’t want him to go unchecked too long a stretch, so I brought y’all our egg timer," Patricia adds. "It’s digital, so it ain’t too loud.”

“Should we wake him every hour?”��Carol asks, nodding and clasping her hands in her lap.

“Naw, that’s more myth. Although,” Patricia reconsiders. Sighs. “It ain’t like we have him hooked to a monitor in a ward staffed with nurses breezing in and out. Hersh, what’s your take?”

“You’re the nurse, I’m just the vet,” he reminds her. “It’s your call. What were you going to have them do?”

She sighs again but nods. “Might as well be over-cautious, then. Let’s do every hour and a half to check, but don't wake him. He needs rest.” Patricia breathes deeply, then gives the instructions.

“If you stick the egg timer under your pillow, it should wake you but not him. Sit up and make sure he’s breathin’ normally. If, uh, if he’s awake, ask him his pain level for his head, listen to his speech, see if it sounds normal, check his temp with your wrist. Acetaminophen, that’s Tylenol, that’s the only painkiller he can have right now."

Just Tylenol, got it.

"Ask him a basic question or two, check his eyes like Hershel said. Maybe have him tap his fingers together. And if his BP changes much in either direction, or especially if his headache gets worse than it feels now, which isn’t too bad so he claimed,” a pointed look at Daryl, “wake me. I’m in on the top floor, room to the center-left.”

“Do I gotta wear this to bed?” the man himself grates, his mouth full even while scooping in the last bite off his plate. The guy's definitely hungry, which is usually a good sign.

And the look he earns back from Patricia is enough to make you sit straighter and lower your head despite not being on the receiving end of it. 

Daryl stops chewing. 

“You do and you will,” she states. It wasn’t done in a controlling way, it sounded to you like simple tough love. “Might well save your hide if you’ve got a bleed, Daryl.”

“Yes ma’am,” he mumbles. 

Annoyingly, the way he displayed a healthy serving of shame/deference seems to have awoken some of the irrational butterflies in your stomach. The little creeps.

Hershel speaks to Patricia. “You know, I believe I still have a nasal cannula from when my mother was still living. It will be less obstructive to sleep—Pat, will the cannula be adequate?”

“Would be great—but how old is it? Your mama passed over a decade ago.”

“Then it’s well over a decade old,” he answers, and quits the room in such a way that strongly suggests he was eager to do so.

____________________________

Him

Putting him in the nose thing cancer people or old dudes with emphysema have to wear seemed over-the-top, but if Patricia said he had to, he guess he had to. The nose thing was more comfy than the mask. Daryl made sure to thank Patricia and Dr. Farmer—um, Hershel—for all their help.

He’d glanced at Y/N, whose head was just about glued to the pages of the big-ass medical book, and had been scribbling stuff down on a sheet of paper while asking Patricia question after question after question.

“Was supper okay?” Carol peeped when she picked up his empty plate for him.

Supper was more than just okay, it was damned tasty. “You make it?”

“The spam and eggs.”

Yo, he couldn’t inhale the stuff she made fast enough, the woman cooked some mean-ass grub. “Ain’t eaten that good in a while. It was delicious.” Not since the breakfast at the CDC that T-Dog cooked up. 

When he looked up at Carol, her cheeks looked pinker. Like, red. 

For a second, he almost thought it was because he told her her food was good. But nah, must’ve been getting stuffy in the room. He wouldn’t have minded if it got warmer in there, he felt kinda clammy. Probably because he’d lost blood a decent chunk of blood or whatever. So long as he was able to get back to sleep soon, he didn’t care. 

He wriggled his shoulders to get more comfortable on the pillows, and felt his eyelids start to sink.

“Can I use it on him if he needs it tonight?” Y/N checked with Patricia.

...Huh? Use what? 

“Just don’t go settin’ it too high, you shouldn’t see any muscle movement. Now, you know not to use it on his head, yes?”

Daryl opened his eyes again in time to see Y/N’s lips press together, then twist slightly to the side. “Oh, I was gonna put it right smack on his head then draw him a bath with it on, ma’am, for relaxation and such.”

“Never use a—oh, goodness, you had me goin’ there a moment!” The lady chuckled when she realized Y/N was joking, then lightly swatted at his friend’s arm. “I had to make sure you knew. Some people would try using them units for head pain.” 

Grinning the way they do when they’ve acted like a goof, Y/N nodded and raised their hands as if surrendering. “You were doin’ your due diligence.” 

“I told you, Hersh, I really want to keep this one,” the woman next said, playful smile on her face. 

Daryl couldn’t help but watch how that comment made Y/N’s eyes get all—he wasn’t sure the right describe-y word to call it, but his cat would get that look when he’d be gone awhile then would come back. Y/N’s eyes did just that, but they also looked sad at the same time. 

Then, his friend politely smiled and waved in the direction of the door, same direction as whatever that new dragging noise was.

How many damn people were gonna come in? He just wanted to sleep.

Patricia stood up and pulled her shirt down in the back, calling, “Thank you, sweetpea,” at the same time the old man asked, “James, what’s this?” 

“Couldn’t have them sleepin’ on the floor. Jimmy filled up the air mattress.”

Daryl had neither the strength nor desire nor any fucks to give to bother looking over to see the action. He needed some shut-eye.

“How’s your stomach, Daryl?” Patricia spoke soft, just to him. 

He...felt less annoyed. Eyes still closed, he raised his thumbs from where his hands were holding the sheet up. He wished he could act more grateful, but his tank was below E and he wanted to scream and cuss or just plain cry.

“Very good! Righty, we’ll get out of your hair, now.”

He did force himself to grunt back, “G’night,” in hopes it conveyed at least a little bit of gratitude.

“Y/N will be in here the first half of the night, alright? You’ll be in good hands. Sweet dreams.”

____________________________

You

Sources were true, Dale’s book is kinda ick. Even the title, The Case of the Missing Man, it’s just a bit lame. Hand under your pillow, you thumbed at the prayer beads you’d taken from the family’s house earlier today. You gave Carol a pair, too, you know she used to use them. Today felt like a week, it was so up and down and all arou—what are you doing? Don’t think about today anymore. 

If you’re so darn tired that you can’t sleep, thinking certainly won’t help.

Listening to Daryl’s even, soft snores, you take a few sips of water. It’s really chilly tonight. Maybe you should go grab your other blanket and your hoodie.

You peek at the egg timer, looks like you have 70 minutes until it’s time to check him officially. Gonna be a long night. After Sophia comes home tomorrow, or….at least after you check the highway shelter and do a sweep for her, then do the shooting practice thing, oh, and maybe after another pharmacy run—oh, and then chores, you need to help with chores. But after all that, maybe you can have a nap.

It really is nippy tonight. If you’re cold, poor Daryl likely is, too, the man lost a lot of blood today.

Your side and shoulder pinch and burn as you scooch upright. Quietly as you can, you move to peek out the window, trying to gauge if you’ll be able to walk to your tent without Shane noticing.

It’s gotten chilly enough that there’s condensation on the windows.

____________________________

Him

He woke up for some reason. Thought he heard a creak. 

The room felt colder than a metal toilet seat in winter. He had the sheets bundled around him as much as he could get them. He knew if he stayed still enough he’d feel warmer and not notice the cold as much, but, shit, he felt so miserable. 

He didn’t even bring Sophia back yet, all he found was her doll! like, his dumb bitch ass couldn’t even climb right. Even monkeys know how to climb.

Yeah no, instead of finally bringing that little girl home safe, he flopped his way down the ridge twice and got a bolt hole in him.

And yet, the same people he’d stolen a horse from to get it done faster legit set him up in a room and patched him up.

As he was wallowing and moping about all the day's shit, feeling like a useless nobody, something warm—a blanket?—was pulled over him and tucked in gently around his shoulders. 

The angel? person who placed it on him rested their hand on his upper arm a sec, and he felt their thumb rub back and forth once. His chest and stomach felt a little funny when he recognized the minty smell of whoever just gave him the blanket. The muscle-rub Y/N had on. 

There was another creak in the direction of the door behind him, but he fell asleep too fast after the blanket was placed on him to mumble “thank you, angel.”

____________________________

You

Glenn had stayed late playing board games with the others, he was still on the porch. He and Jimmy are playing cards, probably spit judging by the thunk you just heard on the table along with some muffled laughter. Beth is barely awake, but she waves when she sees you. Maggie is dozing.

Andrea is awake, too, and once seeing you, she rushes over to ask after Daryl again. You assure her that he’s fine, took down his dinner well, and no, she should get rest instead of staying awake just in case. Shane’s in his tent, and you go to yours without incident. At least he knows to stay away right now. 

Blanket now in-hand and hoodie on, you head back inside after remembering to grab the icy-hot rub you’d left in your tent, too. Shoot, you’d also meant to borrow Shane’s sweatpants, but he brought his stuff with him. T-Dog has a pair, but he wears them to bed…Daryl can borrow yours, they’re baggy with a drawstring, anyone could wear them.

Tiptoeing and avoiding the creaky spot by the door, you listen carefully and can hear that Daryl’s still sound asleep. You’d been worried you would either disturb or even frighten him when you pulled the comforter over him, but to your delight, he’d begun snoring.

It is strange seeing him so helpless. Dude literally chews on bark sometimes, he’s a survivor down to his bones. Him getting all the help must feel very humbling to say the least, you know he likes to keep to himself. After seeing the scars on his back, you imagine he might feel unworthy of help or care, too.

With a prayer, you hunker down onto the air mattress and hope for dreamless sleep.

____________________________

Him

Y/N and he were sitting in the dirt because the horse bucked them off. They’d just buried Sophia. 

The old Mexican lady from the house was holding those prayer beads and sitting in a rocking chair outside, chickens pecking at the grass near her. Carol was crying somewhere but he couldn’t see where.

Y/N rested their head against him and squeezed his hand tight, apologizing that they had to get the bolt out of his side. 

Stuck to his chest, there was a thick, twiney string that connected to Y/N’s. It was getting in the way and pulling whenever he moved. When he went to tuck it over his shoulder, it was the plastic tubing from the oxygen tank.

Merle sat across from the two of them, holding a sponge and telling him to get up. 

He tried to. He kept trying to get up and follow his brother, but when he did, he started to fall down the ridge again to where the geeks were waiting to gnaw his feet off.

Y/N’s voice called for him from the walkie, and when he looked up, he saw them ripping their sling off to help him despite them bleeding through their shirt again.

____________________________

You

The timer went off, so you move in order to see him. His breathing pattern is normal and regular.

You can tell he’s dreaming, the way his eyes are moving under his closed lids. Hopefully, it’s a good dream. Best not wake him if he’s still sleeping. 

____________________________

one hour later

____________________________

Him

“Baby, is your head worse, too?”

“No, it’s—” he hissed when he breathed too deeply and it hurt his ribs. “It’s goddamned everythin’ else.”

Y/N had heard him when he accidentally groaned, so then started to do a check-up thing. All he’d been trying to do was move to try to make it hurt less and he could get back to sleep. It’d hurt worse, instead, and he yelped like a little fox kit. Pansy-ass little Darylina. No wonder they just called you ‘baby’ again.

“I’m going to check your pupils again, bear with me.” Y/N spoke softly as their hand made a wall between his two eyes again. “Spell my last name, please.”

“D-I-X-O—oh wait, no, that’s…” They’d asked for their last name, not his. 

“Ballsy offer,” they joked. The little flashlight shone in one eye, then the other. Y/N was trying not to crack up. “It’s good you caught the mix-up, real good sign. Okay, you can rest your eyes now if you want, but please stay sittin’ up, okay?”

He did shut his eyes, and tried to call to mind what Y/N’s last name was…

Got it, Sophia called Shane either ‘Mr. Walsh’ or “Welsh” a few times. “W, um, W-A-L-S-H?”

“Yes, well remembered.” There was the rattle of a pill bottle. “What year is it and what’s the next season we’ll be in?” 

“2010. It’s, uh, it’s gettin’ to the end of summer. Gonna be fall.”

“Mind’s still sharp. Here, you can have one more acetaminophen. I got you some water. Take, swallow.”

He opened his eyes to see them holding out a single, white cylindrical pill and their water bottle.

“Are you able to tip your head back,” they checked, “or might should we use the cup with the straw?”

The warmth from their hand lightly supporting the back of his head felt nice even though they were acting as if he would fall apart like a china doll at any second. 

After he took the one, dinky little painkiller, Y/N gently moved his arms around, then had him wiggle his toes and fingers and turn his head as much as he could. Halfway through is when he noticed the sheet was tucked all the way over his shoulders and thighs where he sat. 

Y/N had been making sure it stayed covering him as he moved?

The strange feeling of unbearable closeness came back and he didn’t know what to do with it.

It was something so little and stupid but so damn big at the same time, to make a point to keep his, what, his modesty? When there were so many other things to worry about?

A lump formed in his throat. 

Y/N looked uncertain after doing something with his left arm again. “Daryl, have you had broken ribs or a broken collarbone before?” they asked him quietly.

He swallowed down the lump so he could answer. “Yeah.”

“Does it feel like that might could’ve happened again?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh buddy,” they sighed. “We’ll have Miss Patricia check tomorrow. What a day you’ve had.” 

“It was somethin’ else,” he grit. He just wanted to lay down again, but laying down hurt too much. Everything hurt too much.

Y/N brought over a pair of sweatpants. They helped him put them on, too.

“Can stand on my own,” he had to snip, mainly because of the way his body started reacting to having them so close to him. He was only human—half their chest went up against his again as they helped, all warm and soft and—yeah, he needed them to stop. He was in just his boxers, first off, second, he didn’t want to be a creep. And third, he could damn well stand on his own.

When he had pants on again and sat back down, he felt the heat from his friend’s hand hover around the back of his neck and shoulders. “I’m gonna put the TENS unit on first, then I’ll do my thing starting up here, okay?”

Not knowing what that meant, he hummed by way of an answer and shut his eyes. He figured it was for another check-up thing, so steeled himself to get through it.

Their footsteps sounded around the bed, and they ended up behind him. 

The mattress dipped when they knelt down on it. This time, the heat from their body warmed his whole back, but the closeness felt okay.

Then there was the sound of a container clicking open, and two, three, four soft things were pressed to his muscles on the uppermost part of this shoulders.

“These are electrodes. Tell me when you feel a tingly or prickly sensation.”

When he felt it, he inhaled in surprise.

“Now tell me just as the feelin’ goes away. These things are supposed to disrupt the nerve signals and reduce pain. I ain’ sure if it’s immediate or over time, but…”

The next part is what threw him.

And Y/N did it just so damn gently that he didn’t flinch at being touched, the way they cupped one hand over his forehead, and with the other, gently brushed their fingers along the back of his neck. They directed him to let his head and neck into their hand.

The angel Y/N next began to apply light pressure in circular motions, starting in between his shoulders and up to the base of his head. “Let me know if what I’m doin’ worsens it, or if it gets to be too much, okay?”

Best Daryl could do was hum in the affirmative; he couldn’t speak at that moment. The damned lump in his throat had bulged up again and then some. 

It was the first time something like this was done for him, and he felt…he didn’t know how or exactly what he felt except that the pain was lessening. 

So why in the hell was he about to cry?

The neck rub soon turned into a shoulder rub. And try as he might, tears started spilling out of his damn eyes. He was grateful Y/N couldn’t see them. 

After however long it was that they eased his pain in silence, his friend then began to quietly give him the summary of what went on while he’d been conked out.

It was something, that Y/N cared enough to share boring stuff with him. He wanted them to didn’t mind hearing them yammer on and was grateful they  

Apparently, the next prayer service thing was gonna happen tomorrow morning. “Maybe the Greenes will come, that would be nice. Patricia and Jimmy are comin’, I know that much.”

Carol wanted to cook dinner for everyone, maybe tomorrow or the next day. “Tomorrow, if Sophia’s back tomorrow, maybe the day after if she comes back the day after. W-We’ll see,” they told him. 

A mixture of guilt and worry fought for dominance in his brain when Y/N snorted and shared, “Dude, not only did we both get stitched today, we both fainted. High-five for fainting twins! I forgot to drink enough water, can you believe?” They hummed and figured, “You prolly can.”

Y/N next told him how them, Glenn, the teenage boy Jimmy, the short-haired chick Maggie, and Baby Spice Beth played some board games together before heading off to sleep. “Beth won at Scrabble, she killed it. Babygirl knew how to use them tiles.” 

During this part, they used both hands to do a swirling motion at his neck, and it was all he could do to not let out a sob of relief. “I did win the highest word score, though,” they sighed. “I kinda had to. Glenn started, um, earlier he decided he’d charge a quarter for whenever I talk too ‘hillbilly,’ so I felt like I had to prove a point.”

He was told that there were some new toothbrushes and shit from the pharmacy run the other day. “I cracked mine open today, ohh a new toothbrush feels so nice. Nothin’ like clean, flossed teeth.” Naturally, they next worried: “Dude, did somebody bring you your toothbrush? I’ll grab it for you tomorrow morning, just tell me where it is. I’m sorry, honey, you’re at our mercy and we forgot the basics. Wait, we gave you clean boxers, right?”

He was able to snort at that, hiding the fact that he was still blubbering like a colicky newborn.

Somehow, their talking about toothpaste veered into peanut butter, and Y/N, of course, made sure to knock him for not liking the stuff. 

“That means you don’t eat peanut butter tomato sandwiches, Dary-bear. What on earth did you eat in the summertime if not those?” Which sounded like the nastiest combo, but their voice and their little chuckle was so goddamn soothing and warm. This was right when they’d started to use that minty muscle rub stuff and it felt so damned nice. 

But when Y/N next hit the spot in between his shoulder blades that had been killing him, he finally and most definitely accidentally let out a sob like the little sissy lil bitch Darylina he was. 

Y/N gasped and immediately stopped rubbing his shoulders, then bent around to look at his profile. “Hey,” they soothed.

“M’fine,” he croaked back, sniffling and wiping his eyes as he accidentally knocked off the oxygen tube.

He really didn’t know why he was crying. It was just a lot of touch he wasn’t used to, and a lot of…for fuck’s sake, he had friends who worried that much about him, went the extra mile, who goddamn massaged him now, prayed for him and all that? Even after he again didn’t find the girl today, after he’d made things worse by stealing and losing borrowing a horse without asking first. After he’d flat-out yelled at them earlier, scared them when they were injured and hurting.

The world had ended, yet here he was being treated better than when it was up and running. 

It was a lot to take in, it was…fucking weird, for one thing. 

Not that it was a…bad kind of weird, though, not at all. It was a good kind of weird, and it made the lump in his throat get even bigger. 

When Y/N moved to get off the bed, he was urged to blurt out, “Don’t—please!” The feeling from earlier, the one where he felt naked, came back. But because Y/N felt safe, it didn’t stop him from all but begging, “Stay just for a little longer. Please. What you were, w-what you were doin’ helped.” 

Please, angel.

It took several long moments of quiet before Y/N, sounding nervous, asked, “The spot between your shoulder blades, that was helpin’?”

“Mmhm,” he gulped.

They stayed quiet for several long moments, tucking the oxygen tubing behind his ears for him once he got the nose part back in. “Do you want quiet,” they hesitated, “or, um, f-for me to keep talking?”

 Please talk, I like it when you talk. “Talk.”

____________________________

You

You adjust the sheet so it makes a U shape on his back, giving you access to the spot between his shoulders without uncovering his whole back. Just because you’ve seen it before doesn’t mean he’ll want you seeing it again.

With a little more muscle balm, you press both your thumbs on either side of his spine and fan them out. Up and down the edge of his shoulder blades you rub, then down and around the curvature of his ribs.

The trick is not straining your injured shoulder, so the angle has to be just right as you’re using it (or sticking to only using your good side). This was worth it, that mangy hick went against death way too many times for him to be left alone and in pain, awake by himself.

“I read in some article once how massages and stretches and stuff can release ‘buried emotion,’ they called it. I reckon it’s more the atypical stimuli, maybe some endorphins. Probably the simple relief of tension gettin’ undone, too.”

The intimacy of this is not lost on you, even is there’s nothing sexual about it. You are kneeling on a bed, giving a shoulder and neck massage to somebody shirtless. A somebody who, earlier today, made your stomach flutter and your chest tug in his direction. You’re also very aware of the warmth coming off his body and how physically near he is, but then again, this is a new experience for you, being so close to a guy like this. You’re gonna react more to the unfamiliar and the new.

But this is innocent, and it is helping him, so you’ll help.

____________________________

Him

The spot they just hit was so sore, a groan escaped his mouth before he could choke it down.

“The stuff I’m about to use on that area is peppermint oil, it’s different than the muscle balm,” Y/N murmured.

The small noise of a cap being twisted off came before the strong minty smell of it, and the spot that was so damn sore was slowly replaced by a smooth cooling sensation that eased the worst of the pain. 

He sniffed as his tears finally began drying up. The soft lulling of Y/N’s voice telling him about a book calmed his thoughts, helped him zone out. Soon, his muscles began to feel heavy and tired instead of exhausted and aching. Y/N gently bent his head forward to stretch his neck muscles, slightly turning his head side to side.

And by the time his friend began to tell the story about how they learned to ride on their best friend’s motorcycle, Daryl was nodding off even though it was funny and he wanted to hear more.

Next thing he knew, the squishy things were being pulled off his shoulders and the mattress lightly jolted because Y/N had got off and was walking back around the bed. He heard them fussing with his pillows, and his chest tugged again.

First, they asked him if he needed the bathroom. He didn’t, so Y/N started to help him recline back, but that just made him freeze. “Gonna hurt yourself worse,” he muttered, eyeing Y/N’s upper arm wrapped to their torso. He tried settling backward by himself.

“Careful, careful,” Y/N hushed, using their good side to cradle his head and neck. The warmth from their body hovered over his chest when they laid him propped against the pillows. Especially warm was where his fingertips had grazed his friend’s forearm and waist as they helped him lay back and get comfortable.

After drinking water at their bidding, the sheet and quilt were pulled back over him. Almost immediately, his body grew heavy and his eyelids drooped.

____________________________

You

Daryl fell asleep faster than a milk drunk newborn after you pulled the comforter on him. It’s been so chilly all night, yet now you’re warm enough that you’ve unzipped your hoodie.

Massaging him was a small workout in itself so that warmed you up comfortably. But it was when you’d, y’know, supported him with your good arm to lay him back that you got a very warm flush. Now, it’s as if you can still feel the spots where his fingers bumped against you. Your forearm, your waist. It was unfamiliar touch, is all…well, it warmed you up, now you can sleep easier. A long night ain't so bad if one's warm and cozy.

Even if your mind is unnecessarily mulling over the veins in his arms, but maybe that’s just the phlebotomist in you. He has very…patent veins.

You tiptoe to your sleeping bag to check the timer under your pillow. 

There’s another hour until it will go off again, meaning two and a half hours until you’ll switch with Carol. 

You look back at Daryl. His breathing is regular and steady. It’s sweet, he’s got a foot sticking out of the bed. Though, you don’t have to look hard to make out a purple bruise on his big toe in what light there is in the room. You consider something: if your own feet are tired after today, imagine how his must be after climbing the ridge, falling, and climbing again. 

And it’s not like you’ve got anything better to do, you’re not gonna fall asleep anytime soon…

So, you take the peppermint oil and carefully sit yourself once more on the edge of the mattress. He stirs, but doesn’t wake. With some of the oil on your hands, you take his foot and begin to massage it.

He stirs again, and you’re thinking he’s about to protest. 

It’s not what you’re expecting at all to hear him mumble, “Thank you, angel...” before promptly drifting back asleep.

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

-> Masterlist link here <-

and our teeny tiny taglist :D

@spenciepoo338 @its-freaking-bats​​​​ @whistlesalot​​​​ @buffy-the-assbutt-slayer​​​​  @dreamingaboutthewonderland @kwazii-kat​ @darylsmavis​​​​​  @outlanderhornet22​​​​​ @battinsonrobs @dontputyourfckingdrinkonmytable @multiifandomhoe @writingmybeloved @boomergirl123 @iheartathena0 @moonliight-luv @suniloli @supernaturalgirl02 @cnake-garden @daryldixmedown @sophehe @crashlyrose @virgo-sunflower920 @jennythe @theficbaker @vampireautism @rosetta196

(inbox is open if you would like on or off the taglist, slowpokes. Please don’t feel bad or nervous if you don’t want to be tagged anymore, just let me know! We’re all friends here and your comfort level matters!)  

[charmingsoa]

■ Gunslinger ■                    Ch. 5

✶ Jax Teller/OC multi-chapter story ✶

🀰 Taglist available🀰

(TW: Mentions of rape, physical abuse) 

@cindsvibes​ @sweet--catrastrophe  @stephv213  @itspdameronthings​ @neverland14353​​  @sweetdispositionsss​ @fandom-oneshots-etc​ 

My eyes shot up once I felt the weight fall onto my body – his gloved hand slapping onto my mouth in order to keep me silent. The shadow from the streetlight giving the room enough glow to see the man’s features. I tried to scream, hit, and kick – only making the man more furious. With each blow that came from his fist, my willpower shrank more and more. I could feel his hand run down my body, pulling at my flannel shorts and underwear. His voice was that of a young man – somewhere in his early 20s – sending shivers down my spine as he spoke. His lips forcing themselves onto my body as I laid there, tears pouring from my eyes. The last time this happened was the night I left Alabama. I told myself that I would never let someone put me through a situation like this. Yet, I was powerless. His assailant stood off to the side, a gun pointed to my head as his partner raped me. I recognized the gun toting man right away – he was there the night Georgie stopped me in the parking lot.

“Carter – sweetheart – you need to tell us who did this to you.”

I watched as Jax paced the wooden floor behind Wayne – his ringed fingers threading through his hair. Unser arrived about 30 minutes before Jax – his eyes widening once he saw me on Tig’s couch. “I don’t know.” I muttered.

Unser let out a sigh, “Anything, darling. Can you tell me anything – maybe what they were wearing, if they had any ink that you could recognize, anything at all?” Tears fell as I shook my head.

What was the use of saying anything. The worst thing that could happen is that they would be arrested and then bailed out within hours due to lack of evidence. I already refused to go to the hospital. I wasn’t going to have the staff at St. Thomas look at me with pity and then even question if I’m telling the truth. I fucked people on film for a living – the damage inside of me had been done a long time of ago. Plus, I sat in the shower for over an hour before attempting to drive to Tig’s. As soon as I knew they were gone – I locked myself in the bathroom – tearing my clothes off and stepping under the scalding water. I’d already been through the whole rape kit exam – I didn’t want to go through the process again. I was supposed to be strong – I made myself out to be this strong woman, a bitch at times. I did this so people wouldn’t mess with me or my child.

I watched as Unser spoke with Jax, their eyes glancing towards me at times. I felt like a lion in a cage. Everyone kept looking at me, asking if I was okay. I would say that I was fine – breaking down seconds later. I knew they all meant well but I wasn’t fine. I was putting on a front that kept falling after every response. Georgie Caruso had broken me…

I spent the night and the next couple days at Tig’s house – too afraid to go back to my own. Jax kept asking me, almost forcing me at one point to stay with him but everyone knew where Jax lived. Georgie could have his men posted outside of Jax’s house, thinking that would be the place I felt most safe. I hadn’t seen Madison since earlier that day – my heart breaking each time she asked when I was picking her up. I couldn’t have her see me looking the way I did. No kid deserves to see their mom with their face busted and bruised. Jax had filled Gemma and Clay in on what happened – Gemma stopping by each day after dropping Maddie off at pre-school. I had become a hermit at this point – I showered 3-4 times a day, scrubbing my skin until it was raw. I could still feel his hands and lips on my skin – the contents of my stomach coming up each time I thought about it. I wasn’t eating. Each noise scared me. Luann was blowing up my phone but I couldn’t have her seeing me this way either. Georgie not only broke my soul but he took away my livelihood. Sure, I had sex with people on screen for a living, but I couldn’t stand someone touching me now.

“Baby, you have to eat.” Gemma pushed the bowel closer to the edge of the table.

I sat curled into Tig’s couch, only moving when I needed to use the bathroom. Gemma had shown up, receiving a call from Tig asking her to make sure I was okay so he could help Jax with some things. Jax had remained distant. My built-up anger going head-to-head with his rage a couple nights ago. He had shown up before Tig was back, trying to get me to tell him anything. I shied away at first but I became angrier the more he pressed. Minutes later we were at each other’s throats, words that we surely didn’t mean being thrown at one another. Even though he was the club’s VP, Tig basically threw him out of the house. I could hear Jax’s anger through the windows as he vented.

“I’m not hungry, Gemma.”

She sat there for a moment before hastily taking the bowel away, her heels clicking against the wood. I flinched at the sound of the ceramic cracking in the sink – Gemma letting out an exhausted sigh. She took a moment to collect herself before walking back towards the couch, sitting on the edge of the cushion. “Carter-“Her voice calm. “Darlin, you can’t keep doing this to yourself.” I glanced at her. “You went through something that a woman should never have to go through. You have every right to be frustrated, angry, and sad. I know you and I don’t see eye-to-eye on most things, but I love and care about you, sweetheart. You remind me so much of myself but you have something that I could never have.” She slowly grabbed my head, her thumb streaking the dry skin. “You have the courage and strength to get through this. You have a gift from God – that little girl is gonna give you the strength you need. She needs her mother and we both know you need her.” I wiped away the tears that fell. “You can bounce back from this – you can show those fucking bastards that you aren’t afraid. I know it’ll be hard but you have me. You have the club and Luann. Carter, you have Jackson. Let him help you too…”

I found the courage to leave Tig’s house a few days later. My heart pounded as I got closer to my house – flashbacks of the awful night searing through my brain. I needed this though. I needed to get back to who I was before. My daughter deserved to finally be home. Gemma and Tig helped me with my bags, Tig making sure to go through the house before I entered. The house was still intact – myself being the only thing damaged. I slowly made my way into my bedroom, the clothing from that night thrown on the bedroom floor. Spots of blood shown on the carpet – left over as I hurried to the bathroom.

“You okay, darlin?” I jumped at the sound of Gemma’s voice. “Shit, I’m sorry.” I brushed it off as I stepped further into the room. The pictures of Maddie that I had sitting on the night stand were thrown on the floor – the glass busted from the beautiful frames. The bedspread and sheets were hanging off the bed, blood stained and ruined. My breathing sped up as the thoughts returned. The flashbacks telling my brain a story – the sounds of their grunts as they forced their bodies onto mine. The way they tried to sweet talk me only to turn around and say things that no woman should be told. The way they laughed as I laid there – helpless and destroyed.

“Mother fucker!” I pulled at the sheets, yanking them off the bed in a fit of rage. The lamp that sat on the nightstand was the next victim – the tiffany glass shattering as it collided with the wall. Tig’s boots stomped up the stairs as he looked on with Gemma. I took a seat on the bed, my head pooling into my hands as I cried. Maybe it was too early to be back. Maybe I needed an extra day or week before coming back here. I wouldn’t be able to look at this room – this house – the same way again. “Maybe you guys should leave.” I looked at the two. “It’s about time to pick up Maddie anyway.”

“I’m not leaving you hear alone, Carter.” Tig’s voice holding strong.

“Anita can pick her up.” Gemma spoke next. “We can’t leave you like this Carter.”

I wiped my face, a chuckle slipping past my lips. “I’ll be fine.” My eyes locking with theirs. “I’m just gonna clean up a little and make sure everything is set for when Maddie comes home.” They looked at me confused. “I’ll be okay – you guys have babysat me enough and you need to get on with your lives.”

It took them 20 minutes to finally leave – both having me assure them that I was okay before they left. I waved them goodbye before the smile I held dropped, closing the door behind me. I walked back to my room, pulling the suitcase from the closet. I took my time pulling the clothes off the hangers, emptying the drawers, folding everything as neat as possible. I made sure to grab all the important documents from the top dresser drawer before moving into Madison’s room. Her clothes joined mine, grabbing the toys she loved the most before I started loading everything into my car. I bought the house when Jax and I separated – a house for just Madison and myself. It was the cutest little house – right out of a magazine. I didn’t have to worry about neighbors or the traffic from the main road. My daughter was able to safety play in the front yard – even spending the night under the stars during the summer if the weather allowed. This home was to keep her safe but it no longer felt that way.

I gave the house a once over before reaching into my pocket – feeling the small matchstick between my fingers. I walked over to the sink, the crumpled papers staring back at me. Taking a deep breath - the stick was lit – the orange flames slowly rising.

[laxmiree]

[CN] MLQC Season 2 Chapter 43 Translation

⚠️  SPOILER ALERT  ⚠️

This post contains a VERY HEAVY SPOILER for the chapter that has not been released in EN yet! Feel free  to notify me if  there are any mistakes in the translation~

IMPORTANT!!! to fully understand the story, prior knowledge of previous S2 chapters are needed. Before, I made a short summary that i should update explain those chapters. I hope this can help :D

“...Ares?”

“I-it's really Ares!!”

“You see, I found Queen! I know you have the authority in the organization, so please, you must restore my identity…”

“Do I need to repeat myself a second time?”

As the words were spoken, several sharp and thin icicles suddenly appeared and were placed directly against the man's throat.

Previous chapter-> [Here]

[Chapter 41-1 & 41-2 tid-bits]

Xiao Yue leans back in his office chair. The bright white light turns his hidden gloomy expression even more indifferent.

"Overlapping Worlds", "CORE", and "Comet Doomsday"… These words are scribbled on the notebook spread out in front of him.

He writes "didn't happen" next to "The New Year Change Incidents" and puts a question mark beside it.

The fuzzy information that suddenly appears in his mind is fragmented, familiar and unfamiliar, like his own experience but he has no memory of it.

??(Lucien): Mr. Xiao.

An unexpected person knocks on the door, Xiao Yue closes his notebook and raises his head.

Xiao Yue: Professor Lucien, you must have a certain reason for coming today. Is there a new development in the CORE experiment?

Lucien: It takes time to slowly infiltrate a powerful force. Mr. Xiao is too impatient.

Lucien: Focusing too much on one thing and neglecting other critical information isn't worth the trouble.

Xiao Yue squints his eyes and leans back in his chair, silently hiding the scrutiny in his eyes.

Lucien: Does Mr. Xiao notice any changes in himself?

Lucien gently points to his own temple. Seeing Xiao Yue's eyes slightly change, he calmly waits for a reply.

After a short while, Xiao Yue asks Lucien to sit down.

Xiao Yue: I would like to hear more about it.

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

The buzzing phone wakes me up with a jolt. I look at the notebook spread out on my desk, my heart still pounding.

The pain from getting hit by a falling billboard feels real, I take a deep breath and realize that my palms are full of cold sweat.

MC: …A dream?

Although the weather outside is perfect, I inexplicably feel a sense of chill.

Every detail of the dream remains vivid in my mind, the smell of the rain and the loud crashing sound seems to linger in my perception.

MC: Precognitive dream...

I suddenly feel a little bit of panic for no apparent reason. Could this be caused by CORE's awakening, or was it something else? Is this precognition giving me a hint of something?

No, maybe I'm just overthinking it and it's just a simple nightmare.

I shake my head, trying to dispel the chaotic thoughts in my head. I grabbed my phone and saw an unread email on the screen.

Lucien: "The good news is that the effective drug for blood disease has passed clinical evaluation and follow-up monitoring. It is estimated that it will be available for sale soon. You can rest assured."

MC: !

His straightforward and simple message disperses all of my earlier worries right away. I immediately cheer up and reply to Lucien.

MC: "Many thanks to Professor Lucien for the great news OvO!"

Lucien: "This great news is the result of your own efforts ^_^"

((the way they reply each other with kaomoji is so cute :’))

I unconsciously curl the corners of my mouth and lean back in my chair. The setting sun cast the office in a warm orange color, and I feel that all the gloom in my heart has been lifted.

With the joy of this good news, I finished my work for the day and stepped out with the last light of day.

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

ANYWAY, a lot of things happened after this, but just for background info:

MC's precognitive dream is back.

It turns out that MC and the boys aren't the only ones who remember their past lives in S1.

Leto, in particular, is very interested in this phenomenon, in chapter 41 he meets with MC as the representative of the City Hall. He tells her that he's looking forward to their future cooperation (a very important detail!). He also tells her about his dreams' where he fight MC and lost his life in it. MC brushed it off as nothing, and Leto seems to be not fully convinced but decides to not dwell on it.

Some people are trying to kill/kidnap MC after discovering she is Queen/CORE.

In chapter 43-1 she learned from Shaw that many people have been inquiring about her recently. She proposed to join in his information exchange, Shaw sent her an address. MC left her home after disguising herself, but then she met Lucien on the first floor.

The elevator slowly descends with a mechanical hum, and with a ding, the door slowly opens up.

I press the brim of my hat and move forward, but the person in front of the door doesn't move at all. I suspiciously tried to move around, but a gentle voice rang in my ears.

??(Lucien): I seem to rarely see you in this kind of outfit.

I froze for a moment and look up to see Lucien standing outside the door. He's looking at me with a little hint of curiosity.

MC: You're home early today! Is your work at the research institute over?

Lucien: Not yet. I just forgot to bring some documents, so I came by to pick them up. How about you? Is this-

MC: I...

I hesitated for a moment, and when I was about to explain, Lucien laughed again.

Lucien: Are you going undercover?

I let out a sigh of relief and nodded unconsciously. I suddenly think of something and speak with chagrin.

MC: Looks like there are still many flaws in my disguise. How could you recognize me at a glance!

((because she's the only color in his eyes :”’ how can he not recognize her at a glance-)

Lucien: No, your disguise is very successful. It's just that I'm familiar with every little thing about your demeanor and habits.

As Lucien spoke, his eyes inadvertently shifted to the entrance door.

Lucien: Seems like it's going to rain. Just to be safe, it's better for you to bring an umbrella.

I blink and belatedly glance at my empty hands.

MC: Thanks for the reminder Professor Lucien~ It's perfect. We can go up together.

I said and pressed the floor button, but Lucien just stood outside the elevator without moving.

Lucien: You go up first. I just received news from the research center. I'll call them back.

He waves his hand and moves aside to take out his cell phone. I whispered, "I'll go up first" before pressing the button and letting the elevator doors block my view.

After packing the umbrella, I return to the first floor but don't see Lucien's figure anymore.

He probably went back to the research center…

I reluctantly walk out of the apartment building and stop a car on the side of the road.

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

Just like that, he’s gone to the research center while MC continued meeting with Shaw.

When Lucien left the research center, he noticed a black car parked on the side.

When walking out of the research center, Lucien sees a black car parked on the corner.

He calmly opens the car door. A familiar figure sits in the left seat and nods at him.

Leto: Professor Lucien.

Lucien: This is an unexpected meeting place.

Leto: There are a lot of people and eyes watching. Besides, this can save a lot of time.

(Leto: *gets shot by sniper Lucien two times in two separate timelines*, Also Leto: this guy totally can be trusted)

The barrier between the front and back seats was lowered, and the car window showed the flowing street scenery. In silence, Leto opens his mouth.

Leto: I remembered something that was forgotten.

Lucien: So, what do you want to do now?

Leto: ...You really do know about this.

Leto said, withdrawing his gaze from the window.

Leto: I need a group of even more elite people. As for how to pick them, I would like to leave it to Professor Lucien.

Leto: Of course, I will pay you with an equal reward.

The sky is gloomy, and there is a faint smell of the approaching storm in the air. Lucien turns off his phone and speaks indifferently.

Lucien: I’m looking forward to it.

*insert Shaw and MC shenanigans here.*

In the morning, Anna suddenly calls MC, telling her that the TV Station wants to talk to her about a project. It's something that struck MC as odd because usually, the TV Station always produces its own program. Even though there is some external cooperation, it's usually not THIS easy and straightforward. The program is about a social education program, and in addition to funding, the TV Station will support them in terms of venue and so on. This cooperation can be beneficial to her company if it's successful.

In the meeting room, MC meets with Gao Xin, the program director of the TV Station. The theme of the show project is the current phenomenon of "overlapping memories". Because this phenomenon caused minor panics and might cause even worse things, the TV Station wants to work with her to eliminate the negative effects.

MC notices that the project commissioner is The City Hall, which means that Leto may be behind this. But since stopping the phenomenon from causing even more chaos is more urgent right now, and TV stations have more power to influence people, she decided to consider it for now.

[Chapter 43-9]

After the meeting, MC sits back at her desk and opens the submission mailbox containing emails from people affected by this phenomenon.

MC sorts and reads the submitted email individually, realizing the phenomenon's effect is more severe than she imagined. If it doesn't get dealt with in time, the chaos will only snowball, affecting more people. She then clicked the next email from a Loveland University student.

MC: "... I have been doing a theoretical study on the properties of topological semimetallic materials with my roommate."

MC: "But now, because of an unexpected memory, my roommate suddenly said that our research is destined to lag behind others… And there is no way out."

MC: "So, he wants to quit halfway through…."

I blink my eyes and unconsciously fiddle with the mouse.

College students are always a good subject and may be a good entry point.

With that in mind, I sent an email asking if it would be convenient for him to be interviewed. After about ten minutes, there is a new message in the mailbox.

MC: "I'd be happy to do an interview, but my schedule is very full today, and I'm only free around 3:00."

MC: "If you are coming, please find me in room 407 in the Physics Department of Loveland University. Contact information..."

I look at my phone. There are less than two hours before 3:00 p.m., there is still enough time.

After briefly packing the necessary materials for the interview, I message the student about the appointment and go to Loveland university.

Perhaps it's not easy to get a cab because of the rainy weather.

Ten minutes later, after watching another occupied cab whiz by, I take a deep breath and look at my phone.

Less than an hour left before the meeting time. If I take a shortcut, walking to Loveland University is not impossible...

MC: ...?!

A sudden chill comes across the back of my neck. It's as if some kind of grim creature is staring at me.

I step into the alley, quickly turn around and look back.

The rain curtain hides the traffic, the pedestrians come and go in a hurry, and nothing looks different.

MC: ...

I've experienced this feeling many times.

I hesitantly exit the alley when I suddenly hear a hoarse voice.

??: There you are.

MC: ....!

I automatically look for the source of the voice, only to see a slightly hunched man with his hands folded, half leaning on the ramp railing and staring directly at me.

His eyes are black with faint bloodshot in them, his pupils flashing with abnormal excitement.

??: You look the same as the one in memory… So, what I have in my head is not a hallucination?

??: It turns out that my life can be like that… It's so interesting...

There is a mixture of excitement and despair on the man's face as he mutters incoherently, letting the raindrops slide across the throbbing veins of his forehead.

Suddenly, he seems to have figured something out and gives me a creepy smile.

??: Hello, Miss Queen.

My heart nearly stops for a split second. The memories of BS and the long-unheard name swept over me without warning.

I don't answer his words and slowly take a half-step back. I quickly scan the surroundings from the corner of my eyes.

There are not many pedestrians on a rainy day, and the neighborhood is a bit deserted. Just a few steps away, a CCTV mounted on a pole is silently watching us.

Seeing that I didn't respond, the other party straightened up and walked towards me step by step, with fanatical earnestness in his tone.

??: I won't harm you. Just think of it as a favor…

??: You may not remember me, but it's okay. I remember you, I really remember you….

MC: ...Sir, you don't seem to be in good condition. Please calm down.

I gulp and quietly reach into my bag while keeping my distance from him.

Calling for help isn't the best option now because it might anger him. But if I can bring him into the CCTV field of view, I may be able to attract the attention of security personnel.

Even if I get caught, the videos captured by the CCTV will be enough to identify him at first sight…

The moment my fingertips touch the taser and about to pull it out, a voice abruptly comes from the side.

??(Lucien): I think the lady has already said it clear enough.

Holding a gray umbrella in his hand, Lucien cut through the thin rain curtain and unhurriedly walked towards me.

It isn't until he gets closer that his eyes sweep past me and look at the man. The color of his dark eyes is like a deep pool covered with thin ice, revealing a few hints of coldness.

??: ...Ares?

The man freezes for a few seconds and suddenly becomes excited.

??: I-it's really Ares!!

??: You see, I found Queen! I know you have the authority in the organization, so please, you must restore my identity…

Lucien frowns a little as the man becomes more incoherent in his wording.

Lucien: Do I need to repeat myself a second time?

His indifferent words seem to carry a heavy pressure, forcing the other side to stop.

Lucien: I'm not sure why you're so insistent on memory with no basis or corroboration...

Lucien: But there is one thing.

Lucien: I'm afraid you won't have a chance to leave with any decency if you keep dwelling on it.

As the words were spoken, several sharp and thin icicles suddenly appeared and were placed directly against the man's throat.

Our surrounding temperature suddenly dropped. Tiny raindrops turned into cold white ice shards and slowly fell.

The man opens his lips, and his body trembles unconsciously, seemingly thinking about something. His flickering gaze locks with Lucien's momentarily and then falls on me again.

At the same time, my palm is being gently stroked. His gentle touch is in contrast to our surroundings, making my heart skip a beat.

I take a deep breath, put on a similarly vigilant and cold expression, and lift my chin at the distant surveillance.

MC: Just a reminder, your every move has been recorded since a while ago.

MC: You don't think that you really don't have to pay any price for continuing to mess around like this, do you?

In the silence, there is a rustling sound of ice falling on the ground like a silent surge of undercurrent.

After a while, the man drops his head in defeat.

??: I...probably just misremembered...

Even though the man said so, the pace of his departure was languid. I watch tensely as he slowly walks to the alley entrance and then suddenly looks back.

An icicle suddenly burst from the ground near his feet, menacingly obstructing his sight.

Lucien: (coldly) Still want to continue?

The other party turns his head away in shock, and his body disappears completely in the rain.

In an instant, the alley regains its silence, and I finally breathe a sigh of relief. Lucien turns around, takes the umbrella from my hand, and then slightly bends down to me.

His fingers that had just touched my palm slipped to mine and gently clasped my hand.

The reassuring warmth from his fingertips gently softened my knuckles, that was stiff from tension.

Those dark eyes look at me questioningly, with a hint of helplessness.

Lucien: Were you scared?

[Chapter 43-11]

Honestly, I wasn't scared that badly. After all, I'm not the same weak little girl anymore and have experienced even more dangerous situations before.

But Lucien's tender and mellow voice carry a natural comfort that makes me instinctively want to get a little closer to him.

I squeeze his hand, rest my head on his shoulder, and nod vigorously.

MC: Yup, that just scared the hell out of me.

Hearing the exaggeration in my tone, Lucien can't help but laugh.

Lucien: (chuckle) It seems that our smart and brave Miss Nox can be a little delicate every once in a while?

MC: Because you are here, I want to be "delicate". Can't I do this?

(T/N: 娇弱 means soft and delicate, mostly referring to women who provokes pity)

Lucien: Of course you can.

Lucien: But I think you would still do the right thing even if I weren't there, wouldn't you?

MC: Yeah, after all...

I paused, thinking for half a second, and then decided to confess.

MC: In fact, some people have already come to trouble me, so I've done a lot of preparation now.

MC: (smiles) There are taser, a portable safety alarm… If there is an emergency, my mobile phone will make an emergency call to you!

I look up at Lucien and wink at him.

MC: But today it's all thanks to Professor Lucien that I could "defeat the enemy without a fight".

Lucien: Thanks to the Great Producer, we can work together seamlessly.

Lucien slightly shifts the umbrella towards me and sweeps a glance at the neighborhood.

Lucien: Where are you going now? I'll give you a ride.

MC: I'm planning to go to Loveland University…

I stopped talking and raised my head after realizing something.

MC: By the way, how did you appear here? It can't be another coincidence, can it?

Lucien calmly turns his head to look at me. There's a hint of seriousness in his tone.

Lucien: Of course it was "pre-planned".

MC: Eh?

Lucien lets out a long sigh, but his eyes show a little smile.

Lucien: My plan is… I miss you, so I really want to see you.

Lucien: I couldn't get a car because of the rain, so I took a shortcut.

Lucien: But I'm glad I made the decision, because it allowed me to meet you earlier.

He cunningly and frankly said his plan, with a smiling face that made my cheeks blush.

MC: I thought a busy person like Professor Lucien wouldn't have time to think about me…

Lucien: I'll always find time, and now haven't I just managed to spare half a day?

Lucien: But it seems like you have other plans for this afternoon?

I nod somewhat helplessly and tell Lucien about the circumstances that led up to the interview.

MC: My company received a submission about a student who wanted to abandon ongoing academic research because of the overlapping memories.

MC: So I'm going to interview them and find out what's actually going on.

Lucien seems to remember something, nodding thoughtfully

Lucien: Mm, I don't think that's an exaggeration. I did hear other professors talk about a similar turmoil.

MC: Similar?

In other words, there has been more than one of this kind of situation…

I give a soft "ah" and sigh with a bit of a headache.

Lucien: You don't have to sigh. You're going to Loveland University to solve this kind of problem, right?

I nod, and as we walk, I gently poke Lucien's shoulder with my finger.

MC: Don't forget to lend me your "Visiting Professor of Loveland University" status later!

Lucien: Sure, I'd happily "lend" everything I have to you.

Following the address in the email, they entered the Physics department and entered the fourth-floor hallway. They meet the email sender; he's surprised when seeing MC comes with Professor Lucien. Because the hallway isn't a convenient place to talk, he brings MC and Lucien to the balcony.

The sound of the operating instrument disappears, replaced by the sound of rain. I take out my notebook and notice the faint eyebags under the boy's eyes.

MC: Looks like… it's been a rough time?

Student: Yes, it goes without saying that the research is at its critical stage.

The boy said, smiling bitterly and rubbing his eyes.

Student: The situation was better when I worked with my colleague.

MC: Have you worked on this project with him for a long time?

Student: Yes, it's been about a year. Although there are no final results yet, the data is steadily progressing.

Student: That's why I found it hard to accept when he suddenly came to me last week and said he decided to quit.

Lucien: What's the reason?

The boy looks sideways in the direction of the laboratory and speaks after a long time.

Student: He said he saw our research's future in that abrupt memory.

Student: ...After investing a lot of time, we still lag behind others and end up with no results.

His voice is clearly lowered. I paused my writing, and saw the boy purse his dry lips and speak in a low voice.

Student: "Our current efforts are like throwing stones into a dry well and getting no response"… That's what he said.

Student: I wanted to persuade him to give it some more thought… We all are scholars, and giving up research for a memory that came from nowhere is not sensible.

Student: But now he refuses to communicate with me, resulting in…

Lucien: Your research is in danger of being discontinued.

With difficulty, the boy slowly nods, and his complexion becomes gloomy. I stop my writing and let out a light sigh.

I've seen Lucien stay up all night in front of the data countless times and how the light in the research center stays on all year round.

Academic devotion is a path of lonely pursuit. Even though I haven't been deeply involved in the field of research, I know how much work goes into a research project every day and night.

Anyone would feel reluctant to terminate a project that has lasted so long because of such reason…

I felt a little saddened. I was carefully choosing my words when I suddenly heard Lucien speak.

Lucien: Have you ever thought that maybe his choice is not wrong?

MC: ...Lucien?

The boy's eyes widen a little in disbelief. I look up with equal confusion, unable to believe my ears.

As a scientist, he obviously knows better than me what it means to abandon the project...

I unconsciously lift my hand to pull his sleeve. But Lucien still calmly looks at the student without seeming to be moved in the slightest.

Lucien: If you follow scientific research news, you should be aware that there are countless terminated studies every year.

Lucien: Out of hundreds of projects, only a few of them can produce results at the end.

Lucien: Misdirection, theory stagnation… There are many projects that have invested more than yours.

Lucien: What if this study turns out to be as hopeless as he claims?

[Chapter 43-12]

The boy's face shows a little struggle, and a few moments later, he clenches his palm.

Student: ...No, that will not happen.

Student: We did thorough research before starting the project and confirmed the feasibility with our supervisor.

Lucien: ...So what?

Lucien's voice was not high when he asked the question, but there was a compelling coldness.

Lucien: Every researcher goes through this process at the beginning of a project, and you are not an exception.

Lucien: The supervisor's permission only confirms the research value but is not a guarantee of results.

The boy opens his lips and then purses them in silence.

The atmosphere is a little dull for a while. I instinctively want to comfort, but when the words come to my mouth, I fail to say them.

It is easy to say and pretend everything is going well.

But I'm well aware that even though there are some deviations in this world, the direction of most people's lives does not make much difference.

So the experiment may indeed be the same as that memory, and no results can be obtained.

In the suffocating silence, the boy suddenly moves his body.

Student: ...When I chose to study for a Ph.D., my supervisor told me that every effort does not equal a harvest.

Student: Very often, it takes a hundred percent of effort to knock on the door of science theory.

Student: But… Professor Lucien, as long as the possibility still exists, it is worth the effort, isn't it?

The boy's speech speed is getting faster and faster. Lucien is unmoved as he looks at him. His eyes are still indifferent and cold.

Lucien: But you can't force others to hold the same point of view as you.

Student: I know… So, I just want to fight one last time too.

Student: If he insists on not coming back, I won't force it. I will move forward on my own, even if it takes more time.

Tiny raindrops hit the glass, and the sounds of distant instruments seemingly mix with the silence.

The boy faintly clenches his fist, not avoiding Lucien's gaze. I feel a little shaken by the scene in front of me.

I have seen this kind of perseverance more than once.

I have seen a similar light in Lucien's eyes and those of the scientists in the research institute, the laboratory, and the underground mines before the doomsday.

It's the same perseverance of exploring unknown areas with your whole life.

Lucien's expression visibly loosens a little.

Lucien: The struggle you are experiencing now won't be the last.

Lucien: Scientific research is never a straight path that gets smoother and easier. The deeper you dig, the more bottlenecks and confusion you will face.

Lucien: When you feel that you are unable to move forward, I hope you will remember today's words.

Student: Well, that's my commitment to science and myself.

His firm words echoed through the balcony, like a vow cutting through the rain curtain.

I write down the last sentence with a sour heart, and speak to the boy.

MC: Although a bit of work may not equal a bit of harvest, I think every step taken won't be a let down.

MC: Even if it doesn't reach the finish line, the effort will bear fruit elsewhere.

Student: That's what I'm hoping for. If there is a breakthrough, I hope to hear from you again.

MC: Definitely.

MC: Thank you, my interview is over. Professor Lucien and I will convey everything you want to say to him.

As the bell rings, Lucien and I walk down the stairs of the physics department. The students noisily pass by, laughing and smiling.

The outline of the school building is fading away, but the boy's words still remain in my mind. I look at Lucien, who is at the bottom of the steps, and can't resist speaking.

MC: Lucien, why did you just ask him a rhetorical question about his point of view?

Lucien raises his head a little and looks at me. Amidst the crowd of people, his gaze seems extraordinarily calm.

Lucien: Because that's the norm in research.

Lucien: With the exception of a few miraculous discoveries, science has been progressing slowly. Many people have been unable to make a single advance in their lifetimes.

Lucien: Not a few people regret it after spending years of their lives.

Looking at Lucien's quiet profile, I suddenly realize something.

MC: ...Did you test him just now? To see if he is really that persistent?

Lucien doesn't deny it. His gaze passes behind me and looks towards the yard where the bell rings in the distance.

Lucien: In order to be deeply involved in the academic field, persistence after seeing the reality is as important as the love for science itself.

Lucien: Life is vast, and academia is not the only path they can take. For him, this is also an opportunity to choose a way of life.

MC: And have you ever had any regrets?

He doesn't seem to expect my question. Lucien ponders for a moment.

Lucien: When it comes to research, I've never had one.

Lucien: The direction of each research is the result of careful consideration. Even if I were to do it all over again, I would make the same choice.

MC: What about things other than research?

The figure in front of me seems to pause for a moment. Lucien's eyes fall on me as if looking into a distant past.

 Lucien: (quietly, with the loneliest tone you've ever heard-) ...I have.

This time, I get taken aback. I blink and curiously ask after him, stopping him in his tracks.

MC: Hmm? What was the situation?

As if being pricked by a dark hidden thorn in his heart, Lucien's eyelashes trembles and he answers in a quiet voice.

Lucien: …When I thought you were gone forever.

I freeze, suddenly remembering the memory of the scattered capsules and his bloodshot eyes.

A small sourness wells up within my heart. I reach out and hug him as if wanting to erase a memory that hurts so much for both of us.

MC: It's all in the past. I'm still alive and standing in front of you now.

Lucien wraps his arms around me, and his chin gently rests on the crook of my neck. His voice is gentle and firm.

Lucien: Um, I can feel it.

Lucien: So it will be the one and only time.

Afterward, Lucien and MC interviewed the student's classmate who decided to quit. When facing the boy's question of whether one should continue when knowing there's no hope, Lucien pointed out that things aren't always predictable. There is some scientific breakthrough caused by accidents.

Lucien invited MC to share her thought. And she frankly expressed her feelings about it.

Lucien: Every exploration is approaching the truth through twists and turns. Seemingly hopeless trial and error often accumulate possibilities for the emergence of "unexpected factors".

Lucien: In this regard, Miss Producer also has her say.

I blinked, and when I met Lucien's quiet gaze, I suddenly understood what he was referring to.

There were countless nights when I thought I might not be able to keep going.

But I still gritted my teeth and struggled towards that tiny hope until the end.

And not only has he accompanied me in every difficult step, but also clearly recorded all the past for me.

MC: ...Um, when difficulties surrounded me, I also hesitated to keep moving forward.

MC: But now, I'm glad I didn't stop there. Otherwise, I would have really given up the last possibility of luck coming to me.

The boy didn't say anything, but the indifference on his face was gradually replaced by contemplation.

I close my notebook and follow Lucien to leave the room at a lighter pace.

The weather has cleared, and the sunlight leaking through the clouds shines on the rain-soaked road.

I'm holding Lucien's arm, walking down the stairs filled with flower petals step by step.

The silhouette of the school building gradually shrinks behind me. I withdraw my gaze and speak thoughtfully.

MC: I feel as if the boy is not as unattached to the abandoned project as he said he is.

Lucien: Mm, he probably needs a few days to clear his mind.

Lucien: But like what you said, everyone has their own choices. We are just slowing down the decision-making process and giving him more time to think about it.

I drop my gaze thoughtfully, and my pace gradually slows down. Lucien also stops walking in response and looks down at me.

Lucien: What's wrong?

MC: I'm thinking of…. I've been wondering if I should make a show on the theme of this returning memory.

MC: The actual situation obviously can't be revealed to the public, but denying means concealing...

I said and looked up at Lucien. As my eyes become a little brighter, my inner thoughts also grow firmer little by little.

MC: But when I heard you ask them just now, I also clearly thought about something.

MC: The right to believe or not is up to the audience. What we have to do is to provide them with the necessary psychological support.

Lucien lets out a low laugh while watching me pull his hand and gently shake it.

Lucien: Turns out there was more than one student in that classroom just now.

MC: It was initially unfamiliar, but I became skillful later on. Anyway, it's not like I've never "freeloaded" on your class before~

Lucien lets out an "oh", and his eyes fall on the corners of my already curved lips.

Lucien: You already "borrowed" my status as a professor for the interview, and yet MC still holds my hand and acts coquettishly. Do you have any other requests?

MC: As expected of Professor Lucien, your intuition is very sharp!

I said as I looked up, then grinning and cheerfully say.

MC: I want to make this program into the stone that breaks the situation.

MC: So, Professor Lucien, can I invite you to be my guest?

[Chapter 43-13]

The light from the shadows of the trees swayed on the person in front of me and settled into his deep eyes.

Lucien: If it's an invitation...

Lucien: Then, before I say yes, I need to know how the show is going to be prepared.

MC: I will always welcome Professor Lucien's field visits- Why don't you come back to the company with me later and watch my work~

Lucien: There's no time like the present.

Lucien arches his eyebrows in a very good mood, holding my hand down the stairs.

Lucien: (chuckle) After all, it's been a long time since I've seen Miss Producer at work.

I took Lucien out of the elevator lightly, and just after walking a few steps, everyone looked in unison.

Several colleagues exchange glances, and Anna is the first to speak with a smile.

Anna: Professor Lucien, you're here. Let me get you a cup of water.

Kiki: Woah! Is Professor Lucien wants to join our program?

MC: Not sure yet... I'll show him around first!

Lucien takes the glass of water, smiles, and nods beside me.

Lucien: Um, I just came to see what you all have prepared. There is absolutely no such reason as wanting to see your boss or anything like that.

Amidst the snickering of my colleagues, I blush and pull Lucien to my desk. I make him sit on my chair by pressing his shoulder.

Facing the gossiping gazes around me, I clear my throat and begin to introduce the progress to Lucien in a serious manner.

Lucien looks through the various materials I handed him, occasionally nodding to affirm my words.

MC: ... This is the information so far. As for the direction of the program, I have two considerations.

MC: The first one is a social education program that follows the tradition of serious science and explains examples of the submissions.

MC: And the other direction is light-hearted and casual, enhancing the watchability of the program through activities.

MC: However, I'm still a bit torn about which one to use.

Lucien: If choosing is difficult, why don't you listen to other people's opinions?

MC: …Other people?

Lucien: Yes. After all, I'm only here to "investigate" the project today.

Lucien: Your colleagues' opinions regarding the program's production should be more informative than mine.

As Lucien said that, he slowly and carefully picked up a glass of water, showing a relaxed look. I can't help but pout.

MC: Hmph, you are really "investigating" seriously.

Lucien: Uh-huh.

(the way he says 'uh-huh' is so cute and irritating at the same time lmaoo)

They discussed it with her other co-worker. Willow suggested a serious science program, while Minor suggested a more entertaining program. MC proposed a debate program between the scholar and the viewer

MC: How about a fun debate style?

MC: In each episode, a scholar is invited to speak on the pro side, and four or five audience members take turns speaking on the contra side.

MC: This way, both sides of the argument can be fully expressed.

Anna: It's a good idea. Since we are inviting scholars, why don't we ask Professor Lucien what he thinks?

MC: Indeed~ when it comes to his field of expertise, Professor Lucien won't be able to resist, right?

Lucien puts down his glass of water and looks at me a little banteringly.

Lucien: Pitting one against many. Doesn't it seem very demanding for the pro side?

MC: That's why the first episode needs a powerful guest~ After all, knowledge is the best weapon.

Lucien: (chuckle) In that case, this powerful guest wants to add to his argument by using other methods.

Lucien smiles and bites the words "powerful guest", but still refuses to take the bait. But I'm not discouraged and continue to ask him questions.

MC: So, let's hear what Professor Lucien is going to say?

Lucien slightly raises the corners of his lips. The shadow of the tree outside the window flickers in his eyes, making it hard to see them clearly.

Lucien: Perhaps we can conduct a social psychology experiment for the first episode.

MC: A social psychology experiment?

Lucien: Mm. The more affected a person's life is, the more convinced they are of the authenticity of the overlapping memories.

Lucien: I think there is no better way to sway their opinion than to create a false memory on the spot.

Anna: However, the risk is very high. If you get caught before the announcement, it will be difficult to turn public opinion, right?

Lucien: Rather, I really hope to see such a person appear.

Lucien: After all, that makes the show so much more interesting, right?

As Lucien spoke, he raised his eyebrows a little and revealed a smile of interest.

I write down a few ideas in my notebook. After thinking for a moment, I nod my head.

MC: Considering the advantages and disadvantages, this is a good plan that can be adopted into the planning proposal.

Willow and Anna are looking at each other, coughing and speaking.

Willow: Boss, since the style and format of the program have taken shape, can we consider collaborating with the TV station…?

MC: Not yet.

As I spoke, I turned my head and solemnly looked at Lucien.

MC: Because the show's esteemed guest has not been decided yet. I can't afford to make this call if he doesn't nod.

Lucien lowers his eyes and puts one hand on his chin.

Lucien: Let me think about it... I really like this topic, and the program's format is also very interesting.

Lucien: However, it seems that the days when the show will be filmed coincide with the completion of my current project.

MC: …And so?

Lucien looks at my expectant eyes and opens his mouth with a smile.

Lucien: So I'll be working intensively these days to complete the work on the research center.

Lucien: Looking forward to working with you. I'm glad to be your first guest.

After finalizing the other details, MC calls the TV Station to express her willingness to cooperate. The other party happily agreed and only proposed that the submission should be submitted to the TV Station for review.

MC gives the coordination work to Kiki while she is interviewing people about the recent phenomenon.

MC: What do you think about the recent "overlapping memory" rumor?

Passerby A: I've never cared about it, but doesn't it sounds like some multi-channel network hype to scam money?

Passerby B: This hysteria has ruined my son... he now stays at home all day in disbelief, and his homework has been neglected for days!

Passerby C: This must be God's instruction! It points the way for our future!

Questioning, admiration, disdain, curiosity. The different attitudes make me feel that this incident's scope seems more significant than I imagined.

As if there's an invisible string that is constantly tightening, and it will break if you don't pay attention.

While MC is sorting through the interview, Kiki suddenly calls her because there's an emergency. And then, MC finds out that the TV Station returned the submissions that have too much contrast between memory and reality.

MC: Thank you for your hard work. But, I would like to clarify why some of the submissions were rejected after being screened by my company?

As if anticipating my arrival, the other party speaks without haste.

Staff: The contrast between their previous and present lives is too apparent.

Staff: Look, the former starlet is now a common seller; the well-known boss is now retired to their family...

Staff: Their attitudes and words carry a strong sense of resentment and discontent.

MC: But the essence of social education programs is to fully reflect the true picture of society.

MC: I disagree that the focus is only on those who have a stable life.

Staff: Miss MC, forgive me for reminding you once again.

Staff: The program's original purpose was to promote social stability to support the city's redevelopment plan.

Staff: As for other things, if it can be achieved along the way then it'd be the icing on the cake. But if it can't be achieved then we can only give up.

I grip the script a bit harder, and the suspicions in my heart gradually become clear.

The TV Station's position is clear enough.

What they want is to put a specific person in the spotlight rather than expose the truth.

With the same approach as the City Hall in the redevelopment plan, they wanted to hear only words of obedience, not voices of other opinions.

Instead of wasting time on unnecessary negotiations, it is better to retreat and try to gain the initiative in other ways.

After thinking about this, I speak in a calm voice.

MC: We respect the station's arrangement. But this is collaborative filming, not an outsourcing project.

MC: My company must also have the opportunity of expression, and can not be pushed around in everything.

Staff: It's only natural that we won't interfere too much with the rest of the show. Please don't worry.

The business-like tone is also a concession. I can't say anything else except respectfully nod my head.

[Chapter 43-15]

So, just as the staff from the TV Station said, the process besides the submission review goes much smoother. MC secretly tells Kiki to 'fix' the wording of the contrasting submission so it won't get rejected. Once the schedule is set, they start to finalize other show details.

A week passed, and soon came the day of the program recording. MC dials Lucien's phone.

MC: I'm really sorry, I may be a few minutes late…

Hearing my anxious tone, Lucien's voice carries a touch of reassurance.

Lucien: Don't rush. Just take your time. I'll be waiting for you in the backstage lounge.

??: Professor Lucien, have some tea!

I froze momentarily as a cheerful and attentive stranger's voice came from the other end of the receiver.

MC: Is there someone meeting you already?

Lucien: Yeah, we had a nice chat, don't worry about it.

MC: Okay then, I'll see you later~

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

I hung up the phone with a bit of confusion. I hastily stop a taxi and rush to the TV station. When I arrived backstage, I saw Kiki standing outside the lounge, and she immediately approached me.

Kiki: Boss, all the guests have arrived and are chatting with Professor Lucien inside!

MC: Wait, it's the guests who are meeting with Lucien?

Kiki: Yeah, they were having such a good time, we couldn't even get in the conversation!

MC: Haha really, then I'll go and take a look. It would be best if you told people to get ready~

I pretend not to be surprised and laugh. Today's guests have the impression that they don't have a good personality to get along with, and Lucien has always disliked polite social interaction, so how can they…

At the same time, I push open the lounge door, and a polite question comes into my ears.

??: …So, Professor Lucien, what could be the reason for my grandson's sudden change in temper since his parents took him away?

I lighten my steps and see a few guests sitting on the couch, listening intently.

Lucien is wearing a polite smile on his lips, accepting the cup of tea handed to him by the old man. And as if noticing my movement, he looks at me through the crowd.

I wink at Lucien and naturally sit next to him. Lucien casually puts the tea on the table, then turns his head to the old man and explains gently.

Lucien: In developing children, their mirror neurons* are more active than adults. So, they're physiologically more susceptible to the influence of their surrounding environment.

(T/N: Mirror neurons are a type of neuron in the brain that fires both when an individual performs a certain action and when they observe another individual performing the same action. In other words, when you see someone else performing an action, your mirror neurons "mirror" that action in your own brain, as if you were performing it yourself.)

Lucien: If there is a sudden personality change, perhaps it is because there is someone in their new environment who has problems managing emotions. You can pay more attention to it.

Old Man: ... Indeed, his father brings people home twice a day to play mahjong! So that's where the root is!

Old Man: I've already lived two lifetimes combined and yet still don't understand how to raise children...

I pour another cup of tea, hand it to Lucien, and smoothly take over the conversation.

MC: How can you have two lifetimes?

Old Man: Just a few days ago, I got several years' worth of memories in my head!

Old Man: The neighborhood, hospital, and the central plaza where I walk through…. Each and every aspect of the picture is clear!

Lucien picks up the teapot and fills up a cup of tea for the old man.

Lucien: When it comes to the central plaza, I also have some impressions.

Lucien: From that memory, it seems that its clock tower was damaged by accident.

The middle-aged man is rubbing his glass of water, seemingly recalling something.

Man: Why don't I remember much about it…

Like throwing a stone into the lake, the crowd is either murmuring or pondering at the same time, I look at Lucien, and my gaze collides with his.

I understand what he is trying to do, and I pretend to be confused.

MC: If I think about it, I do remember a bit.

MC: The clock tower… It stopped working for several days before someone came to repair it, and there were complaints.

Noticing our conversation, the old man taps his cane and speaks in a definitive manner.

Old Man: Yes, I remember it clearly too!

Man: That being said, it seems to be the case…

My cell phone suddenly vibrates twice and makes an unnoticeable buzzing sound. I sweep a glance, secretly squeeze Lucien's palm, and then smile and get up to open my mouth.

MC: It's almost time to shoot. Please move to the dressing room and get ready for the stage~

MC: If there's anything else to discuss, let's save it for the stage.

The lighting lights up the big space, soft leather sofas are placed opposite to each other, and the right armrests are put next to the standing mic.

Lucien sits alone on the other side of the table and quietly listens, looking a little powerless. And the six guests seated on the opposite side are chatting together, showing relaxed laughter from time to time.

After the person next to them finished speaking, they began to share their "past life memories".

After 20 minutes of talking about his experience of living under a bridge, he put down his mic.

Middle-aged Man: My mouth is dry from talking… Okay, I've finished my speech. Professor Lucien, do you have any rebuttal to this?

Lucien lightly responds his fingertips gently tapping on the table.

Lucien: Interesting perspective indeed. But I wonder if that memory is all true…

Lucien: Because then the society we "experience" should also have the same details.

A girl sitting on the left side of the front seat is impatient and speaks up.

Girl: The mall I used to go to has changed half of its brands!

Lucien: But it is difficult to make reference to experiences that are too personal. Is there any evidence that is more general in nature?

Lucien cleverly pushes the argument back again. After contemplating for a moment, the girl hesitantly opens her mouth.

Girl: In the memory from that time, it seems that there was not so much Evolver as there is now, so should this be considered social evidence?

Lucien: Can you please describe it in detail?

Girl: Everyone lives a normal life, going to and from work every day, and we never heard of Evol or anything...

Lucien: Well, wasn't Evolver's existence hidden from the public eye until a few accidents exposed it?

Lucien said, carefully closing the documents in his hand.

Lucien: Most of the literature written on the theme of "Evol doesn't exist" has gone in that direction.

Lucien: I just looked at the pre-show questionnaire and see that you and everyone else on the other side of the table have seen or read similar works.

Lucien: So how can you be sure that your subconscious is not being influenced by the novels?

Lucien's words promptly cause a small discussion on the spot. The girl grits her teeth, unable to refute for a moment, but the old man beside her speaks with certainty.

Old Man: I can give you another example.

Old Man: In our previous life, the clock tower in the central plaza was shut down for several days because of an accident. Ask anyone else, and they'll remember it.

Old Man: This one should not be related to any novel!

Several other people at the guest table are showing their support, and Lucien even nods affirmatively.

Lucien: Indeed, this example can eliminate the baseline factor of cognitive formation based on past experience.

Lucien: But it also confirms that the anchoring effect* can influence judgment.

(T/N: The anchoring effect is a cognitive bias that causes people to rely too heavily on the first piece of information they receive when making decisions or judgments. This initial information serves as an "anchor" that influences subsequent thoughts and judgments. People tend to adjust their subsequent judgments from the initial anchor rather than starting from scratch, even if the initial information is irrelevant or arbitrary.)

Lucien: When acquiring information, people always use the information they hear first-hand as an anchor point, but rarely confirm its authenticity.

The old man heavily taps his cane and frowns.

Old Man: So many explanations. Are you trying to say that I also remember it wrong?

Old Man: Professor Lucien, don't you also remember this very well?

Lucien: What if I say that actually, it doesn't happen?

Lucien said, glancing at me off-stage. I pick up my walkie-talkie and whisper a few words to the director.

The screen at the back of the studio immediately displays a video.

"Why don't I remember much about it…"; "If I think about it, I do remember a bit."

On the screen, the discussion before and after the recording is replayed in its entirety.

Lucien's sight falls to their puzzled expression, and he lifts up the mic on the table. His deep voice is clearly transmitted to everyone's ears through the loudspeaker.

Lucien: (chuckle) I'm sorry, but what you all just described is a false memory.

Lucien: In fact, the recording had already started in the longue.

[Chapter 43-16]

The recording site suddenly goes into an uproar.

Some people stare blankly at the screen as if they haven't reacted; while others look at Lucien and retort in incredulous whispers.

After a few moments, the guests who finally understood the situation exchange glances in astonishment, then can't help but speak up.

Middle-aged Man: Professor Lucien, what do you mean by that?

Lucien adjusts the mic with his fingertips and calmly leans over.

Lucien: As you can see, the "clock tower failure" is just an event that the Producer and I made up on the spot using psychology.

Lucien: You have demonstrated that under herd mentality*, individuals will give up their own opinions and conform their behavior to others according to the group's influence.

(T/N: Herd mentality is a term used to describe the tendency of people to follow the behaviors, beliefs, and opinions of the group they belong to or the people around them. In other words, it refers to the way individuals are influenced by the actions and decisions of their peers or the majority, rather than making their own independent choices.)

Lucien: In the process of subconsciously transforming the collective memory into a part of their own memory, the present "overlapping memory" is formed.

After looking at each other, the girl in the guest seat slightly raises her voice.

Girl: B-but I have a picture of the clock tower failing in my mind! Because of the accident, the businesses near the clock tower were also closed for several days-

Lucien: -and during that period, many people in the neighborhood complained about the inconvenience of living there, didn't they?

Lucien spoke as if he had predicted the scene in the girl's memory.

The girl hesitantly nods her head. My eyes widen in astonishment behind the camera, and I silently mouth the word "amazing" to Lucien.

A little brilliant smile appears in his eyes. Lucien immediately turns his head and gives a gesture at the distant director. In the next second, the 3D image of the human brain suddenly emerges on the screen.

Everyone's gaze instantly converges on the screen. Lucien naturally moves closer in my direction and explains in a calm voice.

Lucien: Memory is not a single, continuous image but rather a collection or composition of multiple images.

Lucien: When the memory fragments are incomplete, they are automatically completed in the hippocampus according to the recollector's logic and beliefs.

Lucien: In other words, our memory isn't inherently infallible.

As the words were spoken, our distance was reduced to arm's length. Lucien extends his hand to me in the audience.

Lucien: In order to support this view, I have conducted a survey in advance.

Lucien: Can I ask Miss Producer to cooperate with me and distribute it to all the guests?

He said and held out his hand to me, his eyebrows slightly bent. I glance down at the script.

In the original setup, there is no such thing as a guest inviting a producer to the stage.

I let out an inaudible hmph, take his hand, walk up to the stage, handing out the survey files to the guests, and hear Lucien speak.

Lucien: Before this experiment, I also asked several staff members around me if they had seen this image in their memory.

Lucien: However, the results also confirmed that none of them had any impression of it.

Lucien: I think this should be enough to prove that the "clock tower failure doesn't actually happen" is not a one-sided story.

There are other low murmurs from the guests. A young man who looks like a college student takes the information I handed out and scans it, frowning at the refutation.

Student: But memory error is merely an individual phenomenon.

Student: As you mentioned earlier, other staff members are also experiencing new memory images… What is the explanation for this city-wide memory phenomenon?

Lucien gently shakes his head.

Lucien: I can't give a definite conclusion on this.

Lucien: There are various factors that influence memory. Maybe it comes from the comet, and maybe it's the influence of the overlapping city or something else we don't know yet.

Lucien: But from a neuroscience perspective, I can offer a direction to explore… Have you ever heard of the Mandela Effect?

Several guests shake their heads, looking a bit confused. Only the student thinks for a moment and then speaks first.

Student: You mean a collective memory that doesn't match the facts?

Lucien: Correct. It is possible that someone's memory is biased, and the wrong information is passed on by word of mouth.

Lucien: After a period of time, it became widely spread in society and created a large-scale false impression.

Old Man: ...This so-called Mandela effect sounds very mysterious. How can it be so easy to believe what others say?

The middle-aged man beside the old man tugs his sleeve and hurriedly whispers a few words.

The old man then remembers something and coughs embarrassedly.

Lucien meets the old man's gaze and smiles a little.

Lucien: As you have said, ideally, people would make judgments about the information they receive. However, when dealing with people we trust, we often unconsciously let down our defenses.

Lucien: Without the camera recording, perhaps the "clock tower failure" would have become a new Mandela effect.

The studio falls silent for a while, and many people look thoughtful. Lucien withdraws his gaze and turns his head to look at me.

Lucien: This concludes the arguments of the opposing side.

I take the microphone and look over to the other side of the room.

MC: Are there any more "contestants" on the other side who would like to present a rebuttal?

Student: Although I have no more argument backed up, I still feel unconvinced…

MC: That's fine. The contestants on the opposite side can keep their opinions to themselves.

I said, walking to the middle of the studio and speaking without haste.

MC: While this debate will have winners and losers, it does not mean that there is an opinion that is superior or inferior.

MC: The main purpose of this episode is not to draw conclusions about this phenomenon but rather to offer more possible explanations.

MC: Whether you think it's a deviation, an overlap, or even a migration...

MC: In the end, this is just a picture that suddenly appeared in the mind, and how to interpret it is a matter of personal freedom.

Some of the guests are in thought, and others are unconvinced as if they want to argue something.

My gaze falls to my side, and I see Lucien nodding imperceptibly.

The light shines on his face, making me clearly see myself in his deep eyes.

My originally nervous heart instantly calm down a bit. I withdraw my gaze and speak firmly.

MC: While choosing whether to believe in it or not, I hope you won't forget this.

MC: The most important thing is to hold the present life in your hands.

[Chapter 43-17]

A few days pass, and soon it's the day of the show's premiere.

My colleagues and I sit at our workstations and watch the reactions in the comments section with the utmost attention.

-I have reservations. I still can't accept the theory explained by Professor Lucien…

-I've wanted to say for a long time that giving up reality for an inexplicable picture is basically like putting the cart before the horse*, no?

(T/N: 本末倒置, literally means putting the cart before the horse is an idiom that means ignoring the actual important thing and instead focusing on the insignificant thing)

I exhale softly and hand the document back to Willow.

Even though the negative impact has not completely dissipated, there are more different voices than the previous one, which tended to be panic-stricken.

MC: Let's start preparing for the next episode. We can invite experts in physics to explain it from the perspective of another discipline.

MC: With the three days of time as focus, continue tracking the reactions in the comments section, and put together the top ten pages of comments.

MC: After all, the audience's reaction is the best choice to adjust the program's direction.

Willow: No problem, I'll get in touch now.

Willow takes the folder and leaves in a hurry. I get up, loosen up, and turn around a few times before picking up the phone on my desk.

The program is a big success, and it's time to tell Lucien the good news.

My phone suddenly starts ringing. Seeing the name appearing on the screen, I can't resist bending my eyes and happily picking it up.

MC: Good evening, Professor Lucien~

Lucien: Has something pleasant happened to you?

MC: The audience's response to this episode is better than expected~ it's all thanks to Professor Lucien's work!

Lucien: In that case, I'd like to ask the Great Producer for a small reward.

Lucien: If you have time, can you go to a banquet with me tonight?

MC: Then I have to look at my schedule first-

I pretend to do so, but his familiar figure suddenly enters my sight.

Lucien is standing downstairs, his black suit outlines his slender figure, and when he raises his hand, I can see the smooth lines of his shirt.

MC: …You sneak up on me!

Lucien: (chuckle) Can't I sneak up on Miss Producer?

A soft laugh comes from the other end of the phone. I laugh along with him, quickly pick up my bag and run downstairs.

I'm about to pull open the car door when I suddenly realize something.

MC: Wait, if I want to accompany you to the banquet, do I also have to go home and change my clothes…

Lucien: Don't worry. I've got you covered.

Lucien said while turning his head, motioning for me to look at the exquisite gift box in the rear seat.

Lucien: You can change in the car. I'll wait for you outside.

Such thorough preparation is indeed Lucien's style. I get into the back seat and open the gift box.

(T/N: I subtitled this bit bc the sexy voice and bgm is just so!)

*insert sexy shower bgm*

The delicate fabric, the fit, everything is impeccable, but the narrow space makes it impossible to tidy the tiny accessories behind me.

I bite my lips and finally knock on the car window for help.

MC: Lucien, my zipper...

Lucien's figure outside of the car pauses a little, turns around to look at me, and smiles.

Lucien: (chuckle) Let me help you.

The car door opens and closes again, and with a slight rustling sound, the cold touch of metal slowly climbs up my spine.

My heart beats a little faster. I hear Lucien's hoarse voice coming from behind me.

Lucien: (with THAT hoarse voice) Isn't it strange why I suddenly invited you to a banquet?

MC: Yes, a little… but whatever the reason, I'll say yes.

MC: After all, you've helped me a lot with this show.

Lucien: (whisper) Is that all?

A low whisper brushes my ear, like some kind of enticement. I clutch the hem of my dress and softly speak.

MC: And because I trust in you unconditionally.

The light of a passing car flashes through the window, illuminating the silence inside the car for a moment. Lucien's fingertips linger on the back of my neck, stirring up subtle tingles.

He speaks softly.

Lucien: (chuckle) …You look good in this.

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

The car runs across the long road, drives through several streets, and finally stops in front of a mansion.

I take Lucien's hand and get out of the car, walking along with the crowd to the inside.

The interior of the spacious hall is brightly lit, with gentle music flowing. I suddenly think of something and poke Lucien, who stands beside me.

MC: Speaking of which, what's the theme of this banquet? I don't know the identities of the other people yet.

Lucien takes a glass of white wine from the waiter's hand, and his lips curl slightly.

Lucien: (chuckle) There are no influential people here today, just ordinary citizens. As for the theme, can I keep it a secret for now?

I narrow my eyes when I see how frankly he is trying to keep me in suspense, and I cooperate by picking up another glass of wine from the tray.

MC: Of course, it's useless to hide it from me. After all, I can find out within ten minutes.

Lucien raises his eyebrows with interest and takes a shallow sip.

Lucien: Then I'll look forward to how you solve the mystery.

MC: I won't let you down.

I said and gently clinked my glass with him. I straighten my dress and walk naturally toward the crowd, sweeping my eyes covertly over everyone I pass.

An office worker in a suit with dark circles under his eyes; a young girl with bright makeup, taking selfies in the corner…

My gaze slips through the crowd, and I feel even more puzzled.

The people here are of different ages and backgrounds and don't even seem to know each other… For a while, I hardly find any common ground.

Why does the person who holds the banquet gather them together?

I walk while thinking and slowly paying attention to the conversations around me.

Old Man: ...I was telling my neighbor about my past life when I got the invitation, and I didn't know what I was being invited to…

Girl: …Me? I remember I was a starlet. How can I stand at the counter all day long like this…

Middle-aged Woman: …I should put my career first. If I grit my teeth and insist, now I'm sure I'll be a small boss…

The vague exchange of voices comes to my ears, and I can't help but be struck by them.

These experiences… I think I've seen them in the rejected submissions?!

Lucien walks to my side at some point. I come close to him and lower my voice.

MC: The people here should be those who have a great contrast between their previous and current lives.

MC: We've received submissions from some of them before.

I said, make a great show of being in earnest and tugging at the hem of Lucien's coat.

MC: Lucien, is this the secret of this party?

Lucien's gaze indifferently sweeps through the crowd and slowly falls back on me, with a hint of intrigue, gently shaking the glass in his hand.

Lucien: Hmm… only 30% of the guesses were correct.

MC: I can't believe it's only 30...

Before I can finish my sentence, a strange and unfriendly voice suddenly comes from behind me.

Man: ...Oi! Hey! I'm calling you!

I turn around suspiciously and see a strange man in a suit standing behind me without me knowing, his eyes darting back and forth over my body.

I'm a little displeased to be called out so rudely and to be gawked at in a blatant manner.

MC: Sir, I think you are mistaken…

Man: I think I've seen you somewhere before!

He suddenly clapped his hands and loudly interrupted me.

Man: You're the Producer of "Miracle Finder", right?

Man: In that memory, I was interviewed by you and Professor Lucien!

[Chapter 43-19]

My eyes linger on the man for a few seconds, and I speak hesitantly.

MC: ...I'm sorry, we've interviewed a lot of guests, but what do you mean by "that memory"?

Man: Don't play dumb with me. Remember the elevator malfunction? You approached me to talk about it!

MC: Elevator malfunction…

My hand holding the wine glass tightens slightly, searching for information in my head, and finally, a blurred face emerges in the depths of distant memory.

=Flashback Start=

MC: Hello, I'm a reporter for Miracle Finder. Today I'd like to interview you about the elevator malfunction incident.

Elevator operator: Miracle Finder? Are you talking about that silly program where they go lookin' for superpowers?

Elevator operator: What do you guys know! What do you know?!

Elevator operator: I'm not like you two. I've never used this power! I'm just a normal person. This power has no use to me at all!

=Flashback End=

The air seems to freeze for a moment, and my heartbeat suddenly quickens a little bit.

....The elevator malfunctions incident did occur in Loveland city before it got restarted.

At that time, Lucien and I were following this clue and found Dr. Song, which led to the subsequent events related to the BS.

The person in front of me is actually the elevator operator who was interviewed in that incident...?

A little bit of uneasiness suddenly surges in my heart. I subconsciously look at Lucien beside me and meet his gaze.

He doesn't say anything and just quietly looks at me. A delicate light flows at the bottom of his quiet eyes, inexplicably calming me down.

I take a deep breath, turn to the man, and speak.

MC: I'm sorry. I can't remember which episode I worked with you on, but thank you for your cooperation in the past.

MC: We do often invite passersby to share their views on camera.

MC: I just heard you mention "that memory"…

MC: Coincidentally, our recent program is based on the theme of "memory overlap".

Man: I know, the Mandela effect, right?

Man: My wife and kids think it makes sense, but I don't believe it! That memory is definitely real!

MC: Isn't it a bit too arbitrary for you to say that?

MC: Well, if you don't feel convinced by the perspective of neuroscience, you can follow us later on at…

Man: No need to wait until later. I want to discuss it with you now!

MC: …

Seeing that many people nearby already have eyes on us, I have no choice but to give in.

MC: Well, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

The man licks his lower lip and gestures a little excitedly.

Man: Here's the thing, I always thought my Evol was useless. Until I saw in "that memory" that it could be very strong.

Man: I was skeptical at first, but after using it frequently, as I remembered, my Evol has really improved a lot.

Man: If the memory is truly false, why does it work?

His question is not difficult to explain with Lucien's theory. I ponder for a moment, rub the wine glass and open my mouth.

MC: All abilities can be enhanced with regular use, and Evol is no exception.

MC: Now, there are many TV shows and novels with Evol as the theme. Maybe the images that facilitate your power as you say…

MC: Is it actually the unconscious psychological suggestion from these sources?

Facing my question, the man seems to be momentarily taken aback.

Finally, there is some room for maneuvering in the tense atmosphere. I feel slightly relieved and look at Lucien.

He's looking at me with a faint smile but doesn't approach me. He expresses approval, but it's also as if he's observing something.

A few doubts arise in my mind, and I suddenly hear a cold snort from the man. In the next second, the glass in his hand suddenly floats up.

I instinctively take a half step back as I see the man heavily swing his hand. The glass shot down violently, denting the hard marble floor!

MC: ...!

A sudden sharp sound shatters the tranquility of the hall and quickly ignites the hidden fires surrounding it.

Guests: There are other people here. Can you watch out?

Guests: These Evolver are just too arrogant! If it's anything like that memory-

The man turns a deaf ear to the exclamation around him and just provocatively looks at me.

Man: If it is an ordinary enhancement, you can still use your theory to muddle through.

Man: But my Evol is exactly the same as the picture in my head, no matter the scale of control or the effect… What's going on?

As soon as the man's voice falls, the chatter around the room grows even louder. Countless curious or questioning gazes and whispers almost pin me in place.

Man: Say, Producer, how do you explain this?

My heart surges with a little trepidation. I brace myself and open my lips.

MC: I...

??: If Miss MC doesn't know how to answer, why don't you ask your program consultant to help you explain?

A strong voice abruptly comes from the side, and Leto, dressed in a tuxedo, slowly walks towards me.

MC: What are you doing here…

In the blink of an eye, I always feel that something has gone off the rails where I can't see it, and now I can only watch it continue to move forward.

After Leto finished speaking, Lucien stepped forward, standing and blocking a little in front of me.

Lucien: You just said that Miss Producer and I came to interview you together, right?

Man: Yeah, what's the matter?

Lucien: I remember the first thing I said to you was-

Lucien: "You're just gonna walk away from the problem and abandon your family?"

Lucien cautiously examines the man's eyes and suddenly smiles.

Lucien: It seems that this time, you have a much better life than you remember. I guess you don't have to worry about the compensation anymore.

Along with Lucien's words, the man's eyes grow wider, and his lip trembles.

Man: Professor Lucien, are you telling me that…

Lucien: Yes, what I'm trying to say is that the memory that we all have in our minds is indeed real.

[Chapter 43-20]

Guest A: That memory is real?!

Guest B: ...So that means I can turn over a new leaf?

There was a moment of silence, and then a muffled exclamation of surprise erupted. This time, it was even louder than when I saw the man hit the floor with Evol.

MC: Lucien...?

I widen my eyes in disbelief, looking from Lucien's side profile, slowly fall to the ecstatic crowd, and finally stop at Leto's smile.

What's going on?

Why would Leto come here, and why would Lucien suddenly say such things to everyone when the show is trying to turn the tide?

MC: That's not right! I…

The words that are about to come from my mouth are stopped by a hand. Lucien uses the hand hidden behind him to squeeze my wrist with a firm grip.

And the man, after the initial excitement, raises a new question.

Man: Professor Lucien, why did you give another set of explanations in the program?

Lucien: Well, I would like to ask Mr. Leto to answer this question.

Lucirn raises his other hand to make a gesture of invitation, and the hall is surging with applause. Leto doesn't refuse, smiling, and comes to the center of the crowd.

Leto: Because in this society, only a small percentage of people have brains - that is, those of you whom I have invited to this banquet.

Leto: For most people, life just needs to be stable. As for what the truth is, they don't care about it.

Leto: The TV station and her company have partnered on that program to meet this demand and allow them to move on with their lives peacefully.

Leto: In contrast, you have the power to manipulate society because you have superior information and judgment.

Leto: Everything in the future will depend on your wishes.

Leto: As for what you all are going through, I had the general picture before I came here.

Leto: Please rest assured that I will do everything in my power to help you restore your former lives. The future of this city needs your strength to help build it together…

Under the reflection of the crystal lamp, Leto looks calm and powerful, making people subconsciously want to listen to his words.

As I look at the thunderous applause of the ballroom, I can't stop feeling chills around my body as if an invisible shadow is quietly coalescing.

The attention focus of these guests is no longer on me and Lucien as they surround Leto after he finishes his speech-

After all, in their eyes, Leto is the one who can give them a future.

Looking at the ridiculous scene in front of me, I stiffly raise the corners of my mouth and drink the wine in my glass.

Lucien: (whisper) Your glass is empty. Would you like some more?

I deliberately ignore his words, but my gaze is unrelentingly fixed on him, which in turn makes him chuckle lightly.

Lucien: I hope Mr. Leto is the cause of your anger and annoyance, not me.

He said aggrievedly as if he was being wronged and gently squeezed my fingers. I vent on him by pinching the palm of his hand, and I take a step closer to him.

MC: Are you not going to explain anything?

Lucien: I was going to.

Lucien: I was going to say, if I've upset you so much, would you be willing to give me a chance to explain? At least for the sake of working on your show this month?

MC: Okay, so you have to explain it well.

Lucien deepens his smile. He clasps my hand and pulls me to the corner of the hall.

When the hidden curtain slightly covers the two of us, he speaks in a low voice.

Lucien: I'm sorry. What I just purposely said to that person was a way to reduce the trouble.

MC: Reduce what trouble? It's clearly making more and more trouble…

I still can't understand it, and I turn my face away a little angrily.

MC: You clearly know that…

MC: In addition to solving social problems, I actually want to use the influence of the TV station…

MC: To make people who know Queen's identity doubtful about their memory and won't try to find me.

MC: If these remarks from Leto get out, my previous efforts may be in vain, both for me and for the program…

Lucien puts down his wine glass and approaches me, his body enveloping me from behind.

His cold fingertips gently touch my cheek, silently signaling me to turn around as if to guide me to re-examine everything in front of me.

Lucien: He won't pass it on because he doesn't have the ability to do that yet - and your presence here is proof of that.

MC: And what about the others?

Lucien: These people? You should've found something in common with them.

Lucien: There is a huge difference between their past and present lives.

Lucien: And these people are subconsciously unwilling to accept reality. They will firmly believe that what is in memory is the life they should have.

Lucien: This is human nature. A person instinctively prefers to blame other factors for failure rather than acknowledge it.

Lucien: Whether it's other people, timing… or fate.

Lucien's tail note is slightly raised. All kinds of countenances passed in front of his eyes like a grand farce.

Lucien: Therefore, there is no amount of arguing that will sway them from their point of view. From the very beginning, the outcome of your argument with them is already predetermined.

I open my lips. I always feel that I can't be fully convinced.

It is true that these people already have a predetermined stance. And if I insist on refuting, perhaps just like what Lucien said, it won't change anything…

But at least in front of us, there is another choice than to add fuel to the flames...

Thinking of this, I can't help but look up and stare at him with some annoyance.

MC: So, is this the secret of the banquet that you want to show me?

Lucien: No. At least not exactly.

Apart from a faint smile on Lucien's face, there was also a hint of helplessness.

He slightly leans over and raises his hand to bring my hair to the back of my ear.

Lucien: I want you to see that not everyone has the same stance as you.

Lucien: Different stances pursue their own interests, and from these interests, motives are created.

Lucien: For those who desire peace, there will certainly be those who want to create as much danger as possible. After all, it is in the chaos that many possibilities can emerge.

Lucien: Holding the power that everyone secretly covets and fears, you are bound to become a target.

Lucien: Rather than letting you get hurt and suffer afterward, it is better for you to discover these unsheathed blades in advance.

The distance between us is so close that I can almost see my reluctant expression in Lucien's eyes.

MC: It's my inescapable destiny… Is that what you think?

Lucien: A person's talent will arouse the envy of others. It's not your fault, nor is it the power's fault.

Lucien: But as CORE, you have to face the truth.

Lucien's words were as precise and cold as a scalpel, but his warm fingers kept rubbing my fingertips reassuringly over and over again.

MC: I have one last question… How did you get the invitation to the banquet when Leto doesn't invite irrelevant people?

Lucien: You already have a guess, don't you?

MC: You're working with him?

Lucien: No, it's just a mutual borrowing of "power".

Lucien: Just like how I produce a program with the help of your identity. Except that his ambition is going to be even greater.

I stiffen and raise the corners of my mouth.

MC: It seems that stance is not so important as long as it is useful to you.

Lucien's voice sounds soft as if it is trying to bewitch.

Lucien: That's the more common rule in the shadow of the world.

Lucien: Besides themselves, all a person can rely on is their power.

Lucien: Like being CORE. It is more than a target, it can also attract people to follow behind you.

Lucien: If you take one small step forward, all the dangers now and then will no longer be a threat.

Lucien: Because you can achieve far more than that.

The moonlight is gentle. A thin curtain suddenly fluttered between us, separating our eyes from each other.

I can't see Lucien's face clearly, but I can feel that he is staring intently at me as if waiting for an answer.

Will it be a passive struggle? Or should I take the initiative to get into the center of this vortex?

After a few moments of silence, I raise my hand and brush away the curtain. I take half a step forward and approach Lucien, meeting his gaze straight on.

MC: ...Those who will follow me, will that also include you?

Lucien's voice softens a little.

The moonlight on his face transparently outlines a sense of danger, making it impossible for anyone to move their eyes.

Lucien: (softly) I've been following behind you since a long time ago.

[Lux’s Rambling Corner]

Okay, before I start rambling a little, can I point out how his last sentence is directly referencing this part-

Lucien, a character who usually acts as a guide, letting her to take the lead and makes the decision because he trusts her is always :"""".

I’ll only ramble a little bc Lucien already explains his point, and this official summary already explains it well enough ahah- but I think this is a pretty fun and fluffy chapter. There’s one single knife when MC asks him about his regret, but that’s it~

This batch of chapters opens with Lucien talking with Xiao Yue, which can foreshadow future main story updates.

I love how the first part of the chapter already foreshadows his plan, like MC ‘borrowing’ Lucien’s identity/status. And their talk with the physics student. You can force everyone to have the same point of view. In addition to people wanting peace, some simply want chaos and danger. MC’s program won’t 100% work because they’re trying to hide the truth.

Lucien is very aware of the possible dangers, so he approaches Leto. Offering cooperation so he can have some kind of control over the situation rather than let it develop quietly like what happened in S2 ch 13-14 ((honestly,,,, Leto is a bit dumb for not thinking that MC’s program can be used to filter people LOL)).

In this chap, everyone basically used each other (mutual “borrowing” of power). Lucien used MC’s program to filter out those people and hold his end of the bargain; MC used the TV station’s influence to also protect herself in addition to solving the social issues; and Leto used MC’s program to stabilize the situation. Lucien cooperates with both sides, and they all get what they want, but I think it’s obvious whose side he leans on ahah. After all, even though he appears to support Leto in the banquet, his actual intention is to make her prepare for danger in advance (and lol, the ‘elite people’ that Lucien filters are a bit half-assed >_> 9 out 10 of them feel like they’d easily betray someone if they can).

In terms of dealing with the danger surrounding MC, I think he never really changes from season 1. He consistently advocates taking the first initiative to walk into the game. He trusts that she’s powerful enough to fight the danger. Power isn’t a bad thing, but since it attracts danger, it’s better to change from passive to active. And he always asked her choice again and again whether she wanted to face the truth calmly or to be fully protected by him. Since she chooses the former, he’s willing to accompany her choice by following from behind and becoming her ‘strength’.