#if you see me draw him and he looks wildly different every time

[vulpeculaque]

girl help why is Shanks so hard to draw

[runicarbiter02]

How would each CoD character react to you touching their cheek for the first time? (In a caressing way)

A/N: Oh my god, this is actually the cutest and I couldn't think of a better way to start off this blog, thank you for this, love! I hope you enjoy! ~ Hannah

ALEX KELLER

Oh, this man is absolutely melting the second your hand cups the side of his face.

The goofiest damn grin on his face, corners of his eyes crinkling, soft laugh rumbling in his chest.

"How ya doing, sweetheart? Hanging in there?" Man is always concerned with you and your well-being.

Absolutely is the type of person to just completely nuzzle into your touch, soft sigh of content leaving his lips.

You aren't getting your hand back any time soon. Try and pull away, and he will absolutely pull the kicked puppy look. You can't bring yourself to pull away anyway.

ALEJANDRO VARGAS

"Oh, is there something you need, mi vida?" This motherfucker and his sweet, smooth voice. Love him.

He will gently draw you in close with a hand on your waist, that signature cheeky grin on his lips. He'll gently take your hand in his and just press sweet kisses to your fingertips.

This will lead to him pulling you aside for a moment, peppering you in sweet kisses and showering you in the most endearing compliments in Spanish.

Expect to be walking away with a spring in your step and a flushed face.

GARY "ROACH" SANDERSON

At first, he will look wildly confused, his brows furrowing slightly and his head cocking to the side.

"What's up, hun? Everything okay?" He signs the term of endearment with so much passion every time, it is absolutely the sweetest and most heartwarming thing. Any term of endearment he uses is always signed with more passion than anything else.

Once you let him know you just wanted to love on him, this cheeky little shit is flirting with you like crazy.

"Oh, just wanted to love on me, huh? Well, there's more ways you could-" He cuts his signing off with his own laughter when you playfully shove his face away, and he follows after you, making obnoxious kissy noises.

He makes it up to you, though, with the most affectionate kisses. He's goofy and that reflects in how he shows you his love.

(Can you tell I love Roach? I love him very much.)

JOHNNY "SOAP" MACTAVISH

Johnny will take your other hand, place it on his other cheek, and will gently press your hands against his cheeks to squish his face.

He hums happily, reveling in your touch as his eyes shut and his lips curl into a smile.

"Always know what I need before I even do, mo chridhe." This man is so, so whipped for you. Looks at you with so much love and affection that you might as well melt before him.

Do expect this to end up with you wrapped up in his arms, snuggled close, the Scotsman whispering some of the stupidest jokes known to man to you in an effort to get you to laugh.

JOHN PRICE

I have like a very specific image in mind for this one!

He tends to work himself to the bone, getting lost and caught up in his work, and its very, very hard to get him out of it. It's one of those nights where you find him hunched over his desk, nose buried in his work.

You walk up behind him, gently resting your hand on his cheek and he pauses, tilting his head back to look up at you.

Despite the exhaustion, his expression softens, the tender smile on his face highlighting the crow's feet at the corners of his eyes.

"It's late, isn't it...? Mmm... Alright, dearest, I'll head to bed."

He gently grasps your wrist and tilts his head to press a fleeting kiss to your palm, and then to the pulse point on your wrist. It takes a bit more convincing before he's off to bed.

(I'm a bit biased, I'm a major John Price simp if you couldn't tell.)

KEEGAN RUSS

Look, I firmly believe our resident masked men are softies, but they're all different in terms of their softness.

This man is a softie with you, but good god, is he suave and flirty.

"Mmm, what's up, kid...? Just looking for an excuse to see my face, hm? All you had to do was ask." It should be illegal how much this man's voice sounds like a silky purr.

Soft kisses to your fingers, knuckles, and the back of your palm. Fleeting kisses that barely meet, brushing against your skin and leaving trails of goosebumps in their wake.

"Always so sweet for me, kid."

KÖNIG

(Apparently this man is a colonel? And from what I've seen, if he joined at 18, and if we take the average amount of time it takes to get to that rank... This man is likely in his early 40s. Dilf König? Dilf König.)

Masked man number two! Softie, but different from Keegan. This man is the shy sort of soft.

I imagine this would happen after he shows you his face for the first time. He grew up bullied for his appearance, among other things, and its made him rather insecure about his looks.

When you gently cup the side of his face after studying him for a moment, he heaves a shuddering sigh and averts his gaze shyly. But, the second you tell him how handsome he is, his face goes pink and he flushes shyly.

"Ah, meine Sonne und Sterne... You're going to make me melt." He then proceeds to kiss you softly on the forehead and tells you how much he loves you.

KYLE "GAZ" GARRICK

A pleasant flush works its way onto his cheeks and he gives you that beautiful smile full of sunshine.

"Missed you, lovely. You been taking good care of yourself?" Sweet, heartless man that he is, worrying about you even though he looks exhausted after his most recent mission.

Gently draws you into him and just hugs you tight, pressing his face into the crook of your neck and sighing happily. The second your cologne or perfume washes over him, all tension leaves him completely.

"Missed this. Missed you." Whispered words against your skin. He gently sways in place with you as you two embrace, his hand coming to rest on the back of your head. Fully cherishes the moment.

"How's about some takeout and we finally watch that show you've been talking about? The House of the Dragon, right? Hopefully its better than the last few seasons of Game of Thrones." You have a stellar date in as you binge the entirety of The House of the Dragon and make up for lost cuddling time.

(Gaz does NOT get enough love and it's criminal. Perfect boyfriend/husband material right here. I adore him. Also? Man is absolutely gorgeous? Best man.)

NIKOLAI

(Russian dilf? Yes please! Underrated man right here.)

Late nights in bed, curled up with him are always the sweetest. Soft whispered nothings as you both lay together, skin on skin, fully content in a post sex haze.

He shoots you a lazy grin as you cup his face, his hand gently rubbing up and down the expanse of your back. "What's on your mind, мое солнышко? Laying there looking so stunning..."

Soft, playful kisses are placed along your jaw, a cheeky smirk on his lips when you begin to protest, laughter in your voice.

"One more round wouldn't hurt... We can sleep in tomorrow morning, Золотце." You know damn well you're going to be exhausted in the morning as he takes the time to worship every inch of your skin.

RODOLFO "RUDY" PARRA

(Rudy, my darling, my beloved, my SWEET! This man is also criminally underrated even though he's PERFECT husband material. SHAME!)

He happily returns the favor as you rest your hand against his cheek, his hand cupping your cheek as he rests his forehead against yours.

"Long day, cariño? Mmm, I understand... I'll draw us a bath and we can relax." He takes your hand, pressing sweet kisses to your knuckles before he draws a bath for the both of you.

You both spend most of the evening in the tub, you resting against his back as he holds you close, featherlight kisses pressed to your skin as you both talk about your day.

The both of you take such good care of each other, and there's never less than 100% put into your relationship on both sides.

SIMON "GHOST" RILEY

Masked softie number 3: Tender and longing edition.

His night terrors don't often wake you; he's usually fairly good at hiding them. The first time he does wake you is during a particularly violent one that has him thrashing and crying out in his sleep.

He wakes not long after you do, sweating and panting, his voice hoarse from how much he had been crying out. Once you're sure he's fully conscious, you gently rest your hand against his cheek and guide him through a grounding routine: 5 things he sees, 4 people he knows, 3 foods he likes, 2 things he hates, and one thing he loves.

As he talks, you become his sole focus as the night terror fades into the back of his mind, the grounding method working wonders.

And when it comes to the one thing he loves, he shuts his eyes and presses further into your touch, a few tears streaking down his cheeks. One hand gently clutches your wrist while the other rests against yours, holding your hand against his cheek. He doesn't need to say it. You know.

You always, always know. And with a kiss to his forehead and your thumb stroking against his cheek, you let him know. I love you too.

[I'M SORRY IF ANY OF THE TRANSLATIONS ARE INCORRECT, I TRIED MY BEST TO GET THE PROPER ONES!]

Mi vida - My life; honey

Mo chridhe - My heart

Meine Sonne und Sterne - My sun and stars

мое солнышко - My sunshine

Золотце - Honey; darling

Cariño - Honey; dear

TAGLIST:

@floral-force

[industrations]

one thing about your art which makes me uncomfortable is you make remus conventionally attractive. the fandom all agree remus lupin is a wet noodle of a man but actually no artist draws him that and it's getting weird. make him unattractive and he can be loved by sirius. he doesn't need to be that tall and buff like why do you always make him so tall to draw him next to sirius. is it because you're aware of the fact sirius is canonically tall? if so it's baffling indi, you just had the surgery but if you have some time you'd want to read it - www.tumblr.com/carlav-blogs/741256502359228416/i-hate-joining-the-fandom-discourse-because-i?source=share - and look deep inside of yourself and think again about your art. i know you can't publish it but i gotcha. good luck /gen

Hello!

I have been thinking about responding to this at all but it seems like i have a lot to say, so here goes.

Due to contrary belief i draw for myself. I draw for me because i enjoy it and it makes me happy. And if it makes others happy then thats a lovely bonus. I draw because i love the bit of magic and creative freedom of being able to put that on paper.

What i don’t do is draw for other people to give me validation or to give them satisfaction. What’s getting weird is that you are so upset over characters that are written by a terf. Someone that is extremely harmful. Characters that DO NOT EXIST.

I’m sick of this endless debate of "oh but CANONICALLY sirius was taller" who the fuck cares. In the movies remus had like a whole head on sirius.

You know whats the one wonderful thing about this fandom? Every single artists and writers version of these characters. They take them and make them their own. I love the way i can read 10 wolfstar fics and all ten of them are wildly different versions of them. They fall in love with each other unconditionally and i with them.

I’ve been told I’m not valid, that i don’t deserve to exist, that i should have DIED in surgery. There is really vile and hateful people in this fandom but you know what. I’m not here for you, my art isn’t for you it’s for ME.

I would like to say I resent this fandom but it’s brought me so much joy as well. I’ve met some of the most talented and wonderful people. I met my very best friend because of this fandom. I traveled places to see people i love because of dead gay wizards. I have found a place that is so wonderfully accepting. A queer community that I will never have in real life. The amount of freedom and expression is something that drew me in and will make me stay.

I hope you get the day you deserve, and I will continue my life where I live it for me and no one else <3

[rukia-writes]

Hi! I’m the same anon that asked for Apollo and here’s my request!

We know that many Goddesses are thirsty for Apollo, except for one Goddess (the reader) who draws his interest. For some reason, it excites him that she isn’t like the others and he tries to catch the reader's attention himself, but the reader gets extremely shy and sometimes runs away whenever he does, but they end up together? The idea sounded better in my head, but you can spice it up however you like. Of course, take your time when you can write this! No rush! 🫶

I see what you’re saying anon 🎀 and I hope I see the vision.

The grain princess and the god of sunlight.

An unlikely attraction between two divine beings.

The sun was rising in Valhalla, which meant it was time for the grain princess and her mother to start working. The two had their own restaurant in Valhalla, a famous and well known restaurant, and in the early morning the two loaded up the grain in their own grain field onto a very wide and long cart pulled by horses.

Today, was a bit different.

Today (Name) had to pick and load up the grain by herself while her mother was already at the restaurant making food, seeing as how the weekends were busier than normal. Besides, one day (Name) would be queen of the grain and this was the first step.

However, (Name) noticed there was a little spot where the grain wasn’t doing so well. (Name) was able to come to the conclusion that the wheat needed more sunlight.

“I’ll have to tell mother about this.”

“Perhaps, it would be better to tell me. Princess.”

Hearing the familiar voice made (Name)‘s heart beat fast, her face hot and her mind spinning. Turning around she indeed saw the handsome and beautiful god Apollo with a smile on his face.

She’s not like everyone else.

The two had a interesting history together.

Apollo, the beautiful and talented god of the sunlight had affection towards someone other than himself, the grain princess herself, (Name). Yet, while the feeling was mutual (Name) couldn’t bring herself to look at him from being flustered much less talk to the god much. However, Apollo was the opposite in every way as he loved to look at her and he loved to talk to her.

“Morning, Apollo. What brings you here?!”

“Why, the little plants cried out to me and told me that they needed sunlight. So, I decided to show up.”

Beaming brightly, Apollo confidently spoke to the goddess as she bashfully looked away trying to calm her wildly beating heart and walking away. Apollo, was used to this behavior it was something he liked about her.

“The plants do need sunlight.”

“Oh, (Name). Look, the grain is doing better. See?”

Yes.

Apollo, didn’t mind gently grabbing her hand and pulling her back to show her the grain that was already starting to grow. Looking at the grain (Name) felt a small smile tug at her lips, while Apollo smiled at her still holding her hand.

“Mother will be pleased, thank you Apollo.”

“Come now, I wouldn’t ignore your beautiful grain’s cry for help. You have such a beautiful field, you know?”

One for admiring beauty, Apollo complimented the wheat field (Name) worked hard in. Even though the moment was a tender one (Name) couldn’t help but get flustered as she thanked Apollo while walking away. Of course, the grain princess told Apollo she would tell her mother about what happened while shyly walking away but that wouldn’t stop Apollo as he quickly caught up with her only making her head spin and her face feel hotter as Apollo smiled while saying, “Sorry, I couldn’t hear you from back there. Now, what were you saying.”

This was the standard interaction that had been going on for years, a thousand years to be precise.

Over the years, the Greek pantheon knew of Apollo’s little infatuation with the grain princess. Those that were aware usually liked to keep their distance and tried not over step their boundaries. While, (Name) had her problem of Apollo’s jealous lovers.

While other goddess did their best to show Apollo their love the handsome god only seemed to have a special interest in her and even though he never outright dismissed his suitors it was obvious who had his interest. Whispers of, “What’s wrong with her?” “What does Apollo see in her?” “She must be black mailing him or something.”

Regardless, of the jealous whispers Apollo always seemed to have a special interest for her as he would show up once a week at the restaurant and order a variety of dishes. Of course, (Name)’s mother always made her daughter take Apollo’s order as she was aware of Apollo’s affection for her daughter.

If only (Name) wasn’t so shy.

Months passed, (Name) found herself at Apollo’s palace grounds. While (Name) had a wheat field, Apollo had a magnificent garden with flowers alike. The naked statues of himself was certainly an Apollo touch (Name) thought herself as she carried a small small box in her hands, definitely would have covered her eyes from Apollo’s statue.

“Why, is that the sweet (Name)?!”

Looking behind her (Name) saw the handsome god with a smile on his face with his hands behind his back, bashfully (Name) announced why she was here. Handing over the small box the shy goddess told Apollo it was for helping with the harvest, Apollo did in fact help a bit with the wheat field and as a way of saying “Thank you.” She wanted give Apollo a gift.

“A gift for me?! Aw, thank you. What is it?”

“You should open it.”

For the first time, Apollo heard a hint of teasing in (Name)’s voice and when he looked at her he saw him give her a sweet smile. Of course, Apollo returned the smile back as he thought to himself that her smile was the real gift. Speaking of which, Apollo opened the small box and inside was a small cake decorated with sunflowers and the words “Thank you.” Inscribed upon the delicious dessert.

It was a simple gift and yet Apollo was touched.

Apollo knew (Name) was a magnificent baker and couldn’t wait to eat his gift.

“How sweet of you, princess. Come, we’ll have a slice.”

“Oh, I can’t. I have to-“

“Nonsense, we’ll have tea and talk. I have much to tell you.”

Apollo wouldn’t let his princess get away from him this time as he gently and quickly wrapped his arm around (Name)’s shoulders while holding the cake with his other hand. As the two talked on their way to Apollo’s palace (Name) was certain Apollo loved the cake, rather the symbolism with the sunflowers.

The two talked until the sunset, having tea and cake and afterwards the two took a walk in Apollo’s garden at night. Both simply enjoying each other’s company, it was a start of many years of Apollo trying to get the goddess of his love and now he had finally caught his princess.

“My love, what happened to you?”

Apollo was currently taking a bath as his beloved (Name) arrived covered in flour from head to toe, in monotone voice (Name) responded that one of Apollo’s scorned lovers had pulled a prank and ended up covered in flour.

“A prank? Hmm..well! You better take a bath too!”

“Apollo, take this serious-“

Apollo didn’t take many things serious, as he quickly carried his princess in his arms while naked and a pleasant smile on his face.

“Come on, take a bath with me. I’ll even get that flour off you.”

While carrying (Name) to the bath Apollo kissed her forehead and told her she still looked beautiful. Apollo was many things and being charming was one of them. Keeping to his word Apollo washed all the flour off his princess, of course he expected (Name) to wash him as well. When she did Apollo made a passing comment that even though (Name) was covered in flour she was still much prettier than this ugly hater and that this hater wasn’t worthy of tying his shoelaces or hers for that matter and by the end of their bath time the two were not only clean but much more relaxed than before.

Apollo made sure of it as he showered (Name) with kisses.

🎀Rukia-Writes🎀

[mononijikayu]

so high school ! — itadori yuuji.

Yuuji chuckled, his laughter mingling with yours in the quiet of the room. "Yeah, I guess I was pretty excited to become a jujutsu sorcerer. It gave me some purpose, y’know?" he admitted, his expression softening with nostalgia. "But meeting you was definitely the best part of that day. You were smiling at me and I just think it made me happy!”

GENRE: cursed womb arc, 2018;

WARNING/S: alternate universe - canon convergence, actors au, friends, friends to lovers, domesticity, fluff, romance, humor, first love, first love, flirting, slice of life;

LISTEN: so high school by taylor swift

NOTE: i wrote this inspired by a friend's idea and here it is. i love yuuji so much guys. he deserves so much good things in life. seeing him suffer in the manga, i think this is where he belongs - shojo </3

masterlist

kayu's playlist — side 700;

YOU WONDER IF YOU WERE BEING TOO OBVIOUS. It was a typical day at Jujutsu High, filled with training, missions, and the occasional life-or-death encounter. But for you, there was something—or rather, someone—who made every day feel like high school all over again. That someone was Itadori Yuuji.

Every time you looked at Itadori Yuuji, you felt a flutter in your chest, a sense of nervous excitement that reminded you of teenage crushes and awkward confessions. Today was no different. As you sat in the training yard, pretending to read a book, you couldn't help but sneak glances at him. He was sparring with Megumi, his movements fluid and powerful, each strike and dodge a testament to his strength and agility. But what caught your attention even more were the brief moments when his gaze would flicker towards you.

Your heart would skip a beat each time, and you'd quickly hide behind your book, cheeks burning with embarrassment. It was almost comical how transparent you felt, as if everyone around could see the obvious attraction you had for Yuuji. The pages of your book blurred as you tried to focus on the words, but your mind kept drifting back to the way Yuuji moved, the determination in his eyes, and the infectious smile that seemed to light up the entire training yard.

The day carried on with its usual routines, but you found it increasingly difficult to concentrate. Your thoughts were consumed by Yuuji, his laughter echoing in your ears, his encouraging words to Megumi resonating within you. It was as if he had a gravitational pull that you couldn't escape, drawing you in closer with each passing moment.

"I feel so high school every time I look at you," you muttered to yourself, watching him through the pages. You sighed. “Why is he so pretty? It’s hard not to look. Not fair.”

During a break in the sparring session, Yuuji caught your eye and grinned, wiping sweat from his brow. Your heart fluttered wildly, and you ducked your head, pretending to be engrossed in your book. But the heat in your cheeks betrayed you, and you knew your efforts to remain inconspicuous were futile.

"Hey!" Yuuji called out, making his way over to you. Your heart pounded in your chest, the book trembling slightly in your hands. When you finally dared to look up, he was standing right in front of you, his smile warm and inviting.

"O-oh! Hi, Yuuji," you managed to say, your voice barely above a whisper. The proximity made your nerves dance on edge. You smiled tensely, hiding your book. “W-what’s up?”

"Taking a break from training?" he asked, his tone casual but his eyes searching yours with a curious intensity. You nodded, unable to form a coherent sentence as the fluttering in your chest intensified.

"Mind if I join you?" he asked, already sitting down beside you. The sudden closeness made your breath hitch, and you could feel the heat radiating from his body. You nodded again, feeling utterly helpless in the face of his charm.

For a moment, the world seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of you in the quiet corner of the training yard. The awkwardness of high school crushes came rushing back, but this time, there was an undeniable connection, a spark that made you hope that maybe, just maybe, Yuuji felt the same way.

As he settled in beside you, Yuuji turned his head and looked at you with that disarming smile. "You know….." he began, his voice soft but clear, "I've noticed you watching me during training."

Your cheeks burned hotter, and you stammered, "I-I was just... um, I mean..."

He chuckled, a warm, comforting sound that made your heart flutter even more. "It's okay!" he said, his gaze gentle and understanding. "I've been watching you too."

The admission hung in the air, a silent confession that seemed to bridge the gap between you. The flutter in your chest transformed into a steady, hopeful beat, and for the first time, you allowed yourself to believe that this nervous excitement might lead to something wonderful.

The awkward silence that followed his words felt charged with potential. You could see the sincerity in Yuuji's eyes, the same nervous anticipation mirrored in his expression. He shifted slightly, his shoulder brushing against yours, and the contact sent a jolt of electricity through you.

"So….." he began, his voice a little hesitant. He looked a bit flustered, ears slightly red. "Do you want to maybe... train together sometime? Or just hang out? I mean, if you're not too busy or anything."

Your heart soared at his suggestion, the idea of spending more time with him sending waves of happiness through you. "I'd like that." you replied, your voice steadier than before. "I'd like that a lot."

Yuuji's face lit up with a smile that made your heart skip a beat. "Great! How about after today's session? We could grab something to eat and then maybe... I don't know, just talk?"

"That sounds perfect," you said, unable to keep the smile off your face.

For the rest of the training session, it was hard to concentrate. Every glance Yuuji sent your way, every encouraging word, seemed to stoke the fire of excitement and anticipation. When the final sparring round ended, you quickly packed up your things, your mind racing with the possibilities of what the evening might bring.

Yuuji met you at the edge of the training yard, his eyes sparkling with the same excitement you felt. "Ready to go?" he asked, his voice full of warmth and eagerness.

"Absolutely," you replied, feeling a thrill of anticipation.

As you walked together through the campus of Jujutsu High, the conversation flowed easily, a mix of lighthearted banter and more serious topics. Yuuji's laughter was infectious, his stories captivating, and you found yourself opening up to him in ways you hadn't expected.

At a small, cozy café just outside the campus, you both ordered your favorite meals and settled into a booth. The atmosphere was relaxed, the soft hum of conversation around you creating a comfortable backdrop for your own exchange.

"So, tell me," Yuuji said, leaning forward with genuine interest, "What made you join Jujutsu High? What's your story?"

You hesitated for a moment, but the openness in his expression encouraged you to share. "Well, it's a bit complicated," you began, tracing the rim of your cup with your finger. "I lost someone important to me to a curse. It changed my life, and I realized I wanted to prevent that from happening to others. So, I trained and eventually found my way here."

Yuuji nodded, his eyes filled with understanding. "I get it. Losing someone can be... really hard. But it's amazing that you turned that pain into something positive. You're helping others, and that's really inspiring."

His words touched you deeply, and you felt a connection with him that went beyond mere attraction. "What about you?" you asked, wanting to know more about the person who had become such an important part of your daily thoughts.

Yuuji's face grew more serious, but he maintained his warm demeanor. "It's a long story, but basically, I got involved with curses because of something I found—a cursed object. It led me here, and now I'm doing my best to make a difference, just like you."

You nodded, feeling a deeper connection with him. "I'm really sorry about your loss, Yuuji," you said softly, your eyes meeting his. "It must have been so hard."

Yuuji's expression softened, and he gave you a reassuring smile. "It's okay," he said, his voice gentle. "I'm okay now because I've met people who make it better, who make me feel like I belong. People like you."

His words touched your heart, filling you with a warmth that seemed to chase away the lingering shadows of your own past. "Thank you, Yuuji," you said, your voice barely above a whisper. "That means a lot to me."

As the evening passed in a blur of conversation and laughter, you found yourselves delving into various topics, from favorite foods to shared interests. At one point, the conversation turned to the latest human earth work movie series, a topic that you both shared a passion for.

"I can't believe how intense the latest installment was. Like, it was just crazy!" you remarked, excitement lacing your voice. "The plot twists about the doctor had me on the edge of my seat the entire time."

Yuuji nodded in agreement, a grin spreading across his face. "I know, right? And the special effects were mind-blowing! It felt like I was right there in the middle of the action. It was crazy!”

As you walked side by side through the quiet campus, the night sky above you filled with twinkling stars, the bond between you felt stronger than ever. The shared moments of laughter that had brought you closer together made your heart beat over and over against your chest.. With each step, you felt a sense of warmth and contentment wash over you, grateful for what Yuuji brought into your life.

When you reached the dormitory entrance, Yuuji turned to you, his expression soft and earnest. "Tonight was really great, y’know!" he said. "I had a lot of fun, and I hope we can do this again."

"Me too," you replied, your heart full. "I'd love that."

He smiled, and for a moment, it seemed like he might say something more. But instead, he simply took your hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Goodnight," he said softly, his voice filled with warmth.

"Goodnight, Yuuji," you replied, squeezing his hand back before reluctantly letting go.

You wanted to look back towards him.

And you were sure that he was going to.

You wanted to continue drinking what he thinks.

You wanted to be high on his jokes all damn night.

Back inside, you squealed behind your door, blushing.

You just felt so high school when you were with him.

YOU WERE TOO EXHAUSTED TO MAKE A SOUND.  It had been a couple of days later after you went out with him. It’s been a while since you had gone through a mission — so you feel like you’ve been out of practice. You can only think that’s the reason why you ended up feeling rusty as you fought the curses. 

You could only sigh as  you returned from a particularly grueling mission, each step heavier than the last. There was some regret on your part, you were sure. You thought you’d do better than last time. But you only feel defeated. Still, the job was done. You had to put everything that happened behind you now. You wouldn’t be able to move forward as a sorcerer if you keep thinking about it. Well, that’s what Gojo–sensei says.

Exhausted and bruised, you made your way back to Jujutsu High, longing for the familiar comfort of your room and the solace of a hot shower. Despite the fatigue that weighed heavily on your shoulders, a part of you couldn't help but hope for a glimpse of Itadori Yuuji. You had been texting each other these past few days while you were gone on back-to-back missions. 

Those messages had kept your spirits up, knowing that someone was cheering you on, that someone was waiting for you to come home. His words of encouragement and light-hearted jokes had been a lifeline, making the long nights a little less lonely and the dangerous encounters a little less daunting. The thought of seeing him again was a bright spot in your otherwise wearied mind. It felt like the sun was finally returning in your life after days of only the cold dauntless gray clouds. 

As you trudged down the corridor towards your quarters, you heard a familiar, cheerful voice calling your name. You turned to see Yuuji jogging towards you, his face lighting up with a broad smile as he approached. The sight of him was like a balm to your weary soul, and you felt a surge of warmth spread through you. You couldn’t help but smile back at him too as you waved at him.

"You're back!" Yuuji exclaimed, stopping just in front of you. You could see his energy peak as he smiled at you. You think you still had some time getting used to it. "How did the mission go? Are you okay? I hope you aren’t too sore, like you know!”

You managed a tired smile. "It was tough, but I'm fine. Just really tired."

Yuuji's expression softened with concern. "You look exhausted. Come on, let's get you back to your dorm room! You need rest!”

Without waiting for your reply, he gently took your arm, his touch firm yet gentle as he guided you towards your quarters. The warmth of his hand on your arm sent a comforting sensation coursing through you, like a reassuring anchor in the midst of a storm. It was a small gesture, but it spoke volumes, reminding you that you weren't alone in this.

As you walked together, his presence beside you was a steady source of support. The weight of exhaustion and the memories of the mission still lingered, but somehow, they felt lighter with him by your side. He kept the conversation light, his words a soothing balm to your weary soul. 

Instead of probing into the details of the mission, he asked about your well-being in a way that allowed you to share as much or as little as you wanted. It was a subtle yet profound display of empathy, a testament to his understanding of what you needed in that moment.

With each step, you felt yourself relaxing, the tension in your shoulders easing as you basked in the warmth of his presence. It was as if the weight of the world had been lifted off your shoulders, replaced by a sense of calm and serenity. In that moment, surrounded by the comforting embrace of his care and concern, you felt safe, cherished, and deeply grateful for his unwavering support.

When you finally reached your room, Yuuji insisted on helping you inside. He looked around, spotting the kitchenette. "Why don't you sit down and rest? You must be hungry now, right? I'll make you something to eat."

You protested weakly, but the truth was that you were too tired to argue. With a grateful nod, you sank onto your bed, watching as Yuuji moved around your small kitchen with surprising ease. In no time, he had whipped up a simple but hearty meal. The aroma alone made your stomach rumble, and you realized just how hungry you were.

"Here you go," he said, bringing a steaming bowl of soba over to you. He grins at you with a thumbs up. "Eat up. It'll help you feel better."

As you took the bowl from him, your fingers naturally brushed against his in the process, sending a subtle yet unmistakable jolt of electricity coursing through you. It was a fleeting touch, but it sparked something deep within you, a warmth that spread from your fingertips to the very core of your being. The simple act of sharing a meal with Yuuji felt oddly intimate, like a silent affirmation of the bond that existed between you.

As you ate, Yuuji remained beside you, his presence a constant source of comfort and reassurance. He didn't need to say anything; his mere presence was enough to ease the fatigue and tension that had built up during the mission. With each passing moment, you found yourself relaxing more, the weight of the world gradually lifting from your shoulders.

Unbeknownst to you, Yuuji's gaze never wavered from you. You don’t think you’ll ever see something more profound than him looking at you. The way he looked at you was something you didn't notice, too lost in your own thoughts and the exhaustion that still lingered. But to him, it was everything. 

His eyes spoke volumes, filled with a tenderness and depth of emotion that words could never fully capture. In that moment, as he watched you eat, he felt an overwhelming sense of love and contentment wash over him. It was the most tender expression he could offer, a silent declaration of his unwavering affection and devotion to you.

After you finished eating, your energy replenished and your spirits lifted, Yuuji reached for the bowl, his movements fluid and graceful. With a gentle touch, he took it from you, his fingers brushing against yours once again in a fleeting caress. It was a simple gesture, but it spoke volumes, conveying a sense of care and consideration that warmed your heart.

Setting the bowl aside, Yuuji turned back to you, his gaze soft and attentive. There was a quiet intensity in his eyes, a depth of emotion that made your breath catch in your throat. In that moment, as you looked into each other's eyes, it felt as though time stood still. There was a silent understanding between you, a bond that transcended words and spoke directly to the heart.

With a tender smile, Yuuji reached out to take your hand in his, his touch gentle yet reassuring. It was a gesture of comfort, a silent reminder that you were not alone. In his presence, you found solace, a sense of peace that washed over you like a gentle wave. Together, you sat in companionable silence, the warmth of his hand in yours a comforting anchor in the midst of the storm. But soon, Yuuji broke that silence.

"Feel better?" he asked, his bright eyes searching for yours, softness in his eyes.

You nodded, feeling a sense of contentment settle over you. "Yeah, much better. Thank you, Yuuji. You didn't have to do all this."

He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I wanted to. Besides, I missed you."

His admission made your heart flutter. "I missed you too, you know." you confessed, your voice barely above a whisper.

Yuuji's expression grew with relief, his eyes locking onto yours with an intensity that made your breath catch. 

"I'm glad you're back safe, hm?" he said softly. "I was worried about you. I kept texting, telling you what I’ve been doing while you were away. I don’t think they were getting through!”

You couldn’t help but giggle at him. He was adorable. “There just wasn’t any signal. You know, you could send the pictures again if you want.”

He grinned wider. “Would you like to see them?”

“Yeah, send them to me.” You nodded, smiling back just as widely. “I’ll look at them!”

For a moment, the exhaustion and bruises of the mission faded away, replaced by the warmth of his gaze and the sincerity in his voice. He kept telling you about places he ate along with Gojo–sensei, things he, Kugisaki and Fushiguro took pictures of. You felt comfort in knowing that his voice was always as tender and warm as a hug. The connection between you felt stronger than ever, and you knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, you would face them together.

"Thank you," you said again, reaching out to take his hand. "For everything."

Yuuji squeezed your hand gently, his touch reassuring and grounding. "Anytime," he replied, his voice full of promise.

As you sat together, the room filled with a comfortable silence, you realized that this was where you belonged. With Yuuji by your side, you felt ready to face whatever the future held, knowing that you had someone who cared for you deeply and would stand by you no matter what.

As the peaceful silence enveloped you both, Yuuji broke it with a soft chuckle. "You know," he began, his voice tinged with a hint of amusement, "Whenever I'm with you….I just feel like I'm young.”

You turned to him, giggling. "Younger days? Yuuji, we’re in high school!”

He nodded, a smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, exactly. Like it’s meant to be, y’know? It's like all the worries and responsibilities just melt away, and I'm free to be myself. Like we’re finally kids.”

You couldn't help but smile at his words, feeling a warmth spread through you at the thought of being able to bring Yuuji a sense of youthful joy and freedom. "I'm glad I can help you feel that way," you replied sincerely. "Being with you makes me feel the same, you know?”

You looked at him tenderly for a second.

The same shine in his eyes as he looked back.

You felt your lips echo into bright beaming laughter.

You both felt bittersweet sixteen all of a sudden.

But that was alright, when the two of you were together.

IT HAD BEEN MONTHS SINCE YOU BOTH STARTED GOING OUT.  As the days turned into weeks, your bond with Yuuji only seemed to grow stronger with each passing moment. Every date, every shared meal, every laughter-filled conversation only served to deepen the connection between you. It was as if you were caught in a whirlwind of emotions, unable to resist the magnetic pull drawing you closer together.

Yet, despite the undeniable chemistry between you, there remained an unspoken understanding that neither of you had ever explicitly labeled your relationship. It was a silent agreement that hung between you, a delicate balance that you were both hesitant to disrupt.

You often found yourself grappling with the question of how to broach the subject with Yuuji. Each time you considered bringing it up, the words seemed to stick in your throat, weighed down by the fear of ruining what you had. You feared the uncertainty that came with putting a label on things, worried that it might change the dynamic between you or worse, lead to disappointment.

But even as you wrestled with your doubts and insecurities, there was an undeniable truth that lingered in the back of your mind. You knew deep down that your feelings for Yuuji went beyond mere friendship, that there was something more between you that defied easy categorization.

So for now, you thought to yourself that you were content to savor the moments you shared, cherishing each stolen glance, each tender touch, each whispered conversation as if it were a precious gift. And as you navigated the uncharted waters of your relationship with Yuuji, you couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement mingled with apprehension, wondering what the future held for the two of you.

After an exhausting training session that left you feeling drained both physically and mentally, Yuuji's hopeful smile was like a beacon of light in the darkness. His eyes held a spark of excitement as he turned to you, the corners of his lips upturned in a gentle smile that melted away the fatigue weighing on your shoulders. 

As you caught his gaze, a wave of warmth washed over you, chasing away the lingering remnants of exhaustion. It was moments like these that made all the hard work and effort worth it, knowing that you had someone like Yuuji by your side to share in both the triumphs and the challenges of your journey.

Despite the aches and pains that throbbed through your body, the promise of spending time with him filled you with renewed energy and anticipation. You couldn't help but return his smile, your heart skipping a beat at the thought of the memories you would create together.

In that fleeting moment, as you locked eyes with Yuuji, everything else faded away—the worries, the doubts, the uncertainties—all replaced by a sense of warmth and belonging. It was a reminder that no matter what trials lay ahead, as long as you had each other, it was going to be alright.

“Hey, pretty!” He walks up to you, smiling brightly like the sun. “You’re done practicing for the day?”

“Yeah.” You whisper, trying to calm down. He was so cute, you might lose it. “But I’m just going to clean up.”

“Oh? Let me help you!”

“Ah, Yuu, it’s fine—”

“Eh? But how could I let my pretty love just clean up by themselves like this?” He grins at you as he starts picking up the weapons you just trained with. “Let me help you, hm?”

As he busied himself with the task, you couldn't help but feel a swell of affection for him. It was the little things he did that made you fall for him more and more each day. The way he always looked out for you, ensuring you were okay after missions, the way he made you laugh with his silly jokes, and the way he was always there, offering support and comfort without expecting anything in return.

Yuuji looked up and caught you staring, his grin widening. "What are you thinking about?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

You shook your head, a smile playing on your lips. "Just thinking about how lucky I am to have you," you admitted, feeling a warmth spread through your chest.

He laughed, a joyful sound that made your heart flutter. "I'm the lucky one," he said, walking over to you and gently taking your hand. "You've made everything so much better."

His words were simple, but they held a depth of emotion that touched you deeply. You squeezed his hand, feeling a surge of gratitude and love for the boy who had become your everything.

In the quiet moments like these, you often find yourself reflecting on how much Yuuji meant to you. He was the one who made you feel seen and cherished, the one who made even the hardest days bearable. His love was a constant, unwavering force that filled your life with joy and hope.

"Thank you, Yuu." you said softly, turning scarlet red."For everything."

He smiled, his eyes full of warmth and affection. "Always." he replied, pulling you into a gentle hug. "I'll always be here for you."

You’re still not used to calling Yuuji by your new nickname but your relationship leveled up to the comfort of him calling you with adorable nicknames. You think that his name was already beautiful as it was, but you found him pouting about it and you felt your heart break — you realized it was that important to him. You could only sigh as you remembered the day

After the exhausting days of missions and the comforting time spent together, you and Yuuji decided to hang out in his room, away from the stresses of the outside world. Yuuji had suggested playing video games, a perfect way to unwind and just enjoy each other's company.

His room was cozy, filled with the typical teenage clutter of books, clothes, and gaming gear. You both settled on the floor in front of his TV, controllers in hand, ready to dive into the latest game he had been raving about.

As the game loaded, Yuuji looked over at you with an eager grin. "Ready to get your butt kicked?" he teased, his eyes sparkling with playful competitiveness.

You rolled your eyes, laughing. "We'll see about that, Yuu."

The moment the nickname slipped out, you saw a change in his expression. His eyes widened slightly, and then his entire face lit up with the most genuine smile you'd ever seen. He looked at you with a mixture of surprise and happiness, almost like a golden retriever who had just been given a treat.

"Yuu?" he repeated, his voice filled with delight. "Did you just call me Yuu?"

You nodded, feeling a bit shy under his intense gaze. "Yeah, I did. It suits you, don't you think? Plus, it sounds like I'm saying you belong to me."

His cheeks flushed a light pink, and he looked down, rubbing the back of his neck. "I like it," he said softly. "No one's ever given me a nickname before. And if it means I belong to you, then I like it even more."

You felt your own cheeks heat up at his words, but there was a warmth spreading through your chest that made you smile. "Good. Because you do belong to me, Yuu."

He looked back up at you, his eyes filled with a tender emotion that made your heart skip a beat. "And you belong to me," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "We're in this together, right?"

You nodded, feeling a deep sense of connection and belonging with him. "Together," you agreed.

With that, the moment passed, and you both turned your attention back to the game. The playful banter resumed, with Yuuji occasionally glancing at you with that same joyful expression every time you called him by his new nickname. It was a small thing, but it meant the world to him.

As the game progressed, you found yourselves laughing, teasing, and enjoying each other's company in a way that felt so natural and right. The world outside might be full of dangers and challenges, but here, in this small room, with Yuuji by your side, everything felt perfect.

At one point, during a particularly intense part of the game, Yuuji turned to you with a playful smirk. "Come on, Yuu," you said, trying to keep up with him. "Stop hogging all the power-ups!"

He laughed, the sound warm and infectious. "Only if you can catch me, Yuu!" he challenged, making you laugh even harder.

Time seemed to fly by as you played, and before you knew it, hours had passed. When you finally put the controllers down, exhausted but happy, you leaned back against the bed, Yuuji flopping down beside you.

"That was fun," he said, his voice filled with contentment. "Thanks for spending time with me."

You turned to him, your heart swelling with affection. "Anytime, Yuu. Anytime."

He looked at you, his eyes shining with gratitude and something deeper. "You're the best," he said softly, reaching out to take your hand in his. "I'm so glad you're here with me."

You squeezed his hand, feeling the same way. "Me too, Yuu. Me too."

Once he carries your used weapons, he hums a light tune, moving with an ease that belied the intensity of your earlier training session. His cheerfulness was like a soothing balm, easing the weariness from your bones. You followed behind him, your heart swelling with affection and a touch of awe. How could he always be so full of life, so effortlessly kind and giving?

You could only sigh, a small smile tugging at your lips. You were too far gone when it came to Yuuji. His presence had become a constant source of joy and comfort in your life, and you found yourself longing for these moments more and more.

As you trailed behind him, your thoughts wandered. You thought about how Yuuji had always been there for you, how he had a way of making even the darkest days seem brighter. He had a unique ability to lift your spirits with just a smile or a kind word. His love and care were unwavering, and you often found yourself marveling at how deeply you had come to rely on him.

Reaching the storage area, Yuuji carefully placed the weapons in their designated spots. He turned to you, still humming, his eyes alight with that familiar spark of happiness. "There we go, all set!" he said, dusting off his hands. "Now, what do you want to do next?"

Before you could answer, he added with a grin, "Actually, I was thinking... Megumi, Nobara, and I were planning to watch a movie later. Want to join us? It'll be fun!"

His invitation caught you off guard, but the excitement in his eyes was contagious. "A movie?" you echoed, your curiosity piqued.

"Yeah!" Yuuji nodded enthusiastically. "We were thinking of watching something light and funny. It's been a while since we've all just hung out together and relaxed, you know? And honestly, it wouldn't be the same without you."

As Yuuji's words washed over you, a rush of excitement surged through your veins, making your heart skip a beat. His bright eyes sparkled with anticipation, and you couldn't help but feel a flutter of nerves as you met his gaze. He looked so cute, so effortlessly charming, and you couldn't help but be drawn to him like a moth to a flame.

"Movie night in your dorm room sounds perfect, Yuu!" you replied, a smile tugging at the corners of your lips as you tried to contain the joy bubbling within you. "I'd love to join! It sounds like a lot of fun."

As you spoke, you couldn't help but notice the way Yuuji's smile seemed to grow even brighter, as if your enthusiasm was contagious. It was moments like these that made you realize just how much you enjoyed his company, how much you looked forward to every opportunity to be near him.

Yuuji's face lit up with a wide smile, his eyes shining with delight. "Awesome! It'll be great to have you with us, pretty!”

"Do I need to bring anything tonight?" you asked, trying to hide the nervous flutter in your stomach behind a casual tone. “Food, drinks, DVDs? Anything?”

Yuuji shook his head, his smile never faltering. "No, just bring yourself!" he replied, his voice warm and inviting. It was a simple gesture, but it filled you with a sense of comfort and reassurance, as if he were silently assuring you that everything would be okay as long as you were together. “You’re more than enough! ‘on’t worry about it, pretty!”

You felt scarlet heat all across your cheeks. With a shy nod, you couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth at Yuuji's words. As you watched him, a wave of affection washed over you, filling your chest with a sense of contentment. Despite the uncertainty that lingered in the back of your mind, there was a part of you that felt at peace whenever you were with him.

As the evening approached and the sun dipped below the horizon, you found yourself eagerly anticipating the movie night ahead. With a quick goodbye to Kugisaki and Fushiguro, you made your way to Yuuji's dorm room, your heart racing with excitement.

You think you can’t really help it.

Yuuji just has a way with you, you know?

He’s too good for the world, too good for you.

How were you this lucky with him, to be with him?

As you stepped into Yuuji's dorm room, the warm glow of the evening light bathed the space in a soft, inviting ambiance. Yuuji stood by the entrance, a smile playing at the corners of his lips as his eyes met yours.

"Pretty, you made it!" he greeted, his voice filled with genuine excitement.  

"Hey, Yuu!" you replied, feeling your ears turn red as you returned his smile. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."

His smile widened at your words, a warm glow spreading across his features. "Glad to hear it," he said, stepping aside to let you in.

The sight of him filled you with a sense of warmth and comfort, and you couldn't help but feel a rush of affection for him. It was moments like these, simple yet significant, that made you grateful for his presence in your life. As you settled into the room, you greeted Kugisaki and Fushiguro, who were already there, with warm smiles and friendly gestures.

"Hey, guys!" you exclaimed, waving at them.

“Glad you can make it!”  Kugisaki waved back with a tender smile, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she welcomed you. She patted the seat next to her. “Come here!”

"Hey," Fushiguro greeted in his usual calm tone, nodding in acknowledgment.

Despite the differences in their reactions, you felt a sense of belonging among the three of them. It was moments like these, surrounded by friends who cared for you, that made you feel grateful for the bonds you had formed at Jujutsu High.

Later, as Yuuji made popcorn, Kugisaki approached you with a curious expression. "So, what's going on between you and Yuuji?" she asked bluntly, her tone betraying a hint of mischief.

“W-what do you mean?”

“Like, you know? You guys are dating!”

“Yeah, we are…”

“But what is it like? Are you labeling it soon?”

Your heart skipped a beat, caught off guard by her directness. You glanced nervously at Fushiguro, hoping he would intervene, but he remained silent, watching the exchange with a guarded expression. He was always hard to read, but you knew he seemed interested too.

"I-I don't know," you stammered, feeling a surge of panic rising within you. "We're just... friends, I guess."

Kugisaki raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced by your response. "Hmm, really?" she teased, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Because it seems like there's something more going on between you two."

You felt your cheeks flush with embarrassment, struggling to find the right words to explain the complexity of your relationship with Yuuji. Before you could respond, Fushiguro stepped in, his voice firm and authoritative.

"Kugisaki, that's enough," Fushiguro said sternly, his tone brooking no argument. "It's not your place to pry into other people's personal lives. Let them deal with that and tell us.”

"Sorry, sorry," Kugisaki muttered, holding her hands up in surrender. She looks at you apologetically, seeing how uncomfortable you are. "I’m sorry. I was just curious, you know? But I'll drop it."

“It’s okay.” You say, a small smile echoing at your lips as you three went back to watch. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Okay, I’m back!” Yuuji says, grinning as he holds the bowl of popcorn in one hand. “Butter flavor!”

“You’re so loud!” Kugisaki retorts back as she points to the television. “I’m trying to watch the movie!”

“But aren’t you the one screaming at me?” Yuuji furrows his brows back at her.

Fushiguro frowns slightly. “Can the two of you just shut up?”

As the movie resumed and the room filled with the sound of the film playing, you couldn't shake the lingering question in your mind. What were you and Yuuji together? Were you just friends, or was there something more between you? The uncertainty gnawed at you, leaving you restless despite the comforting familiarity of Yuuji's presence beside you.

Glancing sideways at him, you noticed the way the soft glow of the screen illuminated his features, casting shadows and highlights across his face. He seemed completely engrossed in the movie, his eyes focused on the screen, but you couldn't shake the feeling that he was aware of your internal turmoil.

Lost in your thoughts, you absently reached for a handful of popcorn, but your mind was elsewhere. The warmth of Yuuji's hand brushing against yours sent a jolt of electricity through you, pulling you back to the present moment. Turning to him, you caught his eye, and for a brief moment, you saw a flicker of understanding in his gaze.

It was as if he could sense the unspoken question hanging between you, the silent tension that lingered beneath the surface. And yet, neither of you dared to voice it aloud, afraid of what the answer might be. But as the movie played on and the night wore on, you couldn't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, it was time to have that conversation.

The movie eventually ended, leaving the room bathed in the soft glow of the screen's credits. The lingering silence between you and Yuuji felt heavy, pregnant with unspoken words and unexplored emotions. You stole a glance at him, noticing the way his features softened in the dim light, his eyes reflecting a mixture of exhaustion and contentment.

Taking a deep breath, you summoned the courage to break the silence. "Yuu," you began, your voice barely above a whisper. "Can we talk for a moment?"

Yuuji turned to you, his expression curious but open. "Yeah, of course," he replied, his voice gentle and reassuring. "Got s’mthing on your mind?”

You hesitated for a moment, unsure of where to start. The words felt heavy on your tongue, each syllable weighted with the uncertainty of the unknown. But you knew that you couldn't continue to avoid the conversation any longer.

"I've been thinking..." you trailed off, searching for the right words. "About us. I mean, what are we, Yuu?"

Yuuji's brow furrowed slightly, his gaze thoughtful as he considered your question. "I've been wondering the same thing," he admitted, his voice tinged with vulnerability. "I mean, we spend so much time together, and we’re dating….. I care about you a lot."

A rush of relief washed over you at his words, knowing that you weren't alone in your confusion. "I care about you too, Yuu." you confessed, your heart swelling with emotion. "More than I can put into words."

Yuuji reached out, his hand finding yours in the darkness. "Then maybe we don't need to put a label on it," he suggested, his touch warm and reassuring. "Maybe we can just... see where things go, together. Enjoy each other, y’know? We’re still young and we are happy, so….”

With a soft smile, you nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I’d like that." you said, feeling a sense of warmth spread through you. “Very much, Yuu.”

As the tension lifted, the atmosphere in the room became lighter, filled with a sense of newfound understanding and acceptance. You shifted closer to Yuuji, relishing the comforting warmth of his presence as you leaned against him.

"Hey, do you remember that time we first met?" Yuuji asked suddenly, breaking the silence with a playful glint in his eye.

A fond smile tugged at your lips as you recalled the memory. "How could I forget?" you replied, laughter bubbling up inside you. "You were so full of energy, I thought you were going to burst!"

Yuuji chuckled, his laughter mingling with yours in the quiet of the room. "Yeah, I guess I was pretty excited to become a jujutsu sorcerer. It gave me some purpose, y’know?" he admitted, his expression softening with nostalgia. "But meeting you was definitely the best part of that day. You were smiling at me and I just think it made me happy!”

Your heart fluttered at his words, a rush of affection washing over you. "I feel the same way, Yuu." you confessed, reaching up to brush a stray lock of hair from his face. "You've brought so much joy and excitement into my life, Yuu."

His gaze softened, his eyes reflecting the depth of his emotions. "And you've brought so much warmth and kindness into mine, pretty." he replied, his voice filled with sincerity. “I’d love more and more.”

In that moment, as you sat together in the quiet intimacy of the room, you knew that no matter where life took you, you would always have each other. And as you leaned into Yuuji's embrace, you felt a sense of peace settle over you, knowing that together, you could face whatever challenges lay ahead, hand in hand.

And suddenly, you think,  in a blink of a crinkling eye.

You were just both sinking, with your fingers entwined.

Your cheeks were just lovingly pink in the twinkling lights.

All night, he tells you about the first time he saw you again.

Happily, not bitterly this time, suddenly, sweet sixteen.

Everything, from then and now, truly feels so high school.

[courtofparrots]

Luis Serra and his use of false bravado

I'm writing a fic right now that requires a pretty in-depth character analysis of Luis, and I wanted to talk about one of my favorite things about him, which is his use of false bravado to get out of sticky situations, and the expressiveness he displays in the moments in between.

We talk a lot about Leon's micro-expressions when he's trying to hide his feelings, which don't get me wrong, I LOVE to analyze, but Luis has such telling expressions as well, and we should talk about it! (I also saw some gifs of Luis's expressions being modded onto Leon and THAT got attention but... neither here nor there).

To me, it always looks like he's using an almost silly amount of swagger when he interacts with others to portray his confidence, and he barely ever lets that wall down. Unlike Leon and Ada, he's a civilian, but he jokes around and flirts every time he's in front of them, despite being in situations where he really should be behaving more like Ashley, like when he narrowly avoided being tortured to death and he's just like "nice, cigs"

We as the audience are only privy to his mask slips in 3 different types of situations, as far as I can tell:

When he feels like his luck is about to run out: he goes from acting confident to suddenly displaying a lot of fear on his face, while he wildly casts around for something to say to help him out. In both of these instances, he completely regains his bravado once he thinks he's safe again, i.e. when Ada saves him from the torturers, or when he realizes Ada knows who Leon is. This is also just kind of adorable. Watch the way his face falls when he realizes Ada is mad, and then the way he flounders when she points her gun at him.

2. When no one else is looking: This one stood out to me from the very beginning because he's actually still speaking with confidence as he explains that the plaga can be removed, but Leon and Ashley can't see his face, where he's clearly showing his trepidation, his guilt about them being infected, etc. and then notice how he goes right back to smiling and confident when he turns around to face them again.

3. When he feels concern for others: Luis is an extremely caring person, and one of the most common moments where he lets his mask slip is when someone else is in danger. Obviously the first thing that comes to mind is his reaction to the medicine being destroyed, but I also want to draw attention to the look on his face when Ada is in danger and she tells him to leave her. And I know I included him looking away from Leon and Mendez in a previous post but here's a higher quality gif so you can really get your heart broken by how scared he looks:

Anyways, I just love the little things that make up characters in this game. I also have analyses about Ada and Ashley that you'll probably get whether you want it or not because I love them, and their characterizations are so interesting.

[dclover27]

Shut Up, Nerd

A/N: Okay, I was a little late, but I finally made it. This was way easier in middle school when I didn't care as much lol. Lmk what y'all think!

Summary: Reader has never had a party, so Spencer plans a surprise one.

TW: None

Words: 1.8K-ish

“You’ve seriously never had a party before?” Courtney exclaimed, a look of confusion on their face. Courtney and Y/N were sitting at a table in the cafeteria of the Smosh Office. Y/N giggled and rolled her eyes, a blush evident on her face. 

“I swear! Growing up, my family was really poor so we couldn’t afford to throw a party. We would usually just eat whatever dinner the birthday kid wanted,” Y/N explains. “I never felt left out or anything! We just celebrated differently, that’s all.” 

“That’s crazy!” Courtney draws out while Y/N stands up. “That just won’t do!” 

“I have to get back to work, but please don’t plan a party for me, I don’t want you to go out of your way or anything. I’m fine with just grabbing some takeout.” 

Y/N leaves Courtney behind to get back to work. As soon as Courtney can no longer see Y/N, they race across the studio to the Games Pod where Spencer is working. 

“SPENCER!” Courtney exclaims, rushing over to him. 

“What?? Jesus, you’d think the studio was on fire or something.” 

“I have the perfect way for you to impress Y/N!!” Courtney giggles with excitement. 

The crush Spencer had on Y/N was well-known around the studio. Well, to everyone but Y/N. He had made the mistake of telling Courtney about his feelings, who then decided that they were going to play matchmaker. Courtney, over the past few weeks, had been hatching many ideas of Spencer attempting to impress Y/N. Every time he got close, though, he either chickened out or his attempts went right over Y/N’s head. 

“What is it this time, Court?” Spencer sighed. At this point, it felt obvious to him that Y/N didn’t return his feelings. He didn’t want to seem too pushy and risk ruining his friendship with her. 

What nobody knew, however, was that Y/N was just as crazy about Spencer. She always reached out to him first if she wanted to talk to somebody. He was her first choice for anything; sending a meme, asking advice, general work talk, and even lightly gossiping. Spencer always had a listening ear, and that’s what Y/N valued the most. Of course, it also helped that he was wildly attractive, but that’s neither here nor there. 

“Y/N’s never had a birthday party before! If you throw her a party with a ton of things she loves, she’ll definitely know how you’re madly in love with her!” 

“Alright, hold on. I have some feelings for her, I am not ‘madly in love’ with her, yet. Second, does she even want a party? I don’t wanna overtake her day with a bunch of stuff we think she’d like, when the day should be all about her.��� Spencer wasn’t sure exactly how he felt, he almost felt split directly down the middle. He felt that she deserved a day where everybody celebrates her, and gives back just as much as she does. However, at the same time, he felt as though she deserved to celebrate the way she wants to. 

“Well, she said that she’d be fine ordering takeout, but I feel like that was just so she didn’t feel like we were being burdened,” Courtney explained. Suddenly an idea came to their head, “Oh! What if we have the party, like, the day before her real birthday, just so she can have the actual day clear for whatever she wants to do?” Courtney left the idea with Spencer and walked back to the sound stage for their next shoot. 

Spencer was lost in thought thinking about party ideas, not noticing that Y/N had come up next to him. 

“You okay?” Y/N prodded. Spencer jumped and snapped his focus to her. 

“Yes, sorry, I was just lost in thought,” he chuckled, nervous that she was reading his mind. She didn’t look convinced. 

“Are you sure? You looked like you were in some kind of trance...” she trailed off, hoping he’d tell her what was going on. 

“I promise,” He seemed much more convincing, “You’d be the first one to know if something was wrong, I tell you everything!” 

Spencer felt like he was lying to her, even though he technically wasn’t. He just wasn’t telling her everything. He turned back towards his laptop and tried to focus on work instead. She seemed satisfied with his answer, so she sat down in a beanbag chair near his desk and scrolled on her phone for a bit. 

“Hey, do you wanna come over on Saturday? I feel like having a movie night,” She asked him. All Y/N wanted to do for her birthday was spend time with Spencer. She loved all her friends equally, but Spencer was her favorite. 

“For your birthday?” Spencer turned away from his screen to ask. Y/N blushed lightly. 

“You remembered that?” 

“Of course I remember, dork. Is that what you want to do for your birthday?” 

“Do you think it’s weird if I don’t have a party?” Y/N felt shy. 

“No! It’s your birthday, you should be able to spend it however you want to,” Spencer told her, truthfully, while looking deep into her eyes. He could get lost in her beautiful eyes. Sometimes on particularly hard nights, he found comfort in imagining looking into her eyes. 

“Thank you, Spencer. I wanna have a party, I just also want to have a chill time with some friends too, y’know?” 

“I get that completely,” Spencer started to turn back to his computer again, feeling better about planning her a surprise party. 

Three days passed extremely quickly, and soon Spencer was setting up the last of the decorations for Y/N’s party. He decided to have the party at Courtney and Shayne’s and disguise it as a movie night, which was technically not a lie as there were movies playing. He had a bunch of her favorite movies all queued up and set at a low volume, her favorite foods and snacks ordered, and her favorite songs were ready to be played. All that was left was her favorite people. Everybody at Smosh was invited, both cast and crew, and mostly everybody had made it. Spencer had finally put the finishing touches on the party when he heard his name being called 

“Spencer!” Courtney exclaimed. They jogged toward Spencer through the crowd of people. “Y/N’s on her way, she just texted me, so we have, like, ten minutes before she gets here” 

Spencer nodded and turned away trying to get to higher ground so everyone could hear him. He waited about five minutes before making the announcement, “Hey! Y/N’s getting here in five minutes so everyone find a place to hide!” 

The Smosh family scrambled around for hiding spots and Spencer turned out the lights. There was a timid knock on the door, and Spencer went to answer it.  

“Hey!” Spencer greeted, fiddling with his jacket and obviously nervous. 

“Hey. Is everything okay, Spencer? Why is it so dark in there?” Y/N giggled, anxiously, wondering if she was missing something. 

“Everything’s fine, come in!” Spencer managed to regain his confidence. 

As soon as Y/N stepped through the door, the lights flipped on and a loud “SURPRISE!!” rang throughout the house. Y/N couldn’t stop the grin on her face from breaking out. This explained why Spencer was so nervous all week. 

“Oh my God, guys, this is incredible!” She gushed. This was truly one of the nicest things anyone had ever done for her. The music kicked on, and everyone gave greetings and pulled Y/N in different directions. She managed to make eye contact with Spencer from across the room. She mouthed “thank you,” and he smiled and nodded. She turned back to the party, as Angela and Chanse pulled her out to the dance circle that had formed in the backyard. 

As the party raged on, Y/N began to feel a bit overwhelmed and managed to find a quiet spot with no one around. She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding as she sat down. 

“Aren’t you supposed to be enjoying your party? Courtney and I put a lot of work into it,” Spencer ribbed as he came to sit next to her. 

“This really is incredible Spencer; I don’t even begin to know how to thank you. And Courtney.” 

“It was nothing, Y/N. You deserved a party,” Spencer bumped her shoulder with his. 

“Spencer?” 

“What’s up?” 

“Why did you do all of this for me?” Y/N was attempting to look into his eyes, but Spencer stayed looking forward. 

“Obviously because I love to party.” Spencer jokingly rolled his eyes. Spencer hated parties; he just loved his friends who loved parties. She lightly smacked his arm and clicked her tongue. Spencer chuckled and a silence overtook them. 

“Truthfully?” Spencer still refused to look at her. 

“Of course, truthfully.” 

Spencer took a deep breath. “I think you are, truly, one of the kindest souls I’ve ever met. You deserve to have the nicest things, and the nicest friends. You deserve to have a day where everyone celebrates you, because you spend so much time celebrating everyone else. 

“I think about you all the time. You’re funny, smart, beautiful, and so kind. Every time that I go home after I hang out with you, I’m just thinking about how much I can’t want to see you again. You take up all the memory space in my brain. I have real feelings for you, and every day it feels like I fall a little deeper.” Spencer let out a sigh of relief after pouring his heart out. 

Y/N was stunned to silence. She had no idea he felt the same way. 

“It’s okay if you don’t feel the same way. I’m not going to ruin our friendship over some-” Spencer was interrupted by Y/N’s lips crashing against his. She had both her hands on either side of his face and was pulling him in as close as he could get. The surprise faded and Spencer quickly kissed her back. He slowly snaked his arms around her waist and scooted his body even closer to hers. They pulled away when they ran out of breath. 

“Sorry, I should’ve asked first, that wasn’t cool.” 

“Y/N, I’ve been dreaming about doing that for months. It’s cool,” Spencer explained, with heaving breaths. He pulled her back in for a, much softer, long kiss. The kiss was slower, but somehow more passionate. His arms looped around Y/N’s waist to hug her as close as possible. 

They pulled away and stared into each other’s eyes for a moment. Y/N sighed happily and placed her head on his chest. Spencer kissed the top of her head, softly. 

“Happy birthday, honey,” Spencer hugged her a little tighter. 

“Actually my birthday is tomorrow...” 

“Shut up, Nerd.” 

[localwhiskeyuncle]

I want to touch on the conversation Barney has in Hannibal with Dr. Doemling, a psychiatrist Mason Verger hired to profile Hannibal and Clarice. To start - Doemling is wildly inaccurate with every single thing he says about Hannibal (which I mean, to be fair to him, Hannibal was intensely private and not many people really knew him at all) (I still think Doemling is a dummy though).

Mason (while he is the worst man to ever exist) was smart enough to realize that having Barney's input would be valuable; he was the person that Hannibal was the closest to during his incarceration.

Doemling is not so impressed - he starts the interaction by insulting Barney and looking down on him for only having his LPN and a Bachelors in Humanities. He asks Barney if he saw Hannibal and Clarice talking and Barney starts to say that it "seems to him that-" but Doemling cuts him off, thinks he's stupid. He says he doesn't want to know what he thinks, only what he saw.

The only good thing Mason Verger ever did was back Barney up and say he's smart enough to give his opinion (because he truly is; Hannibal would not have been so friendly with Barney, especially about academics, if he were stupid).

It is actually Krendler that asks the first pertinent question (which like... if Krendler is outsmarting you...)

"Did Lecter act differently in the Starling interviews, Barney?" "Yes. Most of the time he didn't respond at all to visitors," Barney said. "Sometimes he would open his eyes long enough to insult some academic who was trying to pick his brain. He made one visiting professor cry. He was tough with Starling, but he answered her more than most. He was interested in her. She intrigued him." "How?" [...] "They were frank with one another. He's disarming in that way. You have the feeling that he wouldn't deign to lie. [...] Dr. Lecter told her some unpleasant things about herself, and then some pleasant ones. She could face the bad things, and then enjoy the good more, knowing it wasn't bullshit. He thought she was charming and amusing." "You can judge what Hannibal Lecter found 'amusing'?" Dr. Doemling said. "Just how do you go about that, Nurse Barney?" "By listening to him laugh, Dr. Dumbling."

Okayyyy my sassy king, go off on this asshole! Dr. Dumb-ling, indeed! But more importantly, he is so much closer to how Hannibal ticks than Doemling is. It's insulting that he isn't being taken seriously.

When it's time for Doemling's insights, knowing neither party personally, he crashes and burns spectacularly.

"Dr. Doemling, does he want to fuck her or kill her, or eat her, or what?" Mason asked, exhausting every possibility he could see. "Probably all three," Dr. Doemling said. "I wouldn't want to predict the order in which he wants to perform those acts. That's the burden of what I can tell you. No matter how the tabloids - and tabloid mentalities - might want to romanticize it, and try to make Beauty and the Beast, his object is her degradation, her suffering, and her death. He has responded to her twice: when she was insulted with semen in her face and when she was torn apart in newspapers after she shot those people. He comes in the guise of a mentor, but its the distress that excites him. [...] To draw him, she needs to be distressed."

An absolute bullshit take, which Barney is quick to point out.

"May I put something in here, Mr. Verger since you asked me?" He did not wait for permission. "In the asylum, Dr. Lecter responded to her when she held onto herself, stood there wiping come off her face and did her job. In the letters he calls her a warrior, and points out that she saved that child in the shoot out. He admires and respects her courage and her discipline. He says himself he's got no plans to come around. One thing he does not do is lie." [...] "That's exactly the kind of tabloid thinking I was talking about," Doemling said. "Hannibal Lecter does not have emotions like admiration or respect. He feels no warmth or affection. That's a romantic delusion and it shows the dangers of little education." "Dr. Doemling, you don't remember me, do you?" Barney said. "I was in charge of the ward when you tried to talk to Dr. Lecter, a lot of people tried it, but you're the one who left crying as I recall. Then he reviewed your book in the American Journal of Psychiatry. I couldn't blame you if the review made you cry."

Barney's sass is honestly probably another reason why Hannibal liked him. He's mostly courteous, until he's been slighted, and then all bets are off. Kind of like Clarice. Kind of like Hannibal himself. Calling him Dumb-ling and pointing out he was the one who cried is something Hannibal would have giggled at for sure.

I have more to say on Barney - especially his insight on Hannibal without the context of Clarice and his relationship with Margot - but that will be for another day. I just thought this was a really interesting exchange that really highlights just how little the psychiatric community really knows about Hannibal (because literally all of them are that far off base). It's also a great example of the spark behind Barney; I think he's someone that could easily be underestimated (and was underestimated by Doemling) - whether that be because of his occupation or his appearance - but he is very sharp, very quick, and highly intelligent. You also get the sense that if Hannibal likes you enough, you get the privilege of a peek behind the curtain, a look into his soul and not the mask he wears (a slightly transparent mask, but a mask nonetheless). He can be cold and cruel, but he also has a very warm pit in the center and Barney was deemed worthy to see a bit of it.

TLDR I love Barney he's got a sharp tongue and is so much smarter than Dr. Dumb-ling and I really enjoyed the insight he brought to the table.

[morgan-va]

may i req a oneshot of rocky x rich, lowk calm and absolutely gorgeous and MAYBE. Sexy reader??? Like, js two ppl who u prob wouldn’t think to be in the same room nevermind talking to each other… r dating. Ya!! Godspeed!

Masterlist

Rocky Rickaby x Extremely Attractive Reader HCs

It’s the pairing no one saw coming. A chaotic, scruffy, walking tornado of trouble like Rocky somehow managed to charm someone who could pass for a movie star. The whole speakeasy is shook.

Rocky adores you with all the fervor of a cat chasing a gleam of light. He’s constantly at your side, tail swishing, letting loose compliments that range from hilariously over-the-top to beautifully poetic.

You’re used to people staring at you because of your looks, but Rocky draws a whole different kind of attention. People can’t decide if they’re more baffled by how someone like him managed to win you over or how you’re completely smitten with him.

He’s all touch when it comes to affection, playfully batting at your hair or holding your paw like he can’t believe you’re real. He has no sense of subtlety and absolutely loves public displays of affection.

Rocky has a knack for turning your beauty into an adventure. One moment, he’s comparing your eyes to “the rarest sapphires found in the rivers of the moon,” and the next, he’s dramatically shielding you from imaginary danger, like a knight guarding a priceless jewel.

He refers to you as his “divine muse” and insists that your beauty inspires his most chaotic ideas. Whether it’s a song, a poem, or a wildly impractical scheme, he’ll credit you with the spark of genius behind it.

Despite his theatrics, Rocky is deeply protective of you. He might be a scrawny tomcat, but he’ll bare his claws at anyone who so much as looks at you the wrong way.

You balance each other out in unexpected ways. Your composed, alluring presence contrasts sharply with his wild energy, and it works, like velvet and jazz or ice and whiskey.

He’s utterly fascinated by how cool and collected you are. Even when you’re just sipping a drink, he watches like it’s the most captivating thing he’s ever seen. “How do you make that look elegant?!” he marvels.

On the rare occasion you crack a mischievous smile or let out an unexpected laugh, it’s like Rocky has hit the jackpot. “Did you see that?!” he’ll exclaim to anyone nearby. “They laughed! I did that!”

No one would ever expect you to find Rocky’s shenanigans endearing, but you can’t help it. His unpolished charm, and seemingly endless energy, the way his eyes light up when he talks about his latest crazy plan… you’re hooked.

Rocky loves showing you off, parading you through Lackadaisy with a smug grin that screams, Yeah, they’re with me. It’s the one time he gets a little smug about his luck.

And you? You secretly love the unpredictability he brings to your life. His antics make every day feel like a new adventure, and you wouldn’t trade it for anything.

If anyone questions how you two ended up together, Rocky shrugs and says with a grin, “Some cats get the cream, and I just happened to land the whole dairy.”

[harpersdragons]

Theft in the Family...By Jason Todd, CHapter 5!

Finally finals are over and my self imposed writing ban is lifted, so enjoy the longer than usual chapter!

I'm not even a little sorry about the cliff hanger

Jason knows they aren’t safe where they are, he should probably move safehouses every day.

But—

But Damian slept most of the next day, only waking up briefly to eat and let Jason check his head wound. It made sense he would be tired, yesterday was stressful and he’s injured. Jason doesn’t want to wake him up just to take another convoluted route to another safehouse.

Hell, he doesn’t even have that many safehouses to burn!

He can’t keep using Bruce’s, someone will catch on, and Jason doesn’t believe for a second he could actually outsmart Bruce’s system, or Barbara when Bruce inevitably gets her to check it.

There’s not a lot of food, since Bruce only keeps these safehouses stocked with emergency rations, there’s no perishables and barely any dishes.

He’ll probably need to make a grocery run soon, but he really doesn’t want to wake the kid. Besides, it’ll have hit the news by now that Bruce’s newest son is missing, and leaving will just draw attention to them. He can’t go out as Phoenix, Damian can’t go out as himself.

Seems like there’s only one solution.

_________________________________________________

Bruce nearly collapses onto the couch in the middle of Phoenix’s apartment, the photo of his son and Talia clutched in his hand.

The apartment had been vacated by the time they got there, with no clues as to where they had gone next.

Damian’s probably 3 or 4 in the picture, grinning wildly at his mother.

He can’t lose another son.

He’s only known Damian for a few weeks, but he can’t lose him.

“C’mon, B, we gotta get out of here.” Dick pulls him off the couch and leads him towards the door. “We’ll get Dames back, but that won’t happen if you just sit here.”

He lets Dick lead him out, TIm following shortly after.

When they all pile into one of Bruce’s cars, Tim speaks up. “So…I may have planted a few bugs.”

“Tim—”

“Hear me out. We didn’t take anything, we left something. Ergo, it’s not illegal. I connected them to Babs’ system.”

“That’s not how the law works.” Dick facepalms.

"We're literally vigilantes! We break the law all the time, is this really the hill you want to die on?"

Bruce lets the boys’ bickering fade into the background.

He doesn’t remember the drive home.

He does remember the pounding his chest.

He remembers the spike of panic in his chest

What if they don’t find Damian?

Or worse, what if they do, but he chooses to stay with Phoenix?

Dick had mentioned he asked to go with the crime lord.

He can’t lose another son

He can’t be too late

Alfred makes them all go up to bed as soon as they get home (they may have been out all night searching Gotham), despite their protests.

A few hours later, after his short nap, Bruce makes his way down to the cave.

He pulls Tim’s mask footage, replaying the interaction between him and Phoenix without audio. He can still tell what’s going on pretty easily. As soon as Tim lands on the scene, Phoenix shifts to put his body between Tim and Damian.

At some point, when Bruce can only assume Tim is demanding the crime lord hand Damian over, Phoenix protectively tucks Damian further into his cape.

His youngest son looks sluggish almost, barely moving through the whole interaction. Dick had mentioned that, but seeing it was another story. It’s entirely different from how he’s been acting, even when Damian was exhausted, he never showed it.

Bruce flips through the footage over and over again, frame by frame.

He analyzes Phoenix’s posture, the way he effortlessly cradles Damian.

Eventually, he turns on the audio and lets it play through at his normal speed.

All seemed normal, until—

Until he could just barely pick up Damian’s sleepy voice.

“Incoming, Akhi.” Damian’s words are slurred, and his head barely shifts, but his eyes are trained in one direction.

Bruce stills, replaying the moment in hopes he’ll hear something different.

It’s not different, he didn’t hear wrong.

Akhi.

Not only does Damian know his kidnapper, he apparently asked to be taken (according to Phoenix, anyway, Bruce isn’t entirely sure how much he trusts that), he’s close to his kidnapper.

Close enough to call him brother.

Bruce has already had his suspicions, but this just confirms it.

The league has his son.

Again.

And if Damian is close enough to Phoenix to call him brother, Bruce may not get him back.

He can’t lose another son.

_________________________________________________

Jason waits until it’s well after dark to enact his plan.

The Bats will surely be on patrol, scouring the city for Damian, but as long as he doesn’t wear his gear, they shouldn’t look twice at him.

He just needs to run into Crime Alley and grab his and Damian’s old League gear (don’t ask him why he has it, Talia shoved a bag into his hands and said not to ask questions).

It should be simple, but if he’s not in gear he can’t grapple across the city—even if he did, it would take hours—so, he needs a car.

And he knows just how to get one.

_________________________________________________

Dick is perfectly fine.

No really, he is.

He’s used to his brothers going missing.

He’s used to hostage situations, kidnappings, attempted murders.

All part of the job.

Hell, that’s part of life as a high profile celebrity.

So Dick is 100% fine. He can deal.

He’s definitely not driving himself insane looking for his baby brother, who is currently being held captive by a crime lord and possible league assassin.

They’ve been working in shifts to find him, starting after Alfred forced them to take a nap. Currently it’s Tim, Steph, and Cass’ turn to scour the city. He and Bruce took the late afternoon shift, right after they woke up and ate enough to satisfy Alfred.

Bruce is manning the comms, technically still “resting”, and Dick is definitely not pacing the cave.

He’s pacing the manor, instead.

A few backflips later, and Alfred banned him from the manor until he’s burned off his restless energy.

Although, he’s still banned from patrolling until the current vigilantes come back.

Bruce is sitting just where Dick left him, glaring at the Batcomputer.

Dick comes to a stop in the middle of the cave, staring at the wall.

“Do you think, maybe we should call the Justice League in for this?” He calls, not bothering to look at Bruce.

“Hn.” Bruce grunts in response, as articulate as ever.

“I mean, after what happened the last time one of us was taken by a crime lord…”

“Dick.”

“I’m just saying! We need to find him, B, and the Justice League, or at least Superman, would probably be helpful!”

“Barbara called the Birds of Prey. That’s enough people searching for him.”

Dick whirls around, stalking towards the computer. “Do you even care? Because it doesn’t seem like you do. I mean, I know he was only here for a couple of weeks, but c’mon Bruce! He’s your son! You’ve barely spent time with him, and now you don’t even seem to care that he was taken!”

“Of course I care, Dick, he’s my son. I’m doing everything I can to find him.”

“Not everything.” Dick scoffs—though he grabs a cookie from the tray on the desk— and spins on his heel again, heading towards the training area. He has some acrobatic equipment there, and flying should burn off this energy.

Bruce must have looked up to see where he was going, or maybe to continue their argument, because he calls out, “Safety net, Dick.”

“Fuck off.”

“Richard.”

Dick waves a hand over his shoulder, disappearing into the sectioned off training area.

He makes sure his safety net is set up properly (not because Bruce told him to, but he’s not an idiot) before climbing to the platform.

He leaps, grabbing the trapeze bar, then twisting and hooking his legs. He lets himself dangle upside down for several moments, the bar swinging back and forth, before he rights himself and builds momentum to jump to the next bar.

He loses track of time going through a simple routine.

He leaps and flips through the air, hangs upside down, does handstands on the bar.

And still, the buzzing, restless energy is there.

Usually trapeze settles him, the freefall and head rush from being upside calms something in him, in a way not much else can.

But this time it didn’t work.

He makes his way back over to the platform, landing in a salute on instinct. He cocks his head in thought, learning a new skill could focus him enough to burn off the extra energy.

He’s been wanting to learn aerial silks, and they have the supplies to do it.

Bruce had bought all kinds of equipment when Dick moved in, he wasn’t quite sure what Dick would want to practice on when he was younger.

He’s seen aerial silk performances, watched videos on how to do beginner moves. He’s fairly confident he can figure this out.

With a plan in mind, he sets about taking down the trapezes, unclipping them and letting them fall to the safety net below. Once that’s done, he unclips the net itself, as it’s not necessary for the silks. He can practice pretty low to the ground, besides, they have thick mats on the ground for a reason.

He checks the silks themselves and makes sure they’re still sturdy, then goes about securing them.

Finally ready to begin, he thinks through the motions he’d seen people do in the videos.

…and when he tries them he promptly falls on his face.

Again

And again

And again

Just as he thinks he’s finally starting to get the basic locks, the alarm rings through the cave.

Dick untangles himself from the silks (if he gets more tangled in the process, that’s between him and the empty room) and jogs out of the training area. He can just barely see Bruce disappearing up the stairs.

So not a bat emergency.

...Probably

He glances between the stairs and the computer, ultimately deciding to see whatever triggered the lock down procedure.

No use barging upstairs completely unprepared for whatever situation is there.

On the computer, security footage is frozen on a single frame.

A man, dressed in cargo pants and an oversized hoodie (impressive, considering the man is close to Bruce’s size), with dark hair and a startlingly white streak falling over his forehead.

Part of his face is obscured by a domino mask, and clearly a good quality one at that.

He’s standing in front of the Murcielago, flipping off the camera, and a wild grin splits his face.

There’s a stack of tires in the corner behind him, tire iron gripped in the hand not flipping the camera off.

The weird thing is (even weirder that is), the footage is dated to 2 hours ago.

That shouldn’t be possible.

Bruce has an absurd amount of alarms and sensors all around the manor, it should have alerted the second it picked up on an unrecognized presence.

Dick rushes upstairs to the garage, and he finds Bruce standing in an empty parking spot. There’s keys scattered on the ground, the board that usually holds them has been tossed carelessly across the floor. Most of the cars are untouched, except for the missing one and the Murcielago. It’s missing its tires, but the thief didn’t actually take them. They’re stacked up on the wall behind the car, just like they appeared on the footage.

Bruce isn’t even looking at his car though, focused solely on the missing one.

Dick catalogs the cars present, running them against the ones he knew should be there.

Jason’s car.

The thief stole the car Bruce meant to give to Jason for his 16th birthday.

_________________________________________________

Just before Jason steps out the door to “his” (Bruce’s) safehouse, grapple hooked on his belt (you think he’s walking all the way to the manor? Fuck no. the safehouse is close, but not that close), the lights flicker, and a speaker crackles.

Jason freezes, eyes flicking over to Damian’s sleeping form.

The kid didn’t stir, and nothing else seems out of place.

His hand creeps over to the gun strapped to his thigh, before a voice filters through the speaker.

“Jason Peter Todd!” A familiar voice shouts.

Barbara. Of course.

He’d foolishly assumed she’d left Gotham, or was otherwise out of the vigilante game.

Nope.

She’d just moved to behind the scenes.

“...Are we gonna have a problem, Barbie?”

“Oh, we already have a problem. Multiple of them, actually.”

“Right. Could we discuss this later? I have shit to do.”

“Nope. Sit your ass down.” Her voice is still too loud, he can see Damian start to shift in his sleep.

“Only if you lower the voice. If you wake Damian up, we’re gonna have a whole separate problem.”

“Is that seriously your only concern?” Despite the disdain dripping from her voice, she does speak softer.

Jason sits on the couch, fiddling with the blanket covering Damian.

“The kid’s got a concussion, it’s much more pleasant for us all if he sleeps it off.”

“Fine.” She pauses, taking a breath before continuing, “Why didn’t you tell anyone you were alive?”

“What, you mean when I came back? Or when I woke up.”

“Either, both. We would have helped you, Jason.”

“Well, Talia picked me up, and I didn’t really have a way to contact you. Nor did I want to. When I came back, I told Alfred when I dropped the kid off. No one else needed to know.”

“Jay…”

“I’m doing perfectly fine on my own, Barbie. I don’t need your pity.” He stands, heading for the door. “If that’s all, I have shit to do.”

“Sit back down, I’m not done.”

“Well hurry up, then.”

“Why did you take Damian?”

“Y’mean besides the fact he asked me to?” Jason shrugs, “I missed the kid, Bruce clearly isn’t paying enough attention to him. My kid, my rules.”

“He’s not your kid, though.”

“May as well be.”

Damian wakes up, then, “Akhi?” The word slurs sleepily, and something in Jason softens.

“Hey, Habibi.” He strides back over to the couch. “How’s your head feeling?”

Damian shrugs, reaching for him.

“Well that’s descriptive, Princeling.” Jason obliges him, scooping the kid up and settling him on his hip. “Y’hungry? You slept through dinner.” There’s not much here, but he found some cans of soup.

He distantly hears Barbara coo through the speaker, and flips off the room behind him. There’s a camera somewhere, she’ll get the message.

Damian shakes his head before resting it on Jason’s shoulder.

“Well ya gotta eat somethin’, kid.”

“Clearly you two are fine. Want some help with whatever plan you have concocted?” Babs speaks again.

Jason smirks, carrying Damian to the kitchen and setting him in a chair. “Wanna help me fuck with Bruce?”

“...That depends. What’s the plan?”

“I need an agreement you won’t rat me out to the old man. I don’t want him to know where I am, or that I’m alive.”

“I’ll agree, on the condition you tell him eventually. And that you return Damian or work out a custody agreement.”

“Barbie...you know he doesn't want me there. It's better for all involved if he doesn't know I'm alive."

"I have no clue where you got that stupid ass idea," He can hear her digh on the other line, "Problem for another day. If you want my help, I need you to agree to my terms."

"...Fine. Deal.” Jason is not pouting. He's above that.

“Ok then. What’s the plan?”

Jason talks her through the plan, and where she would come in while he ladles some soup into a bowl for Damian. He can’t completely overwrite the security system, or loop it like she can.

Once he has Babs’ agreement, and Damian is fed (and quickly falling back asleep), Jason gets ready to head out again.

“Ok, Dames, I have to go out for a bit. I should be back in about an hour and a half, two hours tops. Will you be ok on your own?”

Damian just nods his agreement, and Jason takes him back to the bedroom to sleep some more.

Once he’s thrown on a domino mask, dark oversized hoodie and cargo pants, Babs hacks his phone and puts her number in it, along with a message.

You can enter as normal, your access was never erased. I’ll cover your tracks, loop the cameras, and make sure you don’t trigger the sensors.

Jason smirks, and begins the journey towards Wayne Manor.

He’s lost some time due to Barbara’s delay, but hopefully he’ll still be able to get through his plan.

Once he finally arrives at the gate, he enters his code and watches as the buzzer turns green, the gates opening slowly.

Jason grins, and makes his way towards the manor.

His original goal was just to take a car, but now that he’s here…

May as well have more fun than that.

First stop: Bruce’s bedroom.

He needs to get his baby brother’s book back.

He still can’t believe Bruce took that from him, he never once took Jason’s books when he was younger, but the one time Damian is reading one of Jason’s books, there’s a problem.

No matter, Jason will just steal his book back.

Thankfully, the tree he always used to sneak in and out (usually unsuccessfully, but only due to the sensors in the yard. This time, he has Barbara covering for him) is still there, and he’s able to scale it and make his way into his old bedroom.

From there, it’s easy to make it down the hall without being seen.

He cracks the door quietly, resolutely not thinking about how familiar the action is, from all the times he’d sought comfort from Bruce at night.

He doesn’t get that anymore.

He never will, and he’s accepted that.

…hasn’t he?

Jason shakes the thoughts off as he crosses the threshold of the room.

The book is pretty easy to find, it’s just sitting on Bruce’s nightstand.

Jason grabs it, taking a second to read some of his old annotations.

Bruce’s bed is as comfortable as Jason remembers, and it’s a battle to stand up and walk out.

Maybe he could come home?

The Bruce he remembered would welcome him.

But—

I’m not your father. I don’t have time for your teenage rebellion

No.

Jason doesn’t need him.

He’s here for a reason, anyway.

Shaking his head to clear the thoughts, Jason forces himself to leave the room, to leave his fath-- Bruce behind.

It’s a bit more risky to get to the garage, he has to stay in the open a lot longer than the short path from his old room to Bruce’s. If he miscalculated, or just spent too long talking with Barbara, and the bats are already back from patrol, he could get caught.

He forces himself to walk slowly, paying attention to make sure there is no one around the corners.

All his caution is futile though, as he passes Bruce’s study, Alfred appears in his path. Both of them freeze, and Jason opens his mouth to stay something. His jaw snaps shut at a raised eyebrow from him, and Alfred extends a tray full of various snacks towards him.

Jason tentatively snags a cookie off the tray and starts walking past him. Alfred nods once, and continues into the study.

The rest of the way to the garage is clear, thankfully.

Jason tucks the book into a pocket in his cargo pants—thankfully this copy is a small paperback, not the larger hardback like the first edition in the library—and heads over to the wall of keys.

The choice is pretty easy, he wants to fuck with Bruce as much as possible.

He grabs the keys for the red Toyota Camry, specifically the car Bruce was set to give Jason for his 16th birthday. The car they picked out together.

He pockets the keys, and just before he’s about to turn and leave, an idea strikes him. A small smirk spreads across his face, as he grabs the edge of the boarding holding the keys, and tosses it across the ground. The keys scatter, like intended.

With that handled, there’s only one more thing he needs to do before heading back to Damian.

He finds a tire iron in a nearby tool cabinet, and spins it casually as he walks towards Bruce’s favorite car: the Lamborghini Murcielago.

Because of course the fucker had to go with a car that means bat in spanish.

Jackass.

For an expensive car, the tires are pretty easy to steal. Bruce should work on that, you’d think he learned after a little punk stole his tires the first time.

He gets the tires off quickly, and rolls them to the side.

He grins, turning to one of the cameras in the garage, and flips it off.

Dropping the tire iron to the ground, he heads back to the camry.

He has a kid to get back to.

By the time Jason is pulling up to the safehouse again, Babs has dealt with covering his tracks and sending the footage to Bruce.

The sky is starting to lighten, the sun not quite rising yet.

There’s a bag of food sitting on the front step, and he scoops that up on his way in. He sets it on the counter and peels his domino mask off, then pulls Pride and Prejudice out of his pocket.

He runs his fingers through his hair as he heads to the bedroom to check on Damian, exhaustion weighing on him.

Only, when he opens the door, Damian is nowhere to be found.

The sheets are rumpled, there’s an indent on the pillow where Damian was sleeping.

But the kid is nowhere in sight.

Jason’s heart drops, chest constricting as he tears through the rest of the house.

There’s not much ground to cover, but the conclusion is the same.

Damian is gone.

[rollinouttahere-writes]

Shooting my shot asking for a Kaku x adult Lucky fic rather than headcannons this time (you don’t have to if you don’t want to)

Oh trust me, I want to!

I decided to make this a little what if scenario for if Kaku had been successful in running off with her after Enies Lobby

Not So Bad

3.4k words

warnings for yandere content and pregancy mentions (not for Lucky)

Life had taken many turns that you hadn’t been prepared for. 

It started with more tame things such as your parents throwing you out when you dropped out of college and the absolutely unhinged shit customers put you through at work. Then you went and got yourself sent to a whole different world, as one does, and after that your life appeared to be speedrunning batshit insane events.

This ultimately culminated in your current situation: Being abducted and forcibly married to one of the many people who had become obsessed with you since entering this bizarre world.

Waves crashed against the ship from outside, lightly jostling you and everyone else on board. Kaku’s arms instinctively tightened around you. The small bed you were both crammed into left no room for personal space, every inch of your body was squeezed against his so as to prevent either of you from falling off the bed at the slightest movement of the ship.

The soft fabric of his nightshirt pressed into your face, likely leaving an imprint in its wake. The steady rise and fall of his chest stuttered slightly from the disturbance of the particularly large wave hitting seconds before, but it evened out again. He’s such a light sleeper that you’re honestly surprised that wasn’t enough to wake him.

Quiet grumbling could be heard behind you as one of the other people you were bunking with complained about how rough the sea was. You could understand why she would be irritated by this. Her morning sickness had been bad enough already, the motion of the ship rocking as much as it was definitely didn’t help.

This particular situation was hardly anything new for you. Ever since Kaku had “eloped” with you after you failed to fight him off at Enies Lobby thanks to your clammy hands dropping your impact dial, you’d been on the run. It made sense, you suppose. You were a wanted pirate after taking part in the attack on Enies Lobby, and he was a former CP9 agent who not only ran but was also being blamed for the situation. It was rare for you two to stay on an island for more than a few weeks. If you stayed any longer you ran the risk of being tracked down by other assassins.

While Kaku’s distinct features made hiding a little more difficult than it needed to be, you lucked out by not having a photograph on your bounty poster. No one had been able to get a picture of you, so they had to settle for a drawing instead. It wasn’t very accurate, though you had to admit it looked much better than Sanji’s. You damn near pissed yourself from how hard you’d laughed after seeing his.

Kaku was outwardly optimistic about your circumstances, assuring you that the manhunt would calm down as the years went by. You’re not sure if he actually believed that or if he was just saying as much to try and comfort you. That was admittedly something he was good at. Lord knows he’d needed to do this more than a few times in your time together.

At first you had resented that tendency of his because he had been the primary cause of your stress. The audacity of him to try and get you to calm down after kidnapping you made you want to scream. Or when he would wildly misconstrue why you were upset. Like the time he thought you were having “pre-wedding jitters” because you’d been fighting him tooth and nail on the way to an extremely shady chapel, and didn’t ONCE consider that maybe you just didn’t want to marry him.

Your kicking and screaming had done nothing to stop it. The officiant didn’t care about your willingness, and Kaku was delusional enough to excuse your behavior as just being nerves or whatever. He’d gotten what he wanted, insisting that he wanted to “do this right”, and now he was your husband whether you liked it or not.

As time went on, your disdain for him was becoming less and less, and you didn’t know how to feel about it.

Sure, at first it was easy to dig your heels in and resist. The Straw Hats would be here any second to save you, you were sure of it. But they never showed. You tried to rationalize it. They didn’t know where you were. With Robin they knew exactly where she went and how to get there, it was easy to chase after her. With you, you had up and vanished without a trace. You’re not even sure they had enough to go off of to know that you’re with Kaku.

Jealousy was an ugly emotion, but that didn’t keep it from brewing within you. You hadn’t seen so much as a hint of the Straw Hats, and that led to you questioning if they were even trying to find you. Were you just deadweight that they were glad to be rid of? You tried to tell yourself that wasn’t true, but it became harder to convince yourself of that as you saw reports of the Straw Hats gaining new members.

Had they replaced you? That easily?

Surprisingly, Kaku had been the one to assure you that likely wasn’t the case. He pointed out how hard they fought to get you back when you were still in Water 7. While he definitely wasn’t a fan of theirs by any means, even he could admit that they cared for you. It was… confusing to hear him of all people defend the Straw Hats. 

The real tipping point came after you saw the paper announcing Ace’s death. That broke you.

For a solid month after that, you were inconsolable. There was nothing that anyone could do or say to ease the pain. After the crying had gone from a constant to only happening in random bursts, you had fallen into a deep depression. You wondered if there was something that you could have done to prevent this. Would you have been able to save Ace if you’d been there? The idea that his death was avoidable made you feel sick to your stomach.

All throughout this depressive episode, Kaku had been nothing but kind and patient. He’d been a shoulder to cry on, someone to ramble to about your time spent with Ace in Alabasta and how he was like the brother you never had. Kaku didn’t once get irritated with you over being upset, and he never criticized you for being useless when you were too depressed to get out of bed in the morning. It made him very hard to hate.

Then one night he brought home a kitten he’d found at the construction site he was working on temporarily, one of his many odd jobs he’d picked up. The poor thing was underweight and so filthy that you couldn’t even tell what color it was supposed to be. A rather lengthy bath in the sink had revealed him to be orange, which reminded you of Ace and made you cry again.

Kaku had encouraged you to keep him saying that having the little guy around might help you to feel better, and you saw no reason to argue. You’d always wanted a cat. The kitten was a total sweetheart. Very mischievous and dumb as a brick in true orange cat fashion, but undeniably loving. The idea to name him Ace came to you easily.

Having cat Ace around did wind up being a turning point in your mood. You couldn’t sulk in bed all day when a tiny kitten was raising hell in your room and demanding attention. It was nice having something to take care of.

Ace was presently snuggled up in the crook of your neck, thoroughly worn out from Ellie playing with him for hours on end during the day. Ellie was the daughter of the couple you were sharing a cabin with. The six year old had been ecstatic to see she was rooming with a kitty and had all but begged you to play with him, which you were fine with. Her mother, Clara, had simply been grateful to have her daughter occupied while she struggled with a combination of morning and motion sickness.

Due to both you and Kaku having a wanted status, you typically chose to stay in the cabin of whatever passenger ship you happened to be traveling on so as to minimize the chances of being recognized. This led to you getting to know Clara and Ellie quite well. Not her husband though, who you’re not sure you ever caught the name of.

Kaku had butted heads with him a couple of times over his behavior, starting with when you were boarding the ship and saw that he’d left Clara to haul on all of the luggage herself despite being very noticeably pregnant. Both of you were quick to help her, while Kaku made a jab at him for being a “ninnyhammer”. Honestly you think he was more mad about not knowing what that meant than being insulted.

None of you saw much of him after that. He’d spent the day socializing and drinking, only coming back to the cabin after everyone else had already gone to bed.

You’ve been awake since he came back. Partially because you’ve had a lot on your mind as of late, but mostly because you really needed to pee. You thought that it could wait until morning at first, but it had become clear that wasn’t going to be the case.

There was no use in trying to sneak out of the bed without waking up Kaku. With how closely pressed you two were, even a heavy sleeper would be awoken from the movement. The second you shifted yourself up onto one elbow, his eyes shot open.

“Is something wrong?” His voice was thick with sleep, but his eyes were alert.

“I need to go to the bathroom. Hold Ace so he doesn’t run out after me,” you pulled the kitten away from your neck and handed him over. Ace mewled in protest.

“Alright, will do,” Kaku murmured while holding the feline gently.

After slipping on your shoes and a housecoat over your pajamas, you quietly snuck out of the room. 

One of the downsides to being sent to a world that was in a time period before your own was that things were less advanced than you were used to. Unfortunately that applied to the bathrooms. In the absence of plumbing, the “toilets” were in cramped rooms at the front of the ship that essentially just had a hole in the floor hanging over the ocean below.

Admittedly, this ship’s toilets were bougie in comparison to some of the others you’ve been on. At least these afforded you some privacy, unlike a few of the others that simply had you out in the elements for anyone and everyone to see your bare ass.

You’re not sure you made it ten feet from the room when you could hear the door open and close again. Your eye twitched in annoyance. Where could Kaku possibly think you would go while on a ship in the middle of the ocean? You hadn’t tried to run in months after learning quickly that you had no hope of being able to get away from him, not with how athletic he was.

With a huff, you stop and look over your shoulder. Instead of seeing your paranoid husband, your eyes fell upon Ellie. She jogged over, nightgown bouncing with each step, “Are you going to the toilets? Can I come with you?”

“Oh, yeah of course,” you waited for her to close the gap before continuing.

Ellie reached up to grab your hand as you made your way down the dimly lit hall, “Thank you! I really needed to go but was too scared to go by myself, it’s so spooky in here at night.” That it was. The sparsely placed oil lamps did little to illuminate the halls, the moonlight shining in through the windows was doing more than they were. “And I didn’t want to ask mama since she doesn’t feel so good.”

“Aww, that was very considerate of you,” sadly she appeared to be more concerned for her mother’s well being than the woman’s husband was. It wasn’t surprising that she hadn’t even considered asking her father to go with her, you don’t think you’ve seen them speak to each other once.

She tugged on your hand and looked up at you expectantly, “Hey, can I play with Ace again tomorrow?”

“I don’t see why not, he seems to be quite fond of you,” you couldn’t help but chuckle at her enthusiasm. Ellie squealed and walked with a skip in her step. 

Distantly, you wondered how Ace would feel about you naming a cat after him. He might be a little indignant about it at first, especially if you talked about how dumb the kitten was, but you think he would come around. Cat Ace is charming in his own right, he’d be able to win over human Ace. If… If he’d had the chance to. You shook your head. No, you weren’t going to let yourself spiral again tonight, and certainly not when you were escorting a child to the bathroom. 

After a somewhat long trek, the head finally came into view. Ellie let go of your hand and ran into one of the private rooms. She must have really had to go. You entered your room of choice with a decidedly calmer gait. It was very dark in there, with the only light coming from the slits in the wall letting in both fresh air and moonlight. 

Wanting to get out of here as quickly as possible, you got down to business. The choppy waters did not make balancing yourself particularly easy, but you managed. After washing your hands in a bowl of water that you were trying your hardest not to think too hard about the cleanliness of, you took a moment to look at yourself in the mirror.

Pushing back the partial bangs Kaku had given you to hide your scar- that he swore up and down he wasn’t bothered by, this was purely to hide your identity- you traced over the scar. It had long since healed over, but the memories associated with it felt fresh.

Again, your thoughts drifted to the Straw Hats. A few months ago, they had disappeared. No one knew where they were and there was talk of them having disbanded. You didn’t buy it, Luffy was far too determined to give up on his dream, and his crew was too loyal to leave him, but where did that leave you?

When they first left the public eye, you had thought it was done intentionally so they could come rescue you. It would be harder for Kaku to avoid them if he had no idea where they were. That never happened. It was really starting to feel like they had abandoned you. Makes sense, you suppose, you were quite the handful for them. What with all the people chasing after you and fighting them to get to you. It was probably nice to not have to worry about that anymore.

It hurt. A lot.

But not as much as you thought it would. Kaku has told you time and time again how much he loved you, and you did believe him. At first you thought he was just obsessed and nothing more, but as time went on and he went out of his way to try and make you happy, you found yourself doubting him less and less.

You wouldn’t say that you loved him, but you’re not sure how much longer that will be the case. He’d been successful in making you at least a little fond of him. You would willingly engage in conversations with him and honestly didn’t mind him holding you at night anymore. There have also been a few instances of you getting… carried away, but you didn’t want to think about that right now.

Were a few kind words and gentle touches really all it took to make you overlook the extremely dubious beginning of your relationship with him? Were you really that easy to win over? How pathetic.

Another rough jolt of the ship snapped you out of your thoughts. A dingy bathroom was hardly the kind of place you should be staying in any longer than necessary. The wooden door creaked loudly as you forced it open, making you wince. 

Ellie was standing on a bench beneath a large window, taking in the sight of the ocean at night. She flashed you a large grin and hopped down when you approached. The walk back to your shared room was filled with speculations about what the island you were heading to would be like. It was a welcomed distraction from your previous train of thought.

As you rounded the corner of the hallway your cabin resided in, you spotted a figure stationed outside of your room. Your pulse quickened, briefly panicking as you wondered who it was, but then he turned and his side profile gave away his identity immediately. Ah, it was just Kaku. Though you couldn’t help but wonder what he was doing out here.

He likely spotted both of you the second you entered the hall, and he spoke up once you got close enough to hear him. His eyes were focused on Ellie, “Your mother’s fretting over you, you should go in and let her know you’re alright.”

“Oh, okay. Thank you for walking with me, Lucky!” Ellie gave you a quick hug before scurrying into the room

It wasn’t until then that you noticed a disgruntled Ace in Kaku’s arms who was all but clawing at him to get to you. Naturally, you scooped him up and brought your dear pet to your chest, causing him to purr.

“Did something happen? Why was Clara so worked up?” You lightly stroked the kitten’s face, making him purr even harder.

“She didn’t realize her little ankle biter had slipped out of the room after you and got into a tizzy over where she had gone. She settled a bit after I said I saw her leave with you, but I figured she’d prefer to see Ellie in the room again.” Kaku sidled up to you, one of his hands found purchase on your shoulder and his head rested against your own. You allowed it, even leaning into him.

A comfortable silence blanketed you two as you lingered in the hall, swaying lightly with the current of the ocean.

“You do so well with children. Ellie adores you.” Was murmured into your ear.

Your breath hitched in your throat. You knew where he was going with that. Kaku had been open about his desire to have children since your encounter in Enies Lobby. Over the months that you’ve been together, he’d made several comments about it. From observations that you were good with kids when you did interact with them, to asking what kind of names you liked best. He wasn’t subtle, but he never pushed it when you changed the subject.

“I guess so? Ellie’s a good kid, it’s hard not to get along with her.” You honestly weren’t sure how you felt about the idea of having children of your own, you were hardly in the best state of mind to be thinking about such things.

Kaku hummed in agreement and held you to him just a little bit tighter. After a moment, he released you, “We should hit the hay, it’s late.” He didn’t wait for an answer before gently guiding you back to the room.

Slipping off your housecoat was slightly difficult to do while holding Ace, but he was too cute for you to want to put him down so you made it work. Kaku was already in the small bed and helped you climb in, keeping a firm grip on you so that you wouldn’t be thrown to the floor from a poorly timed wave. 

Yet again, you were squished against each other from the lack of space. A couple of months ago, you would have hated this. Now? It didn’t seem so awful.

Your face was buried in his chest as Ace squirmed around in an attempt to get himself comfortable. Kaku’s lips pressed against your forehead for a brief kiss and he mumbled out a quiet “sweet dreams” before fully settling into the bed.

Maybe loving him wouldn’t be so bad.

[phoebepheebsphibs]

Trying My Worst

Title: Chapter 1/?? Prompt: passing out from pure exhaustion Fandom:  ROTTMNT Word Count: 1099  Author: PhoebePheebsPhibs Rating: Gen Characters: Michelangelo & Baron Draxum Warning: Description of fainting/passing out Summary: Notes: No Beta, We Die Like Gram-Gram! More chapters to follow...

@tmnt-write-fight @remedyturtles

Link to AO3 <-

Mikey had never been that exhausted in his entire life.

Not even after staying up for a full three days of non-stop fighting to defeat the Shredder when he was first resurrected.

Okay, maybe that's pushing it a bit. He did pass out instantly once the threat was gone and the adrenaline gave out.

But one night of sleep later and he was fine!

The week after the invasion from the Krang was a different story.

Mikey's arms turned to golden light and cracked all the way up to his shoulders as he forced open a hole in time and space to save his brother. Everything after that was a blur.

He remembered Leo falling through, winking at the Krang Prime before turning to check on Leo and falling on top of him in a desperate hug as they all watched the sun rise over NYC from Staten Island.

But then... Mikey wasn't so sure, The last thing he recalled was leaning against Raph's arm for support as Donnie called for a pickup. And then... blackout. Mikey's knees gave out from under him as the world began to spin and all strength left his body. He couldn't feel his arms anymore. He couldn't hear Raph's panicked voice as he caught Mikey. He just fainted, passed out, knew no more.

Mikey 'woke up' a few times on the ride back home. Though he didn't remember any of it. He was completely out of it, eyes unfocused and consciousness disconnected from reality. They told him the first few times he woke up, he didn't say anything, just looked around in confusion before passing out again.

The rest of the week was basically the same.

Mikey's body was utterly exhausted from the overuse of ninpo and mystic abilities. Draxum came in to check him over and warned them that Mikey's body needed to rest for a few days to heal up from the overexertion it went through.

Mikey slept for at least a day and a half before actually waking up. And even then, he was on the moon. He could barely speak without babbling endlessly about who knew what and crying every time someone even looked at him because he 'just loved them so much'.

Mikey's arms were completely out of commission. They were fine, or at least they would be. But 'Mikey's little mystic stunt' as Draxum put it would leave his limbs numb and floppy for quite some time. The mystic cracks would disappear, the scars fade into nothingness, and his arms would return to normal once his body had gotten enough rest.

It only took a week. To everyone else, this was a miracle. To Mikey, it was torture.

A whole week of bedrest and not being able to use his arms?? Forget the fact that meant no art or cooking, it also meant he couldn't play video games or scroll online! Couldn't feed himself, couldn't read a book without having someone else turn the pages, couldn't even change the channel on the TV when they set him up on a couch bed. Couldn't itch himself if something got under his shell. Mikey literally could do nothing without asking for help.

And he had ADHD. Meaning he physically needed to do something with his hands and brain. Or else he'd go insane.

"Why does God hate me..."

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

"Let me see how your hands are doing, Michelangelo."

Mikey shakily held out his arms for Baron Draxum to inspect. He wiggled his fingers at him. They were a little sore, the joints felt a bit sticky, and his fingertips were wildly tender and sensitive, but he was managing fine. Ready to get back into using his extremities again! Ready to draw and paint and cook his own meals and do ninja tricks and razzmatazz!

Barry looked his hands over, gently pressing his thumb and forefinger against the scarred tissue and asking 'Can you feel that?' 'Yes.' 'Does it hurt?' 'Not really.' 'How about now?' 'Ouch!' and so on.

"You're healing quickly," Draxum congratulated. "Dexterity is doing well, your nerves are regaining feeling. You've been exercising them?"

"Some physical therapy," Mikey admitted. "A few stretches. And I tried sketching yesterday. Just to try, nothing big. Just shapes and squiggles."

"I do hope you're resting yourself, though," Draxum reminded him.

"I've been doing nothing but resting!" Mikey complained, leaning back and huffing with frustration. "It's been a whole week and I'm sick and tired of just sitting around."

"I'm sure your brothers are tired as well," Draxum said with consideration. "I hear Leonardo cannot even leave his bed yet."

Mikey swallowed his pride and glanced away from his co-father.

"...I don't mean to be complaining so much," Mikey sighed. "I just... I'm tired of feeling useless."

"I fully understand," Draxum replied with a nod. "But you need to take it slowly or else all this time will have been for nothing. It's a process."

Mikey grumbled impatiently. Draxum glanced up at him with a warning, but let it slide for the most part.

"...I suppose your legs work properly."

"Yes?" Mikey answered, confused by the inquiry. "Why?"

"And you can read?"

"Yeah, they finally let me use my hands for reading books again," Mikey admits. "Though it's kinda hard to stay focused with books. Why?"

"I was considering inviting you to my home for some formal training in the mystic arts. If you are interested."

Mikey shot up, bouncing from excitement.

"Are you kidding me?! Yes! Yes!!"

"On one condition," Draxum interrupted, raising a hand to calm his overly giddy child down. "You must take time to rest your hands. I cannot train you if you cannot take care of yourself and your hands cannot properly heal. Do you understand?"

"Yes, yes, I do!" Mikey promised, nodding with exhilaration. "I'll do my best with this!"

Draxum gave him a small, soft smile as he nodded.

"Very well. Training will begin next week. We'll start with the easy spells and a few rune exercises. Nothing too extreme, just to bring you up to speed and build your experience."

"Oki-doki!" Mikey said with a smile and a thumbs up, before his thumb twitched and twinged. "Ooh, ouch ouch ouch!"

Draxum eyed his son with concern.

"Uh..... I'll work on that. I'll be fine by next week, I promise!"

"Don't come if your hands still hurt you," Draxum warned. "We don't want to aggravate your condition."

"I'll be fine!" Mikey chuckled nervously. "I really wanna do this. I promise, I'll be fine."

Drax gave a groan of reluctant relent.

"We'll see..."

TO BE CONTINUED...

[zukkaoru]

lemon futon AND kunichuu + "THAT's who you were talking about?!" "look at who you're holding hands with!"

nikomushithaniel + "it could have ended differently" "i know."

beast souheki + "why?"

i offer you some silly fun times followed by ✨angst✨

lemon futon & kunichuu

“THAT’S who you were talking about?!” Katai demands, gesturing wildly with one hand. “Kunikida, that’s a Port Mafia executive!”

Chuuya rolls their eyes.

Kunikida bristles. “You’re concerned about me? Look at who you’re holding hands with!” This, he thinks, is a fair argument to make. Because Katai is holding hands with one Kajii Motojirou, the Port Mafia’s notorious lemon bomber, while Chuuya is a well-mannered, polite, individual who just happens to also work for the mafia. There’s a pretty big difference between the two, as far as Kunikida is concerned.

Needless to say, when Katai said he would be introducing his partner to Kunikida, he did not expect to see a familiar face. Definitely not mafia familiar.

“You hate the mafia,” Kunikida points out.

“So do you!”

“Well—”

“As far as I’m concerned,” Chuuya cuts in, “you’re both hypocrites. You two can argue all you want, but if this goes on for too much longer, Kajii and I are going to ditch you and go out ourselves.”

Kajii grins, maniacal and dangerous. Kunikida tenses.

But…he supposes Chuuya gets like that sometimes too. The wild, carefree, laughter. The wicked glint in their eyes. And while it scared Kunikida at first, it’s now one of the endless things about Chuuya that he finds indescribable beauty in.

So maybe he can trust Katai and give Kajii a chance.

-

nikomushithaniel + “it could have ended differently” “i know”

“It could have ended differently,” Mushitarou spits out. It stings, like a knife to the gut; he says it like Nikolai doesn’t care. Like he hasn’t lost hours upon hours of sleep combing through his memories pointing out all of the moments he could have done something—anything—to change the ending.

“I know!” he snaps, hands clenched into fists at his side. Curled so tight his fingernails are drawing blood. He knows, he knows, he knows. They could have stopped Nathaniel, could have talked him out of it. They could have simply escaped with him in tow.

They could have done any number of things, but now—

Now, it’s too late.

It could have ended differently, but they both missed every opportunity to bring about the needed change, and now they’re left alone with the broken pieces. Nathaniel was the blood binding them together, and with him gone…

“Just get out of here,” Mushitarou orders. “I don’t ever want to see you again.”

Nikolai doesn’t argue. He just leaves.

-

beast souheki + “why?”

Ranpo didn’t go to the funeral.

He knew exactly where and when it happened, but the gathering was so small they would have instantly noticed an enemy in their midst. It wasn’t his place to intrude regardless. He never meant that much to Dazai.

Then again, no one did.

He refused to let himself care about anyone. And now he’s gone.

Ranpo sits in the wet grass, back against the headstone, face tilted towards the sky. Two weeks ago, they were in Dazai’s bed, back pressed against the mattress, teeth sinking into his skin. And now—

“Why?” they whisper.

No answer comes. The dead cannot speak. Ranpo knows this all too well.

The dead do nothing but leave you with unanswered questions and ghosts that you cannot shake.

Dazai never even fully removed his bandages when they were together. It meant nothing to him, and Ranpo knows this—has always known this, but—

The one thing he doesn’t know is why Dazai jumped. The one thing Ultra Deduction cannot help him figure out is Dazai’s motivation. Ranpo has tossed and turned for hours, rolling the question through his head in the middle of the night, but they always come up empty.

It doesn’t make sense.

They knew he wanted to die—knew he planned it out, down to the second.

But he would never explain why.

Now, he never will.

[squipedmew]

well, since the Dream SMP has officially come to a close, I thought I’d share what I’ve been up to for the past 2 years - making character designs for every single one of the characters!

 I really wanted every character to look distinct, with really distinct color pallets, unique weapons for each and every character - basically like each one of them could be the protagonist of a wildly different story from one another. Feel free to steal them (with credit) if you want!

I kinda dropped off working on it in late 2022, so I think I missed a few characters, as well as going back and re-doing some of the oldest ones (that’s why some of them are more detailed - those are the 2023 versions)

As strange as it is for me to say this, DSMP had such a big impact on me, especially over COVID. I haven’t had a piece of media fill me with such a passion to create art and improve probably since Undertale all the way back in 2015, if you can believe it. I owe a lot of my art improvement to this silly little Minecraft series, and though I may have lost touch with it near the end, it will always hold a special place in my heart. 

o7 you crazy, wacky, depressing, stupid, unsatisfying, joyful, hilarious, and amazing series. I wish everyone involved in it the best!

(A few extra designs under the cut!)

This is a 2020 Pogtopia Wilbur I made, and if I were to draw it now, I probably wouldn’t change a thing. This design fucking slaps imo, I’m still super proud of it. 

Exile Era Tommy. Wilbur’s old Pogtopia coat has been passed around so many times between so many different interpretations of characters, so I thought it made more sense for Tommy to take the L’Manberg era coat from Wilbur, since that was the version of him he idolized (This is an old version of Wilbur’s coat btw)

Post Dream-Getting-Sent-To-Prison Tommy! I wanted to emphasize how Tommy was trying to move past his trauma, so he shaved off the grey streak he got from the Withers in the L’Manberg explosions (I gave him the grey streaks before Revival canonized it - don’t ask me why)

Las Nevadas Quackity. It’s basically a 1 to 1 for his skin, save for the really ugly blue patches and hoodie I gave him. If I were to do it again, I would def change that. 

Snowchester Tubbo. Also still holds up, though I’m not 100% on the pants. This was kinda before goat Tubbo got super canonized, so I just decided to have the eyes. The scars are from the execution. 

Revivbur. He looks pretty good for a dead bitch - though I messed up the L’Manberg flag colors on the bandanna on his ankle. Guess he’s french now. 

Team Rocket era Niki! She took custody of Wilbur’s Pogtopia coat, albiet cutting off the parts that were covered in blood and soot (which was most of it) I also made her a fire-born like Sapnap, though you can’t see from his design - her hair is on fire when she feels strong emotions, and she’s basically going through it 24/7 during this part. 

Syndicate Niki! She’s calmed down and is no longer on fire, but her hair is still pink from all those weeks of constant rage and sadness. Also dressed more appropriately for the snow. 

Dream Post Prison. Mask no longer has invisibility enchantments, so he doesn’t bother hiding his face. Gotta wonder how it’s staying on though. Get this man some moisturizer. 

[sitp-recs]

Hey liv! :) Do you know any Drarry fics with "i'm addicted to you" vibes?

Hi anon! Ahh yes, love myself some chaotic obsessive vibes for those two. It’s about the utter desperation 🤌🏼 I hope you enjoy these, I’ve also heard great things about Liar by jad, if you’re okay with Hinny and Drastoria infidelity I think it would be a good fit for your ask.

Phoenix in the Fire by @fw00shy (E, 1.4k)

Their first time was an accident. "Sex pollen," Draco claims, though everyone knows it was too much Ogden's after Puddlemere beat the Tornados 240-230. "He's like a vengeful sex demon after he's lost," Harry confesses in the privacy of Hermione's kitchen. "A lustful, bitter jackhammer."

Cigarettes Will Kill You by Femme (E, 4k)

He lights a cigarette across the pub, his hand cupped to his mouth as the tip sparks to life in a faint orange flare, and my breath catches.

When You and I Collide by @bixgirl1 (E, 6k)

If asked on his 18th birthday what he thought he’d be doing in three years, Harry never would have been able to predict that his answer would be “letting Draco Malfoy fuck me senseless over the sinks in the loo of a Muggle bar”. This is how the story begins. He never thinks to ask how it ends.

The Page Eleven Wars by fireflavored (E, 8.5k)

In a gossip-hungry post-war Wizarding World, Rita Skeeter has a wildly successful column in the Daily Prophet known as Page Eleven. Naturally, her favourite targets are the poster boys of the two sides of the war: Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter. Bored and annoyed, the two take up tabloid baiting for sport and pleasure.

The Things They Never Say by @bixgirl1 (E, 9k)

Harry and Draco don't know how to talk. So they do other things instead.

I'll never be your chosen one by @andithiel (E, 15k)

Draco doesn't know what exactly he’s doing with Potter, he doesn't know how their unspoken agreement even started, and doesn't know where it will end. The only thing he knows is: he's not in love.

Watch The Castles Burn by @moonflower-rose (E, 21k)

Draco Malfoy knows better than to get involved with Harry Potter. If only someone would have reminded him of that six months sooner, then maybe he wouldn't be in quite such a large mess.

Touch Me Fall by @lqtraintracks (E, 23k)

Malfoy was such a ponce. And he was a complete snob. And he was so fucking fit Harry wanted to jump him where he sat. It would be too easy to forget his objective tonight: to really, really, really get Malfoy out of his system.

Welcome to the Broom Closet by incapricious (E, 23k)

Harry thinks he knows how his life will go: Become an Auror. Marry Ginny. Have a family. But then he sees an advertisement in the paper that no one else can see, and his life is turned upside-down. The Broom Closet: you can be anyone you want while you're there, but you won't remember it in the morning.

Your Place or Mine? By @l0vegl0wsinthedark (E, 27k)

"This person is so much harder to hate. And I’m supposed to hate Malfoy. How the fuck else am I supposed to limit this to just sex?"

In The Red by @bixgirl1 (E, 45k)

When Harry goes looking for a vampire at a Creature club, the second-to-last thing Harry expects is to find Malfoy working there. The last thing he expects is to fall in love with him.

The Boy Who Only Lived Twice by lettered (E, 54k)

Harry Potter is an Unspeakable. Draco Malfoy is the wizard who shagged him. Adventure! Intrigue! Secret identities, celebrities, spies! It's all right here, folks.

Finely Drawn Lines by @the-sinking-ship (E, 61k)

Draco doesn’t consider himself an artist (though the dozens of sketchbooks lining his shelves might suggest differently). Yet ever since Potter returned to Hogwarts, accepting a teaching position alongside Draco, his drawings have taken on a rather singular focus. From the curl of his lips to the exact number of lines that form at the corners of his eyes when he laughs, Draco has catalogued every shade of one Harry James Potter between the pages of his sketchbook. So long as Potter remains none the wiser, Draco will have no trouble controlling his crush.

We Are Young (I'll Carry You Home Tonight) by Femme (E, 68k)

Harry and Draco have been falling into bed on and off again since the last election five years ago, much to the amusement--and financial gain--of their circle of friends. But when Harry agrees to work with Draco to put Kingsley Shacklebolt into the Minister's office, they can't work side-by-side again every day and sleep together; that would be courting disaster. Wouldn't it?

Tales From the Special Branch by Femme (E, WIP)

This is a five-story arc about an Auror Special Branch unit whose core members are Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, Pansy Parkinson, and Blaise Zabini. I can promise endgame Drarry, but, let's face it, there are going to be a lot of up and downs on the way

[tiny-minecraft-rabbit]

Untitled Soulmate Goose

Or, Joel and his terrible, horrible, no good, very bad misadventure for his soulmate.

My very first multi-chaptered fic I'm posting fully on tumblr, yippee! This is a gift for @holymolyguacomole for @mcyt-yaoi-exchange and it was so much fun!!!

Read on AO3 - Next Chapter

Joel grumbled as he hopped out of his room with one sandal on, tail thrashing behind him. Today was supposed to be his and Grian’s day to hang out, but of course Scar had to come over with a brand new spell book (something he found at the top of some mountain in a wizard’s tower, and Joel only half believed his story) and draw Grian’s attention away from him. Now he had to leave their shared space to find something else to do with his time and not bother the two of them while they explored the new magic spells. 

“Hey, G–” 

“Joel, wait!” 

Too late. Joel had hopped himself into the living room, looking for his other sandal, and right into mage circle that had not been there fifteen minutes ago. 

When he looked up fully at Grian the avian was looking at him with this sort of constipated look; Scar was next to him, looking an equal amount amused and worried for him. 

“Please, tell me this isn’t going to teleport me somewhere,” Joel whined as the runes began to grow.

“It’s not going to teleport you,” Grian repeated, not moving and clearly waiting for something to happen. 

“Transform me? I’m already a shapeshifter,” Joel asked.

“Nope.” 

“It’s a summoning ring!” Scar helpfully supplied, shifting his gaze to the spell book in his lap, “If I’m reading this book right, and I’m probably not, the spirit is currently “attaching to your soul”.” 

“Attaching!?” Joel yipped.

“Attuning! The spirit is attuning to your soul,” Grian hastily corrected, hands out like he was keeping a wild animal at bay and bright parrot wings puffed out behind him– Which, a bit warranted, Joel did feel like tackling him. 

““Attuning” isn’t any better, Grain,” he hissed. 

Grian chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck, “It… shouldn’t be a nefarious spirit. It’s for finding your soulmate! It’s some animal guide– probably a dove or a cat…”

“Why on earth do you need a blooming soulmate guide?” Joel snapped, gesturing wildly at Scar, “Aren’t you two already soulmates?” 

“Thank you!” Scar exclaimed, elbowing Grian, “I’m telling you, Grian, we’re soulmates!” 

“We’re soulbound,” Grian said, like it was somehow different, “We’re cosmically destined to find each other in every life and fall in love, sure, but I’m betting that my actual soulmate is Mumbo.” 

Scar chuckled, “I’m pretty sure he just wanted to see if he could put another tracking spell on Mumbo. Apparently Mumbo found out about the last one and removed it.” 

“I should be allowed to know where he is at all times!” Grian insisted, pouting. Scar patted his shoulder reassuringly.

A ball of energy started to grow and take shape in front of Joel’s chest before floating down to the floor. As it grew it was definitely bigger than a dove or a cat. It was three feet tall by the time it was done, thin too. Joel was hoping for an eagle or maybe a swan, something menacing or regal. 

Instead, the creature that appeared before them was a goose.

The three of them blinked at the animal, expecting, in some way, for it to disappear or change into something a little more impressive. It did not. It was very much, still a goose, standing in their living room. A Canada goose, with dusty brown feathers and pitch black neck and head and white chin. It was just standing there– and staring right at him. 

“You’ve got to be blooming kidding me,” Joel hissed, waving his hands in the direction of the goose, “Grian! What is this?” 

“Pretty sure that’s a goose,” Scar helpfully supplied.

“It’s your soulmate guide,” Grian added.

“My soulmate guide can not be a blooming Canada goose– Why is it a Canada goose?” Joel exclaimed. 

The goose honked at him.