#im serious my timeline is coming down i promise

[senbons]

A pic of your tits of course! Haha nope, kidding. Give me a little excerpt. The most gutwrenching one! I want sweet torture 😭

Lolol

It's definitely not the most gut-wrenching (and as spoiler free as I can find) but it's definitely not a fun feeling in the gut!!!

[distant-velleity]

the true you

Summary: Chrysos sees Santiago's wings for the first time. It's your standard Chrytiago "they DEFINITELY have some kind of feelings for each other but won't admit it" fic. Word count: 2.4k+ A/N: Um so I may or may not have, to the detriment of my homework, had a burst of inspiration and written all this yesterday. O. Oops? Whatever <3 No beta we Overblot like pretty anime boys This takes place during Book 5 (bc haha themes of accepting and loving urself am i right) but the timeline is pretty muddled otherwise so. That's why a lot of usual characters aren't present and other things. Enjoy :)

~

Chrysos glares down at his phone, as if subjecting it to his scathing wrath will make a reply come any faster. He’s well aware of the awkward looks Yu and Jack are giving him and each other, but quite frankly, he doesn’t care. 

where are you? — Sent right before classes started.

hello? — Sent between first and second period.

are you sick?? — Sent during third period.

i swear to the seven if you don’t respond im gonna hunt you down. consider this your warning — Sent as soon as lunch break started.

It’s already halfway through lunch. Where the hell is he?

“Um, Chrysos,” Yu starts, reaching across the table to tap his shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Chrysos mutters angrily, not looking up.

Jack crosses his arms. “No need to be like that. He’s just asking a question.”

“Says you—” Chrysos inhales sharply, holds it, and then exhales. Deep breaths, now. Jack’s unfortunately right. “S…Sorry. It’s simply that Parro hasn’t been here all day, and he isn’t replying to my texts. He’s read them, but he isn’t replying.”

He looks up and sees Yu fidget, a telltale sign that the TA knows something. 

Chrysos narrows his eyes. “Are there circumstances I should be made aware of?”

“Oh… yeah.” Yu frowns. “There’s, um… a bit of a situation right now.”

“What?” ask Jack and Chrysos in unison.

Like a fish out of water, Yu opens and then immediately closes his mouth. He thinks deeply for a second, and then shakes his head. “I promised not to talk about the details,” he says, both apologetic and uncomfortable. “Santiago… really isn’t feeling it, so. You know. He’s still at Ramshackle until we can quote-unquote ‘get the situation under control.’”

“Right, but then he could at least—”

At least get over himself to tell me?

Chrysos stops himself, struck by shame. Isn’t he just taking Santiago’s usual enthusiasm for granted? It’s difficult not to, but if he were in Santiago’s position, then…

Being taken for granted really isn’t easy. He should know…

“Twisted Wonderland to Chrysos?” Jack asks gruffly.

Oh, he’s been quiet for a little too long.

“There’s no use in me just texting him,” Chrysos decides abruptly, turning off his phone. “I’ll seek him out once school ends. Then I’ll find a way to get answers, if I can’t get them out of you.”

He doesn’t miss the way Yu grimaces and shares a look—that he’s too stubborn to admit he cares, isn’t he one—with Jack. “Good luck. If anyone can get through to him… it’d better be you.”

…

“So, this is his room?” asks Chrysos.

“Yep. I’ll be at Pomefiore if you need me,” Yu tells him, and then leaves him alone in Ramshackle’s second-floor hallway. 

As much as Chrysos wants to just barge right in and demand answers, there are certain sensibilities he has to accommodate for. He sighs to take a moment for himself, observing—there’s a tray of food left by the door, on the ground, and totally untouched. Perhaps, if Santiago was holing himself up as reported, the rest of the NRC tribe had tried to offer him food…? And then he simply didn’t accept it, for whatever reason…

Chrysos’ frown deepens, and he knocks on the door.

“Santiago?” he calls, making sure to project his voice enough for the beastman to hear.

There’s a soft thud, a string of surprised curses, and what Chrysos swears is the sound of something flapping. 

“Chrysos?!” Santiago basically squawks. “Were you serious about hunting me down?”

“Oh, so you did read every single one of my texts!” Chrysos retorts. “I think I’m owed a bit of an explanation here.”

“Er, well…” Santiago’s voice grows small. Inside, something seems to rustle against the walls. “Um—it’s…”

Chrysos closes his eyes briefly. Stupid bird making me feel stupid feelings. “Listen,” he says a little more softly, though still firm. “I—” 

Missed seeing you in class? No. Nope. It’s only been a day. 

“...It’ll be better if you just rip the bandage off and tell me. Think about it, how many more classes can you miss like this?”

Santiago is quiet, and more fluttering noises come from inside the bedroom. “I don’t know how to explain it. It’s… probably easier if you come inside first and see it for yourself,” he says reluctantly. “But—don’t judge! Please.”

Honestly, Chrysos has never heard Santiago—confident, flamboyant, mischievous Santiago—sound so insecure. Not even when their lives were actually at risk. It’s… odd. “Alright.”

Not really sure what to expect, he grabs the (unlocked, somehow) handle and pushes the door open—

Chrysos’ eyes widen.

Santiago is huddled on the bed by the window, the pale winter sun illuminating his hair. Wrapped tightly around his body are wings, red-and-blue feathers in shades that are just slightly duller than his hair. They’re lined a little oddly, though, messy and un-preened, and several lone feathers are scattered about on the floor. 

Frankly, though? Chrysos is in awe. “You… You have wings?” he asks, and immediately regrets how stupid he sounds.

“I’m a parrot beastman, Chrysos,” Santiago almost whines. “I can’t help it. They don’t normally look like this, I promise! Not all awkward and unclean and unnatural and—I don’t even have them at all, generally, but I ran out of the transformation potion and—”

“Hold on,” Chrysos interrupts, back to seriousness. “You take a transformation potion? Regularly? And no one’s noticed?”

Santiago wilts, nervously plucking at his own feathers. “The doses last really long since it’s a pretty weak potion, just enough to make me look relatively human—and I was supposed to get a refill over break, but the whole training camp thing happened, so I couldn’t—and now I’m out, so… hnnggh. Can you close the door already?”

Chrysos shuts it behind him without a second thought. Mostly because his brain is piecing together other, more significant matters—the fact that Santiago had mentioned never really having many friends, the diction he uses to describe his wings, the insecurity… 

Do you not see how gorgeous you are? Who the hell did this to you? 

Not that it’s hard to guess; society and the people it produces are vicious. Regardless of whether you’re on land or under the sea, it seems. 

Something must show on his face, because Santiago presses himself even further into the contradictory shame and safety of his wings. “You’re smart, you’ve probably figured it out already,” he mumbles. “I can’t stand the thought of… of everyone seeing me with my wings. I don’t care if it’s just my ‘human’ form, or when I’m using my signature spell, but”—he shudders—“people think it’s weird when I’m not visibly one or the other. Or at least they used to. And I don’t wanna have to deal with that here. I mean, can you imagine? I was doing just fine and getting along with people and then—”

The more Santiago rambles nervously, the more enraged Chrysos feels on his behalf. Maybe, it’s subconscious empathy from his own childhood, where his status protected him from fellow students at school but not from the arrogant mers of the aristocracy—

Inhale, exhale. Don’t give into your own grudges. Think about this rationally.

—okay. As furious as Chrysos feels, Santiago is being vulnerable with him, and for once he can’t just take advantage of that. With many others, he would—but in this case, he can’t. He just can’t. 

“So,” Santiago stammers out finally, “I don’t know if I can go back to class soon. Vil said he might look into brewing a temporary replacement, but he didn’t look too happy with my decision to hide my wings, so—you know. I just. I don’t think I can do it. I…I think I’ll just call in sick for a bit.”

He manages to pluck a feather from his wings, fidgeting out of stress in the silence Chrysos is leaving. If there’s any blood coming out, then it’s hard to tell through the matte crimson of his wings.

Shit.

Chrysos takes another deep breath.

Don’t make an impulsive decision. Don’t make an impulsive decision. Don’t m—

“I’ve heard enough. Come to Octavinelle with me,” he declares.

Santiago blinks at him. “Huh?”

Well, he’s said it already. No way he can back out now. Chrysos swallows. “I’m going to show you something.” And hopefully convince you of… something.

He watches the hesitation emerge clear on Santiago’s face. “But… I don’t want to go out—if people see me, then—”

“If they say anything out of line, you can ignore them, and I’ll teach them a lesson.”

Santiago worries his lower lip with his teeth, and doesn’t reply.

“As you said,” Chrysos says, “‘it’s best if you see it for yourself.’”

…

“What are you doing?” Santiago asks, incredulous, as Chrysos starts taking off his own uniform piece by piece.

“I don’t know why you’re looking at me like that” Chrysos mutters, carefully undoing his bowtie so his necklace stays on. “It’s just easier to transform with less clothes on.”

Santiago’s eyes light up with a realization, and he almost stands up from where he’s sort of just perched on a bench. “‘Transform’? So, you mean—you’re showing me your mer form?”

“Mm-hmm. Hold this.” Down to basically just his shirt and slacks, Chrysos hands Santiago the articles of clothing he’s shed, and steps out of his shoes. 

“I thought…” Santiago’s lips press into a line. “Honestly, I thought you were just never gonna show me. Or that you didn’t want to.”

Ah. There it is.

Chrysos stares at the water of the pool—pristine and free of chemicals, since it’s made specifically to accommodate merfolk. “Well… I’m not sure if I’m as ashamed of my true form as you are.” Thinking about it now, though, he probably wouldn’t have shown it to Santiago unless it was necessary, like that time at Camp Vargas. Maybe that makes him a hypocrite. “But we’re not here to talk about ‘would have’s and ‘could have’s. How much do you know about merfolk culture?”

“Oh, uh…” Santiago seems surprised by the sudden topic redirection. “Not a lot, actually. It’s mostly only what I’ve heard from you.”

Chrysos sighs—not at Santiago, but at the facts he has to remind himself of. “Merfolk tend to value more human-like appearances, especially those who come from more populated settlements. I’m sure you’ve seen the stereotypical half-human, half-fish depiction of our kind; those are the kind of merfolk who are considered attractive and worth people’s time.”

He turns his back on Santiago to step over to the pool’s edge, sit down, and let his feet enter the water. Almost immediately, as soon as he starts imagining it, they start merging back into his ever-familiar tail. Magic takes care of the whole clothing issue, and consequently, he starts feeling the weight of his fins and spines.

Behind him, Chrysos can hear his uniform being put down and Santiago excitedly scurrying over.

“W-Wait—” He holds up a hand, conveniently hiding his face since he’s not ready to be perceived like that—not in the middle of his transformation—and stopping Santiago. “Let me… finish,” he says, a little lamely and clipped.

Chrysos eases himself down into the water, letting himself fully shed his ‘human’ appearance. When he’s fully submerged, he gives himself a few moments—looking down at his webbed hands, his scales, his angry red patterns and venomous spines…

(“Of course, what else could you expect from a monster like that?” — Said one of the king’s associates.

“Positively magnificent!” — said Rook and Vil when they caught a glimpse of his mer form.)

…Well, now Chrysos is pretty sure what message he’s trying to get across to Santiago. 

He swims back up and resurfaces, holding onto the pool’s edge; right next to where Santiago is sitting, posture more relaxed, as if he’s temporarily forgotten about his wing predicament.

“Woah,” Santiago breathes, looking… awestruck? “You’re so…” He gestures vaguely with a hand, wings fluttering. “...beautiful, I don’t know. Like—Seven, I know that sounds weird, and I hope you don’t tell anyone I said that aloud, but.”

Chrysos opens his mouth, closes it, and looks very intently at the tiles. I could say the same for you, he thinks, but immediately shuts that down. Don’t get distracted. “Well, that’s… not what I was taught to think. Merfolk like myself, and the Leeches—we aren’t exactly viewed favorably. I suppose it was the same for you. People are so shallow sometimes.”

Santiago’s wings droop. “...Yeah.”

“But,” continues Chrysos, “I—I wasn’t trying to make this about me. What I’m saying is—you showed me the you that you’re afraid will be criticized, so the favor should be returned. And it’s a reminder that it’s stupid to just go along with the standards other people think you should adhere to. If everyone under the sea was exactly 50% human-looking and 50% fish, then it’d just be… well, I’d rather live the rest of my life enduring Trein’s lectures.”

“At least it’s balanced.” Still, the witty comment has Santiago snickering genuinely. 

Chrysos ignores the way his heart skips a beat from the sound of it. “Riiight. Anyway, if everyone on land looked wholly human, then it’d be ridiculous too. Wouldn’t it?”

“I guess, yeah,” Santiago admits. He looks over one shoulder to examine his wing, back muscles flexing. “When you put it that way, it’s kinda like…” He glances down at the ground. “...this is all kind of pointless. There’s people who aren’t gonna be happy about my existence anyway, so I might as well embrace it.”

“So I’m finally getting through to you,” Chrysos deadpans. 

Santiago kicks, playfully splashing water at Chrysos. “Let me have my epiphany in peace! When I preen and get my shine back, you’re gonna regret talking to me like that.”

He doesn’t say it, but a part of Chrysos is glad that this part of their dynamic isn’t changing. With any tension having already faded like bubbles rising to the distant surface, he smirks. “You’ll be taking my words to heart, then?”

“Honestly, I’m, uh, not sure how I’ll handle sitting in class with my wings,” replies Santiago, “but I’m just gonna have to deal with it. Using all those transformation potions is… I knew it for a while, but it was just the easy way out. I’ll tell Vil he doesn’t need to brew anything for me.”

If nothing else, it’s a start.

“In that case”—Chrysos points a clawed finger at Santiago, a mock warning—“I’d better see you in class tomorrow.” 

“Aww, you missed me that much?” 

Santiago smiles back at him. 

“Don’t worry—I still wouldn’t miss annoying you in the middle of a lecture for the world.”

~

taglist (ask to be added or removed!): @thehollowwriter @theleechyskrunkly @casp1an-sea @elenauaurs @nahelenia

(for some of you guys on my normal/art taglist, i didn't tag you bc i don't know if you want to be tagged in fics, so 😭if that needs to be changed let me know)

[nanatsuyu]

what makes you like kandrew so much?? what drawns you to them??

(not trying to sound rude or condescending or anything im just curious lol)

I really adore characters that bite and snarl at each other for the purpose of enrichment in their respective enclosures.

On a more serious note lol—other than the fact that I have A Type when it comes to pairings (davekat, edxizzy, amberprice, etc), I enjoy characters that have somewhat of an unhealthy codependency on one another. Which is the extremely general way of putting it. I like characters that are kind of doomed to the narrative to never really be sated by what the world has to offer, but their person makes up for that (not that they always recognize it as such or that it's entirely positive or sometimes even completely mutual). And I don't mean doomed in a "never amount to anything" way, but in that bittersweet tone where both of these characters, wherever they fall into each other on the timeline, are at a place where their lows sync up, and that harmonizing rattles something to the perceived tune of "we're the best we're ever going to get". Again, that's all really general for the vibes of why I was drawn to them. There's a bit more nuance for them (and the other pairings ofc).

I like that they have a deal that encompasses both of them trying to push the other into being a better version of themselves but they're both too stubborn/scared to move first because realised potential means you have to recognise it too. Kevin can't expect Andrew to try his best when he himself is not, and Andrew can't expect Kevin to show him his worth* if he doesn't bother to try in the first place. (Though I know their deal was labelled more as moriyama protection for Kevin, I think that kind of encompassed the idea that Andrew would be a crutch till Kevin could stand on his own if that makes sense)

Not to quote the ec but it's one of like 3 parts I would willingly print and eat:

Andrew is the kind of character I adore because he says this and he really genuinely means it. Keeping what little he has left of himself is a last ditch self preservation tactic because he can't get hurt if he has no hopes/expectations/aspirations. No one can let him down if he doesn't let them. But he's so wonderfully flawed in his own ruleset because he keeps doing just that in the hopes that maybe someone will be different this time . Like maybe this time someone will be right when they say he's worth it** like maybe Kevin is right and he can make Andrew see what he's been refusing himself.

I also love that their deal extends far past the deal itself. In the most basic of terms, it was: 'you go, I'll go.' Andrew didn't have to trust Kevin beyond that. But he gave Kevin his meds and trusted him not to abuse that. Kevin had even already promised to help him figure out a way to wean off them before if they could earlier (and I genuinely think his fear of Andrew getting off his meds early was both a kneejerk 'the game/my safety' reaction because Kevin has a lot riding on this semester too, but also because he knows he made his own promise to Andrew and he thought Andrew coming off his meds early might have been an obstacle even Kevin's stubbornness couldn't hurdle when it came to helping Andrew on his feet after). Likewise I have to imagine that very few people put their trust in Kevin with much of anything outside of Exy given his temperament and wallflower disinterest in team building extra curriculars. So for Andrew to willingly give Kevin his meds to hold onto that he's gotten violent over before probably created a very morbid sense of.. pride, I guess? Like I trust you to hold onto the thing that ruins me is so... clenches fist

There's also this rough handed care that comes with all of that. They're unforgivably honest with each other at the best of times and unnecessarily biting at wounds just to get a genuine reaction at the worst. But then they also have these quiet side/off screen moments that are unyielding in tenderness? Andrew inspecting Kevin's hand for injuries. Kevin covering for Andrew when he's sick on court. Andrew telling Kevin to trust him during a panic attack and that he'll take care of it. Kevin turning his entire attention away from the Raven's to pull Andrew up to his feet. Them smiling at each other first genuinely?? Being idiots on the court with playful mocking shoves that don't get heated?? Like you give me these two characters who make it seem as if their hearts will genuinely stop beating if they stop nipping at each other, and then show me that they're actually wrapped up in one another so tightly that they're rarely seen apart? And are burdened (affectionate) with the task of keeping the other from doing the very thing that drowns themselves?? Okay

Also a looooot of this is from my perspective on Andrew's perspective on Kevin since we're given a lot more to work with, but I genuinely think Andrew was the first to push back at Kevin and make him prove things to Andrew and himself. Kevin had maybe a couple people at most before he fled to the foxes. Like he had nothing other than his name and reputation, good and bad, when he showed up at wymack's door. I can't help but imagine some part of Andrew saw this as amusing but also rather tiresome when it came to seeing Kevin constantly shut away in hiding. He was so loud before, where is all that roar now? When Kevin left Jean, he really left his only friend behind (sorry Thea fans I know she's there I know). So here you have Andrew, offering a deal that becomes this codependency because being out of the nest alone most certainly took its toll for a while, and it sounds too good to be true but most things are. So Kevin snatches it up and then there's the trust in the meds and the constant presence (in the sense of comforting consistency in spite of any disagreements (but abandonment issues kandrew is a whole other post now innit)) and the care and it all looks a lot like what someone might call a friend. And I mean they could both say they're not friends till their dying day but they're the only ones they're still trying to fool.

I just like that they gnaw on the scraps that they snag off one another, these leftover cuts from failed attempts at love and kindness, and act as if they didn't hand the pieces to each other themselves in the bed they share.

—

*Andrew is worth more than his ability to play Exy obviously, but I'm working from the angle that these boys have a very limited vocabulary in how to express that given their upbringings lol ie: my absolute Favourite part of the ec:

Like again I have my hangups with some of the ec but this provides soooo much more context to their beef pre-canon and the history behind Andrew's failed recruitment. Not to mention Aaron internally calls out Andrew for blatantly lying to Kevin when he tells him he doesn't care. (I think Andrew probably holds a certain disdain for Kevin struggling to verbalize how he measures worth and how that might differentiate off the court, because that line between wanting to be told you're worth putting in the effort for versus being told it's because of your latent potential is most likely rather precarious. Shipping goggles on: I imagine wanting to get someone's attention whose love language was built up around Exy is a tad difficult even if Andrew does in fact hear what Kevin's trying to say. I also don't think Kevin's malicious in his inability to truly express that Andrew really could have everything and it's infuriating to watch Andrew self destruct.)

**And for me, this, coupled with the above conversation with Renee, really puts into perspective how agitated Andrew is with Kevin for squandering his potential. He thinks Kevin has zero self preservation skills when it comes to maybe not putting all his balls in the exy basket, but that's also why he's so drawn to him because he has this insatiable drive to live for this one thing? And yet he's not even giving it his all like he's asking of Andrew despite that? It'd be easy to dismiss Kevin's overzealous love of the game as gross infatuation that's bled into Andrew's life, but if he smothers Kevin's drive and doesn't encourage him to be exactly as he sees Kevin, this person who really can achieve these things, what is there for him? He wants Kevin to thrive, but Andrew also wants Kevin to be right and that he can thrive too.

[2ndfamily]

can u please talk about ur hope lupin headcanons…

YAY why yes of course i can 😼 welcome to my twisted mind..... This is long asf im sorry LMFAO

Basically i have this huge story in my head for her where she was this like young poor muggle with dreams of being a scholar and studying literature but was fairly difficult for her being poor and a woman in the 50s/60s so shes kind of resigned to the fact that this will probably never happen for her, but still does what she can to save money and read as much as possible, etc.

Enter lyall 😯 i think at the point that they meet he is maybe in his early 30s and she is like 19ish (so theres already a power dyanmic + i see him being a pureblood wizard w little to no contact with muggles up to that point) and i think he just becomes like totally enamored with her and her intelligence and promises her all these incredible things, since hes already working for the ministry at this point and is doing well for himself financially, and not only offers to help her pay for her studies but opens her up to the wizarding world, essentially giving her a whole new universe to learn and be curious about. So she obviously falls head over heels for this strange curious man and all the things he wants to do for her, and thus of course says yes when he asks to marry her.

This is where things start going down hill lmaooooo. Hope becomes sort of estranged from her muggle family when they get married because they cant understand Lyalls eccentricities and think shes crazy for marrying him. Now hope and lyall are also both going into this marriage with different motivations, hope is wanting financial security and a partner who will challenge her intellectually, someone who will help her with her studies. Lyall wants a wife. So when hope gets pregnant lyall decides that they should put her studies on hold to focus on the baby. I dont think hope ever really seriously envisioned herself having kids before this point, but agrees even though she's mourning having to put off her education.

So hope becomes a stay at home mom. While she absolutely loves remus with all her heart, i do not see motherhood coming easy to her. I think post partum hits her pretty hard, and things just go from there. She doesn't understand children shes exhausted lyall is always at work and hes so stressed about the damn werewolves and remus just wont go to sleep and she hasnt read a book in a month. (And i think the timeline on this is very fast like they meet when shes 19 get married and then shes pregnant at 21)

And by the time remus gets bitten the one thing she knows more about than anything else in the wizarding world is werewolves. So shes terrified. And then lyall kills himself or abandons them or whatever hes just not in the picture. I think at this point she developes some serious anxiety/ptsd type stuff like not only did a dangerous criminal break into her home in the middle of the night but also attacked her child in his bed and changed him irreparably and now shes all alone. And theres almost nothing she can do for her son, she can only lock him up once a month acutely aware of the amount of hatred hed face from wizards, how it looks to the neighbors to hear that kind of screaming in the middle of night, etc. and i think she never tries going to wizard officials for help just because shes so terrified of the idea of them trying to take remus away.

All the money shed saved for her education goes towards all the moves she and remus end up having to make to keep from questioning neighbors. When remus is about 7/8 hopes parents die and she inherits their discreet cottage in rural wales, with a large cellar, where they make their permanent stay. I think things do look up for her around this point like she and remus are very very close, being the only people that the other has, and she homeschools him and they acrew a very large collection of second hand books and anthologies and theyre ok.

I do think she and remus have a very complicated relationship with one and other largely maintained by both of their inabilities to talk about their issues. Remus can never really forget the image of how absolutely wrecked his mother was in the months following his being bitten, and blames himself for her never being able to fully realize her dreams. Shes still endlessly paranoid about anyone finding out remus is a werewolf, and never fully works through how everything affected her or her complicated resentful feelings toward lyall.

There is sooo much gut wrenching fear in her when remus is offered to attend hogwarts but more than that she still feels that bone deep regret about not being able to fully pursue her academic dreams. She couldn't do that to her son too even though it kills her. She still holds a lot of resentment and distrust toward wizards from what she went through and from what she learned about the ministry through lyall, but she wont let herself be the reason that remus doesnt get to pursue his ambitions the way she never did.

Shes just a really complicated person whos constantly caught between her nature (curious, ambitious, intelligent, driven) and her trauma that makes her soooo paranoid and scared. Which sometimes makes her a bad mom. But shes doing her best ok

Me talking about the character that i made up almost everything about

[pesterloglog]

Jade Harley, Dave Strider, John Egbert

Act 6, page 6402-6404

JADE: see look, one of your time doubles is surely predestined to come from a few minutes in the future and appear behind me for a surprise attack, riiiight about...

JADE: now!

JADE: ...

JADE: no wait

JADE: riiiiiiiiiight...

JADE: ...

JADE: ...

JADE: NOW!

JADE: ....

JADE: .....

JADE: dave why is your future self being such a wet blanket

DAVE: i told you

DAVE: im not time traveling

DAVE: i think im giving it up for good actually

JADE: :\

DAVE: im serious

DAVE: the thing is

DAVE: being a time guy

DAVE: like actually MASTERING time travel

DAVE: im pretty sure what that involves is

DAVE: learning to never use it

DAVE: see its like karate

DAVE: well

DAVE: its more like what they SAY about karate

DAVE: that you learn it so you dont use it

DAVE: but i mean we all know the truth about karate is if you know karate then obviously in reality you use it all the time

DAVE: like doing lethal fuckin crane kicks and sweet karate chops while walking down the street just cause you can

DAVE: its a god damn no brainer...

DAVE: thats what...

DAVE: you do...

DAVE: with...

DAVE: karate. john what the fuck are you doing here

JOHN: er.

JOHN: i don't know.

DAVE: john dont get me wrong its cool that you randomly dropped by again but this wasnt really the best time

DAVE: we were kind of in the middle of a thing here

JOHN: whoops. sorry.

JADE: yeah john

JADE: did you really have to pick now of all times to materialize out of nowhere and taunt me?

JOHN: i'm SORRY!!!

JOHN: jeez, it was an accident!

JADE: so what now?

JADE: am i REALLY supposed to tackle you, just to watch you vanish yet again?

JOHN: no, no! please don't!

JADE: because i dont really feel like it

JADE: do you have any idea how frustrating that becomes after a while?

JOHN: i didn't mean to come here, really!

JOHN: i still can't control the jumps!

JOHN: i'm TRYING, but it just...

DAVE: dude are you time traveling

DAVE: please dont tell me youre time traveling

DAVE: you need to leave that shit to the experts

JOHN: no, it's not time travel!

JOHN: well, not technically.

DAVE: who do you think youre talking to here

DAVE: do you see this bright red gear on my hoodie

DAVE: that means i know stuff about time travel

DAVE: sure looks like youre time traveling to me

JOHN: no, i swear!

JOHN: ok, see, i went on a dream quest with some troll pirates.

DAVE: troll pirates

JOHN: argh, never mind. that's the long version of the story.

JOHN: ok, so i stuck my hand in this little magic house, and...

DAVE: john youre fucking shit up here

JOHN: what?

DAVE: you being here

DAVE: thats not supposed to happen

DAVE: all this shit were saying now

DAVE: its not supposed to go down like this i can feel it

JOHN: i know!

JOHN: i'm sorry, i would zap away again, but i don't know how!

DAVE: i dont think it matters now dude the pooch is already screwed

JADE: >:o

DAVE: wow wait that was a terrible figure of speech in this context but you know what i mean

DAVE: yo like i was JUST saying i didnt want to time travel anymore to avoid bullshit like this

JOHN: IT'S NOT TIME TRAVEL THOUGH!

JOHN: i promise!

DAVE: then what is it

JOHN: i dunno!

JOHN: like, some kind of surreal, history altering... reality hopping... magic power.

DAVE: thats time travel genius

JOHN: no way, dude.

JOHN: you have to trust me on this.

DAVE: alright

DAVE: but if it turns out you just created a doomed timeline and were all going to die im gonna be hella mad

JOHN: this isn't a doomed timeline.

JOHN: i'm telling you, i can change things.

JOHN: stuff that wasn't supposed to be changed.

JOHN: and i'm not saying bad stuff won't happen as a result of the things i change...

JOHN: but at least it won't make a doomed timeline!

JOHN: the new things that happen will just be...

JOHN: the stuff that's supposed to happen?

DAVE: huh

DAVE: thats pretty dope if true

DAVE: actually in a way that almost makes me more nervous

JOHN: it does?

DAVE: yeah messing with the alpha timeline

DAVE: i mean not the alpha timeline but the ALPHA alpha timeline

DAVE: almost seems

DAVE: heretical i guess?

DAVE: you sure you know what youre doing egbert

JOHN: um, earth to dave.

JOHN: i already said i don't have a clue what i'm doing!

DAVE: gotcha

DAVE: welp im sold

DAVE: but uh

DAVE: really man you kind of are interrupting a thing

DAVE: temporal mechanics not even withstanding

JOHN: what was i interrupting?

DAVE: i think this was going to be a serious conversation here

DAVE: i have a feeling jade and i were going to get all heavy with our relationship issues or whatever

JOHN: you were?

JADE: sigh

JADE: yes, unfortunately thats probably where this was going

JOHN: aw man, i'm sorry. i am fucking this up so bad.

JOHN: see, this is what i'm worried about.

JOHN: even though my random jumps are supposed to be a "safe" form of time travel, i'm still nervous that i might be ruining important events anyway.

JOHN: like, there was all this crazy stuff that happened to get us here, whether it was good or bad.

JOHN: and if i fumble around like this accidentally changing all that stuff, then i won't even know what's going on anymore.

JOHN: maybe no one will!

DAVE: uh

DAVE: does anyone even know whats going on NOW?

JOHN: that's what i'm saying!

JOHN: things are complicated enough as it is!!!

DAVE: truth

JOHN: ok, look...

JOHN: maybe we can try to minimize my impact on the current situation.

JOHN: if i fly away, do you think you can do whatever you were going to do in the first place?

JOHN: do you know what you were going to do?

JADE: yes

JADE: i was going to kick the mayor into the lava

DAVE: what??

DAVE: holy shit so uncool

JADE: i was going to make it clear i was serious about killing someone you cared about

JADE: so you would stop being a baby and start using your powers and swordfight with me you dumb jerk :p

DAVE: wow

DAVE: jade i think you might be a little too good at being a villain its kind of worrying

JADE: thank you :)

DAVE: so the mayor would be dead if john didnt show up?

JADE: oh yes absolutely

JADE: he would be burnt to a crisp right now i am sure of it

DAVE: god damn jade

DAVE: why would you do that you know eventually id probably start using my powers and reluctantly start embracing my role as a reluctant hero

DAVE: that shit always happens

JADE: no you wouldnt you were just going to argue with me forever!

DAVE: yeah maybe

DAVE: but the point is youre not going to bother killing the mayor anymore are you

JADE: i guess not

JADE: he is a very cute mayor after all

DAVE: see john your fake time travel shit is already paying off

DAVE: you saved the mayor congratulations

JOHN: ok, i'm glad the mayor is alive and well.

JOHN: but this is exactly what i wanted to avoid!

JOHN: isn't there some way you could just...

JOHN: pretend i never showed up, and let this play out the way it was supposed to?

JADE: sorry john

JADE: whatever dave and i were going to argue about

JADE: i think the moment has passed

JADE: the whole thing is kind of ruined to be honest

JOHN: DAMN IT!

DAVE: ok all yall settle down im getting a text

DAVE: ...

DAVE: i cant fucking read this

[delicrieux]

☆ﾐ 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚊𝚢 “𝚘𝚑”

PART 10: BIG DICK IS BACK IN TOWN

y/n is back in brooklyn for the holidays. thinking that a stream will make her feel less homesick for cali, she starts working on her famously titled hentai.free.srv. what was supposed to be a relaxing stream turns into a special delivery about two hours in.

─── corpse husband x reader ─── soc. media + written fiction! ─── word count: 2.2k ─── ❥ req: Here's one... You know those apps for delivery like Domino's or whatnot... What if reader is streaming Among Us with Corpse, and reader mentions they're hungry and Corpse offers to order them food, and readers like no no it's fine... Then there's delivery at the door (Corpse ordered beforehand) 

author’s note: fucky format is also back in town baby!!! also if you find any mistakes - no u didnt <3 thank u everyone for enjoying this story sm i literally cant believe how feral yall going strawberry cow was a nuclear explosion im still recovering tbh. got an ask a while ago and decided to incorporate it into myso. happy holidays everyone! myso will continue on monday!

ultimate masterlist.  ҉  myso masterlist   ҉   previous.  ҉   next.

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

Indeed, being soft on any social media platform was the biggest disgrace and needed to be eliminated post haste. Moreover, it was a slippery slope - once you start flooding your timeline with cute imagery and heart emojis, what will stop you from posting inspirational Facebook quotes? Disgusting. If Rae were here, she would chide you (not you thinking about her as if she’s dead or something). For once in your life, you feel like you deserve it. 

Alas, you hope this little chaos you’ve caused is enough to throw everyone off. The stans, especially. You know the hashtags, you’ve seen ARMY scourging for info online with the same fervor and ruthlessness 1 Direction fans hacked airport security cameras just to spy on the boys. If you had any dirty secrets online, they are out to the public now - thankfully, besides the Harry Styles stan account (with edits and all), you have nothing. Though, now that you think about it, exposed nudes would have been better than your Punk!Harry edit receiving almost a million views. God, your life’s a fucking mess.

Your fans aren’t the only ones out for info - you, too, are trying to decipher Rae’s message. Code: Barbecue Sauce. The two of you had come up with it roughly two years ago, around the same time when you promised that if you didn’t find significant others by the time you’re 40, you’ll just marry each other. It was one of the many rules found in your friendship codex. Barbecue Sauce signifies information - an exchange of information. And depending on how it ends or begins (”So I’m sitting there” alludes to Rae, “On my titties” alludes to you), secret data on that person is given away, usually free of charge. 

But why? And to whom did Rae give away what? You had pestered her mercilessly and even sent some voice messages where you were crying. You were only crying because of a video of a grandpa smiling you saw on TikTok, but you are a snake, and so you put those tears to good use. If streaming doesn’t work out, you’ll just become an actress. Hollywood would love you. Your PR firm sure as fuck wouldn’t, though.

Rae was having none of it. She said you’ll figure it out eventually. Told you to channel your superior puzzle skills. You were quick to remind her that you can barely count to ten without having an aneurysm. Oddly serious, she admitted that she worries for you sometimes. Why only sometimes?! you demanded. She merely sighed. uttering under her breath something that sounded closely to “Boke.”

You leave her for barely a week and she’s already neck deep in the gay volleyball anime, hoodie and cardboard cutout and everything. Your life is falling apart.

But Brooklyn is nice. It had snowed when you stepped off of the plane. Thousands of snowflakes sprinkling into your hair, dotting your cheeks and nose. You missed this sight back in Cali. You missed your parents, too. 

Home cooked meals, old sweaters, your old room and about 40GB worth of old high school pictures on your computer. You went through them all one night. Some were stomach churning, cringe inducing nightmares. You were especially fond of those. Texted some of your friends that were still in Brooklyn, met up, decided to bake. Bad idea, Rae was the resident chef back in Cali. Besides laughing till your stomach hurt, and almost burning down your kitchen, nothing all that significant happened. Somewhere down the line, at about 3 am, half-way through a cheesy rom-com you had the overwhelming urge to text Corpse.

That’s where the problems really started. God, you missed California, missed being in the same timezone with a guy you hadn’t even met yet, how embarrassing is that?! You missed skating around and taking pictures of the beach in the setting sun, sending it to him, silently wishing he was with you to admire the view. 

You really want to call him. And to hang out with him. But for some reason, the thought of that springs up immediate anxiety and you shy away from asking. Him sending you cute good morning texts doesn’t help, either. Maybe it’s better he doesn’t know that you’re a blushing, stuttering mess each time you read “baby”. 

Late evening. Your stream is already set up, people are slowly trickling in and you greet them with a grin and a soft “Hello! Hi hi!”. You did your best to make your room a perfectly chaotic backdrop - led lights, an embarrassing amount of anime merch and plushies. You always try to balance out your weeb side by dressing hot as fuck for your streams - today’s inspiration just so happens to be egirls. Mostly because you watched one too many egirl make-up tutorials on TikTok, and also because you’ve been listening to Corpse’s song all day.

Yeah, no, who are you kidding, you dressed up this way because you were hoping Corpse was watching your stream. You didn’t forget your cat headphones, either. You know he likes them. You want to make him suffer. Perhaps then, finally, he will ask you out, so you wouldn’t have to.

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

“I feel like,” You start when you put away your phone, staring idly at the chat, “I feel like I need a new name for you guys. Calling you guys after two years of streaming is just... weird, no? I also don’t respect men so I don’t want to call you guys. Like, so many creator’s have, like, a name for their fans. Uhm, Cody Ko has the chodesters, Kurtis Conner has, uh, folks? Kurtis Town? Citizens! Markiplier has mommy issues--” You can’t help snorting, “So, I’ve been, like, thinking - I know, shocking! - so I was thinking I’m gonna name you cockroaches. Because you’re grimy little shits impossible to kill. And also then I can use the legendary Minaj meme ROACHES!”

Your stream enthusiastically echoes ROACHES, making the chat swim. Yes, if anyone would enjoy such a name, it would be your audience. You’re as equally proud as you are disturbed.

“Well, anyway.” Leaning back into your chair, you throw your arms out with a bright grin, “Big dick is back in town, baby! If you noticed the backdrops different, it’s cuz I’m in Brooklyn now. Don’t ask me when I will return to Always Sunny, I don’t plan that far ahead.”

While Minecraft boots up, you decide to answer a few questions.

r u dating sykkuno?

You want to smack your head into the keyboard, but as it is, you can’t exactly afford a new one, so you refrain, “No, Sykkuno and I are not dating, we are just good friends. Uhm, I’m not sure how much I’ll have to repeat this, but, we really aren’t, so if the roaches could chill - Oh my God, that sounds so stupid, I love it - uh, yeah, if the roaches could chill that’d be great.”

the roaches lmao sounds like we’re a sports team

“Oh shit, yeah it does, uh-- maybe I can make like, jerseys or something. That’d be cool, I think.”

how disappointed are your parents with the way your life turned out?

“My parents are actually not disappointed at all!” You say with a cute little smile, “Uhm, they’re both really proud, actually. They’re glad I found something I love doing and made a job outta it. Dad finds my Youtube videos endearing. Yes, they watch pretty much all of my videos, unless I explicitly tell them not to. And yeah, with all the fucks and thirsting for anime characters. Uhm, it was very embarrassing at first, but I mean, after a while, shame just...doesn’t exist anymore, I guess? Funny thing about my parents, actually, when they watch my videos-” You eye catches a comment, “Oh! No, they only watch my Youtube videos. They don’t know how to use Twitter, thank God. Uhm, anyway-- when they hear a name they don’t know, like, I dunno, Dabi, or something, they google--” You’re grinning by now, eyes crinkling, giggling softly, “--who that is, and buy me like, merch and stuff. It’s really cute. 

can i be adopted by ur parents plz

will you and corpse ever collab?!

You were about to answer, though the man of the hour himself decides to do it for you.

Corpse_Husband: yes.

Okay, not to say your heart skipped a beat, but it totally did. With a pleased smile, you nod, like one of those bobble head toys sold at the dollar store. The motion is oddly reminiscent of Sykkuno’s own nod. Perhaps you had picked it up from him. The chat seems to notice.

pack it up, sykkuno

More questions pile about this mysterious collab you and Corpse are planning. Yeah, you’d like to hear more about it, too, since he single highhandedly decided one was happening right now. Corpse remains silent. Fine, keep your secrets. 

“Okay, guys, oh, I mean, roaches, Oh my God--” You’re covering your mouth, giggling, “-calling all roaches, calling all roaches, calm down. Everyone grab a snack and a blanket I’m turning up the music volume so we can all chill. Entering chill zone. Entering chill zone. Roaches, prepare.”

we are prepared

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

An hour or so passes and you grow hungry. It shows with the amount of cakes you had baked in your server. Currently, you find yourself throwing eggs at the wall of one of the renovated houses, your face scrunched in concentration and slight frustration. 24 of the 50 eggs have been wasted. “What’s a girl gotta do to get some chicks around here?” you had uttered under your breath, until, finally, a screech - the egg finally spawns a mob. Your mouth falls open, “Aww, look!” You approach it, so small, walking in zigzags beside you, “It’s a baby chicken! Die, bitch.” The baby chicken is no more as you swing your bedazzled (you have mods) diamond sword. You’re cackling by the time the dust settles.

y/n is a child murderer

“Roaches,” You address your fan-base, spurring another fit of laughter - you can’t get over the name, “I think I’m like, forgetting that eating in Minecraft won’t actually make less hungry in real life.”

take a break and go eat queen <3

“Fuck no, we starve and die like men. Now I actually really need another chicken.”

Another twenty minutes trickle by and you’re trying to lure back a panda from the jungle when there’s a knock on your bedroom’s door. Whipping your head to the side, you slide down your headphones. At the same time, your mom pokes her head through the ajar door, “MOM!” You scream, “Get OUT of my room I’m playing Minecraft!” But your yell has no actual bite to it, as you don’t manage to hide your smile. Your mom laughs, doing some sort of sign language and motioning for you to follow her with her head. That or it’s some sort of performative dance. 

“I’m live right now,” You tell her, pointing at your screen. She knows this already, though, “do you want to say hi?” 

The roaches spam the chat with friendly hellos. You mom, quite impatient now, waves you over. 

“Sorry, roaches, mom needs something. Be back in a bit!”

Stopping the stream, you rush out of your seat and pleased she slinks into the hallway. “What’s this about?”

“Your pizza came.”

“My what now?” You echo, confused.

“Domino’s. You ordered pizza?”

“What? No? I was busy with the stream, I never--”

Thankfully, you had managed to grab your phone from your room before you exited. You almost choke on spit once you read the messages.

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

You decide that it’ll be impossible to stream after experiencing what you had just experienced. You tweet out a quick apology to the roaches (God, that fucking name) and say that you had a breakdown but you’re okay. That is as a close to the truth as you managed to muster. It’s a sad sight, chewing and crying; your mom winced when she saw your state - disheveled hair and rundown eyeliner and everything. “D’aww,” She had muttered, caressing the top of your head, “don’t cry my little raccoon.”

If anyone was ever to ask you where did your chaotic nature come from, you’d answer with my mom. To make yourself feel better, you took a selfie - duck face and peace sign and the horrible 2000′s angle. Sent it to Rae. 

looking hot, her message read. 

thanks, was all you replied with.

You couldn’t just leave things as they were. Once you calmed down, you wanted to text Corpse, but how would you follow up the ungodly caps lock and screeching? Impossible. An idea sprung to mind, one that was brave. Taking the first step.

Instead of sending a text, you sent a voice memo.

“Thank you for the pizza, it was delicious.”

You voice still sounded a bit raspy. His reply was instant. Your heart skipped a beat. He sent a voice memo back.

“Glad you liked it, baby.”

He was going to be the death of you.

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

tags (in italics is those i couldn’t tag! make sure all’s ok w your settings!) : @littlebabysandboxburritos - @fairywriter-oracle - @tsukishimawh0re - @ofstarsanddreams - @bbecc-a - @annshit - @leahh19 - @letsloveimagines - @bellomi-clarke - @wineandionysus - @guiltydols - @onephootinfrontoftheother - @liamakorn - @thirstyfangirl - @lilysdaydreams - @pan-ini - @mxqicshxp - @tanchosanke - @yoshinorecommends - @flightsandfantasy - @liljennyx3 - @slashersdream - @unknown-and-invisible - @sinister-sleep - @fivedicksinatrenchcoat - @mercury–moon - @peterparkerspjsuit - @unstableye - @simonsbluee - @shinyshimaagain - @ppopty - @siriuslystupid - @crapimahuman - @ofthedewthesunlight - @mythicalamphitrite - @artsyally - @corpsesimpp - @corpsewhitetee - @corpse-husbandsimp - @hyp-oh-critical - @roses-and-grasses - @rhyrhy462 - @sparklylandflaplawyer - @charbkgo - @airwaveee - @creativedogs - @kaitlyn2907 - @loxbbg - @afuckingunicornn - @fleurmoon - @yeolliedokai - @truly-dionysus - @multi-fandom-central707

more tags are in the comments bcs tumblr only allows me to tag 50 people max 💙

[p-taryn-dactyl]

Someone To Fight For Ch3

I don’t know if anyone noticed, but I am definitely going off-canon lol...I tried to stay on the timeline but, well, that didn’t happen

anyways, i hope you guys enjoy this! (i really like writing so i might start taking requests if anyone would be interested, but i do hate disappointing people do it’s a big maybe lol)  I really like this part and it’s really self-indulgent but hopefully some enjoy it! i’m thinking this might be five parts, because it’s my favorite number, but i am willing to continue it past that if people like it...i’ve become too attached to this x reader lol. the next part will definitely have more Bucky in it I promise, im just apparently really into setting the scene

word count: 1.9k

warnings: mentions of needles + surgery (kinda), blood mention (brief), terribly written, im gay

tag list: @coolbeans32​ 

Jimmy stared, forlorn, at the corner of the room, where a small memorial had been made. For the sleeve of his sweatshirt. His sad gaze connected with Darcy, who promptly burst into laughter. 

“Dude, it’s a sweatshirt- I’m sure if you tell the FBI that the Winter Soldier borrowed it, they’ll give you a new one,” She exclaimed through her loud laughing. Monica smirked, her eyes not leaving the monitor. Sounds of the Falcon landing announced Sam’s return. He walked into the room, goggles perched on his forehead, a disappointed expression painting his face. 

“The…Hex, as you call it, goes up into the atmosphere - heights I can’t safely travel up.” Sam looked around the room, eyes searching. 

“Is Buck back yet?” As if on cue, a grumpy looking Bucky Barnes stormed into the room. In his metal hand was a drink carrier, with five coffees. He handed Jimmy a coffee, mumbling a small apology for the coffees he destroyed earlier. The FBI sweatshirt taunted Jimmy with one sleeve missing. 

“Okay, why did you even need my sweatshirt?” Bucky shrugged. 

“I don’t know. It looked soft. Now what do we know about Westview and my sister being stuck?” Monica tore her sight from the monitor that was playing Wanda’s sitcom. 

“We know that she’s stayed in Wanda’s good graces but has also come into contact with another being of power, the neighbor. What we don’t know is if Agnes is aware of Westview or is just another captive,” Monica nodded at Darcy who shifted uncomfortably.

“Uh, well, there’s also the fact of an energy signature getting more and more powerful,” Bucky cocked his head to the side, “It’s growing inside of Y/n and we don’t know what it is.” Bucky’s face fell. He collapsed into an empty chair, face falling into his hands. Sam looked concerned, placing a hand on Bucky’s shoulder. 

“Buc-”

“I need to go in.” At this, the other four burst into protest. 

“You can’t!”

“It’s too dangerous!”

“Buck, you can’t be serious!”

“Monica already has serious damage to her molecular structure, you can’t risk it!” 

Bucky just shook his head. They didn’t understand. You didn’t even understand. 

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

The cell was cold. Blood surrounded your head, a small wound but painful. Your eyes were focused on the chair. The Soldier sat in it, eyes wide and worried as they focused on you. But your expression was blank. In your short time here, you figured out that showing your pain only made the scientists experiment more.  The door creaked open. A tall lean man walked through the doorway, his pace one akin to the stereotypical movie villain. Kneeling down, his eyes connected with yours. 

“Hello, young one. I am Dr. Eierkuchen, your new…caretaker,” he smiled, teeth crooked and yellow, “we will have so much fun together.”

You, in fact, did not have fun. 

Even if the Soldier was successful in his missions, you would be experimented on. The only comfort was that the pain of the needles and serums was dull compared to the knives and fists born of the Soldier’s failure. Every time a needle pierced your veins to inject you, fire would erupt in your blood. The agony got to a point that you would just fall asleep while they continued to splice up your genes and play with your DNA. The Winter Soldier was invited (forced) to watch every session you had with Dr. Eierkuchen. The excitable doctor would sometimes reveal information to the silent killer. 

“There is something akin to a beast roaming inside of her. It’s made of fire and destruction - and can regenerate at a surprising rate,” the doctor giggled, a sound that made the Soldier gag, “If I can twist this power to our will, she’ll be our greatest weapon yet.” The Winter Soldier kept his face neutral but inside, Bucky Barnes screamed. He couldn’t watch Hydra take away the last bit of family he had. Your body was limp on the table as they started a surgical procedure. But as the scalpel touched your skin, a burst of energy flew out of your body, disintegrating the scientists around you. You sat up, your mind asleep while the beast was awake. Your eyes glowed in an unholy way, sparking fear in Dr. Eierkuchen and The Soldier. When you, or more like the beast, spoke, the voice echoed throughout the room, becoming entrapped in Bucky’s memories.

“Do not try this again, Doctor,” tendrils of fire swirled around your finger tips, your head cocked to the side, a deadly smirk painted on your lips, “I am strong enough now to protect her, you however are not a strong human - I will crush your mind until your body is only a husk.” After this, Dr. Eierkuchen and the Soldier watched as the fire left your eyes and hands, your body falling back onto the table. Almost instantly, you shot up, hands grabbing at your temples. 

“What-what was that? No, no, no, get out!” Barnes punched the glass window from which he was watching, cracking the fragile material. The doctor stayed frozen in his place. The Soldier pulled you into his arms, consoling you as you shook. You were sent to the chair, your memory of this day wiped. But Bucky remembered. 

He knew the Beast would do anything to protect you - including eliminating the town in which you were trapped. 

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

For the past hour, you laid face down on your bed, mind running wild. The only thing you could think about was Agnes’s arm around your waist - well also the danger of potentially outing yourself to Wanda and risking the lives of everyone in Westview, but mostly you were thinking about Agnes’s arm around your waist. Because you have your priorities straight. Ha, straight- you giggled to yourself. 

“What’s so funny?” You shrieked, pushing yourself off your bed and you gracefully fell off your bed. You peaked your head from behind your bed to see who spoke. Who are you kidding, you know that voice. Agnes. Her blue eyes looked at you with amusement, one eyebrow raised as her arms were crossed over her chest. You stood, brows furrowed. At the change in Agnes’s clothes, you wondered if you missed a decade change. 

“You didn’t miss anything, darling.” Agnes exclaimed, her eyes boring into you. You nodded, before pausing. You recoiled, a finger slowly raising to point at the brunette. 

“Wait-”

“I’m sorry, it’s just that your thoughts are so loud. I couldn’t help myself.” Again, you started to nod but then shook your head rapidly. 

“Wait, wait, wait. My thoughts?” You laughed, running a hand down your face, “That's funny, Agnes. You had me for a second there,” you put your hands on your waist before continuing, “How did you get inside my house?” 

“Your door was unlocked, and I’m not kidding.” Agnes’s eyes started to glow purple, wisps of the same color floating around her. You stood frozen, your mind running a thousand miles an hour. You felt a nudge at the back of your consciousness, somehow you could feel it was Agnes. But before she could fully penetrate your mind, a wall slammed down in your mind. You and Agnes fell backward, catching yourself on your respective walls. You were confused, you had no idea what had just happened, but you felt a feeling of anger and protectiveness running through your veins. Emotions that you weren’t personally feeling at the moment. Agnes, on the other hand, felt fire running through her mind. Another consciousness combed through hers, searching for any ill will towards you. When it didn’t find any, the fire receded. When she came to, you were kneeling in front of her, eyes full of concern. 

“Agnes-” 

“Agatha. Agatha Harkness.” She corrected you, watching as confusion faded into understanding in your eyes. You leaned back on your heels, scrutinizing the blue-eyed woman in front of you. 

“You’re awake.” Agatha nodded before cocking her head to the side.

“I was never under her control and I suspect you weren’t either.” You bit the inside of your cheek, a thought surfacing in your mind. 

“So how long have you been able to read my mind?” Agatha smirked, starting to stand up. You scrambled to follow. Without your heels, she had to look down to meet your eyes. 

“Since we met.” Her short answer made you nervously laugh. Your eyes looked everywhere in the room except her. 

“So..who exactly are you?” you asked her. She raised an eyebrow. 

“I could ask you the same question. But if you really want to know-” she raised a hesitant hand up to your temple before your sight went purple. Memories flood your mind. Purple and blue magic. Bodies falling to the ground. A younger Agatha being attacked by her coven. When you returned, Agatha’s hands framed your face, eyes searching yours. 

“You’re a witch! That is so cool! What is it like being immortal-” before you could finish or Agatha could answer your endless stream of questions, a knock at your door startled both of you. 

“Y/n? Agnes? Uh, Wanda and I are going to dinner now - can you come over?” Vision’s voice seemed to flip a switch in Agatha. 

“Of course dear! I was just grabbing y/n so we could head over!” She gave you one last look before leaving the room. You took a breath before scrambling over to your nightstand. You opened a drawer to grab your communicator. When you went in after Monica, S.W.O.R.D gave you a device that functioned on a radio wave that was identical to the ones emitted by the Hex. You typed out a few words, not wanting to give Agatha or Wanda a reason to come search for you if you took too long. 

Not alone. Another enhanced in Hex. Agnes. 

You sent the message and went downstairs to see Agatha, Vision, and Wanda all chatting. The red-head felt your presence before she saw you. Keeping herself from reacting, she steadied her breath. The Beast was growing, almost to the point of waking up. When she made eye contact with you, she was almost surprised to see your normal eye color and not eternal pits of fire. You smiled at her, making your way to stand by Agnes. 

“I hope you guys have a great time!” Your innocent voice calmed Wanda’s nerves. She knew you didn’t know about your power. And she wanted it to stay that way. Nothing could harm her chance at a happy ending. Vision wrapped an arm around his wife’s shoulders, smiling gratefully at you and Agnes. 

“So do I!” Wanda gave you and Agnes a hug before following her husband out the door. Agatha turned towards you, holding out her arm. 

“Let’s go babysit the shit out of those kids.” You hooked your arm in hers, laughing quietly. You didn’t know how to feel about all that was happening, your crush turned out to be a centuries old witch, you felt like you weren’t alone in your own mind, and the way Wanda was looking at you made shivers run down your spine. But when you and Agatha went to the door of Wanda’s home, something, a memory tugged at the edge of your mind. A feeling you couldn’t describe washed over you, making you pause once you were inside the Maximoff household. 

You blinked. 

Someone had crossed into the Hex. Someone you knew, someone you had been running from for years. The one who never returned, who left you behind. 

The Winter Soldier was in Westview.

[gb-patch]

Ask Answers: May 15th Part 1

It’s been longer than usual since our last answer session, so I’m answering a ton of questions today! It’s so big I split it into two parts. Thank you for the patience on getting a response to these.

Thanks for reaching out to us with your questions and kind words ^^!

Sorry if this has been asked before or isn't something you can say but is there anyway for Cove to confess in step 4? I wanted him to confess in step 3 and followed all the steps to make him do it but ended up texting my family instead of Cove at the end.

Yeah, Cove can confess in Step 4!

Hello! I heard that Cove is on the spectrum, albeit undiagnosed. As someone who is ND, this makes me UNBELIEVABLY happy. I literally was brought to tears! Thank you for that!

Out of curiosity, will Cove be diagnosed in Step 4? I have a strong feeling y’all won’t make it a HUGE deal/make it out to be negative, so I’m not worried about that whatsoever! I’m just curious just he’ll off handedly mention it? Or will it just not be touched upon at all (which is ok!)?

Either way is ok, I’m just curious!

I’m happy it made you happy! Admittedly, Cove simply being someone with autism that grew up not being diagnosed was something I included for myself. I didn’t really think anyone would notice or ask about it, aha. But players did start to have questions about his traits, so I started to talk about it outside of the game. It’s great to see it get such a positive response and now I do feel like having it be a non-topic may have been the wrong choice and bringing it up would’ve been good in terms of having positive representation for that. I don’t know if I’ll find a way to mention it in Step 4 now, with how far along the game is, but I am at least thinking about it when originally it wasn’t something I really even considered.

Hey!  Just wanted to say thank you for Our Life.  It's been a bright spot and a needed escape in what's otherwise been a crummy year.  I know you just did a Q&A post but I figured I'd ask anyway.  Was just curious about Step 4.  Will it be similar to the other Steps in that it consists of several different moments or will it just be one long sequence?

Step 4 is shorter than the prior Steps because it’s just an epilogue rather than a full arc of a story. It’ll consist of scenes that all happen in a set row one after the other. There won’t be a collection of Moments to choose from. But it’ll still be very sweet and fun.

¡hola!, you see, first I want to say that I love Our Life! (°◡°♡) and I have 2 important questions, would Cove cry watching titanic? and what is the saddest part according to him? (sorry for my english) 

Titanic would make him cry. He’d probably think the parts showing people who aren’t able to make it to the life boats/are choosing to stay and go down with the ship were the saddest.

Hello, I wanted to ask how much you earn with creating games? Like is it possible to make a living? Thank you >< <3 

How much I earn varies a lot month to month based on Steam sales, Patreon backers, and how many projects are in full production at the time. It’s also hard to say how much I make historically, since that also changes dramatically year by year. But I do earn enough to work on these games full time! I really appreciate all the support that allows me to do that.

Hey!! I was wondering for the 18+ Our Life moment, will there be an emphasis on safety/comfort for all involved? I feel like there  would be just going off of what the rest of the game is like, but I wanted to ask 

Yes! Cove is a nervous boy himself and also super cautious about doing anything the MC doesn’t like, so clear consent from both is absolutely needed for anything to happen. It’s a conversational sexy times Moment with stops/starts so the two can talk about how they’re feeling, rather than a heat of the moment just going for it kind of thing.

Hey!! I was wondering how long the wedding dlc would be? Will it be broken up into moments, or just one big event? 

It’s one long series of scenes all in a row rather than a collection of Moments to pick from. It’s the shortest and the least expensive of all the DLCs. It’s not super crucial to get and those who aren’t into big weddings can totally skip it without worry.

HELLO AMAZING DEVS 👋 i am hopelessly in love with the worst guy ever (jeremy king) and because of this i have a really stupid question: does he really hate people who are nice to him? TvT he’s too cute to be mean to istg it’s a miracle JB held the urge to be consistently nice to him bc just look at his FACE he is so cute! thank you for jeremy’s route it’s so lovely (and awful bc he’s scum 11/10) it gave me so much laughs LMAO i hope you guys have a good day!! 

Haha, thank you. He doesn’t hate them but he’s certainly not pleased with them. Jeremy is either uncomfortable with or annoyed by people being sweet on him, depending on how they approach it. He’s far more comfortable with jerkiness. It lets him relax and he can be himself without it being a problem, since he’s also a jerk. He feels a level of guilt being such a little punk to kind people, not enough to be a better person but still.

Has Cove dated or been interested in someone other than MC? 

Nope! He stays single over the course of the game if he’s not with the MC.

Is Step 4 more mature? Or it's gonna be set in similar atmosphere as Step 3? 

Step 4 is a similar atmosphere as Step 3. Though, it’s actually kind of less mature-topic heavy than Step 3 since it’s just a ‘hey, let’s check in on the gang to see what they’re up to’ style epilogue rather than a story arc with serious issues.

will there be new music for now and forever?? or will the old our life music be reused? 

It’s gonna be a brand new soundtrack. We’ll be opening up a job position for that soon.

Hi, is it okay if we use the assets in Our Life (like the sprites) for fanworks or fan content content, like edits? 

Sure! Just as long as you don’t use the assets made by those artists to make money.

Quick clarification on Step 3 choices: I hope I didn't come off rude (because I LOVE the game, really!!), I was just curious because the intro threw me off at times. For example, you could choose how you felt about Elizabeth in Step 2 (Dinner), but during the Step 3 intro, it says that you got closer to Liz and I didn't get a choice in it. 

For the example, it can’t be helped that you’re closer to Liz in Step 3 than you were in Step 2 because she’s inherently closer to the MC regardless of whether you liked her or not in Step 2. Her feelings are out of your control and the game isn’t so dramatic that you can push her affection away and not let her bond with you, haha. But ‘being closer’ can still be relative. For some people maybe that means you’re best buds now and for others it might just mean you’re not fighting all the time any more. If there’s other parts you want to mention, feel free to let us know.

Did the illustrator for Our Life change? 

We have many OL artists! The main artists who set the game’s style haven’t changed, but there’s multiple other artists who help finish assets.

So Miranda's type is confident and outgoing, huh? So...does that mean Terri's her type?? 👀 

Haha, sorry for the late reply on this. As you might’ve seen in our post yesterday- yeah that is her type.

Hey! First, I just want to say I've really enjoyed how detailed OL got with gender identity and sexuality and how respectful the topics were handled! It's been so wonderful to play since the experiences could be close to my own (I'd be lying if I said I didn't tear up at parts). Second, I was wondering, would future games explore the topic of polyamory? I'd love to see more visual novels allow room for that and I saw you've explored the topic before.

Keep up the amazing work! ♡

Thank you! We do want to include polyamory in at least some of our future projects. Floret Bond, which might be what you’re referring to when mentioning how we’ve explored the topic before, is on hold unfortunately. So right now I’m not sure when something might release or what will be the first game of ours to come out with poly relationships (we might do something else before FB is done). We’ll have see how things ends up coming together.

Hey um. I feel like im not allowed to ask this on the private discord cuz people will yell at me but why is there so much focus on OL2 and not finishing OL1 stuff? I like the new people but i kind of want to finish cove's story and get derek and baxter stuff first. didn't people pay for it? 

I’m sorry, I don’t understand entirely what’s making that situation a concern. There’s a channel in the discord for critique where no one is allowed to comment back. People can voice things they’re worried about without any way for others to push back on it. And the two teams working on the OL games are different. We try to post pretty often about how we’re hiring brand new people to start on Our Life: Now & Forever. The OL1 team is all still working on OL1 like normal. There’s only more updates on the Patreon for OL2 because the expansions to the first game are mostly script-based at this point while OL2 is just starting to get all its art, which means there’s a lot more to show off as previews.

Also, there was a Kickstarter for the first Our Life, if that’s what you mean by people paying for it. But one of the stretch goals was to start Our Life 2 early, before fully completing Our Life 1, so that the new game could be out sooner. It wouldn’t make sense to stop doing OL2 work because that would be going against what backers were promised. Maybe you didn’t get the full story before and hopefully this clears it up!

Hello! I know it's up to every player but.. What is your recommendation for playing order? Did you ever had any timeline  events planned? 

I didn’t make the events with a planned timeline. The events got made simply as I had ideas for them and then I just kind of organized them from left to right on the screen in an order to space out more dramatic ones between more lighthearted ones. Any order the player wants to go with is totally valid!

Hi! It's Step 4 a paid dlc or update? And how long it's planned to be? Ps. Love the game! 

The Step 4 epilogue is free! The Cove Wedding DLC does cost money, though. Those are planned to be shorter than the usual Steps/DLCs.

Will we have options for what sort of job the MC might have by the time step 4 takes place? 

Yeah, you can. It’s not super exact or detailed, but there are options about it.

Is there a pandemic in Our Life world, or is it just in a better timeline with no pestilence? 

Our Life is pandemic-free! That didn’t exist when we began working on the project and it’s not something we’d like to feature in this story now that it has unfortunately come along, aha.

Hi, you said that you can play tic-tac-toe or hangman with Cove in Boating if you're sick/scared but I keep getting tic-tac-toe. Am I doing something wrong?

After being sick/scared you have to continue to be upset/unwell. If you calm down and decide to just chill you’ll end up playing tic-tac-toe.

Hi, GB Patch! Since Lee was initially commissioned to only appear in two Steps does this mean she won't appear in the Wedding DLC? I really like her character so it'll be a little weird to not have our cousin at our wedding, aha.

She is gonna be in Step 4/the wedding DLC after all! We’re still working with her creator to make sure it fits with what they wanted.

Is Sunset Bird based on a real place? Asking for a friend, not trying to move there or anything. 👀

It’s based on small beach towns in So-Cal, but not one specific town you could go see in real life, I’m afraid. It’d be nice if it was real, though.

—– —– —– —–

We released a new FAQ! It answers common questions and we’ll keep adding more to it. Please check there before sending an ask. FAQ   Also, if you prefer to just see the main posts without all the asks/reblogs, feel free to follow our side account instead: GB Patch Updates Blog

[justalokifanaccount]

Episode 6-Play by Play Reactions (Spoilers)

I’m so nervous and excited. Disclaimer: I have spoiled a few minor things for myself for this episode because I’m a self sabotaging dummy who does this whenever I get anxious about a form of media I am watching.

I’m so friggin nervous ahhhhhhhhh

Please tom Hiddleston, don’t do me dirty

Screw you renslayer

Istg if anyone betrays anyone I’m going to riot

Man I miss Classic!Loki already

Isn’t this the music that played when Steve?

OH MY GOSH IM GOING TO CRY WITH ALL OF THE AUDIO REFERENCES

Lol the peter quill lines are perfect because I legit just watched GotG

Nelson Mandela?

Vision???

Lmao Sylvie saying “open your eyes!” Gave me legend of Zelda breath of the wild flashbacks

My heart is rattling against my rib cage with excitement and anxiety

Spoopy castle

Aha another scene or at least location from the trailers!

Oof they’re both anxious too

Pretty gold veins

You were pruned before he even existed? What? No you weren’t? You were kidnapped but not pruned. You were only just pruned lmao.

If kang isn’t the baddy I’m gonna look like such an idiot

AGHH!

Good God that stopped my heart.

He who remains?

KANG?

I don’t trust you Miss Minutes

Man I wanna kill Thanos

Miss minutes I don’t trust you, TEMPTRESS!

If he could make it work, then why couldn’t he allow the timeline to break free normally then huh?

“We write our own destiny now.” Bite me Miss Minutes

Ren Slayer I hope you get chucked into space

How self aware is miss minutes exactly?

I’m actually surprised that Renslayer doesn’t know who it is

Miss minutes is so creepy what the freak

The music is so damn good

“Are we sure he’s even still alive?” Judging by the opening of the door, I’m assuming that yes.

Uhhh hi?

Is this kang?

Or Ryuk lmao

I’m hoping he’s more serious than this jokey seemingly unserious dude. I need some angst.

Is this Kang?

Cmon

So much for easy to kill I guess

Where’s doctor strange when you need him?

I bet classic!loki could kill him easily…

I miss alligator Loki and kid Loki…

Doctor strange sanctum vibes

Hey heart, can you stop beating in my chest? You’re gonna kill me

HAHAHAHAHA YESSSS MOBIUS

Kill her please. I won’t be sad. Do it.

You’re not sorry. Shut up.

HAHAHAHA YEA BOIIIIIII

Ohio? Oh gosh is this a school?

RENSLAYER???

Hahaha she’s just a principal

HAHAHA BREAK THEIR MINDS

Don’t you dare insult my Loki. Love you Sylvie, but she’s nothing compared to Loki in my mind and never will be.

This music is gonna give me a heart attack

Help

Oh so this has happened before?

Wannabe God…

My BPM has got to be like 100

Paved the road? Soooo are you a Loki or???

Who are you? Please be kang or else I’m gonna friggin have to eat a rock like I promised.

This dude is literally a Fan Fiction writer oml

Sylvie? Please trust Loki. Don’t betray him.

Yea yea Renslayer I know that it’s crazy your whole life is a lie but you’re an idiot.

You’re a variant too you dumb dumb.

Yea you betrayed him. You betrayed the timeline.

Where the hell are you going?

PRUNE HER

DO IT

OH COME ON

PRUNE HER FOR CRIPES SAKE

Ughhhhhhh cmon Mobius…

In search of free will? What? Then WHY NOT TAKE MOBIUS WITH YOU

Dang that was disappointing Mobius got knocked down that easily…

Oh my gosh Tom Hiddleston’s voice is rumbling in my headphones good God

Kang?

Kang?

KANG THE CONQUEROR?

PLEASE

GIVE ME AFFIRMATION

Oof even he has variants

Dude loves Apples more than Ryuk

But he also sat on the chair like L

Is he like a celestial? Related to one?

Hush you wannabe Saint

Alioth?

Okay but HOW did you harness its power. What’s your technology then? You can’t just say that and not explain how.

Is he drunk?

Okay L

He’s like L, Light Yagami, and Ryuk all in one.

Your variants? Then who are you?

GAMBIT LIKE FROM THE X MEN UNIVERSE? I’m kidding… sigh…

Okay mandalorian

My heart is still beating fast why

If I don’t make another appearance again, know I died of a heart attack

Why would he give up control huh?

Is he a Loki?

“I’m older.” Dude you look like you’re 30 tops. What’s your secret? How are you immortal if you’re only man? Or are you not a midgardian?

Both sitting with swords.

Multiversal war heh? DOCTOR STRANGEEEEE THEYRE AT IT AGAIN

He’s kinda calling her out a lil lmao

Both of them

HEART CAN YOU CALM DOWN?? I TOOK MY PILLS! WHY YOU TRYING TO GIVE ME A PANIC ATTACK.

Hello? Something happening you didn’t expect?

Threshold?

Of what?

This dude is a good actor. He’s playing the demented, crazed, power man well.

What’s the third option? There can’t only be two.

My heart is friggin dumb. Can you not??? I’m legitimately annoyed by how hard and fast it’s beating.

What’s that in your hand buddy?

Bud?

What, is it an honesty detector or something?

You can really tell this guy is tired of life and everything

Aaaaand they’re fighting

Girls girls, you’re both pretty. Can I go home now?

Oh no…

Sylvie, no, stop it.

SYLVIE!!! Trust Loki!

Cmon there has to be a third option

Sylvie DAMMIT

TRUST HIM

Protagonists fight before the climax cliche *ding!*

GET OUT OF MY HEAD CINEMASINS

Dammit now she knows magic too

HE DOESN’T WANT THE THRONE YOU DUMB DUMB

“I don’t want to hurt you. I don’t want a throne. I just want… I just want you to be okay.”

OH?

OH?

HELLO?

It’s the onceler fandom all over again

Kiss and betrayal

COME ON MAN

Loki can’t catch a break. He just gets betrayed again and again.

How did she know how to use that.

Oop. Rip.

“See you soon.”

Sylvie, you messed up.

Now what?

Poor doctor strange. Dudes gonna have his hands full lmao.

Tom Hiddleston BETTER be in Dr. Strange Multiverse of Madness

My chest is actually moving from how hard my heart is beating what the heck

Poor Loki

All he knows is pain and hurt. And whenever he thinks he’s getting love, love, like a dagger, hurts him.

CMON TOM DONT MAKE ME CRY WITH YOUR STELLAR ACTING

How is this going to end????

WHAT

WHAT

WHAT

Mobius???

WHY DID MOBIUS FORGET HIM

NEW STATUE? IS IT TOO LATE?

WHAT

THATS THE END????

WHAT?

BUT

BUT

BUT

WHAT???

WHAT

WHAT

WHAT

WHAT

WHAT

HOW

WHY

WHAT THE HELL?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN CREDITS??????????

Funky music but…

WHAT

WHAT IS HAPPENING

WHY DID MOBIUS FORGET LOKI

WHY DID THE TIME KEEPERS STATUE GET REPLACED?

END CREDIT SCENE?

SEASON 2 CONFIRMED OKAY SO

AGHHHHHHHHHH!

I—WHAT?

BUT

BUT

WHEN IS SEASON 2???

HOW LONG WILL I HAVE TO WAIT?

WAS THAT KANG OR DO I HAVE TO EAT A ROCK?

WILL SEASON TWO FOLLOW DIRECTLY AFTER SEASON ONE OR IS THIS LEADING UP TO THE DR STRANGE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS AND WILL SEASON TWO FOLLOW THAT?

AGHHHHHHHHHHHHH

MY HEART

SYLVIE WHY

YOU TRAITOR

BUT AT LEAST IT WASN’T A BETRAYAL IN THE WAY I FEARED IT WOULD BE

BUT STILL

I AM LOOKING AT THE CREDITS IN THE OTHER LANGUAGES TO SEE IF THEY REFER TO HE WHO REMAINS AS KANG

I DON’T WANT TO EAT A ROCK

MY BRAIN IS MELTING

MY HEART IS… AGHHHHHHHHHHH

[sunmoonandeddie]

i’ll be home for christmas

pairing: bucky barnes x reader

word count: 4,019

summary: Bucky made a promise to his girl, and Steve helps him keep it.

warnings: Some h*ckin’ words.

a/n: So like.  I just slapped this together when the idea came to me last night.  Let me know what you think!

Bucky Barnes was tired.

And not the tired that came from being on your feet all day, no.  He was the kind of tired that was bone deep.  It sunk down underneath his skin and took root in all the small crevices of his body.  It lingered in the lines on his palms and the soft skin behind his knees.

He let out a groan befitting his true age as he got up off the bed, moving to his dresser.  A picture frame sat on the dark wood, an old engagement ring sitting next to it.  His eyes rested on your face for an extra minute or two as he took in a deep breath.

It was a picture of you from 1942.  You were wearing that pretty green dress that brought out your eyes, your hair perfectly curled.  From a first glance, the photo looked so serious, but he could see the twitch of a poorly contained smile at the corner of your lips.  It was a photo your mother had taken with your family’s color camera.

A luxury, in those days.

Your family had been one of the ones a little better off after the stock market crashed.  You weren’t thrown into the same kind of poverty that he was.

Your family was old money and old money didn’t crash and burn because it didn’t believe in the banks.  Your father kept your family’s fortune in a safe in your house.

When the banks had failed, you guys had stayed afloat.

Not that your family hadn’t helped out others.  You’d been so kind.  Your father had given him a winter coat when he’d seen that his was several sizes too small and worn thin.

Bucky had been eighteen and still wearing the coat he got when he was twelve.

Your father had also been his boss when he worked at the docks, and had subsequently been the reason that his family had survived those harsh years.  They hadn’t been able to survive on his pa’s savings forever, especially not after his ma lost her job when she broke her hand.

But that was so long ago.

“We’re doing some pretty big things today, darlin,’” he said as he pulled on his jacket.  “Stevie’s going back in time to take the Infinity Stones back.  He’s gotta take them to the exact moment in time they were taken or it’ll create alternative timelines or something like that.  It was a lot of words that even I couldn’t understand, and you know how much of a nerd I am.”  He took a deep breath, running his fingers through his hair.  “I miss you, baby,” he whispered as he pressed two fingers to his lips before gently touching the glass of the photo frame, right where your lips were.  “I love you always.”

“BARNES!”

Bucky looked up to see his supervisor, Davies, calling him over.  He wiped his hands on his jeans as he headed over, calling out, “Yes, sir?”

“We’ve got a new shipment coming in late tonight.  Is there anyway you could come in?” Davies asked, at least having the decency to appear a little apologetic.  “I’ll throw in a coupla extra bucks for ya, kid.”

He sighed, glancing down at his shoes.  They were his one good pair and they were starting to wear through.  There was no denying that he was going to need a new pair in the upcoming months, and that’s not to mention how fast Becca was growing.

She’d need a new dress within just a few weeks, he was sure of it.

And Christmas was coming up.  Fuck.

As much as Becca insisted that she didn’t need a Christmas present, that she understood how rough things were, he still needed to do something for her.  He needed to preserve that little bit of normalcy, that idea that Christmas was special.

Maybe a new pair of stockings.  Or some mittens.  Something small and simple that he might be able to afford.

“Yeah.  Yeah, I can do that,” he said.

“Thanks, kiddo,” Davies said with a grin.  “You’re the best damn guy we got working here.  Keep it up.  Maybe there’s a promotion in your future.”

God, he hoped so.  With how bleak everything had been, his family could really use the knowledge of knowing that he had a secure job and secure pay, even if it wasn’t a lot.

The chatter of the men around him died down a little with the sound of heels clacking on the wet docks, and he turned to see you walking towards the main office, a bag in your hand.  You wandered the edge of the docks, eyes on the water that crashed up against the concrete walls.

You didn’t seem to notice the way the men were staring at you, or if you did, you hid it well.  You burrowed down into your thick winter coat, the mink fur lining the color keeping your ears warm.  Your hair was styled in a sleek French twist, a style his ma used to do a lot for Sundays at church.

You were beautiful.

But Bucky watched almost in slow motion as your heel slipped on the ice that covered the docks, your eyes going wide as you fell into the icy water with a crash.

The other men were frozen in place, not sure what to do.  They were torn between wanting to help and not wanting to risk the icy depths.

His heart pounding, Bucky ran for where you’d disappeared, tearing off his threadbare coat along the way.  The men shouting at him sounded like buzzing in his ears as he dove in.

Eyes stinging from the salt water, he felt his heart jump as he saw you struggling to swim to the surface, bogged down by heavy skirts and your coat.  He grabbed you by the waist, holding you close to his chest, before pushing up to the surface.

Blinking away the water in his eyes, he was greeted with men surrounding the area that he’d jumped from.

You were sputtering in his arms, coughing up water and clutching onto him for dear life.

“I’ve got you,” he said, his legs working in overtime as he worked to keep both of you afloat.  “It’s okay.  I’ve got you.”

“SOMEONE GIVE ‘IM A HAND!”

Bucky passed you off to one of the men, waiting for you to be pulled up onto the docks before he allowed several hands to pull him up.  He collapsed on the cold concrete, staring up at the sky as he tried to catch his breath.  He pushed himself up, grabbing his coat from where it’d fallen.  “You’re gonna catch your death,” he said as he threw it over you, trying to shield you as best as he could from the wind coming off the water.

“FLOWER!  FLOWER!”

He looked up to see the big boss man, the one who owned the docks, running towards them.  His eyes widened as he realized that you looked remarkably like him.

“D-Daddy,” you stammered, coughing up more water.

“Oh, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” her father said as he fell to his knees in front of you.  He held your face in his hands as he checked you over for any sort of injuries.  “Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine,” you insisted, holding onto him.  “Thanks to him.”  You nodded over to Bucky, and it was then that your father finally seemed to notice him.

He swallowed as the man’s eyes fixed on him.  “You saved my daughter?” He asked.

Bucky slowly nodded.  “It was nothing, sir,” he insisted.

“It wasn’t nothing,” he insisted, helping you up.  He held out a hand to Bucky, who gave him a look of bewilderment.

It wasn’t often that rich men held out their hand to poor boys like him.

“She needed help, and I wasn’t going to leave her in there,” he said with a shrug as he shoved his hands into his pockets.  He tried to play off just how cold he was, his wet clothes sticking to his skin and starting to turn to ice.  If he looked closely at his fingers, he could see them starting to turn blue.

Her father seemed to notice his predicament and took off his coat, pulling it around his shoulders.  “Come on into the office.  We’ll get you two nice and warmed up,” he said.

Bucky didn’t know what else to do, so he just nodded and followed him.

“Thank you.”

He looked over in surprise to see you looking up at him with pretty eyes, a flush in your cheeks that he suspected had nothing to do with the cold.  “It was nothing,” he repeated, glancing down at his feet.

Steve would have a field day about how he’d done something stupid enough to warrant a scolding from his ma, something that the blond was usually on the end of.

“You saved my life,” you whispered, holding his coat tightly around you.  “I’ll never be able to thank you enough.”

The others were waiting for him down by the time travel thing.  He could never be bothered to ask the actual name.  He knew that the others had used Pym Particles to go back, but the actual contraption didn’t seem to have a name other than ‘time machine’ and it seemed like such a lame name for something so fucking cool.

Steve was getting ready to go, chatting with Sam idly as they stood there.  Banner was messing with the controls.

He’d seen photos of the Hulk before, but the weird mix of both Banner and the green rage monster was… unsettling, to say the least.

Steve sighed as he walked over to Bucky, eyeing him slowly.  “You know, Buck, I’ve been thinking.”

“That’s never a good thing,” he teased, a sly smile creeping up on his lips.

He laughed, shaking his head in slight amusement.  “I want you to come with me on this.  Help me out.”  He wrapped an arm around him.  “You didn’t get to do the whole time travel thing with us, and we have more than enough Pym Particles.”

Bucky looked at him, trying to get a read on his eyes.  Finally, he let out a chuckle.  “Okay.  Sure.  I’ll go with you to help with the Stones.”

And within two minutes, he had one of those fancy contraptions on his wrist and a quantum suit had materialized around his clothes.

Returning the Stones was easy.  And time travel was exhilarating, to say the least.  In all of his wildest dreams, he’d never imagined anything like it.

Steve took an extra long moment when they returned the Tesseract to the seventies, stealing a moment to observe Peggy in her natural element.

She was a force to be reckoned with, but she always had been.

Bucky knew what Steve wanted to do.  They’d talked about it the night before.

His best friend wanted to go back to the forties to get his life with the Brit, with his first love.

And he got it.  He really did.  He understood the longing to go back, to steal back the life that was taken from him.

But Peggy had a life ahead of her.  One that Steve wasn’t a part of.  She had a husband and children and grandchildren.

“We got one last stop,” the blond said as he turned away from the window he’d been observing her in her office through.  His eyes lingered on the photos of her family on her desk as he typed new coordinates, and with a flash, they were gone.

“Where are we?” Bucky asked as he glanced around.

But even as he asked, he knew.

Brooklyn.  1940-something.

A thin blanket of snow covered the ground, but there was already more coming down.  It coated his lashes and his long hair in a white dust.

“The war ended in September,” Steve said, leading him down the alleyway.  “Figured it’d be best to drop you off where there wasn’t a war going on.”

“Drop me off?”  He took in every sight, smell, and sound like it was a drug.  He’d missed this place so much.  As much time as he spent in the twenty-first century, it never felt like home.  He always felt like he was on his toes, like he couldn’t relax.

Steve stopped in front of a familiar townhouse, a sly smile on his lips that was barely visible in the dim light of the streetlamp.  “If I remember correctly, you made someone a promise.  And I intend to help you keep it.”

“Stevie–”

He shook his head, his eyes fixing him in place.  “Listen, jerk.  I’m not going back to Peggy.  I did some thinking, and it’s not right,” he said.  “She’s got her own life, her own love.  Maybe mine is out there.  But yours…”  He looked up towards the window that Bucky knew peered into the kitchen, a soft light illuminating the flowers lining the sill inside that you were nicknamed after.  “I know you’ve read her file.  You know she never married, never moved on.  That’s the love of your life, and you have the chance to be with her.”

“But what about you?  And Sam?” He asked, his voice cracking with emotion.  His eyes burned as he tried to hold the tears back.

Steve smiled warmly as he slung an arm around his shoulders.  “Sam and I are gonna be just fine.  He’s gonna need someone to listen while he rants about how the shield is more trouble than it’s worth more often than not and how people expect Captain America to be Mr. Apple Pie,” he said.

Bucky nodded, rubbing the heels of his palms against his eyes.  “Tell him I said bye, okay?  And that I’ll miss him.”  As much as he didn’t like to admit it, the man had grown on him.  He considered him one of his best friends.  They gave each other shit, but he knew he’d take a bullet for him.  “And he’s an ass.”

The other man let out a chuckle, nodding as he pulled him into a tight hug.  “I’ll miss you, jerk.”

“Yeah, I’ll miss you, too, I guess,” he said, squeezing him for an extra moment.  Everything he’d been through in the past seventy years felt like it was all coming to a head in this moment.  “I love you, punk.”

“I love you, too.”  Steve pulled back, pulling a letter out of his suit pocket.  “Give this to Peggy.  She’ll know what to do.”

With a nod and one last hug, Bucky turned to go up the steps of your townhouse, his hands sweating as he knocked on the door.

January 4th, 1945

My dearest Sunflower,

I’m still alive.  I know you’re ready to kick my ass for not writing to you in a few weeks, but we’ve been unable to find a post office.

Steve is good.  The other guys are good.  We’re doing alright for ourselves.

We’re somewhere in Austria right now.  I can’t tell you exactly where, and they might redact it anyway.

It’s cold as hell here.  Even colder than the water I jumped into to save you that day we first met.  Remember that?  I thought you were the prettiest gal I’d ever seen.  Still do.

To be honest, darling, I don’t think even your father’s coat could keep me warm here.  We have to keep fires going at all times  One of the men got frostbite in his fingers because he didn’t wear his gloves.

I’m sorry I wasn’t there for Christmas.  I know that you looked mighty pretty in whatever dress you wore though.  I bet it looked real good with that ring on your finger.  Becca said in her letters that you never take it off.  I just want you to know how often I think about that.  It gives me a little happiness, knowing that you’re going to be my wife when all of this is over.  I keep your picture right over my heart.  The one your ma took a few months before I got drafted.

A lot of the other men aren’t so lucky.  They don’t have a gal to go home to.  Definitely not one was pretty as you.  When your letters arrive, I let them read them as long as they promise not to mess it up.  They really liked that hair ribbon and the photo of you and Becca you sent me.

I think it gives them hope, knowing that there’s still love in this world to give and to receive.

For Christmas, there weren’t many gifts.  Steve did give me an extra few pairs of socks.  I gave him an extra blanket I found lying around.

I know you’re going to say otherwise, but I can’t stop feeling like I failed your pa.  The one thing he asked of me when he left was that I look after you and your ma and I promised him I would.  I told him I wouldn’t come over here and risk my ass.

I ran into him a few weeks ago.  He was going around with some of the other higher officers, talking to the troops.

Needless to say, he was surprised to see me.

He looked so mad when he pulled me into his makeshift office, I thought I’d die right there.  You know how much his opinion means to me.  I’d never had a good father figure until I met him.  My pa was never like him.  Never treated my ma or my sister with the respect and love your father has.  I never knew fathers could be kind until I met him.

So I told him everything.  I told him about getting drafted, how I’d tried to get out of it.  I hadn’t even told Steve that.  Only you.

Thanks for not telling him I was over here.  I know it was awful of me to ask such a thing of you, but he swears he’s not upset with you and he understands.

He cried when I told him I’d been drafted, that I’d done my best to stay home and keep you and your ma safe.  I cried, too.  I’m not ashamed to admit it.

He was a little upset with me for not going home when I had the chance, but I told him I had to stay with Steve and make sure he stays safe.

But I promise you, I’ll be home for Christmas.  I don’t know if it’ll be this Christmas or the next or the next, but I’ll make it home to you, okay?  I pinky promise.

I have to go.  Steve’s just got word that Zola is on the move.

All my love,

Your Jamie

You took a long swig of wine as you read the letter for the eighth time tonight.  No matter how much of the bottle you drank, it didn’t numb the pain.

He never came home.

You’d held onto that letter, rereading it so many times that the paper had gone soft.  Some of the words were blurred from tear stains.

It was the last letter you ever received from him.

Knock.  Knock.  Knock.

You looked up in surprise, glancing over at the clock.  “Who the hell is knocking on my door at midnight?” You asked yourself as you pulled on your robe to cover your nightgown.

Which, it wasn’t like you were sleeping.

After spending Christmas Eve cooking with your ma, Winifred, and Becca, you were exhausted.  But you were all determined to get it done so you could spend Christmas Day relaxing.

A pang twisted your heart as you glanced down, your ring catching in the light.

Even after two years, you didn’t have the heart to take it off.

Knock.  Knock.  Knock.

You huffed, tying your robe tightly.  “I’m coming, I’m coming.”  Flicking on the front hallway light, you didn’t bother to look through the peephole at whoever the hell was at your door.  Wiping away a few lingering tears, you flung open the door, ready to chew the person out, but the words caught in your throat.

James Buchanan Barnes was standing on your doorstep.  Even though he looked a few years older, with his long hair and thick beard, there was no doubt in your mind that it was him.

“J-Jamie?” You stammered, tears pricking your eyes.  “Is it really you?”

“It’s really me, sunflower,” he said, shuffling his feet.

The smile he gave you was so boyish and charming, so Jamie, that you fell to your knees.  Sobs wracked your body as you tried to catch your breath.  “I-I thought you were dead!  They told me you were!”

“I promised you I’d be home for Christmas.”  Bucky fell to his knees with you, gathering you up in his arms.  “It’s me, baby.  It’s me.  I’m here.  I’m home.  And I’m never leaving you again.”

Sniffling, you grabbed his face in your hands, pushing his hair back.  “Your hair,” you laughed, toying with the silky strands.  “Your hair is so long.”  Your fingers moved to cup his jaw, a giggle breaking through the sobs.  “And your beard!”

He let out a chuckle, resting his forehead against yours.  His hand found your left, running over the stones on the ring that he’d given you with a promise to come home years ago when he’d been shipped off.  “I have so much to tell you, my love.  But I’m home.”

The feeling he could never find in the twenty-first century was back.  The weariness in his bones disappeared as he held you against his chest, smoothing down your hair as he rocked you back and forth.  The feeling of being home at last bloomed in his chest.

You rested your head on his shoulder, blinking away tears as you stared out at the snowy sky, holding him tight.  You didn’t care that you were half inside and half out, or that the neighbors could see you.

But you were startled to see Steve Rogers leaning against the streetlamp, his arms crossed over his chest.  He looked like he’d been put through the ringer just like Bucky.

And he looked so much bigger.  You’d seen the newsreels of him, but nothing compared to seeing him standing just a few feet away.

“Thank you,” you mouthed to him.

He gave you a nod, a teary smile on his face, before fiddling with something on his wrist and disappearing into thin air.

Grabbing Bucky’s face in your hands, you pressed sweet kisses all over his hair and his face.  “You’re never allowed to scare me like that ever again,” you said, leaning back to look in his eyes.  Even though they were sparkling with delight, there was a hauntedness to them that you had no doubt had something to do with the metal arm that was currently holding you.  But you were sure that would be explained later.  Right now, you were just grateful to have him home.  “You hear me?  I’ll…  I’ll put you on house arrest if I have to!”

He grinned, basking in your kisses like they were summer sunshine.  “Trust me, darlin,’ I’m not going anywhere.”  He pressed a bruising kiss to your lips, his flesh hand holding the back of your head.

It felt just as good as all the kisses you’d gotten from him before, maybe even better.

“I gotta ask you something,” he said as he leaned back just enough to brush his nose against yours.

“You can ask me anything, Jame, long as you stay here with me,” you murmured, kissing him once, twice, three more times before letting him speak again.

An impish grin tugged at his lips.  “Where the hell are your decorations?  I come home and I don’t even get some mistletoe to kiss you under?”

Rolling your eyes, you leaned your forehead against his.  You relaxed as you felt his steady, strong heartbeat under your palm.  For the first time since he’d been deployed over to Europe, you felt complete.  “I don’t need mistletoe to kiss you under, Sarge.”

[jihyosforehead]

Some dayeon fluff pls your writing is phenomenal

IM SO SORRY ive sat on this for months 🥴😬💞 pls 4give 💖 based on this one tiktok i saw on my timeline one time and cant find bc i accidentally refreshed 😢😞

UPDATE: I FOUND THE DAMN TIKTOK LOL 

...

“Ask your partner if they have anything they want to talk about.”

Nayeon’s spent the last hour or so scrolling through her twitter feed, there’s a few cute puppy videos here and there, a few new memes she found funny enough to blow air out her nose and her personal favourite, “Ask your partner if they have anything they want to confess.” 

Nayeon can’t help herself. This quarantine has kept her inside for longer than she’d imagined. So. She’s bored and she’s bothered her friends enough with her need to be entertained. And Dahyun was due to walk in at any moment from picking up the mail from the downstairs lobby. 

It seemed relatively simple. Ask your partner if they have anything they want to talk about. A forced confession. 

Dahyun was hardly on social media and gets most, if not all, her memes from Nayeon and then occasionally Chaeyoung. (“How have you not heard of grumpy cat? Or the doge meme at least?”) Dahyun lived under a rock, basically. Nayeon was fairly certain Dahyun wouldn’t know about this. 

The door made a tiny beeping noise, and was then followed by a soft click. 

“Do you have anything you want to tell me?” Nayeon blurts out, catching Dahyun just as she’s about to slip her feet into fluffy pink slippers. Nayeon watches her girlfriend expectantly, she narrows her eyes trying to school her expression to something serious. Dahyun slowly lowers one foot into her slippers and then straightens up to tilt her head curiously at Nayeon’s question. 

 “What?” 

“Is there anything you want to talk about?” Nayeon tries again. This time more firm, but she manages to successfully bite back a smile. 

Dahyun shuffles her feet into her slippers as if regaining her footing. She opens her mouth and closes it. Opens once more and lets out a long “uHHhhh-” Dahyun searches for words that don’t seem to come and then looks at the small pile of letters in her hand, then at Nayeon again. 

Nayeon studies Dahyun carefully; she was shuffling back and forth and on both feet and had rearranged the post in her hands for the third time. She was momentarily distracted by a mustard yellow envelope that looked interesting.

“Is there something you want to tell me?” 

“So, uh -” Dahyun sighs, deeply embarrassed, “so, you- I, - uh, I guess you found the cutlery?” She rubs the back of her neck sheepishly, Nayeon watches her cheeks pink under the fluorescent lighting. 

“What?”

“The-the cutlery? You found it?”

It’s Nayeon’s turn to flounder now. What had Dahyun done to the cutlery? Had she broken it? Thrown it away? What was so monumental about the cutlery, that had her girlfriend looking like she was about to run out the door she had just come in from? Nayeon’s eyes snap back to Dahyun again.

“Y-yes. The cutlery. I found it.” 

Nayeon rubs her temple. Why had she said that? Technically, no, it’s not a lie. As far as she knew, the cutlery was in the left hand drawer next to the sink. She pictured their kitchen in her head and mentally tried to recall the last time she’d opened it. At lunch? No. She had a snack about two hours ago and needed a spoon but couldn’t find any, so she’d had to wash a new one. And that’s all her knowledge about any kitchen-related utensils they owned. 

“I’m really sorry, baby,” Dahyun steps closer and huffs a loud sigh. She runs a hand through her already mussed hair, “I just, I just- you- look,” she raises her hand in a placating gesture. “I’ll be better. I promise. I’ll put them away. I just really hated doing that part.”

“Dahyun, angel, what are you talking about?”

Dahyun visibly perks up at the pet name.

“Nayeonnie, I just really hate putting the cutlery away.” Nayeon just stares dumbly, clearly confused. “Like, I know the drawer is right next to the- ” Dahyun sighs, resigned. 

Nayeon allows herself to be pulled up by the wrist and guided into the kitchen. She watches Dahyun gently tug the dishwasher door open with a sheepish smile and- 

“Ohhhhh my godddd.” 

Nayeon rubs the spot between her eyebrows exasperatedly. Huh. So she wasn’t imagining things after all. She wasn’t insane - okay - that part was debatable (sometimes), but she knew she wasn’t losing it. It, being her marbles, she notes while staring at a wide-eyed Dahyun. Dahyun, who was, at the very least, two full shades pinker than usual. Nayeon stares in disbelief. 

“-look I’m really sorry! I’ll-I’ll put them away now. Right now! I’ll wash up and I’ll put them away next time, I promise!” Dahyun says, voice frantic. She then turns around to hurriedly yank four spoons, two forks and a butterknife from the cutlery basket and waves them in Nayeon’s face. Nayeon’s unable to control the disgusted expression she makes at the visibly dirty utensils. “I-I”ll-I’ll wash these now! I’ll wash these now so we’ll have a few for the rest of the week and tomorrow when we turn the dishwasher on I’ll put them all away,” Dahyun manages to say in one breath. She sniffs.

Her cheeks are flushed red, and her voice has begun to waver, giving away her nerves. And she’s looking at Nayeon with her big, doe-like, guilty brown eyes. All honey. There’s a tiny crinkle between furrowed eyebrows. Nayeon can’t help but feel deeply fond exasperation creep up her spine and rush all the way down to the ends of her fingertips. Her heart squeezes tightly. Uncomfortably. Feels Dahyun wriggle her into yet another spot she didn’t know she had. God. This girl. This idiot. This Idiot! Making her feel things all the time! How was it possible to love such a monumental, wholesome dumbass? How?  

“Is your-” Nayeon clears her throat. “Is your ‘thing’ you needed to tell me-” she does air quotes to emphasise  her point, “-that you don’t put the cutlery away?” 

Dahyun doesn’t meet her eyes and instead chooses to find the floorboards interesting. She pointedly avoids Nayeon’s gaze. Nayeon struggles to bite back a laugh. 

Then, very quietly, in the tiniest voice:

“Yes.” 

Nayeon brings her hands to her cheeks to quell the urge to scream. This girl. This GIRL!!! Was so cute! How could one person be THIS cute! Nayeon chooses to sigh very deeply and bite her lip. She thinks she manages to look stern. 

“I thought I was imagining things,” Nayeon tells her, “no wonder there’s never any cutlery in the drawers!” 

Dahyun rubs the back of her neck sheepishly. “I’m really sorry, babe. I’ll put them away next time.” 

Nayeon watches pink flush Dahyun’s face again and trail down her neck. She finds her hand on the spot where Dahyun’s neck meets her shoulders and gently tugs. 

“I’m not upset, I promise,” she murmurs into dark hair. She feels Dahyun huff a relieved sigh and shuffle herself closer. 

“You sure?” 

“Baby. It’s just cutlery.” Nayeon pulls back, her hand still resting on the nape of Dahyun’s neck. She rubs the skin there, feels Dahyun shiver slightly. “I’m not mad at you,” Nayeon says again. “And anyway. If you had told me you hated that part, the easiest part,” she teases, and draws Dahyun back to her body naturally, “I would have done it instead.”

She punctuates her words with a kiss on the crown of Dahyun’s head. She feels Dahyun smile into her shoulder with how hard she’s grinning. She drops another kiss for good measure. 

...

“You are so dumb,” Dahyun whines, and slaps Nayeon’s shoulder with their heavy throw pillow.

“Look, it’s not my fault you’re an idiot.” My idiot, Nayeon thinks, happily.

Dahyun buries her face in Nayeon’s side and whines again. “I can’t believe you put that on Twitter.” 

“You let me post it!” 

“Only because no one looks at your tweets but me!” 

“I have over five thousand followers.” 

“They’re bots.”

So. 

Nayeon might’ve posted a voice-recording of Dahyun’s Confession. On Twitter. And it might have gone viral. And this is why Dahyun is smacking Nayeon's shoulder repeatedly with a pillow on a Tuesday night. Nayeon supposes this is her reward for fame. 

[gingrrfrog]

these nights (4)

word count: 5.6k :/ kinda long sry

warnings: angst

summary: jeno, yejin, and jaemin were a team. they told each other everything, they trusted each other. jaemin nor jeno would lie, right? right?

a/n: hi idk how many of u like this but since the c*ronavirus has me locked inside my house im just gonna write until this is over :/ hehe enjoy also here’s a masterlist I concocted just for timeline purposes :] 

After an hour of chatting, Jihyun finally decided that she was hungry. They both argued over who should cook, Jihyun’s reasoning being for coming over unannounced while Yejin’s reasoning was that Jihyun was the guest—and she would be a horrible host if she made her cook. The bickering ended instead with her calling her sous chef, Taeyong, secretly while Yejin was in the bathroom. Yejin begged, the last thing she wanted to be was a nuisance during but Jihyun only assured her by informing her that Taeyong lived in this same building, asking a small favor before ordering him to shut the restaurant down due to the snow outside.

“You really didn’t have to do that, Unnie. I really could’ve made us something to eat.”

“And I’m telling you that Taeyong owes me a few favors anyway! Plus, it’s not like he’s far from where you live and he lives right upstairs. I promise you it’s fine.”

Yejin sighed heavily, “you’re unbelievable.”

“Believe it or not, it’s not the first time I’ve heard that.”

Yejin could only laugh as they continued to talk. Yejin opted to sit on the floor criss-crossed as they talked about littler happenings in Jihyun’s pregnancy. Yejin looked at the coffee table while she spoke, noticing a few incriminating photos from the night before, haphazardly shoved under magazines.

Fuck you, Na Jaemin. She hissed to herself. After this, she was never letting Jaemin clean anything. It’s almost as if he planned this. Just then, Jihyun reached over to take the magazine after noticing Yejin’s attention was on the magazine.

“Is there something on the magazine? Oh pictures! Oh—pictures—“

Yejin could do nothing but watch in horror as Jihyun stared at the polaroid in her hands. It was almost like staring at a car crash, she wanted more than anything to look away, but the picture of Jeno’s dick in her hand almost demanded her attention.

“Holy shit, is this Jeno?”

Yejin blanched, her hands catching her hand in pure, unadulterated embarrassment. If she could call Jaemin right now she would scream his ear off, “I am so fucking sorry.”

“No it’s—“ Jihyun tried her best to stifle a laugh as she placed the polaroid back on the coffee table. “It’s…reassuring to know that Jaehyun and I aren’t the only one who do this.”

“But you and Jaehyun oppa don’t keep the photos stupidly hidden under a magazine,” Yejin groaned, her head still hiding in her hands. “I’m going to fucking kill Jaemin.”

“That’s very true. If anyone saw me naked Jaehyun would skin them alive from pure jealousy,” Jihyun failed to hold her giggles back any longer, pulling at Yejin’s arm. “Don’t be embarrassed! I’m not embarrassed! Shocked, maybe, but it’s healthy!”

“You have an amazing body—“ Jihyun mentioned, laughing harder when Yejin screamed out in pain, covering her ears from anymore bullying.

“I need to see your naked pictures now, then,” Yejin said out of nowhere. “There’s no way I can go through this embarrassment on my own.”

“First of all, I have nothing to embarrassed about. Secondly, Jaehyun has them under lock and key, I don’t even get to see them.”

Yejin blinked, “he keeps your photos under lock and key?”

“Ah, well, the disgusting ones are on an old phone, but there’s more to the old phone that made Jaehyun lock it up. It’s not just my asshole on display. However, if you want a conception story for this,” Jihyun pointed to her belly, “there’s an hour long video on that phone.”

“Oh, Jesus, gross,” Yejin meant to say internally, but it came out as a whisper as Jihyun threw a pillow at her.

“Gross?!”

“I don’t really want to think about Jaehyun oppa that way! It’s weird,” she mumbled. “As beautiful as you are together, he’s not my type.”

“What is your type then?” Jihyun asked, taking another pillow under her chin, “dopey eyed and nagging?”

Yejin snorted, “yeah, actually.”

“And you couldn’t find it in one so you gathered two?”

“Jaemin wasn’t planned, it just kind of happened.”

“I’ve heard that one,” Jihyun grinned, running her hand over her stomach, causing Yejin to laugh.

“I’m serious! I thought he hated me at first, Jaemin. He only glared at me for the first two weeks, but he had to get used to me. Jeno was the only person I knew in Korea when I got here, and I followed him almost everywhere. Jaemin had the key code to our apartment then, and I was always there when Jeno wasn’t, and he kind of had to settle for me until Jeno got home from wherever he was.”

“Jaemin has always been like that as a kid, especially if it was towards Jeno.” Jihyun took the time to reminisce of Jeno and Jaemin when they were younger, always offering fleeting touches whenever they were around or always searching for the others hand when they were far. “Jaemin is possessive, just like Jaehyun, but he likes to pretend he isn’t.”

“What about Jeno, then? What was he like as a kid?”

“You’re going to hate this, but Jeno was a normal kid. He played video games after school, he ate played outside with Jaemin or whatever friend he had at the time, and then he went home. There really isn’t a difference from the Jeno you’re seeing now and the Jeno then.”

“Can I ask you something?” Yejin sat up on the couch, next to Jihyun’s head as she peered up at her. “I guess I’m just a little confused, and I know that this all works with families and stuff, but did you really grow up with Jaehyun and his brothers?”

“I did. I mentioned that I was always with my dad during his jobs, and he was Jaehyun’s dad second-in-command at the time. I was always at their house, playing video games with Jaehyun because he couldn’t go outside a lot because he got sick easily. I played with Jaemin when he got older and I babysat Jisung when he was born. Jaehyun and I grew up together but we didn’t realize we had feelings for each other until we were fifteen…”

“Well, I didn’t realize I had feelings for him until I was fifteen. Jaehyun said he always knew, but I think he’s a liar.” Jihyun laughed.

Yejin smiled fondly, “that’s…kind of amazing. It all makes sense now, I guess, but what about Jeno?”

Jihyun hummed slightly to herself, “Jeno’s family…it’s a little difficult, I’m sure you gathered that already. Jeno’s dad died pretty young, and Jeno’s mom left after that but you know all about his sister.”

Yejin blinked. She racked in her brain for a mention of a sister—Jeno had mentioned his parents several times, about how his father died and his mother left, this was knowledge she had gathered from Jaemin. But a sister? Jeno nor Jaemin mentioned a sister.

Jihyun looked up from her hands to see Yejin contemplating and trying to remember. Jihyun bit her lip and sat up quickly, her head spinning.

“Jeno…Jeno hasn’t told you about her?”

“I mean no but maybe he forgot—or maybe we never got to it or maybe…” Yejin admitted defeat as she realized that Jeno never mentioned his sister and perhaps never made any plans to do so. Jihyun offered an awkward grimace.

Jihyun pondered for a moment, wondering how much she could say without offending the walls Jeno very obviously built. Should Jeno decide to tear the walls himself was one thing, however, it was not up to Jihyun to determine when and how. But, considering the hurt behind Yejin’s eyes, she gathered that it was now the time to play damage control.

“Please don’t be mad that he never told you. Jeno…he likes to be happy. He likes to feel loved and surrounded by the ones he loves—so please be understanding as to why he never told you. I don’t think he ever wanted to remember.”

“Jeno’s sister was my best friend in school. Like Jaehyun, we grew up together too and I considered her my older sister too. We were a set—Johnny oppa and Jieun unnie, Jaehyun and I. When I wasn’t at Jaehyun’s house, I was at their house after school while Jeno was always asking if Jaemin was with me. Jaemin was always attached to my hip at the time, so I guess that’s how Jeno and Jaemin got to be as close as they were.”

“Sorry, I just—“ Yejin shook her head as she tried to digest new information. Five years together and Jeno never gave a hint to a sibling. That being said, this opened a new family tree, one that was huge. “Jeno’s sister, Jieun unnie was with Johnny. Johnny’s first wife died before I got here, so that means Johnny—“

“Is Jeno’s brother in law? Yeah.”

“Then, all of Johnny’s kids are his nieces and nephews?”

Jihyun gave a sheepish smile, “…yeah.”

Yejin let her head fall against the couch, her hands on her face once again as she gripped her scalp, “what the fuck. What the fuck, Lee Jeno?!”

“This isn’t going well, is it?” Jihyun asked, her bottom lip in between her teeth as Yejin reappeared from her hands.

“What happened? Why isn’t she around what the fuck! Why didn’t Jeno tell me anything?!”

“It’s not his fault!” Jihyun quickly tried to explain. “A lot... a lot happened before you got here, Yejin. Jaehyun’s dad died earlier than we thought, alliances that we had were broken at Jaehyun’s sudden inheritance, it was a war we weren’t even slightly ready for.”

“What happened to Jeno’s sister?” Yejin asked again, noticing that Jihyun was trying to divert the conversation. Once the latter realized she had failed, she scooted closer to Yejin, taking her hands in her own and she stared at her with urgency.

“There’s only so much I can tell you, Yejin. Please understand, I was never supposed to tell you about Jieun unnie, that’s above my role. All I can tell you is that once we found out Johnny was a target, he took great care in making sure that she was safe. She took the wrong car that morning, and what was meant for Johnny landed on Jieun unnie.”

Guilt fueled in Yejin’s stomach as she realized she had pressed too hard, watching as Jihyun’s eyes watered at the memory she just barely managed to heal—only for Yejin to come and pick at the wound.

“Jeno lost everything after that. He wasn’t the same, nobody was. He left the day after the funeral and we didn’t know where he was, we looked all over Asia but we never thought he’d be in the states,” Jihyun explained quietly. “Before we could tell him to come back, he came back on his own...with you.”

“That...could be some explanation as to why Jaemin glared at you when you first came up. He was trying to protect Jeno from anything that could hurt him.”

“Jaemin thought i was going to hurt him?”

“...we all did,” Jihyun admitted. “I gave you the benefit of the doubt and thankfully it worked out for this long, but it took me a long time to get me to convince Jaehyun and Johnny oppa that you weren’t going to hurt Jeno. Meanwhile, you took care of Jaemin on your own.”

Yejin huffed, eyes pooling almost instantly as she crashed into Jihyun’s arms, “thank you for trusting me. I love Jeno, more than anything— I would never hurt him.”

She could feel Jihyun’s smile as she wrapped her arms around her body, patting her back, “I know. You don’t have to thank me, if anything, I should be thanking you. I was scared that Jeno would be broken the rest of his life, but you came and it looked like he got better...even now though, I can see that it still hurts him.”

“Regardless, I’m grateful that you were there, and although you had to find out in the most fucked up way, you never asking questions led Jeno to love and appreciate you more.”

“Does that mean that I should never bring this up?”

Jihyun sighed, “that’s a tricky question. I’m not in the position to say because it’s not my relationship and I know you’ll be opening a traumatic can of worms if you do.”

“Should I run it past Jaemin?”

“That might be your safest bet, but you’re not entirely safe from his defensiveness either, fair warning.”

Yejin sighed, still wrapped in Jihyun’s arms as she felt another member begin to squirm against her arm.

“Oh—someone’s awake.”

“She has really good timing.” Yejin mentioned quietly, lifting herself up from her Jihyun’s hold.

“She’s good at that,” Jihyun smiled gently.

Yejin took the time to lay down, watching Jihyun’s stomach stretch and pull as her baby practiced what seemed like yoga inside her. Yejin has never had information overload, but if she did, she imagined this is what it was like. Jihyun took her turn to sit on the floor then, resting her arms on the couch with her head resting against them as she carefully studied Yejin’s face.

“Talk to me, Angel.”

“I’m...just trying to process, I guess.”

“I’m sorry. I should’ve never said anything, this is my fault—“

“No, it’s not. I’m not blaming anyone but I’m definitely...upset that no one told me anything until now.” Yejin played with the frayed ends of the pillow she was laying on, staring blankly at the floor. “Jeno is the person I’m supposed to spend the rest of my life with, Jaemin too, so how long were they planning on keeping this from me?”

“We all have our demons, Yejin.”

“But we also have people that help us fight them. I just don’t.. I don’t understand.”

“Is there anything you’ve never told Jeno?”

“I mean, I try to be as transparent as I can with him, because I expect the same thing but—“

“—you said try?”

Yejin chewed at her cheek, “maybe I’ve kept things from Jeno and Jaem too, but it still doesn’t reach missing sibling and family information level.”

“Like?”

“Like...I don’t know! Nothing important! Little things!”

“That’s subjective.”

Yejin huffed in disbelief, “I know what you’re doing and it’s not going to work on me, Jihyun unnie.”

“I’m not telling you to not be mad at Jeno. I’m just telling you, try to see why he hid it in the first place.”

Yejin grimaced, sitting back up and noticing that her stomach was fully growling at this point. It took a few more seconds for the door bell to ring, Jihyun turning her neck and chuckling to herself quietly.

“Looks like Taeyong oppa also has good timing.”

Yejin helped Jihyun get up from the floor to open the door. Yejin would only be around to thank Taeyong for coming all this way, to which she already had the entire conversation scripted in her head. Taeyong would say it was no problem and that he would do anything for Jihyun, while Jihyun would kiss him goodbye before Doyoung killed her for keeping him from his boyfriend.

The conversation went almost identically in real life, with the exception that Taeyong playfully whined from being discharged from work before greeting Yejin and kissing Jihyun goodbye.

“Let’s eat, hm? everything is better after a good meal.” Jihyun tried her best to comfort while Yejin gave her dull smiles and nods of affirmation.

Maybe this is the feeling of uncertainty and fear she was feeling the morning?

Jaemin 

Sometimes Jaemin wished he didn’t have the job he did. It was nothing against his brother, everything he started and created, and he definitely didn’t feel this disdain because of the danger that came with it. If anything, he wished he were a little further along, near Jeno’s league, doing things like staking out and shooting things…and…well…just doing the cool things that wise guys did.

But Jaemin? Jaemin is nothing but a dirty accountant and that bored him. He doesn’t understand completely why he’s here, sitting in the room along with his brother and Johnny, listening to them vent and scream to the other people on the phone about why a certain action is reckless and why Kun isn’t allowed to do x,y,z.

This is so fucking boring, and Jaemin is barely allowed to go out to take a piss.

During these times, Jaemin would usually entertain himself with Jihyun if she was home, taking time to bond with his soon-to-be sister and take advantage of her cooking, but Jihyun was over with Yejin doing God knows what and probably having ten times more fun than him.  Jaemin holds back a groan before Jaehyun gives him a look.

“Jaemin?”

“Yes hyung?”

“Have you gotten a call from anyone yet?”

“Nope, it’s almost like you forgot to pay the phone bill or something.”

Jaehyun smirked before going back to his call, “no—no Kun hyung, I’m not yelling at you, I just want an explanation…”

Jaemin cleared his throat as he heard the phone ring, noticing that Mark’s number was on. He answered it quickly, eager to talk to anyone that wasn’t himself.

“Hello?”

“Oh! Hey, Jaemin, I thought I called Jaehyun hyung’s line sorry—“

“Please don’t hang up,” Jaemin cried quietly. “If I have to listen to myself think one more time I’m going to kill myself.”

Mark laughed on the other line, bright and annoying as it always was, “well Jaem! I don’t really have anything to tell you really, but I can think of someone who does.”

Jaemin perked up on the other side of the phone as there was silence, a few shuffles, and then a familiar voice on the line, “Hello?”

“Hey stud,” Jaemin grinned.

Jeno scoffed on the other line and he could almost imagine the roll of his eyes, “behave—Mark hyung is right here.”

“It’s not like he can hear me, you’re the one making a big deal,” Jaemin defended. “How are you? Everything okay?”

Jeno hummed, “yeah. It’s pretty boring right now. The suspected building is an orphanage—we really aren’t seeing anything but a whole bunch of kids.”

Jaemin narrowed his eyes, “you think they’re doing work in an orphanage?”

“I’m not sure, I guess that’s what we’re here to find out. But what better way to recruit than build a false sense of family with illicit business.”

“You’re the one to talk.”

Jeno chuckled, “I know. Anyway, the phone service here is suspicious and goes in and out every two hours. It might be really hard for me to call Yejinie later…do you think you could tell her?”

“Of course. She might cry.”

Jeno whined, “why would you tell me that? I’m going to feel awful all day.”

“I’m kidding. Odds are she’s going to be pretty disappointed but I honestly doubt that she’ll cry about it—not over the phone at least.”

“Just tell her I love her and that I’m sorry. I’ll call her as soon as I can.”

“I’ll pass it along.”

“Thank you. And Jaem?”

“Hm?”

“I love you too.”

Jaemin’s ears burned before he could laugh and react, “I love you. Don’t forget to call.”

“I won’t. I’m nearing the end of the hour, service is about to shut off again.”

“Okay, okay—I’ll talk to you later. Bye.”

Jaemin hung up the phone at the same time Jaehyun and Johnny had, both with grave looks on their faces. Jaehyun was the first to exhale and rub his face harshly before pulling it back, staring at the phone in front of him.

“I can’t wait til this blows over,” Jaehyun groaned.

“It’s only two more days, we should be good,” Johnny cleared his throat. He looked over at Jaemin and cocked his head, “did Jeno tell you anything?”

“How did you know I was talking to Jeno?”

“Do you usually tell anyone else you love them?”

Jaemin snorted and recounted the quick information he was told from his boyfriend, not long before Jaehyun nodded.

“It’s the same thing Mark just told me,” Jaehyun ran his fingers through his hair before glancing over at Johnny. “Hyung, what if we got this all wrong?”

Johnny shook his head, “it’s only 6:30. We don’t have the slightest idea as to what they do at night, and if we got it all wrong then we keep looking. That’s all.”

Jaehyun stood up from his chair and stretched his neck, “I’m going to take a break. Take one if you all need one.”

Without another word, Jaehyun exited the room as Jaemin watched Johnny sink in his chair further.

“Hyung,” he started, carefully. “Do you think we have it all wrong?”

Johnny used his knuckles to rub the underside of his chin, scratching at the prickly hairs that were forming as he stared at the wall mindlessly, “I don’t have a clue, Jaemin.”

Jaemin’s jaw tensed before staring at Johnny for a few moments, not long before he decided to take a break and call Yejin now that he had the change.

The call went as he expected, she was delighted to hear from him and disappointed to find out she wouldn’t be hearing from Jeno tonight. He had asked how it was going between the two of them, both Jihyun and the baby and Yejin recounted that it was going great, and that it felt nice to have someone around the two days that neither he or Jeno would be around. They chatted very little, as Jaehyun reentered the meeting room before Jaemin did, prompting him to end the call a little earlier than he would’ve liked.

So then, the cycle continued. Jaemin continued to stare at his phone in silence as Johnny and Jaehyun returned to arguing with whomever was on the phone at that time. Jaemin couldn’t begin to think how people in office jobs could do this—quite honestly, it made him sick to his stomach. Regardless, noon came around quicker than he thought it would, and they had delivered Chinese food considering his brother was being stingy with the food in the fridge. Hour passed quicker after lunch as they were allowed another break, but Jaemin took advantage of this to take a nap, falling asleep on the meeting room couch before being woken up two hours later, graciously as Jaehyun had let him sleep in.

Jaemin peeked at his brother through his eyelashes, watching as he discussed quietly with Johnny over the plan time and time again, feeling sick to his stomach as he felt a wave of deja vu hit him like a truck. Jaemin, when he was younger and before Jisung was born, was often attached to his father and always sat around in his office despite his father lecturing him on secrecy. Granted, at the time, Jaemin didn’t know anything that his father did, nor did he care, he just remembered sitting on the couch playing on whatever handheld device he had while he argued with his right hand man, who was then Jihyun’s father.

Jaehyun now looked almost identical to their father in his earlier years. The same frown, the same hand on his chin whenever he was thinking…even the way he stood over the phone to speak into it was the same, as well as the same curses and swears their father used to say. Jaemin closed his eyes all the way and pretended, just for a moment, that he was the same 8 year old boy taking a nap on the dusty worn out couch, hiding from his eccentric mother only for a second’s worth of silence. It didn’t work, however, as he heard his landline ring, and he was rushed out of his daydream.

He noticed it was later now, closer to dinner time as he reached to answer the phone. The number was Mark’s again, and he answered swiftly only to hear him cut off just when Mark answered hello.

“That phone cut off is a bitch,” Jaemin groaned, still somewhat bleary eyes and cranky. “How are we supposed to call them if someone over there is cutting off the phone lines every two to three hours?!”

“That’s what we were talking about just now,” Jaehyun sighed. “I feel like we have the right place, they aren’t cutting phone lines for no reason, much less a good one, so the orphanage has to be a front.”

“Unless they’re trying to save money?” Johnny pressed.

Jaehyun shook his head, “an orphanage? Cutting off service? Hyung, the orphanage should be the first place that has phone service, delivery calls, emergency calls, calls from adoptions agencies. There’s no reason why those phones shouldn’t and wouldn’t be ringing off the wall.”

“That’s what you would think.”

Jaehyun blew a short breath out of his nose before rubbing his chin, “yeah. That is what I would think.”

Soon after, dinner time came along but neither party was hungry enough to eat—just from the sheer anxiety from Mark’s incomplete call. More so because it’s been two hours, and he has yet to call again. A clean-up operation rarely goes wrong, especially if Mark and Jeno are behind it, but Jaemin still can’t help to feel a sense of unnerving fear to him, one that threatens the lunch in his stomach.

Ten pm and Johnny had left to his room, Jaehyun and Jaemin being the only two in the rooms, both waiting for someone to say something. After a few minutes, Jaehyun turned to Jaemin and gave him an awkward smile.

“You can go to bed, Jaem. I’ll probably be up late anyway.”

“I think I’ll stay here for a little bit, if that’s okay,” Jaemin returned the smile before Yejin came to mind. “But, I’ll take a break real quick. If that’s okay.”

Jaehyun nodded, “of course.”

Jaemin got up from his seat, freezing once he heard Jaehyun clear his throat, “hey, Jaemin? You don’t have to but—“

“Yeah, I’ll ask about Jihyun noona.” Jaemin smiled widely, relief washing over Jaehyun as he gave him a genuine smile this time.

“Thank you.”

Jaemin left the room for a bit of privacy, opting for the smaller meeting room and taking a seat in one of the armchairs. After a single dial tone, Yejin answered almost immediately.

“Jaem?”

“Hi Angel,” Jaemin smiled, fatigue flowing out of his fingertips as his heart beats happily. “How are you?”

“I’m good. Jihyun unnie went to bed kind of early, about an hour ago.”

“Jaehyun hyung asked me to check on her, is she okay?”

“You won’t believe it but she’s given birth and the baby has taken it’s first steps.”

Jaemin laughed, “you’re lucky I’m not my brother, I wouldn’t have found it remotely funny.”

“I wouldn’t dream of saying any of this to your brother in the first place,” Yejin laughed. “How are you, baby? Is everything okay?”

“Everything is okay here. I slept for a while so time went a lot faster,” Jaemin reassured, “it really is the most boring fucking job in the world. It’s like a call center but for illegal things.”

Yejin giggled, “when we’re old we can go to a farm. You, me, and Jeno raising chickens.”

“That’s all I want, let’s buy a farm house right now.”

“God no, if I’m around a farm I’ll kill myself.”

Jaemin grinned and played with the hem of his shirt, taking the time to listen to Yejin’s soft sighs before she continued, “have you heard from Jeno?”

“I haven’t. I’m sorry, baby. When he called the line went flat and I wasn’t able to talk to him.”

“oh. okay.”

“I’m sure I’ll talk to him tomorrow morning. He’s leaving the site tonight for another one, hopefully this one has better reception and I won’t have to play messenger.”  

“Hopefully. It feels weird not having either of you here, it’s too quiet—more so now that Jihyun unnie went to sleep.”

“I told you you’d miss us when we’re not around.”

“How was I supposed to know I’d miss your annoying whining?”

“You’re supposed to miss me, every single waking moment of your life.”

“You’re psychotic,”

“Psychotically in love…with you,” Jaemin cooed, laughing wholeheartedly when he heard her gag over the phone.

“Just now I was beginning to think I believed Jihyun unnie when she said Jaehyun oppa gave you a run for your money in affection. But you really are disgusting,“

“Babe he really does give me a run for my money,” Jaemin grinned. “It’s actually disgusting.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it,”

“Yeah right, over his dead body. Major tsundere—maybe even abusive.”

“Now you’re just being an asshole—“

Jaemin jumped at the sound of the door swinging open, his brother shoving his coat on as he gave Jaemin a frantic look. “We have to go. Now.”

“What—?”

“Now, Jaemin!”

Jaemin scurried on his feet, “Yejin? Baby? I’ve got to go, okay? I’ll call you in a little.”

“Jaemin? Is everything okay? What’s going on?”

“I uh,” he cleared his throat and ran to grab his jacket before shoving it on with his phone pressed between his cheek and shoulder. “I don’t know yet, angel. I’m sorry. I’ll call you.”

“O-okay. Be safe, I love you.”

“I love you, sweetheart. So much.” Jaemin blew a kiss into the receiver before hanging up, shoving the device in his pocket as he caught the gun Jaehyun tossed him midair. Johnny had already started the car outside as he was being led inside.

“Hyung, what the fuck is going on?” He asked after settling in his seat.

“Mark called. He told me Jeno was bringing the car around when they flipped the car over.”

Jaemin felt his heart fall to his feet and the bile rise in his throat, “what? What do you mean? Who’s they? Is Jeno okay? Is he still there?”

“We don’t know. I don’t know anything.” Jaehyun admitted quietly.

Jaemin clenched his jaw, “what do you mean you don’t fucking know anything?”

“He’s at the hospital, unresponsive.” Johnny added sourly. “Your brother didn’t want to tell you that bit.”

Jaemin’s breath is shallow as he glared at Johnny through the rearview mirror, somehow also begging him to tell him that this was some kind of sick fucking joke. Jaemin tried to regulate his breathing until he got to the hospital, Johnny dropping both Jaehyun and Jaemin at the doors.

Jaemin pushed through people, causing his older brother to apologize for his behavior despite Jaehyun calling out for him to wait for him. He reached the reception desk and demanded for Lee Jeno’s room, only to make the nurse behind the desk stare at him in confusion.

“Are you fucking deaf? Lee. Je. No. Do I have to spell it out—?”

“Jaemin, take a seat,” Jaehyun suddenly said behind him, taking his arm and gently nudging him to the side before Jaemin snatched his arm out of his hold.

“No.This is all your fault, this would’ve never happened if-“

“Excuse me,” said Jaehyun suddenly, giving the receptionist a smile before bowing. He took Jaemin’s arm again, this time much harder as he pulled him in an empty hallway.

“Is that how you speak to someone who is trying to help you?” Jaehyun seethed quietly, glaring at his youngest brother as his grip tightened around his arm.

Jaemin’s jaw was set as he glared at his brother in return, tears filling his eyes as he refused to reply.

“Speak.” He growled, “you had no problem speaking up when you were in front of the nurse and you will do the same now if you had something worthwhile to say.”

Jaemin remained silent as Jaehyun let go of his arm, “that’s what I fucking thought. I give you a lot of slack because you’re my brother Jaemin, but don’t disrespect me again. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, hyung.” Jaemin spat, his eyes now on the floor as he watched a tear fall onto his shoe.

“You will stay here, I will go speak to the receptionist. If you make another scene, so help me God, Jaemin I will fuck you up myself. Do I make myself clear?”

Jaemin nodded, falling against the wall as he slowly slid down while bystanders walk past him.

He felt as if he had been staring at the wall for hours until he heard a familiar voice next to him. He looked up to see Mark with a grim look on his face. Jaemin stood up and Mark didn’t waste any time in taking his hands and bowing deeply. He was saying something but even then he could pinpoint what the words were.

“…so sorry, Jaem. It should’ve been me, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be like that, hyung,” Jaemin felt like he was speaking underwater, too calm and too distant. “I’d feel just as awful if it were you.”

“He’s okay, though.” Mark continued. Jaemin must’ve not been speaking this entire time. “He’s concussed, real bad. A lot of broken bones, but he’ll be out of surgery soon. He’s alive, Jaem.”

“Where is he?” Jaemin barely got out, surprising Mark.

“In surgery still, it’ll be a few more hours, but we can go to the waiting room,” Mark wrapped an am around Jaemin’s shoulder. “Do you want to call Yejin?”

Jaemin shook his head, looking at the time on his wrist before looking back at Mark, “no. She should get some rest, I’ll tell her tomorrow.”

“Are you sure? She’s probably worried right now.”

“She won’t sleep if I tell her tonight, it’s best if we wait until morning.”

Mark grimaced before nodding, leading Jaemin into the waiting room where Jaehyun and Johnny sat on the opposite side. Jaemin made sure he didn’t sit down until he glared at his brother once more, listening to Mark give him his entire story. 

previous

next

masterlist

[flyinginthetardis]

Of Nightmares and Dreams | Part 2

Another repost! thats it really. However the timeline does get really confusing from here and part 3 so check out the masterlist for the summary if your confused by the timeline. also i dont know why this is reposted so late but i edited it instead of finishing a oneshot like im supposed to but oops here it is. Masterlist

Pairing: Tenth Doctor x Reader

Warnings: nothing... yet

You were hurling and spinning towards the blue planet. It was a rough ride. Entering the atmosphere, you began to burn up a little and crashed ungracefully into an abandoned alley, causing birds to squawk and made a loud ruckus. 

Groaning slightly, you stood up from the floor, brushing off some broken pieces of machinery and pulled yourself out of the TARDIS. I really hope no one saw that. At least the TARDIS didn't blow up and we landed in an abandoned alley. Ok, calm down. What am i supposed to do now? you thought, freeing your leg from some wreckage. 

"Oh girl, we gotta get you fixed." you said, brushing off some scoot and dust off the-currently wrecked and battered-TARDIS. The TARDIS made a small sound and a laugh escaped your lips. Before you could say anything, a loud gasp startled you. "What on earth happened to you?" a ginger woman asked, shock plastered all over her face. "Um.. Excuse me?" you questioned, an equal look of shock and confusion on your face. "Who are you?" 

"Donna Noble" she said, shaking your hand and giving a small smile. What about you? and what in the name of all good things is that wreck behind you?"

"Uh, umm," you paused, thinking what name to use. You couldn't use your title, The Shadow, so instead you just settled with your real name, Y/N. No one else really knew your real name on Gallifrey except your parents so if anyone else survived they wouldn't know who you are. You didn't even know if anyone else survived. You could be the last living Time Lord. Or Time Lady, to be exact. You were startled out of your thoughts by Donna snapping her fingers in your face.

 "Did you space out or something? So strange. So what's your name?" Donna asked, muttering to herself a little. "Oh yeah. That. It's Y/N" you replied, turning back to the TARDIS. "It's a shame isn't it? you questioned Donna, not taking your eyes away from the ATM machine, box, whatever the name for it is, you couldn't really remember. It's camouflaging still worked, apparently. You sighed, pulling out your sonic pen out and it glowed a soft f/c as you put the TARDIS in a small pocket of time and space so no one would find it. 

"Are you from space? " Donna asked, still processing everything, a look of wonder and awe in her eyes. "Why would ever you think that?" sarcasm dripping from your voice, staring at her, fascinated. "Because you came flying in the air from a box." Donna stated, waving her arms everywhere and pointing at where the TARDIS had been and technically still was but in a pocket of time and space. "Well, does that answer your question then?" you innocently looked at her, eyebrows slightly raised, while lying on the slightly scoot covered ground, arms propped up, looking comfortable despite being anything but. 

"No?" Donna scrunched up her forehead and furrowed her eyebrows in confusion and slight frustration. 

"Well you're smart enough to find the answer I suppose."

Donna rolled her eyes and let out a large groan of annoyance. 

"Look, if I tell you the truth about who I am, then you can never ever tell anyone okay?" you finally said, breaking the current silence. Your voice is serious and all traces of playful elements are gone. Standing up, you brushed off excess dirt and looked her over. There was a worried look in your eyes, and you bit your lip, pondering if you could trust her fully. 

"Alright, I promise." she responded, nodding while a smile grew on her face. 

"Stupendous!" you cheered, the light returning in your e/c eyes. 

You smiled at your new friend as you walked down the alley and into the sunlight, leaving the TARDIS behind and tried to start a new life. 

"So, what are you?"

"I'm a Timelord or a Time Lady, really."

"And what is that?"

"Basically I'm an alien from another planet and I'm around 600 years old. I'm still quite young-ish. I don't really know what would be considered young I guess.. Still on my 8th regeneration though. " you spoke, looking forward to her reaction. 

Donna gasped and stopped in her tracks, making you trip a little. "What? How? What? What!" 

You chuckled, and shook your head in amusement. "yeah. I… I come from a planet called… Gallifrey. It was gorgeous. I miss it." your voice became shaky, as you tried swallowing a lump in your throat and keeping your tears at bay. "Oh. I've hit a nerve, haven't I?" Donna blurted out, wincing a little, biting her lip nervously. "Yeah… please don't ask questions about it." you mumbled quietly, looking down at the ground as if it was the most fascinating thing you've ever seen. 

"Oh, okay. I'm sorry for whatever happened." Donna uttered, squeezing your shoulder for comfort. You gave a thin-lipped smile and continued walking, but looked at the stars once in a while. "Anyways, I've got to start a new life here, so do you want to share those things you call apartments or flats together and we can do whatever we want afterwards?"

"Sounds, stupendous." Donna laughed, quoting you from earlier. "Oh stop it, I knew it was a bad idea to say it from the start" you giggled, shaking your head and rolling your eyes as the both of you walked down the street. Unbeknownst to you, you weren't alone. 

tumblr spacing is really weird. Reminds of the first time i used ao3 and i messed up the spacing completely. I feel like Donna's a little ooc so i probably need to rewatch some of her episodes :) im probably going to repost one final thing and continue writing something fluffy. The first couple of chapters have been Doctor-less but the next one finally has him so yay :)) feedback is always welcomed and i thank you for it! ❤

[thorne93]

Unforeseen Chasm (Part 27)

Prompt: Two sisters fall for men that are absolute enemies. The love they have could tear all of them apart, or it could bring them together.

Word Count:1644

Warnings: escaping cell, doubts,lying,deceit

Note: This is by far the longest thing I’ve ever written (including my novels). It’s a collaboration with the amazing @mrs-dragneel-stark-solo​. It started as a funny “What if…?” and it evolved and got huge. This took two years to write. We are both proud and happy and we hope you enjoy it. It follows from Thor 1 to Endgame in the MCU. Some of the timelines may be off in order to fit certain people, and some characters may show up earlier or in different ways than they have in the movie. But for the most part, it follows the MCU. It also has a bit of crossover with some other Marvel characters throughout the story.

Masterlist for Unforeseen Chasm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fury arrived at the Tower just a few days later, giving Shannon an opportunity to discuss allowing you out for a day. 

“Ms. Shannon, Director Fury has entered the building and is headed up to Mr. Stark’s office,” the Al alerted her of the current situation.  

“Thank you, JARVIS, redirect him to my lab, would you please? I have some things to discuss with him,” she asked the Al while continuing her notes from the study she was working on with Bruce. “If you could please have Charles’ number ready for after my meeting to proceed with my visit to the mansion as well that would be great,” she added. 

“Of course, Ms. Shannon,” came from the nearby wall tablet. 

Fury was actually here to see Tony about something for the Avengers and things of the such, the last thing on his mind was the prisoner down in the lowest level. Getting into the elevator he proceeded to head to the top floor where Stark had his office.

“Mr. Fury, I’ve been asked to redirect you to Ms.Shannon’s lab she would like to discuss some things with you,” The Al system told him as he was reaching her floor. 

“Alright. Let her know I’m on my way there now,” he replied, not sure why exactly she wanted to speak to him, everything discussed came directly from Stark.

Upon arriving to her floor he got out of the elevator and followed where Bach’s concerto no.1 in C major, Op.7 was playing. He had to give her credit for the type of music she played. Getting to the lab he could see that she was hard at work on one of her extensive studies. He knocked on the door so as not to startle her.

She looked up from her paperwork and saw that Fury was at the doorway. “Come in, come in Director Fury,” she told him waving him to one of the other tables. “I’m glad to see you here. Was the flight here okay?” she asked trying to keep things casual. 

“Thank you, yes. I will have to ask Stark what airline he uses for his trips,” he said looking rather calm.  “I was told you wanted to speak to me?” he asked, looking around the room. 

“I could give you the number for the private jet company we use on your way up to see Tony after.” She told him while going to take a seat. “Yes, actually I was hoping to discuss about one of the two prisoners we have down in the lowest level.” She winced while saying ‘prisoners’ because she didn’t really feel like that’s what you were.

“Have there been any issues with them?” he asked, sounding concerned. “We could have them relocated, if that's what it is.”

“No! No, actually they’ve been rather compliant,” she said looking to one side of the room. “What I wanted to ask was if you would consider releasing Y/N from the cell a few times…?” she asked, sounding nervous.

“Now why the hell would I do that?! They are considered Terrorists to the U.S,” he said loudly. “Have you gone mad? The moment you let one of them out they’ll wreak havoc on the city,” he stated as if he knew her. 

“That is where you're wrong, Director Fury. I know what they did was unforgivable, but the reason I ask this is because I would like to take her with me to see Professor Xavier about getting her powers under control so that they are no longer considered a threat to the lives of civilians.” She started explaining everything that had happened and how the powers you have aren't something you can fully grasp and keep on a leash. She also went on to explain how her mutation had taken a different route and would like Charles to take a look and see if there’s anyway that it can be handled and seen that it will not take any negative effects on her anymore. 

After a long debate about whether or not it would be safe and logical to have you leave the cell twice a week, Fury relented and said he would allow it so as long as they made sure that no one can see you leave the building and headed to the mansion. 

“Listen the only way I can say yes is if you have Captain Rogers be an escort to the prisoner all the way to the mansion and if you find a way to get her out of the tower undetected,” he stated. He also added, “Is Stark aware of any of this? What has he said?” He felt as if though Tony would never agree to such a thing.

“Tony is completely unaware of the situation. If he were, there would be no way I would have been able to speak to you at this moment,” she explained the situation to him. “And on getting her out undetected from the tower I’ll have a fellow mutant friend come and take her to the car we will take to the mansion. As well as have Steve come with us,” she finished hoping that it would be enough to please him and to give her the green light on this, she hoped to help you, to regain your life and not let those powers of your get the better of you. 

“If it goes as I state then you may take her only on the conditions established at this time and nothing more,” he stated, making his word final and began to get up. “Now if you’ll excuse me I have to speak to Stark about the new plans for the Avengers, I’ll have the information relayed to you.” 

“Thank you, Nick. I truly mean this, you won’t regret it!” she said sounding really excited to tell you and hoping to get to the mansion as soon as possible. 

“I sure hope the hell I don’t!” With that said, he left, making his way to Tony and remembered to keep this quiet. No need to worry the man anymore than he already was. 

“Ms. Shannon, would you like me to call the professor now?” The Al system asked having been waiting for her to finish with Fury. 

“Ahh yes please, JARVIS, and send a message to Nightcrawler about meeting with me today, please. I need to speak to him as well,” she replied being immediately connected to the mansion’s system. 

“Right away, Ms. Shannon,” he responded and went to do as requested. 

“Hello, Shannon, it’s so good to hear from you again,” Charles said while going around the mansion keeping an eye on the students. “I was hoping to hear from you,” he added 

“Hi, Professor, it good to hear your voice too, it's been very busy here in New York,” she said sounding a bit tired. “I was hoping to see you about my mutations it seems there’s a problem and I don’t know how much more I can take of this…” she said.

“My dear child, you’re always welcome to come and see me, when would you like to come? I can have the training room set up and the equipment for the testing there as soon as possible,” he said sounding very calm and reassuring.

“Thank you. I was planning on going there in two days actually, there's also another thing, Charles…” She got quiet for a moment 

“What is it, my dear? What's the matter?” he asked a bit worried something might have happened. 

“My friend could use your help too. It seems that she’s acquired some powers that have gotten out of control and we were hoping you could find the cause of it and how to help her take control?” she asked him hoping he had positive news for her. 

“Well that sounds unfortunate but of course she’s welcome to come. Will you two plan on staying at the mansion?” he asked so as to have the room she used to use prepared for their arrival. 

“Actually no, seeing as she’s not exactly allowed to be left free we will be traveling to the mansion a few times.” She was adamant about not telling him the events of New York were your doing. She didn't want him to see you in a negative light. “It’s best if I explain in person,” was all she said. 

“If that's how you would like it then I shall have everything ready for when you come, see you soon my dear,” he said before ending the call. 

Now that those two things are out of the way the only thing left was to get ahold of Nightcrawler and see if he can help her get you out of the tower without Tony being aware of it. She had JARVIS send the text out to him in hopes to get a quick response. 

“Ms. Shannon, Mr. Nightcrawler has agreed to help you with getting Y/N out of the tower” the Al read the response text that was sent. “I would advise against it however, Ms. Y/N is under no circumstances to leave the tower without Mr. Stark being aware of it,” The Al had said as a matter of factly. 

“JARVIS if you so much as say a peep of any of this to Tony I’ll personally make sure that your Al system be changed with FRIDAY’s chip, Im aware that Tony wouldn’t like this but this is my responsibility and I'm choosing not to let him be apart of my choice.” She said in a serious tone. 

“Of...of course, Ms. Shannon I promise not to say a thing to him.” He seemed to sound nervous; as if an Al could get nervous. 

“Thank you JARVIS! You're the best,” she told the system in a cheery voice.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tag List: @essie1876 @magpiegirl80 @letsgetfuckingsuperwholocked @iamwarrenspeace @marvel-imagines-yes-please @superwholocked527 @missinstantgratification @thejemersoninferno @rda1989 @munlis @thefridgeismybestie @bubblyanarocks3 @igiveupicantthinkofausername @kaliforniacoastalteens @feelmyroarrrr​ @kaelingoat @friendlyneighbourhoodweirdo @damalseer @heyitscam99 @yknott81 @sorryimacrapwriter @glitterquadricorn @xxqueenofisolationxx @little-dis-kaalista-pythonissama @bittersweetunicorm @alyssaj23 @sea040561 @princess76179 @thisismysecrethappyplace @sarahp879 @malfoysqueen14 @ellallheart @breezy1415 @marvelmayo @random-fluffy-pink-unicorn @cocosierra94 @hardcollectionworldtrash @capsmuscles @marvelloushamilton

@paintballkid711​

Loki: @lostinspace33​​ @ultrarebelheart​​ @lenawiinchester​​ @esoltis280​ @tngrayson​​

@wangdeasang​​ @harrymewmew @jayfantasyatyourservice​​

UC:

@lokis-high-priestess​

[sugarchains]

Title: 12 Months 

Chapters: 1/1

Pairing: Kepcobi

Rating: Explicit!

Notes: HI HELLO My friend made me listen to this podcast and it killed me very slowly and very publicly for weeks. Also when I’m obsessed with a thing, I either cosplay it or write fanfic of it. Have a fanfic. Also I fudged timelines because I love Maxwell and I need her present always. 

LMAO BONES IM SO SORRY BECAUSE THIS WAS FOR YOU LIKE 2 YEARS AGO I LOVE YOU!!! forgive me ok

~

There are numerous ways that he has fucked Daniel Jacobi within the past year. Fucked up, fucked over, mind fucked-he’s been fucking Jacobi since they first met. 

Technically. 

It starts with what could be called a mind fuck because, let’s be real. Daniel’s not stupid. Impulsive, brash, and every bit as loud as his job requires him to be. But he lets himself be eased into it- blows up an office for an appraising look the first month, demolishes a city block for a wink and a smile month two, murders for a hand cupping the back of his neck and good boy stated fondly into the air around them. 

-

SI-5 training was different than other set ups. They’re not military and they’re not Black Ops technically- nor are they spies. Also technically, they’re all three and it’s better to not ask questions and just do as you’re told.  (Rule number 3).

They need to be ready for anything, and that’s the excuse Kepler gives when he calls Jacobi in to spar, just the two of them. He wipes the floor with him, more than once. It’s 4 months since he picked Daniel up at the bar and in this month he lets Warren press him hard, throw him harder into the mats.

-

The fifth month, Warren fucks him over lets Daniel get shot and it runs like this: He took a risk and it backfired and he didn’t even realize it until almost too late.

The rest of the fifth month is eventful, from an objective perspective. 

(“Promise me you won’t fall in love with him.”

“What?" 

”Promise me, Daniel. You know how you are.“

"I have no idea what you could be hinting at.”

“Needy, desperate for approval, hanging on his every word like a-”

“OK, ok! …I promise." 

"You promise what?”

“Are you really gonna make me say this?”

“I’m going to record you so I can play it back when you make a bad decision later on." 

"Fucking….I promise not to fall in love with the Major. Happy?”

“Yeah. I don’t believe you, by the way.”

“That’s fair." 

Warren watches this scene play out from afar, watches Alana curl up on a hospital bed next to Daniel (Maxwell and Jacobi, he reminds himself-there’s no reason to get so comfortable when it’s only been five months and even less for Ala-Maxwell. No reason to be so comfortable right now either) from a small screen on a tablet in Cutter’s office. Internally, he’s a combination of swirling emotions, but externally? Perfect mask of the perfect soldier.

"Well! Serious stuff there; wouldn’t you agree, Warren?”

“….Yes sir.”

“Do you have any ideas about ~who~ they could be talking about? Hmm?”

“As far as I know, sir…they don’t work for anyone else." 

"And Warren,” Cutter states, taking the momentary pause to use his thumb and forefinger to gently force eye contact between the two of them. “Do you make a habit of falling in love with your employees?”

“…..No sir.”

“Excellent! Keep it that way. I know you can and will do everything in your power to stop something silly from happening." 

"Of course, sir." 

He doesn’t immediately go and warn/remind them that they are being watched. What he does do is visit Jacobi in the hospital the next day (sans flowers), lets Maxwell guilt-glare him into leaving while Jacobi is still sleeping to go pick up flowers, visits again in the same day so that Maxwell can yell at him-

("We were here a week, Major!" 

"There were matters that needed to be attended to." 

"More important matters than Jacobi nearly dying?" 

"Calm down, Doctor. I never said that.”) 

-gives Jacobi the flowers and smiles back when Jacobi beams at him.

He also takes them out to eat when Jacobi’s healed, lets him pick the place, and waits until they’re all eating before he drops the surveillance bomb on them. Can tell from the way Maxwell won’t look at him and the way Jacobi is only looking at him that they know exactly what conversation was heard and how they feel about that he doesn’t know and he may have just found the one thing he can’t read his team on-) 

-

Six months in and the mind fucks turning into something beyond his carefully set up control. They had just completed a beautiful mission that had involved blowing up a building and a high speed chase. He could feel adrenaline still buzzing under his skin, and he can feel Daniel’s eyes on his arms on the wheel, so he presses harder on the gas to hear the breathless laugh from the passenger seat. The ride to the safe house is uneventful otherwise, but inside sees Daniel pushing him against the door and kissing him breathlessly. Warren can tell Daniel didn’t think this through clearly (of course he didn’t)-he clearly thought that it might get him punched in the face, or worse, get him a polite and distant reprimand, but at this point life is good and Warren is tired of denying himself so he. He kisses Daniel back, changes their positions against the door so Daniel is pressed up against it. They kiss until they’re both hard, until both their hands are pulling and pushing at each others’ shirts to get at skin and they’re pulling away to ask “Shower?” and “Please” respectively. 

Daniel lets himself be manhandled into a shower where the water runs hot pressure down his side as Warren presses him hard against the wall, tangles a hand in his hair to pull his head to the side, trails a line of biting kisses across his neck while his other hand is jacking them both off frantically. 

Warren swears he can hear Cutter’s “~stop something silly from happening~” playing in his head, warring with the way Daniel moans out please and oh fuck each time he twists his hand around just right, but he chooses to ignore it in favor of feeling the way Daniel’s nails drag lines down his back when he comes between them seconds before Warren.

He’s fucked.

-

The seventh month has Warren teaching Daniel the color system and they spend all the free time they have that month pushing their limits. Warren’s trying to be mindful of the limits but there’s only so much he can take of Daniel looking up at him, eyes wide and blurry with tears of frustration, mouth slick and bruised and begging, telling him please please green the color is green don’t stop again fuck, while he grips bruises into his thigh with one hand and fingers him deep, stretches him wide with the other. 

-

The eighth month reminds him that he’s not a romantic, except that he is. Because in the same month he’s discovering that Daniel likes to be choked when he’s sitting in Warren’s lap, grinding against his cock, he’s also lining up the missions for the upcoming months and taking care to avoid anything at the end of four months out from now. 

He purposely doesn’t think about the way Daniel smiles when he chokes him harder for digging his nails into Warren’s back.

-

The ninth month finds Warren fucking Daniel’s mouth in the office. He didn’t mean to, of course. But it had been weeks since they had last touched, the amount and intensity of the missions beginning to pile up as the trio’s notoriety grew. There were no machines who didn’t love Maxwell and Jacobi’s explosive version of delicate destruction left more than a few people in awe. And the fact that they would only listen and work for Kepler? Icing on the cake. 

But of course that doesn’t go unnoticed and of course Cutter calls Kepler and Jacobi into his office one day in early in the month. Jacobi has a terrible poker face when he’s expecting the bluff, but his ability to lie is almost catastrophic when he’s caught off guard. So that’s how he flushes pink when Cutter asks if he knows how to make something obvious, if he knows how to make something so people can see it from afar. 

“There’s up and coming companies, Daniel. We don’t want to let them get the idea into their heads that they can compete with Goddard, right?”

“Of course, sir." 

"So I need you to make it a statement. Let them know who runs this. Can you do that for me?" 

"Absolutely sir." 

"Good!” And he’s turning his attention to Kepler now. “What a good boy you’ve got there, Warren. I can see why one might do something silly." 

Kepler glances at Jacobi quickly, internally proud of the fact that Daniel didn’t have a reaction to that beyond his eyes widening. 

–It’s weeks later when Jacobi gets the bomb right, runs a test run of the bomb at a location that Cutter set up personally for this, a location that Kepler almost didn’t see if Cutter is to be believed. 

"He asked for you personally, Warren. Can you believe that? Seems I wasn’t enough company for him. Shame really." 

And internally, Kepler is smug as all fuck. Even though that means Jacobi showed his hand, even though that means whatever Cutter guessed about them is now solidified in his mind, it also means-something.

He’s not sure yet. 

"I’m sure he didn’t mean anything by it, sir,” Kepler says mildly, gaze carefully directed outside the car they’re traveling in.

He’s fine when they pull up to the area where Jacobi has everything set up. He’s fine when Jacobi sets of a series of explosions, all triggering a bigger bomb down the line. He’s fine when Cutter congratulates Jacobi on a job well done, but it cuts out when Cutter plants a quick kiss to the side of Jacobi’s head in continued celebration. Cutter catches his eye and the intent is clear-

You can have your plaything, but whats yours is mine and I get what I want when I want. 

It’s a message he hears loud and clear, but it doesn’t mean Kepler won’t still claim what’s his. Which is how he ends up back in his office, one hand bracing himself against the door, while the other hand is cupping the back of Jacobi’s head so it doesn’t hit the door when he fucks his cock into Jacobi’ s mouth.  

Jacobi’s hands are behind his back, not tied just behind his back because he’s not allowed to touch right now he just has to take it as Warren fucks his cock deeper into his throat, take it as he presses deep enough to stop him from breathing oncetwice, before he’s pulling his cock out to slide across Daniel’s cheek. The hand against the door balls into a fist when Daniel runs his lips up the side of Warren’s cock, the fist in his hair tightens when he slides his lips over the head, and Daniel moans long and muffled when Warren starts fucking back into his mouth in earnest. 

He let’s himself get lost in the motions of fucking into Daniel’s mouth, lets himself get lost in watching the sight of his cock stretching Daniel’s lips before it becomes too much and he’s fucking forward onetwothree times and pulling back just enough that his cock slips out of Daniel’s mouth and he comes across his face. Pulse after pulse of come leaves him and arcs across Daniel’s cheeks and bruised lips, marking him as he pants openly on his knees.

Warren braces himself heavily against the door while he catches his breath, caging Daniel in, walling the world out, and maybe it’s a little symbolic but his thighs are still shaking too much to move and Daniel’s expression is too fucking open, he wouldn’t move even if he could walk. He takes the moment to slide his fingers across Daniel’s cheek, before pushing come covered fingers into Daniel’s mouth. They hold eye contact while he sucks them clean.

They’re fucked.

-

The next two months are filled with missions, surveillance, and destruction, so much to the point that before Kepler realizes it, he hasn’t touched Jacobi in nearly eight weeks. Ten months, eleven months fly by with minimal contact and even less down time and suddenly it’s been a year since Jacobi has started working for him. So when he gets a mission thrown at him to vet a candidate for Goddard that is due by Tuesday, the 24th, it’s all he can do to not punch his desk in frustration and throw the file back at Rachel. 

“Maybe you should take Jacobi with you on this one, Warren.”

“Excuse me?” 

“Oh, I just mean I mentioned this mission in passing to him earlier today and he looked ready to blow something up.”

“Ah. Well-”

“It could be because your one year anniversary is coming up, isn’t it?”

“…Anniversary?

“Of him coming to work under you here? Surely you haven’t forgotten. He’s really worked up over it.” 

He didn’t forget, (of course he didn’t forget who does she take him for he’s been steady stockpiling fireworks both illegally and legally for the past two weeks) but he doesn’t want to give her the benefit of having something to tell him about his own employees, so he just stares blankly at her until she rolls her eyes in disgust and leaves. 

-

It ends up not being a big deal to accomplish surveillance on the prospect and return his findings before the 24th. He does it without the team, figuring there’s no reason to pull their efforts into this. Instead, he focuses on studiously ignoring the hints about the upcoming anniversary commemoration from Jacobi as he tells him about the “upcoming assignment” they have. 

In all honestly, it doesn’t occur to him that Daniel would be hurt by this. They’re special operatives for an agency that has their hands in everything. This isn’t the type of thing that should upset people like them. 

Still though, they’re fucked. He’s fucked. So when Daniel eloquently starts complaining about Warren ignoring the date, he realizes that oh.

Oh, they’re on the same page about this. Which is. 

That’s good. 

-

He forgot how stupidly easy it is to loose himself in Daniel, how quickly he gives into need and want, and he looses time somewhere between Daniel setting the first firework off with a brilliant smile and crowding him against the side of the truck with a hand on his throat and one tight on his hip.

Looking up at Jacobi while he’s riding him feels a little too intimate A Little Too Much like this is a love thing, A Little Too Much like they would already die for each other, so Warren buries his face in Daniel’s neck, works bruises into the skin there while Daniel’s fingers tangle in his hair.

He keeps his hands on Daniel’s hips, holding him steady while he leans back and he listens to the way Daniel’s breathing speeds up, listens to the way Warren falls from his lips- not desperate and needy, but wanting-

It’s on a particularly good stroke where Warren twists his hips when he’s in Daniel and he slips up, a desperate oh fuck Sir, falls from his lips. And.

And he has control over himself, he really does, but something about hearing Daniel say sir in that context has him moving quicker than he thought to pin Daniel underneath him and fuck into him hard. Daniel looks up at him in shock for a moment before melting into the motions, fucking himself back when Warren fucks himself in and he’s truly relieved that Daniel closed his eyes because his face is too open and too expressive to be getting fucked by his boss under some fireworks like it’s this big romantic fucking gesture-

He can feel his orgasm building in the base of his spine, feel the heat settling in the pit of his stomach, and he can tell Daniel is close too-from the nails that are digging into his shoulders, to the way that Daniel’s moans are turning into a louder, steady chant of fuckfuckfuck sir please sir please, to the tightening of his thighs around Warren’s waist. 

Warren is close, he’s so close, he feels like he’s fighting it off and loosing as he pulls one hand away from where he is gripping Daniel’s hip tight enough to bruise and moves it to press against Daniel’s throat. His whines choke off almost immediately and Daniel tenses up, eyes rolling back, his mouth, slick and red and bruised, falling open as he tries to gasp for air before Warren’s pulling his hand away, and Daniel comes gasping, stroking himself off to work the come out, grinding back against Warren as he fucks into him twothree more times before coming inside him. 

Warren knows they have to clean up and head out, there’s no way they actually get enough downtime to lay back and enjoy the afterglow-they may have certain immunities, but they are in public, they just set off a fuckload of explosives, and there’s only a matter of time before they have to report back. But for right now, he leans over Daniel (while he’s still in him, savoring the low moan he gives) and kisses him slow and deep, and acknowledges that this is absolutely fucked, but they’ll deal with it.

It’s what they do.

[heizerux]

Street Fig— I mean, Gamer 2.0

As I expected this was just gonna be one of those filler episodes, so nothing too off the wall happened that im swooning over. Either way, let’s do a quick “playthrough”!

Ready?

<BEGIN>

Parisian life seems to be bustling. The sky is clear, no akumas on sight, families are the park enjoying the day. . . Just what could possibly go wrong?

Oh, right.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Oh, but what’s this?!?

Shout out to Marinette for not procrastinating, and actually sticking to her tasks!

She not only took down by this timeline in the episode all the Adrien posters, but she also converted the “Adrien Schedule” into her own work schedule, and now mainly focuses on doing her own things that involve her own growth and work. Even though her dad tries to sway her with her beloved love for gaming, she stays strong and even finishes her homework! I’m proud of my girl :’) No matter how tempting video games are, you have work to do and you will do it. RE2 Remake bb I’m sorry I’ll come back I promise 😭

Another shout out to Marinette’s parents? Why? They game together 😭

This is how you know they have a solid marriage, guys. Tom and Sabine are #couplegoals. Nuff said. Lol

Moving on to our akuma of the day however, we see Max. He just wanted to practice his gaming skills with his friends, but everyone is too busy to play or spend time with him. . . And then an akuma gets to him cause he’s lonely. I feel you, sweetie. *hugs Max*

Now onto Gamer 2.0

His akuma was nothing like the first version of itself. If anything he was an entire video game level replicating a rematch of their first mecha fight back in Gamer. It’s not a bad “nod”.

It was also kind of neat to take control of the akumas in a fighting game. Gave a good summary of the akuma’s we’ve seen up to this point as well as insight on how Ladybug and Chat Noir would utilize those akuma powers. It’s cool.

To Close the episode, Ladybug outsmarts Gamer 2.0 and wins “the game”. Marinette then invites Max to play with her parents since they’re free but also to bond over video games, . . . and it was a pure episode.

Overall Outlook?

I think imma start doing these per “episode analysis” post I make

This was a filler episode, but as the gamer I still am at heart, it was one I enjoyed. I’d give it a rating of 6.5 out of 10 butterflies. The reason being was that it was your average episode with no massive plot happening, yet it was still pleasant to watch! Let’s move on to the side stuff.

Speculation-Station sort of Observations:

Marinette’s work load is actually getting to her a bit, and I have a feeling this is gonna be some partial foreshadowing for “Ladybug”, the episode. If her civilian duties can get that overcrowded. . . How will she feel when her hero work seriously begins to affect her?

I’m actually shocked Lila didn’t try to “prove” she’s a world champion pro gamer in secret or something. . .

I see they’re showcasing an akuma we have yet to see. I like the “Día De Los Muertos” vibe it has going. The weapon is like a sniper trumpet? Idk about you guys, but this yet to be seen akuma just drives me loco. Un poquitito loco~ (if you get that reference, you get enchiladas. Or tacos. My treat)

Possible Chat Blanc behavior foreshadowing (or insight). I’ll come back to this one

Random, but seeing as how this akuma kind of went nowhere, I have an off the wall theory to offer: Anyone think that the reason why Hawkmoth re-akumatizes the same people more than once is because he’s tying to sway Ladybug and Chat Noir with the unexpected? I’m taking too much inspiration from TimeTagger. I know it’s not it but I do find it interesting that he’s doing 2.0 akumas for specific people.

Random Things That Made Me Squeal or Giggle:

The fact that it’s implied Jagged Stone still (Maybe? Please correct me for I don’t fully know French) commissions Marinette for side projects that involves her art. (If my understanding was correct) He believes and sees the talent in her . . . and I just think that’s amazing.

E3 2019’s unveiled titles to come got me feelin like

Kim fully investing himself in training with Ondine, a cute girl of what looks like to have mutual interests. Chloé who? Never heard of her lol.

Marc and Nathaniel being creative best friends boyfriends.

Kitty Section’s progression. They went from kids just practicing for fun to actually making a solid band. (If you wanna follow a timeline, this episode likely goes before Silencer.)

Chat Noir really did the “I messaged a girl on (insert social media) and her boyfriend sent me this” meme finishing move. . . didn’t he?

I’M WEAK

Chat Noir doing the Eddy Gordo idle dance from Tekken.

How we take Lila down.

Begone. . .

THOT

Chat’s undying love and devotion for Ladybug. That boy really WOULD sacrifice himself and jump off a cliff if it meant keeping his lady alive and well, as well as knowing she will take down their enemy if he’s gone. That’s trust. Oh! My heart. I can’t take this. My fangirl weeps in glee.

Random Chat Blanc Talk:

Returning to that Chat Blanc Foreshadowing point, so Chat Noir as I understand just outright confirmed that he’d never willingly fight her, and judging his actions, would rather sacrifice himself than harm her even if it meant taking down an enemy. . .

Weredad gave us this insight briefly. Adrien/Chat Noir does his best to not fight people he deeply cares for if he can help it.

So let’s compare an akumatized Chat Noir, Chat Blanc.

How serious can he get when he has to fight her? Will he actually do it? Will he fight off the akuma on his own when the time comes? Would Ladybug actually physically fight him?

There’s a lot to consider going into that Chat Blanc “fight” that’s to come, that’s for sure.