#it just gets old. gets tiring. but what choice do we have

[qqueenofhades]

Just a quick note to everyone sending me political asks: believe me, I get the desire for reassurance, I am honored that many people have found my commentary helpful, and I will occasionally pick and choose a few of them to answer. But those asks that are essentially requesting long theory-heavy or policy-breakdown or in-depth historical or comparative analysis etc., are probably less likely to get answered. This is absolutely nothing against any asker and as I said, I am super flattered that you want to hear my take on This Shitshow. However, I too am in a place of needing to conserve myself and limit the time I spend in this headspace, and... yeah.

I am but an old and tired historian on the internet, this is a lot of voluntary extra work for me at a time when I'm already running low overall, and I will have to choose when and how I engage with the topic. It's going to be another long-ass and difficult four years and we need to all make choices about how to expose ourselves to that landscape and what we do with it. So yeah. I will still be around, of course, and I will do my best to reassure and explain as far as I am able, but if you sent something and don't get an answer, please don't take it personally. The spoons are low for everyone and that's just gonna be the way it is for a while.

Much love.

[schemmentigfs]

Sweetening The Deal. (part 2.)

Summary: Melissa finds out more about your tough reality and the deal between you continues, bringing the stability you needed. Meanwhile, she proposes something unexpected.

Tags: @italianaidiota @lisaannwaltersbra @greencurlyhair

Part 1.

Two weeks had passed since that night at La Sirena, and things had fallen into a rhythm — or as close to a rhythm as you could get with Melissa Schemmenti calling the shots. You’d met her twice since then, at the same restaurant, each time sitting across from her as she set the terms of your arrangement with that same intensity in her eyes. True to her word, she’d sent over an envelope of cash every week, enough to cover your rent and leave you with some breathing room. But there was still a distance between the two of you, a formality that you held onto as a reminder to keep things strictly business.

Her texts came at unpredictable times, always short but direct, and she’d even called you once, her voice teasing yet unmistakably firm. You could tell she liked control and was meticulous in keeping things on her terms. She didn’t ask questions about your day-to-day life, but you had a feeling she saw more than you were letting on.

Then, one afternoon, her name lit up your screen again:

You’re home, right? Text me your address. I want to see where and in what conditions you live, darling.

You froze. Her messages always carried a certain finality, a tone that made it clear you weren’t to question her decisions. The text felt like a verdict, not a suggestion. You had no choice but to obey, but still you’d tired to stalled with vague excuses, insisting it wasn’t necessary, but she was having none of it.

Are you sure about this? My apartment complex is not in the best condition. Maybe we could meet another day? you quickly typed back, nerves prickling.

Honey, I’ll come by tonight after my meeting, she’d texted, with that self-assured tone that didn’t leave much room for debate. Just make sure the place is unlocked for me. Okay?

You swallowed hard. You couldn’t even remember the last time you felt so out of control. Fuck this situation, you were never out of control. Melissa Schemmenti was doing things to you that seemed to awaken a submissive side of yourself that you didn’t even know you had.

Reluctantly, you agreed. Understood. I’m waiting for you, just please don’t notice the mess in the apartment. It’s a little old.

The redhead’s response made you choke on your own saliva. Good girl, see? You can follow orders when you are supposed to. And about the mess, don’t you worry. I just want to see what I'm dealing with, Y/N.

Her words make your stomach flip, and your cheeks flush. She knows exactly the effect she has on you, even from behind a fucking screen. You’re not sure if it’s the blunt command or the way she casually assumes you’ll fall in line, but something about her confidence, her control, always leaves you breathless.

You tossed your phone on the bed and groaned, throwing yourself backward onto the mattress, the soft scent of stale air and clutter filling the room. It wasn’t much of a space, and you weren’t exactly proud of it, but it was yours. Still, it felt too small when you thought about her. When you thought about how she was used to finer things, and this place... well, this place felt like a damn joke.

Two weeks. Only two weeks have passed since that night, but already, she’s gotten under your skin in ways you can’t shake. Her presence in your life feels constant, grounding, and somehow.... electrifying. It’s like she’s rewired you to respond to her — one word from her and you’re falling into place, waiting for whatever she asks next.

Another text pops up. I’m arriving at five. You better be prepared, beautiful.

Great, you only got two hours left.

You spent hours trying to make your tiny apartment look presentable, straightening up, hiding the chipped paint on the walls with old posters, and dimming the lights to make it seem warmer. You stopped in front of the mirror checking if your appearance was alright. You’d tossed a pile of laundry into the closet, stacked dishes haphazardly, and even dabbed on a bit of makeup in a rush. But no matter what you did, there was no hiding the worn-out furniture.

And as you stood in your cramped kitchen, waiting for her to arrive, you couldn’t help feeling out of place, like this wasn’t where she belonged.

“Fuck, fuck,” you rubbed your eyes with your hands. “I’m fucked. What will she think of me?”

A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door, and your stomach twisted with nerves and sicknesses. When you opened it, there she was—Melissa Schemmenti, cool and collected in an all-black outfit, and a ponytail, her sleek black sunglasses pushing her authority to another level. She took her giant and expensive sunglasses off as she surveyed the space, her gaze moving slowly over the cracked walls and mismatched furniture. Her expression barely shifted, but you could sense the judgment simmering beneath the surface.

The building smelled like old wood and dust, and the hallways felt narrower than they ever had before. You hated the way your surroundings felt — the peeling wallpaper, the noisy neighbors, the ever-present sense of grime that seemed to coat every surface. It was humiliating, honestly, but you couldn’t escape it.

Melissa didn’t seem to notice. Or maybe she didn’t actually care. She walked past you, her red louboutin heels clicking against the wooden floor, and into your tiny apartment without hesitation.

“Well, this is…” the redhead paused, taking a long look around. “...quite the environment.” Her raspy voice was cold, but it wasn’t supposed to sound mean and teasing. It was just blunt, like she was simply stating a fact. You winced, standing awkwardly by the door as she took in the dismal conditions.

“I don’t usually bring people here,” you mumbled, feeling your face flush. “It’s just temporary. Until I find a new job that pays more. I’m looking for something better.”

Melissa ignored your excuse and walked further into the apartment, her green eyes scanning every inch of the cramped space with calculated precision. Her black sunglasses hung loosely from the collar of her shirt, disguising the cleavage that seemed to jump and have a life of its own. What? Focus, your asshole! It’s not appropriate to watch her boobs. Oh, boy, you felt like a child under her scrutiny.

“So,” she quips, knowing the answer is obvious, “This is where you live, pretty girl?”

You rubbed the back of your neck, touching the small amount of baby hair. Your cheeks were heating with embarrassment. “Mmm...it’s not exactly glamorous, but it’s affordable.”

“If you call this affordable...” She scrunches her nose, feeling the smell of something dirty.

You took a shaky breath, feeling the heaviness of her gaze, as she leaned back slightly, crossing her arms in that familiar way that told you she was completely in control. She hadn’t even removed her jacket, and already it felt like she had rearranged the whole atmosphere of the place. As if she were shifting you and your life by sheer will alone.

“This,” the older woman said, lifting one of the crumpled bills, her tone cool and unyielding, “is unacceptable. You’re moving out. And I don’t want to hear a single word against it.”

“Wait, what?” you widen your eyes.

“So here’s how it’s going to work. You’re moving. I’ve already picked out a place for you in a decent neighborhood, and you’ll have what you need there. None of this…” She gestured around your small apartment with a mild look of disdain. “…dumpster shit situation. You’ll have a clean space, safe, without worrying about rent or broken pipes. And I don’t want to hear a single word against it.”

You opened your mouth, heart racing, wanting to protest. “Ma’am, I don’t need—”

Before you could finish, she closed the space between you, her manicured hand gripping your chin in a way that was both commanding and unsettlingly gentle. Her thumb brushed your cheek as her eyes bored into yours, making your stomach flip. “I said no arguments. You’re better than this place, honey. Now call your boss.”

You blinked, flustered, feeling the heat rising in your cheeks as her fingers stayed firm on your chin. She tilted her head, her gaze unrelenting, and you found yourself swallowing hard, nerves prickling. A gush of wetness dripped into your underwear. That felt good. And for a split second, you imagined how her fingers would feel around your neck. Or maybe somewhere else..

The truth was that you weren’t used to someone like Melissa—someone who didn’t just ask but demanded, without hesitation, and with an absolute certainty that her wishes would be met.

“Go on,” the redhead prompted, pulling her phone from her bag and pressing it into your hand. “This ends now.”

“Schemmenti,” you sigh quietly. “I..can’t.”

“Call. Your. Fucking. Boss.” Her words came out slower this time, her voice both reassuring and intimidating, the kind of authority that was impossible to ignore.

Your hands trembled as you reached for your phone, scrolling to your boss’s number. She kept her hold on your chin for a moment longer before releasing you, her green eyes watching every movement with quiet satisfaction. The reality of what you were about to do started to sink in, and you felt like you were on the verge of spiraling, like you were teetering on the edge of something irreversible.

As the phone rang, you stole a glance at Melissa. She leaned against the counter, arms crossed, exuding a calm authority that both irritated and reassured you. You had to admit—no one had ever looked at you the way she did. Like she was willing to strip away everything if it meant giving you something better. But even as you stumbled through your brief conversation with your boss, quitting the job you’d held for far too long, a flicker of rebellion rose in you.

“What if I don’t want to move?” you managed once the call ended, a spark of defiance in your voice. You could see the hint of a smirk playing on her lips.

She lifted an eyebrow, that smirk intensifying. “You’re cute when you act tough,” she said, brushing past you to examine a stack of books on a rickety shelf. The dust covering her fingertips. “But I’m not interested in games. I’m giving you a choice. You can either stay here, or you can let me take care of you. But you can’t have it both ways.”

You wanted to argue, to fight her on it, but your lips trembled with uncertainty. “But, I... I can’t just leave. This place—it’s all I have. I—”

The redhead stepped closer, green eyes flashing with a rare, intense frustration. “You think this is optional?” she yelled sharply through the small space, leaving no room for doubt. “I’m doing this for you, and if you can’t accept that, maybe we’re done here. You either take my help, or this arrangement is over.”

Your heart dropped, and a pang of desperation flared up inside you. The last thing you wanted was for her to walk out and leave you standing there, with only the smell of her perfume lingering behind. You felt your knees buckle, and before you knew it, you were on the floor, clutching at her sleeve, gazing up at her in pleading silence.

“Please,” you whispered. “Don’t go. Don’t end this.”

Her lips quirked into a dark smile, her eyes traveling slowly down to where you knelt before her. “Already on your knees for mommy? Maybe you’re finally learning.”

The heat in her eyes made your cheeks burn with embarrassment, and yet, some part of you thrilled at her approval, that faint but undeniable satisfaction in her body language.

You swallowed hard, feeling her fingers brush over your cheek as if savoring your quiet submission, and your pulse raced. She stepped back and tilted her head toward the door, her expression softening just a little. “Now get up. You’re coming with me tonight.”

You blinked, surprised. “Where?”

“To my place,” she said, her tone decisive. “No sense in staying here another night. You’ll see what it’s like to live somewhere better.”

Nervously, you gathered your things, feeling a strange thrill at the idea of seeing her home, even as the reality of this shift in your life sunk in. In a blur, you found yourself in her sleek, black car, barely speaking as she drove. And when you finally stepped into the garage of her penthouse, it felt like you’d entered another world—one of order, elegance, and effortless luxury, all touched with her unmistakable presence.

You couldn’t believe this was where you were spending the night, and the thought made your heart pound with nervous excitement. Even in this new space, with her watching you, you still felt that familiar mix of shyness and thrill.

Melissa’s penthouse was everything your cramped apartment wasn’t: sleek, spacious, and expensive. The moment you stepped inside, you felt a little like you’d walked into a magazine spread, the kind of place you’d only ever imagined for people like her. Everything was polished marble and soft, warm lighting, a quiet sense of power and control in every line and surface. It was so distinctly her—refined, commanding, even a little intimidating. You couldn’t shake the feeling of being out of place, no matter how much she’d insisted on bringing you here.

“Make yourself at home,” she said, dropping her keys onto a side table. She gestured to a hallway on your right. “The bathroom is down there. You can get cleaned up before dinner if you want.”

Grateful for a moment to compose yourself, you headed to the bathroom, which was easily twice the size of your entire apartment. After freshening up, you found an oversized shirt on your backpack that you had prepared for you earlier.

Dinner was surprisingly casual. She’d ordered from a high-end Chinese place nearby, and as you both sat at the table, she poured you a glass of wine, studying you with a cute smile that made your stomach flutter. She was still very much in control, still the same assertive woman who’d marched into your life two weeks ago and decided she was going to change it. And yet, tonight, there was a gentler side to her. She asked you about things you’d never thought she cared to know, small details about your life and tastes, and for once, you felt like she was letting you into her world.

After dinner, she led you to the guest bedroom where you’d be staying. It was just as lavish as the rest of her home, with an enormous bed, plush sheets, and a view of the city lights twinkling against the night sky. You took a moment to freshen up again, glancing at yourself in the mirror and smoothing down your hair, wondering if she’d think you looked good enough for her standards.

Then, on your way to find her again, you noticed the door to her room was ajar. You knew you shouldn’t, but curiosity got the best of you, and you peeked in. There she was, her back to you, undressing in the dim light. You couldn’t help but stare for a moment, taking in the lean, defined muscles of her back, the soft curves that hinted at a life of both strength and indulgence. Her skin was pale, smooth, and there was something undeniably mesmerizing about the way she moved, graceful and unhurried, like she knew exactly who she was and didn’t care who saw it.

And then, there was her…you couldn’t help but notice it, a part of her you hadn’t seen before, and your cheeks warmed as you realized you were staring into her pale ass. You felt a pang of embarrassment, quickly averting your eyes and stepping away before she could catch you. You’d never imagined she’d have that kind of effect on you, making you feel like some bashful kid with just a glimpse of her body.

Even though you’d only seen her for a second, your mind replayed the image of her exposed skin—her back, her pale ass—again and again. You were flushed, still unsure of what it all meant, or why your heart raced at the thought of what you'd just witnessed. It was almost like you were crossing some invisible line in your head, and it scared you.

You quickly shook your head, clearing your thoughts, and made your way back toward the living room, trying to avoid thinking about what you’d just seen. Melissa, however, never knew. She didn’t even acknowledge it when you rejoined her in the main area, as if nothing had happened. The nonchalance with which she moved, made your thoughts scatter once more.

Later that night, she kissed you goodnight, but it wasn’t like the kisses before. This one, lingering, almost brushing your lips, made your heart jump in your chest. The redhead woman didn’t pull away immediately, letting the moment stretch just a little longer than usual. You stood there, stunned, your breath shaky as she pulled back, leaving you with an almost electric buzz in your body.

Green eyes met yours, cool but somehow warm at the same time. “Sleep well, sweetheart. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

“Goodnight, Melissa.”

You couldn’t quite breathe properly as she turned, walking back toward her room, leaving you alone to process what had just happened. Your brain was spinning, unsure of what you were getting yourself into, but you knew one thing for sure. You were already in too deep to turn back.

And as you lay down in the guest bedroom, your body still warm from the kiss, the image of her naked skin lingered in your mind, both haunting and thrilling you in equal measure.

[sunlit-mess]

nalulunod

[spark-circuit]

me at my bookstore job to the 27th young adult straight edgy fantasy romance to come in this month

[onrainynights]

I'm not even asking for much literally I just need a job like that's it just a job that won't literally kill me would solve like 70% of my problems and well the other 30% I can't do anything about anyway so let me fix what I can fix and give me a job PLEASE

[prongsx]

we are not children anymore, honey.

warning: swearing, a bit insinuating, f!reader, fluff.

where jason needs to remind you that you're not kids anymore and teasing him isn't the same anymore.

1,8k words

You met Jason Todd when you were both innocent children, well, as innocent as the crime alley allowed. He was your best friend, most of the scars he had back then were from picking fights with anyone who raised their voice at you, anyone who tried to sell you drugs or tried to be aggressive with you.

You had an easy body language, both of you touched each other often and played the usual games that children do, physical touch was never a distant thing.

You secretly had a crush on that somewhat reckless and smiling boy who protected you, always holding your hand. Maybe in the back of your mind you thought that one day you would get married.

At the time, he was a little shorter than you, a fact that deeply irritated him but made you laugh. Then he was adopted by Bruce Wayne and you thought that would be the end of your friendship, but there seemed to be a thread that connected you, not even taking on the mantle of Robin could separate you.

Then Jason was taken from you in the most abrupt way possible, by the hands of death itself. But not even that which seemed inescapable separated you for long, the grief that consumed you could have destroyed you, but something in your mind repeated that Jason would never leave you alone.

When Jason appeared at your door, years later, his blue eyes looking haunted, you cried, something in your heart that was dead seemed to come out of the ground in the same way as your best friend.

At first, you simply didn't know what to do with this new Jason, he himself seemed a little lost, the well had affected his emotions. He took up more space, his arms and hands were bigger. Doubts consumed you, afraid of never rescuing the old bond, but then you bought your old favorite cookie and he smiled at you.

That dimpled smile, which lit up his blue eyes and seemed to bring a reckless air to him. And you decided right then and there that nothing would stop you from being his best friend again.

The thing was that your friendship was based on a time when you were both younger and more naive, feelings were simpler. Jason died before you could be friends during that strange time in your adolescence when touching your friend seemed strange, the only memory your body had of your friendship with Jason was a sticky friendship.

"Only you could make me go to the other side of town to get that damn donut that tasted like paper." Jason grumbles, closing the latch on your window as he moves his huge body into your living room. At that moment, you feel the room shrink, and it feels like any false move will betray your racing heart as you watch Jason remove his helmet, his black curls messy in a cute way.

"They're great." You hum, reaching out to take the package from Jason.

"Seriously, there are so many bakeries with better donuts." He retorts, crossing his arms, drawing your attention to the outline of his biceps in his skintight uniform.

"The best isn't always going to be the tastiest."

Jason rolls his eyes at your completely nonsensical choice of words, flopping his tired body on the couch next to you.

"Jason, did you just sit on my couch in your dirty patrol gear?"

"Sweetie, I just walked halfway through this shitty city looking for that donut. I have a right to dirty your precious couch."

You let out a grunt, knowing he's right. He has the right, but that doesn't stop you from lightly pinching the side of his hip, where his suit had a layer of fabric.

He doesn't even blink at your attitude, his hands holding your wrist, his long fingers holding it as delicately as was allowed.

"I thought you gave up trying to play fight with me," he whispers, his voice heavy with that accent that makes your legs a little weak.

You shrug, your body approaching him almost as a reflex, your knee touching his. It's kind of annoying how much bigger he's gotten than you, and stronger. Much stronger, you know he could flip you over with a single hand and honestly the thought is more exciting than you want to admit.

"Sweet thing?" He calls to you, still with that sly smile on his lips. You blink slowly, coming back to reality.

"Hmm?"

"Aren't you going to eat your delicious donut?"

"Yes. Yes." You say, nodding.

If before you thought Jason was cute, now you could write ridiculous poems about him, two stanzas just about his sapphire eyes.

He snuggled deeper into your couch, spreading his thighs and letting out a sigh of relief at the comfort.

"Tiring patrol?" He opened his eyes when he felt your hands lightly pinching his nose, trying to make him pay attention to you again. You would never admit it out loud, but having Jason's undivided attention was kind of addictive and intoxicating.

"You could say that."

You dropped the donuts on the living room table, suddenly feeling guilty. Even though it was just him teasing you, the store that sold your favorite donuts was really far away.

"I'm sorry I made you take my stupid donuts." He let out a breath when you rested your chin on his shoulder, staring at him from under your eyelashes.

"No. I don't forgive you." He teased, his hands going down to your waist and drawing circles there.

"Seriously, I was selfish." You repeat, looking down at the red bat symbol on his chest.

His blue eyes continued to stare at you, his hands coming up and lightly holding your chin, his eyebrows furrowed. Jason never accepted it when you seemed sad towards him, or when you made it seem like you were a hindrance in his life.

"Stop that shit."

A laugh escaped through your nostrils.

"You still have such a dirty mouth, Todd. My mother still blames you for the variety of curses I know."

He laughed, the sound going straight to your stomach. It should be forbidden for someone to have such a delightful laugh to hear. Jason wasn't as much of a laugh now as he used to be when he was a child, his innocence had been taken away from him years ago, so you drank every drop of his laughter you could.

"Well, I blame you every time I act stupid. We're even."

You reached your hands up to his hair and pulled lightly, like you used to do when you wanted to get back at him when you were kids. But this time, he didn't laugh you away or flick you in retaliation. His lips curved into a thin line and his eyes blinked so fast you thought you'd imagined it.

"Sweetie." Jason's voice was low, the nickname sending an electric shock through your body. "We're not kids anymore."

"You're still just as annoying." You joked, praying he wouldn't notice the slight crack in your voice.

"No, sweet thing, you didn't understand what I meant." He said, his blue eyes staring straight into your face. His hands moved down to your hips, pulling you closer to him, your legs almost resting on his thigh. "I'm saying we're not kids anymore." He repeated.

"Yes. I obviously know that."

He let out a long sigh, as if you were irritating him with your stupidity.

His slightly chapped lips parted as he said something that you were momentarily lost in, your hands resting on his muscular thigh. He gripped your chin tighter when he noticed your inattention and felt your hand on his thigh.

"See? That's what I'm saying." He let out a laugh that wasn't like before, it wasn't genuine and open-hearted, it was low and had a feeling you couldn't quite grasp. "You keep touching me and teasing me like we're children."

"I can stop." You stammered, very confused and feeling a little dizzy. This new Jason Todd, with more scars and less shyness, was making your throat suddenly close up.

"You're not supposed to stop." He whispered, his other hand coming back to grab the back of your neck and pull your faces so close you could feel his warm breath. "Just letting you know that now, when you lie on top of me and stare at me like that, my first thought isn't to play fight with you, darling." His hand squeezed your chin lightly as he added, his voice lower, "When you stare at me like that, all I think about is kissing you stupid."

Forming words seemed harder than ever.

"Ah."

"Ah," he mimicked you in a thin voice, a goofy smile on his face, his grip on your chin bringing your lips close to his. "I say I want to make you sigh my name and that's all you have to say?"

You clear your throat, your eyelashes fluttering slightly. The hand resting on his thigh makes an involuntary movement to lightly squeeze the muscle there. Jason's blue eyes darken, a noise close to a growl leaving his lips.

"You keep doing these things. Fuck, baby, every time you almost climb on my lap like it's nothing." He took a deep breath, as if he was losing his mind, closing his eyes so as not to get lost in his own thoughts. "You must know what you're doing to me."

"No. I. No." You repeated, still very overwhelmed by how close you were. Your best friend, staring at you like he was about to destroy you.

He smiled again at your mental confusion, brushing his lips against yours and letting out a low moan that made you gasp. "Let me kiss you, please?"

You nodded, crashing your lips against his before you had to beg for it. Jason's lips were rough against yours, as if he was punishing you for making him wait, for making him yearn for this.

Jason's ability to focus on multitasking was evident when he pulled you to sit fully on his lap, without separating your lips, his hands moving up and down your body, swallowing the small moans that came out of your mouth.

"I think I've already thought of a way for you to pay for your stupid donuts," he whispered, pulling your lips away for a few seconds to smile at you.

You laughed, feeling lighter than you had in years. Your hands cupped his face, caressing his cheek. There were so many questions and doubts swirling around your mind, but Jason pulled you into a hug, kissing your forehead.

"Honey, it took you a long time to realize that you're mine. Just relax."

You blinked away the tears, hiding your face in the crook of his neck, a genuine smile on your lips.

Your best friend was in love with you too, and everything would be okay.

I hope you liked it, sorry for the mistakes, I need to review all my works. My epub box is open, I just want to write more for Jason!! I'm stupid for him. And I'll be dying on the hill that Jason Todd has a dirty mouth. I'm trying to write for a gender-neutral reader but I've discovered that I have difficulty, I'm sorry, but I'll keep trying.

[starkwlkr]

Can I request some hung with old man Logan? Something domestic or soemthing like reader baking for him. I love reading fics of Logan and reader being an old married couple

just the two of us | old man logan

an: anon ily for this request old man Logan needs more love <3 credit to pinterest for the gif btw this doesn’t follow the logan storyline so i added laura hope that’s ok!! sorry if there’s an spelling mistakes!

reader and logan live in a nice little cozy home because i said so 😍

“Taste.” You held the wooden spoon up to your husband’s mouth. Logan sighed, he knew you weren’t going to let him walk away without tasting the brownie batter so he licked the spoon.

For a while you had been craving brownies. While Logan was out working, you and Laura drove to the city to pick up the ingredients to make brownies. It was a fun small girls trip until it was time to come back home. Laura had helped you mix everything together until she got tired, she then decided to go up to her room to watch cartoons. You continued working on the brownies by yourself, that’s when Logan had arrived from work and now here you were giving him a taste test.

“So?” You waited for an answer.

“Bub, you are the best baker in this whole town, city, state, planet.” Logan was going to dip his finger in the batter until you slapped it away.

“No! You’re going to wait like the rest of us, but I did tell Laura she could have the first brownie so just wait.” You told him.

Logan groaned and walked to the kitchen sink and washed his hands. “How was your day?”

Logan always asked about you day. It didn’t matter if you stayed home and read a book or did some gardening, he wanted to know.

“Good. Laura and I read a new book, we went to buy ingredients to make brownies and now my old man is home so I’d say it’s been a pretty good day.” You started to pour the brownie batter into a pan.

He didn’t mind you calling him old man, in fact, he loved it. Yeah, he wasn’t as young as he used to be, but you still loved him. You did admit to him many times that the grey hair was a turn on for you, which made him laugh.

Before you could react, Logan quickly dipped his finger in the batter and licked it clean.

“James! Don’t you dare do it again!” You scolded him. “These are for Laura too.”

“Come on, Laura’s not going to know that I ate some batter,” Logan leaned on the counter next to you. “I’ve been thinking. .”

“Oh no, that’s concerning.” You teased, finishing up with the brownies and putting them in the oven. You turned to face him then wrap your arms around him, bring him closer to you.

Logan chuckled at your response. “I’ve been thinking about taking you and Laura to some place nice. We can do that family shit you always talk about.”

You laugh at his choice of words. “Family shit, yeah that’s what I said.”

“Tomorrow then, I’ll drive us to the nicest place you’ve ever seen, get some ice cream, watch a movie, whatever you want.” Logan leaned in closer, you doing the same.

Before your lips could touch, Laura interrupted you asking about the brownies.

“Not yet, my love, I just put them in. I’ll call you when they’re done,” You pulled away making Logan groan. Laura nodded then ran up to her room. You noticed the frown on his face so you quickly gave him his after work kiss. “Don’t be so sad, old man, the neighbor’s kid wants to have a sleepover with Laura this weekend so it’ll just be the two of us.” Logan definitely liked the sound of that.

Half an hour later, the brownies were ready. Laura took several with her to her room while you and Logan took a plate outside to the patio where your porch swing was. It was a beautiful evening, it wasn’t too hot or too cold, and now you were ending the night beside your husband eating some homemade brownies.

“I think Laura is going to ask you for a dog.” You mention, scooting closer to Logan and laying your head on his chest. You held a brownie up to him so he could take a bite.

“No, we are not getting a dog.” He said.

“It would be nice, you know . . .” You bit the brownie after Logan.

“Is this why you made brownies? You want me to get you and Laura a dog?” He looked down at you.

“No, but can you?”

He sighed defeatedly. “I’ll think about it.”

[logaenhowlett]

THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD IN HER HANDS - L.H.

Summary: After months of watching you relentlessly try to gain control of your powers, Logan finally takes matters into his own hands.

Pairing: Logan Howlett x Female Reader

Warnings: Fluff - so much damn fluff, Slight angst, Language

A/N: Suffering from writer's block on a plot-driven angsty Logan fic so I wrote this to focus on something else. Shout out to End by Frank Ocean. Enjoy!

MASTERLIST

“You’ve been going at it for hours.”

His voice makes you pause, shifting your concentration to the man leaning against the door frame. Logan watches as you swing your head down, possibly frustrated by his interruption.

“Professor said I’d get better at this,” You swipe the sweat off your face, grabbing your drenched shirt as it clings to your skin, “It’s been months and I'm nowhere near strong enough.”

He huffs in amusement, he would often catch you in moments like these, tiring yourself hour after hour till you were exhausted enough to finally pass out. It reminds him of his early days at this place. Young and eager to prove himself to everyone here, that he was capable of being good once again.

“Old man doesn’t know what he’s talkin’ about.” A measly attempt to shut down your self-deprecation, he knows nothing will convince you otherwise, that much he learned over the last few times he tried reasoning with you. When you shoot him a questioning glance, he relents, raising his hands up in defense. “Alright. But you’re not doing any good wearing yourself to the bone.”

“I just want to be like Storm and Scott and you.” 

“Well, if that’s the case, the bar ain’t that high.” A teasing grin shining as he approaches you, the annoyed expression on your face does little to stop him. “Come with me.”

“What?”

He chuckles at your confusion, wandering dangerously close into your personal space. “I wanna show you something,” He murmurs.

Flirting isn’t a new concept to him at all. Though you never get used to his attempts, always brushing it off with the assumption that it’s just a game.

“Logan - I need to keep practicing.” You take a few steps back, creating a little distance from his very distracting presence. “It’s the only way I’ll get better at controlling this.”

“Okay.” He drags out, “You can still keep doing this when we come back.”

As you contemplate his request, he knows he has you convinced, a grin tugging on his lips. “Come on. It’ll be fun.”

When he leads you to the mansion's garage, you recall all the times he'd whisked you away from moments of misery and fatigue. He seemed to have this innate ability to know when you're in over your head, too absorbed into whatever you were doing to take a step back and relax. A tinge of embarrassment creeps into your thoughts, feeling bad for him to constantly keep checking in as if you were incapable of knowing your limits. Fuck, I'm a mess. You snap yourself from going down the negative route, shifting your focus to Logan, a chuckle escapes you.

“You know he hates it when you steal his bike, right?”

He swings a leg over, revving the engine. The sound seems to unintentionally comfort you, your mind having subconsciously associated it with him. Despite Scott being the owner of vehicle, he rarely saw it since it was Logan’s choice of transportation. Fucking dickhead, he used to curse up and down, unwillingly giving up after Charles reasoned with him one too many times. You remember the entire ordeal, having to intervene during one of their many childish fights when Scott attempted to blow up Logan’s ass.

“I’ll fill up the tank.”

“No, you won’t.” A short laugh leaves you as you wrap your arms around him.

He flashes a smile, tilting his head back to ensure you’re properly seated. “No, I won’t.”

You hardly pay attention to his driving, instead mindlessly watching the scenery zip past. It wasn't the first time Logan had taken you on a ride. In fact, after the initial fear, you had grown fond of this time you got share with him. A quiet and peaceful journey where you could turn your restless mind off and simply enjoy each other's company. An unspoken vow of trust had always lingered between you two, which was something he cherished more than he could ever express. He smiles softly at the weight of you resting on his back as the breeze encompasses around you.

“How’d you even find this place?” You ask, sliding off the seat as he kicks the stand.

“Used it for shelter during that snowstorm a while ago. The bike gave out on me.”

You hum in response, spinning on your feet to look around. It's an abandoned gas station that had definitely seen better days. Despite all the damage and vandalisation, it was an oddly interesting location, a lake nearby overlooking lush fields. Nothing in Logan's expression gives away his intention of bringing you here. He slowly steps backwards, a hint of a smirk tugging his lips and when he's a decent distance away, “Hit me.”

“What?”

“Use your power, sweetheart. Don’t be scared, you can do it.” It's rather encouraging and not at all akin to his usual cocky tone.

“Logan - what, no!” You exclaim, finding his proposal ridiculous. “I’m not - I can’t even fully control it. What if I hurt you?”

He scoffs, amused you could even suggest such a thing, “Well, you’re gonna have to control it, aren’t ya?” When you make no attempt to try, his gaze softens, “I can take it.”

You take a deep breath, channelling your focus to create a ball of energy between your hands. Despite being small, it hits him with enough force to push him back a few steps. A groan leaves him as he clutches his stomach, you shift to run towards him but he lifts his hand, making you stop.

“Again. Don’t hold back.”

This time you think of Charles, remembering all the lessons and training sessions you've had with him. Where you had always doubted yourself, he had constantly reassured you and your ability to control your gift. The ball of energy grows more between your hands, crackling with intensity. Using all your might, you aim at Logan once again, hitting him square in the chest, thrusting him back several feet, the impact denting the ground in the process. He stands up feeling a bit lightheaded, though that sensation disappears as he flexes his muscles, grateful for his healing factor.

“I did it!” You laugh in surprise, running to him.

His arms immediately wrap around you, slightly lifting you off the ground. “You did it,” He says with a faint smile, taking in your satisfaction.

Caught up in moment of finally making progress, you notice the lack of space between Logan and you. And suddenly, his hands on your waist, his tender expression, it all becomes too much, making you pull back. “You’re insane. That could’ve gone so wrong,” You spit out, trying to relieve some tension.

“I trust you.” He whispers, softly.

Your body seems to be on fire, everything about this begins to overwhelm your senses. With a shaky breath, you try stepping away from his gentle grip.

“Why do you always run from me?” His words still your movements. His eyes can't seem to find yours, instead settling on the charred ground beneath him, "I know… you feel this too.”

“I’m - I don’t…”

“Let me in, sweetheart. I won’t run away.” He approaches you, giving you the space to reject his advances. ”I promise.”

When you don't respond, he hangs his head low, accepting your decision. “Let’s go home,” He mumbles.

As you walk down the hallway to your room, you can't seem to shake the urge to run back to him. You take a moment, hand grasping your doorknob before you spin around. Within seconds of knocking on his door, he swings it open catching your distinct heartbeat on the other side.

“Logan - I just…” The words die on your tongue. Every little feeling you'd held for him comes rushing forward. As he stands there, growing concerned for your wellbeing, all you can think about is kissing him till the air leaves your lungs.

“You okay?”

That's enough for you to slam into him. You grab the collar of his white shirt, pulling him down. Your lips find his own, slowly moving against the soft flesh. It takes him less than a second to comprehend what's happening before he reciprocates your actions.

You tilt your head back, inhaling his comforting scent. He continues peppering kisses on your face, unable to stop once he finally got a taste. “I'm sorry, I was scared. I am scared,” You whisper.

“I know. But I’m here for you. I’m always gonna be here for you.” He murmurs against your lips, “If you let me.”

Your smile sends flutters to his heart. His low chuckle echoes within you as he leans down, capturing your lips with a hunger he'd suppressed for as long as he could remember. When your moan teases his senses, he lifts you with ease, one arm securing your waist and the other gently stroking the underside of your thigh. He lowers you down onto the bed, noting your exhaustion from earlier. Sliding right next to you, he presses a light kiss on your temple, pulling you into his warm embrace. A silent promise that he'll never let you go.

[unwantedtomost]

so dirty — miguel o’hara

dbf!miguel o’hara x fem!reader

word count: 888

summary: miguel, who just so happens to be your dad’s best friend, fucks you in a bthroom

warnings: dirty talk, degradation, unprotected sex (i’m back to my old ways)

a/n: hehe two in like a day? look at me go. send me requests because i need more ideas.

“We shouldn’t do this,” came out of your voice in a tired tone. You tried to fight it but it got harder every time. How could you fight something that felt so right?

“I know, amor.”

Then he kissed you and you stopped fighting. 

Things got dirtier every time he touched you. The first time he kissed you he was so soft, so delicate. He touched you like he thought you could fall apart in his hands. Now he was bending you over the bathroom sink with the whole neighborhood in the backyard—not to mention your father, his best friend. He still loved you all the same, you never doubted it for a moment. Something about the switch felt right. This was a dirty little secret, not a Romeo and Juliet love affair. It was meant to be dirty.

He used to kiss every inch of your naked body, muttering how much he loved you every time his lips left your skin. It was a harsh comparison to how he shoved your panties to the side and rubbed his rough fingers up and down your slit.

“You’re soaking,” he stated with pride. “This all for me, honey?”

“‘Course it is, Miguel.” Sometimes you try to be soft in times like this. He’d give you a small smile then it would leave. His eyes were hungry, you almost felt like prey.

“‘Course it is,” he repeated before bending you forward.

He spit on his hand, pumping himself a few times. He rubbed the head of his dick against your clit, causing you to shutter. So dirty.

“Beg for it.” Your brows knitted together, giving him a confused look in the mirror. “You heard me. Beg for it.”

“Give it to me,” you demanded, standing your ground.

His large chest was flush against your back, his chin grabbing your chin and making you look into his eyes. His lips brushed against your ear and his other hand gripped your hip like a vice. “I said beg. Or we’re going back downstairs right now.”

It wasn’t the worst threat in the world but at some point these little hookups became something you needed. He knew that. He felt the same way too.

“Please, Miguel,” you whined. “I love you so much. Need to feel ya inside me so badly. I promise to be such a good girl. I promise. I’ll be such a good girl.”

The tiniest smile came to his lips as he saw the tears lightly brewing in your eyes. God, how he loved you. He planted a sweet kiss on your temple. “Such a good girl, only for me, yeah?”

“Only for you.”

Suddenly, the head of his member entered your entrance. You gasped, causing his hand to clasp over your mouth. “Got to be quiet, amor, yeah? We can’t have anyone find out what a dirty little whore you are for me.” He quickly pushed the rest of his length inside of you. You screamed into the palm of his hand, gripping down on the countertop.

“Fuck, princess. Best damn pussy I’ve ever had. Such a good fucking girl.”

His thrusts were brutal and you loved every second of it. Something about the strange circumstances made something dormant in Miguel come out. He said the dirtiest things. His mouth sputtering whatever came to mind as he pounded into you like both of your lives depended on it.

“Letting me fuck you while half the neighborhood is in the backyard. You wanted me that bad. You’d let me fuck you anywhere, wouldn’t you, honey? Want to be my little fuckdoll. Let me take you wherever I want. As long as we don’t get caught, right?”

You nodded vigorously as your eyes screwed shut, your head resting on Miguel’s shoulder. He let you stay like that for a while until his fingers started to rub your clit.

“Look at me,” he cooed. You had no choice but to pry your eyes open and look at the disheveled state of the man you were falling in love with. “Keep looking at me when I make you cum on my dick. Look so fucking beautiful.”

You had to use your last amount of strength to keep your eyes open, losing all control of the noises coming out of your mouth. Both of you were glad that his hand was clamped over your mouth. You tried to hold back your orgasm just a little bit, something you did often in these scenarios, you wanted to hold on just a little bit longer.

But it was always impossible. As soon as he figured out what you were doing, his fingers worked quicker.

“Please, cum for me baby,” he begged. And how could you refuse him? Quickly the coil snapped and you turned to absolute putty in his hands. “I love you, honey. I love you so much.” He whispered in your ear as he came inside of you. “Love you so fucking much.”

Slumped there, panting, you had that terrible wave of realization of the predicament you were in. Doomed to be in love with a man you could never really be with. Banished to a life of dirty secret hookups in bathrooms. But you didn’t need to worry about that now. Not when he was smiling at you.

“I love you too.” 

[woso-dreamzzz]

Piercing

Hardersson x Child!Reader

Part of The Big Adventures Universe

Summary: You get your ears pierced

"I'm sorry, princesse," Pernille sympathises as you sniffle.

You're both in the back seat of the car, you sitting in her her lap as you whine a little.

Your tears have petered off now so you're just left with little tracks down your cheeks and a big pout as you look up at her.

"But they're so pretty now."

Admittedly, Pernille did feel a little bad.

She should have just had them done when you were still little and couldn't understand these things but she'd felt bad about it.

It's always been in the plans to get them done when you were still young but Pernille couldn't bring herself to do it while you still didn't understand.

You were older now, barely, but she didn't want you to get too old where you would overthink and go back and forth for ages.

Which led to the situation now, as you sit on her lap in the car with freshly pierced ears and a lollipop for your good behaviour in the piercing chair.

You sniffle again, wiping your nose on Pernille's shirt before shoving your lolly straight back into your mouth to suck on.

"Hurted," You say between sucks.

"They still hurt?"

You shake your head. "Hurted."

"They hurt when you got them done?"

You nod.

"I'm sorry, princesse," Pernille says again," But you go to choose the special new earrings you got and you got you lolly. Isn't that nice?"

You nod again, huffing a little as you wipe the remaining tears off your cheeks using Pernille's shirt.

"Where's Morsa?"

"She'll be here soon. She's just finishing with the groceries."

Your mothers had split off today.

Magda was at the supermarket, buying the groceries (and hopefully a new toy) for the week while Pernille did the smaller jobs like getting a few packages, getting your ears pierced and buying Magda's new set of earphones.

You and Pernille had finished first of course which is why she could spend so much time soothing you in the car park while Magda, out of the corner of her eye, could be seen pushing the shopping cart towards the car.

"You won't believe how packed it is in there," Magda says as she slips into the driving seat after putting the shopping into the car boot," Why is everyone doing their shopping on a Sunday?"

"Why are we doing our shopping on a Sunday?" Pernille teases as Magda adjusts the rear view mirror to look right at her.

"That's not the point. I..." Magda's words come to a halt as her eyes narrow thoughtfully. "Why are you in the back? Why has Princesse got a sweetie?"

"Was good," You mumble.

"Good? What, like generically good? I thought we weren't giving her sweets. Pernille, you said it would ruin her teeth."

"Momma didn't give," You say and Magda frowns.

"What do you mean- Pernille! What are those things in her ears?!"

Pernille sighs, expertly manoeuvring you from her lap into your car seat, pulling on your straps until you're secure before pressing the softest of kisses to your forehead.

"Earrings."

Pernille climbs over the centre console to the passenger seat in the front.

"But...What?!"

"Magda we talked about this last night. You agreed that it was time."

"We did not talk about it!"

"We did."

You frown a little, the pain in your ears forgotten as your eyes pingpong between Magda and Pernille.

"I'd think I'd remember."

"You literally came in from the bathroom and I told you that I was thinking about getting her ears pierced today."

"You were talking to Tired Magda! I can't be held responsible for Tired Magda's choices!"

"Magda," Pernille says fondly," We've discussed this before. When she was born. You weren't against it then."

Magda's hands tighten on the steering wheel. "I'm not against it," She says after a long, measured pause," I just...Princesse? Are you feeling okay? How are your ears?"

You show her your lollipop. "Got a lolly," You say," Ears okay."

"They don't hurt?"

You think about that for a moment before shaking your head. "No ouchies anymore."

"Are you sure?"

You huff. "Would know if they hurt, Morsa."

Pernille laughs in the front seat. "Yeah, Magda, she's know if they hurt."

Magda rolls her eyes. "Okay. It's about ten minutes until we're home. I'll have a little check of your ears when we get in. Did they give you an information pack, Pernille? If her ears are pierced then I want to make sure we're taking care of them properly."

"I've got everything ready for you," Pernille says, leaning across to press a soft kiss to Magda's cheek," I love how protective you get."

Magda grins, sitting up a bit straighter in her seat at the praise. "Of course."

"Even if it's something as silly as her ear piercings."

[churipu]

STUDYING WITH GOJO INCLUDES ✮⋆˙

featuring. gojo satoru x reader

warnings. clingy gojo, college! au, study buddies (u guys r dating) but he's unserious, soft gojo

note. sksjlddlsjjd look at me uploading anything but my 1k event, but pls i can't stop thinking abt studying with gojo and how unserious he will be during the session.

studying with gojo includes him whining about being bored because he's just naturally gifted — while you actually needed to study to match his brain capacity. he's a whiny baby about having to accompany you study when he was the one who volunteered to do so.

"baby, come on. can we please take a break? how long has it been? two hours?" he whines softly, his forehead had been stuck to the surface of the short table you had in your room. his long legs sprawled underneath it.

"satoru — it's been twenty minutes. and nobody forced you to be here, you can go if you want to," your answer only furthered his whining, like a small child who hasn't gotten what he wanted, he shifted a bit, letting the table move along with his movements; preventing you from focusing on the book you were scribbling on.

the man child finally pulls himself to sit up straight, a red blotch on his forehead. with furrowed brows, and a big frown on his face, he grabbed your pencil and tossed it across your room — sighing, you grabbed another one from your pencil case, and he did the same thing. only then after, the decided that throwing your pencil case across the room was the best choice.

"satoru, if you're not going to let me study, please leave."

yet again, another whine escaped his throat as he threw his head back onto your bed, "come on, 'ts good to take breaks, cuddle me, love me, pay attention to me!"

"we can do that later, 'ts a big exam next week . . ."

studying with gojo includes him distracting you with his love — whether it being a kiss, or just him stuck to your hips like a koala. he just needed a bit of love and attention as well.

gojo paced around your room, trying to distract himself from your silent form. poking around your figurines and shelves, looking through old year books, and even family albums. but nothing, he comes back to you, slotting your sitting form in between his open legs. gojo slithered his arms around your waist, burying his face into your shoulder.

"'m dying here y/n . . ."

your vague silence only offended him, "so y'don't care if your boyfriend's dying?"

sighing you replied, "i do care. but you're not," gojo grumbled under his breath, prepping his head up so his chin rested on top of your head, whistling out a a random tune that, of course, bothered you, "'toru, shut up."

"give me the love and attention that i deserve and maybe i'll stop," he nonchalantly said before continuing his whistling concert.

studying with gojo includes him finally being tired of not receiving what he wanted, and he turns sulky. his aura gloomy — and the corner of his lips tugged down into a big, giant frown.

gojo slipped himself under the table, resting his head on your thighs. the male looks up at you, only getting a good look of your chin and neck, he reaches his finger out, touching the tip of your chin before traveling down your neck.

still no love. or attention.

the male lets out one last (loud) sigh and tore himself away from you, plopping down on your bed. hiding under the covers, he curled himself up into a ball, his big back facing you — letting out grumbles under his breath as he hides his sorrow away.

you think gojo was being dramatic. he usually comes back, yearning for attention. but no, this time he didn't, just laying there on your bed for the next half an hour — where you coincidentally finished the last question in the practice page.

"satoru, are you asleep?" no answer. but the male shifted slightly, "satoru."

again, no answer. but gojo kicked his legs once, showing that he was indeed, not asleep at all. he had just been lying there, in the same position for the past half an hour.

"satoru, are you mad at me?"

gojo peeked one of his blue eyes from under the blanket and huffs childishly before grunting, he then prompted to pull down the blanket over his eye again. letting you have a taste of your own medicine, "fine, i was going to tell you that i can now give you love and attention. but you seem a little angry so i'm just gonna leave you alone—"

the male opened the blanket and pulled you under the warm fabric with him before covering you both, he immediately locks you in his embrace using a leg over your torso, "finally," he mutters out.

gojo pulled you in, a hand resting on your hips. his fingers raising the hem of your shirt just a bit to brush his digits on your skin intimately. he leans his head on top of your chest, "'m still mad at you if you're wondering."

chuckling, your fingers threaded with his white locks. your cheek pressed onto his head, "you're so childish, 'm not as smart as you, y'know? i need to study."

gojo hums softly, "there's still a week. seven days. you can start studying tomorrow, i promise i won't bother you then," he mutters out, his lips puckering into a small pout.

promises were meant to be broken anyways.

studying with gojo includes him promising he won't bother you the next time — and him ended up doing the same thing, because why study when you can love him instead?

© CHURIPU 2024 , DO NOT COPY OR REPOST ANYWHERE

[railingsofsorrow]

Recharging. . .

[spencer reid x reader]

summary: spencer's best remedy is his little family.

pairing: s.reid x f!reader (+ eden reid!)

w.c: 3.8K

warnings/content: fluff; cuteness overload; children; spencer is a girl's dad; discussion of a case; mentions of death and traumatic events; this is basically a hurt/comfort blurb; mentions of pregnancy; mentions of marriage; crying.

A/N: is anybody in need of some fluff? this was supposed to be a short drabble.... enjoy this old WIP as I finish some of my requests.

loosely inspired by ocie elliott's take me home

want to read more works about this au?

→ day-off

━━━━━━━━━━━━

You stopped the low humming to the song as you eyed the rearview mirror to check on your kid. The familiar scratching against your seat warning you she was awake.

“Hey bub,” you take advantage of the red traffic light to dive your hand back and tickle her bare feet. She'd always kick off her shoes the first chance she got. Your favorite sound echoes through the car: her giggle. “You were just napping, where'd that energy come from?” you refer again to the tip of her feet bumping against your car seat. Another reminder that she was getting bigger every day.

Eden raised her arms, wriggling her little fingers like she did when she was excited for something. You were pretty sure she got that from Penelope, you always saw they do this whenever she came over to your place.

“We're visiting daddy!”

A laugh bubbles out of you. Eden left you amazed by her perception of things. Although the route from your apartment to the BAU wasn't that strange for her anymore, given that you and Spencer drove a lot to drop each other off with her in the car.

“Are we?” You turn on an avenue, humming. “I didn't notice.”

Eden looks at you through the rearview mirror, “but you're driving, mommy. You need the GPS. It's in your head.”

“Is it?” You're amused at your toddler's choice of words. “Okay. Yes, we're visiting daddy at work. We've come to pick him up because he's very tired from a case and it's not good to drive while you're tired, right?”

“Right!” She nods vehemently, craning her neck to check on the view through the window. “And he needs me to recharge his bats.”

You finish parking your car and a smile curls up the edges of your mouth. Eden can't say the word batteries so she shortened it to an easier version which is bats. You still have to teach her what the word actually means.

“That's right,” you say, taking off your seatbelt and opening the door. By the time you reach the backseat, Eden is grinning like the Cheshire cat. Her excitement never ceases to rub off on you, even though you enter this building most of the days in a week. “Hi, baby.” You cooed, welcoming your child in your arms after unbuckling her seatbelt. Her light brown curls that you have no idea who she got it from tickle the side of your face as she snuggles to your chest to stare at the tall FBI building.

“Shoes on. Coat on. All warmed up. Shall we go up?”

An eager Eden exclaims a loud YES and that's enough for you to start walking.

From “Spencer”:

[6:34 p.m] No need to pick me up, angel, I can drive. I am not that tired.

[6:35 p.m] Is Eden still at your mom's? I can pick her up on the way.

This is the mutual feeling you have on workdays. Not in a million years you'd understand how hard it was to be away from your daughter for more than one day. Until it happened.

It makes your heart break when you're not able to tuck her into bed or pick her up at school to see her excited little legs run towards you. In spite of the fact that Spencer and you manage well to alternate days at work so she always has one of you close by, it's difficult to not see her every day when a case takes either one of you out of the city.

You can only image how much he misses her after being away for four days.

You left the messages unanswered and click on another chat instead. Light of my life with a bunch of hearts is the one you're looking for. Penelope somehow stole your phone someday and changed her contact name to this; you never changed it back, just left as it was, it suits her anyway.

“Smile.” You request Eden as you lift your phone to take a selfie of the two of you. Her grin exposes her two missing front teeth. “Done.” You kiss her cheek and adjust her in your hold to type another text, waiting for the elevator to reach your desired floor.

To “Light of my life 💗❤️💕”

[6:38 p.m] incoming at five... four... three...

You hit send right as the elevator doors spread open.

Just as you step into the bullpen, it's as if a switch has flipped because your daughter promptly tucks her face into the croak of your neck, her cold nose making your shiver slightly. Her hands clinging onto your blouse.

Eden gets shy under watchful eyes, no matter how many times she visits the BAU.

Penelope is walking briskly out of her office, her hands wriggling into your direction as she catches sight of you and the bundle in your arms. Every eye in the bullpen turns to you because of the commotion.

You haven't seen your husband yet.

“There is pumpkin!” That's the reason that pulls Eden out of her shell. She practically throws herself out of your arms and into her favourite aunt's arms. “Oh, hello, hello, my beautiful niece, whom I have missed so much!”

Eden is giggling and you can't help but smile softly at the scene. Soon, your friends start approaching one by one. It doesn't take long for Eden to have at least two new toys in her hands. Emily and Derek are competing which one she likes best.

“She's so big.” JJ entwines her arm with yours.

You sigh, leaning closer to her, “Yes, she is.” You say, observing Eden play with Emily. “Henry as well! How is he by the way? We haven't had a playdate in so long.”

JJ nods, “He's great, my sweet boy.” Her eyes hold a fondness that you relate. “And that's true. We have to set up a date, catch up on things that aren't murders and blood.”

“Preach, Jayge.”

Your laughter dies down when the two people missing from the group appear. Your eyes met Spencer's and his whole body seems to relax as if it physically pained him to stand and seeing you just helped him take a breath of fresh air. Luke greeted you with a side hug and was immediately captured by Eden's endearing spell, as expected. Although, once Spencer entered her line of sight, no one else mattered.

Spencer let his satchel drop to the ground without a care so he could scoop Eden up as she jumped into his arms. His sullen demeanor converting into a cheerful one in a blink of an eye. This is what Eden means by “recharging”.

You watch the reunion with a growing smile, deciding to approach them a little later.

“Hi, sweetheart,” Spencer says while peppering kisses at her cheek, her little nose and her forehead. Eden could only reply with giggles as her whole face became red at the overwhelming love she's receiving. “Daddy missed you so much, did you know that?” And the crack in his voice goes unnoticed by her, but not by you, so you take advantage of everyone's distraction to step towards your little family.

Eden is giving her dad a butterfly kiss when you get to them. That's her way of saying I missed you to any of you when you come back home.

“Hey,” you squeeze his arm in a gentle touch, grabbing his attention. “Tough one?” your question is discreet, only meant for him. Eden is fortunately too busy with her new stuffed toy that Derek is showing her to notice anything else.

The dimmed spark in Spencer's eyes along with the red outline of his eyelids are everything you need to know. You don't need words — you never needed words to understand Spencer — but he provides you a meek yeah and swallows hard. The only thing that seems to be holding him back from crumbling down is the fact that he's holding his daughter.

In an attempt of comfort, you pull his free hand to yours, intertwining your fingers and giving it a tight squeeze. Just for him to know that you were there and it's okay now.

He repeats the action, the corner of his lips pulling slightly. His attention is quickly stolen back to Eden, who starts listing possible names to the new friends that uncle Derek and auntie Emily had gifted her.

They discuss the matter until you bid everyone goodbye, a playdate, a babysitting afternoon and a girls night out scheduled. Trying to take Eden from Spencer was foolish, he didn't want to let her go. No matter how tired he was. Better yet, she didn't want to let him go either.

“I think grapes would be a great name, E.” Spencer praises her daughter's naming skills as he buckled her up in the safety seat. “What about this one?” He grabs the green bunny and places it in front of his face, his voice in a high-pitched tone to imitate an animal's voice. “What will you name me after, miss Eden Reid? I am green and I like carrots!”

Eden's bright caramel eyes glint with joy and she pulls the bunny to her chest, holding it tightly. “I know what I'm going to call them.”

“You do?” You were starting to be curious as well.

“Mr. Greenie.”

“You're so clever.” Spencer and Eden shared accomplice smiles and you see everything of him in her at that single action. It was in the nose scrunch whenever she found something particularly funny, in the spark of mischief in her eyes and even the outline of her mouth which you never stopped noticing from the moment she was born. Eden carried a lot of mannerisms and features from you but those things? They definitely came from him.

He's not even halfway to the driver's side when you steal the keys that he had stolen from you when you were in the building. You've known each other for ten years, for three out of those ten you have been married and Spencer still thinks he can be slick with you.

“You're riding shotgun today, pretty boy.”

His eyes are filled with amusement as you walk by and give his butt a soft squeeze.

“Really?” He says, leaning on your window. You had already turned the engine on when you give him a serious look. “It's a long drive. You already drove all the way here.”

Giving him an eyeroll, you muse, “It's not that long, Spence. And you're tired. Just get in.”

Quantico wasn't far from your home, but ten minutes in the road was enough to send Eden to dreamland. You were certain she had fallen asleep when her humming to Angeleyes, that was playing on the car radio, stopped.

You suppose Spencer has fallen asleep as well, until you stole a glimpse at him during a red light to see he was just staring out the window. A far away gaze.

His mind was far. You could feel that. You two enjoy the silence but it's not like that. This is not the kind of silence you want to bask in after a tiring day of work. No, this is different. It comes with the type of things you face at work, the voices in your head that claim they know what's best.

You know that silence. You've drowned in it once.

A gentle breeze caused a few strands to slip out behind his ear. He was letting his hair grow longer again. You liked it, it suited him.

“Hey.”

Your knuckles grazed his cheek softly, tucking a piece of his hair behind his ear. Your hand lingered at the nape of his neck and he let out a sigh, leaning back in a way that you knew he needed that kind of touch.

Good thing your love language is physical touch.

“You want to talk to me about it?” A whisper.

Spencer refrained from a verbal answer, but he reached up for your hand, lifting it to his lips to place a prolonged kiss which translated to I'm glad to have you.

“Not now,” he said, caressing your palm. Definitely later then. Your communication can be non-verbal sometimes and that's one of the great parts of your relationship. You knew that some days words were hard, so the touch and the eyes fulfilled the void of a voice.

He gave it a delicate squeeze and that's when you realized the light had turned green, so your attention was back to driving.

At some point, you could feel a comforting weight at your right thigh. It was the familiar warmth of Spencer's hand, something that he liked to do whenever you drove. Good thing his love language is physical touch.

“I got her.” He practically leaped out of the vehicle once you parked, walking around the other side to get Eden.

Your asleep child didn't so much as flinch while being picked up. You caught her little arms embracing his neck as you locked the doors of your car, her shoes on your hand and Spencer's satchel on another. He tried to fight you on that but you just ignored him.

“Sleepy head,” you mouth to him as the elevator went up. Eden's big eyelashes fluttered lightly when you kissed the top of her head.

The corner of your husband's lips quirked up, “Just like her mother. Sleeps anywhere.” He said, not breaking eye contact, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

Rolling your eyes, you hummed, “Don't know what you're talking about.”

The apartment was quiet, an unusual occurrence at this time of the day. Normally, Eden would be rambling about her day when one of you arrived from work — I learnt about seagulls today and we made a drawing; grandma made cookies!; Teacher Susan read a story about a princess saving her kingdom, I want to be like her someday. Isn't it like what you do, mama? I want to be like you — a range of subjects mixed with her occasional endless energy of a child. Some nights, she wouldn't stop running around until she tired herself — and both of you — off.

Today was different. She was asleep before you even arrived home, it was way before 8 p.m and the apartment was quiet, no toys scattered around, no ink stain on the floor. She was into painting nowadays which is a rather messy hobby for a kid, but you'd indulge your daughter's wishes anytime. She is a kid, she should be messy.

“I love you, bub.” Your ears pick up Spencer's faint voice from the entrance of Eden's bedroom. You perched up at the wall, careful enough to make yourself unknown. Not wanting to disturb the little father-daughter moment. “I'll always be here.”

That was something that didn't need to be said out loud because Spencer showed that every day. He didn't spare love demonstrations regarding you or Eden, he never had. Although you know part of the reason beneath that promise. Some people haunt us forever, even when they are no longer present in our lives. His father still walks somewhere in the corner of his mind, no matter how many times you tell him that he is not him.

“Is the whole bathroom drenched or...?”

Spencer chuckled, seeking for your hand to pull you closer as you stride to your bedroom.

“It wouldn't be Eden if she didn't make an entire spectacle during bath time.” He said. “But I cleaned it up, so don't worry.”

“That's true.” You eye his soaked shirt attempting to contain a smile. “Guess you already took your shower?”

“You're so funny,” Spencer murmurs dryly.

“Yeah, well,” you shrug nonchalantly, slowly encircling your arms around his neck. “Wasn't that why you married me? Or was it for my good looks? Nah, it was definitely my terrific sense of humour, wasn't it?” A peck on his lips. “You can admit it. I won't be mad.”

“Ego the size of a lake, that one.” He mumbles, burying his face in the croak of your neck and practically locked you in his hold.

You started to message on his shoulders to ease whatever felt heavy in his chest. At least, until he let you in.

It wasn't until after you both showered separately to finally call it a day and laid down to rest that he broke his silence.

“A little girl died. We couldn't get to her in time.”

Oh, kids.

Now it all made sense.

A shiver went down your spine at the thought.

“Oh, Spencer...” if the tone of your voice translated anything, it was that you understood. His body was entangled to yours when you tried to diminish a bit of his pain by showing that you were there. “I'm sorry, sweetheart,” you said into his curls. The moist sensation in your pajamas top let you know he was crying, but you didn't give it a second thought. It was what he needed.

“I could only think of her and I—” he said shakily, suddenly leaning away to cover his face. “Any rational thinking went down the drain.” His croaked out, drying his tears in the harshest way possible. You pulled his hands away from his face, replacing it with your softer touch.

“Spencer.”

“I can't even— even grasp my head around—”

You cut him off, “good. Don't do that. Because it's not real. Spencer,” you cup his cheeks, forcing him to look at you so he could focus on something that wasn't the disruptives thoughts in his head. “Eden is here, in the room next to ours, safe and sound.” That seemed to calm him down lightly, but you could see the conflict in his gaze.

“I wasn't fast enough.”

“It was not your fault.”

“You weren't there.”

You sigh, “I don't need to physically be there to know that you, as well as the team, did your best to crack the case, Spencer. As you do in every other case we have.” The hardest part of this job was still the loss that you had to live with. The guilt. The shame that, despite doing your best, you wouldn't be able to save everyone. “As we always do.” Sometimes, you needed some convincing too.

“I know it's hard to believe what I'm saying,” you forehead was touching his and your eyes were shut. “but it's the truth. You have every reason to feel that way, it never gets easy to face what we face every day. But, Spencer. It was not your fault. You did what you could, please trust me on this, okay?” Please, don't blame yourself. You don't deserve it.

“Our little girl is right next door, sleeping with her favourite plushie. Safe. Because we make sure of that every single day.” You know it's not that simple, to not doubt the dangers that run in the world, probably in your street, but you can't live in fear and you don't want your daughter to live in fear either. “And I'm right here. we're not going anywhere.” You won't lose us.

“Yeah,” he croaks out, releasing a batted breath. “Yeah, I know.”

Slipping an arm around your middle to bring you closer was the indication you needed to understand that he was hearing your words. Your husband settled for accepting your warmth for the time being, you were playing with his curls, gently brushing them away from his face.

That's all he needed, really. You. The home and family you have build together. Nothing else.

“You know,” you say, thumb traveling across his jawline until it reached the tip of his nose. “People keep saying she has your nose and I think I'm starting to see it.”

His body shook with laughter, causing his eyes to crinkle slightly.

“Oh, really? You're starting to see it now?”

Your lips curled up at the edges, “Yes.” You lied, poking his ribs, earning a glare. Your smile only widened. “No. The nose is clearly yours.” He raised an eyebrow and shrugged.

Spencer leaned close enough so he could press his lips to yours.

“She has the outline of your mouth, though.” He tucked a strand behind your ear. “And your eyes.”

Soft padding against the floor pulled you out of your trance and you knew who was at the door before looking through the open space of the door that's been left ajar.

“Is that a ghost that I'm seeing, angel?”

You decided to enter Spencer's playful undertone.

“Mhm. Good question, I think that's definitely a squirrel or something. Look at the red and yellow paws.”

Eden's mismatched socks flashed your eyes in the dim light of your side table lamp. Her soft giggling made you smile instantly.

“What are you doing up, sweetheart?” She curled up to his bare chest as soon as he scooped her up to hold her on his hip. “Mhm?”

She grabbed both of his cheeks, forcing him to lean down so she could say something to him. You observed them with a curious gaze. “It's not a squirrel,” Eden whispered. Spencer's face broke out into a grin, “tell mama it's me.” Spencer nodded and dutifully did as asked.

“Oh!” You exclaimed, acting surprised. “It's you, bub? With these tiny socked feet, I almost didn't recognize.” Eden's shrieks as you pepper her whole face with kisses. “You want to sleep with mommy and daddy tonight?” It's your turn to whisper as if it's a secret, but it's loud enough for Spencer to hear it as well.

Eden nods shyly, resting her head on her dad's shoulder. Her feet wriggling lightly. Who could ever resist those sweet doe eyes?

The three of you then lay down in your bed, Eden engulfed between Spencer and you. Hopefully, she wouldn't kick and turn all night like she commonly did. She was sleeping through the entire night alone in her bedroom, though some nights — like today — she would sneak in to yours.

Just like you expected, the toddler fell into dreamland with your soft chatter about random things you did during the day and what you needed to do during the upcoming week. You cracked a smile at her slight parted lips and wild curls dispersed on your arm which her head was laid on.

“Thank you.”

Your attention drifts from a sleeping Eden to Spencer. His eyes carried their usual light again. They now glinted with a familiar pride rather than the heavy darkness it was drowning in earlier in the evening.

“What for?” Your whole demeanor softened at the way he was looking at you, heart swelling with love.

“This,” he says, eyes falling on Eden. “For this. Her. You.”

You blink, the sudden urge to cry is being hold back by a thread. You don't know how to react.

“You're the best thing that's ever happened to me.” And he's said that before. When you first confessed and he said he felt the same. In your wedding day. When Eden was born.

“And you are the best thing that's ever happened to me, Spencer.” You manage to whisper beneath the crack in your voice. He lifts his torso to kiss both of the single tears that slipped out of your eyelids, caressing your cheek lovingly. “I love you.”

“I love you too, angel.” His mouth stretches into a soft grin. “And I love the life we have built.”

━━━━━━━━━━━━

taglist: @lilyviolets

━━━━━━━━━━━━

A/N: will never forgive the show for not making this man a dad.

[neil-gaiman]

hey mr gaiman. i saw that this post got revisited and wanted to address it.

i submitted this ask over a year ago on my old account and it was one of the stupidest things i ever did. it was my first tumblr account. id only been really online for a few weeks. i was 13. i was just coming back to school after a global pandemic.

ive been a fan of good omens for years and a fan of yours for longer. i was brought up reading odd and the frost giants and fortunately the milk, and as i got older i fell in love with your norse mythology book, good omens, snow glass apples, the sleeper and the spindle, and more.

i was excited to see one of my favorite authors on tumblr and tried to come up with the most bold and interesting ask i could think of.

i was rude and misinformed and it was a stupid choice of me to send it in with no thought.

but i got feedback. some in the form of kind suggestions. quite a few in the form of death threats and people telling me to kill myself.

while those specific messages were rude and hateful, the point got across. i educated myself to the best of my abilities, and eventually came back online.

not only did i misuse the term queerbaiting but i also implied that you were not an amazing supporter of the queer community. that’s absolutely incorrect. you’ve done so much for us with activism, representation, and overall kindness.

i wanted to address this ask that got so much attention because despite moving accounts i still feel guilt and shame every time i see it, or even when i interact with any of your posts at all. i need to actually address it.

also, i wanted a proper apology to be made. by no means am i now a saint. but im trying to be more thoughtful about thinking before i speak.

whether or not you decide to make a public response to this, i think ill find some peace knowing you’ve received this. ive needed closure on this for a long time.

im overjoyed and thrilled that season two is so close. thank you for tolerating the dumb questions of pretentious kids and thank you for helping to create a world where we can grow to be better than we were.

First of all, and most importantly, I'm really sorry that people were mean to you. That's awful. And nobody should ever have to deal with death threats or online threats and attacks, let alone a thirteen year old.

And secondly, you do not owe me an apology. I figure I have a Tumblr account, people ask things. Mostly they'll get nice replies, occasionally (normally when I'm being asked the same thing over and over) the replies will be terser. There has to be a certain amount of rough and tumble though, and occasionally I'll grab an ask that represents all of the asks I've had on that subject, and try and reply to all of them. That's what happened to you. I was getting tired of being accused of Queerbaiting for the occasional answer about a Season that was not yet released and about which nobody knew anything. And I needed to tell everyone who was doing this that they had to stop now. You had the misfortune to be the representative of all of the other people.

If you are not making mistakes you are not human and you are not learning anything.

(I wish there was tone of voice on the internet.)

And I think you are growing and learning and will make a fantastic adult.

I really hope you enjoy Season 2 when it drops.

[ozzgin]

Yandere! Yokai Harem x Reader (III)

On your travels with the two demon companions, you stumble upon a fortified village plagued by monster attacks. It would be quite unlucky if the grand finale happened just as you step foot inside, right? Worry not, you're saved by a third mysterious yokai that you immediately recognize. The harem grows!

Content: female reader, monsters, violence

[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Character Guide]

“Alright, how’s this?”

You do a clumsy pirouette before the two yokai men.

“That’s...are you sure?” Kiritsubo eyes you, mildly confused. “It’s usually what men wear.”

Of course, you already know. After weeks of walking through feudal Japan, you’ve reached the conclusion that modern clothing isn’t the most practical choice. Not to mention the strange looks you always get from other people upon your arrival in any village. You needed something to blend in, and the typical fashion for your gender might not be compatible with your training. You’d rather not swing a sword while covered in multiple layers of kimono.

Thus, you opted for the hakama pants typically worn by men. With your hair tied up and in this baggy attire, one could think you’re a young samurai. If they squint enough. You chuckle at the thought.

“She’ll wear whatever allows her to not be a burden.” Murasaki concludes with crossed arms.

One way to put it, you tell yourself.

“If you’re done discussing fashion, we can leave.” The dark-haired man continues with indifference, standing up and adjusting the swords in the folds of his sash.

Both you and Kiritsubo hurry and follow behind obediently.

“Where are we going this time?” You ask sheepishly.

“South-west. An old residence of his, although we will have to pass through a fortified settlement first. We should reach it before sunset.”

It’s hard to imagine you’re the supposed savior in this equation. Murasaki has been leading you by the hand each step, carefully considering every detail on the map, and extensively planning your travels every evening. All this on top of your daily training. You’ve now mastered the basics with the katana he’s provided you, as well as some common prayers for exorcising small-class demons.

You glance at the daisho pair of swords under his belt. A long, thin blade, and a shorter backup version, both in elaborate matching scabbards meant to showcase the status and wealth of the samurai wearing them. In this case, meant to express his rank as the advisor and right hand of the famed onmyōji. You certainly don’t doubt Nakamaro’s decision to rely on Murasaki.

In comparison, Kiritsubo carries a nagamaki at his waist. A comically long blade in your opinion, used mostly to bring down horses during battle. Any regular sword would’ve been too small for him. Despite his imposing appearance, you’ve learned rather quickly just how different Kiritsubo is from the other yokai. He’s quite clumsy in combat, often anxious about making mistakes, terribly apologetic, and overall has a heart too kind for his own good. If there’s hesitation coming from his side, Murasaki immediately follows with his ruthless, ending blows. As a matter of fact, even you’ve had to do the occasional killing to spare the man of such choices.

The silver-haired demon notices your eyes on him and smiles, excited. He reminds you of a large dog. A horned, fanged dog of monstrous strength, nonetheless the innocence is there. And he does make a great travel companion.

“How much longer?” You grunt, looking up.

“Are you tired? I can carry you for the rest of the way-” Kiritsubo instantly offers but is interrupted by Murasaki’s barked orders.

“She can walk. Don’t spoil her.” He glares at you, then nods ahead. “We’re almost there, so quit your whining.”

True to his word, you can finally discern the outline of a wall at the top of the hill. A few more steps, and you can even spot two guards standing beside the great gate.

“Stop there!”

The soldiers lift their spears threateningly. Before you can react, Murasaki steps in front of you with a hand placed on his sword.

“We’re just passing through.” He states factually.

“We’re no longer allowing visitors.” One of the guards exclaims. “The village has been raided by monsters recently and our Lord has closed all gates until the matter is solved.”

“That means no filthy demons go in.” The other adds in a mocking tone, his gaze lingering on the horns of your companions. His mouth curls in disgust.

You can tell Murasaki is angered by the disrespectful approach. He is not one to let such insults slide and you’d rather avoid him claiming unnecessary victims; therefore, you push past his arm and plant yourself ahead with a polite greeting bow.

“These yokai are with me. I vouch for their good behavior, so please consider letting us through. Perhaps we can even help you with these monsters.”

“You? How would you…”

The man stops abruptly, switching between you and the yokai. Eventually he inspects your scabbard, and he gasps, confusion twisting his features.

“Could it be? No…He’d be dead by now.”

“What are you talking about?” His partner inquires impatiently.

“That’s the family seal belonging to Abe no Nakamaro.” He explains, pointing to the golden finish at the end of your katana handle. “I’ve heard about him from my grandparents. But it’s been decades!”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re saying this kid is a legendary onmyōji?”

“Who else would show up with demons as servants? Everything matches. Perhaps his powers have finally reached immortality”, he concludes solemnly.

The men continue their argument, and you clear your throat, embarrassed. What the hell? You can’t possibly look that manly. Sure, you’ve been skipping the makeup, and the clothes aren’t exactly curve shaping, but to be mistaken for an old man is like a slap to the face.

You’re about to deny their claims, but Murasaki swiftly pinches the back of your neck, and you wince. He lowers himself to your ear and whispers:

“This will be to our advantage. Just go along with it.” “Fine!” You mumble angrily. Then you turn back to the guards.

“V-very well, I see I haven’t been forgotten.” You admit, theatrically. “Lead me to your Lord and we shall discuss the details of your monster attack.”

Thus, you sip on your tea, kneeling at the luxurious table and awaiting the arrival of the feudal Lord. The servants are exchanging words, gossiping fervently next to the wall. “I wonder if he can cure my daughter!” one woman mumbles, visibly emotional.

“Do you think we can finally be saved? He’ll truly exorcise the beasts tormenting our village?” another whispers.

You wipe the sweat from your forehead and glare at Murasaki. You had no idea he’d given you Nakamaro’s old sword. Now you’re stuck pretending to be a pompous, long-dead asshat.

“What if they catch us?” You hiss between your teeth. “I don’t know shit about onmyōdō.”

“Then I’ll just kill them all. Simple as that.” The crimson-eyed man retorts, unconcerned. “Have a little fun, won’t you?”

“W-we’ll help you come up with answers, (Y/N). Don’t worry.” Kiritsubo chimes in, trying to reassure you.

You sigh in frustration and look out the window. The sun must’ve set a long time ago and has since been replaced by a pitch-black sky. What’s keeping the Lord? Surely, he can’t be having important business meetings late at night.

Almost as if your thoughts were read, the door slides open and a servant wobbles in. The rest of the household workers are silent, expecting the entrance of their master, but no one is following behind. You observe the bizarre limp of the woman. Suddenly, she collapses to the floor, revealing her bloodied back torn by deep wounds, caused by some sort of claw. Her body is stiff.

Panic settles in right away, and the servants topple over each other to get away from the fresh cadaver. You struggle to get up among the terrified crowd, but thankfully Murasaki grabs your wrist and pulls you out into a quieter hallway.

“What the hell?” is all you manage to say.

“Rotten.” Kiritsubo furrows his brows, sniffing the air. “Someone in here must be possessed. Could be more of them.”

Murasaki surveys the surroundings and gestures towards his partner.

“We have to see if the Lord is still alive. You go that way. I’ll take the front. Kill everyone suspicious.”

“What about me?” You demand, holding your breath.

“Get out and wait for us. You know how to draw a protection circle, don’t you? I won’t take long.” The dark-haired yokai answers before vanishing.

Judging by the screams and wails coming from all directions, you suspect Kiritsubo is right about multiple attackers. You sprint across the hall, looking for an opening. The self-defense lessons didn’t cover cursed humans with demonic powers. You’ll stay out of this one.

What an absolute mess. You have encountered some demons in your weeks spent here, but nothing to this degree. When the guards mentioned a monster attack, you imagined a ghost with a grudge, or some small fry yokai scaring the workers at night, not a mass curse that ends in a massacre. Of course, it had to happen the moment you arrived at the main house.

You find a room with a door leading to the inner courtyard. Seems isolated enough and it should provide a bit of shelter while you wait for the pair to finish the business. As you rush past the dead bodies, you notice a woman hiding behind a screen divider.

“Ah! It’s you!” she yells, aware of your presence.

From the shadow of her secret spot emerges the small frame of a child. The woman pushes the little human towards you, blocking your path.

“Don’t worry, he’ll protect us.” she gives her child another nudge. “Go on, hold onto him. You’ll be safe.”

What? No, no, no, no, no. Not happening. You’re getting out.

“Ma’am, sorry to break it to you under such circumstances, but I’m not-”

You’re interrupted by a loud growl. One of the possessed creatures must’ve followed your scent, and it’s now sliding into the room on all fours with the bones of the limbs twisting and creaking in unnatural pounces. You purse your lips in a frightened grimace. One advantage of the wide hakama pants – useful to know – is that no one can see your knees shaking cowardly.

Theoretically, you could use the brat as bait and run for your life. It’d make a decent obstacle. Unfortunately for your life span, you’ve been gifted with an idiotic sense of duty instead of survival instincts.

“Keep your distance. If I can’t kill it, get out and don’t look back” you advise, positioning yourself in the learned stance and sliding the sword out of its sheath.

Damn it! Then again, it should be like fighting a zombie, right? Given the pathetic way it drags itself around, it can’t be too difficult to hit. Aim for the head, you repeat in your mind. Your fingers grip around the handle.

The ghoulish beast lowers itself, like a spring about to recoil, and leaps across the room with an ease you did not anticipate. Despite your iron hold, it slaps the blade out of your hands with enormous force. The impact breaks your skin, and you wince. There’s no time to weep, within seconds it could go for your vitals next. While Murasaki hasn’t gotten around to teaching you much hand-to-hand combat, you’ve read your fair share of shounen manga. The first idea that comes to mind is to put the beast in a sumo lock. You bend your knees smoothly and wrap your arms around the monster, feeling for something to hold onto. You grit your teeth and attempt to lift the creature.

A thundering laugh resonates within the walls, and you jolt, startled.

“I never thought I’d see the mighty Abe no Nakamaro wrestling with ankle biters like this. What are you going to do, throw it out of the ring?”

The voice is deep, loud, and unfamiliar. You can’t afford to look back to see the source, but it’s not hard to figure out the possibilities. So far, you’ve only been called by that cursed name by the yokai accomplices. Although now is not the best time to seek revenge.

“Shut up, I panicked”, you snap in frustration. “If you can’t help, keep that trap closed!”

The sudden burst of anger seems to have triggered something within your body, a power you don’t recognize. You watch as your arms effortlessly pick up the monster and swing it across the room, its body demolishing the opposing wall and causing thick clouds of dust to rise and spread everywhere.

The impact must’ve alerted the nearby ghouls, as you can now hear the agitated trample and screeching rapidly approaching. You’re not confident you can pull the same lucky move a second time.

You turn to search for your sword, but it’s already being handed to you by the mysterious yokai who’s been observing your little fight. You have to step aside and tilt your head all the way back in order to fully view the gigantic frame of the man.

Ah, you recognize the features immediately. The same kind of fear you felt when you stumbled upon that old shrine statue is now tugging at your chest.

“You’re Suma, right?”

A proud, wide grin forms on his face, revealing a pair of glistening fangs. His expression is unexpectedly soft and friendly.

“We’re halfway through our introductions then, eh?” You pick up the sword and his fingers stretch out for a handshake. “What is your given name? I’m guessing you don’t willingly go by that…title.”

“I very much prefer (Y/N), yes.” You marvel at the significant difference in size, placing your small hand in his. “Was that your power I just used?”

“Mhhm. You sure surprised me there! It’s not something I did intentionally, but I s’ppose we just resonate that well, huh?”

He laughs again, completely unbothered by the impending danger.

“Alright, you can leave the rest to me. Take the lady outside, it will get a little messy.”

And with that, he casually walks towards the gathering of ghouls. You guide the family to the courtyard and wait for the battle to end.

“Do you think she’ll be fine by herself?” Kiritsubo is resting against the fence, keeping you under a watchful gaze.

“Let the humans sort it out among themselves.” Murasaki responds, somewhat bored.

The morning after the attack, you offered to deal with the survivors: ask them how everything started, if they’d noticed anything suspicious days prior to the event, and if the route to Nakamaro’s old residence was still open. The yokai men had found the feudal Lord in the jaws of a possessed creature and he quickly succumbed to his wounds. Consequently, only the remaining servants could provide them with clues.

A village being targeted like this is highly unusual, and Murasaki can’t shake the feeling it could be related to their master.

“Oh, where are you heading after this?” The silver-haired yokai glances at Suma, sitting lazily next to them.

“Where? After you just told me the whole story? I’m way too invested in this modern reincarnation that just popped out of nowhere, so I’m tagging along!” He announces with a chuckle.

Murasaki frowns.

“We don’t need your help.”

“Don’t be like that.” The giant man pouts dramatically. “Are you upset I saved (Y/N) before you?”

“W-we were on our way!” Kiritsubo retorts, visibly bothered.

“It’s a done deal!” Suma rests his hands under his head and yawns. “Besides, the little human already said he doesn’t mind.”

“He? (Y/N) is a woman.”

The redhead abruptly sits up and gasps.  

“Wait, what?”

“Don’t get funny ideas, man”, the silver-haired demon warns.

[mechaknight-98]

Deep in the Water (NSFW) FT Minju

Operator’s Notes: “Said you wanna take control of me but I got all the answers”

A fist hit my face and sent me to the ground. Unsure of where the fist came from in the bar brawl I found myself in I got up to face the first person directed at me, an angry man approached me and said, "You look like a bitch."

I laughed and said, "You look like a snitch" before tackling him to the ground. I got a couple of strikes on him before shotgun fire rang through the bar. I stopped striking the man and turned behind me.

A girl with a wolf cut and an angered look stared into my eyes and said, "This brawl stops now. You!" (she pointed at me.) You told me that you would not get rowdy.

I scoffed at the young woman, "The hell are you talking about this dude attacked me first," I responded defiantly. The girl rolled her eyes and said,

"NOT you the one under you. He is the one I am mad at. The person you're bashing." The girl points back at me and says, "You're fine Sparkles," I nod and get up. Before paying my tab. The lady with the wolf cut smiles cutely and says, "Now go handsome before I change my mind." I smirk and she shoos me away I get out of the bar and start heading home before I feel someone grab my wrist. I turn back to see the young lady, "Um hey can you help me fix the bar? You were the only one who didn't make a mess, and I need help." I consider my options, and say "Sure why not"

At first, I considered my choice a mistake, but the Bar owner was cute and cool, so the time just melted away as we cleaned and restored the bar to its original shape. After we finished cleaning, we sat next to each other, and she slid me a Shirley Temple.

She smiles at me and asks, "So sparkles do you have a real name?"

I nod and reply "Dio it's short for Diomacho"

"What?" The young woman scoffed surprised, "does that even mean anything?" she asked confused

"My Grandma thought it would be funny to name her son, my father who I am the junior to, a name that could mean anything and nothing. According to her though she wanted to make the next great "African American name" So for her it means prosperity, wisdom, valor, and the ideals she believed made a strong Black man,"

the young lady smiled, "Hmm I like it." The young lady outstretched her hand, "My name is Minju. Nice to meet you." I nodded and smiled at her. She smiled back then said, "So what brings such a unique young man out here?"

"Young?" I questioned, as I turned to her, "I am tired like leather and old as dirt." I replied.

Minju smiled as she rolled her eyes, "No you're not. I looked at your ID before you got here. You're barely 3 years older than me." her smile was knowing, cute, and a little flirty maybe.

I scowled confused as I said, "Really you're only three years younger than me?" I looked deeper at her face and hands, "you look like you could be in college still,"

Minju smiled and said, "Black and Korean don't crack I guess." I laughed and she pouted, "What I thought the phrase was Black doesn't crack." she added defensively. Her hair bounced as she spoke expressively.

I nod and respond, "No you're correct It's just not what I thought I'd hear out here." Minju's pout disappeared and was replaced with a wide smile. She moved a bit closer.

“So Sparkles what brings you out here?”

I turn to Minju and she’s still all smiles, “you’re a curious one.” I respond. Minju smiles and nods before saying.

“So what brings you here?”

I sigh as I relent while answering her, “ Well, this was supposed to be a vacation but I got roped into a work thing,”

Minju leans in close and rests her arms on my shoulder, “Oh what do you do?”

“I am a part of the American Titan Fighting Force or the ATFF for short,” I answer as I shift to support her weight better. Minju smiles and leans in closer.

Minju leaned back slightly, her eyes still focused on mine. “So, you’re a Kaiju fighter… but you don’t seem too thrilled about it,” she said, her voice soft but curious.

I raised an eyebrow, a little surprised by the observation. “What makes you say that?”

She smiled knowingly, tapping her fingers lightly on my shoulder. “You’ve got that look. Like this isn’t exactly what you wanted to be doing with your life. I mean, you were minding your own business in the bar earlier. Doesn’t seem like you go looking for fights.”

I sighed, taking a moment to consider my response. Her gaze was patient but intent, and for some reason, I felt like talking.

“You’re right,” I admitted, leaning back in my chair. “I’m not exactly a fan of the whole ‘fighting monsters’ thing. I didn’t sign up for that part.”

Minju tilted her head, intrigued. “Then why are you doing it?”

I let out a small chuckle, shaking my head. “I was supposed to be a researcher. I’ve got a background in Titan/ Kaiju biology and ecology. I actually wanted to study them, you know? Understand how they work, and how they survive. Maybe even figure out a way to live with them, rather than always fighting them.”

Minju’s eyes widened slightly. “That’s really interesting. So how’d you go from research to… wrangling and fighting them?”

I sighed again, this time more heavily. “Well, let’s just say the ATFF had other ideas. I played football in college, so I was built like an athlete. When they found out, they figured I was ‘perfectly suited’ to do more than just research. Next thing I know, I’m not just studying Titan/ Kaiju—I’m out in the field, wrangling them, fighting them… basically doing all the things I didn’t want to do.”

Minju frowned, her expression softening as she listened. “That sounds… rough. It’s like they took advantage of your skills for something you didn’t even want.”

“Exactly,” I said, nodding. “I mean, I get it—someone’s gotta do it. But it’s frustrating when you’re dragged into something just because you’re physically capable. I wanted to use my brain, not my fists. But they couldn’t see past the fact that I’m big enough to fight.”

Minju’s gaze softened even more, and she shifted closer, her hand resting gently on my arm. “That must be hard,” she said quietly. “Being good at something you don’t even want to do.”

“Yeah, it’s not easy,” I admitted. “Every mission, I’m thinking about what I’d rather be doing. I could be learning more about how these creatures fit into the world, figuring out how to protect people without always having to kill them. But instead, I’m out there wrestling Kaiju into submission.”

Minju smiled, her touch lingering as she spoke. “You’re not just a fighter, though. It sounds like you care about what you do, even if it’s not what you want. That’s… admirable.”

I glanced at her, surprised by the sincerity in her voice. “I guess I try to make the best of it,” I said with a shrug. “But it’s hard to keep going when you feel like you’re not where you’re supposed to be.”

Minju leaned in a little more, her expression thoughtful. “You know, I think people can surprise themselves. Maybe one day you’ll find a way to balance both—fighting when you have to, but also using your knowledge to change how things are done. I mean, if anyone could do it, it sounds like it’d be you.”

Her words caught me off guard, and I found myself smiling a little. “You really think so?”

She nodded, her smile bright but sincere. “I do. You’ve got this… strength, but it’s more than just physical. You’ve got a mind for this stuff, and that’s something not everyone has.”

I stared at her for a moment, feeling something warm settle in my chest. “Thanks,” I said softly. “Not a lot of people see that side of me.”

Minju smiled again, her eyes twinkling with a mix of playfulness and understanding. “Well, I do. And I think you’re gonna find a way to make it work, Sparkles.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “You really don’t give up, do you?”

“Nope,” she replied with a grin. “And I’m not letting you give up either.”

I sigh, before my watch goes off. I looked at it and saw that the JADKF wanted me to go to the briefing tomorrow. I roll my eyes and Minju smiles,

“What’s wrong tough guy?” She teases.

“The JAKDF wants me to go to the briefing tomorrow about this new Kaiju. So I gotta wake up early tomorrow. So this is Goodbye Mini” I say. Minju eyes widened before she said

“Wait! Before you go give me your phone,” she says. I turn back and she smiles as I take out my phone. She quickly types in my phone and then looks at hers before handing me back mine. I look at it and notice I have a text from “my lovely Girlfriend Min” I turn to Minju.

“This is presumptuous,” I say to her. Minju laughs before kissing me on the cheek.

“I’ll see you tomorrow babe,” she says as I walk out. I put on my helmet, get on the motorcycle I rented for the vacation, and race off into the foggy autumn night.

I get back to the hotel a little later and turn in early for the night. Unsurprisingly I dream about Minju. In the dream, the sun was setting on a beach, casting the sky in hues of pink and orange. The waves lapped gently at my feet as I stood on the soft, warm sand. A breeze rolled in, carrying the scent of saltwater, and for a moment, I felt completely at peace.

Then, I saw her—Minju, standing barefoot at the water’s edge, the ocean reflecting in her eyes. She smiled at me, the same teasing, playful look from earlier, but softer, more inviting. Her wolf-cut hair blew gently in the wind, and she waved me over.

I walked toward her, feeling that familiar warmth in my chest. “What’s going on, Min?” I asked as I reached her side.

Minju grinned and held out her hand. “Come with me,” she said, her voice soft but with a hint of mischief.

Without thinking, I took her hand, and she led me into the water. At first, it was just the gentle waves washing over our ankles, then our knees. The water was warm, and with every step, we drifted further from the shore, the beach slowly disappearing behind us. Minju laughed, tugging me deeper into the ocean, her smile never fading.

“Where are we going?” I asked, my voice a little hesitant as the water reached my waist. The sand beneath my feet was giving way, growing softer and harder to stand on.

“Don’t worry,” she said, turning back to me. Her eyes were bright, reflecting the fading light of the sun, and I could see the playful glint in them. “Just trust me.”

I did. I kept walking, following her deeper and deeper. The water rose higher, up to our chests now, and I realized I could no longer feel the ground beneath me. Minju’s hand tightened around mine, and for a moment, I felt a strange sense of security, even as the ocean swallowed us.

“Minju, we’re getting pretty far out,” I said, glancing back at the shoreline, now a distant blur. “Maybe we should—”

“Just a little further,” she interrupted, pulling me along as she started swimming, her strokes effortless and graceful. “We’re almost there.”

“Almost where?” I asked, feeling the unease creeping into my chest. I started to paddle, keeping myself afloat, but the ocean felt deeper and darker now. The sky had shifted to a dusky purple, the stars beginning to peek through.

Minju didn’t answer, just smiled over her shoulder. Her hand still held mine, but it felt different—firmer, almost like a lifeline. I kept swimming with her, the water cool now against my skin, but something in me was starting to panic.

“Minju, we’re too far,” I said, my breath catching in my throat as the waves grew stronger, pushing us around. I couldn’t see the shore anymore. The ocean surrounded us on all sides, an endless expanse of dark, churning water.

She finally stopped, turning to face me. Her eyes were soft, but her smile was gone. “We’re here.”

I looked around, confused. “Where?”

“Here,” she repeated, her voice almost a whisper now. She let go of my hand and floated in front of me, her hair spreading out in the water like dark ribbons.

I tried to swim back toward her, but the current pulled us apart. “Minju!” I called out, suddenly feeling the weight of the water pressing against me. I kicked harder, but it was like the ocean was holding me in place, dragging me down with every movement.

Minju’s face remained calm, almost serene. She didn’t seem scared, but something about the way she looked at me made my chest tighten. “You always fight, don’t you?” she asked softly.

“What?” I panted, my arms struggling to keep me afloat.

“You’re always fighting,” she said, her voice carrying over the waves. “But sometimes… you just have to let go.”

Before I could respond, a wave crashed over my head, pulling me under. The saltwater stung my eyes and filled my lungs as I fought to break the surface. Panic surged through me as I flailed in the water, but I couldn’t find my footing. The ocean was too deep, too vast.

And then, through the chaos, I felt her hand again. Soft, steady, pulling me up. I broke the surface, gasping for air, and there she was—Minju, holding me close, her arms wrapped around me as if to anchor me to her.

“Let go,” she whispered, her breath warm against my ear, despite the cold water around us.

For a moment, I did. I let my muscles relax, and let the water take me. I stopped fighting.

Minju smiled again, her face inches from mine. “It’s easier when you’re not fighting alone.”

And then, everything faded—her face, the ocean, the stars overhead. All of it washed away like the tide, pulling me into darkness.

I woke up in a cold sweat, the sound of waves still echoing in my ears. The hotel room was quiet, and the early morning light filtered through the curtains. I blinked, disoriented, the dream lingering in my mind, as vivid as if it had just happened.

Minju’s voice, soft and playful, echoed in my head: “It’s easier when you’re not fighting alone.”

Sure! Here’s an expanded version of the scene with more flirting as they text each other and gradually get to know each other better:

I got up and started getting ready for the day when my phone buzzed. Another text from “my lovely girlfriend” flashed on the screen:

Minju: “Hey Dio, I don’t know when you’ll be done, but I wanna go on a date today. When you’re ready, come to this address.”

She had attached a location to the message. I laughed and shot back a quick reply:

Me: “Okay, Queen Min.”

There was a pause, and I slipped on my jacket, half-expecting to get another teasing text in response. Sure enough, my phone buzzed again.

Minju: “Oh, I like that.”

I smirked, knowing she was probably grinning at her phone, already planning the next playful retort. Just as I expected, another message popped up:

Minju: “I really like that. Careful, at this rate I’ll have to make you mine.”

I could almost hear her voice, the teasing lilt, and that mischievous smile she wore the night before. Rolling my eyes, I leaned against the doorframe and typed back.

Me: “You don’t waste time, do you?”

She replied almost immediately:

Minju: “When I see something I want, I go for it. What can I say? I’m decisive.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. Her confidence was magnetic, and I wasn’t sure whether I should feel flattered or slightly on edge. But I was hooked, no doubt about that. I decided to play along, raising the stakes.

Me: “Decisive, huh? Bold words for someone who doesn’t even know my favorite color.”

Another pause. I could imagine her reading the message, brow furrowing in mock frustration, but I knew she’d have a comeback ready. Sure enough:

Minju: “Well, that’s easy. It’s black—same as your soul.”

She followed up with another message almost immediately:

Minju: “But I guess I’ll find out for sure today, won’t I?”

I laughed at her reply, impressed by how quick she was on her feet. She wasn’t giving me any space to catch her off guard, and I liked it.

Me: “Touché, Minju. So, what’s my prize if you guess right?”

Minju: “Hmm… if I’m right, I’ll make you dinner. If I’m wrong, I guess you’ll just have to impress me enough to keep me around.”

I raised an eyebrow. She was challenging me, but also giving me a chance to step up. Something about the way she pushed and pulled made the banter exciting like we were already playing a game neither of us wanted to end.

Me: “So it’s a win-win for me, huh? Either I get dinner or I get to keep you around. Sounds like you’ve stacked the deck in my favor, Queen Min.”

Minju: “Consider it a gift for being charming enough to catch my attention.”

Her words sent a small thrill through me, and I couldn’t help but wonder what the day would bring. The conversation was light, but there was something undeniably real about the tension that hummed between us, even through a screen. She had me intrigued, and I was curious to see where this would go.

Minju: “Besides, I’m good at reading people. I’ll bet I know more about you than you think.”

Me: “Oh yeah? Prove it. What else do you think you know about me?”

Another buzz:

Minju: “You seem like the type who pretends not to care, but deep down, you’re the guy who fixes everything for everyone else. You’re probably really responsible, but hate being told what to do. And…”

There was a long pause, and I waited for her to finish. Finally, the next message appeared:

Minju: ”…I bet you haven’t gone on a real date in a long time, huh?”

I blinked, taken aback by how easily she had read between the lines. She wasn’t wrong.

Me: “Guess you’re better at this than I thought.”

Minju: “I told you, I’m good at reading people. That, and I like a challenge.”

I smiled at the screen, impressed but also feeling a little exposed. She saw more of me than most people did, even with our limited interactions. But instead of feeling uncomfortable, it made me want to know more about her.

Me: “Well played, Min. But let’s see if you’re still this confident after our date.”

Minju: “Oh, I will be. See you soon, handsome.”

I finished getting ready, anticipation stirring in my chest as I thought about the day ahead. If our banter was any indication, this date was going to be anything but boring.

After riding into the makeshift JAKDF office, I parked my bike and headed inside. The place was buzzing with the usual mix of officials and soldiers prepping for whatever briefing we had in store. Since I was early, I found an empty chair in the corner and pulled out my phone, figuring I’d kill some time before the meeting started.

With nothing pressing on my mind, my thoughts drifted back to Minju—my lovely girlfriend Min. I smirked at the memory of her cheeky text and suddenly realized that despite all the banter, I didn’t know much about her beyond what I’d picked up during our flirty exchanges. Curiosity piqued, I typed her name into the search bar and hit enter.

A sea of results flooded the screen, and I blinked, surprised by how much there was to uncover. I scrolled through the first few hits, noticing immediately that she wasn’t just some random girl who worked at a bar. No, Kim Minju was a full-on celebrity—formerly of IZ*ONE, a K-pop idol turned actress.

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued as I tapped on one of the articles. She’d been on hiatus for a while, something about waiting for the right role to take her acting career to the next level. And apparently, she wasn’t alone. Rumor had it she was eyeing a potential action movie alongside one of her old group members, Hyewon. I chuckled, imagining Minju doing high-flying stunts in some action-packed blockbuster. She didn’t exactly scream action hero when I first met her, but then again, neither did I.

Without realizing it, I clicked on another link, and then another. Before long, I was knee-deep in everything there was to know about Minju and IZONE. My curiosity spiraled, and I wasn’t just reading about Minju anymore. My AUDHD latched onto the deeper threads, pulling me into the world of K-pop fandom. I found myself learning about IZONE’s music, their disbandment, and how the members had gone on to form or join new groups. The intricate web of connections between all these artists was staggering. Daughter groups, subunits, solo careers—I was way out of my depth.

But I wasn’t stopping.

Every article led to a new tangent, and soon I was clicking through random trivia about the K-pop industry, how group contracts worked, and how fandoms shaped the careers of idols long after they’d stepped off the stage. I dove into comment sections, reading fan theories, interviews, and even rumors about future reunions. The more I learned, the deeper I fell into the rabbit hole.

Time blurred as I scrolled through pages and pages, soaking in details about group dynamics, music charts, and choreography breakdowns. I was getting lost in it, fascinated by the mechanics of the idol machine and how it all worked behind the scenes. Hours felt like minutes, and by the time I surfaced for air, I realized I wasn’t just learning about Minju anymore—I was uncovering the whole universe she came from.

Eventually, my brain, as it often did, decided to connect the dots between two seemingly unrelated things. Somewhere between reading about IZ*ONE’s international tours and fan events, my thoughts drifted back to work. Kaiju and Titans weren’t so different from these idol groups, in a weird way. Both were massive forces in their respective worlds, with entire ecosystems built around them. That familiar itch for research started up, and I felt my focus shift.

From there, I leaped back into Kaiju biology. I pulled up some articles on recent Kaiju sightings and cross-referenced them with Titan ecological patterns. My mind was already threading together theories about why certain species were resurfacing, likely brought on by environmental shifts and human interference. One-click led to another, and soon enough, I was neck-deep in scientific reports on the breeding cycles of Titans, pulling apart the data like a puzzle I couldn’t resist solving.

It was wild how quickly I’d gone from K-pop idols to Kaiju migration patterns, but that’s how it was for me. One moment I was reading about Minju’s latest drama offer, the next I was knee-deep in an article on how Kaiju adapts to different environments based on territorial disputes. Everything, somehow, was connected in the weird, tangled web of my brain.

Here’s an expanded version of the scene, emphasizing the narrator’s dwindling attention and his intense focus once he’s challenged:

After my impromptu research session (and draining my phone battery), I sat slumped in the makeshift conference room, idly watching the seconds tick by. Three hours had passed since I’d arrived. I drummed my fingers on the table, my mind starting to wander, diving in and out of random thoughts. The ambient noise of the office—conversations, footsteps, and clacking keyboards—faded in and out of my awareness like background music in a waiting room.

Four hours. That’s when I’d had enough. I stood up, stretching my legs, feeling that strange mix of frustration and resignation wash over me. This meeting was supposed to take one hour, maybe two at most, they said. I made my way toward the exit, ready to cut my losses and leave.

As I reached the door, I nearly collided with two JAKDF officers—Kafka and Mina. Both looked startled to see me.

“Oh, Diomacho! You’re already here?” Mina said, her surprise bordering on confusion.

I glanced at my watch, suppressing a sigh. “Yeah. I’ve been here for…,” I paused for emphasis, “four hours now.”

Their eyes widened, and they immediately launched into a flurry of apologies, scrambling to explain the miscommunication. Apparently, they’d been waiting for me at the entrance this whole time, completely unaware I’d already arrived. After a bit more back-and-forth, they promised to gather everyone and get the meeting started. I nodded, returning to my seat, but not without a roll of my eyes.

Settling back into my chair, I checked my phone and noticed a new text from Minju.

Minju: “Babe, I’m hungry. When are you going to be done?”

I chuckled at her dramatic choice of emojis—angry faces, and crying faces, all perfectly encapsulating her impatience.

I smirked, typing back: Me: “Probably 90 minutes or so. You should see if any of your friends wanna hang out.”

There was a pause before her next message came through.

Minju: “I don’t have any friends, babe.”

I scoffed, shaking my head as I replied. Me: “I’m calling BS on that.”

Minju quickly fired back a laughing emoji, followed by another message.

Minju: “Ugh, fine, but text me as soon as you’re done. I can’t wait to feel you in my talons.”

I raised an eyebrow at that. Me: “That’s an odd turn of phrase.”

Minju: “I know, but trust me. Once you’re in my talons, you’ll never want to leave.”

I smirked, typing my reply: Me: “That’s pretty bold and presumptuous.”

Her response was nearly instant as if she’d been waiting for my text. Minju: “Aw, you think I’m pretty and bold.”

I was still grinning at her flirty response when Mina, Kafka, and a group of other officers entered the room. Among them was a tiny blonde woman who looked at me skeptically, her eyes narrowing.

“This is him? The American expert?” she asked, her tone laced with disbelief.

I let out a tired sigh and started to stand, half-ready to walk out again. But before I could move an inch, Kafka placed a firm hand on my shoulder, gently shoving me back into the seat.

“Kikoru, stop being so mean,” Kafka chided, his massive frame blocking my view for a moment.

Resigned to my fate, I leaned back in my chair, already zoning out again as Kikoru shot me a disdainful look. She clearly wasn’t impressed, and honestly, I couldn’t blame her. I wasn’t exactly giving off the ‘engaged expert’ vibe at the moment. I pulled out my phone again, figuring I could at least text Minju to pass the time.

Me: “What are you in the mood for?”

Minju: “Oh, you’re done? (smiley face emoji)”

Me: “Sadly no, close though. So, what food do you want?”

There was a pause before her reply came through.

Minju: “Hmm, pizza? Yeah, let’s go with pizza. There’s this little place near my home, you’ll love it.”

Before I could respond, Kikoru turned to me, her eyes narrowing even further.

“Um, excuse me, are you paying attention?” she snapped, her voice cutting through the dull haze that had settled over my mind.

I looked up, suddenly aware of the room around me again. The group discussed the Kaiju and theories about its behavior and location. I blinked, shaking off the fog as I pieced together what they were talking about. Thankfully, I’d already read all the reports and sightings, so I caught on quickly.

“Yeah, sorry. So, we’ve got a humanoid Kaiju hiding in Seoul and the Incheon area. Based on the sightings, it’s potentially female, with Garuda or Phoenix-like traits. Crimson, golden, and umber plumage accented with dark navy. It’s been attacking men who were in the process of assaulting women. Our mission is to capture or subdue it within the next few days.”

The room went silent for a moment, everyone looking at me, taken aback by my sudden burst of focus. I shrugged.

“Just because I don’t want to be here doesn’t mean I’m going to sabotage the operation.”

Most of the group seemed to accept my explanation, but Kikoru wasn’t convinced. She crossed her arms, glaring at me.

“I’m sorry, do you expect your studies to carry you through?” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

I narrowed my eyes slightly, focusing on her now. It was like a switch flipped in my head. I leaned forward, meeting her gaze with an eerie intensity that almost made her flinch.

“Most battles are decided long before the first blow is struck. Planning and preparation are key. But more than anything, it’s the desire to win that counts.”

“Oh, really?” she shot back. “You want to prove that?”

I stared at her for a beat, feeling my pulse slow. Everything else faded into the background. My mind honed in on her challenge like a predator locking onto prey.

“No, not really,” I replied evenly, watching as her frustration mounted.

“Come on, smarty-pants,” she taunted. “Show me how far that know-it-all attitude has gotten you.”

I was about to brush her off when the door swung open, and a clerk poked their head in.

“Officer Mina, can you let Diomacho know his gear came in five minutes ago?”

I sighed deeply, already knowing where this was going. Kikoru smirked, her arms still crossed.

“Well? Are you going to give me that attitude adjustment or what?”

I exhaled, standing up from my chair. “Fine.” We made our way to a nearby arena for our little face-off. I was quiet the entire time, my mind already elsewhere, even as Kafka and Mina tried to get me to open up, offering words of encouragement or ways to calm me down. But I didn’t need to be calmed; I was already in a headspace Kikoru wouldn’t understand. When we faced off, Kikoru was still as cocky as ever, her posture loose and her grin wide as I slowly took out my weapons.

“You know, you can still back out, kid,” she teased, her tone almost bored as she held her axe at the ready.

I ignored her taunts and activated my nano suit, only at ten percent. It was more than enough for now. I dropped into my combat-ready stance, my body poised for motion.

“Oh, is that your ready stance?” she asked, amusement dripping from her voice, underestimating me completely.

I didn’t waste time with words. In an instant, I launched myself forward at incredible speed, closing the distance between us in the blink of an eye. Kikoru barely had time to react, managing to block my first strike with her axe. The impact sent a tremor through her arms, and I could see a flicker of surprise cross her face.

But I didn’t give her a moment to recover. I dashed behind her, aiming another punch toward her back, and again, she barely managed to block, her axe swinging around with just enough force to intercept my strike. She backed off, visibly rattled, her earlier confidence shaken.

“You’re fast,” she admitted, still trying to sound cocky, but there was something off in her voice now, a note of uncertainty that hadn’t been there before. “I’ll give you that.”

I didn’t bother replying. I just kept the pressure on, my focus narrowing until the rest of the world disappeared. The arena, Kafka, Mina—everything faded into the background. All that mattered was Kikoru and the way she moved, the way her axe dictated her strategy. She was good, but her weapon was slow and bulky. Every swing required commitment, and once she started a motion, there wasn’t much she could do to alter it. All I had to do was read where she was going to strike and not be there.

It was almost too easy. I weaved in and out of her strikes, dodging, waiting for the moment her fatigue would show. She was starting to realize that no matter how fast or powerful her swings were, I was always two steps ahead. Her frustration began to boil over.

“Would you just stay still?” she yelled, her movements becoming sloppier, more desperate.

Her breathing was heavier now, her stance a little less sure. I could see the fatigue creeping into her features—the way her grip on her axe was tightening as if she could will herself to keep up.

I decided I’d seen enough. “Nanosystem, activate 40%,” I commanded, feeling the suit surge with power. In a burst of speed, I shot forward, my fist aimed directly at Kikoru’s torso, intending to end the fight with one clean hit.

But before I could land the blow, Kafka and Mina intervened, rushing in to stop me, their arms outstretched as they pushed me back. I relaxed my stance immediately, taking a step back as I let the adrenaline ease out of my system.

Kikoru was panting, clearly exhausted, her earlier bravado replaced with confusion and irritation. She looked at me with wide eyes, finally realizing just how outmatched she had been.

I glanced over at Kafka and Mina, who were still standing between us. “Have I shown my capability enough?” I asked, my voice calm as if I hadn’t just nearly knocked Kikoru out in front of them.

Kikoru didn’t respond, still too stunned by the realization that, despite all her training, she’d been completely unprepared for the speed and power I had been holding back.

I left the arena went back home showered and got ready for my date. When I was ready I rode to Minju’s home. I knocked on the door and it opened. I walked inside but was confused when I saw it was not Minju behind it, but a person who looked like she could be her sister.

“You’re not Minju,” I say slowly.

the lady nods and says, “I’m Hyewon”

I nod and say, "Okay Hyewon do you know where Minju is…or is this the wrong address?"

"No, you are in the right place. Minmin is just getting ready for you," Hyewon says cheekily. it was at that point I recognized Hyewon.

"Oh you're Hyewon the actress and from Izone," I said. Heywon smirked as she nodded leaving the foyer/ entrance area. a few moments later Minju arrived in a cute blouse and nice jeans. I smiled and she gave me an annoyed but happy expression,

"You're late," she said exasperated,

I furrowed my brow in mock confusion as I leaned in closer, "Um I recall you said when I was done." I said before kissing her forehead.

Minju short-circuited as she tried to form a reply, "I did but…"

I cut Minju off before she could get going, "Um I don't think so Queen Min. You said when I was done." Minju rolled her eyes and then followed me to my motorcycle where I pulled out the jacket for her and a helmet. She graciously took both as we rode to the pizza parlor she recommended.

The pizza parlor was small, tucked away on a side street with just a handful of tables. It had a cozy charm, with the smell of freshly baked dough and melted cheese filling the air. The place had a laid-back atmosphere, the kind where you could unwind and forget the rest of the world for a while. Minju and I sat in a booth by the window, the late afternoon sun casting soft golden light over the checkered tablecloth.

As we waited for our pizza, I took a sip of my soda and glanced over at her. “So, why’d you stop being a K-pop idol?” I asked, trying to keep the conversation casual even though I’d been curious ever since my deep dive into her career.

Minju leaned back, twirling the straw in her drink. “Well, you know how it is. Idol life is…intense. It was fun, don’t get me wrong, but after a while, I wanted to do something different. Something that wasn’t so scripted.” She smiled softly. “Acting gives me a chance to play different characters and explore different parts of myself. With singing and performing, I always felt like I had to fit into this mold, but acting… lets me be anyone. Plus, I wanted more control over my life. K-pop is all about schedules, rehearsals, and appearances. I just…needed a break from that.”

I nodded, understanding. It wasn’t hard to see how the pressures of idol life could wear someone down. But before I could respond, she leaned in a little closer, her eyes narrowing playfully.

“Okay, your turn,” she said. “What’s been bothering you?”

Caught off guard, I raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

Minju laughed softly, her smile full of mischief. “I know you better than you know yourself. You’ve been distracted ever since we sat down. Something’s on your mind.”

I was about to deny it, but her confidence threw me off. “Oh yeah? You think you know me that well?” I challenged. “What’s my favorite color then?”

Without missing a beat, Minju grinned. “Teal.”

I blinked. “How did you—?”

“Because you’re obsessed with the northern lights and the sea,” she said, leaning back with a self-satisfied smirk. “Both of which have that teal shade. You're lockscreen has the northern lights and your wallpaper on your phone is a teal ocean. Your case is teal and I am going to assume that .”

I couldn’t help but laugh, shaking my head. “Alright, you got me.”

Minju’s eyes sparkled. “Your turn.”

I smirked, raising the stakes. “What’s your favorite ice cream?”

Her grin widened. “Ooh, a challenge. Go ahead, I’m waiting.”

I thought back to my impromptu research session, remembering a random tidbit from one of her old interviews. “Chocolate,” I said, watching her reaction.

Minju’s eyebrows shot up, and then a smile spread across her face. “Well, someone did their homework.”

I shrugged, playing it cool. “Maybe a little.”

We shared a laugh, but soon, the playfulness faded as I thought back to what had really been weighing on me. The conversation shifted, and I could feel the atmosphere get a little heavier.

Minju noticed the change. “Okay, spill it. What’s really bothering you?”

I hesitated for a second, unsure of how to put it into words. But Minju’s gaze was steady, reassuring like she could handle whatever I was about to say. “It’s the Kaiju human hybrid process,” I finally admitted. “They’re pushing me to undergo it. To…merge with Kaiju DNA. They say it’s to give me an edge, make me more effective in battle, but…”

She frowned, concern flickering across her face. “But what?”

I exhaled, running a hand through my hair. “I’m worried I’ll end up like my friend. He went through it and…well, he’s not the same anymore. He’s a Kaiju supremacist now, convinced humans are inferior. He’s become a terrorist, Minju. I don’t want that to happen to me. I don’t want to lose myself.”

For a moment, Minju was quiet, her eyes searching mine. Then she reached across the table, placing her hand on top of mine. “You won’t,” she said firmly, her voice steady. “You have a good heart. A strong one. I know you. You’d never go down that path.”

I looked at her, trying to let her words sink in, but the fear still lingered. “You don’t know that, Min. That process, it changes people.”

Minju squeezed my hand. “Maybe. But it’s not just about the process. It’s about who you are deep down. And I know you, Dio. You’re not like your friend. You wouldn’t let it control you. You’re too stubborn for that.”

I chuckled softly, though the worry still gnawed at me. “Stubborn, huh?”

“Very,” she teased, but her tone remained soft, her expression sincere. “Listen, you’re stronger than you give yourself credit for. And I’ll be here. I’m not going anywhere, okay?”

I looked at her, feeling some of the weight lift off my shoulders. “Thanks, Minju.”

She smiled, a soft, reassuring smile that made everything feel a little less daunting. “Now,” she said, leaning back with a smirk, “about that pizza…”

As Minju and I were walking out of the pizza parlor, the night was quiet, almost too quiet. The cool breeze carried the distant hum of the city, and I felt a strange tension settle in my gut. Something was off. I didn’t say anything to Minju, not wanting to spoil the moment, but my instincts were buzzing, and alert.

Then, from the shadows of the alley across the street, I felt it—the heavy, oppressive energy of something far too familiar. The ground trembled beneath our feet. A low growl rumbled through the air, followed by the sound of something massive scraping against concrete.

“Min, get down!” I shouted, grabbing her arm and pulling her behind me just as a Kaiju emerged from the darkness, its grotesque form towering over the buildings. It was huge, with blackened scales and crimson eyes that glowed with malevolent intent.

I’d fought Kaiju before, but this one felt different. More vicious. More intent on destruction. My heart raced as I tried to assess the situation, my mind scrambling for a plan. I activated my nanosuit, but I wasn’t fully equipped for a battle this size. My weapons were back at the base.

The Kaiju roared and lunged toward us, and I prepared to hold it off as best I could, knowing the odds weren’t in our favor.

But before I could react, Minju stepped out from behind me, her expression deadly serious.

“Minju, get back!” I yelled, but she didn’t move. Instead, she looked at the Kaiju with a calmness that didn’t match the situation. I could see something shifting in her eyes, something I’d never noticed before.

In a heartbeat, her body began to change. Her skin shimmered, taking on an otherworldly hue, and her eyes glowed with a fierce light. Her entire form twisted and grew, morphing into something powerful, something that was…part Kaiju.

I froze, stunned as I watched her transform. She was beautiful—her humanoid form still present but adorned with iridescent scales, her hair flowing like molten silver, and her wings, bright and feathered, unfurled from her back. She looked like some kind of mythical creature, equal parts terrifying and awe-inspiring. Like a phoenix, or a garuda. I watched as she approached the creature awestruck and my heart raced.

She glanced at me, her expression uncertain. She expected fear. Terror. Rejection. But all I could do was stare in awe and admiration.

“Minju…” I whispered, but my voice trailed off as I marveled at her. I wasn’t afraid. I wasn’t disgusted. I was captivated.

Minju turned to the Kaiju and, with a powerful roar, charged at it. Her speed and strength were staggering. She tore into the creature with a grace and ferocity I’d never seen before, her movements fluid and calculated. It didn’t take long before she overpowered the Kaiju, forcing it to retreat into the shadows, defeated, and whimpering.

Breathing heavily, Minju returned to me, her form slowly reverting back to her human appearance. Her eyes, still glowing faintly, searched my face for a reaction.

“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice wavering. “I didn’t want you to find out like this. I’m…different.”

I shook my head, still processing what I’d seen. “Huh? What are you talking about? Min, that was incredible.”

She blinked, clearly taken aback. “You’re…you’re not afraid?”

I stepped closer to her, reaching out to gently cup her face. “Afraid? No. Why would I be afraid? You just saved both of us.”

“But I’m not…I’m not fully human, Dio,” she said softly, her eyes filled with uncertainty. “I’m a hybrid. A human Kaiju hybrid.”

I took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest. “Okay and like that is going to stop me from liking you? Minju, I don’t care what you are. That doesn’t change anything. If anything, it makes me admire you even more.”

Her gaze softened, and for a moment, the world around us seemed to disappear. There was no Kaiju, no danger—just us.

I slid my hand down to take hers. “Let’s get out of here.”

We made it back to my hotel room, the adrenaline from the attack still thrumming through my veins. Minju was quiet, still processing everything that had happened, and I could sense the weight of her unspoken worries.

I led her to the couch, and we sat down. The silence between us was heavy, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was more like the calm after a storm, a moment to collect ourselves before diving into the next part.

“So when you told me I would be a great human Kaiju hybrid you were speaking from experience,” I said gently, breaking the silence.

Minju laughed and said, "Yes. You would."

I sighed and then smiled. Min smiled back.

"I can see with my job why you wouldn't have told me, and I appreciate finding out, but I'd have liked to know this earlier,"

“I know,” Minju admitted, her fingers nervously playing with the edge of her sleeve. “I wanted to. But it’s…complicated. My hybrid nature is something I’ve kept hidden for so long. Only a few people know. I didn’t know how to tell you.”

I nodded, understanding. “I get it. that's fair. However, now since you're my girlfriend you don't have to hide anymore.”

She looked at me, her eyes softening. “You’re really okay with this?”

“Of course, I am.” I reached over, taking her hand in mine again. “You’re still you, Minju. Nothing about that has changed. You're just hotter…literally. Are you a phoenix type?”

She smiled, but I could still see the lingering hesitation in her eyes. “ You are ridiculous…yes, I am a Phoenix type, I just…I didn’t want you to think I was a monster.”

I shook my head, my grip on her hand tightening. “You’re not a monster. You’re strong, and you’re brave. You’re…amazing.”

Minju chuckled softly, finally relaxing a little. “You really are something, you know that?”

I smiled. “better that than nothing.”

She leaned her head against my shoulder, and for a moment, we just sat there, the weight of the day slowly fading away.

“So…what happens now?” she asked after a while.

I thought about it for a moment before replying. “We figure it out. Together.”

Minju tilted her head up to look at me, a small smile playing on her lips. “Together, huh?”

I nodded, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Yeah. Together.”

She sighed, her expression softening. “I’m lucky to have you.”

I smirked. “You’d better believe it.”

Minju laughed, a sound that filled the room with warmth, and in that moment, everything felt a little lighter. A few moments later I said,

"You know my sisters would often tease me that the only girl I'd ever find who would like me would be a Kaiju. This was before we discovered Kaiju human hybrids of course but it is funny how they were right essentially."

Minju laughed at that for 4 minutes. After that, we fell into a comfortable silence, and in that silence Minju's hand found mine.

"your hands are really warm," I say. Minju laughs and says,

"Well I am a firebird," she says before cuddling me close.

Minju rests her head on my chest and she says I love your heartbeat. "it's so peaceful, this loud drum going boom, boom," I laugh as she nestles closer before drifting off to sleep.

The dream started like a memory I’d rather forget—blurry, disjointed. I was back in that lab, the one where everything went wrong. The sterile smell of antiseptic hit me first, followed by the low hum of machines working relentlessly. Arthur was on the cold metal table in front of me, tubes running from his arms and chest, his body already showing signs of the transformation. His muscles twitched, convulsing slightly as the Kaiju DNA fused with his own, patches of scales flickering in and out of existence. It was unsettling, watching someone I considered a brother turning into… something else.

I took a step closer, my heart hammering in my chest, but I couldn’t let him see my fear. He needed me to be strong. I had to be the anchor, the one thing in this madness that he could hold onto.

“Arthur,” I called softly, trying to keep my voice steady. “You’re doing great, man. Just hang in there.”

His eyes fluttered open, glowing faintly, and I felt my gut twist. His voice, once so full of life, now sounded strained, weak. “It hurts, Dio… so much.”

“I know.” I forced a smile, gripping his hand, though my own was shaking. “But you’re going to get through this. You’re stronger than anyone I know.”

He winced, his face contorting in pain as another wave of whatever the hell was happening to him hit. His fingers—no, claws—dug into the table, leaving deep scratches. “They said this would make me stronger, but I feel… like a monster.”

“You’re not a monster,” I said, more to convince myself than him. “You’re still Arthur, and we’re going to get through this. Once this is over, you’ll be able to do things we never dreamed of.”

Even as I said it, I saw the doubt in his eyes. The glow in them was changing, shifting into something darker, something I didn’t recognize.

The days blurred together after that, a nightmare on repeat. Arthur’s body transformed further, his skin hardening into scales, his face becoming… alien. His conversations with me became shorter, his words laced with bitterness. Every day, he seemed less like the guy I grew up with and more like something else. Something angry.

“I should have never trusted them,” he spat one day, his voice harsh, jagged like broken glass. We were back in the lab, though he was no longer on the table. Now, he towered over me, his form almost fully Kaiju. His eyes—dark, swirling with malice—bore into me. “They don’t care about us, Dio. They just wanted to use me. Turn me into a weapon.”

“That’s not true,” I said, even though I wasn’t sure I believed it anymore. “This was supposed to make you stronger, to protect people.”

He laughed, a hollow, bitter sound. “Protect? Do you really think that’s what this is about? Look at me!” He gestured to himself, muscles rippling under his newly transformed skin. “I’m not a protector—I’m a monster they’ll use until they don’t need me anymore.”

“Arthur, stop,” I pleaded, desperation creeping into my voice. “You’re still you. We can fix this. Don’t let it turn you into something you’re not.”

But his eyes had changed completely. There was no recognition in them anymore. Just anger. “I already am something else. And you—” He pointed a clawed finger at me, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl. “You’ll see it too, eventually. They’ll try to change you like they did me. And when that happens, you’ll understand. You’ll see why I hate them.”

The dream shifted, and suddenly we were outside, standing amidst the wreckage of a city destroyed by a Kaiju attack. Arthur was standing on a pile of rubble, his monstrous form towering above me, flames licking the horizon behind him. His face was twisted with rage, his Kaiju eyes burning with resentment.

“They never cared about us, Dio,” his voice echoed through the chaos around us. “And now I’m going to make them pay.”

I tried to reach him, tried to pull him back. “Arthur, this isn’t you. You don’t have to do this. We can still fix this. We can make it right.”

But he was gone. The Arthur I knew had been replaced by something else—something consumed by hate and anger. His transformation was complete, not just in body, but in spirit. He was no longer my friend.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered as I watched him, powerless to stop it. “I couldn’t save you.”

His last words echoed in the dream, haunting me as they always did. “You’ll never be able to save anyone, Dio. Not even yourself.”

And just like that, everything faded to black, leaving me alone with the crushing weight of failure.

I woke up to the sensation of warmth, but not the kind you’d expect from the blankets. No, this was different—alive, almost. When I opened my eyes, I freaked out for a split second, seeing flames wrapping around me, flickering like they were sentient. My heart raced, and for that brief moment, I thought I was about to be consumed by fire. But then my brain caught up with reality. Yesterday’s events came flooding back—Minju, her transformation, her true nature. This wasn’t any ordinary fire. These were her flames.

I relaxed, my panic subsiding as I watched the flames float around us, not wild or dangerous, but gentle and serene. They danced in the air like little night lights, soft orbs of orange, yellow, and red floating along the ceiling of the room. They didn’t burn or release smoke; they just existed, quietly glowing like they belonged here. The sight of it made me smile—a new, beautiful part of Minju I hadn’t yet seen. Another reminder of how extraordinary she was.

I turned my head and saw her beside me, still half-asleep, her face soft in the flickering light. Her hair was a mess, strands falling over her face as she shifted slightly, the movement causing the flames to ripple gently, almost in sync with her. She stirred, slowly sitting up, rubbing her eyes groggily as if she didn’t realize she was surrounded by her own flames.

“What time is it?” she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep as she clumsily tried to tidy her messy hair.

I glanced at the clock on the nightstand and saw that it was still early, around 5:30 AM. “It’s 5:30,” I whispered back, keeping my voice low as if not to disturb the peaceful moment we were in.

Minju groaned softly, her shoulders slumping as she lazily fixed her hair. “Okay… can we go back to sleep?” she asked, sounding like a little kid who didn’t want to get out of bed for school. There was something so endearing about it, this powerful, hybrid girl being so… human in this moment.

I nodded, smiling at her as I shifted back into the pillows. “Yeah, we can. No rush.”

She sighed in relief, giving up on her hair and snuggling back under the blankets. Her flames responded to her emotions, dimming slightly, and I could feel the warmth they radiated calming me down as well. Minju curled up close to me, resting her head on my shoulder, her breath evening out as sleep pulled her back in. Her fingers lazily intertwined with mine, her soft touch grounding me even more.

I lay there for a while, wide awake, just watching her. The way her flames glowed softly, the rise and fall of her chest as she slept, the way her lips curled into a faint smile even in her dreams. I marveled at how someone like her—a Phoenix-type Kaiju hybrid, capable of unimaginable power—could be so gentle and vulnerable in these quiet moments. And the fact that she trusted me enough to let me see this side of her? It made my heart swell.

As the minutes passed, the flames continued to flicker above us, casting a warm, ethereal light over the room. I couldn’t stop smiling, realizing how lucky I was. How I’d ended up here, next to her, in this strange but perfect moment. I eventually drifted into dreamland again.

In the dream, the vast cosmos stretched out around us, filled with stars, nebulas, and galaxies, but there was something more—something darker, deeper. As I floated in the endless space, I felt a presence behind me, a shadow that moved with me, wrapping around me like a cloak. It wasn’t menacing, but it was powerful, deep like the void between stars.

This darkness, however, wasn’t just empty. It swirled and moved in its own dance, creating shadows that formed intricate patterns, twisting and coiling like a living entity. My body glowed faintly with orbs of black and deep blue, darkness following me as I moved through the cosmos. It contrasted with the surrounding stars, like an eclipse casting shapes across the heavens, a night sky contained within me.

And there, floating in the midst of it all, was Minju.

Her flames were back, but this time, they burned brighter, more vivid, like they were responding to the presence of my darkness. Small orbs of fire—orange, red, and yellow—swirled around her, rising and falling in a rhythm that matched the beat of the universe. She radiated warmth and light as if she had pulled the very essence of the stars into herself, her movements fluid and graceful. Her eyes sparkled like galaxies, full of understanding, full of wonder.

As she danced through the stars, her flames reached out toward me. And without a word, I extended my hand, my own darkness following. The moment our hands touched, the cosmos reacted. My orbs of darkness swirled around her flames, twining together in an elegant, mesmerizing dance of light and shadow.

Shapes formed between us—stars born from the clash of fire and darkness, colors erupting where our energies met. Our flames and shadows combined, creating something entirely new, a swirling mix of hues that shifted between deep blacks, purples, and vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows. It was as if we were creating galaxies of our own with every step we took, each swirl of our hands causing new nebulas to form and dissolve.

The dance we shared now felt different, more intense, a balance of opposites. As Minju spun and moved, her flames flickered and danced alongside my shadows. They twisted together, merging and separating, forming beautiful, intricate designs in the cosmos. Sometimes the darkness would wrap around her flames, dimming them, only for her fire to burst through, illuminating the void. Other times, my orbs would dance alongside her flames, weaving together to create new patterns, each one unique and fleeting, a creation of beauty that only existed at that moment.

As we moved, I felt the darkness pull at me, but not in a way that frightened me. It felt like an extension of myself, like something I’d always known but had only just begun to understand. Minju’s light balanced it, her flames pushing back against the void, and together, we created something neither of us could do on our own.

Our dance brought us closer and closer, the distance between us shrinking as the cosmos around us responded to our combined energies. The swirling lights and shadows formed a kaleidoscope of shapes and colors, like fireworks made of stars and galaxies, painting the universe with our movements.

When we finally stopped, we were so close I could feel her warmth, her flames flickering gently, wrapping around us both, dancing with my shadows. Her eyes met mine, and there was no fear, no hesitation, just understanding.

The orbs of darkness that surrounded me, which had once felt so isolating, now intertwined with her light in a perfect balance. My darkness no longer stood apart from her flames, but merged with them, creating something beautiful and powerful.

As we stood there, our faces mere inches apart, the universe seemed to be still. Her flames burned softly against my skin, and my shadows wrapped around her like a protective veil. I leaned in, and she did the same, the galaxies around us swirling in anticipation. Our lips drew closer, and closer, the fire and shadow blending in a way that was so perfect, it felt like the entire cosmos was holding its breath.

But just as our lips were about to meet, the dream began to fade. The stars, the galaxies, the nebulas—they all slowly dissolved into the darkness, pulling me away from her. The swirling flames and shadows that had danced around us melted back into the void, the colors and shapes vanishing as if they had never been.

I reached out, trying to hold onto the moment, onto her, but it slipped through my fingers like smoke, leaving only the lingering warmth of her flames and the quiet comfort of the darkness. And then, I woke up. For real this time. I blinked a couple of times as I looked around for Minju until I heard the shower start and guessed where she could be. At that moment my mind gave me a small spark of an idea to join her followed by an image of her nude in my mind. I felt myself hardening at the thought and almost did but I chose not to at least for now. I got up stretched and played my switch to wait for her. When she came out she was wrapped in only a towel and I found myself salivating over her. Her long legs seemed so perfect so inviting.

“Do you like what you see?” She teased, which snapped me out of my trance. I nodded slowly and Minju said, “Well then maybe I’ll let you see more tonight at my place.” I smiled and she quickly qualified that statement,

“If you aren’t late. I expect you at my place at 7:00 tonight.

I nodded and replied “Well I’m just going sightseeing tonight. You’re welcome to join me if you don’t have work,”

“…hmm that sounds like fun. Sure. I am taking a two-week vacation since I was able to hire a new person at my bar so I don’t have to be there 24/7.” She answered

I nodded and quickly got ready after that we were off. The sky was a crisp blue, the autumn air light as Minju and I strolled through the streets of Seoul. The city buzzed with life around us, but somehow, it felt like it was just the two of us. Minju had insisted on this date—a day of exploring the city, seeing the sights, and, according to her, “having some fun for once.” I had my reservations, but I wasn’t going to say no to her. I originally was just going to ride my motorcycle around the cities going from tourist trap to tourist trap but Minju said this would be more “intimate and fun”

We started at Namsan Tower, the towering structure looming above us as we took the cable car up. Minju was practically glowing with excitement, leaning over the railing to get a better view of the city below. I gripped firmly onto the side railing as my nerves worsened the higher we got.

“Look at that!” she exclaimed, pointing out landmarks, her eyes bright with wonder. I just nodded, content to watch her as she took it all in.

“You don’t seem that impressed,” she teased, nudging me as the cable car rocked gently.

I shrugged, keeping my expression neutral. “I’ve seen tall buildings before.”

She rolled her eyes, not buying it for a second. “You’re such a liar. I know you’re enjoying this.”

“Am I?” I raised an eyebrow, but the small smile tugging at the corner of my mouth betrayed me.

Minju then noticed my white knuckle grip and said, “Wait are you okay Dio,”

“Just a fear of falling from large heights,” I responded. Minju smiled and said,

“Why don’t you know I’ll catch you,” I looked at her and she just smiled and my heart hurtled at that moment. After that, I was able to relax my grip a bit.

Minju grinned, stepping closer to me in the confined space of the car. Her presence was warm, a quiet reassurance that I hadn’t realized I’d been craving. I felt her arm brush against mine, and for a moment, I let myself relax into it. She slowly and deliberately wormed her hands into mine and had my arms wrapped around her.

“You feel so cool like a nice ice-cold soju hot day,” she said as she tightened my grip around her.

Once we reached the top, we wandered through the observation deck, Minju dragging me to the love-locks area. She handed me a lock and a marker, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

“Go on,” she urged. “We should put one up.”

I stared at the lock, my hand suddenly feeling heavier. “You want us to do this?”

“Why not?” She tilted her head, her soft smile melting away my hesitation. “It’s a nice way to mark this moment, don’t you think?”

I couldn’t argue with that. I scrawled something quickly and handed it to her. Minju took one look and burst out laughing. “Really? ‘Dio was here’?”

“Hey, it’s to the point.” I grinned, but inside, something shifted. This was more than just a lock. It was a piece of me—something I didn’t realize I wanted to give.

Minju smiled at me and said, “Say something that truly comes from the heart, not just some declaration of presence,” despite her smile, her presence insisted she was serious so I wiped off the lock and wrote something else. I looked at Minju and remembered my last couple of dreams about her so I wrote, “Deep in the water it’s just you and me,”

I showed Minju and she blushed as she showed me hers it read, “In all of the cosmos I chose you and you chose me,”

I laughed and said, there are you happy?” Minju nodded before using her flames to discreetly etch our messages in the locks together. I smiled watching her be so focused on her work.

We locked it to the fence, side by side with thousands of others, a quiet symbol of something deeper I couldn’t quite name yet. But Minju seemed to know, even if I didn’t. She didn’t say anything, but the way she looked at me, the way her eyes softened, told me she understood.

As we left the tower, she looped her arm through mine, guiding me through the winding streets of Insadong, pointing out little shops, and stopping occasionally to show me something that caught her eye. Her laughter was light, her energy infectious. It felt like every wall I’d built up, every layer of distance I’d kept between myself and others, was slowly being chipped away with each step.

When we reached a small park by the river, Minju sat down on one of the benches, pulling me down beside her. The sun was setting now, casting a warm orange glow over the city. I felt her lean into me, her head resting against my shoulder.

“You’re awfully quiet today,” she said softly.

I shrugged, trying to play it off. “Just taking it all in.”

She didn’t buy it. “Come on, Dio. I know you better than that.” Her voice was gentle, with no accusation in it, just understanding. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”

I hesitated, staring out at the water. “You really want to know?”

“Always.” She shifted slightly to look up at me, her eyes full of something I couldn’t quite place—trust, maybe. Or something deeper.

I sighed. “Well minus the constant stream of plans and ideas I tune out. It’s just… I’m not used to this. Being with someone like this. Letting someone in.”

I hesitated for a moment before saying, “You are radiant. I mean that both literally and figuratively. I am not the most likable even at the best of times so you being so close to me is odd, to say the least,”

Minju smiled softly. “I know. But I’m patient. I’ll wait as long as it takes.”

Her words hit me harder than I expected, and for the first time in a long while, I felt my guard completely drop. I turned to face her, and in that moment, it was like everything else faded away—the noise of the city, the hum of people around us. All that mattered was her.

“You make it sound so easy,” I murmured.

“It’s not,” she admitted, her hand reaching up to gently cup my cheek. “But I believe it’s worth it.”

I felt my heart clench in a way that both scared and exhilarated me. She wasn’t just someone I was dating. She was someone who saw through every wall, every defense, and still chose to stay.

Without thinking, I leaned in, pressing my forehead against hers. “You’re giving me your heart, aren’t you?”

“I already have,” she whispered, her breath warm against my lips.

At that moment, I knew I had already given mine to her too. Every defense, every hesitation, crumbled under the weight of what I felt for her.

“Well,” I whispered, brushing a thumb over her cheek, “you have mine too.”

Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and she smiled, leaning in to press her lips to mine in a soft, tender kiss that felt like a promise. A promise of something bigger than either of us could have predicted.

As we pulled apart, Minju rested her head back on my shoulder, her hand entwined with mine. The sun had fully set, leaving the sky painted in hues of pink and purple.

“You know,” she said after a moment, her voice playful again, “I was starting to wonder how long it would take for you to realize you’re completely in love with me.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “Yeah, yeah. Rub it in.”

She grinned, squeezing my hand. “I’m just saying, it’s about time.”

And with that, we sat in the quiet comfort of each other, the city lights twinkling around us, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I knew I wasn’t alone.

We arrived back at Minju’s place and as we crossed the threshold into her apartment and the door closed: she pounced on me. She grabbed my shoulders and I felt her transform. Her smile was as sweet as ever and I felt at peace in her arms. She brought me in close for a kiss and reciprocated.

It was innocent at first I swear but then I felt her tongue in my mouth and that’s when things get hazy. I let her tounge explore my mouth for a few minutes before returning the kiss with even more fire .(metaphorically of course cause you know Minju’s a firebird herself) our tongues clash for dominance as we try to get over on each other.

I noticed Minju’s kisses tastes like cinnamon and when we break the kiss I see the mutual love and admiration in her eyes that I felt for her. I plunge in back to another kiss with her before ripping her blouse open. She frowns and says, “that was one of my favorites?”

Caught in a haze I say, “I’ll buy you a new one. right now I you all of you,” Minju smirked then said

“Such a greedy needy boy,” her teasing only spiked my adrenaline more as I furiously yank her jeans and boots off leaving her in her bra and panties. We both stare into each other’s eyes panting as the heat simmers between us. She guides me to her bedroom and I tumble into the mattress with her. She brings me in for another kiss as this happens she wraps her legs around my waist bringing me in as close as possible. I feel her “talons” dig into my shoulders and she tears into my flesh but the pain surprisingly doesn’t come. Her touch is warm and only inviting. We break the kiss and she stares at me with a wild fire in her eyes.

“Get naked right now,” she demanded and I complied. Minju’s eyes hungrily tracked my eye my crotch until I was unclothed. She smiled when she saw my manhood.

“Oh you’re so hard for me.” She teases as she crawls at me. Her eyes glow orange as she approaches her wings furl and unfurl. When she closes in on me all I can do is salivate over her body her wide hips, her long legs, her petite breasts and her pretty face that always draws me in. She lowers me to between her legs. I dive in without any instruction as lap at her pussy. She tastes sweet and spicy as I carefully lick and inhale her scent. She pushes me into her welcoming cunt as I devour her,

“Oh fuck keep going,” I do as probe her walls deeper and deeper until I decide to take a little nibble of her clit.

Minju moans melodically as she lifts my face to her. She smiles at me as her hybrid from becomes more apparent.

“Keep going,” she says before lowering me back to her pussy. I continue to eat her out with the rapacious abandon.

Minju groans before she says, “oh you greedy needy naughty boy” as I go deeper and she gets closer I firmly grab her ass, which was pillowy soft. As I knead her ass she encourages me to eat her out more. At this point she had wrapped her thighs around me and was drowning me in her juices but I was so pussy drunk I didn’t care I could only want more, and more is what i got as I dove into until she couldn’t take it anymore. She pushed me from her pussy as she came violent squirting and squirming as her body was seized by tremors of pleasure I was still dazed as I watched. A million things and nothing raced through my mind. Minju panted as she came down from her high. A thick layer of sweat covered her pale body causing her to shine just a little bit brighter than normal. When her breathing returned to normal, She stared at me with an even hungrier look. She grabbed me and said, “You're fucking mine,”

A few days later Minju and I were caught fully in the throes of our whirlwind romance heading on all these cute little dates and just being stupid in love. I was at peace with her and found myself doing anything and everything I could for her. I guess nickname Queen Min was correct after all.

Minju and I were walking back from one of our dates, the warmth of the evening lingering in the air. Seoul’s city lights flickered around us, and for once, everything felt right. Minju was laughing at some joke I had made, her arm hooked in mine. Her laughter was like music, light and effortless.

Then, without warning, a shadow passed over us. A chill crawled up my spine, and I instinctively pulled Minju closer.

“You feel that?” I muttered, scanning the area.

Minju frowned, her eyes narrowing as she sensed it too. “Yeah, something’s off—”

Before she could finish, a figure dropped from the sky, like a bolt of lighting landing on top of me with a deafening crash. Dust and static exploded around his feet, and I recognized him instantly: Arthur.

His eyes were wild, glowing with a golden energy that made my blood run cold. He looked nothing like the friend I once knew. He jumped away from me and elegantly landed in front of me. I got up and felt my broken arm

“Arthur?” I took a step forward, confused. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Arthur didn’t respond at first, his gaze locked on Minju. He smiled—a twisted, malicious grin that made my stomach turn. “I always thought you were weak, Dio. Immature and too naive to see what was in front of you.” He made a move to Minju I kicked and he flew back disoriented.

“That really hurt,” he yelled angrily. I shrugged still holding my broken arm. Arthur laughed as he spoke again

“You always were too soft, Dio. Too trusting. But I knew you’d lead me to her.”

I looked at him even more confused before he grabbed me and slammed me to ground. I heard a few ribs crack in the process.

In a split second, he lunged forward, faster than I could react. I barely managed to push Minju out of the way before his fist collided with my chest, sending me crashing into a nearby building. The impact knocked the air from my lungs, and I coughed, trying to get back on my feet.

“Minju, run!” I shouted, struggling to stand.

But before she could move, Arthur was on her. His hand wrapped around her throat, lifting her off the ground as if she weighed nothing. Minju tried to fight back, flames flickering at her fingertips, but Arthur’s grip tightened, cutting off her powers.

“Let her go!” I roared, charging at him. But Arthur was faster—he slammed me into the pavement with a single blow. The pain was blinding, my vision blurring as I watched him drag Minju away.

“You don’t deserve a specimen this fine she’s mine now, Dio,” Arthur taunted. “And you’re too weak to stop me.”

I tried to get up, but my body refused to move. The last thing I saw before losing consciousness was Minju’s terrified face as Arthur disappeared into the night.

I came to a few days later in a sterile hospital room. I was back in America and judging from the looks of things in an ATFF Facility. I was rigged to several machines and tubes. As my recollection came back about what happened my anger began to burn and my heart rate spiked. A nurse ran in and noticed I was awake. She smiled and said

“Welcome back to the land of the living Dionacho when we found you, you were almost dead, but you fought through and are going to make a full recovery.”

I turned to the nurse and whispered into her ear.

“Where is Dr Kwon?” She gave me a worried look before fetching him. A few minutes later Dr. Kwon walked in, my anger barely contaminated as I watched the scientist who had once been my ally. Dr. Kwon looked up from his clipboard , his eyes widening in shock at the sight of me.

“Dio,” he began, “you shouldn’t—”

“Do it,” I cut him off, my voice cold. “Now.”

He hesitated, eyes flickering with uncertainty. “You know what this means, don’t you? If you undergo this transformation, there’s no going back. You’ll be bound to the Kaiju energy. Just like Arthur.”

“I don’t care.” My voice was hard, my resolve unshakable. “He has my girl. I have to kill him.” The room was silent on my declaration. Dr Kwon looked at me and I knew all he saw was hate and vitriol.

Dr. Kwon’s face tightened, but he nodded. “Very well. We will begin later today. Nurse please prep the patient I fear this is going to be an unpleasant experience for all involved.”

The procedure room was sterile, its walls lined with machines that hummed with an ominous energy. I lay down on the table, staring up at the ceiling as the restraints clicked into place. My heart pounded in my chest, but I didn’t flinch. I had to do this—for her.

As the machine whirred to life, I felt a cold surge of fear, but I buried it beneath my determination. The injection came first—a burning sensation that spread through my veins, followed by a pressure so intense I thought my body might tear itself apart. My vision blurred, colors and shapes distorted as the transformation took hold. As the pain grew more intense pain turned into tickles as my nerves burned out and reconstructed. This caused me to laugh uncontrollably. I watched as the doctors and nurses stared at me with concern.

Darkness swirled around me, a gravitational pull I couldn’t resist. It was like sinking into a black void, a force pulling at every fiber of my being, reshaping me from the inside out. My muscles twisted, my bones felt like they were cracking under the strain, and yet—I felt stronger.

I could feel the gravity, the pull of it coursing through me. It was overwhelming, yet I embraced it. The darkness didn’t scare me anymore. It was mine to command.

Finally, the pain subsided, and I opened my eyes. The restraints were gone, and I stood, feeling the raw power coursing through me. My hands glowed with a dark energy, shadows swirling around them. I stood up and began walking around looking for my clothes which I found a simple beige sweater, black jeans, and boots. I changed out of the hospital gown.

Dr. Kwon watched me, his expression unreadable. “It’s done,” he said quietly.

I nodded, clenching my fists. “Where’s Arthur?”

“We don’t know—” the doctor stammered.

“I don’t care,” I growled, cutting him off. “I’ll handle it.”

I knew where Arthur would be, A place he called “the titan’s nest I walked past a mirror and noticed dark leathery wings sprouted from my back. The Doctor approached and said,

“They should be retractable but I’m not sure.

“Don’t care,” I said as I gave them a few explanatory flaps to test them.

“This will do,” I responded as the lift was incredible. On the way out of the facility i grabbed a sword and flew off to find Arthur.

When I arrived, the area was dark, the air thick with tension. I could feel Arthur’s presence before I saw him, the familiar pull of his Kaiju energy. He was waiting for me.

“Well, well,” Arthur’s voice echoed through the abandoned docks, his figure appearing from the shadows. “I see you’ve made the same mistake I did.”

I didn’t answer, my eyes scanning the area for Minju. She was nearby, I could sense her, but she was hidden from view.

“You think you can save her?” Arthur taunted, stepping forward. “You’re just like me now, Dio. Embrace it.”

I breathe a heavy sigh before saying, “With respect to our friendship I’m going to give you one chance to let me take Minju and go back home with her,”

“And miss this golden opportunity to face you and prove who’s the strongest? Never!”

The darkness around me responded to my anger, swirling in a chaotic dance of shadows and energy. I wasn’t like him. I’d made this choice for her, not for power, not for revenge.

“Your funeral,” I said, my voice low and dangerous.

Arthur smirked, his body shifting, the Kaiju form overtaking him. “Let’s see if you can stop me.” I sigh lift three large rocks and use the darkness swirling around me to make 4 more blades. Arthur looked at me and laughed,

"God you're edgy,"

My wings flap angrily and my eyes narrow and I reply, "That's rich coming from the ashen-gray lighting dragon man," He laughs and launches a bolt of lighting at me that seems to move in slow motion. I slap it away, and he gives me a worried look. I open my backhand and use the darkness to pull him towards me. He looks at me terrified before shooting out more bolts of lighting. I slash away two and crush one in my hand. When I open my hand again I have Arthur gripped by the collar in my arms. He stares into my eyes. I look into his and see terror. I slam him into the ground and then throw him into the air before throwing him back to the ground.

Arthur, trying to get away, uses an emp field to blind me. I sigh as he resets our positions. I begin my approach. He tries to run away, but I use my darkness to keep him locked in a specific range near me.

I laugh as I watch him try to escape,"you wanna run away scared now?" I ask and Arthur tenses before turning to face me. He takes out a high-frequency blade and our weapons clash. I parry two attacks then land one on his chest. he tries to flee but I grab his leg and slam him behind me.

"Where is Minju?" I ask coldly as I close in on Arthur. Arthur looks at me in terror.

"What did they do to you?" He asks his eyes paint his terror as I close in. I laugh before using my darkness, and gravity wells to keep him there.

I shake my head, "No they didn't do this I was always like this. The ATFF didn't change me. You did. We were supposed to be heroes and help people with this power; not fight each other, but your cowardice fucked that to hell. So here were are stuck in combat against each other"

"They made me a monster." Arthur.

"No, they made you a bitch. Or more accurately revealed you were a bitch the whole time." I said as I kicked Arthur in his face knocking him out.

after incapacitating Arthur I went looking for Minju and found her in the next room. she looked at me and as I sauntered out of the shadows Minju smiled.

"I knew you'd come for me." she said smiling.

I laughed and said, "Well you probably didn'y expect this" I said gesturing to the black dragon wings flapping and folding behind me. Minju smiles and says, "I Love it regardless" as she spoke she ran to me and caught me in a hug.

in my mind the dream echoed, "Deep in the water it's just you and me."

[marvelfanfn2187a113]

Migraine Ministrations

Sam and Dean Winchester & little sister!reader

Requested by @wasteofatoolbox

Synopsis: you get a migraine during a hunt, and things go wrong.

Not now not now not now, please not now.

The mantra played over and over in your mind, as if you could wish away the pain that was beginning behind your eyes—wouldn’t that be nice.

Instead, the pain got worse as the Impala roared down the side road; which of course was full of potholes.

“Road’s gonna ruin my tires,” Dean grumbled, oblivious to the way you cringed at every jolt and jump. Or at least, he was oblivious so far. You’d have to hide it better before the three of you arrived at your destination, or Dean would make you sit out on the hunt.

He’d only decided a few months ago that you were old enough to start hunting, and since then he’d been very picky about what hunts you were allowed on. It had been weeks of “too dangerous” hunts since you’d been invited to come, and you were itching to join in.

But if Dean found out you were getting a migraine, he definitely wouldn’t let you go. Once you coughed too many times last month, and Dean made you sit out the hunt because you “sounded like you’re getting sick.”

You didn’t notice the Impala pulling to a stop until Dean was turning in his seat to check on you.

“Grab your machete, and don’t forget the—hey, you ok?”

You looked up, forcing your face into a neutral expression; you didn’t want to look pained, but smiling would be too far.

“Yeah, I’m great. You sure you’re ready, old man?”

Dean’s concern dropped immediately, a prideful smirk on his face.

“Oh, it’s on newbie.”

…

You were cornered, but not worried. One vamp had taken it upon himself to go after the smallest human, and you let him back you into a corner—now he had no choice but to get close to you, and all you’d have to do was swing.

You were adjusting your grip on your machete, waiting for just the right moment, when the pain that had been beating behind your eyes suddenly pulsed painfully. It was so sudden and extreme that your eyes shut of their own accord for just a split second…

By the time you could force your eyes open through the pain, the vamp was already on the move, and you couldn’t get your machete up fast enough.

You cried out when he grabbed hold of your arm and slammed it hard against the brick behind you, forcing you to drop your machete.

He was leaning his head down, his vampire teeth extending from his gums in more detail than you’d ever seen—you didn’t appreciate the close-up.

He didn’t get the chance to sink his teeth into your neck. His head was on the floor before you even noticed Dean sneaking up behind him.

“You ok?” Dean demanded.

You tried to assess yourself for injuries, but it was hard to do when your migraine was the worst pain you felt; nothing else really registered.

“I’m…I think so,” you mumbled, swaying a little on your feet.

“Whoa, hey.” Dean grabbed your shoulders to steady you. “You didn’t get bit, right?” Dean’s loud voice had you cringing in pain.

You shook your head, lifting your hands up to rub your eyes—you couldn’t hide the pain anymore; you didn’t even know how long you’d be able to stand.

“What’s going on?” Sam’s—you assumed—hand was on your arm suddenly. Where had he come from? Last you saw him, he was tackling a couple of vamps. “They’re all dead,” Sam said. “We should get going. Are you hurt?”

You couldn’t tell if he was talking to you or Dean, and you didn’t want to open your eyes to look—the boys had turned the lights on in the building to disorient the vamps, and even with your eyes shut the light was nearly unbearable.

“Is it a migraine, kiddo?” Dean’s voice was softer now, which you appreciated.

Despite not wanting him to know, you have a tiny nod, knowing that trying to hide it was pointless.

“Alright, ok, we’re gonna get you back to the bunker.” Dean tugged on your arm and guided you outside and into the Impala.

“Here,” Sam said, pressing a water bottle into your hands. “Drink this.”

Ignoring Sam’s order, you just pressed the cold bottle against your forehead.

“Hey,” Dean spoke up once he was on the road. “How long have you had a migraine?”

“An hour or two,” you mumbled, before realizing your mistake.

“You had this before the hunt?” Dean demanded. “And you didn’t say anything? Are you crazy?”

“I didn’t think it was that bad,” you mumbled.

“It’s always that bad,” Sam argued. “And you know better than to go on hunts when you’re not ready.”

“I was ready!” You argued.

“The fact that you lied to me tells me you weren’t,” Dean scoffed. “So…you’re benched from hunts.”

“What?” You finally looked up, regretting it when your head pounded. “For how long?” You cringed.

“I don’t know,” Dean huffed. “Indefinitely. And I don’t ever want you to do something stupid like that again, understand? If you’re not a hundred percent, it puts everybody’s life on the line. Are you hearing me?”

“I understand,” you sighed, dropping your head back into your hands.

“Ok.” Dean’s voice was noticeably gentler. “Good. Now let’s get you home and see if we can do something about that headache. How does a nap sound?”

Despite yourself, a small smile creeped onto your face.

“Yeah, ok. Can I pick a movie tonight?”

“It’s my night,” Sam argued, but at Dean’s glare he huffed. “Ok, ok. Fine.”

“You’re gonna milk this for all its worth, aren’t you?” Dean asked. When he glanced back and saw you still smiling, he chuckled. “That’s my girl.”

Taglist:

@nyotamalfoy @mrvlxgrl @chocorade @aestheticdaisies @inlovewhithafairytale @that-wannabe-vangoghgurl @casmustdiee @987coley @deadlymistletoe @wayward-impala83 @whump-loverz