#it makes me wish i was dead! or at the very least on a train off the grid going towards a new life

[havent-thought-of-a-name-lmao]

can't wait for M to be like "hey :) how are you doing" and for me to once again hold my head in my hand and go "M." on the verge of tears from sheer exhaustion lmfao

[blue-devil-of-the-lord]

Hey there~ If you are still taking requests for Kurt Wagner imagines/scenarios, can I suggest one with a mutant who has plant powers? Plant manipulation is my go to power. Nothing specific, I just really want more Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler content 😊

Mother Nature

Kurt Wagner x reader Words: 1,6K A/N: Alright, first of my requests is done! I made some kind of mix between headcanons and oneshot because it just fit well in my opinion. Also, the gender wasn't stated so I tried to keep it neutral. Hope you like it :)

Let's start with some basics, shall we? In my opinion, Kurt would adore a partner with plant manipulation powers.

Yes, flying and teleporting are all well and good, but plant manipulation? He's absolutely fascinated and will watch you every time you use your powers. And don't you dare stop him watching...

You are, even if it's not immediately obvious, an incredibly powerful mutant. Control over plants means control over almost everything, trees, flowers, grass, even the earth if you try hard enough (through roots, of course). Kurt is a gentleman, of course, and it doesn't always sit right with him if you want to do certain things on your own that he could help with, but oh boy... If he doesn't get weak in the knees when you go into full mutant mode.

The first time he met you was in the old garden shed, which was pretty run-down. He hadn't really wanted to end up there himself, but in retrospect he is very grateful that he did. The professor had never really had time to look after the garden house, which is why you took on the task. And let me put it this way: the first time he saw your powers? The man was smitten from day one.

Plant nicknames. You won't escape them. Neither in German nor in English. “My flower”, “My lucky clover”, “My rose” but also references, especially to mythological creatures “Little garden fairy”, “Persephone”, .... The full program.

When he gives you plants - which he loves to do - he makes sure that they are planted so that you can enjoy them for a very long time. Kurt brings you plants from different cultures and countries, keen to give you as much diversity as possible. However, if he is forced to give you a bouquet of flowers, that's no problem either. You may prefer living plants, but hey - what can you manipulate plants for if you can't bring them back to life?

One disadvantage of your power is that you don't feel very comfortable in an environment without plants. It's fine in the institute, as it's mostly made of wood (dead, but still plant-based), but Kurt makes sure that there are always at least four living plants in your classroom as well as in his room.

Also loves listening to you. You teach a kind of mixture of theoretical biology and practical manual work in the gardens and there's almost nothing better for him than listening to you talk passionately about the plants. Or kneeling down in the garden bed, your eyes gleaming in the sunlight...

Should you move in together later? Be prepared for this man to go all out and fulfill your every request. Nothing is too good for you. Big garden? No problem. Plants all over the house? Already done. House in the country, surrounded by nothing but nature? Your wish is his command.

You have also quickly become his favorite training partner. And that's not just because Kurt can't keep his eyes and hands (and tail) off his partner. For one thing, it helps him to avoid moving objects, because he has learned the hard way how painful it can be to get an ivy tendril in the face. On the other hand, the two of you are simply perfectly attuned to each other. Kurt teleports a little too far to the left? Don't worry, the branch likes to stretch out a bit to catch him. The vine was a bit too short and not quite enough to catch you? Kurt is there to pick you up with ease. In other words, you don't want to compete against the two of you.

Kurt loves it when you make him flower necklaces or flower crowns. They last forever thanks to your power and as soon as you put them on his head? Don't expect him to take them off any time soon. He wears them with pride.

Kurt has always liked nature as he has traveled a lot in his life, but since he's been with you? He's become a huge fan of garden or nature dates. Whether it's a picnic outdoors, a walk in the woods or an afternoon in the greenhouse, he'll take it all. And if you do some magic with your power? He's in paradise.

Speaking of the greenhouse? Although it was initially your project, over time, especially after the relationship began, it has become your and Kurt's project. He doesn't know much about gardening, but he's willing to learn as long as that means continuing to listen and watch you.

Kurt materialized in the middle of the greenhouse and immediately the scent of the different types of flowers, of which he did not know the names, wafted towards him, but he knew that they made you happy and that was all that mattered to him. His eyes wandered around the open room, looking for you, and he realized again how much you had already done.

Yes, he had helped too, but it was you who had done the main work.  Kurt still remembered the dead beds, the dried up earth and the broken sidewalks.

The glass panes were dirty and partly broken and the rain had caused mold to grow on some things. None of the garden utensils, the few that were at least there, were usable and pretty much everyone would have labeled this greenhouse a lost cause.

Not you.

You set to work yourself and improved everything yourself without using much of your powers. Kurt had caught you at the beginning of your project, so he was able to assess the improvement pretty well. You had cleaned and partially replaced the glass of the greenhouse - the latter admittedly with his help, as it was easier for him to reach the panes above - knocked out the path and replaced it with a loose, albeit well-kept, gravel path. The old borders of the beds were torn out and replaced with a large partition to the gravel path, allowing the plants greater freedom to grow.

One day you had grabbed Logan and Scott, Kurt had come along voluntarily, and had taken them to a gardening store to buy the necessary equipment and seeds. Logan and Scott had both grumbled while carrying them, Logan a little more than Scott, but your results were impressive.

Dozens, if not hundreds, of different plant species were growing neatly in every direction and it no longer resembled a greenhouse, but a rainforest that rivaled even the true jungle in diversity. Kurt smiled slightly and ran the tip of his tail over the soft petals of a red hibiscus flower.

You had made it possible for many plants to grow here, even if the conditions were not ideal, but they thrived under your guidance.

However, just as he was about to bend down to smell a new, previously unknown flower, a frustrated groan sounded, which seemed all too familiar. Kurt could already guess where you would be. He disappeared into a dark cloud and emerged not two meters behind you.

For a few moments he gazed at you lovingly as you knelt in front of the lily patch, but he quickly stepped towards you when he realized you were about to snap with anger (last time it had taken a week and a lot of affection from Kurt to remove the rampant thorny vines from the school grounds).

„Liebling," he knelt down next to you and tilted his head. "What's the problem?" You glared angrily at the beds in front of you and began to poke around in them with the shovel. "Snails. Snails are the problem. What's the point of being able to manipulate and grow plants if those blasted bastards eat all my lilies?"

Despite your frustration, Kurt had to smile. "You still haven't given up the fight."

"No," you replied, throwing another slug into the bucket next to you with a disgusted look on your face. "That's my greenhouse. Let them find their own."

Kurt couldn't help but find your behavior endearing and pulled you closer to him, even though you tried to fight it. You might be better with plants, but he was the stronger of the two of you, whether you liked it or not. "My love," he murmured in your ear and you gave up your fight, just snuggled up against him, pouting.

"You can't possibly remove all the slugs, the greenhouse is too big for that. Besides, it's late. Let's go back to the institute. I'll make us some hot chocolate, we'll snuggle up on the sofa and watch that movie you've been wanting to show me for weeks."

You hesitated but his tail wrapped around your middle and the tip slowly traveled up and down your side and Kurt knew he had won.

You groaned in defeat and grabbed the bucket, which you promptly emptied out of one of the windows and closed it. You cast one last angry look at the beds. "You may have won the battle, but I will be the victor of the war."

Kurt laughed softly, wrapping you in his arms again as his tail wrapped boldly around your waist. "You will." With a sweeping motion, he picked you up bridal style and pressed you tightly against him, making you squeal and then laugh. He pressed a soft kiss against your temple.

"Tonight, though, you're mine." You disappeared in a cloud of black and blue mist and let it be said, you didn't think about the creatures that had declared war on you for the rest of the evening.

[lightwing-s]

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐔𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐈𝐒 𝐇𝐎𝐓 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐏𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐄

pairing: simon "ghost" riley x reader

rating: 18+ (MDNI)

It was like the entire room shook with every step he took, his combat boots sending tremors through the floor. A proper man-made earthquake. With his stature, he towered over everybody. His presence was intense, and you could feel him coming even before hearing or seeing him, your head snapping to the entrance of the room to watch the scene attentively.

Wearing his skull balaclava, the Lieutenant returned from his practice alongside Sargeant MacTavish. You watched his chest shaking as he walked, the muscle jumping up and down like a juicy pornstar’s boobs would do, highlighted by the compression shirt he wore sticking to his skin. His sweat left it soaked, making the fabric slightly see through and his nipples easily visible. 

Swallowing deep, you felt your mouth go dry as his intoxicating smell of sweat, smoke and gunpowder filled the air. You were certain you must have looked dumb in front of all the other soldiers, eyeing your Lieutenant up and down. A tingling sensation growing on your cunt as he side-eyed you when he passed your smaller frame.

Fuck me, you wished, watching on as he started to disappear into another room. You were a sinner, of that you were sure, because nothing else could justify such a harsh punishment. Seeing Lt. Ghost Riley in person every single fucking day and all you could ever do was stare. You felt like Dionysius without his wine, or Snoop without his weed. Deprived, dismantled, deranged.

And he wore spandex today. Fucking spandex. Molding his ass and his muscular thighs perfectly, not to mention how much it emphasized the bulge on his groin, as if he knew very well the effect his choice of clothing had on you.

Fuck you, Simon. Fuck you. Fuck me.

Taking a deep breath, you turned around and returned, or attempted to at least, to your exercise. Every movement filled with days of build up frustration. Your arousal, hopefully not evident through your leggings, made its way to your nose, and you rolled your eyes out, exasperated to leave the training room.

Turning a corner, deep into whatever side of the base you stood, you found a darkened alley leading to a dead end. It was quiet, far for anyone. Resting against the wall, you let your mind wonder, thoughts of your Lieutenant crowding your head.

Your breathing was uneven, rushed, but your walk over there wasn’t what caused it. Your core ached, burned, begged for attention. Peeking briefly at your sides, you did something unthinkable, something your shame shouldn’t have allowed you to do. Putting a hand inside your leggings, you touched your aching clit, circular movements dragging soft moans out of your pursed lips.

Enjoying the sensation, the quick relief brought to you by your own fingers, you increased their speed, wanting to reach that so desirable end, the increased sensation making it harder to hold your moans down as you desperately bit your lips to stop them from coming out. 

Your mind darkened as the pleasure spread to different parts of your body, almost making you melt down the wall you were laid on. In your mind, the picture of your Lieutenant and what he could’ve been doing to you instead, crowded your mind. 

You pictured his hands all over your body, leaving purple bruises on your skin. His face buried deep into your cunt, licking your sweetness off of you. You picture his hoarse voice calling your name, but did not picture it dragging you out of your daydreams. Nor did you imagine the door closing right in front of you, revealing to you your own dreams in flesh and bone.

“Yn,” he called and you swiftly removed your hands from your pants, shame burning red up your neck. “I hope you’re aware this is a very unacceptable behavior.” 

The raspiness of his voice would have sent you on overdrive, but now it frightened you to no end. Taking slow but steady steps in your direction, Ghost had his eyes locked on you, drowsy and darkened, as yours, instead, filled with tears. Fear of what was about to come next filling you up. “Especially when your Lieutenant is right here.”

Staring down at you, he tugged at the hem of your legging, pulling it away from your skin and peeking into it, spotting the red underwear you were now thankful for selecting. He slid a hand you didn’t notice was ungloved down your pants, inside your panties, feeling his way down through your trimmed hairs and soaked folds. When he reached the spot your own hands had just been playing at, his cold fingers caused you to jolt, unused to the strange sensation.

“These naughty new recruits, always causing me some trouble,” he stated, sight still locked into your eyes.

Starting to move, his movements were much rasher than yours, rubbing at your clit ferociously from the start, dragging out moans muffled by your pursed lips out of you. Not long later, just as your vision was starting to spot, you felt him park his hand at your entrance. You had to hold his arm for support once you felt him entering your pussy, his palm fractioning against your already sensitive clit as he pushed his fingers in and out of your leaking core.

With speed, you let out moan after moan. Your legs started to tremble, as you felt your release knocking, begging to come out, and you barely held yourself up before his low raspy voice guided your eyes up to his. “With only one finger?” he stared you down, voice too close mocking for your liking.

“That was only one finger?” you cried out, a bit louder than you’d expected.

“Now it’s two.”

He resumed his movements, the new girth tearing you apart, the pain mixing with the pleasure making you wetter by the second. Noticing your weakling legs, with his free hand he pinched your ass, sliding his hand to just below it to pull you up to wrap your legs around his waist.

The wet noises his fingers were making echoed through the empty corridors, and you prayed no one else was hidden somewhere, watching you reduced to a fucked up mess on your superior’s fingers. With his finger thrusts, he stared down at you, golden lashes a majestic sight, as if you were a mere toy in his hands. A puppet he could play around with all night long.

His eyes bore deep into yours, making you feel small, diminished. Since your mouth hung open, silent moans escaping from it almost rhythmically, he held your throat and, playing first with your bottom lip, forced his thumb inside your mouth. You sucked on it like a hungry baby, and you swore you heard a chuckle come out of him.

Soon, you could feel your orgasm coming through. Your wall sucked his fingers in, needing to be filled with so much more. Your high grew, your legs suddenly light like a feather, your vision spotted, almost blacking out, and your mind blank of any proper or coherent thought. Just as you were about to come, a loud moan left your mouth, instantly to be covered by the Lieutenants free hand, making your skin burn from the accidental slapping, but only adding to your aroused sensation.

Ghost shook his head at you, removing his fingers from inside you just as quickly as the moan came out. He left you empty, hollow, as he still looked at you with a disappointed shadow in his brown eyes. 

“Pathetic behavior,” he whispered, stepping away from you. Your legs dropped to the ground, and you had to hold yourself up so as not to fall to the floor. Turning on his heels, ass shaking deliciously as he walked away, he didn’t even care to look back at you as he gave you one last warning. “Present yourself to my office, Yn. We have to think of what punishment I’ll be giving you.”

[wosoragebaiter69]

you don’t have to be perfect

barça fem x teen!reader, lucy bronze x teen!reader

request: here

A/N: also i would just like to say, if anyone has any feedback for my writing it’s greatly appreciated cuz i’m not the best writer ik that but i want to improve.

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

It was apart of the contract I first signed with Barcelona that I continue my studies and finish school. Not ideal, but I get by with around 80% and sitting on a B for most my classes. What I didn’t factor in was the amount of stress I would have on top of the League and UWCL games when exams and assignments from 6 different classes were coming up. That’s hard on a 17 year old.

I felt myself start to drift away from everyone in the 2 weeks before mayhem. First it was denying to go out with the younger girls like Salma and Vicky, both of whom understood. Vicky being the same age as me and Salma only 2 years older than us. Then as expectations rose, classes became longer and filled extra information. All the time I wasn't on the pitch, I was studying. Or sleeping. (we dont talk about how even thats being cut down to maximum 5 hours a night).

Living with Lucy meant that she was bound to catch on to what was happening. It was inevitable. She took me under her wing when I first arrived along with some of the older girls and since I don’t speak Spanish natively, I was told to go with Lucy who was told to keep an eye on me. It’s nice, when you don’t want her to worry about how you’re ignoring everyone and have bags under your eyes whenever she sees you. She really does try her hardest to get me to do anything that’s not over analysing and over-studying the numerous topics, but no matter how much it pains me. I always turn her down.

After another night of studying until 2am, there’s an early morning training session and I know I’ve only gotten 4 hours of sleep. If I told the medical staff I’m sure they’d pale.

I’m aware that I probably look like death walking, but it doesn’t bother me. If I pass with above average grades, I’m happy and I know my actual parents will be too. I ignore the concerned looks that Irene and Alexia give Lucy, and get changed ready for the training session.

It’s gruelling, the lack of sleep from the past 2 weeks has finally started to catch up. When I least needed it to. Maybe I am working too hard. It’s too late for that though. I know I’m being watched by the captains, acting for a little bit longer won’t do much harm. Can it?

When the third water break rolls around, I sit on the floor and flop onto my back, closing my eyes. Too tired in the moment to do anything other than breathe. The sunshine above me dulls as Lucy and Alexia stare down at me. When I open my eyes. My captain has a raised brow, while my roommate has her arms crossed.

“Y/N, get up please. Now.” It’s Lucy who speaks first. I don’t give in. What’s their problem?

“No. I am fine where I am thank you very much.” I bite back. Lucy looks like she’s trying to hold herself together and Alexia looks furious. Unconsciously, I sink into myself hoping the ground could swallow me up.

“Nena, we won’t ask again.” The spaniard says, her voice low as she sticks out her hand.

I reluctantly take it, pulling myself up and staring at the two in front of me.

“Come.” Alexia says blankly, leaving no room for argument before walking toward the main building. I sigh, doing as she says or I know I won’t hear the end of it. Lucy trails just behind me, her jaw set and making sure I don’t run away.

When inside I’m placed on a couch, wishing and praying to any extra-terrestrial being that I can leave this confrontation. What is it even about? Why am I here? I’ve done nothing wrong.

“So, we noticed you’ve been pushing people out. You also look dead.” Classic Alexia, straight to the point.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I look away.

“Really? Because when I go to bed, which is around midnight and sometimes 1 if I’m doing other work. Your light is always on. You better fess up now before we make you do extra laps, and clear all the equipment from training.” It’s Lucy this time, starring daggers into me. Still, I don’t let up.

“Maybe I left the light on.” I shrug. “And why do we have to do this right now? I have 2 exams tomorrow. So, if I may. Let’s finish training so I can get to study and do other things.”

“This is exactly what I’m talking about Y/N. You’re deflecting absolutely everything we say. You’re not taking the information in. I get you’re stressed but that doesn’t mean you isolate yourself.” She pauses, sighing deeply. “We are going home right now. You will not touch your school work, this has gone on for long enough. I know Alexia agrees with me.”

“Before you argue, just think. Is this really the best way I could’ve prepared? Yes nail in, do the study for good results. But also remember to utilise the support system you have, the team, the coaches, take a break.” By the end of the rant I feel tears well in my eyes. I feel someone hug me and I can tell who it is by the obscurely large hands.

“Nena, go home with Lucy. Get some rest, and not only will you feel better but it gives your brain a break. When the week is over we can talk more but for now go.” The Catalan smiles warmly. I nod my head saying thanks before walking with Lucy to the car.

“Do you feel alright? You do look very pale.” She places her hands against my face and frowns. “No temperature. I’ll get some food into you and we’ll have a rest day. Just us.” I nod slowly staring out of the window as my mind races.

When we get to the apartment, no conversation is made and I immediately go and take a shower. It’s there that I cry and let all my frustrations out, the stress finally taking its toll on my mind.

When I’m dressed and ready I walk out to the smell of pancakes and Lucy sitting on the couch with Narla next to her. She hears me and turns her head around, eyebrows furrowing at the state I’m in.

She pats the open spot next to her which isn’t taken by the Westie and hands me a plate, which I accept gratefully.

It’s a comfortable silence, but I know she’s waiting for me to say anything. And this time, I do.

“I’m sorry Luce.” My voice is quiet and more high pitched compared to what it normally sounds like.

She smiles lightly.

“Hey, these things happen. You’re smart, just as Alexia said give your mind a rest and you’ll do better. Myself, Keira, the rest of the team only want the best for you and your well-being. Let’s not talk about this now, take it step by step. You’ll be ok.” I nod wiping freshly formed tears as she pulls me into a big hug, giving the rest of her pancake to Narla who eats it happily.

- - - - -

And ok it would be. I end up playing Fifa with Lucy the rest of the day before eventually falling asleep against her. As for the exams, I pass by with good grades and after everything’s done the team takes me out to a restaurant to celebrate. As much as I deny it, this team is the most important thing to me. I love and adore them all so much.

[jeanmoreautemple]

Thea Muldani: a rant

I feel weird about Thea but I can’t really put into words exactly why? So I’m writing down some things I’ve thought.

I honestly didn’t think much about her before TSC, like she was okay (I wish she’d been introduced earlier tho or that she hadn’t graduated already so she was a recurrent Raven player or something).

After reading the extra content I wasn’t bothered about the age gap between her and Kevin but yes a little bit about the fact that Kevin was fourteen when they first met + the -you fuck like a virgin, maybe some practice will make you better at it- comment that Nora included. It was uuhh weird but the rest of the Kevthea story was okay, and Thea is 100% not a groomer. Plus, Nora technically deleted the extra content so in theory nothing there is canon yet.

Now in TSC we get her sole appearance in TKM from Jean’s POV, who has known her since he was fourteen (like Kevin- this is important to keep in mind). The scene starts out cute! We find out she took him under her wing and even had nicknames for him like Paris and her little duckling🥰. So the fourteen year boy that just arrived from france with broken English looked up to her, Thea was ~21 at this point.

We know Jean is going through HELL during this time:

And we also know the Moriyamas were always particularly cruel with Jean, getting more physical him than with Kevin. Even though It’s said that Riko would torture Jean and Kevin (broken hand incident) in private, hence the other Ravens not knowing the whole picture, how can a fourteen year old kid hide such pain? But apparently , as we later find out, Thea was too deep into the Evermore raven cult mindset that she didn’t find anything strange about the coach and Rikk’s behavior towards Jean.

At 15 Jean is given a number and place in the perfect court, but only at 16 joins the lineup. He gets a lot of hate, especially from the other defensemen, whom Thea works with:

Although the Ravens are know for being extremely violent training, at least in the court Thea must have noticed that the defense line were especially brutal to Jean. Or SOMETHING.

But here comes the worst part: during this same year Riko forces Jean to sleep with 5 defensemen. By the time Jean is a junior most of these have graduated which means they were 20 or older. So Thea had been playing with each of these guys for at least 2 years (except for Grayson), she knew them.

They went on to joke and talk about the whole ordeal as Jean paying for his perfect court number. Thea also being in the defense line could have heard all of this first hand, we don’t know. But It’s so widely talked about that it reaches Tetsuji and we do know Thea witnessed Jean’s punishment:

Coincidentally Thea starts a sexual and emotional relationship with Kevin this year (it’s her last too).

So here’s the part that made me dislike Thea very much. In TKM she goes to Kevin demanding answers, Kevin then brings her to Jean, who is looking like this:

It’s been three years since she graduated but she’s still wearing her Raven number in a necklace, and when she sees Jean’s state in TSC she comments how if Kevin hadn’t said anything she’d think it normal:

By now it’s clear she at 26 is still 100% brainwashed, but this next line of hers cemented it:

YOUR OLD TRICKS ?!

So let’s break that down:

1. The immigrant kid (16!) she watched over for two years from age 14 to 16 suddenly starts having sex with members of HER (23!) defense line who are all around her age and openly hate him for 5 consecutive nights and she doesn’t suspect anything?

2. Said defensemen then brag and shame Jean afterwards calling him a whore, which leads to Jean getting beaten half to dead by their coach and still nothing?

3. Years later she recalls the incident as Jean being up to his little tricks and being rightfully beaten to a pulp?!!!!

I can’t. I know she’s also a cult victim but no. It was super common for Ravens to have hate sex with each other but her being close to Kevin (and somewhat Jean) during the time Jean’s (a 16 year old!) assaults were happening and still remaining this clueless… I’m sure she must be lovable for both Kevin and Jean to respect and care for her so much but her one scene convinced me she’s way too deep into the Raven spirit and her presence around Kevin and Jean would be just so harmful.

But I have to give credit when it’s due, apparently after some hours with Kevin and 7 years later she believes her King broke Kevin’s hand:

In conclusion:

Thea is absolutely no groomer but if one takes a look at her attitude towards Jean’s sexual history when he was 16 and how her relationship with Kevin was happening simultaneously, her you fuck like a virgin, maybe some practice will make you better at it and tell me you weren’t up to your old tricks comment combo, it all makes me dislike her. Cause you’d think someone who at 22-23 was dating a boy who had just turned legal would be careful or mature enough to choose her wording better when talking about the sexual activity between a boy close in age to her own boyfriend with people around HER age, but nope. The fact that Kevin married her, has a child and lives happily ever after with her seems unbelievable to me.

PS: Her and Kevin’s (we don’t know if he believes Riko) apparent ignorance or lack of suspicion of Jean’s freshman year assault was the most hurtful part of TSC tbh (not counting Elodie). Imagine having the closest people to you misunderstand/ believe lies about such a traumatic event. I guess this is why Nora didn’t include a Andrew POV, I would have died or wanted to kill Nicky and Aaron for not looking deeper into Andrew’s attitude.

[neonlight2]

Came back a king… and queen

Masterlist

She could taste the water, sweet on her teeth as it slid down her body, washing away the red that had stained her bronze skin. Her arms ache with fatigue, seemingly resting against the surface of the water. Every so often she’d let her fingers break the tension, dipping into the cool blanket of relief. Swirling behind, black as ink, her hair clings to the water alongside the body keeping her back warm. The same warmth that made her legs twitch and ache all the same, yet not from numbness.

She could feel him. The pure opposite of everything surrounding them. Hot to the touch, unlike the water which was so blissfully chilled. Rough and scratched, his fingers made her shiver as he caressed her, mercilessly breaking the smoothness of the water surrounding her skin.

Relentless, he touched her furiously as if to trap her there forever, to make her forget anything beyond the cave which they sought harbor in. Arms wrapped around her so tightly, if it weren’t for his heat and restless habit of roguishness, she would call him a snake. A serpent meant to pull her to the depths. Yet, she knew his nature was truly to hoarder her away like treasure, in a cave where this was all they would do. Where he would bathe her in pleasure.

He’d call her a nymph. Seducing him with every move, every look she graced him with, every single breathe she took in his presence. God he’d worship her like this every day if only she’d let him. He’d have her relaxing against him, beneath him, curling into him as she was now with his hands between her thighs. This was his reward, a space in the heaven within her.

Daemon knew just by the furrow of her brown, the tremor of her lip, and the way she gripped his hair from behind her— she was seconds from letting go.

“Won’t you let me indulge you forever Issa jaesa?”

“We can’t be late Dae.” She practically sung, spinning around as they dashed through the halls by themselves.

Glancing all around them, they could see the castle had grown dull without either of them. Candles half dead with wax drowning the flames. The servants had been all about no doubt. From what Rhaenyra had told them, as well as the letters sent by Edeline, the kingdom was in absolute shambles. Mimicking the worry of Viserys, a king facing war and a father without his daughter.

“They don’t even know we’re here Jaehaera,” he answered with a slight grumpy look on his face. His eyes trained on the pearls dripping off her body.

The people of the islands had crowned them both, but to Daemon’s delight, they took his calling her a goddess to heart.

They believed her a deity. A god sent from the highest sky into the depths of the sea, rising to war and ensuring peace for those that follow her.

So they dressed her in silks white as the sand and pearls that shared a likeness to raindrops in certain light. Falling across her face, waist, and breast. Daemon couldn’t decide who’d be least pleased by her attire, his brother or the green cunt who stood beside him.

Jaehaera tutted at him, a grin taking over her face— teeth sharp and white. “Don’t pout at me, my Prince. I rewarded you, don’t be greedy.”

If it weren’t for her excitement, Daemon knew his will would not be strong enough to withstand the urge to capture and devour her in the corner of this very hall. “It’s my nature. I’d wish you’d except yours.”

Scrunching her nose at him, she turned around and ceased her dancing. Now walking like a soldier, sword resting loosely on her bare hip. “Just behave would you? Let him at least see me safe before you make any outlandish remarks.”

Speeding his stride to catch up to hers, Daemon slipped his hands to her hip, stopping her before the door, where soldiers gawked in awe at the two. Helping her fasten the blade to her side, he let his eyes wander before smiling widely. Pride swelled in his chest upon seeing the mark resting between her breasts. She’d let him place it there. And he wished the world to see it.

“I’ll do anything you ask of me.”

“That’s a dangerous promise—,”

“Vow.”

“What?” She scoffed, staring at his in disbelief.

“It’s a vow. If I break it, you must kill me.”

“Must?”

“You may, if you wish.”

Staring at him, her eyes boiling with intrigue, she ordered, “Announce us would you, Daniel?”

Daemon could hear the guard scrambling to do his job, probably in shock by the sudden order, or more likely in a craze that the princess knew his name. What he didn’t know was that she knew all of their names. It’s something that still drove Daemon mad.

Which is why he vowed to himself to always surprise her. He wanted her to know him, but he needed her to never tire of him.

Thus the nature of their relationship.

“Prince Daemon and Princess Jaehaera have returned!”

The hall, once bustling with lords and advisors, went quiet at the declaration. They all scattered as the grand doors opened, revealing the two most restless dragons the kingdom had ever beheld.

Both approached the king in their own way. Daemon in his usual swagger, leaning back on his heels as he grew closer to his brother. While Jaehaera all but ran to her father, quickly dropping to her knees before him despite his numerous attempts to stop her. She dipped her body to the floor, then offered her sword as if it were her heart.

“Would you put it with your others, my king?”

The spectacle was dawning on all those that watched. Those who knew little but the rumors of the princess were taken aback by her display. Other, however, knew better.

The guards in which she trains with, sir Harwin and Cole, especially found this to be amusing. Knowing she harbored a flare for dramatic expression.

Otto thought it ridiculous. The sight of a princess, baring her sword to the king, having gone to war, and now returning with next to nothing on. It was a scandal. Don’t get him started on the crowns both royals wore.

His daughter, not far from his side, watched Jaehaera with big eyes. She had been amazed with the girl the second she’d met her, but there seemed to be nothing the princess couldn’t do. Her heart yearned to envy, but she could only find herself able to fawn. Over her accomplishments, her strength, her freedom, and how ethereal Jaehaera looked.

She watched with eagerness, waiting for the kings to embrace her, so Alicent may have a moment of her time—

“Get up and embrace your worried father,” Viserys said in a pleading tone, already standing as if he would pull her from the ground himself.

Jaehaera’s head lifted, baring her smile again to the world before hugging her father.

“I will not take your sword,” he stated, making Jaehaera’s heart sink, “you have far more things to do with it.”

“Then take mine,” Daemon threw his on the floor carelessly by their feet, peering at the crowd with a predatory gaze.

Coming back to his senses, Viserys waved his hand, silently ordering sir harwin to place the sword among the many others of his throne. Daemon didn’t miss the teasing glances between the knight and princess.

“You wear a crown in my presence?” His tone was warning, but held no real malice.

“We both do father,” Jaehaera answered, leaving his side briefly to take the Pearl encrusted headdress off. “But only to gift them to you.”

A small smile quirked onto Viserys face, lovingly gazing from his daughter to his brother. “Is this true?”

Nodding, Daemon stepped closer to the pair, a grin of his own growing. “We know there is only one true king of the realm.”

Rhaenyra saw her family whole, totally for once. Her father hugging her brother like children again. And Jaehaera gleefully looking around for her. When their eyes met, Rhaenyra swore her heart fluttered quick enough to make her believe it had stopped.

She had gotten taller. How it’s possible she didn’t know. Before she had left, Jaehaera was only a few inches taller than her, now she could be all but a foot. She had seen her mere weeks ago, yet she had changed so much. Jaehaera always seemed to change every time she left.

Her hair was near her knees and Daemons had been cut. Rhaenyra would hear all about it later.

Running to her with purpose, Jaehaera hoisted Rhaenyra into the air. Clinging to her like a child, the two girls marveled at the other.

Barely letting her go, Jaehaera offered the Pearl crown to her, a grin of determination set firmly. “I want you to have it Nyra.”

And before she could argue, Jaehaera pulled her by the waist as she placed it on her head. “Wear it for me please?”

She knew she would not deny her. They never do.

Alicent watched as her two friends hugged each other, happy and longing at the sight. She knew it would be her turn soon enough, that she mustn’t be impatient, Jaehaera would never forget her. She’d just admire for now, watch as Rhaenyra dawned Jaehaera’s crown, looking somewhat comical yet beautiful all the same. She watched as the raven haired girl towered over the other princess, occasionally caressing her as they gazed at one another.

Alicent would be a fool not to notice the way they looked at each other. With love, pure she still thought, but more all the same. It just wasn’t as blaring as Jaehaera and Daemon’s affections. Only those who truly knew the princesses would know. And she did.

She knew. But she cared little because she was part of that love, or at least that’s what she hoped. That all the time, shared glances and deep conversation, meant something more. Maybe she meant something more?

Her heart leaped when Jaehaera’s eyes flitted her way. The princess smile remained wide, but her eyes sparkled with something new— making a swarm of butterflies erupt from Alicent’s stomach, flying to her mouth. She wanted to scream hello, perhaps giggle like a smitten girl, but she couldn’t. Keeping her mouth closed, she glanced quickly at her father before waving at Jaehaera.

Jaehaera sent a wink in her direction, something not uncommon, she was a flirt and playful at heart, but something didn’t feel right.

It wasn’t until the princess’s brow lifted with a familiar fondness, only to dart away and finally wave at Alicent with a new smile, that she understood. Turning her head to look behind her, Alicent saw her.

Jaehaera’s favorite maid, Edeline— whom her father called a ‘pet’— stood in the shadows, leaning against a pillar with love stricken eyes.

There was the envy, and it was growing, green like an illness. It made Alicent feel sick—

“Have you missed me desperately Ally?”

Alicent jolted at the girl’s quick and overcoming presence. Willing herself to gasp out a ‘yes’.

Tilting her head, Jaehaera observed her friend closely, bringing her thumb to smooth the lines denting her forehead. “I didn’t worry you too much did I?”

Gulping Alicent shook her head, “I’ll always worry, but I trust you to know what you’re doing.”

Smiling gently, Jaehaera ran her hands down Alicent’s, finding her hands to kiss the scars she knew would reappear in her absence. “I’m so proud of you Ally.”

Jaehaera didn’t need to say anything further for Alicent to understand. She’d scolded herself numerous of times for biting and scratching at her finger, knowing Jaehaera would return and be saddened by the image. There were far less than in the past.

Leaning closer to her, Jaehaera whispered in Alicent’s ear, so low that she almost didn’t hear her.

“Go to sleep early, I’ll come see you later tonight. We have much to discuss.”

Then she was gone.

Moving from Alicent’s side, Jaehaera was like a phantom, guiding her young maid to the shadows to disappear with her.

And while she was already willing her eyelids to grow heavy, Alicent couldn’t help but wish for girl to trip and fall from the stair which lead to Jaehaera’s chambers. For she would be in her arms all evening, in the way she wanted to be tonight.

She couldn’t understand how Daemon and Rhaenyra would allow such a thing—

Until she saw their dark eyes following where hers had been.

She realized, they could do nothing but watch.

But she could.

Or rather, she knew someone that could.

…

[utilitycaster]

How can Molly's death be considered a major mistake? It's the crux of the entire campaign.

so I think about this a lot, because you're right, and it really comes down to like...a lot of factors in how people interact with fiction, and some stuff I feel about fandom.

The short answer is that Molly is some people's favorite character, and they really wanted to watch him for 141 episodes and not just 26, and they didn't get to, and so it's valid to feel sad about that. But I think what personally grinds my gears is the idea that it's a mistake and because this is a Fan Favorite character he SHOULD have come back. Setting aside the fact that he had both his fans and his detractors from the start and a lot of people (myself included) who found him irritating didn't say much for a good chunk of C2 because, well, he was dead, this isn't a fucking competitive reality show. You don't get to vote on your phones to decide who wins a resurrection.

I think the longer answer is that there is a certain type of person in fandom, born of a certain type of person in social media communities, who just...is not willing or interested in considering not just that their experiences, preferences, and philosophy are not universal, but also that they are not objectively best and correct and that everyone who disagrees is wrong. It's often really common in, though not exclusive to, people who have particularly limited experiences - young (like, teenager/early 20s), people who haven't lived in a diverse area or in multiple different areas, people who for whatever reason do not get out much - which both makes sense (haven't been exposed to a ton of different perspectives irl) but also means that you get people who, for all they may talk about global politics, kind of unconsciously seem to act as though everyone they interact with online is a variant of someone from the same 3000 person town in the United States in which they've spent all 21 years of their life. ANYWAY getting back to the main point I feel like Molly attracted a lot of that kind of person, who just...doesn't get that while Molly is, to them, a deeply validating expression of gender identity, for many people he is "guy you meet at your friend's birthday party in a two-bedroom 6 floor walk up and within 5 seconds he has pissed you off so profoundly with his overfamiliarity that you go into the kitchen and mainline as much vanilla vodka as possible to not stab this guy with a secondhand knife that says "CHEESE!" on it even though you hate vanilla vodka and it's summer in NYC and you're on the 6th floor in a small apartment with too many people so it's approximately 117 degrees Fahrenheit in this kitchen and the vodka isn't much cooler, and you succeed in this goal, and then after sending your friend who couldn't make it because they were at a family thing that weekend a picture of a rat on the tracks of the 3 train with a caption "this u?" at 1:54 in the morning you're like "so this guy Molly was there" and they're like "oh my god I met him at Cameron's last party, he SUCKS" and you're like "I KNOW". Like a lot of people just do not get that Molly was very popular with their circle, and also a lot of people either were neutral-to-not-feeling-it. This is before we get into the post-death idealization of who he was that takes him from "irritating but I think he'd have grown on me in some ways eventually had he lived" to "horrible and insufferable fake-ass bitch."

And then we get to the true impasse: the idea that something that does not fulfill every single one of your personal wishes might still be a great story.

I'm certainly not perfect, and there's things I thought I wanted for the end of C2 that I didn't get, and there's some things I do wish we'd have gotten to see (or that we'd have done in C3), but I like to think that I try to remain at least partially open to the possibilities. I like to think that my enjoyment of a story isn't contingent on whether one single character survives, even if they are my favorite (and I say this as someone whose favorite ASOIAF character was immediately Ned Stark, a statement that should surprise no one who follows me) nor that the story precisely reaffirms my existing worldview. I want stories to tell me something new and interesting that wouldn't come from my own head, and I want them to sell me on it. I think that a lot of people lost the thread of the importance of representation, namely, they forgot that while it's great to see people like you in a story, you should also be trying to see people not like you and perspectives that aren't yours. I am extremely defensive of my and other people's right to say "I didn't like this story and here is why" without someone being like "Give it a chance! Here's why I think it's good" but at the same time, there is a difference between "I really wish Molly had stayed alive and I don't like that he died," and "everything that happened after he died was A Mistake because it wasn't what I Wanted, and someone should fix this." Like that's what toddlers do. That's not an adult way of interacting with narrative.

So those people don't even get to the point of "the entire campaign is deeply influenced by the loss of Molly; that is what binds the rest of the Nein together and makes them what they are; the fact that Lucien wears the face of a departed friend is crucial to the entire final arc comprising about 20% of the campaign; and the fact that he does not come back, but someone new, with new chances and new choices to make does is emblematic of a campaign about people who find that they cannot undo their pasts, but neither are they trapped or damned by them." They're stuck at "guy I liked died and I'm throwing a tantrum 6 years later."

[runningfrom2am]

requiem // part three

summary: according to coriolanus snow, his best friend had the most beautiful voice in all of panem. she had been training her whole life constantly to get where she was; being up for a residency at the most elite opera house in all of panem. singing was her passion. her true love; and when that got stripped from her in a second, his world became a whole lot quieter. he loathed every minute of it.

pairing: coriolanus snow x fem!reader

wc: 2.5k

masterlists / nav / requests

tags/warnings: opera singer!mentor!reader (blink and you'll miss it), she's kind of a prodigy!! p cool imo, mute!reader, bestfriend!coryo, friends to lovers trope ooo, mentions of graphic violence early on (particularly the prologue) but after that it's pretty safe, depictions of ptsd/trauma, mental illness and minor suicidal ideation but at least she's not entirely alone, descriptions of minor medical treatments and use of medication.

a/n: guys me and bestie got tickets to sabrina's tour and we are SO excited- we're making our outfits and we're putting in the WORK on rhinestoning those i'll keep yall updated

my asks are also open to talk about this series! (i do have emoji anons open now too!)

send me any and all of your thoughts! here!

series masterlist // playlist // pinterest board

By the morning, you were in a much better mood. You woke up early, earlier than usual, and you'd be lying if you said you weren't excited to finally go home. You spent the night crying over the fact that you would very likely be stuck like this, but all you had left this morning was acceptance. It would be nice to finally sleep in your own bed again.

You had cleaned up all the dead flowers, and packed all your notes into a folder by the time the sun made its way into the sky, and your parents arrived shortly after that to pick you up.

They tried to be nice, they really, truly did, but they were disappointed in you. You could see it and feel it in the tense silence that always surrounded the three of you during their "visits". It was awkward, and there was nothing you could do to fill the quiet room.

"Are you ready to go?" Your mother asks, helping gather your bags packed full of clothes and books that remained untouched. You nod, smiling hopefully at her. You follow her out to the hall and down the stairs.

"There's really nothing you can do? You can't operate again?" You hear your father's voice before you see him, and you really wish you hadn't.

"No, I'm sorry, sir. her vocal chords have been reconstructed to the best of our ability, operating again would do more harm than good. It would retraumatize the area and could result in more complications, it would be a miracle if that would even help her voice." The doctor replies. "Her voice may come back naturally, but only time will tell."

You hear your dad sigh as you round the corner, and he smiles at you sadly. "Let's get you home, okay?" He says, placing a hand on your shoulder and taking your bag from you, leading you out to the car.

You walk into your mother's library later that afternoon, a notebook in your hands. You knock gently on the door frame to notify her of your presence. "Yes, dear?" She asks, not looking up from her book. You huff, knocking on the door again and waving to grab her attention.

She looks up this time, realization flashing in her eyes. "Oh, gosh, sorry. I thought you were your father." Lies. "What do you need? You should be resting."

You hold up the notepad in your hands with the prewritten note. 'can you call coryo?'

She takes a moment to read it, brows furrowed. "Coriolanus? You just got home, give him a day off from babysitting you. He probably needs a break."

You frown, quickly flipping the page and writing again.

'he's not babysitting me. we're friends.'

"I understand he's your friend, but sometimes even the best of friends need a break from each other."

You roll your eyes. If you could groan you would. If you could call him yourself, you would.

'I'm 18, if I want to invite my friend over I will. I don't need permission anymore.'

Your mom chuckles, shaking her head as she reads the large print of your note. "Except now, you do. Don't you?"

The best you can do to express your frustration beyond how it shows on your face is to stomp your foot on the ground like a little kid before storming off down the hall. It was all you could do. You would try the same routine with your father.

It didn't work on him either, not that you were surprised. They didn't want company on the day you came home, but that didn't mean they actually wanted to spend time with you apparently.

You holed up in your bedroom, put on your music, and laid in bed staring at the ceiling.

It felt like hours before someone came to free you from your own mind, the silent prayers that you would be able to open your mouth and make a single sound. That didn't mean you had been brave enough to even try yet, though, until there was a knock on the door.

You tried your luck, attempting to call out a quick 'come in!', but nothing came from it besides a scraping pain in the back of your throat. You sigh, rubbing your neck gently in a poor attempt to make the pain go away as you crawl out of bed and go to the door, pulling it open with a scowl on your face.

It settles only slightly when you're met with a member of your family's staff standing there holding out a small, delicate vase containing three roses.

You stare at each other, neither of you able to speak a single word as you take the flowers from her hands. She was a young girl with dark hair, and she had been in your home for a year. You didn't know which District she had come from- it wasn't like she could have given you an answer if you asked. The removal of her tongue ensured that fact.

Occasionally you had wondered what each member of your staff had done to earn their fates, but you liked to theorize. Until now, that is, because the fate you were sentenced to is all but the same, and you had done nothing wrong.

Her eyes widen slightly for just a moment as she looks at the scarred skin across your neck, and then quickly back up to meet your eyes.

Her lips part as if to speak, and you tilt your head slightly at her until she quickly shuts her mouth again. You can see her struggle a bit to swallow as she just gives you a small nod, handing you the card that accompanied the flowers before turning to shuffle back down the hall.

After shutting the door and placing the flowers on your windowsill, you carefully unfold the small envelope and read its contents.

'Something to brighten up your room.

Welcome home.

-Coryo'

Graduation and the accompanying gala were within a week of your return home. You're eternally grateful you spent the time to pick out your dresses months in advance, because if you hadn't, you were sure you wouldn't have gone at all.

Standing behind the stage, your eyes continue to focus over and over again on Coryo in his spot in line. It was much preferred to look out at the audience or on the stage as your other classmates were handed their diplomas and posing for pictures for just a moment before exiting on the other side of the stage.

You had missed the rehearsals while you were in the hospital, so really you were just about to wing it- but still, you didn't want to watch anymore.

You dreaded the silence that would come along with your name being called. Well, silence would be preferable to the exaggerated cheers that were more likely to follow- everyone celebrating your mere act of survival after the school spent weeks scrambling to find someone else to sing the anthem at the beginning of the ceremony.

So looking to your best friend was all you could do to calm the blooming anxiety, cursing the alphabetical organization by last name that kept you apart for the moment.

Then it was your turn that came all too quickly.

You look at him again and he smiles at you, which you return with the fake one you were building for the sake of all the photos about to be taken of you as your heels click across the stage. The cheers that block out the sound while you keep your eyes ahead almost make you want to keel over and vomit right on the black flooring of the stage.

Is it possible for cheers to be full of pity? For an applause to be so... sad?

You'd been on the receiving end of countless rounds of applause before, but none had ever made you so embarrassed.

With flushed cheeks and a performative grin, you shake Dean Highbottom's hand.

"Congratulations." He says, and something behind his eyes for just a moment shows that he is not immune to the infectious pity spreading through the audience. He had never shown much emotion before, and if you weren't so close to him right now, you definitely wouldn't have picked it up at all. "We're happy you're here."

All you can do is nod, swallowing and attempting at a grateful smile as you take your diploma from him in the small red, leather folder.

Holding it up and turning to face the audience, you tilt your head with your signature smile for a beat to give your family (or any reporters interested in your recovery and story) time to take their photos before holding the folder to your chest and taking a small bow.

You allow yourself to pretend that you're okay for just that moment. That this was the end of one of your performances, and for just that one moment with your head down, you could block out the pity that came along with the standing ovation you were now receiving.

You were used to it.

But this isn't at all what you expected your final bow to be. And it hurt.

"Congratulations, Miss." Coryo's voice behind you in the crowd makes you smile, and you turn around to face him.

You roll your eyes with a fond smile on your face, doing the best you can to return the sentiment by poking him in the chest over his red gown a couple of times before pulling him into a hug.

He returns it and you feel his chest move as he laughs, gently rubbing your back before reluctantly pulling away. "Hey, where are your parents?" He asks, looking around the crowded front steps of the academy crowded with other students and their families waiting for rides to the gala.

You thought it was a poor choice in words, calling the graduation after party and dance a "gala" when in fact it wasn't one at all. Where you performed was a gala. Or, where you were supposed to be performing. In your mind it was anyway. Maybe you had it backwards.

You stare at Coryo, waiting for him to look back at you again before you're able to try and explain.

"They left." You mouth out, once his attention was back on you. "Work."

"They left?" Coryo asks, brow furrowing slightly as you nod in confirmation. "They're not coming for the dinner?"

You shake your head. "Busy."

"Well, you're stuck with me then." He smiles, nodding for you to follow after him.

When you walk up to his cousin, Tigris, the only person who was able to come for his sake, you realize you may just make up the saddest and loneliest table at the whole event. All your classmates had at least their parents, but most also had extended family members and friends as well. Crowded tables, loud chatting, lots to say and lots to celebrate. You had... less of that. Less talking, in particular.

And once again, you were right.

You tried to enjoy your dinner while many people went out of their way to come and pat you on the back and congratulate you on your graduation- and it just felt patronizing.

Coryo watched it all go down from the seat across from you at the table, staring at classmates and parents as they stopped to talk to you, knowing damn well you wouldn't respond. He hated every minute of it.

The frustration burned behind your eyes like a freshly struck match every time someone tapped your shoulder over the beautiful graduation dress you had asked for his opinion on months ago, the very same one that matched the rose pinned to the lapel of his jacket.

'Why couldn't they comment on that instead? Say you looked beautiful? Or say nothing at all?' He thought.

You couldn't even do a thing about it besides giving people awkward tight-lipped smiles and fake appreciative nods.

"Have you seen the state of her?" Livia says to her friends as you're walking by, and instinctively you drop your head. "I mean, it looks so bad, I'm surprised she would ever show her face in public again."

Coryo's arm that's linked with yours tightens its grip, and he has to be the one to look over.

"Wait, Coriolanus, you were there, were you not?" Persephone grabs his attention when she notices the two of you walking by.

The two of you freeze, sharing a look. Both roughly translating to "Are they fucking serious?"

He clears his throat. "Excuse me? Do you have absolutely no manners at all, I really do not think that-" His gaze flicks between you and the girls from your class as he speaks, preparing to scold them for being so incredulously rude.

Their eyes all go wide simultaneously. "No! Oh, goodness, we're not talking about you, Y/N!" Livia defends quickly and takes a small step closer, looking genuinely mortified by the confusion. "Clemensia. We're talking about Clemmie."

"Oh." Coryo says at the very same time your lips form the same word you couldn't speak.

Sure, they were talking about your classmate this time, but you were not foolish enough to guess they hadn't had a similar conversation about you when you weren't present. Unless they had more pity for your situation, which may very well be worse.

"We were wondering if you knew what happened, you were the last one with her before she got this... 'illness' that has apparently turned her half snake."

Your eyes go wide at Persephone's explanation, and you look frantically between them and Coryo. He had never told you anything about this, and he knew it was his job to keep you updated on all the petty and worthless gossip going on at your school while you were away.

You smack his arm a few times, eyes pleading for him to please explain what they were talking about, as the girls watched you with amused and slightly sympathetic smiles.

"Oh, well..." He hesitates noticeably, shaking his head dismissively. "I didn't... as far as I know she just fell ill."

He was lying and you knew it. You could feel his muscles tense around your arm.

"Oh, really? So, you and Clemmie go to the Citadel to speak with Dr. Gaul, and she is never seen again without scales and you just claim... nothing weird happened?" Livia asks, clearly not buying it either.

He gives a resigned sigh, looking around briefly. "I am not meant to discuss it." He explains quietly. "But... I honestly do not know. She brought us both into a room separately to discuss the contents of the proposal. I went first, and they instructed me to not wait for her. If something happened, I was not made a witness."

The girls seem a little disappointed with this answer, but only for a moment. It was believable enough to them.

"I mean, it's human experimentation- obviously." Livia says with a shrug, bringing her glass up to her lips. "I really don't put it past the doctor, she is deranged at the best of times."

"Ooh, yes, maybe she wanted to see if she could give a human a pit organ- maybe Clemmie can see heat now. Or smell with her tongue." Persephone giggles in a whisper, leaning in so only the three of you were privy to her joke.

You tilt your head, and immediately your mind is running a mile a minute. If Dr. Gaul could alter someone's DNA enough to turn them partially into an animal, she could easily reconstruct your vocal cords... Right?

no taglist this time around!! my fics usually get over a hundred requests to be added to the taglist so instead i made a library! follow me over on @runningfrom2am-library and turn on notifs to get updates when i post new parts!!

[knightspoet]

A Vampire Romance

Vampire Au - Ghoap x reader Cw - Violence, Blood, Gore, Sexual themes, foul language, Angst, mental illness

[This came to me suddenly, not proofread. enjoy. xx]

The day had begun like it always has. You awoke from your restless slumber, eyes squinting from the sparkling sun that cascaded across your bed.

Rubbing at your eyes you yawned and got up to start the day as you always have. You find a routine helps relax your mind and keep you busy— it keeps those thoughts away. The ones that eat at your brain, slowly chipping away at your walls that you’ve built up to keep you safe and sound.

Just breathe and all will be well.

Routine. Back to the routine. It was pretty mundane. Normal but it made sure you were doing what you were supposed to, to keep you living, and not an utter mess.

Your home— if you could even call it that. Was more of like a little nook in a wall. Very small and compacted. It creaked and groaned as you walked about doing your business. You could hear the busyness of the city just outside your barred windows. Then you were off to work, taking the trains to your first shift of the day. A small cafe where you waitress during the busy ours of early birds.

There’s the long walk to your destination after getting off your stop but you never minded it. Said to yourself it was good exercise, healthy. Humming to one of your favorite songs as you adjusted your headphones on your head.

Let’s hope for a good day.

You finally arrived to work. Bernie’s. A quaint little place filled with regulars, families, elderly. Nothing ever out of the ordinary happened when you worked. Sure sometimes customers can be grumpy at times but Bernie’s was your saving grace. It was the extra help you needed.

You smiled sweetly at familiar faces, going to the back to get ready for your eight hour shift. Tying your apron around your waist and stuffing your notebook and pen in your pocket.

Let’s do this.

When 4 o’clock hits it’s time to head out for the dead. You were in the back by your locker sighing as you looked at the tips you made today. It was sad to say the least. Luckily tonight meant it was your night shift at Blue Bourbon. You were packing your backpack up when you felt a hand tap your shoulder making you jump.

“Great work today! Always keeping the customers happy.” Oh— it was just your boss Bernie. A sweet elderly fellow that took you in when you needed the extra cash. He mouthed a small sorry when he noticed he gave you a small fright.

“Thanks, B. I’ll see you Monday?” You smile, pulling your bag over your shoulder as you headed towards the exit.

He gives you a silly salute, and you giggle before making your big journey back to the train station. Blue Bourdon was on the other side of the city which meant it took you an hour just to get there. Sometimes even more because the city is always moving, always a constant. By the time you get there it’s getting close to 7. The sun setting early this season.

The atmosphere is different at the Blue Bourbon. There are big time people that come in. It was a fancy strip club on the fancy side of the city. That meant you had to change out of your old clothes into a skimpy little dress. It’s black and tight around all your curves. Not something you’re used to wearing so out of all the girls you’re the only one that wears a pair of sheer tights around your legs, to feel some sort of security. The girls greeted you as you walked out of the changing room in the back.

“Girl, you are smoking. I wish I had that ass.” Violet, Vi— whistled at you as you sat down to touch up your makeup in front of the vanity. You could hear the muffled sounds of the loud music just right outside. Your face flushed which just made Vi giggled.

“Still the shy little fawn huh?”

“God, will you ever drop it?” You laugh with a slight grimace. Fawn. A doe eyed deer the girls would call you when you first were hired. You’d never worn big heels and tight dresses before that when you first walked out of the dressing room your legs were shaking like a newborn fawn. Face speckled red with embarrassment, you felt ridiculous. And the nickname Fauna was given to you. Silver name tag shining above your breast.

You were still just a waitress. There was no way you’d ever walk out on stage. The pay was decent, and it helped pay for the rent. Maybe, if you were more confident and sure you wouldn’t be slumming it but you made do.

“Nope! Love ya, sweetie. See you out there?” Vi chirped as she gave you a smooch on the cheek, adjusting her tiny bra as she got ready to go on stage.

“Sure thing, Vi.” You only murmured with a small smile. You saw her disappear behind the curtains. It was time to get out there yourself.

Here you go.

You walked beyond the curtain to another world. Blue lights illuminated the inside, dark, and sensual for the guests inside. You could feel the music in your bones and it woke you up. One of the managers came up to you with a stressed look on their face. Oh no.

"Fauna, I need you in lounge 141 asap. Pixie called out last minute and I know you're not usually upstairs but my hands are tied."

Fuck. Just your luck. The lounge meant your role is a whole different ball game, one you were not used to but you didn't want to lose your job so you just smiled and agreed like a kiss-ass.

"Sure thing. I'm on it."

"You're a lifesaver! Counting on you, these are important clients so be good!"

Before they left they gave you instructions on what drinks they like and how they are a particular bunch. This puts you on edge but you complied anyhow. The click of your heels was muffled by the sound around the club as you made your way upstairs, ice bucket in hand filled with different liquor of their choice. Being in the lounge meant you had to be very attentive to the client's needs. Butter them up, and get them drinks, it even allowed the clients to get handsy if they paid extra for their lounge. That's what made you nervous. The power of being a waitress downstairs meant that clients weren't allowed to touch you on the floor. You were just there to take orders and hand out drinks, nothing extra. This wasn't what you signed up for.

Deep breathe.

You pulled back the curtain and you definitely weren't prepared for the four men sitting there. They were intimidating, enormous, rugged, and had some years on them. The small space was foggy from the smoke that left a pair of lips. The one who looked the oldest had mutton chops, and a big cigar hanging from his mouth. His arm was wrapped around one of the men, his skin dark, and his face pretty. Then there were the other two, one with a mohawk and the other had an adoring scar across his lip, hair an ashy blonde. They sat side by side and seemed to be sharing a cigarette.

"Now, who might you be?" The man with the cigar said as you set the ice bucket on the table in the middle of the circle booth. You didn't realize your hands were shaking, you clasped your hands in front of you as you gave your best smile.

"You can call me Fauna, I'm filling in for Pixie toni-"

"Lik' fawn? Ye git th' legs fur it." The one with the mohawk whistles low, his accent thick, Scottish you believe. His eyes trailed you up and down with no shame. You instantly feel the heat hitting your face, your mouth agape from the interruption. Hopefully, they couldn't tell. You were about to speak again but another voice spoke. The voice is deep and not American sounding either. You couldn't quite place it yet.

"Behave, you fuckin' mutt."

Man, he spooked you. But his words hit a spot inside you, a feeling you've never felt before. Almost like butterflies in the pit of your stomach.

Then there was a bit of laughter shared before the oldest stood up with the pretty boy still draped along his side, his face nuzzling into his neck intimately. This was all too much. You were not used to this. You felt like you shouldn't be here right now, it's so hot in here, its too muc-

"It was nice meeting you, love but it's time for my boy and I to go. Good luck.." He whispered the end of his sentence to you and he gave one more glance to the other two with a grin before taking his leave with what you assume is his boyfriend. This is so strange. But you had a job to do. Make the customers happy.

"Um, anyway, I'm here to get you gentlemen whatever you need. More whiskey?" You asked, grabbing the glass bottle from the ice, popping the top off, and pouring some into the blonde's cup. When pouring the Scots drink you had to lean over the table a bit, there was no space to walk over when the huge brooding blonde legs were in the way. You could feel your dress hiking up in this position and suddenly you felt a large warm hand glide up the back of your thigh. You shot up straight with a squeak 'Nice tights' you could hear the blonde mumble, before you stepped back a bit to create space, his hand falling in his lap.

"'n' ye tellt me tae behave, Simon!" The Scot scoffed with a laugh as he knocked his knee against Simons. Simon only grumbled out one thing and it sounded like a playful warning. Johnny.

Simon and Johnny.

You just tugged at your dress a bit, mumbling a small thank you. You closed the cap on the bottle before placing it back into the ice bucket. Now there you stood with your hands clasped in front of you. This was awkward. God, you wanted to leave. Instead, you're getting groped by a dangerously handsome man. You couldn't help staring at them, observing them, both were handsome and rugged in their own ways. You can't deny beauty when you see it.

"Juist lik' a deer caught in headlights. We dinnae bite, sweetness" Johnny smiled wide, his teeth white and shining, and you couldn't help but notice that his canine teeth looked shar-

"Come 'ere love, hae a seat." He gestured, stopping your thoughts and bringing you back to the present. You stepped forward towards the booth once more, Simon's huge frame still in the way, blocking an entrance to Johnny. Simon sat there sipping his drink as if you weren't trying to get across. Then Johnny scooted closer to Simon, the space between them now gone, your brows furrowing with confusion. Where were you going to sit now?

"Siiii..." Johnny sings urging him to do something, and that something makes you gasp. His arm wrapped around your waist pulling you over his lap. Your legs filtered between the space where he spread his thighs wide for you. Your bum rested on the large muscle of his. Just like taking a photo with Santa during the holidays. Your hands instantly flew to his chest, careful to not fall right on top of him from the sudden moment. You caught a small tug of Simons's lip as he drank his whiskey, his other hand resting on your hip.

Johnny starts talking but you feel like you're outside your body. You nod half listening too focused on the feeling of his fingers softly grazing one of your knees, too focused on when Simon squeezes your hip here and then, like he's telling you to pay attention to Johnny.

And that’s all that became of your night. They never asked you for anything, never went beyond their simple touches in that moment. It was like all you were there for was a vessel to listen to them talk. Or at least Johnny talk. Simon was silent the entire time. Simon carefully set you to your feet and made sure you were steady, both collecting their coats to leave before the sun came back up. You didn't even realize how late it was. It was a blur, your mind had gone foggy, it was strange like you were in a trance.

Before leaving Johnny handed you a huge wad of cash, more than you've ever gotten here in the six years of your employment at Blue Bourbon.

"Cheers fur th' evenin', sweetness" He winked before giving your bum a tap, your face flushing once more as you watched them leave. Johnny is slightly in front of Simon. Simon's hand wrapped at the back of his neck guiding him towards the exit. Your eyes glanced back down to the pile of cash in your shaky hands.

What just happened?

[stu-dyingstudent]

Sakura Haruno fic recs: ANBU

AHHHH!!!! I love ANBU fics, especially when they involve Sakura. It was such a cool concept, which was unfortunately never fully expanded upon. However, our lack of knowledge regarding the shadow corps allows for some really cool fic ideas since authors can take creative liberty on the structure and workings of the division.

In my opinion, Sakura had the most potential out of team 7 to join ANBU (at least more than Naruto). It's all about being discreet and efficient and although she wasn't strong during og, she possessed abilities that would be valuable for this. Her clever mind, chakra control, and genjutsu potential would've made her a good fit. Naruto was too flamboyant and Sasuke was too reckless and cocky, but this is just my take. However, with her new skill set from her training with Tsunade, I don't think she would be able to go down that path anymore.

Started: 2024.08.06

Last Updated: 2024.08.29

note: feel free to check out my master list which has a bunch of Sakura Haruno fic recs (all organized)!

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Masks by mads999 || ao3 || kakasaku || E || canon divergent || complete

1. Sakura's Inner is far more diabolical than anyone ever expected 2. Crows prove to be cruel mentors 3. Sakura comes to learn exactly how much she hates Kakashi (as well as how alike they are, in the most terrible of ways)

Kakashi is a hateful turd and Sakura is spiteful! I hate this ship and I'm not a big fan of Kakashi here, but boy is this fic good. One of the best character developments I've read for Sakura and she certainly becomes of force to be reconned with. The ANBU lore in Masks is absolutely phenomenal and I love the whole system that is put into place as it adds for some drama (lol). Also, can we talk about how awesome crow summons are????

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Five Kingdoms for the Dead - Evil Is A Relative Term || ffn || M || canon divergence || complete

After the Forest of Death, Sakura comes to realize that being weak is no longer an option. However, she finds that change is sometimes painful and that truth doesn't always come easy. Luckily, she'll have some help along the way.

It's been a while since I've read Five Kingdoms for the Dead, but I just remember it being absolutely great! I'll be honest, I found a lot of the mind stuff pretty confusing at times, but it was still enjoyable. Also, some great characters are utilized in this fic such as Neji, Sai, and Itachi. Makes me really wish that we saw more of Sakura and Neji working together in Naruto since I think they compliment each other quite well.

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Trials of Change - Espoiretreves || ao3 || gen || time travel AU || complete

Haruno Sakura made a promise. Looking in the eyes of her Shisou and the reanimated Hokage, she took on the most important mission of her life. Go back in time and try to prevent the 4th Shinobi War. Now, Sakura is back to her 5-year-old body, with all the knowledge and haunting memories of the future. She vows to keep her precious people safe and stop certain events from happening, without altering the timeline too much. The trials her emotions and logic put her through have her questioning her very existence, but for the sake of peace, she has to push forward. No matter what.

Trials of Change is actually apart of a time travel series and I have to say that it is probably one of the best of the genre! Now, Sakura is not in ANBU here, but she works very closely with team Ro (Kakashi's ANBU team) and it's a huge part of the story, so I'm choosing to count it anyway. I really adore all of the worldbuilding and backstories going on here in addition to the fact that there are breaks. Yes, the story keeps moving, but there are other things going on, like playdates, and not just Sakura trying to save the world. Also, if you love Shisui then definitely check this out since he has a huge role and his and Sakura's friendship is just so precious.

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bite me and see, said the fly to the spider - MirrorImage003 || ao3 || itasaku || T || non-massacre AU || ongoing

In which Sakura is not initially a part of Team 7. In which she wears her failures like armor and brandishes her fears like her most trusted weapons. In which I do what hundreds of other authors have done before me, and rewrite Sakura's story. Non-massacre AU. Canon Divergent. Slow-burn.

After Sakura's first team, consisting of the graduating class's "expendables," dies, she joins team 7 and faces backlash along her shinobi journey. Sakura doesn't join ANBU until the later chapters so fair warning that there isn't too much content in that regards (unless it updates). Nonetheless, Sakura views ANBU as vital to her career as it offers her the highest clearance she can get. Gaining her opportunities for information her civilian-born status didn't allow her privy to.

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The Sixth Shadow - thinknicht || ao3 || kakasaku || M || canon divergent - eventual time travel AU || ongoing

No one seemed to find it odd when little Haruno Sakura threw herself smack dab in front of a Chidori and Rasengan. Not even Kakashi stopped to wonder.(He really should have.)

The story of how Sakura came to be the sixth hogake despite all of the challenges thrown her way. I especially love Sakura's drive in addition to the political aspects. However, be warned that Kakashi is an absolute HATER (in the beginning), but he gets better! The Sixth Shadow is extremely long and I only just recently got to Sakura's introduction to ANBU, so I can't say too much in that regard.

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Daughter of Fire - justjstuff || ao3 || kakasaku || E || canon divergence || incomplete (maybe ongoing)

Sakura got up and didn’t bother brushing the dirt from her dress. She had a feeling she was about to get even dirtier.She looked at the memorial stone one last time, memorizing the characters without even realizing she was doing it. It would serve from that moment on as a reminder of her determination. She wouldn’t let Naruto and Sasuke join the names carved on that stone.That was her nindo.

Sakura's growth throughout Daughter of Fire is great and realistic all while pointing out aspects from the original series which were flawed and dare I say misogynistic. I struggled a bit in the beginning to justify her abilities, but overall the story is really well done and the ANBU aspects are quite intriguing.

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cut the head off the snake - itsthechocopuff || ao3 || T || time travel AU || complete

when eighteen-year-old, post-war Sakura is thrown back into her tiny, pre-Academy body, she makes a decision. she'd had a childhood once already, and this time, she's more interested in Not Dying when the inevitable shit hits the proverbial fan. so she will work harder, care less, kill more, and smile when she's done.and hey, if she ends up reviving an extinct nature transformation to attract the most corrupt, power-hungry man from her timeline, all the better for her, right?

Such a unique take on a time travel AU and Cut the Head Off the Snake executes it perfectly. Sakura decides that her first order of business is to infiltrate ROOT and that's exactly what she does. Sai, Shin, and Shisui are all great characters and team Ro is present as well. Very good!

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Flowers - Idunmy || ao3 || E || kakasaku || canon divergence || ongoing

Flowers only bloom just before they wilt When Sakura loses her fight against Ino in her Chuunin exams, she questions her ability to ever become a kunoichi, too weak to protect herself, let alone her village One wrongful promotion later and Sakura gets a second chance in the shape of a mysterious new teacher who against all odds is willing to put her faith in a young girl with potential and a willingness to fight. Or- a fix-it inspired fic where Sakura grows to be the powerhouse she was destined to become.

Flowers is a newer series (which has recent updates) and I love it! Critiques are made towards the medical ninja training, which I believe needed to be discussed and it's refreshing to see. In most ANBU fics I've read, Sakura is immediately put onto the strongest team, but here it's a bit different. She begins on a demolition squad, which not only suits her skill set quite well, but is a realistic approach to how she would be introduced to the corps. Anyway, it's one of my favorite reads at the moment and I really like where the story is going.

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names. - waterpllar || ao3 || T || gen || canon divergence || complete

There are no names or faces in ANBU. Everything is designed to be strictly formal, efficient and professional. A recently orphaned Sakura, however, learns that some regulations aren't meant to be followed, and finds a place in Team Ro after being shunned from her former teammates. (fic prompt from anon on tumblr: orphaned sakura in anbu with yamato, genma, and team ro.)

AHHHH poor Sakura. After her parents' death Sakura seeks Tsunade's help out of desperation to become useful. Under recommendation, Sakura's new goal is to make it into ANBU.

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Equinox - FM_White || ao3 || itasaku || M || anbu AU || complete

ItaSaku (Post Uchiha Massacre) AU: Climbing through the ranks of Konoha, Sakura finds herself with the invitation to join ANBU and a chance to learn from one of the most renowned and legendary ninja in the world. Despite her efforts to grow stronger however, she finds the world isn't as black and white as it looks and that some truths are easier to hide than others.

I don't remember Equinox very well, but I love most works by this author sooo. Anyway, Itachi stays in Konoha and instead it's Sasuke that goes rougue. Sakura, Naruto, and Shikamaru are newly joined ANBU members and all placed on a team with Itachi and things go from there.

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stars in our eyes as we dream of the heavens (the gods walk among us, sweet child, do not forget) - snickiebear || ao3 || kakasaku || T || age-swap AU || oneshot complete

“Kakashi-sensei,” Naruto whispered, staring at his teacher, horror plain on his face. “You’re married?” Lazily, Kakashi looked down at his gloveless hand where his ring rested, “It would appear so.”

Sakura is born in the same generation as Kakashi and turns out as a badass ANBU married to him. This is super wholesome as it's a lot of the two of them bonding with Kakashi's genin team (Sai makes three) in an effort to help them out. It's a series so you can read more of the events taking place prior to the fic.

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Anachronistic Drift  - Elesrea  || ffn || gen || T || time travel AU || incomplete

Her plan was flawless. Save Shisui. Save the world. Time-travel, Sakura-centric AU

Sakura spends years training to be sent back in time and save the world from Sasuke. She isn't in ANBU, but rather poses as one in order to keep an anonymous status on her doings both in and out of the village.

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Sakura - lilac haze || ffn/ao3 || M || minasaku || time travel AU || complete

AU. Non-Canon. Time Travel. Please see inside for full warnings. Cross posted on Ao3. On his deathbed he was granted eternal peace and place to rest for all of time. Of course that was not appealing to him. Ever unpredictable to the end he had a counter offer. One that the Sage had to consider. In which Sakura's going to have a rough time. A really rough time.

Sakura is probably one of my all time favorite fics because the emotions are just spectacular. The story is pretty heavy on ANBU and ROOT aspects, which I always enjoy, but I wouldn't say it's a major focus. However, there is an emphasis on the unfair treatment towards kunoichi. Anyway, the characterizations and storytelling are beautifully done. Please share this author some love.

Check TWs before hand!!

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Hope y'all enjoy these recs, and please feel free to send me some if you have any!!!! I really appreciate when you do :)

[stuckinthesun]

TW // panic attack

You can’t do this. Huddled on the floor and breathing erratically, tears start pouring down your face. Your lungs burn from overuse and you think you hear someone calling your name, but it’s muffled through your heart pounding in your ears.

There are people, disfigured and should be dead people, eating other people. You’ve been chased around by a very large man in a fedora trying to kill you, and you’re only companion is a rookie cop who’s only been in this city for a couple hours.

Leon has been extremely helpful, and you will be forever grateful for him if you actually manage to escape this, but right now in your panic state you can’t help wishing that he was at least a local.

How could this be happening? You’re mind shows you all the horrors you’ve seen in the last hour alone, like some sick slideshow, and you let out a sob.

You feel two hands grab your shoulders suddenly and you scream, thrashing your body, trying to get out of the monster’s hold.

That’s when the voice that’s been trying to get through to you finally registers, “Hey! Hey, it’s just me! It’s Leon! Relax, it’s just me! I’m not gonna hurt you! Look at me!”

Leon grabs your face then, forcing you to look at him, and even in your panicked state you can see he’s worried.

Once you’re looking at him, he opens his mouth and for a moment you think he’s going to say something. Something cliche like, “I’m here,” or “We’re going to make it,” to try and cheer you up, but instead Leon takes in a breath and…

Makes a goofy face at you.

Leon used his inhale and puffed out his cheeks, closing his eyes and scrunching his nose to add to the effect.

You just stared, stunned, at the sight in front of you.

A moment of silence passed, and the air in Leon’s cheeks began to deflate, slipping through his lips and making a raspberry sound.

That is what broke you.

A startled laugh broke from your chest, panic completely forgotten, and making Leon open his eyes. He smiled at you, and you returned it with a disbelieving one of your own, “What was that?”

“I don’t know, I’ve never had to calm someone down from a panic attack before.”

“Clearly,” You laugh again, shaking your head.

He huffed at you jokingly, “Hey, it worked didn’t it!”

You rolled your eyes and held your hand out. Leon took it without hesitation and helped you up, keeping his hands in yours until he knew you were okay.

“Yeah,” You mumble, straightening yourself looking at him with determination, “Now let’s get the hell out of here.”

Leon smiled at you and nodded, raising his gun, “Don’t have to tell me twice.”

It wasn’t until later, on the underground train, with your fingers intertwined with his, that you thanked him for being there for you.

[mulders-too-large-shirt]

my favorite scully and mulder moments from s3

mulder bursting into his apartment in episode 2 after actually returning from the dead, only to find scully and skinner holding each other at gunpoint. he immediately asks if she is okay and pulls HIS gun on skinner, too (yes, he WILL threaten to kill their boss for her, thank you very much)

(and then they have this moment where they reunite for real and she smiles at him- i thought they were going to kiss but they didn’t, but either way it was so precious and genuine it made me lose my mind)

this exchange in the disease center archives: “lots of files” “lots and lots of files” yeah <3

after they flee through the back exit of the archives escaping what seemed like the entire US military, they meet skinner at a little diner in maryland, with all things seemingly forgiven between them

how he holds her after she learns melissa passed away, and how they both agree that they need to get back to work in order to keep them from going mad with grief (they were both in mourning at the same time- his dad's death was still very recent- and it is so touching to me how they were there for each other at every step)

they way they glance at each other while the “psychic” stupendous yappi is making incredibly vague claims about the killer at the crime scene in episode 4 (omg... does anyone have this gif?)

(and when the psychic claims that mulder has “negative energy” and needs to leave the room, she leans in and says “i can’t take you anywhere)

later in the episode, he comes in with the news that the item at the crime scene was made of chantilly lace, and he says “you know how i like it” in reference to the song by the big bopper. she makes the FUNNIEST face!!! it's a momentary mixture of horror and disgust before she composes herself. it is hilarious, i’ll see if i can find it. then she slaps a file on his chest and wishes him good luck in observing bruckman.

also, he is nearly killed in that episode, and scully shoots his would-be murderer- then they have one of those “comforting each other on the floor after nearly dying moments” that are like catnip to me

“imagine if it were true, scully. imagine if you could come back and take out five people who had caused you to suffer. who would they be?” “i only get five?” “i remembered your birthday this year, didn’t i?” <3 (from episode 5)

in episode 7, scully noticed that mulder had been carrying dental x-ray plates throughout their whole investigation, but never bothered to ask why because they were at the point in their relationship where such things do not need to be discussed

scully learning in episode 9 that she is slowly dying from the tests they performed on her while she was taken, and breaking the news to mulder- how he softly says “but you’re fine, aren’t you scully?” because he cannot bear to lose her (AUGHHHHHHHH) (and she confesses that she doesn’t know if she really IS okay… why do they place so much sorrow on her shoulders?)

mulder trapped on a ticking time bomb of a train in episode 10, calling her to say “scully, let me tell you, you haven’t seen america til you’ve seen it from a train” “DAMN IT MULDER, WHAT HAPPENED?!” <- lmaooo he has this constant Need to diffuse tension with a quip

scully is going through A Lot of Emotions in episode 11, and when it is time for them to go, mulder holds out her jacket for her to put on <3 and then goes and does the statement by himself as per her request so she can go “run an errand” (confession for the first time in 6 years), which he obliges without question

so much of the episode 12 dialogue: “mulder, you’re not thinking about trespassing onto government property again, are you?” “it’s too late, i’m already inside” (incredibly deep scully sigh) “well, what’s going on? what do you see?” <- yeah that’s them. if you’re gonna break federal law, at least tell her about it in depth.

scully sleeping with her phone on her pillow, waiting for another of mulder’s calls. when it finally comes, he’s going on and on about bambi and she is clearly displeased. finally, he asks “scully, can i confess something to you?” and she VISIBLY winces, with pain in her voice, but pushes through and says “yeah sure, okay” (this one KILLED me because she did NOT want to hear about his love life but she wanted to be a good friend... scully is so kind)

(and all he had to say was that he hates insects lmao)

((and how the episode starts with the two of them making a planet of the apes reference, then ends with bambi and dr. ivanov flirting by making a different planet of the apes reference))

mulder is losing his damn mind in episode 14, hadn’t slept for days, and was sneaking out to a crime scene. scully is so worried she tells him to stay exactly where he is and that she will be there soon so they can “work this thing out together, okay?” trying to talk him back into being himself, making sure he is safe... that's partnership <3

in episode 16, mulder gets in a car crash, but wakes up to find scully next to him in the hospital. he has a bandage on his head looking all pathetic, and she greets him with a smile. i wanted to bottle this moment and drink it like fine champagne.

their drive to north dakota after scully confronted the man who shot skinner and her sister- how tense that ride had to have been. what did they say? anything at all? i need to know, i need 10 fics NOW

and their conversation at melissa’s grave- how they both bring flowers, how he touches her shoulder, the way she shares her father’s friend’s theory that the dead speak to you from beyond the grave, which is a conscious. and how he, the man who is always pondering the meanings of life and death and what comes between, says honestly “that’s interesting. i’ve never thought of it that way” 

her falling asleep on his shoulder during the stakeout in episode 17; how he lightly taps her face to wake her up and says “i think you drooled on me”, which prompts a very fast and very embarrassed apology (!!!!!!!!!)

(also, pusher kept calling mulder "g-man" over the phone, so when they hang up he turns to her and calls her "g-woman" <3)

their very excellent coordination between scully grabbing the fire extinguisher and mulder using his jacket to douse the flames that episode

(and all the times in pusher they lean their heads together to share a phone <3)

when mulder has to go into the hospital to catch the pusher, he leaves his gun behind so he won’t hurt anybody- and he’s terrified and so is scully, so they look into each other’s eyes while holding hands before he departs

how she runs into action when he is in danger in the hospital; how she interrupts his game of russian roulette with pusher, and how she SCREAMS when he puts the gun to his head and pulls the trigger; that visceral "damn it, mulder!" filled with so much emotion in just a few words

how he fights the pusher’s mind control to prevent shooting her harder than he fought the mind control that made him fire at himself (!!!)

and after mulder escaped, having fired every round into pusher so he knew he wouldn’t hurt anyone else ever again, he watches as he is on life support. scully grabs his hand, having seen how terrified he had become, and tells him not to let this man take up any more of his time.

in episode 20, they receive roky’s fantastical report on his men in black encounter, which mulder reads aloud while scully lies on the bed of their hotel room, looking baffled (it is so CUTE!!!)

waking up to mulder in her room soon after that, having been under some mind control influence the night before, wondering why he was in there, and mulder trying to explain no, she actually invited him in!!

walking into the bait shop together in episode 22, sharing an umbrella while she holds the dog's leash <3

mulder offering to join her walking her dog, but she smiles and lifts up her jacket to show her gun and says she’ll be fine 

the whole conversation on the rock, but some highlights include “hey scully, do you think you could ever cannibalize someone?” and how she compares him to ahab (they’re both “so consumed by your personal vengeance against life, whether it be its inherent cruelties or its mysteries, that everything takes on a warped significance to fit your megalomaniacal cosmology”, which he responds to with “scully, are you coming onto me?”)

but then he gets very serious, talking about how he wishes it were enough to just Persist Despite It All and be free of expectations, how he loathes that “you’re actually expected to make something of your life- achieve something, earn a raise, wear a necktie”, and he is the antithesis of ahab because he might be happier with a pegleg. and god, that one makes me emotional.

(and then they both quote a line from the book <3)

oh, and i could not finish this list without this banger from episode 23: “he’s lied to me from the beginning. he’s never trusted me” “scully, you are the ONLY one i trust”

(cue tears as scully collapses into her mother's arms) (cue tears at mulder's dogged persistence he could bring her back, but it took a mother's love instead) (and cue tears that such love had been extended to him by mrs. scully, so much so that she knew he would never, ever threaten her baby)

[bloodreddemons]

Hazbin Hotel Episode 7-8 (Finale) Hot Takes ~

I personally loved a lot of the Charlastor content in the beginning. So cute.

The deal Alastor purposed to Charlie was also very predictable. We already knew they were going to eventually make a deal but that deal in particular was just very predictable.

I think everyone knows this already but that "one little favor" that Alastor is going to ask of her is going to bite her in the ass. We don't know what he's going to ask but it's definitely gonna come back to haunt her.

She may even make a deal with him again possibly in the future, who knows.

I'm surprised Vaggie didn't know Angel's could be harmed or killed. Its weird that she also didn't know how to fight against one.

Rosie is a real gem and a wayyyyy better friend than Mimzy fucking is.

I love Carmilla & Vaggie's dynamic. I think they both are very much the same personality wise. I definitely can see Carmilla as a mother figure to her or at least a teacher to her, which she pretty much is.

To follow up, I loved Carmilla training Vaggie and helping her get her wings back. Out For Love was also really really good. I liked it a lot.

Never thought I'd hear Alastor call someone an old bitch but it was everything.

I knew Charlie was gonna forgive Vaggie regardless of anything but I love Auntie Rosie.

I didn't really like "Ready For This". I wish I did like it. Especially since it had Charlie, Alastor, & Rosie in it. Idk I liked Out For Love more.

Vox's commentary was funny asf but he's also such a hater. Not even a low-key one lmao.

The post-fight celebration and speech was actually very sweet. Although I wish there was more time and episodes that we could have seen more of the characters bond. I also wish there were more opportunities where we got to know them better.

I really thought Angel & Husk were gonna fuck this episode.

I wasn't expecting for Sir Pentious to say "I love you" to Cherri Bomb so soon and I also didn't need to know he had 2 dicks.

"More Than Anything" Chaggie version was pretty sweet. It'd be cool if there was a longer version idk if there is. They also kissed which was nice.

Adam & Lute are funny asf. Especially Adam. They may be horrible people but I just can't get over how funny they are. Even when they're about to massacre Charlie's people. Lol.

I wasn't expecting the war to be kinda epic. The shield that Alastor put up over the hotel kinda reminded me of the last Harry Potter. When they all put a shield around Hogwart's to protect everyone from the death eaters and voldemort.

Adam might just be the funniest character in this series dead or alive. Heaven or Hell.

It pisses me off how Charlie barely does anything in the fight. Like, this is her people and her fucking hotel as she keeps saying... yet everybody else but her is fighting. Wtf? Girl yo ass should be in Sloth.

I love Alastor & Adam's dynamic, their first impression of eachother is so hilarious. The fight between them was also very entertaining. I was really curious to see who would win.

I was actually kinda surprised that Alastor was defeated so easily. I honestly thought he was stronger than that, but tbh Adam is very powerful he's the fucking first man, extermination commander, and he already single handedly broke Alastor's shield.

People have pointed out Alastor's "normal" voice when his mic/staff breaks, because it's his voice without the radio filter. Imma be honest I wasn't that shocked at all, he just sounds the same to me, the radio filter just adds a cool effect.

Charlie really could have got tf up there and helped Alastor out. Idk if she thought he could handle himself or what but fuck.

SIR PENTIOUS KISSING CHERRI WAS AMAZING. WE WON. But then he "died"...

To follow up that sacrifice was anticlimactic at the same time. Mostly because of the way Adam just effortlessly zapped him out of existence.

I'm so disappointed in the "Charlie finally snaps" bit. I was literally dying to see this part in the series, where Charlie finally loses her shit and stands up for herself or whatevever....but it ended up being extremely disappointing and yet again, anticlimactic.

Charlie's transformation along with Razzle & Dazzle was kindaaa cool, however...her getting her ass kicked within like 0.3 fucking seconds was not. It was embarrassing for a demon of her status. I can understand Alastor, but seriously Charlie? You can't beat him? The clownery.

I loved the Vaggie & Lute fight. Let my girl Vaggie finally get her ones. Lute needs her ass beat disrespectfully for what she did.

Although...Lute was winning that fight, she was still holding her own and getting more hits in. I don't even think Carmilla's teaching's were working. Lmao damn. That bitch is fucking scrappy.

Vaggie should have just ended Lute. I know she's too good for that, but she really should have just killed that bitch. She left you for dead you should have just killed her.

Charlie stabbing Adam and standing her ground was badass, but that was kinda it. She still ends up almost getting choked out. Lame.

Charlie just isn't that powerful. 😒 Or at least as she's supposed to be. Maybe it's still not really shown to us, but so far she just isn't that threatening at all. Very disappointing.

Lucifer coming in kinda pissed me off. I wish Charlie could have actually handled everything herself without her dad having to come in and help her. I just feel like it'd be more impactful for her and her character.

Adam x Lucifer actually does seem kinda hot....just me???

Their fight was very entertaining despite already knowing who would come out on top. Hehe.

"All of Mankind came from these fucking nutts" is pure poetry.

Nifty is a menace and I have been saying it since the very beginning. If anyone should be running shit it should be her. Alastor is so feared but it should be herrrr.

I didn't like "The Show Must Go On" as a song but it was sweet in the sense that it was about Charlie and her found family helping her rebuild her hotel and still have the determination to keep going. Also it helps lead off into Season 2.

I'm fucking itching to know what deal is bothering Alastor and who he made it with. It's becoming more likely that it's with Lilith & that's who owns him.

I think it's obvious the deal possibly involve's Alastor to watch over or protect Charlie. Alastor is becoming bothered by having to do this because he literally almost fucking died.

I'm really worried about what Alastor is going to do when he's finally free and under no restraints from who controls him. I know Viv said Alastor isn't an antagonist but she could've just been keeping it a secret.

Alastor really might be a secret antagonist. He'll just be that surprise villain in the end that kinda comes out of nowhere but you still knew it was coming. I wouldn't trust him especially with what he said. Him pulling the strings can't be good.

I can't believe Sir Pentious got redeemed before Angel Dust, but still good for him! I'm so happy he got redeemed he truly is good and deserves it.

I was pissed asf when I saw Lilith in Heaven. Your daughter has been in HELL fucking struggling, while you've been sitting comfy up in heaven, the same place that is fucking YOUR people up!!! Helloooo??

My theory is that Lilith is Eve in disguise. I wholeheartedly believe that because something just feels off?? Y'all feel that too??? Lilith making a deal with Adam? Chilling up in Heaven? NAH MAN.

I also think it could be Eve who owns Alastor and that he knows of her being disguised as Eve, and is in Heaven. Like he's kinda in on it, but more so by force.

[gadriezmannsgirl]

May i request,where in reader and grizi are laying in bed just talking about your day and just adoring each other! Idk I just had a really soft spot for him rn ! Anywho thank you so much for your writing! I hope you have a wonderful day💙

Grizi fic because it's his birthday! Can you believe that gorgeous man is 33 now? I can't, he's just a baby

Lovers -A.G7

Summary: You're each other's safe space

You rolled into your bedroom, laying yourself into the door sighing and kicking off your shoes.

"Bonjour, princesse" (Hello, princess) You heard his voice and inmediately smiled before lifting your gaze, his deep blue eyes made you feel safe and his smile took off the weight of the day away.

"Hola" You said softly with a tired smile on "How's your day?"

"Pretty boring" He smiled "What about yours?"

"Long" You said inmediately "Very, very long" You sighed closing your eyes "I'm so tired all I want to do is sleep" You let yourself go face down on your bed "and not move from the bed at all for at least three days straight" You heard his sweet laugh

"You gotta go and shower, amor"

"Are you telling me that I stink?" You looked up to him and saw how his lips were pushed upwards and looked to another side "I'm not!"

"You're" He said

"You're lying, Antoine Griezmann" His facade fell quickly as laughter came over him

"I can shower with you if you want"

"Your hair is wet"

"I can still take another shower" You hum with a smile on, you pushed yourself up and crawled on the bed to be face to face with him

"Only shower?"

"Well... I can think about something else too"

"Save that for later, campeón. I'm tired right now"

"You pervert, I was talking about a massage!" You laugh kissing his lips and going straight to the bathroom "You dirty minded"

You took off your shirt and throwed it at him "Shut up and come to take a shower with me"

Antoine got up really fast and ran towards the bathroom making you laugh "You're a 33 year old man but you still act as if you were 16"

"That's the spirit!"

Once you were inside the bathroom, he truly saw how tired you were and took care of you without thinking twice, he washed your hair, your body, he talked to you trying to get your head off from work and after that he helped you with your after shower routine, the creams on your body, doing your hair for you in a nice braid, dressing you in your pijama's which consisted in one of his shirts and panties.

"Thank you, Anto" You kiss his cheek

"No need to thank me, princesse" He smiled "I'm glad I can help you whenever you're having a bad day" You smile softly

"It wasn't a bad day" You confess "It was just a really tiring and long day, I had to run around everywhere, the guys were making simple mistakes, the documents I was waiting for to sign weren't even done, two meetings got pushed back because one of them is sick... It was crazy" You whispered shaking your head "What about you? How was training?"

"Koke keeps calling me Toni Pepperoni"

"You let him"

"He heard you" You laugh softly "But overall was good, tiring and hard like always but there were always laughter"

"Sometimes I wish I can switch offices with you" He laughed

"You wouldn't want that"

"No, I wouldn't" You agree "I run five minutes and I'm already passing out, imagine having to run from one side of a field to the other for +90 minutes. I'll be dead" You both laugh "And the work sessions you do, shut your mouth don't get me started on that" You shake your head "It's truly amazing what you do, love"

"Your work is amazing too. Without you the company wouldn't know how to work"

"That's called being a bossy bitch" He laughs

"You're bossy, yes. But not a bitch"

"I can be sometimes"

"0 out 11 times"

"But I still am" You winked as he laughs once again. You enjoy that sound and the smile that covers his handsome face.

"Definitely, Morata's afraid of you"

"He should be. I didn't let my shoe go out after kicking that ball for no reason"

"That day was so amazing" His giggles made you giggle as well, you keep on talking about your days and about random things that went to your mind at that moment, when he suddenly asked "Baby, how does a date night sound?"

"Do we have to go out?"

"You know we don't"

"Then it's perfect"

"You set up the movie and I'll bring something to eat"

"Can I cuddle you?"

"Do you even have to ask? Of course you will" He scoffs "Do you want Chip Ahoy's and Pringles's?" You opened your mouth but he beat you to it "Of course you will"

"Mira tu-!" (Look, you little-!) You grabbed his pillow and went to throw it at him but he passed through the door "You're lucky I'm in love with you!"

"You're the lucky one, señora!" (Old lady)

"You're definitely not coming out alive out of this one, Griezmann!" You ran out after him, you heard his laugh already on the kitchen as you made your way downstairs. He was going to get it.

°°° °°° °°° °°°

Taglist: @gaviymarcsbride @stuckinaf4nfiction @elijahslover @azzpenswrld @http-isabela

[zahri-melitor]

Catwoman 1989 (Her Sister's Keeper):

This is a direct sequel to Batman: Year One, and I definitely had to dig BYO back out and line the stories up, and in doing so I noticed how much work Mindy Newell did to transform the needlessly dark, grim and gritty reboot of Selina's origin into a story where you could see Selina in it.

I actually do think Batman: Year One is a story worth reading, and it very much fits into the dark realism turn that was gripping DC in the mid to late 80s. I also think that Frank Miller doesn't care about the interior lives of women (or as them as anything more than set dressing, given how much of his oeuvre consists of every woman appearing being framed by her sexual relationship to the men in the story, down to 'and the women here are all prostitutes').

Mindy Newell does.

Selina's bondage-gear costume and mask from BYO makes sense - as it's a costume her pimp gave her to wear for a particular client. Selina's haircut makes sense - she's started training in self defence with Ted Grant after having been beaten up by a client and left for dead outside of Maggie's convent. Newell literally spends half of the first issue reusing every panel that shows Selina or Holly from Batman #404 and #405, and providing context and additional motivation for what's happening and how that affects Selina. She breaks down the hardened, self-assured Selina that Miller wrote and shows the uncertainty, self doubt and determination under it.

It's just fascinating reinterpretation work to find a character underneath a story that doesn't centre them, and as someone who's done similar work as a fanfic writer it does indeed strike me that Newell does this in a confident way that makes it clear both Newell and Brozowski were sitting there with the issues open in front of them...and Brozowski was redrawing, not tracing. Transformational storytelling!

It also hits a lot of points about how and why Selina becomes Catwoman. Why's she stealing jewels? Because it's a lot more lucrative to her than sex work (and she enjoys it more). She's caught up in her quest for revenge more than saving Maggie - until her decisions lead to Maggie almost dying. She gives Selina and Bruce a proper conversation together about their different moral codes and motivations. Selina's desire to check on the people of the East End starts here, even if its initial form is mostly selfish and does not extend much past the people she cares about.

What I also did not expect going in was how much I was going to like Magdalene. Maggie’s tougher and has got more grit to her than I expected. She stands up to the cops with assurance, she seeks help on her own terms, she refuses to be a victim while she's kidnapped, and she faces off with Batman to protect her sister.

(Batman and Maggie talking in Catwoman #4)

The art is also excellently atmospheric the whole way through, hampered as it is by the fact that Batman Year One had already given Selina two of my least favourite outfits ever to use for this overlapping story.

I really liked this. From what I hear, Newell's Lois Lane mini is equally interesting in terms of centring a woman's story in a dark and gritty setting. Her background in healthcare as a nurse pops out in terms of what the story focused on. I really wish Newell had been given more writing opportunities, later on, because what she put together here is just really intelligent and entertaining.

[lilacmingi]

SNOWMAN

My works are 14+ ONLY. If you’re under 14 DO NOT interact with me or any of my works

Pairing: Yunho x fem reader

Word count: 3,640

Note: Bringing you another imagine from Wattpad! I’m gonna be honest, this one is probably my most favorite Christmas imagine T^T I adore the plot and I had so much fun seeing everyone’s reactions when it first came out. For those who haven’t read it, buckle up! You’re in in for a ride!Reminder: This imagine is from Wattpad so there will be no continuations or extra parts

A long, drawn-out sigh left your lips as you stared out the window watching the snow fall to the ground below. You would train your eyes on one snowflake, watching the way it floated downwards, joining the rest of the crystals on the solid, white blanket coating your yard.

Unlike other Christmases, your heart felt very empty this year. You felt something was missing—more like someone.

You work in an art museum and you've always been very involved in your job. You've never been one to worry or stress about settling down or finding someone, as your job keeps you happy. Sure, you've had moments where you feel a little lonely and maybe wish you had someone to spend time with, but you've always been able to brush it off. However, now something is different.

You tried to make plans with some of your coworkers, but they were all busy with their significant others. Your parents had taken a trip, so seeing them was out of the question, and your friends were busy as well with their boyfriends and girlfriends. Again, you've never been one to concern yourself with relationships, but it seems that everywhere you look there are couples. It's almost like the universe is rubbing it in your face.

In an attempt to try and brighten your Christmas, you decided to go outside and indulge in the snowy weather, perhaps even make a snowman. You bundled up tightly in your warmest clothes and stepped outside into the frigid air which immediately began to nip at your nose.

Tugging your scarf up a bit closer to your face, you stepped off your porch and into the thick, white powder coating the ground. Your feet sunk into the snow as you trudged out into the yard, trying to find a place to start building your snowman. Your gaze came to halt just underneath a tree. It was dead, but some of the branches would provide at least a little shade for your snowman.

You began shoveling up snow, pushing it into a round sphere before shaping it and smoothing out the rough and lumpy edges. Once you got a good base going, you began scooping up snow with your hands, adding to that base, building it up higher and higher.

You continued to work on your snowman for an unspecified amount of time. You were so focused on perfecting the snowman, you didn't even keep track of how long you were outside. At some point, you took a moment to step back and see what you had created.

Your brows pulled together as you glanced at the snowman you had sculpted, chuckling bitterly as you realized you had unintentionally made a literal snow man. The icy white snow had been shaped into the silhouette of a man. You had even given him facial features like a nose and the vague shape of lips.

"Wow. I must be really lonely." You remarked.

As if things couldn't get any more miserable, you realized you built your snowman underneath a mistletoe tree. Though, you could've sworn it was just a regular, dead tree, especially since you don't have any mistletoe trees in your yard.

"The universe is just mocking me at this point." You muttered, glancing up at the cluster of mistletoe in the branches above.

Fixing your gaze on the literal snow man in front of you, you let out a scoff.

"'Tis the season." You muttered before leaning in, pressing your lips against the ice cold snow.

When you pulled away, you couldn't help but chuckle dryly, shaking your head at how pitiful you were.

"I really am lonely."

You stepped away from your creation and headed inside to warm your numb hands and feet. You cozied up by the fireplace with a blanket and a cup of hot cocoa. You had even turned on some holiday music to try and get into the Christmas spirit. The tingling in your fingertips subsided as your hands warmed up and you regained feeling in them.

Being near the toasty fire had made you a little drowsy, so you migrated to the couch where you curled up and unknowingly dozed off.

It was early in the morning, your snowman sat in its spot under the tree which previously had clusters of mistletoe on it. Now, those clusters of festive greenery were nowhere to be seen.

Suddenly, a quiet, icy crackling sound could be heard as your snowman began to move. Of course, you were inside snoozing away, so you had no idea.

The once stiff, snowy limbs of the snowman began to move as it unstuck its feet from the white blanket beneath. It stretched its back just slightly before shaking its body, the snow falling off and dropping into a pile on the ground.

You rolled over, letting out a small groan as you came to. You found that you were still on the couch, nearly forgetting that you fell asleep there the previous day.

You pushed yourself into a sitting position, your muscles aching slightly from sleeping on the couch. After allowing yourself to wake up a little, you stood up and shuffled to the kitchen to make yourself a coffee. You blinked lazy as you hovered your finger over the broad selection of Keurig K-cups, deciding which flavor you were in the mood for. After making your selection, you put the little pod into your coffee maker and waited for it to brew.

The delicious smell of coffee quickly filled your kitchen, waking you up a bit. Once your hot beverage was finished, you took your mug full of caffeine and walked to your living room window.

You admired the view of the snowbank outside, watching as a flurry of snow came down, accumulating on the ground. Your eyes drifted over to the tree that sat in your yard, your whole body freezing when you noticed that your snowman was gone. All that was left was a small pile of snow.

Abandoning your coffee, you slipped on some shoes and hurried outside to inspect. In the middle of the shallow pile of snow was what appeared to be footprints, as if someone had been standing in the same spot as your snowman. You then noticed shoe prints in the snow leading away from the spot where your snowman previously stood. They looked fairly fresh so you hoped the culprit was nearby.

As soon as you turned around, you spotted someone standing a few feet away. He was tall with boyish features and stared at you with wide, innocent eyes. He wore a large white sweater, a red scarf, and had small chunks of snow sitting on his shoulders and his head.

"Hi!" He beamed brightly, waving at you.

"You! Did you destroy my snowman?" You asked, pointing to the man.

"No." He shook his head, vigorously. "Don't you recognize me?"

"No."

"You don't know who I am?" He asked, seeming hurt.

You shook your head. "I've never met you in my life."

"I'm Yunho, your snowman."

"My—my what?" You questioned.

"Your snowman. You built me right over there." He pointed.

"Ah. I see what's going on here. You were spying on me. You saw everything that was going on and then you decided to come over and destroy my snowman."

"No, that's not it at all." He shook his head. "I just woke up and the snow was so cold so I shook it off and started walking around looking for you."

Your brows furrowed in bewilderment. His story was so bizarre and nonsensical, and because of it, you were unable to comprehend anything that was happening. You looked over at "Yunho" giving him a once-over. He did kind of favor the snowman you made. The nose and hair was almost a perfect match, and if he really did wake up covered in snow, then that would explain why it's on top of his head and on his shoulders, but there's no way he came to life. Snowmen don't come to life. This isn't some Christmas special, this is real life.

"You put your mouth on me. Right here!" He pointed to his lips. "It felt funny."

Your eyes widened as your cheeks were set aflame.

"I—" You started.

"You're lonely. You said so yourself."

You knew right then that he was telling the truth. You had said that so quietly, there's no way someone spying on you would have heard it.

"You—you're really..." You trailed off. "You're my snowman?"

He nodded with an excited grin.

"I don't understand." You murmured in shock and disbelief.

"It's Christmas magic!" He smiled, throwing his arms up, the snow on his shoulders falling to the ground.

You stared off in the distance trying to grasp the fact that the impossible just happened.

"Can we go inside? It's cold out here." Yunho shivered.

"Yeah." You answered, walking blindly to your house.

"What's your name?" Yunho asked as the two of you went inside.

"Y/n."

"That's a wonderful name." He smiled.

Still in a daze, you grabbed Yunho's face, squishing and pulling on his cheeks to make sure he was real.

"That feels funny." He giggled, his words being distorted as you continued to poke around at his face.

"You're real." You murmured, staring off at nothing in particular.

"Yes, I'm real." Yunho told you. "Can you not see me and hear me?"

You didn't answer.

"Are you alright? You seem to be acting a little weird."

"I just can't believe this is real. I don't—I don't understand."

"I already told you, it's Christmas magic."

"Christmas magic." You scoffed. "Christmas magic."

You paused suddenly, a strange occurrence popping into your mind. Hurrying to the window, you looked outside where the tree you built your snowman under stood. The limbs were barren, bearing no clusters of mistletoe at all. You knew you had no mistletoe trees in your yard and the fact that you clearly saw a bundle of the plant appear on the tree the day before was incomprehensible. You blinked to make sure you were seeing the bare limbs correctly, making sure you weren't delirious.

The only explanation was just as Yunho said—Christmas magic. You had trouble believing it yourself, but it made sense. Come to think of it, you had been feeling lonely and wanted someone to spend the holidays with, and that's exactly what you got.

"What's this?" Yunho's voice broke through your messy thoughts.

You turned to see him looming over your cup of coffee.

"It smells really good." He commented.

"It's coffee." You said, walking over to him.

"Oh. Can I try some?"

"Sure. I'll make another one."

Yunho followed you into the kitchen, trailing behind you like a puppy. He watched your every move as you made coffee, fascinated by the process. The hot beverage was finished in no time, which Yunho was excited about. You handed the mug to him, watching cautiously as he took a sip.

His face twisted in distaste, then switched to an expression of surprise.

"I like that." He grinned. "I wasn't sure at first because it was sweet and a little bitter, but it's really good."

"I'm glad you like it." You told him, taking a sip of your own coffee, which was just barely warm.

You weren't sure what to do with your new houseguest. He had just come to life less than half an hour ago and didn't seem to know too much. I mean, he is... was a snowman, after all, so you didn't expect him to know everything.

"Y/n?" Yunho spoke up.

"Yes?"

"Why are you lonely? Don't you have friends to spend Christmas with?"

"They're all busy with their boyfriends and girlfriends." You answered.

"Oh. I bet you don't have one of those. That's why you're lonely."

"How'd you guess?" You asked sarcastically, your tone emotionless.

"It was easy." He smiled. "But there's no need to feel lonely anymore, though. I can be your boyfriend."

"Boyfriend?" You parroted. "That's not necessary. Plus, we don't really know each other that well."

"I'm a boy and I'm your friend. That should be enough, right?"

"Not exactly. You see, boy friend is a boy who's your friend, exactly as you said. Boyfriend is when you're dating someone. You hold hands, cuddle, kiss, and go on dates." You attempted to explain.

"You kissed me. So that means I'm your boyfriend." He smiled.

"You were just made of snow, I didn't think anything of it."

"But I'm not now." He grinned, cutely.

"Let's just take it one step at a time, okay? Friends first."

"Ah. Okay. Friends first." He nodded.

By some miracle, the universe had sent you someone to keep you company. The circumstances, albeit odd, seemed to produce a great result, one that you would surely take advantage of. So, for now, you decided to teach Yunho about different things and let him have some fun and some new experiences.

A few weeks passed and you found that Yunho enjoyed learning about new things and was eager to try out new stuff. He was very excitable about nearly everything and you found it absolutely endearing. It was strange, and you might sound crazy, but you were actually falling for Yunho. You tried not to think about it too much, or else you'd convince yourself you were crazy.

The two of you were currently sitting on the couch, bundled in a blanket, watching a Christmas movie, per Yunho's request. You made hot cocoa for you both to sip on while you watched the film, along with a bowl of popcorn which was slowly emptying.

Yunho's eyes stayed glued to the screen as the two main characters stood in front of each other. The girl had just realized her feelings for the guy, unbeknownst to her, he was about to confess first.

You watched the scene unfold. The man confessed, the woman accepted his feelings, and, like all romance movies with a happy ending, they kissed. You could see the ending from a mile away, so you weren't too shocked.

Yunho's mouth dropped open when he saw the way the characters kissed.

"Is that how you kiss?" He asked.

"Sometimes." You answered.

"I wanna try that."

Your eyes widened. "What?"

"I wanna try kissing like that."

Your cheeks were set aflame by his request. They became even hotter when he turned towards you, his large puppy-like eyes glimmering with anticipation.

"Can we try it?" He inquired.

"I suppose we can." You answered, hesitantly.

You weren't sure why you were so tentative, it was a win-win situation; Yunho got to experience a real kiss and you got to kiss Yunho, so why did it feel inappropriate?

The dark-haired male leaned forward, his innocent eyes staring straight into yours.

"You have to close you eyes when our lips touch, okay?"

He nodded, hanging on every word.

He then eagerly closed the space between your mouths, his lips crashing onto yours. Your eyelids fluttered shut as you unconsciously leaned into him, the kiss warming you from the inside out.

Yunho was pleasantly surprised by the kiss. It felt a lot different than when you had first kissed him. That first one was strange, and a little tingly. He also couldn't really feel it. This kiss, however, was completely different. He could feel everything. Your lips on his, your hands resting on his shoulders. It was warm and made his stomach do flips. Yunho decided right there that he loved kissing.

When the two of you parted ways you were quiet, feeling a little bit sheepish. Yunho, on the other hand, was smiling like a child on Christmas morning. His face was practically glowing with joy and his already shimmery eyes were brighter than ever.

"Alright. Well, that's that." You murmured.

"I liked that." He grinned.

You weren't sure what to say to that. The situation was awkward—for you anyway.

"Can we do it again?" Yunho asked.

"Maybe some other time." You answered, quietly, not being able to tell him no.

The days until Christmas dwindled down to single digits. Yunho could feel it. He didn't know how, but he knew his time with you was coming to an end. He knew from the day he met you that he would only be able to stay with you until Christmas. At first, he was happy. He thought he would keep you company and help you enjoy the holidays, then disappear. He was okay with that, until recently. He never expected to fall in love with you.

Christmas approached rapidly, sneaking up on you, much like your feelings for Yunho. Every day he seemed to do something that had you absolutely head over heels for him.

You had been debating it for a few days now, and you'd finally come to decision... you were going to tell him how you felt. No backing down, no chickening out. You were going to go through with it.

You had put it off all day. You were going to confess after breakfast, then Yunho wanted to watch a Christmas special on tv. You were going to do it after the movie ended, but Yunho wanted to bake cookies, so you did.

It was now nearing midnight. You stood in your bedroom, taking in a deep breath. Your heart was pounding so fast and so hard that you felt like it was about to burst out of your chest.

"Okay, Y/n. No chickening out."

You stepped into the living room, spotting Yunho standing by the tree. His fingers ghosted over the needles on the artificial evergreen and traced over the glittery ornaments hanging from the branches. He seemed to be distracted by something, but there was no time to worry about that.

"Yunho." You spoke up.

He turned towards you, his face lacking it's usual brilliance.

"I have to tell you something." You approached him in a hurried manner, grasping both his hands.

Yunho locked eyes with yours, waiting to listen to anything you had to say. You opened your mouth to speak, but a slight chilly breeze brushing past your ankles catches your attention, causing you to clamp your mouth shut. You glanced down, a gasp leaving your mouth at the unusual and alarming sight. Yunho's feet were disappearing, turning into little snow flurries that flew around him in a cyclone-like manner.

"What's happening?" You asked, panic rising in your voice.

He gave you a somber smile. "I have to go."

"What do you mean you have to go?"

"You wanted someone to spend the holidays with. You got what you wanted. Now it's time for me to leave."

"But I don't want you to go." You whimpered, tears pricking your eyes.

"I don't want to go either." He spoke shakily, icy crystals falling down his cheeks.

"Yunho, no." You shook your head.

Your brain was a jumbled mess. You had this whole confession thing planned. You knew what you wanted to say, but you couldn't even say it because of how panicked you were. The only thing you could manage was:

"I love you."

Yunho swallowed, more tears welling up in his eyes. The flurries were swirling around his abdomen which was slowly disappearing and turning into snowflakes. As if things couldn't get worse, you no longer felt his hands in yours. When you looked down, his fingers were beginning to vanish in a flurry of white along with his hands. He would be gone soon.

Without thinking, you grabbed his face, pulling him down to your lips.

If Yunho was going to disappear, you wanted to give him one, last kiss—a real kiss that meant something and had true emotions behind it. You clutched the sides of Yunho's face, afraid that if you let go he would disappear. You kept your lips pressed firmly against his in a long, passionate kiss.

You pulled away, your vision blurred by the tears that welled in your eyes. You waited for what seemed like forever for Yunho to turn to snow flurries and disappear forever—but he didn't.

Yunho looked down at his hands and feet which were now back to normal. He held his palms out in front of him, flipping his hands over and clenching them into fists to make sure he was real. A joyous smile broke out onto his features and bubbly giggles escaped him.

"I get to stay."

"You—you get to stay?" You sniffled, quietly.

"Yes!" He nodded.

"How do you know?"

"It must have been the kiss. You confessed and then you kissed me. It was like a seal."

"Sealed with a kiss." You murmured.

"Yes! Exactly."

You collapsed into Yunho's arms, sobbing hysterically, clutching onto him like your life depended on it.

"Hey. It's okay." He cooed, wrapping his arms around you. "Everything is okay."

You lifted your face to look up at him.

"I almost lost you. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me and I nearly lost you."

"But you didn't. You saved me and now I'm here to stay."

You nodded, attempting to pull yourself together. Yunho carefully wiped away your tears, cupping your cheeks in his large hands.

"Now that all that's over, I believe you said you loved me." He grinned cheekily.

"I do."

"I love you too." He smiled softly.

You had to stop yourself from crying again. You were so happy, words couldn't even describe it. Never in a million years would you have thought that the events leading up to right then would have ever occurred, as you always thought it was impossible. But if there's one thing that you've learned, it's that no matter how nonsensical or utterly impossible it may sound, Christmas magic is indeed real.

Hongjoong ❄︎ Seonghwa ❄︎ Yeosang ❄︎ San ❄︎ Mingi ❄︎ Wooyoung ❄︎ Jongho

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