#kinda wanna go to like. thirteen year old me. and just. tell them.

[ghosttotheparty]

i went to the opening night/private view for an exhibition that i’m featured in that’s IN LONDON and i think sometimes life can be pretty cool

[omiangelic]

shared moments (dabi)

a handful of shared moments between you and your maybe more than friend, touya todoroki, the flame villain.

this is a prequel to the first fic i posted, pheonix, but it could be read as a standalone !

wc: 2.8k

reader is not described but is implied to have a quirk that makes them colder. i also imply that they're a nurse who frequently works with burn patients, including dabi's victims.

cw: 18+ ONLY !!! no smut, just kissing, grinding, and shirts come off but it ends pretty quickly after that. dabi accidentally wounds reader (a small burn from trying to wake him from a nightmare), mentions of abuse, murder, dying, and nausea. soft yet emotionally stunted and avoidant dabi

playlist: maybe by flower face, zombie by everglow, voidstar and longlegs by grim salvo

He’s shaking, head in your lap. You think he might be crying, but his hands are covering his face as he curls up as tight as he can. Dabi didn’t usually spend the night, but on rare occasion you can wrangle him into sleeping a few hours before running off who knows where. Tonight had been fun, daresay cozy, watching bad movies under a blanket so you could use him as a space heater and he could use you as an icepack.

It’s near four in the morning, far past when he usually sneaks out of your tiny apartment, when you awoke to his distress. He’d been squirming on his side of your too-small bed, mumbling and whimpering unconsciously. Even now, you don’t think he’s realized the small burn on your arm from trying to wake him, but you don’t move to soothe it; you’re too busy trying to soothe him. You rub his side over his shirt and pet a hand through his spiky hair even though he’s long since stopped shaking. You pretend you don’t care you have work in a few hours.

Now, he’s completely motionless, arms fallen to the cushion of the mattress. His voice is raspier than normal when he finally speaks, “…Sorry about that.”

“’S okay. I’ve seen worse.”

You both know he’s caused your ‘worse’.

“Do you wanna tell me what’s going on up here?” You tap your fingers softly against his temple. It’s a miracle he hasn’t moved yet.

“Don’t think that’s something you’d wanna hear about.”

“You can tell me anyways,” you can practically hear him go over the notion in his head. You met almost a year and you hardly know anything about the man besides his preferred snacks and the types of movies he likes to make fun of.

He thinks for a bit before stating, “you’ve never asked about my scars.”

You hum in agreement. The healed tissue is naturally textured but worsened from insufficient aftercare. The skin grafts look like they were done by someone with medical experience, at least. “Were you dreaming about when you got them?” The scar tissue on his face always made it look like the flames had tried to take him in its hands; like it wanted to soothe him. Console him. You want to do the same.

“Kinda,” he says after another long pause, like he’s trying to find the words, “maybe more like ‘why’.”

He can’t see you frown at that. You don’t like the implication it carries.

He’s quiet for a long time while you brush through his hair. It’s gotten longer- you think you can see blonde roots peak through the inky black.

“My old man…real shit guy,” he takes in a shaky breath and subtly curls deeper into your lap, “I’m gonna kill him one day.”

(You didn’t think he was serious, then.)

“All he cares about is power. He bought my ma so he could create a child more powerful than him. I’m the oldest of four- and his biggest failure,” you wince at the way he chuckles, “It’s funny. He got what he wanted. My youngest brother is a prodigy. He’s one of the top students at U.A.,” Dabi stops again, like he has to prepare himself for what he’s about to say, “I hated that kid for so long. Tried to kill him when he was a toddler, wanted to prove I was better than him. When I was twelve or thirteen I told dear old dad I got stronger,” another pause “He didn’t care,” another pause, like he’s debating telling you the rest at all, “I burned down half a forest, woke up three years later. The fucker who fixed me up showed me pictures of my funeral and everything. Ma got institutionalized not long after…but I gave myself a new name, since I died that day.”

“What was his name?” You ask impulsively. You wish you could take those words back, stuff them in your mouth and swallow them down

“Who’s?” He looks up.

“The boy who died.”

Dabi looks away again, contemplates before relenting, “Touya. Touya Todoroki”

“Touya sounds like a sweet kid. I hope he’s resting easy.”

It’s like the words flipped a switch in him. He shoots to sit up straight. His eyes are angry. Scared.

“You don’t know shit about him.”

“That’s not the point.”

He gets up, paces the length of the bed a few times, stops, looks at the ground, “You don’t know what you’re talking about. You don’t know shit about me.”

“And whose fault is that?” You really need to learn when to shut your stupid mouth.

He looks up. Sees you fully for the first time since waking. He can see the welt he caused on your arm in his post-nightmare panic. His anger dies. His eyes widen. You reach to slap your hand over it to shield it from view, but he has his jeans on and his jacket and boots in hand before you can find words to say. He’s out the door before you can ask him not to leave.

(You call out of work that day. You won’t hear from him for three weeks.)

Later that day, the search results for Touya Todoroki hurt as bad as you expected them to. There aren’t many paparazzi pictures of him, only a handful of him with his dad at award ceremonies.

His dad. Pro hero Endeavor.

The news coverage of his son’s death is minimal, and it’s mostly about Endeavor taking a leave of absence from hero duties to grieve with his family, but the obituary is public. The white haired boy in the picture looks so young. It’s not very detailed aside from denoting that his funeral was a private ceremony.

You open a new tab and search for fire related quirk malfunctions or natural disasters from around the same time. Its not hard to narrow down that the forest fire that destroyed Sekoto Peak was Dabi’s doing. The flames had been massive and unnaturally hot, nearly impossible to contain. There was barely anything left besides charred bone fragments from wildlife and the partial jawbone of the only human casualty they could find. The victim is unnamed, but it says the police were able to identify them through dental records and bring closure to the family.

There’s a handful of pictures of Endeavor at the scene. They make your stomach churn.

A third tab. Endeavor. There are news articles about his most recent achievements and a few about his youngest son, Shoto, who recently passed the entrance exams into U.A., just like Dabi said.

You feel nauseous.

It’s so comfy laying here wrapped around him like a koala. He’s cold and hot at the same time. There’s one hand cradling the back of your head to his chest while the other rubs your back over the blanket he draped over you.

You don’t usually let him in when work gets you like this. He’s usually the cause, being the most prolific fire quirked villain in the country, but you felt like you needed him today. A little boy had come in with his parents after his first quirk manifestation. All you could see was a young Touya Todoroki when you looked at him. Now all you feel is the pain you feel for the real thing who has you cradled in his arms like you’re more than maybe a friend.

Dabi is prickly when it comes to touch- despite the nerve damage, his scars are sensitive- but for you, he makes exceptions, especially since this is his first time seeing you since his meltdown last month. When he woke up in his dingy-ass apartment today, he knew he had to see you, knew something was wrong. His gut was right. You practically collapsed crying in his arms when you opened the door.

You’ve barely said anything since he’s settled the two of you down on your bed. Every time he thinks about saying something, you burrow impossibly closer into his chest like if you try hard enough you can crawl in his ribs and clean out all the ash and soot that make him up.

He wants to apologize for how he left. He wants to tell you he was scared, that he’s still scared, because he’s never let anyone get close the way you have, and he doesn’t know why he yearns for you to be closer. It’s the only time he ever wishes things had gone differently. If he was closer to a normal guy, less of one of the most wanted villains in the country, maybe he’d let himself be happy to be known by you.

But the only thing Dabi can do is destroy. He burns too hot to be anyone’s light.

Dabi is ruthless. He’s a monster, a villain, a killer; there’s nothing that could clean the blood from his hands.

That doesn’t stop him from pretending things are different, even if just for a moment. You’re naturally cooler to the touch and he finds it hard to imagine ever choosing to be anywhere but in your arms. It’s such an unfamiliar feeling.

Dabi’s never had to comfort someone before. He’s never really wanted to, either.

He isn’t one to be soft or kind or comforting. It’s all so confusing. How do you drag this out of him? Why is he so content with this moment? Something about you makes him different. He doesn’t know what to do with that.

He’s scared. He’s angry. He’s unhappy.

You pull yourself away from him completely, scooting to lay on your back on the other side of your bed.

“Sorry,” you mumble, “you can go now. That was probably really uncomfortable for you. You can leave now, if you want.”

Your eyes are so empty. He’s never seen you like this. He doesn’t know what to do. He thinks he wants to stay, make his last visit up to you with more time tonight, but would you rather he go? Should he ask about what upset you? This is so new to him.

He leaves.

The next time he’s over, you pretend to not notice the tension in the air. You move around in your usual sync, gathering snacks and scrolling through the worst rated movies you can find. You feign obliviousness to the way his eyes linger on you for longer than usual and curl up on the opposite side of the choice from him, like the months of slowly shifting closer to each other didn’t happen.

The jokes are bored and the laughs are empty.

He doesn’t spend the night. You don’t ask him to. He doesn’t know why he feels so hollowed out when he leaves.

A few weeks later, after watching movies and ignoring elephants in rooms, you fall asleep. Dabi waits, lets whatever’s playing continue to run while he watches you breathe in and out at a steady rhythm.

The credits roll. He turns off the T.V. and welcomes the darkness lit only by the city as he gets up to lay you down on your little couch. He’s never done this for you before- he doesn’t know why he’s doing it now. Your eyes flutter open as he kisses your forehead and tucks you into your blanket you keep out here.

(He did it without thinking, like it was natural, a habit. He was a big brother, once. He hadn’t realized that part of him survived.)

You look up at him as he stares down at you, eyebrows furrowed at his surprised expression. His eyes flicker to your lips without his permission. He’s already leaning over you, it’d be so easy to crawl on top of you, kiss you, wherever and however you want.

He doesn’t know what possesses him to do it. Maybe it’s Himiko’s insistence he grow up and take the risk, maybe it’s a moment of weakness where he allows himself to forget who and what he is, but he’s pressing a soft kiss to your lips without realizing. The contact makes your head jerk back, eyes wide in shock, surprise, wonder. You look at him like there’s something worthy of being looked at. His mouth moves to apologize, but you’re shooting your hands to hold his scarred cheeks and pressing you lips to his before he can try. Your skin is so cold against his had surprised at the lack of steam. He thinks you’re the prettiest thing he’s ever seen.

He doesn’t reciprocate in his shock. His response is even further delayed by the fact that he’s never done this before. He feels like a teenager- or what he imagines what being a teenager under more normal circumstances would allow him. As you move to pull away, afraid you’ve somehow overstepped, Dabi is snapped out of his shock, and he’s pulling you back in. His kiss is messy, wet, spit slick as his tongue licks into your mouth with no hesitation. The taste of his urgency is unexpected but he feels so incredible you can hardly stand it. You revel in the way his dull nails bite into your skin when you whimper at the sensation.

His hands are heavy as they make their way down your body, nearly pushing like he needs a constant reminder that this is real. Before you know it, he’s on the couch, on top of you, pushing at your shirt and you’re pulling it over your head in compliance. Dabi takes the moment to yank off his own; his torso is a marble of normal and scarred skin with a shiny barbell through each nipple. You wonder briefly if the metal is hot like the rest of his skin as his lips crash back into yours. One hand in your hair, the other on your waist- he’s pushing you down, pulling you in, until he's all but crushing you in his desperation.

You moan when he lets up, “Dabi-“

“No, no- don’t call me that. I don’t want to feel like a villain with you,” he’s equally breathless, practically heaving above you.

“…Touya?”

Your uncertainty is immediately discarded when he fully moans at the sound of his given name on your lips, “yes, yes, thank you-“ and he’s kissing you again, cradling your face like you’re porcelain but grinding down like you’re the farthest thing from fragile.

His grip tightens when the pressure of his hips makes you moan.

The weight of his body makes you dizzy. His lips and hands move down your neck, licking, biting, and sucking at all the skin newly exposed to him and it feels so good you don’t now what to do with yourself. You decide on shoving your hands in his hair; you’re pulling it at the root when he bites down next, and he’s moaning into your throat like it might kill him to be quiet.

What does he want from me? The question crashes through your brain like a bullet. You don’t know if you want to actually ask. Would it be so bad to let this happen, just to have him close like this? Is the burden of wanting from afar easier to carry than having him halfway? Yes. Of course it is.

Your sudden unresponsiveness stills him. He pulls away to find your eyes distant and face neutral.

“Touya?” You ask after a silent minute filled with his thumbs rubbing circles in your waist, “what did that mean? To you, for us?”

He gulps, “I don’t know.”

He hadn’t thought this far ahead. He hadn’t thought at all.

“You don’t know,” you echo.

He’s off you before you can decide what to make of his answer.

“Sorry, don’t know why I did that- sorry,” you think you hear as he fumbles around for his coat and his boots. You don’t say anything. You don’t even look at him. Instead, you focus on the ceiling it’s almost too dark to see. You think you hear him pause at your door, but your head is so loud and intelligible you aren’t paying attention.

The static doesn’t block out the sound of your front door shutting, though.

(Neither of you realize he left his shirt behind until after he’s already out the door. You pretend you resist the urge to cuddle it to catch his scent on it, and he will pretend he doesn’t imagine you doing just that.)

Ever the coward, Touya runs. He throws up his shame once he’s in his own apartment. He knows he shouldn’t have left. He didn’t want to- but he didn’t know how to stay either.

He hates himself more than he has in a long time for tonight.

His burner buzzes in his pocket. It’s Shigaraki. plans in motion.

He doesn’t think you’ll forgive him for doing this, but it’s been building since before he met you. It’s not like he has any sort of life or future to look forward to anyways. It’s not like he gives you much to miss anyways.

Soon. Endeavor’s head. Soon.

dividers by @/issysh3ll and @/thecutestgrotto

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[lifeoflunar-blog]

my scrambled thoughts on TUA szn 4

(i wrote this in august as soon as it came out and it got lost in my endless sea of drafts) (if anyone still cares about this shows ending)

Alright guys, strap in, because I have thoughts.

I can't believe that's how they decide to end the entire show, with a season that leaves more unanswered questions than answered ones. I have TOO many thoughts on the entire season, and how so much of it essentially ruined the entire show.

First off, I understand that the characters were going to be coming into this season unbalanced and lost, considering they were all without powers and trying to create lives for themselves after being forced to constantly save the world over and over again. That would cause anyone to lose their minds a little bit and act out of character/ selfishly.

But Five....oh my GOD.

Listen. I know that people put a character like Five on a pedestal and kinda immortalize him because of the type of person he is. He's labelled as a cold hearted assassin whose soft protective side comes out only when trying to save his family. I get that people label him as aro/ace (which can make sense I suppose). But here's the thing. I don't think it was gross for Five to fall in love. I believe Five is fully capable of falling in love. I DO think, however, that #1: that the way they went about it was unnecessary, and #2: there were so many other ways to expand his character and show his softer and more vulnerable side!!!

When I first watched season 4 (binged it as soon as it dropped even though i tried very hard to not ITS ONLY 6 EPISODES CMON), I didn't...hate the whole Five x Lila thing (LISTEN SPARE ME PLEASE). On paper, these two characters are very alike and it's not completely far fetched for them to pair up. They were both trained assassin's and understood each other's trauma. When they stopped hating each other, they actually confided in one another and became a great duo. Granted, the duo was very much sibling or cousin-y, but still. I feel like if Aiden was older during season 2 and 3, and if he was stuck inside an adult body instead of,,,uh,,,A THIRTEEN YEAR OLD???? it would've been in the cards for the two to eventually get together. But here's the thing, it came so out of left field. The way the dynamic was due to the actors ages and appearances in the previous seasons, it was just not even a thought that crossed anyones mind (unless ur sick in the head). It kinda ruined the prior seasons for me because now I see them interact in those and I get a gross feeling, like oh they're bickering like siblings but wait....they end up getting nasty....IDK. I get the whole enemies to lovers, but you can't establish an iconic sibling pairing and then just make them do...that.

Note to the writers, people want a slow burn. We wanna see the process, the little things that lead to a relationship between two people. Even in the first few episodes they had Five and Lila together but it didn't feel like anything romantic was happening. It was just so sudden.

Here's the thing. The only reason I liked Five and Lila together was because of how Five was during the subway era. He really did get his retirement storyline, he had someone to take care of and he got to live this soft life, even if it was incredible short lived and also only due to proximity. I only wish that if they HAD to give Five a romantic story line that it wasn't fake, that it was actual real love that could happen. Also, as soon as episode 5 happened and Five and Lila kissed, I knew that the show couldn't have ended in a way where they all survived. I knew that that was the moment the writers decide to let them all go to shit, because there was truly no coming back from that.

I just think that they relied too heavily on montages to tell the passage of time to explain their behaviour, because that's kinda the only way you can defend how the characters acted. They just tried to fit too much content into 6 little episodes and it just became confusing. Even in the first episode, I wanted to see the characters adapt to their new surroundings, not just 6 years later when the next tragic thing occurs.

A storyline I wish we got to see with Five was him having a breakdown and not being able to handle the pressure of always fixing things, and having his siblings come to support him emotionally and allow for him to open up. I really wanted Five to open up about his trauma, and that could've been a great way for him to express that softer emotional side of him.

Here's the thing. People saying that it was so far fetched for him to fall in love is something I have to disagree with. I agree that they didn't need to include it, but it wasn't something out of character for him. TBH, I know his motivation is his family, but I don't think he would've survived his original apocalypse has he not had Dolores. That guy is a romantic through and through, and 100% has the capacity to fall in love. Not even that, he definitely deserved to fall in love. I just don't know if it was with his brother's wife.

Now, going back to the putting-Five-on-a-pedesal-thing, I do believe that Five finding happiness and love with Lila in the greenhouse timeline was more or less valid. Like, the guys been through so much, I think Five finding love in an unethical way doesn't mean that he's some horrible disgusting character. I'm more focused on Five's feelings than the repercussions his actions hold, if that make's sense. Of course it's devastating to see Diego find out, but still, Five got to experience love for the first time. And man oh man is he adorable when he's in love. The way he spoke to Lila with such softness even when they were fighting, the way he took care of her, THE BRACELET :((((, and to be so honest with y'all when they went back and they were all sitting in the living room, Five looking beyond angry and jealous truly did something to me. Maybe I'm just toxic....lmao.

(also side note I wanted to mention, I feel like the whole reason Diego and Lila worked is because Diego was the level headed one in the relationship. Detective Patch and Diego didn't work because (well she died but ALSO) he was the irrational one in that pairing. Patch saw him as crazy and immature. But with Lila, Diego grew into his protective and masculine side).

Overall, I think Five was acting selfish and self serving, something we haven’t really seen from him in the past seasons. He was prioritizing himself and his “relationship” with Lila when I know for a fact he never would’ve done that before this season. It just shows that he’d given up, which makes me so sad. He didn’t care about saving the world, he didn’t even really care about his siblings in the end. It makes me upset because you can visibly see the hope leave him as soon as he sits on the sofa with everyone and sees Lila with Diego, I feel like that was really his last straw. (Hey man I get it, first loves are tricky but come ON).

As for the ending, I was left truly unsatisfied and disappointed. For a family that had gone through so much together, they really just,,,ceased to exist. It would’ve been better if they died after a satisfying season of being there for each other and supporting one another and having heart to hearts but they didn’t. They all went on separate side quests and came back to die. There were too many other options and plot holes for me to even consider this ending they gave us.

This is not to say that I think this season was a waste. I really did enjoy the first few episodes, as they progressed it just started getting more confusing and they started adding unnecessary content. I loved the road trip aspect, and I have to give kudos to Aidan Gallagher, this was HIS season. His acting was truly one of the best performances I’ve seen, especially since his character is probably the trickiest one to play. I liked that this season got to show his range as an actor, seeing him be soft and sweet was honestly a nice change from his normal sassy self.

AnyWAYS the way I'm rereading this moths later and I still feel as strongly as I did in August sitting under the covers at 2am with my laptop screen being my only source of light as my heart dropped to my ass hearing "On the 12th hour of the 8th day of August 2024, absolutely nothing out of the ordinary happened" and realizing the show is truly over and we'll never get more content with the siblings.

i a m f i n e : )

[synonymroll648]

anyway. aro aunt story?

so!! i have this aunt that is, in my heart, my crazy aunt. specifically, my crazy fish aunt. she literally moved out of the house she'd been renting for 15 years because the owners were like mmmmmmm more than 7 big ass fish tanks is too much for us to be ok w/. and she went 'oh yeah? you wanna piss off probably your only consistent renter you've ever and will ever had? let's fucking GO, bitch' and moved out into a house that was honestly a downgrade in quality BUT because she bought it she gets to put as many fish tanks as she wants in there. when she was planning out where furniture would go, literally the first thing she figured out was where to put current and future tanks. as far as i know of, she has 9 big tanks and then 5 small tanks inside a few of the big tanks (containing baby fish). also they're all freshwater fish

ANYWAY. the fish part is actually irrelevant to the story. (i just like telling people about my aunt and fish.) what the story is actually about is her friendship with one of her many friends named- we'll go with jake - jake, but this jake is like. THE jake. the ultimate jake. and they've been besties literally since before i was born. and i remember being like 8 years old and i was like hey fish aunt. why aren't you and jake dating. you act all coupley but you say you're just friends. and fish aunt was like. we've been friends for thirteen years - if him and i were made to be romantic, i would've liked him like that by now. but i haven't. and so i went. ok then. fish aunt and jake are just best friend goals. sick! and moved on.

earlier this summer, my grandpa calls my mom while we're driving down to the river. it's just me and her in the car. and he's like. fish aunt just told me that she got a new boyfriend, and that this time, i'll actually approve of the guy. because i know the guy. and it's the ultimate jake. and so my mom and i are like :O because at this point it'd been literally almost 20 years of Very Platonic Besties. my mom was like 'it's about damn time!' because she's been nagging fish aunt to date this guy for literally forever since he's like. Quality Boyfriend Material. and so they dated for a while, and things didn't seem that different to me? but i figured that was just because they were toning it down since there were kids around and we were at an amusement park when i saw them together while they were dating.

now. i was at dinner w/ my grandpa tonight. and he made some offhand comment about joking around about some guy fish aunt went fishing w/ being a new flame, and my brain kinda stopped and went. wait a minute. either my aunt is polyamorous or she dropped jake, and i absolutely cannot see conservative grandpa being chill w/ polyamory. did they. did they break up?? and mom brought up what i was thinking and grandpa went. oh yeah they broke up a bit ago. fish aunt said they tried things out, but nothing changed when they started dating, so they broke up. they're still really good friends though. and then he moved on

idk if she's actually aro-spec or not, but either way, her relationship w/ romance is weird and she's been owning the single-and-satisfied lifestyle for years now. hearing about her go from "ohhhhh no we're just friends who don't care about male-female friendship 'standards'" to "ohhhhh we're giving it a shot, because if anyone's the guy, it's jake" to "ohhhhh yeah we tried but nothing changed from before, and we broke up but we're still close" as a lovequeer aro is like. miss, i only see you a handful of times per year but you are such an inspiration sometimes

[myupsteadheart]

@natalianetto 😘 here you go, Sally

Confession time chapter was soooooo good! I'm still smiling like an idiot. Not only made these idiots me smile but also the girl talk and somehow some tough love from Vanessa. I love this friendship as much as I love these idiots 💜

¹ Gosh, H*tshot is going through it and my heart is aching for him 🥺🥺

² Oh! 👀 Vanessa learns the news from JAY???? ...and he's slightly concerned that telling it V was 'his next' mistake?? 🫣 I kinda wanna give him a hug

³ "Hailey Anne Upton." There's the tough love from Vanessa, Hailey needs so much 🫂

⁴ "Then fix it." *cheers to that*

⁵ "I think I really hurt him." 😭 Well, I have to admit I'm crying with Sweetheart - she sounds so scared and unsure of herself - I want my sassy Sweetheart back 😭

⁶ I loooooved this Vanessa-Hailey conversation 🥹 It was the needed tough love with lots of honesty from both sides and the much needed bff comfort Hailey deserves. ...now, GO GET YOUR MAN, Sweetheart

⁷ "We need to talk." Probably not the best choice of words, Sweetheart 🫣🫣

⁸ Omg! The ANGST coming from Jay definitely overbears Haileys nervousness and it makes ME nail-biting nervous

⁹ "I'm kind of falling in love with you. Already fell actually." THERE IT ISSSSSSSS!!! I might wanna scream!!

¹⁰ Their confession time had me on the floor! Just so we're clear!!!!!

¹¹ "I feel like I'm still that thirteen-year-old girl. Alone and broken." All of this is so damn devastating and heartbreaking, and I'm CRYING. 😭 My heart and soul are crying for Sweetheart

¹² As much as I want them to f*ck, I really, like REALLY, love his "No, Hailey." 🫠 He's such a GOOD MAN

¹³ And ofc, the ending made me smile like an idiot!!! 🥰🥰🥰

like you wanted it forever - chapter 20

Happy Hockey Jay Day! I know the last chapter was brutal, but this one might make up for it. I did make some changes while editing so there’s no ice skating in this chapter, but it’s coming later. 🥰

Hope you still enjoy this one! Happy reading! 🏒📸✨

Read on AO3

[skeleton-squid-b0y]

this is just everything I sent to my friend whilst we finished house I'm just copying it all here so I can delete it out of my notes it's incomprehensible :)

how many times have I told you I want to be alone and you've made yourself a pain in the

ass...I owe you

"we don't have to have sex sometimes it's just nice to cuddle and talk" HOUSE SHUT THE FUCK UP

all his little trinkets from dead people

martinis and chemo this'll be fun

house is trying to scare him because he cares

"IF YOUR GONNA SAY YOUVE ALWAYS SECRETLY BEEN GAY FOR ME EVERYONE KINDA ASSUMED IT"

YOU HAVE WHAT WE NEED RIGHT HERE WE BOTH DO SHUT THE FUCK UP

why is there a child here ohHH NOO FUCK YOU JOHN

house is giving him his own vicodin........

"you'd still have cancer" "Yeah but at least I'd feel like I deserve it" HEY

Wilson is crying becayse he doesn't want to go to the hospital

house is holding his head and promising and I am going to kill them both

I liked them limping to the bathroom together

WILSON IS PROPERLY LAUGHING

he's threatening to drug him <3

CHASE IS GONNA QUIT??

wilsons being nice to the old lady :,)

bus scene :(

house saying he could live without Kyle is house saying he loves wilson cos he's a fucking idiot and I hate him

house saying by to chase is so interesting and normal

watching holding on

IMMEDIATELY SAD WILSON THIS WAS A TWRRIBLE IDEA

aw he's drugging him like the good old days

HE GOT A ROOM FULL IF THE PEOPLE HE SAVED WHAY THE FUCK U HAYE THIS SO MUCH

oh it's fake

it's the thought that counts

"friends....or friend" UGH SHUT UP

thirteen saying house firing her was the most selfless thing anyones ever done for her I want to hug her

house apologising:((((

just dinner? sounds nice...

hws laughing........house got him oreos.....

I need you OK I want you to be around as long as possible because I don't know what I'm gonna do without you

no no don't do that I don't owe you anything our entire relationship has been about you my dying is about me

I need a friend I need to know that your there I need you to tell me that my life was worthwhile and I need you to tell me that you love me

no. I'm not gonna tell you that unless you fight.

life is pain I wake up every morning im in pain I go to work in pain you know how many times I've wanted to just give up? how many times ive thought about ending it?

I cannot be responsible for the happiness of Gregory House. you are responsible. youve had 3 wives hundreds of colleagues thousands of patients...but you've kept that one best friend

why. because you need me. and I don't think thats a bad thing anymore

no. your the only one I listen to an the last couple of days I didn't and I almost killed my patient so I think its time for me to accept that your just smarter than I am.

are you really OK thay there's only 5 months left?

no. but jts better than nothing.

I'm not gonna say I love you. thank god. got any oreos?

how long?

I'm sorry.

HOW LONG

six months.

last time he went to prison he thought he had you waiting for him

that's what you think the sum of what you are is a doctor, a friend to wilson?

and then house spends the rest of the episode deciding if his need to be a doctor outweighs his love for wilson or his desire to die. and he gives up his chance to die and his chance of ever being a doctor again

You can die for something you dont believe in? what about love. I lived with you for years I know you believe in love.

there's only one person you can count on. I thought there were two. I need to do this. for you.

hes always been your good side.

you're right. but I can change.

Wilson was going to run into that building for him.

somewhere in there he knew how to love.

shut up you idiot.

you'll never be a doctor again. I'm dead wilson how do u wanna spend your last 5 months.

[teenagemutantninjatrauma]

hey so are you telling me everything from season 1-5 happened in 2 YEARS?? ALL OF THAT IN 2 YEARS???? what the fuck actually

GYEAH I FOR SURE AM SAYING THAT. HELP

And y’know if I was lenient and not obsessed with stupid details and hurt/comfort potential, MAYBE I’d go “hm oh well maybe the turtles started their story earlier in life! Or maybe the show runners just wanted a good looking number and five looks best.”

But c’mon. A bit of a stretch to say that the 2k3 ninja turtles started all that bullshit at, say, thirteen years of age, no? Rise Mikey, sure, perhaps. But not these guys.

My theory is they didn’t wanna lose the ‘teenage’ in ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,’ which, if they were around fifteen in 2003, at least Leo would be an adult by 2006, meaning that if they wanted to anchor Fast Forward in a specific time (something you probably wanna do when fucking with time travel), they had to pick a year before 2006. Meaning that we now have another reason to consider Fast Forward somewhat disrespectful to the franchise because it was like “wow guys! Sure were two Busy Busy years huh!” And on one hand they constantly do shit and their life is full of danger and enemies so maybe all of that horrible horrible time could be shoved into two years and that would make for some pretty good angst potential, imagine!

“Mikey, hey, it’s okay! The Shredder’s defeated, we’re legendary across space and time, things will be better now!”

“TWO YEARS, LEO! WE’RE BARELY FUCKING ADULTS! SOMEONE ELSE WILL COME, IT’S HOW OUR LIVES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN! WHAT IF THEY’RE LIKE THIS FOREVER?! what if… what if we just never catch a break again?”

BUT on the other hand it feels, to me, personally, kinda unfair to shove all of it into two years? It feels like.. “let’s shrink all of this drama and trauma and character development into an impossibly short timeframe in the name of keeping the franchise alive.” Just Leo’s absence when he went to get therapy from the Ancient One was said to have lasted several months, and pretty early on we have a Christmas, meaning a year is ending soon, which cuts down our two years to one and maybe a week after Christmas Aliens.

Ah, I’ve pinpointed what frustrates me about this from the storytelling perspective — it makes the characters’ journeys feel too fast in retrospect. While we obviously can’t see every day of the rigorous training with the ninja tribunal, or of Leo’s stay with his crazy old man of a therapist, or the time spent healing at the Jones farm, we assume that it all happens gradually, slowly, that a significant amount of time passes. By shoving Fast Forward so close to all of this previous history, they basically took weight away from all the healing done overtime, from the lessons learned overtime, from the length, trust and weight of April and Casey’s relationship, all of the relationships in fact. And that kinda sucks ass!

A solution to this would’ve maybe been to shove Fast Forward somewhere earlier into the show. It did end up airing before the Ninja Tribunal season, but this wasn’t the original plan (NT season was made to be before this originally, and is now viewed as so, as intended) and they didn’t really try and edit it to happen before the Ninja Tribunal season either, obviously, as evidenced by the FF journal episode mentioning the Ninja Tribunal as though they were already an established and known part of canon. Also, yeeting the turtles into the future and then having them come back and do the Ninja Tribunal season would not have worked at all, it would be so jarring and sorta… a downgrade in danger I feel? Who’s gonna be scared of losing a fight if there’s already an established good future proving that they win, right?

Another solution would’ve been avoiding a set time altogether and just saying they got brought a hundred years into the future. What year is it? [shrug] How old are they? [another shrug] We’re just in the far future bitch. Don’t worry about it lol. That way anyone could bullshit around with the timeline as much as they wanted.

Thank god this show never did anyone’s birthdays as an episode. I think I would explode. [try not to think about how Splinter was never human and so he might not know what birthdays are or how they’re celebrated and so neither do the turtles. It’s not important rn haha]

Sorry for the ramble I am just so abnormal about this now. Because I am so happy for the FF season because we got the Dark Turtles, we got a happy ending for Stockman that I genuinely think he deserves at this point, we got Cody who I think is very fun, just overall so many fun concepts. But also. Fuck, dude! FF and BTTS were both a tad disregarding, a tad disrespectful to the history that came before them.

[anime-kia]

Three Point

Let's say his father didn't die, but he doesn't have a role in this story. So no sad, revengeful Erik.

No warnings. Just typical, cocky Erik. Fluffy, kinda...

Relationship: Showoff Erik x Reader

"You coming to watch me ball?" Erik asked you over the phone.

"I have nothing better to do." You replied, fixing your curls into a puff.

"We playing at four, don't be late. I know how you are with time."

"Boy whatever, black people always late anyway. You already know that game not gone start till seven."

He laughed, "Nah for real though."

"Okay, Erik. See you at seven." You teased.

"Four!" He yelled, and you laughed hanging up. 

If there was one thing in the world that Erik loved, it was basketball. Always at the court with his friends every day after school until the street lights came on. He was also super competitive, so you thought that he was going to pursue it, but when he told you what program he picked in MIT, you changed your mind. 

On multiple occasions he tried to get you to go at him on the court, but he was way too brawny and aggressive for you to even think about that offer. You knew if you did step onto the court one of two things would happen, your ankles would have vanished or one of your limbs would be bruised. 

Erik didn't discriminate, no matter your age, gender or size, he gave the court his all. You remembered one time where a group of boys, within the ages of ten to thirteen came to play, but Erik was already occupying the court. Showing off his layups of course. He wasn't going to share because he hadn't showed you enough, fifty was what he was aiming for, but by the fifth one you were on your phone giving him less than a quarter of your attention. They pleaded and begged, telling him they had a tournament coming up and they needed all the practice they could get. 

"Nah, this is my cour-"

"Erik!" You snapped.

"What?"

"Let them play, you hog. And the least you could do is coach them since you wanna be here so bad."

He gave you a defeated look. You had a soft spot for kids and he knew that, so he agreed and assisted them on improving their game. In the end, you regretted telling him to coach. Erik wasn't necessarily a "kid-friendly" PG type of guy so to speak. He trash talked, and cursed vulgarities. Not to mention he lacked patience. 

"Come on bruh, what the fuck was that? I could shoot better while getting my dick sucked!"

The boys snickered as you ran over and slapped Erik on his arm. "You can't speak like that, they're just kids!" 

"I'm being honest, his shot was shit. Besides, getting head is a boy's dream."

You slapped him again and reassured the twelve year old he was doing just fine and Erik scoffed in return. 

The rest of the game was a disaster, in your eyes. Erik was relentless, all five of them against him stood no chance. You watched him knock them over, break their ankles, and get at least twenty more points. You felt embarrassed, and not sure for who. 

At the end of the game, the kids were thanking him and asking if they could play again someday in which Erik agreed. You were quite surprised, staring in awe as the kids left with scraped knees, and sweaty shirts.

"They like me." He cockily smiled and you rolled your eyes.

~~~

The weather forecast man promised warm weather with a slight breeze so you settled for a pair of jeans, and a plain yellow v-neck t-shirt, with a little breast pocket and Fenty slides (that way he couldn't get you on the court if he tried). Erik had always told you yellow is a nice colour on you. He said it made your melanin pop and you agreed.

By 3:55 you left out of your apartment. The walk to the court was about ten minutes, but once again you already know how black people are with time.

"You're late." Erik called when he saw you walking towards the gate. You eyed him until you made it onto the court.

"But y'all didn't start, so I'm on time."

"It's 4:15... And you got a drink on the way here?" He raised an eyebrow at the strawberry and mango smoothie in your hand. 

"Of course I did, I wanted something sweet."

"Lemme taste." He took the drink out of your hand before you could even protest and took a big sip straight from your straw, leaving half of the liquid. You frowned at him and grabbed your drink before he could finish the rest. "...And if you wanted something sweet, you could've just asked." He flirted.

You rolled your eyes, "Sir, I'm not one of ya little thots."

He laughed and before he could say anything one of the men called him over.

"Good luck." You smiled and gave him a prop and a hug, it was a thing you guys did before all of his games. 

"Thanks... And hold this for me." He took off his gold chain and placed it around your neck. It was a lot heavier than you anticipated, he wore it everyday so you assumed that it was light.

You took a seat on bleacher, and watched as they men split into two teams of five. Erik's team was red and the other team was blue. You loved that the men were able to get the court renovated by doing community fundraisers. Because the city sure as hell was not going to pitch in and help fix up a rundown basketball court in a predominantly lower class, black neighbourhood. If anything, they were probably going to tear it down and turn it into something useless. It gave the children something to do, with the lack of community centres and money to afford extra-cirricular activities. It kept them off the streets and (hopefully) out of the polices hands. That doesn't mean you didn't see them walking by, hoping to catch one of you slipping. 

"Aight fellas, you already know the rules. We're all friends here, that means no trash talking... Erik." The man who organized the game, Dean was his name, reminded Erik.

"Come on bruh, why you gotta call me out like that?" Erik held his hands up with a playful expression and the other males laughed, including yourself.

A few kids came in and sat beside you, they were bouncing with joy and excitement.

"Good luck, Daddy!" A little girl with gapped teeth and two huge puffs cheered.

 A lady who shared similar features to the little girl took a seat beside her with a bag and a toddler in her hand.

"Hey Ronda. How are you, girl?" You smiled at her.

"Tired." She sighed, placing the bag on the ground and fixing the toddler in her lap. "It is too hot to be out here today, but Olivia wanted to go and she wouldn't stop bugging me about it."

You giggled as the little girl folded her arms and gave her mother a so what look. "Daddy wanted you to come too." 

"I know, but I'm tired."

"It's good that you guys support each other. That's how families are suppose to be."

 She looked back at you, "Yeah, but all of them are tiring. When you and Erik have kids, you'll understand."

"What!?" You almost choked on thin air, "Me and Erik aren't even dating. We're just friends." You started to laugh.

"For real? Shit, y'all could've fooled me. He always doing the most when you're around."

"Mommy! That's a bad word." 

"And you better not say it or you getting whooped."

You smiled at the mother and daughter, enjoying their harmless argument, but your attention was directed back onto the court with the sound of a whistle.

The men got into their positions, Dean held the ball up and tossed it in the air. Of course Erik was first to snatch it, and you didn't miss when he smirked at you. You gave him a thumbs up as he dribbled down the pavement. 

"Over here!" A light skinned male, Trey if you remembered correctly, called to Erik. He was open and under the net, but the showoff decided to do a layup with a spin to shoot the ball, knocking a shorter guy down in the process. 

First point and of course he had to show out. You rolled your eyes.

"Look, there he go. Ball hogging again, he don't know what teamwork is." Ronda shook her head, while giving her kids animal crackers.

"I don't think he knows what teamwork even means." You chuckled, watching him catch a rebound.

She offered you a snack, but you refused. Erik was gonna take you out to his favourite burger joint after the game. "To celebrate my win of course." He said.

The game was going pretty well, despite Erik being- well... Erik. 

You snapchatted the game a couple of times. Once when Erik was taking his shots, and yelling "BRICK!" when they missed and him glaring at you as you laughed. Another when he was running by and winked at the camera causing you to giggle.

By halftime, Erik's team was up with 32 points and the other team had 28. He was talking to his teammates, probably formulating another strategy. Your smoothie was completely finished and you contemplated on getting another one, the walk was only five minutes. Ronda's youngest was fast asleep in her arms and Olivia was on the court talking to her Daddy. 

"Wassup, shorty." You looked up from your phone and locked eyes with hazel ones. He was tall and slim with dark chocolate skin. You noticed him on the court, and it appeared that three pointers were his specialty. 

"Oh, hey." You greeted the male with a gentle smile.

"Whatchu doing?" He asked, trying to peek at your phone screen. You could smell the mix of his cologne and perspiration when he got closer. 

"Just texting a friend." You leaned back.

"Cool, I'm Jekiel by the way."

"Nice to meet you Jekiel, I'm (y/-"

"None of ya damn business." Erik cut you off.

"Bruh, what?" Jekiel frowned at Erik. "I was just saying hi."

"Ain't no hi, she ain't looking for no new friends."

"Erik stop, I'm (y/n)." 

"Beautiful name for a beautiful girl." He grinned. 

"I know you fucking lying." Erik snarled, "Bae, where yo drink at?"

Bae? That was certainly new.

You almost forgot to say something until he asked again.

"It's done." You said and he sighed.

"Bae?" Jekiel questioned with a chuckle, "You a clown, bruh. I know she not your girl."

"Mind ya f-"

The whistle blew again, signalling that the third quarter was about to start.

"Good luck to both of you."

"Thanks, (y/n)." Jekiel winked at you and Erik glared.

The tension between Erik and Jekiel was very strong, you could feel it all the way from the bleachers. They glared at each other with every chance they got, and whispered snarky comments to each other.

At one point, Erik had the ball and Jekiel was guarding him. Even though it was seconds, it felt like minutes as they stared each other down, Erik was mentally planning how he would break Jekiel's ankles. He stepped to the left and Jekiel followed, but Erik moved to the right even faster and dribbled around. Jekiel stumbled, almost falling in the process as Erik took his shot. 

"Ya defence weak as shit, boy!" Erik teased as Jekiel recovered.

"Man, shut the fuck up."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Friendly game y'all, we got kids watching." Dean intercepted. 

"Whatever, bruh."

From that play forward, it felt as though Erik and Jekiel were the only ones playing. The only ones taking the shots, and catching the rebounds. Not because their teammates weren't helping, but because they were really trying to outdo each other and they were being selfish. It was dumb. Ronda had left half an hour ago with her kids. The other kids that were on the bleachers from earlier lost interest and went to the nearby park. In fact you were almost ready to leave as well.

Your elbows were propped on your knees, head resting in your palms. There was only thirty seconds left and the teams were neck and neck, Erik's team with only two more points.

"Yo, baby girl! Watch this!" Jekiel smirked at you as he prepared his three point shot. He jumped and released the ball. Unfortunately it didn't get far, at all. Erik had slapped it so hard it flew out of the court. 

"Get that shit outta here!" He looked at you with the proudest look on his face, "You seen that shit, baby? All me!"

Jekiel was fed up, when Erik turned around to look at him, a fist sent him onto the ground.

Your eyes widened, never in your life have you seen someone catch Erik off guard. He got back up immediately and delivered a blow to Jekiel's gut. The other men came in and tried breaking it up, which took a good minute.

You ran over to Erik to see if he was alright. 

"You fuckin' bitch, next time I see you, it's over."

"Come say that to my face, pussy ass bitch!" Jekiel retorted.

You pulled Erik away, but you felt his muscles retract. 

"Are you okay?" You asked him with worry.

"Nah, that motherfucka made me sprain my damn ankle. Shit." 

You put his arm around your shoulder and your arm around his waist, helping him hop home. Luckily he lived in a nearby complex, it was hard considering he was two hundred pounds of muscle.

You were in his bathroom, tending to his wounds. He sat on the counter with an annoyed expression.

"What the hell was the about anyway?" You asked, rubbing peroxide on his bruised elbow. 

He stared into his palms and didn't reply. 

"Erik?"

"The bitch was embarrassed, that's all."

You lifted his head so he could look you in your eyes. 

"Come on, we both know that's not all."

"That's it."

"Lie to me again, and I'm gonna use the alcohol instead."

"Oh hell naw, we fighting if you do that."

"And I'll win with the state that you're in. So tell me, what was that all about?"

"Nothing."

"Alcohol it is." You went to grab the bottle but he pulled you back by your waist into his torso.

"Hold on, girl. I was just playing." His body heat radiated onto your back, warming you up.

"Then tell me, I'm not asking again."

He placed his head onto your shoulder. "Do you like me?"

"What kind of stupid ass question is that, Erik?"

"I need to know."

"Well obviously, we've been friends for how long now?"

"Five years, and five years too long."

"Too long? What's that suppose to mean?"

"It means that I want to hold you, even after cuffing season." He completely dodged your question from earlier.

You frowned, but not at him because he was holding you so tightly that you couldn't turn around.

"Boy, I'm tired of your games." You tried removing his hands off of your waist.

"I ain't playing no games." He turned you around to face him.

"Since when do you do relationships?"

Since too many other dudes been trying to get at you...

He shrugged, "Come on girl, let me wife you up. Let me be the one to put that ass to sleep."

You rolled your eyes and slapped his chest. "On one condition."

"Aight? What is it?"

"Stop showing off, you're really doing too much!"

"Who the hell said I'm showing off?" 

"I'm not stupid, Erik. Anyone can see that."

He sighed and chuckled, "So that's a yes then?"

"...Yes." You held his face in between your palms, and kissed his lips. 

You pulled back, "You wearing that candy flavoured lipgloss again?" He licked his lips.

You nodded with a laugh, "Oh yeah..." You remembered his chain that you were still wearing and started to take it off, but his hand stopped you.

"Leave it on, I like when you wear my shit." And he pulled you back in for another kiss.

I swear, my stories never go the way I expect them to go. I wasn't gonna end it like this, but it happened anyway. Thanks for reading! :)

(Start/Finish: October 6-8, 2018)

Idk how tag lists work lmfao, buttt lemme try something out ^_^. (2022)

@ladymac82

[stardustincarnate]

DANCING IN THE DARK // Light Yagami x Reader

word count : 4992 genre : fluff, crack summary : it’s your birthday, and the yagami siblings have prepared some tricks up their sleeve.

a/n : made this for my birthday last year because why shouldn’t i and honestly light is my comfort character. also i keep on saying this but the internet needs more light fluff fics :) and for anyone reading this on their birthday, may you have a wonderful day! <333

"Happy birthday [Y/N]! Thanks for inviting us!"

"Oh Sayu, behave yourself!" Sachiko scolded her daughter who was running in circles around you before hugging you. You shook your head, implying that it's alright. You were close with her anyway. "Happy birthday [Y/N]. We hope you'll like these small presents we got you."

"Thank you! But you shouldn't have.. Really." You blushed. They only clicked their tongues friskily. "Hah! Though that's nothing compared to what Light got you!"

"Oh, where are your parents dear?"

"They're in the kitchen preparing and.. stuffs. Come on in you two before it starts—" You barely even summoned the rain, but there it went, an immediate, hostile rain invaded the city just as you had expected. They quickly stepped inside and before closing the door, you checked it there was anyone—someone in particular— who'd come running to your doorstep. But there wasn't.

"Mr. Yagami's still at work?" Sachiko nodded. "He'd be here by dinner time. I told him to go straight here."

"I understand." You replied meekly and shifted your gaze to the window. "How about Light? Where is he? Is he coming?"

"Of course dear! Why even ask? That boy wouldn't miss it for the world. He should be here in some minutes. He said he was gonna pass somewhere before heading here."

Before you could reply, as if summoned at the mention of his name, came Light casually barging in the front door. You thought he looked more like a thief rather than a prince coming to see his damsel who's not really in distress.

A thief drenched in the rain, that is, holding a bouquet of roses and nicely wrapped boxes of different sizes. He sure got you a lot of presents.

"Light! What did I tell you about bringing a raincoat?" Sayu huffed.

"Haha I said I'd be quick though— and it's fine.. Hello there [Y/N]. Good evening." He ran to you, handing you the presents and bouquet before hugging you tightly, the rainwater on his clothes permeating on yours. Of course you couldn't properly hug him back since your hands were occupied. You merely gave his cheek a peck and he whispered, "Happy birthday [Y/N]," before pulling away with a grin.

"Thank you Light! Although I really appreciate your gifts, what I don't is this." You pointed to your clothes with your lips, looking at them. His grin widened. He anticipated this to happen. "You are soaking wet."

"Yeah. I'll go change clothes. Be right back!"

"It's raining cats and dogs! You're gonna get even more drenched!"

"I already am so that won't matter when I enter the house."

You watched the siblings continue to quarrel. You sighed fondly and handed Light an umbrella. "There ya go. Though you really should've brought an umbrella or raincoat first."

"I'm sorry then, Ma'am." He chuckled. "You should go and change too." And with that, he headed back to his house, three blocks away from yours. Sayu snorted. "I thought he was incapable of being a dummy. Guess that can't be helped."

"I heard that!"

You giggled and put down the presents before going upstairs to change clothes.

Surprisingly when you went down he was already there. Guess you took too long to change. He seemed to be having that kind of conversation with your father. On the other hand, your moms were talking and laughing to themselves. You had no plan of interrupting either of their conversations so you went to Sayu who was idly playing with her hair, sitting on the carpet. As expected, she was full of topics—mostly just about girly stuffs which you didn't really mind— especially her continuously fangirling to that TV actor, Hideki Ryuga. And, well, you actually were too. It wouldn't kill you to fangirl sometimes, right? It went on like that for about some minutes.

A hand being suddenly placed on your shoulder was enough to startle you. You turned around, gazing up to see Light whose brow was raised.

"Oi oi Sayu. Don't brainwash her into joining you and your addiction to that TV star."

"I'm not brainwashing her! I mean, who wouldn't fall for Hideki Ryuga? Right [Y/N]?" She squealed.

"Precisely!" You winked. Light heaved a sigh dramatically as he sat beside you. "Psh. I am more handsome than him, and [Y/N] can attest to that."

"Who says I can?"

"I— whatever. Can't believe you'd choose that actor over me." He huffed and looked at you with disdain.

"Of course I will! Any girl will dump her boyfriend for Ryuga—"

"Hmm. Are you really older now? Or just a thirteen-year-old trapped in that body?"

"Hey! What makes you say that?"

"Nevermind me. Go and join Sayu in her silly fangirling and keep your childish mode activated." He rolled his eyes and was about to stand up, but you clung to his arm and began to act like a cat by playfully rubbing your head against his cheek— which was odd to say the least. He gave you a dubious and irritated glance.

"Oh! Is my Light jelly? My my, you look like a girl on her period, which is kinda adorable."

"Cut it out! Do you mean to say, you on your period?"

You slapped his arm. "I don't act like that during my red days! I certainly don't!"

"Oh yeah because you act way worse than that."

"Augh. You're just jealous! Come onn saaay it! My babyboy is jelly~"

"Good Lord, would you mind cutting it out? If admitting it is gonna make you stop then yes, I am jealous."

He was internally dead. Seeing his reaction made you laugh maniacally (c̶o̶u̶g̶h̶s̶ ̶k̶i̶r̶a̶ ̶l̶a̶u̶g̶h̶), even getting your parents' attentions.

"Talk about being childish, hah! Babyboy got jealous over an actor~ Ah, you are so adorable that I might even squeeze you to death!"

"Shut up. You're no fun."

"Oh, but you're enjoying this, aren't you babyboy?"

"One more of that ridiculous nickname and I swear I'll kill you."

"BABYBOOOOY~~"

"Shut up, or I'll shut you up!"

"I dare you babyboy!"

He looked severely annoyed when he glared at you and leaned his face closer to yours. He looked like he was going to eat your face rather than kiss you, but then—

"EHEM!"

There went Sayu, whose presence was completely forgotten by the both of you.

"Oh. Would you mind leaving us alone? We need privacy. Kids aren't supposed to see what's next."

"No way! You're taking her all to yourself Light! That's no fair."

"Fair enough since I'm her boyfriend."

"And I'm her bestfriend?!?! You're just her boyfriend. Bestfriends come first before boyfriends!"

Sayu rebuked, clinging to your other arm and pulling you away from Light. He had no rebuttals and only clung to your other arm, keeping you away from Sayu who was also determined to get you away from him. You already knew where this was going.

'Good Lord' you mentally sighed. And yup, there they went, playing tug of war, with you as the rope.

"I came first, so get your ass away from us, Light!"

"You get your ass away from us!"

"No you!"

"HOW ABOUT YOU TWO STICK YOUR DAMN ASSES TOGETHER AND GET THEM AWAY FROM ME?? For the love of heaven, stop!"

"..Err...Sorry." The two Yagamis murmured and let go of you. You three soon heard a chuckle coming from behind. It was your mom.

"While you guys wait for the food, why don't you try out the karaoke? I'm sure you are great singers. Hmm my [Y/N] may be an exception though."

You whined at your mom's comment. You stood up and Light grabbed your arm before Sayu could, giving her a sharp glare. "She's gonna stay with me, got it?"

"Hmph. Fine then. Enjoy it while it lasts, big brother."

She pointed her fingers from her eyes to his before playfully winking at you. You grinned and shook your head as you made your way to the sofa. You had no idea that their exchanged glares had a double meaning to it.

After they finished picking song numbers and it was your turn, Light secretly handed Sayu two eggs, telling her to be careful in handling those.

Yup, he had five eggs—no not including his own and certainly NOT the number of his own—hidden inside his jacket's pockets the whole time.

You three had made it clear that you were the first one to sing even though you were all fully aware that you suck at that. They innocently looked at you when you glanced at them. You eventually entered the numbers and just as you were about to murder your first notes you heard a loud CRACK! You thought something fell somewhere in the kitchen, but then the second CRACK! came. It felt like something fell on top of your head. And you were right.

But you were already too late when you saw egg shells falling down your hair. And they weren't the only thing—

"What in the nine circles of hell is this?! Oi—" CRACK! CRACK! and CRACK!

The last one missed but by the time you were already a mixture of skin and eggs. The worst part was that one yolk was dripping on the right side of your face, and your mouth was opened due to shock at the same time so some of it got inside your mouth. You absolutely hated the smell and worse— you were sticky! You looked at the siblings who then burst out laughing. The adults were too.

"Now that's what I wanna have for breakfast." Light quipped.

"SHUDDAP! Were you guys all on this?!"

They didn't respond. You walked towards the siblings who were now slowly backing away. You scowled and raised your hands, about to touch them, but they scurried away, with Sayu using her brother as a shield.

"I am so gonna get you two! Sayu, why must you betray me?"

"It was Light's idea!"

"Hey no—" The three of you continuously ran in circles in the living room, with them (mostly just Sayu) screeching and frantically flailing every now and then the closer you got.

They were terrified of the egg monster that you were.

"Don't be mad [Y/N]. Did you know that eggs will do wonders for your hair? At least you don't need to go to the salon now."

"I know but it wasn't only my hair! I am so gonna get you, Light, you little ass!"

"Welp there you go [Y/N]! He's all yours!"

Sayu halted and tripped not only her brother but you too since you were accelerating too fast. Light fell on his chest, and you fell on his back, the gooey substance dropping to his jacket. And to make it worse, you nuzzled his hair with your yolk-covered one. He squirmed, panted, and whined ridiculously.

When he regained his strength he immediately wiggled you away from him. He stood up and removed his jacket, but the smell still lingered since his hair and nape were also covered with yolks and egg whites.

"This wasn't part of the plan.. Sayu..."

"Hehehe."

You dramatically threw your hands up and wheezed to get their attention.

"This is very unfair. I just changed clothes and now I definitely need to take a shower to get rid of this yucky smell."

"I may have to as well."

"Are you implying that we'll shower together?"

"Of course not! Unless you want to— but on second thought, no way! I'll go back home and return—"

"Nope, you're not going anywhere. I had it worse than you! You can easily wipe it away."

"But the smell—"

"You'll have to live with that until the party's over, mister."

You glared at him and walked upstairs to straight-up take a shower that took about thirty minutes. Even though you used as many shampoos as you could, there was still a slight smell left. You honestly weren't anticipating that.

As you languidly made your way downstairs you heard the clicking of metals, indicating that they had already started eating without you, the fucking birthday girl. Mr. Yagami had also arrived. Guess you really took too long and missed some tea— if there ever was.

Light glanced at you and gave a smile of mischief. You raised your middle finger but quickly hid it when your mom glanced your way.

No other choice but to sit beside your stinking boyfriend since it was the only vacant seat left. And you couldn't help but laugh when you saw the egg remains there.

"Let's properly start dinner then." Your dad announced. "Huh? I thought you guys had already started."

"We did. But it wasn't official. Of course we won't officially start without the birthday princess~"

"What difference does it make? And really, dad?"

After the prayer you eventually started eating. Just looking at the food already made you feel full and you were sure that you'd soon look like a pregnant woman after eating all those. Of course, there also had to be some entertainment otherwise it wouldn't be a normal dinner for you.

"Few visitors, huh?" Light elbowed you. "Obviously."

"Why didn't you invite the other neighbors?"

"Do I look like I'm close with those vivacious people?"

"Of course not." His grin somehow irritated you. He's doing this on purpose.

You puffed your cheeks. It was true though— you only had limited visitors this year, specifically the Yagami household. Let's just say that they're the only benevolent family in the neighborhood. You weren't really acquainted or interested in befriending your other neighbors and their kids since first of all, they're literally kids. And even though some of them were at the same age as you and Light, you couldn't really vibe with them. You had lots of friends though, but their houses were too far from yours. You could've had invited them too but it was raining cats and dogs. They might get stranded and you weren't really a fan of sleepovers. They did greet you via text earlier. Although, it was still rather saddening.

Both your parents shifted the topic to your university lives, the rankings and all that stuffs, including reminiscing old times, but they weren't comparing. It was all good to them.

"As expected! Your son is number one as always." Your mom smiled to Sachiko. Your dad then butted in, "Oho, I heard [Y/N] once swearing to beat him. Would you let that happen Light?"

"No way." He chuckled. You shook your head. "Watch me do it."

"I've been doing that for years."

"Tch. I was always first but then you stole the spotlight. Be thankful I don't hold a grudge on you." You jested. Him and your parents chuckled in unison.

"The spotlight isn't the only thing I stole from you though."

"Wow, you are capable of being cheesy too?" You coughed to apparently hide your smile and avoided your parents' sly looks. "Yes yes, you stole my heart too Mr. Know-It-All. You were supposed to be my rival but you cursed me."

"Did not. My charms were only being effective."

"Tsk."

"Wow, you two might be the smartest couple I've ever seen! But you know my teacher once told me if two smart people were to collide then it'd be chaotic." Sayu butted in.

"Why is that?"

"Because they'd keep on contradicting each other with their own beliefs and when they get into arguments it'd be super long but very logical. She also said it's not good because there's no contrast between them. They're already perfect and too much perfection isn't good."

They may be some truth to what she said. You and Light exchanged glances, mentally communicating.

"There's a bit of rivalry. Sometimes. And it's rather fun." He replied. You nodded in agreement. "Besides, we're not entirely perfect. Look at your brother, he's very meticulous in mapping out scenarios and good at speculating probabilities. He's the school prodigy. But that school prodigy has a secret. Wanna know what? He dances like a withered vegetable being shaken up in someone's hands." You, except for him, all giggled. But he had a comeback of course.

"I can dance, excuse me. Hiphop just isn't my style. And you know what? Not only does [Y/N] destroy a song's purity, she can never be a match for any sports for me."

You harshly stepped on his foot, earning a loud groan from him.

Dinner went smoothly. You felt like you didn't need to eat for at least three days, however there were still some desserts to eat. The conversation regarding each families' personal matters continued with you being quite invested in it. Then eventually, the 'most' awaited part arrived—they actually saved it for last—wherein they sang you a happy birthday as you made your wish. Who knows what it was? Only you know the answer to that. You blew your candle and they clapped happily. It made you feel like a kid but it was fun. And then you continued to eat. Cake, ice cream—and there were a lot more. For some reason you also requested a bag of potato chips.

And you already felt bad for the horrors your toilet was about to see.

It was the karaoke's time to steal the spotlight, again. You only watched them sing, although a bit out of tune they were clearer better than you completely murdering those notes. You tried ushering Light to sing but he irritatedly responded a no to you for the nth time. There were only two times you heard his singing voice— and damn, he really is a talented man. But it wasn't exactly his main forte so he refused to do it again.

"Let's get drunk too!" You jested, looking at your parents who were now acting like drunk and cheesy teenagers. Welp they had some drinks.

"[Y/N], you know I don't drink." Light shook his head and sighed, sensing an incoming annoyance at the way you were acting.

"Oh? If that's the case then mind you explaining to me why you're still alive because-not-drinking-would-lead-to-dehydration-which-apparently-leads-to-your-death-if-not—"

"You know that's not what—"

"Let's get high on caffeeeeeine insteaaad!! One cup of bullshit and the other crappuccino!"

Your parents glared at you. Your boyfriend was beginning to get highly concerned. "Why is she like this?"

"Perhaps too much coffee is really unhealthy, that's why, son."

"Whaddaya mean coffee? She didn't even drink any! All she drank was milk! Eight glasses every other day! Blame the milk!"

'What did I do to deserve this?'

He thought, and there you went again with your maniacal laughter. If Light and you hadn't known each other he'd definitely think you're a complete psychopath.

"Oh dear! Did I just say that? God, why did I do that? Liiiiiight..." You shook him. "If I ever start acting like that again please stop me."

"You are acting lke that right now. That's not cute. You're not even drunk."

"Quit being a killjoy, I'm enjoying my 'drunk' state. This is an experiment."

"What the hell? You are sober yet you're doing things worse than people who aren't do."

"But it's honestly fun."

"I can't blame you for being so irritatingly childish since it's your birthday, but it's time to stop that. Stop it. Get some help."

"Stop me then. You're the good guy here."

"How can I stop someone so crazy?"

"They say a kiss on the forehead can stop someone doing crazy stuffs.."

"You're only making that up."

"So what if I am? I speak facts. So, go on, please."

He pressed his lips together and thought about it. It was barely visible but you were sure that he's blushing.

"HAHAHAHA! I forgot my babyboy can't kiss without feeling so yucky about it."

"Hush."

"Psh, don't bite on me mate! I'll do the honor then." You were already kissing his forehead the moment he thought about running away. You weren't able to hold back a smirk as you did. He was grimacing the whole time, but he was actually enjoying it. But of course, he'd never let it show.

To 'annoy' him more, you butterfly pecked your way to the tip of his nose. You pulled back at least an inch or two from his face. And to your surprise, he pecked your lips.

It was so light that you thought it felt like hair on your skin. Thankfully your parents and Sayu—or maybe not Sayu—were too busy to give a damn about it.

You wordlessly sank back, face the reddest it could ever get.

"You stay still now."

"Heh... How about one mor—"

"Absolutely not. That's a kiss worth for three months. We had a deal back then, didn't we?"

"I'm starting to regret that deal."

"It was your idea."

"Let's disregard that deal."

"Nope. I gave my word. You did too."

"Oh come on!"

"'Kissing is a waste of time,' you say."

"I take it back!"

"You don't." He chuckled. You elbowed him and groaned.

You then were idly eating more of the chips as you watched your parents dance shamelessly. They began to coax you and Light to do the same because it was your special day after all. You and Light had different opinions about it. And, he was in.

"Why not? Afraid of your true skills being exposed?"

"Why should I be afraid to expose talent? Heck it's just not my liking. Besides, didn't we already dance?"

"Yeah but that was last year on your 18th birthday. You danced with other guys too. So maybe, maybe— just maybe, I only want to solo you right now."

"Wha— pfahahahaha! Did you just say that? Say that again!"

"Ah? No. Nevermind. Forget it."

"Awe sorry. It's just rare to see that side of yours. Hmm, how can I refuse now?" You pressed your lips in order not to laugh at the way he looked, as if he was regretting everything he did in his life. You stood up and offered him your hand, in which he refused to accept since it was his job to do in the first place.

"Oh! But I don't wanna dance here. Let's go to my room. I have an idea." He merely nodded. "Mom, dad, we're just going to go upstairs! In case you'll wonder why we suddenly disappeared."

"Can I come with you? I don't really want to dance or sing with them." Sayu jumped at you. You shook your head and Light spoke on your behalf. "Kids aren't allowed. Let us have our privacy this time."

"—Sorry but he's right. I do have some games you can play for you to pass the time. Or books, over there if that piques your interest. Don't worry, we'll be back quick to make sure you won't be lonely."

"Alright! Thank you!"

"Ah but why not join us here?" Your mom frowned.

"We have some business to do in my room—" That came out vague, but it was too late. Your mildly drunk dad had already replied, "Don't forget the protection, okay?" Leaving you, Light, his parents, and your mom to have that 'What the fuck?' look on your faces.

You two raced to your room nonetheless, quickly locking it. He was surprised to see how much of a mess it was. Mostly just the bed and the heap of completely random things on top of your cabinet. If he's a neat genius, you're the untidy one.

"Do you ever seriously clean?"

"Why clean it when it'll just eventually turn into a mess again? I can work perfectly fine in this state."

He shook his head and picked up a pillow and the bedsheet lying on the floor, but you stopped him before he could lay his hands on your one-hell-of-a-mess bed.

If you two ever do get married someday, the marriage would certainly include a lot of chaotic things and arguments about the chaos you've bestowed upon your damned house.

"I didn't bring you here to be my personal cleaner. Stop that."

"I'm actually doing you a favor???"

"We have other business. Cleaning is uninteresting. As your girlfriend, it's my duty to stop you investing yourself in such a boring activity."

"You're not really much of a good influence, are you? Fine. But I'm gonna do it once we finish anyway."

You snorted and opened the curtains to add a slightly relaxing view to the scene.

The rain hadn't stopped, still hostile and loud. You were lucky your room had a nice view of the streetlight. Though it would've looked better at dusk— more romantic to a lovers' liking when they dance as the sun sets, coating the sky in a mixture of lively, serene colors, with the streetlight slowly coming to life and they wouldn't realize it because they're lost in their own world.

You smiled at the thought. You wanted to do that with Light even though you knew you would never say it out loud— or who knows?

While your boyfriend was looking at the window, you turned on your lamp and the purple LED lights you had hanging on the walls and turned off the ceiling light. The room was then turned to a dull purple one. But it looked better than before—if you were to ignore the tangled mess on your bed of course, in which case was thankfully barely visible now— and at least to set a specific mood.

"Outdoing ourselves, aren't we?"

"Yes, well.. doesn't it look more.. romantiiiiiic to you?"

"Maybe. All that's missing now is the music. And maybe roses too, hmm? But it's alright. I have the prettiest rose here already."

"Oh my God. Are you really Light Yagami, or just a spirit who had taken over?"

"Shut up. I thought the word romantic was never in your dictionary."

"Ah, but I have a lot of words in my dictionary, so you'll never know, my dear." You winked and took one rose out of the bouquet he had given you. You handed it to him. "There goes your rose."

He cringed, but he was smiling too. He tucked your hair behind your ears and placed the rose on top of it. Now all that was left to do was to play the music.

"Hey Light. We're gonna regret being this overly romantic one day, aren't we?"

"Probably. And all that cheesy stuff. But who knows? We may or may not end up like our parents and continue whatever this saga is."

"Yep. But I also think we'd regret it more if we don't grab the chance to do it."

"Well said, [Y/N]."

You grinned and went on to play the music on your vintage gramophone. Needless to say you were quite the quaint one. And Light knew well of this.

"Shall I have this dance, my lady?"

"Why, I thought you'd never ask."

You hid a smile as well as he. You loosely wrapped your arms around his neck. His hands were on your waist and you two slow danced, the rest of the world falling away. You thought whenever someone would say it, they're just exaggerating. But you were wrong. It really did feel like it that it might have been the closest to heaven you'd get.

Wise men say

Only fools rush in

But I can't help falling in love with you...

His eyes were locked on yours. This time, he wasn't holding back anymore. He was feeling the moment just as you were. And who cares if your movements weren't completely in sync with the music that was barely audible due to the rain?

Shall I stay?

Would it be a sin?

If I can't help falling in love with you...

The smile you were hiding broke out when he pulled you closer. It was definitely a rare event so you had to savor it. Slow dancing in the dark, just like old lovers.

Like a river flows

Surely to the sea

Darling, so it goes

Some things are meant to be...

You might've had already ran out of steps halfway to the song. You two stood still, bodies pressed with you looking up at him. He rested his forehead against yours. Your faces were so close that you swore you could already feel his lips against yours.

Take my hand

Take my whole life too

For I can't help falling in love with you...

And at that moment you really felt that you wanted him to take your whole life. You couldn't dream a world without your Light anymore.

To your surprise, he cupped your face and kissed your forehead, his lips lingering there for a while as your bodies merely swayed to the rhythm of the song.

You love this man. He's not entirely perfect, but he's the best for you. He's your match. He's your lover. He's your rival. You were his, too.

"Psst, Light. I love you.." You whispered, pecking his cheek.

He stared at you with amusement, his adorable smile growing wider.

"I love you too."

"Even if you smell like shit right now..."

"You too. But did I complain?"

"Oh shush." You laughed. His arms tightly embraced you, and you rested your head on his shoulder, closing your eyes and smiling to yourself as you two continued to lightly sway your bodies. He as well closed his eyes, leaning his cheeks against your head.

He considered this moment to be one of the bests where he's genuinely happy.

And outside, unbeknownst to you, stood a lonesome fellow under the streetlamp, drenched in the rain, a wistful smile on their face as they looked up to witness a moment like that from you two, wishing that one day they'll get to do that with someone too.

[quicksilverownsmysoul]

13 Going on 30 pt. 3

A Peter Maximoff x reader fanfic based off the movie 13 going on 30

Summary:  You are so excited when the most popular girl in your school agrees to come to your 13th birthday party. But after a cruel prank you find yourself wishing that you were popular and older. By some miracle your wish is granted but isn’t as wonderful as it seems. You turn out to be a major jerk and you don't even talk to your best friend Peter anymore. Can you fix everything and get back to normal or are you stuck living like this forever

Warnings: Angst, Some suggestive content, But it’s mostly pure fluff. (Also Peter has no powers in this fic, and some scenes will be changed to fit Peter and his personality and so I can be creative with it!)

Word Count: 2103

Peter thought it was safe to say that adult life sucked. And it wasn't just because he had run out of lucky charms this morning and had to settle for something called shredded wheat that was hidden away in the back of the panty. They were gross and tasted like cardboard, but Peter was all out of groceries so this would have to do.

 No nothing had seemed to go right for him after high school, he went to college, (even though he spent most of the time partying and goofing off), got the degree and yet he was barely scraping by. But he couldn't complain, all that much at least. He enjoyed his job and even if at times it was hard to earn money he wouldn't trade it for the world. He had fallen in love with photography in freshman year and decided to major in it. He had a minor in business too, something you had always told him would be useful as a backup. You were always practical like that, making sure he never completely fell over the edge. But he was hesitant to use it, because in using that minor it kinda meant he was giving up his dream. Giving in to the regular, soul crossing 9 to 5 job that everyone seemed to have. Peter was a dreamer at heart, in a way it would kill him to do anything other than photography.

He ate a spoonful of his cereal, making a face at the dull taste. Chewing, he glanced over at the stack of bills littering the counter. A lot of them were piling up, sooner or later he may have to give into the normalcy of a business job. Work had been slow lately and very boring. More often than not people hired him to take photos for their weddings or graduation, simple stuff. Stuff that had him bored out of his mind. But there were no clients currently so until he got one he had all the time in the world to himself. Which he loved at first but now it seems he was falling into a bit of a routine.

Peter aimlessly wandered around the kitchen lost in thought, his eyes drifted toward the collection of pictures pinned to his fridge. There was a picture of you on there, from before you had cut him out of your life. Peter set the bowl down on the counter and gently lifted the magnet to pull the picture off. It was a polaroid of you two, You had your arms wrapped around Peter’s shoulders, hugging him from behind. His hands were resting on yours, you both were smiling, teeth missing.

This picture was from the first day of first grade. Even back then Peter had had some feelings for you. And the way his eyes looked at you and not the camera was proof of this. Peter ran his thumb gently over the faded picture, for a moment he let himself wonder about how you were doing, before he snapped himself out of it. He put the picture back in its place and picked his bowl back up. It was too early to be having thoughts like that. 

Peter yawned and lazily plopped down on his worn out sofa, flipping through the channels on the tv. There was nothing on, signing he threw out the rest of his cereal, it had gotten soggy while he was busy reminiscing. He dropped the empty bowl into the sink, only adding to the collection of unwashed dishes. He glanced over at the phone and the soft blinking of the red light, indicating he had voicemails he hadn't listened to yet. He knew he was going to have to take her calls sooner or later but right now he didn't want to deal with her. 

He headed to the park and decided to do some laps on the path, running always helped him to relax and clear his head. He always got stares and shy smiles from the women that were jogging, he found out that apparently the silver hair that everyone made fun of him for was very attractive to women now. Something he used to use to his advantage to pick up the occasional hook up.

After that he went to go get groceries and then played on his pacman machine until lunchtime. He totally knew how to spend his time. He made his way over to the kitchen and looked at all the new groceries he had bought. Twinkies, instant ramen, mac and cheese, he picked up the box of lucky charms, weighing the option of eating it for lunch. He thought better of it and put it back on the shelf, he really needed to eat healthier, god knows sooner or later his metabolism was going to give out.

He picked up the phone and placed an order form the Chinese place a couple blocks away, ordering way more food than he needed. That way he wouldn't have to cook for the next few meals. Peter was inherently lazy and cooking was not something he was very good at. So when he would he just ordered takeout and leftovers so he could eat them later. He hung up the phone and walked over to the fridge and took out the milk, drinking it straight for the carton, while he was doing that he heard a loud knock on the door. “That was quick.” The knocking continued non stop over and over, “I’m coming hold on!” He yelled out as he shuffled to the door and opened it peering through the opening that the chain allowed. “You know it’s rude to-'' The words died in his throat. There was a woman standing at his door, wearing a coat over her night dress. 

*******************************************************

You hadn't been able to pay attention to the briefing your boss gave, your assistant came in about half way through and handed you a small slip of paper. She said that she had found Peter’s address like you had asked. You had pulled her into a hug, creating an awkward tension in the room. The meeting had seemed to go on forever, and for the life of you you couldn't even remember what it was about. As soon as the meeting ended you had bolted out the door, ignoring the calls of your boss and colleagues telling you that work wasn't over yet. 

You had found his apartment after randomly asking strangers in the street which way it was. You were at his door, the number on it hanging lopsided. You began to rapidly knock until the door was pulled open. “You know it’s rude to-” 

He paused as he saw you staring at him. He furrowed his brows in confusion. “You’re not the chinese delivery guy.” 

You felt your eyes widen as you took him in. “Peter?” You asked in a small voice. 

He narrowed his eyes suspiciously at you. “Yeah?”

 You let out a sigh of relief, smiling. “You’re tall.” You looked him up and down. “And you’re so handsome.”

His face turned red at your words. He didn't even know who this random woman was that was standing here, telling him he was handsome. He leaned against the doorframe, taking another drink out of the carton. “I’m sorry do- do I know you?” 

He watched your face fall. “You don’t know me?” 

“No?” He said, wiping the dribbling milk off his chin. Even after all these years his mannerisms were the same. 

“Wait! “ You said rushing forward. He jumped slightly at the sudden action. “It’s me, I saw you yesterday. Well I was thirteen yesterday so I guess it wasn't yesterday. Because now i'm old and I don't know where I am-” Peter watched you ramble on and slowly began to close the door. You continued on. “But you were there at my party-”

Peter paused, squinting his eyes and looking at you closely.. “(Y/n)?” He asked hesitantly, reopening the door as much as the chain would allow. “(y/n) (y/l/n)?” You smiled wide at him. 

“Yes! Yes it’s me!” 

Peter slammed the door shut in your face. You heard him unlock all the locks on his side of the door, when he was down he swung the door open. “Hey.” he gave you a small smile. You lunged at him and tackled him in a hug, wrapping your arms tightly around his neck. He just stood there frozen, slowly moving his free hand up to awkwardly pat you on the back. “Come in I guess.” He muttered. 

You pulled back smiling at him. Even after all this time your sweet smile could make his heart skip a beat. You looked around his small apartment taking it all in. Peter did his best to kick discarded clothes into the closet, and keep you from seeing what a mess it was. You looked along his walls to see framed pictures of portraits and beautiful landscapes. “Are you still taking pictures?” You asked,

“Uh yeah, they pay the bills.” He quickly grabbed the pile of unpaid bills, stuffing them behind the couch cushion. “Usually.” He muttered under his breath. You were pacing around his apartment, in confused circles. He nervously rubbed the nape of his neck. “Hey, (y/n) I don't wanna be rude but why are you here?” 

“Petey I told you.” You said moving closer to him, he let out a little laugh. 

“Petey wow, no one has called me that in ages.” 

“Petey listen I came here cause something really weird is happening. Yesterday was my 13th birthday and then today I woke up and I’m this!” You said gesturing to your body. Peter tried his best not to look you up and down, he couldn't deny that you had grown up well. You were even more beautiful than he remembered. “And you’re that!” You said gesturing towards him. 

Peter looked down at himself self consciously. “Gee thanks. Do I really look that bad?” 

“No!” You quickly said. You felt yourself blush as you looked him over. His hair was tousled and messy, he was wearing an oversized  pink floyd crop top and from the looks of the hem it seemed he had made it himself. You watched the veins in his hands ripple and his arms slightly flex. “Uh you,” You let out an embarrassed laugh. “You actually look really good, like really good.” 

Peter flushed at your words and turned away so you couldn't see his blushing face. “Wow.” He whispered under his breath, he lifted a hand up to his face, doing his best to hide the smile that was forming. He turned back to and regained a serious composure. “Are you sure you're okay (y/n).” He took in your mismatched outfit and broken heel. “Are you high? Have you been smoking pot? Doing drugs, cause if you are I’m not judging as long as it’s just weed or something. Cause I mean I get it, I get stressed to and every now and then need-”

“No, no.” You said shaking your head rapidly. “Wait do you do-,” You lowered your voice to a whisper. “Do you do drugs Peter?” 

“No! No.” Peter shrugged. “Ehhh well not drugs, just weed.” He defended. But looking at your judgmental eyes he quickly continued on. “And I don’t, well I don’t that much any more. It was in college you know how it was.” 

“Actually I don’t.” You moved even closer to him. “Look, I was sitting in my closet, and I- I skipped everything. I can’t- I can’t remember my life.” Your eyes were watery as you started back at him. His heart ached seeing you like this. You continued on. ‘You need to help me remember my life.” 

At this he scoffed, and pretended to look around as if you were referring to someone else. “Me?” he said pointing to himself, letting out an airy laugh. “That’s rich.”

“What why?” He let out another laugh at your response, this one was dry. He looked at your face and saw that you weren’t kidding, you were serious about asking for his help.

“(Y/n) I can’t.” He was in disbelief, did you seriously have no idea what you had done to him. “I don’t know anything about you. I haven't seen you since high school.” Your face morphed into one of confusion. 

“What?” 

What he said next pained him, and he couldn’t bring himself to look you in the eyes. “(Y/n). We’re not friends anymore.”

You felt your heart shatter into a million pieces. “What?”

Taglist:

@lets-imagine-fanfics @steamboat-local @weasly-twin-simp

Let me know if you want to be added!!

[yikesharringrove]

Show Pony

Chapter one - Big Sky

Also on Ao3

Billy doesn’t give a fuck about the rodeo. 

He doesn’t care about country music, or fancy horse riding, or the beauty queens, even the bull riders. 

What he does give a fuck about it not being in his house today. 

Not when his dad was obviously itching to pick a fight. Not when Max gave him such an easy out over breakfast. 

“I saw a flyer for a rodeo. I think it’d be kinda neat.”

It was in town for four more weeks. 

And Billy could tell the second he and Max bought tickets, he was about to be spending more time than he ever fuckin’ thought he would spend at a rodeo. 

He based that on the way Max’s eyes lit up the second she stepped inside the big fairgrounds. 

Not knowing that he was right. He was about to spend a lot of time at the rodeo. 

But not for Max. 

For himself. 

And a pretty horse rider named Steve.

He didn’t see Steve that first day. 

Was too busy shelling out his own hard-earned cash to buy Max sugary funnel cakes. Sitting next to her watching the poor suckers get bucked off their pissed-off bull. 

But when Max was in the car she turned to him, the sun setting outside, eyes as wide as dinner plates.

“Can we come back tomorrow?”

And the tickets were dirt cheap. And Billy hates being at home. 

So they did. 

And they watched the rodeo queens. 

And the team-roping. 

But it wasn’t until the calf roping that Billy felt his heart sink. 

Because he thinks Steve Harrington might be the most beautiful person he’s ever seen. 

Tall and broad, smiling like sunshine at his gorgeous black quarter horse, patting her strong neck and leading her to the entry point of the arena. 

His name was loudly announced after the event name. 

Calf roping, with our very own Steve Harrington! Steve will navigate his beautiful June into the arena, trying to rope and tie down a calf as quickly as possible!

Billy had tuned out everything but his name. 

Leaning forward on his bench seat to watch him lead June up to the starting line, give her a few more pats before swinging one leg up, heaving himself up and over her back, settling into the saddle with a grace Billy doesn’t think he’ll ever be able to describe. 

Steve appeared to shake himself out, leaning forward over June’s neck to speak quietly to the sleek horse, wiggling his hips a bit in the saddle. 

And then he sat back up, readying himself and waiting for the countdown. 

He was off like a fucking shot. 

Billy’s never seen anything fucking like it. 

June kicked up dirt as she thundered through the arena behind a small herd of a few calves, Steve ducked low against her neck as he led her forward, his lips moving as he spoke quietly to her, egging her on and forward. He was clinging to her for dear life, his legs straining as he was tossed up and down in the saddle. 

And then he let go of her reins, one hand reaching for the rope on his belt. 

And it was the most hick shit he’s ever seen. 

This flannel-wearing cowboy on his perfect fucking horse, roping a baby fucking cow. 

He slipped the knot around it from his perch on the moving horse, lassoing it easily like that was a common skill, and with a fluid practiced movement, he tossed himself off the slowing horse, getting on one knee to tip over the calf and tie it up like it was second nature. 

And maybe it was. Performing in a show like this. 

That’s all it was, a performance. Practiced and rehearsed over and over for Steve and June. 

It was over in a blink, Steve tossing his hands up to show he was finished, and the calf didn’t break its bonds. 

The whistle blew and Steve’s time was read to the arena. Nine seconds. And apparently, nine seconds was a good time, judging by the way Steve’s raised his fists in the air, and patted June’s neck so gently. 

He mounted back on his gorgeous horse as the calf he had roped was released by a few of the rodeo workers and the next guy took his position at the starting line. 

Steve did a lap around the arena of June’s back, smiling and waving to the crowd. 

And maybe Billy just has an overactive imagination. 

Maybe his stupid gay brain was looking for something not there. 

But he could’ve sworn he saw Steve grin just a little bit brighter in his direction. 

There were a few riders after him. Competing to earn a faster score on the same track. 

But Billy didn’t give a fuck about calf roping if he wasn’t watching Steve and June. 

The sun was setting as Billy finally led Max out of the fairgrounds, one hand on the top of her head, steering her towards the Camaro. 

“So, you think we can come back next weekend” Max was giving him a big shit-eating grin, powdered sugar all done her front from the final funnel cake Billy had shelled out to buy her. 

“Don’t see why not. Get’s us outta the fuckin’ house, don’t it.”

“Plus, there are lots of good-looking cowboys, just everywhere. Did you see the guy doing the cattle roping, or whatever? He was cute .” Billy rolled his eyes. Max was just touching the age when she stopped thinking of boys as gross, saw them as cute, and whatever else she said. It also made her realize that having a gay brother apparently meant talking about nothing but boys. It made Billy wanna slam his head into the steering wheel. He grunted in response as she kept going on and on about Steve. 

Like Billy didn’t see the way his thighs gripped the sides of his horse, like he didn’t watch as he hurled himself off June to tie up the fucking calf. Like he didn’t watch him take that fucking victory lap, shit-eating grin looking like home on his pretty fucking face. 

“You gotta carry your own weight, you know that, right Shitbird? I’m talking, pay for your own damn fried shit.” He bets Susan would give him money for tickets if he acts real nice this week. 

He can’t blow all his savings at the fucking rodeo of all things this summer. He’s got plans for the wad of cash burning a hole in the shoebox in the back of his closet. 

Max huffed at him. 

“What am I supposed to do? Get a job? I’m thirteen .”

“So? Babysit or some shit. Rob an ATM. Fuck if I care. Just quit stealing all ‘a my goddamn cash for your fuckin’ funnel cakes .”

“You’re just pissed off because you didn’t try one. They’re the best. You gotta have one next week.”

“I, unlike you, care about what I put in my body.”

“Yeah, because cigarettes and beer are so much better than fried dough .”

“Whatever.” The truth is, Billy’s gotta watch what he eats. Max didn’t know him when he was prepubescent and chubby. He can’t be sitting there shoving funnel cakes in his mouth and not expect it to all go to his gut. Not like her. There’s not an ounce of fucking baby fat on her. She’s positively scrawny. If anything, the funnel cake might help her out a bit. 

“Yeah, whatever .” She huffed, slumping back in her passenger seat. “But can we come back?”

“Fuck, if you keep askin’ me, the answer’s no .”

She huffed again. She does that a whole lot when they talk. 

“Don’t act like you didn’t like it. I saw the way you were watching Steve race. You were practically drooling .” 

Billy clenched his jaw. 

“Was not .”

“Was too .” 

And Max had a knack of leading Billy into moments like this, childish little arguments that made him feel kinda weird inside. Made him feel kinda warm at how sibling it was. Like they hadn’t been forced together just a few years ago. 

For all his bitching, he really did like the little spit. If he didn’t, he’d be a bigger asshole than she’s always accusing him of being. 

“You don’t even know what I look like when I’m really eyeing a boy, if you think that was it. Just, you know. Respected his riding.”

“ Respected his riding. Yeah ‘cause you wish he was riding-”

“Finish that sentence and I’m pushing you out of the fucking car.”

“I’m right, though.”

Billy just reached forward to turn up the radio, letting Dee Snider drown out any other awful shit Max wanted to say to him. 

Which was probably showing his hand too much. No direct answer pretty much means affirmative when it comes to Billy. And yeah, Max knows that. Judging by the way she’s cackling like a goddamn gremlin over the sound of the music. 

He just pressed his foot down further on the gas pedal, letting them fly down the highway. 

And he thought about Steve and June, thought about how fast Steve could press that girl to go. Thought about him leaning forward, flattening himself to the horse’s neck, gripping onto the reins and urging her forward, urging her faster. 

And if he thought about those strong legs wrapped around him, if he thought about what Max was about to say, Steve riding Billy like he would that fucking horse, his hips flexing as he bounces up and down, well, that’s his business. 

And the next Saturday, Susan slid him a crisp twenty-dollar bill to buy Max some lunch at the rodeo. 

They took it more seriously this time, bringing water bottles, and Max slathering thick white sunscreen on her freckled skin. 

Billy even wore shorts, some old jeans he sacrificed to the summer gods when he wore holes in the thighs and chopped pretty much in half. 

And it was kinda fun. 

He knew what to expect now. Knew the barrel racing was all women, all beautiful horses winding their way along clover-shaped tracks. He knew that the bull riding was a little more fun to watch with a shot in him, and that his fake i.d. could get him an alcohol wristband from the tent at the front.

Max sneered at him when he bought himself a beer later in the day. 

“Uh, you know you have to drive me home, right? Like, and not crash your stupid car on the way home.” 

“Fuck off. It’s one beer.”

“And also that shot earlier, and I know you have a flask.”

“Okay, what are you, the cops? I’m just tryna enjoy myself in this blistering fucking heat. I don’t exactly get my rocks off to any of this shit.” Which is a lie. He’s totally sold on every stupid fucking event at the motherfucking rodeo. 

“Fine. You wanna get stupid and drunk? Then you have to take me to the pageant. I wanna watch it.”

“Since fucking when do you give a shit about the pageant .” Max glared at him. Her nose was beginning to get red. 

Maybe if Billy were less of a shithead he would tell her to put some sunscreen on. But she was really testing his patience today. 

And then her eyes went huge, and her jaw went slack, and Billy was just about to tell her to close it and quit lookin’ like a dead fuckin’ fish when he heard someone cough slightly behind him. 

And when he turned, he almost made the exact same stupid dead fish face as Max. 

Because gorgeous cowboy Steve was standing right in front of him. In another cracker of a flannel shirt, stupid blue jeans, and fucking cowboy boots, because yeah. He’s a goddamn hick that rides a horse and ties up calves in a traveling rodeo for a fucking living. 

And God save Billy, because hot damn. 

Steve had an easy smile on his face, a little bit lopsided, and perfect white teeth showing between perfect pink lips. 

“Hey there.”

“Howdy,” Billy responded before he could stop himself, his face burning up. 

He was hoping he was already sweaty enough Steve wouldn’t notice the flush. 

But thankfully, Steve’s smile went wider, and he laughed, this gorgeous bright laugh, his head tossing back, and that thick hair flowing easily. 

He had gold streaks in his hair, lighter browns tussled within the darker colors. Billy wondered if they were natural, days spent out in the sun on his horse. Part of him hoped they weren’t. Part of him hoped that Steve was that intentional with himself and his goddamn hair. 

He smiled at Billy. 

“I’m Steve.”

“We saw you. Last weekend,” Max blurted out before Billy could kick her. She looked shocked that she had even spoken when Billy turned to give her a death glare. But Steve just laughed his gorgeous laugh again. 

“And what’d you think?”

“She wouldn’t shut up about you on the way home.” And Steve was back to looking at Billy, and his eyes are so fucking big, like, who’s eyes are just. Like that. Just fuckin’. Big. 

“And what about you, uh-”

“Billy. And this is Max. My sister.”

“Well, Billy,” and fuck Billy nearly creamed himself at the sound of Steve saying his name. “Did you like my display of talents ?”

“Could say so. I don’t give too many shits about all this hick farm stuff. But I can respect it.”

“Well, that’s alright then.” And Steve reached out to pat Billy once on the shoulder. “I hope I see y’all around. I gotta head off, June needs some TLC before our time.” He smiled at Max, and her already red face flushed deeper, almost blending into the roots of her flaming hair. 

And then he doubled back. 

“You know what, I forgot why I came over here in the first place.” He was digging through his jeans, rummaging around in his back pockets. 

Billy wanted to slide his hands in there, cop a feel while he helped Steve look for whatever he was going to offer Billy. 

And then Steve brought out two white wristbands. 

“They’re for, uh, VIP seating and stuff. If you’re interested. Gets you closer to the arena. That way I can just see what you look like after I’m comin’ off a ride.”

Hoo boy. 

This little cowboy has some fucking charm. 

And he knows it too, judging by his smug little half-smile he gave Billy while he fastened the wristband around his wrist. 

He helped Max with hers, doing it faster than he had Billy’s, and with a lot less eye contact, which was a good sign. He’s not perving on his twelve-year-old sister. Which is cool. 

And then he was looking back at Billy, and brushing his long fingers over the tops of Billy’s shoulders, his arms out in his shirt, the arms torn off an old Aerosmith t-shirt he found at the Goodwill last year. 

“You should reapply sunblock. Don’t want you burning now.” And Billy’s sure if Steve was wearing a Stetson, he woulda tipped it at them. “Enjoy the pageant.”

And he was off, and Christ, those jeans. How did Steve even successfully ride his horse in those things? They were so tight, showed off his nice peachy ass as he walked through the fairgrounds. 

“Wow,” Max said. And yeah, Billy felt the same. 

“In case it wasn’t clear, based on the way he was flirting with me, and also that he’s way too old for you, but, uh, dibs .”

“Billy, you can’t just call dibs on a person.” Billy just laughed. 

He knows that his twelve-year-old fucking sister doesn’t have a shot in Hell with Steve. Really, he doubts he even has a shot in Hell with Steve, but he also likes to spend his time making her life as difficult as possible without actually being a shitty person. So, he just riles her up. Says shit that’ll get her going. He wouldn’t be doing his brotherly duties if he didn’t say that shit. 

Max calls it even by kicking him in the shin twice and making him watch the stupid beauty pageant. 

Which, like, why the fuck are there beauty pageants at the rodeo anyway? 

Turns out it wasn’t pageant at all, but the four previous Miss Rodeo’s all lined up and looking far too glammed out for this fucking heat. 

Max faked being disgruntled by the disappointment, but Billy knows, somewhere inside that tough bitch little soul of hers, she’s glad she didn’t have to sit through a goddamn pageant just to make Billy miserable. 

Besides, Billy had whipped out his flask a few times, and he was feeling alright. Just buzzed enough that the heat had stopped making him feel quite so disgusting. 

But not too drunk to miss calf roping. 

And yeah, maybe it was a little bit lame to make their way over to the VIP seating earlier enough that they scored the front row. But when Steve came trotting out, leading June behind him, Billy was close enough he could pick out the cluster of moles on Steve’s left cheek. 

So, lame was not in Billy’s vocabulary today. 

It was pretty much the same thing as last week. Steve made everyone in the arena ooh and aah with his riding, tied up the calf in less than ten seconds once again. 

But this time, when he took that jaunty little lap around the small arena, Billy knows for a fact Steve grinned at him. Knows his stupid gay brain wasn’t making up the wink he tossed effortlessly in Billy’s direction. 

And they left, just like last weekend, as the sun was beginning to sink below the horizon. 

“Just, c’mon. Mom gave you money .” Max was whining for a corn dog, of all things. When they have perfectly good, not fried food, at home. 

“Maxine, I swear to Christ, I’m fucking tired. Let’s go home so I can crash, and you can fucking drive Susan up the goddamn wall with your whining.”

“You’re such an asshole.”

“I don’t know. He doesn’t seem too bad.” And Billy felt his insides curdling at that voice, felt himself wilting and shriveling because he would not be getting out of this day without one final, no doubt embarrassing, encounter with his gorgeous cowboy. 

Steve was leaning against a booth selling chili fries, looking like a perfect picture of a Clint Eastwood movie. 

Billy had never liked westerns. 

But he was gonna go home and spend all night watching every one he could get his grubby little hands on. 

Steve pushed off the side of the booth as Max found her words again. 

“You don’t have to live with him.”

“And you don’t have to live with my folks. I’d trade you any day.” 

And Billy nearly died. Right there. On the spot. Because. Holy shit. I’d trade you any day. 

Billy was more than happy to follow this fucking hick around America, watch him ride his pretty horse before fucking him against the stable wall. 

Or whatever. Do they have stables? Billy doesn’t know how a traveling rodeo works. 

But like, they’ve gotta have stables, right?

“Nah, you’d get sick of him. He stinks.”

“Have you ever smelled horse shit? Because that’s the fragrance I wake up to every morning.”

And Max was laughing, and Steve was laughing, and Billy was trying to keep his hands as casually as possible in front of his slight chub. 

“Will I get the privilege of seeing you two again?” And what a way to word it? The privilege. And then Steve was looking Billy up and down, and he was biting that perfect bottom lip and opening his mouth and “I could always give you my phone number. So we can. Meet up. Next time you’re here.”

“‘Course. You can give us the grand tour.”

And Steve was digging in those tight back pockets again, and shoving his phone into Billy’s hand, and he doesn’t have a passcode, but his home screen was a picture of him and his fucking horse which is, just about the sweetest thing Billy’s ever seen. 

And Billy put himself in as Billy Hargrove , and then panicked because Steve doesn’t know his fucking last name. So he settled for Billy and then for good measure shoved San Diego after it because. Billy’s a common name, okay?

And Steve took his non-password protected fuckin’ horse girl phone, and Billy was giving him as charming a smile as he could muster with sweat on his upper lip and saying-

“You better text me, Pretty Boy. So I can save your number.” Billy shrugged, looking off to his left to try and seem. Nonchalant. “In case I wanna see you again.” 

And Max was rolling her eyes, but she wasn’t stopping away. Wasn’t even whining at Billy, no doubt on her best behavior in front of hot cowboy Steve. 

But Steve had a glint in his eye, and if Max wasn’t here Billy would be playing this all different, laying on the charm a lot thicker than he was. 

But he can’t be a horny bastard in front of her. That’s just, like, gross. 

So he settles for making a real show of licking his bottom lip, and maybe flexing his bare arms just a tiny bit. 

“We should probably get goin’. Got a curfew for this one,” Billy jerked his head in Max’s direction. She huffed before she could stop herself. “See you around, Cowboy Steve.”

And Steve gave another one of his pretty ringing laughs. 

“Come again soon, Billy and Max.” And again, Billy’s sure that if Steve were wearing a hat, he would’ve flicked the brim at them as he set off back into the rodeo, dodgin off the main thoroughfare. 

“Wow. That was embarrassing for you.” 

Billy whipped his head around to stare at Max, giving her the most disgusted look he could muster. 

“The fuck you mean?”

“You were so obvious.”

“That’s the fucking point . We were flirting. It’s supposed to be obvious, you demon.” Billy shoved her once before stomping in the direction of the parking lot. 

“Yeah but you were like, making these faces at him.”

“Shut the fuck up. I know what I was doing, okay? It was all very calculated . Let him know I’m down for it, and if he texts, then I’m good to go. If not, then I move on.”

And the thought of Steve not texting was kinda, disappointing. Because Billy really wanted him to text. He wanted to stay up late giggling at his phone and the dumb things Steve texts him and pretend they don’t make him flush like a fucking school girl. 

He pointedly didn’t look at his notification when he reached the car, just shoved an old tape in and turned up Black Sabbath when Max wrinkled her nose at it. 

They were both quiet on the drive back home. Something heavy unsaid between them. 

And only as Billy was pulling into his spot in the driveway did Max suck in a big breath to actually put it out there. 

“I won’t tell. About him. Not even Mom. Not even that I think he’s cool.”

“Thanks. Easier just to. Avoid at all costs.” 

And if Billy were a better person, maybe he would hug her or something. 

But they don’t do that. Instead he sighed and didn’t hip check her violently off the porch like his instincts were telling him. So really, he’s a fucking saint. 

[goffilolo]

Revival of Midoriya Izuku: Chapter 4 "My depression may be chronic, but my ass is iconic"

I bet you didn't think you were ever gonna see an update. well neither did I. What can I say? writing with a broken hand is a struggle.

Link to the fic on ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/16929483/chapters/81090403

Izuku’s first day of high school was interesting, to say the least, or it would’ve been if he actually went to school instead of spreading mayhem amongst UA’s first years. Shinjuku Metropolitan has been rather lenient in regards to his attendance or lack of thereof, thanks to whatever bullshit Shin wrote to the school on his behalf to ensure that the faculty would accommodate his ‘condition’. Which is just fancy wording for ‘I got a get out of school card’. Truth be told, this is probably the best thing that the doctor has ever done for him since Izuku was nowhere near ready to return to mainstream education, not after everything that has happened in middle school. The last thing he needed were looks of pity and guilt-induced niceties from people who otherwise had no problem laughing at his misfortune.

So instead Izuku has decided to spend his time productively - if you could count tormenting your ex-childhood friend and having an accidental family reunion as such.

Uncle Shouta always had a bit of a mean streak to him, although it never really felt as such when Izuku himself interacted with him. From what little of his childhood he could remember that didn’t involve trauma and discrimination, his uncle was a somewhat kind, but grumpy man. He believed in a brand of tough love - that somehow did not correspond with the way his mother raised him in the slightest and went above and beyond for things and people he held close to his heart. Sure they haven’t seen each other since Izuku was 4, but if his uncle’s empty threats from today’s Quirk Apprehension Test are anything to go by, not much has changed.

Which brings him back to now; sitting in an empty classroom that he does not belong to - a school that he does not belong to, writing down his ever-so-detailed notes about the quirks he will only be able to admire from afar. Not much has changed , indeed.

It almost feels like a betrayal. Almost , being the operative word, because he has no reason to cling onto the things that he no longer cares about - should no longer care about, for they had died along with him that day on the roof, and were properly buried within the four walls that Izuku called his own during his stay in the hospital.

But well...looks like today Izuku is in a mood to dig up old corpses.

Metaphorically, that is.

“God, you’re still here!”

“Kacchan we’ve talked about this” he replied, rather dramatically “God is dead and all that’s left is me”

Kacchan clearly did not appreciate his superior sense of humour, if the lack of response is anything to go by. “No seriously, why are you still here?”

“I could ask you the same”

“I actually study here you fuckwit!” the blond exclaimed in his ever explosive fashion “Besides I had to come back and get my change of clothes since that demonic pet of yours was sitting on them when we were all leaving for the test”

“Huh, that actually reminds me...where’s Bandit?”

“Oi, don’t change the subject you shitty Deku” replied Bakugou, as he kicked one of the chairs over towards the desk that was currently occupied by Izuku and slumped down in it in a way that would perhaps appear as non-caring to absolutely no one “I didn’t know your uncle was a pro-hero.”

Ah, so that’s what he was bothered about.

“That makes the two of us”

“Wait, really?!”

“Honestly Kacchan! Did you really think that IF I knew my uncle was a pro-hero that I would be able to ever shut up about it?”

“No way in hell!”

“Exactly!”

Well, now that the topic of his uncle has been cleared up, there wasn’t much else to talk about, at least not much that wouldn’t result in collateral damage or a Bakugou shitshow 2.0. Both of the boys were well aware of it of course, but let it never be said that either of them could be stopped by things like common sense, especially when it came to avoiding conversational land mines.

“So...what are you scribbling over here?” asked Bakugou in a rather poor and possibly the most awkward attempt at establishing small talk that has ever been known to man and sheep kind alike.

“Ok, no! That is not happening” snapped Izuku, who very much saw where this was going and was having none of it “We are NOT having a civil conversation!”

“Why the fuck not?!” replied the blond, his anger as booming and apparent as his quirk.

“Because that is not something we DO Kacchan!” shouted the teen, banging his hands against the desk, his notebook long forgotten.

“Well, maybe we should?!” exclaimed Bakugou, who was quick to anger, yet quicker to notice his ex-friend’s unusual mood as he tried to make an effort to de-escalate the situation.

“Oh? Should we really? !” sneered Izuku, feeling the kind of anger and disdain he hasn’t felt in a long time, not since that fateful day in the ward.

“That’s rich coming from you” he continued as he stood up form the chair, unable to keep still in his fury as he circled the classroom “All you ever did was shout at me, insult me and throw baseless accusations at me left and right for god knows how long, but suddenly YOU want to have a conversation with me? Isn’t it enough that we kinda talked about our feelings that one time when I was still stuck in the psych ward?!”

Honestly, what do you expect Kacchan?” asked Izuku, feeling raw and hysteric and all kinds of wrong, spilling his metaphorical guts to his ex-bully/friend “That we will just start having normal conversations like nothing ever happened, act like we’re friends or some shit? Because let’s be honest, we haven’t been friends for a very long time, that ship has sunk long before I even attempted suicide! ”

“Don’t you think I know that?!” screamed Bakugou, feeling equally angry, but mostly out of his depth in the situation. He expected Deku to possibly mock him for his awkward attempts at small talk. What the blond didn’t expect was for him to snap, in a way that was somewhat familiar but not quite, as even the few times they’ve spoken back when Izuku was in the hospital or when he got released, his tempter felt controlled in a way it was not at the moment. Katsuki wasn’t sure what exactly triggered such a strong response, but he was not looking forward to having another fight, at least not one initiated by him.

“I’m not trying to pretend it didn’t happen” he explained “I just want to move forward. I’m not the same asshole I was last year and neither are you, so I don’t want to be stuck on how things used to be ! It makes me feel like I’m going nowhere.”

“Ok! Fine! You wanna talk?! Then let me fuckin TELL you something! You asked me what I was ‘scribbling’ over here?” exclaims Izuku, as he stomps his way back towards the desk and snatches his notebook, waving it aggressively in front of Bakugou “IT’S THE SAME STUFF I’VE BEEN SCRIBBLING THE ENTIRE GODDAMN TIME!” he screamed “Those quirk analysis notebooks you used to mock me for? It’s another one of those because as it turns out  I still AM the same asshole I was last year! Now then, can YOU tell ME how many of those I’ve had?”

“Thirteen…” mutters Bakugou, feeling like he’s walking into a proverbial trap.

“Good boy, you can count! Now, can you tell me what number does it say on this one?” sneers Izuku sarcastically as he points once again at the notebook in question.

“Is this a trick question? There’s fuckin nothing on it”

“EXACTLY! And you want to know why?” screamed the distressed teen, no longer feeling angry, but tired and vulnerable, unable to stop himself from having a conversation he didn’t even want to be a part of “Because these notes used to serve a purpose, a purpose I no longer have. Hero Analysis for the Future , to be exact. But guess what Kacchan…” he whispered, no longer looking at the red eyes that used to bring him so much pain “...I no longer have a future…”

The blond hung his head in shame as he listened to his childhood friend break down in tears while hiding his face behind the very notebook that started their argument, all the while Trash Bandit who woke up due to their screaming was trying to get his owner’s attention with pathetically quiet ‘baaah’s.

“You have the right to be angry with me, after all this shit I put you through” stated Bakugou after what felt like an endless silence broken only by Izuku’s stuttering sobs. He never thought of himself as a coward, but at this moment he could not find enough bravery to sit face to face with the crying teen.

“I KNOW that you shithead-” replied Izuku as he shakily tried to take a breath in between the sobs “-but what good is that gonna do?! You’ve actually admitted that the way you treated me was wrong, hell you even voluntarily went to therapy! You’re basically going through a whole-ass redemption arc and what do I do? * sob * I’m still stuck in the past and I can’t let go of my grudges, which isn’t doing me or you any favours. I’ve told you to get your shit together, and this is exactly what you’re trying to do and instead of being h-* hic *- happy for you I’m mad-”

His rant broke off as he took another breath with tears still rolling down the freckled cheeks despite the boy’s best efforts. Izuku slumped down in his seat and with shaking hands he took out a cigarette and lighter from his backpack that was still hanging by the hook on the side of the desk. And although putting the cigarette in his mouth was relatively easy, lighting it was another matter. As Izuku grew more frustrated with the quiver in his hands, so did Bakugou. The blond became impatient as he grumbled “give it here damn it” much more quietly and gently than he normally would’ve done as he leaned forward, all the while grabbing the other teen by his shoulder with one hand, as he used to the other to quickly light the cigarette with a small explosion. Izuku’s flinch at the sudden but familiar noise and heat did not go unnoticed.

To say that Izuku was shocked by his ex-friend’s action would’ve been an understatement, but he was pleased nonetheless. If anything it proved his point that Kacchan was trying to be nicer to him, even if the attempts were somewhat awkward. The freckled teen, feeling only marginally better, leaned back in his chair facing the ceiling as he continued to blow circles of smoke up into the air, trying to regain his original train of thought.

“You’d think they would have a fire alarm in here or something” mused Bakugou as he stared at the disappearing circles.

“Hmm” replied Izuku, absentmindedly “You’d think”

The silence has once again stretched between the 2 boys, although this time it felt less oppressive in its need to be filled. Bakugou was happy to wait for Deku to finish what he started, it was the least the blond could do seeing as he was at fault for the current state of things between them.

“I’m so fuckin angry...” stated Izuku as he crashed the burnt out cigarette against the desk, which Bakugou conviniently ignored seeing as the desk was his. “I’m so fuckin angry-” he repeated despite his tone and words not matching at all “-because this proves that you could’ve gotten your shit together this whole time” he continues while gesturing vaguely between the two of them.

“You could’ve stopped this bullshit and apologised to me!” exclaims Izuku in a tone that is half resigned and half accusing “You could’ve spared me the misery, and yet you didn’t. I feel like I’ve suffered for nothing-”

“You did!” interrupted the blond.

“What?”

“You’ve suffered for nothing” clarified Bakugou “There’s literally NO good reason for you to have gone through even half the shit you did”

“I dunno about that Kacchan” teased Izuku “I’m pretty sure the reason is sitting right in front of me”

“I said no good reason damn it, don’t go around twisting my words you fuckin Deku!”

And Izuku couldn’t help but break out in laughter, because he was pretty sure that this was the first time ever that Bakugou had made a joke at his own expense and this moment was going to live in his brain rent free from now on.

“Oh God, Kacchan-” he wheezed, trying to stop himself from laughing “You were right, you really aren't the same asshole that you were last year!”

“I sure fuckin hope not” replied Bakgou who was just as close to laughing “Otherwise I would’ve had to demand refund for all of those shitty therapy sessions”

“Look at us Kacchan” said Izuku, his laugh now subdued “We’re still a fuckin mess”

“I guess we are” agreed the blond as he stared down at his friend’s notebook in a thoughtful expression.

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

After the truthfully embarrassing heart-to-heart with Kacchan, Izuku wanted to do nothing more than sink into the void for the next eternity, or at least until he gets his reminder text that he’s running late for yet another therapy session. Unfortunately neither of these options were viable seeing as he was on a self-appointed mission to catch up to his uncle. The boy hoped that uncle Shouta would still be somewhere on the premises seeing as his ugly-ass sleeping bag was still in the classroom. Izuku used that to his advantage as he gave the sleeping bag to Bandit who promptly sniffed it and began to follow the scent of a premature-midlife-crisis. Who knew that sheep could make such good hounds?

Bandit had dutifully led their owner through an ever inconvenient maze of corridors, which eventually ended with the two entering the teacher’s lounge like they had every right to be there (which they kinda did, shoutout to Nedzu!). As expected, Izuku’s uncle was in the lounge, surrounded by fellow members of staff as they tried (unsuccessfully, at least by Izuku’s standards) to get any information out of him regarding his class this year. Uncle Shouta for the most part looked like he’d rather be doing anything else and so Izuku has made an executive decision to insert himself obnoxiously into the situation.

“In my humble opinion-” he said, as he sat down next to his uncle, while Bandit jumped up on his lap “that Mineta kid should’ve been expelled. Like, we get it uncle, he has potential ” continued Izuku, as he spat the word distastefully “But how far is that potential gonna get him when all he does is harass the entire female population, like every other mediocre straight guy with self awareness of a sea cucumber?”

“A sea cucumber? Really?” asked uncle Shouta, sounding like the unimpressed bitch that he is.

“I mean don’t get me wrong” he continues, completely ignoring the unnecessary commentary “Straight people are already embarrassing as they are, but this guy is on another level, the kinda level that usually leads to a straight jacket, am I right?! Hah- I just made a pun!”

“The little listener does have a point, Shouta” replied Present Mic.

“Also, did he just say uncle ? Shouta, is there anything you’d like to tell us?” asked Midnight, you know, like a traitor.

“No”

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

It wasn’t until they walked past the gates of the school that his uncle finally stopped in his tracks to voice at least a portion of the questions that have been bubbling in his mind since the impromptu family reunion with his nephew.

“Izuku” says Shouta, with as much concern as an uncle-who-you-haven’t-seen-in-almost-a-decade is allowed to voice “What the fuck?”

“Look, I heard that question far too often in my lifetime, mostly from my therapist, so you’re gonna have to be a bit more specific” replies Izuku sounding like the unimpressed bitch that he hopes to evolve into through the sheer power of genetics and generational trauma.

“Look kid-” says the hobo looking man that has the privilege of being related to Izuku as he puts his hands together, takes a deep breath and prays to whichever God he believes is not yet dead for some guidance on how to handle this “-as much as I’d love to elaborate on the sheer amount of confusion I am experiencing right now due to your questionable way of life, I do actually have to go on a patrol so this conversation is gonna have to be postponed. In the meanwhile give your mother my regards, and I’ll hopefully see you in the near future when you decide once again to wreak havoc in my classroom.”

“No” replies the freckled teen in a total disregard for other people’s prior engagements, thus truly earning his title of a problem child.

“What do you mean no ? Izuku, I have a job to do!”

Instead of replying, Izuku has decided to simply pull a pro-gamer move, by quickly taking out a familiar pair of handcuffs from the side pocket of his backpack, cuffing one side to his uncle’s hand and the other to his own. That on its own is probably not particularly impressive, however it is the speed of the action that has earned it the title of a pro-gamer move, which Izuku is quite proud of. His uncle on the other hand is definitely less so, looking at his cuffed wrist like it has somewhat betrayed him.

“Please tell me you did not just do that”

“I did not just do that”

After wasting about 10 minutes of his life on fruitless struggle of trying to get the handcuffs off like an untrained dog trying to chew off its own leash, Aizawa Shouta; the underground hero Eraserhead, the infamous Erasure Hero has slumped in defeat, internally swearing to himself to one day get revenge on his unruly nephew.

“God, I am so going to have a talk with my sister about this” he says, as if a threat of authority had any meaning to the green headed teen.

“Yeah, no shit, that’s the whole point, we’re going to my house now” replies the teen, completely disregarding any attempt at ‘ an adult asserting their authority ’ over him.

“I still have to go on a patrol tonight” repeats Shouta, as if it was somewhat relevant.

“That sounds like a you problem”

[rahleeyah]

A little follow up to this post; Elliot's new partner comes over for dinner.

The next day, Stabler comes in looking a little sheepish.

"Doing anything Friday?" He asks.

They've only been working together a month or two, and they don't really talk personal stuff, as evidenced by the fact that Stabler introduced him to his not-wife and didn't even bother to mention her connection to him. Stabler's never asked him about his weekend plans. Mark is immediately wary.

"Why?"

Stabler laughs.

"Listen, Liv wanted to know if you wanna come by for dinner. The boys have sleepovers that night."

Idly Mark wonders if all six of their kids are boys and where the hell they found six families willing to host them for sleepovers. Maybe some of them doubled up. His first instinct is to say no, but honestly, he's curious about her. Captain Benson. Olivia. Liv.

"Yeah all right," he says.

"You should bring your girl. If you want."

Mark raises an eyebrow at him, and Stabler lifts his hands in a "don't shoot the messenger' kind of way.

"Liv said I should ask," he says, like that explains everything.

"You always do everything she tells you to?"

Mark just wanted to tease him about being whipped, but Stabler's face gets kinda serious.

"Yeah," he says. "There's a lot of shit in my life went wrong that would've been right if I just listened to her the first go round. Took me thirty years but I've learned my lesson."

Thirty years. That's a hell of a long time, Mark thinks. Thirty years, six kids, four grandkids, and working the job the whole time. He doesn't know how they're still alive.

"Her name's Kelly," he says. His girl. "I'll bring her."

Stabler gives him a smile that's all teeth.

So Friday rolls around and Mark and Kelly turn up at the address Stabler gave them with a bottle of cab bc he says Liv only drinks red. It's a nice little house in Queens, on a nice little street, two big ass black suvs parked out front. His and hers tanks.

"Are you nervous?" Kelly asks him. He wants to say no. Why should he be nervous? He spends all day, every day, and some nights, too, with Stabler. He likes the guy. But then he's never had dinner with a Captain before. She definitely makes him nervous.

"Nah," he says, and kisses Kelly quick before they get out of the car.

Stabler answers the door in jeans and a black button down and no shoes. He's comfortable, in his own home, and Mark can smell dinner from the doorway.

"Elliot Stabler, this is Kelly (can't be arsed to pick a last name)."

"It's so nice to meet you," Kelly says as they shake hands. "Mark talks about you all the time."

"Back at you," Stabler says with a grin. It's bullshit, Mark hasn't told him anything, but he can't help thinking the man just did him a favor by lying. Kelly is smiling ear to ear.

"We brought this for you. Mark says your wife likes red."

"She's not my wife," Stabler says reflexively as he takes it. "But she'll love it. Come on."

There's bookshelves everywhere. Mark figures they must be hers, he didn't peg Stabler as much of a reader. There's pictures everywhere, too, but Stabler's walking too fast for Mark to get a good look at them. In the kitchen she's waiting for them, Captain Benson. Her heavy, dark hair is pulled back today, and she's wearing soft, casual black pants and a cream colored blouse. She doesn't look scary, at home like this. Stabler goes to her, passes her the wine with one hand and lets the other settle at the small of her back, lets it stay there while he makes introductions.

"Thank you so much for having us," Kelly says. "You have a lovely home."

Benson looks at Stabler before she answers, the two of them sharing a private smile.

"Thank you," she says. "With a seventeen year old and a ten year old in the house it usually looks more like a federal disaster area."

"You didn't have to clean up just for us, Captain," Mark says. It's partly a joke and partly a test, and she sees through him at once.

"Please," she says. "Just Olivia here."

"You're a Captain?" Kelly shoots Mark a dark look. He may have forgotten to mention that to her.

"She's gonna outrank me for the rest of our lives," Stabler says easily. His hand is still resting at the small of her back.

"And don't you forget it. Now, who wants a drink?"

They stand around the kitchen with their wine glasses while Stabler and Benson finish cooking. He does as much of the work as she does and Mark is kind of impressed, bc he didn't peg Stabler as a cook, either, but he can tell Kelly's taking notes. The conversation flows pretty easy; Benson is nice and she knows how to talk to people, and she keeps the conversation away from work, keeps Kelly engaged. But it's kinda weird seeing Stabler, who Mark initially thought was a grim son of a bitch, smiling so much at this woman he can't take his eyes off of. They carry the food to the table, settle down to eat, and at the first lull in the conversation he strikes.

"How long you two been together?"

Stabler told him thirty years already, but he wants to hear the story. He figures it's a good one.

They share a look, Stabler and his not-wife. Like they wanna get their stories straight before one of them answers. It's not a question Mark would have thought would require a dress rehearsal.

"Long time," Stabler says softly.

Olivia reaches for him under the table. She's discreet about it, but Mark can tell her hand has just landed on his knee, and it's not going anywhere.

"It's a long story," she says, and then she switches gears. It's a fascinating deflection. "I want to thank you for coming," she tells him then. "I wanted to get to know the man who's gonna be watching his back. But I wanted to wait until I knew he hadn't scared you off."

"He got a history of running off partners?"

She laughs, Stabler doesn't.

"What's the record?" He asks. He wants to know if it's true, if Stabler really doesn't work with anybody for long. There's another long, strangely communicative glance between the pair of them.

"Thirteen years," she says, very softly. Stabler reaches for her hand and kisses the back of it gently.

"Lucky thirteen," he says.

Holy shit, Mark thinks. They were partners. That's the story they don't wanna tell. They were partners for thirteen years, and now they're shacked up. It's kind of impressive.

"Mark says you have six kids," Kelly says then. She doesn't like being left out. "Is it just the two boys at home now?"

Benson's smile is a little forced. Under the table, Stabler covers her hand with his own, there against his knee.

"Yes," she says. Doesn't offer anything else. Like she's waiting for Stabler to decide how much he wants to tell them.

"My first wife-"

"Only wife," Benson says, so quietly Mark almost doesn't hear it. Stabler shoots her a wounded look. Apparently it's a disagreement they've had before.

"My first wife and I had five kids. She uh. She died. A few years ago. The older kids are grown. Maureen and Kathleen have kids of their own now. Dickie's getting married next year, Lizzie's…Lizzie. Eli's a junior this year. Liv adopted Noah when he was a baby."

It's a lot of information to take in all at once. He can tell that Kelly regrets asking. She thought it would be a safe topic of conversation; what mother doesn't want to talk about her children? She hadn't counted on the baggage. But Kelly is Kelly, and she is devoted to her optimism.

"You're like the Brady Bunch," she says.

Benson laughs out loud. Stabler relaxes, infinitesimally.

Mark can see it all in their eyes now, though. How Stabler was married to someone else, had five kids with someone else, while they were working together. How he lost her, how he grieved, how he and Olivia finally got together and made a home out of the wreckage but the memory of his wife lingers, and maybe Olivia isn't ready to assume the title she's always thought belonged to someone else. She'll live with him, fuck him, raise her kid with him - Liv adopted Noah, he said, no mention of his own involvement, like he wasn't involved at all - but she can't bring herself to be his wife. We'll get there, Elliot told him. He wonders if that's true. He feels kinda bad for the guy.

[forsworned]

Ok so like random thought. Do you think that because Muzan has been alive for a Godly Amount of time. That he would know/learned some other languages? Like genuinely curious. Because honestly me being Hispanic. It really gets me thinking all the shit talking I could say about him in front of him but not obviously saying it like I'm actually directing at him so I don't... Ya know. DIE 😂

Ik you don't write him at all. But it's just a thought that came to mind and I want to know someone else thoughts on it. Also because I feel more comfortable asking this to you than anyone else :3

BRO NOW I WANNA WRITE FOR HIM PLSS FWKWDNCFJDSCFNJSCF THATS SO FUNNY SMFKSF and aw dude!!! that so cute im glad you feel comfy telling me this

OKAY SO KINDA SPOILERS SO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK

okay so dude, this is tricky because lowkey i think that Muzan is hella narrow minded. i mean this man has one fucking thing on his mind, which is immortality with no bounds aka being able to walk under the sun. understandable right, but i also imagine he has traveled the world like every corner of it.

so the man obviously has had to learn the language of the country he's in to get some information. omg please imagine this man in peru LMFAO PLS I CAN SEE HIM WEARING THE OUTFITS AND SHIT TO BLEND IN AND NOT LOOK SUS

grown out facial hair, colorful poncho and chollo speaking spanish to all the locals bRO plsssssssssss

this man b picking potatoes with them and shit

but also like i see him as the latter, not bothering to learn anything at all. he is a selfish, vile, cruel monster bro. like most of the time i have such a back and forth relationship with this man bc he groomed and manipulated the shit out of everyone he turned into a demon. like daki and gyuutarou were only about thirteen years old when he turned them into demons. and like this girl literally did sex work like bro think about that fr fr

but it's like when you see muzan pretending to be a child you see that he's reading and browsing so i can only imagine the vast knowledge of this man. all the fucking knowledge in the world and yet this man still fucking bitter and didn't figure out the answer in the very end. and even still acting out selfishly STILL even trying to manipluate tanjiro to do his bidding. he just truly doesn't learn lol

so yes, while i think personally muzan knows probably like every language known to man he's still a little bitch. also now that i think about it a lot of indigenous cultures have like superstitions about pale skinned ass hoes like him and they would probably suspect him of being a demon so i think he would go in areas where he wouldn't be outted.

so like europe or some shit. DUDE do you know what i just thought about. this man just meeting all the world leaders good and bad. like this mf probably met hitler and stalin or some shit. this mf lived thru slavery, the rise and fall of the roman empire. this mf knows all the secrets in the world except for the cure against the sun. THIS MF KNOW WHERE ATLANTIS IS OKAY LIKE BRO

so yeah for like the third time he does probably know hella languagesgkeoprkgorgkv

[the19thduckpotato]

@allmightluver  I didn’t want to spam you and I figured a few others might enjoy this as well, so here is that fluffy dream snippet I promised to share.  <3  

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

Toshi made a soft noise in his sleep.  The arm draped about Izuku tensed for a moment, as if trying to protect the boy.  Then it fell away, no longer a hindrance. "Nnnu... wakeup....." Izuku slumped against Toshi's chest, sticky eyelids closing. One last dissatisfied grunt, and he lost the battle to sleep far quicker than he should have. Toshi unknowingly returned the grunt, but it was a pleased, almost victorious grunt.  He shifted, Izuku's weight settling against him.  Satisfied, his breathing evened out. Golden afternoon sun painted the wall over their heads.

. .. ... .... The child clutched his backpack, eyes wide and nervous.  The roads didn't make sense here.  They should have.  They seemed almost familiar but each time he turned a corner, expecting to see home, the roads turned unfamiliar.  Home felt farther and farther away the more corners he turned. Unsettling fear crept in.  He just wanted to go home.  He looked about for help, trying to quell his panic. Everything was glaringly, dishearteningly, unfairly devoid of people.  The world loomed far too large and the child bit back a cry of terror. One more corner Surely someone is here. Please please His sneakers pounded the pavement as he rushed the next corner, as if hoping to catch the world in the act before it shifted on him again. However, he had also squeezed his eyes shut, scared that this new corner would also look unfamiliar.  So he didn't notice the big kid until he thudded off of him. "The hell?" the big kid snarled.  Behind him, two other big kids watched as the first grabbed the child by the front of his shirt and shook him.  "Why doncha watch where you're going?!" I know you The child's blue eyes lit with fear, trying not to glance at his backpack. please don't please don't please please One of the other big kids yanked the backpack from the child's hands, ignoring (or enjoying) the whimper. "What's the lil nerd got?" "Comics!" the third remarked, barking laughter.  He held up one.  "Wondorous Woman?!  That's a GIRL'S comic, you lil dweeb!" someone please "You don't need to read this crap!" PLEASE The third big boy gleefully tore the first page off, a messy diagonal rip.  The child screamed angrily and swiped at him. "Oh HO, the lil nerd's got spice!" the first one sneered.  "Let's show him what we think of that."  He pulled one meaty fist back. someone please help me!

A small figure barreled out of nowhere and shoved the bully out of the way. A (very) young voice screeched angrily "YOU LEAVE HIM ALONE!!" A freckled face that couldn't be more than six years old scrunched up with anticipation  of coming pain and righteous anger. The face flickered, as if reality was glitching, being replaced with an older, more tired version of itself. Eyes of thirteen years old glared out, far more subdued and cynical than they had any right to be. Jaw locked, arms up to guard his face. Daring the boys to come closer. Another, stronger flicker, and the small body grew taller, more muscular, green lightning flickering around. Standing as tall as his five foot six body would allow, broadened shoulders yelling a silent get lost, anger contained for fear of injuring the attacking children. One last flicker, a blurry form glitching into being. Six feet tall, eyes glowing powerfully. Blue(?) wings drooping heavily to the ground, a lion's growling half-roar cut off with a choked gasp as the apparition looked at his hands. A final, somehow loud flicker occurred, and the boy dropped to his knees, his form hovering indecisively between the ages of thirteen and eight. Whh-- wuuh....

"What the hell?!?"  The first bully dropped the blond child and backed up, unsure how to react to this new threat.  Beside him, his cohorts threw the backpack on the ground (spilling issues of Wondorous Woman everywhere) and bolted.  The first bully, dismayed at being abandoned, pointed a finger at the blond--"next time, you lil punk.  Freak," he added then quickly followed his friends. The child turned about, studying this new person-apparition with naked curiosity.  One hand reached out--whether to help or just touch, he wasn't sure.  He didn't seem scared but merely waited patiently for the newcomer to decide on a form.

The flickering boy's wide eyes turned to the outstretched hand, his own hand starting to reach out. The eyes focused on the face attached to the hand, suddenly becoming wider and more uncertain. Warped sounds of stressed whimpers carried through the air around him, and he pulled his hand back, wrapping his arms around his head protectively and curling into a ball, hiding from the world around him, until-- Quiet. A child of five years old peeked out from behind his arms and unfolded himself, looking up with soft round eyes at the curious blond sunburst.

A young Toshi gazed at an even younger Izuku I know you and the ten year old continued to hold out a helping hand, this time with a dazzling delighted grin. "HI there!  I'm Toshinori!  But you can call me Toshi if ya want.  That was pretty cool what you did just now.  You look really str--" He paused, remembering a moment ago the little kid had looked like some avenging angel, enveloped in crackling energy.  But his hand didn't waver. "--SUPER strong!  Plus Ultra Strong!  How did you do that?  Is it your Quirk?  Is this your all the time shape or just what you're ok with right now?  Sorry," he added with a sheepish grin, "I ask a lot of questions."

The small Izuku didn't speak, just made a soft noise, big eyes still staring. He took the outstretched hand in both of his, pulling himself up.

Toshi felt a warm glow within, his sheepish grin growing back to that brilliant delighted smile. I'm helping someone! At his feet, the torn Wondorous Woman comic fluttered and he blushed.  "Oh no, hang on a sec--!"

Izuku reached down and picked up one of the issues that had spilled, opening it curiously.

"That's Wondorous Woman!" young Toshi exclaimed.  "She's amazing and powerful and she can fly--i think--and she has this Quirk that makes an energy field that traps bad guys and make them tell the truth and--" He paused amid his fanboy gush and blushed more, twisting one bang nervously.  "Well, -I- think she's cool," he mumbled almost defensively.

A pudgy little finger poked at a picture of Wonderous Woman, then a whole hand brushed over the smooth page. Izuku looked up at Toshi again and nodded, agreeing that she was cool. He wondered if the blond boy had ever heard  of his favorite hero. "...All Might?"

Toshi's brow furrowed, as if almost remembering some lovely dream.  Then he shrugged.  "Never heard of them.  That's an awesome name, though--did you make that up?  All Might," he said, testing the name out and unconsciously posing, fists on hips and chest puffed out.  "If I was a hero, that'd be a great name!  But..." He laughed lightly and messed his own hair up.  "I bet you'd make a great hero with that Quirk of yours!"

Izuku's face dropped, and he seemed to shrink into himself, mouth shut tight.

"You don't like talking about it?  I'm sorry!"  Toshi sat on the ground next to the little boy, then hugged his knees to his chest.  "Is there something you do like?"  The young blond smiled cheerfully.

Izuku's eyes flicked around nervously, still not talking. He mirrored Toshi's pose, sitting down and pulling his knees up. He held out the comic, offering it back if Toshi wanted it.

Toshi grinned again.  "Go ahead, you can keep it--wait!"  He dug into his backpack where a few issues remained.  "Let me get you my favorite one--and it's not torn or dirty.  Here!"  He almost bounced in glee but instead contained himself.  "This one is super important.  This is when Wondorous Woman goes up against her arch nemesis--that's a super awful bad guy," he explained to the little boy.

Izuku leaned closer, interested.

"And he's kidnapped all her friends and hidden them away and he's fighting Wondorous Woman but making her think no one is coming to help." He remembered the first time he read this particular issue.  Hiding under his blanket with a flashlight so as not to bother his roommate at the foster home.  Scared of being caught and made fun of... but even more scared for Wondorous Woman.  Whispering tiny words of encouragement to his favorite hero with each page turn, praying she wouldn't give in or give up. "And just when all hope seemed lost," he said in a dramatic voice.  "Just when it looked like she was going to lose the fight, her friends showed up!"  His eyes shone, whether with love for Wondorous Woman or for her faithful companions coming to her aid or both, it was hard to tell.  "And they beat the arch nemesis and saved the day!" And everyone went home happy. Young Toshi ran a hand over the comic fondly then passed it to the little green haired kid.  "Here!"

The small boy shook his head, pushing it back gently. "Noo... yours!"

"It's a thank you gift!" Toshi insisted.  "Please take it."

"But..." He looked at the comic in his hands, brows wrinkling sadly. "S'your favorite... dun wanna take it away...."

"But it would make me happy sharing with you and maybe you'll like her, too!"

The boy made an uncertain face, cradling the comic to his chest. His face showed a hint of a flicker, and he breathed in sharply, reflexively clutching tighter.

Young Toshi smiled.  "Thank you," he said.

Wide green eyes stared back, as if to ask what comes next? What now?

Toshi gathered the rest of his comics and put them in his backpack... then held that out to the kid as well.  He quickly looked away before he could regret it, instead looking about for the kid's parents. "Do you want to go home now?" where is home?

Izuku took the heavy bag with a grunt of effort, eventually letting it rest on the ground. Okay, I'll carry it for you... it's kinda heavy though. He looked up at the question. "...What?"

"Home?  Where you live?  Your parents?"  He tilted his head at the kid struggling and shouldered the backpack himself, then held out a hand to the little boy.  "Wouldn't they be worried you're out alone?"

Izuku's eyebrows wrinkled more, genuinely confused. "Parents?" He wrinkled his nose, vague memories of green hair and soft noises floating through his memory, but not much taking shape. A...alone? Something cold and frightening started to scrape at his heart.

"They're big people that  love you.  They feed you when you're hungry and play with you when you're bored and take care of you when you're sick and--" Toshi's brow furrowed and he brushed his free hand over his eyes.  Then he smiled sunnily down at the little kid.  "I bet you have parents looking for you right now!"

Izuku shook his head, eyes sinking towards the ground. "No." He was sure without really knowing why.

"No?  That can't be true!  You have a great Qu--" His heart hurt to see the little kid he just met so sad.  He knelt down, squeezing the small fingers twined with his. "--what I mean is, if you want, I can be uh--" a dad?  Not old enough.  Family?  But they just met.  Brother?  Maaaaybe? "--we can stick together till we find someone, ok?  How's that?  Much nicer than being alone."

Izuku looked up wonderingly. Then down at the hand that held his. He stepped a little closer, leaning against Toshi in something like a hug. I like you.

Toshi was wide eyed for a startled moment.  Then the biggest grin yet spread across his face.  And some warm feeling glowed in his chest again, happy that the little kid felt safe around him.  "C'mon," he said.  "Lemme show you my favorite spot by the river and we can read all the comics!"

A small smile sprang to life on Izuku's face, then grew to a big grin. "Okay!!" He wrapped his arms around Toshi's neck, ready to be picked up.

"Oompf!!"  The kid's weight, coupled with his backpack, made Toshi stagger and he wished for a moment that he was stronger.  But the little kid's smile fueled his energy and Toshi proudly carried both kid and comics.

Little Izuku giggled, happily looking about from his new vantage point.

Toshi giggled too then wrinkled his nose as his bangs got caught in his mouth.  He didn't want to put his little friend down.  "Cou' you ge' my 'air?"

"Huh?" Izuku took a second to get it. "Oh, uh-huh." He pulled Toshi's bang out of his mouth and dropped it, wrinkling his nose and grinning. "Eeeeeeww."

Toshi laughed even harder, his heart swelling with joy.  He jogged along the river bank, trying not to jostle the kid.  "Yeah, eating hair isn't smart," he snickered.  "Extra not my hair--it's loooong!"

Izuku took hold of the other bang, looking at it intently as he bounced along. "Shiny. Like it."

Toshi blinked as the bang's end got in his eyes.  "Thanks.  Could you hold it out of the way so I can see, please?"

Izuku held it up above Toshi's head, still gazing at it and rubbing the strands between his fingers, fixated on how gold it was in the sunlight.

The pair trotted merrily along, soon at Toshi's favorite tree.  He knew he was supposed to put the kid down now but somehow, doing so felt like losing a part of himself. weird, huh? "Uhm," he said.

"Mm?" Izuku dropped the bang and started patting Toshi's head, smushing the floof.

Toshi scrunched his face happily.  "Kid!" he said, squatting down and letting small feet touch the ground.  "Thanks, I think?"  He felt his hair, a bit messier than usual but smooshed with love.

Izuku sat down on the ground, looking up at Toshi. His gaze drifted up towards the tree branches, and he laid down on his back, staring up at them and smiling. One hand reached up as if to touch them.

Toshi flopped beside him, grinning. home? And the grin flickered to confusion for a moment.  What? h o m e? He looked to the little kid he just met, the little kid who had saved him, and Toshi felt an overwhelming desire to protect this small person with his small but powerful smiles. He too reached one hand up toward the branches.

[agoldengalaxy]

Clone Force 99

read on Ao3

CT-9904, affectionately nicknamed Crosshair by the old coot 99, sat by himself at the end of the table. The taunting from fellow cadets had been something he dealt with for as long as he could remember, because he wasn’t like them. He looked to be about thirteen in standard years, lanky with long limbs, hair shaved into a buzz cut like the rest of them, but where most of them had dark hair like Jango Fett, he had silver. He’d learned long ago that, because the Kaminoans considered him enhanced and ‘special’, the other cadets wouldn’t like him much. That was fine by him.

or, how the Bad Batch met.

--

Chapter 1: The Leader

“He’s so weird! Why doesn’t he talk? Hey! Didn’t they teach ya how to speak?”

CT-9904, affectionately nicknamed Crosshair by the old coot 99, sat by himself at the end of the table. The taunting from fellow cadets had been something he dealt with for as long as he could remember, because he wasn’t like them. He looked to be about thirteen in standard years, lanky with long limbs, hair shaved into a buzz cut like the rest of them, but where most of them had dark hair like Jango Fett, he had silver. He’d learned long ago that, because the Kaminoans considered him enhanced and ‘special’, the other cadets wouldn’t like him much. That was fine by him.

He didn’t bother looking up from his tray. Normally the longer he ignored it, the faster they’d give up. But one of the cadets slid in, reaching over him to grab a bar from his tray. “It’s kinda sad your only friend is that disfigured old man. But he’s weird, like you,” he continued, taking a bite.

Crosshair lifted his narrowed gaze to the cadet. “99 is a better man than you’ll ever be,” he replied coolly. “Now if you'll excuse me, I’d prefer if you left me alone to eat.”

“Ooh, scary. How do you expect to make any friends when you talk like that?” For some reason, the cadet was feeling bold today. Crosshair clenched his jaw, but then turned it into a slight smirk.

“Are you trying to be friends with someone weird like me?” he asked calmly. Clearly the other boy was just attempting to get a rise out of him, but Crosshair wasn’t prone to emotional outbursts like most of the clones his age. He had a handle on it very early on. It was another reason, he suspected, that he was well-liked by the Kaminoans. “I’m sure 99 could give you a nice name since you don’t have one yet.”

Immediately the cadet faltered, a scowl appearing on his face, and he shoved Crosshair’s shoulder. “Just because you’ve got a name and special treatment doesn’t mean you’re better than us. You’re just a freak.”

And if he were being honest with himself, Crosshair knew that. He knew he was seen as a freak. His sharpshooting skills and enhanced reflexes made him different, and though many probably wouldn’t admit it, when he was in the zone, he was scary. Fast and accurate every time, and he’d only improve with age.

Normally he kept to himself, but today, he didn’t feel much like dealing with this, especially as the other boys watched, snickering. Still just as calmly as he had before, using those fast reflexes, he grabbed his bowl of lukewarm soup and tossed it into the cadet’s face. While he sputtered in shock, green liquid dripping down his chin, the sharpshooter stood, brushing himself off. “What was that about not being better?” he drawled, before stepping out of the bench and heading down the hall, leaving hushed silence behind him.

While he walked, a smirk pulled at the corner of his mouth. He’d wanted to do that for a long time, and he knew 99 and the others would disapprove, but they wouldn’t do anything. He was too important for them to bench him. They’d tell him to play nice, and they’d move on.

But playing nice, he thought, most likely wasn’t in his future. Not when no one else did.

The door to the cadets’ quarters slid open. Considering it was mealtime, he expected it to be completely empty. Cadets in the same age group ate, trained, and slept together; with any luck, his little stunt in the mess hall would keep the others from teasing him for a while.

He headed toward his bunk, rolling his shoulders back, but stopped in his tracks as he noticed someone was standing beside it. The other boy turned around, dark eyes wide. His hair was completely unruly, tied back with a headband. He seemed…different. Crosshair was skeptical. “Who are you?”

“Hello to you, too,” the stranger said, smirking. He stepped forward, extending his hand to him. He didn’t seem to be wary of Crosshair, for whatever reason. “My name’s Hunter. I’m takin’ the bunk above yours. You go by Crosshair, don’t you?”

Crosshair paused, eyeing the boy up and down, before completely ignoring the outstretched hand, walking past to sit down on the edge of his bunk. “What’s it to you?”

Hunter didn’t seem put off. He just chuckled, crossing his arms to lean against the wall. “You’re just as cold as everyone says.” His voice wasn’t teasing; in fact, Crosshair wondered if he could detect some interest as he lay back, folding his hands behind his head. “I’m like you, you know.”

That caught his attention. As expected, this ‘Hunter’ was different. Lowering his gaze from the bunk above his, he met Hunter’s eyes. “Are you, now?”

“I’m defective. Or enhanced. I dunno, they used both words to describe me.” He didn’t seem very bothered by that fact. “My name’s Hunter because I have really good senses. I can feel electromagnetic frequencies.”

“Do you want a medal?” Crosshair asked sarcastically, looking back up at the bunk above. He wasn’t sure how he felt about this. He liked being alone, and he had a feeling now that Hunter wasn’t planning on leaving him to his own devices. By looking at him, he could guess he was probably about a year younger, give or take.

At this point, he would expect Hunter to get angry or defensive here. But he simply smiled a little. “Sure, maybe one day. But I actually just wanted to meet you. Nala Se wants to pair us up in training tomorrow.”

Of course she did. He supposed that made sense, though. The Kaminoans were all about efficiency, and if Hunter really was enhanced like him, they could potentially make a good team. But Crosshair wasn’t exactly used to being a team player. He worked alone, not only because he and the other cadets didn’t see eye to eye, but also because he was a sharpshooter. He climbed to high places and took droids out remotely, on his own.

Slowly, he moved to sit up again, eyeing Hunter closer. Other boys would normally falter under his gaze, but Hunter simply stared back, a slight smirk on his face. Even without enhancement, he could tell Hunter was different. He had a different air about him. Confidence, but not cockiness like some of the others. At first, Crosshair had thought it would be a problem, but he figured there was a big chance he could end up liking that about him. That was somewhat scary. He hadn’t ever ‘liked’ anyone else around his age.

Raising a brow, the taller boy leaned forward. “You know if you are caught talking to me, the other cadets will not take a liking to you.”

That earned him a snort. “I’m already used to that, Crosshair. The group I was with before hated me. I know what it’s like. Not very good in the friends department, like you. I was thinking we could be each other’s first.”

Slowly, Crosshair got to his feet. He towered over the other boy by a good few inches, but Hunter’s chest remained puffed and his expression calm. They stared at each other for a few moments. He wasn’t sure what to make of Hunter at all, and he was displeased to find that his first thought was that he seemed to be a natural born leader. Taking initiative, knowing exactly how to talk to him. Maybe, just maybe, the makings of a friend. “We will see, won’t we?” he said finally, leaning back a little to cross his arms over his chest. “Yes, we will,” the other agreed, a slightly smug smile on his face.

Things were quiet for a moment, and though he never wanted to know anything about the other cadets, something bugged him. “Why is your hair...like that?” he asked, somewhat stiffly. “I thought every clone cadet had to keep their hair short.”

Hunter reached up to touch the dark hair, falling in waves just past his chin. “They’ve tried,” he chuckled, “but for some reason, it grows really fast. Within a few days it’s back to this. The lads in my old training group used to tease me for it. Called me a girl. But if I can be anything like Shaak Ti or any of the other Jedi someday, I’ll take it as a compliment.” Hunter crossed his arms, thoughtful. “You know, I think they’re mean ‘cause they’re jealous. They’re just... regs.”

Before he could stop it, a small grin appeared on Crosshair’s face. “Regs?” he repeated, tilting his head. “Don’t let them hear you say it, they’ll start a fight…”

“Well, then we can team up even earlier.” Hunter seemed pleased with himself, also grinning a little. “But hey, wanna do me a favor?” Bending over, he pulled a knife from his boot, holding out the handle to Crosshair. “Cut my hair?  You can see how fast it grows.”

Crosshair frowned, but he reached to take the knife anyway. “You...trust me to do that?” It was more disbelief than anything.

“‘Course. I can’t really do it myself unless I wanna make a mess, so I’ve been having Nala Se help me out. She’s busy, though, so it’d be nice not to bother her. You don’t have to, just thought I’d ask.”

He glanced down at the knife in his hands, then back up. He wasn’t sure why, exactly, but he nodded, and Hunter turned around. Maybe it was the fact that no one had ever really trusted him before. Or maybe it was because for the first time, he figured that in a world where everyone his age was the same except him, he’d found someone who wasn’t so different from him. Someone who understood.

Gripping hair in hand, he got to work, slicing it. Strands fell in piles beside his feet, but he paid them no mind as he worked. He didn’t cut it much shorter, but he was mostly able to keep it even. Precision was important in his line of work, after all. When he was finished, he stepped back, almost shyly handing the knife back to Hunter.

The boy turned around to take the knife back, smiling, genuinely. Placing the knife back into his boot, he walked by, nudging his shoulder gently. “Thanks, friend .” And with that, he headed up the ladder to his bunk. Crosshair smiled a little, but he ducked his head to avoid it being seen, and walked to his bunk just below.

Maybe he really could have a friend.