#last year he was fucking taken out by other peoples parts on track and so far this year its his own team who claims to work to improve

[cherriegyuu]

whispers of desire | c.sc | part one

pairing: incubus seungcheol x f!reader  genre: smut, angst, fluff - minors do not interact word count: 7.3k summary: when you cut a deal with the demon king, the man who shows up to help is nothing like you imagined warnings: mentions of god, demons and religion, infertility, infidelity, knives, breeding kink, masturbation, creampie, dirty talking ish, begging, multiple orgarms, unprotected sex, piv, forced orgasm. jeonghan (idk, he deserves a warning too)

a/n: and finally after i don't even know how many months, i finished part one. i really want to thank @ssinboo who not only helped me brainstorm this, but who motivated me into picking it up again. @joonsytip and @nothoughtsjustfic who read it over and promised me that it was good. thank you so much to all three of you, this one would have never left my wips if not for you. i truly hope you enjoy this and if you do please leave comment, i would love to know you thoughts about it! it's 17 minutes past midnight, but i'm going to count this as a valentine's day special

You looked once again at the waiting room—the light gray walls, the black furniture, the small splashes of color here and there. It was mostly modern and imponent but dark. You felt out of place in your bright yellow sweater and almost white pants. You looked like an egg, but when you realized what you had done, it was too late. You were already in the Uber, getting the most incredulous look from the driver. 

The watch on your wrist seemed to mock you. You arrived too early for your appointment, too nervous to stay any longer in your apartment, too queasy to go to the nearby cafe and waste some time. 

You had been sitting on that extremely comfortable couch for 10 minutes, the pretty receptionist giving you suspicious looks followed by insincere smiles. You were so close to just getting up and walking out the door.

It had been a stupid idea. A desperate attempt at one last resort to reaching your dream. The one thing you wanted in life since you were sixteen. But it was, indeed, stupid. How was it possible that a man without a last name, who obviously wasn’t a doctor, could help you get pregnant? Even if he happened to have a magic dick, which you doubted, there was still no chance of you getting pregnant. The problem wasn’t on the sperm donor, it was in you. 

For years, you tried getting pregnant. During the first year you and your husband, now ex-husband, tried in the most natural way: fucked every chance you got, at the most random places, tracking your cycles every month. You knew that for some people getting pregnant took a little more time, so at first, you didn’t think much of it. You managed to convince yourself that the reason why you weren’t getting pregnant was because you had just gotten off birth control and sometimes — most times — the hormones messed up a little too much with the body.

After a year, something felt strange, and little red signs started to go off in your head. It wasn’t natural to take that long, at least according to everyone you knew, so you set a meeting with the doctor and did all the tests in the book. When the results came back and showed that you were infertile it was like the world came crashing down.

In life, many of your plans failed and many of your dreams were taken from you, however being a mother was one that you always carried with you. It was a dream that was yours, truly yours and you didn’t need anyone to make it happen for you. Of course, you couldn’t make a baby on your own, but in the end, it was always your choice. If you didn’t have a husband, you could go to a sperm bank and just choose someone.

Along with your dream, your marriage was also one that didn’t last long. After the initial shock of not being able to have a baby slowly started to pass and the fog that clouded your mind started to lift, you started to think of other ways you could become a mother.  Adoption seemed like a natural path. Your husband, however, didn’t agree with the idea, which led to many fights and eventually a divorce.

The idea of adoption didn't leave you, so you sought out ways to adopt on your own. While the adoption process in itself was excruciatingly difficult as a married person, by yourself was nearly impossible. You went to many people and asked for advice on how to proceed, how to present yourself, what to say and do in front of the social workers. All of them said the same thing “the chances of you getting approved for adoption are very low”.

Every day that went by, with each breath you took, you felt as if the dream of being a mother escaped you, like sand slipping through your fingers.

One day, like many others, you were searching for ways to adopt as a single parent when you came across a forum post talking about an unnamed man who could get anyone to do anything, even things that seemed impossible. You had snorted at the post and almost closed the tap when the word pregnancy seemed to flash in front of your eyes, like a moth drawn to a flame. After you saw it, there was no way you could have closed the tab and moved on to something different. 

You read post after post, comment, after comment, about all of these women who had gotten pregnant after losing all hope. All of them mentioned the same name, Jeonghan. There was no last name. On the very last post was a phone number.

There wasn't enough time to question yourself or your actions, the next thing you knew you had the phone pressed to your ear, setting up a meeting for later that day.

The fact that you were able to set an appointment on such short notice should have made alarms ring in your head. But the alarms only went off while you sat in the waiting room. 

You suddenly stood up and walked to the pretty secretary who was hiding behind the computer.

“Sorry, hi” you waited until she looked at you, and the same polite smile greeted you “Something came up, I need to leave… I'm really sorry”

As the words left your lips the door on the other side of the waiting room opened. A man with a kind smile and hair long enough to cover his forehead greeted you. Despite his smile being inviting, his eyes told an entirely different story. 

“Please, come in”

The little alarms inside your mind suddenly turned silent and the need to flee turned into the desire to follow him inside that office. 

You turned to look at the receptionist, who in return offered you an encouraging nod and smile.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, I had some files that needed attention”

The man, who you could assume was Jeonghan, pulled a chair for you to sit on. He only let go of the chair once you were seated.

“It's okay”

His office was very similar in style to the waiting room, except for the leather chair and the industrial-looking desk. There was no computer, no bookshelf, no degree attached to the wall, just some creepy paintings that looked maybe a little too dark and tenebrous to an office. His desk was also empty of any files, phones, and pens. It was hard to believe that he was going over some files when there was nothing to look at.

“How can I help you today?”

For a second his eyes turned dark, entirely black, before going back to the dark brown color. Eyes of a snake, the words flashed in front of you. Your hold on the straps of your purse tightened until your knuckles turned to white.

It was a mistake going there.

It took an enormous amount of strength to push your body into a standing position.

“I'm sorry, I can't stay” you managed to force the words out, doing your best to smile and sound apologetic “Something came up”

Jeonghan leaned forward, his chin resting on his hand.

“Now, we know that's a lie” there was humor in his voice “You came here for a baby, so do us both a favor and sit down”

It was like your will to leave the room was suppressed by a hand pushing you down back on the chair. That same hand seemed to be holding you in place.

“See? That wasn't so hard”

The back of your neck started to grow cold, your hands sweaty. Your heartbeat with the force of a horse. His eyes turned into snake eyes once again. You felt your entire body grow cold. This time he flashed his eyes for a little more than a second.

“If you promise to be good, I'll stop holding you down” he raised his eyebrows at you, his tone almost bored now “Okay?”

It was a strange sight, a man who was around your age — or at least you thought so –, with soft features to have such eyes. Strange didn't even start to describe it, terrifying was a more precise word, and yet, you weren't scared. 

Perhaps you were at first, after all your initial reaction had been to escape, but while sitting there looking at him you were just curious.

“If you can stop with the eyes,” you used your index and middle finger to point at your own eyes “sure, we'll talk”

Jeonghan pouted but complied. In a millisecond the snake eyes were gone at the same time the pressure on your shoulders subsided. 

“You don't know how to have fun, do you?”

You didn’t bother to answer, you knew that no matter what you said those words wouldn’t make any difference to him and you were sure that your definition of fun was entirely different from his.

“So, a child. That's what you want, your deepest desire?” Jeonghan raised a hand to stop you from talking as if he changed his mind “Of course it is, you don’t have to say it”

It was the way he said it that made a shiver run through your spine. You shouldn’t have gone there. You should have asked someone else to go with you, though who could have been that person was unknown to you.

“Did you bait me into coming here?”

“Well, yeah” he laughed “I'm sure you saved that forum but if you go back there won't be much to see. Let's be realistic here and say that what you want, can be done”

You rolled your eyes and sighed. It wasn't a reaction to what he had said, it was to what you had believed. 

“You were so pathetically desperate that it was so easy getting to you” Jeonghan taunted you “Just one word, one post on a random website was enough to get you here and so fast too! Was it a couple of hours ago?”

Biting your bottom lip was the only possible way to keep your mouth shut, to keep the very much not polite fuck you in the silence of your mind. You tried to get up again, not really willing to sit there and be mocked, but as soon as you made the slightest movement you felt that hand again on your shoulder holding you down, this time much more forceful than the previous one.

“You said that we were going to talk, so, let’s talk”

“I want to go,” you said between your teeth “now”

Jeonghan tilted his head to the side, his snake eyes making an appearance again.

“Silly girl, you should have listed to your grandma when she warned you about what your wishes could bring” a sickening smile made its way to his face, paired with his eyes made your stomach drop all the way down to your toes “Now you can only leave when I saw so”

A sudden memory crossed your mind, one from your childhood. Of you sitting in your grandma’s lap when you couldn’t be older than seven. She said don’t wish for impossible things, you never know who or what could be listening. Your grandma was catholic, always with her rosary in her hand, or wrapper around her wrist or on her neck.

It became painfully obvious who Jeonghan was. From the snake eyes, the smile, how graceful he looked.

“Shit” the curse was almost silent.

He smiled once again, his eyes back to normal. It was all the confirmation you needed from him.

Nights had become a lonely part of the day, not that they were eventful before the divorce but at least you weren't always by yourself. 

Somehow you had allowed yourself to become one of those people who are only friends with their husband's friends so when the divorce happened it was obvious that most Of them — in this case, all of them — stayed with your ex-husband. You also hadn't really helped the situation when you closed yourself off. It had become too much, finding out that you were infertile, a possible affair from your husband, and the inevitable divorce. It was only natural for you to isolate yourself.

It seemed though that not many people seemed to understand it. Your so-called friends, who you cried with when the results came back, seemed to think that crying over was ridiculous, that one week was more than enough to move on from the entire thing, it's not like you don't have a life outside of this dream. 

And while all of that was true, it was much easier saying it than doing it. You felt as if you were spiraling down with nothing to hold onto, without anyone by your side. 

So, nights by yourself, with a bottle of wine and some takeout had become your new normal.

You were in the kitchen when you heard a faint knock on the door. Since visitors were few and you weren't expecting anyone, you assumed that it was on your neighbor. Someone probably knocking with a little more strength than necessary. It wasn't unusual. Your neighbor had loud and often drunk friends you had gotten used to their shenanigans during the three years you lived there.

All you did was keep doing the dishes, swaying your body from side to side with the music you had been playing in the background as you tried your best to forget that entire week and how you had willingly walked into a pile of shit but had no idea of how to get out of it.

The sound of the door opening made you close the faucet. A look at the clock above the door told you that there was no way for your neighbors to be back yet, not when you had heard them leave less than an hour before. You didn’t know why you thought that it could have been them. There was no doubt that the opened door was in your apartment.

You took a knife from the holder, wrapping your hand tightly around the handle. Your hand was still wet from doing the dishes so you held onto the knife as strongly as you could, until your knuckles turned white.

The one good thing about old apartments is that there were certain places that cracked and you knew exactly where those were, so you also knew how to avoid them. Whoever was in your apartment didn’t.

A small part of your brain hoped that it was your ex-husband. If it was, the worst thing that would happen was for you to look like an idiot in front of him, for the millionth time since you met him. Looking stupid was much much better than having to deal with an intruder or a murderer.

You took one last breath before pushing your bedroom door fully open.

“Don’t you dare throw that knife at me”

A man in a purple suit stood in the center of your room. His hair was bright red, pushed back. He looked like he had come out of one of those comic books your brother read as a child. He had your wedding album in his hand. He went through the pages, a pout in his lips and he scanned all the pictures, assessing what he was seeing.

“It’s not polite to hold a knife at your guest,” he said matter of factly.

“Who the fuck are you?” your grip on the handle tightened as if such a thing was even possible to begin with.

He turned the photo album to you, showing you a picture of yourself alone, smiling after throwing the bouquet at your wedding. It was a spontaneous picture, a true smile. That woman in the picture was an entirely different person. Looking at her it was hard to believe that you had been her at some point in time.

“You looked happier here” he pointed out, turning the album back to himself, still pouting “I don’t think she’d hold a knife at a guest”

“Who are you?” you demanded again, your voice louder, desperate.

The man rolled his eyes at you, finally closing the book and throwing it on your bed.

“Think about it, we both know you’re smart” he lightly raised his eyebrows at you “A little over a week ago you had a weird… dream? That’s what you made yourself think, wasn’t it?”

For a moment it was hard to pull air inside your lungs.

You thought that you had gone crazy. You clearly remembered getting out of the apartment, of going downtown in an Uber, of the waiting room, of talking to Jeonghan. But you didn’t remember walking out of the building or how you got home. You just… somehow found yourself back in your bed, in your pajamas in the middle of the night. The clock marked 3:33 AM.

“That was Jeonghan’s fault so I won’t hold it over your head too much. He likes to play tricks like that”

He sat on your bed, arms stretched back, thighs parted. A cocky smile on his lips and you could swear that your legs melted a little when you noticed that he had nothing under the suit jacket.

“Who are you?” you asked again, this time your voice wasn’t as loud or as demanding.

The man raised his eyebrows again and you could swear that it did something to you, tickling a place you didn’t know it needed to be tickled. He moved his chin lightly as if pointing to the knife. You sighed and put the knife down, holding it closer to your body. But that wasn't enough for the man, he pointed at the dresser. You rolled your eyes but did as asked. You didn't dare to get closer to him though. You simply crossed your arms over your chest and leaned against it. 

"I'm Seungcheol," the man said, only when he was sure that there was no chance of you stabbing him "Choi Seungcheol"

"I didn't know demons had last names"

His pout was still in place, as he seemed to be thinking of what to say next.

"We're civil enough, though me coming in without your permission might not be the best proof of character" he was quick to add when you opened your mouth to object. 

It didn't matter how much you tried, nothing came to mind when you thought about your conversation with Jeonghan. All of it was a big blank. You remembered getting there, him scaring you, the realization of who he was but nothing after that.

“The word you’re looking for is demon king,” he said. 

His eyes seemed to assess you, each and every movement you made. Seungcheol’s eyes never left you, not even for a second. When you moved to the chair on the opposite side of the room he followed you, adjusting his own body he would be seated directly in front of you. 

If your memory served you right, which at that point you had no idea, Jeonghan seemed to know what you were thinking. You were inclined to think that he couldn’t actually read your thoughts because according to Seungcheol, again if you could take his words for anything, demons too were civil and would just be way too invasive, but he was awfully good at knowing exactly what you were thinking. But then again, Jeonghan seemed to know way too much in the first meeting. Were the files he was looking at something like your life’s history? Where you were born, about your parents, your first boyfriend, your college crush, your husband, and everything that happened after?

You did your best not to focus too much on the demon king thing. If you did, your mind would take you somewhere else entirely and you weren’t sure if you could go there at that moment. Actually, you were sure you shouldn’t, especially because if you did the man in front of you, or a demon, would probably laugh. And being laughed at wasn’t something you were ready for at the moment.

“Okay,” you said slowly, exhaling all the air in your lungs all at once “Jeonghan is the demon king”

Seungcheol nodded, a small smile on his lips as he was proud of a child who had just given a correct answer. 

“That makes you…?”

“An incubus”

You closed your eyes for a second, folding your legs in front of you. Incubus… the demon who would sleep with women in their sleep and get them pregnant, and these women birthed demon-like children. 

Fantastic.

“So, magic dick,” you said, half not believing what you were saying, on how easily it seemed for you to understand it all “Great” 

That seemed to pull out an honest laugh out of Seungcheol, to the point a dimple made its way into his cheek. You couldn't help but smile along with him. 

“Something along those lines, yes”

He stood up, his eyes no longer filled with laughter and amusement. They had turned darker, hungry even. At that very second you felt like a prey under his eyes. You bit your bottom lip and he got closer to you, his eyes focused on your lips as he moved deliberately slowly to get to you. It seemed that your room was much, much, bigger than it actually was, almost like there was an entire runaway between him and you. 

You stood up as well, though that was probably a bad idea, considering how wobbly your legs felt. 

Seungcheol smiled, not in the cute and almost condescending way of before, but in a way that was much darker and held so many promises at the same time. He took your hand, pulled you towards the center of the room, walking backward.

“So, this is it? No flirting, no nice words, no dinner. Just straight-up sex” 

You hoped that your tone was light, teasing. Though there was nothing light about the way you were feeling. The few inches of your skin that were under his touch felt like were on fire. 

It had been a long time since you were with anyone, your husband was the last one a year and a half before. That wasn't to say that you hadn't found any sort of pleasure, but it had always been by yourself.

You couldn't help but wonder if part of the heat on your skin came from the lack of contact or if it was because of him. Something told you that it was a mix of both. 

“Well, you had dinner before I even got here and I thought you holding a knife was flirting”

Seungcheol circled you. The hand that held Yours suddenly pressed on your stomach, holding you against his firm chest. He pressed his nose to the crook of your neck. Giving him more access to your skin felt almost natural.

You felt his lips on the back of your neck. It started as a chaste kiss, followed by the burn of his teeth sinking into your skin and then soothed by his tongue flat over the space he had just bitten. 

“Are you a vampire?” you hoped your voice sounded steady but even to your ears it was breathy, close to a moan. The thing… the man… had barely touched you and you were ready to just melt under him. 

Seungcheol’s chest vibrated against your back and he leaned into your neck once again, now biting the other side. 

“Never met one of those, but if you want, I can become one for the night”

It suddenly crossed your mind “would he do anything I ask?” but you didn’t have it in you to ask. More than that, you didn’t know what to ask. You wanted too much but at the same time, you weren't sure where to begin. 

Slowly, Seungcheol ran his hand down your body. You felt your core tighten at the proximity, wetness slowly damping your panties. You were in a haze, one you didn’t want to come out of. 

“Tell me what you want. Whatever you want, however, you want it. It’s all yours”

It was like he had somehow heard your thoughts. Was that also part of his abilities? Magic dick and mind reading? Seemed like good powers to have. 

He nuzzled your neck again, this time placing kisses all over your skin as he slid down the strap of your shirt and continued his discovery of your skin. But your shoulder was not the place you wanted to feel him the most, it was not the spot that was craving for attention. 

Seungcheol ran his nose over your shoulder, the curve of your neck, up to your ear. 

“Ah, not so sweet and innocent after all” the hot breath over your skin made your entire body flame up. 

Finally, he lowered his hand, going under the elastic band of your shorts. He roughly rubbed his palm over your covered clit as his other hand went up to your breast, tugging at the hard nipple.

“You’re this wet and we barely even started?” he nibbled on your ear “You were all brave with that knife but all you can think about now is my magic dick filling you over and over and over again. Right, sweetheart?”

He pushed your panties to the side, his finger finally rubbing over your sensitive clit. A whimper left your lips as he was exactly where you needed, but it was far from enough. 

“Oh, I’m going to have so much fun with you”

He circulated your slit with two fingers. Once, twice, three times. 

“Please” you whispered. 

You felt his smile at the same time he pushed his fingers into you, your arousal more than enough to suck him in. You sucked in a moan as he picked up speed with his fingers, then another when his palm pressed over your clit adding another layer of pleasure. 

“Make that pretty noise for me again, sweetheart,” he asked, his voice low, though commanding “Let me hear you”

You tried your best to stay quiet, to not make any sound, and let the only sound in the room be the almost obnoxious noise of his fingers slipping in and out of you. But when Seungcheol found that one spot, that tiny piece of skin that made your mind almost go blank it was impossible to be silent. 

The sound coming out of you was pathetic, each new moan getting louder as you felt your abdomen cramp. The louder you got, the faster he moved his fingers. He didn’t stop pumping his fingers, didn’t stop pressing his palm on your clit, until the tide finally broke loose. 

You tried to shut your legs, suddenly the stimulation was too much at once, but Seungcheol was willing to let that happen. He kicked your feet apart, using his own knees to keep yours proudly open. 

Your orgasm hit you harder than ever before, your body convulsing in his grip, shaking as each new wave of pleasure hit you, somehow stronger than before. Seungcheol held you together until your body calmed down. A moan that could have been easily mistaken for a sob, came out of your lips, a light tremor in your legs, though you were certain that it was no longer visible. 

Seungcheol slowly guided your body towards the bed, both of his hands on your hips, steadying you. He sat you down on the bed and took a couple of steps back. He didn’t say anything as he opened the button on his suit and pulled it off his shoulder, tossing it aside on the chair to his left. 

He was teasing you, that much was obvious. Under normal circumstances you’d have looked away but as he unbuttoned his pants you couldn’t force yourself to look away. Your mind was in a trance by him, he had your undivided attention and he loved it. 

His movements were deliberately slow, a cocky grin making its way to his face as he noticed your eyes following the movements of his hands. 

The only piece of clothing covering Seungcheol was his underwear, though it did very little to disguise his erection. Your mouth watered at the sight, a nagging feeling on the back of your mind telling you to get down on your knees in front of him and take all of him into your mouth - or at least as much as it could fit anyway. 

Seungcheol laughed as he finally pushed the last piece of cotton off. You bit your lip to stop yourself from moaning at the sight of him on full display. Every inch of his devilish body, in full glory, was mesmerizing. You felt you pussy clench around nothing as Seungcheol started to pump his dick. 

“We’ll have enough time to play later tonight,” he moved closer to you, standing in between your legs, his cock was close to you face that you simply inch forward and have him like you wanted, he had different ideas though “but right now I want to know what it feels like to be buried deep inside that sweet, sweet, pussy”

You reached down to the hem of your shirt, pulling it over your head. It was only when you reached for the elastic band of your shorts that you felt the embarrassment creeping up every inch of your body. 

“Come on, sweetheart, don’t hide yourself from me”

He lightly pushed you onto the bed, his knee pressing against your center and he scooped you up on the bed. He grabbed you by the hips and flipped you so that your face was pressed into the mattress. 

He pushed your shorts down, though not boring to take them off all the way down. Seungcheol straddled your legs and he teased your pussy with the tip of his cock. Running it over the slick entrance but never fully pushing it inside. 

You tried to change the position in a way to force him to just sink in but he was having none of that. He gripped your head by your hair, pulling it back until your ass up in the air, your back arched in a way that should be painful but somehow all it did was heighten your pleasure. 

“Beg” he whispered against your ear, his voice deliciously low.

“What?” you breathed out as he continued to tease you, your body moving along with his, a new whimper escaping every time he almost pushed inside. 

“I’m not going to make it that easy for you” he laughed “You wanna be fucked? I’ll fuck in ways you can’t even imagine. But you’re going to have to beg”

In any other situation, in any other moment of your life, you’d have felt embarrassed by his demand, to some extent would even have felt angry towards it. But right in that second, with the promise of what was to come, saying a few words sounded like a fair price to pray. 

“Please, please, Seungcheol” you begged, voice dripping with need and honey as you moved your hips wanting nothing more than to just be filled “just fuck me, fill me up. All of me is yours…” for the night.

He didn’t let you finish, pushing his cock into your throbbing pussy. There was no time to adjust. Seungcheol drove his dick into you again and again, each thrust harder than the previous one. He pulled your arms back, holding them against his chest with his own. 

Each sound that left your mouth was increasingly louder but you didn’t care in the slightest. Seungcheol’s grunts behind you, the slapping of his skin against yours every time he drove into you was intoxicating.

“Oh my god” you chanted over and over again

“No, no, not god” he laughed, biting the soft skin of your shoulder “He can't help you now”

He snaked a hand around your waist directly to your clit, massaging it in slow circles, in high contrast to his dick. The pressure was just perfect, his pace never faulting. 

An orgasm hit you yet again, without notice, this time not as hard as the first one, but still enough to have you shaking to the core. Seungcheol held you even tighter, his pace relentless as he searched for his own high. 

You felt his warm cum splurged into you, too much of it. 

Your body felt limp on the bed, all energy drained out of you, not a single drop left. You turned, looking at the ceiling, trying to steady your breathing, waiting for the tremors to pass when you felt Seungcheol his hand over your thigh. 

He pushed your shorts and panties all the way down, tossing them on the floor with a mute sound. He spread your legs and smiled proudly, seemingly happy with his work. It only lasted a second though, as a frown took over his features. 

“You’re wasting it, sweetheart” he tsked “We can’t have that, now can we?”

You felt his hand on your sensitive cunt and tried to flinch away but he didn't bulge. His finger grazed over your clit before he pushed them into you. You held his wrist, trying to push his hand away. 

“No, it’s too much” you shook your head, pleading “Please, I can’t, please”

He laughed at your words, pinning the hand that held his wrist over your head. Seungcheol kissed your breast, taking the nipple into his mouth, sucking hard, and blowing on it a second later, all while he pumped his fingers in your pussy, pushing back inside all the cum that had dripped out. 

“You can” you bit your lower lip and tugged at it “and, most importantly, we both know you want it”

You could only shake your head as the pleasure became too much, almost unbearable. Almost. You felt yet another orgasm build up again, like your entire body was throbbing, closing itself tightly before it finally broke free.

Seungcheol swallowed your scream, kissing your lips, neck, and shoulders as your body spasmed. Your quiet whimpers were the only sound in the room. He only pulled his fingers out of you when you calmed down completely.

“That’s it” he kissed your cheek, letting go of your hands and using them to hold his head so he could look down at you “See, I told you you could it”

Out of the possible outcomes of the previous night waking up to a mop of red hair on the other side of the bed wasn’t one of them. You were certain that when you woke up you’d realize that the night had been a dream — the most real one you had ever had in your life but that was beside the point. 

Just for good measure, you pressed your index finger to the shoulder of the man. Warm and soft skin was under your finger.

Okay, not a dream then.

You turned on your back, facing the ceiling of your bedroom. The night played vividly in your mind. The way Seungcheol pressed the first kiss to the back of your neck and how that alone was enough to make you go crazy under his touch. Not only that, how you were so willing to completely let yourself go to him, how every time he whispered in your ear, chills ran down your entire body and you could feel him everywhere.

You couldn’t help but wonder if all of your emotions had been heightened because he was…. him. A demon. Or if you were just so touch-starved that the smallest caress was enough to drive you over the edge.

Most of all, you couldn’t look past all how you had been so incredibly reckless. A random man who looked like he had gotten out of some comic book suddenly showed up in your room — mind you without using the door — and you somehow, for whatever reason, thought that it was a good idea to have sex with him. And then, as if all of that wasn’t enough, you still fell asleep by his side like it was the most normal thing in the world like he was someone you could trust entirely.

You covered your eyes with your arm, a groan leaving your lips.

There was still the whole “deal with the demon king” part that you were yet to think about.

It seemed unfair that you couldn’t remember what you agreed on. You should have the chance to prepare for whatever was to come, didn’t you? The demon king, or Jeonghan, you weren’t sure how you should address him, was well… unfair.

“Are you usually this loud so early in the morning?”

Your entire body jumped on the bed and a scream died in your throat. For a couple of minutes, you had been so lost in your mind that you forgot that Seungcheol was by your side at all.

His voice in the early morning, just after waking up, was almost made out of honey, velvety, tingling in your ears. By your side, Seungcheol had turned to you, his eyes barely open, his full lips pulled almost in a pout, a few strands of hair covering his face. You had to grip the sheets closer to your body just so you could suppress the desire to move them aside.

Your eyes moved slightly down, to his half-exposed chest. Another flash of the night before crossed your mind, of him over you, the way the chain around his neck hung just over your nose, how you used it to pull him to you again.

“You look cute when you blush,” he said with a lazy smile on his lips. You felt your cheeks warm but didn’t think it was enough to cause any visible change. 

Seungcheol folded his arm, holding his head up. The sleepy smile he gave you was the most delicious thing you had ever seen, it was enough to take your breath away all over again. You were happy that you were still in bed, otherwise there was a chance that your legs might have given in under you.

“I didn’t think you’d stay” was all you said as you swung your feet out of the bed, looking for the pajamas that were lost somewhere on the floor.

It was on the other side of the room, how it had ended up there was beyond you. You gripped the sheet closer around your body but you were only able to move one step away from the bed before you felt it being pulled back.

“You know, I already saw everything there’s under those sheets” you didn’t turn to him but you could hear the smile in his voice “In fact, I did a lot more than just look at it”

You took a deep breath and closed your eyes. You were certain that if you forced the sheets out of his grip, Seungcheol would have let go of it but if he did such a thing then he would be the one exposed, and while you were sure that he had no problem with the idea, everything you screamed that if you saw him naked again there was no way that you would just have a redo of the night before.

Letting go of the sheets, you walked to the other side of the room, opening the dresser drawer and pulling out a clean pair of panties and bra.

“I’m going to shower and by the time I finish it I want you gone”

Seungcheol’s laughter still echoed through the apartment when you closed the bathroom door.

You had managed to keep yourself busy enough during the weekend that you had almost forgotten about Friday night. The keyword being almost. Usually, you would have come up with an excuse to not help your sister during the weekend. She was a wedding planner, a very good one at that — she had been the one to plan your wedding — and highly sought out so it was easier to find her working than being at home.

The reason why you always declined was that weddings, while they could be wildly different from one another, there were things that were the same, didn’t who was at the isle. Two people were promising each other eternal love.

When you saw those people, standing in front of each other, eyes filled with love and hope, you couldn’t help but think about Joshua. How you had once been in that exact spot, saying similar words, how you had been happy with him for so many years until all of it came crashing down on you. The only thing that love left behind were scars that were still all too fresh but hidden enough that no one would ever see them.

Still, working during the weekend with your sister was better than staying at home and thinking about all the stupid decisions you made and how much you’d love to make at least one of them once again. She was also kind enough to let you work on the setup and then later back in the kitchen. Maybe she had some sort of sixth sense that said that you need to get out of your mind. Her call was at the right moment.

Even so, there were moments when you were on your own, in the darkness of your bedroom, when Seungcheol’s perfume somehow still lingered in the air. There was no escape then. It was like a replay of that night played in your head again and again, and everytime it it did there was a new detail that you had somehow forgotten.

It was both a blessing and a curse.

You ran your hand over your face and hair, urging your mind to just stop and let yourself fall asleep. You had a meeting early in the morning and you needed your sleep, just so you could function like a semi-normal human being.

You were in the kitchen when you heard a sound in your bedroom. Your heart skipped a beat, hoping that maybe… just maybe… You shook your head in an attempt to come back to reality. The chance of seeing Seungcheol once again was below zero. You heard the sound again and this time your heart wasn’t the only thing doing a weird flip inside your chest, you also felt chills run down your skin.

The third time the sound came you felt as if you were under a cold shower when it was followed by the sound of laughter in the hallway that belonged to your neighbor. 

It was hard swallowing the expectation that had somehow found its way into you. You weren’t even sure why you were expecting something in the first place. After that night it was clear that there wasn’t going to be a second one. Not that there was any conversation on the matter, it just seemed like the most natural option. 

If things had gone according to plan, and if your mind was worthy of any trust, apparently it did, there was no real reason why you should ever see Seungcheol again. And yet, there you were wishing that he’d just show up again, and for what? 

You set the glass of water down, wishing you could have something strong – God knew that if you wanted to sleep you’d need some help – but not wanting to risk anything. Shutting down the lights in the kitchen and living room.

Before you even opened the door to your room you felt this shift in the air. You pushed it open, hard enough that it smashed against the wall. 

“You must really love your kitchen, the second time I show up here and the second time you're in the kitchen”

You closed your eyes for a second, basking in the sound of his voice, how it made chills erupt in your skin. 

“Second time you don’t use the door”

“I’ll be sure to remember that”

Seungcheol smiled, hands in his pocket. 

“You better”

Before you gave yourself a chance to think about it, you crossed the room in two strides and pulled him to you. Seungcheol smiled against your lips before he finally kissed you. 

if you enjoyed reading, please reblog and leave a comment, it really does mean the world to me and i would love to know your thoughts. thank you! 💕

you can read my other fics here ➝ masterlist

[boredpotate]

Happier Chapter 3

Disclaimer: I do not own Arcane or any music, just this concept idea.

Concept: Isekai Fem Reader turns back time to fix her timeline, but has unforeseen consequences.

??? Pov

Running. It's all I have on my mind right now. Get away. Get far away from that thing. I can still hear the few people left standing fighting. Shots being fired, screams of pain and a brawl happening. Damn it. This was supposed to be a secure place. The boss said so himself.

I hear as the fighting ends in the distance behind me, but I keep running anyway. Not chancing it. Not with this person. I need to report to Simon and le-

*BANG*

"AAAGH!!!"

An immense and sudden pain shoots through my leg, causing me to fall over onto the ground.

"FUCK! fuck! shit! fuck!" I yell out swears to the skies as I grab my leg onto my leg. I don't have time cope with the fact that I just got shot in the fucking leg, because I know they're coming. I see their silhouette through the smog. One arm raised in my direction and the barrel of a handgun I can't make out facing towards me, and a shovel being held in the other dripping with what is most likely blood. I push through the pain and force myself up to limp myself to an alleyway as they shoot in my direction and use the wall as a support. They're messing with me.

'Why me!? We aren't even in their territory! We made sure of it!,' I continue on and take many turns to try to loose them and holding onto my leg wound to lessen the blood dripping, 'I just need to get to the light. They never come out of this hole.'

I start becoming more aware of the pain as I continue moving, but ignore it to keep my pace steady. Some hope rises as I look back to see nothing, but just as I turn back around I am met with a boot to my chest. I feel the wind get knocked out of me as I hit the ground, my vision dazed from the back of my head being hit as well.

I look up already knowing who it is standing in front of me, but I never thought I'd be one of their victims. Boots, ragged pants, shovel hanging from their hip on one side with a holster on the other side, some dirty jacket with some kind of body armor underneath and an enforcer gas mask with a one of the old miner helmets. Always covering their face. Always a bad omen for any gang that's hunkering down here.

"Please! I do- AAGH!" I yell in pain as they stomp on my wound. I then feel myself be yanked up by my collar before getting slammed into the wall.

"Talk."

"Listen I don't know anything you want! I was only put in charge of that warehouse!"

"Bullshit, that's what the last guy said before he confessed about you. He said you report to your boss and I want to know where he is."

'Of course she does. Another gang leader being tracked down by this crazy bit-.' my thoughts are interrupted by being pistol whipped across my nose.

"Fuck! Please, I really don't know! I only report to a guy named Simon, but he's not the boss! You saw the place I was in; it was hardly secure at all!", I plead to them, hoping for some mercy. They stare at me for a second before letting out a breath of frustration.

I am yanked forward and thrown onto the ground. I flip over and find myself looking up at them as they stand over me; my eyes staring down the barrel.

"NO! PLEASE, I TOLD YOU ALL I KNOW!"

"You want to beg? After all the lives you've taken and ruined ever since you moved into this area? Be happy I don't make it slower."

"WA-"

Then there was nothings.

Reader Pov

'Another fucking dead end.' I think to myself in frustration as I holster my revolver.

I take a minute to finally catch a breather before checking for anything useful on this guy and the others at the warehouse. Once I'm done I decide to go track down this Simon guy next. It's been nothing but this constant cycle for the past eight years.

"At least everything is going good up above. From what I hear at least." I say to myself, trying to look on the bright side of things. Ironic considering how I'm in what is now the shittiest part of the Undercity. It's been awhile since I've left this area, and since I've seen them.

Last time I left, it was to go witness that historic speech on the bridge. They did it. Vander and Silco finally accomplished their dream, and now Zaun has become a better place. So much light and the whole mood of the town is different too. Much more happy. Just like what I dreamt about, but I don't go over there. I can't.

There's enforcers that will most likely think I'm up to something, it's too bright to hide, not crowded enough to blend in anywhere and honestly I just don't really fit in with this new Zaun anymore. Not their fault, it's me that's the problem. Everyone dresses so nice, clean and casual along with how nice the community has become. Then there's me. I look like I crawled out of a dumpster or came back from an apocalypse..... honestly the latter isn't too inaccurate considering what almost happened originally. Probably also the reason why people usually leave me alone and gives me looks sometimes. I look weird compared to everyone else.

Though even with everything I still do my part. Just because most of Zaun has become better doesn't mean there isn't any who didn't like the idea of Piltover and Zaun making peace. Mostly gangs. Since enforcers were able to do their jobs easier the gangs have been pushed down here with me. I've been taking out as many as I could, and nipping the bud of one's that start growing. Especially the one's I knew were aiming for Vander and SIlco. No mercy. Like that one group who tried to recruit me to, I quote "Rebel and takeover Piltover for the true Zuauites." what a bunch of weirdos. Though this most recent one I've been working on is giving me trouble.

They were the only smart one's to stay under the radar when I first started the purge of gangs down here and only recently have been making bigger moves. They aren't too big yet, but if I don't dismantle them they could cause trouble. Turns out that would be harder than I expected. Every time I get pointed to one person, that person points me to someone else and the cycle continues. I'm no detective either, so I'm getting nowhere with the way things are going.

'It's fine. Something will come up eventually,' I try to reassure myself on my way home. It helps a little. Still tired. Kinda hungry too, 'I need to find a way to money.'

Making money the old way wasn't as easy anymore. Not many people that need "jobs" done, and not a lot of people who need to hire a merc for anything anymore. Most of the mercenaries either used their money to leave or joined up with the enforcers for some good and reliable pay with benefits. Can't blame them. Either my line of business is almost dead, or I'm one of the last one's still keeping it alive. Zaun doesn't need mercs like me anymore. That's good.

*stomach grumbles*

*sigh* "I really gotta make more money. Maybe I can pick up some small jobs here and there. Deliver mail to people or something." I reach into my jacket and pull out my journal. I don't write anything in it, but I do draw.

I turn to my most recent sketch and touch up on some details, another one of Jinx. I can't help, but remember. Sometimes I dream of all that happened. I try to put it behind me, but it's hard. They're scarred into my mind, but they remind me why I do this.

"Always stubborn about your hair. Even when I warned you how it can cause trouble in a fight, you insisted." I say to myself as I draw her braided hair. Took forever to braid them, but she loved. Honestly she made them look good.

I smile. Taking a moment to forget about the world and get lost in something else.

'Hopefully this, Simon, has better info.'

3rd Person

Meanwhile above ground across the bridge. A certain investigation in being looked into. With an ongoing interrogation happening.

"Do you really think we're that stupid?" Vi asks the woman sitting across the room from her and her partner. Both in crime and..... other things.

"Yeah."

Vi shoots forward and ready to lunge, but is quickly stopped by Caitlyn who leans into her ear.

"Calm down, Vi. She wants you to get upset." she says while holding onto one of Vi's shoulders to comfort her. Though she does understand her frustration.

Ever since they've been looking into a recently bold gang, they've hardly gotten anywhere. She takes a moment to make sure Vi has calmed down before turning back to the woman in questioning.

"I understand that you have no reason to help us, bu-."

"No shit. I get thrown behind bars and then pulled out for questioning about a gang, I'm not even a part of."

"But. We really need something here. If you cooperate we could negotiate with reducing your sentencing. Your records show you have been improving and haven't caused trouble, but we can only do that if you work with us." Caitlyn explains, trying to negotiate some kind of deal for some information.

The woman slightly relaxes before shaking her head with a sigh.

"Listen girl, I told you before. I really don't know anything about this gang. All I know is what I told you. They used to be small and kept to themselves and they've grown."

Caitlyn scowls, not at the woman, but down at the table in front of her. Another dead end.

"But.... you could try asking the hound." the woman suggests, which catches Caitlyn's attention, but Vi scoffs.

"We already asked my dad. He's not really involved with that stuff anymore, and his contacts have been out of that kind of business for awhile."

"Not Vander. The new one down in the deep end of the Undercity." this catches Vi's interest now.

"A new hound? Let me guess, another wannabe big shot?"

"No. This one's the real deal. Has been making a name for themselves for a few years now. Ever since most of the gangs got pushed back down deep into the Undercity; ever wondered what happened to all those old gangs eight years ago? Bloodhound took them out one by one." the woman explains, her tone lined with admiration and respect. Caitlyn raises a brow at the name.

"Bloodhound?"

"That's what people call them. No one I've met knows their name or has seen their face."

With things moving in a good direction, Vi sits down next to Caitlyn at the table.

"I assumed all the gangs just died out after peace was made. So what? They some gang leader or something?"

"No, but they do have a small territory. All to themselves. They got a lot of respect down there. You remember that weird group two years ago? Dressed all rugged and called themselves "True Zaunites"? They idolized Bloodhound; tried to dress like them too. Then one day they went into their territory and tried make them their leader, but ended up coming back beaten black and blue. The guy who was leading the group got a bullet through his skull."

Caitlyn looks skeptical and glances at Vi, who also looks to have some doubt about this "Bloodhound". The inmate notices and shrugs her shoulders.

"I know, sounds weird but it's true. The point is, they hunt down gangs. You want someone with info, then try them."

"How do we contact them?"

"I don't know. Last people who tried was that weird group. Now a lot of 'em are too scared to go back down there."

This brings some, not a lot, but some hope to Vi and Caitlyn to this investigation. Better than nothing. Caitlyn stands up before holding out a hand towards the inmate.

"Thank you for your time and the information. I'll be sure to put in a good word for your cooperation, maybe even get you on probation."

"No problem. Not like I had a choice in coming here. You better not be bullshitting me about that deal." the inmate says as she takes Caitlyn's hand.

Caitlyn nods before turning around to leave, Vi already holding the door open for her. Caitlyn wordlessly signals the two enforcers standing outside to escort the inmate back to her cell before walking with Vi.

"So this "Bloodhound", you think they're legit?"

"I don't know. But we don't have any other leads on this case. My mother trusted us with this case Vi, we can't just give up." Caitlyn says with hints of frustration in her voice.

"Hey, I'm not saying we give up, Cupcake. I was just wanting to hear your thoughts."

"I-I know. I'm sorry. It's just, I don't wan-."

"AH. You don't need to apologize Cupcake. I get it. Don't wanna disappoint parents, trust me, I understand," Vi says reassuringly which makes Cait stop, "What?"

"I love you." she says with a smile before giving Vi a peck on the cheek, making said Pink haired girl blush like a tomato.

"I-I love you too, Cupcake. .....Ahem a-anyway, I don't know if going to find this guy will work. I was thinking maybe we could go see my dad instead. He might know someone who can get in touch with this guy. Plus, I think he'd like to know that there's another "Hound" in the Undercity." Vi says as she wraps an arm around Caitlyn's shoulders to hold her close.

"That sounds nice."

Powder Pov

"So you want me to see if I can get someone to talk to this guy that you two need to talk to."

"I know. It sounds sketchy, bu-." Vi was saying until Benzo cuts in.

"Are ye kidding!? Vander! We gotta see this kid. Running around using your title; they must be a fan! How have I not heard of this guy before!?" Benzo says, poking fun at dad since apparently he has some copycat or something.

"I second that!" Mylo says, making Claggor shake his head with a chuckle.

Dad rolls his eyes, but still has a smile on his face.

"Technically not the same. They're called "Bloodhound"." Cait says, but slight smirk still on her face with Vi wearing one to match.

'Might as well join in on the fun.'

"I don't know if that's a good idea. They might want his autograph." I say with my own cheeky smirk. Leaning into Ekko, as he writes in his book of projects, sitting at the bar with everyone.

"Alright, alright. I get it. I might have some people who still owe me a favor or two," Dad says, as he wipes down a glass behind the bar, "One condition. They gotta meet you two here."

"YES!" Benzo yells in elation, but Vi doesn't look that happy.

"Here!? Dad seriously this person could cause trouble and this place isn't like that anymore." Vi says, but Dad doesn't look like he's budging.

"I'm being serious too. I've heard stuff hear and there about them and I don't want you two going down there alone. I know you two can handle yourselves, but if anything I've heard is somewhat true then this isn't like any other thug or gang leader." Dad says, which makes Vi back down.

'Damn. Now I'm interested.'

"Are you sure they would even come here?" Caitlyn asks a pretty reasonable question.

"Pretty sure. From what I hear they've been getting into shootouts with the gang recently. Probably hunting them down too."

"That isn't a guarantee though. What if they don't show up?"

"If they don't then show up, then they don't show up. They wouldn't have been help even if you went down looking for them, you'd probably just gonna end up in a fight."

'Fair point, honestly.'

Cait looks to Vi, who sighs as a sign of surrendering.

"Fine. How soon can you get someone to talk to them?"

"Today."

Cait looks surprised which makes Dad shrug.

"I got good contacts."

"Good. I guess tomorrow in the afternoon? Does that sound fine?" Vi asks, looking at Cait for confirmation which she gets via a nod.

As the conversation shifts to something else, I look at Ekko as he continues to scribble in his notebook.

"What do you think?" I ask him which makes him stop writing for a second.

"About "Bloodhound"," he asks and I give a simple nod, "Sounds a little fishy. Sounds like one of those people still stuck in the old times of crime everywhere."

"It doesn't sound like they are. They did supposedly take out that one weird group of "True Zaunites"; honestly those people were so stupid." I say with a small laugh, Ekko chuckling a little at the mention of that bizarre group of people.

'The speeches those guys made in the streets were insane.'

"Still, doesn't sound like good company. Why would they want to stay in the deep part of the Undercity? Zaun has become so much better over the years."

"Maybe..... they're afraid to move forward. Don't wanna lose what they have now." I say, honestly projecting more about myself than what I actually think.

'They could just be a psycho.'

I feel Ekko's arm come up to my waist before pulling me in closer as he sets down his pencil.

"Powder. I know it's not easy, but I really do think you could do a lot of amazing things. I know you're afraid of things changing, but..... sometimes taking a leap forward means leaving a few things behind."

"I-I just.... I don't know. I just need some time to think about it." I say, avoiding the topic of what I want to do in life, looking away just staring at the details of the bar counter.

"Okay..... just know I'm here for you Powder. Nothing will change that." Ekko says, supporting and sweet as always, which makes me smile.

"Thanks." I say before giving a small kiss on the cheek.

"No thanks needed."

We sit at the bar in a comfortable silence as my mind wanders.

'Tomorrow should be an interesting day.'

The Next Day.

Deep in the Undercity the infamous Bloodhound stands in the middle of the street, farther than usual from their territory. What is usually a busy street is now completely empty with only Y/n standing there by herself, and facing towards the brighter side of Zaun.

People peak out from their homes through blinds. People who looked like they were about to step outside immediately turn around to lock themselves inside. Others who were making there way down the street immediately turns right around to take a detour around.

All of them had the same questions on their minds.

Why are they here? What are they up to? Is a fight about to happen? Is someone about to die? Are the meeting up with someone here?

.....Also why are they just standing in the middle of the street?

Reader Pov

'Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck this shit! This is, SO! FUCKING! BAD!', I internally panic as I stand in the middle of the street.

Yesterday right after getting some intel from that Simon guy I got a message from some guy. Literally right after. I just tackled that fucker out of the second floor of his shitty bar when he tried stabbing me after getting information out of him. Then I turned and there they were. Staring in shock. Anyway that doesn't matter.

What really matters is the fact that Vander wanted me to come to The Last Drop. I couldn't even ask why because before I could they ran away.

'Why!? What did I do!? Am I in trouble!? I didn't even do anything!'

I'm not supposed to meet them, but how am I supposed to ignore a call from Vander. From Dad. So I forced myself out of bed and I only made it this far before getting too scared. I feel rooted to the ground. I'm scared. I'm scared to see them after so long, even if it's just to talk or something.

"What if I mess this all up?," I ask myself. Trying to decide whether or not it's worth risking all of the good things that have happened to Zaun over the years, "What if I cause a butterfly effect and ruin everything?"

But then there's that other part of me. Desperate and longing to see how my family has been after so long of isolating myself down here alone.

I stand still in contemplation for another minute before finally taking a step forward.

"One time couldn't hurt. Just this once."

Hope you enjoyed. Sorry if there are grammar mistakes.

[umgeorge]

Russell Slams "Bully" Verstappen After Revealing Qatar Crash Threat

Russell says Verstappen threatened to "put me on my fucking head in the wall"

George Russell has slammed Max Verstappen's criticisms of him as bullying tactics, after revealing the world champion threatened to "put me on my fuckingg head in the wall" in Qatar. Verstappen spoke out against Russell after last weekend's race in Losail, saying he had lost all respect for the Briton for the way he behaved in a stewards' hearing that resulted in him losing pole position for impeding. Speaking in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, the Dutchman doubled down on what he said, saying it was "shocking" what Russell did in trying to get him a penalty. But Russell has not taken Verstappen's comments lightly and said he will not accept remarks that he thinks are "disrespectful and unnecessary," considering how he had been personally threatened last weekend. Speaking to select media including Motorsport.com, Russell said: "I find it all quite ironic, considering Saturday night he said he's going to purposely go out of his way to crash into me and, quote, 'put me on my fucking head in the wall.' To question somebody's integrity as a person, while saying comments like that the day before, I find it very ironic, and I'm not going to sit here and accept it. People have been bullied by Max for years now, and you can't question his driving abilities. But he cannot deal with adversity whenever anything has gone against him. Jeddah '21, Brazil '21, he lashes out. Budapest this year, very first race, the car wasn't dominant, crashing into Lewis, slamming his team. As I said, for me, those comments on Saturday night and Sunday were totally disrespectful and unnecessary, because what happens on track, we fight hard. It's part of racing. What happens in the steward's room? You fight hard, but it's never personal. But, you know, he's taking it too far now." Russell said he had no interest in discussing matters with Verstappen, as he questioned why other drivers have not been willing to speak out about the Dutchman's tactics. "I just don't know why other drivers have when they've been in this battle with him, just sort of made it so easy and just let it be," added Russell. "Lewis is a world champion who I aspire to be like, and I think he is a gold standard of a role model that younger kids should be looking up to. And the way Lewis dealt with that championship fight, he was hard, he was aggressive, he was always respectful, and he never went beyond the line. You can go beyond the line in making a slight misjudgement, but going out of your way to say you will purposefully crash into somebody and put them on their head is beyond the line." Asked why he had chosen to speak out now, Russell said: "Because he's come out in the media. I feel he has disrespected me as a driver. I've known him for twelve years. We've had respect with one another beforehand. We've never had any collisions... but we've got a guy who's on the top of this sport and who feels he's above the law. I don't think that's right. I admire his on-track battles and when he is hard and aggressive. But what we saw at the end of the season in '21, or what we saw in Mexico with Lando [Norris], they weren't hard, aggressive manoeuvres. They were do or die: 'I'm willing to take this guy out.' Which I don't think is the way we should go racing."

[1toreyouapart]

What It Cost

****THIS IS A FICTIONAL STORY BASED ON REAL PEOPLE. 18+ ONLY. I DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO THE PEOPLE OR MUSIC MENTIONED IN THIS STORY OUTSIDE OF LILITH AND SADIE AND MAYBE A COUPLE OTHERS. DO NOT READ IF YOU’RE NOT UP FOR FANFIC INVOLVING REAL PEOPLE***

Terrible summary: Five years since she last spoke to him. Since she last saw him. Now his face and his voice is everywhere. She can't escape him.

Five years ago Noah destroyed her and the life they had built. Now he’s back and seeking to make amends. As much as she wants to say that it's too little too late, is it?

CW/TW: Angst, mention of addiction, cheating. Mention of character death. Language. Smut (later on). PinV, unprotected PinV (wrap it before you tap it, friends), oral (f&m receiving). All smutty warnings happen later on, so I’ll update TW/CW warning labels as those parts

A/N: Somebody asked to be tagged but it won’t let me tag them! If that was you, reach out and we’ll figure it out. 🫶

Masterlist

12-Lilith

"What the fuck, Sadie?" Lilith kicked her shoes off, throwing the deadbolt on their front door.

Sadie dropped down on the couch, arching a brow at her. Rage bubbled low in her stomach, and she had to take a few breaths before she continued. Anger wouldn't do her any good. In through her nose, pause, then out through her mouth.

"What was the point?" She asked finally, hands on her hips.

"You've been spending a lot of time with him and I'm worried. You seem more like yourself again, but still."

"So fucking what if I'm spending time with him! It's none of your goddamn business!"

"Lily, you're my best friend. My sister. It is my business when the last time he fucking destroyed you."

Frustrated Lily paced. Sadie was making sense. Kind of. But it still didn't excuse her calling attention to something that everyone else was politely ignoring. Noah had been anxious. What the fuck was she supposed to do? Sit there and ignore it when she knew she could help at least a little bit? Sadie should know her well enough by now to know that wasn't something she was capable of.

"I don't need you playing Captain Save A Ho." Lily sighed, turning back to her best friend. "Sadie, that was something that could have waited until we got home for you and me to discuss. He was anxious, Sadie."

Sadie nodded slowly, digesting her words.

"Noted. Won't happen again. Just be careful, okay? I'm glad I'm starting to see glimmers of the old you again, but..." she trailed off, mulling over her words. "I just don't want to see you hurt like that again."

Lilith nodded, chewing on her bottom lip. The rage had dissipated, leaving anxiety in its wake. She knew Sadie had a point. Knew that Sadie hadn't meant any harm and really, really sucked at reading the room. And she had a point. Their track record together wasn't exactly the greatest. But this was also something that Sadie needed to let her figure out on her own. Whatever "this" was.

"Just, I don't know. Maybe stay out of it for right now? He's trying to fix things, and having someone breathing down his neck like that won't help any."

Lily sat down next to her, leaning her head on her shoulder. Her thoughts drifted back to the other night. How he had lain there with her, holding her, but never taking it any further than a couple of kisses here and there. The way he had taken full blame for everything that had happened, waving off anything she said about owning her part in it all. She hadn't been perfect, either. It didn't excuse anything he did, but she had sort of pushed him away, too.

"You know that little trip you and Jolly took a few days ago?"

"Yes?" Sadie asked hesitantly.

"I couldn't sleep and ended up over there." Lily sighed, recalling how he had gotten out of bed for her. "We ended up falling asleep talking. He really wants to fix things."

“How does he plan on doing that?”

“He asked me how. I told him that I don’t know.”

The two of them sat in silence as Sadie contemplated what she was saying. Truthfully she didn’t know how any part of it could be fixed. Or if it even could be fixed. All she knew was it was nice being able to talk to him again. To just be around him again.

“I miss him, Sadie.”

Sadie shifted, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and squeezing. “I know.”

God, she had missed just being around him. Being in his presence she felt like she could breathe again. Like there wasn’t a noose around her neck. But she still missed him. She missed being with him. He could be so cold, so detached at times. But when he was present? He was all in. Always had been. When Noah was all in it was like really being seen. And God, she missed that. Missed his warmth and his way of breathing life into everything and everyone around him. The way he smelled. How safe she had always felt around him. She missed him, even the darkest parts of him.

Tags: @collisionofyourkissmakesitsohard @alwaysfightforwhoyouare

[ouroboros-hideout]

WELCOME TO DOGTOWN - Part 1

First small text of a (hopefully) future collection of stories in the Noir!AU setting. Aon just entered Dogtown, hoping to talk to someone who can help her track down Vlad Volkov, whom she has sworn to hunt down after he participated in the wipeout of her clan many years ago.

The abandoned apartment I found was a dumpster, but served its purpose as a temporary accommodation. Not that I really intend to stay for long. Not longer than really needed.

However, the view had its charm - even if this place was as miserable as the reason for my visit. Shiny from the outside, rotten to the core on the inside - just like the man I hope to find here, finally. 

Dogtown - a junkyard. The remnants of broken dreams of the super rich, now nothing more than a pile of ashes stolen and ruled by a wannabe dictator. Who, as it seemed, was just as fake and corrupt as everyone he tried to keep out of his little empire. 

I could get rich here, not a single soul who makes it to this fucked up place doesn't have dirt on them. Scum, killers, psychos, whores, better or worse, all lost to the world outside of these walls. And surely someone would be willing to pay for their passing. There was always someone. That is what attracts them all here - freedom for the hopeless and persecuted. I could buy a huge trailer, or even a nice piece of land, all to myself. I'd never have to deal with the filth of society again, regardless of whether they are from the upper or lower classes. A premature retirement. Shit - how idyllic. 

But no money in the world, or any other favors, could make up for what he did to me - and no matter how hard he tried by leaving the continent, changing his name and even his face - I will haunt him like the hundreds of souls his hands have taken from me until he payed for it. All that mattered was blood for blood - or whatever was circulating in his fuckin' chromed up body. 

But to my luck, not a single one of these junkies and petty criminal gang goons here knew who I was. If so, they certainly wouldn't have waved me through their gates like a welcomed visitor. 

Far be it from me to brag about what I've achieved in the last decades. I'm not one of those guys with a micro dick who have to count how many people they've killed in their lives to feel important. Here - it wouldn't have done me any good anyway. In Europe, they hire me when they want something done quickly, search and destroy. I always get to my target. All the other SovOil bastards from the past, who already had a taste of my blade, are proof for this.  But in Night City I was nobody. Admittedly a welcome change - but if you need to get information, it was a hindrance if nobody wanted to trust you. 

I hope the man I'm supposed to meet today isn't another dead end. Even if this little cult - or whatever he and his friends have going on, sounds a bit fucked up. But he's my only lead at the moment. And anything that gets me closer to Volkov is worth it.

[pascaloverx]

Hit The Road

Chapter Fourteen (FINAL)

previous chapter epilogue (+18)

Summary: You are a hunter of supernatural beings who is forced to experience a new reality: being a vampire. The only thing stronger than your thirst for blood is your thirst for revenge.

Author's note: the characters mentioned here were created by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec, based on the book series of the same name by author L. J. Smith. They don't belong to me. That said, this fanfic will be short. This fanfic may address scenes of violence, inappropriate language and adult content. Minors should not interact with this story. Also some information here is not in the order of the series or the same way it happened in the tv series.

Your plan didn't work out. Damn it! Stefan broke down the door amid your screams of pain and grabbed you, throwing you to the ground. Strangely, him throwing you to the ground might have hurt more than being burned in the sun. You don't remember much after that. You can imagine the Salvatores being furious because you tried to end your vampire life. You're almost certain that you're tied to a chair. You try to move your hands and feet but can't. Your eyes slowly open, revealing Damon's room, and then you realize that you are indeed trapped. Damon comes out of the bathroom half-naked, with only a towel wrapped around his waist and his hair wet. You look at him, furious. But you notice that even though you're angry, you don't want to kill him.

"What did you do to me, Salvatore?" You almost shout as you watch him dry his hair with another towel. He's ignoring you, undoubtedly. He takes off the towel from his waist, revealing his naked body, and then slowly starts to put on some clothes.

"You know, you've always been one of the smartest people I know. But trying to kill yourself while a group of people who care about you is trying to find a solution to your problem was the stupidest thing I've ever seen." Damon's tone of voice is sharp; he seems genuinely bothered by the direction this story would have taken if Stefan hadn't stopped you.

"Fuck off, darling, I wanted to die. Not because the idea of a slow and painful death makes me happy, but because dying would prevent me from hurting you." You respond rudely, still trying to get out of the chair where you're tied up. Damon smiles, watching you struggle to untie yourself.

"You won't get out of there without my help, my love. That's because humans hardly ever manage to get out of places on their own. And yes, I called you human. In fact, while you were trying to kill yourself, I was able to track down your ex-best friend Dimitri. He had a cure for vampirism with him. And let's say he was happy to hand it over to save you." Damon's tone becomes almost too dark as he speaks the last part. He definitely killed Dimitri. I can't say it terrifies me, but I think Dimitri sought Damon's wrath.

"You turned me human and killed Dimitri? Wow, it's shocking the amount of things you can do." You speak, facing Damon, almost as a challenge, even though you know you should be grateful for him stopping you from dying or killing other vampires.

"I wouldn't have killed your hunter friend if he hadn't refused to free you from that damn spell. One thing led to another. But at the end of the day, everyone got what they deserved." Damon speaks as he approaches you. He crouches down on the floor, facing you. His blue eyes seem darker, and his expression looks tired.

"We're back to square one, aren't we? You're a cruel vampire, and I'm a human. What now? I age while you remain immortal, watching me slowly die in front of you? Then when all this is over, you go back to Elena and live a vampire life with her?" As you speak, you feel like you're venting to Damon but at the same time complaining.

"We both have at least a few more years before you start worrying about age and dying. I gave you back your human life so you could enjoy it a little longer. But when you want immortality back, just like your vampire boyfriends." Damon unties you, touching your hand lightly to your cheek, wiping away the tears you were shedding without even noticing.

"Did you hear about my idea for everyone to date each other at the same time? Seems like almost dying left my mind clear." You speak, smiling softly, trying not to appear confused by the changes in your life.

"I want you to know that I made a choice too. I chose to stand by the idiotic woman who married me in a cabin because neither of us knew what we wanted." Damon kissed both of your hands gently, then gave you a peck on the lips.

"What a lovely way to make me feel bad. But I won't backtrack, I love you and your brother. Individually but significantly." You pull Damon's face closer to yours, giving him a longer kiss.

"I have to go get more blood bags from the hospital. I think you have a visitor speaking of that, see you later." Damon kisses your cheek and leaves the room almost immediately. You get up from the chair and glance around Damon's room.

"Stefan, I'm no longer a vampire, but I know you're there." You say as you lean against Damon's bed, relaxing your sore back. Being human is too painful.

"I thought it would be weird to come here, to my brother's room, to see you." Stefan says, entering the room with a smile on his face. 

"It's not strange. I guess now we all agree that we're okay with the fact that I..." You almost finish the sentence but are interrupted by a strong and sincere hug from Stefan, who crouched down in front of you.

"I hate you, you know?" Stefan says, kissing your cheek, as if he wanted to savor every detail of you. You then give him a gentle kiss on the forehead and sigh.

"Thank you for saving my life. But next time you knock me down, I'm gonna punch you." You say as you hug him gently, running your fingers through his hair. And so your life as a vampire took a pause so that your life as a human could return, alongside the Salvatore brothers. Damon made a deal with you that when you're ready to be a vampire again, he'll turn you. Obviously, Stefan thinks you're better off as a human. For now, you continue in this romantic confusion where you date Damon sometimes, Stefan other times, taking life one day at a time.

The End...

[painted-doe]

WIP word search, part 2: the word-searchening

Got tagged again by dear @writethewolvesaway and I had so much fun with the first round that I decided to go again! Especially since you guys were so encouraging about Lagniappe... enjoy :)

My keywords were: whisper, bleak, yellow, glass

whisper From an untitled (but almost complete) Sambucky fic in which Valentina shows up, activates some latent Winter Soldier programming that causes Bucky to doubt his hard-won autonomy, and angst ensues.

“And let’s not kid ourselves, Sam Wilson’s not much better. Guys like him, they want a fixer-upper. They want the satisfaction of repairing something. But you… oh, Sarge, how long until he realizes you’re just way, way too broken for him to fix? Honey, I’m trying to help you. I’m here to offer you something.”

He spat on her expensive leather boot. She didn’t flinch. “A life as your little wind-up killer? Like I said. Get. Fucked.”

“A purpose,” she said, unruffled. “A real purpose, working with people who respect you for what you are. Who don’t expect you to be anything more than what you are.”

Her fingers found his chin, played sweetly with the divot there. He jerked his face away but she clung tighter, dug her thumbnail into the soft skin of his lower lip.

“Isn’t it hard?” she whispered. “Aren’t all those expectations just so goddamn heavy? People keep telling you to get better, get with the times, make amends. Make amends for being hurt all those years. Isn’t that wild?”

“Nobody’s telling me shit,” he hissed.

“Sure they are.” She smiled. “I get your therapy transcripts. I like to read them over breakfast.”

bleak From the same untitled fic as above.

Sam shook his head. "God, Shuri’s going to be devastated, she was so sure she’d…”

“I know. I know.”

“Don’t you think she’s going to want to be part of this?”

Bucky looked away. The low sunlight turned his dark hair to gold, flopping over his eyes. It was getting long and shaggy, but somehow still looked good. Everything looked good on Bucky. It was deeply unfair.

“She has the right to say no to us, at least,” he said at last. “It’s her work we’re messing with. Fine. I’ll call her. You work on tracking down the red book.”

“And de Fontaine? We have to figure out what she wanted, why she--”

“Don’t bother. We know. She said she was here to pick something up.” Bucky looked up at him. Jaw clenched, eyes big and bleak and vulnerable in that way that made him look like a scared child, and Sam’s heart twisted hard. “She wants the Winter Soldier.”

yellow Another snippet from from “Lagniappe”.

How could Sarah look him in the eye? Let alone allow him around her boys? Didn’t she know? Didn’t she know how deep the stains were fixed in him?

But she slid her hand down his arm in a friendly way, the metal one, and she smiled. 

All the angels he'd ever seen in stained glass had been fair-skinned and delicate and golden-haired; none of them had ever looked like solid, dark Sarah Wilson in the woodsy yellow sunlight. But here she was, brighter than any of them.

glass Yet another from "Lagniappe":

Those days of evaluations before the pardon had been mostly spent in windowless concrete rooms being interviewed by shrink after shrink. Being asked the same questions again and again in different ways to see if they could trick him into answering inconsistently. Having white coats repeatedly read off the list of trigger words that no longer sank hooks into his brain but still set his whole body trembling and sick, only to give him humiliating orders to see if he’d follow them: Stand on one foot. Sing me “Happy Birthday”. Drop and give me twenty. The only pleasure he’d taken in those sessions was in telling them to fuck off.

Jimmy Woo had hovered at the edges of those hazy shitty days. He was surprisingly high up the ladder of authority for such a young agent, and Bucky knew he’d often been in the other room, watching him through one-way glass or through the lens of a security camera. Sometimes Woo had been the one bringing him little paper cups of terrible black coffee, or styrofoam-wrapped sandwiches that tasted no better than their packaging, or, once, mercifully, a cigarette. For all his awkward glibness, the guy had been clever and respectful; he’d let Bucky go through it all without being restrained in mag-cuffs, and he’d looked him in the eye like a human being when he spoke to him. For a g-man, Woo had been all right.

If you read this far and you're a writer, consider yourself tagged! Even if (like me) you've been tagged before! Your words for this round are: guard, break, true, left

[t4tozier]

sorry i didn't realize you were looking for asks lol!

How about... trans Jace getting eaten out by Porter? Jace is expecting it to be kind of perfunctory, just a precursor to Porter fucking him, but Porter goes at it like a man possessed, throws Jace's legs over his shoulders and buries his face in Jace's cunt. It turns out it's a point of pride for Porter (maybe he's in some kind of competition with Zara about it), and he's not planning on stopping until Jace has come over over again and is so overstimmed he's sobbing

no ur so fine i am just incapable of coming up with my own ideas that aren't half baked i need the prompts first :sob:

ohhh i just know that one of porter's girlfriends said that he sucked at eating her out fifteen years ago and he has taken that as a personal challenge for the rest of his life. but also porter and zara in their own competition to see who can make jace come faster, harder, longer, more...oh that's really yummy too.

i believe that porter is just as sloppy with eating people out as jace is with sucking dick. it doesn't matter if it's ass or pussy, but porter actually likes eating jace's cunt out more because he loves tasting the way he gets wetter on porter's tongue. jace has such bad beard burn all along the inside of his thighs but he doesn't even care because when porter put his tongue inside of him at the same time he's got his dick between two fingers, rubbing and stroking it, he's pretty sure he saw god. if not then, then definitely when porter pulls his foreskin back and sucks at his clit like it's his last fucking meal. jace comes so many times he loses track. all he knows is when porter finally comes up for air, the mattress underneath jace's ass is soaked and he's pretty sure the second he closes his eyes he'll pass out.

on a side note, i think zara is much more dainty and delicate and teasing than porter is. jace doesn't come as frequently with her but his orgasms tend to be more intense because zara loves getting jace right on the edge until he could come from just zara's breath over his twitching cock. he hates ruined orgasms and zara will use them as punishment but for the most part she just works him up and does a lot of fun sensation play with him to keep it interesting. zara and porter definitely have a running bet going on. jace doesn't know why they never seem to split the bill when the three of them go out drinking; porter or zara is always paying for the other's drinks.

[poisonousdelights]

PARTIES: Isa (@poisonousdelights) and Kieran (@debauchfairy) TIME: The weekend before Kieran's birthday bash WHERE: The Mushroom Circle SUMMARY: Isa and Kieran play a different kind of drinking game that takes a slightly uncomfortable turn. WARNINGS: Drug tw, Drug manipulation tw (attempted)

Isa knew all the tricks for having a good night out. It was fortunate that she loved to dance and could do so without any of the liquid courage that a lot of people needed to shake their hips in front of a crowd because the girl was broke. But she’d learned over the past couple of years that it was very easy to get drunk without spending a dime. The aforementioned hip shaking helped so much. All she had to do was wiggle in front of a guy who thought he was going to get lucky and the alcohol came pouring in.

She didn’t know why but her favorite place was an Irish pub known as the circle. It wasn’t the best bar in the world by any means but she always seemed to have such a good time. The good attitudes were infectious, the regular staff always so friendly, and some even knew her by name at this point. She always made a point to have a chat with Zachary who sometimes joined her on the dance floor but that night she skipped out on the interaction in favor of her mission. 

Isa was two drinks in, both bought for her by different guys who liked to watch her move. The second guy was still next to her as the last of her cocktail was drained, the girl twirling the straw while she looked up at him. Her hand dragged through her thick hair, running down to push the wavy strands behind her shoulder and bring attention to the skin that her low cut tank top showed. His eyes trailed down, blatantly appreciative, but before he could say anything Isa dismissed him with her next words. “That really hit the spot, I appreciate you so much. I think I’m just about ready to head back to the dance floor though. It was so nice meeting you.” The guy looked dejected but respected her enough to just nod curtly and walk away. A soft laugh left her lips, the girl shaking her head while she pushed the glass to the other side of the bar. “Too easy.” 

—-

Somewhere overrun by fae wasn’t exactly Kieran’s ideal place for a night out but it came with some perks, perhaps the most important being a sense of safety. Aside from the rather strict ban on violence, The Mushroom Circle had a decent track record for keeping out wardens. Not that he was scared, anyone sensible would see the logic behind giving his nose more than a couple of weeks to heal before risking another blow to it. Not that Kieran was usually sensible but… well, he liked the shape of his nose. To a lesser extent, getting punched fucking sucked and he wanted to avoid it if possible. 

Kieran wasn’t here to feed, not tonight, just looking for a distraction and some fun. The black, sheer shirt he had on was a lot but it had taken way too long for the last of the bruises to fade so it was about time he got to look good, even be a lot. Another perk, he didn’t even need to bother exerting his abilities, that part usually taken care of by some other faun. All he had to do was find the least boring people here and enjoy himself for the evening. A drink was a solid place to start and as he waited for the bartender, Kieran took notice of a pair a stone’s throw down the bar. He especially took notice of how completely out of the man’s league the woman was, and it seemed Kieran wasn’t the only one who knew it. She was playing him like a fiddle and might as well have had the poor guy on a leash with how obediently he tracked her movements. Impressive. 

And then the blow. Kieran’s lips turned into a grin at her expert play, leaving no room for argument as he slunk off. Her laugh was the cherry on top - she wasn’t just doing this because she needed free drinks but because she enjoyed it. “You know, I thought the hair flip might have been a bit too much but he was all for it,” Kieran commented, closing the distance between them, amusement clear on his features. “Not that I know much about what works on the straights.”

—

Her body tensed at the voice, for a split second thinking it was another man trying to hit on her without Isa being clued in to their intentions beforehand. Jumpscare tactics were not her favorite. It usually indicated that the guy was too aggressive for her liking and things would go very poorly. But he soon rolled into the ‘straights’ comment and she could feel herself relaxing under his gaze. She playfully let out a relieved sigh, bringing her hand over her heart. “Next time warn a girl. I thought you were going in a completely different direction with that.” 

A grin pulled at her lips, the girl shrugging as she went back to his previous comment. “Hair flipping gets them every time. Especially when you add in a little show of skin. Most of them are pretty simple creatures.” She didn’t feel right lumping every straight guy together but she’d never met one that didn’t enjoy that little move of hers, she would say that much. Though Isa did have the advantage with most of the locals thinking she was ‘dangerous’ or something. For some reason men loved to go for that so she wasn’t sure if the hair toss alone would work.

It didn’t matter, did it? “You probably think I’m an asshole, right?” Guilt was starting to tug at her, something that usually wasn’t a problem until she got caught. Even with the amusement on his face she still felt bad now that someone else had witnessed what she was doing. “It’s harmless. Most of their egos could use a little blow anyway.”

—-

It never failed to amuse, the very obvious shift in women once they realized they weren’t about to have the most annoying five minutes of their lives trying to fend off a straight man who couldn’t flirt to save his life. Kieran truly hoped this stranger would have gotten there on her own even without the blatant exposition and if she wouldn’t have, perhaps she was less intuitive than she seemed. “Please, you think a smarmy straight man has the ability to look this good?” Kieran huffed, finally garnering the bartender’s attention and ordering two tequila sunrises - her performance deserved a drink. 

Humming appreciatively at her explanation, Kieran settled onto the bar stool next to her, intrigued enough to let this stranger be the entertaining company for now. He was curious as to whether she needed strangers to buy her drinks or, as in Kieran’s case when he just didn’t feel like paying for his own things, simply did it because she could. And a bonus, she wasn’t fae. “Simple or not, always fun to see them get played.”

Her attitude changed all of a sudden and Kieran arched an eyebrow, slightly disappointed by her question. Why the hell care what some stranger thought of you? Not that he did think she was an asshole. Manipulative, maybe, perhaps a bit self-centered but neither of those were necessarily negative traits in the faun’s eyes. If people didn’t want to get duped into buying drinks without a reward, they should be harder to manipulate. “Does it matter what I think?” Kieran asked instead of sharing his actual thoughts on whether or not a pretty, young woman was a bad person for cheating the system, so to speak. “And even if I did think you were an asshole, that would be an astounding display of hypocrisy since I am also very averse to buying my own drinks a lot of the time.” 

Sliding one of the cocktails over to her as they arrived, Kieran raised his own with a wink. “To blowing egos.”

—

“You do have a very good point.” Isa nodded, looking his outfit up and down with a sheepish grin. He was right. No straight man would wear anything so daring or fabulous. “Ashamed that I ever thought for a second you were straight.” She laughed softly, turning back to the bar only to remember that her glass was now empty. Did she try to pay for one herself or did she go for a third gentleman? Well, that was a simple answer. She didn’t really have eight dollars to waste on a single beverage.

Okay, so maybe he wasn’t judging her at all if the comment about how fun it was to see them get played was any indication. He then followed it up by stating he liked to play this game too and suddenly the lamia felt a million times better about it all. “I guess you have a point.” She was right before anyway, it was harmless and now she knew she wasn’t the only one who liked to do this. “So, you enjoy the game too, huh?” 

Eyeing the drink that he slid over to her, Isa raised a brow but her smile never faltered. He didn’t like paying for his drinks but then went and bought her one? He must have really appreciated the little show. She raised the glass to mimic his movements before taking a sip, humming appreciatively. “This was nice of you, thank you.” Another sip and then she was backtracking on what he’d said, her eyes glinting with mischief. “So, wait, what works on gay men then? Obviously they don’t like my normal tricks…unless we count you.” Pointing down to the drink on the bar to make a point, her smile morphed into a smirk. 

—---

Actually caring about other people’s opinions felt like a genuinely foreign concept to Kieran as he hadn’t taken stock in an opinion that didn’t align with his own since… well, maybe never. She seemed relieved to not be judged by the faun, maybe partly because of the sense of camaraderie but the worry had been there. Kieran thought his opinion and judgment was quite valuable, obviously, but she had no reason to know that and therefore care. Humans were strange. “I definitely have a point,” he insisted with a smile, relieved that there wasn’t a follow up discussion on morality and whatnot. 

His smile only grew at her question even as he gave a coy shrug, his expression enough of an answer. Yes, Kieran did indeed enjoy this game and most games, for that matter. The ones he could win, anyway. As the tangy sweetness of the drink hit him, he physically waved off the notion of kindness - the drink was simply acknowledgement of a job well done - and with it, the thank you. A thought occurred to warn her, seeing how she was surrounded by fae and clearly not careful with her words but that discussion would replace their current one, which was a bad trade. She’d probably be fine. 

“Trying to steal my moves, are you?” he teased, twirling the straw around the glass. “I could share but… that would make the fun little competition I wanted to propose a bit unfair.” Seeing as this bar was mostly crawling with fae, Kieran was expecting neither a meal nor company to bring home from here, which was fine. Monotony was the antithesis of everything Kieran stood for and he didn’t mind having to come up with new and creative ways to entertain himself. 

—------

“Oh, I don’t need to steal moves. I have enough that work very nicely for myself.” Squeezing the straw of the drink between her teeth, she continued to smile up at him even as she was taken aback by the competition he had in mind. Not in a bad way. No, Isa was instantly curious as to what he would suggest for them even though she had a feeling about what was coming. She mostly wanted to know if there was a bet coming with this competition or if he thought their free drinks while playing was enough of a win. “A competition, huh? I think that could make for a fun time.”

It was no secret that she could be competitive. Camaraderie and sportsmanship had been her thing when she’d been playing basketball back in high school, she’d even gotten acknowledgements in the form of plaques that used to live on her parents walls, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t try her best to win either. Isa could get really into things like this, something that was proven as she started to prepare already. Her jacket was coming off, the girl slinging it on the back of the chair next to her so she could get another leg up with the shirt underneath. Men loved a nice low cut top. 

“Alright, what are the guidelines? I can’t break any rules, that would defeat the spirit of the game.” She’d always been a fair one too. “And do the two I’ve already gotten count or are you afraid you can’t catch up?” Isa bit the inside of her bottom lip to try and stifle a smirk, the lamia raising a brow in challenge. She didn’t care either way, she just wanted to goad him a little.

—-

Grinning, he finished off a bit more of the drink - couldn’t be holding one for the venture they were about to embark on - appreciating the attitude. “I don’t doubt it. Not as good as mine, I reckon but I’m sure they do,” Kieran taunted back playfully, seeing the glint in her eyes that matched his own at the prospect of a good (mostly honest) competition. 

His look of amusement only widened as she shrugged off her jacket, proving that she knew her stuff as more skin was bared. Simple but effective. Along with the first inkling of fruity alcohol blanketing his senses, Kieran could sense her joyous excitement as it lingered between them. Feeding on her would put her at a disadvantage and he didn’t want to win by cheating. Not this time, at least, he liked her. “A drink gets bought without directly asking for it. Any sort of alcoholic beverage counts. Up to you whether you finish it or not before moving on. First to five takes the prize.” Not that there was a prize - they were playing for free drinks and the honor of it. “If you think you need the head start, you can have it,” Kieran goaded right back, smirking before finishing off the rest of his drink and dragging a hand through the previously stylized hair. 

“Kieran,” he offered her as he stood up, waiting for her name in turn and then shrugging off his jacket. Even if he didn’t have the cleavage to work with like his new friend, the sleeveless top had perks of its own. “May the best seductress win.”

—-

“I can’t wait to prove you wrong.” Isa followed suit with her own drink, realizing it was a good idea to get it down. Not only did leaving it behind get dangerous but it also seemed rude when he had so kindly gotten it for her. She stood, pretending to shake out any nerves that might have set in with a grin, glad that she could be playful with him even as they were gearing up for a competition against each other. Those were the best interactions.

She stopped at his conditions, meeting his eyes with mock confusion. “What’s the point in having a drink given to you if you’re not going to finish it? I would like to make an amendment that everything needs to be finished as you talk to the person…within reason, of course.” She lifted her chin, trying to stifle the grin threatening to pull at her lips. “Fine, a fresh start it is.” Narrowing those playful eyes at him, Isa shook her head as he raked his hands through his hair. The man knew what he was doing. Bedhead looked good on him, not that he needed any help looking handsome. 

“I’m Isa.” And he had muscles to boot. Hmm, maybe she should have seen the whole package before accepting this challenge but she wasn’t too worried about it. It just meant she had to up her game. “Oh, I will.” The lamia gave him a wink before she turned in search of her first target. 

The prospects looked too easy. A man who was clearly getting over a break up if his sullen look and the way he twirled a ring around the bar was any indication. No, he would be a last resort. The over enthusiastic dancer in the middle of the floor trying to dance with whatever woman would give him the time of day. Too desperate for her taste. She liked a little challenge in her men, it made the victory that much sweeter. Finally, she settled on one who had a confident air to himself but had yet to go after any of the women he’d been eyeing. A little challenge but not enough to make it impossible. He was perfect.

And it only took five minutes before she had a drink set in front of her.

He was boring though and she was rushing her way through this first drink. Most of the talk was about him and how awesome his life was so Isa allowed her gaze to free roam around the bar. Her attention was caught by Kieran and his first…or maybe second target, her eyes landing on the way the man was crowding the other. It wasn’t too out of the ordinary but the way the stranger slipped something into Kieran’s drink when he was distracted was. Isa was out of her seat before her challenge could finish his sentence, his protest following her but she was too focused on getting to that table before Kieran could fall victim to something sinister. “Hey!” Her loud voice drew attention from most of the people in her path while she stormed over there, knocking the drink into the lap of the man who was now glaring up at her. “I saw that, you bastard. Do you always get your kicks drugging random people in bars or is he special?”

—-

With the terms of their little game decided, Kieran left his new friend behind with a wink. Isa had plenty of advantages, not just that straight men were generally easier to fool but also the fact of her not sharing his problem of being fae. Sure, not all of them shared Kieran’s extravagant dislike for his kin but they could be very peculiar and he didn’t feel like chatting up someone whose first question might be on what he was. Still, having way less targets to choose from than his ‘competition’ would only make the victory that much sweeter. 

Finding a human - or at the very least, a non fae - luckily hadn’t taken too long. The flexibility of what constituted a drink also came in handy as he gladly split a tray of shots with the first target - price and volume-wise, four shots weren’t that far off from a full sized drink. As an added bonus, his theatrics with the shots (letting a person lick their own hand for the salt was just bad manners) had caught the attention of the second mark. Which was fine enough, he was far from Kieran’s type but for a drink and more importantly, a point, anything goes. If the guy took notice of the way Kieran was subtly scanning for his third drink of the night, he didn’t comment on it. 

It seemed Isa had something to comment on, though. For the briefest of moments, Kieran wondered whether she was here to argue on whether shots counted but as she drew closer, it became clear she was much angrier than anything their game could incite. Which begged the question of why Kieran’s drink was paying the price of her wrath, an explanation arriving in the form of her berating the stranger with the now wet pants. Oh. Oh. The irony of trying to mess with a faun’s free will wasn’t lost on Kieran but Isa’s interference was welcome - his immunity to being influenced only applied to the effects of other fae, not whatever the stranger had tried to spike him with. 

“The hell are you on about, you bitch?” the man argued, defensive as he wiped at the remnants of the drink. Kieran’s eyes narrowed and despite the unease that had settled in his chest, he had no trouble letting his influence wash over the bastard. Even the brief taste of the man’s euphoria tasted wrong and Kieran wanted this over with, quick. 

“I think you want to apologize to her,” Kieran demanded, voice threatening despite the sickly sweet tone. “And then take whatever you put in my drink and have a taste of it yourself.” There were plenty of people watching, Isa’s reaction having drawn enough attention but the words were spoken low enough for only the three of them to hear. The man’s voice was far off when he apologized to Isa, the faintest glimmer of hesitation visible as he dropped something inconspicuous into his own drink and proceeded to down the whole thing. 

—-

For a brief, anger fueled moment, Isa considered pulling her sunglasses down to let stone take over every inch of this creep but she stopped when she remembered that Kieran could get caught up in that as well. Not to mention the other bar patrons staring in their direction. She didn’t need any audience for her ability and had somehow managed to avoid that happening to this day. Besides, it wasn’t the first time she’d been called a bitch and it wouldn’t be the last, her anger mostly fueled by the man’s audacity in trying to get away with the sleaziest of moves he could. 

But then she watched as the man’s anger seemed to melt into a look of pure…elation? Kieran’s words drifted over the chatter of the crowd to her, the lamia letting her bewildered gaze settle on her new friend when the asshole followed the instructions that had been given. What the hell had just happened? How could Kieran turn this around on the other so easily? 

Who cared as long as the creep was subdued?

Isa felt her lips lift, the shock wearing down into amusement. Was it a little terrifying knowing he could have that control over someone, over her? Yea, it was, but if he hadn’t used it on her yet she was pretty sure he wasn’t going to. “That was a fun trick.” Her low voice mixed in with the music but it was enough for him to hear. She held a hand out for him to take, wanting to get him away from the shit stain next to him as quickly as possible even when he’d already taken care of it. “I think me and you have some things to talk about. Have you been cheating this whole time?”

—-

It wasn’t until the empty glass landed back on the table that Kieran detached himself from the man, the taste that wasn’t really a taste still managing to linger on the back of his tongue, stronger still than the aftertaste of tequila and salt. Turning his gaze away from the disoriented figure, he seemed to remember suddenly that he had company who had watched the whole thing transpire. Isa’s expression had just morphed from confusion to enjoyment and Kieran didn’t really care what she thought but he appreciated that she seemed to share his morals on this, too. Even if she didn’t understand it. 

So he accepted the offered hand, not even wasting a glance back at the man still trying to get his bearings. The commotion that started around him did indicate that his antics might be getting him thrown out though, which was a relief. Maybe he’d think twice before attempting shit like that again - not that it was Kieran’s problem and he certainly wouldn’t be worrying about strangers. 

Sure, maybe forcing the man to literally have a taste of his own medicine would prove some sort of deterrent but that hadn’t been why he’d done it. Just revenge, pure and simple. And Kieran certainly wasn’t drawing any parallels between himself and the creep because there was no need - he’d never used his abilities for that purpose. The unease from before was still present so he was more than grateful for the topic change Isa was providing, an easy smile sliding onto Kieran’s lips. 

“I didn’t break any of our rules,” Kieran assured her, letting himself be led to a more quiet corner of the bar, at the same time wishing he had a drink in hand while also unsure he could stomach one with the taste of… wrong still in his mouth. “Where would be the fun in playing if I cheated, anyway?” His smile grew and it helped, distracted him, so he continued. “Alright then, ask away. Only fair that you get answers in return for your heroics.” 

—-

She wouldn’t let go of his hand. At first, it was more subconscious than anything but as they sat down in a quieter area she still held on to it even after the realization. Despite his smile and the way he seemed to slip back into their teasing banter, Isa knew that something like that could shake the most sturdy of people out there and she wanted him to know that she was there. She wasn’t going anywhere so long as he wanted to still be in that bar. “I guess my first question is…are you okay?” She wouldn’t have been. She would still be trying to find a way to hurt that guy if it had happened to her and she was a little impressed that Kieran had shown some control in only making him drink what had been intended for her friend. “We can talk about it if you need to.” 

Heroics. She frowned at that word, not liking that something that should be classified as human decency was called heroic. It was sad that they needed to watch each other's backs like this anyway but getting praised for the help felt wrong somehow. “It was what anyone would do, no need to reward me for it.” Something she hoped was true. Had others seen the man doing what he was doing and turned a blind eye? Because that was screwed up in so many ways. 

Regardless, she did have other questions for him, Isa glad that he wasn’t refusing to answer even if the reason he was doing so wasn’t the easiest to swallow down. “So, you…have some sort of mind control? What are you, an X-men?” A dumb joke, the lamia realizing that she wasn’t sure how to go about the questioning. It wasn’t usually her asking the questions but the other way around. “How long have you been able to do that?” Someone had to curse him as well, right? “And why? What did you do to be cursed?”

—--

Well, that wasn’t the sort of questioning he’d been opening himself up for. “Why wouldn’t I be? You stepped in before I had a drink and he got what he deserved,” Kieran replied nonchalantly, letting his hand slip from Isa’s under the guise of readjusting his rings, a stray lock of hair, anything that needed fixing to complete this very believable picture of composure. He didn’t mind the physical contact, that was hardly ever something he shied from but the implication that he needed his hand held was simply inaccurate. Aside from wishing that maybe he’d done more to exact a just revenge, Kieran was fine and not plagued by thoughts or doubts of any kind. 

For a woman who had jumped at the chance to play a game involving toying with other people, she seemed rather convinced that kindness was an inherent thing rather than selfishness. People, humans or otherwise, were self-serving at their very core. Not to say they couldn’t be kind if they chose to but rarely to their own detriment. Isa had nothing to lose from helping him, she was trying to form a new connection, something useful and that would have been hard to do if the creep had been left unchecked. “Think of it as evening the score, then,” Kieran insisted, unwilling to simply accept it as an ‘anyone would have helped’ kind of situation. And he could tell she was dying to ask her questions, anyway. 

Huffing a laugh at her joke, Kieran leaned back with a raised eyebrow. “Oh no, you’re a geek?” he asked in mock disappointment, letting her ask the actual questions before providing any real answers, even if the part about being cursed gave him pause. “Not cursed,” he started slowly, brows furrowed in slight confusion. “Just born like this. Although it took a bit of time to refine the so called ‘mind control’. It’s more of a… power of suggestion type of deal. With quite a lot of power.” 

—--

Isa bit into her bottom lip to refrain from saying anything stupid. Obviously Kieran didn’t want to talk about it and she would respect that but the concern was clear. She would still be there if he ever did. “Right, I’m just glad I saw it before you drank anything.” He was fidgeting with his appearance but she still stayed quiet, not sure if he was uncomfortable because of her asking when he really was okay or if he did need to talk but didn’t know how. “Do you want a drink? This ones on me and will not be out of my sight for a second.”

She still didn’t like what he was implying. She wasn’t the best person in the world, Ruth’s death proved that, and she could be selfish when it came to having fun but she never expected payment of any kind for keeping someone safe. Isa liked to think she learned something on top of that water tower six years ago…inside that prison for the years that she was behind bars…but his words made it feel like she couldn’t look out for someone else without expecting a transaction of some sort. It made her wonder if she’d learned anything at all. “If that’s what you want.” Because ultimately his feelings did matter here and she would do what made him comfortable no matter how conflicted she was about it.

Mouth opening to convey false shock, she raised a hand to her chest as if she were ‘clutching pearls’ as they say. “Um, that’s queen geek to you. I may read a few comic books here and there but I’m still cool enough to hang out with you, right?” Her hand fell slowly, confusion seeping back in. If he wasn’t cursed then he wasn’t a lamia like herself. She knew there were other things out there, she’d fought a giant ugly bird with a zombie after all, but she didn’t know what else there was. “Born, not cursed.” Which…could happen to lamia too but she’d already established that wasn’t what he was. “Not lamia but a…” She trailed off, allowing him to finish the sentence.

—--

It didn’t quite seem like Isa believed him, not that there was anything to believe except for the truth but she stopped pushing. Good. Kieran enjoyed her company, however briefly they’d known one another, but not enough for him to suffer through more questions about his emotional state. Her puppy dog gaze was pushing it, though. “You’re broke,” he answered simply, hoping the slightly clipped tone would be enough of a hint for her to drop the ‘caring friend’ act. It was entirely unnecessary. 

Luckily, she seemed capable of leaving the doom and gloom of whatever she thought Kieran was supposed to be feeling behind, falling back into the joking atmosphere more fitting for two people who were basically strangers. “It’s a good thing you’re pretty and sly or the comic book thing would have been a real setback,” he told her with a wink. As Isa mulled his words, Kieran risked a glance over her shoulder, catching a glimpse of an eerily familiar face being led through a door to one of the backrooms. He’d heard stories of humans that got brought through there, most importantly that they rarely came back out. The smile on his face turned a touch more genuine as the attention turned back to Isa. 

“Lamia?” he parrotted with a scoff of disbelief, shaking his head. If there were lamia out there capable of anything even remotely close to what Kieran could do then a certain shifter had been holding out on him, which he doubted was the case. The bit about curses was new information, though. “Why would you think lamia? No, I’m fae. Think less reptiles, more magical.” No reason to tell her about the deer part - this information was being provided on a need to know basis. 

—-

“Ouch.” It was the truth but damn that had been blunt. Isa wasn’t hurt though, couldn’t be hurt by something that she’d come to terms with a long time ago. This was how her life was going to be as an ex con. Jobs were scarce and they used her record as an excuse to not pay her as much…not that Alistair ever did that but the ones before had. “I think I can afford ten dollars for a drink but fine. Nothing for you.” She lifted her chin, nose stuck in the air before he was moving on again, choosing to concentrate on the more playful topic. 

Rolling her eyes at his words, she sat back in the booth, relinquishing any thoughts of taking his hand again. It was clear he didn’t want the comfort so she would fully let it go. “For some reason I feel like that’s high praise coming from you. I’ll take it.” Glancing his way, she noticed his gaze was elsewhere, but he was grinning like before. Turning her head, Isa just missed the door to the back room closing. Whatever it had been made him happy and that was good in her book.

Oh, was he offended by that? The few other lamia she had met were proud to be what they were so she couldn’t fathom him not declaring it just like they had. But apparently he was something else entirely. “What is fae? I don’t know what that is.” More magical? Isn’t that what her own ability was? Isn’t that what all lamia were due to a spell? “Sorry, I thought…” She knew what he was and despite not wanting to spread her own abilities around maybe she needed to explain why she was so confused. Fair was fair? She just couldn’t bring herself to say it was her specifically so she compromised. “I just know a lamia who…has a rare ability too. I thought maybe that was what was going on with you.”

—-----

Kieran gave a shrug - hurting her hadn’t been the purpose of the blunt statement, merely a casualty of the mission of getting her to back off. He wouldn’t apologize, worse things had obviously happened to Isa than someone pointing out her financial status and it was reassuring that she didn’t let a single (albeit slightly bitchy) comment get to her. Plus, he had started the night off by buying her a drink. “I’ll get someone I like less with more money to buy me one later,” he said offhandedly, even if he was still unsure another drink was on the menu for tonight. It wasn’t late but it also wasn’t so early that leaving now would be unusual. Maybe checking in on some familiar company tonight was the way to go. 

But Isa could have his attention for a little while longer. 

It wasn’t too much of a surprise when the word ‘fae’ made people blink dumbly at him, the secret keeping part of their culture quite a big one. Kieran didn’t take it as seriously as many others but it still didn’t benefit him to advertise it. “It’s fine,” he said with a wave of his hand, wondering if he even had the energy to explain fae lore. “Pretty broad subject. Didn’t really dress up like this to sit around teaching, though,” Kieran added with a halfhearted gesture at himself, humming a distracted sound of agreement at her words, the buzzing of his phone snatching his attention. The text was neither urgent nor very important but it was exactly the kind of familiar company he had let his mind wander to. Isa had her perks but he didn’t like the idea of feeding on her and since she couldn’t provide quite the same kind of distraction, Kieran jumped at the opportunity.  “Ah, that’s my cue.” He managed to sound at least somewhat apologetic as he stood, offering her a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I wouldn’t mind a rematch. On the off chance you win that one, maybe I answer a few more of your fae questions,” Kieran told her, ready to hurriedly follow the promise that text held before pausing, as if remembering something. “Oh, and this is a fae bar, just so you’re aware. So no saying thank you to anyone, sweetheart.”

[coyotescribbles]

The goal had never been to fight the Tzat'kani. That never would have ended in anything but a curbstomping so completely and utterly thorough that there wouldn't have been anything left of the human race to save.

No, the goal had never been to fight.

It had been to survive. To dig in and wait out the onslaught, hiding in secure locations until the invading fleet left the Sol system and they could safely pick up the pieces.

No one had ever anticipated the Tzat'kani's sheer, dogged, cussed stubbornness or their determination to root out every single human stronghold, no matter how small. What humankind had initially believed would be a short but violent incursion instead turned into five years, then six, seven, ten…

"What do you think they do with the people they take?" Clay whispered, nervously shifting his grip on his shotgun.

"Dunno," James replied, keeping his eyes forward as they picked their way through the empty city, scouting out a safe route for the rest of the group.

"You don't - you don't think they eat-"

"Clay? Shut up right now."

"…Sorry."

He'd forgotten that James' younger sister had been snatched in the first days of the invasion, and it was still a sore spot for him.

His train of thought was interrupted by a shrill scream that echoed through the streets; both men froze in place, exchanging silent sidelong glances.

Then James broke away, sprinting towards the source of the sound. Clay remained rooted to the spot for a moment, before scrambling to run after him.

"James!" He hissed through clenched teeth, as the other man vanished around a corner; "James, wait-!"

But it was too late.

Clay rounded the corner a few moments later, and collided with James' back with such force that it nearly sent both of them sprawling. Biting back a curse, he backpedaled in an effort to maintain his balance - and, in the process, saw what had stopped James in his tracks.

It was a body.

Or, rather, it was part of a body.

A good-sized chunk of the upper body - the head, neck, and a fair amount of the torso - was missing, along with the limbs. The right hip looked like an enormous bite had been taken out of it, as well.

And blood still trickled from the wet, gory wounds.

Clay thought he was going to vomit, but before he could even start to dry-heave, James seized his arm and dragged him back around the corner. His face was white as paper, and his eyes blank as he hauled him away from the grisly scene and darted into the first narrow alley that presented itself. Only they did he release his vise grip and collapse against the damp brick, shaking so violently that Clay wondered how he kept hold of his gun.

"James? James, what the fuck-?"

"We need to get out of here, this whole city needs to be marked as a red zone." James' voice was thready and trembling.

"Why? What the fuck was that??"

"They're back. This place isn't safe, too many places for the motherfuckers to hide, to ambush…" He shouldered the shotgun and scanned the street. "Stay behind me, watch my back."

"R-right."

Before they could move out, though, something spattered against the concrete at their feet.

Both men froze.

And slowly, slowly looked up.

Just in time to see a human arm vanishing into the maw of a giant silver Tzat'kani tank perched on the edge of the roof overhead.

Tritium-green eye lights fixed on them as the massive thing folded its mouthparts back into place; even from several stories up, its teeth glittered in the waning afternoon light.

Clay thought he might piss himself.

"Clay?" James' voice was barely more than a whisper.

"Yeah…?"

Neither of them took their eyes off of the machine that was staring them down now.

"Run."

"But-"

"I said RUN!" Shoving him back with all the force he could muster, James turned and brought his shotgun to bear just as the tank lunged.

The last thing Clay heard before he stumbled into a headlong sprint was the CRASH of the tank hitting the ground, and James' shotgun discharging.

Once. Twice.

And then silence.

His own gun clattered to the asphalt, forgotten in his blind flight.

All he could do was run. Run down the empty street with his heart thundering in his ears and tears in his eyes and bile in his mouth, taking every turn he came across in the hope that the thing might lose his trail. That it might lose interest and go after some easier prey.

(The Tzat'kani had never favored finding easier prey.)

After what felt like an eternity of running, Clay stumbled through the open door of the remains of some bodega and collapsed to the floor. Every breath burned in his raw throat as he scrambled to his hands and knees and clambered across the filthy floor to the checkout, where he lunged into the narrow space behind it and squeezed himself beneath the counter. Clamping both hands over his mouth, he held stone-still, straining to hear even the faintest scrape of metal on concrete over the pounding rush in his ears.

I should've kept running, I should've kept running, I should've kept running I should've kept running I should've kept running-

Broken glass skittered across the pavement outside, and he froze, barely even daring to breathe. Metal scraped against metal, and he heard it drawing in a long draught of air.

It was right. There.

How had it found him so fast? Did it know where he was hiding, or was it just guessing?

Did it really matter?

I never should've dropped the gun.

The seconds ticked by agonizingly slowly… until, finally, he heard the creature withdraw. Clay waited a few more anxious minutes, hoping against hope that it would clear the area, before creeping from his hiding place to peer cautiously around.

There was no sign of it.

With his heart in his throat, he rose shakily to his feet, and slipped through the door to hurry in the opposite direction.

What was he going to do now…?

He couldn't go back to the group, not without risking being followed. Maybe he could cross the Hudson and throw it further off his trail? Enough to escape the area and hook back up with the group later? Someone was going to have to tell them that James was…

…That James was dead…

Tears burned in his eyes and an unbearable tightness formed in his throat, but he didn't dare let himself cry. Not now. Not here.

He still found himself scrubbing at his face and struggling to breathe evenly.

I never should've dropped the gun.

He walked for what felt like hours, always on the alert for any signs or sounds of pursuit. However, although he couldn't shake the eerie feeling of being watched, the city had settled back into its overbearing stillness, and the only thing he could hear was his own ragged breathing.

As the sun sank lower on the horizon, Clay found his attention turning towards shelter. Fortunately, there was an abundance of intact buildings in this neighborhood, and he was able to gain easy entry to one without making too much noise. And from there, he climbed the seemingly-endless stairs until he reached the top floor, wanting to put as much space between himself and the street as possible.

Apartment doors still stood half-open - a haunting testament to the first days of the invasion, when panicked mass-evacuations were the norm and people had no time to lock things up behind themselves.

He supposed he should be grateful, he thought as he slipped into a darkened apartment and picked his way through it to the bedroom, where he quietly closed the door and settled down to fish a stale ration bar out of his coat pocket; it wouldn't do much to quiet his growling stomach, but it would at least help a little, and "a little" was better than "not at all."

And finally, Clay let himself cry, until he'd cried himself to sleep.

If he dreamed, he didn't remember it. But, then again, it was hard to recall one's dreams when the ceiling suddenly collapsed on you.

He barely had time to roll off the bed and out of the way of a bed-sized chunk of plaster and lumber that crashed down where he'd just been only moments before.

Then something bigger came crashing into the room.

Something massive and iron-gray and rust-red with phosphorescent green eye lights that gleamed like nightmarish cat eyes in the darkness. Something too big for the room, that made the floor bow and buckle under its weight and Clay found himself scrambling for the window and the fire escape -

The whole floor collapsed. And the one below that, and the one below that, as its great weight systematically punched through structures not built to hold it.

For a split-second, he managed to hold on to the windowsill, legs pinwheeling frantically as he flailed for purchase, trying to propel himself up and out and away.

But then the crumbling brick and brittle wood gave way, as well… and Clay fell.

When he regained his senses, all he was aware of was pain. Plaster dust filled his mouth and coated his throat, and his attempt to clear it away set his whole chest on fire. Every breath was simmering agony, like his chest cavity had been filled with magma.

Weakly, he lifted his arms, tried to lever himself up…

He couldn't move. He couldn't move he couldn't MOVE WHY couldn't he move…

Feeling around blindly, he felt an icy sense of terror settle over him when his fingers found the jagged piece of broken timber jutting from his belly, and a choking sob escaped him. He could feel the blood soaking everything - his clothes, his hands, the wreckage - and… and…

And that green-eyed shadow rose up to loom over him once more.

Clay could only sob bitterly as those brilliant green eye lights moved closer, and a rush of hot air washed over him. Its head tilted to and fro, as if examining him, and his brain screamed at his failing body to RUN.

But there was no running now. Not anymore.

I never should've dropped the gun.

He could only watch helplessly as the creature's gaping maw unfolded, butcher-knife teeth glinting faintly.

And he could only squeeze his eyes tightly shut and cry out for his mother as those jaws closed around his upper body.

The excruciating pain that followed was overwhelming.

But it was mercifully brief.

And in a moment, Clay knew no more.

[in-flvx]

Uncle

@wolfstarmicrofic

"you are coming with me!" Sirius says, with conviction in his voice. Like it's decided already. He had shoved aside some VHSs to be able to look at Remus from his other aisle. At Remus' place of work.

"Sirius, my shift only just started. I really can't leave right now to do... Whatever you have planned," Remus fills the gap with some more VHSs, effectively hiding himself from Sirius. This could have been the end of it. If it was any other person.

"We are getting smoothies," Remus can hear the grin in his voice, and sighs. Making Sirius smile or laugh has been his own personal drug and challenge for the past four years now. His shame about that fact was only overridden by the pride he felt whenever he managed it. And a bit because James also went to great lengths for the same goal.

So, against his own goal of keeping a job, Remus follows Sirius to the front of the store. Where Sirius is now already flirting with Remus' manager. It fills Remus with satisfaction to note that Sirius Isn't smiling now.

"Lupin, you're taking the afternoon off. And don't worry about your salary - family comes first!" Remus' manager says, mostly to Sirius, as soon as she sees Remus.

"My deepest condolences," she then says, trying to get a hold of Sirius. Who has already stepped out of her reach, and instead pulls Remus on his hand outside.

"what the fuck did you tell her?"

"that my uncle died," Sirius says, a slightly manic tone to his voice. "Now come on, race me!"

Before Remus can question the ethics of lying about your uncles demise to get a friend out for smoothies, Sirius had already taken off, and Remus can't do anything but follow. He let's himself get lost in the way Sirius' body moves, with that easy grace Remus could never emulate, and not for the first time Remus wonders what it would be like to bite into Sirius' buttock.

Before he knows it, Sirius has rounded into a store, and is already back out by the time Remus has caught up with him.

They drink their smoothies while wandering down the street and into a park, talking about the movies Remus had been stocking earlier and what would come to the cinemas this year. Sirius and movies was a Lovestory like no other, and that alone had been half the reason Remus had taken this job.

"I think you'll like the shining. I'll get us tickets for it as soon as it comes out - what?"

A light rain starts when Sirius suddenly stops in his tracks and pulls out his wand. Remus is halfway caught between elation and confusion, as Sirius uses a spy-spell they had learnt from Moody. The dark procession of cloaked people is magnified on both their left eyes, and Remus can now hear what they're saying.

Cygnus Black is reading from Merlins grimoir, a Psalm about loss and grief, as three house elves create a hole in the ground.

"wait, Sirius, is this a funeral?"

"told you, my uncle died," Sirius says with a shrug. There are tears in his voice. Even if they won't show in his eyes.

"but..." Remus racks bis brain for more uncles of the Black family.

"Alphard. He came to the last game of the season in year four. Just to watch me play. You liked him. He isn't like the others."

"God, Sirius, I'm so -"

"Shut up, I like this part!"

So they listen to the psalms, and watch as the house elves lower the long form of Alphard Black into the ground. And in a moment of unparalleled bravery, Remus takes Sirius' hand. To hold him and console him. And Sirius let's him.

[kikkieabby]

The Saints: As We Rise from the Ashes, Part 2

“Honey…you okay?” Lenard ask his wife, but the Boss ignores his voice as she searches for the keys to their vehicle. After last night, Lenard was on high alert when it came to his wife, however, he did not realize that he should let go now rather than later.

“Leave me the absolute fuck alone.” She growled at him as she continues to search for the keys.

“Your not going to find the keys.” He spoke, causing her to stop in her tracks and look at him.

“Give them to me.” She growled, but the man stood up tall to her. Walking over he stared her down before saying:

“Listening, I don’t know what’s gotten into you. Nor do I know when you started taking kick-boxing class. But, stop! Don’t mess with the Morning Star.” Lenard begged, but the Boss did not budge.

“Muther-fucka, I will fuck with who ever I want to fuck with. You limp dick noodle! Now give me the keys, I gotta go find my gang.” The boss demanded, her words just caused more confusion to the man.

“Gang!?” He shouted. “You wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

“Yea, that’s about to change.” She chuckle. “Oh, whats my name again?”

“Grace?” He spoke, causing the boss to nod her head.

“I am grace, roger that!” The boss growled at her name. Her actually name was Scarlet where she had  come from, but for her own sake she decided to take the name Grace for own well being, well until she figured out what was going on.

“What ever, see ya Lenard.” She tells the large gutted man before walking over towards the front door of her house. Only to be stopped when the door swung open to reveal two familiar Faces, faces she never thought she would EVER SEE!

“Mom? Dad?” She asked as her parents proceeded into her home. Her father was dressed in his Sunday best while her mother seemed to still be wearing her uniform from a restaurant. It was a haunting view for her, especially since her father was kind of a religious jerk.

“Grace.” He spoke, causing the dark skin woman to look over her shoulder for a second before looking back at him.

“Sup.” She spoke.

“Honey, what has gotten into you?” He spoke as he walks over to her. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he pushes her towards her dinning table where she takes a seat. Her mother sits next to her while her husband sat across from her.

“Lenard told us what happened last night,” Her mother started. “My sweet, are you okay?”

“Uh…” Grace moaned as she looked to the side yet again to avoid eye contact, especially with her mother.

A little history about our Boss. She was born and raised in a very heavy church life, that only got worse when her mother had passed away. See, like this time line, her father was a priest in Grace original world. And he was an awful father, thank god she had her mother to mellow him out a bit. However, her mother would pass away due to cancer when Grace was 13, leaving her to become the woman of the house while also leading by the churches example. Long story short, it did not last for her, she eventually would run away and then found her way to the Saints. So by the view of the world, it would seem that this is the route she would have taken in life, if her mother was still around, as well as no zombie apocalypse.

“You seem lost.” Her father spoke. “Are you on drugs.”

“I wish.” Grace chuckled. “A bowl would be great right about now…with lemon shots, and dick on the side.”

“Oh my god!” Her mother shouted in shock, she had never heard that type of language come out of her daughter. Just the vulgar word of a males genitallia made her mother clench her pearls. Grace on the other hand did not care, for she didn’t know these people. Her mother had died years ago, and her father had made a new family and forgotten about her. So to her, these people were nothing.

“Grace!” Her father shouted, however Grace was done with this entire talk. Standing up, she heads straight for the door again, ignoring her father and husbands protest for her to stay. However, she didn’t care! Walking out of the house, she begins to walk down the street and think of a way to find her gang. Now in this new world, there was tons of opportunity for the Saints to rise again, the problem, she didn’t know where to start. Even when she was thrown into a situation like this after waking up from her coma, the Saints were still known and popular enough for people to want to join. But now, they were a distant memory, and she needed to fix that immediately. And she knew just how to do it too!

Running into the street to stop a man straight in his tracks, she hijacked his car! After throwing him out of it of course, and then drove straight to the local news station. If she was going to find her friends, this was the only way she was gonna do it. Marching straight into the studio, she smiles ear to ear to see that they were live and talking on the television. Running up to the camera, she looks at the lens, causing everyone around her to panic since they didn’t even notice her enter the room.

“Hey, yea! Hi! Listen, I am only humiliating myself once in the hopes that ONE OF YOU FINDS ME!” The boss started as she stares into the camera lens. “Listen, go to kinzie’s warehouse! And there were gonna regroup. And don’t fuck with me! Drop everything and go there right fucking now! Bye!”

The boss shouted before leaving the studio with a smile on her face. Heading down stairs, she gets into her car and drives to Kinzie’s warehouse, and to her surprise, the place was unoccupied! So she waited.

And waited.

And waited.

And waited.

But no one came.  

No one came to the warehouse, leaving Grace in a rut. It was starting to dawn on her that perhaps the saints might truly be gone forever. This was her new life now, and what she had before was gone. Her heart started to sink a bit, she had done things that no man has ever done before, and now she was a normal person. The sheer thought of it made her sick to her stomach, but it was feeling she felt that she would have to get use too..until…

“Scarlet?” A voice spoke, causing her to look to the side to see a tall, dark-haired male standing by the doorway. He wore a black suit with a neon blue tie, but she knew his voice immediately.

“Matt?” She spoke. In shock at the sight before him, it looked like Matt but older with no makeup. However, it did not matter, her surprise was enough to run over to him and plant kisses on his lips. He wraps his arms around her waist and begins to kiss her back while also enjoying her warmth.

“You look different.” He chuckles, this causes her to stick out her tongue at him. “I think its cute.”

“Yea, well don’t get use to it. I need to change my look soon.” She says. “So, you saw my message.”

“Yea, of your beating the crap of the two morning star guards.” He says, much to her dismay.

“Shit…” She muttered under her breathe. Walking around the empty warehouse, she begins to feel that sinking feeling of doubt as she looks around.

“I thought you be happy to see me?” Matt spoke, this makes her snap out of her bad mood for the moment.

“No, I am glad that you are here. Its just…the saints are gone.” She tells him. “My friends…”

“Our friends.” Matt corrected her, causing her to nod her head.

“Yea.” She said before looking back at him. “Wait a minute, what’s your name here?”

“Charlie Watson.” Matt chuckled at the ridiculous of his new name, but one he didn’t seem to mind. “Unlike the original me, I was sent to a different orphanage that catered to my hacking abilities. Ironically, I still ended up working with Philip, the Deckers don’t exist though. They're called the Idols in this world (yes, those guys from the reboot), and personally, they are the worst!”

“Why are you older?” She asked, causing him to shrug his shoulders.

“I don’t know honestly, but being 23 is nice.” He tells her with a chuckle. “And I got to say, you have a very nice body in this world.”

“Awww, the same could be said for you buddy.” She chuckles as her cheeks begin to turn a deep red. “My King.”

“My queen.” Matt chuckled before leaning down to give her another kiss, only for a piece of plastic to be thrown over his head. Bouncing off the skin to land right next to his feet. Looking behind him, the two gasp when they saw a familiar red haired woman entering the building.

“KINZIE!!” The boss shouted, running over to hug her. Only for the red-haired woman to raise her hand to her and growl.

“The amount of work I am about to do, does not even come close to the bullshit you put on TV!” Kinzie yelled at her. “We were coming to get you, why the fuck did you go on TV!?”

“We?” The boss questioned.

“Oh, yes, Kinzie works with me.” Matt explained. “In this timeline, she works for the Dwynter sisters as their head accountant.”

“So you both work with one another!?” The boss shouted. “How the fuck was I suppose to know?!”

“You weren’t, which is why I said we should find her immediately before she does something stupid, right Kinzieton?” Matt said, causing the redhead to let out a gag sound before saying:

“You wanted to fuck her Matt, you were not searching for her out of fear!” She growled. “Plus, incase you forgotten, there is a large wrestle that is always keeping an eye on us! Its not easy to move around.”

“Oh definitely not. I swear, Kilbane got bigger in this timeline.” Matt muttered. “ I think even Philip is scared of him.”

“Really?” The boss asked.

“It doesn’t matter now. Once’s he’s dead we’ll deal with Philip later.” Kinzie explained as she takes a seat on the edge of the loading dock. She then pulls out her laptop and begins to type away at her computer. Matt was about to say something, but the boss had cut him off when she pressed her lips to his once again. Only this time, her tongue slithered into his mouth. Causing him to moan a bit before they separated.

“Oh shit, I’m married in this timeline.” The boss spoke, causing Matt to stare at her in shock.

“Married!” He shouted.

“Right, I married a fucking bus driver?” She growled. “Ugh, and we live in a small house that’s dirty and shit and I am nurse! It sucks! Ugh, I need the saints!”

“That’s not all you seem to need.” Kinzie chuckled as she points to Grace’s fat thighs.

“Listen, when we get the gang together and start making money. All of this will be fixed in no time.” Grace says before looking over to Matt. “You however can stay just how you are.”

“Oh, you naughty Vixen, you!” Matt chuckled before laying a kiss on her lips. Causing Grace to moan but Kinzie to gag.

[for-yoongi0309]

Suga of BTS: “You have to find what makes you happy, what brings you joy”

As he prepares for his first solo tour and shares his debut solo album ‘D-DAY’, the BTS rapper talks to NME about his Agust D alter-ego and the importance of living in the moment

To be honest, I had this sense of being a victim when I was very young,” BTS’ Suga says, taking a sip from the big cardboard cup in his hand. It’s an early April morning in Seoul and the rapper, producer and songwriter is discussing his alter-ego Agust D on a video call with NME as he prepares to return under the moniker for the final part of a trilogy of records. “I came up with the name because I had [this] hate, [this] anger inside me […] I couldn’t control that anger.”

When he first introduced us to Agust D back in 2016 with his self-titled debut mixtape, Suga used the alias as a vehicle to express those fiery emotions. Although he had spent years in his hometown of Daegu passionately pursuing music, when he debuted with BTS in 2013, he felt the rejection of other artists and fans outside the K-pop realm; his rap credentials not taken seriously now he was a member of a boyband. It fuelled his early solo music, that first mixtape full of barbed lines positioning him as mightier and fiercer than those who spurned him. “I’m the thorn in the side of those hyungs that are far from success,” he spits in one such lyric on the record’s title track.

As we grow up, get older and experience more, we often learn how to control the fire that blazes in our gut and, in the intervening seven years since ‘Agust D’, Suga has gone on his own journey with that. You can trace it in the evolution of his solo music, from the soul-searching of 2020’s ‘D-2’ mixtape, to his debut solo album ‘D-DAY’. The flames still burn at times – “Fuck that shit you think you know ’bout me,” he declares on the shadowy ‘HUH?!’, featuring J-hope. But there’s also an undercurrent of peace, not least in him ending the new record on ‘Life Goes On’, a more tranquil track that opens with his verse from the BTS song of the same name.

Although he acknowledges there has been a transformation in him and Agust D since 2016, he rejects that it’s because his life has changed – “I still live as Suga of BTS and, as a person, Min Yunki,” he reasons. Instead, he characterises it as a natural part of our life cycle: “Things change, situations change – people have no choice but to change.” Later in our conversation, he returns to this idea. “Everybody changes, but what’s important is the way that we change,” he says, cracking a small smile and adding with a chuckle: “I think I changed very nicely.”

One such metamorphosis – and one that informs ‘D-DAY’ as a whole – that Suga has gone through over the last few years has been the rapper’s attitude to focusing on the present; living in the moment rather than fretting over regrets from the past or the unknowns of the future. “I think we should be the subject in the life that we’re living now,” he explains. “You might think, ‘Future me is going to live in this big house, a nice house’ and, of course that would be nice. But, I think, in that process, the most important thing is me.” He leans forward in his seat slightly, widening his eyes to emphasise his next point: “I’m going to be the person that’s going to be in the future, so I’m just trying to say [I] should focus on the me now.”

It’s a perspective that Suga adjusted to during the pandemic, when our lack of control over our days, weeks, months and years ahead came into excruciatingly sharp focus. For the members of BTS, that meant, in part, being forced to cancel the ‘Map Of The Soul’ world tour they’d already sold tickets and begun preparing for. “I thought, ‘Well, what can I do right now at this moment?’” he says. After listing out his concerns to himself and “things I was in pain with”, he decided to do something about the old shoulder injury he’d sustained in a motorcycle accident in his trainee days and underwent surgery – an act in the present moment only he was in charge of.

Focusing on the now could be seen as something of a survival tactic; a way of living that makes the stresses and strains of our modern world a little more bearable. In Suga’s mind, love is another part of that handbook to endurance, and an antidote to the loneliness he details on the IU collaboration ‘People Pt.2’. “I just hope that people simply love,” he says, explaining that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to be in love with another person. “It can be a simple thing, like loving coffee or you can even love your internet community. But I just hope that people love people – let’s hate less, let’s be angry a little less, because we all feel lonely.”

The gentle, comforting boom-bap of ‘People Pt.2’, a thematic sister song to ‘D-2’’s ‘People’, offers consolation and solidarity with anyone feeling isolated, Suga rapping: “If you can’t hold it back, it’s okay to cry / You’re already more than enough to be loved.” He quotes these lyrics to NME and rubs the back of his neck with a sigh. “I’m just trying to say that you’re enough [as] yourself and you deserve to be loved on your own, and I’m also saying this to myself too. I just hope that everyone gets loved from the moment they’re born until they die.”

They’re powerful words in a world where it can feel like toxicity reigns and the nature of our chronically online lives, sifting through divisive misinformation and comparing ourselves to others on social media, can easily wear you down. ‘D-DAY’’s main track, the urgent ‘Haegeum’, provides a rallying cry to free ourselves and our existence as “slaves to capitalism, slaves to money / Slaves to hatred and prejudice / Slaves to YouTube, slaves to flexin’”. “This song’s a haegeum,” Suga raps in the chorus, using the Korean word for both liberation and the traditional string instrument that features on the track. “Get on board now.”

The song, he notes again, is as much a message to himself as it is to the wider world. “I’m a slave to capitalism, to YouTube, to money, and I have to say that to myself so I won’t be like that,” he shares. Does he really think, in this day and age, that music can still inspire big change in our society? He smiles wryly and replies: “Music certainly has the power, but we cannot be free.” Not all hope is lost, though. We can still find some form of emancipation by “being less conscious of other people[’s opinions]” and “find[ing] a way to make ourselves happy”.

Much like his views on love, happiness doesn’t need to be something big and complicated. “If eating makes you happy, just eat,” he explains. “If making music makes you happy, just keep making music. You don’t have to put too much meaning to it.” Perhaps if locating this “ephemeral emotion” was instilled in us from childhood, we’d be better off, he suggests: “We must be educated in how to find happiness from an early age, like learning the alphabet, but we haven’t learned it like that. Smart people actually find a way really, really fast, so we must be smart – if we tell people to be happy, they’re not going to be. You have to find what makes you happy, what brings you joy.”

From next week, Suga will bring more joy to ARMYs across the US and Asia as he kicks off his first solo tour. He is the first member of BTS to embark on such a run and some of the stops will see him return to venues he previously performed in with the group. “On top of being the first one among the BTS members to go on a solo tour, I’m more excited because it’s been a long time since I went on a world tour with multiple stops in various countries,” he says

The tour poster shows the musician’s face split in two – one half largely blue, the other half mostly orange-red. Both the names Suga and Agust D sit in the top left corner, all combining to hint at a show made up of two distinct halves. Although he’s not ready to spill many details yet (“Too many spoilers will make it less fun”), he says there will be a third part too. “This tour will show Suga and Agust D as an artist, and Min Yunki as a person,” he explains. “I’ll just put it like this, ‘Suga, Agust D and Min Yunki’s tour that will burn it up’. I dare say it’ll be a totally different tour from previous BTS tours, and a tour beyond what everyone can imagine.”

As he prepares to head out on the first leg in America, the Disney+ and Weverse documentary Suga: Road To D-DAY captures a different, more personal kind of tour. The film follows the artist on a journey across the US, Korea and Japan as he searches for fresh inspiration for his solo album. Although he admits both to NME and in the documentary itself that he was never one for travelling before, the voyage gave him new revelations and valuable experiences.

“Just finding joy in travelling is itself a new discovery for me,” he explains. “Also, I gained a lot from having genuine interactions with greatly renowned international musicians [Halsey, Steve Aoki, Anderson .Paak and the late Ryuichi Sakamoto all receive visits from Suga in the film] who I had a chance to collaborate with or was very close with personally. It was [a] great lesson for me as an artist and also from person to person.” On the trip, he surmises, he achieved what he set out to do – find “a great sense of new inspiration and stimulation”.

Although the next few weeks and months look set to be busy for the rapper, and with his enlistment for mandatory military service due later this year, Suga is staying true to the message of ‘D-DAY’ and focusing on the present. “I’ve been keeping myself busy preparing for my first solo album and my solo tour these days,” he says. “I think I’ll probably be busy like this until the end of the tour. I will do my best on every stage where I can meet ARMY and I’ll take good care of my health to do so.”

© Rhian Daly of NME

[kayrockerqog]

okay i've been vibing with this stuff in my head for too long, I'm embracing it, my turn to ramble, gx oc community

Leadershipping [Musa/Kenzan] in the FUTURE!

Musa has a somewhat different path than she planned. Instead of being a global superstar musician, she ends up building a career as a composer, writing songs for several known stars and even helping some former DA students have instrumental intro tracks as professional duelists and coordinated music for dueling idol performances. And while that is her main job, during the school year, she is one of the teachers at Duel Academy, having taken up the position since she graduated. She teaches a music and choreography class to expand the education past duelling while incorporating it as an aspect, as her course helps set up students who want to go into pro duelling or duelling performances.

Tyranno, on the other hand, has dueling as a secondary part of his job as a paleontologist, where he collaborates with more technologically inclined people to use prehistoric data to recreate more accurate images of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures. He travels a fair bit away from Academy Island in short bursts, because he can't stand to be away from Musa for too long. And when he is at the Island, he helps with her class, namely as the physical coordinator.

But that's way in the future, up in their mid thirties! how'd they get there?

Well, an important note to make at first is after the events of the third season, Musa and Chronos had gotten much closer, to the point he grew incredibly protective of her. While he treats a bunch of the main cast like they're his own children, it became far more evident with Musa, so much so that by the time she was to graduate with a majority of her peers, he approached her a few days before, asking if she would be willing to be properly adopted as his daughter.

Naturally, she said yes. And as they were announcing the names of the graduates, Chronos purposefully saved Musa for last so he could call her up as "Musa de Medici."

Everyone lost their minds.

Especially Tyranno after Rei nudged him and pointed out he was now dating a teacher's daughter.

^ him immediately after she said that

Since Musa was a year above Tyranno, despite them being the same age, there was a fair bit of discourse over their relationship as she was working as a TA for Chronos initially in her career. A LOT of the students were both either giving her shit because they believed she would buff her boyfriend's grades or there was something sick going on--- until they saw her graduation photos with Judai and the rest of the gang, and the fact she explicitly scheduled it so she would never assist in any of Tyranno's classes so never even SAW his grades until he showed her. His smarts were entirely his own and she would only ever bring them up as a means of saying "stop calling Tyranno dumb, he's the top of Ra for a reason."

That being said, because Musa was still living in her room in the Ra dorms, now converted into a bit of an apartment/office combo, he *did* get special access to it, purely because it was how they'd get to her room. When she was extra busy with schoolwork, he'd help her take care of chores and meals so she could focus.

Tyranno's grad duel was against Musa, naturally, and he asked Rei to help him plan a surprise, where at the very end of the duel, regardless of how it ended and when they shook hands, something with the confetti would malfunction and shoot something out towards them. He catches it before it hits her in the face, and when the stun wears off, she turns to him, talking with Chronos, who came running to confront him about this.

He holds out the ring box he caught, and Chronos fucking SCREAMS before covering his mouth, and Tyranno just smiles and tilts his head like, "Soooooooo, can I?" And Chronos takes a quick look at Musa before nodding.

Then Tyranno immediately grins like "cool!" and turns around to kneel and grab her hand.

"Now that our school days are history, Musey, how's about we start the next track of our lives on a high note?"

"I...you...right now?"

"We don't gotta do anything official right away, there's still a lot to be done, but there's one thing I know I want my future to hold-- you, saurus."

"...Tyranno..."

"Musa..."

"..." *She drops to the floor and hugs him.* "I cannot imagine a future without you beside me. Of course, I accept."

And those two stay engaged for at LEAST five years. There is absolutely no rush for a wedding, especially as they are both settling into their respective post-secondary schedules. Tyranno was off to university for an undergrad in archeology while Musa was still working as a TA, so they were long-distance for a good while.

And because Yugioh technology is a little more advanced and its shown they have video call capabilities, they absolutely call each other as often as possible. Oftentimes one will end up falling asleep and the other will watch them :,>

Once Tyranno gets his degree and the position within a large virtual tech company as the resident archeologist while chipping at his doctorate, he's got a looser schedule and able to zoom back to Academy Island, pick up Musa, and they start to get established on the mainland, buying a house on the coast and finally, FINALLY getting married within their mid/late 20s

They write a lot of letters too, like, a LOT of letters, just because they like the idea, and they each have a little box with all of their letters from each other

Their wedding was a small, intimate affair with the gang and their respective families in attendance along with some of their coworkers. Tyranno 100% started sobbing the second Musa came out with Chronos, who was also crying, and the ceremony went off without a hitch.

However, Manjoume (like a fucking idiot) tripped over his feet at the reception and crashed into a table. The whole thing is somehow so genuinely funny to Musa that she's able to laugh for the very first time in her life. She's in a stable enough environment with a new understanding of her emotions, and she can find the cue to laugh. It's squeaky and awkward, like an old rubber duck, but it is the most ADORABLE thing Tyranno has heard in his life, and he will not shut up about it for the rest of the night.

Their first dance song is Hello Hello by Elton John and I do not CARE WHAT ANYONE SAYS!!! Musa can be silly goofy on her wedding day because I say so.

The two do eventually have kids, likely in their late 20s, and they end up with two biological children and adopting Musa's niece, so three kids total, more on that later ;>

I have a lot more thoughts on this stuff but I needed to get the basics out. Before the inner cringe gets me to chicken out.

[0613magazine]

042423 NME

SUGA of BTS: “You have to find what makes you happy, what brings you joy”

As he prepares for his first solo tour and shares his debut solo album ‘D-DAY’, the BTS rapper talks to NME about his Agust D alter-ego and the importance of living in the moment

To be honest, I had this sense of being a victim when I was very young,” BTS’ SUGA says, taking a sip from the big cardboard cup in his hand. It’s an early April morning in Seoul and the rapper, producer and songwriter is discussing his alter-ego Agust D on a video call with NME as he prepares to return under the moniker for the final part of a trilogy of records. “I came up with the name because I had [this] hate, [this] anger inside me […] I couldn’t control that anger.”

When he first introduced us to Agust D back in 2016 with his self-titled debut mixtape, SUGA used the alias as a vehicle to express those fiery emotions. Although he had spent years in his hometown of Daegu passionately pursuing music, when he debuted with BTS in 2013, he felt the rejection of other artists and fans outside the K-pop realm; his rap credentials not taken seriously now he was a member of a boyband. It fuelled his early solo music, that first mixtape full of barbed lines positioning him as mightier and fiercer than those who spurned him. “I’m the thorn in the side of those hyungs that are far from success,” he spits in one such lyric on the record’s title track.

“I’m just trying to say that you’re enough [as] yourself and you deserve to be loved on your own, and I’m also saying this to myself too.”

As we grow up, get older and experience more, we often learn how to control the fire that blazes in our gut and, in the intervening seven years since ‘Agust D’, SUGA has gone on his own journey with that. You can trace it in the evolution of his solo music, from the soul-searching of 2020’s ‘D-2’ mixtape, to his debut solo album ‘D-DAY’. The flames still burn at times – “Fuck that shit you think you know ’bout me,” he declares on the shadowy ‘HUH?!’, featuring j-hope. But there’s also an undercurrent of peace, not least in him ending the new record on ‘Life Goes On’, a more tranquil track that opens with his verse from the BTS song of the same name.

Although he acknowledges there has been a transformation in him and Agust D since 2016, he rejects that it’s because his life has changed – “I still live as SUGA of BTS and, as a person, Min Yunki,” he reasons. Instead, he characterises it as a natural part of our life cycle: “Things change, situations change – people have no choice but to change.” Later in our conversation, he returns to this idea. “Everybody changes, but what’s important is the way that we change,” he says, cracking a small smile and adding with a chuckle: “I think I changed very nicely.”

One such metamorphosis – and one that informs ‘D-DAY’ as a whole – that SUGA has gone through over the last few years has been the rapper’s attitude to focusing on the present; living in the moment rather than fretting over regrets from the past or the unknowns of the future. “I think we should be the subject in the life that we’re living now,” he explains. “You might think, ‘Future me is going to live in this big house, a nice house’ and, of course that would be nice. But, I think, in that process, the most important thing is me.” He leans forward in his seat slightly, widening his eyes to emphasise his next point: “I’m going to be the person that’s going to be in the future, so I’m just trying to say [I] should focus on the me now.”

It’s a perspective that SUGA adjusted to during the pandemic, when our lack of control over our days, weeks, months and years ahead came into excruciatingly sharp focus. For the members of BTS, that meant, in part, being forced to cancel the ‘Map Of The Soul’ world tour they’d already sold tickets and begun preparing for. “I thought, ‘Well, what can I do right now at this moment?’” he says. After listing out his concerns to himself and “things I was in pain with”, he decided to do something about the old shoulder injury he’d sustained in a motorcycle accident in his trainee days and underwent surgery – an act in the present moment only he was in charge of.

“We must be educated in how to find happiness from an early age, like learning the alphabet, but we haven’t learned it like that.”

Focusing on the now could be seen as something of a survival tactic; a way of living that makes the stresses and strains of our modern world a little more bearable. In SUGA’s mind, love is another part of that handbook to endurance, and an antidote to the loneliness he details on the IU collaboration ‘People Pt.2’. “I just hope that people simply love,” he says, explaining that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to be in love with another person. “It can be a simple thing, like loving coffee or you can even love your internet community. But I just hope that people love people – let’s hate less, let’s be angry a little less, because we all feel lonely.”

The gentle, comforting boom-bap of ‘People Pt.2’, a thematic sister song to ‘D-2’’s ‘People’, offers consolation and solidarity with anyone feeling isolated, SUGA rapping: “If you can’t hold it back, it’s OK to cry / You’re already more than enough to be loved.” He quotes these lyrics to NME and rubs the back of his neck with a sigh. “I’m just trying to say that you’re enough [as] yourself and you deserve to be loved on your own, and I’m also saying this to myself too. I just hope that everyone gets loved from the moment they’re born until they die.”

They’re powerful words in a world where it can feel like toxicity reigns and the nature of our chronically online lives, sifting through divisive misinformation and comparing ourselves to others on social media, can easily wear you down. ‘D-DAY’’s main track, the urgent ‘Haegeum’, provides a rallying cry to free ourselves and our existence as “slaves to capitalism, slaves to money / Slaves to hatred and prejudice / Slaves to YouTube, slaves to flexin’”. “This song’s a haegeum,” Suga raps in the chorus, using the Korean word for both liberation and the traditional string instrument that features on the track. “Get on board now.”

The song, he notes again, is as much a message to himself as it is to the wider world. “I’m a slave to capitalism, to YouTube, to money, and I have to say that to myself so I won’t be like that,” he shares. Does he really think, in this day and age, that music can still inspire big change in our society? He smiles wryly and replies: “Music certainly has the power, but we cannot be free.” Not all hope is lost, though. We can still find some form of emancipation by “being less conscious of other people[’s opinions]” and “find[ing] a way to make ourselves happy”.

Much like his views on love, happiness doesn’t need to be something big and complicated. “If eating makes you happy, just eat,” he explains. “If making music makes you happy, just keep making music. You don’t have to put too much meaning to it.” Perhaps if locating this “ephemeral emotion” was instilled in us from childhood, we’d be better off, he suggests: “We must be educated in how to find happiness from an early age, like learning the alphabet, but we haven’t learned it like that. Smart people actually find a way really, really fast, so we must be smart – if we tell people to be happy, they’re not going to be. You have to find what makes you happy, what brings you joy.”

From next week, SUGA will bring more joy to ARMYs across the US and Asia as he kicks off his first solo tour. He is the first member of BTS to embark on such a run and some of the stops will see him return to venues he previously performed in with the group. “On top of being the first one among the BTS members to go on a solo tour, I’m more excited because it’s been a long time since I went on a world tour with multiple stops in various countries,” he says.

The tour poster shows the musician’s face split in two – one half largely blue, the other half mostly orange-red. Both the names SUGA and Agust D sit in the top left corner, all combining to hint at a show made up of two distinct halves. Although he’s not ready to spill many details yet (“Too many spoilers will make it less fun”), he says there will be a third part too. “This tour will show SUGA and Agust D as an artist, and Min Yunki as a person,” he explains. “I’ll just put it like this, ‘SUGA, Agust D and Min Yunki’s tour that will burn it up’. I dare say it’ll be a totally different tour from previous BTS tours, and a tour beyond what everyone can imagine.”

As he prepares to head out on the first leg in America, the Disney+ and Weverse documentary SUGA: Road To D-DAY captures a different, more personal kind of tour. The film follows the artist on a journey across the US, Korea and Japan as he searches for fresh inspiration for his solo album. Although he admits both to NME and in the documentary itself that he was never one for travelling before, the voyage gave him new revelations and valuable experiences.

“Just finding joy in travelling is itself a new discovery for me,” he explains. “Also, I gained a lot from having genuine interactions with greatly renowned international musicians [Halsey, Steve Aoki, Anderson .Paak and the late Ryuichi Sakamoto all receive visits from SUGA in the film] who I had a chance to collaborate with or was very close with personally. It was [a] great lesson for me as an artist and also from person to person.” On the trip, he surmises, he achieved what he set out to do – find “a great sense of new inspiration and stimulation”.

Although the next few weeks and months look set to be busy for the rapper, and with his enlistment for mandatory military service due later this year, SUGA is staying true to the message of ‘D-DAY’ and focusing on the present. “I’ve been keeping myself busy preparing for my first solo album and my solo tour these days,” he says. “I think I’ll probably be busy like this until the end of the tour. I will do my best on every stage where I can meet ARMY and I’ll take good care of my health to do so.”

Source: NME

[slow-button-off]

I was pissed off last year when they were saying it's such a shame Carlos missed out on the win due to outside factors like the Williams getting in the way and not acknowledging the part they played in fucking up the other driver - who started on pole - at his home race. Charles was so upset after that race shame, but just shows he's a better person than me for sure, cause if I had to hear that they're apologizing to my teammate when I started on pole and was the fastest on track the whole race (including after I had the lead taken from me) after I got fucked over, I would really be burning the place down.

I don't want to believe in conspiracy theories, and maybe Monaco was just pure stupidity and poor strategy choice, but that string of races and how often charles got the short end of the stick it really is a possibility that they were trying to get Carlos his first win.

Charles after that race was so heart breaking and I think that was when he said that he'll fight for the title as best as he can but he can't do it alone.

They just straight up left him alone.

It was a year ago why do they still need to pretend they had nothing to do with it? Like the strategy doesn't come from the pitwall?

How stupid do they think people are?