#lest i scare my coworkers

[lire-au-soleil]

Royal Gardner???????

[3-aem]

Finally opened up my new phone and ported everything i need over but I've been using my current one for almost 6 years and im having a little grieving goodbye party

[mentalmeles]

Was listening to Star Spangled Man With a Plan (as one does) and it got me thinking about Steve during his USO tours--mainly Steve and his relationship with the USO girls.

At first, the USO girls are all business and are only polite to Steve when they have to be. They're not cold to him, but they're not particularly friendly or warm either. They just stay in their lane and he stays in his. Maybe, after a bit of time, one or two of em decide to test their luck and flirt with Steve, but he declines their advances every time. (I know that the MCU says it's canon that Steve lost his virginity to one of em or something like that, but I'm actively choosing to ignore that he had sex with any of em at all lmao)

But then, after doing a handful of tours, one of the USO girls decides 'fuck it' and decides to throw Steve a bone;

"Can you help me zip up my outfit?" She asks.

Steve flounders a bit at first, but she assures him that she doesn't mean anything by it. She only wants his help. She's letting him help. So, he does. Suddenly, from that moment on, the majority of the USO girls begin to ask Steve for help too--whether it be for their outfits, their hair, or their makeup. Maybe it's because they've realized he's not going to try anything. Maybe they've realized just how lonely he really is. So, over time, they begin to let him in on their card games, their smoke breaks (even though Steve himself doesn't smoke, since it doesn't do anything for him now, anyway), and talks about home. They even teach him some dances and acrobatics. Eventually, Steve gets comfortable enough to tell them about Bucky. He tries not to say too much, lest he give away the true depth of their relationship. He's not the best at lying, so he speaks in half truths. He's always very careful. He has to be, after all.

But then, maybe, one of em figures it out anyway.

"You're sweet on him, aren't you? Your friend?" She asks. It's the girl who first asked for his help. The one who first let him in.

And Steve is so fucking scared all of a sudden. He doesn't know how she figured it out. He thought he'd been hiding it well. He had been so careful. So careful. Fuck, what will he do if she tells people? If she tells people what he is, it's all over. They'll send him home and he'll lose his one actual chance of potentially getting out on the field and helping Bucky. And Bucky... If word somehow gets to the army... What will they do to Bucky?

But then, suddenly, she drops another bombshell;

"I have a girl back home," she says quietly. "I had a feeling you were in the same boat as me, what with the way your eyes look every time you talk about him. Her eyes do the same thing when she talks about me. Everyone back home thinks she's just my best friend. But she's worth a helluva lot more than that."

Steve can only stare at her. For a moment he wonders if she's lying, but everything about her--all the way down to her voice, her expression, and posture--tells him that she's being honest. He gives a broken laugh, suddenly feeling very, very small.

"Yeah. Yeah, he is too. Worth a helluva lot more to me than just a friend, I mean..."

She nods. "Does anyone else know?"

"I think one of his sisters might. But, other than that, it's just you." He pauses. "What's her name?"

"Hilda. I call her Hildie."

"That's right. You've mentioned her a couple times... She sounds wonderful."

"She is." She pauses for a moment before speaking again. "You know, you can talk to me about him. Whenever you want or need. People like us...we gotta stick together, ya know?"

Suddenly, Steve doesn't feel like he's talking to a friendly coworker. He feels like he's talking to a friend.

So, he gives her one of his increasingly rare smiles, real and warm. "I think I'd like that," he says. "Thank you."

[nightlyrequiem]

The Other Side of Paradise

8) To Bond

Cross posted from AO3

Ch.1, Ch.2, Ch.3, Ch.4, Ch.5, Ch.6, Ch.7, Ch.8, Ch.9, Ch.10, Ch.11

You try to make the best of your life working at a small bakery in a city with rising cartel violence. One slower day, a man starts harassing your coworker. Despite the obvious threat, you stand up to him anyway. Unbeknownst to you, Valeria just so happened to be there to witness it.

A/N- All chapters containing smut will be labeled mature. The fic is fully written with the whole thing on AO3 but chapters on Tumblr will be posted one a day.

Tags/Warnings: Fluff, Angst, Dual POV, Happy Ending, Plot with Porn, Graphic Violence, Inappropriate Use of a Knife, Masturbation, WLW

'What are we?' That's the newest question burning through your mind. You have to stop yourself from blurting it out when she visits you occasionally at work. You have to stop yourself from texting the question whenever you pick up the phone. Lest you come off as needy and desperate. The budding romance between you two is still new and delicate and you'd hate to scare her off by springing a question like that on her. If you pretend to be chill and relaxed and let things progress naturally then everything will happen like it should.

That being said, you take extra care to make yourself look nice. More than usual. You go about your workday with a little more energy. Just the chance that Valeria will come in to visit you is enough to make you feel giddy. To give you a renewed sense of purpose. You wash dishes and pack up baked goods with a small smile. Whether or not anyone notices your slightly more upbeat energy, they don't comment on it. Although you almost wish someone would ask you about it. You'd love to gush about your feelings to another person. To talk endlessly about Valeria. It's all you can think about. She's all you can think about.

You wipe down the tables and keep an ear out for the sound of the door opening. At one point, it did, and you turned with a smile only to see some guy. Your disappointment was immeasurable, and you were glad he already knew what he wanted so he'd leave faster. The door opens again, and you look, trying not to be too excited in case it isn't who you're hoping for. It is, and you smile. Resisting the urge to drop the rag and bound over to her like a puppy. Instead, Valeria walks over to you and leans against the wall. Immediately you can tell she's had a rough week. There are slight dark circles under her eyes and just a general aura of exhaustion radiating off of her.

You set the rag down and turn to face her fully.

"I'm glad to see you." You say softly. Hoping to provide at least the smallest amount of comfort. Valeria runs a hand through her shiny black hair.

"Yeah." She replies. "It's nice to be here." You plant your palms on the table and hoist yourself up so you're sitting on it. You'll have to wipe it down again later, but you don't mind.

"Especially near closing." You reply.

"Mhm, it's always so quiet." She murmurs. Her hand reaches out for yours and she casually interlaces your fingers with hers. Your heart acts like it's the most exciting thing to have happened to you.

"I know, I used to come here after school to do homework." You reminisce. You did more eating and reading than actual work, but the details aren't important. You still passed after all.

"I'd seen you a few times, actually." Valeria says quietly. Turning her head to look at you. "My friends used to make fun of you for being by yourself.

You blink. Not entirely sure how to respond to that information.

"Oh. Well... did you ever... participate in that?" You ask awkwardly. Valeria stares at you silently for a few seconds before replying.

"No." You aren't sure how true that is but that was back in high school. She's clearly changed if she's willing to be here with you right now. You're holding hands. Why let that ruin a good thing? Forgive and forget, right?

"How has your day been?" You ask. Switching topics. You're starting to really like the casual small talk with her. It feels domestic.

"Long." She sighs.

You give her hand a slight squeeze.

"How about we go for a walk after I finish cleaning up?" You suggest.

"Doesn't your shift end at ten?" She asks. Furrowing her brows. You just shrug after getting off the table.

"It's only an hour, I'm sure Mateo won't be too mad." You remark. Grabbing the rag to re-wipe the table. Valeria watches you work. You can feel her gaze on the side of your face. It makes you feel a little self-conscious.

"A walk would be nice." She finally says. "We should go down to the creek." Valeria doesn't have to specify which creek. Everyone who grew up in Las Almas knows which creek. It's where children held mock wars and swam. It's where teenagers made it to fourth base and partied. Well, some teenagers anyway. You didn't know enough people to get invited to parties.

You finish up with closing duties and lock down the bakery. You and Valeria decide to walk towards the stretch of woods housing the creek instead of driving. The bakery isn't that far and the whole point of this outing is to walk. To your surprise, your hands stay connected while you two traverse the nearly empty streets. It helps reassure you that your feelings aren't just one sided, as if making out and heavy petting didn't make it clear enough. You make it to the woods and walk along the path in comfortable silence. You forgot about the bug population and have to keep slapping at your own limbs to fend off against hungry mosquitos.

You and Valeria arrive at the creek and sit down in the soft grass beneath a large oak tree. It's dark and a little cool out so you lean against Valeria for warmth. She wraps an arm around your shoulder and holds you. You feel content. You feel happy.

"I used to come down to catch frogs and salamanders." You murmur. You weren't ever successful. Not even with a net.

"I used to play hide and seek; I had this big group of friends when I was ten." Valeria replies. She turns her head to look at you. "I was an excellent hider, always the last to be caught."

"But you were caught eventually, or did you have to come out once everyone gave up looking for you?" Valeria smiles. You catch the glint of her white teeth as she speaks.

"The kids I played with didn't know how to give up." She says. "I was always good at hiding but I couldn't stay hidden forever."

You smile, amused.

"I used to love playing hide and seek, I didn't have many people to play with though and that number dropped significantly once I reached high school."

"I would've played with you." Valeria murmurs. You rest you head on her shoulder.

"No, you wouldn't have." She scoffs but doesn't rebuke your comment. You both know you're right.

"If I were less afraid over what people would've thought of me then I would have." You pause. A little caught off guard by the admission. Valeria never struck you as the type of woman to care what others thought. She was always confident, an a little mean if you're being honest.

You stare off at the glittering water.

"You worried over what people thought of you?" You ask.

"I was a teenage girl, of course I cared." She replies quietly. "I always cared. I always worried I wasn't good enough, not pretty enough, not feminine enough." She admits. She sounds uncomfortable. Valeria straightens up a bit. Her tone hardening. "I'm more than enough now though." You're still surprised over her revelation. Hearing that the woman you've always been a little envious of was probably just as insecure as you had come as a shock.

She doesn't speak again, and you don't ask. You just enjoy her company while you two look out at a shared childhood hotspot. After a while she removes her arm from your shoulder and stands up.

"We should go." She says. You wouldn't mind staying for a little while longer but if she's not staying you don't want to. Being out in the dark woods on your own isn't ideal. You stand up and follow her back to the path. She doesn't hold your hand this time.

[joltning]

@fishfingersalad it’s almost 2am but i can’t sleep and ts probably only going to be seen by like 5 people anyway so let it rip

this au started out as a self indulgent pocket sized au that I ignore as all my aus do…..then I couldn’t sleep and started imagining things im good at that. it started as an au I could do ship focus on and well I love lore I guess. despite all this the main story still focuses on my blorbos. maybe I will make a storyline for the main cast, if I can imagine things again

one day, all across (abridged) America (this is why I made that carolina/puerto rico/dc post btw), 50 children, each for 1 state, pop up at the same time, with varying ages, mostly tween years but with some variation up and down. while some are humanoid creatures, others are completely monstrous and lack sentience. however, they all share one common factor: a tag identifying what state they came from. The majority of the sentient ones assume this is their name, and that’s why they run with it.

conspiracy theorists and cryptid fans nationwide take notice of a bunch of shit happening overnight and develop “The 50” list. depending on if it’s commonly agreed upon what monster you are and if it’s commonly agreed upon what state you’re from, you’ll be ranked higher or lower on the list, with, of course, the highest ranking being the most sought after and hidden. Most of the higher tiered creatures are humanoid; it’s easier to blend in if you don’t look out of place

i forgot to mention Btw it’s like. myths and legends and shit too. i mentioned york being the pied Piper I also think the implication that the pied Piper is a monster is funny. also only one monster per person and

ofc my blorbos…….Everyone run now!!!! Ohio has just moved to a new city yay go girl But her coworkers are fucked up!!! There’s this bitch Sherry that she may or may not have a crush on and like her two little friends who absolutely know that. but Watch out there’s a freaky green man It’s Georgia her old friend Georgia. they were their first freelancer friends but geo Loves making deals for souls slash servitude slash their power slash take over the world slash he doesn’t know what souls are and neither do I. but they gotta be normal and not fight in the office.!!! And fight outside of a Walmart at 2 instead. he’s kinda bad at it though which is why only Ohio cares.

anywya Sherry keeps running into Ohio and Georgia fighting and you know Ohio’s kind of like. well if you see her when she’s not masking you’ll probably go insane huh. so Ohio has to keep wiping her memories and Sherry’s getting CRAZY deja vu.

this is so stressful Good thing Ohio’s got her trusty friends Iowa and Idaho!!! They’re causing chaos somewhere else but she’s always texting them and video chatting. hopefully they can meet up again soon!!

Utah is a paranormal investigator and currently georgia’s only the only person who’s currently made a deal with him. he’s made past deals but Ohio scared them off by ‘Do Not Be Afraid’ing them. it’s either that or they have to get killed lest the green fuck get too powerful and Ohio would rather not do that thanks. utah doesn’t even get anything in return he just wants to know wtf is going on tbh. Georgia stays at his apartment because he’s a squatter I guess

well That’s too bad I guess I can’t share any more because they’re just plotpoints. hey do you wanna know what the other freelancers are

Ohio: Angel (duh. So low because when she spawned she was literally in the middle of a bunch of people and blinded them with her corporeal form)

Georgia: Demon (the devil but literally this time. manages to be a little higher due to being able to teleport short distances. Stayed a little too close to home base, though.)

Iowa: Harpy (kept flying in the air like a dumbass everyone fucking saw him. denialists claim it to be a big bird. and they’re right.)

Idaho: Werewolf (he didn’t know until a full moon came out. oops.)

Carolina: Siren (keeps the bad singing voice.)

York: pied piper….

Wash: Shapeshifter

Florida: Alien (when he came on the fated day he rode in on a meteor instead of plopping in, breaking off the state from the rest of the US. its highly debated on whether or not the meteor itself was the creature.)

Maine: Bigfoot (but he shaves his whole body every day so he just looks like a big guy)

Connie: Kitsune

Wyoming: Fairy (despite being obvious, no one fuckinh lives in wyoming so he just flew far away immediately. fucks up the rankings of others by being spotted far away from his state.)

North: The Sandman (Both spawned across from eachother at the 2 state’s borders. They immediately declared eachother twins.)

South: Mare/Dream Eater (Their high ranking is very dependent on the confusion on which twin is which, since they work together to sleep and then feast.)

Tex: Ghost

you may see here I did not include Utah Did I forget No No No (kinda) I have an idea for what he is but i don’t intent to reveal it ever really. idk how id incorporate that. jsut know I searched really hard to find a creature that wasn’t a ghost that disrupted electromagnetic fields so that every time he went ghost hunting the machines would go off causing him to assert there was a ghost there. but no alas I did not find that

ok tahts it I think. for now. maybe. if you have any ideas for this background fucks wise or rnbs wise I would like them. for meThanks goodnight im gonna pass blout Out Out

[tijuanabiblestudies]

short-term goals:

get serious about Musicianship (fine, don't call it a "career" if that stresses you out any less)

become a regular at weekly karaoke night at that bar that is within walking distance; keep practicing Grace Kelly and make it your signature song

continue being active in local kink scene (great start last night! let's keep it rolling)

begin semi-regular solo trips to Chicago

touch base with old voice teacher, tell her i'm a baritone now, and at least discuss starting private lessons over zoom (no hurry on that; time and money are stupid, stupid factors as always)

form a healthier relationship with le cannabis (try and make it a Sometimes Food)

start a public-facing youtube channel (god help me)

ask standup-comic coworker about local open mics (just for funsies; we REALLY don't want to make a career out of that one)

finish novel (GET YOUR FUCKING COMPUTER FIXED, or at least the hard drive salvaged. first half of chapter 3 is still on there)

build my own desktop PC

give my wardrobe a gradual overhaul. dress like the rock-n-roll transfag you are

start that podcast with @magnaflourious-nerdity (i know it's been ages since we talked about that, but i still wanna do it, and i have Ideas) (also read that fucking mcelroy book you bought; if nothing else, it'll probably be funny) (and there's a sidnee chapter about reasearch!)

get my eyebrow pierced, and also MORE TATTOOS (yes, we still want those sleeves) (sidenote: my view on the whole jews + tattoos situation is, as always, Consent Matters)

continue working on mental and physical health (keep working with new therapist; get new PCP; get surgeries, etc) (oh god don't get scared)

embrace your identity as an otter; continue gradual bear transformation

maybe go to some cons? definitely look into close-ish furry ones. (ALWAYS double-mask if you do decide to go)

continue masking in public, even outside when there's no one around (remember how much better your allergies were during lockdown year?) (also keep wearing the decorative venom mask atop the KN95, just because)

make friends. build local community. the munch already gave you a head start. maybe definitely also try to AT LEAST establish civil relations with Upstairs Neighbor

try and find local activism to do (neighborhood community center, LGBTQIA+ community center)

find a ttrpg group to join (quiltbag center again; i know you freaked out that one time due to social anxiety and stopped going due to work and also social anxiety, but the well is NOT poisoned there. try again)

lots more crafting (keep up with the crochet, join stitch 'n' bitch groups, do some slow and deliberate knitting maaaaaaybe start working on that blanket again, eventually), other stuff as dictated by whim and circumstance

stay the course on exit strategy/career change

continue building Housekeeping skills (git gud at cleaning, start cooking again) because you're gonna need them after [redacted]

message [redacted] about [redacted]

[redacted] (rip the damn bandaid off already. tomorrow.)

you're also gonna have to tell your parents about that sooner or later. goddamn it all to hell

long-term goals:

lots more solo travel (definitely cali, maaaaybe texas--maybe just get a hotel in austin and fly or take train directly there and back--and other places as desired (india, scandinavia, japan, australia and/or aotearoa [again, to shake off the baggage of that one bad trip, and hit up the LOTR landmarks we didn't get to linger on]); THEME PARKS (what-the-fuck-ever, no ethical consumption

lots of Seeing Live Music (lest we forget, that is our religion, above and beyond the judaism even). find at least one local band to become non-creepily obsessed with. treat yourself to a big arena show now and then (masked, always)

continue Being More Jewish. learn yiddish. find a schul that doesn't suck. read that Book of Customs and try practicing them solo. maybe dabble in some light mysticism (kabbalah or whatever?) the witchy streak remains in us despite it all

date people. fuck people. explore kink to the full extent that your slutty little heart desires. we have no excuse not to at this point.

keep in touch with all our various long-distance friends

[REDACTED]

eventual full cali move??? let's not be too impulsive there. (almost certainly not los angeles; we have decided to fully commit to the Not Driving. probably somewhere in the northern half of the state. although we should definitely visit LA, just to be sure, and for other reasons)

record that podfic, eventually (ow)

(circle back to [redacted]. maybe. eventually. let yourself grieve. we truly do not know what the future holds.)

maintain delicate balance re: family of origin. build relationships with niblings while remaining out of contact with Bro (definitely keep sending them mail) (Local Zoo is good option for extremely short-term overnight babysitting situations) (heed the wise words of Wanda Sykes: "they're not your kids!!!!!!")

Be Yourself. keep becoming more Yourself each day. let Yourself change as he desires.

heal from past trauma and shit

stay alive and get old as balls, or at least stick around long enough to collect on your dad's life insurance (probably won't have too long to wait on that; he's already, what, 70? maybe 10 years tops) (ok let's not jinx it)

KEEP HOPE ALIVE BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY

[dcviated]

subtle nsfw prompts :: open

send a word for a drabble thing that toes the line (unless?)

@cloudpools sent: 「CLIMB 」 : for sender to climb into receivers lap ((Blythe x Gurin BB

It's a well deserved break in a place that was, for once, not high tension. High risk. There weren't any meddling coworkers. No demonic lords that could eviscerate them (him) with a flick of the wrist. The room was quiet, almost eerily so and the pair are wasted of energy. Blythe from the stress, and Gurin from the adrenaline seeping away.

Figures that the girl needed some comfort. She's scared. This was all a lot for anyone. But. Uh.

Slipping into his lap feels like a huge invasion of personal space. And yet what can one do in the face of such endearing naivete, especially when it's born out of seeking comfort from concern. Blythe has no issue finding a comfortable place in Gurin's lap- comfortable for her, at least. Maybe TOO comfortable for the demon. Not to mention she's so damn close now! All instincts tell him to throw her off and slink away to live another day.

This, easily foiled by the regret and guilt that would come with her offense. Making that worried face feel sad?!?! Hells damn it all!

"I will never catch a break again. Ever. This is it for me." He mutters under the already low breath he was holding. All attempts to keep himself distracted were failing. Miserably. If Blythe were behaving as she was on purpose, Gurin would accuse her of being a worse demon than some of the other's he'd known. A succubus is pushing it. But there's something at play here!!

"Listen Blythe. If you're going to sit on my lap, fine." Actually. Not fine?! How can he just agree to this? But once again, they're past the point of changing course. Lest she get upset. "But. You gotta stop wiggling or you will have problems. I will. We will. You hear me?" Blythe turns to face him, and by all that was unholy and desecrated he had to avert his eyes right then.

She has to be some kind of secret weapon. Can't put anything past Zeyrfial.

[meximango]

Day 13 - check - G - Luvon + Nero 

Luvon tests something.

--

Three polite raps sounded at his office door--or the frame, anyway, since the door was wide open.

He knew who it was even before that soothing voice reached him. Most people barged right in even if the door was closed with a 'do not disturb' sign taped to the front in big red letters, because he worked with a bunch of rude ingrates with no sense of decorum or ability to read, apparently. Only one shining star of a coworker bothered knocking even when the door was open, would wait for permission to converse. Nero could kiss him for it (he wouldn't, because it may startle the poor anxious soul, but he had thought about it more than he'd care to admit).

"Good evening, Nero. May I come in?"

Luvon stood in the hall, patiently waiting outside the room entrance with a small smile on his face. He waved as Nero turned around, his chair squeaking loudly as it swiveled--note to self, use the squeaking to annoy the hells out of Cid when he next comes by.

Luvon had opted to wear shades today, the very same Nero had made for him after discovering his extreme sensitivity to light. It always filled the garlean with pride to see his inventions being put to good use. Luvon was able to go much longer these days before needing to don his usual blindfold. The lenses were polarized with a new technique he'd developed and specially crafted to filter out gaudy spell effects too, rendering them nearly invisible. They even lessened screen fatigue! Nero had a matching pair on, partial as he ever was to wearing sunglasses indoors. They made him look cool.

"Of course, Freckles. You're always welcome." Unlike certain someones that need not be named, lest it summon him. He motioned him forward, and Luvon acquiesced. "Now, what brings you here? Need my expertise on something?"

"In a sense, yes." Luvon pitter-pattered into the room, steps so light they could barely be heard. He stopped a few films away. With Nero sitting down, they were almost eye to eye. A rare viewpoint.

"Well? You were right to come to me, I am the obvious choice." If he wasn't the first pick, he'd need to up his game.

Luvon's smile shifted, suggesting he was holding back a huff of laughter. Not too strange; Luvon found Nero amusing, which was just another of his charm points: a sense of good taste. "It is an answer only you can provide, in fact."

Nero preened. He was terrifyingly smart, true, but something only he could answer? Whatever could it be? "Don't keep me in suspense, then!"

Luvon stepped closer.

Then closer still.

If he kept going, they'd end up nose to nose, and Nero would have a lap full of the other. Certainly not unwelcome, but he was getting confused now.

"May I touch you?" He tilted his head to the side sweetly, innocently. His hands were held behind him to appear less threatening--not that the guy who barely came up to his elbow had to worry about that, Nero couldn't imagine ever being scared of the soft soul in front of him.

Wait. Back up.

Touch him? Yes. Please do. Whatever for?

"Whatever for?"

"I need to check something. I already know the answer, but I promised to get evidence to confirm."

He was curious enough to go along with it. "I am all for the scientific method. So long as it won't hurt, touch away, shorty." He held his arms out and added, "My body is yours to examine." He grinned and winked, despite his eyes being hidden by the barrier of their two pairs of shades, so there was no way the other would know that.

Luvon, despite his appearances and general anxieties, was not shy. And in fact he was a very touchy-feely individual naturally. A pat on the elbow here, squeeze of the fingers there, etcetera. He was tactile and had stopped asking in general after the Ironworks crew gave him blanket permission, as his eyesight was still poor even with the aid of spells, tonics, or shades--though not so much that he needed a cane--and touch could be useful to orient himself.

All this to say that Nero didn't expect the man to blush. His grin only widened at that; maybe his feelings were reciprocated after all. Certainly something to look into later.

Luvon nodded, then leaned in.

Waitisthisactuallyhappening--

Instead of faces meeting, the other turned his head and ducked down to press one fuzzy ear to Nero's chest. A bit disappointing, but still nice. Still much closer tysn expected, nearly intimate. A pointer and index finger pressed to his neck where his pulse point was, pressure firm but claws gentle.

It took a lot of effort to keep his heartbeat steady--wouldn't do to trigger doctor mode out of the other, and it'd be embarrassing to explain why his heart was racing. He'd have to spell it out, Luvon surprisingly bad at figuring feelings out when he was the primary target of them. No thanks, not ready for that conversation yet.

After a moment, Luvon spoke again, taking away his hand, though he kept his head where it was. The rumble of his voice vibrated pleasantly through Nero's chest. "Mhmm. It is just as I expected."

"Yeah?"

"Indeed. You do have a heart. There it is, beating just fine." Luvon pulled back, giving his chest a few pats for good measure.

Nero was taken aback. Before he could find his words again, Luvon continued.

Well, he giggled, first. Honestly giggled. "I apologize, Nero, but this was a rather silly setup of a joke. Cid bet earlier that you did not have one, so I volunteered to get proof."

Nero groaned. Of all the ridiculous jokes. Of course Luvon would follow up literally. "Of course Garlond was involved. You tell that idiot--"

"I am certain he would rather hear it from you," Luvon interrupted him. Fair. His rants and creative insults about Cid could go on a while once he got started, best served personally for their colorful language and nuanced delivery. "But the next time he suggests you are lacking in a heart, I will remind him of my hard evidence to the contrary."

Nero did laugh at that, finally. "I'd love to see the look on his face of you defending me. Can't wait, really. Where is the old grump?"

"How fortuitous, then, we are going out to get dinner soon. You can accompany us!"

Oh, and a chance to ruin Garlond's date night, one he'd never be invited to if Cid hadn't put Luvon up to such a ridiculous joke of a challenge? His name day had come early.

"It would be my pleasure, Freckles. Lead the way." He held his arm out and Luvon took it as the invitation it was, hooked his own arm around his elbow as they left the room, merrily chatting all the way.

[gaaaaaay]

I have lived In a couple places with house centipedes and when my bf (who had cockroach PTSD) moved into a place that had them before we lived together i looked them up and convinced him (and myself) that they were ok and actually eat cockroaches !

Anyway a couple weeks ago I was at work and saw one in the bathroom just as some kids were about to come in and I nudged it with my foot but it didn't move so I had to Dispose of It lest it scare the children so I crushed it with my foot to put it out of its misery (think it was already dead though) but I have this thing where I find that very repulsive so when I crushed this (very large, the largest I'd seen in years) centipede with my shoe and it went CROOONCH I definitely made a bit of a noise as I was trying not to throw up and then afterwards my boss and coworker asked me about it and I had to be like omg....hahaha no I was not having Bathroom Problems there was just a large....🥴very crunchy bug in there 🥴 and I didn't want it to scare anyone

Uncaring

[labratgrl]

saw someone refer to shadow the hedgehog as “the hedgehog that swings the other way” today and i cannot stop fucking thinking abt it. i be making pizzas and the color of the marinara will make me think of him and i have to hold in my laughter lest i scare my coworker again

[thenightsyouremember]

for a lot of my childhood, i was the angry annoying kid no one wanted to be around. boring, got too worked up about insignificant things, too much to be around. it seemed like everything and everyone pissed me, and then it became a game to see who could wind me up higher and how upset i would get. sometimes other kids would intentionally provoke me just to see mad i would get; cheap entertainment, i get it. and my mom would ask me whats wrong, but i could never verbalize why the things that upset me did, so instead they told me to stop being so angry all the time or i would never have any friends. so i tried. i tried to not to yell so much, but i couldnt help feeling the way i did. so i would just sit, not say a word, and try to breathe through my rage. but thats annoying too. "why are you breathing so deeply, didnt we tell you not to get mad?" "why cant you be kind and polite like your sister?" so then i started to go to my room and read a story book whenever i got upset. "why wont you spend time with your family?" "why are you always reading those books, you should be playing or studying like any other kid your age". i became the angry teenager who wouldnt talk to people, who would lock herself in an empty room and read the same book over and over and over. who spoke in the most monotonous tone of voice so people wouldnt think im angry even when im not.

then i decided that everyone else was right. i WAS too angry and too annoying and unfriendly and no one wanted to talk to me because i would push them away. so i started to spend hours in the bathroom, staring at the mirror, trying to smile like a regular person, and spent the rest of my time outside trying to figure out how to walk normally because im such a fuck up that i had to learn how to swing my arms while walking. i found out what the other kids liked to talk about, researched those a bit.

so great. now im ready to be a normal girl! make some new friends at school, they seem to like me just fine. until they meet my sister. "oh your sister is so cool, wish i was friends her instead." well, who wouldnt want that, she honestly is cool and nice. cant blame my friends for wanting to know her over me. but theyre still willing to be friends with me! a win!!

now im pursuing a specialisation in my field of work, and apparently all my friends think im always angry even when i speak of mundane things because of my flat tone of voice and general lack of facial expressions, which i thought would put people at ease, but has backfired spectacularly, because god forbid i ever make a sarcastic joke.

so. you know. time to only use my Work Voice and Work Tone and only speak of Work Related Matters, lest i scare my coworkers and get a harassment complaint filed against me.

[augustinewrites]

+ chapter summary: going on a weekend work trip to osaka with your coworker (with whom you’d just made out with) certainly isn’t ideal.

a/n: sorry this took so long! i did quite a few rewrites, but i think i’m happy with this now! thank you for your patience, and stay tuned for the epilogue & an office christmas party extra!

series masterlist

“The hotel was supposed to be a 20 minute drive from the airport,” you deadpan when the car rolls to a stop at yet another red light. “We have been driving for almost an hour. Can you be a man and just admit that we’re lost? We are lost in Osaka!”

“Isn’t that a Shawn Mendes song?” He asks, and if he hadn’t been behind the wheel, you might have thrown your phone at him. “And we’re not lost,” Kuroo scoffs. “We’re just taking the scenic route.”

Stupid male pride.

You gesture impatiently out the window, at the flickering lights of downtown Osaka. “We’ve passed the same buildings five or six times already. I told you we should have turned right back when we were on—”

“You told me while we were entering the intersection,” he argues, hitting the gas as soon as the light turns green. “I didn’t have time to turn right!”

“That was because you were speeding,” you snap, clutching the armrest as he goes 20 over the speed limit. “I barely had time to read the street names!”

Kuroo just rolls his eyes. “Yelling at me won’t get us there any faster, you know. Would you just relax?”

“We’re supposed to go to the stadium at 1pm to do interviews with the team before their practice,” you remind him. “Which means we were supposed to check into the hotel by at least 11:30 so we could eat. I told you we should have let your friend pick us up.”

It’s so irritating how relaxed he always is. You’ve been strung tight since the day you’d landed the internship, never having cried as much in your adult life over something so simple as deadlines. So to say you’re stressed about almost being behind schedule is an understatement. Itineraries existed for a reason.

But Kuroo, whether he’s faced with a complicated list of coffee orders, a tight deadline, or just walking into the office the Monday after you’d almost hooked up, was always impossibly relaxed. You’re almost jealous.

Almost.

“And I told you we were taking the scenic route and–” Kuroo suddenly takes a sharp left, ignoring the honks behind him, and you finally see the name of your hotel plastered on the side of the building in front of you. “Well, would you look at that.”

“Finally,” you huff, throwing the door open as soon as the car rolls to a stop at the entrance. “I’m going to check in, you go park the car and bring the bags in.”

_____

“Wouldn’t it be funny if there was only one bed?” Kuroo asks, dragging both your carry-ons behind him as you step into the elevator.

“It’s bad enough that we have to share a room,” you mutter, hitting the button for the eighth floor. “If we have to share a bed too, I’ll sue.”

“Why? Are you scared you won’t be able to resist my roguish good looks in such close quarters?” He grins, nudging you slightly with his hip. “Or are you afraid you won’t be able to stop yourself from trying to jump my bones again?”

You shoot him an annoyed look, biting your lip to refrain from answering. You want to argue that he’d been the one to ask you out, take you to dinner, and kiss you first, but being stuck with him all weekend meant you had to make an effort to get along, lest your petty squabbles interfere with your jobs (more than usual, since there were no bosses around to censor yourselves in front of).

Also, arguing only seemed to charge the air between you.

You shake your head to clear it of the memory of Kuroo’s lips on yours as the elevator doors slide open, refusing to succumb to…whatever it was you felt about it. The two of you try to step out at the same time, and naturally, neither of you stop to let the other through, bumping shoulders and causing you to stumble a little.

Before you can tumble over, Kuroo catches you around the waist, smirking down at you. “Whoa, falling for me already?”

You turn away to avoid his teasing gaze, your face instantly heating.

This was going to be a long weekend.

_____

The room, miraculously, has two beds.

You breathe a little easier as you kick your shoes off, taking your suitcase from Kuroo and immediately unzipping and flipping it open to grab your bag of toiletries and a pair of underwear.

“We don’t have time for lunch,” you tell your coworker sternly, just as he flops onto a bed, still wearing his shoes (heathen). “I’m going to take a quick shower. We need to leave soon, so be ready by the time I’m out.”

You don’t wait for his answer, stepping into the bathroom and shutting the door behind you. It takes you a minute to figure out the shower knobs, but the water eventually runs hot, and you hastily tie your hair up before stripping out of your airport clothes to quickly wash the last few hours out of your system.

You’re standing at the sink in nothing but a towel, rubbing some products into your skin when Kuroo, ever the gentleman, knocks on the door and tells you to cover up because he’s coming in. You don’t even get a chance to start my protesting when the door opens and he walks in. He’s already dressed, in tight black slacks and a blazer that fits so well it couldn’t possibly be off the rack.

Suddenly you’re very aware of the fact that you’re standing in front of him in nothing but a towel.

“What the hell are you doing?” You demand, hugging it tightly around you, eyes narrowing when he shoves some of your things aside to set down a few products of his own. “Kuroo!”

He barely spares you a second glance, but there’s a smirk curling on his lips as he runs a comb through his unruly locks. “You said I had to be ready by the time you got out, so I’m getting ready.”

You had said that, hadn’t you? And honestly, it’s your fault for neglecting to lock the door (not that you’d ever admit it).

“Well, shove over,” you grunt, trying to push at his shoulder to make room at the counter. “I wasn’t finished, wait your turn.”

Kuroo doesn’t budge, the muscles under your fingertips flexing as he holds his ground. “I know I make it look effortless, but it takes work to look this good, babe.”

Conceited jerk. With his stupidly perfect bed head and his annoyingly clear skin.

“Fine,” you huff, closing up all your products before stomping out of the bathroom to get dressed. “Hurry up though.”

“Uh, babe?”

“What?” You snap, grabbing clothes from your suitcase. Blazer, shirt, bra, pants, the only thing your were missing was the underwear you were planning to wear. Seamless ones, as to prevent lines, you had them when you were in the bathroom–

Kuroo pokes his head out of the bathroom, tossing something at you.

You catch your underwear just before it hits the floor.

“Think you might need those.”

Your lips contort into a scowl as you slip them on. For as long as you live, you’re never going on a work trip with him again.

_____

“That’s a good colour on you,” Kuroo comments offhandedly as he pulls into the stadium parking lot.

“Shut up,” you mumble, flipping the sunvisor up and slipping the tube of lipstick back into your bag. You know he’s only saying it because it’s the same shade you’d had on the night you’d almost–

No.

“So we have an hour to talk to the players,” you tell him, handing him a sheet of paper once he’s pulled into a spot, quickly switching to business mode. “I’ve already split up the interviews and prepared some standard questions.” You hold out a copy of your neatly typed questionnaire, glaring at him when he doesn’t take it.

“Yeah, I’m not gonna use those,” he chuckles, pocketing his list of athletes to interview and throwing his car door open. He’s already walking towards the stadium entrance, buttoning his blazer and leaving you scrambling to undo your belt and follow.

The audacity of this man never failed to astound you.

“Excuse me, you need to take this,” you try to argue, holding out the list once more. “We need to keep our information consistent–”

“Ugh, would you chill out?” He groans, batting your hand away. “If you wanted consistency, you could have just stayed back and checked out their player stats. Ditch the list, babe, and just talk to them like they’re humans. Wing it.”

“Ditch the list?” You echo incredulously. That just wasn’t your style, because you didn’t make shots you didn’t know you could land. “Are you trying to get me fired for physically assaulting a coworker? Because I will hurt you if you ever tell me to wing anything again.”

“Oh, I’m so scared,” he mocks, pretending to shudder. “C’mon, trust me. I’ve known some of these guys since high school, and they’re really only professionals by name. Asking them actual thought provoking questions is a lot harder than having a simple conversation. You’ll see.” He pushes the door open, guiding you through the stadium with ease, letting you step into the gymnasium to see–

“Hinata, Bokuto, get off the court and get changed! Miya, leave him alo– No, Sakusa! Don’t kick him!”

“What did we just walk into?” You ask, watching Meian Shugo corral his players like a single mom in a mop commercial.

“Division one volleyball,” he grins, waving to one of the players - Bokuto, you recognize - the man shouting excitedly and jogging towards you both.

“Hey! You made it!” He towers over even your coworker, the pictures and taped matches you’d seen hardly doing his intimidating stature justice. You stand, in awe, as this wall of a man wraps both you and Kuroo in a huge bear hug.

His large hands wrap around your shoulders as he leans back to look at you. “I’ve heard a lot about you! Kuroo said you’re–”

“Okay, you horned owl bastard,” your coworker cuts in, prying Bokuto’s hands from your person and thumping him on the back so hard that he jolts forward a little. “Let’s go talk to your captain, yeah?”

The phrasing is a suggestion, but the tone is not, so you send Bokuto a little wave as Kuroo manhandles him in the opposite direction.

You start doing interviews on your own, and halfway through your list, you realize that Kuroo was right. The answers are consistent, yes, but they’re stiff, practiced. Answers they’ve probably repeated in dozens of interviews. Answers they probably think you want to hear. Your boss had asked for depth.

So, you ditch the list. You ‘wing it.’

You start winging it with the wrong person though, because Miya Atsumu is the type of interviewee who will go off track if you give him the slightest leeway.

He’s practically kabedoning you against a wall, flashing you that handsome smirk you’ve seen dozens of times on-screen. Any other time you might swoon, but right now, someone else is on your mind (and it must be written all over your face, because atsumu pounces).

“I already know you’re not gonna choose me for the promo video,” he shrugs, truly unaffected. “Instead, why don’t ya tell me what’s goin’ on with you and your co-worker over there?”

“There’s nothing going on between Kuroo and I,” you lie, pushing the edge of your clipboard into your ribs and resting your forearms on it, wondering why saying the words made your stomach turn.

“Please, the sexual tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife,” he scoffs. “Does it get steamy over at the JVA? C’mon, tell me. I’m so bored.”

You sigh, pinching the bridge of your nose and wondering why the hell you were seriously considering telling this to someone you’d met five minutes ago. “Okay, we almost hooked up last weekend. He tricked me into going to dinner with him, and we kissed a little. I enjoyed it. I like spending time with him when we’re alone, but when it comes to work he’s just so– he’s so–”

Competitive and snarky. Teasing and smug. A headache personified. He steals your pens and throws wrappers at your head and pops the collars of your shirts.

He’s so annoying, but he’s Kuroo. Who once broke into the head of HR’s office so he could bring you soup when you were sick. Who makes you laugh when you’re stressed, both stuck at the office working overtime during the season.

That’s the joke of it all, isn’t it? That he’s so annoying, but you like him anyway. It’s quite a slap in the face. One you didn’t expect this early on into the trip.

“But it probably won’t happen,” you shrug, trying not to let the disappointment bleed into your voice. “I don’t know if we’re ever going to really be on the same page.”

The setter raises his brows, crowding even closer. “Then why’s he lookin’ at me like he wants me to drop dead by just being near you?”

You don’t really believe him, so you turn your head to check, briefly catching Kuroo’s narrowed gaze. He faces forward, fists clenched at his sides, posture straightening as he chats with Meian.

Interesting.

_____

“Can I borrow him for a moment?”

Meian nods and steps away, letting you wrap your hand around Kuroo’s wrist, tugging him out of the gymnasium.

“So you ditched the list,” he hums, pulling the folded paper from your clipboard and chucking it into a nearby trash can. “Did it hurt? When you tried to fight me on something and found out you were wrong?”

Oh, he’s making this so hard.

“What’s going on here?” You snap, whirling around to face him as soon as you’re out in the hall, the doors shut behind you. You gesture between the two of you. “What is this?”

He cocks his head slightly. “Is that a rhetorical question?”

“No, I’m serious. What are we doing? I mean– you kissed me.”

“Hey, you kissed me back!”

“I did!” You exclaim. “I did, but I don’t know what we are now because we never talked about it. I mean– did you kiss me because you like me? Or was it just some stupid meaningless–”

He catches your wrists when you throw your hands up in question, leaning so close you can smell the cologne he’d dabbed onto his throat. “Then let’s talk about it, babe. Let’s talk about how I can’t ride the elevator with you because the scent of your shampoo drives me crazy. How I always empty the coffee pot so you take longer in the breakroom, because you have no idea how distracting it would be to have you beside me, panting. Let’s talk about how I’ve wanted to kiss you since the day you threw those papers in my face, and that if I hadn’t seen that report, I would have fucked you stupid on your kitchen counter.”

You suck in a sharp breath when he uses his grip on your wrists to pull you against him. This is it, isn’t it? The tension Atsumu saw between the two of you from the start. Had it always been this obvious? “I like you, is that what you need to hear? I’ve liked you for the past six months, because even when I was a dick, you stayed.”

He says that last word with a weight you don’t entirely understand, but with the desperate way he’s looking at you, holding you close, you guess it’s important.

So you let him kiss you again, hungrily reciprocating as you curl your fingers into his shirt, pulling him closer and letting him know you’re not going anywhere.

(…and if you end up sharing a bed later that night, well, who could blame you?)

BONUS:

“What do you think took them so long?” Bokuto asks his teammates curiously as you and Kuroo walk back into the gymnasium.

“Maybe they were talking about us?” Hinata suggests a little shakily.

Atsumu just rolls his eyes, taking in both your flustered expressions as you chat with their coach. “Yeah, they totally talked about us. That’s why his shirt is wrinkled and some of her lipstick is gone.”

a/n: …should i write a sexy one-shot about their night in the hotel? lemme know

taglist: @aprosperlys @sparkz-cardz @tohrutetsumu @just-a-mirage @savantsoulfinder

[the-haunted-office]

Timmy's death had been relatively quick, although it hadn't been painless by any stretch of the imagination. He could swear sometimes he could still feel the way the mist had gone into his lungs and suffocated him, and then consumed him. All the fear and terror, not to mention horror of seeing the souls of his coworkers fall apart and disappear forever under the onslaught of the mist's strange digestive properties.

He doesn't know how to express all of that to the AI helping him now. He's barely been able to process it himself, even after all this time. Barely able to process that after everything, after all he did to keep himself safe when he was alive, all the doctor's visits and time spent shut away from his peers, he still died. Just like that.

And now he has to fight to stay dead, the stay here in the realm of the living lest he be pulled away into an afterlife that scares him more than perhaps life itself did.

He doesn't want to think about any of that but it's there all the time. The battery is the main thing holding him in place here and if it were to die...

He's grateful for being told he doesn't have to elaborate. He just nods. "Thank you..." he mutters while looking down. "Thank you for saving me." Perhaps without knowing it, Nox has hit dead on what draws Timmy to others too - a sense of security and the ability to stay calm in moments like these. A leader. Someone to show him the way so he doesn't get lost. So he isn't alone.

He's feeling better now, at least physically. The internal pain he suffers is something he will have to learn to cope with over time, as some wounds can't be healed by simply charging a battery.

"I don't know how to get back to my office now. How will I do that? I can't make portals like Doomsday can," he says, looking around a little nervously to get a better feel for his environment now that he's feeling better. "They probably don't even know I'm gone."

A statement which isn't true - the Haunted Office folks absolutely know he is gone and are searching for him right now. He is every bit a part of their little family as any of them are. If Nox and Timmy can't find a way back, it's only a matter of time before Doomsday will be able to locate him and bring him home.

Continued from x

He watched in silent wonder as the other slowly became more and more opaque, never quite reaching a solid entity, but he was definitely more noticeable. Good, that meant it worked.

Along with that came a clear fascination with the information he had received, every last bit was vital in this situation so he made sure to record anything that came from the other. Never had he heard of such things as dimensions bumping into each other, the ability to simply walk between each of them and the idea that in an instant that way back could be gone. It was terrifying to say the least, but any sort of fears would lie dormant beneath his gentle calm exterior. Another thing had struck him from what Timmy said, The Narrators. Just who were these people and what did their title entail? He was about to question him further when before he could even get a word out he had processed the answer to his other question. Well, now it just seemed rude to prod further before comforting the clearly distressed dead man who stood before him. Especially with the knowledge that he had died in what he could only assume to be a slow and painful process. "I'm so sorry that happened to you. I really truly am. " His voice becomes much more soft spoken, a clear tinge of sympathy for the others past coming through as his optic lens took its time traveling up to from the battery to Timmy's own distant gaze. "You really don't have to talk more about it now, it's okay. While I can't bring you back to life completely, I can at least stop you from disappearing from here, okay? I promise, I won't let anything else happen." He had clearly already grown somewhat attached to him which was someone he usually tended to do before his isolation, it was always so easy to latch onto someone if he found them likable enough. Despite his anger and hatred, he still had a few soft points and Timmy without knowing had hit them dead on.

[gavin-plz-call-me]

Trust in Him

TW: Depictions of sexual harassment and sexual assault

You love your job, so when one of your coworkers begins to harass you, you're scared that you'll have to choose between your job and your safety. Luckily, Artem is here to support you.

This is my first time writing about sexual harassment/assault, so I apologize in advance if it's not a perfectly accurate portrayal.

AO3

Word Count: 3.3k

You needed this job, those words alone were all that kept you from doing something rash, but your resolve was growing thinner and thinner by the day. Every day you worked in the office, which, luckily for you, grew less frequent after becoming partners with Artem and joining NXX, one of your co-workers in particular was bound to come speak with you. This wouldn't be an issue if he were speaking to you about work issues, or a case, hell, even the weather but he, Julius, never came over for any productive reasons. The two of you had worked a case together a few months ago, but other than that, you should be complete strangers.

You could see Julius approaching from the corner of your eye, a nasty smirk plastered on his, and you hated to admit this, conventionally attractive face. While others might swoon at his good looks, you had to hold back a gag as he placed his hand firmly on your shoulder, enveloping your senses in his stale scent. He then slowly leaned down, his lips almost touching your ear, and whispered "That shirt makes your tits look great," his disgustingly wet breath sent shivers through your body as he gave your shoulder a squeeze and headed off like nothing happened.

As far as you knew, you were his only victim. The other ladies in the office swooned over him, speaking highly of his good looks and "great" skills as a lawyer. A few who had witnessed his advances towards you and misinterpreted your blush as shy interest complained of how envious they were that such a handsome, successful man was interested in you, and you kept quiet. You had heard enough horror stories of women who had come out about work-place harassment who were fired, never given or even considered for promotions, and even sued for slander, and you couldn't let any of that happen to you, you had to tolerate it. A job at Themis law firm is a dream for many law students, you included, and you wouldn't let that slip away. Even if you had to endure harassment, even if you had to leave your desk to escape to the bathroom some days because you couldn't keep the tears out of your eyes, even if you couldn't fall asleep some nights because images of what he's done to you and what he's capable of doing to you infect your mind, even if you had to start wearing ill-fitting clothes to hide your figure in an attempt to get him to leave you alone, and even if you were terrified to be in a room alone with him, lest he become bolder, you had to persevere. If everything in your life went right, you'd become his boss one day, and when that day came, you could fire his ass.

Of course, though, you weren't the boss, and you had to listen to what yours said. So, when your manager approached you a few days after Julius's latest incident telling you you'd be assisting him in a case, there wasn't much you could do to get out of it. Artem and you weren't working on any urgent cases at the moment, so he gave them permission to steal you away for the case. You were very skilled in working the case type Julius was "stuck on" so your manager said you the obvious choice for the job. There was no way out.

Julius invited you into his office with a sickly-sweet smirk and an almost impermeable wink as a knot settled in your stomach. Something in you screamed at you, don't go in there, it yelled, anywhere else. Just not his office.

"Well, I wouldn't want to intrude in your personal space," You said, trying to keep an aura of professionalism while also trying to protect yourself. There were still others around, if you start to show your discomfort, you'd be found out. You felt like you were lying, in a way, maybe you were? Guilt ran up and down your spine, and you hoped the feeling didn't translate to your expression.

"Oh, MC." His voice was outwardly cheery with an undertone of something, though you couldn't pinpoint what exactly it was, "You could never be an intrusion to me. Let's use my office, I insist."

No, no no, the voice within you screamed again, you felt your breath hitch slightly, but you forced your breaths to be normal, despite how badly your lungs wanted you to gasp for air. "I would prefer it if we worked somewhere else, Julius." His name tasted disgusting on your tongue, "My desk for example," the two of you squeezed together, trying to work at the same small desk, his smell surrounding you, "or an empty conference room," still alone in a room together, his hands reaching out to touch your body, "or-"

"Mc, this would all be much simpler if we just worked in my office, I promise you, I don't mind." There was a hint of aggravation in Julius's voice, but it disappeared the longer he spoke. "There won't be any meeting halls open, now come on, let's go to my office."

You stood still for half a second, debating just running away, job be damned, but you didn't have time to start walking. You hadn't even decided which way to go, towards Julius's office or towards the main exit, when a voice rang out, "Mc, Julius, conference room six is open." You turned around, eyes meeting the bright sapphire eyes belonging to Artem. His brows were slightly furrowed, looking you up and down.

"Great," You said before Julius could say a word, "thank you Artem." You turned back to Julius, his eyes were much less kind than Artem's, and all you wanted to do was turn back to face the man with the beautiful eyes and put Julius in the depths of your memories, but you plaster on a fake smile as you say, "conference room six it is, then!" You quickly passed Julius, feeling two sets of eyes burning into you as you walked away. Julius's office was past conference room six, so as you entered the room Julius walked towards his own office instead, muttering something about needing to grab his case files.

You were glad that you didn't end up in his office, but the conference room wasn't much better, panic began building up in your chest again. There were large windows leading out into the hallway, which you sat right in the middle of giving anyone who walked by a perfect view of you and whatever you were doing. Conference room six was the most open of the conference rooms, but the hallway around here was never too busy. The windows also left a few blind spots, places he could back you into if he really wanted to. With slightly shaky hands you opened your laptop, opening an audio recording app. There weren't any security cameras in this conference room, and even though your gut stopped you from telling anyone about Julius, something within you told you to record.

The door to the conference room quickly opened and shut. You minimized the recording app, the pulsing red dot indicating that it’s recording disappears along with it. Julius throws a few case files onto the conference table before walking around to sit directly next to you. You rolled your chair away from him slightly, trying to escape his revolting stench. You began speaking about the case, reading the case files, and making comments about the stranger details, details you could use to defend your client.

The two of you continued to talk about the case for a while, the anxiety that had grown so high before began to dwindle, maybe you were wrong. Maybe Julius wasn’t going to take this chance to do something horrible to you, maybe he never was going to do anything to you. Had you just imagined his threats? “Mr. Johnson’s embezzlement of the school’s funds could be grounds for-”

"Tease," Julius interrupted you, his voice much darker, almost an inhumane growl, than what it was when you were surrounded by your coworkers. Darker than it was even a few seconds before when you were talking about the case.

"E-excuse me?" you asked, your professional front slipping, anxiety raising in your stomach once again.

Julius inched closer to you, holding the back of your chair to prevent you from rolling further away from him, "I said, you're a fucking tease Mc. Making me go back and forth like that." The undertone you couldn't pinpoint from before was back, but it was much more pronounced now. Anger mixed with desire, his unkempt nails dug into the skin of your thigh as he pushed himself onto you, "but you're not gonna tease me anymore."

Desperately, you pushed your feet against the floor as hard as you could, propelling your chair into the one behind you, allowing you to stand up and try to make it to the door. Julius's hand violently grabbed your wrist, yanking you back towards him. “Come on, Mc,” he growled in your ear, “everyone in the office knows you’re whoring around to get to the top. You can’t refuse me.”

You struggled against his grip, but every movement you made had him tightening his hold around your wrist, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Julius.” you gasped as the pain of his hand on you became too much.

This seemed to enrage Julius, who suddenly stood up from his chair, forcing you against the wall furthest from the door. Your head smacked violently into the wall sending sparks of pain through your vision. “Oh, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Everyone knows you’re putting out for Artem. Why else would he choose some sub-par slut of a lawyer to be his partner?”

“I-I didn’t-” Julius put more pressure on you as you tried to speak, stopping your words completely.

“Let’s put it this way, Mc,” Julius's hands snaked in opposite directions, one reaching your throat, putting suffocating pressure on it, the other gripping your ass, pulling you unwillingly closer to his body, “You put out for Artem to advance your career, and if you’re a good little slut for me, you can keep your career.” He pulled you somehow tighter into him, his mouth ghosting your ear before delivering a harsh bite into its flesh. “If not, you can kiss being a lawyer goodbye.”

The knot in your stomach twisted, the job you were passionate about, the coworkers you loved, Artem, your senior partner who had already taught you so much, could he really take all of that away from you? Was it really worth it to lose all that to him? Maybe you should just let him have you, once to save your job. But, as Julius’s hand moved from your ass forward, threatening to touch you in a much more intimate place, something in you broke. No. You wouldn’t let him take your career away, but you also wouldn’t let him have you. Throughout your career as a lawyer, you fought and fought and fought for your clients, day in and day out so they could find justice, and it was time for you to fight for yourself.

You thrust your knee upwards into Julius’s groin, and in the split second where he was caught off guard, you used all your strength to push him off of you. You ran for your laptop, his angered cries of pain filling the room as he stood motionless in the spot you left him in, grasping at his groin, trying to ease the pain. You took the opportunity to haphazardly grab your laptop and head for the door. Julius’s hand grazed your arm again as he regained some of his movement, but you were too far away from him at this point. He couldn’t reach you.

Escaping the suffocating air of that conference room could have been the happiest moment of your life. You saw Julius staring at you from the corner of your eye, still standing in the conference room, slightly doubled over. He wouldn’t dare chase you through the office, and he was out of sight before you could figure out what his next move would be. Adrenaline pumping through your body, you made your way across the office. You weren’t sure where your legs were taking you until you were already knocking at the door you sought out, Artem’s office.

The moment you saw Artem as he opened the door, his face going from stoic as always, then softening at the sight of you, and finally, his eyebrows furrowing in concern as he got a better look at you all in a matter of seconds, the emotions you had kept hidden for months suddenly broke free. Tears threatened to escape your eyes, so you broke your gaze away from Artem, opting to look down at your own shoes instead. You really didn’t want to cry in front of Artem. You so desperately wanted to be a great lawyer like him, famous for winning countless cases. He wouldn’t be so vulnerable as to cry in front of a coworker, and you wanted to follow in his footsteps. You tried to push them back, but they refused.

Artem put a gentle hand on your upper back as he led you into his office, closing the door behind him, and placing his jacket on you. It smelt strongly of him. You could detect hints of vanilla from his cologne which made you want to envelop yourself further into the cloth. He led you to the sofa in his office, Artem himself sitting down on the coffee table in front of you. His kind, gentle movements, so contrasting from Julius’s threats, made the tears stream down your face harder. You began to shake from the loss of adrenaline, and you buried your face in your hands.

Artem was at a loss for what to do. He’d never seen you cry before, he felt helpless as he watched you heave from your tears. One thing was certain in his mind, however: Julius had something to do with this. He could sense your discomfort earlier when he’d suggested the two of you use conference room six to discuss business. He could tell you were trying your hardest to suppress the feelings, but they were prevalent enough on your person for him to detect, but his actions had failed to protect you further. A part of him wanted to leave the office immediately, find Julius, and beat him to a pulp wherever he stood, but a more sensible part of him knew you needed him right now. Julius could be dealt with later.

Slowly, Artem stood up from his place on the coffee table and sat down on the couch, a good few feet away from you in order to give you space. You finally looked up at him when you felt his weight on the couch. Your eyes were red and irritated from the tears, makeup running down your face in light gray streaks. You desperately wiped away at them, but it didn’t make a difference. Artem’s soft voice finally broke the silence between the two of you, “Mc, can I hug you?” The hysterical part of your brain was surprised by his words. In your emotional state, you expected him to reject you, and act disgusted by your emotions. You nodded slightly, desperately wanting his comfort.

Before you knew it, Artem had slid closer to you on the couch, taking you in his arms, and gently pressing you into his chest. This simple action started your tears anew. You began crying harder than before, gasping for breath. Clumsy words spilled out of your mouth as you tried to tell Artem what had happened. You thought he deserved to know why you came to his office crying, but Artem simply gently shushed you, rubbing comforting circles into your back. “You don’t need to say anything yet, Mc,” he whispered

The two of you stayed like that for a long time until your tears eventually slowed to a stop. At that point, you pulled away from Artem, desperately missing his warmth as soon as you did so. Artem slid his hand in yours, giving it a gentle, supportive, squeeze before speaking again, “If you’d like to tell me what happened, I’ll be here for you, okay?” Artem’s comforting words, his warm hand in yours, and his beautiful blue eyes made everything that’s happened with you in relation to Julius spill. You couldn’t look at him as you told him about everything: the case you worked on together, how he’d continue to go to your desk even when the case was over, how that escalated to the harassment you had to endure, what just happened in the conference room, and the audio recording of the incident.

When your gaze finally settled back on Artem, he was wearing an expression you had never seen on him before. It was anger, it was concern, it was... it was something else you couldn’t quite place. Artem pushed himself up from the couch, his eyes on the door to the office. You tightly grasped his arm, stopping him from moving towards the door. The door meant he’d tell, the door meant all your fears would come to fruition, the door meant you’d have to face the world outside Artem’s warm embrace again, and you didn’t want that. “Please don’t,” you whimpered, new tears stinging your eyes, “don’t tell anyone, please.” A sob escaped your throat, making Artem sit back on the couch next to you. “I love my job here, I love working with you and Kiki. I love being your partner and working on NXX cases with you. I don’t want to lose it all.”

Artem was back to rubbing circles into your skin, this time at the base of your shoulder. “You won’t lose your job, I promise.”

“B-But, so many people have b-been fired because they r-report assault, I-I can’t l-let that happen.”

“Mc,” Artem said, his voice slightly stern, but still gentler than you’d ever heard it before, “please look at me.” Your eyes trailed up his body, which was still holding you, and finally met his eyes. “I won’t let that happen, okay?” His hand found your hair, gently combing through it with his fingers, “I promise you that you’ll be okay, that your job will be okay. I’ll put Julias in jail if it’s the last case I ever take, just please, please let me help you.” Before that day, you could never imagine Artem crying, but you knew the sight of his eyes filled with tears was real. He allowed you to see his emotions just as you’d allowed him to see yours. He wasn’t some emotionless lawyer who would allow his coworker to be fired because they told the truth. He was a man who’d openly share your emotions with you, even if that meant sharing your tears. You could trust him, you knew that now.

“Okay,” you let the word with a shaky breath, “I trust you, Artem.”

Artem stood up from his place next to you, not letting your hand go quite yet. He leaned over you, giving your forehead a gentle kiss, before looking into your eyes, determination filling his own sapphire ones. Your body slightly tensed when Artem finally removed his hand from yours, you quickly grew cold at the lack of his warmth, but you let him go. You watched his figure as he reached the door, taking one more glance behind him towards you, and left, shutting the door behind him. Eventually, you knew, everything would be okay again.

[zodiakuroo]

Love Thy Brother

Pairing: Dabi x Fem!Reader

Content: 18+ dubcon/noncon, dabi’s canononical dick piercings  manhandling, rough sex, corruption, degradation, humiliation, manipulation, blackmail, spit, stepcest, loss of virginity, dacryphilia, mentioned breeding, blasphemy and sacrilege : 3

Word count: 4.1k

Notes: secured my spot in hell with this one for sure anyways touya-nii go brrrrr

part 2 here!

But he that hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and knows not whither he goes, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. – 1 John 2:11

Gaining 4 new siblings as a young adult is not something anyone expects, you think, but you’re grateful to have been accepted into Enji Todoroki’s family nonetheless.

Fuyumi was the big sister you always wanted, kind and nurturing, always happy to let you borrow her clothes and give you advice. You and Natsuo the closest in age.  He was warm and friendly and while he teased you a lot it was never mean spirited, just the kind that was typical between siblings. Shoto was quiet in nature and though it took him more time than the rest to warm up to you, eventually you two became friends as well.

And there was Touya…..

Well, Dabi as he prefers to be called.

When you first met him, you were terrified, the shock of seeing him made you hide behind your mother instinctively.  The Todoroki clan looked every bit the perfect suburban family except for Dabi. He had his hair dyed jet black, with seemingly more tattoos than clean skin. He had several cartilage piercings in his ears as well as three small studs in his nostril and a barbell through his eyebrow.  He scoffed at your scared reaction, sticking out his tongue to show you the silver ball on its surface and sending a wink your way.

Admittedly, felt guilty for judging Dabi based on his appearance, but you would soon come to find that sometimes it’s better to trust your judgement.

At first, Dabi ignored you, acted as if you didn’t exist. And the times when he was forced to acknowledge your presence in his family he acted as though you were nothing more than a nuisance. You thought that you might have offended him somehow but Fuyumi assured you that Dabi was just like that and that you shouldn’t take it personally. “He just needs to get to know you.” She said.

She was wrong though. Dabi couldn’t stand you.

Everything about you infuriates him. Prancing around in those frumpy sweaters and modest skirts like anyone would bother to lewd you anyways. Lest they attempt, you wear that gold cross necklace everywhere you like a big old “PROPERTY OF JESUS” tag. Your insistence to say a prayer every time the family dog so much as farts. The way his entire family seems to be enamored by your church girl act. Perhaps what he hates most is the way you look at him, poor delinquent Dabi, like you’re so much better than him. Sanctimonious bitch.

Then he noticed how you were with Natsuo. How you would pout and whine when he teased you and sometimes, to everyone’s shock and amusement, banter back and forth with him. Let’s be clear here, he didn’t care about you. He cared about attention. You were giving too much of your attention to his younger brother and that just wouldn’t do.

Pretty soon, Touya was in on the teasing. He started out by making fun of you for being so conservative. Low-hanging fruit. You’ve heard it all before so it didn’t wrench much of a reaction for you but that just made him more determined. Sometimes it got downright mean, earning him a scolding from Fuyumi. Not that he would listen anyways

Then it got physical. It started innocently enough, Dabi would tug on your hair, snatch food out of your hands, kick you underneath the dinner table. Albeit childish, it was incredibly annoying. You would shriek and yell for him to cut it out and after finally getting the desired reaction from you, he became hungry for more.

So he started taking more risks. When you were in the kitchen alone Dabi would brush his hand under your skirt making you squeal. That progressed to him flicking up your skirt to catch a glimpse of your panties which progressed to him spanking you so hard, you’d think of him every time you sat down for the rest of the day.

On the days when he was in a good mood (read: stoned out of his mind), he would pull you into his lap and hold you there, blowing smoke in your face that made you cough so that he could laugh. Sometimes he would let his hands wander, over your chest and between your thighs while you squirm in his hold. He’d say “Anyone ever touch you like this? I hope not, I’m sure it would piss off Jesus”

As if the touching wasn’t invasive enough, Dabi felt he was entitled to your room and personal artifacts. Often you’d come back from campus or church to find the contents of your underwear drawer spilled on the floor. You would notice a pair or two missing when you packed them back.

One time he vandalised your bible with drawings of penises on every single page.

“D’ya like my artwork princess?” he said when you confronted him. In a fit of rage, threw the book at his head. You missed (unfortunately) making him like laugh. “Surely there’s something condemning violence in that book of yours.”

You tried locking him out of your room but all that did was make him angrier. He threated to break your door clean off its hinges if you did it again.

Which brings you to your current predicament.

It had been a long day. You woke up late landing you in trouble with your manager. Your coworker fell ill and you had to cover a double shift, with no shortage of asshole customers on this particular day it seems. On top of all that, you just got stood up for date. You come home to a quiet house and you’re so grateful for this small blessing on a day like this. After a long, scalding hot shower, you lie on your bed wrapped in a fluffy, white towel, contemplating your next move.

You were home alone and with a family this big that hardly ever happens. You do what any person would do after having the day you had.

You smile to yourself, undoing the knot on your towel and falling back onto your pillows, hands already caressing your breasts.

You’re a Christian not a robot. Of course you masturbate. Sure you feel ashamed. You can hear your mother’s voice chide about how sinful it is but that all melts away when your little fingers slide between your wet folds. Shame can wait.

Being the menace in your life that he is, the eldest Todoroki chose that exact moment to barge into your room unannounced.

You scramble for your covers trying your best to preserve some modesty but it’s too late, you’ve been caught. You shriek in terror.

“Oh my god!” Dabi practically cackles.

“Dabi! It’s not what it looks like I swear.”

“Oh really?” He stalks over to your bed with the predatory grin on his face. “Because to me it looks like my innocent, holier than though baby sister is a nasty, little, closet pervert.” He’s now straddling you over your covers, you want to fight him off but that would mean letting go over your duvet and you know once you do that, it’s over. Dabi has the upper hand though. Soon he’s got both of your wrists in one of his hands, pinned above your head. His other hand, almost immediately, is pulling the down the covers, revealing your naked torso to him. “Huh.’ He muses as he palms one of your breasts. “Seems like it’s exactly what it looks like.”

“Dabi! Get off me!” You squirm under him but he’s too heavy so it’s no use.

“Nice tits Sis.” Dabi ignores your protests. “I don’t get why you keep them hidden.”

“I’m not your sister you creep!” you say with as much venom as you can muster.

“Aw princess,” he pouts and moves his hand up to cup your jaw, squeezing your cheeks harshly “it hurts your Nii-san’s feelings when you talk to him like that. I wonder what our parents would think. Should I tell them how filthy their sweet, little daughter really is?”

He revels in the fear in your eyes. You shake your head frantically. “No Dabi please! Please don’t tell them.” You whimper, words garbled.

“Don’t tell them what little sister? What were you doing?” He smirks. His hand goes back to your breast, this time to tweak your nipple.

The sadistic freak. Was he really going to make you say it? He answers your silent question with a sharp smack to your breast.

“I-I was masturbating.” You mumble, squeezing your eyes shut, cheeks burning from embarrassment.

“No, you weren’t”  he says as a matter of fact before pinching your already stiff nipple making your eyes shoot open and you yelp in pain. “You were playing with your little virgin cunt. Now say it.”

There is no way you could say those words. Has he not humiliated you enough? You try once again to break free but he’s got an iron grip on your wrists and he’s sitting on top of your thighs. There’s no way you’re getting out of this.

He pinches you again but harder this time, twisting your nipple and keeping it there.

“I was ah­ I was playing with my v-v-irgin c- Dabi! Cunt! There I said it! Let go!”

He snickers at your pain but let’s go of you entirely, shifting his weight off of you. You’re grateful for the reprieve, immediately pulling up the covers to cover up your body again. You will yourself not to cry until Dabi has left the room or else you’ll never hear the end of it. But he’s not finished with you yet.

“Show me.” He sits down on your desk chair facing you, his legs spread wide.

“What?” Surely you misheard him.

“Show your Nii-san how you play with that ‘little virgin cunt’” He smiles using air quotations.

“Dabi, this is wrong-“ you whimper

“Touya-nii.” You furrow your brows in confusion and he says again. “Call me Touya-nii. I’m not leaving this room until I see what I want.”

Say what you want about Dabi but he’s a man of his word. You know he means what he says. The last thing you want is for anyone in your family to come home and find you naked in your room with your step-brother. It’s just better to do what he asks demands.

You slowly peel the covers off you, exposing your naked body to your step brother. He’s eyeing you intently, palming the growing bulge under his jeans. His sister was hiding such a hot little body, right under his roof and he had no idea. You can’t bear to look at him. You clamp your thighs shut to hide your pussy from him, a weak attempt to save what’s left of your dignity. You wriggle your hand in between your legs and you try to move it as best you can without showing him more of you.

Wait.

You’re wet?

You’re wet.

Well screw dignity I guess.

“Oh none of that.” Touya scoffs. “Spread your legs.”

You obey him and he rewards you with a low whistle. “What a cute little pussy.” He murmurs so low you’re not even sure he’s talking to you. You flinch, wanting to close your legs on instinct but a firm “Don’t” from Dabi stops you in your tracks. “Show me how my little sister likes to play.”

His words make your pussy throb but you’re still reeling, both physically and mentally at, the shock from your current position so when your fingers try to rub circles on your clit, they’re shaky and sloppy.

“That’s pathetic. Is this how you do it? No wonder you’re so uptight, you probably never cum huh? Put your fingers inside, I wanna see you stretch your little hole.”

“Dabi I-“

“I won’t ask you to address me properly again. Next time, you’re getting your ass beat.”

“T-Touya-nii. I’ve never… put them inside.” You mumble.

“Never?” He can’t hide the amusement in his voice.

You simply shake your head, unable to meet his gaze.

Fucking jackpot. He thinks.  This is why he loves virgins.

“Oh no. Does the poor baby want her Nii-san to show her how it’s done?” voice dripping with condescension.

You’re horribly ashamed. Disgusted by the whole situation. And yet you find yourself nodding.

Dabi crawls on to your bed, discarding his shirt in the process. Next thing he has you flipped over, ass in the air, lying across his lap.

He spanks you, hard. Like he always does, loud smack echoing through the room. You cry out like you always do but it’s different this time. It’s different because this time you’re naked, on top of him. It’s different because you can feel his hard-on poking into your stomach. It’s different because everything about the situation is making you clench.

He grips the sore, reddened flesh and pulls apart your cheeks to look right at your fluttering hole. His thumb finds your clit and he starts to rub slow circles into it. “I meant what said you know. This is the prettiest fucking cunt I’ve ever seen.” You let out a whine as you feel his warm, wet spit land right on your opening, before Touya slides a long, slender middle finger into your tight pussy. He uses his other hand to hit you again. “You’re a good girl right? What do good girl’s say when they get compliments?”

Your head is spinning from his ministrations, so much so that a verbal response escapes you. You’re too busy bucking your hips against his hand. Dabi snaps you out of your trance with another spank, even harder, so your feel the sting spread across your glute. “Hnnghh… thank you Touya-nii.” He rewards you with his ring finger finding its way inside you as well. “Shit.” You say through gritted teeth. You clench around him trying to adjust to the foreign sensation.

Whack. This time on the other cheek, both burning red by now, you’re sure. “Where’d you learn to talk like that, naughty girl?” The way he’s moving his fingers inside you feels like he’s looking for something, you have no idea what. It’s not unpleasant but uncomfortable. You turn your head back to look at his face. It’s the same face he makes when he’s rolling a joint or playing video games with his friends. He’s concentrating. “Fuck, relax for me princess.” You’re trying. You’re really trying. You take a deep breath, trying to think about anything other than the way you’re being stretched.

Then it hits you. An overwhelming ecstasy, spreading from your groin, all the way down to your toes. You figure out that’s what he’s been looking for.

You find yourself grinding down onto his bulge in an attempt to escape the onslaught of his fingers, but it’s no use, not with the way his thumb is circling your throbbing clit.

“Can’t even take two fingers in this tiny pussy huh? How are you gonna take my cock?” Dabi gives you a third finger and the stretch is officially unbearable.

You can’t do anything but pant in his lap while he holds you down, making sure that you keep still. Suddenly, you realise the gravity of the circumstances you find yourself in. Your step brother is going to fuck you and there’s nothing you can do about it.

“God, please slow down!” You cry out. He keeps hitting that spot over and over. It’s too much. You look back at him with tears in your eyes, pleading for reprieve. The satisfied smile on his face lets you know that he couldn’t care less. You feel an orgasm building, stronger than any that you’ve given yourself.

“No God here, doll. Just the Almighty Dabi. And guess what? He wants you to come for him.”

Even before he finishes his sentence, you’re already convulsing on top of him. For a moment you forget how debauched the situation is. Being debased by a man who you not only despise but are related to. All feelings of shame are replaced by pure, hot bliss that sets your nerves on fire. Dabi does not relent. Not until the please you feel is eclipsed by the pain of oversensitivity and you’re writhing in futile attempt to escape.

Dabi pulls his fingers out of you and wraps his other hand around your neck, dragging you up to face him. He holds his fingers, covered in your cream, right in front of your face. “Messy slut. Clean them.”

Before you can respond the fingers press against your lips. You have no choice but to take them inside your mouth. He grips the back of your head while you lave your tongue over his fingers, sucking off your release. He’s keeps a tension on your strands that makes your scalp sting. It’s a silent warning to keep your eyes on him. You’ve caught on by now that he wants this to be as humiliating as possible for you. As if coming on your step-brother’s fingers weren’t humiliating enough. He shoves his fingers deeper, making you gag around them drool seeping from the corner of your mouth.

“Good girl.” He growls as he wipes his saliva covered fingers dry on your face. Again, you fight back the tears of embarrassment. You won’t give him the satisfaction.

Dabi prompts you with cruel tug on your hair. “Gah! Th-thank you Touya-nii.” You whimper.

“Hmm.” His hands move to your hips and he rolls his hips to grind his hard cock into your core. “You want Nii-san to fuck you now?”

Your bottom lip quivers. Is he giving you an out? You pray to God that Dabi is giving you a way out of this. You doubt God cares about what you want right now but still, you hope he can grant you this one mercy, you’ll make it up to him somehow. You shake your head no. You probably look so pitiful right now, naked on top of Touya while he bucks up against you, your own spit streaked across your face, barely stopping the tears in your eyes from spilling.

“Liar.” He sneers. “You want your big brother to split that virgin hole right open.”

You’re stupid for thinking he would give you a way out. You realise that now. No point in trying not to cry. Nothing is gonna stop him from getting what he wants anyway. You can’t hold back the choked sobs anymore

“Such pretty tears, baby.” Dabi coos at you. “Don’t worry. Nii-san is gonna give you exactly what you want.”

He picks you up off of him and positions you exactly how he wants, on all fours, swollen cunt exposed for him. He kneels behind you and you hear the sounds of him undoing his jeans. You turn your head back, curiosity getting the better of you. Your eyes find Dabi just in time to see him free himself from his boxers, which join his jeans bunched at is knees. The sight makes your eyes go wide. It’s your first time seeing one in real life. Were they supposed to be that big? And… pierced?

He quirks a brow at you, smug look plastered on his face. He strokes himself in front of you, spreading his pre-cum along his shaft. He’s tilts it upwards to make sure you get a good look at the vertical barbell that goes through his tip and three horizontal, parallel bars along the underside. “You look scared. Don’t worry princess, Big brother Dabi’s gonna make it fit.” You feel his tip press against your opening and brace yourself.

You’ve heard stories from your friends. You know the first time hurts but God nothing could have prepared you for this .Touya makes good on his word, sliding his entirely until your pressed right against his pelvis. The scream you let out is ear shattering but you can’t help it, the stretch is excruciating. The way his piercings catch on your walls only, intensifies the burn. You crawl toward your headboard instinctively, it’s too much. Way too much.

He’s not having any of it. Dabi pulls you up to him with a hand wrapped around your throat until your back meets his front. “Shh shh shh. Don’t run baby. You’re gonna take all of it.” He groans right against your ear. Without giving you time to adjust, he begins to thrust into you at a relentless pace. You have no choice but to let him use you.

“Who’s fucking you huh? Who’s making you feel good?”

“My nii-san. Touya-nii is fucking me so good.”

“Yeah fuck. Love this holy pussy” He delivers a harsh smack directly on to your clit, making you quiver in his hold. He laughs at your reaction. “Gonna say a prayer for me babe? I wanna hear it.”

“Huh?” You’re barely lucid, there’s no way you heard him correctly.

“Well you’re a little sinner slut now. You should probably ask for forgiveness. Pray.”

You’re sure you’re beyond salvation now but you submit nonetheless. “Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion.” You gasp as he tightens his hand around your throat. “Against You, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight. Oh fuck Touya-nii!”

“Bad girl.” Dabi gives you another strike right on your aching clit. “Don’t think God is gonna be very happy with you.” Dabi is though. Dabi’s very happy with you. Your tight, gummy pussy sucks him back in every time he pulls back. It just makes him fuck you harder, he wants to make you scream louder for him.

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Ngggghh Shit. Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me.” You’re sobbing outright, gasping to get air into your constricted throat.

“You gonna cum? My bad girl gonna come for her big brother?” Dabi grunts into your ear.

“Yeah close Touya-nii.”

“Hmm me too.”

“NOT INSIDE TOUYA-NII” You begin to thrash in his arms.

“S’matter princess? Don’t wanna have your big brother’s babies? That’s hurtful.” He snickers. He releases your throat in favour of pressing you into the mattress, large hand resting between your shoulder blades. “Better cum before I do then.”

The ridges of his piercings rub up against that same sweet spot, over and over again. You’re dizzy from the lack of air and absolutely drunk with pleasure on his cock. Pretty much the only thing tethering you to this existence is the unforgiving grip he has on your ass, digging his nails into your flesh. He reaches his hand around to rub your sore, puffy clit. It pushes you over the edge a second time. You feel every muscle contract and relax as the waves of your orgasm wash over you, making you cry out in bliss.

As soon as you come down from your high, Dabi has you flipped on to your back and is straddling your torso. “Keep praying.” He mutters. He furrows his brows, huffing as he jerks off on top of you, eyes focused intently on your gold necklace.

“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me. Then will I teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will turn back to You. Amen”

“Yeah, fuck that’s it take it baby.” Dabi sprays his come over your chest, aiming his load right on your cross, a symbol of your devotion to Christ, defiled. He looks absolutely euphoric watching the ropes of his hot cum slowly run down onto your nipples and down the valley of your breasts

“Don’t you fucking move.” He pants, catching his breath. He picks up his phone and you hear his camera click. He looks at the picture and smiles. You look absolutely fucked out. Hair disheveled, face red and bloated from crying and completely covered in his load. Yeah a real good, Christian girl. He thinks.

“Dabi! No!” You lunge forward, trying to grab his phone from his hand. Almost effortlessly, Touya shoves you back onto the bed.

“Relax. No one’s gonna see it. Not unless you snitch to mommy and daddy.”

“You promise?” You grab the tissues from your nightstand and wipe yourself clean. The smell lingers though, along with the grimy feeling, seemingly embedded in your skin. You look up at him, sniffling, tears still rolling down your cheeks. If he were better person, he’d take pity on you for being so fucking stupid.

“Promise, little sis.” He shoots you a wink as he tucks himself back into his jeans.

Before he’s left your room he’s already sent the picture to his friend, Shigaraki.

[asexual-abomination]

Plat!Yan!Chrollo x Autistic!Reader x Plat!Yan!PT - Soulmate AU Part 2

The next part of my growing tale! The next part may be a bit shorter, but I've finally laid out a solid plan for where I want to take this!

Once again, this idea was first brought up by the lovely @kiame-sama. I also have no traditional education in writing, so any advice is greatly appreciated!

Hope you enjoy reading!

-----

The days following your switch were fairly normal, as you returned to work and your normal schedule. Your coworkers were sometimes nosy, asking when and how you would be reaching out your soulmate. Those questions annoyed you since they never accepted your explanation that you had already tried.

Unfortunately, you didn't really have any plan for finding your soulmate, and searching up the names you had been given hadn't been any help. Google kept trying to auto correct the names, which lead you to believe that they were rather rare. That made you think that you would have more ease in finding them, but you were unable to find anything but odd conspiracy theories that you knew better than to hold faith in.

It was stressful to think of the all the things you weren't able to do in finding your soulmate, so you tried to focus on distracting yourself with that which you found fun in real life. Watching your favorite movies for what had to have been the hundredth time, treating yourself to fancier food and some good new clothes, pulling your own mind away from the anxieties eating away at you.

It wasn't until that weekend that something felt off.

You would normally get a call from Jo in the morning of every Saturday, but they seemed to be delayed today. You truly worried that you had scared them off for good, but Jo themselves had told you multiple times that you shouldn't get too upset if the call came late.

Trying not to be too disheartened, you began the journey to work. Working as a librarian meant that while your work day was happily uneventful most days, your shifts extended into the weekend, so even on a Saturday morning you headed off on a commute.

To keep yourself active, you at least made the journey to and from the library on foot, especially seeing that it wasn't too far from your home. Boredom was rather easy at such a time as this, so you were quick to zone out and see only the pavement in front of your eyes. In your state of peace, you were too slow to notice that there were other footsteps joining yours until you were tugged into a side-path by your arms. Before you could yell out as you had been taught, a familiar voice began behind you.

"It's just me, but you need to listen very closely."

Jo's voice would normally calm you, however there was an insistence in their speech that told you they weren't here to catch up on the week.

"Look, I don't have too long to talk to you, but you need to take this," they pushed a thick binder full of sorted papers into your hands, and you took it quickly, "And follow it to the letter."

"Wait, why? What's going on!?" As you watched the panic in the way that Jo spoke, you felt overcome with the same worry, even though you had no clue what they were so upset about.

"Look, it's - it's about your soulmate, I've done some research, and he is not a good person. Not at all." They only furthered your confusion with such a statement, what research could Jo have done that you missed?

"I can't talk too much right now, but there are bad people on their way for you right now. Really horrible sorts. That binder has every instruction you need to follow to get away. If you follow it properly, there's a safe place for you to stay at the end, and I'll try to meet you there."

You could only splutter in the face of such intensity, half-coherent questions and worrying dying on your lips.

Before you could string together a sentence, your phone began to ring. You fished it out of your pocket, noting that there was no caller ID.

"(Y/N), you should answer that, but be careful what you say. It's probably that soulmate of yours, making them think they have your location will help, but you'll have to give me your phone afterwards."

There was an ache quickly forming in your head from all of the new information thrown at you, but you followed their instruction quickly, putting the phone to your ear.

"(Y/N), dear, I'm glad to have reached you. I should hope you're doing well?"

The voice was certainly the voice of your soulmate, but that didn't quell your anxiety. It took you a moment to realize that last bit was a question, and even when you figured it out, an odd tightness had formed in your throat.

"Um. Uh. I-I'm good, I guess? Are you... alright too?" You cursed your hesitant answer, but Jo looked at you from across the path with a stern nod, silently telling you that you were doing well.

A chuckle rang through the phone, quickly followed by his response, "Yes, dear, I'm doing well. You don't need to worry to much, we're almost prepared to come and meet you in person. You still work at that library, right?"

Your eyes widened at the confident question from him, practically jumping in surprise as you tried to figure out what answer would please both Jo and Chrollo. Jo gave you another nod, reaching out to gently tap your hand, lightly rubbing their thumb over the side of your palm.

With little else to go off of, you had to assume that this was Jo's way of soothing you from your upset, so you answered, "Yeah, I still work there, did - how did you find where I worked?"

As you spoke, you were trying to give Jo hints on what was being said by your soulmate, for which they were grateful, but it was unnecessary as they heard Chrollo speaking with ease.

"That's not important at the moment. You're going to be there until three, right? Like I said, we're still preparing at the moment, but we should be ready to come and get you by then. Does that sound good to you?"

Jo's face grew angry at that statement, but they still didn't speak, not wanting to alert him to their presence lest he realize that you would be missing in just a few hours.

"Err, 'come and get me'?" Even you knew that there was something iffy about that wording, especially since you didn't plan on going anywhere, even with your soulmate on a first meeting.

"Yes, exactly, we'll come and get you. At three O'clock from the Old Town Library. You don't need to leave the building, we'll come in and get you from there. I can't wait to see you, dear, you'll wait for me won't you?"

Before you could respond that you certainly wouldn't be waiting for him, the call was hung up. You felt almost out of breath as you looked mindlessly at your phone's lock screen, having to be snapped back from your trance by Jo taking a more insistent grip on your hand, pulling you to look at them.

"You understand now? Why you have to leave?" They had spoken forcefully before, but their tone was tougher now, pushing you to answer. Though you still struggled to speak as you caught your breath, your nod was enough for Jo.

Suddenly, Jo began to reach for you with their other hand, hesitating for a moment before pulling you into a hug, tight against their broad chest. You jumped at the contact, but that was nowhere near the shock you felt when you noticed the tears streaming down their face as they quickly pulled away. In all your years of friendship, you had never seen Jo cry. You had watched them fight, scream, and tremble in anger or fear, but never had a tear passed their eyes before you.

"Look, that binder has everything you need to get out of here unnoticed, I know that you can follow it and get to safety." Their tone was unaffected by their tears, not even the slightest wobble to be heard, yet they went on, "I know - I know that this going to be hard, but there is hope at the end of this. I can promise that I'll meet you at the safe house, if you can promise that you'll follow every instruction I give you."

At any other moment, you could have chuckled at their insistence, but now you found yourself nodding solemnly to their speech.

"Please, let's meet on the other side. I'll keep you safe no matter what they bring."