#let tomorrow wreck havoc on us

[polin-erospsyche]

Last thoughts for the road.

I’ve never been more excited and scared for a scene than I am for the carriage scene. I feel like in all the buzz around season three finally dropping after two years we haven’t really talked about this month of waiting between part 1 and 2. Sure we’ve guessed at the carriage scene and we’ve rejoiced at all the polin content we’ll get in the break but I’m truly scared of how wrecked we might be. Wrecked or angry, to be honest I’m not quite sure but I don’t trust the very end of ep 4. I feel like we’ll get so high that there’ll only be a low point after that because otherwise the show does not go on for four more episodes. And also we have to wait one month. One whole month to be in our feelings about this. So you know they’re not just going to let us off easy.

I’m not ready for the utter angst that we might get from this whole Lady Whistledown issue. We are talking about two people who are so so in love with each other. And they know that too probably, although it might not have been verbalised, but because it’s the beginning it will oh so delicate, even more so because they are friends discovering if they can be more for each other, wanting to be more for each other and there’s this huge secret creating a rift between them.

If she does keep it from him, which looks more and more likely to me, I need her to give him the choice when he finally learns about it. I need her to own up to who she is, apologies for what she’s written and how it might have hurt him but not for what and who she is. She is Lady Whistledown. Despite all the mistakes and errors, she is one hell of an amazing, independent and strong woman and I need to see her step fully into who she is and accept it and give him in turn a choice to either leave or to choose her, all of her. The mistakes, the hurt but also the warmth and love.

And while she’s giving him a choice I also desperately want for her to have a face a face with the queen. It is so important to me that she does that on her own though, without a betrothal or the name of the Bridgertons attached to her. I hope we get to see her step into her own self by herself and defend herself. Not in the snappy and hurt way she’s done at the end of season 2, but as the graceful and mature woman we know she becomes in season 3.

Anyway all this to say, I’m afraid of what we’ll get tomorrow as a cliffhanger. There are also things that I hope we get. Pen fully stepping into her power in a graceful, less harsh, manner than we’ve seen previously. Colin fully choosing her despite knowing all the dark sides to her, because that is how well he knows her and how much he loves her. Those are at the forefront of what I hope for.

[prettyinpurplelights]

hii ur writing is SOO SOO good im practically going insane over ur mbappe writings. could u pls write smth about mbappe being sick and reader having to take care of him but he's just enjoying being a brat and clinging to reader ? like imagine taking care of this manchild. imagine the HAVOC he would wreck if he didn't get a kiss from his gf

HOUR OF NEED

Heyy, thank you for your lovely words, means so much 🫶🏿 hope this is okay!

“You’re leaving me here all by myself? This is your fault.” Your boyfriend sniffles, pouting as you put on your jacket, ready to leave the house.

“I warned you about kissing me last week when I was sick.”

“But your mouth was so nice and warm.”

“And now here we are.”

“So you’re going to abandon me in my hour of need?”

“Kylian, it’s just a cold. You’ll survive.” You roll your eyes.

“I hope you know those may be your last words to me. Ever! Who knows if I’ll still be alive and breathing when you get back.” He shivers dramatically and you grab your bag, placing your phone in your coat pocket.

“I spent all day yesterday playing nurse Ky, I have to go to the office.”

“And you think if nurses just left their patients before they got better, anyone would recover?”

“You are a ridiculous man Kylian Mbappe. You have a runny nose and a high temperature, just keep hydrated and take your pills. I’ll see you at 6.” You reach over to kiss his forehead and he rolls over and pulls the covers high over his head.

“You don’t deserve to kiss me.” His voice his muffled under the blankets and you laugh.

“Whatever you big baby.” You call as you shut the bedroom door behind you.

————

“So if we push the campaign from this angle, I think the overall engagement would-“

PING!

Your phone buzzes for the hundredth time in the last 10 minutes since you started giving your pitch to the newest clients at your firm. You reach for your phone to turn it off, apologising profusely, when it starts ringing and you see your boyfriend’s face lighting up the screen.

“I’m so sorry, I just have to take this very quickly, I really apologise.” You hold your hands in a prayer sign before scrambling out of the office with the phone to your ear.

“Kylian, what the hell do you want.”

“Y/N…” his voices sounds strained and breathless, and you immediately begin to worry.

“Kyky? Baby what’s wrong?”

“I just…can you…” He coughs violently and you wince. He really doesn’t sound good, and you feel start to feel a little guilty for leaving him alone. “Can you…come home please? E…Emergency.” He croaks out that last part, as though he doesn’t have the energy to do anything else.

“Oh baby. I’ll be there as soon as I can okay? I’m sorry for not taking you seriously. I’m leaving the office as soon as I can.”

“Thank you,” he breathes before hanging up abruptly and you think the absolute worst. Maybe it wasn’t just a cold, maybe it was something worse, and now he’s alone and confused and deteriorating. You head back into the conference room, chewing on the inside of your cheek anxiously.

“Everything okay Y/N?” Your boss asks.

“Yes, ummm, it’s just my boyfriend is really ill right now, and he’s just called me and he doesn’t sound too good so I’m a bit worried that’s all. But we can get this pitch finished up and I’ll go and quickly see him on my lunch break-“

“Kylian is ill?” He says, shocked as if you’d just told him his own mother on was on her death bed. “Oh no, you must go to him right away. We have the PowerPoint and your notes, Lisa can finish your pitch.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes of course, I hope he makes a speedy recovery.”

“Thank you so much, and I really am sorry.” You disconnect your laptop from the hdmi cable connected to the project and slide it into your handbag.

“Don’t worry about it Y/N, please let us know how he’s doing tomorrow, you don’t have to come in if he’s still not feeling well.” He smiles. You thank him one last time before rushing out of the office and down to the elevator to the underground car park. You barely lock your seatbelt in place before hightailing it out of the building.

“Kylian!” You yell as soon as you make it back into the apartment. You drop your bag at the door and hurry up the steps, taking them two at time. It’s not long before you’re bursting into the bedroom. “Ky, baby what’s wrong? Have your symptoms gotten worse?” You sit on the bed, taking his sweaty face into your hands. “I’m sorry for leaving you baby.”

“You’re back.” He croaks.

“Of course,” you sigh leaning in to kiss him and he lets you this time. “What was so urgent?”

“I…the bistro is out of chicken soup and I really want some chicken soup, I was wondering if you could make some for me please?” You drop his head, and he falls back onto the pillow violently.

“Ouch!” He moans, rubbing his head.

“Kylian…” you close your eyes, your right hand pressing on the bridge of your nose. “Kylian, do not tell me you pulled me out of work because you want FUCKING SOUP!”

“I missed you too?” He pouts.

“Kylian! I was in an important meeting with my boss!”

“The one that’s the PSG fan? I’ll have someone send him some tickets to our next game, he’ll be fine.” You roll your eyes.

“Of course that’s why he let me leave the office without hesistation….but that’s not the point Ky!”

“Look babe, I’m sorry for making you leave work.” He doesn’t look sorry in the slightest and it pisses you off even more. “But I mean…you’re here now? So…”

“So???”

He opens his arms, his eyes wide as he smiles. “Come spend the day in bed with me.” You throw a pillow at him, landing in the space his open arms created, before storming out of the room.

“Where are you going?” He calls out.

“To make YOUR FUCKING SOUP!“ you shout back. “Tu es un putain d’idiot!”

———

You feel someone’s arms wrap around you as you’re stirring the soup and you shrug your shoulders.

“Get off me Kylian.” You mumble.

“Are you mad at me?” He asks, holding you tighter as he presses a kiss into your neck.

“Kylian Mbappe Lottin, I’m within an arms reach of very sharp objects. Get the fuck off me.”

“No.” He insists, burying his head further into your neck. “I want to hug you. I read somewhere hugs and kisses when you’re sick are very healing.” He moves from behind you to stand by your side, his arms around your shoulders instead, leaning forward with his eyes closed and lips pursed. You shove the teaspoon you were using to taste the soup into his mouth instead and push him off you as you untie your apron and place it on the work surface.

“You can keep your kisses. I’m not trying to get sick again.”

“You kissed me earlier when you came back?”

“Yeah when I thought you were on your death bed you manipulative man child.”

“Oh Y/N, come on!” He whines, stomping his feet. “I’m not a baby.” You look at his stomping foot and raise an eyebrow. He stops and his lips turn up in a little smile. “Okay fine, maybe I am a baby. But I’m your baby. And your baby is sick and needs you. He needs your kisses. Desperately or he might drop to the floor right now.”

“Drop. I don’t care, I’m not kissing you.”

“But I said I’m sorry!” He groans.

“And you’re forgiven. But I’m not kissing you. I don’t want to get sick again.”

“Actually,” he says, coming up to you as you reach into a cabinet above the sink to grab two bowls. “Since I caught this cold from you, it’s the same strain, and you can’t catch a cold twice with the same strain of virus. So you can kiss me as much as you want.”

“And since when did you become Dr. Mbappe.”

“I did some reading in the 3 hours you abandoned me.” You slide past him and start serving up the soup in the bowls.

“Good for you.”

He takes the bowls from you and sets them on the island before backing you up against the counter. The blanket around his shoulders falls to the floor as he rests his arms either side of you on the granite worktop, trapping your body between his.

“Just one kiss.” He whispers against your lips, his face barely an inch from yours. “Please. Just one.”

“Fine.” You press your lips against his lightly, ready to pull away but his hands cage your face, and he presses his lips harder against yours, deepening the kiss. You both pull away eventually breathless, your hand around his neck.

“Better?” You ask in a low voice.

“I’m cured.” He murmurs, before he suddenly recoils and sneezes all over your face.

“DUDE!” You shout, pushing him away as you reach for a tissue.

“Well, almost cured.” He laughs, stopping when he sees your stone cold expression, your eyes shooting daggers at him. You shove his bowl of soup into his chest and go to sit on the sofa with yours. You soon feel Kylian snuggle up next to you, lying down dramatically with his hand over his forehead.

“I suddenly feel weak and dizzy, I don’t think I can hold myself up Y/N.”

“What? You want me to feed you the soup now?”

“If you insist.” He smirks.

“You are unbelievable,” You roll your eyes, but you’re smiling too as you pick up the bowl and hold a spoonful to his lips.

“I also think a kiss in between each spoonful will really help speed up my recovery process.” He nods as he slurps the soup from the spoon.

“You know what, you should legally change your name to Mbaby.”

“Haha funny.” He retorts. He points to the soup, then his lips before opening his mouth wide. You intentionally put the bowl down and pull out your phone, flipping the camera to selfie mode and holding it up so both you and Kylian are in the frame simultaneously.

“Look at this big baby here,” You start, as you press the live option on your instagram. “Big boy Kylian Mbappe lying here while I feed him soup because he’s got a little cold he can’t handle.” Kylian reaches up to grab your phone but you leap from the sofa to the other side of the coffee table.

“Y/N, turn it off.”

“Oh look,” you say into the camera. “Suddenly he has the energy to get up. You should’ve seen him merely a few seconds ago guys, acting as though he had the plague.”

“Y/N, I’m warning you.”

You laugh as you read some of the comments from the fans on your live, getting louder as you see one from his teammate.

“Ky, Achraf said stop being such a pussy!”

“That’s it!” Kylian says before leaping over the table, but you’re a tad quicker than he is, dodging his lunge and making a break for it into the kitchen. “Cut the live Y/N, or I swear-“

“Or what?” You taunt, flipping the camera so it’s facing him as he stares you down from the other end of the island in the middle of the kitchen. You quickly slip through the door and up the steps before he can reach you, but Kylian proves himself to be one of the fastest men in the world once again because he’s grabbing onto your shirt just as you reach the top of the steps pulling you to the floor, his full weight on top of you as you raise your arm as high as you can out of his reach.

“Okay guys, I have to go, it’s time to feed baby Kyky his cough syrup.” You say just as Kylian grabs the phone out of your hand and turns it off.

“Looks like you’re suddenly feeling better hmm?” You tease, laughing.

“You…” He starts but his sentence trails and he pulls the blanket over his mouth before sneezing into it loudly. He sniffs, rolling over so he’s lying next to you, wheezing and breathless. “You’re so lucky I’m ill. Once this cold is gone, you’re dead.”

———

Tried to make it a bit fluffy, I feel like it probably wasn’t that fluffy aksjsksk enjoy ! <3

[usetheeauthor]

Kinktober Day 4: Pet Play

Class Rival!Coriolanus Snow x Mean!District Turned Capitol!Reader

Summary: Coriolanus is your good boy. Yes, he is. (Kakegurui AU)

Warnings: 18+, pet play, master/pet dynamic, gambling

A/N: Remembered a while back someone brought up that the uniforms in TBOSAS reminded them of Kakegurui and have been sitting on this for a while.

You know that feeling where you’re so excited about something that you’re unable to sleep and all you could think about is that very thing. That is exactly what Coriolanus Snow has been experiencing the entire week leading up to tomorrow; the day he finally competes in a game of chance with you.

His peers called him crazy for it. And he’d secretly agrees. But of course, he’s too stubborn to admit such a thing out loud. Especially not when it came to you, his rival.

It was Monday noon, when Coriolanus felt his blood boiling. He was tired of seeing the way you’d primp and preen about, wrecking your tyrannical havoc upon the student body. His breaking point was when you destroyed Pliny ‘Pup’ Harrington in a Chinese game of Go in which the loser would have to strip all articles of clothing. Pup was absolutely humiliated in the end, having to tuck his ‘little friend’ between his legs.

Before Coriolanus could even think, he marched up to your table where you were surrounded by your orbiters. There, he declared to practically the entire lunchroom that he’d like to challenge you in to a game of Japanese chess, Shogi. You could hardly contain your excitement, a wicked smirk on your face as you reached a hand over the table.

“All or nothing?” You said.

Of course, you’re crazy enough to bet all the money you have, bet your place in the pyramid, and craziest of all bet your rights—because if either of you lose it meant being that person’s little pet until you pay off your debt. The thought of being your ‘Fido’ made him sick to his stomach. But the possibility of you becoming his ‘mittens’, his little cat he can belittle and humiliate as he pleases for the entire school to see. Oh, it’s too delicious to pass up. He could just imagine the glory he’d receive knocking down thee queen bee all the way down to a ‘house pet’ status.

“All or nothing.” Coriolanus smirked back at you, taking your hand.

“Yay,” You said, clapping your hands in glee. “This’ll be so fun! I’ve always wanted you as an opponent. You’re quite the sharp one.”

Sharp, indeed. Long as Coriolanus reminded himself that he’s much smarter than you, there was no need to fear anything. No matter the grating comments he keeps hearing from his so-called ‘friends’.

“I don’t know, buddy,” Festus Creed said with a wince as he tracked beside Coriolanus just a little after the challenge declaration. “New girl’s pretty vicious. Last week, she made Arachne cut off her hair really short and then made her cry. Arachne ‘Big Fat Meanie’ Crane!”

“Oh, Festus, don’t let her cheap and offensive humor fool you. She’s a huge crybaby,” Coriolanus scoffed. “Anyone could make her cry with a simple maths equation.”

“I heard that she made Hilarius Heavensbee write an 8-page essay on why he isn’t actually oppressed,” Clemensia Dovecote chimed in. “I baked her some cookies for that one.”

“I like her.” Sejanus Plinth spoke up, shrugging his shoulders.

“You only like her because she’s your stray from another alleyway.” Festus teased.

“Actually, infestation, I like her because she’s nice. She just enjoys putting assholes like you in your places,” Sejanus playfully tapped a finger to his chin. “I do recall you losing a game to her and having to eat out of the dog bowl beside her feet for 3 days.”

“Oh, yeah? If she’s so nice and only puts us, assholes, in our place…why’s your bestie who could do no wrong, Coryo, going to have his ass handed to him tomorrow, hmm?”

“Because my friend here,” Sejanus began, draping an arm around Coriolanus’ shoulders much to his chagrin. “Saw that the queen bee got a little drunk on power and decided to step in and defend what was left of Pliny’s dignity.”

“Which was much at all.” Clemensia muttered to herself.

God, Coriolanus is getting real sick of when Sejanus does that. Calling him friend then assuming his intentions?! He didn’t give two fucks about sparing Pliny’s sad little dick. Hell, he’s been wanting to humiliate Pup for a while now until you beat him to it! You’re always beating him to these things! Well, not this time. Shogi was his game. Everyone knew this.

“Besides, Coryo’s the greatest at Shogi. I’m sure he can handle himself just fine.” Sejanus continued.

Thank you, Plinth. But, also, stop fucking call me ‘Coryo’.

“This game will be one for the books for sure. I’m not sure who I should be worried for,” Clemensia shivers against Coriolanus, squeezing her arm around his tighter. “You better win or I will have to find a new lab partner.”

What could he possibly lose? His family had already gone poor. This game would be a blessing.

Well….until it wasn’t.

Coriolanus was so sure. So fucking sure that he had it in the bag. At one point he thought there was no way you could win against him, no move you could make to save yourself. But boy had he been wrong. So cocky that it made him blind, he didn’t see that he’d given you the perfect opening to finish the game strong. He’d played into your trap. It was a cat and mouse game all along and you’d forced his guards down the moment you began ‘losing’.

By the end of the game, Coriolanus watched the board in horrified silence, mouth agape and eyes widened until he heard you clear your throat.

He looks up at you defeatedly, seeing a shiny brand new collar with his name on it, dangling on the tip of your pointer finger. You swing it side to side with that sickeningly sweet smile you always wear at the end of your games. The atmosphere is grim with even Coriolanus’ friends in the background having a hard time watching.

“Aww, don’t be too sad, Fido. I’ll take goooood care of you.” You say innocently.

And from there began your twisted master/pet relationship with Coriolanus. He should hate it. To be treated so lowly in the eyes of his classmates but the thing is…you actually do take good care of him in many ways than one.

He’s not repulsed when you run your fingers through his hair despite how long it’d taken him to get it in just the right style in the morning. He loves it especially when you do it while he’s resting his head in your lap.

He definitely doesn’t mind it when you pull him by his collar for his attention either, whether it’s to get a kiss or to simply remind him that you own him.

And he could never forget the way you pamper him so well, making sure he’s well-groomed and stylish at all times.

At times, you’d be cruel enough to make him go on all fours and bark like a dog as another one of your assertions of power. It just turns you on seeing a man who thinks so highly of himself at your feet licking you all over as if to worship you. Coriolanus is a proud man, yes, but easily crumbles under your authority as he is quite subservient in the bedroom. He encourages the use of a leash in those intimate times and how could you not oblige? Can’t have him running off, of course.

Maybe this was your odd way of making him your boyfriend, but Coriolanus no longer has complaints here. Not when his girlfriend’s the most powerful girl in school and eventually he’ll hope to someday learn your secrets so he can be just as powerful, if not more. He’ll even get you a cute little collar of your own someday when the tables turn.

For now, he’ll just have to enjoy what it’s like being your personal little pet for your own enjoyment. Not a bad bargain, he’d say.

[modelbus]

Teacherbur :,)

Pairing: Cc!Wilbur soot x Gn!Reader

Flufftober 15 - Nine To Five

“Knock knock.” Every head in your classroom—including yours—swivels to the door. Wilbur leans against your doorframe, sporting a grin and offering a wave to your students.

“Everyone say hello to Mr. Soot.” You tell the kids, and they all chorus it together.

"Hello Mr. Soot." You manage to catch a few grinning at each other, nudging and pointing. You and Wilbur were the topic of quite a bit of gossip between the students.

“Hey kids. Just stopping in to ask your lovely teacher a question.” He winks.

You sigh, standing up from your desk. “I’ll be right back. Don’t get into trouble, I’ll know.”

Wilbur guides you outside of your classroom, smiling. “Just wanted to confirm that I’m still good to use your classroom for guitar club after school?”

“Of course.” You nod. “I have essays to grade, too, so I’ll be there to make sure you don’t destroy it somehow.”

“When have I ever destroyed your room?”

In response, you simply raise an eyebrow. Last Halloween you were decorating your room and he had offered to help hang things for you, only to bring half the ceiling down on your heads. And you can’t forget the time he taught his music kids to make paper flutes, which promptly ended up all over your floor.

“If you need some help with your kids, this is my conference hour.” He offers. Unfortunately for you, today has been the only day your students are actually half-decent. Not that he needs to know that.

“I’m not putting Just Dance on.” You warn him.

“That’s alright. I’ll teach them the Cup Song instead.”

“Wil-“ he vanishes inside your classroom, leaving you to chase after him before he can wreck havoc.

Every student loved him—and you went home with him—but good Lord was he a handful.

-

You rub your temples, trying to focus on the words on the paper in front of you. Either you had just misread the same sentence for the fourth time, or it really was this bad.

The clattering of guitar strings wasn’t exactly helping you focus. You were fairly certain there was even the distinct sound of out-of-time ukele chords, although this was Wilbur’s guitar club.

When you had decided to let his guitar club use your room for today, you hadn’t realized they’d be so… bad. Maybe you were spoiled, being able to hear Wilbur play daily, or maybe you were just an idiot.

Warm hands land on your shoulders, fingers massaging into the muscle.

“I probably should’ve mentioned they’re not the best, hm?” Wilbur hums quietly.

“Not the best is putting it lightly.”

“They’re learning.” He insists. “We’re over in ten minutes, though. I’ll help you grade any remaining essays. I swear.”

“It’s fine.” You raise your head to look up at him. “I got myself in this one.”

“I’ll still make it up to you.”

“Mr. Soot?” A young girl asks, approaching your desk. Her eyes flicker between Wilbur and you. “Are you two… dating? Do you like like each other?”

Wilbur laughs, and you grin.

“No, Tally, we’re not dating.” He sighs. “We’re married.”

She shrieks, turning around to face three other girls who all have too-big guitars on their laps. “They’re married!”

“Oh, God.” You laugh. “Wil, you just opened a can of worms.”

“They’ll forget it by tomorrow. Hopefully.”

[killshotbabe]

Title | Beckoning

Pairing | Jeno x reader ft. Motel keeper!Renjun

Warning(s) | minors dni! NSFW, Mention of a questionable ‘pill’, smoking, sexual content, thigh riding, fingering

Word count | 900ish?

Song(s) | Meet Me At Sachas - Space Afrika

“You’re not from here are you?”

You rubbed a thumb across your upper lip, smearing the red tint of your lipstick slightly on the corner of your lip. You looked up to the friendly face of the old man you’ve grown accustomed to the moment you sat by the counter of the old diner where your malfunctioning gps had taken you as the rainstorm wrecked havoc, disabling you from continuing down the road.

You let him eye you for a second as you drank a mouthful of your warm coffee, smiling a little. “Is it that obvious?”

“Well, it’s very rare for us to have someone like you at this ungodly hour.” The old man began to wipe the wooden counter as you sighed, pondering if you should ask for another refill without less cream this time. “Unless you’re driving back to college but around this time? It’s poor timing.”

You propped your arms under your chin, resisting to the urge to just sleep in front of the old man. You like to think he’d let you but you weren’t sure if that’s even allowed. You do need a bed after all and the motel you’ve booked forty-five minutes away had that.

“I know. I’m moving to a new town actually…”

He raise a brow at you now, questioning the fact that you just admitted that. “And it couldn’t wait until tomorrow?”

“No. Something told me it was a good idea to leave tonight.”

“But it’s raining cats and dogs out there.” He says, causing you to giggle.

“Yeah, my bad about that but think about it this way… It’ll be refreshing once it’s done. Like it’s a new start for me, y’know?”

“Well, if you put it that way kiddo then sure.” You think he’s respecting the nature of your answer and you thank him for that. The last thing you’d want to do right now is explain why you’re so eager to get out of your hometown. You know it wasn’t for the light-hearted. “You have somewhere to sleep at?”

“My car.” You joked but he squints at you, wishing you’re lying to his face. “Just kidding! It’s forty-five minutes away. Were you gonna offer me a bed here?”

“I was going to but I don’t trust you enough to hold the fort down when someone breaks here.” His tone was serious, yet you could feel a mischievous glint in those light brown eyes. “It gets… dangerous here after midnight so you should probably go soon.”

“Really?” You joked. You, however, did put that suggestion in the back of your head. “I’ll leave after you give me some water then.”

By 11 pm, you bid your goodbyes to the old man. You forgot to ask what his name was and thank him for giving you his time. You’re not sure why he didn’t introduce himself either but you didn’t really care. You don’t think you’ll meet him anytime soon anyway but you did remind yourself to do so if you come across him again. He was nice but you think it’s probably because that’s the first time you felt genuine warmth from what could be a father figure in your lonely life.

By the time you were back on the road, the rain had miraculously stopped. You drove in complete silence, just letting yourself bask into the aftermath of the rainstorm as you disappeared into the dark roads enveloped in between a canopy of tall pine trees. Your nose twitched at the strong scent of damp, earthy soil so you closed your window with your free hand, right one on the steering wheel. You thank the coffee for keeping you up and more focused on the road until you eventually reached your final stop for the night.

“Hello?”

You announce yourself to what seemed like a deserted reception of the 3-star motel you booked.

The dim-lit hallway to your right looked so inviting so all you could think of is the comfort of your own room and a bed you saw from the previews prior booking a room but because there was no one here to welcome you and get you settled in, you couldn’t help but start to lose patience.

“Hi, sorry about the delay.” A young-looking man just a couple of inches taller than you greeted you behind the desk after what seemed like forever. He kept a straight face as he confirmed your name and reservation number so you spend some time studying him — from his conventionally handsome face all the way to his plain white dress shirt and a birthmark on his slender hand hovering on the keyboard.

Renjun, his name plate read.

“Here’s your keycard. Have a good night.” He brings you out of your stupor, sliding a piece of plastic across the desk for you to grab.

“Yeah, you as well.” You make a direct eye contact, grinning at him in which he had politely returned before you watch him leave the desk again, the small of his back rendering you speechless until you found yourself alone with your suitcase yet again.

He was handsome, you made a note. But you think there was something slightly off with him.

Or maybe I just need sleep? Yeah probably.

You slid the keycard into the slot of your room, followed by the series of sounds your beat up suitcase made, shutting the door with your back. You didn’t even bother with the main lights and went for the lone lamp in a corner of your small room. After you had successfully removed your boots followed by your windbreaker, you crawled towards the single bed and slipped under the comforter. You didn’t mind the fact that it reeked of cigarette smoke since you’re too exhausted to care.

It didn’t take long for you to fall asleep as pure exhaustion wracked your nerves even if you had coffee earlier, the somber yet cozy atmosphere simply lulling you to your unconscious state.

It was silent for the next few hours. You didn’t toss around for the first time in your life in an attempt to find a comfortable position to sleep in until 2 am brought you back on your feet as you staggered into the mini fridge, clutching the side of your head in an attempt to cater to the throbbing sensation you felt. You grab a pill on top of the table near the fridge, shoving it down your throat with cold water then you were back to bed, already falling asleep and feeling better.

So much better, you even dreamed of someone — a boy. You’ve never met him before but unlike Renjun, this boy has a strong jaw, pretty dark eyes and fair complexion. His luscious dark hair slightly longer and he was broad, way taller than you. He stood by the reception talking to a solemn-looking Renjun. You see yourself hiding in the hallway, hearing murmurs being exchanged from the two before the taller boy walked back out. You wait until Renjun leaves before springing into the parking lot, looking for the boy in the dark.

“You got no shoes on.”

You whip your head to the direction you heard the raspy voice from. There’s a slight tease coating his tone, you think.

“I-I forgot?” You reason, feeling the inviting sensation pulling you to him. He’s leaning on the hood of his car, cigarette perched between his pretty lips.

“Want some?” He nods off, slipping the cigar off to offer it to you. You can see him more better now and he was extremely attractive and quite enchanting to look at to the point that it was starting to mess with you.

“No…” You stop just when you feel your knees brush against his, your full attention all over him and the way he took another grey puff of smoke and exhale away from you before meeting your eyes with a spark of allure.

“Why are you out here? Talking to me?” He pressed with a raise brow. “Isn’t it late?”

“Not sure.” You say, eyes never leaving his. You didn’t have your windbreaker on but for some reason, you felt warm. “I just want to be here?”

“That’s not enough reason to convince me.” He chuckled under his breath, looming closer to you now. Despite him sitting, he appeared to be taller still, and way more in control. “Pretty sure there’s something else, sweetheart.”

“I just feel… funny?” You say, swallowing a lump in your throat. You don’t know why you’re feeling this way at all but you were curious. “I didn’t lie when I said I want to be here…I want to be here to see you it seems?”

“You sound unsure.” He waves you off with a grin, finally relaxing on the hood of his car, both arms perched behind him now but here you are, a little nervous with the way he scrutinized you from your bare feet now probably dirty from not wearing your shoes and all the way to your now flushed face. “I don’t think we’ve met before.”

“We haven’t…” You bite your lip, slowly eyeing the thin material of his black tank hugging his lean and muscular frame. He doesn’t seem to be bothered by cold gust of wind pummelling to your direction but you began to rub your arms, shivering lightly but you ignore it, continuing on with pleading eyes. “But here I am.”

“And you think that’s all it matters, right?” He drawls, watching you attentively — like the way your chest rose and fell and your heartbeats accelerating solely because of him. “You believe yourself, yeah?”

“Yes.” You huffed, closing your eyes briefly before you fluttered them open. You inched closer, gaze falling on his pinkish lips. “I believe myself.”

“Wanna sit on my lap then?” He patted his right thigh, honeyed voice sending another burst of shivers down your spine. You couldn’t help but to whimper as he spread his thighs for you to sit on. “To warm you up a little?”

“Yes.”

You don’t know how it happened but eventually, you found yourself rutting yourself on his clothed thigh chasing your high as he watched you like a prey, quite entertained with the way you struggled like a dog in heat, desperate for a mind-numbing orgasm but before he lets you go and gives you what you want, he wraps his strong arms around your waist, forcibly lifting you up so he can move your soaked panties to the side and slip his cold fingers inside your wet, pulsating hole, fingering you right there and then.

“You’re making a mess.” He whispered rather harshly, allowing you to rest your head on his shoulder as you gasped and clamped a hand on your mouth, suppressing your loud moans threatening to spill out of you, his long fingers going in faster motions until the lewd squelching noise of your arousal could be heard in the crisp nightly air. “Come sweetheart…fuck yourself on my fingers you want so bad yeah? Aren’t you a good girl…. Doing so well for me and only me.”

It took a couple of seconds before you felt yourself snap for of how much he repeatedly hit your sweet spot and he was so, so cunning with the use of dirty words he chided into your ear, making you roll your eyes in back of your head.

“Fuck!”

You screamed, shaking nonstop as you lift yourself off him only for him to yank you back down, forcing you to release with his fingers still inside you. You couldn’t help to bite on his shoulder in the middle of it all. You haven’t even fucked him and you already claim this was the most amazing orgasm you have ever experienced to date.

You collapsed against his chest, waiting for your frantic heartbeats to settle down as you feel his hand ghosting to your back, soothing you. You almost purred when he let out a dry chuckle and muttered a loving “good job.” to praise you. It didn’t even register the fact that he’d touched your chin, turning your face to his until you felt him kiss you with much fervour, earning another sigh of relief from you when he slipped his tongue into yours. You let him take full control, ultimately taking your breath away when he planted open-mouthed kisses from your jaw to the base of your throat now fully exposed for him. You like how his kisses made you quiver, sending goosebumps all over your skin. He felt oddly cold and you somehow liked it.

“I don’t even know your name,” You smiled to yourself, basking into the way he licked a stripe of your soft skin followed by another sensual kiss. “You have to tell me, please?”

“Jeno.”

He finally whispers, his hand fisting your hair so he can tilt your head downwards, intending to mark up your neck.

“Jeno…” You repeat in a hushed whimper, giving him the reigns as you fully surrendered to his incredible erotic ministrations. You didn’t care about having sex with this gorgeous man out in the open right now. You wouldn’t even mind if Renjun sees the both of you. If anything, you’d let him join or maybe watch if that was more of his thing. “Pretty name for a pretty boy…”

You closed your eyes in satisfaction as you drowned in his embrace, completely missing the fact that he had opened his mouth wider inches away from your neck, upper fangs ready to puncture through your vein.

You never woke up from what you thought was a mere dream.

A.N | ….I’m sorry lol. This not edited or proof-read too I typed this up my phone after getting that jolt of wanting to write about Jeno ;)

[alienpossession]

Part 3: Spread a Little Wider (Jeff)

Aiden decided that its best to continue the construction of the house to not raise any suspicion. So he, Ricardo and Max decided to stick around in the property to also ensure the safetiness of the rest of their being while instructing the rest of the workers to go back into their respective after-construction life. Of course Aiden cannot let them leave without a handful of souvenir from the extraterrestrial world, and when they are ready, he set those infected puppet to the outside world ready to wreck a little havoc to the rest of the human population

Jeff White sidelined by injury in his sophomore year of university and his career simply never returned after that. In order to keep up the study despite losing his football scholarship, he worked in construction owned by his father's friend. Too bad the place that simply became the source that continued his uni life also ended his life as he knew it when the alien goo infected him just a couple hours ago. Now, he's more than ready to make the rest of his college friends turned into the same cause as him with the little help of the things stored in his massive carry-on

He lived together with some friends that has been living with him since freshman year. The rule is for upperclassmen to no longer use dorm facilities and since Jeff is in his senior year, he's clearly not eligible for dorm any longer. But he and his dorm-mate and 2 juniors managed to rent a rather decent house fitting for 6 college kids who all love to workout and have frequent guests so they have no complaint whatsoever.

Trent just finished his classes late into the afternoon at 5 PM when he arrived in the house, but it seemed a little quiet, except for the lulling yet deep baritone voice of what he recognized as Jeff's voice coming from the kitchen. So Trent decided to swing by and take a peek on what his bro's doing before headed to his bedroom

"Hey bro, meal prep?"

"Oh hell yeah, you wanna come and have a taste?"

"Hmmm, I guess it's not gonna hurt,"

But Trent came for a little surprise as Jeff turned around and shown him a rather stuffed belly while smiling awkwardly

"Glad I could share this with you bro,"

And just like that, Jeff grabbed Trent's head and then lodged copious amount of black slime right into Trent's mouth. The junior year student couldn't put up a fight as he eventually overtaken by the invading goo that quickly gained control of his body.

After the sloppy takeover/kiss from Jeff, Trent simply swiped the goo around his lips with his hands and give it a lick

"Umh so nutritious. Okay, now this makes the two of us. Shall we wait for the others or should we search them and give them a little surprise?"

"Don't you have a party to attend?"

"Oh yeah, Phi Kappa Alpha. But it's still tomorrow though. It's daytime pool party,"

"And who said that they wouldn't have a pre-game tonight? You know how Pike rolled. Infect the brothers before tomorrow's party and I'll wait here to get the rest of the housemates,"

"Sick, I like it,"

"What the fuck you two been talking about?"

A sharp and slightly terrified looking sound comes from the front of the kitchen. It's Gary's voice, and beside him, is Jae, the other two housemates,"

Jeff and Trent glared at the two smaller yet still muscular guy and decided that play pretend won't cut it, so they just simply do a full-front attack to the two that tried to run the quickest they can to exit the house. But the alien enhanced Jeff's and Trent's already insane physicality and stamina and that left both Jae and Gary subdued in less than a minute. The two writhed on the floor fighting for their dear life when both Jeff and Trent simply smiled wickedly and opened their mouth to let black shiny goo sludged down from their mouth to fill and overrun Jae's and Gary's system. Not long after that, the two also taken over by the alien sludge

"We should clean up. My girlfriend is coming,"

"And a nerd is going to tutor me,"

"Hm, the more the merrier. Okay then, Trent, change your clothes and go to Pike. Take control of as many frat boys as possible. You two take care of your own subjects and I'll handle the two housemates, sounds solid?"

"Totally,"

"Okay then, disperse,"

The alien inside Jeff runs the memory to really make sure what he spot in the human's memory was correct. And yeah, the two housemate left are two fucking muscle monster.

Well, he can certainly take them down, but this might be the toughest battle he will have to face so far

***

Meanwhile, 10 minutes later, Trent is already standing outside Pike, ready to spread out a little blessings to the blissfully unaware frat bros of Phi Kappa Alpha

[96harmony96]

Chapter 15

I stopped by Cary’s room before I left for work Thursday morning. I cracked the door open and peeked in. When I saw he was sleeping, I started to back out.

“Hey,” he murmured, blinking at me.

“Hey.” I entered. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m glad to be home.” He rubbed at the corners of his eyes. “Everything all right?”

“Yeah . . . I just wanted to check on you before I head to work. I’ll be home around eight. I’ll grab dinner on the way back, so expect a text around seven to see what you’re hungry—” I interrupted myself with a yawn.

“What kind of vitamins does Jauregui take?”

“Huh?”

“I’m never not horny, and even I can’t pile-drive all night like that. I kept thinking, ‘She’s got to be done now.’ Then she’d start up again.”

I flushed and shifted on my feet.

He howled with laughter. “It’s dark in here, but I know you’re blushing.”

“You should’ve put your headphones on,” I mumbled.

“Don’t stress about it. It was good to find out my equipment still works. I hadn’t had a chubby since before the attack.”

“Eww . . . Gross, Cary.” I started backing out of the room. “My dad comes in tonight. Technically tomorrow. His flight lands at five.”

“You picking him up?”

“Of course.”

His smile faded. “You’re going to kill yourself at this rate. You haven’t gotten any sleep all week.”

“I’ll catch up. See ya.”

“Hey,” he called after me. “Does last night mean you and Jauregui are okay again?”

I leaned into the doorjamb with a sigh. “Something’s wrong, and she won’t talk to me about it. I wrote her a letter basically puking out all my insecurities and neuroses.”

“Never put stuff like that in writing, baby girl.”

“Yeah, well . . . all it got me was fucked half to death with no better idea of what the problem is. She said it has to be this way. I don’t even know what that means.”

He nodded.

“You act like you get it,” I said.

“I think I get the sex.”

That sent a chill down my spine. “Get-it-out-of-your-system sex?”

“It’s possible,” he agreed softly.

I closed my eyes and let the confirmation slide through me. Then I straightened. “I gotta run. Catch you later.”

* * *

 The thing about nightmares was that you couldn’t prepare for them. They sneaked up on you when you were most vulnerable, wrecking havoc and mayhem when you were totally defenseless.

And they didn’t always happen while you were sleeping.

I sat in an agonized daze as Mark and Mr. Waters went over the fine points of the Kingsman Vodka ads, achingly aware of Lauren sitting at the head of the table in a black suit with white shirt and tie.

She was pointedly ignoring me, had been from the moment I walked into the Cross Industries conference room aside from a cursory handshake when Mr. Waters introduced us. That brief touch of her skin against mine had sent a charge of awareness through me, my body immediately recognizing her as the one that had pleasured it all night. Lauren hadn’t seemed to register the contact at all, her gaze trained above my head as she’d said, “Miss Cabello.”

The contrast to the last time we’d been in the room was profound. Then, she hadn’t been able to keep her eyes off me. Her focus had been searing and blatant, and when we’d left the room she’d told me that she wanted to fuck me and would dispense with anything that got in the way of her doing so.

This time, she stood abruptly when the meeting was concluded, shook the hands of Mark and Mr. Waters, and strode out the door with only a short, inscrutable glance at me. Her two directors scurried after her, both attractive brunettes.

Mark shot me a questioning look across the table. I shook my head.

I made it back to my desk. I worked industriously for the rest of the day. During my lunch break, I stayed in and looked up things to do with my dad. I decided on three possibilities—the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, and a Broadway play, with the trip to Ellis Island reserved for if he really had a desire to go. Otherwise, I figured we could skip the ferry and just check her out from the shore. His time in the city was short, and I didn’t want to overload it with a bunch of running around.

On my last break of the day, I called Lauren’s office.

“Hi, Scott,” I greeted her secretary. “Is it possible for me to talk to your boss real quick?”

“Hold on a minute and I’ll see.”

I half-expected to have my call rejected, but a couple of minutes later I was put through.

“Yes, Camila?”

I took the length of a heartbeat to savor the sound of her voice. “I’m sorry to bother you. This is probably a stupid question, considering, but . . . are you coming to dinner tomorrow to meet my father?”

“I’ll be there,” she said gruffly.

“Are you bringing Ireland?” I was surprised there wasn’t a tremor in my voice, considering the overwhelming relief I felt.

There was a pause. Then, “Yes.”

“Okay.”

“I have a late meeting tonight, so I’ll have to meet you at Dr. Petersen’s. Angus will drive you over. I’ll grab a cab.”

“All right.” I sagged into my seat, feeling a spark of hope. Continuing therapy and meeting my dad could only be seen as positive signs. Lauren and I were struggling. But she hadn’t given up yet. “I’ll see you then.”

* * *

 Angus dropped me off at Dr. Petersen’s office at a quarter to six. I went inside and Dr. Petersen waved at me through his open office door, rising from his seat behind his desk to shake my hand.

“How are you, Camila?”

“I’ve been better.”

His gaze swept over my face. “You look tired.”

“So everyone keeps telling me,” I said dryly.

He looked over my shoulder. “Where’s Lauren?”

“She had a late meeting, so she’s coming separately.”

“All right.” He gestured at the sofa. “This is a nice opportunity for us to talk alone. Is there anything in particular you’d like to discuss before she arrives?”

I settled on the seat and spilled my guts, telling Dr. Petersen about the amazing trip to the Outer Banks and then the bizarre, inexplicable week we’d had since. “I just don’t get it. I feel like she’s in trouble, but I can’t get her to open up at all. She’s completely cut me off emotionally. Honestly, I’m beginning to get whiplash. I’m also worried that her change in behavior is because of Corinne. Every time we’ve hit one of these walls, it’s because of her.”

I looked at my fingers, which were twisted around each other. They reminded me of my mother’s habit of twisting handkerchiefs, and I forced my hands to relax. “It almost seems like she’s got some kind of hold on her and she can’t break free of it, no matter how she feels about me.”

Dr. Petersen looked up from his typing, studying me. “Did she tell you that she wasn’t going to make her appointment on Tuesday?”

“No.” The news hit me hard. “She didn’t say anything.”

“She didn’t tell me, either. I wouldn’t say that’s typical behavior for her, would you?”

I shook my head.

Dr. Petersen crossed his hands in his lap. “At times, one or both of you will backtrack a bit. That’s to be expected considering the nature of your relationship—you’re not just working on you as a couple, but also as individuals so you can be a couple.”

“I can’t deal with this, though.” I took a deep breath. “I can’t do this yo-yo thing. It’s driving me insane. The letter I sent her . . . It was awful. All true, but awful. We’ve had some really beautiful moments together. She’s said some—”

I had to stop a minute, and when I continued, my voice was hoarse. “She’s said some w-wonderful things to me. I don’t want to lose those memories in a bunch of ugly ones. I keep debating whether I should quit while I’m ahead, but I’m hanging in here because I promised her—and myself—that I wouldn’t run anymore. That I was going to dig my feet in and fight for this.”

“That’s something you’re working on?”

“Yes. Yes, it is. And it’s not easy. Because some of the things she does . . . I react in ways I’ve learned to avoid. For my own sanity! At some point you have to say you gave it your best shot and it didn’t work out. Right?”

Dr. Petersen’s head tilted to the side. “And if you don’t, what’s the worst that could happen?”

“You’re asking me?”

“Yes. Worst-case scenario.”

“Well . . .” I splayed my fingers on my thighs. “She keeps drifting away from me, which makes me cling harder and lose all sense of self-worth. And we end up with her going back to life as she knew it and me going back to therapy trying to get my head on straight again.”

He continued to look at me, and something about his patient watchfulness prodded me to keep talking.

“I’m afraid that she won’t cut me loose when it’s time and that I won’t know better. That I’ll keep hanging on to the sinking ship and go down with it. I just wish I could trust that she’d end it, if it comes to that.”

“Do you think that needs to happen?”

“I don’t know. Maybe.” I pulled my gaze away from the clock on the wall. “But considering it’s nearly seven and she stood us both up tonight, it seems likely.”

* * *

 It was crazy to me that I wasn’t surprised to find the Bentley waiting outside my apartment at quarter to five in the morning. The driver who climbed out from behind the wheel when I stepped outside wasn’t familiar to me. He was much younger than Angus; early thirties was my guess. He looked Latino, with rich caramel-hued skin, and dark hair and eyes.

“Thanks,” I told him, when he rounded the front of the vehicle, “but I’ll just grab a cab.”

Hearing that, the night doorman to my building stepped out to the street to flag one down for me.

“Miss. Jauregui said I’m to take you to La Guardia,” the driver said.

“You can tell Miss. Jauregui that I won’t be requiring her transportation services now or in the future.” I moved toward the cab the doorman had hailed, but stopped and turned around. “And tell her to go fuck herself, too.”

I slid into the cab and settled back as it pulled away.

* * *

 I’ll admit to some bias when I say my father stands out in a crowd, but that didn’t make it less true.

As he exited the secure security area, Victor Reyes commanded attention. He was six feet tall, fit and well built, and had the commanding presence of a man who wore a badge. His gaze raked the immediate area around him, always a cop even when he wasn’t on duty. He had a duffel bag slung over his shoulder and wore blue jeans with a black button-down shirt. His hair was dark and wavy, his eyes stormy and gray like mine. He was seriously hot in a brooding, dangerous, bad boy sort of way, and I tried to picture him alongside my mother’s fragile, haughty beauty. I’d never seen them together, not even in pictures, and I really wanted to. If only just once.

“Daddy!” I yelled, waving.

His face lit up when he saw me, and a wide smile curved his mouth.

“There’s my girl.” He picked me up in a hug that had my feet dangling above the floor. “I’ve missed you like crazy.”

I started crying. I couldn’t help it. Being with him again was the last emotional straw.

“Hey.” He rocked me. “What’s with the tears?”

I wrapped my arms tighter around his neck, so grateful to have him with me, knowing all the other troubles in my life would fade into the background while he was around.

“I missed you like crazy, too,” I said, sniffling.

We took a cab back to my place. On the ride over, my dad asked me the same sort of investigative questions about Cary’s attack as the detectives had asked Cary in the hospital. I tried to keep him distracted with that discussion when we pulled up outside my building, but it didn’t do any good.

My dad’s eagle eyes took in the modern glass overhang attached to the brick façade of the building. He stared at the doorman, Paul, who touched the brim of his hat and opened the door for us. He studied the front desk and concierge, and rocked back on his heels as we waited for the elevator.

He didn’t say anything and kept his poker face on, but I knew he was thinking about how much my digs must cost in a city like New York. When I showed him into my apartment, his sweeping gaze took in the size of the place. The massive windows had a stunning view of the city, and the flat-screen television mounted on the wall was just one of the many top-of-the-line electronics on display.

He knew I couldn’t afford the place on my own. He knew my mother’s husband was providing for me in ways he would never be able to. And I wondered if he thought about my mother, and how what she needed was also beyond his means.

“The security here is really tight,” I told him by way of explanation. “It’s impossible to get past the front desk if you’re not on the list and a resident can’t be reached to vouch for you.”

My dad exhaled in a rush. “That’s good.”

“Yeah. I don’t think Mom could sleep at night otherwise.”

That made some of the tension leave his shoulders.

“Let me show you to your room.” I led him down the hallway to the guest room suite. It had its own bathroom and mini-bar with fridge. I saw him noting those things before he dropped his duffel on the king-size bed. “Are you tired?”

He looked at me. “I know you are. And you have to work today, don’t you? Why don’t we nap for a bit before you have to get up?”

I stifled a yawn and nodded, knowing I could use the couple of hours of shut-eye. “Sounds good.”

“Wake me when you’re up,” he said, rolling his shoulders back. “I’ll make the coffee while you’re getting ready.”

“Awesome.” My voice came husky with suppressed tears. Lauren almost always had coffee waiting for me on days when she’d spent the night, because she got up before me. I missed that little ritual of ours.

Somehow, I’d have to learn to live without it.

Pushing up onto my tiptoes, I kissed my dad’s cheek. “I’m so glad you’re here, Daddy.”

I closed my eyes and clung tightly when he hugged me.

* * *

 I stepped out of the small market with my bags of grocery ingredients for dinner and frowned at finding Angus idling at the curb. I’d refused a ride in the morning and again when I’d left the Crossfire, and he was still following and shadowing. It was ridiculous. I couldn’t help but wonder if Lauren didn’t want me as a girlfriend anymore, but her neurotic lust for my body meant that she didn’t want anyone else to have me—namely Brett.

As I walked home, I entertained thoughts of having Brett over for dinner instead, imagining Angus having to make that call to Lauren when Brett came strolling up to my place. It was just a quick vengeful fantasy, since I wouldn’t lead Brett on that way and he was in Florida anyway, but it did the trick. My step lightened and when I entered my apartment, I was in my first really good mood in days.

I dumped all the dinner stuff off in the kitchen, then went to find my dad. He was hanging out in Cary’s room playing a video game. Cary worked a nunchuk one-handed, since his other hand was in a cast.

“Woo!” my dad shouted. “Spanked.”

“You should be ashamed of yourself,” Cary shot back, “taking advantage of an invalid.”

“I’m crying a river here.”

Cary looked at me in the doorway and winked. I loved him so much in that moment I couldn’t stop myself from crossing over to him and pressing a kiss to his bruised forehead.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“Thank me with dinner. I’m starving.”

I straightened. “I got the goods to make enchiladas.”

My dad looked at me, smiling, knowing I’d need his help. “Yeah?”

“When you’re ready,” I told him. “I’m going to grab a shower.”

Forty-five minutes later, my dad and I were in the kitchen rolling cheese and store-bought rotisserie chicken—my little cheat to save time—into lard-soaked white corn tortillas. In the living room, the CD changer slipped in the next disk and Van Morrison’s soulful voice piped through the surround sound speakers.

“Oh yeah,” my dad said, reaching for my hand and tugging me away from the counter. “Hum-de-rum, hum-de-rum, moondance,” he sang in his deep baritone, twirling me.

I laughed, delighted.

Using the back of his hand against my spine to keep his greasy fingers off me, he swept me into a dance around the island, both of us singing the song and laughing. We were making our second revolution when I noticed the two people standing at the breakfast bar.

My smile fled and I stumbled, forcing my dad to catch me.

“You got two left feet?” he teased, his eyes only on me.

“Camila’s a wonderful dancer,” Lauren interjected, her face arrested in that implacable mask I detested.

My dad turned, his smile fading, too.

Lauren rounded the bar and entered the kitchen. She’d dressed for the occasion in jeans and a Yankees T-shirt. It was a suitably casual choice and a conversation starter, since my dad was a die-hard Padres fan.

“I hadn’t realized she was such a good singer, as well. Lauren Jauregui,” he introduced himself, holding out his hand.

“Victor Cabello.” My dad waved his shiny fingers. “I’m a bit messy.”

“I don’t mind.”

Shrugging, my dad took her hand and sized her up.

I tossed the dish towel to them and made my way over to Ireland, who was positively glowing. Her blue eyes were bright, her cheeks flushed with pleasure.

“I’m so glad you could make it,” I said, hugging her carefully. “You look gorgeous!”

“So do you!”

It was a fib, but I appreciated it anyway. I hadn’t done anything to my face or hair after my shower, because I knew my dad wouldn’t care and I hadn’t expected Lauren to show up. After all, the last time I’d heard from her had been when she’d said she would meet me at Dr. Petersen’s office.

She looked over at the counter where I’d dumped everything. “Can I help?”

“Sure. Just don’t count calories in your head—it’ll explode.” I introduced her to my dad, who was much warmer to her than he was to Lauren, and then I led her to the sink, where she washed up.

In short order, I had her helping to roll the last few enchiladas, while my dad put the already chilled Dos Equis Lauren had brought into the fridge. I didn’t even bother to wonder how Lauren knew I was serving Mexican food for dinner. I only wondered why she’d invest the time to find out when it was very clear she other things to do—like ditch her appointments.

My dad went to his room to wash up. Lauren came up behind me and put her hands on my waist, her lips brushing over my temple. “Camila.”

I tensed against the nearly irresistible urge to lean into her. “Don’t,” I whispered. “I’d rather we didn’t pretend.”

Her breath left her in a rush that ruffled my hair. Her fingers tightened on my hips, kneading for a moment. Then I felt her phone vibrate and she released me, backing away to look at the screen.

“Excuse me,” she said gruffly, leaving the kitchen before answering.

Ireland sidled over and whispered, “Thank you. I know you made her bring me along.”

I managed a smile for her. “Nobody can make Lauren do anything she doesn’t want to.”

“You could.” She tossed her head, throwing her sleek waist-length black hair over her shoulder. “You didn’t see her watching you dance with your dad. Her eyes got all shiny. I thought she was going to cry. And on the way up here, in the elevator, she tried to play it off, but I could totally tell she was nervous.”

I stared down at the can of enchilada sauce in my hands, feeling my heart break a little more.

“You’re mad at her, aren’t you?” Ireland asked.

I cleared my throat. “Some people are just better off as friends.”

“But you said you love her.”

“That’s not always enough.” I turned around to reach the can opener and found Lauren standing at the other end of the island, staring at me. I froze.

A muscle in her jaw twitched before she unclenched it. “Would you like a beer?” she asked gruffly.

I nodded. I could’ve used a shot, too. Maybe a few.

“Want a glass?”

“No.”

She looked at Ireland. “You thirsty? There’s soda, water, milk.”

“How about one of those beers?” she shot back, flashing a winsome smile.

“Try again,” she said wryly.

I watched Ireland, noting how she sparkled when Lauren focused on her. I couldn’t believe she didn’t see how she loved her. Maybe right now it was based on superficial things, but it was there and it would grow with a little encouragement. I hoped she’d work on that.

When Lauren handed me the chilled beer, her fingers brushed mine. She held on for a minute, looking into my eyes. I knew she was thinking about the other night.

It seemed like a dream now, as if her visit never really happened. I could almost believe that I’d made it up in a desperate delusion, so hungry for her touch and her love that I couldn’t go another minute without giving my mind relief from the madness of wanting and craving. If it weren’t for the lingering soreness deep inside me, I wouldn’t know what was real and what was nothing but false hope.

I pulled the beer out of her grasp and turned away. I didn’t want to say we were done and over, but it was certain now that we needed a break from each other. Lauren needed to figure out what she was doing, what she was looking for, and whether I had any meaningful place in her life. Because this roller-coaster ride we were on was going to break me, and I couldn’t let that happen. I wouldn’t.

“Can I help with anything?” she asked.

I answered without looking at her, because doing so was too painful. “Can you see if we can get Cary out here? He’s got a wheelchair.”

“All right.”

She left the room, and I could suddenly breathe deeply again.

Ireland hurried over. “What happened to Cary?”

“I’ll tell you about it while we set the table.”

* * *

 I was surprised I could eat. I think I was too fascinated by the silent showdown between my dad and Lauren to notice that I was stuffing food into my mouth. At one end of the table, Cary was charming Ireland into peals of laughter that kept making me smile. At the other end, my dad sat at the head of the table, with Lauren on his left and me on his right.

They were talking. The conversation had opened with baseball, as I’d expected, then migrated into golf. On the surface, both seemed relaxed, but the air around them was highly charged. I noticed that Lauren wasn’t wearing her expensive watch. She’d planned carefully to appear as “normal” as possible.

But nothing Lauren did on the outside could change who she was on the inside. It was impossible to hide what she was—a dominant person, a captain of industry, a woman of privilege. It was in every gesture she made, every word she spoke, every look she gave.

So she and my father were in the position of struggling to find who would be the alpha, and I suspected I hung in the balance. As if anyone were in control of my life but me.

Still, I understood that my father had only really been allowed to be a dad in the last four years, and he wasn’t ready to give it up. Lauren, however, was jockeying for a position I was no longer prepared to give her.

But she was wearing the ring I’d given her. I tried not to read anything into it, but I wanted to hope. I wanted to believe.

We’d all finished the main course and I was pushing to my feet to clear the table for dessert when the intercom buzzed. I answered.

“Camila? NYPD detectives Graves and Michna are here,” the gal at the front desk said.

I glanced at Cary, wondering if the detectives had found out who’d attacked him. I gave the go-ahead for them to come up and hurried back to the dining table.

Cary looked at me with raised brows, curious.

“It’s the detectives,” I explained. “Maybe they have news.”

My dad’s focus immediately shifted. Honed. “I’ll let them in.”

Ireland helped me clear up. We’d just dumped the cups into the sink when the doorbell rang. I wiped my hands with a dish towel and went out to the living room.

The two detectives who entered weren’t the ones I expected, because they weren’t the ones who’d questioned Cary at the hospital on Monday.

Lauren appeared out of the hallway, shoving her phone into her pocket.

I wondered who’d been calling her all night.

“Camila Cabello,” the female detective said, stepping deeper into my apartment. She was a thin woman with a severe face and sharply intelligent blue eyes, which were her best feature. Her hair was brown and curly, her face clean of makeup. She wore slacks over dark flats, a poplin shirt, and a lightweight jacket that didn’t hide the badge and gun clipped to her belt. “I’m Detective Shelley Graves of the NYPD. This is my partner Detective Richard Michna. We’re sorry to disturb you on a Friday night.”

Michna was older, taller, and portly. His hair was graying at the temples and receding at the top, but he had a strong face and dark eyes that raked the room while Graves focused on me.

“Hello,” I greeted them.

My father shut the door, and something about the way he moved or carried himself caught Michna’s attention. “You on the job?”

“In California,” my dad confirmed. “I’m visiting Camila, my daughter. What’s this about?”

“We’d just like to ask you a few questions, Miss Cabello,” Graves said. She looked at Lauren. “And you, too, Miss. Jauregui.”

“Does this have something to do with the attack on Cary?” I asked.

She glanced at him. “Why don’t we sit down.”

We all moved into the living room, but only Ireland and I ended up taking a seat. Everyone else remained on their feet, with my dad pushing Cary’s wheelchair.

“Nice place you’ve got here,” Michna said.

“Thank you.” I looked at Cary, wondering what the hell was going on.

“How long are you in town?” the detective asked my dad.

“Just for the weekend.”

Graves smiled at me. “You go out to California a lot to see your dad?”

“I just moved from there a couple months ago.”

“I went to Disneyland once when I was a kid,” she said. “That was a while ago, obviously. I’ve been meaning to get back out there.”

I frowned, not understanding why we were making small talk.

“We just need to ask you a couple of questions,” Michna said, pulling a notepad out of the interior pocket of his jacket. “We don’t want to hold you up any longer than we have to.”

Graves nodded, her eyes still on me. “Can you tell us if you’re familiar with a man named Nathan Barker, Miss Cabello?”

The room spun. Cary cursed and pushed unsteadily to his feet, taking the few steps to reach the seat beside me. He caught up my hand.

“Miss Cabello?” Graves took a seat on the other end of the sectional.

“He’s her former stepbrother,” Cary snapped. “What’s this about?”

“When’s the last time you saw Barker?” Michna asked.

In a courtroom . . . I tried to swallow, but my mouth was dry as sawdust. “Eight years ago,” I said hoarsely.

“Did you know he was here in New York?”

Oh God. I shook my head violently.

“Where’s this going?” my dad asked.

I looked helplessly at Cary, then at Lauren. My dad didn’t know about Nathan. I didn’t want him to know.

Cary squeezed my hand. Lauren wouldn’t even look at me.

“Miss. Jauregui,” Graves said. “What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Do you know Nathan Barker?”

My eyes pleaded with Lauren not to say anything in front of my dad, but she never once glanced my way.

“You wouldn’t be asking that question,” she answered, “if you didn’t already know the answer.”

My stomach dropped. A violent shiver moved through me. Still, Lauren wouldn’t look at me. My brain was trying to process what was happening . . . what it meant . . . what was going on . . .

“Is there a point to these questions?” my father asked.

The blood was roaring in my ears. My heart was pounding with something like terror. The mere thought of Nathan being so close was enough to send me into a panic. I was panting. The room was swimming before my eyes. I thought I might pass out.

Graves was watching me like a hawk. “Can you just tell us where you were yesterday, Miss Cabello?”

“Where I was?” I repeated. “Yesterday?”

“Don’t answer that,” my dad ordered. “This interview isn’t going any further until we know what this is about.”

Michna nodded, as if he’d expected the interruption. “Nathan Barker was found dead this morning.”

[nobully]

RESTRICTED, for shenanigans

a comprehensive list of scenarios | 60. RESTRICTED : for both muses to sneak into someplace they’re not supposed to be.

Wang Yi hisses as the foot of the man above him digs into his shoulder.

' Ouch! Watch your heel. '

' You know breaking and entering is illegal, right? '

A suspicious giggle sounds from above him as Break clamors onto the wall. "So is blackmail."

' Hey, you blackmailed me first! ' And then Wang Yi bites back a yelp as paws dig into his shirt before their four-footed owner leaps onto the ledge besides his companion.

【The fact that he was able to blackmail you at all reflects poorly on you, Host.】

【A real villain would've avoided such obvious pitfalls.】

' A "real villain" just follows the script, ' Wang Yi retorts before joining them both. ' Xerxes, what do you see? '

"Not a thing." Perched contentedly on the wall, the resident mastermind of their harebrained scheme feels curiously unconcerned as he enjoys the night breeze.

' Hahah, very funny. ' But all right, it is pretty dark. ' What about you, Sao Ling? '

【No guards here, if that's what you're wondering. You're both in the clear and I can see the party on the lawn to our west.】

' This is still completely stupid. '

"Will your cat," Break remarks, with knowing emphasis on the last word, "not leave evidence behind if he joins us?"

' He exists on like, a separate plane or something, ' Wang Yi waves airily. ' Anyways, enough talk. Let's just get your doll and get out. ' He jumps down first, landing on some soft grass before turning to spread open his arms for Break. ' Do you need me to catch y— '

The next second Break descends soundlessly by his side, cane held out to maintain his balance as it tip brushes just shy of Wang Yi's ear. "This way," he adds and starts traversing across the lawn, ignoring the eyeroll that Wang Yi shoots behind his back.

Yeah, yeah. I'd like to see you try the same trick twice. Sao Ling lands on his shoulder before Wang Yi trails after Break, muffling his footsteps as much as possible while wondering how the guy manages to walk like a ninja with a gait like that.

Operation: Night at the Musuem had begun.

***

The story went like this: earlier that day Xerxes Break, connoisseur of fine art (since when, Wang Yi grumbles and doesn’t get an answer back) had been enjoying a pleasant stroll through the hallowed halls of Tempus Museum when the closing announcement went off. Like any good Spirale citizen (Wang Yi snorts at that, and Break offers him a napkin that makes him snort some more), he had left with the crowd out the lobby only to discover his dear Emily missing from his shoulder! Alas, the museum had closed by then and the guards refused him entry, so he was coming back at night to recover his forgotten friend.

‘ You can’t wait until tomorrow to ask Lost and Found? ’ Wang Yi asked when the sorry tale finished.

Break nobly set down the linzer cookie he was eating, though the effect was marred by the crumbs around his lips. “And sleep knowing Emily’s alone in that house of horrors?”

‘ I thought you said it was an art museum. She should be right at home if she’s as old as you… ’

“In no century does a man win approval for abandoning a lady after curfew hours, especially when she's a dear friend.”

Wang Yi had suggested going to the police, which Break had flat-out refused for something so trivial. Then Break had asked him to come along, which Wang Yi rejected in turn.

"Well, I could always ask Nicolette..." Break mused, resting his chin against his sleeve as he listened to the telltale sputter of the man across the table.

' She's busy, ' Wang Yi shook his head. Although Nicolette hadn't told him all the details, he heard she was having lots of fun wrecking havoc on the guys that had tried to dump them in the ocean once upon a time. Like hell he’d stop her now.

"I'm sure I could convince her. After all, there's that note you wrote with the candy—"

' Hey! ' Wang Yi barked back. ' Medical reports! Hard copies and digital! '

The two of them met gazes across the table (and really, reflected Wang Yi, it was annoying how Break had the habit of looking through you even when he was staring at you) before both fell back in their seats.

"Seven-thirty sharp," Break began, even as Wang Yi finished, ' And not a word. '

***

Sneaking into Tempus Museum at night was basically a death wish, but lucky for them some rich locals from Fibonacci were holding an Art Appreciation Party that night in the front lawn. More importantly, the curator had cleared them to have a limited "night tour" of the premises, albeit with close supervision.

' This is assault, ' Wang Yi sighed as they subdued two guests with his special cocktail of knockout drugs and dragged them under some bushes.

' I mean, all this work and for what? You don't even know if you'll find her, ' he added as they joined the rest of the guests while Sao Ling stayed behind to keep an eye on the bodies.

' I could be having a bath by now. I could've had two baths, ' he went on after brainwashing their mini tour group into accepting them and lining up to enter the museum.

Break was content to stay silent through most of these tirades, his other senses busy keeping tabs on their location where his eyes fell short. He made sure that Wang Yi was nearby at all times (not particularly difficult, with how much noise he made) and ended up linking his arm firmly with his own as they finally stepped inside the building. He heard more than saw Wang Yi stiffen unnaturally and turned towards him when the man leaned in to whisper by his ear.

' Uh, Xerxes? '

"Yes?"

' You never said the museum was sentient? '

***

' We should leave, ' Wang Yi muttered after the tour guide had taken them down one hallway while advising them to "look and not touch, and certainly don't maintain eye contact!" ' I can sense malicious intent from landscape paintings. How do they even feel things? They don't like us—I sure as hell don't like them— '

"And how exactly would we leave?" Break muttered back irritably. "You said so yourself—these hallways keep going on with no sense of logic or direction."

' Well, how'd you leave in the daytime? '

"I followed the crowd." That was at least a partial lie, but it was laughable for a blind man to go admire works of art in the first place. He only came out of curiosity, perhaps because a certain someone's roommates had mentioned about that person applying for a position here. "And none of these artworks were moving while the sun was up."

' No wonder they made a big deal just for a night tour. Stupid haunted art gallery—shit, that statue just glared at me. '

"It'd be more helpful," Break muttered, "If you could describe what you were seeing instead of dumping your feelings on me like a personal diary."

' Can't you see for yourself? ' Wang Yi shot back.

"I'm busy sensing for Emily," Break lied easily, "and I have severe night blindness." Understatement of the evening.

' No wonder you dragged me with you... ' Wang Yi muttered, but switched to describing each freak work of art as they passed them.

It wasn't until they made their way to the culinary courtyard and the familiar smell of sugar assailed Break's nostrils that Wang Yi stopped his narration with a start.

"What is it?" Break frowned.

' That's her, isn't it? Sitting next to the cupcakes. ' Wang Yi nudged him. ' Uhh, what do your "senses" tell you? '

That was enough context to be obvious. Immediately, Break called upon Mad Hatter for the fourth time that day to augment his vision for five precious minutes, and as expected—there was Emily, sitting in some sort of tea party setup with giant cupcakes half her size.

"It's her," he confirmed, and before Wang Yi could say so what's the plan, he had already broken out of the group to swipe her from her doll-sized seat.

"Took you long enough," Emily scolded as soon as she was back on his shoulder, soothing some of the rattled nerves he'd been nursing for the entire tour. Too many things had gone beyond his calculations today—which wasn't exactly his fault but rankled all the same when he already had so little under control.

"Excuse me!" the tour guide exclaimed while the rest of the guests tittered in scandalized whispers and now—now Break heard Mad Hatter telling him about them too, dressed to the nines in their ridiculous outfits, jewelry, and make-up, the Chain chattering a mile a minute as if to make up for the hours of suppressed silence he'd buried it under for this night, this moment.

' It's fine! ' That was Wang Yi—dressed the plainest of them all in just a jacket and pants. ' He just really likes sweets, haha! Nothing wrong there, right? I'll get him— ' He moved in and grabbed Break's arm, instantly dropping his voice to more urgent tones. ' What the hell Xerxes, you didn't have to make a scene? It's not like I can brainwash them indefinitely?! '

Break gripped him back, feeling the residual warmth from the place where he'd been hugging Wang Yi's forearm for the past 18 minutes, and grinned. "How much time do you have left on your daily limit?"

Wang Yi checked his phone timer and grimaced. ' 12 minutes and 42 seconds? '

"Then tell them to turn a blind eye." The joke was lost to everyone except him, so it was only Emily who cackled in response. "I'll take care of getting us out."

' What? But you—ugh, fine! ' Wang Yi broke free again, running back to the group even as the tour guide started coming over to demand answers.

"Just what is the matter with you two—"

' All of you saw nothing and will keep seeing nothing until we're gone, ' Wang Yi snapped back, eyes glowing red, and the entire group froze on command. The tour guide paused, then turned stiffly back to resume her task.

"Next on the itinerary, we'll be working our way to my favorite, the Decorated Forge and its weapons..."

' Okay okay, what now? ' Wang Yi ran back, only to see Break staring at the sky. He followed his gaze and saw the beautiful glass dome of the semi-outdoor area. ' Wait, you're not... '

"We might as well go both ways," Break muttered before unsheathing his cane. "Breaking and exiting shouldn't be too different."

' What the f—?! '

Glass shattered.

***

With no better options, they ran.

Midway through fleeing across the lawn, Break tripped, sending Wang Yi stumbling after him. The latter recovered first, climbing to his knees while alarm bells rang off in the museum behind them. Shit, they were screwed if they were caught.

' Xerxes, we need to move,' he hissed, grabbing the man (and the doll that had fallen by his side) and pulling him upright. ' C'mon, just until we get out of here... '

By some miracle they rendezvoused with Sao Ling while avoiding the patrols and then it was back to scaling the wall, Wang Yi pushing Break most of the way since the guy was having trouble climbing. Fortunately, most of security seemed preoccupied with checking whether anything was stolen and didn't track them down immediately.

【I managed to drag the bodies of your victims to a convenient spot,】 Sao Ling commented once they were out and hurrying down the streets. 【They should serve as a good distraction for the guards.】

' Seriously, you couldn't just wait 'til we finished the tour normally? ' Wang Yi complained while supporting Break with one arm. ' I could've—I don't know, brainwashed them first while you slipped her in your coat or something? '

Break didn't reply, but Emily's disparaging remarks were enough to state what she thought of that plan.

' Yeah fine, whatever, at least we made it out—whoa, easy there! ' Wang Yi caught Break as he suddenly slumped again. ' You okay? '

"It's fine—just need a minute—catch my breath."

Wang Yi doubted that, but helped Break to a sitting position on the sidewalk so he was leaning against someone's fence. Then his phone timer went off, so he had to deal with that before Sao Ling nudged at his heels.

【Wang Yi, they've found us.】

Hearing footsteps approach, Wang Yi quickly took something from his jacket before turning around, shielding Break with his body.

Museum guards. Two of them, one with a torchlight and the other peering at them behind square-shaped spectacles.

"Excuse me," Spectacles spoke first. "Were you part of the Art Appreciation tour group tonight? There was an incident..."

' What art group? ' Wang Yi blinked back innocently.

The guard was unmoved. "Members of the group reported two of their party missing. It's suspected they might have come to harm or were involved in foul play...one of them was a male with pink hair and green eyes."

Wang Yi shrugged. ' I was just taking a walk. With my cat, ' he added, as Sao Ling went to nuzzle around his legs.

"And who else, may I ask?" the guard pressed, trying to see behind him. "For example, a gentleman with white hair and red eyes?"

' Ahaha, that's a little embarrassing, but... ' Wang Yi bent down to pick up the slumped figure before turning back with a sheepish smile. ' It's my niece Wen Wen. She got so tired walking that she fell asleep, so I was about to carry her home. '

The guards stared. Nestled in Wang Yi's arms was an angelic little girl with long blond hair, sleeping soundly against his chest. Although her complexion seemed a bit pale, she was every inch as real as them and hugging a silly cloth doll to herself.

' It's a cold night, ' Wang Yi went on. ' I should get her inside. '

The guard with a torchlight coughed and side-eyed his partner. "Wouldn't do for the girl to catch a chill."

Spectacles narrowed his eyes, but finally relented. "Indeed. Please do inform us if you see any suspicious figures about. It's dangerous tonight, so hurry back."

' Right, of course. Thanks for your hard work! Good night! ' Wang Yi beamed at them before turning to walk away. He managed to get to the end of the block and turn the corner before collapsing to his knees behind some bushes.

Fuck it Xerxes, why are you so heavy unconscious?!

【Your acting wasn't bad,】 Sao Ling observed while resting a paw on his thigh. He watched with interest as the effects of the magic wig wore off, revealing the usual Break, only with long blond hair. 【The adjustments I made on the wig were successful, too. How's he doing?】

' Who knows? Does a dying man have days where he's less dead? ' Wang Yi snapped back. Still, his hands felt Break's forehead before wiping excess sweat off his face. ' Doesn't feel like fever...and he's not spitting up blood this time, so that's good I guess? I probably should get him indoors for real, though. '

He'd rather take Break to a hospital, but after what Oz said about drugs not mixing with their bodies it...probably wasn't the best idea.

【The condos aren't too far from here,】 Sao Ling added. 【I can lead the way.】

' All right, sure, ' Wang Yi agreed before looking aghast at the man in his lap. ' Wait...how far are they exactly?'

【Five blocks.】

' ...I'm gonna die. '

***

Early next morning, Xerxes Break woke up in an unfamiliar bed of an unfamiliar room, Emily resting by his pillow, and spotted a very familiar, fully-dressed pink-haired man drooling senseless on the carpet beside him.

[dreamingsushi]

Till the End of the Moon - Episode 17

When I say this is addictive... I know I really should go to bed because I have an early pick up for work tomorrow, but I will never be able to sleep without watching what’s next. I really this is the last episode in this arc, because I will never be able to wait until tomorrow afternoon after my flight to see how it all ends.

As predicted, Sang Jiu turns into a demon. She has a red mark on her forehead and she begs the flower crystal to give her strength to avenge her people by killing Tian Huan. Her eyes turn red and she absorbs all of the deceased, which seems very painful. The flower provides her with a sword and she rushes to complete en revenge.

Mingye is feeling uneasy, but he needs to concentrate on the purification process since it’s perilous.

The upper realm is changing because of Tian Huan’s orders. She’s getting rid of everyone that served Sang Jiu. Meanwhile, she’s coming for you snkae. She really thinks she’s all that. One of the maids talks back, so Tian Huan kills her. Right then word comes that Sang Jiu herself came to apologize to Tian Huan. She definitely came to kick ass. Tian Huan gets rid of the other maid. I don’t like robot-like Sang Jiu. It pains me to see her like that. However, the fight is beatiful. I don’t like Tian Huan, but she’s gorgeous with her ribbons. Sang Jiu is winning the fight.

Mingye finishes to purify the weapon. He’s happy that he’ll save Sang Jiu. But right then he receives report that a female demon is wrecking havoc in the upper realm. So she didn’t kill Tian Huan yet. She took her to the spring and is having her soaking in there. She took her divine essence away it seems. Mingye comes to see this. He asks to put the essence down, but she destroys it instead. Mingye stops her from killking Tian Huan. He uses his powers to make her faint and starts investigating about how she became a demon. He’s really mad that the generals followed orders that were villainous, leading to the massacre of the Mo River tribe. He sends them to jail without access to cultivation anymore.

Sang Jiu wakes up, tied in Mingye’s palace. The only way to revert her from being a demon is by healing her injured heart. The elder suggests that Mingye doesn’t go see her to prevent her from remembering the painful events. I would disagree. She needs to see him. He says he shouldn’t see her until she calms down. The other soldiers tell him he can’t be lenient with her even though it started because of Tian Huan, she killed many people too. She hears all of that and she knows that Tian Huan was right saying that now he won’t accept her since she’s a demon, she can’t go back. Then Mingye receives a report from the confession of Tian Huan. She requests to see Mingye, but he says she’s worse than a demon and that he will execute her personally so that she dies.

The elders of Tian Huan’s tribe ask to spare her. They will hold her captive forever. He won’t give her back her divine essence, but won’t let her out. She’s playing the victim again and harbours a plan to prevent Mingye from saving Sang Jiu.

Mingye is planning to revive the water tribe and help Sang Jiu coming back to the right path. But where is Sang You? Ask and you will receive. The maids gossip outside the room where is kept Sang Jiu. They say that Sang You was the only one left alive, but he was thrown into Huangyuan. Sang Jiu escapes and goes to Huangyuan looking for her brother. There she meets with Jize. He tries to convince her not to go in, cause she won’t make it out now that she’s a demon, but she doesn’t listen and jumps in anyways, looking for her brother... Who’s probably not even there...

She finally finds her brother but he’s in a very bad state, but alive. They’re also surrounded by demons who wants to eat them. Mingye follows her into Huangyuan. But he’s in a bad shape from purifying the cristal. He won’t waver though, no matter what the demons say. Sang Jiu isn’t strong enough to protect her brother against the demons. She’s angry that Tian Huan has been forgiven. She goes mad again. It seems to be really painful. Mingye tries to speak some sense into her. She stabs him, but he won’t leave her. He uses his power to make her sleep. Jize says he’ll help them get out, but to make sure to never come back.

Tian Huan’s people come to take her. She wants to take her palace back.

Mingye takes Sang Jiu to the home they shared when he was injured. He says he’ll stay by her side no matter what she is. He shows her the cristal with which he plans to revive her people. No matter what is the price, he wants to go back to the days they lived. together in that house. But to her, this is not just a transaction. She knew she would have to pay the price for loving him, but she didn’t know it would ne so heavy, too heavy. She says she’s only filled with hatred now and there’s no more room in her heart for him. She doesn’t to owe him anything so she breaks the cristal. She puts him to sleep before promising she’ll kill her ennemies herself.

Tian Huan takes over the palace with her trive. She wants to kill people to retrieve her divine essence. Sang Jiu comes to kill her. Tian Huan orders her clan people to kill Sang Jiu, but she’s too powerful. She kills Tian Huan and swears that she’ll kill everyone from the snake tribe.

And that’s how it ends. I really need to go to sleep. But this is such a cliffhanger. I really wasn’t expecting things to go that way! What to do... But I will get first break tomorrow, maybe I can watch a little more?

[heroloverangel]

Delicate

This is technically a sequel to last year’s Dad Mirio fic but can be read on its own! Everyone’s favorite Wholesome Dilf continues to live rent-free in my brain.

“I miss you soooo much,” Mirio says for the fifth time in the past twenty minutes. You give him a comforting smile from your side of the screen, you know how he feels. Your husband’s been gone for three days now helping with a disaster in Osaka, and he probably won’t be home for the rest of the week. It’s hard being married to one of Japan’s top heroes, you think to yourself. You wish you could be there with him, putting your training to good use where it’s needed, but your current assignment is too important to ignore. It’s as if he can read your mind from the other side of the country. “How’s my buddy doing?”

You smile and tilt your camera down to show off your heavy stomach. At eight months pregnant, you’re sidelined from hero work no matter what the crisis is. “He’s alright,” you confirm. “I think he’s bored without you around, though.” He lets out a little whine that’s almost heartbreaking; it’s obvious where he’d rather be right now. You take pity on him and drop the phone level with your belly to give him a better view. 

“Hey buddy,” he coos. “I promise, I’ll finish as fast as I can so I can come home to you and Mama soon.” You feel movement inside you as he talks. You don’t know how good your baby’s hearing is, especially through the video chat, but you’re sure that he’s reacting to his father’s familiar voice. “I can’t wait to get back and feel how strong you’re kicking in there. I bet you’re driving Mama crazy!” You relax further into your pillows and let him babble on to your bump about his day saving civilians and clearing out rubble, only a little lonely when you look over at the empty half of your bed. You really do miss him, your house is far too quiet and calm without his usual energy filling it.

You yawn after a few more minutes and glance at the time. “Sorry, it’s getting kinda late. Would you mind if we called it a night for now?”

He smiles, but you can tell that he’s trying to hide his disappointment. “No problem, I know you need your sleep. We’ll talk again tomorrow, okay?” You agree and tell your husband you love him before hanging up the phone and settling in for bed. You’re tired, but you’ve gotten too comfortable with him sleeping beside you and it takes awhile to fall asleep on your own.

You spend the next morning balancing your laptop over your swollen belly while you browse through maternity clothes. There’s a local shop that promises same-day delivery, and you treat yourself to a few things for your last month. You read through your email, a magazine wants a quick interview for an article about hero families and you’re happy to answer their questions. It’s hard to move too much in your condition, but you make sure to do the prenatal exercises your doctor recommended and then have a nice long shower. Your new clothes arrive and you leave them on the dresser for now while you eat lunch and call your family. It still seems too quiet in the house without Mirio, and you’re getting bored when your phone finally rings and your face lights up at his name.

“Hey sweetheart! I’ve got a surprise for you!”

You can hear the smile in his voice and it warms your heart. “Is it dinner? I think somebody in here’s really craving steak tonight.”

He laughs. “You’ll see. Just have a seat on the couch and close your eyes for a second, okay?”

This isn’t the weirdest thing he’s requested over the phone, and you obey. “Alright, they’re closed. What are you planning, Lemillion?”

“You can open your eyes in three...two...one…” his voice disappears from the phone, all you hear is the background noise of birds chirping.

“Mirio?” Your eyes are still closed.

“SURPRISE!” 

You jump in shock and drop your phone, your eyes flying open. He’s standing in front of you with the biggest grin on his face, completely naked. It takes you a second to realize he must have phased through the front door to surprise you. You struggle to stand but fail, and he has to pull you up himself into his arms for a deep kiss. “You’re home early! How’d you manage that?”

“The others knew how much I wanted to get home, with you being pregnant and all, and everybody worked extra hard to cover for me so I could leave first.” You owe every single one of them a thank you gift. “Boy, that Uravity is amazing with rescue work!” Oh, you owe her twice as much after this.

“I’m glad you’re home,” you sigh happily. Your husband drops to his knees in front of you and pushes your shirt up to kiss your stomach, rubbing his hand where he feels a faint kick.

“Me too. I missed our family so much.” His arms wrap around you and he rests his head against your middle. You run your fingers through his hair, both of you taking a minute to relish your little reunion. It’s only been a few days, but it was more than enough to make you homesick for each other.

He stands back up after a bit and you head for the hallway. “You should go grab your phone off the porch and take a shower. I’ve got a bit of a surprise for you too, when you’re done.” He’s happy to obey and you follow him down the hall, pausing at the front door then into the bedroom. You wait for the bathroom door to shut and then spring into action as fast as you can. You clothes come off; you kick them under the bed instead of wasting precious time trying to pick them off the floor. 

You reach for the new clothes on the dresser and find the outfit you’d picked for his welcome home gift. The bra is made out of soft white lace so flimsy it looks like it’ll tear if you breathe too hard. It ties closed with a ribbon in the front and your clumsy fingers finally form a decent bow on the third try. A skirt attaches beneath the cups and just skims your thighs, the two halves of it parted to show off your obvious pregnancy. You’re lucky that the matching underwear ties on the sides with more ribbon; you’re not sure you’d be able to get them on without five minutes of struggling if you had to step into them. 

You look at yourself in the mirror and adjust the skirt of your lingerie. Despite the sheer fabric leaving little to the imagination, you look sweet. Innocent. Delicate. A grin spreads across your face; it’s perfect.

You get dressed just in time; you hear the shower turn off and the door opens a second later. “There, all clean and-” Mirio freezes at the sight of you and you see his fingers twitch against the towel wrapped around his waist. “Oh, wow. You look...just, wow.” He’s crossed the room faster than you can react, strong arms wrapping you in a tight, warm hug. “You’re so gorgeous like this, babe.”

You lean into his body; you’ve missed this while he was gone. “Well, it’ll be awhile before we can do this again. I figured we should really enjoy ourselves while we still can.” He nods and gives you a surprisingly gentle kiss. You can tell he’s holding back his strength for your benefit and the knowledge makes your heart flutter.

Mirio recovers from his surprise quickly and returns to his usual unstoppable energy. “I’m gonna make you feel so good, I promise!” His bigger hand is warm around yours as he guides you to your bed, losing his towel in the process. You don’t hide your staring; his body is gorgeous after so many years of training and you could look at him for hours. He sits back against the headboard and carefully brings you with him to straddle his lap, and you feel his cock already growing hard against your thigh. “We’ll take it easy,” he promises. “I know we have to be a little more gentle now since you’re so big-” You stare down at Mirio silently, but he continues. “What? You are big, that’s a good thing. You’re growing our baby in there, he needs all that room!” You just shake your head; you can’t really feel annoyed when he’s this sweet.

He looks up at you with pure affection written all over his face and leans into your touch as you run your fingers through his damp hair. “How can you be this buff and this adorable?” It’s not the first time you’ve asked as much, and every time he laughs you off with a faint blush on his cheeks. You lean in for another kiss while his hands move from your hips over your ribs to the front of your slip.

“This is so pretty, you should keep it on.” He gives your chest a squeeze and you whine, too sensitive from the hormones wrecking havoc on your body. You knew your breasts were going to get bigger, but they’ve turned out to be overachievers and you’ve jumped up two cup sizes already. “They’re still really sore, huh?” You nod and he offers you a comforting smile as he plays with the bow before finally tugging it open. Your nipples are already hard, and you don’t miss how he licks his lips when his thumb brushes over one. “I could help you with that, if you want.”

“Mirio…” You love your husband and all his enthusiasm, but you’re well aware that he can be a little too eager and get carried away. He’s being careful now as his fingers trace against your warm skin, his touch barely teasing you. He pulls you closer; you can feel the smile on his lips as he leans into your neck. He follows your pulse, down your collarbone to leave kisses at the swell of your breast and you sigh. “Okay,” you agree. “Just remember to-”

“I know, be gentle. Don’t worry babe, I’m gonna take good care of you.” He pushes your lingerie out of the way to get a better view at your heavy chest and appreciates the sight of it. “Man, our kid’s not gonna be lacking on calcium, is he?”

“I love you, please stop talking.” He laughs but obeys, his tongue flicking over your nipple and making you squirm in his arms. He does it a few times and you let out a little gasp when he takes you into his mouth. “Go easy,” you remind him, but he’s already distracted with his task. You asked your doctor about doing this before and were told it was perfectly fine, but you can’t quite shake the thought that it’s a little weird as Mirio begins to suck at your tender nipple.

You’ve tried this before, but every time he’s been too rough in his excitement and you’ve had to yank his head away from you in pain. Tonight though, he’s trying his best and after a few seconds of discomfort there’s an unfamiliar tingle deep in your breast as your body responds to his stimulation. “It feels weird,” you groan, but your fingers thread into his hair so he won’t pull away. “It’s not bad, just weird.” You’re not entirely sure you like what he’s doing, but you’re willing to continue until you figure it out. His tongue brushes over you with a slightly different motion, and something in you clicks into place. “Can you do that again? I think I liked that.”

His laughter is muffled but still obvious and you can feel the smile against your skin. Mirio’s happy to assist, one strong hand settling on your back to keep you steady. It wasn’t a mistake; he repeats his movements and you realize that it feels good. It feels really good, you have to admit, as his eyes slip closed so he can focus entirely on pleasing you like this. You hold him tight to your body, fingers running through his messy hair while you enjoy the affection so happily given. You’re still sensitive though, and after a few more minutes you start to get overwhelmed and have to pull him away.

“It tastes good.” His grin is huge as he licks his lips. “It’s sweet, just like the rest of you.” You’d roll your eyes if he wasn’t so cute. He gives your breast a gentle squeeze and earns another whimper from you, then turns his attention to the other one. “Don’t want this side feeling left out, right? Lucky I’m here to take care of everything!” Your heart skips a beat, you’re so in love with this silly, wonderful idiot. You don’t get a chance to respond, once his mouth is back on you it’s hard to do anything besides pant and whine for him.

You squirm against him, his dick pressing against your thigh and your panties doing very little to hide how much you’re loving this. “Miriooo,” you moan, and the look in his eyes is nothing but pure happiness that makes you melt. “You always take good care of me,” you coo, reaching down to stroke his cock lightly. “You’re so good to me, honey.” He pulls you closer and releases your chest to look up and meet your eyes.

“Babe, I’m just giving you what you deserve. You’re literally making a brand new, little person in there. If that’s not worth being extra nice, I don’t know what is.” He really has no idea how perfect he is. His thumb brushes over your nipple and your body is so sensitive now it makes you shudder. “Alright now?”

You stop for a second to consider. Your breasts do feel a bit lighter, there’s less pressure weighing down on you after his help. “Yeah, thanks. You’re the best, really.”

He brushes off your compliment in favor of pulling at the strings holding your underwear together. “Just doing my job, miss.” He groans at the sight of you fully naked and traces a finger along the lips of your cunt. You hadn’t noticed just how wet you were getting as he’d worked on your nipples, but now two of his fingers slip inside you with no effort. “I love you so much,” he says with another kiss.

You buck into his hand mindlessly, too eager for his touch after only a few days. You want to hold off and come with his dick buried inside you, but you can’t deny yourself when you’re this needy already. “I want it,” you whine pitifully.

His other hand gives your hip a reassuring squeeze. “I know, baby. You can have whatever you want, just tell me.” His thumb swirls over your clit and he doesn’t miss the jolt that runs down your body. “Right there, huh? My pretty little wife wants me to make her come?” His smirk is playful and there’s a glint of mischief in those friendly eyes.

“Mirio, please.” Hearing him talk like that does something to you and you hide your face in the crook of his neck.

His hand moves faster and your pussy clenches tight around his fingers. “It’s alright, I’ve got you. Just let yourself go for me.” His voice is so warm and soothing, you can’t resist. Your orgasm is marked with desperate whispers in his ear as his hand moves gently between your thighs to urge you on. “That’s it, honey. You’re so good, I want more of you.”

It takes you a minute to calm down before you’re able to pry your sweaty face away from his shoulder. His fingers leave you aching to be filled again, and you swallow hard when you watch him bring them to his mouth to lick them clean. 

“That’s my girl,” he smiles like the sun and you look away, almost embarrassed by the affection between you two. You can’t see anything past your swollen belly, but you can feel his thick cock ready for a turn. “Are you up for more? It’s fine if you need to wait-”

You fumble blindly for his cock until the tip presses just outside your cunt. “I want you inside me. Here, Mirio. Your pretty little wife wants to make you come.” The blush spreading across his face at your words is a special reward of its own. His hips thrust upward to enter you while he slowly pulls you down to meet him, and your mouth falls open in a long moan. “Fuck, Mirio. We’ll have to wait a couple weeks after he’s born and it’s gonna suck so bad.”

He hasn’t put much thought into this fact and you can practically see the gears in his head turning. “Well then, I guess we’d better make it count while we still have the chance,” he says finally. He’s always so much stronger than you, even when you’re not in such a delicate condition, and easily sets a steady pace moving you up and down his dick. You cling to his shoulders to steady yourself as you ride him, pressing your tongue into hs mouth to devour his sounds. This may be the peak of happiness, with your sweet husband pounding away inside your excited pussy, showering you with compliments about how great you are and how perfect your little family is going to be. “And once he gets a little older, we can start working on his siblings!”

Your hips falter in their rhythm at the suggestion. “S-siblings? Already?”

He grins back at you. “Of course! We need five or six, at least!”

“Five or six…” you repeat, suddenly distracted by the thought of doing this another half-dozen times. You don’t know why you’re surprised, it’d be more of a shock if he didn’t have infinite love to share. The idea doesn’t bother you, and you find yourself returning his smile with a smirk of your own. “You really wanna fill me up that much, Lemillion?”

You’re not expecting his thrusts to speed up so much or for him to pull you down so hard you’re gasping for air. “God, babe. So much. I think about it like, all the time now. You have no idea.” He stops to kiss you again, and your cunt squeezes hard around him. “I can take more time off of work,” Mirio insists mindlessly, getting far too ahead of himself. “I bet I can hold so many babies at once.”

You laugh, he’s so ridiculous sometimes. “Let’s just focus on this one for awhile, okay?” He nods, trailing his lips down your throat to feel how fast your pulse is racing for him. You can feel another orgasm building, and that he isn’t far behind. You were only apart for three days but it seems like far too long. “You’re really, really the best.”

He cups your sweaty face in one hand, the look in his eyes so soft and loving it takes your breath away. There aren’t enough words to describe how much you love him right now, and clearly it’s the same for him. Wordlessly he releases you and drags his hand down your body, stopping to tweak your nipples and making you cry out. His fingers drop to rub firmly against your clit, and your back goes rigid. “Miri-ohh. Just like that, I’m gonna...there, fuck.” You clamp down hard on his cock with a loud moan and he holds you tight, supporting your overworked body while you come. “Here,” your voice is ragged. “Your turn, I know you’re dying to come inside me.”

“You’re amazing, honey.” That last compliment is all he gets out before his pace goes sloppy and you feel him flooding your pussy with a low groan. “You’re so amazing.” 

You cling to him while he gradually wears himself out and stay wrapped up in his arms for the next few minutes. Eventually, there’s a firm kick in your belly that informs you that someone noticed all your movement and he’s not happy about it. Both of you laugh as you separate; you flop down on the bed while Mirio cleans you up and finds you a comfy, oversized shirt and fresh panties to wear. It’s still fairly early, and you won’t be tired enough to sleep for a few hours.

“Now that was a welcome home gift. You should just wear that around the house until you have the baby, it looks really great on you.”

You ruffle his messy hair. “I don’t think it would survive the entire month around you,” you tease. You stretch your arms above your head and feel a grumble in your stomach. “So, the surprise wasn’t steak for dinner tonight?”

He’s in too good of a mood to even think of denying you. “It is now!” He’s already fumbling for his phone to look up menus. “Whatever you wanna eat, just say the word!”

Sometimes you wonder how you ever got so lucky.

[aqqleshiqqing-archive]

TELL US ABOUT THE CONFESSION JIL

@fishy-moirails I GOT YOU BOTH COVERED

first of all thank you for being so interested HUUEHHEUE IT MEANS ALOT 🥺🥺🥺 OTL YYWYEEURHEYRHEE OKOK STORY UNDER READ MORE!!! Bullet point styled writing my beloved

sorry if it seems like it's moving too quickly?? LMAODOAS I JUST WANTED IT TO GO TO THE PART™ AHAHSHFHHSHD there's a lot of skips shshh no I am not rewriting this draft I am winging it on one go

ALSO THIS IS VERY LONG I WARNED U AHSHSHSHDHSHDHEJJR

• tom hates christmas. always does. it was already december 23, two days before christmas

• edd knew that tom would be doing stupid stuff like wrecking havoc, burning down beautifully decorated trees, crushing presents down, that kind of stuff

• he had to think of something clever so that tom wouldn't go ruin the celebration again, it was really exhausting. he NEEDS to be distracted... by something.... or someone

• suddenly, edd had a bright idea. jesse! he had noticed by now that tom and jesse may have a thing going on with each other, but never said anything about it

• edd was the only one who noticed them first being so, subtly sweet to each other, and witnessing tom overreact over the idea of liking jesse — his stunned and red face said it all.

• edd calls up jesse on the phone. a quick wholesome small talk ensued, after a few minutes he asks her for a favor

• "anyways, can you go out with tom, tomorrow?"

• huh!??? it was completely out of the blue. edd suddenly asking jesse to... to... go out with him?? wasn't she subtle about her adoration for him?? it sounded like he knew. but she digress

• edd's reason was that "matt and I are going shopping, and tom is gonna be ..... er... lonely by himself.... uh. yeah"

• (but in reality he really was begging her to keep him distracted from becoming grinch 2.0. he's bad at making reasons)

• that was ..... a very peculiar request. isn't he an adult already? he makes him sound like ton is still a baby. what a way to degrade a man's honor like that.

• "well, I mean.... I guess I can do that, bu-" her voice slowly trailed off into silence

• "GREAT. THANK YOU. SEE YOU LATER" and then edd signs out

• jesse stood there confused, that was incredibly odd??? but no matter, she did want to try to go out with him, she just didn't know how. but now with this prompt suggested by edd, she can't just let it slide — and the most fun holiday was just in a few days

• the next step was actually asking tom to go with her.

• it's probably best she texted him about it.

~~

• back in edd's house, tom sat on the couch minding his own business, and then his phone vibrated

• a message from jesse

• he couldn't help but, feel a little bit of excitement whenever he read that name. they rarely texted, and if they did, it was very short lived, but tom still cherished it

• still, he felt nervous because it was from her!! he was secretly admiring her too, how would you feel if you saw your crush texting you?? you'd wanna act cool even in text!!

• 'hi tom! :D' the message reads out

• he responded casually. 'heya, what's up?"

• 'its x-mas eve tomorrow, and i was wondering if you wanted to come along with me? maybe go to a mall? we can go buy presents for edd, matt and tor.d!'

• a tightness swelled on his throat. he's overthinking now

• xmas.... with her??? tom suddenly felt weird... he had huge distaste for this cheery holiday.... but with her???

• is this a date?? he felt nervous

• she didn't know about his opinion about xmas, nor does he wanna look like an asshole in front of her about it....

• he doesn't want to reject her either — he would love to go out with her anytime...

• ...

• ...maybe christmas doesn't sound so bad...

• he types out his response

• "oh sure, why not? :)"

• thank goodness did texting really mask their actual emotions and red tinted cheeks. but it's settled now

~~

• the next day, it's December 24. edd sleeps comfortably in bed, he's murmuring by himself.

• "mhm..n... christmas eve...."

• edd suddenly shoots up from his bed, eyes wide awake

• IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE.

• TOM BETTER NOT BE PREPARING HIS AMMUNITION FOR TOMORROW

• edd runs to his bedroom. he's not there

• CRAP CRAP MAYBE HE'S ALREADY DRAGGING HIS ROCKET LAUNCHER OUT

• edd runs out to the main door of the house. he's still wearing his pajamas

• as he kicks the door open. the area is covered in thick, white snow. and lo and behold — tom is idling in front of the mailbox, all dressed up

• "oh, good morning edd." tom had his hands on his pockets, his head turned back to see edd's terrified look

• edd pauses for a moment... he's going out?

• .... OHH SNAP HE ACCEPTED JESSE'S REQUEST!!!!

• edd played dumb, everything's under control now. he wiped off the nervous look off his face

• "morning tom, looks like you're going out today! where ya goin?" the smug face edd had plastered, ohh he's thriving so hard

• tom froze.

• "UH. NO, I AM JUST STANDING HERE"

• no he's not allowing edd to think he's on a date hell no he's not!!

• edd chuckles, ohh silly little boy he knows what's going on. but he'll let it slide for tom's sake

• "well, have fun standing there! I'm getting cola for breakfast" and edd walks back in, closes the door.

• tom sighs to himself. he's starting to wonder why he's here again, until a voice called to him.

• "tom, you're here!"

• that voice. in an instant his eyes quickly tries to scan for that, familiar sweet voice.

• his eyes lands on jesse, she's dressed in a fluffy jade jacket, and cute white ear warmers.

• he couldn't help but feel, soft inside. her cute stature and smile made him smile.

• "you look nice" he spoke up

• her eyes shrunk at the sweet compliment, she awkwardly twirls her hair and smiles

• "haven't worn this in a while, I'm glad you find it nice, haha" she chuckled

• she's so pretty. he thought

• ”shall we go?"

• he nodded.

~~

• they're in a mall now, as suggested by jesse

• the interiors was filled with christmas themed decorations, a big tree stood in the center of the building, jolly music surrounded the whole place. it feels so festive and bright

• tom cringed at this sight. eugh.

• but, it doesn't feel so, so bad? compared to last time? is it because she's around?

• tom looked at her, excitement filled her eyes, they were sparkling too. she's stoked

• gosh, he could look at her all day if he could

• jesse snaps him out of his trance

• "let's go look in here! maybe there's something here that i could give to matt!"

~~

• they're window-shopping, jesse scans every item available, she's really trying to find a gift for everyone. how thoughtful!

• tom wasn't really looking for anything special, he's just following her. he's not mad though, he's enjoying it actually.

• suddenly, he notices a rack with "mistletoes" labeled above. he stops to look at them. it look pretty.

• "ooh, mistletoes! they're really gorgeous" she notices him staring at them

• "what are these?"

• "...you don't know what are mistletoes?"

• tom shakes his head. he doesn't know. apparently hating christmas means he doesn't really know much about certain items

• "people usually like to hang mistletoes by a doorway, and if two people happen to stand on one together, they... they kiss!"

• "they kiss?"

• "yeah! it's really cute. right?"

• "huh, that's- that's cool"

• he ended up buying one after jesse finished shopping. he didn't show her though. who knows? could come in handy...

~~

• a few hours passed, they definitely had a great time bonding with each other, and being together alone.

• it felt like they truly got to know each other more, and their feelings for each other continued to swirl more

• jesse had to excuse herself to the restroom, so tom waited out for her. her shopping bags sat next to him.

• he was minding his own business, when he hears a couple pass by with an ongoing conversation

• "it's almost 12! we should go check the fireworks later!"

• "oh? where is it?"

• "it's at the outer area of the mall, it's the perfect view to watch the night glitter!!"

• fireworks... he should take her there to end the night

• and, maybe. maybe it was time he told her the truth.

• his face warmed with red, is he really going to tell her now?

• what if it backfires?

• 'am i going to hate christmas even more if things don't go the right way?'

• his worries gets shaken off into thin air when she comes back.

• "i'm back!" she runs to him, and picks up her bags of shopped goods

• "where do you want to go next? or should we go home now?"

• "actually... i heard there's a fireworks display starting soon..." he paused, and gulped

• "... do you wanna go there?" his voice got a little shaky there.

• "i'd love to" she nodded happily

• something about the way she said it, pulled his heartstrings too hard. she would "love to".

• walking outside, there's already a couple of people waiting. some are standing, sitting, and talking to others.

• there's an unoccupied bench, they both took the seat, and waited for the show to begin

• jesse suddenly felt cold, she's shivering a little. she tried to wear her jacket thoroughly and adjusted her earmuffs, but she still continued to shake in her seat

• tom couldn't just sit there and watch her freeze.

• not even saying anything, he scooted himself closer to her, and slowly placed his arm over her side and brought her closer. she jolted at the contact and felt a little flustered.

• "you could've told me you were getting cold" he teased her. that was smooth

• she was going to comment on his smug remark, but she simply thanked him and rested closely to him.

• 'tom. now's your chance'

• time to suck it up and say it here and now

• deep breath. breathe in — out.

• "jesse, can i say something a little odd?"

• "you're odd to me already" she joked. "but go on"

• he takes a moment

• "remember when we first met?" he started

• "i really didn't think we'd become friends from there"

• "i thought i wasn't interesting enough to be your friend"

• "heck, i feel like edd, matt and to.rd combined are far more interesting than me"

• "when you asked me to go out with you today, i-.. i felt — it means a lot to me, y'know?"

• "you're really kind to me. not just me explicitly — but even to my friends, it gave me this hope that maybe not everyone is absolute garbage here."

• jesse listened closely, not saying a word

• "what i'm getting at — jesse."

• he turns to her, and holds both of her hands. oh how she was not expecting this turn of events

• "i— i, i think i like you. and i'd do anything to take that next level"

• he said it, he did it. a weight off his shoulders has been lifted. he's been harbouring these feelings for months now. he needed to tell someone.

• he stared at her intently, his lips zipped shut and nervously expects her response. holding her hands firmly.

• meanwhile, as his words escalated, she almost knew what he was going to say, and she was ready to respond back.

• "can i say something a little odd, too?" jesse replies

• his eyes widened to respond to her

• "i like you as much as you do, tom."

• "i'd love to go further with you too."

• he was speechless. she felt the same way too. there's really nothing much he could say, but he smiled, and pulled her closer for a hug, she did the same

• suddenly, loud explosions can be heard, along with bright flashes in the sky. the fireworks started now

• the sky glittered the dark night with the wonderfully synchronized explosions. it was absolutely gorgeous.

• they looked in adoration, while still holding each other. she leaned her head on his neck. she felt comfortable now, there's no use in hiding how much she wanted to be close to him now

• he, in turn also snuggles his head on her soft hair, it was the best feeling in the world.

• "merry christmas, jesse"

• he said it, what a turn of events!

~~

• back at edd's house, the boys were also having a good time, because tom isn't doing anything stupid! loud music blasted their room as they all sung together happily

• edd started to wonder if things went well with jesse and tom, given that his friend wasn't even home yet.

• suddenly they heard door knocks — that must be tom!!

• "MATT, TO.RD!! GET THE PRESENTS" edd loudly whispered. the duo nodded and grabbed blue colored gifts and a party popper

• "okay, i'm opening the door. let's greet him in unison. got it?"

• "go on edd!" "we're ready!" the two responded

• edd swings the door open, and the boys were ready to yell

• "MERRY CHRISTMAS, TO-"

• tom fell down face first on the floor

• ????? what??????

• "tom??!" edd was confused

• "AAGHHH LOOK THERE'S BLOOD ON HIS CHEEK!" matt cried out

• tord leaned closer to inspect tom, he rolled him over to check his face. tom looked like he was smiling even if he's... unconscious?

• that's not blood.....

• ... is that a kissmark?

• "is that lipstick?" tord was confused too

• edd realizes.

• "looks like tom had a good holiday after all." edd chuckles.

[proxyoddo]

Ringing Ears

One-shot: Wrecker x gn!reader

Words: 2.9K

Summary: Specially trained in explosive ordinance, you go on a mission with the Bad Batch - and your good friend, Wrecker. But as things are oft to do, the mission doesn't go as planned.

Warnings: Severe injury, blood

AN: Two posts in one night, woooooo - good thing I don't work tomorrow (today?) because damn I stayed up too late because I just kept writing this evening. And Wrecker needs some love.

It was, as always, a rainy day on Kamino when you stepped out onto the landing platform. You took a deep breath and happily let out a long sigh as your eyes fell upon the Havoc Marauder. The speed of your pace quickened as you dragged your armaments behind you in their crate, still careful to not let it fall over but too excited to go any slower.

You never understood the stigma that seemed to follow them around. When your commander gave you an assignment that put you in with the Bad Batch, you could not have been more excited. The clone commando special forces squad, Clone Force 99, the Bad Batch. Four with genetic mutations, one that was basically a cyborg, and an impressive mission success rate of 100%. You had heard a lot about them from other squads of clones and officers in Tipoca City, and though most seemed to look down on them, you did not feel that way.

You had run many operations with the Batch since your first assignment with them. You were trained in many different aspects of combat, and all around you were a dependable soldier. But your special training in explosive ordnance is what had originally put you with the Batch, and working with Wrecker was always fun. His proclivity for and knowledge of something you also enjoyed sparked an immediate friendship between the two of you, and the relationship had only grown in the numerous missions you had gone on together.

This one would be no different: you were tasked to basically clear a path through a separatist base of operations. Once your dust settled and the way was clear, squadrons of clones stationed outside the base would advance, and hopefully, overwhelm the enemy. Three heavily fortified walls meant big explosions, one of Wrecker’s favorite things.

Speaking of the large clone, as you got closer to the gunship he exited it, turning towards some other crates that were being loaded aboard. But he saw you, and he beamed with excitement.

“Y/N!” he yelled, and ran to meet you. You laughed as you met, and with regular Wrecker flair, he easily picked you up and wrapped you in a tight, strong hug. You wrapped your arms around his neck and hugged back tightly, feeling your cheeks warm at the embrace.

“Hey Wreck,” you said fondly, letting go and leaning back in his arms. “How’s it going?”

“Better now that you're here!” he said. If he noticed the warmth in your cheeks, he didn’t say anything. He put you down as Hunter, Crosshair and Echo came out of the Marauder to see what the commotion was all about. Wrecker turned and yelled to them.

“Look who’s comin’ with us!” he called, slapping your back with just as much exuberance and you stumbled forward as a result.

“We know, Wrecker,” Crosshair said, a bit exasperated.

“You’ve done nothing but talk about it since we got the mission details,” Echo said, pointing at Wrecker with his scomp link.

Wrecker flustered for a sec, and you noticed his own cheeks turn a bit pink. “Well, I uh… I’m excited, alright?”

“Yeah, Wrecker, we know,” Hunter said warmly, as he walked towards you. “C’mon, Y/N, let’s get your stuff aboard the ship. Tech has the details for the mission-”

“I’ve received the report already, Sergeant,” you said. “I’ve brought my usual equipment.” You turned and pointed to your crate a few feet behind you, and Wrecker immediately went to hoist it up on his shoulder.

“Can’t wait to get my hands on these!” Wrecker exclaimed, giving you a pat on the shoulder as he walked by. You and Hunter just watched, and both laughed as you followed him and the others onto the gunship.

The air was hot with fire and stung with smoke. You were glad for your helmet, but not even the filter on it could get the taste of explosives out of your mouth. The squad had split up: Tech was with Wrecker, and Echo and Hunter were with you. Crosshair had taken the high ground, and was watching out for clankers as you moved forward with the plan. The explosives opened the first wall without a hitch.

“I think they know we’re here,” Crosshair’s voice came through your comm, and you could hear the sarcasm dripping. “Droids are exiting the main base of operations and grouping.”

“Understood,” you heard Hunter reply. “C’mon, let’s keep moving - we don’t have much more time.”

You and Echo nodded, and the team regrouped in the middle of the opening to move forward to the next wall. You and Wrecker were next to each other, while the other three surrounded you - you were carrying the heavy payload, and they were there to make sure nothing made it explode before it got to where it needed to be.

Once at the next wall, you and Wrecker made quick work of setting the explosives. Using a specialized launcher, you attached charges near the top of the wall while Wrecker set them near the bottom.

“Clear the way!” you called, and the squad split again to either side of the set charges, sure to be far enough away to not get caught in the blast. “Tech, on three: one-”

“Two!” you heard Wrecker cry out.

“Three,” came Tech’s voice over the comm, and with a press of a button on his data pad the charges went off with another loud explosion. Pieces of the wall came tumbling down, and your ears rang with that familiar sound. You looked out through the smoke and could see Wrecker there laughing, just having the time of his life.

“Droids are getting closer, Hunter,” came Crosshair’s voice again, and the whole squad moved to the final wall. You and Wrecker started setting charges, but you were running out of time. Around the corner of the last wall, droids began to march into view. You could hear their inane chatter, but you kept firing the charges at the wall. Some of them were already starting to fall with shots from Crosshair, and Hunter and Echo began firing at them as well.

“Set the charges and let’s get out of here!” Hunter called as he fired. “We’ll set it off on the go!”

The last charges were set - with some extra for good measure - and everyone turned to begin to run. You pulled your rifle from your back and began firing alongside Echo and Hunter, while Wrecker and Tech ran for the opening of the previous wall. Just as Tech turned to set off the charge, blaster fire from the approaching droids hit the data pad in his hand, destroying it. He yelled out in surprise, and gripped at his hand.

“The data pad is destroyed!” Tech called, and Wrecker grabbed for him to get him behind the second wall out of firing range.

“Crosshair, do you have a shot on those charges?” Hunter said hurriedly into the comm, as you followed him and Echo back behind the second wall out of sight of the droids still moving forward.

“I have a shot on the top, but from this vantage point I can’t see the bottom,” came his reply.

“Without the bottom charges going off, the blast is not efficient enough to bring down the fortification in that section,” Tech added, holding his injured hand close to his side. Echo approached to look at the injury, but Tech shooed him away while checking over himself for something else he could possibly use to set them off.

“Guys, we’ve got more incoming!” Wrecker exclaimed, and began shooting at more droids that were approaching from inside the second wall.

“I’ve got it!” you yelled, and ran back into the expanse between the third and second wall, firing at droids as you went. “Crosshair, you get the top, I get the bottom! On your three!”

“Y/N!” Hunter called, but it was too late. You were already in the thick of it, and Crosshair was counting down. All he and the others could do was provide you with some cover fire. You had to get close enough to get a clear shot-

“Three!” came Crosshair’s call, and you turned your aim from the droids to the bottom charges and fired. You hit one and turned as fast as you could but you were still too close. The explosion rocked through you, and you felt the heat of the flames and hard rubble hit you as you were lifted from your feet with the force of it.

Ringing was all you could really hear, with some muffled sounds of yelling in the background. You were aware you were on your back on the ground, but you couldn’t feel anything. You could taste something, feel something thick in your mouth as you coughed into your helmet. Shapes appeared above you, but you couldn’t make them out.

Everything went blank as you succumbed to darkness.

The smell of bacta was what you recognized first when you began to wake up. You moved a little, and immediately regretted it: pain flared in your side and a broken groan escaped you. You started recognizing sounds after hearing yourself. Regular beeping sounds, equipment, footsteps and lightly spoken words. You finally opened your eyes, squinting against the light, and carefully turned your head to look around. You were in the medical center on Kamino. A droid floated into your vision and you turned your face away. It said something, but you couldn’t comprehend it. You were having some kind of sensory overload.

The droid must have given you something though, as you were falling back asleep within seconds.

When you woke up again, you felt a bit better - but still very sore. The smell of bacta was still strong; they must have had you in a bath of it, because you could feel the familiar texture from it on your skin. Thinking about it made you start to itch.

You started to move, but a hand stopped you, gently pushing you back to your position. “Just lay still for now,” came a voice, and you opened your eyes to see Echo there, seated next to your infirmary bed.

“Hey,” you said, a bit weakly.

Echo smiled. “You gave us a scare, Y/N.”

“Is Tech okay? Hunter, Wrecker?” you asked, feeling a little panicked.

“They’re fine,” Echo said. “Tech had to get his hand set, but the thing that aggravates him most is the ‘functionality’ of the hand now that it’s injured.”

You could imagine the frown on Tech’s face, looking at his injured hand with aggravation perfectly. You laughed a little too hard at that, hand going to your side as you groaned a little. Echo immediately looked worried, but you waved him off before asking: “How long have I been here?”

“A week,” Echo answered, and you looked at him incredulously. “You were… you were hurt pretty bad. Wrecker was beside himself. Only reason he left was because we told him he had to get some rest-”

“Where is he?”

“On the Marauder,” Echo answered, and then panicked as you started to get up. “You should stay here, though, I can go-”

“No, Echo,” you said, grimacing as you sat up and moved your legs to the side of the bed so that your feet touched the cold floor. “I’m going, and you’re gonna help me.”

What felt like ages later and at the protest of many med droids, Echo was helping you out into the landing bay headed towards the Marauder. You had your arm over his shoulder as he supported you. When you finally reached it, you stopped.

“Go on, Echo, I got this,” you said quietly. He looked at you with an expression that asked if you were sure, and you nodded. Echo carefully moved out from under your arm, and nodded at you before turning and walking back towards the landing bay’s entrance.

You turned then, looking down at the steps leading into the gunship, and sighed. “Wrecker?” you called, using a lot of strength to hold yourself up.

A sudden clang and a curse of surprise, thudding steps and Wrecker was standing at the top of the steps in front of you. You smiled at him, realizing how silly you must have looked standing there in your hospital garb, holding your side and probably looking pale as a sheet.

“Hi,” you said, and couldn’t really think of much else to say as you smiled at him sheepishly.

“Y/N, what are you doin’ here?” he said as he was already coming down the steps to help you. “You should be neck deep in bacta, c’mon-”

“No, Wreck, please,” you said, a bit pained as you put a hand on his chest to stop him. You realized only now he was just in his blacks. “No more bacta, can we… can we just sit in the Marauder?”

“Oh, o-okay,” he said quietly, and moved to help you up the steps. Once inside, he continued to follow you, hands placed carefully on your body to make sure you didn’t fall. He helped you sit down, and then he knelt down in front of you. Your breath was a bit hurried, and you were beginning to think those med droids may have had a point in not wanting you to leave the medical area yet.

Once you felt a bit more comfortable, you opened your eyes and looked at him. Wrecker had an overwhelming look of concern etched all over his features, bright in his eyes. His hands had found their way to your knees, and held them surprisingly gentle.

“What’re you doin’ out here?” he asked again, his head tilting a bit to the side in confusion.

“Echo told me...” you began, and faltered a little. “He told me you were worried, so I wanted you to see I was okay.”

“But you're not, Y/N,” he said, his voice still quiet and soft. It was so weird to hear Wrecker like that, and it melted something inside of you. Before you could stop them, tears were forming in your eyes.

“I… I was worried about you,” you admitted, closing your eyes when you heard how shaky your voice was. “I just needed to see you, Wreck.”

“Well I could’ve just come to you!” he exclaimed, getting a bit louder. You nodded, knowing he was right but still. You laughed a little, the tears starting to come down your cheeks. The soft touch of his large hands against your face felt warm, and you opened your eyes to look at him.

“I was worried about you too, ad’ika,” he murmured, as he wiped a tear away with his thumb gently. “Dunno if I’ve ever been so scared in my life, when I saw you on the ground like that. Coughing up blood. Worried you wouldn’t make the trip back to Kamino…”

You nodded into his hand, and leaned forward. You felt him press his forehead against yours, his hand sliding down to lightly trail against your neck.

“Shouldn’t have been so close to the wall,” you commented, and smiled at the slight chuckle that came from Wrecker.

“Of all the people. Should’ve known better.”

You hummed in agreement, before looking up to see his eyes were closed. He was just enjoying your presence, a small smile gracing his lips. You gave your next action a moment's thought, before moving forward and gently pressing your lips against his. Wrecker tensed for a moment in surprise, but then moved forward, pressing back with a soft insistence. His free arm gently circled your back, careful of your injuries, while his hand at your neck moved to cradle your head to deepen the kiss.

Your hands moved to his chest, and you could feel the rapid beat of his heart under your fingertips as they slid upwards to circle and meet around the back of his neck. The ringing in your ears had come back, but for an entirely different reason. Heat rose in your cheeks, the pain in your side forgotten as you parted your lips for just a moment and Wrecker wasted no time trailing his tongue along your bottom lip. Warmth shot through you, and he moved to hold you a bit tighter.

You moaned, and Wrecker pulled away suddenly. You moved forward to try and follow him.

“You alright?” he asked, and you opened your eyes. You imagined yours looked much like his: heavily lidded and pupils blown wide.

“M’fine,” you replied, and moved to get your lips back to his - but then actually groaned with discomfort, one hand leaving him and going back to your side. “O-okay… maybe not exactly fine. My ears are ringing.”

You heard Wrecker chuckle before he wrapped his arms around you, carefully pulling you into an embrace. You rested your head against his chest, and could now hear his heart thundering. It matched your own.

“Mine too,” he said. “Can we get you back to the med droids, now?”

You nodded. “I think that’s a good idea, yeah.”

Next thing you knew, Wrecker was picking you up gently and carrying you off the Marauder in his arms. You were beginning to feel tired, and just let him carry you, head still against his chest and listening closely to his heart.

“You smell like bacta,” he commented.

“Shut up.”

[cheri-translates]

[CN] Shaw’s 2021 Birthday R&S

🍒 Warning: This post contains detailed spoilers for an R&S which has not been released in EN! 🍒

Knowledge of Shaw’s 2020 Birthday R&S is highly recommended before reading this!

[ This R&S was released on 16 June 2021 ]

[ Chapter One ]

This is the fifth month that Shaw is learning how to skateboard. The little buddies who started out with him had given up one after the other because they couldn’t endure the bitter taste of tripping and falling. In the end, he’s the only one left.

The wheels grate against the ground in a regular rhythm. Leaping over the obstacle, it makes a swerve, accelerates, and flips... the skateboard is lithe and graceful beneath Shaw’s feet, akin to a reed leaf as it brings him into the largest skatepark in Loveland City with a wilful rush.

“Shaw! Shaw!”

Shaw halts the skateboard and turns around.

A little fatty with a band-aid on his knee walks over, smiling and revealing his missing front teeth. “Finally found you.”

Shaw laughs scornfully. “Why’s a defeated opponent looking for me? Do you want to lose the remaining half of your front teeth?”

“You!” Little Fatty flushes red in an instant. He straightens his neck and points to an area behind him. “I’m not competing with you. Someone else wants to!”

Shaw looks in the direction of his finger. A boy who is obviously taller than him by a head smiles at him, the skateboard beneath his feet sliding back and forth. At a glance, it’s clear that he’s experienced.

“My Bro Zhou is in the Loveland City Qing Xun Team,” Little Fatty hugs his arms with pride, as though he’s the one in the team. “So? Dare to accept it?”

So that’s how it is. He’s a scaredy cat who only dares to call in reinforcements.

Shaw purses his lips. He steps on the tail of the skateboard, and it responds by flipping upwards, the the edge of the board landing steadily in his palm. “Why not? What are we competing in?”

Bro Zhou shrugs. “I won’t make things hard for newbies. We’ll compete in tic-tacs and going over obstacles. How’s that?”

“Sure.”

[Trivia] Tic-tacs are a series of consecutive heelside-to-toeside kickturns where your feet remain on the skateboard. I copied this from Google and have no idea what it means LOL

-

THUD-

Losing his balance for just a moment, Shaw falls heavily onto the ground. His knees, elbows... waves of pain bloom on every joint. It isn’t a good feeling, but what makes Shaw even more frustrated is the arrogant laughter of Little Fatty. t’s even noisier than the cicadas from afar.

“HAHAHAHA Shaw lost! Let’s see if you still have the guts to be proud!”

He has a lot to say despite being a noob. Shaw rolls his eyes. Enduring the pain, he’s just about to lift himself up by the elbows when Bro Zhou walks over to him, offering him a hand. “Not bad.”

“Thanks.”

The other party continues. “But at your age, it’s best to stick to the basics. There’s no hurry to learn high difficulty moves like the dolphin flip. You’ll definitely fall.”

Shaw’s expression immediately turns cold. “I don’t need your pointers on what I can learn at whatever age.” He doesn’t touch the hand, standing up by himself. Lifting his head, he gives the other party a look over. “Do you come here often?”

“The Qing Xun Team practises here every day.”

“Okay. Next time, I’ll definitely win against you.”

Shaw doesn’t bother about the expressions on Bro Zhou’s and the Little Fatty’s faces after hearing his words. He casually pats off the dust on his body, picks up the skateboard which is flipped over on the floor, and leaves the skatepark.

-

[ Chapter Two ]

The moment Shaw enters through the doors of the antique store, the Old Man’s uproar begins. “Little Ancestor, did you wreck havoc in the Heavenly Palace again?”

[Note] Here, the Old Man calls Shaw “小祖宗”, which literally means “Little Ancestor”. This term is used in an affectionate way to address a naughty child

“Wrecking havoc in the Heavenly Palace” is a reference to a novel called Journey to the West (西游记), which features a troublemaking Monkey King Sun Wukong

“I’m hungry. What’s there to eat today?” Shaw doesn’t respond to the shopkeeper’s words. Placing his bag and skateboard behind the counter, he reaches out to play with the silly parrot at the entrance - it’s truly silly. Even after teaching it for a month, it can’t even say “welcome to the shop”. It causes Shaw to wonder if the Old Man was perhaps duped of his money once again.

“All you know how to do is eat...” The Old Man sets down the ancient text in his hands and props up his presbyopic glasses. “Old Qian from next door boiled chicken soup today and is giving us half. I’ll stir-fry two dishes. You can ask if the chicken soup is ready.”

Shaw makes an “mm” of acknowledgement, then turns around and heads next door.

The shopkeeper gets up and takes a few steps towards the kitchen. Then, he abruptly returns to the counter, reaching out to touch the coarse scratch marks at the edge of the skateboard. Inexplicably, he sighs.

The chicken soup is a little bland, and the stir-fried dishes are a little salty. Mixing and eating them together is just nice. Shaw lowers his head and pushes rice into his mouth with chopsticks. In his left ear, he hears the news of how the GDP of Loveland City has risen. In his right ear, he hears the nagging of his mentor:

“...I’m not discouraging you from playing with this thing. It’s good to toughen yourself up while you’re young and your bones and muscles are sturdy. But don’t be too rash. This... this thing of yours...”

“Skateboard.” Shaw speaks.

“Yes, skateboard. I remember that it’s only been a month since it was bought, and it’s already tormented to such a state. You have such an impulsive temperament. You should be more level-headed.”

What does this have to do with temperament? If I were to truly be impulsive, I wouldn’t need a month. Just three days would be enough to break a skateboard. Shaw looks at the chicken leg in his bowl, not saying these words aloud.

“Also, remember to report to the shop early tomorrow. Old Qian and I are preparing to head to the neighbouring city to look for goods. You should come along to broaden your horizons.” The shopkeeper taps his chopsticks against the rim of the bowl, signalling for Shaw to pay more attention. “Isn’t it your birthday tomorrow? I could pick out a gift for you! Sigh, I actually had my eye on an agate snuff bottle, but the guy suddenly decided not to sell it...”

“I’m not going tomorrow.” Shaw interrupts the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper furrows his brows. “Why are you throwing a tantrum?”

“I’m not. I have proper business to attend to tomorrow. The school organised a visit to the museum.” Shaw lifts his eyes, and his thin lips curve upwards. “The things I see there will be much more valuable than those trivial things you fiddle with.”

“You little rascal!”

Shaw laughs, wedging the chicken leg between his chopsticks and sending it into his mentor’s bowl. “I’m full, so I’m heading to the back to do my homework. Chicken legs are really nutritious, so you should have it.”

“Tsk tsk, and you still said you weren’t throwing a tantrum. You aren’t going home again?”

“I don’t want to go back today. I’ll definitely go back tomorrow.” Shaw has already walked to the entrance. He suddenly thinks of something, and turns his head to ask a question. “Mentor, your shop will always be open, right?”

These words came out of nowhere, and the shopkeeper isn’t able to comprehend them. “What?”

“Nothing much. I’m just worried that I won’t have a place to have dinner if an old man like you were to throw in the towel someday.”

The shopkeeper fumes with a glare. “What do you mean by that? You only care about the food? Also, my shop can continue running for a decade or two. I’m still waiting for you to bring back a disciple or a wife to serve me tea!”

Shaw lets out an “oh”, and his eyes crinkle. “In that case, you’ll have to wait for another twenty or thirty years.”

The eyesight of the shopkeeper is no longer as good as before, but he can clearly see that the smile of this child didn’t reach his eyes. After Shaw leaves, he suddenly recalls the fortune that he drew for Shaw half a year ago: “What awaits this catastrophe is a new beginning...”

This child is will meet his predestined fate this year, so what’s left is to see how he endures through it. The shopkeeper shakes his head, sighing once again.

[Note] The actual fortune is “河图数九，洛书数七，脐于九陵，七日来复” but I don’t have the energy to explain it so what I’ve translated above is the overall meaning :>

-

[ Chapter Three ]

When Shaw awakens on the next day, the shopkeeper has already left to inspect the goods. The shop is empty, and he’s the only one left.

Westmoon Street is lined with old houses, and there’s no soundproofing. Lying on the bed, Shaw can hear the chirping of birds outside the window, the yelling of people on the street, and the babble of the Chinese opera from the old bookstore next door: “I’m just like a caged bird with wings that can’t be outstretched. I’m just like a shallow water dragon trapped on a beach...”

Shaw rubs his face, then sits up on the bed.

The school had set the assembling time to be 9am. Heading out now will give him more than enough time. Shaw quickly washes his face and rinses his mouth. Just as he walks towards the front counter with some rice grains from the kitchen for the parrot to eat, he suddenly discovers that there’s something on the counter.

Walking over, Shaw sees that there’s a cake box as well as a t-shirt which has been washed clean.

There’s a slip of paper on the shirt. The strokes are clean and thin. At a glance, he knows that this is the Old Man’s handwriting: You need energy and drive to participate in the school activity. Don’t wear yesterday’s dirty clothes. Change into this.

The shirt look slightly familiar. He probably changed out of it one day and forgot about it, leaving it in the antique shop. Shaw pays it no mind, turning his head to that small cake once again. The various calligraphy and writings in the antique store are considered relatively charming. Yet, why does he always buy such unsophisticated cakes?

When his classmates celebrate their birthdays, what they eat are high quality custom-made cakes - red velvet, matcha crepe, chocolate molten lava... such a traditional longevity cake is probably found only in a place like Westmoon Street. It’s clear from the light red and light green colours that the embellishments on the cake were made by hand. Eating it would definitely dye his tongue. If he were to speak later, wouldn’t he get laughed at by his classmates?

Shaw bunches up his brows, but the fork in his hand doesn’t stop. The cream is plant-based and tastes bad. He eats a small egg shell at the base of the cake and it tastes bad. The “Happy Birthday” was written using peach jam, and it tastes really bad.

The silly parrot at the side tilts its head, watching as the boy eats mouthfuls while shunning it with every bite, finishing the cake entirely.

Shaw wipes his mouth, then rinses it with the barley tea on the table. Picking up that t-shirt, he returns into the house and changes his clothes. 

-

[ Chapter Four ]

“...this ‘Painting of the Elevated and Pre-eminent’ depicts four famous scholars enjoying themselves. Students, do you know who the Seven Sages of the bamboo forest are?”

[Trivia] If you’re interested in seeing the actual painting, search for “高逸图” (“gao yi tu”)

“It’s such a waste that you didn’t watch yesterday’s episode. That scene where the main lead destroyed the opponent like a boss is unparalleled!”

“Aside from the both of us, did anyone else have fun at Anime City?”

“Are you done with the math homework? Lend it to me - I’ll find a place to copy it.”

...

The question posed by the museum guide is drowned out amidst the laughing and frolicking of the kids. He forces a smile while shaking his head. All of a sudden, he notices that a boy with bluish purple hair isn’t the same as the other kids. He’s staring at an ancient painting in the showcase, lost in thought.

As though seeing a saviour, the guide quickly points at him. “Student, why don’t you give me an answer? It’s fine even if you get it wrong. Uncle will explain to you!”

“...” Shaw turns his head, opening his mouth to say some words, but his voice doesn’t reach the guide’s ears.

“Student, what did you say?” The guide raises his volume.

“I said that the four people in ‘Painting of the Elevated and Pre-eminent’ are Shan Tao, Wang Jie, Liu Ling and Ruan Ji.” Shaw’s face is pretty much expressionless, and there aren't many fluctuations in his tone. “The one sitting down with his hands on his knees at the far right is Shan Tao. The one holding the ruyi sceptre is Wang Tao. The one next to him and drinking wine is Liu Ling. A boy is serving him. The one at the far left needs no mention - he’s the first of the Sages, Ruan Ji. So this painting is missing Ji Tang, Xiang Xiu and Ruan Xian.”

“...”

The surroundings gradually quieten down, and only Shaw’s voice echoes in front of the showcase.

"The scholars in this painting evoke a refined and tasteful sentiment, and the lines are beautiful. This is an extremely precious treasure in the realm of silk scrolls. This is why the ‘Painting of the Elevated and Pre-eminent’ has always been kept in the royal palace. It’s a pity that in order for our predecessors to avoid taboos, only Si Ma Zhong’s inscription is left on it.”

The youth lifts his chin, shooting a playful smile at the guide. “Okay Uncle, you can explain the next museum piece now.”

“Shaw, you’re incredible!” His classmates flock over to him, bumping him on the shoulders. “You were staring at that painting for such a long time. Did you memorise the words on the museum label?”

“Tch. These’s no need to memorise the museum labels for such things. You’ll know it from a glance.” Shaw laughs. “Also, I wasn’t looking at this painting...” When he says this, he pauses for a moment, swallowing his words.

If he wasn’t looking at this painting, which one was he looking at? The students follow Shaw’s gaze, and realise that there’s a floral painting hanging next to the “Painting of the Elevated and Pre-eminent”.

“Painting of a Courtyard and Dayliles”, Northern Song Dynasty, Xuan He Imperial Art Academy, anonymous... The students read the explanatory note on the museum label.

[Trivia] If you’re interested in seeing the actual painting, search for “霜庭萱草图” (“shuang ting xuan cao tu”)

The painting seems to depict a corner of a courtyard. A few daylilies display the patterns on their leaves. One big and one small dragonfly are perched on the flower. Aside from that, there isn’t anything else interesting about it. This painting doesn’t seem to have a name or seal, neither does it have a detailed explanation. Even the guide skipped past it. Since it isn’t a rare and precious ancient painting, what exactly was Shaw looking at?

His classmates are a little puzzled.

-

[ Chapter Five ]

All the classes assemble in lines at the entrance of the museum. The teacher very patiently reminds the students not to forget to do their homework over the weekend, and to remember to write down their reflections about the museum. The students drawl out “got it”, but their hearts have long since flown a million miles away, ready to keep toys and snacks company.

“Shaw!” After dispersing, Shaw’s classmates wave at him.

Shaw walks over. “What’s up?”

“All of us know that you aren’t in a good mood because you lost to a senior in skateboarding yesterday. Isn’t it your birthday? Bro Lu bought the newest game, so let’s head over to play at his place.” His classmate smiles while putting an arm around his shoulder.

“Who told you that I lost yesterday?” Shaw speaks coldly.

“Who else but Fatty? He was so proud yesterday.” The classmate gives Shaw a pat. “Relax, we’re on your side. Don’t think about these unhappy things. Next time, we’ll have lots of opportunities to get revenge...”

“If I wanted revenge, I wouldn’t wait till next time.” Shaw purses his lips. “I’m heading to the skatepark now. You guys coming?”

-

Since it’s the weekend, quite a number of skateboard hobbyists are already practising by the time Shaw reaches the skatepark. Very quickly, he locates Bro Zhou from yesterday.

Shaw gets straight to the point. “I lost yesterday. Today, I want to have a race with you. Do you accept?”

A hint of shock is in Bro Zhou’s eyes. He has probably never met a kid who is this unwilling to lose. “You fell so badly yesterday but still want to compete with me? You should practise more!”

“There’s no need to practise more when competing with you,” Shaw says.

With this, Bro Zhou’s temper starts to flare. He tilts his chin. “Fine, come on. Just don’t cry if you fall and break your arm today.”

A short while later, the news of how a “junior high school newbie dared to challenge Bro Zhou from the Qing Xun Team” spreads throughout the skatepark. Everyone gathers at both sides of the race course, curiously sizing up the main lead for today.

“S-Shaw...” His classmate pulls on Shaw’s arm. Looking at the deep bowl in front, he gulps. “Are you sure you’re competing with him in this? It won’t be good news if you fall!”

“If I want to play, of course I’ll only play the fun stuff. Just watch.”

Shaw walks to the starting line and takes a deep breath. When moving his limbs, his hand subconsciously touches the hem of the t-shirt - there’s a small Chinese trumpet vine. The green leaves and red petals cover the hole which was originally on the shirt. It’s just that the stitches are crooked, and it’s incredibly crude. At a glance, it’s clear that it wasn’t sewn by someone familiar with needlework. 

[Fun fact] Chinese trumpet vine is 凌霄花 (“ling xiao hua”)

Shaw’s name in CN is 凌肖 (“ling xiao”)

Mentor is the best <3

He bites his lower lip.

The referee raises both hands. “The old rules apply. After getting past the Cola can obstacles, cross the bowl. The first person who reaches the goal will win. Ready... go!”

In the midst of a clamour, a bluish purple light rushes forward, taking the lead.

-

[ Chapter Six ]

The friction of wheels against the ground results in ear-piercing screeches. The skateboard brings Shaw forward at a high speed, and the cold strong wind accompanies the summer heat waves, brushing past his cheeks. The upright Cola cans aren’t enough to faze him. With the continuous twisting of his waist and a skateboard which moves naturally like flowing water, he and his opponent seem to bypass the obstacles comprising of twelve Cola cans at the same time-

There are three consecutive rows of Cola can structures in front of him. He has to use all sorts of techniques to jump over them. That way, he can rush down the bowl, and enter the final stage.

The arm he injured from the fall yesterday is still aching faintly. His feet seem to be protesting as well. He successfully jumps over the first row, the second row... Shaw holds his breath. He steps on the tail of the skateboard with his left foot. Gravity takes over quickly, and his right foot causes the skateboard to rise. The skateboard beneath his feet is akin to a flying fish jumping out of the water surface, creating a rotating arc above the Cola cans!

“It’s a dolphin flip!” Members of the audience exclaim.

Clack! Shaw’s shoulders wobble slightly when his feet return to the skateboard. When he finally stands steadily, he continues rushing forward. The final bowl is right in front of him. 

The moment the skateboard dives downwards, Shaw feels a brief moment of weightlessness. This feeling is reminiscent of being thrown out of the entire world, making one want to continue falling like this until they plummet into the bottom of the swamp. The deep bowl is like the trough he’s currently going through. If he’s unable to climb out of the trough, he will drown in hatred, anger, powerlessness, disappointment... and lose to that weak heart of his.

But he’s Shaw, and he won’t lose just like that.

With a rapid dash, he soars upwards without trouble - underneath the brilliant blazing sun, the youth leaps out of the bowl!

After flying out of the bowl, the inertia causes Shaw to stumble a few steps. He falls onto the ground, lying on his back while pressing the finish line.

At the same time, he hears a dull thud from the bowl - his opponent had fallen back into it.

“Shaw won!” “Shaw reached the goal first!” “That rascal actually won against Bro Zhou?” “This competition was so awesome!” ...all sorts of voices emerge in the surroundings in a disorderly fashion, and a set of footsteps walk towards him.

“Your name’s Shaw?” A masculine voice asks from above his head.

Shaw doesn't speak.

“I’m Coach Wang from Loveland City’s Qing Xun Skateboarding Team,” that voice continues. “I see that you have lots of talent, and will make a good young successor. Are you interested in joining the Qing Xun Team?”

While saying this, a registration form is handed to him.

The late afternoon sun illuminates the sheet of paper, reflecting a glaring light akin to snow. Shaw takes one look at the registration form, then shifts his lips slightly. “I don’t want to.”

“Why not?”

“My shirt’s really expensive, so it isn’t worth tearing them.”

The coach is rendered speechless.

Just as he’s about to say a few more words to persuade the kid, he suddenly spots the small flower at the corner of Shaw’s shirt from his periphery - this is clearly not an expensive t-shirt. These days, few shirts are mended using embroidery. And the fact that he’s willing to wear it despite the clumsy embroidery...

This kid has family members whom he cares very much about. The coach seems to understand this. His lips open and shut, and he swallows back the lines he prepared. In the end, he simply says, “...that dolphin flip you did earlier wasn’t bad.”

“Of course.”

The coach laughs as he leaves. Amidst the cheers from the surroundings, Shaw lies on the ground. Covering his eyes with his hand, he laughs.

“I won. Happy birthday to me.”

🛹 Shaw’s Date Prologue: here

[lemonandpeachess]

Small Moments

Pairing: Wrecker x Female Reader

Rating: G

Word Count:2,220

Summary: You and the squad have a little bit of downtime before completing a job from Cid. This time allow you to think ahead for the future of the squad, and of Omega. 

AN: I hope you all enjoy! This is my first bit of writing in a long time so we’re keeping it pretty simple. xx

Gif credits to the owner <3 

The noise was no stranger to you, the deep and seemingly endless drumming above your head. An icy coolness slips into your skin underneath your clothes, your eyes slipping shut at the sensation. While for the most part you enjoy your time on the ship with your crew and it feels just as much of a home as you could ask for, it did have its drawbacks. The closest thing to a simple rainfall you got to experience while cruising through space were meteor showers, and landing in the middle of one of those was not the most relaxing experience. You feel a small, hand wrap itself into your own, giving it a small squeeze. Your eyes cast down and you smile at the sweet brown eyes peering up at you from beneath wet, blonde curls. Omega has her hood over her head, holding down the side with her opposite hand against the wind.

“I sort of missed the rain (y/n).” She says, looking up at the sky and smiling, the raindrops sprinkling down on the two of you. You lift your head back up, sticking out your tongue. Omega looks at you, her brow furrowed. “What are you doing?”

“Catching raindrops. You can do it with snowflakes too. We used to do it on my home planet when I was small.” The tiny clone follows your actions, laughing as she lets go of your hand and makes a show of running around you, catching the water droplets from above.

You were thankful that for both the sake of you and the squad, and for Omega herself, that she had taken the business of being a part of the team so seriously. The young one dove into everything that was ever handed to her, from Hunter’s hand to hand combat routines, to Tech and Echo’s near constant technological learning. She was a fighter, and a determined one at that.

Your heart was heavy at times however, thinking about how she was still a child. She should be able to enjoy the things children enjoy. The sweet, small things that with adulthood and the burdens of growing up, we all tended to forget and appreciate. You took it upon yourself to make your training for Omega to be how enjoy things she could not before, to make her feel like she wasn’t restricted, or stripped of her curiosity. You encouraged it.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, my data shows that the atmosphere on this planet coupled with the local vegetation means excessive consumption of precipitation could lead to harmful side effects.” Tech says as he walks past, guiding his scanner around you as he too gets off the ship. You purse your lips and look down at your small companion once more, chuckling.

“Bit of rain won’t hurt you.” Hunter says as he comes up behind the two of you, handing Omega her small backpack you had found for her at a market during your last job for Cid. You wanted her to have something of her own and found some amenities to put in it as well. Some new fresh clothes, and a small toolkit among other things, including her beloved clone trooper doll. “We should get inside though. Cid said we can stay at her camp here before we continue to the other side of the planet for the exchange tomorrow. We can’t proceed until late morning at least. Best to get some rest while we can.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice Sarge.” Wrecker yells from the belly of the ship. You hear his footsteps as he barrels down the gangway and feel him join you both. He grabs your own pack from your shoulder and puts it over his own, its size shrinking against his broad form. “You and the kid take your time, beautiful. I can take our stuff inside.”

“Wreck I can take that, it’s just a few things.” You laugh, grabbing for your pack. He dodges your efforts and keeps walking forward, turning to wink at you as he follows his brothers. You huff out another laugh and lead Omega towards the cleared path in the forest. “Well, I guess I’ll just escort you then my lady. I’ll get you settled in in Hunter’s room before I join them so we can go over the mission details for tomorrow.”

“Can’t I be there? I want to know what’s going on tomorrow too!” Omega asks, her shoulders slumping down a moment under her cloak. You squeeze her hand and nod.

“Alright Omega, you can come with me. We’ll drop your pack off and then find our way. Just be weary. I’m not sure what kind of mission this will be or what Hunter’s plans for you are. This may be one you need to sit out, for all I know the both of us might be sticking behind. You’re a part of the squad so I see no issue of you being there. Just be ready to play the part Hunter and the others have planned.” You tell her. Thankfully, Hunter had begun to allow her a little more freedom with her involvement in missions. There were still runs Cid sent you on however that weren’t worth the risk.

“I promise I will!” She says, saluting you. You look ahead as a clearing broke out of the path and you see a glassed-in observatory style station come into view. It looked like a two-story home, perfectly rectangular in shape. The walls were made completely of glass, save for the metal framing around the edges and planforms, holding the building above the ground. You imagined the views of the forest were breathtaking from inside. You had to give it to her, Cid had taste. 

“(y/n)? Can I ask just one question before we go in?”

“Go on Omega, I’m listening.” You answer, still looking towards your quarters for the night.

“What are snowflakes?” ***** You sigh as you enter the code to your keypad Wrecker directly behind you as you all retired to your rooms after the mission briefing. Omega left in happy spirits with Hunter as he had a part for her to play in this mission, the situation being a simple drop-off of supplies with payment, nothing too messy. Since Omega had paid off all your debt with Cid, you were able to stick to more low-profile jobs while you figured out a new plan regarding Omega’s safety and the unsettling end of the war.

“The kid seemed happy that she has a job to do with us. I like when she’s able to come out in the field with us.” Wrecker says, starting to take off his uniform. You cross your arms over your chest, still a little chilled from the rain as you look out. You were right before, as the whole building, including your room, was surrounded by windows. Thick, one-way, bulletproof windows, as Tech made sure to point out, given who owned it. It really was a beautiful sight.

The view made it easy to look out into the forest, the leaves on the branches, bright from the rain and crisp air. The foliage swayed back and forth with the wind, creating the most soothing hushing sound, mother natures lullaby. Accompanied of course by what had to be some type of owls, their deep calls coming from their nests in the surrounding trees. Open space had a soothing effect to most. It’s infinite darkness with specks of light, but to you, it was far too quiet. No outside noises penetrated the thick hull of the Havoc Marauder, only the synthetic beeps and whirs of the engines going off in the night could soothe you in the deafening moments.

“I know that ain’t true, you smacked me in the face with your pillow the other night cause you said I was snorin’ too loudly.” Wrecker points out, lifting his chest piece over his head, his upper body now free of the extra weight. You hadn’t realized that you were thinking out loud, though you often did it around Wrecker. He was your partner, for a couple years now. Hunter, Crosshair, Tech, and Echo you trusted with your life. With Wrecker, you trusted him with your life and your heart. You take his chest piece from his hand and set it in the trunk he had carried in along with your bag. “

That is different!” You laugh, coming back to take the final pieces of his suit, leaving him just in his black thermal set. You lay the final piece into the trunk and sit on a chair that faces the windows. “This place reminds me of things I love. The birds, the trees, the smell of the rain. You can’t find that in space big guy. I’m glad we’re able to take Omega with us to these different planets and worlds. It’s important she knows about the world and everything in it. Good and bad. I just try my bests to let her see the good to remember during those bad times. She’s going to have to fight for a lot in her life, an unfair amount…”

“Hey, listen-“You feel Wrecker stand behind you, putting one hand on your shoulder and gesturing for your other one. You put your hand in his and bring the warm top side of his to your lips, kissing it gently. His hands dwarfed your own, as he did most parts of you. You were always safe when you were with him, and you knew if he wasn’t near, it wouldn’t take much to have him barreling towards you at any moment when you needed him. “We’re gonna look after Omega. We made it this far, I’ll stand in front of anyone that tries to hurt her… Or take her away.”

“I know you would Wreck, we all would. She just adores and admires you all.” You say, his fingers grazing your cheek as you speak. You were honest too. If your run in with the bounty hunters wasn’t enough, you knew in your heart that child was probably the most protected thing in the galaxy.

“She likes you a lot too ya know. She tells me all the time.”

“Does she?” You smile to yourself. The word ‘love’ was seldom used around the ship, usually only regarding Mantell mix by a select few. The feeling was always present of course, the brothers all loved each other, and as the time went on, it extended to both yourself and Omega as well. Wrecker had told you after he told you he loved you for the first time in your relationship, that it was the first time he had said it to someone in such a way.

“She does. She thinks your beautiful, and smart and kind. I like her, she’s a smart kid.” Wrecker lets go of your hand and comes around to the front of your chair. You barely have a moment to look up before he picks you up into his arms like you were nothing, carrying you to the plush bed that was made up in the middle of the room. He sets you down gently and crawls into bed with you. 

“Cause I think you’re beautiful, kind, and smart too.”

You laugh and prop yourself up a little more as Wrecker settles beside you, who is also sitting up to look at you. You extend your hand and cradle his face in your hand, your thumb brushing along his cheekbone. Before you can reply you feel a yawn manifest in your throat before it escapes, your hand covering your mouth as you try and keep your gaze on your favourite trooper.

“Am I that boring?” He chuckles. You swing your legs back over the edge of the bed, starting to unhook your boots. Wrecker gets up from the bed again and walks to your pack, grabbing your sleep pants from it.

“No Wreck of course not. I’m sorry, I just feel really tired suddenly.” You reply, pulling off your boots and setting them beside the bed, keeping them close just in case. You feel his hands slip under your shirt and you let him lift the fabric from your body, leaving you in just a worn sports bra. As you wiggle out of your tactical pants, he hands you the black sweatpants and you slip them on, relishing in the feel of the soft fabric. You never seem to realize how tired your body is until you properly stop for a moment.

“It’s okay baby, it’s been a while since we had a break. Even when we do, you’re always doing something for us, or for Omega.” He says, joining you in bed again. You lay back on his chest, relaxing into him as you look out the array of windows and out into the wilderness around you. You wished you had time to explore more, and to enjoy your time there, but you could already feel sleep tugging you down, not being helped by Wrecker’s fingers grazing up and down you arm.

“I know- but I still wish we had some extra time. We haven’t had a lot of time together either, just the two of us. I’m sorry I’m wasting it.” You sigh, fingers dancing over his chest.

“Don’t worry (y/n).”  Wrecker takes his arm around you and rolls you onto his chest, almost laying you almost on top of him, kissing that spot on your neck that makes your heart thrum. “There’s always the morning. You know how much I like breakfast.”

[tamakissimp]

headcanon: they comfort you

a/n: time to give the underrated boys some loveeeeee

TAMAKI:

The hero course isn't all fun and games. Students are put under immense amounts of pressure and insane expectations. A villain attack can always happen and students could get badly hurt after every training session. But you are supposed to risk it all to become heroes. To give it you're all just to save those few lives, right?

But you couldn't take it anymore. Break downs were common amongst students, you have had them before. But this one is different. Your body is shaking so heavily that it becomes difficult to breathe. A whirlwind of thoughts wreaks havoc in your mind. You're zoned out to the point where you don't even notice Tamaki sitting in front of you. He's trying to desperately to try and get you to calm down. He's shaking your shoulders and an effort to get you to notice him.

"B-Bunny, come on," he says. His hands move up to cup your cheeks, forcing you to look at him. With glossy eyes, you look at him. His heart aches as he sees thick tears falling down your cheeks. Tamaki couldn't fight the tears pricking up in his own eyes. He just couldn't stand the sight of you in pain.

"C-Come on, come back.". His voice wavers and cracks at the end. He felt so selfish, crying while he should be comforting you. he pulls you against his chest. You subconsciously nuzzle into the crook of his neck. "T-Talk to me. Please, I-I'm here for y-you.".

You're slowly coming back. Tamaki's voice pulls you out of the dark corner of your mind you had been hidden in. Your brain registers the feelings of his arms wrapped around you. The sweet scent of his cologne fills your nose. Your silent sobs turn into loud ones. It starts as whimpers but they escalate into screams. Screams that you know will hurt your throat tomorrow.

"Let i-it all out," Tamaki says. His hands rub comforting circles on your back. You can't do anything except sob. You hate yourself for breaking under the pressure that your fellow students can cope with easy. You hate feeling weak. "Let it a-all out.".

SHINSOU:

In this society, only people with useful quirks are accepted. Anyone with a so-called villainous quirk is rejected. Anyone who isn't happy all the time is tossed aside. Anyone who dares to think differently than the rest is locked up. Most of the time you could take it. The comments. The expectations. But not today. It wasn't anyone's fault really, that what you tried to tell yourself. It wasn't the fault of the first-year student with the temper of a chihuahua who couldn't keep his thought to himself. It wasn't the fault of your partner who forgot to turn in your assignment. It wasn't your fault for not being able to handle everything. Right?

Shinsou doesn't even knock as he rips your door open. His heart drops to his stomach as he sees you bundled up in your bed, shoulders shaking and ugly sobs echoing off the walls. He walks over to you and gently lays a hand on your shoulder. Even though your tears, you smile at him. "Move over, kitten," he says.

You push yourself towards the wall and lift up the covers, allowing Shinsou to slip into your bed. His arms snake around you and he pulls you towards him. "What's going on?" he asks. You just shake your head, pushing yourself even more against his body.

"It's nothing, I'm sorry," you say. Shinsou lays two fingers under your chin before pushing it up and forcing you to look at him. His heart breaks at the sight of you. Tear stained cheeks, red eyes, wobbling lips and a fake smile. How could have not have noticed you were doing so bad?

"No," he says before pulling you against him again. "Don't be sorry. You can tell me.". You take a deep breath. You try to sort your thoughts. You can't just drop everything into him.

Shinsou hums softly in an effort to calm you down. It works, funnily enough. "It...It's just all my fault," you manage to say before another sobs wrecks through your body. You nearly choke on your own spit as you desperately try to breathe. Shinsou shakes his head. He wants to tell you that's not true. He wants to rant about how much you mean to him, how you brighten his day, how you're the thing that gets him out of bed.

But this isn't the time for that. This is the time to patiently wait until you continue talking. This is the time to hug you closer until your sobs stop. This is the time to be there for you.

TOKOYAMI:

Most people ignored Tokoyami, either it is for his quirky look or for his scary quirk. Especially at two in the morning when darkness has consumed the dorms. So when he got awoken by a set of knocks on his door, he was less than pleased. He pulls the door open with a scowl. 

"What is it that you want?" he says.His scowl drops when he sees you standing in front of his. Your hand is clasped over your mouth in an effort to still your sobs. Tokoyami pulls you into his room at lightning speed, softly closing the door behind him. His arms wrap around you and pull you in for a hug before you can protest. 

"What is going on, my love?". You just shake your head against his shoulder. Your fingers claw at his shirt as you bit on your lip.

 Two cold hands slide up your arms next to Tokoyami's warm ones. You don't even need to look to know who they belong to. It's no secret that dark shadow took a liking in you as well."How can I help you?" Tokoyami asks. You just pull him closer to you. You feel him nod against you, causing his feathers to tickle against your neck. The feeling of his hands softly roaming over your body, his feather brushing against your skin, dark shadows hand cooling down your tearstained cheeks, it's all so comforting.

The sobs slow down and the shaking in your shoulders simmers down. It almost sounds like Tokoyami is cooing at you. Maybe the avian part of his quirk has influenced more than just his looks. "Can we s-stay like this, Fumi?" you ask. The way your voice cracks pulls at Tokoyami's heart. 

"We shall," he says. He places a soft kiss on the crone of your head which is rather awkward due to his beak, but he manages. Dark shadow's hands disappear from your body and you hear something rummaging in a corner of the room. 

Before you know it, pillows and blankets are being places on the ground beside you. Tokoyami helps you down so that you're comfortably sitting on one of the pillows.He grabs a blanket and wraps it around you two before returning to his original position, arms wrapped around you. "We'll stay.".

[justanotherpersonsuniverse]

Demon Alya submission (starts off angsty, gets fluffy at the end) made by Anon

Alya hissed with pain and strained to get up, but the magic sigils which had been chalked around her blazed with a strange pale light and her body slammed back to the hard cement floor. Her tail lashed back and forth wildly, hard enough that it hurt when its tip smacked against the wall, and her wings beat futilely to break out of the iron bindings that bent then flat against her back. “You sure we can’t work this out?” she asked in the best ‘temptation’ voice she could muster despite her pain. “I can give you power, wealth, fame…”

“I need no fame, demon scum,” boomed the exorcist who had bound her. He was an older man whose hair was going silver and who wore what looked like a cross between a priest’s cassock and a military uniform. He had a sword at his side whose blade was carved with holy sigils, and a few other exorcist accoutrements hung off his belt. Now he raised a book high while his eyes, which seemed almost to be trying to bulge out of his head, fixated on her. “All I need is the knowledge that you shall be destroyed forever, as God intended!”

Alya bit back a curse. She was still mad at herself for letting this guy get the jump on her, but by the time she’d realized that she was being followed, he was close enough to use some kind of magic spell to make her pass out. She’d awoken in what looked like a cheap basement, with a cement floor and bare plaster on the walls, and with sigils and iron bonds preventing her from escaping. “You can’t destroy me forever,” she snapped. “You might be able to banish me back to Hell, but I’ll be back on Earth eventually.”

Of course, that wasn’t a great scenario for Alya. Not only would she get in trouble for losing a fight with an exorcist, and not only would she fall behind on her soul quota, but her classmates wouldn’t know where she’d gone. It would be just like she’d abandoned them. And Alya couldn’t bear to think of how sad Juleka would be if Alya cut and run, or the rest of her cult, or… or Marinette. Alya knew Marinette would be devastated, and she desperately wanted that not to happen, but there didn’t seem to be anything she could do about it.

Then the man laughed. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you, you little depraved beast? You’d love to be able to turn and wreck havoc once more. But I’ve found a way around it!” He tossed a little voodoo doll next to Alya. “I will bind your spiritual essence to this doll, then burn it. As the doll crumbles in the flame your spiritual essence will be split asunder. When I’m done you’ll be little more than millions of tiny bits of demon, each tied to a tiny bit of ash, and that ash scattered to the winds.” He grinned. “It could take thousands of years for the bindings to weaken enough for you to reconstitute yourself and even begin trying to regain a corporal form. And seeing as how you’ll be in utter agony the entire time, I highly doubt you’ll be sane enough to tempt any more innocents into your clutches!”

Alya gasped. What the man proposed might actually work, and would subject her to millennia of torture. And worse than that… by the time she put herself back together, her classmates would have been dead for millennia. She’d never see them again unless they went to Hell. And she’d never see Marinette, period, because that girl was so pure she’d surely get rushed right to Heaven the moment she died. 

She’d never see her best friend again. 

“You can’t do this!” Alya said, almost ashamed of how terrified her voice was but not being able to help it. “Please!”

“Silence, demon scum,” said the exorcist. “All your kind deserve this.” He began to chant, and Alya cried out in pain as she felt her essence being pulled towards the doll. She tried to fight it—

And then the door to the basement smashed open.

By the time Alya realized what was happening, she saw Rose—holding a flaming sword, wings spread to their full length, halo blazing such a righteous fire above her head that Alya could barely look at it—looming over the man, whom had been knocked into the wall and slid down. “YOU DON’T DO THIS!” screamed Rose in genuine rage. “EVER!”

The man stared at Rose in terrified shock. Rose glared at him, then turned to Alya and swung her sword at the sigils. They burst into a bright flash of light and vanished as soon as her holy blade touched them, and Alya was able to scrambled out of the former circle. A couple quick, careful strokes of Rose’s sword sliced the iron bindings from Alya’s back, and she sighed with relief as she stretched her wings.

“What are you doing?“ the man demanded. “Don’t free her! You are an angel, you must support our battles against demons. They are evil beasts who tempt others, so it is right that we hurt them! That we banish them and make them suffer all the pain they have inflicted—“

“IT IS NOT YOURS TO JUDGE!” screamed Rose loud enough that the man flinched back. She took an angry breath and said, “If a demon is doing something bad, then it is permissible to oppose that demon. I have opposed demons who were about to hurt or damn someone. But Alya was doing nothing, and even if she was, ‘opposing’ does not mean ‘torturing!’” She took a step closer and raised her sword. “The job of a holy warrior is never to inflict pain for the sake of doing so! To never do more damage than necessary to fight evil, to always show mercy where possible and encourage others to repent!” The fire on her blade blazed higher. “YOU ARE NO PALADIN!” she went on, tears starting to form in the corners of her eyes. “YOU ARE JUST A KILLER, AND—“

Alya hesitated, feeling on one hand that she really wanted to see this guy get absolutely thrashed by Rose, but knowing on the other she had an obligation to her friend. “Woah, woah, hold it,” said Alya as she quickly grabbed Rose’s hand to stop her from stabbing the exorcist. “He’s defeated, okay? You don’t need to kill him.”

“But he tried to kill you!” Rose said through teary-eyes. “You’re one of my best friends—“

“And I’m here to remind you that the stuff you said about you guys not being supposed to do more damage than needed applies to you too.” Alya bit her lip and looked at the exorcist who was now trembling with fear, his glee at his earlier successful tortures of Alya having seemingly already been forgotten. “Look, Rose, even if you can get away with killing the guy and not Fall or be stripped of your angelic status, you’ll still hate yourself for it tomorrow.”

The exorcist stared at Alya with bewildered eyes. “You are a demon!” he rasped. “You want her to Fall! I know it! All demons want angels to Fall!”

Alya frowned. “She’s my friend,” she snapped. “That’s more important the feud between our bosses.”

Rose was still standing with her blade raised. “But he hurt you,” she whispered. “You’re wonderful, and he hurt you, and I can’t just let that go.”

“Who said anything about letting it go?” Alya said. “Like, he tried to torture me to death. That’s really evil, so I’m pretty sure his soul’ll go to us when he dies, and that means we’ll have all eternity to get back at him.” Unless he repented and went to Heaven in the end, Alya thought, and if he did… well, that would be a bummer. She really wanted to get her claws at this guy. But she’d rather let this guy have that chance than have Rose kill him right there and suffer regret for it every day after for all her eternal life. “And even setting that aside, I can get the guy in jail with my Whisper powers. That way we know he can’t hurt anyone else.”

Rose was still hesitating, so Alya gently helped her lower the sword. “He’s not worth it,” she said. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

Finally, still trembling with rage and sorrow, Rose let Alya escort her out of the basement.

###

It only took Alya about ten minutes to jail the guy. She was quite skilled with Whisper, the power of demons to, well, whisper evil or hurtful thoughts into the minds of unsuspecting mortals. During her training she had learned how to convince humans that everyone hated them and was only pretending to befriend them out of pity, or that their spouse was cheating on them, or that—whatever the priest at church said—they really had done something beyond forgiveness and so might as well go forth and sin some more.

Now, though, Alya used that power to Whisper into the fanatic’s head. “There are demons everywhere!” she whispered. “In that trash can! On that curb! On top of that police car! If you don’t fight them, they’ll destroy Paris!”

The fanatic raved and ran around, swinging his sword wildly at the demons his mind convinced him were all around him. That, of course, led to police officers swarming and tackling him. Alya smiled as she watched Roger Raincomprix bundle him into his police car and take him away, saying something about asylums and institutionalization. “He won’t be bothering anyone ever again,” she said. Then she turned to Rose. “How did you find me?”

“You didn’t show up for that thing you were doing with Juleka,” Rose said. Both girls were hiding their spiritual forms and looked fully human, but Alya got the sense that if Rose’s wings had been visible they would have been curling around her like a cocoon. “She got worried and used a spell from your library to track you down. I was closer so I got to your first, but she’ll probably be here soon too.”

“I should text her to let her know I’m alright,” Alya noted. She took her phone, which the fanatic had left in a corner of the basement and which Alya had reclaimed, and sent a message to Juleka. “Want to get home?”

Rose nodded weakly.

Alya frowned. “Don’t beat yourself up over losing your temper,” she said. “It happens to all of us.”

“Sure.” Rose shrugged. “Uh huh.”

Alya paused. Clearly, she thought, Rose needed more help. And now that Alya was out of her bonds and was back in action, she was just the girl to help her. “Anyways, I’m going back to my place, and you’re coming too,” she announced.

Rose blinked. “Wait, what?”

“I said, we’re going to my place,” Alya announced. “Come on, Rose. You saved my life and I owe you one. Let’s get going.”

Rose clearly didn’t know what was going on, but she smiled a little and let herself be dragged along.

###

When the pair got back to Alya’s apartment, they dropped their guises and Alya sighed as she flopped back in her bed. “I never thought I’d see this bed again,” she murmured. “I didn’t think I’d see you, or Juleka, or… or Marinette again either.” She shut her eyes, knowing how badly she would have been hurt to never see the adorable fashion designer, and also knowing how much pain Marinette would have been in if Alya had just vanished. “Thank you again, Rose.”

Rose nodded weakly.

Alya got Rose over to the couch and settled down with her. “Why are you still sad?” she asked.

Rose hesitated, and Alya said, “If you don’t want to share it with me, that’s fine. We can just rest here; I’ll put on some cartoons or something until we both feel better. But if you’re sad, you can talk to me.”

It took a few moments for Rose to say something, during which time she slumped over and snuggled against Alya. One of her wings tickled Alya’s nose and she sneezed, which made Rose giggle. Then Rose cuddled deeper against Alya and said, “Am I a bad angel?”

“No way!” Alya said. “You’re awesome at what you do, and I’m saying that even though what you do makes it harder to me to tempt souls a lot of the time.”

Rose smiled at that. “But I almost didn’t save you,” she said. “And I almost murdered that guy after he was already defeated.”

“You did save me in the end, which is what counts,” Alya said. “You did your job. And while you got mad at the fanatic, you didn’t kill him.” She paused. “We’ve never had an all-out fight, so I can’t say for sure what would have happened if you’d tried to break my grip and kill the guy, but based on what I know of you I think you could probably have thrown me aside and killed the fanatic if you really wanted to do so. You didn’t, so you knew on some level killing him was wrong.”

“Right, but I still want him to suffer for what he did to you,” said Rose. “And I’m not supposed to. Angels aren’t supposed to hate, even when we’re fighting evil.”

“I’m not exactly an expert on what you guys believe,” Alya said slowly. “Since we demons and devils have a different system. But I think I read somewhere that your boss is really big on forgiveness and understands that everyone screws up sometimes. I don’t think He’d want you beating yourself up like this, and I think He’d be satisfied with how you saved the victim—me—and didn’t do any more damage to the guy once he wasn’t a threat anymore.”

Rose mulled that over for a few moments. “You really think so?”

“Sure,” said Alya. “Besides, any God who would get mad at you over—what, yelling a bit after stopping a torturer?—wouldn’t be a God worth worshipping.”

“Don’t say that about God,” murmured Rose, but she sounded a lot calmer. “That makes sense, though. Thanks, Alya.”

“Happy to help.” Alya gingerly scratched at the base of Rose’s wings, and she sighed in contentment.

“You know,” said Rose after a few moments of that, “You’d make a good angel.”

Alya jolted in shock at that, and Rose laughed. “Don’t say that!” Alya feebly protested. “Seriously, I—I would not want that job. I don’t like the idea that I’d have to be nice all the time because my boss demanded it. I like what I am, where I have the freedom to be how I want.” She realized she was blushing and tried to make herself stop. “Besides, I’m not that nice in general,” she went on. “You’re an exception.”

“Nah,” said Rose. “You’re nice. If you wanted to be an angel you’d be great at it.” She chuckled, and then she asked, “But I’m curious about one thing. That guy said that demons want angels to Fall, but you worked really hard to stop me from Falling today. Was that just because we’re friends, or do you oppose angels falling in general?”

Alya didn’t know why, but she was blushing again. “Uh,” she began. “Look, I’m all about freedom. That’s why I like my side of things in the first place. I think you should have freedom too, and if I thought you really, truly wanted to Fall, then I would offer my help to you—you know, finding some sin for you to commit that wouldn’t do anything too bad or hurt anyone you didn’t want to suffer—so you could live as you wished. But I know you, and I know that in your heart you don’t want to do anything so bad that you Fall. You like being a holy angel warrior for God. You love being able to spread blessings and help usher souls into eternal bliss. And if that’s your choice, I want to help you maintain it. Because we’re friends.”

The idea of friendship was still a new one to Alya, who of course came from a place where there was no such thing as friendship, where everyone was out for themselves and anyone dumb enough to admit to weakness would find that weakness mercilessly exploited by classmates, neighbors, and random strangers. But now that she was in the human world, she had friends, and she found that she liked it. (Granted, she had to keep her friendships hidden from her bosses—especially her friendship with Rose—but she was a demon and deceit came naturally to her, so that wasn’t too hard.)

Rose smiled gently. “I’m glad we’re friends,” she said.

The two stayed still for a few moments before Rose reluctantly raised herself up. “I guess I should go,” she said. “I’m sure you and Juleka need to do whatever you were planning on doing before you got abducted.”

“We were just planning on watching some fun anime and having some snacks,” said Alya. Then, as if on cue, she heard a knock on the door and grinned. “It’s open!” she called. Then she turned to Rose and said, “When I texted her earlier, I told her to get back to my place so we could resume our plans. That must be her now.”

Rose tried to get up, but Alya wrapped her tail around Rose and tugged her back down. “I don’t want to get in the way,” Rose said quickly. “I’ll leave.”

“No, you’ll join us,” corrected Alya. “Because this is my room, so I can invite who I want, and I want you here. Because this is my cult, so Juleka has to do what I say, and I say you get to stay.” Her eyes twinkled. “And because I know you and Juleka love spending time together, and so since you also had kind of a rough day, a little time with your favorite paladin and my favorite priestess is just what Dr. Alya ordered.”

Rose grinned at that. 

Then Juleka entered the room carrying a bag.  As soon as her gaze fell upon Rose she smiled brightly, and Rose returned that smile. “Alright,” Juleka said. “I’ve got the DVD for that anime you told me to find, ‘Kill La Kill,’ and your snacks.” She took some cups out of the bag. “Three hot chocolates—one with cinnamon, because I know that’s your favorite, Rose—some microwave popcorn, and pastries from the Dupain-Cheng bakery.” She paused. “Marinette told me she’ll be free in an hour or so. Would you want me to invite her?”

“Sure!” said Alya at once. She’d have to hide her demon form once Marinette arrived, of course, but it would be worth it to hang out with the fashion designer. Marinette always seemed to brighten up any room. “And thanks for helping Rose save me with the tracking spell. I owe you one.”

Juleka waved that off. “It’s a friend thing,” she said. “Don’t worry about it.”

Such a sentence was something Alya would never, ever have heard in the demon world. Debts there were jealously maintained. But she liked this way, she found… even if she did intend on finding some way to reward Juleka for saving her life. “Sure,” she said to change the subject. “But I still appreciate it. Anyway, what kind of pastries did you get?”

“Angel food cake for Rose, lemon cake for me, and chili-chocolate cake for you,” said Juleka as she passed out the treats. Rose sniffed her cake and sighed at how wonderful it smelled. “I’ll pop in the DVD and then we can start the show.”

Juleka did so and then sat on Rose’s other side. Rose grinned and spread her wings wide enough to give partial hugs to both Alya and Juleka, and Alya’s tail flicked a bit before running against the other two girls’ backs. Rose giggled. “That tickles!” she said.

“Sorry,” drawled Alya. She bit into the delicious cake and grinned. Chili and chocolate was a hard combination to get right, but the Dupain-Cheng family were masters, and the cake was absolutely perfect. “My bad.”

“You’re not sorry,” said Juleka lightly. “That’s a lie.”

“Well, lying’s a sin,” chirped Alya. “And as a demon, that’s kind of my thing.”

Both of the other girls laughed, and then Rose draped her arms as well as her wings around the other two. Juleka hit the button on the remote and the show started.

Alya sighed, her pains from earlier almost completely forgotten as she relaxed with her friends. The human world was good, she thought. She was very glad she hadn’t been kicked out of it. And she’d try to stay in it—and be with the people she cared about, including the wonderful angel and the amazing human currently sitting on her couch—for as long as she could.

———

AW THAT WAS WONDERFUL

GO ROSE

I like how its been decided that between Rose and Alya theres a bad cop and good cop dynamic going on

Alya is the good cop