#lets not even get into a certain bastard girl that scares the crap out of this fandom

[bohemian-nights]

If Rhaenyra, Laena, and Daemon actually were f*cking one another all three of them are the dumbest people to walk the earth if not one of them thought “Daemon should try and get Rhaenyra pregnant” especially since she was dealing with the bastard rumors

That's the main reason why I don't believe they had some kind of weird throuple going on. If nothing else, Daemon at the very least would've impregnated Rhaenyra to have his son on the throne(an accident would've befallen over the older strong boys and Joffrey would not have existed) if they had actually been f*cking while Laena was alive 🤷🏽‍♀️

[mcflymemes]

AS SAID BY GARRUS VAKARIAN, updated version  *  assorted dialogue from the mass effect trilogy, adjust as necessary

i can't find any hard evidence.

good luck, [name]. maybe they'll listen to you.

i'm coming with you.

sometimes it feels like the rules are only there to stop me from doing my work.

i just couldn't take it anymore.

maybe i can get the job done my way for a change.

if you're wrong, we'll pay for it. but if you're right, and we did nothing, i think we'd regret it a whole lot more.

i thought you were dead.

it sure is good to see a friendly face.

at least it's not hard to find criminals here. all i have to do is point my gun and shoot.

my feelings got in the way of my better judgement.

i'll make you a deal. you get me out of here alive, and i'll tell you the whole damn thing.

nobody would give me a mirror. how bad is it?

don't make me laugh, damn it.

some women find facial scars attractive.

i'm fit for duty whenever you need me.

when i got to the meeting point, no one was there.

kill you? no. but i don't mind slowing you down a little.

what do you want from me, [name]?

i know you want to talk about this... but i don't. not yet.

it's so much easier to see the world in black and white. gray... i don't know what to do with gray.

my instincts are what got me into this mess.

never knew you had a weakness for men with scars.

well, why the hell not? there's nobody in this galaxy i respect more than you.

if we can figure out a way to make it work, then... yeah. definitely.

you're about the only friend i've got left in this screwed-up galaxy.

you don't ever have to worry about making me uncomfortable. nervous, yes... but never uncomfortable.

i brought wine.

your hair looks... good. and your waist is... very supportive.

hopefully that's not offensive in human culture.

i want something to go right. just once.

think you can win this thing, [name]?

i'm pretty sure we'll still need giant guns... and lots of them.

so... is this the part where we shake hands?

the scars are starting to fade. i remember they drove you wild.

i've been doing some more research on human customs.

glad to know my romantic skills made an impression.

let's not go there.

i can afford the good stuff.

what about you? i'm starting to see some wear and tear.

don't forget to come up for air. and not just because all these people need you. because i need you.

if you're suggesting i'm scared... game on.

still trying to make me blush, huh?

i'd be lying if i said i didn't hope it would inspire a certain... mood.

it seemed like you needed time to... figure us out.

the worst part about the galaxy going to hell would've been never getting to see you again.

not saying you don't know how to handle a gun. just saying some of us know how to make it dance.

i've actually seen you dance. no comment.

i know there are other things you're good at.

probably not a lot of air in here. an hour if we're lucky.

so tell me. think a girl would fall for that?

it gets even better when you try it in bed.

you don't lack for places to get lost.

did we break anything last night?

you'll find a way to win. and when this is over, i'll be waiting for you.

if this thing goes sideways and we both end up there... meet me at the bar. i'm buying.

forgive the insubordination, but your boyfriend has an order for you.

come back alive. it'd be an awfully empty galaxy without you.

we're in this 'til the end.

we didn’t kill these people. and we’re going to shut down the bastards who did.

looks like we’ve got a siege on our hand.

if anyone needs fresh clips or a bathroom break, now’s the time.

oh crap!

guess he didn’t like the food.

looks like we got the jump.

pretty extreme, but those were desperate times.

we won’t get a second chance.

that was me, sorry.

nothing like being stranded.

we’ll do more than that.

just the usual minor flesh wound.

what would these people have done if we hadn’t shown up?

i was there when you two had your thing, remember? just get a room and work it out.

stay angry. we’ll need it to get through this.

drinks will be on me.

one of my favorite places to fight!

i’m hard to kill. you should know that.

it’s gonna be bad all over.

for whatever it’s worth, i’m with you.

you’ve waited long enough for this day.

just wait ‘til this war is over.

you came along and warmed my heart with your winning personality.

maybe you’d like to go work for them instead?

how do i not have one of those?

surprise on our side for once. i like it.

brutal, but it makes a certain kind of sense.

[marauderundercover]

Crashed Dates (Day 2: Scarecrow)

Marinette grins at her boyfriend, swinging their intertwined hands back and forth as they walk around the pumpkin farm. It was so nice, finally being able to go on cute dates like this. They’d first started dating while he was in Paris on business, around a year ago. Sure, he’d made trips to Paris and she’d made a few to Metropolis, but it was different now that she had moved to Gotham. Now they were able to go on random, unplanned dates, instead of dates that had been planned for weeks. He was definitely worried when she first told him she was moving to Gotham, but she had reassured him that it would be fine. (Not that she had a choice in the matter, Tikki had informed her on her last trip to Metropolis that Gotham was sick, that it was calling out for help and that as the Guardian, it was her job to help it). Gotham was….interesting, but she’d settled in just fine in the two weeks she’d been there.

And so, when he had called her out of the blue to tell her he found a place he thought she’d love, she made sure she had enough layers and jumped at the chance for a day with him. So far, the day had been absolutely perfect. They’d drank hot apple cider, ate warm donuts, taken a trip around the farm on the hayride- everything was great. But for some reason, her amazingly stubborn boyfriend didn’t want to go into the corn maze. 

“Please! You’ll be my favorite person in the whole world.” She begs again, her grin quickly switching into a pout. She keeps pouting, leaning against his arm, until he sighs.

“Fine, we can do the maze.” He says and she cheers, standing on her toes and tugging him down slightly to give him a quick kiss. 

“You are the best!” She says, over enunciating every word. He just grins, giving her another soft kiss. 

“If we get lost, I’m calling the Demon Spawn to come get us out. Pretty sure he has a tracker on my phone.” Jason says, letting her tug him along towards the maze. She just rolls her eyes, grinning. 

“You know you’re secretly touched that he cares enough to track you.” She teases as they near the entrance of the maze.

“Yeah, yeah.” He grumbles, glaring at the scarecrow situated at the entrance of the maze. Marinette raises an eyebrow. 

“You have a problem with men made of straw?” She asks, legitimately confused by his reaction. 

“Geeze M, I knew you were new to Gotham but I forget how new.” He says, pulling her closer. She melts into him, still confused by his reaction, but happy to be close. As they walk through the maze, frustratingly running into deadends, Jason explains Scarecrow. Marinette decides that he’s number two on the list of villains she never wants to meet. Joker is number one. (Joker is also number one on the list of villains she wants to meet, but that’s because she’s always wondered what it would look like to cataclysm a psychotic clown). She’s just about to suggest they call Damian and utilize the tracker that was, undoubtedly on Jason’s phone, when the screaming begins. 

“There isn’t a haunted house here, is there.” Marinette says, her face pale. She wasn’t ready to be a hero again. She’d only defeated Hawkmoth a year ago. Just before meeting Jason. She didn’t want that part of her life again, not now. 

“No, no there’s not.” Jason says, eyes glancing around wildly. Marinette’s heart breaks at the panic on his face. She knew that, despite his tough guy appearance, he struggled. A lot. He had nightmares, constantly, mostly of the time Joker had kidnapped him (hence the whole, cataclysm Joker thing). Pushing down her own fear and doubt, she tightens her grip on his hand and squares her shoulders. 

“Come on.” She instructs, tugging him behind her as she darts through the maze, determined to get out. She stumbles over a rock and lets go of Jason’s hand in time for her to fall into a larger clearing. She curses as she falls, her palms stinging. 

“What have we here?” A voice says. Marinette sits up, staring up at a man in a scarecrow costume and suddenly, Jason’s fear, or rather, dislike, of scarecrows makes more sense. So much more sense. She glances around and lets out a sigh of relief. She’d let go of Jason quick enough. He wasn’t caught up in this. Hopefully, he could call his father. She wasn’t sure if the rumors about Bruce Wayne and Batman dating were true, but Batman was always quick to interfere if it was a Wayne or Wayne adjacent involved. 

“A girl who’s a little pissed that you crashed her date.” She retorts, standing up and brushing her stinging palms off on her jeans. She’d have to get the blood out later, which would be a pain. Better than having the blood on her palms mix with the dirt that also now covered her hands. 

“You’re either very brave or very stupid, little girl. Let’s see how you deal with my newest strain of fear toxin.” He says, and she lunges towards the man, not willing to go down without a fight. Almost immediately, a sharp pinch on her neck has her stumbling back away from the man as she tries to take in her new surroundings. 

She was back in Paris, but it wasn’t the Paris she had left. The city that was healing. Instead this Paris was underwater. Buildings were toppled over, and the moon was in pieces in the sky. She was back there. A place she hadn’t seen in person since she was fourteen, a place that had haunted her nightmares for ten years. She inhales sharply when she sees him. Chat Blanc. But instead of fear, she’s just angry. This isn’t real. It can’t be. Adrien Agreste was Chat Noir. And Adrien was….turning, she realizes that she can almost see him. Out of the corner of her eye, she can almost see Scarecrow, watching her. Waiting for her to react. Anger coursing through her, she charges the man, tackling him all the way to the ground. She pulls back her fist and punches him, repeatedly. 

“How dare you! How dare you use his face like that! You son of a bitch!” She screams as she hits, the roaring in her ears blocking out all other sounds. She keeps her focus on feeling the man she’s hitting, because the second she lets her focus wander, she gets sucked into her surroundings again. The way the sky just looks wrong. The odd haze over everything. And now, the corpses floating in the water closest to her. Adrien. Maman. Papa. She’s not scared, she’s pissed. Sure, those were her biggest fears and that’s definitely why she was seeing them all like that, but she’d already seen it. She’s lived it. They were gone, not coming back. And she sure as hell wasn’t going to fall down and break about it. Not when some asshole with fear toxin was running around randomly injecting people. Suddenly, something is wrapped around her and she’s pulled up. She kicks frantically, trying to get out of the steel grip she’s trapped in. She had to- what did she have to do? Another sharp pinch in her neck makes her eyes droop sleepily. She struggles again, barely able to hear the voice calling her name as she succumbs to the darkness.

---

Jason Todd feels like a major prick. He watched his girlfriend trip and instead of helping her up, he uses it as a distraction to try and call B. How the fuck was he supposed to know she tripped right into the Scarecrow? He’s cursing himself mentally as he rushes towards the ambulance. Replacement had texted him. 

Marinette was injected. At ambulances near front of farm

And Jason felt like shit. She’d never forgive him, not that he deserved it. He’d left her with one of Gotham’s biggest villains. His heart sinks when he sees the blood on her, and the oxygen mask attached to her face. Fuck. He’s almost to her, when one of the asshole cops stops him. 

“Excuse me, sir, you can’t go over there.” He says and Jason scowls. 

“Like hell I can’t. She’s my girlfriend, let me through.” He says, and the man shakes his head. 

“Family only.” He states. Jason’s about to argue, when a hand lands on his shoulder. 

“I still need to get a statement from Mr. Todd, if you’ll excuse us.” Replacement says, leading him away from the cop. 

“I left her.” He says, the second they’re far enough away. Tim frowns.

“What do you-”

“I mean, I left her. She tripped and instead of checking on her, I was a complete and total asshole and left her so I could call B to get his ass over here and solve the goddamn problem.” Jason says, feeling like even more of an asshole now that he’s said it out loud. 

“Did you see Scarecrow?” Replacement asks. Jason scoffs. 

“Of course not! You really think I would’ve left if I had?” He asks with a glare. 

“No, I don’t. So stop blaming yourself. I literally peeled her off of Scarecrow, she was beating the crap out of him. She’s gonna be tired and scared and confused when she wakes up. Just be there-”

“Jason!” Her terrified voice echoes out and Jason turns, sprinting for the cot he’d seen her on a minute ago. She had ripped the oxygen mask off her face and was looking around while arguing with the paramedic. 

“Ma’am please-” “Marinette!” Jason calls, and her face relaxes as she leaps off the cot and launches herself into his arms. He holds her as she shakes, sobs wracking her body. 

“I saw them.” She mumbles once she calms down a little. He frowns. 

“Saw who?” He asks. 

“My parents. Adrien. Their bodies.” She says, and suddenly, Jason has another name to add to his kill list. Being a complete asshole to all of Gotham, sure. Making his girlfriend see the bodies of those she’d lost? Nope. Now the bastard better hope he didn’t meet Red Hood in an alley. 

“God, Mari, I am so sorry. I’m so sorry I left.” He apologizes, his heart aching when she pushes him away. She frowns up at him and he winces, certain she’s about to break up with him. 

“Left?” She asks and he nods. 

“When you tripped, I swear, I didn’t know Scarecrow was there.” He says. 

“But you got Batman here.” She says and he jerks back. How the hell had she figured it out? When did she- “I know Bruce said he isn’t dating Batman, but honestly, I think he’s just in denial.” She adds. 

“I- what?” 

“Batman always comes when anyone in the Wayne family is in danger. Like, so quickly. And I know that Bruce says it’s just a bunch of rumors, like the whole ‘the butts match’ thing? But I also think that Batman is head over heels for Bruce, and your dad is just kinda clueless.” She rambles. Jason just laughs before pulling her into a deep kiss. She was okay. They were okay. He pulls back and grins at her, until he notices the blood again. 

“Shit, that’s a lot of blood.” He says, taking her hand in his to try and find the source. He glances at her face and raises an eyebrow at the blush that had taken over her face. 

“Oh, um, it’s not mine.” She mumbles. 

“Then who-” “Apparently I beat the hell out of Scarecrow. In my defense, that fear toxin sucked. And I was kinda pissed.” She says, frowning down at the blood on her hands. Jason takes one of his hands and gently tilts her chin up so that she’s looking at him again. He grins at her, giving her a short, soft kiss before pulling back. 

“I love you.” He says, and if the kiss she gave him in return meant anything, she felt the same way.

Next

Permanent tag list (open): @maribat-october-rarepairs @stainedglassm @kittenmywaythrulife @laydeekrayzee @doll246 @queenz-z @deathssilentapproach-blog @literaryhiraeth

[qui-02]

When they like the same girl

Note: I really like this :)

Bakugou would be shocked when Kirishima made him realize that he was crushing on you really hard. He just couldn’t help it. Your personality was on point and you were cute too, you didn’t mind that he was an angry Boi and that is what he loved about you. You respected everyone’s personality and interest. Basically you got him HOOKED around your finger.

Everything was going well until that half and half bastard was looking you like a sick puppy in love. “OH HELL NO! I’M NOT LOSING TO THAT ICI-HOT BASTARD!”

It was a war now.

When he noticed that you liked a certain food boom he invited you to his house and surprised you with a big ass buffet just for you. He gets so damm happy knowing that you love his cooking instead of eating cold soba with ici-hot. “Tch, that is a win for me”

He gets extremely jealous when he sees you giggling with Todoroki instead of him. He literally drags you away from him telling you “remember that you are having trouble with math, let me tutor you dumbass.” He is the best tutor. He even tries to stay calm not to scare you away. At the end of the session you are now Albert Einstein :)

There is always a small fight when the two boys want to walk you to your home. Bakugou insist of carrying your bag while he glares at Shoto’s back. After ensuring that you made it home safely he makes sure to get his thoughts out. “Oi half and half, she is going to be mine so get out of the way you little bastard” Todoroki wants to avoid a fight in front of your house so he keeps things chill “that is up to Y/N to choose who she likes more but I am sure she likes me more since I don’t have anger issues” (Bakugou forgets that Deku and Ochako have been teaching him how to roast,lmfao)

Something that would definitely starts to get in the blondes nerves is when you started calling Todoroki by his first name. He just needs to change the “Oh Shoto good morning” to “morning Katsuki” Yup he definitely managed to get to hear your angelic voice saying that in the morning.talking about morning, he is the type to see at what time you get to class so he gets to walk into U.A with you and get some minutes with you alone.

Hagakure is always peeking on your shoulder to see who you will pick, this girl just wants to be you ok? Instantly you become the Heather of the school.

Now if there is the smallest chance of practicing fight against another classmate Bakugou will make sure he gets his way to be with Todoroki. His plan is to destroy him hoping to prove to you that he is stronger and better as a hero. Aizawa doesn’t care that they are booth beating the crap of their asses, it makes them stronger as hero’s so it’s all good. His plan failed when he somehow blew the pretty boy to hell and there you were rushing to Todoroki’s side to take care of him, how nice. He clenches his fist even tighter when you have Todoroki pressed against your chest as you wait for recovery girl to come :)Todoroki takes this chance to bond with you and get all your attention.

After making sure that he landed his worst enemy on the nurses bed and you are relieved that he is going to be ok he makes his final move. He makes sure that you have his attention full on him before he quickly place’s a peck on your check and whispered something that made your cheeks heat up. “Look dumbass, I want to be more than friends, ok?”

It’s up to you Now if you want to fill up a heart with joy or to shatter one to pieces since the second heart that is fighting for your love followed you all the way to the park hoping to catch up with you. So what will you do?

I will be giving credits to Deku and Ochako for helping the boy to realize that he has a crush on you and it isn’t a small one. Like I mentioned earlier he always has a small smile on his face when he is with you, some gorgeous puppy eyes just begging for your attention and he follows you like a lost puppy! He is a simp for you even before you start dating :)

It soon began to be a normal thing for Todoroki to share his lunch with you. He always leaves you a bit of his beloved cold soba hopping that you eat it before Bakugou drags you away from him. Talking about lunch the two boys fight for you to either eat lunch with the Deku-squad or the Baku-squad. So you decided to sit one day with each one since you have so much fun with them.

He gets you all the things you want like literally Endevor is getting concern on why his son is buying so many clothes and sweets. He talkes you to the finest mall you have on your area and he doesn’t care that you take 3 hours to only get 1 dress. He just wants to make you happy ok? Absolutely lives for spoiling you to death.

I feel like once he is getting used to you giving him thank you hugs he will crave for your touch 24/7. For some reason he will awkwardly get closer to you and that is his language to ask for a hug.If the class is traveling from the main building to USJ he will make sure that he gets to seat next to you. After training hard he is tiered so you tilt his head so it’s resting on your shoulder as you slowly watch him fall asleep, might as well join him.Bakugou catches a sight of you two napping together and his palms start to fume, cue Kirishima trying to calm him down before he explodes the bus.

Since Bakugou steals you away from him since apparently you need “tutoring for maths” he dose the same thing when you are talking to him,lol. He takes that chance to help you out on hero training. He helps you out with your technique, developing your quick you name it he is working on it with you. He takes this as bonding time with you and after training it’s tradition for you to get soba.

He loves you so much that he feels comfortable talking about you with his mom. Like he goes to visit her and he just straight up talks about how amazing you are for hours and hours until his mother brings up “You really like her Shoto don’t you?” He makes a mind note to ask you out soon so his mother can meet the love of his life in person.

Since it was normal for the two boys to walk you home Shoto came up with the best plan to ask you out. He made sure to leave Bakugou’s hero costume completely destroyed but like almost naked so he needed Hatsume to make improvements to his costume. Taking that opportunity to give you a letter that he wrote himself. “Could this really be it you asked yourself?” After saying goodbye you started reading the latter and you were left in tears, you could believe that someone could love you that much??

You have the world in your hands right now, it’s a matter of time before you have to breaks someone heart.

Tagg list: @pinkteamae @gabbys-simphotline @idimmadontgiveashit @xlxxifer

[vegetalass]

I know you're not around much these days but if you ever decide to make a come back, I dont suppose youd do some HC about the rdr2 guys and times theyve got caught mastyrbating around camp? I love your thoughts so much they're hilarious and cute ☺👉👈

This ask is very sweet and I like the idea so I will do it... thanks for your kind words and making me smile, anon!!🥺❤��😘

Find me at @ihatebnha

Hope you enjoy!! 

-

Arthur 

Used to get caught a lot more than he does now

Because of such, Dutch and Hosea don’t really care on the rare occasion they do catch him just because it was pretty common when he was younger

They laugh about it between themselves 

And when caught, Arthur just pretends it didn’t happen

He’s like, “I don’t touch myself, Jesus, who do you think I am?” 

Or if John jokingly is like, “Saw you the other day, what were you thinking about?” Arthur just plays stupid

Stuff like “See me where?” or “See me what?” 

And if the subject is pushed it turns into fighting (Arthur saying that John isn’t much better)

Arthur thanks the lord every day that Micah has never caught him in the act because he knows he’d never be able to live it down

And if a girl caught him… he’d probably never be able to look them in the eyes again

Probably jacks off being going to sleep or if he’s alone at camp

John 

He has a lot less shame about masturbating, but he’s definitely even more private about the subject than Arthur 

He doesn’t really deny it, but he definitely pulls a “You didn’t see shit!!” Even if the person very obviously DID

Also probably gets caught more than not… It’s just at this point, people have stopped commenting on it 

Dutch definitely jokingly plays the “Poor Abigail…” card all the time

It makes John (and Abigail) sooooooooo mad 

Honestly, I feel like when people catch him, he yells at them but doesn’t bother to stop

Thinks it’s their fault and not his because it was OBVIOUS what he was doing and they still didn’t bother to check or knock

This has caused fights with almost everyone

It’s a “what did you expect” type moment

The only time he’d ever apologize to is if it’s you or another girl who catches him, and even then he would probably never want to see you again out of embarrassment 

Hence why John probably just leaves camp and finds a secluded area to jerk off now(good luck to those who wander away from the fire) 

Charles 

We love Charles because he just jerks it when he’s bathing in a river or something 

Out of everyone, he’s the least likely to get caught, and on the rare occasion that he is, is also the most willing to laugh it off 

I feel like this is because he’s the one who accidentally catches other people so he knows it’s not a big deal

He’s so quiet no one knows he’s there until it’s too late

Gets called a peeper because of this… even though Charles doesn’t want to catch people any more than they want to be caught 

If a girl caught him, he’d try to hide himself before approaching them later to formally apologize 

It’s kinda weird… Just be like Arthur and pretend it didn’t happen babe!! 

If Dutch or Micah ever caught him doodling it, they’d never let it go and tease him until wit’s end

“So Charles is human after all!” is the type of shit they’d say and he’d literally want to pass away

Dutch, Molly hasn’t had one single orgasm the entire time she’s been with you so BE QUIET

Most likely to masturbate when he’s bathing or when he’s away from camp and alone on missions

Micah

Everybody at camp has to pray that they don’t catch Micah masturbating

He has no shame and does not care what people see 

He’s the “What? I have needs!” and “You do it, too!” guy... which honestly, isn’t even bad logic

It’s just when people actually walk in on him he doesn’t really seem bothered… which is kinda freaky

If it’s you or heaven forbid, another girl, he says “Quit staring, either help a man out or leave”

And if it’s Arthur or anyone else, “I knew you were a nasty bastard”

Like… Micah… you’re the one who isn’t ashamed!!! 

Too bold for his own good and eventually Dutch probably has to get involved 

They have one of those “man to man” talks where Dutch is like “Micah… You know… Men… We keep our business in private…”

Everyone at camp pretends they’re not eavesdropping on the conversation

It’s the only time Micah listens to complaints, and even though he forces himself to calm down on the lewd rudeness, he is still jacking it off whenever the urge arises

Rubs one out in his tent whenever he feels like it

Dutch

To give Dutch credit for something, he doesn’t jack off very often 

Partially because he gets down with Molly a lot, but also because he considers himself to have dignity and doesn’t want to ruin that 

The only people who’ve really caught him rubbing one out are Hosea and Arthur, and they probably let it go pretty quick after an apology

Most because Dutch is pretty polite about it 

“A man’s business is a man’s business” or some BS like that 

So when he does masturbate, it’s a calculated and timed move that he makes when he’s pretty sure no one is around

Also willing to laugh it off when he catches someone else masturbating, mostly because he raised two teenage boys, so in a way, he’s used to seeing it on the daily

God forbid is another girl catches him, though, because he’d also pull them aside to apologize

LET IT GO, KING!!! 

Jerks off only when he’s desperate and camp is empty

Kieran

King of bad luck 

I can see him with a pretty low libido, but probably gets caught making juice the first time he tries it at camp

He was lucky it was just Charles who saw, who thankfully, didn’t say anything about it

But still, it scares the absolute crap out of him and his desire to jack off gets even lower than it was already 

Probably stupidly thinks that masturbating is dirty or a sin or something that somebody told him when he was a boy

And if a girl ever caught him, even if they didn’t realize what was happening, he’d just have a heart attack and die

Like he’d literally pack up his stuff and go

Everyone at camp: We’ve all seen Micah twisting it so we don’t care

Kieran: UHHHHH 

Also gets teased by Micah and Dutch for it, except their comments are like “Aw, don’t be shy, be a man!” or “I’m sure you’ll find yourself a woman one day…”

Again, Kieran just passes away

Jerks off when he’s alone with the horses in a field and no one is around

Javier 

Hasn’t been caught yet despite the fact that everyone knows he jacks off ALL THE TIME

Kinda proud of himself for this fact, too 

If it’s the middle of the day and he’s in his tent, he’s busy

Usually can his volume to a minimum, but if he knows no one is around, he doesn’t mind letting it out 

Charles, of course, hears it the one time he’s not on a team mission

He’d definitely not going to stop is someone catches him, but he has the decency to cover himself up

Especially if it’s a lady

We like him because he’s not going to acknowledge it happened later but he will apologize in the moment 

Says some shit like, “Sorry, princess…” jdsfhksd

If another guy tries to tease him for it, he’ll take it in stride and just tease back 

Especially because he knows he’s not as bad as Micah or John who get caught ALL THE TIME 

Prefers to rub one out before bed but he’s not really picky as long as it’s in his tent and he has a way to clean up

Sean 

Everyone’s had a run in with Sean when his dick’s been out 

It’s practically a camp joke that everyone has a story about it

He’s another guy who jacks off when bathing in the river, except he’s:

1. Not secretive about it

2. Bathes all the time

Sean leaves the water hole and everyone knows that they shouldn’t go back in there until the water is washed away 

Pretty vocal, too, so you always sorta know when you should avoid certain areas

The only time he’s ever embarrassed is when a girl catches him

Turns bright red, starts stuttering, looking for anything to cover himself up with while apologizing

That being said, he only feels bad because he feels like he ruined his chances of being friendly with them

Gets teased by the other boys for it but enjoys the attention, plus loves teasing right back

“Oh hush you, you love looking at me,” type stuff 

He’s a lil nasty but he keeps it fun and fresh 

Jacks off before bathing, and sometimes in his tent if he’s desperate or is already clean. 

[ssson-of-sparda]

Two Dresses (Dante x Fem!Reader)

Summary: Patty desperately wants to know what happened between Dante and Y/N. Hopefully, Morrison is here to help. (Part 3 of A Tab To Erase) (Part 1) (Part 2)

Tags: Pre DMC3 Dante / Dante is Tony Redgrave / Love / Fluff / Slight ANgst / Implied Sexual Content / Explicit Language

Author’s note: Part 3 is out. Sorry for keeping you waiting. The story is coming to its end. Only one or two chapters left.

MISSION 3

Indifference is the worst form of contempt. But how can you be indifferent when a squeaking tiny voice as unbearable as fingernails on a chalkboard constantly splits your ears with endless whining? Dante wished to know.        “Pleeeeaase Dante. You promised.” Patty begged again as she almost sprawled on the man’s desk, strangely not caring about the grease or the tomato sauce that were disgustingly splattered on the wooden surface.      “I didn’t do such thing.” Dante nonchalantly took a bite of his pizza, trying to ignore Patty’s pleading blue eyes and her feeble attempt at convincing him to tell her the rest of his ‘love story’ (she had decreed it was one) with Y/N. “Come on, Dante! You have to tell me!” The frustration in every single word coming out of her mouth was growing stronger. You could hear it in the way her voice was becoming more and more piercing by the minute. And in spite of all the time spent with Patty, Dante had never succeeded in really ignoring her childish whims. “Don’t you watch TV shows?” She added. “You know full well I don’t.” And it was the truth. Except for adults programs once in a while, Dante cared less about television, contrary to Patty who was a professional binge-watcher capable of watching a dozen of episodes a day and still yearning for more.        “Well, even if you don’t, haven’t you ever experienced the frustration of a cliffhanger? Like, in Bolero in Spring, when Jenna has a car accident right after she decides to run after Josh to finally tell him he is the love of her life and that she loves him too and you know you’ll have to wait a whole week to know what happens next?”                Dante’s brain shut down after the first question, or maybe even before that, finding a not-so-surprising fascination for the slices of salami on his pizza and their perfectly round shapes. “Like I told you, I don’t watch TV.”      “Haven’t you ever longed for anything?”            “Yes actually. Right now, I long for peace … and quiet … and for you to finally shut up.” The girl glared at him, shooting daggers at him as sharp as a thousand Rebellions.

“What’s going on here?” Relief immediately shone in both Patty’s and Dante’s eyes when Morrison pushed the door of Devil May Cry, replacing the tension in the room with paternal warmth that was so like him.                 “Morrison! You got to help me. Dante doesn’t want to tell me what happened between him and Y/N” She complained with her small fists clenched tightly, a childish attitude that would have made Morrison smile if it hadn’t been for his surprise.“ You told Patty about Y/N? How weird of you.” “Not for free.”  “You know her, Morrison?” There was a gleam in Patty’s eyes, one only curiosity and excitement could create.       “By reputation. Everybody in the mercenary business knew who she was and was aware not to touch a hair on her head. I bet even demons knew. Y/N. Tony Redgrave’s beautiful girlfriend. And probably the only girl that could make Dante act somewhat … mature.” He said as he chose his words wisely, though he wasn’t sure they were fit for the memories of Dante he had in mind.                  “ What are you talking about? I’ve always been mature.”        “ Yeah. Because eating strawberry sundaes and pizza everyday is very adult.” Dante frowned, pretty sure he had once heard a similar reprimand coming from someone else’s mean mouth. His mother? No … but close. “Have you been spending time with Trish lately?”           “ Stop changing the subject and tell me the story!” Dante eyed at Morrison with an insisting look that meant ‘Get me the hell out of here.’ but today, he would not receive any help from his friend. “You know she won’t let go, Dante. So, should I tell her or should you?”              Dante sighed. “Two dresses off my tab and it’s yours.”

TWO DRESSES

Two star-crossed lovers in fair Redgrave City, where we lay our scene …

Are you kidding me?! What? I thought you loved that kind of lovey-dovey crap. Dante! Fine …

The rest of the story was no Shakespearian play. There was no betrayal, no sword fighting, no friend or parent tragically murdered, no forbidden love, no unfair ending, no … Who was Dante kidding? There was all that and worse. Another reason why he hated Shakespeare so much.                But when love started to bloom and with it the chances at a normal peaceful life, Dante never considered those dramatic events. Not even a slight second. After all, he was an overly enthusiastic nineteen year-old with the girl of his dreams on his arm and a long-awaited roof above his head. What could go wrong? Especially when all he thought about, all he imagined were simple mornings waking up with the one he loved so dearly and nights with his silver head in between…

“In between what?” “ Y/N’s fingers... Y/N’s fingers of course.” “ You’re not so good at making this story family-friendly you know that, Dante?” “I’m doing my best here, Morrison.”

And his epicurean – though quite lewd - plans were all shared to the utter despair of Y/N’s parents who constantly reminded Y/N of the big mistake she was making in getting involved with a boy like ‘that vermin Tony’.                 “What about college? What about that confortable life we wanted for you? How can you throw all this away for that boy?” Dante remembered the time Y/N’s mother had said that with a menacing finger and a poisonous tongue. That and the infamous “Is breeding with that trash and raising his filthy bastards truly what you want Y/N?”    So long the time that family had generously taken him under their roof for a few days. Guess money does make you stuck-up assholes after all. That’s what he had wanted to reply. But instead, he had just stood still, arms crossed over his chest and had remained silent, out of respect for Y/N and also because, deep down, he was sometimes thinking the same.

He wanted the best for Y/N. He wanted to give her the best life had to offer, all the things she wanted, all the things she needed but he only had a few dollars in his pocket and a list of debts he didn’t really know how the erase. And even though she seemed like she didn’t mind now, what would happen in a few years, or even just a few months. What would happen when the little he had to offer would not be enough anymore?

“Will you love me all the same in a few years?” She asked him, soft hands placed over his strong naked chest and (colour) eyes staring deep in his looking for the truth. “I’m sure I will love you even more if that’s anything possible.”               “Then stop worrying and stop with the silly questions already.” And she kissed him with all the comfort and the love she could gather. She kissed him like there was no tomorrow, like there was just them, only them, together, on that mattress on the floor in this furniture-less and decaying shop he had just been allowed to rent for an astronomical amount of money. “A neon sign.” “ What?” Dante asked a bit confused.                  “You should get a neon sign, like the one my parents had at the restaurant.” She added with a soft smile. “You want me to get a pink neon sign?” He joked and took delight when she laughed. She was so insanely beautiful when she was laughing. “It wasn’t pink. It was red.”                “ My coat is red. That sign was definitely pink. And pink doesn’t scream ‘menacing devil-hunter in the house’?” “Menacing devil-hunter?” She repeated, arching an eyebrow suspiciously. “Where?” Dante looked at her smirking mockingly at him. “Watch it you!” He pushed her on the mattress and went to lie his burning yet still sweaty body over hers to place a multitude of hungry lovely kisses on her neck, wishing this moment would never end.

But it ended, as all good things end eventually. Thanks to Enzo Ferino, once again. That piece of shit had the knack to ruin things after all.                “Tony! Per l’amore di Dio! Tony!” He shouted from downstairs, visibly alarmed if not terrified. “Speaking of the Italian midget.” Dante sighed, his lips still on Y/N’s skin, thinking that maybe ignoring Enzo would make him leave. “Tony!!!”           “Damn it.”          “Pretty sure the menacing devil-hunter hiding in this shop will scare him away?” Y/N taunted again and Dante grinned before pressing his lips on Y/N’s one last time. “Oh, he sure will. Wait here. I’ll be right back.” Dante said as he reluctantly left his girl’s loving embrace to put on a pair of pants and go welcome his unwanted guest fidgeting in the hall.                    “ You’d better.”

“It better be important, Enzo.” Dante demanded as he lazily walked down the creaking stairs to show him how annoyed he was to see him here. “You’ve just ruined a perfect moment with my girl.”               “Y/N? Y/N is with you?” The man’s eyes were widened with fear and distress and even though Dante knew how much of a coward Enzo was, he had never seen him that way. “How many girls do you think I have?”  The short man leant against the wall and took a deep sigh. “Well, that’s relief I guess.” Dante frowned, unsure if he should remain annoyed or start asking questions. Hell, why not both. “Will you tell me what’s going on?”     “A man came to Bobby’s Cellar. Looking for you.”          “Not a first.” Dante walked pass Enzo to grab a bottle of whisky he had left early on on one of the many boxes he had not yet unpacked. “One of Denvers’ goons presumably.” He leant against the wall and took a mouthful of amber alcohol, thinking about the girl waiting for him upstairs and how he should have never left her.        “No. Not Denvers. That man was working alone and he asked about a certain Dante.” The half-demon froze for a second and his blue eyes darted a brief astonished glance at his partner. A man looking for Dante - Dante, not Tony - was no good news. “I said I didn’t know any Dante but then he described you and I thought che cacchio è. Then he threatened me and … He was scary, Tony”     “What did you tell him?”  Dante frowned. He had the feeling Enzo had fucked up. He could feel it in his guts. Otherwise he would have never rushed to his new place in the middle of the night to warn him. “That you weren’t here. That you certainly were with Y/N. And then he had me, Tony. I …” “ You mentioned Y/N?” Enzo took an immediate step back when he heard the anger in Dante’s voice. “ I … I’m sorry. He … He tricked me.” Then he took another step and another one, trying to stay as far away as possible from Dante, until his back bumped against the door and he was able to spot a terrifying red flame burning with rage in the mercenary’s eyes who was towering him menacingly. “What did you say about Y/N?”                           If the weird man in Bobby’s Cellar had scared the shit out Enzo early on, what he had felt back then was nothing in comparison to he was feeling right now. Paralysed with fear, he couldn’t move anymore, couldn’t speak. He could only stare at the raging fire in Dante’s eyes and feel a burning warmth emanating from the young man’s body against him. Were those the flames of Hell? Was he about to be punished for his sin? For betraying his partner?    “What did you say?” He shouted and Enzo trembled and squealed like a pig, arms covering his face to protect himself. Yes, his man Tony was about to flay him alive. He was sure of it. “What are you?” He mumbled.

“Tony.” Enzo thanked all the gods for that divine intervention. Though whom he should have truly thanked was Y/N and her soft reassuring voice that had miraculously pulled Dante from his dark rage.

I like her. Dante smiled.

“Stop please.” Enzo felt Dante calm down and when he finally walked away from him, the small man took a deep breath. “If something happens …” Dante didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t need to and Enzo was already nodding furiously. “I know.” He blindly grabbed the handle behind his back and quickly opened the door to run away as fast as he could.

Dante watched him running in the cold night with a frown until he couldn’t see him anymore. Then he swiftly strode back to Y/N waiting for him on top of the stairs to pull her in a strong protective  embrace. And when his lips pressed in her silky hair and she realized he couldn’t let go, she started worrying. “What is it?” She had never felt him like that.                  “It’s nothing.” He replied softly even though the voice in his head was screaming things like Don’t you get out of my sight, even for a second. I can’t lose you. Not like my mother. I love you so freaking much. “Stay with me tonight.”

But deep down, Dante wasn’t sure this was the smartest decision.

***

“And so was it?” Patty curiously asked as she stared at Dante with her big blue eyes. “ Was it what?” He replied, pretending not to understand. He loved teasing her. “ The smartest decision?” She clarified with an enthusiasm that clearly showed her interest and her will to know more. “ I thought you loved cliffhangers.”

[forthemorefortunate]

Live Like Animals

Nessian Modern AU

Merry Chris-  er, happy New Year to my secret snowflake!  @ncssian 💕😅

I hope you like the fic! I’ll be honest, when I filled out the application for the secret snowflake, I said I could make a fic believing that it was very unlikely somebody would ask for one 🥴🤔 But lemme say, I LOVED writing this, which is definitely something I didn’t expect. More than that, I’ve never been much of a Nesta or Nessian fan, but actually thinking through their characters and interactions for this fic gave me a whole new perspective on and appreciation for them (even if I’m not the best at writing their characters, aha), so thank you!

A few quick things about the fic:

(Ik I already told you this, but for anybody else reading this aha) This is my first fic! So please take it easy on me 🥺👉🏻👈🏻

Okay so this part is kind of weird, but there’s kind of a corresponding playlist 😅 Each part is named after a song. You can play the songs while reading or not, I know for me personally (*cough* my ADHD ass) it’s hard to listen to music and read at the same time. The title is also the name of a song! Except that one is more random, haha (I couldn’t think of a title, so I shuffled my entire library and chose the first song as the title, and it kinda worked so I went with it)

One more quick thing – thanks to @moussescientist @ko0mbayamylord @blxckbeak @chanberry @mikitheswiftie @potatoburp @dead-on-the-inside666 @queenoffortunes and two anons for answering a question, and a HUGE thanks to Skye, @oneoutofamillionbooklovers for all your help and for roleplaying the parts I got stuck on with me ❤️

Part 1: Distant Early Warning (Rush)

Nesta pulled the dress over her head, letting it slide into place over her body. Screw this, she thought for the millionth time, yet she continued to get herself ready, turning to glance at her reflection when she was finished. She raised an eyebrow and nodded slightly at the woman looking back through the mirror. The woman Nesta spied had on a satin slip dress, darkest blue. She wore no jewelry save for the small silver studs in her ears, and her hair was pulled into a neat-yet-simple updo.

Why Nesta even agreed to go to this party she didn’t know. There was nothing different about it, just another college booze fest. The music would be too loud, the air too heavy, the guys too grabby, and the company too... clubby. Feyre insisted that she would fit right into her friend group – her clique – but Nesta wasn’t sure she wanted that. She padded over to the door of her apartment. No, Nesta was quite certain that “fitting in” with Feyre’s newfound friends was something she didn’t care for at all.

Nesta’s phone buzzed on her kitchen counter as she slipped on a pair of black heels, and she picked up to Feyre’s forcibly perky voice. “Hey! We just pulled up, you coming?”

“No.” Response blunt, tone dry. The line was silent for a long moment, and Nesta held in a sigh. “Did I give you the impression that I was interested in coming?”

“Nesta, I’m not in the mood for fucking around,” Feyre said, perkiness mysteriously faded now. “It’s just one party! I promise you’ll have fun.” Bullshit.

“Since when have I ever-”

“And everyone else really wants you to come, too!” Feyre cut her off, “Rhys is excited to meet you!”

Rhys. Feyre’s boyfriend. Nesta groaned inwardly, truly dreading any interaction with the rugby star. Feyre had immediately caught the eye of the local heartthrob, and the two began a serious relationship shortly after meeting. And with one came the others. In high school they would have been labeled “popular.” They were quite possibly the closest group of friends at the college, almost all of them having known each other since childhood. And Feyre had slipped right in among them. Nesta had warned Feyre against making the tight pack of fourth-years her main group of friends, and she had her own opinions about a freshman dating a senior, but Feyre didn’t make a habit of following Nesta’s advice. Rather, she seemed to think she could give Nesta – a third-year – much more valuable guidance. Domineering bitch.

“I don’t give a shit about your friends, Feyre. I’m only coming because of our deal,” Nesta said. Feyre had been pestering her all semester, spewing crap about how Nesta and Feyre should spend more time together. Nesta should get out more. Nesta should tag along with Feyre’s friend group. Nesta should have some fun. 

More bullshit. 

As second semester began, Feyre had proposed a deal: Nesta would go to one party with Feyre and her buddies, and if she honestly didn’t enjoy it, Feyre would stop asking her to join them. 

“I’m on my way. Let’s just get it over with,” Nesta grumbled, and with that, she hung up the phone and opened the apartment door.

Part 2: Can You Afford to Be An Individual? (Nothing but Thieves

Nesta looked around the group of fourth-years–plus Feyre–arranged in front of her. Introductions were unnecessary; you couldn’t attend this school without knowing who they were. Her eyes fell first upon Rhys, his arm around Feyre’s waist. His chin lifted slightly as she made eye contact. Rhys: double major in history and foreign policy. President of the astrology club. Captain of the rugby team, possibly one of the best players the school had ever seen. He was the group leader, though nobody said it aloud. Nesta knew him well. Perhaps she only knew his type well, or her own perception of his type, but that didn’t keep her from holding his gaze a few moments longer than would be comfortable. Then she turned her scrutiny on his sidekicks, so she called them, Cassian and Azriel. The former wore jeans and a baggy black jacket over his rugby uniform in the school colors: black and red. The latter wore black pants with a dark blue button-down shirt untucked.

Cassian smirked as her eyes met his. “Glad you decided to make an appearance,” he drawled. She narrowed her eyes at him, and his smile widened in response. Cocky bastard. Azriel, double majoring in political science and criminology, simply nodded at her in greeting.

After the sidekicks came Rhys’s cousin Mor, an architecture major with a minor in design. She was entirely too peppy in a way that left Nesta exhausted, but Nesta wouldn’t give her satisfaction by scoffing at her cocked hip and half-grin, ostensibly projecting confidence. She held Mor’s stare, matching her asserted confidence with a cool security in her own assets. The half-smile twisted, just slightly, and Nesta moved on to the short girl farthest to the right: Amren.

Amren scared people. As in, people were genuinely freaked out by her. Aside from a few cultish tendencies, her occasional propensity for violence and/or verbal outbursts, and her sharp expression, though, Nesta couldn’t tell why. Amren majored in gemology and minored in linguistics, and was the only one in the group other than Feyre to have not known the others since they were little. In fact, she was studying here from abroad, though nobody actually knew where she was from. Unlike Mor, Amren presented a confidence that Nesta could believe in and respect. Nesta maintained her chilled posture, but let the bite in her expression retreat.

As for Feyre’s introducing Nesta, that was unnecessary as well. They all knew her; most upperclassmen did. Or rather they knew of her, by the name of heinous bitch. If she were being honest with herself, she didn’t mind the nickname.

“Okay,” Feyre started, her voice expectant as she tilted her chin to look at Rhys’s face, “Let’s head in?” Feyre, Rhys, and Nesta had met up with the rest of the group in the parking lot before they entered the party. Fashionably late, Feyre had told her on the drive in Rhys’s tesla. Rhys taught me that the key to maintaining his public image is in making grand entrances. God, Nesta wanted to laugh at Rhys’s influence over her.

As they entered the building holding the party Nesta immediately stiffened, and had to close her eyes for a moment against the harsh blue and purple lights cast by PAR cans. All senses at once were smacked by the presence of weed. The floor was vibrating, and speakers blasted near-deafening music so that all Nesta could really hear was thunder. Jesus Christ, I hate parties, she thought. A mass of sweaty bodies shifted and bounced through the too-heavy air ahead of her, some only silhouettes in the murky haze, through which Nesta saw red solo cups littering every possible surface. Suddenly she noticed Feyre standing next to her, fidgeting with her clutch and looking over expectantly. Nesta shot her a withering look that said, “This is not what we agreed to.” Feyre had the nerve to look guilty.

“Okay before you say anything,” Feyre began, “I know that look, and... I know this is a bit bigger than we talked about-”

“A bit?! This is a rager, Feyre. Do I look like I rage?”

“Okay no, but I promise Rhys and I have a plan.” Oh my God.

Nesta gave her another glare and plucked a cup off a nearby table. Sniffing it, she sighed and took a big swig. “Please, my dearest sister, do tell.”

“We’re going with a buddy system.”

Nesta coughed. “A buddy system – are you fucking kidding me?” She spied Rhys and his dickhead friends in the corner of her eye. “Wow, are arts and crafts before or after beer pong?”

Feyre rolled her eyes, calling a fresh wave of frustration to roll over Nesta. “Can you shut it with the attitude, Nesta? I already apologized for the crowd of people – it kind of got out of hand. Rhys told me before we left but I didn’t want to scare you out of coming.” She gave Nesta a pleading look.

“Tch, whatever. Who’s my buddy? I assume you’ll be with Rhys?”

Feyre beamed at her. “You’re paired up with Cassian!”

“Cassian.” Great. Alpha dickhead.

“Don’t be like that. He knows his way around these things and he’ll keep you from accidentally overdosing or blacking out.” 

“Who said that wasn’t my intention?” 

Feyre scrunched her face up. “Either way, you can’t deny that he’s bigger and taller than half the creepy guys here. He’ll keep unwanted attention away.” 

Nesta watched as Rhys, lead hulking rugby bro dickhead, caught sight of her sister and eyed her with what might have been lust or love – Nesta couldn’t decide. Cassian, approaching from Rhys’s side, cut Nesta a slow, purposeful look down and back up to her face. She felt an annoying tingle down her spine as the crowds parted for them. This was going to be a long night.

Part 3: Inhaler (Foals)

They had been at the party for less than ten minutes and Nesta already wanted to leave. Drink in hand, she aimlessly wandered around the outskirts of the crowd, hoping to find a place to sit farther from the lights that drowned out any rational thought that flashed through her brain. Cassian trailed a few steps behind.

“So, what do you do for fun?”

She twisted around to glare at him. “Why are you talking to me?”

Cassian puffed out a laugh and spread his arms wide, responding, “If you don’t recall, we’re kind of stuck together, darling.”

Right. Nesta rolled her eyes. “How could I forget?” Cassian left the question hanging, still following her, so she forged on. “I like to read. A concept that’s probably foreign to you.” She dodged a young couple parting from the fray to make out against the wall, and paused to reorient herself.

“You might be surprised.” Nesta groaned inwardly and arched a brow. “Oh I have no doubt.”

“None at all?”

“What. Are you on volume seven of Captain Underpants?”

“Volume eight, actually.”

Nesta stopped. She was pissed. Pissed at this party, pissed at Feyre for lying about how big it was, pissed that she was stuck with rugby bro sidekick, pissed that the purple lights suddenly seemed a lot brighter, the music a lot louder, her thoughts a lot fuzzier. “Look, Cassian. I only came here as a favor to my sister. We’re not friends.” He started to cut her off, but she continued, turning so that they fully faced each other, “You don’t have to stay, I can take care of myself.”

He leaned in close, the laughter in his tone suddenly gone. “Listen, princess. You’ve had two beers and you’re already tipsy. I get it, we’re not friends. But there are at least four guys looking at you like they want to take you against the nearest surface and I’m the only man within a thirty-foot radius that has any self-control. There’s no way I’m leaving.” He held her gaze firmly.

“So that’s it – I’m just supposed to trust you? My knight in shining armor, here to protect my virtue? That ship sailed a long time ago.” Fuck it. “I wouldn’t mind taking you for a ride though,” Nesta said, flashing a smirk at the end.

Cassian’s lips twisted into a half-grin, but she could see annoyance rising up in his eyes. “Nesta, you don’t wanna play with me.”

“Brute.” Nesta turned and started walking away again.

“Bitch.” He followed.

Nesta scoffed. “How original.”

“Not all of us are English Lit majors.” 

Somehow Nesta tripped on her own foot at that moment, staggering sideways into Cassian’s path. He lunged forward, arms going around her waist to hoist her upright. Her lip curled and she spit out, “And not all of us are rugby stars,” and shoved her way out of his arms.

“What does that have to do with anything?” Cassian asked, incredulous.

“Cassian, I’m sure there are plenty of girls here that would love your attention. But I’m not one of them.” She turned around to face him, walking backwards, and almost tripped again. “So go on and play with someone else. I don’t care. Just leave me alone.” With that, Nesta thrust herself into the fray, pushing her way through the mass of shouting people, making the crowd a barrier between herself and Cassian.

Part 4: Emergency (Nothing but Thieves)

After five minutes of random college students bumping into her from every direction, her head pounding and thoughts muddled, Nesta realized she didn’t know which direction the exit was in. Fuck. She was disoriented and exasperated, her frustration now showing in her usually unshakable expression. She couldn’t even tell which direction the light was coming from. How many beers had she drunk? Two? Three? She wasn’t usually a drinker, and it hit her then that she hadn’t eaten for hours before the party started. Stupid, she thought. This was why she didn’t do parties.

She was so distracted trying to figure out where the light source was, trying to get her bearings at least, that she didn’t catch sight of a brooding figure wending its way toward her until the man had a hold of her wrist and was pulling her to the side of the room, wherever that was. 

“Hey! Get the fuck off me!” Nesta shouted over the crowd, but couldn’t get a response from the man until they found one of the cinder block walls.

“What’s the matter, sweetheart?” he asked, his voice cruel as he tried to pull her closer. “We’re just having a bit of fun, that’s all.”

“Excuse me?” Nesta ripped free of his grasp, but he backed her into a corner. He had a drink in one hand. Not good.

“Hey, hey, no need to get worked up,” he drawled, “I saw the way you were looking at me.” Looking at him? Nesta thought. This was the first she’d seen of him.

Nesta tried to step to the side, but the man followed her, his senses keener than hers in her condition. He reached out for her arm again, and Nesta shouted this time. “Don’t touch me!”

He put his hand up as if in innocence. “Come now, I’ll make it fun for you. Just have a drink.” He brought the cup toward her face, his hand now reaching behind her head, which she snatched away.

“I swear to God, can’t you bastards understand that no means no?”

“You-”

“Get the fuck away from me, creep!” She aimed a kick at his groin, but he easily dodged it.

His mouth hardened into a line, and he growled, “Just take the damn drink, bitch!”

The man shoved her into the corner, her head hitting the wall. He brought his hand up to hold her back by her shoulders as he brought the cup up toward her lips and-

“Let me go or I promise you’ll regret it.” Last resort. 

He shot her a crooked grin and began to reply, but whatever response he had in mind was cut short.

A voice from behind him said, “And she never goes back on a promise, asshole.” The man was wrenched off her body by two strong hands, and pulled over to the side to give her an out, which she quickly took advantage of.

And there, dragging the man away from her, was Cassian.

The creep tried to play it cool. “Hey, Cassian, bro, what’s up, man?” he said mock-casually, “I caught your last game! great playing, dude!” His demeanor shifted completely as he turned on his bro mode.

Cassian’s jaw was set. He tightened his grip on the man’s shoulder, his stare withering. “You need to leave. Right now.”

Yet the man kept going with a smirk, “It’s all good bro, we can share.” 

That was a step too far.

Cassian grabbed the man’s shirt, pulling him close. “That’s the thing – I don’t share. I don’t play nice.” Cassian thrust his face forward so they were only a couple inches apart. “You said you caught my last game, right? So you know I don’t go down without a fight. Touch her again and you’ll regret it.” With that, he shoved the guy into a table, and turned to Nesta. “Come on, I’ll take you home.”

Part 5: Before We Drift Away (Nothing but Thieves)

Dizzy and shaken, Nesta let Cassian guide her through the crowd to the exit. Once they were outside in the cool night air, he pulled her aside, gaze dark.

“Did he hurt you?”

“No.”

“Did he force you to drink whatever was in that cup?”

“No.”

His eyes closed and relief flooded across his face. “Good. God, some people are fucked up. I don’t know what I would have done if he had drugged you, or taken you away, or...” He trailed off, leaving anything further than that unsaid. 

They were silent for a minute. Nesta looked up at him, a bit of worry still etched across his features. “Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why do you care so much?”

He looked over to her, something strange in his expression that Nesta couldn’t place. “I don’t know. You’re a human being, and your safety was left in my hands.” He paused and looked away. “If I’m being honest, when I saw that guy put his hands on you... I don’t know. Something flipped inside me.” At that moment he looked down to her bare shoulders, noticing that she was beginning to shiver. “You’re cold,” he said softly. “Here, take this.” He removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders, even when she protested.

Nesta frowned as she gave in and pulled his jacket tightly around her, annoyed at the way her body betrayed her. “I don’t need protection. I’ve lived a long time without people to care about me.” She started walking toward the parking lot, and he followed.

“You shouldn’t have to live like that, Nesta. You’ve been pushing me away all night, but listen to me – don’t you understand? I’m not just talking to you because I’m bored. I don’t smile at you as a game, as if you’re some prize for me to win. Can’t you see by now that I’m doing literally everything I can just to stay by your side? Damn it, I asked Feyre to pair us together at the party.”

Nesta had stopped walking and was speechless for once.

Cassian stepped closer tentatively, as though she’d back away. He ran a finger over Nesta’s wrist and looked up to the sky. “Please, just don’t make me say anything else completely insane. I promise I’m not in the habit of sharing intense moments with perfect strangers.”

A rush of anger coursed through Nesta, and she shoved him back. “Don’t,” she said. “Don’t talk to me like that. Despite what you must think, I’m not an idiot. I’m not naive. I am well aware that this is all a favor to my sister. Stay with my lame, antisocial sister. It might be fun, right?” She paused, any restraint she had used earlier having completely abandoned her.

“That’s not what I think at all, Nes-”

“Fuck you, Cassian.” She shoved him again, more aggressively this time.

Cassian caught her wrists and pulled her closer. “Try that again.”

Nesta glared. “Bite me,” she spit out.

“Maybe I will.”

And as though drawn to her by some gravitational force, Cassian’s mouth came crashing down onto hers. He wrapped his arms around her waist, seeming to lift her off her feet. Nesta’s bare skin burned where Cassian touched her, and she pushed back against his touch to gain control. Everything, every thought was fading to nothing. Biting down on his lip drew out a low groan from Cassian, and Nesta broke free.

Cassian put his hands up as though to make a barrier between them, as though he wouldn’t be able to control himself without it. 

“So much for being the only man with self-control,” Nesta said. Cassian just shook his head, earning a light snort from Nesta. “I shut everyone out--even pretty jocks like you. Don’t take it personally. It’s just easier.”

Cassian smiled his easy smile, and he reached up to touch his lips with a thumb. “You think I’m pretty?”

Nesta scoffed. “The prettiest.”

He stood there for a moment, just smiling at her, before turning back toward the parking lot. “Okay, princess, allow me to introduce you to the pinnacle of after-party activities.”

Nesta raised a brow, and Cassian let out a bark of laughter.

“Get your mind out of the gutter. I’m talking about pancakes.”

She looked skeptical. “Pancakes?”

“Yes. And after the night you had, you deserve an entire plate of them.” Cassian reached out to her with his big, warm hand, and Nesta hesitated.

“Cassian-” She started warily.

“Hey – I’m not asking you to marry me, it’s just pancakes.”

Nesta waited a moment more, then took his hand. “Fine. But I’m not sharing the chocolate sauce.”

“I wouldn’t dare ask you to. Besides, you already know how I feel about sharing.”

Nesta smiled a bit. “Hey Cassian?

“Yes Nesta?”

“Thank you.”

“Anytime.”

[re-diesirae]

13. Chris

Irritation was beyond what Chris was currently feeling. He and the Alpha team had been preparing to leave for Leon's location point when the second wave of B.O.W.s attacked the city. The emergency call required their immediate response, and the Alpha team's departure was pushed back, much to Chris dismay. His sister was somewhere in the middle of nowhere at the other side of the planet, most likely in great danger, and the damn mutants were preventing him from going to her rescue.

The second wave of attacks was on a bigger scale than the first one, but with the civilians evacuated, B.S.A.A had received permission to use any force necessary to stop the attackers. The city got engulfed in a sea of fire and destruction that brought him a bunch of bad memories, and what he hated the most was that his little sister would return to find her home destroyed.

"Fuck those terrorists," Barry's annoyed growl sounded somewhere close to his side. They had barricaded themselves in a building as they shot a horde of j'avo that had decided to open fire on them, "Can't I just throw them a grenade and end with their pathetic zombie asses?"

"More like mutant, insect asses, Barry," Jill corrected him.

"Who cares? It is all the same to me..."

"What's our status?" Chris groaned as he replaced the cartridge of his machine gun.

"Surrounded. These bastards won't give us a break," Jill replied.

"Have they ever done such a thing?" Barry spitted in annoyance.

"Get down...I'm using one of these."

Following a previous suggestion from Barry, Chris pulled off one of the grenade's security locks and threw it against the j'avos. The thing exploded, sending the foes flying in pieces.

"Well, that surely worked," Jill approved.

"Yeah, why didn't we do that from the beginning?" Barry growled.

Chris was about to articulate a response to that when the sizzling of his radio interrupted him in mid-sentence.

"HQ to Redfield, do you copy?"

"Redfield here."

"Redfield, a large scale B.O.W has been spotted north from your position. We sent the Betta team to size it, but we lost contact with them 10 minutes ago. We need you and Alpha Team to check on the situation."

"Understood. We will take a look. Redfield out."

Chris pushed his radio back into his utility belt and turned to the rest of the team. Barry looked at him and shook his head grumpily.

"So we get to do babysitting, huh?" Barry sighed, "Soldiers these days are useless."

"You sound like a cranky old man, Barry..." Jill teased.

"I'm stating a fact. I don't remember our men being such a joke when we started at this..."

"Not everyone can be like you or Chris, Barry."

"I should suggest some new training plans when this shit is over..."

" I am sure there are a lot of things we can do when this shit is over. For now, let's deal with this crap first. I still got to get Claire back."

"Relax, big brother. Claire is a tough cookie who knows how to take care of herself. The girl has survived three zombie apocalypses" Barry chuckled, "She might even be tougher than you despite being a girl."

"Hey, don't underestimate a woman," Jill smirked, faking an offended glare.

"Of course, I do not. Don't forget that I live surrounded by four. I am always on the losing side..."

Jill laughed, imagining how life in the Burton house probably was.

"Either way, Barry is right, Claire won't die so easily, she's a Redfield, and Redfields are hard to kill."

"And don't forget Kennedy is with her," Jill added.

"Yeah, I bet Kennedy will take care of her," Barry nodded, "So let's focus on cleaning up the city, shall we?"

"Huh," Jill snorted, "When Claire comes back and finds this mess, she won't be too happy with you, Chris."

Chris snorted. He could picture Claire's pissed look as she complained about him rushing to rescue her and leaving her beloved city at the mercy of a B.O.W. attack. Jill was right, Claire would be angry at him, and he knew better than to provoke his little sister's fury.

"Well then, let's clean up this city. If there is anything I fear in this world, that is Claire when she's angry."

He wasn't lying, and he found it amusing. He could face a war, survive a zombie apocalypse, fight horrifying mutants, and yet, Chris couldn't stand his sister's glare, tears, or anything she did to persuade him. Barry had always laughed, saying that he had a sister complex, but more than a sister complex, it was a soft spot for her. She was his baby-sister no matter how old she grew, and she had certain privileges that no one else in the world would ever get from him.

"Heh, I wonder how scary can the little Redfield be if she can make the almighty Chris Redfield scared., Barry laughed, "Is she that scary? I've never seen her mad."

"That's because she's the sort of woman who wouldn't get mad unless you did something truly despicable," Chris commented.

"Ow...and what exactly did you do to anger her?" Jill asked curiously.

"I am her brother. I am an exception. She always gets mad at me at the minimal thing," he said as he shot a couple of mutated j'avos that had been chasing them.

"So, you get the privilege to feel her anger for small things," Barry asked, shooting another group of infected, "I don't envy you at all, pal, and wait till you get married. Your wife will team up with Claire and make you miserable. I know what I tell you. When my girls team up against me, it is worse than fighting off zombies."

Chris wondered about that. He couldn't imagine how bad that would be, and he heard Jill amused laugh.

"This might be the first time I'll see Chris scared at all."

The two soldiers broke into a fit of laughter, and Chris rolled his eyes.

"You two….stop it already." Chris growled grumpily, "Focus on the mission!"

"Well, excuse me for trying to lighten the mood," Barry said with a chuckle," "I think this is the place," Jill said, checking her intel.

Chris looked around. The place was deadly quiet, and there were no signs of the soldiers or zombies. He signaled Jill and Barry to be alert, and both of them nodded as they took a position with their weapons ready. Chris walked into the place, looking around with his gun raised. So far, there were no signs of the B.O.W., but he noticed something lying a couple of feet from him.

"Redfield here. I've found the members of Team Betta. The situation is bad. I'll look for survivors."

"Understood, be careful, team Alpha."

Chris walked cautiously around the bodies, feeling disgusted. It looked like a slaughterhouse; something had torn the soldiers into pieces, and their body parts laid scattered all over the place. It was a massacre and a horrendous one. Chris was sad to say it, but he doubted that there were any survivors from Team Betta.

"Chris, watch out!" Jill's voice shouted out of sudden.

Chris turned around in time to dodge a reddish blur that jumped over him. The man rolled over his side and got back up with his gun raised. He shot the B.O.W. that had just attacked him, and he could hear Barry and Jill shooting, too.

"Watch out! I think this thing might be the one who slaughtered the whole Betta team."

The creature roared and vanished into the surrounding darkness.

"What the fuck is that thing?" Barry growled.

"I have no idea," Chris said, reloading his gun, "but I don't think it is good news. Alpha Team to HQ, do you copy?"

"This is HQ. We hear you, Alpha Team."

"We have a situation," Chris said, aiming his gun. He could hear something moving around them, but he could not see it. "Unknown B.O.W. Most-likely, the one responsible for Betta Team's slaughter. Requesting back-up."

"Copied. Hang on in there, Alpha team."

There was a screech, and the red blur jumped out of the shadows, trying to tackle them. The trio rolled over and evaded it.

"What the fuck?" Barry said, shooting.

Chris had no idea what it was, either. The creature in front of them was something they had never encountered before. It looked like a giant meaty caterpillar with four long paws that ended in curling tentacles. There was a long slash on its face, filled by long yellowish fangs. The drool was dripping disgustingly from it. The three of them were shooting endless at it as the thing jumped from a wall to the other, roaring.

The trio rolled over the ground dodging the whipping tentacles. The creature, despite lacking eyes, was easily tracking their movements. Chris had showered the meaty body with a wave of bullets, but the thing didn't seem to be affected. The creature roared once more, showing the second row of yellow fangs and a bifid black tongue.

"What an ugly face. Makes me wanna punch it."

"You are welcome to blow it up, Barry," Jill said.

"Heh..thought you'd never say it."

Barry pulled out one of his grenades and threw it into the B.O.W. The first grenade barely missed the creature, but the explosion effect managed to hurt it and throw it on the ground. Taking advantage of its vulnerable position, Barry threw a second grenade directly at it as Jill and Chris kept shooting at it. The explosion raised an intense flame, and when the fumes had dissipated, the monster laid dead and half scorched.

"Well, there you have it. Nothing can do against a well-aimed grenade... "

"What the hell is this thing?" Jill said with a disgusted look.

"Guess it is Neo-Umbrella's new toy, " Chris said, kicking the corpse to take a look. "Team Alpha here. We took down the B.O.W that attacked Betta Team. It's been taken care of, but we found no survivors."

"Those are unfortunate news. Understood, team Alpha. Return to HQ, let clean-up to the back-up team. You've received new additional orders."

"What new orders, sir? If I may ask..." Jill said, looking at Chris with a frown.

"We've received intel from a member from the F.O.S, concerning the location of agent Kennedy. The place might be testing grounds for developing B.O.W.s"

"Just great, another Santa's factory of B.O.W." Barry mumbled bitterly. Chris knew the man was still bothered by what had happened to his daughter two years ago. Heck, he was mad, too. They had taken Claire once, and they had taken her again and right under his nose. Those fucking bastards would have to pay.

"You've been ordered to rescue and investigate the place. An aircraft is waiting for you at the power building. You are to depart asap."

"Understood. We are on our way."

Chris looked at his companions. His face twisted in an angry look. Those damned terrorists would pay if they touched a single hair of his sister, and he wasn't kidding.

"Leon...Claire. We are coming for you."

NOTE: if you guys want to come and chat about the fic, or just about CLEON in general. Feel free to drop by the discord and say hi! JOIN SERVER

[random-mha-thoughts]

Chocolate (Bakugou x Reader)

Pairing: Bakugou x Reader

Genre: Fluff?? Crack?? Failed comedy??

Summary: Bakugou and you are having a little spat over something he did.  How will he try to fix it and what did he even do wrong?

Word count: 1,649

Tags:  @yuki-osaki @liviitehe @iamsoftsodonttoucheume-blog @bunnythepipsqueak

a/n: This is kind of crackheadery.  Cringe but fun crackheadery that was fun to write.  I’m not expecting a good reception to this, but it was something I just had to write and I wanted to try something different.

Reader is just a bit bratty and aggressive, but I attribute that to the quirk I assigned to them.  Lord Explosion boy + fiery s/o is very explosive I’d say, just see how two storms weather each other out.

"Hey (L/n), are you okay?" Mina slowly inches to the other side of her seat.

"Just fine, why do you ask?" I respond calmly, approaching my desk and sitting down.

She looks me up and down.  "Well, for one thing, everyone on our floor heard you kick Bakugou out of your room last night.  And for another thing," she points at my left hand, "You're doing that."

She's referring to me clenching and relaxing my hand gripper.  "Just need a little morning warm up," I shrug.  "And a stress ball isn't doing it for me this morning."  Usually I do this to warm up my Strength quirk in the morning.  By default, I can generate enough strength needed to pick something up, but when it comes to using my quirk to attack on my own, I need to warm up, which is why I always carry around grips or stress balls and I'm always exercising when I'm sitting.

The girl next to me shrinks back a little.  "Whatever you say."

Kirishima and Bakugou walk in.  At the sight of the blond haired boy, I quicken the tempo of my grips and clench my teeth together.  He takes his seat near the front of the room and Kiri rounds over to us.  "What's up guys?" he chirps, baring his shark-teeth in a grin before spotting my hand.  "I guess you guys really are having a fight."

I scoff.  "There's no fight, I don't know what you're talking about."

Kirishima and Mina exchange glances.  "Okay," he brushes it off, not wanting to press the issue.  "Are you excited for the exam results to come out?"

I lean back in my seat.  "Pretty sure I did well, I'm not too worried.  As long as I got an upper-middle score."

"I might've actually bombed," Mina whines, throwing her body on the desk with her arms spread out.  "Even after Yaomomo's help."

"You did fine, I'm sure of it!" Kirishima gives her an assuring thumbs up.  "And even if you didn't do that well, you just have to try harder next time!"

"Easy for you guys to say."

I shrug, "Just pray you're not dead last like Denki was the first term."

Both of them laugh at my quip.  I can feel Bakugou's glare boring into the back of my head, but I don't bother turning around.  I'm not in any mood to deal with him right now.

Aizawa finally slinks into the classroom wrapped in his yellow sleeping bag to start lessons for the day and I catch the other boy's eye by accident.  When I do, he smirks at me before turning around properly in his seat.

Did that bastard just-  I'm about to stand up and give him a piece of my mind when Kirishima restrains me, needing to partially use his quirk.  "Easy, easy, you can take care of him later," he whispers so Aizawa won't notice.

I growl low in my throat before relaxing and letting Kiri go back to his seat.

"You should really try controlling your anger, (Y/n), you're no better than him if you keep that up," she reprimands me, but I still see her shaking in fear.

I want to chuckle.  Sometimes, I question who our friends might be more scared of, me or him.

.

At lunch, we're all sitting at our table.  I made a point to sit in the middle surrounded by everyone else to keep all the spaces around me locked from Bakugou.

Before the spiky-haired boy sat down at our table, Denki (stupidly) asks, "So what are you and Bakugou even fighting about?  You looked like you were really gonna thrash him yesterday-"

Sero quickly tapes his mouth shut and continues eating like nothing happened.

"Guys it's fine, really.  I'm totally over it, it's not a big deal," I wave them off.

They all stare at each other then back at me blankly.    "(Y/n), I don't know how to say this, but it looks like you're about to snap that thing in half," Kirishima gathers the courage to respond.

He's referring to the resistance ring I'm squeezing to work out my chest muscles, taking a break every set to take a bite of food.  "Just practicing for the practical exam," I dismiss it nonchalantly.

They all look at each other worriedly.

I sigh, putting the band down to eat properly.  "If you're all that curious, he's betrayed my trust in the absolute worst way."

Mina leans forward in her seat.  "Did he cheat on you?!"

"Did he hit you?" Kirishima quips.

"Did he expose one of your biggest secrets?!" Denki cries melodramatically, and Sero smacks the poor boy.

"No, someone's just blowing something out of proportion," Bakugou perks up from the end of the table, casually eating his lunch with a smug look I want to wipe off with my fist.

My eye visibly twitches.  "Y'all hear something?"

Sero grabs his food and slowly starts retreating from the table.  "I think you guys should settle things.  I'm just gonna be over there while you do it."  With that he scurries away to the farthest table.  The rest of the group follows, leaving me alone with this devil.

Some friends I have, I want to growl.  The truth is they all probably love seeing the world burn, just at a safe distance.

I choose to ignore the idiot who's slowly slinking his way over to me.  As soon as he's directly across from me, he rests an arm on the table and perches his head on it, a smirk playing on his lips.

After a few moments of silence, I snap, "What makes you think you can be anywhere near me right now?"

"You haven't moved away yet, have you?" he responds a little too casually for the situation he's in.  It makes my skin crawl and my blood boil.

"No, because I'm waiting for you to say something stupid so I can bash your head in," I shoot back, my hand clenching around my chopsticks.

"Tell me more, babe, I love it when you talk to sweetly to me," he coos.

I can't take it anymore.  I stand up and bang my hands on the table, smashing it into pieces because of my unleashed quirk.  I don't care if everyone's watching, I bore my eyes into his, crimson staring back at me matching the rage in my veins.  "I trusted you with that information, and you went behind my back!"

"Come on, babe, you're overreacting-"

I grab his shirt collar.  "I. Trusted. You.  And you at that entire bag of Skittles!"

The boy knocks his head back and guffaws.  "It's not that big of a deal."

I throw him back into his chair and he falls on the floor.  "You know I was saving that huge bag for after exams!"

He rubs the back of his neck to ease some of the pain.  "You honestly have such weird stress-relieving rituals."

"You don't even like Skittles!" I continue on my rampage.  "You like Red Hots or that stupid Vero Mango crap!"

"Don't insult my candy preferences!" he roars back, tiny explosions forming in his hands as he jumps to his feet.

"I was gonna sit and relax with that industrial sized pack!  I even skipped dinner so I can eat it!"  I get up in his face.  "But no, I had to go to bed hungry because you had to be an ass!"

Bakugou rolls his eyes.  "Babe-"

"Don't 'babe' me!  I want an apology and a replacement bag!" I cross my arms over my chest and turn around.

I hear him sigh behind me and some rustling.  "Babe, turn around.  I have something for you."

Wanting to be stubborn, but still curious, I follow his orders before my eyes widen into saucers.  He's holding an industrial sized bag of assorted Hershey's chocolate bites, and I unknowingly gape.

"I know for certain that you would rather have these than some stupid Skittles," Bakugou smirks.

I clear my throat and snatch the bag out of his hand, cradling it like a baby in my arms.  Now I'm ashamed for making a huge scene over nothing, the heat pooling in my cheeks and ears.  "Y-You're forgiven.  Maybe," I mutter, scurrying out of the room to escape everyone's glares.

I hear Bakugou's bellowing laughter behind me, "You better share those before I come steal them myself!"

"Not happening!" I yell behind my shoulder.  I have to admit, it was very sweet of him to get me something he knows I love more than Skittles.  I excitedly open the bag and start unwrapping one from its package.

His footsteps echo in the hall behind me as he catches up and grabs my shoulder to turn me around.  Without breaking eye contact with me, he takes the unwrapped piece from my hands.  "I think I deserve the first bite for being such a good boyfriend.  Putting up with your antics and letting you push me around," he teases with another crooked smile.

I frown at him, but I know I owe him that much.  "Fine, I'm sorr-"

His arm pulls me by the waist, the chocolate piece sticking out of his mouth and his eyebrows raised.  "I'll be nice and share it with you."

A blush spreads across my cheeks and I slowly inch to bite it from his mouth, trying to avoid looking into his smug eyes.  When I bite it off, he holds the back of my head and presses a sweet kiss to my lips before letting me go.  "That should be the sweetest bite you'll ever take," he whispers.

"S-Shut up," I mutter, squirming out of his grasp.  "And you can have more, if you want."

He chuckles and presses another kiss to my forehead.  "As long as you feed them to me the same way I did for you."

[yixxes]

Anger Management | p.p.

Warnings: Cursing, altercation w a stranger, y/n has a bit of an attitude/anger problem

Word count: 1722

A/N: The reader is Bucky’s younger sister which is like not possible but it’s fine. Enjoy (: 

.

.

“Oh, go fucking fuck yourself!” 

“Hey!” Bucky gave you the look he always gave you when you stepped out of line and you rolled your eyes. You weren’t in the mood to be scolded but your brother obviously didn’t care. “Watch your mouth! The hell’s wrong with you?”

You spared him a two second scowl when he approached the couch, his curious frown trading in for realization and then quickly switching to disappointment. “Seriously? This is your problem?” 

Your brows furrowed and your lips jutted out in an annoyed grimace. “This game is stupid, he’s been cheating for the past eight rounds!”

Sam raised his hands with an amused smile on his face that you found beyond annoying. “Hey, I didn’t do anything, but look, I’ll apologize: I’m sorry you picked up the controller before you knew you couldn’t play.”

“Here,” your brother shoved you over and sat in your place before you could enlighten Sam with your colorful vocab and snatched up the controller from your hands. “let me kick his ass for you.”

Sam cackled at Bucky’s confidence and readied up another round. “Yeah, let’s see how far you get with that one.”

“I was playing with that.” You grumbled. 

“You’ll live.” 

You watched how your brother tapped different buttons and chose certain patterns and inwardly noted how it contrasted to your inarticulate button mashing. It always worked when you played with Steve, why would it not work with...

Crap.

Of course Steve let you win! “That bastard!”

“Y/n,” Bucky warned you firmly and you hated how he kept the button pattern going even when he took his eyes off the screen to stare you down. “seriously, watch your mouth. Who are you even talking about?”

“Come on, kid, I’ll apologize for real if that’s what you want.” 

“Not you,” you muttered to Sam. “Steve, he lets me win at this stupid game.” You turned to look at Steve who was on the other side of the couch, smiling guiltily at you.

“You’ll live.” Your brother said again, distracted. “Why don’t you go to the store, we need snacks.”

“Then go get them.”

Bucky paused the game with a sigh and turned to you after setting the controller down on the table. He fished his wallet out of his pocket and pulled out a few bills that he extended to you before nodding towards the hall that led to the door. Buck wasn’t asking and you weren’t trying him any further. 

“Ugh.” You snatched the money and got up from the couch, but you weren’t clear to go yet.

“Stay away from people and don’t go fighting with strangers again.”

What a gross assumption. “That was literally only two ti-”

“Don’t worry, I’ll go with her.” Peter came up and threw an arm around you. Your sisterly attitude towards your brother melted into a smile and butterflies. 

“Good, hey, make sure she doesn’t speed.”

“Got it!” He called over his shoulder, already making his way to the door with your hand in his.

.

“I don’t get it.” 

Peter frowned and got to explaining the joke to you. “Because the ham sandwich is ordering the beer, but the bartender says-”

You pushed a loaf of bread off of the shelf and let it fall into the basket. “Why would a ham sandwich be ordering anything, it’s a ham sandwich-”

“It’s a joke,” he said pointedly. His attitude at the fact that you didn’t laugh at his joke was funnier than the joke itself. “Why are you laughing? Do you get it now?”

“Yup. ‘s really funny, baby, will you grab the coffee grounds, I’m gonna go get a bag of chips,” 

“Okay, wait for me by the chips, I’ll meet you there.” 

You nodded and leaned up and forward to kiss his puckered lips and then went off towards the chip aisle with the cart. As much as you were opposed to this shopping trip at first, you really enjoyed doing stuff like this with Peter. Anywhere else, there were eyes on you at all times. With the two of you being the babies of the group and Bucky picking up the overprotective trait that older brothers usually had, your privacy and alone time with Peter typically ranged from scarce to nonexistent. Going on little snack runs with him where you could hold hands and kiss without scrutiny was nice. It even made you think about how maybe sometime down the line you and Peter would have a shared place of your own and trips like these would occur much more frequently and that definitely made you smile.

Your smile was short lived, though, when some man stopped his cart right in the way of yours and decided that right then and there was a perfect opportunity to take a look at his phone. 

Breathe in through your nose, Bucky always instructed, and out through your mouth. It could’ve been an honest mistake. Maybe he didn’t see you there, you thought to yourself. So, with a polite but rigid smile, you spoke out to him. “’Scuse me, sir, I’m trying to get through.”

He turned to you with an annoyed expression, phone still in hand. He didn’t even look sorry. “And I’m trying to send a text. Some of you damn teenagers were never taught manners a day in your life.”

Manners!? You went over your words in your head and came up with zero reason why some middle aged prick was choosing to yank your chain like this. Your anger was already begging to be let out but you were trying hard to remember how condescending everybody had been back at the tower. They didn’t think you could make it back without blowing up on someone and you planned on proving them wrong.

“Your cart is in my way.” You returned firmly. 

“And your patience is just that thin, isn’t it?”

You stared at that man for a few painful seconds. Was he trying to fuck with you? For all of the time that he wasted being a dick without cause, he could’ve moved his cart and been done with you. Paranoia struck and you took a glance around the immediate area. Maybe the guys were here, lurking around to see how long you could hold out, but after a look around you realized how ridiculous that thought was. The guys weren’t here and this wasn’t a test. This guy was a douche and you were letting it slide but you weren’t sure you should’ve been. 

“Can you just move your freakin’ cart?” The ‘before I move it for you’ was as silent as the g in lasagna. What was he? 6′1, 6′2? You’d debunked and corrected taller, this would be a breeze. 

You quickly shook that thought from your head. You weren’t fighting this grown man. 

“Just go around!” He practically shouted.

“Go around where!? You’re blocking the-”

He yanked the front of you cart forward, pulled his back and pushed it into a display of croissants. “You’re welcome.” He said smugly. “Now will you please leave me alone?”

You blinked at the gaping empty space where your cart used to be and then looked up at him. To absolute hell with proving the guys wrong.

“Hey! I got the coffee grounds, did you grab the-”

“Screw you!” You screamed, reaching in his basket and grabbing the first thing that you laid your hand on and throwing it as far as you could. 

“What the hell!?”

Peter swooped in after you had already thrown a second thing out of the stranger’s cart and started pulling you away from the scene.

“You need to learn a thing or two about respect, little girl!” The guy was yelling after you, red in the face, stupid phone still in his stupid hand and the other in a fist on his hip. 

“Fuck off!” You screamed back, swiping a bag of cotton candy from an end stand, ready to chuck it at that man.

“Hey, hey,” Peter smacked a bag of cotton candy from your hand and continued lugging you away. “take a breath, take a breath. Let me handle this-”

“What’s going on here?” Naturally, the security guard stepped in at the perfect time. You looked like the crazy one, but in fact, it was the douchey middle aged man that started it and you were more than happy to explain that to security.

.

"Can I have a retake?” 

So you had to get your pictures taken by security. You single-handedly landed yourself and Peter on this ridiculous list of people that couldn’t return to the store without adult supervision which was absolutely ridiculous. Even more ridiculous, the man told you that you couldn’t retake your picture.

“Fine.” You didn’t plan on coming back to this hot mess of a store anyways. 

Starting the car, you were more than happy to be in the safety of your vehicle, but you remembered that the two of you came out for a reason... and you left without a single one of those reasons. 

You ended up driving to another store that was just up the street and got back to the tower about an hour and a half after you left it.

“Where’d you go for the snacks, Australia?” 

You rolled your eyes at Sam’s sarcastic comment and set the one bag that Peter let you carry down on the table. While Peter set the rest down, you walked passed Tony (whose smile was far too big for your liking) and sat down on the couch. 

“How’d it go?” he asked.

Peter lied like a rug. “Good. We got a bargain on the coffee grounds, two for-”

“I got us banned from the store unless we have adult supervision.” You were dejected. This never would’ve happened had you just let that man be stupid by himself. 

Bucky hit pause on the game and looked over at you like he was beyond ready to scold you. “You what?” 

“Ten.” Peter finished like he hadn’t even stopped. “There was a coupon that we actually found on the floor, luckily it wasn’t expired-”

“Kid, will you be quiet!?” Bucky’s mean mug could scare almost anybody into silence. You watched your boyfriend shrink into himself before your brother turned back to you. “This explanation better be good.”

[consultingsister-aa]

“He’s- Jesus, he’s alive. If I’d known, I never would have- I’ve got to go. No, more than that, I’m sorry, I want to go.” / Bash

BREAK OUR HEARTS WHY DON’T YOU ... NO LONGER ACCEPTING 

In her head, she’s screaming at him. You bastard, you fucking bastard. Only she’s scared if she opens her mouth, she might be sick. So instead she stares at him, blinking in shock, blood rushing to her face. 

The tiles of the Italian villa are hot under her bare feet; the doors opening into the terrace give only a little relief, even the breeze is warm. It’s paradise. The lake has always been her happy place. Even as a child when she came out with her grandmother, sometimes Sherlock too. It was why she has chosen the lake for them. She wanted him to forget about the prison, about London, about Jim and here, in the place, she felt her happiest, she was sure he could. 

She had laughed at Sherlock when he said Bash would leave. He loves me, she had told her disbelieving brother, he loves me and I love him. And it was that simple. Nothing in the world had the power to split them up now. Everything else had been lost. 

Only Jim hadn’t kept to his agreement; he wasn’t dead. The news programme was replaying the clip that had taken over every television station in the UK that morning. Did you miss me, did you miss me? over and over. That was making her sick too. She had been almost certain that Bash didn’t miss him. The editor had tricked herself into actually believing she was going to get a happy ending this time. The right man was going to chose her. 

Wasn’t this the proof of what her brother’s had always told her? She was the stupid one. They had known all along that Bash was just using her to get out of prison; that he would run back to Jim, or at least the Network as soon as he could. Admittedly, Jim actually being alive was a bit of a shock but Bash wanting to go back to him wasn’t. 

You stupid, stupid girl. 

Bash is waiting for some sort of answer, or he may be on the brink of another apology. She’s dimly aware that Bash returning to Jim is as good as signing her death warrant. Jim was going to let her get away with setting up house with Bash. All the other crap, selling him out to her father, he might just see as good business, but actually trying to build a life with Bash was personal. Bash would be aware of that fact and he was choosing Jim anyway. 

She feels heavy; like she’s slipping into sleep standing, this much be a dream. The precursor to a migraine is beginning to start at the base of her skull and if she intends to open her eyes in the next twenty-four hours, she’ll need to lie down in the dark and stay very still. Maybe that will save her; she’ll lock herself away in the dark and not move or speak or think for the next hundred years and everyone will just leave her alone. It might be better like that, she’d always been good on her own, happier almost. At least less sad. 

As Bash goes to speak again, she turns from him and begins to make her way upstairs, almost dreamily. She’ll go wait in the dark for what was always inventable from the moment she met him; Bash will kill her, or get her killed. She’ll accept it willingly. 

[steve0discusses]

Yugioh S4 Ep 18 pt 2: Yami Visits Yugi in Hell, California

So, last we left the team, we were running straight into Hell, which is located about where the IRL Costco is.

Everyone except Tea, who is apparently way too scary of a person to run into Hell.

So the rules of the spirit realm are that if you have more than one person too many vengeful spirits will be present, but like...how many vengeful dead spirits does Tea have??? The implications of Tea’s former life here are kind of a lot. Anyway, no Tea’s allowed.

TBH, Yugi saw Tea running after him into Hell to pull out his soul he would probably be too scared of the implied commitment to come out.

So, lets get a rollcall of vengeful spirits going, remember Season One?

holy crap, that’s right, it’s PaniK.

(more dead guys under the cut)

Then we have the twins who only spoke in rhyme and...I checked the notes here..they didn’t die. They were absolutely fine the last time we met them. But I dunno...maybe Pegasus got bored and sacrificed them to the crypt during Season 2.

Then we come across this guy.

So according to Bro, Bandit Keith burned alive in the manga or something, while in the show he got away scott free from that warehouse that was on fire in the beginning of S2. My brother has a lot of spicy headcanons but like...

(bro note: I can’t find any reference on the internet easily so it didn’t happen. I just heard it somewhere. Maybe Pharaoh regrets not mind wiping Keith.)

...I feel like even if he’s dead in the Manga you can’t just have him dead here without me lifting my own Stars and Stripes colored eyebrows in doubt. If this guy were to die, it would have to be by very excessive fireworks, and other than that burning warehouse, we’ve had no other opportunities to do it.

Ah...it’s...this guy. Who never had a name, ever.

Why would you even put him in this montage?

And then we get two people that I know for certain can’t be kicking it.

So it seems to me that everything happening here is probably not real. This is all Yami’s head, Yami’s thoughts, and Yami’s guilt. And Yami is already really, really hard on himself. He lives with a lot of demons basically all the time. So he kind of walks through here and is like “whaddup, demons.” because this is a very been there, done that situation.

Can’t believe that Noah and Gozaburo made so little an impact on Yami, as well as all the Big 5 who we’ve killed at least twice, but I guess Yami was kind of sleeping most of that arc.

Other people Yami has dueled in the past that coulllllllllld be offscreen dead that didn’t make the list: 

-The Rare Hunter twins who did a terrorism and fell into a skyscraper

-Alt-rock Kingdom Hearts Mime

-Bonez (who was Bakura’d so like...he might cease to exist on any timeline or anyone’s memories now)

-Pegasus

-BAKURA (Any version of Bakura, honestly. Where is Bakura?)

Anyway, eventually we get to the middle of California Stonehenge, which is where Yugi is currently hanging out like a Star Trek holo deck.

Speaking of hologram--Yugi’s a card right? Yami could have just played Yugi and been like “hey! Can I tell you something?” (and then Seto Kaiba somewhere would notice on his dueling disk facebook that Yugi just plated Yugi Muto’s soul and would be like “Mokuba, we need to ban Yugi’s account, half of his deck is not even tourney legal.”)

And then Yami spends this precious time to talk mostly about himself. Like honestly, he just went halfway to hell (or Millbrea, or whatever this is) just to vent what he basically already knows.

And what makes this conversation kind of strange is that Yami starts going off about how Yugi’s the “pure” side of him, the “light” side of him, if you will. I’ve already touched on how much I disagree with this since Yugi is a freakin madman all on his own. And, this episode goes out of it’s way to do the same.

Because it’s about this point that Yugi starts getting real uncharacteristically mad. It’s lowkey kind of hilarious because it’s like:

And yes, it’s about time that Yugi went off, but it does make you wonder--so is this what Yugi would be like all the time if Pharaoh wasn’t in there, or does Pharaoh assume that Yugi is mad at him, and so his SpiritJourney!Yugi reflect Pharaoh’s own insecurities?

Like, is this even Yugi?

This might not be Yugi at all, this might be just Yami screaming at himself in a desert, which is also very on key for Yami and has been Yami’s whole deal for about (checks watch)...this entire season.

Either way, Yugi’s REALLY pissed off and tired of Pharaohs 49ersfit.

And so, to take this a step further than just screaming at most likely a hallucination of yourself, Yugi pulls out a duel disk and the two decide to play cards because...

...It just always comes back to cards. Can’t have a heart to heart without doing life threatening card games first.

And so they decide to have a card match. It goes just about as smoothly as a card match would go when you consider that this is Yami hallucinating/possibly dueling a ghost of himself/just crawled out of a train crash/just murdered the hell out of Weevil Underwood.

Basically this duel has a very silly gimmick.

Other than playing a lot of the same cards as during the Raphael fight, Yugi spends most of his time just tearing into Yami, which again...justified.

And for just a little blip of an eye, a little tiny moment--he’s almost a Season Zero Yuugi. Just a nice dark magic Yugi with no ghost, just a real bastard underneath those glowing eyes.

But anyway, much like the duel where Yami lost his mind and went evil, it didn’t last more than a few minutes before the duel was over and Yugi was just instantly better. Of all the duels this season--this is the one I would have liked to have 3 episodes of. Just saying.

Yugi’s whole explanation for why he’s done this--and this is a stretch, but I guess it still follows card logic--Yugi decided to use the Oricalchos so that he would become the darkness inside of Pharaoh’s mind (since they are the same person), and so when he lost the game, that darkness inside of himself was taken by the Orichalcos, leaving Pharaoh now darkness-free

...It’s a stretch. They’re both still ripe with dark magic so I don’t think it did what they think it did, lore wise. But yeah, it did make Pharaoh physically fight all his insecurities until he killed them (who was also Yugi, don’t think about it). It was also very manipulative, and I just want to throw out there you should not do this to your best friends.

How many fireballs now has Tea watched Yugi take straight to the chest? At least 3, right? 5?

Anyway, Yami gets reaaaally upset that he killed his fake dead boy who just used fake (but maybe real?) Orichalcos.

Yami just can’t keep any version of Yugi alive.

And just like that, Yugi leaves the series, again.

Kind of.

Again, this Yugi was...probably not even Yugi. This was probably a grief-onset hallucination.

Sure am glad that Pharaoh can talk to this barely-even-Yugi to work out his insecurities instead of the--youknow--the GIRL he’s been kind of dating for the past 4 seasons. Really glad Tea kind of stood on a ledge and was like “Do you need to talk about it!?” While Yami was like “Not Necessary!” while he sort of dueled the ghosts in his head.

Kind of a marvel that the only person Yami knows how to talk to is Yugi (who as we found out this episode might be a crazy person) and...kind of Seto Kaiba (who is definitely a crazy person). That’s about it.

Yami’s had a hard time, but hopefully now he can talk to Joey without getting punched directly in the face. I guess we’ll find out next episode.

And if you just got here, this is a link to read these from the beginning.

Hope y’all are staying safe and inside. Us personally, are stuck inside until at least May 1st. Please pray for my patience.

[incorrectsmashbrosquotes]

Bond Between People and Pokemon Pt.5

Back at the mansion.

Doomguy (kicking down a door): Where the hell is my child!?

Dark Pit: It’s ok. She went to catch Incineroar.

Samus came running in picked up the door and put it back on the hinges, only to kick it down again after.

Samus: Where the hell is Incineroar!

Dark Pit: He…???…(Looks round)…Well shit.

Samus: I bet that damn League took them!

Doomguy (Loading gun): Time to kill those mofo’s!

Samus: Looks like we’ll be bringing the fight to them today. Let’s win this ongoing war between us!

Link: Over a cat? That doesn’t even like you?

Samus: Shh Link! I’m trying to sound badass!

_____

Ganondorf: I am still awaiting an answer Incineroar. So…What’ll it be? It would be rude of you to test my patience.

Incineroar: Uh…Humana, humana, humana, humana, humana, humana.

Bonny Janet: (“The hell’s ‘E doin’?…Aah! E’s sweatin’ too much aym losin’ me grip! Say somethin’ quickly ya dirty basse!”)

Bonny pulled his tail agressivley. Incineroar had, had enough. He got up explosively and pulled Bonny off of him.

Incineroar: LISTEN HERE YOU FILTHY HUMAN TRASH STOP YANKING AT ME OTHERWISE YOU WON’T GET WHAT YOU DAMN WANT! (“*Gasp* Crap! What have I done!)

Ganondorf: Who the hell are you!? Wait, you’re that trainer girl! (To Incineroar) You brought a hero into our base!

Incineroar shakes his head. Bonny nods hers.

Ganondorf: Traitorous fiend! You will pay with your life!

Incineroar & Bonny fled from Ganon’s office quicker than Kirby when he’s hungry.

Ganondorf: That little (Slams desk.) BOWSER! It would seem our newest recruit has comitted an act of treason. For they have brought in a member of the hero team. If you find them, throw their worthless carcasses in the cells!

Incineroar: Damn kid! Why didn’t you just leave me be!?

Bonny Janet: All aye wanted was ta catch ya!

Incineroar: REALLY!? Wait do you hear that rumbling sound?

Out from the ground burst Bowser who was in his Giga form. He grabs both Bonny & Incineroar and carries them over to the dungeon.

Bonny Janet: Let me goo, ya scaly arsed freak!

Bowser: Come on kid. I don’t wanna do this to you. You’re only young, but…Ganon’s orders. (To Incineroar) As for you though Incineroar. As a traitor to Ganondorf I hope for only the worst of all things to come your way.

Incineroar: I’ve experienced way worse. At least if I die I’ll see them all once more.

Bowser threw Incineroar & Bonny Janet into a shared dungeon cell, locking the door behind him.

Incineroar (Punching the bars): Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! Why me!? Why can’t my life just be normal!?

Bonny Janet: If ya ask me then I’d say, tha’ yer just a wee bit of a louse.

Incineroar: …

Bonny Janet: …'Ey what’s wrong?

Incineroar: What’s wrong?…Heh, "what’s wrong” she says. I think, to you, it should be pretty damn clear as to what the hell is wrong!

Bonny Janet: I-I’m sawry.

Incineroar: Oh of course you are I obviously believe you! Ya damn stupid Scott.

Bonny Janet: 'Ey! Shut the fook up ya cunt! Tch. It’s clear yer parents never taught ya any manners.

Incineroar: …Parents?…

Bonny Janet: Yeh. Tha’s what aye said dick-wad.

Incineroar: YOU TALK ABOUT MY DAMN PARENTS AGAIN AND RISK YOUR LIFE ENDING!

Bonny Janet: Why tha’ hell should aye care!

Incineroar: I DON’T HAVE PARENTS!

Bonny Janet stepped back startled a little.

Bonny Janet: …Huh? Y-ya don’t?

Incineroar: NO YOU-(sighs) No, no I don’t.

Bonny Janet: Wha’ happened?

Incineroar: …Humans…Humans are what happened. I was only a Litten back then when it happened.

-Flashback-

Incineroar: I used to be one of the happiest pokemon out there. But I never knew my Mom. Dad told be she died when I was still in an egg. But it didn’t phase me as much then.

Litten (Incin.): Grr! I’m the most feared pokemon in the land!

—

Incineroar: I used to have so much fun. Playing around with my friends and family…But then…“They” came. One was nice to me but that was a terrible mistake.

—

Hunter: Hey there little one. Well aren’t you just the cutest little thing I ever saw.

Litten (Incin.): (Roars quietly)

Incineroar’s dad: Hmm…Trainers?…No. They seem like…Danger.

The group of people pulled out some guns, and aimed them at the Incineroar. The one close to Litten pulled out a knife.

Incineroar’s dad: (Gasp!) RUN! POKEMON HUNTERS!

—

Incineroar: Everyone started running. I was scared. We ran as fast we could. I managed to evade the range of the shits, though they did get my ear. Which is why I have this hole. But, my dad and my family. They didn’t make it. All I could do was watch as they dragged there dead bodies aboard there vehicle. I was alone, in pain and knew that I could never trust a damn human. I was left by myself. I ended up finding a small town to stay in. It was quite overwhelming at first, but I befriended a Stoutland, he was old but he ended up being the closest thing I had to a friend. Then sadly…he died. I was a Torracat then & really close to an Incineroar. And when I finally did evolve I became an infamous Pokémon in the Alola region. I would sneak into Battle Royales and a certain type of fight club for pokemon only. I learned never to help anyone, cause someone will always be waiting to stab you in the back. Like that human. The damn bastard.

-End flashback-

Bonny Janet: Aye…

Incineroar: Save your words, I’m not bothered.

Bonny Janet: Listen. You’ve 'ad every important person in yer life stripped away from ya… … …Aye know how ya feel-

Incineroar: Oh don’t you even think of saying you know how I feel!

Bonny Janet: Calm down.

Incineroar: See all you damn humans are all the same - trying to sway me over to feel a source of sympathy.

Bonny Janet: I do know how you feel! You know why!?

Incineroar: Ugh! Here we go. I don’t care, I’m going to sleep.

Bonny Janet (crying): …Ayve never met me dad.

Incineroar stood in place a bit before turning to face Bonny.

Incineroar: …Wait?…What?

Bonny Janet: Aye don’t know where 'e is or who 'e was or is. All me mother says is “It’s complicated” nothin’ more. Tha’s why when tha’ guy offered ta adopt me aye dey question it. Aye just wanted ta know wha’ it felt lake ta 'ave a dad.

Incineroar walked over to her slowly. He began shifting his arms around in the air around her trying to understand how you hug someone. He eventually wrapped his arms round Bonny and held her closer to him.

Incineroar: It’s okay. I’m sorry for how your life has been. Here I thought I was the only one to be left in the dark, when my other half was here with me the entire time. That half is you.

[angelical-sinner]

The Sacred Hunt

Seraphina (OC) finds herself being hunted by the Seed family because now they know her secret; about what she truly is. And they’d stop at nothing to get her.

Warnings: Swearing, mild violence, guns, drugs

–

Her feet stomped through the forest floor, leaves and vegetations crushing beneath them, arms pushing twigs and foliage out of her way with a ferocity that left scratches on her already scarred skin, the flimsy black tank top not providing much shielding, while panicked and labored breaths escaped her mouth.

She didn’t know how long she had been running, didn’t have the time or the luxury to count either. After her secret got out to the Seeds it had been actual literal hell since. They didn’t give her any break, knowingly waiting for her to give up or tire out if they didn’t catch her, whatever came first.

The added foreign weight from the protrusions on her back didn’t help either. They’d catch her at this rate, unless she found some superb hiding spot soon, by some fucking miracle, it would game over. The wings made her too easy to spot and slowed her down.

And now they were using some new… bullets of a kind on her. Well, they weren’t bullets, didn’t sound like them, not the one they used to use with the stupid Bliss, they had apparently lost their effects on her. Of course, they were quick to improve on that.

She could hear those damn peggies distantly yelling through the forest, their voices echoing through the endless walls of trees everywhere, probably tight on her heel. Someone in particular was relentless in their pursuit; a certain Seed to be specific.

“I’ll find you girl!” the voice taunted, words echoing through the trees. Fucking John Seed, with his stupid fucking coat, and stupid fucking face. He managed to rile her up like no one else she has ever encountered before. But she had to give it to him, he was nothing but not good at annoying ever-loving shit out of everyone. Also, he was a bit of a speedy bastard too. While Jacob was the better hunter of the brothers, the youngest brother was quick on his feet.

“Come out my dear, I just wanna talk!” Sure you do. His voice broke at the last word, sounding almost panicked and distressed. She wasn’t sure if he actually was, most likely not. Her own mind was too panicked and she couldn’t let him coax her out and reveal her position. If he was panicked it was only for himself; afraid of failing. She was told to be cautious around him, cautious of all the Seeds and their goons. She really did try to be. Of fuckin course it backfired on her, just like everything else in her life did.

She had just made it up past a smaller hill, and slid down at the other side, the many leaves making it easy. And she found something worth vile, a hollowed tree trunk, connecting through the hill she just slid down from. It might be either her best or worst option. She couldn’t keep going like this, she needed a break desperately, her lungs burning and breath being as erratic as it was. And John was too close for comfort. She made her decision then.

Hiding it was. Just for a moment she told herself. Just for a moment…

“We are not here to hurt you! We only wish to help you! How many times do we need to tell you?!”

As many as you like, since I’ll never believe you!

She crawled inside the tree trunk, it luckily being spacious enough for both her and the added pair of feathered bits that adorned her back. Okay, it was actually a bit crammed but it was passable as a hiding place for now, and had an exit in back if she needed it. She tried to calm her down her breathing, as it had almost spiraled out of control.

There was a crunching outside then and she sat completely still. He was almost right outside, the leaves crunching underneath his feet, giving his position away. “You can’t hide forever my angel; you know that…” He was right outside; she was sure of it now. Her hammered heart hammered uncontrollably; she was almost sure he’d hear it.

“…and I know that. So…”

He stopped right outside of the tree trunk, his jeans and shoes now visible in her view.

Shit… did he know?

She held her breath, not trusting it to go unnoticed. She decided to close her eyes too for good measure, and for the first time in years she prayed; prayed to fucking god and hoped he would hear her plea for once in her life.

The was a sound, the sound of… rustling clothes and leaves. She still sat completely unmoving.

“… won’t you please come out dearest?” his voice was gentle, amused, but gentle, inviting even, but she knew better than to trust it.

She reluctantly opened her eyes again and was meet with a pair of baby blues, staring at her like he couldn’t believe his own eyes, almost like she was a meal. He had kneeled down outside of the trunk and held out his hand to her. The bastard must have known the entire time, but was simply playing with his food.

“Please.” The smile he wore was warm and kind but she didn’t believe the act.

She remembered the exit in the back at that moment. At that thought Sera instinctively shrunk further back into the hollowed trunk, but the second she did his look hardened and the facade fell, as if a flip had been switched.

“Seraphina.” The warning was clear as a day in his voice. She sat unmoving again and starred at him.

He smiled lightly again, pleased that she stopped. Like she thought; an act.

“Good. Now take my hand.” The tone in his voice had gotten close to desperate.

Like hell she would take his hand. That got her moving.

“No stop- “

With all the vigor and might she possessed, she shoved herself backwards all the way through the trunk, got on her feet again and kept sprinting.

“Wait- Seraphina, we won’t hurt you, please stop running!” Nah!

Let the game of cat and mouse resume.

As she ran, she could hear the distant yelling of John behind her, no doubt announcing that he had found her. She didn’t pay it any mind and kept her nose forward. She had to leave the area. They evidently had planes too, the loud things flying by above, trying desperately to get an eye on her. Fortunately for her, the forest was too dense for them to spot her. For once she was feeling a little optimistic again.

But after she had failed to notice a truck full of peggies waiting on her when she tried crossing a road, she literally thought it couldn’t get any worse. They must have heard John’s radio call.

Well shit! That was just her luck striking again. Fucking forest. They really were closing in on her now. And she was getting tired at this point. Nonetheless, Sera wasted no time in dashing onward and disappearing into the horde of pine trees, the peggies shouting their lungs out behind her. No doubt they would reveal her location with every other search party out here.

Other than that, everything’s peachy, she thought sarcastically. She had to get out of the forest but it was fucking endless and she lacked a map. Conveniently, the forest was packed with everything forest and provided her with cover. Unfortunately, it provided cover for others as well, others she didn’t see, until they showed themselves, that is.

She had scampered past tree after tree for a good solid five minutes when something fired and hit the tree right behind her to her left, the wood splintering on contact. Shit! The sound startled the crap out of her and made her stop in her tracks instantly, trying to locate the source of the shooter. She had a feeling it was purposely meant to scare her to a hold.

Suddenly, the crack of a branch in the distance got her attention.

When he simply stepped into her line of sight from behind a tree, she realized she was right. Had that fucker had been waiting for her? Of course he had.

She’d recognize the redhead anywhere; Jacob Fucking Seed.

“Fancy seeing you around here, pup.” He was still wearing that camo jacket of his, holding onto his signature red rifle, the color contrasting to the rest of the green around them. He eyed her up and down with a smug look, especially her wings, seeming rather fascinated and taken with them, and obviously relished the alarmed expression she wore.

She didn’t stick around to reply, just turned and dashed, her brain having for sure entered flight mode now if it hadn’t already. Her legs were burning again with how much she kept pushing them, but the adrenaline kept her upright and going. She was so screwed now.

But before she could even think to glimpse behind her, she was tackled to the ground, falling forward into the leaves on the forest floor with a landing that knocked the air out of her lungs. With him on top of her he strategically held her down with the help of his weight and with a hand by the back of her neck.

“Gotcha pup.” That fucker really enjoyed this, hunting her and everything. She hissed and groaned underneath him.

“You sure can run, but not fast enough, eh?” He let out a hearty laugh. She attempted to flip the both of them with her wings, aiming to even the odds a bit, but he only pressed down harder on her neck and then on her wings in return, making her yelp in discomfort.

“Uh uh pup, you’re staying down.” He feigned disappointment in her, seemingly amused by her actions.

“Careful with the wings now. Wouldn’t want to break them, now would we?” John. She didn’t hear him get here at all. He did in spite of this sound concerned about the way Jacob was handling her.

She heard, Jacob she guessed, snorting. “They wont break that easily, John. Now take over, will you? She’s a feisty one.” John happily complied and was too swift for her to break free, and effortlessly wrestled her back down. John was a tad bit leaner than his redheaded brother but his strength wasn’t lacking. He couldn’t help but let out a giggle, finally having her in his grasp.

“Still, we should careful with her, especially something so…” he reached down to stroke her cheek, fingers grazing her skin affectionately. She snarled at his touch. “…divine.” He finished, completely enamored by her. She could only imagine the eyeroll Jacob conjured at that.

“My god, this is amazing…” he was muttering now, John, undoubtedly to himself. She couldn’t help but roll her own eyes at him.

She heard the crunching of the leaves and noticed some of the hunters had showed up to the scene, their eyes all on her, currently being crushed underneath the jerk head John. When she felt him stroke and caress her wings however, sensitive as they were, she got real pissed. She decided to busy herself with trying to wrestle John off of her, him being way to comfortable up there and too handsy with her wings for her liking. He needs to learn to keep his paws to himself. It proved difficult when lying on her stomach, and opted to smack her wings back into him in an attempt to shake him off. She succeeded in whacking him across the face, resulting in a wail and complaint from John. Moron.

“Hmm, seems she still got some fire in her. Let’s snuff it out, huh pup?”

She immediately looked up, not liking where this was going. One of the hunters gave him a… gun? Or a rifle, no a small rifle. It looked unusual. But he had that wicked smirk of his plastered on his face, that was never good news. When he pointed the thing at her, she instantly began struggling and thrashing about with all she had, nearly tossing John of in the process, who hadn’t expected the surge of strength from her.

“Relax pup and enjoy your nap.” Wait, what? She heard the gun click softly, and was immediately met with sharp sting on the back of her shoulder, a cry escaping her at the impact. Her whole backside became numb first, spreading quickly. It didn’t feel like Bliss… What… the hell did he use…?

“That should calm her for a while, give it a minute or two to work. I’ll radio Joseph in the meantime, tell him we’ll meet at your bunker.” Jacob spoke so nonchalantly. She thinks it was Jacob at least… he sounded so distant…

The whole world started blurring and spinning, and she found herself going completely slack underneath John’s hold. She thinks he lessened the grip slightly; she wasn’t sure of anything any longer, her body and head feeling heavy.

“Mhm…” that was all she could whimper out.

She felt someone stroke her hair before the world went black.

“Finally ours… finally mine.”

–

Should this have second part? Let me know! 👀

[thefinalcinderella]

Tsurune Book 2 Chapter 2-One over f (Part 2)

In this chapter: Regionals begin and end, Tsujimine is introduced, and Masaki and Shuu make a bet

Some parts of this chapter reminded me of Dive!!...I miss it so much

Glossary here

Full list of translations here

Translation Notes

1. Temari are handballs with colorful designs. They are highly treasured gifts. You can see some examples here

2. Fuwa says “heart of marble” in English here. Like, it’s literally written in English which is why it’s a bit weird to read

3. Sanbun no ni or “two-thirds” is a stage similar to the daisan of hikiwake (or an intermediate stage of hikiwake, it’s hard to tell) that only applies to shamen uchiokoshi. This is where the draw is momentarily halted two thirds of the way through, with the arrow stopping at the height of the eyebrows.

Previous | Next

The next morning was cloudy.

When Minato was packing for their departure, he heard a scream behind him.

"Wha, what's wrong, Ryouhei! What is it this time!?"

"There's a black thing on my baaaaaaaaag!"

"Could it be the rumored coc—"

"Don't say anymore than that!"

"I don't see anything. Oh, could it be this?"

His line of sight stopped at a small spider about a few millimeters big. Minato, partly fed up with it all, barehandedly caught the tiny intruder.

"Ugyaaaaaaah! Minato, you really are a hero!"

"A cute little guy like this is no big deal, isn't it?"

"Of course it's a big deal! Don't bring it over here! You used to catch cicadas barehanded, right? When you had one in both hands, I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest."

"If you're in a place where your hands can reach the cicadas, then you don't need nets."

"That's not what I meant!"

While the two were talking, the tiny spider swung from a thread of web and fled. Minato moved the spider hanging from his finger to the window, and it escaped outside.

Ryouhei watched the course of events while glued to Seiya's back. Not the slightest hint of a brave figure that felled a boar with one strike could be sensed from that figure.

Kaito tore Ryouhei off of Seiya.

"Don't always take advantage of others with your huge body. To begin with, I really don't understand the difference between the stuff you're scared of and the stuff you aren't scared of. You spoke with Fujiwara, our enemy, last night, and you even got him to promise to shoot together, didn't you?"

"Shuu-kun hating to lose is cute, but spiders aren't cute at all."

"That Fujiwara is cute——? Ryouhei, did you eat something wei…Oh, crap."

Kaito said hurriedly, then rushed to the bathroom while clutching his stomach.

Nanao lightly knocked on the door.

"Kacchaaaan, are you okaaay? Are you nervous before the competition?"

"Shut up, it's probably because you poured me so much milk at the breakfast buffet. I just wanted another cup, but there wasn't even a drop left afterwards!"

"Because, it was soooo tasty that I drank a lot of it. I just had to recommend it to you, Kacchan."

"I'm pretty sure you were drinking it because you wanted to grow taller rather than for the taste!"

"Ah, it's out."

Nanao made an embarrassed face.

Kaito, coming out of the bathroom with a dejected-looking face, was greeted by Seiya holding medicine.

"Ryouhei is a big man for calling a high-spec man who we are no match for, cute, and you are a small fry for weakening your stomach just from drinking too much milk, so from now on I will train you without holding anything back."

"…Seiya, you're scary when you go all out."

"Kaito, you're actually really soft on Nanao."

"Hah? Not a chance. Are you a moron?"

"Let's have a nice, long talk afterwards, Kacchan."

Kaito clutched his stomach again before a smiling Seiya.

When Minato and the others arrived at the venue, the sky turned clear.

The paddy fields reflected white clouds.

The roof tiles that diffusely reflected.

It was likely that it would get more and more from that afternoon onwards.

For the regional tournament, the team competition was on the first day, and the individual competition was on the second. Kazemai High School was only participating in the team competition, and Kirisaki High School had both Shuu and Motomura in the individual competition.

They spread a plastic sheet on the long-distance range, which was being used as a resting place for the competitors, and put their baggage on it. They used the changing rooms to change clothes, but there were students from other schools who changed on their plastic sheets. They were wearing their hakama on top of their gym shorts.

When he finished getting ready and took a break, Minato looked at the tournament brochure again. He was caught by the name of a certain person.

"Seiya, isn't there a person who has the exact same name as this?"

"Yes, it's probably our acquaintance. It seems that he had moved to the neighbouring prefecture."

"We didn't get to meet him at yesterday's official practice, but I think it's better that we go greet him first today."

"I think it'll be okay when we go see him."

"Yeah, I guess so."

Minato closed the brochure, still concerned.

The Kazemai High School cheering squad had also come running to the venue. The parents, Hanazawa, Shiragiku, and Seo were part of it, as well as six elite members of the Nanao Fan Club.

"Nanao-kun, we made these for you! Please eat them!"

"Uwaah, thanks. Can I open it? Ooh, onigiri that looks like temari. (1) They're cute, just like all of you. I'll savour each one."

When Nanao winked, the girls squealed.

At the entrance to the stands, there was a line of people trying to secure their seats. When the entrance was opened, the Nanao Fan Club elites sat down with their frog fans in hand. Besides them, two young man sat just little further away.

They were Masa-san and Ren.

Ren changed the lens of his single-lens reflex camera and took a trial shot of his surroundings. Though he was only taking pictures, the virility and an adult man's bewitching allure drifted in the air. Even the cheering squads from other schools were taking glances at Ren and Masa-san.

Masa-san pulled his hat deeper over his head in order to avoid the sunlight.

"I didn't hear that you were coming, Ren. I was looking for a souvenir for you yesterday too."

"I thought that I would surprise Masaki."

"I'm thankful that you gave the girls a ride, but will you be okay with work? Aren't you neglecting your home in Tokyo these days?"

"I thought that I should move out of that apartment and return to my hometown. The bullet train to Tokyo is nearby if I have to go there, and Dad will be relieved that I'm helping with shrine work."

"Oh, really…"

Masa-san blinked slowly and observed him sideways.

They were often told that they were brothers with similar eyes, but Masa-san, who was four years younger, looked younger.

Ren placed his camera on his knee.

"Since rent is too wasteful, can I live with you in your apartment?"

"I have to wake up early in the morning for shrine work. Can I really live with someone like you, who's nocturnal?"

"My little brother is so heartless."

"You only act like an older brother at times like this. The nyujo will be starting soon. Don't keep chattering after it begins."

"This is the first time I'm seeing Minato-kun and the others shoot since the spring training camp. I wonder if I can have your students show me what they got, Masaki."

"I'll say this: they don't need surprises. Especially our oomae and ochi. They're pure-hearted and overly serious."

"I won't do it today."

Ren chuckled.

When the opening ceremony ended, the competitors began to move.

Ryouhei went back to the long-distance range to get his equipment, and then suddenly he was tapped on the shoulder from behind.

When he turned around, he saw a boy with an amiable smile standing there. He had an appearance where one could sense that he was well-bred, and his large black eyes conveyed his friendliness even towards people he had just met. Despite all that, the sharp lines of his chin added a gallant dignity to him.

"You dropped your underglove."

"Oh, I did, I never noticed. Thanks."

"No problem. It'll get hotter from now on today, so be cautious of getting heat stroke."

When he could no longer see Ryouhei, the boy pulled over his head the hood of his hoodie that he was wearing over his hakama.

Beneath the hood, a shadow was cast over his face.

His smile was already disappearing.

A little further away, there was another boy. He looked intimidating and had cold eyes. After brushing up the hair on his face, he stood next to the boy in the white hoodie.

"That's rare, Nikaidou, you being so nice to someone you don't know."

"Fuwa, were you there? We might meet somewhere else again, don't you think? If I do something for that kind of dim-witted guy to make them owe me, then they might be good for something."

"…Crafty bastard."

"Aren't you the same?"

Fuwa Koushirou did a small yawn. The early morning was cloudy and cool, but as the temperature rose, drowsiness also increased.

"Didn't get enough sleep?"

"I was bothered by the sound of the ventilator, so I woke up a lot during the night."

"You're surprisingly high-strung."

"Say delicate. I guess guys with ulterior motives like you can't understand it."

"Don't talk like I'm such a black-hearted person. Say that I'm like a marble of mixed black and white, at the very least."

"Marble can mean the rock or the toy, but heart of marble means a 'heart that is as cold as a lump of marble.'" (2)

"Heh, is that so, I didn't know that. You sure are wise, Fuwa."

"Don't diss me so casually."

"Well, since there's only good people here, they’ll even hand over the victory for today's competition to us. Our goal is Inter-High. Also, take a look at this?"

Nikaidou Eisuke looked at his phone screen and chuckled to himself.

"A boar infiltrated the hotel those guys were staying at, I heard. That's Minato-chan for you. He's liked by all kinds of things."

"Let's go, Nikaidou. Leave your phone and hoodie with someone."

"Even though I was expressly telling you something funny, you party pooper."

"I don't care about your acquaintances. I just want to get this over with quickly and sleep soon."

"Yeah, yeah."

Fuwa did not like getting friendly with others, and drew a line between himself and other people. Because of that, Nikaidou and Fuwa had a dry relationship even though they were in the same grade, and they both avoided intruding upon each other's privacy.

After Nikaidou got his equipment, he called out to a teammate in the shade of a tree.

"Kuro-chan, it's convocation time."

"One, two, three, four…"

"Ootagurooo, we'll be disqualified if we're late."

"Oh, sorry."

The boy who was doing push-ups vigorously got up slowly. His body was bigger than the average high school student's, and his thick chest, which could be seen even through his kyudogi and bulging arms, made him seem more like an American football or rugby player rather than an archer.

Ootaguro Kenyuu was a second-year student like Nikaidou and Fuwa.

There was a reason for his persistent muscle training mania and devotion for body building while reciting his extensive knowledge about it every day. Those who saw his bow for the first time unable to take their eyes from that rare item. That was because it was a yonsun-nobi bamboo bow with a draw weight of nearly thirty kilograms.

A large bow that made a two-hundred-and-twenty-one centimeters bow look like it was for children, its overwhelming length, width, and thickness had the effect of making people suspect that it was a decorative bow. Even the one-hundred-and-eighty centimeters tall Shuu only used a nineteen-kilogram bow, so extraordinary muscle strength was needed to handle this bow.

Marble Nikaidou.

Borderline Fuwa.

Macho Ootaguro.

Those three second-years occupied the positions from oomae to third archer. The ones who served as the last two, the fourth archer and ochi, were third-year students.

Nikaidou also called out to his two seniors, but he only got one leisurely response, "…'Kaaaay, got it!" back.

Higuchi Touma was a boy who was extremely slow in both moving and talking. With a small build, he and Ootaguro looked like parent and child when they were side-by-side. He always had bed hair, and he constantly pulled on the sleeves of his jersey, so they became saggy moe sleeves. It was rare for Fuwa to feel sleepy, but for Higuchi, it was an everyday occurrence.

On the other hand, Aragaki Reiji was an extremely silent boy who served as the president of the kyudo club. With his slender physique and the mask that he always wears, he looked like the bassist of a visual kei band. As he never took off his mask except for eating and shooting a bow, the kyudo club members were about the only ones who had properly seen his true face. On that day as well, Aragaki at last took off his mask when he entered the venue.

Even when he removed his mask, he almost never met his teammates' eyes, always looking to the distance—for the sake of showing everyone his profile. He was actually a narcissist who loved his own profile, but hated his front face. Him choosing the kyudo club was also because he thought that his profile when drawing a bow would surely be beautiful.

Slothful Higuchi.

Maskman Aragaki.

Since information notification did not always go as one wanted with those two, Nikaidou was the one who truly managed the club. Their advisor could not be relied upon, but as they could not be in tournaments without a manager, they were saved by that.

The five headed for the waiting area with Nikaidou in the lead. The eccentric group was the focus of stares pouring in from the competitors from other schools.

The words "Tsujimine High School" were printed on the cloth bibs pinned to their right hips.

The stands fell silent, and the chirping of small birds could be heard.

The team competition involved five-person teams shooting four arrows in zasha. The time limit was eight minutes. Boys and girls from each of the sixteen schools were participating.

For the preliminaries, each team shot twenty shots in two rounds, with a total of forty shots, and the top eight teams with the highest amount of hits would pass. The finals were in a tournament system with twenty shots to a team.

When they were about to head towards the waiting area, Tommy-sensei asked Minato something.

"Have you seen Takehaya-kun and Kisaragi-kun?"

"Seiya forgot his tsurumaki so he went back to get it. Nanao got captured by some girls from another school."

"Oh my, how unusual for both of them."

When all five gathered, Tommy-sensei loudly declared the start of the mission.

The first round of the preliminaries began.

At the back of the shajo, the third waiting area had two rows of five chairs. The competitors sat in those chairs and waited for their turns. They advanced to the second waiting area, entering it at a signal with Kaito leading them. Divided into the first and second shajo, two teams with a total of ten people lined up in front of the targets simultaneously.

After Minato sat down in the chair before the honza in the first waiting area, before his eyes the other schools' competitors faced the targets. Perhaps because his point of view was different, he could well understand the differences of each person's shooting form. They also had a variety of shooting quirks.

The person whose bow slanted forwards in the time between daisan and hikiwake.

The person whose right shoulder moved forward at kai.

The person who raised their chin and whose head fell backward.

There were surprisingly few who could do the gojuu juumonji perfectly. Even if one could do it yesterday, it was difficult to say if one could do it the same way today. It was said that it was more difficult for the brain to reproduce what one remembered than to memorized, and always drawing a bow in the same form was a high-level physical activity.

When the last team sounded their final tsurune, the five knelt at the shooting line all together.

With their left fists on their hips, they raised the upper tips of their bows (urahazu) to eye-level while turning their hips, then turned towards the wakishoumen. The ways in which they moved their bows occurred precisely at the same time.

The oomae, Kaito, was the first to shoot. After he stood up while holding his bow with both hands, he performed ashibumi. Even though he was starting to shoot, he might still be feeling the effects of his bad stomach. He had a disappointing start, with his arrow going beneath the target.

Next was the second archer, Ryouhei. Perhaps it was because of his earnest nature, he absorbed what he was told without doubt or hesitation. He landed a perfect hit.

The third archer, Seiya, was calm and never deviated at any moment. He ascertained his own weaknesses and had the strength to make up for them with intelligence. ——He hit.

When the fourth archer, Nanao, raised his bow, the girls eagerly leaned forward as usual. When the matooto sounded, they flapped their yellow-green frog-shaped fans all at once.

Minato was the fifth archer, the ochi. He gently lifted his bow up so as to not sense the pain in his left wrist. Because it especially hurt from uchiokoshi to daisan, he moved through those parts slightly earlier than usual, but his arrow landed to the right of the target.

For the second shooting round, all five members of the Kazemai team hit the target, and on the bulletin board, which displayed the scores in 〇's and x's, there was a row of "〇." There was applause for the five-person kaichuu.

Hanazawa, Shiragiku, and Seo also clapped their hands vigorously, so that Minato and the others would hear them.

"The boys are doing really well."

"Yep, I have a good feeling about this."

However, for the third shooting round, Ryouhei, Seiya, and Nanao missed in succession, and lost the possibility for personal kaichuus.

For the fourth shooting round, everyone hit except for Ryouhei, and they ended up with scores of three, two, three, three, three—a total of fourteen hits.

When they left the shajo, Kaito struck a triumphant pose.

"Alright! Not bad at all. Let's keep going like this!"

"Yeah!"

The second round of the preliminaries began.

The temperature was rising little by little. Although it was a break in the rainy season, there were already hot summer day being recorded, and the people in the stands were covering their heads with sports towels in order to block out the sun.

Kaito grandly raised his bow.

A heat filled the depths of his body.

I dedicate this heat to you, kyudo.

His tanned skin shone, his flexible muscles stretched gracefully and he formed a cross. His scarlet eyes were fixed on only one point.

What I'm calling for is you.

Shoot through my heart.

A cheer sounded from the stands at the sharp flight of his arrow.

Ryouhei, Seiya, and Nanao also hit their targets, and there was a succession of cheers.

Minato protected his left wrist, putting strength into his right arm and raising his bow. He moved his arrow tip little by little, drawing his bow to the limits of his strength.

The beautiful kyudo that toyed with the archer.

Even though it was wearing a gentle smile, it became more distant when one extended one's hand to it.

Let me hear your voice at least.

When Minato shot the target, the bulletin board displayed a row of five circles, and applause burst out once more.

For both the second and third shooting rounds, there were three hits out of five shots.

Kaito got a kaichuu with his four arrows, and exited the shajo while receiving applause. Ryouhei, Seiya, and Nanao also hit, and the five would have had another team kaichuu if Minato had hit after that, but he regrettably missed and hit to the left of the target.

The results were four, three, three, two, and three—a total of fifteen hits.

With a total of twenty-nine hits out of forty shots in the preliminaries, Kazemai High School would be advancing to the finals tournament.

Kaito: ×〇〇〇　〇〇〇〇 7

Ryouhei: 〇〇××　〇〇×〇 5

Seiya: 〇〇×〇　〇×〇〇 6

Nanao: 〇〇×〇　〇××〇 5

Minato: ×〇〇〇　〇〇〇× 6

In preparation for the tournament battle, lunchtime also served as a break.

Minato and Seiya stood talking, away from everyone else. They suddenly felt eyes on them and when they looked, they saw a boy wearing a white hoodie.

"——Nikaidou-senpai."

"Hey, it's been a while. Fancy meeting Minato-chan and Seiya-chan here."

"It has been a while. We're sorry for not greeting you sooner. So, you moved."

"Both of you didn't advance to Kirisaki High School either. Same as me. Wow, what a coincidence. They only got rich people over there, so it's too high-class for us commoners to be in. Oh, wait. Seiya-chan is the son of doctors, so he can't be talked about like he's in the same category as me and Minato-chan."

Seiya also greeted him with a meek smile.

"No, fortunately I'm really pleased with Kazemai High School."

"Heh… Must be nice, that feeling of deeply trusting your comrades and hanging out even on your days off. Yep, we must follow your example as well."

Nikaidou went to middle school with them, so in other words, he was the former senpai of Minato, Seiya, and Shuu. He was also a senior who even Shuu had difficulty dealing with.

Nikaidou chuckled, perhaps sensing the uncomfortable atmosphere around the two of them.

"Minato-chan, how many boys and girls are in the Kazemai club?"

"Five boys and three girls."

"A total of eight people? I'm surprised, you only got a select few. Renting out a kyudojo to that number of people, you guys must be able to run yakazu practice too. You guys must have shot more than anyone else here, haven't you?"

"It's not like that."

"Don't be humble. It's a big deal to defeat that powerhouse Kirisaki and advance to the national tournament. In the end, didn't you win thanks to Shuu-kun losing? And on top of that, there was even a guy with hayake? They say fortune favors the brave, but I guess you guys' everyday behavior must be terrific."

"No, that's…"

"Even so, though Shuu was bestowed so many gifts from the heavens, the only thing he doesn't have is luck, huh. I think that since lacking something like that is also human-like, it's nice. Hah…, did you see his tall bow and long arrows? If it were me, I would be too awed and I wouldn't even be able to hold them. That he missed even while using such high-grade equipment, such a waste."

Minato, without immediately replying, looked straight into Nikaidou's eyes. Even though Seiya was standing still at that gaze, Minato was not taken in by it.

"Don't talk bad about Shuu when he isn't here. And Manji-kun is working hard to overcome his hayake."

"Oh wow, I'm so happy to hear my kouhai Minato-chan speaking to me so casually. I feel like the distance between us has shrunk. It's so tacky to make much of one's seniority nowadays, isn't it? Well then, I have a question for you, Minato-chan. For what reason are you shooting a bow?"

"What reason, you say, I shoot a bow because I love it…"

"Heh, so pure, like a little kid. I'm doing it to win. I love winning."

Nikaidou lifted a corner of his mouth, then he put on his hood.

"Later, Minato-chan and Seiya-chan."

Seiya's voice, admonishing him that he must not react to Nikaidou-senpai, passed through his ears.

Minato was thinking.

That that senpai was the only one who he definitely did not want to lose to.

Around the same time, Masa-san was with Shuu.

Shuu had stopped him, saying that he wanted to talk to him.

"What was that just now?"

"If Kirisaki High School wins this competition, I would like you to be my coach for a week."

Masa-san pressed his hand to his forehead.

"I'm sorry, but I have to refuse. I don't want to make wagers on archery. And in the first place, did the Kirisaki manager allow you to be taught by a coach from another school?"

"Our advisor does not balk at any means that would help us win, but if you are worried about it, I will keep it a secret."

"Well now, it'll be revealed eventually. With your skill, Fujiwara, you should have a more distinguished sensei teach you rather than a newbie coach like me. Why me?"

"Minato said that you are his goal. I was also shown videos of you shooting. I heard that you are the grandson of Yasaka-hanshi. I am very interested."

Before the indecisive Masa-san, someone suddenly showed up.

It was Tommy-sensei.

"Ho ho ho, what an interesting proposal. Let's go with this match. On the contrary, what will Kazemai get if we win, Fujiwara-kun?"

"That's right, shall I show you Saionji-sensei's words that I have accumulated? I've written down hidden techniques that weren't taught even to Minato."

"That's alright with me. I will go talk to Kirisaki about this."

"Yes, then, I look forward to working with you."

Shuu bowed, then left.

Masa-san grimaced.

"Tommy-sensei! Is this okay? Wouldn't you be fighting over this with the sensei at Kirisaki later?"

"It's fine, it's fine. I know the personality of the Kirisaki sensei, and the point is that Kazemai should win, right? Even by some chance we lose, I would be a lucky man if I could see Fujiwara-kun's shooting up close. Can't you believe in your students, Takigawa-san?"

"That's not what I meant, but…"

"Didn't the one called the Young Lord expressly tell you that he wants to be taught by you? The people who stand at the top are always lonely. It may be that he sympathizes with you, Takigawa-san, who had a wonderful teacher everyone envies, and experience with winning Inter-High. However, are you still keeping this quiet from everyone in the club?"

"Yes."

"Oh, so young. My blood is boiling up."

Tommy-sensei couldn't stop grinning. Getting a glimpse at his crafty side, Masa-san sighed.

The first round of the finals tournament began.

As a result of the lottery, Kazemai High School was suddenly facing off against Tsujimine High School. When the competitors entered the shajo, the venue immediately became noisy. That was because Tsujimine's Ootaguro was carrying a huge bow that was non-standard for a high school student. Many from the stands was whispering, "What is that? I never seen one like that before."

Tsujimine High School did shamen uchiokoshi, which was in the bushakei style.

The oomae, Nikaidou, moved his left foot a half step towards the target while watching it, then looked down and moved his right foot the same way in the opposite direction. He held his arrows while their arrowheads (itatsuki or yajiri).

After gripping his string, he fixed his tenouchi diagonally to the left, pushed his bow open, and did yugamae. From there, he raised his bow slanted to the left and did not stop midway, or maybe he did the "sanbun no ni" (3) in his own way and drew.

When he entered kai, his yugake made a grinding noise.

After he swung his arms and his bow fell forward at hanare, there was a pleasant matooto.

Then, it was the second archer, Fuwa. He looked towards the target with a gaze that was cold and indifferent to the enthusiasm enveloping the venue. There was an unseen boundary line between him and his surroundings. Within that barrier of ice, he got a hit.

Hanazawa, Shiragiku, and Seo conversed in the stands.

"Shamen uchiokoshi is cool, you really feel like they are drawing a bow."

"Yeah. Now it's Macho-kun's turn."

The third archer, Ootaguro, raised his huge bow slanted. Those who laid their eyes on that conspicuously gigantic bow would have the delusion that their sense of perspective was paralyzed. The bamboo bow with an amber luster bent grandly, forming a cross on heaven and earth. The arrow went towards the target along with a furious, whooshing momentum, and an extra-large matooto sounded.

After him was the fourth archer, Higuchi. The exact opposite of Ootaguro, he was an archer with a frail impression. At intervals that made people want to tell him that he didn't have to draw that slowly, he gently drew his bow. And at kai as well, he did not readily release his arrow. His zanshin after he shot his arrow was bizarrely long. However, because he hit precisely, it was funny.

Last was the ochi, Aragaki the maskman. He was devoting all of his nerves on beautifully displaying his profile. With something mysterious, it prevented careless deviations and distortions of the body, and there was another hit. Applause swelled for the five-person kaichuu.

Shooting their arrows in that order, Tsujimine and Kazemai both went to their second shots without any misses.

And then it was the third shooting round.

The Kazemai cheering squad cheered with all they had for Kaito's hit. However, Ryouhei, Seiya, and Nanao missed in succession, and the situation for Kazemai turned risky. If they missed any more than that, their results would be settled before they shot their fourth arrows.

Minato couldn't withstand the pain in his wrist, decided that he could do kai early and went on to take a hit. Intent on not wanting to lose to Nikaidou at the very least, he released his arrow.

For the fourth shot, all five from Kazemai hit, and Minato fell back to honza amid applause.

The announcement of the results came on.

"We will now announce the results just now. First shajo, four, four, three, three, four—a total of eighteen hits. Second shajo, four, three, three, three, four—a total of seventeen hits…"

Hanazawa and Shiragiku covered their faces.

"…Kazemai lost?"

"No way!? Isn't it still the first round of the finals tournament?"

The Nanao Fan Club stood up early to go receive Nanao, but Hanazawa, Shiragiku, and Seo did not move.

Of course, even the people concerned did not know what had happened.

Even Kirisaki High School, peeking at the situation, could not hide their surprise.

"Oi, is this really happening…?"

Senichi and Manji were whispering.

Shuu put his arms around their shoulders. Seeing that, Sase and Motomura joined in.

The five formed a huddle, and Sase raised his voice.

"Ki-ri-sa-ki, fight!"

"Yeah!"

Kirisaki High School gave off the air of champions from the moment they entered the shajo. A majestic, dignified walk. Their demeanor was obviously different from others.

Shuu and the others got kaichuu in succession, and there was loud applause every time. The twins sealed up their fast-shooting, and it was the oomae, Motomura's fractal-like shots that were handed down to those behind him instead. They were uniform, well-controlled, and beautiful shots.

After that, the tournament continued, with Kirisaki High School and Tsujimine High School facing off in the final match. Kirisaki won, with nineteen hits to eighteen hits.

With this, Kirisaki High School obtained the special ticket to take part in the national tournament.

Previous | Next

[honestlyimstilllivinginthe90s]

Impossible | Harrison Osterfield | Part 4

Word Count: 2.2k

Warnings: Swearing (how surprising 😂) Mild spoilers for Acotar and The Hunger Games

"Collingbourn......Collingham.....Collinwood.... Collins!" I muttered as I selected the book that I was looking for. I pulled it off the shelf and turned to sit down to read when I walked straight into a hard chest. His hands grasped my hips, stopping me from falling. I hit the chest repeatedly, my mind panicking at the thought that this person could be the bastard that murdered my mother and that they were going to kill me next.

"Woah, calm down! It's just me, just Harrison."

"You scared the crap out of me!!" I groaned as I shoved Harrison's chest away. He stumbled back slightly, but let go of my hips. I continued my walk, just wanting to read.

"Can we just talk?" He asked. It was impossible to walk away from him, his legs were too long.

"Can I just read?" I asked sarcastically. Truthfully, I was scared. I was scared of falling in love with him. He was an Illyrian warrior, if my father had found out that I was in love with an Illyrian he would have disowned me. Or executed me. But I really wanted to take that risk. Harrison was amazing, I was drawn to him like a magnet to metal and the fact that I couldn't have him, made me want him more.

I sat down at a table at the back of the library, Harrison took a seat across from me. I ignored him and opened my book, and started to read.

"What are you reading?" He asked me after a few minutes. I looked up at him. He was staring at me, those beautiful blue eyes gazing into mine. I almost forgot to answer his question.

"The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. It's a human book, I honestly don't know how it ended up here but it's really good."

He smiled at my response, causing me to blush. I lowered my head, trying to hide the fire in my cheeks.

"What's it about?" I was happy he changed the subject.

"It's about Katniss Everdeen, a young woman from a very poor district who is entered into a reality TV competition called the Hunger Games, where young people are forced to fight to the death."

"Well that sounds........nice." He tried not to make me feel bad. I laughed at his attempt.

"It's not the fighting to the death part I like, it's the progression of Katniss's character. She started out as just a girl from a poor family, having to hunt to keep them alive and she progresses into the Mockingjay, a sign of freedom and a better world. She didn't have any more paths to take so she made herself a new one. I wish I could be like her. I wish I could be free and strong and brave and I wish people would look at me and see me as y/n l/n, a woman of power and freedom and not as the High Lord of the Spring Court's daughter."

I was scared to look at Harrison, scared that he would just pity me or blabber about how that wasn't true and how I was brave and I was strong and how I was free, when they hardly knew me.

"You know I would love to get to know the real you, the woman of power and freedom you." His voice was soft but not demeaning, it was..... comforting. "And I would love to help you become better."

I looked up at him. My heart was pounding out of my chest and I was wishing that he would stop looking at me that way that he was. I just wanted to carry on with my life and he was messing it all up and he hadn't even been here for an hour.

"I could teach you to fight if you would like. It could settle your father's nerves if he knew that his daughter could fend for herself." He offered.

"That sounds great. We can start tomorrow." I nodded.

"I'm actually quite hungry. I'll be in the kitchen if you need me." I stood up, taking the book with me. Harrison stood up too and I shook my head.

"There's no need for you to follow."

"It's my job."

I sighed realising that there was no point in arguing.

"Fine, but can you a least give me some space?"

He hung his head slightly but nodded.

"Go ahead, I'll follow you."

I smiled and walked ahead but before I reached the door Harrison called after me.

"Y/n! I know that you want to forget what happened the other night and considering the circumstances, I understand why but I can't. I don't think that I will ever forget that night. But if you need me as your bodyguard or otherwise, I'll be there."

My heart dropped to feet. My brain screamed at me to turn around, to run into his arms and to feel his lips on mine again. I ignored my thoughts and walked out of the library, my heart aching with every step.

______________________________________________

"You don't think I'm being stupid, do you?" I asked Bella as she was sitting across from me at the kitchen counter. I had told her everything about Harrison, including that he was now my bodyguard and what he said in the library.

"You wanted to find him after the Ball, right?" Bella reached out to grab a chip from my plate.

"Well, yeah but I wanted to find him. The guy that I spent the night with. Not the guy that my father hired to be my bodyguard." I sighed and chomped down on a chip.

"But he's the same guy! You should get to know him better y/n. You can keep lying to yourself but that won't make your heart won't stop fluttering everytime you look into his eyes." I looked into Bella's brown eyes. I knew she was right and I hated it. I continued to eat my chips in silence before the silence became unbearable.

"Father still wants me to marry, you know." I stated. Bella gave me a look of pity before quickly glancing over my shoulder.

"Who's the lucky guy?" I turned to face Harrison, who was leaning up against the door frame.

"She hasn't decided yet." Bella responded as I rolled my eyes and went back to eating my chips.

"You get to decide?" Harrison asked, surprised. I could see, in my peripheral vision, his Illyrian wings loosened slighty as he said it.

"I have one month." I grumbled.

"One month," I heard Harrison push away from the door frame. I didn't know where he was until I felt his breath on my neck. I prayed he couldn't hear my heartbeat but after hearing a slight chuckle leave his mouth, I knew he could. He pressed his lips to my ear and whispered.

"One month should be a breeze for a gorgeous woman like you."

My breath hitched in my throat and I opened my mouth to say something but before I could, Harrison pulled away from me. He reached out and grabbed a chip before winnowing away, leaving an empty feeling in my chest. I released a breath and groaned.

"Well honestly you kind of deserved it. You did do the same thing to him in the library."

"Bella!"

______________________________________________

"How are you and Harrison getting on?" Tom asked as I pulled a lilac dress off the rack. Harrison and I had spent the night together and not in the way I wanted. He slept in the room next to mine, knocking on the door at 7 the following morning to wake me up. I hardly slept that night, the image of my mother's body was branded into my mind's eye.

"I'm surprised that he let me go shopping with you." I put the dress in front of me and looked in the mirror.

Tom chuckled at my response.

"Well I think I'm the only one that he trusts to look out for you." He smirked. "You know he offered to be your bodyguard."

I almost dropped the dress I was holding.

"He what?!" I choked.

"Well, after you left me in the courtyard, I winnowed back to the Night Court. I met with Harrison and I told him about your mother and about you. He really wanted to meet you, you guys have so much in common with each other. While I was there your father sent me a message, saying how he wanted a bodyguard for you and guards for the Court. I told Haz and he said that he could be your bodyguard. I knew that you two would get on great and he's my best friend. Your father was petrified about what happened to your mother, he said that your bodyguard had to be someone I trust. And I trust him more than anyone else. Other than you of course." He winked.

"Well he's good at his job." I mumbled. Tom looked at me curiously. I avoided making eye contact with him, hoping that he would stop talking about Harrison.

"Honestly, I prefer the navy blue dress." Tom handed the dress to me, I smiled in response. I went over to the worker in the boutique and purchased the dress. She placed it in a bag and I walked back over to Tom with the dress. We walked back to the house together, laughing and joking at whatever we saw.

"See!! If you write the word "bed", it looks like a bed!!" I laughed.

"How in the Mother's name did you realise that?" Tom threw his head back chuckling.

"I was just messing around the other day and- OMG!! There's Juliette!!"

"Crap! Hide me!" Tom ran behind me, using me as a shield. I moved out the way of his grasp.

"I'm not going to hide you! Will you just ask her out already?!" I sighed.

"No! I can't just ask her out. What do I say? How did I say it?" Tom turned his back in the direction of Juliette so that he was fully facing me.

"Just come clean and say it!"

"I can't just-" Tom stopped suddenly, "Who's that?" He pointed behind me. I turned around and saw the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.

She was tall and skinny with golden brown skin and dark curly hair. She had beautiful caramel eyes and a warm smile. She walked with a certain confidence that was infectious. She was wearing a long black gown that only complemented her features.

"That's Daya. Her mother owns a jewellery store down the street. I've never talked to her but I see her all the time at the theatre, she's an amazing actress."

"She's the girl." Tom stared at her, amazed.

"You haven't even met her yet! How do you know-" I scoffed.

"No, I don't mean it like that! It's just, this is going to sound crazy but every night keep having the same dream and she, Daya, is always in it. I have to talk to her."

"Well maybe it's-" Tom was already walking over to her before the word "well" left my mouth.

"Hey, we having training in a few minutes, where's Tom?" Haz came up beside me, startling me slightly.

"He's chatting up some woman we just saw." I pointed in the direction of them, Tom seemed so more confident around her than he did with Juliette. Harrison chuckled.

"Of course he is. Wait, I thought he was in love with Juliette, all he does is talk about her all the time." Harrison leaned in closer to me, I ignored the butterflies in my stomach.

"I thought so too." I mumbled.

"We should probably stop staring before it gets weird."

"You're such a loser!" I shoved Harrison's shoulder and grabbed his wrist, tugging him after me back towards the house.

We walked up to the house in silence, both of us aching to say something but neither of us having any idea what to say. As we got to the gate, Harrison spoke.

"Bella's really nice."

"She is. She's the nicest person I know and my only friend in the house, other than Tom."

"She's been really kind to me, everyone else is..." His voice trailed off.

"They're not scared of you. They're threatened of you. Everyone knows how strong the Illyrians are, and most people here have near seen one. They'll get used to you after a while."

"You seem to know what you're talking about."

"They didn't like me either, when I first came."

Harrison looked at me inquisitively, not prying or forcing me to tell him, just curious.

"The High Lord and Lady," My voice shook at the mention of her name, "aren't my biological parents. They raised me practically my entire life but I'm not their biological daughter. I don't know who my biological parents are, nobody has ever told me but when I came here, I was only 4 or 5, nobody here liked or trusted me. They thought I was dangerous. I honestly think they still do." I had never told anyone this, of course Tom and Bella knew I was adopted but I had never told anyone about how I felt feared and disliked by everyone in this Court.

"Well let us be feared together." Harrison grinned at me.

"Together." I smiled back.

We entered the house, Harrison hurried forward to open the door for me. I walked into the entrance hall, Harrison following close behind me.

"I'm going to walk up to my room and get changed. I'll be down in a second." I ran up the stairs and to my bedroom, slowing down when nearing my father's office. He always scolded me for running and making noise outside his office. That's when I heard my father shouting.

"They are going to kill me next because of her!!! My wife wanted to protect her and so did I but she's putting this whole court at risk!"

"But y/n's your only heir." Bella's voice was lower than my father's but loud enough to hear.

"No she's not."

"What?"

"My wife and I have two children. She is not my heir."

"Two? Where is the second? Why have you never mentioned a second?"

"He is here. Has always been here. I never mentioned it because it had not needed to be mentioned. "

"Does he know?"

"No."

"Do you plan to tell him?"

"Eventually."

"Then who is he?"

I knew the answer before he said it. It all made sense now. How our parents' stories were so similar, how my father's hatred of the Illyrians didn't extend to him, how as far as I could remember we had been raised together.

"We talked about this. You have an heir." My mother interrupted, her voice calm and steady. I was surprised that she was standing up for me. She never usually does.

My mother wasn't standing up for me, she was standing up for him. For.......

"My son, y/n's brother and my heir is Tom."

♡●♡●♡●♡●♡●♡●♡●♡●♡●♡●♡●♡●♡●♡●♡●

Oooooo! Cliff hanger ending!!😂 Also I just binge watched all of season one of The Umbrella Academy and it's AMAZING!! ps. I just want Klaus to be happy.

Thank you so much for reading!! I really hope you enjoyed. Feedback is always appreciated and if you want to be added to the taglist, feel free to ask!!!

Taglist: @ignimbritetcax @devildisguiseasangel