#like it's still a young kid's show so they bounce back p fast and lean into the exaggeration comedy

[katetcake]

Love when media lets their main characters fail. And not the pathetic makes you want to wrap them in a blanket failure. But a failure borne through pain and suffering as they watch everything they were trying to protect crumble. A failure that hurts. A failure that feels hopeless. A failure that has them grit their teeth and push back tears as they desperately cling to hope that maybe, just maybe, if they try hard enough they can win

[pwarkluv]

❝ what is love? - l.mk ❞

lee mark x reader | fluff | 2k words

WARNINGS | lowercase is intended, idol au, love at first sight au, 6thmemberofitzy!reader, shy!mark and shy!reader, fluff bc that’s what i’m best at LOL, another request :), just enjoy <3

REQUEST | “hii i read ur electric love fic w jisung and i really loved it :DD could you do the same for mark ? still as the 6th member of itzy ofc :D” - my lovely anon <3

SUMMARY | he wonders what is love, but finds the answer in you.

AUTHOR’S NOTE | inspired by the song “what is love” by twice (english lyrics by genius translations)! ANOTHER REQUEST HDSFKLDSJHF IM SO SO SO SO EXCITED! i wanted to change up the setting so it’s still 6th member itzy, but not in weekly idol :P ALSO this was inspired by when nct dream, itzy, and stray kids sat next to each each other in that one award show so yeah lolol. IM SO SORRY I LOST THE MESSAGE WHERE MY ANON ASKED FOR IT BUT I STILL WROTE IT FOR YOU! I LOVE YOU, THANK YOU, NEVER BE SHY TO DM ME ;)

what is love?

mark knew the general idea of it; the sappy moments movies show, the “butterflies in your stomach” feeling books portray, the pain and hardships songs make you feel. 

but he’s never been in love, at least not like this.

❝ how could it be as sweet as candy? ❞

training at such a young age molded mark into the perfect idol, and with that he was fully aware dating would look bad to the public. he accepted the fact that he might never find love, all to help achieve his dream. 

but as cheesy as it sounds, the canadian wished to be loved. 

yes he was loved by his members, his family, his friends, his fans; but the type of love he longed for was something none of them could give him. 

mark wanted to feel the sweetness of being in love, the giddiness you’d feel whenever you talk to them, the pounding of your heart whenever they’re near. he wanted to experience the overwhelming need to be with that person, like if they’re gone for too long it’s like you can’t breathe.

was being in love like making a song for the very first time? or was it like eating watermelon all the time?

so many questions with no answers, the boy left to wander in his own thoughts. 

❝ how it’s like flying in the sky? ❞

he smiled bittersweetly as the newly wed couple danced around in confetti, the sound of laughter and cheers resonating around the room. one of nct’s managers that had been with them since the beginning invited them to her wedding, to which the team obviously accepted. 

all 23 of them were happy for their noona who found her happy ending. mark could only watch in awe at the sight of the two lovebirds, the love and adoration for the other evident in the way they looked at each other.

his heart tugged a bit knowing he wanted something like that too. 

“being in love is like flying in the sky.” his manager explained to the boy as a makeup artist experimentally brushed strokes on her face. it was a couple hours before the ceremony when mark knocked on her hotel door, wanting to visit his favorite noona before she finally said ‘i do’. 

his question left his mouth before mark could fully register what he was about to say, the poor boy flushing a bit as the woman laughed at him. 

“are you in love mark? is that why you’re asking me how i knew i was in love?” she teased as mark stutterd, denying her accusation.

“n-no i swear!” he said as his manager continued laughing, the makeup artist having to pause a bit to let her get it all out. “i’m just curious.” mark said quietly trying to stop the heat from rushing up to his cheeks. 

“well being in love is a magical feeling.” the woman said, turning a bit serious. mark sat up straight as he listened intently. “when you realize you love someone, it can be a scary thing. love isn’t perfect mark, and i want you to know that. there are moments where you want to scream and rip your hair out, or cry to let it all out.”

the boy nodded in understanding, having a bit of knowledge from all the good breakup songs taylor swift writes about. 

“but it can also change your whole world.” she continued on. “it’s like seeing the world again for the very first time and the colors are more vibrant. it’s like having a permanent reason to be happy, and a reason to stay.” she explained as the mark sat quietly trying to comprehend it all. 

❝ i wanna know know know know, what is love? ❞

the poor boy’s head couldn’t wrap around the thought of you. 

his heart hammered in his chest as he secretly glanced at you, desperately trying to avoid suspicion from fans and his members. you were just too breathtaking, having the canadian looking back for more. 

the moment he first laid eyes on you, it was like an epiphany. you were the answer to all his questions.

so this is what it feels like, mark thinks to himself as he looks back on all the things he’s heard about love. 

the butterflies, the pounding of your heart, the “seeing the world in a whole new perspective”, mark felt everything and as much as he felt excited, he was scared.

as harmless as it sounds, award shows were a risky thing for idols. being surrounded by fans of different groups as well as said groups themselves always seemed to cause a bit of a stir between fans.

between dating rumors and rumors about beef between two idols, anything could happen.

but usually mark would be okay. he’s been doing this for a long time and knew how to behave.

however what he didn’t expect was to see you, the tiny rookie idol from the newly debuted girl group ‘itzy’. 

nct 127’s table was right next to yours which let mark have a clear view of your pretty eye smile as you laughed at something lia had whispered into your ear. your laugh was bubbly and contagious, the boy having to physically stop himself from wanting to laugh too. 

he was panicking, but mark couldn’t tell if it was in a good or bad way. 

❝ what does love feel like? ❞

your breath hitched as you saw the boy sneak glances at you from the corner of your eye.

the mark lee was looking at you, your heart racing as you tried to deny the fact that he was staring you down. there was no way the dude you’ve looked up to your entire trainee life is noticing you, no way at all.  

everyone has heard of mark lee even if you weren’t into kpop. he was just that iconic. 

you’ve been an nctzen since the very beginning, being there for nct u’s debut stage. in fact, nct was the very reason you decided to audition to become an idol in the first place. you looked up to the team but more importantly you looked up to a certain canadian in the group.

originally doyoung was your bias in nct when nct u first came out. but as the years passed by you found yourself more and more intrigued by mark, having him absolutely wreck your bias list.

since then you’ve been a loyal mark stan, even rapping his part in cherry bomb for your audition tape which ultimately led you to become an idol yourself. 

you refused to believe you were in love with the dude, not knowing a single thing about him. there was no way you could love him, not if you’ve never even met the boy.

but your heart seemed to prove you wrong as it beat wildly knowing mark was sitting right there on the table next to you. 

“you okay bubs?” lia asked in a worried tone, leaning in to whisper into your ear. she saw the way your leg bounced in a fast rhythm, knowing you only did that when you were nervous. 

you forced a smile as you hesitantly looked her way, knowing that she could take one look into your eyes and know you were lying. “i'm fine unnie, don’t worry about me.” you replied as sweetly as you could, wishing the elder wouldn’t notice a thing. 

though you two and yeji were the eldest in the group, all being born in the year 2000, you were the baby of the unnie line. lia and yeji knew you the best, having grown up with you after all. 

the girl only gave you a look before taking your hand in hers to give a soft squeeze. “i know you’re lying but i won’t push you. also mark lee from nct 127 is totally checking you out.” lia said, whispering a bit on the last part. she winked as you flushed, looking away in horror. 

-

johnny nudged the boy next to him with a small smirk, clearly seeing the heart eyes he was giving the girl in the table next to them. mark jumped a bit at the feeling, looking at his hyung with confusion.

“so y/n of itzy?” johnny said with a small smile as the younger immediately sat up straight. 

“is it that obvious?” mark whispered back with a hint of fear in his eyes.

if any of the fans were to get a hold of this… the boy could only shiver at the thought. 

johnny’s playful smile dropped a bit at mark’s worried look knowing how he must feel. they were idols after all.

“don’t worry, i only noticed because she was looking back at you too.” he said, mark flushing at the revelation.

“really?” he asked a little out of it. 

“i say talk to her after this?” the elder said, laughing a bit when mark jumped in his seat, immediately saying no. 

❝ will love come to me someday? ❞

“unnie why are you making me stay in the dressing room~” you whined as the end of the award show came along.

you just wanted to go home, your body worn out. not from all the dancing but from the way it viciously pounded in your chest whenever you ever thought about mark. 

lia only smirked in retaliation as she brought a hand up to squish your cheeks. “trust me, you’ll thank me later.” she said as she walked out of the dressing room, bumping into a 6 foot tall boy with a smaller boy behind him. 

“oops sorry.” she said a little playfully, as lia gave a wink to johnny knowing their plan was going accordingly. johnny only gave her a small smile, but if you looked closely you could see the mischief in his eyes. 

“hyung where are we going?” mark asked, a little weirded out by the two’s interaction. johnny only ignored the boy, dragging him by his arm as they walked down the hallway. 

“hyung i swear if this is a prank i’ll-” mark’s words were cut off as the two entered a door, only to see your confused face staring back at him. 

“oh shit.” he cursed under his breath, a little taken aback from how beautiful you were. one whole award show later and you were still as gorgeous as when he first saw you sitting down in the table next to his. 

your confused face quickly turned to an embarrassed one as you noticed the boy, turning another shade of red when you noticed he couldn’t take his eyes off of you.

“hi y/n, my name is johnny and this is my band mate mark.” the taller boy said, holding his hand out in a handshake. 

“h-hi i’m y/n.” you stuttered, not expecting to see the boy you’ve been daydreaming about for the past two hours to be right in front of you. 

mark gawked at the sight of you, his mind malfunctioning as the words seemed to get stuck at the tip of his tongue.

“markie right here has something he wants to ask you.” johnny said, pushing the younger in front of him with a grunt. 

this seemed to knock him right out of his trance, a hand coming up to the back of his neck as he stared down at the floor with pink cheeks.

“do you maybe wanna-”

“yes.” you blurted out, a hand covering your mouth in shock. “i-if you were gonna ask if i wanted to hang out sometime, the answer is yes.” you said a little shyly as the boy smiled. 

all this time mark thought he was gonna find love, but maybe love found him instead. 

“i’ll pick you up at 6 tomorrow evening.” mark said with a sweet smile as he took a step back only to be pushed back up again by johnny.

“you don’t even have her number you dumbass.” the elder scolded, disappointed at how dumb the boy was. 

your laughter caught both of the boy’s attention as you put your hand out with a small smile. “you want my number or nah?”

[dzamie-oc]

03 - Steampunk

I’ll admit, this is a bit reductionist for a punk story, but gimme a break, I wrote this in only a few hours :P

Length: 2200 words Rating: T (mild description of blood and death) Summary: A factory worker makes a dragon. They grow up together and eventually enact a little bit of class warfare and a little bit of revenge.

-----

Finn’s desk was half covered in a pile of assorted junk - gears, pipes,twisted bits of scrap metal, keys for long-dead springs, and so much more, almost all tarnished, covered in coal soot, or both. However, his attention was focused on the other half, a carefully cleared space with only a few mechanical pieces strewn about, all polished to perfection. Most importantly, in the middle, sat a small, mechanical device of his own creation. Its body was unfinished, exposing much of its inner workings to the naked eye - and the elements, if he let it get that far. A head like a mix of a lizard and a dog, a long, flexible neck, a body that one might mistake for a large, metallic rat’s, and a slender tail which ended in a thin, metal cone. The young teen, with a degree of care unusual to someone with such a rat’s nest of hair, delicately positioned his creation to lay on its back, curled its legs in, and gently inserted a brass key into a particular, well-shaped hole in its chest. Once, twice... three times he turned, for luck.

Through the background din of machinery, he suddenly heard the sound of footsteps and froze. Reflexively, his free hand flew to the ignored pile of scraps, then slowly dragged one over, taking just long enough for him to listen to the footsteps pass by and once more out of earshot. Finn let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding, furtively glanced left and right, just in case, and removed the wound key.

Gears and wheels began to spin with a soft whirr, and a look of wonderment spread across Finn’s face as the mechanical legs twitched, then cycled in the air. Its head lifted, letting him stare into its dark eyes, no longer as lifeless as they’d always seemed to be.

“Hey, little guy,” the boy said, “welcome to the world. I’m Finn. I almost hate to dump this on you, but... look, in case I can’t, keep wound, and keep hidden. I wish I could show everyone how cool you clearly are, but-”

Suddenly, more footsteps. Footsteps he recognized, and recognized well. Finn hissed an apology to the dragon and quickly covered it with the nearby metal bowl he’d kept its parts in, then grabbed a part from the pile and set about rubbing it with a rag nearly as filthy as the part. A valve, he realized after his first pass of rubbing - after so many years, his hands knew how to move without thinking, or even realizing what was in them. The footsteps grew louder, closer, and Finn scrubbed at the metal. With a sigh, he wondered if he’d just gotten it dirtier. He went to pass it ahead into a bucket of valves, when-

“Finnegan Shine!” came the shrill voice of a woman who thought herself far more cultured than she knew she could even aspire to. “Just what are you doing with that thing?”

Finn’s “good afternoon, Ms. Springwarden” was cut off by her question, so he looked at the metal in his hand. “I’m... putting it with the other valves after cleaning it?”

Ms. Springwarden harrumphed. “Cleaning it! Just what HAS that first-shift supervisor been teaching you?” She looked at the valve - and at Finn - with a sneer. Finn always thought that, if disdain was an Olympic sport, Ms. Springwarden would have enough gold to live somewhere nice and stop tormenting him - although, he had to admit, perhaps she would still torment him for the fun of it. “Why, I can barely tell it apart from that filthy pile!”

The boy put on a puzzled expression. “Really? But I’ve been going at it with my cleanest rag for a solid minute,” he lied. Of all the people in Alma Vera, she was the last person he ever wanted to even consider the existence of his hidden project. Still, he held up three more well-used cloths, to show her that at least part of his claim had been true.

Another harrumph. “And not once did you think that, just maybe, you ought to trade them for washed cleaning equipment?”

“But Ms. Springwarden, I thought I wasn’t allowed to leave my chair during my shift?”

“Foolish child,” the woman replied, and brought her hand towards his forehead, finger primed to flick. At the last second, however, Finn saw a look of disgust, and she withdrew so as not to touch his, charitably, under-washed face. “Rise and follow me. But don’t let me catch you out of your seat without my permission!”

“Yes, Ms. Springwarden!” Finn said, and stood. The four dirty rags were exchanged for four clean ones, or at least as clean as would pass at his work. Thus equipped, Finn was returned to his seat - the bowl still overturned, to his relief.

Ms. Springwarden crossed her arms and said, “who knows how many valuable components you’ve ruined with your folly. You do remember our motto, do you not?”

Finn nodded. “Quality and quantity, Ms. Springwarden.”

The woman harrumphed yet again, and picked up two of the buckets he had sorted parts into, and dumped them into the assorted pile. “Well, let us now remedy your mistake. You will have to clean each of these now befouled pieces once again, and be quick about it!” She glared at him. “Your work ends when your pile is gone, and not a second, nor a part, sooner.”

“Yes, Ms. Springwarden.”

Finn returned to his task, and after a few seconds, he heard one last derisive snort, and then footsteps trailing away. The boy dramatically picked up his pace once she was gone, and before long, he had undone the damage to his progress she had inflicted on him. Another look left and right, and he placed his hands on the bowl, praying that the dragon truly was still there.

“Hey, it’s me,” he whispered, so the dragon wouldn’t try to hide. When he revealed the metallic creature, it had its forepaw in its chest, twisting the mechanism inside. Once finished, it looked up at him and swished its tail, accompanied by the soft, metallic whirring of gears. “That was Ms. Springwarden. They say that, somewhere out there, at least three people are unable to make that ‘hmph’ sound, because she’s using all of theirs.” The dragon leaned its head down, opened its jaws, and picked up a twisted bit of scrap metal, then shook it around a bit, which got a chuckle out of Finn. “It’s too bad you’re not as big as the dragons I’ve heard the people who live on airships have. You could just eat her, then. Although, I wouldn’t have been able to hide you while I built you.”

The clockwork creature flicked its head and sent the scrap flying through the air, to land in the discard bucket. “Fast learner,” Finn remarked. “So, you need a name. I think... Eve.” He paused. “It’s not weird to name you after an elementary school crush, is it?”

Eve responded by tossing another bit of scrap into the bucket, then wiping her mouth on his hand.

-----

Finn prowled through the dense pipework of the underground, eyes peeled for the rats he was supposed to exterminate. In one hand, he held a bag full of rodent corpses - his proof for payment. The other hand gripped what might charitably be called a tiny harpoon launcher. It looked similar to a certain toy gun, popular among the children of wealthy families, and that was no accident - although he would have the kid he stole it from think otherwise. With a bit of tinkering, a wire to save on ammunition, and a much better spring, Finn considered himself the second best at this sort of job, something that led people to avoid asking too much about the improvised tool.

A squeak cut short, then rapid metal-on-metal clanking heralded the arrival of the first best at this sort of job. Eve trotted up to him, two dead rats in her mechanical jaws. Over the past five years or so, Finn had found or fashioned bigger replacement parts for his dragon until she stood nearly at his waist. Long since unable to hide her under a bowl, of course, the story now was that she was a defective mechanical dog he had scored for a pittance. Regardless, Eve stood attentively next to him, waiting for him to open the bag for her. When he did, one rat fell into the pile of its brethren, and as for the other...

Eve tossed and flicked her head until the rodent’s body aligned with her jaws. A new whirring noise kicked in as sets of wheels dragged it down her metal throat, and then a sickening grinding sound bounced around the pipes and fixtures. The dragon opened her mouth again and wiped it on his pants leg, to his mild dismay.

“You’re gonna have to drop that habit, or I’ll put you back on winding-only.”

Eve went still for a few seconds, but the gentle whirring of her insides picked up. When she moved again, she brought one upturned forepaw in front of the other, then cycled them around each other, and finally tapped her throat.

“Break a habit for a voice?” Finn asked. “Eve, voices are hard to come by. You know I would’ve gotten you one by now if I could.”

The sound of a much smaller creature skittering along the metal ground caught both of their attentions. Finn spun, aimed, and pulled the trigger, and a barbed, pointed pole flew from the tip of his weapon, with metal wire following shortly after. The rat screamed a squeaky scream, then fell quiet, and Finn reeled in his shot and prize.

Eve pressed her paw against his leg for his attention. She pointed her muzzle at the gun, then curled back at her own chest, and then she once again tapped her paw to her neck with an insistent clank-clank-clank. Finn furrowed his brow. “I’m pretty sure voice boxes are in a league of their own...” he started, then smiled broadly at her. “Then again, so am I. Mind giving up more than half your rats from now on, so we can go shopping for anything we can’t find?”

The dragon’s metal plating rattled against itself as she wiggled in anticipation, then bounded off to massacre more vermin.

-----

It was a glorious ceremony. Everyone sported their most elaborate suits and dresses, all in a modest brown. Some of the more adventurous gentlemen had constantly-turning gears on the hats they politely kept in their laps, but no longer were they nor their headwear the center of attention. Ms. Springwarden, soon to lose that name, stood in a beautiful, ornate, white dress, and stared adoringly at the man standing in front of her, who-

BOOM!

A shout rose up from the crowd as what used to be a wall was replaced by a hole and a dragon. The elaborate mechanical creature’s outer plating was a mismatch of bronze, iron, and steel, as though it had been dressed in a junkyard. And perched on its back was a man with a daring grin, who Ms. Springwarden found strangely familiar...

“Well! Ms. Springwarden, aren’t you moving up! The big boss himself, I wonder if you’ll outlast  his last four wives!” Finn shouted as he dismounted the dragon, landing with a roll and ending up right next to the bride-to-be.

Without opening her mouth, Eve spoke. “I am confident he will be her husband for the rest of his life,” she said. Her voice was unnatural, amateurish, and it sounded like it belonged in some sterile, form-over-function research lab, rather than a well-tuned dragon. Before anyone could react, she opened her jaws and snapped up the stunned man, soon feeding him to the wheels hidden behind her neck plating.

“Aw! Eve! I had planned this whole quip about how his factories have a great quantity of people and I’m about to increase the average quality!”

“So lie in your memoir.”

Many of the guests had fled the scene, with only a few hiding behind the benches, and Ms. Springwarden herself remained frozen to the spot. “Wh- who...?”

Finn swept into a deep bow, mockingly low. “Finnegan Shine, Ms. Springwarden. My friends call me Finn, but of course you never did. You may not remember me, and I sorely wish I could say the same. But now then...” He stepped backwards towards Eve, who lowered her head and opened her jaws. Finn leaned against her neck, feeling the whirr of the wheels making up her throat thrumming through her metal body. “They say marriage is for better or worse, right? What say you join your hubby in the ‘worse?’”

Eve’s distorted voice joined in once more, saying, “I remember you. That he is offering you a refusal is far more than I would have.”

The woman - having found a worse fate than being left at the altar - took a step back, shaking her head. “No... no. Please, no.”

To everyone’s surprise, the dragon snapped her mouth shut with a loud crash of metal, and Finn clambered back up onto her back. “Then it’s a damn lucky thing I’m not you, miss,” the man said, before the pair of them escaped through the dragon-sized hole in the wall.

Finn hugged Eve’s neck tight. One down, an unfortunate number to go. He just hoped his friends were having as much fun as he was.

[loser-writings]

hey! can i request sfw alphabet for katsuki (if someone hasn't already)? as always i looooove your work, thank you! 💕

Hey! Thank you for being patient with me! These alphabets take quite a bit of time so once again, thank you. 

Also! Special thanks to the lovely @garrulousassurance for helping me with this as well as letting me bounce ideas off of you!

SFW Alphabet || Katsuki Bakugo

A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)

He isn’t affectionate in the same sense as Deku, Kirishima, or Todoroki. He shows his affection by little things like giving you his full attention when you are speaking, keeping eye contact with you, and giving you little motivational pep talks when you are feeling down

He is pretty uncomfortable with physical affection, but he tries his best. PDA Isn’t his thing, but be patient and he might hold you hand (Even if they are a little sweaty)

B = Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?)

He would be a really supportive best friend, but the kind of friend that would call you out on your shit. You being an asshole? He will fucking tell you and keep you in check. He never really gets physical either, but he will slap your arm and glare if you say something that can come off the wrong way.

One of the most caring best friends ever. You have a headache? Hold up he has pain pills. You hungry? Shit give him 10 minutes and he will cook for you. 

Also is the friend you need when it comes to other toxic people. He HATES seeing his friends being abused or taken advantage of. If you are in a bad relationship, he will be there as backup and motivation to help get you out of there. Dealing with an abusive parent and having enough, He will get you out of there and will have you move in with him.

C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?)

He really does love to cuddle, but it takes some work to convince him to sit down and relax. He always wants to move and really doesn’t know how to relax, so the best way to get him to cuddle is by grabbing his hand and pulling him to the couch or bed. Then sit or lay on top of him. He will complain for a while, but he won’t move. If you move, he will simply pull you back down. He is just being a brat.

His favorite way to cuddle is called “The Sweethearts cradle” since it's such a calming position for him. With your hand pressed against his chest, he will wrap his arm around you to pull you closer before pressing a kiss to your head. He really loves to sleep like this too since he thinks spooning is overrated (But he will never deny being the little spoon)

D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?)

He wouldn’t really “Settle down” since he wants nothing more than to be a hero and a symbol of peace like All Might was for him, but he also won’t let this desire interfere with his life outside of work. He would love to have a family to come home to and to marry you one day. A quiet life with Katsuki doesn’t really suit him, but he will continue to do his best with you by his side.

He is clearly great at cleaning and can cook like none other. He absolutely loves to cook and it seems to relax him, so if he is stressed you better prepare for a good meal and maybe some candy or baked goods as well.

E = Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?)

He would break up with you as gently as he possibly can. He genuinely does/did love you, but he would leave in a heartbeat as long as it meant you were safe and had the chance to be happy. It would suck, and he may even shed a tear or two, but after breaking the news to you he will give you a really tight hug. There is so much in that hug that it really does break your hearts, but he knows its for the best.

F = Fiance(e) (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?)

It would be a few years before he decided to pop the question, no less than 2. If you don’t believe in marriage, that's chill too. He doesn’t need a piece of paper to tell you that he loves you, but he would get married if you expressed that you want that.

G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)

He isn’t that gentle, but he is more gentle with you than he is with others. When he is with his friends or in public, he can be a bit of a hothead but he will never hurt you. When he is alone, he is much more calm and gentle. If you tease him, He may try to be a bit less gentle with you.

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?)

Bakugo does enjoy hugs, but he will never initiate them. If you want a hug, you will have to get it yourself but it can end in a variety of ways. 

He might push you away, but try not to take it personally. This will happen if he is genuinely angry, is in public, and while he is doing hero work. If he is angry, he will push you away with the comment that he doesn’t want to be touched. In reality, he just doesn’t want to take his anger out on you. As mentioned previously, he struggles with PDA, so he will push you away simply because he is uncomfortable.

If you hug him in private, he will still be a bit stiff but he will relax over time. He will slowly wrap his arms around you and rest his head on your head or your shoulder. He is also the kind of person who sways a bit from side to side when he holds somebody, just enjoying the hug as much as possible

If he hugs somebody, including his S/O, he rather just woke up from a nap or is having a really bad day. Even he has some pretty bad days that leave him just wanting to be held. This doesn’t happen, though more likely than he would admit out loud.

I = I love you (How fast do they say the L-word?)

Bakugo isn’t one to throw the phrase around lightly. He tests it out quietly while watching his partner sleep one night, and thinks about it for a long time before deciding to say it. He originally had the perfect time planned, but it slips out the first time he gets into a disagreement with his partner. Cue the end of the disagreement, two red faces, and a frustrated Katsuki who wishes he had a do over. He isn't too upset about it though because love is messy and it's better to have all of your feelings out in the open. 

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)

He really doesn’t get jealous easily because he does have faith in his S/O. That being said, he does get jealous at times. Normally when this happens, he just glares, mumbles a bit and huffs since he knows that you are most likely being oblivious to it. If you were doing it on purpose, he would just tell you to stop because he can’t stand when you try to make him feel jealous since it occasionally makes him feel insecure.

K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?)

His kisses are pretty passionate and clearly full of love. Since he struggles with using his words sometimes, he will usually fix that with his actions. He will tease you, keeping his lips just far enough away from you to make you whine and he will pull away every time you lean in. He honestly loves this game and will tease until finally just giving in, kissing you softly, cupping your face, and biting your lip as he pulls away.

L = Little ones (How are they around children?)

He really tries to be patient with kids, but goddamn to they get on his nerves. He can’t stand how messy they are, how they don’t listen, and just how chaotic they can be. One second the kid is on the ground coloring in a book, and the next they are trying to draw on the walls. If they are a bit older, they make comments about him that manage to hit all of the right buttons to piss him off. If they are young or a newborn, then they just cry, shit, and puke. He can’t handle it and seems snappier around them.

If he does manage to find himself taking care of a more calm kid, it’s almost like he is a completely different person. If they are one or two and are really quiet, and can listen? He doesn’t mind watching them while they scribble on some paper. He might even carry them around while he is cooking dinner. If the kid falls asleep in his arms, he is fucking done for. 

He wants to like kids, but he struggles with finding ones he can handle.

M = Morning (How are mornings spent with them?)

Morning routines are a very calming thing. Usually he will let you sleep in and make breakfast. Once he is done, he will wake you up so you can eat while he goes to shower. When he comes out and finds you eating breakfast, he will kiss you and 

N = Night (How are nights spent with them?)

Sleeping. Like no kidding he is in bed by 8:30pm most nights, 10pm latest. Before bed, he will often cook dinner for you and then relax. The majority of nights with Katsuki are fairly calm due to his long days at work so watching movies together and binge watching TV shows are a usual thing in the Bakugou household.

O = Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)

He is actually really slow about opening up to you. Like he is slower than the majority due to his fears. Once he realizes how much he cares about you though, he is practically an open book. 

He isn’t one that will just SPILL everything to you, but he is more of a “Ask me whatever, whenever, and Ill tell you the truth”

P = Patience (How easily angered are they?)

Bakugo? He may get irritated frequently, but he is slow to true anger. If he can't fix the problem, it gnaws at him until he blows up (pun intended) at someone. He’s not great at expressing his feelings, or trying to talk about his problems, but it's something he knows he needs to work on. His anger has caused a lot of issues with keeping up relationships, but he's trying to manage it better. 

Q = Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?)

It’s about half and half. For instance, he can remember what your favorite dishes are, who your idols are, and even your workout routine without having to think too hard. Little things he repeats to himself to commit them to memory, but anything that’s said when his attention is somewhere else can get lost. He knows his partner won’t get too frustrated with him if he can’t remember every single detail, but he still tries anyway. 

R = Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?)

He will never admit it, but one of his favorite moments happened after a horrible fight with a villain that almost cost him his life. This would’ve been pretty early on in the relationship, when he was still unsure if he could say that he loved you fully. That his whole heart was in it. It wasn’t until he was running on fumes, barely able to stand on his feet, when the thought of how scared you must be entered his mind. He had to keep going and make sure that he could come home to you. He would continue to fight until the villain collapsed. 

Katsuki did his best to stay on his feet with his fist in the air, mimicking All Might and Endeavor to show the people he was okay and that he won, but the second the cameras turned off he ended up collapsing. When he woke up again, he was clearly in the hospital. He was going to try to move til he looked down and saw you asleep, head resting on the bed with your hands holding onto his. He could see the tear stains on your cheeks and the bags under your eyes. He refused to move his hand and let you sleep holding him, quickly finding himself in his head thinking about how much he cared about you.

After you woke up and Katsuki was able to go home, You stayed with him in his house since he was still struggling a bit and was told to rest. He was off work for a month so you both spent lots of time together, and this was when he really did know he loved you. He was surprised by how well you worked together, and ended up slipping the L word not long after.

S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?)

He tries not to act like he is paranoid that something could happen to you, but he’s honestly pretty paranoid. Since he had already been targeted and kidnapped by the League of villains before, he wouldn’t hold it past them to try to kidnap you too.

T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?)

It’s about 50% most of the time. On a normal date or everyday life, he may suggest something simple to do like watch a movie, eat dinner, and talk. He really doesn’t believe that he should have to go all out all of the time since that will just burn him out. 

During anniversaries and bigger days, he will try a bit more. Get you a nice gift, take you out for dinner to your favorite place, or take you to do something you’ve wanted to do. These days usually get about 75-80%

The only day where he REALLY tries his best to make it special, is the day he would propose to you/give you a promise ring. It’s his way of showing you that he wants you to be there for him no matter what. He will plan for months to do this, eventually making a huge scavenger hunt and getting the Bakusquad in on it til you find him in a whole ass suit, ready to propose/give you the ring. It’s obvious that this took a lot of work, and he tried 100%

U = Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?)

He is a hot head and during arguments, will purposely use shit against you to make you upset. He feels like a bastard afterwards, but he always knows that he said what he said. He doesn’t really think before speaking when this shit happens, so really bad arguments could result in him saying some really rude shit.

He swears A LOT. Some people may have a huge problem with this. He tries his best not to at times, usually around kids or your family, but it will still slip out a time or two.

He also tends to interrupt you when you’re talking. He isn’t trying to do it intentionally, but he is so used to just saying what he wants to say that it can just completely cut you off. He will try his best to actually wait, but he still sucks at not interrupting.

V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?)

He is to an extent. His father is a fashion designer and his mom always made sure he looked well put together, so he makes sure he never looks like a slob. Hell even his casual clothes seem to flatter him. 

He does take an interest in makeup, but he doesn’t really wear it much. He may highlight the inner corners of his eyes on a normal day, but that’s usually it. He does have his days where he goes all out with it though, doing orange, green and black eyeshadow that looks pretty damn badass.

W = Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?)

If it’s just for a few hours or days, he really isn’t that bad. He may check in on you once or twice but he really isn’t too worried about it. He doesn’t feel incomplete, but he may miss you a little bit.

For a little while, but he is one of those who would move on. If you both broke up, he will be hung up for a few weeks to a couple of months because when he loves, he loves with all of his heart. He will move on though since he knows that being hung up on you could get in the way of him being a hero.

If you died however, he would be lost for a bit longer than a few months. He will still move on after a couple of years, but you will always have a section of his heart. He will visit your grave and tell you all about his new life though. You may be gone, but never forgotten.

X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them.) TW: ABUSE AND PANIC ATTACK

Nobody seems to acknowledge this, but he was abused the majority of his life by his mother. Some people will fight me on this headcanon, but you really see it when Toshinori and Aizawa visit the Bakugo household. She not only hits her child, but makes a comment about him being weak and that’s why he got kidnapped. She is victim blaming HIM for being kidnapped by the League of Villains, not really showing any concern for the fact her son could have been killed.

Once he is able to move out, he starts to realize his family life isn’t normal. He will go to Kirishimas’ parents house and they are???So sweet and supportive? He just doesn’t understand and thinks this is the most unusual thing. It’ll finally start to hit him that what he was going through WAS abuse, and he will most likely break down. Not a violent, screaming kind of breakdown, but the kind of breakdown that is heartbreaking to watch.

He will cry. They’ll start as silent tears before slowly amping up into full blown sobbing. He would have to sit down because if he is standing, he might just collapse. His sobs will last maybe 10 minutes before they start becoming more extreme. He will feel a tightness in his chest and will feel like he can’t breathe. If he is alone, he will cover his face with a pillow in an attempt to stop his tears but nothing helps. He will have a HORRIBLE anxiety attack, and if you find him like this you will have to be extremely gentle with him. Not because he would blow up at you, but because he can’t calm down easily and will easily get worked up again.

You would have the best luck by forcing him to sit up and hugging him as tight as you can. Seriously, wrap your arms and legs around him and just squeeze him. He will slowly calm down, it might take up to an hour, but he will calm down. He will be terrified the whole time but you just need to pet his hair, lay him back down and cuddle him.

To be honest, I have a lot of headcanons relating to the unspoken abuse of Katsuki Bakugo but I will leave this here. If you want me to write them all out, just message me and let me know. I’ll make a post about my headcanons about the abuse, the trauma it's caused, and other things like that since I have first hand experience with a scenario that is very similar to how his was depicted.

Disagree with this one if you will, but this is a personal headcanon of mine

Y = Yuck (What are some things they wouldn’t like, either in general or in a partner?)

Do fucking not hit him, threaten to hit him, or try to guilt trip him. He actually hates being hit and manipulated, and he will NOT have anybody do that to him. Sure, he may have times where he may play fight, but there is a clear difference between a Katsuki who is playfully fighting, and a Katsuki that is genuinely trying to hurt someone. 

Don’t be a kiss ass to him. If you have an opinion, he wants to hear it. Sure, he may disagree but he is always willing to hear you out and take your point of view into consideration. He doesn’t want to be in a relationship with a fan that will agree with everything he is saying since it can actually be pretty annoying just to have someone tell him yes all of the time.

Z = Zzz (What is a sleep habit of theirs?)

He has to sleep on his side and he goes to bed pretty early. It’s shown in the manga and the anime that he is in bed by 8:32pm and many think he sleeps so much because of how much energy he uses daily. He really does use a lot of energy. Like have you seen this dude brush his teeth? Like damn dude. Anyway, he sleeps on average of 8-10 hours. 8pm to 4am and the latest he goes to bed is 10pm. He will always be a morning person too, so good luck if you’re a night owl.

[plush-rabbit]

SFW Alphabet - Kaminari

A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)

Denki is a very touchy friend. He constantly has an arm wrapped you, nudging you constantly, leaning against you and anything else you can think of. If he’s unable touch you- mainly because of distance- then he’s calling you nicknames.

B = Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?)

As an extrovert, friendship started with him coming up to you and flirting, giving you sly grins, winks and anything else that he has up his sleeve. As a best friend, he’s constantly flirting but it’s a bit more toned down or flirts more but it’s much more teasing like- marriage proposals when you’re both forty and single, putting his face close to yours until you shove him away- it all depends on the mood he’s in.

C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?)

He loves to cuddle. If you ask him for a cuddle, he is already dragging you to the nearest soft surface and pulling you close to him. He loves being the little spoon and nuzzling into your neck. Alternatively, as long as you’re able to play with his hair, he’s happy.

D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?)

He eventually wants to settle down. He would like a partner but he doesn’t see himself having an actual committed one until he’s older. He’s fairly okay at both cooking and cleaning. It’s enough where he can make simple dishes and where his room is cluttered but it does have a few empty bottles and pants where they’re not supposed to be.

E = Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?)

Face to face. He’ll go to your place and just explain that you two aren’t a good fit for whatever reasons. He tries to be sensitive with your feelings but no breakups ever end on a good note. If he’s left clothes or any of his possessions at your place, they’re already gone. He doesn’t want to have to come back and face you once the breakup has happened.

F = Fiancé(e) (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?)

He’s not interested in commitment when he’s young. He enjoys his youth, the freedom and fun that comes with it. He only decides to settle down when he’s older, wanting the domestic life that comes with it. Once the relationship does start, he will know fairly early that you’re the one but it’s still a wait until he’s on his knee.

G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)

He’s good at reading your emotions and knowing if you need space or comfort. He enjoys being near you and kissing your wrists and just sitting in silence with you if that’s what you need. He doesn’t need to be popular with you, he doesn’t have to put up a front because you’re there.

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?)

He loves hugs. He’s wrapping his arms around you and pulling you tight into his chest with a huge smile on his face. It’s a type of hug where you’re left breathless and giggling at how much he’s into it. You can expect a hug from him at least once a day but will gladly hug you if you ask for it or even hint that you want one.

I = I love you (How fast do they say the L-word?)

Despite not being too interested in commitment he says the l-word fairly often. He means it, he does love you but with how often he’s said it, you don’t really believe that it’s the actual meaning. It’s until he’s serious and holding your hands in his and the words leave his mouth that they actually mean something.

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)

Denki is a fairly positive person, always happy and making friends with other but when you’re being hit on, he gets possessive. His arm is around you and he’s planting a kiss on your cheek and talking to you like the other person doesn’t even exist. If you scold him and continue to talk to the person, he’s bound to sulk in a corner until you hold his hand.

K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?)

All types of kisses. Quick, little ones. Deep, passionate ones. Ones where it’s a mix and he’s holding onto your face or hands that dip to your hips. He loves to kiss you on your lips, he loves how personal and intimate it all is and how he can feel your smile against his lips. If you kiss him on his jaw, he’s putty in your hands.

L = Little ones (How are they around children?)

Children love him. He’s just so energetic and friendly that kids feel safe around him. He loves being around little kids, they’re so easy to impress and they usually love his quirk because it reminds them of a certain mascot.

M = Morning (How are mornings spent with them?)

A morning with him is usually where you both lay in bed awake for a few minutes and just sort of wait until you can both move without feeling as if you’re going to fall over. Usually you both are still curled into each other or even just holding hands.

N = Night (How are nights spent with them?)

Nights are spent with him giggling in bed to a joke or memory of the day, with him nuzzled into your chest of you into his neck. It’s late nights where you to watch a Vine compilation and quote them, convulsing into a fit of giggles where once it’s quiet, laughter fills the room all over again until your stomach hurts.

O = Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)

He’s not secretive about his life in the slightest except it’s more like he won’t say anything unless asked or mentions it nonchalantly. He’ll be cleaning and then mention some memory as if he were asking you what you wanted for lunch. Usually if you do ask him to reveal some personal stuff, he’ll just ask what you really want to hear and he’ll tell you. He trusts you enough to allow his form of secrecy to go down.

P = Patience (How easily angered are they?)

He usually isn’t angered quite easily until he’s pushed. He has a surprising amount of patience where he can tolerate most things. It’s until he’s jealous that he’s actually a bit more annoyed. However, once he’s angered, he becomes very agitated and sometimes will shoot out little sparks. He’s a lot more bratty during these situations, complaining, making pouty faces and the works.

Q = Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?)

Denki tries to remember more of the everyday stuff. Like your medication, favorite food, specific things that come up more often than like little ticks of yours. He knows if you dislike the taste of something but he won’t be able to remember why.

R = Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?)

One of his favorite moments in the relationship is when he came home from patrol, ragged and weary, and you’re still awake, waiting up for him, you whisper, opening your arms for him to rest. He’s stressed and hands are limp and you’re playing with his hair, singing him a song and with closed eyes, you whisper that you love him and little sparks jostle you awake and he’s asleep with a smile on his face.

S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?)

He’s fairly protective of you. Always wants to be your knight in shining armor and proudly wrapping an arm around you and pulling you away from a situation that you’re in. If you’re being physically threatened, he’s pushing you behind him and puffing out his chest. If you were to protect him, he likes it when you snap at the offender, insults spewing and fists balled up. He likes to be held afterwards.

T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?)

It’s the cliché things, chocolates, flowers, balloons, and what not where you scoff and roll your eyes. You have a collection of different themed plush animals hiding somewhere in a closet.  Usually for bigger dates like anniversaries and birthdays, things are a bit more lowkey, dinners and handwritten poems that aren’t usually good but it’s sweet and the thought that counts. You keep the collection safe in a binder decorated in pictures of both of you.

U = Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?)

Old habits die hard. He can’t help flirting with others, a coy smile on his face, eyes that shine and an attitude that won’t quit. He’s still very committed to you and he doesn’t even realize that he’s flirting until you give him a look.

V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?)

He takes care of himself. He has a whole night routine that that he follows regularly. He always makes sure that he looks groomed and well taken care of.

W = Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?)

Yes. Once he loves you, an actual love where he just sees you and mind goes blank and he can’t stop the smile that’s growing, he would feel incomplete if you were gone. He likes to joke you’re the better half but ever joke holds some truth to it. Losing you would leave him feeling empty and a constant what-if.

X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them.)

If you start singing, he’s bound to join in. If he doesn’t know the lyrics, he’s mumbling and belting out the words he can make out. He’s holding your hands and pulling you into a dance. If you’re driving, he’s bouncing in your seat and looking at you and doing all sort of motions.

Y = Yuck (What are some things they wouldn’t like, either in general or in a partner?)

He doesn’t like people who badmouth others. He finds it distasteful and will become a bit more aggressive and dismissive. He doesn’t mind the occasional rant because that’s what it is, a rant to just vent off your feelings but when you make a snide comment about someone’s appearance, he isn’t taking that lightly.

Z = Zzz (What is a sleep habits of theirs?)

He sleep talks. Often times the sentences are barley coherent, just little whispers about the toaster. There have been times where he’ll say sentences out loud and they’re a bit alarming; always “Who’s that?” or “Check the closet.” Sometimes you wonder if he’s just messing with you and he promises he’s not but he has been known to be cheeky. You’ll either get a good night sleep or a night full of paranoia.

[marksongyeom]

Catch | Part 3

Pairing: Mark Tuan x Reader

Genre: College!AU, a pinch of angst, fluff

Word Count: ~3.5K

Summary: After things went south at the part, Mark apologizes and makes it up to with a date

Previous: Intro, Part 2

Disclaimer: I am by no means a professional (or even good) writer so sorry in advance for any grammar or spelling errors and mistakes. Also, I didn’t proof read it.

The weekend went by fast. I spent most of it hiding away in my dorm after what happened Friday night. I was still not only upset about he Mark situation, but even more confused then I was before the party. I’d finally come to terms with the fact that I had a minor crush on him, and talking to him that night only made me fall deeper down the rabbit hole. Then that girl showed up, and it felt like I got punched in the stomach.

I stood on Allie’s desk taping fairy lights along the top of the wall. “Maybe she was just some random girl who had a few too many,” Allie suggested.

I sighed. “I don’t know. She didn’t seem that drunk, and it seemed like she knew him pretty well.”

“Frat boys are nothing but trouble,” she said, frowning and shaking her head, her curly hair bouncing with the movement.

I sighed again. Thoughts of Friday night and Mark were swimming around in my head. I kept thinking about how his eyes would sparkle when he started talking about something he was passionate about, like his major or baseball. Or how he’d throw his head back when he laughed really hard. But then I kept thinking about how he’d held onto that girls waist, in a borderline protective manor. I needed to distract myself. 

I taped up the last part of the lights and hopped down from her desk. “Wanna go to the cafe and get dinner?” I asked. Allie’s eyes lit up and she nodded. Food would surely take my mind off things.

We slipped on our shoes and grabbed our things. Then, just as we opened the door to leave, we met a familiar person outside our door. Mark Tuan. His eyes were wide and his hand was raised, ready to knock on the door. Allie raised an eyebrow at him. “Um, can we help you?” she asked, clearly confused.

Mark’s eye’s met mine as he let his hand fall. I looked down. “I’m actually here to talk to (y/n),” he answered nervously. “But, I can go. You guys seem kinda busy.”

Allie glanced at me. My eyes were trained on Mark’s sneakers, and I was nervously wringing my hands. Things seemed to click in her head. “Oh - um - no, we aren’t. We were just headed to dinner,” Allie responded. She turned to me, her voice more gentle when she spoke. “I’ll wait for you downstairs, okay?” I nodded. Allie glanced at Mark and I before heading down stairs.

Things were silent between Mark and I, the air between us thick with tension. I hadn’t even thought about what I was going to say to him. I didn’t even know if I wanted to confront him. What would I confront him about? Not telling me about that girl prior? Playing with my feelings? I’d only had one actual conversation with him, and he isn’t obligated to tell me anything. Making any accusations certainly wouldn’t make the situation any better either.

Finally Mark spoke up. “I’m really sorry about Friday.” I looked up at him, finally meeting his eyes. His looked tired and his hair was messy, but not in a relax or effortless fashion. 

“It’s alright,” I hesitated, not totally convinced by my own words. By the look Mark gave me, I could tell he wasn’t either. I sighed. “Okay, so it’s not, and I’m actually really upset about even though it shouldn’t be. I barely know you so it’s not like it’s any of my business anyway.”

Mark smiled at me gently. “I want you to know me though,” he responded. “And I really want to know you.” 

My cheeks heated up, making him smile wider. I couldn’t help the smile that started to creep onto my face. “Even during a serious conversation, you still manage to flirt,” I teased, hitting his shoulder playfully. Mark laughed. It was that same high-pitched, honey sweet laugh that I heard of Friday. I could feel the tension beginning to dissipate. 

However, there was still one question that was keeping me from letting go and losing myself in all that was Mark Tuan. And It was absolutely none of my business. If he wanted to tell me, he’d tell me, and I knew i should respect that. But I couldn’t stop myself. “Who was that girl anyway?” I finally blurted out. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, thought.”

Mark sighed, running a hand through his hair. Despite being ridiculously messy, it looked soft. It was hard to keep myself from reaching out to touch it. “No, you deserve to know. Her name is Summer. We dated last school year. It ended really weird. We were still talking before this semester started. Nothing serious, but still talking.”

I my spirits fell a little bit. “Ah, I see,” I replied, desperately trying to hide any disappointment.

“But then I saw you with Jackson, and I was immediately interested,” he said with a smile.

I couldn’t help but smile back. “Really? Why?”

Mark shoved his hands in his pockets and leaned down a bit so his eyes were level with mine. “Because you’re really pretty and I wanted to find out who you were,” he answered, his voice soft. It reminded me of silk. “Jackson mentioned you - a lot actually - but what he didn’t tell me was that you’re stunning, in every way possible.”

He left me speechless. My cheeks were warm again and my stomach was swirling. “Mark,” was the only thing I could respond with.

Mark stepped closer to me, a warm smile on his face. “Let me take you out sometime. Like I said, I want to know you. I want to know the things that make you nerd out and the little things that annoy you. I want to know how you think and understand the inner working of your mind,” he said, the silkiness still present in his voice.

My head was spinning. My heart was pounding. My stomach was no longer swirling, but doing back flips and cartwheels. Nobody had ever made me feel this way before. Nobody had ever wanted to know me like how I wanted to know them.

Finally, I responded. “I’d like that a lot.”

Mark grinned like a kid in a candy store. I couldn’t help the little laugh that escaped. “Great! How does tomorrow at seven sound?”

I pretended to think for a second, humming to myself. I tilted my head slightly, the smile on my face getting bigger. “That sound great.”

Mark and I exchanged phone numbers before he walked me downstairs to where Allie was waiting. “You look awfully happy,” Allie commented as soon as Mark left. “Spill.”

I laughed and shook my head. “I’ll tell you after we eat. I have to tell Jackson and Amanda, too, or else they might kill me.”

*     *     *

“Well, what’d he say?” Jackson asked impatiently. Him, Allie, and Amanda were all grinning at me.

I tried to hold back a smile of my own. “He asked me on a date,” I answered, childlike giddiness in my voice.

Amanda and Allie squealed. Jackson started bouncing on my bed next to me. “I never thought he’d do it!” he exclaimed.

“Why not?” Amanda questioned.

Jackson leaned back against my wall, a goofy grin still adorning his face. “I don’t know if you noticed but Mark is pretty shy. Dude barely talked when I first met him.”

“Are you sure you didn’t just talk so much that he couldn’t get a word in?” I snickered.

Jackson bumped my shoulder with his. “NO,” he retorted. We all laughed.

Amanda smiled dreamily. “I love this for you,” she gushed. “Ya know, I heard he’s the dream boy of the baseball team. Apparently, all the girls drool over him.”

Jackson rolled his eyes. “Dude, if only you knew. Girls will watch us practice just to see him,” he grumbled. “When’s the date?”

“Tomorrow,” I replied.

Jackson gasps, causing Allie, Amanda, and I to look at him in confusion. “What are we doing then? We need to pick out what you’re going to wear!”

I sighed. He was such a drama queen sometimes. “Jackson, it’s not until tomorrow night.”

He shook his head and pushed himself off my bed. “Nonsense, (y/n). You should always be prepared, especially if things go horribly.”

I rolled my eyes. “Thanks for boosting my confidence,” I muttered.

Amanda pointed at Jackson, nodding in agreement. “He’s not wrong thought. It’s important to be ready for anything. You never know when you may need to flex on a bitch.”

We all laughed again. Finally Allie spoke up. “I think it’d be fun. We could have a girls night and do face masks!”

Jackson made a noise of protest. “Hey, what about me?”

I laughed and climbed off my bed, pulling out my stash of face masks and miscellaneous skincare products. “Jackson, we’ve been over this before. You’re always included in girls night.” Jackson let out a pleased squeal, then proceeded to dig through my closet.

*     *     *

I stood in the mirror sending Jackson and Amanda pictures of my outfit for the evening. Somehow I knew they were going to demand to see it even though they’d already seen it last night. Jackson picked out jeans and a cute top for me, claiming Mark would more than likely take me someplace casual. And as always, he made sure I had a jacket. I used to take his all the time in high school until he started making me bring one everywhere, so it’d become a habit of his to make sure I had one.

I played with my hair in the mirror to distract myself from the anxiety that was building in my stomach while I waited for Mark. Jackson and Amanda were blowing up my phone with positive affirmations. They’d even gone as far as to create a whole group chat with the three of us just for this date.

Amanda: Make sure you take chapstick!! ;)

Jackson: H E Y

Jackson: Mark may be my homeboy and as much as I support this date, there will be NO KISSING, do you understand me young lady?

I snickered and typed back.

(y/n): Yes sir  :P

Jackson: Oh, (y/n), don’t forget you’re jacket!!!

Mark had finally texted me to say that he was here. I grabbed my bag and jacket, saying bye to Allie as I headed for the door. Right as I was about to leave, Amanda sent me one last text in our private thread.

Amanda: Hey, I know Jackson’s just looking out for you, but don’t take the jacket. Trust me. Have fun, love bug! Text us the details after!!

I stared at her message for a second before shrugging and tossing my jacket on my bed. I didn’t quite know what she was getting at, but something told me to just trust her. With that, I headed downstairs to meet Mark at the entrance of my dorm building.

He was waiting by the door for me when I got down stairs, leaning against the wall scrolling through his phone with one hand in his pocket. I felt my stomach flutter. Mark had this cool boy vibe about him. His messy hair, dark shirt, and black denim jacket only added to it. There was something mysterious about it, and that only attracted me to him more.

He looked up as I approached him, a smile spreading across his face once his eyes met mine. He pushed himself off the wall, taking a step forward to meet me. “Hey,” he breathed.

“Hi,” I replied softly.

“You look really pretty,” Mark said shyly, the tips of his ear turning red. 

I smiled, my cheeks flushed. “Thank you.”

“Ya know, it’s really cute when you blush at the things I say,” he chortled. 

I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore the heat crawling up the back of my neck and darkening the tint on my face. “Oh, let’s just go already,” I replied, unable to keep the small smile off my face.

“Yes ma’am!” Mark grabbed my hand and lead me out the door to his car. His hands were warm and soft, which was odd since he played baseball. But hey, who says athletes aren’t allowed to moisturize. Plus, I liked the feeling of his hand in mine. It was comforting.

Mark opened the passenger door for me before hopping into the drivers seat and taking off to where it was we were going.

*     *     *

I looked around in awe. Colorful lights flashed all around and laughter filled the air. Children were running ahead of their parents, high school students were grinning eagerly as they waited in line for rides, and workers watched in boredom as people tried to win the nearly impossible games. 

“I hope you like fairs,” Mark said as he rubbed the back of his neck shyly. “I didn’t think to ask before hand.”

I looked at him with a smile. “I’ve never actually been to a fair before.”

Mark’s shy demeanor was replaced with one of shock and excitement. “Wait, really?”

 I nodded in response.

Mark grinned and grabbed my arm, pulling me towards the ticket booth. “Oh, this is going to be so much fun!” Mark decided that we were going to get the full access wristbands, insisting that I needed to get the full experience. “What do you wanna do first?” he asked, looking at me.

I looked around at the brightly lit rides and booths. There were so many. And they were all so intriguing in some way. It was overwhelming honestly. “I don’t really know, there’s so many,” I answered, then I looked up at Mark. The way the light reflected off his skin was pretty. It was like he was standing in a room lit by neon pink and electric blue. 

Mark looked over at me. I felt my cheeks heat up, but I didn’t look away.. He’d caught me staring at him and there was no denying it. A large grin spread across his face. “(y/n), you’re supposed to be looking at what you wanna do, not me,” Mark teased. “Unless...”

“You are such a boy,” I sighed, my cheeks darkening and a content smile on my face. Mark laughed. It became more melodic every time I heard it. “Anyway, why don’t you show me you’re favorite things to do?”

Mark nodded, his eyes twinkling with childlike delight. “Sure, but you’re going to think I’m lame or cheesy.” Mark grasped my hand in his for the second time tonight, making my heart flutter a bit.

I raised my eyebrow at him. “Mark Tuan? The most popular bachelor of the baseball team? Lame? He could never,” I teased.

Mark snorted. “Looks can be deceiving then, can’t they?” He shot back, his lips curling into a smirk.

I rolled my eyes at him. “You’re trouble, Tuan.”

This made Mark grin. “Glad you caught on,” he replied, leaning into me a bit as we walked.

I shook my head, but I was grinning, too. “Why would, I think you’re lame?” I questioned, finally changing the topic back to what we were talking about before.

Mark shrugged. “I don’t really care for most of the rides here. I’m not a thrill junkie like Jackson and a lot of the other guys on the team,” Mark said. “I like people watching and the games, even though they’re impossible.”

I smiled. “That’s so wholesome.”

Mark looked at me and smiled back. We stopped in front of a game booth. A metal milk can sat in the middle of a table. I looked up at the sign above us. It read ‘Milk Toss’ in big, bold letters. “This,” Mark began,” is my favorite game.”

I looked at him. He beamed with childlike delight. “Isn’t this game one of the hardest?” I asked.

Mark nodded. “Yeah. I’ve been playing this game since I was a little kid. I would get so frustrated because I couldn’t win. Then, I started playing baseball in middle school.” Mark stepped forwards, showing the man working the game his wristband. The man gave him a bored smile before handing Mark three softballs. Mark held a ball out to me with a gentle smile,” Do you want to try?”

I hesitated, eyeing both Mark and the ball before talking it. “Okay, but you can’t make fun of how uncoordinated I am.”

Mark chuckled. “I promise I won’t make fun of you.”

Focusing on the entrance of the the milk jog, I tossed the ball. My eyes followed the sphere as it went through the air and bounced off of the rim of the milk jug. “I told you,” I sighed.

Mark smiled, reaching over to squeeze my hand. “It’s okay, it’s not you’re coordination.” Mark reassured. He turned his attention towards the jug. He took a second to focus before effortlessly tossing the softball into the metal can.

“How’d you do that?” I asked.

Mark grinned. “It’s all in the wrist.” As he tossed the last ball, making it in the jug again, he explained. “Aim for the back of the back of the rim, and give the ball some back spin. It slows the momentum of the ball down, so instead of bouncing off the can, it slides in the hole.”

“Nice job, kid,” the worker congratulated. “Choose anything you’d like from the top rack.”

Mark looked at me with a smile. “Take your pick.”

I blushed, turning my attention to all the fluffy stuffed animals that lined the top of the booth. It was the big prizes. They ranged from colorful alpacas to Pokemon stuffed animals. Out of the corner of my eye, at the very end, a cow caught my eye. I pointed to it. “The cow is really cute,” I said shyly.

The worker grabbed it off the wall and handed it to me. “Enjoy!” He winking at Mark before turning his attention to the next players.Mark’s face heated up a bit, but he grinned nonetheless.

Mark slipped his hand comfortable back into mine. “C’mon, there’s more for you to see!” I giggled and followed as Mark pulled me along and continued to show me his favorite rides and games.

The moon was high in the sky and families had made their way home by the time we decided to make our way to the most iconic fair and date activity before heading home - the ferris wheel. Mark and I squeezed into the passenger car. The wheel started moving and a cool breeze blew through, making me shiver. It was finally starting to feel like fall outside. Mark seemed to notice. “Cold?” he asked.

I nodded. “Yeah, a bit.”

Mark took off his denim jacket, slipping it over my shoulder. So this is why Amanda didn’t want me to bring my jacket. I thanked him, pulling the jacket around me a bit tighter. It smelled like fresh linen and cologne.

As we got higher, I could see more of the fair below us. It looked even prettier from above. The lights twinkled and created a soft glow that cascaded over the entire area. “It looks so pretty from here,” I said softly.

“So do you.”

My cheeks heated up and I looked at Mark. He was looking at me, his brown eyes soft. They were easy to get lost in. The fair lights below created a soft aura around him, making him look almost angelic. I couldn’t help but smile a bit.

“Would you be upset if I kissed you?” he asked in a tranquil voice.

“I’d be upset if you didn’t,” I answered, my voice just as soft as his, afraid to shatter the air between us.

Mark leaned into me, wasting no time pressing his soft lips against mine. I let myself melt into him, euphoria surging through me. His hand ran up my arm to the back of my neck, pulling me closer to him. His mouth was warm against mine, but goosebumps still rose on my skin. Marked pulled away and I had to stop myself from whining. His forehead rested against mine, the previous rush of adrenaline making us smile like idiots. We stayed like this until our cart reached the bottom of the ferris wheel and it was time for us to exit. 

Mark took my hand, guiding me out of the seat and towards the exit. “Let’s get you home or else Jackson will flip on me for keeping you out so late.”

“Oh, don’t bother. He’s going to flip once he finds out we kissed,” I snickered.

Mark threw his arm around my shoulder, pulling me into me. “Don’t remind me,” he groaned. Mark kissed the top of my head and nuzzled his nose into my hair. “Full disclosure, kissing you is most definitely worth getting chewed out later.”

*     *     *

Tag List: @mara-twins​

Here’s part three! Thank you for all the patience, love, and support revolving around Catch! I really appreciate it! I probably won’t post part four next week, but something small instead since I have finals next week. Again, thank you! <3 Oh, and if you would like to be added to the tag list, feel free to ask :)

[oumiyuki]

Seducing The Dense

Summary: Honoka can’t concentrate during math class because of a button that has come off from Kotori’s uniform. 

Pairing: KotoHono

Genre: Fluff!!! (๑>ᴗ<๑) Romance~ (♡´౪`♡)

Words: 1425

Read me at fanfiction.net or Archive of Our Own too!

Author Notes

This is part of my vampire KotoHono series “The Daily Life of Loving a Really Cute but Dense Vampire”. Chapter 26. But I felt like changing up how I post things here~ :3 so have at it! XD

You can totally read it without reading the rest too OwO I’m actually hoping y’all read this and get interested in my KotoHono shenenigans! Then enjoy the other chapters. hehe~ (´∀`)

May you enjoy~!

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

It is one of those boring math classes in Otonokizaka High. Honoka seated beside Kotori felt fidgety as she starts feeling a weird, tingly feeling throughout her body. Honoka glances over to Kotori and noticed that one of her button at her chest area has come undone. Honoka gulps as she was unable to pull her stare away. Staring harder, Honoka bores into the sight of Kotori's bra. And attempts to stare harder, wondering if she could catch glimpses of Kotori's breast itself from the small hole.

"Honoka-chan~ Honoka-chan~" Kotori calls Honoka's name in an erotic manner.

"Honoka-chan. Honoka-chan!" Honoka blinks and makes eye contact with Kotori.

"Kotori-chan?" Kotori's tone was that of a hushed shout, nowhere erotic as before.

"The teacher is calling you..." Kotori clarifies.

"...Oh." Honoka looks to the front and as reality registers in her mind, she bounces to her feet. "What?!" Honoka shouts in surprise, in turn surprising the teacher and causing the class to laugh out loud.

After trying and failing to answer the teacher's question, Honoka was sentenced to staying back after class to complete 10 questions. Honoka sits back down with a heavy sigh and her head down so Honoka did not notice Kotori looking her way with a worried expression, wondering what she could do to cheer Honoka up. Kotori's own internal struggle led to her letting out a soft sigh which caught Honoka's attention.

"What's wrong, Kotori-chan?" Honoka already forgetting about her worries as the concern for Kotori easily outweighs that.

Kotori shakes her head and flashes a tiny smile to assure Honoka. Honoka was about to accept that everything is okay, but when her eyes falls back onto the glorious view of Kotori's bra and breast, Honoka's breath hitches and mind stops working. Well, working in the sense that it was filled with “Kotori's bra. Kotori's breast.” on repeat.

"Honoka-chan?" Kotori cocks her head to the side with a confused look. Oblivious to the fact that with how she has positioned herself facing Honoka, gives Honoka a vintage spot of Kotori's front. Feeling the blood rush at her face, probably covering her cheeks up to her ears, Honoka places both hands on Kotori's shoulder and leans into Kotori's ears to whisper.

"K-Kotori-chan..."

"Honoka-chan?" Kotori has her own set of pink shading her cheeks at Honoka's close proximity plus breath on her ears. Honoka gulps.

"I can see your b-b-bra and b-b-b-breast..." Honoka was barely capable of relaying the message without stuttering on the words that start with 'b'.

"Eh?" Was all Kotori could say.

"Your b-button is undone..." Honoka finishes telling the news, takes a deep breath and pulls away from Kotori. Taking an extra second before looking up to see Kotori's current state. If Honoka thought her blush would be able to die down and Kotori would've fixed her button in that extra second, she was utterly mistaken. Kotori just sat looking at Honoka shyly as red painted her face too; though Honoka thinks it's not as bad as her own.

"C-could you...help me fix it?" Kotori asked in a quiet and embarrassed voice.

In the next few seconds, Honoka's mind exploded and reformed. "H-h-help you fix it?" Honoka stared directly into Kotori's eyes for affirmation which Kotori gives through a small nod.

"Mmph..."

Honoka reached over with shaky fingers and four attempts to successfully button up Kotori's shirt. Honoka let out a breath she did not know she was holding and was about to retract her hands, but Kotori held onto her left hand, placing it over her chest. Honoka's hand flinched on contact and her head jerked upwards to question Kotori.

"Thank you, Honoka-chan."

A crooked and nervous smile was plastered on Honoka's face. "N-No problem..." Honoka felt like her heart was going to break out of her ribcage with how fast it was pounding against it.

"Kotori-chan...My hand..?" As reluctant as Honoka was, she knew class was still going on. Okay, who are we kidding? She was more concern for her hummingbird heart than the lesson of a subject she can no longer remember was what.

"Ah, sorry about that Honoka-chan." Kotori equally as reluctant or more as she loved the close contact, warmth, plus the reaction Honoka was giving filled Kotori with hopes that her feelings might be reaching the ever-dense crush she has, but return the hand she must.

Honoka gave a shaky laugh as she moved her hands back. "I-It's no problem really."

The rest of the lesson went by with nothing entering Honoka's head, only reminded of its existence when the bell rang and the teacher came up to her table to remind her of the assignment she has been given. Honoka groaned her response as the class spilled out of the classroom to head home.

Honoka spent the first ten minutes frowning at the paper before slumping over the table.

“You don’t have to wait for me, you know…”

“I want to wait for you.” Kotori had a gentle smile on.

Honoka turned her head to face Kotori. She got into a sitting position with a broad smile when Kotori’s smile instilled some energy into her. The abrupt action and childlike expression made Kotori giggle.

“I might take a while.” Honoka returned her attention to the reason she can’t go home.

“I could teach you.” Kotori whispered into Honoka’s ear which made Honoka visibly stiffen.

“Y-You would?”

“Mmph!” Kotori scooted closer to Honoka on the bench, their thighs literally sticking to each other.

Kotori’s teaching was simple for Honoka to understand, however, Honoka realized halfway that when she asked for explanations or answer checks, she will get to experience a soft sensation on her right arm as Kotori presses her body close to Honoka for a better view of the assignment. With that, Honoka would purposely ask for an explanation for the same question over and over again, her pen have long broken in half under the force of the vampire’s clenched hands but the remaining ink allows for Honoka to still write. It was not a lie when she said she did not understand though, she had a hard time concentrating on the actual words the melodic voice was speaking.

With the assignment finally complete and checked, Honoka turned and glomped Kotori as a show of appreciation and satisfaction. Kotori returned the embrace by snaking her arms around Honoka’s waist to pull Honoka closer. All was fine until Honoka decided to take a whiff of Kotori’s sweet apple scent and open her eyes to a great view of exposed neck. Honoka’s hunger was piqued and a growl sounded.

Kotori giggled into Honoka’s shoulder. “Want to grab a bite, Honoka-chan?”

The giggle vibrated through Honoka’s body and the word “bite” made Honoka instinctively plant her face deeper into Kotori’s nape, mouth opened and fangs starting to grow-

“Honoka.” The door of the classroom opened and Honoka’s blue haired childhood friend breaks Honoka’s trance. Fangs immediately retracted, Honoka pulled away from Kotori in an attempt to regain control of herself. Kotori was slightly upset by the sudden loss of contact and had a small frown.  

“Umi-chan! You’re still around?” Honoka looks up in surprise.

“We need to visit a certain district, Honoka.” Umi emphasized on the ‘chi’ of ‘chiku’ (Japanese for district) referencing blood.

It took a minute before Honoka’s confused expression change to one of understanding. “Ahh! That’s right! I’m, er, done with my assignment now, so…we can go! Sorry, Kotori-chan. I promised Umi-chan, so…” Honoka rambled on before apologizing to Kotori and picking up all her stuff to head out the door.

Kotori barely had time to take in her situation and gave a “Bye bye, Honoka-chan, Umi-chan.” Before Honoka and Umi have disappeared down the halls. Sighing loudly since no one was around to catch Kotori in such an unladylike act, Kotori started packing her bag.

Just when the mood was getting good…

Kotori hugged herself for a moment.

Honoka-chan’s warmth…I think I managed to make Honoka-chan more conscious of me today though…She was staring at me so intently, though it was mostly my chest…With the way Honoka-chan tense up when I press my breast against her arm, I’m guessing Honoka-chan is really conscious about me now. Mm…I should continue grabbing Honoka-chan’s attention with this tactic!

Kotori giggled to herself before leaving the school, happy with her decision and progress made in making the dense Kousaka Honoka notice her. Little did she know, going down the path of seduction isn’t going to be an easy one, when puberty is hitting the young vampire.        

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

Author Notes

I wrote this all the way back in 2017 before I shared the first chapter of “The Daily Life of Loving a Really Cute but Dense Vampire”. :P (and now I made some edits)

It’s still undecided whether I would write Kotori attempting to seduce Honoka more in future chapters. OwO But this is rather cute. :P So I thought why not share it! XD hehe~

I hope y’all enjoyed it! :D

Leave comments if you like~ (every review motivates me to write moreeee~ hehe~ *O*)

See ya!

[littlemisssquiggles]

Pinehead Headcanons: Oscar’s Golden Circle

Man, Oscar’s got one heck of an awesome golden circle of friends. 

Not only is this magical little barn prince bestie buds with the little red Grimm Reaper but he’s also the adopted baby brother of a White Knight, the Goddess of thunder and a literal freaking Ninja from a hidden leaf village. I mean that’s just cool on so many levels.

Fun analogies aside, this squiggly Pinehead is hoping that Oscar sharing close bonds with Ruby Rose, Jaune Arc, Lie Ren and Nora Valkyrie will be an integral part of his story and development going forward into the Atlas Arc.

Similar to how Ozpin had his own inner circle consisting of Qrow Branwen, Glynda Goodwitch, General James Ironwood and Professor Leonardo Lionheart, I’m anticipating this being repeated with Oscar where the RNJR gang will become his circle of close confidantes and most trusted allies.

(Holy shit, I’ve been using this .gif for the longest while and I’ve only just now noticed that the camera is framed on RNJR looking at Oscar in this known shot of Ruby complimenting Oscar on his new combat gear. I didn’t even realize that that Ren, Nora and Jaune were behind Ruby and my Pinehead heart is flipping out now because, if I needed any more signs about these four becoming Oscar’s Golden Circle, this is one of them). 

Since Ozpin’s Circle comprised of known characters from the Wizard of Oz since Ozpin himself draws inspiration from the Wizard of Oz, this squiggle meister really, really likes the idea of Oscar’s Circle representing characters from the Little Prince since Oscar seems to be influenced by his character.

Already I can picture Ruby obviously representing the Rose in Oscar’s little prince story while Nora is the Fox. You’ve heard me voice these thoughts time and time again.

However, I’m not quite sure who Ren and Jaune will be from the Little Prince. 

For Jaune, I’m toying with the idea of him being the Narrator or the Pilot in Oscar’s story since the Pilot was a character who befriended the Prince and told his story after they parted ways. 

I think Jaune being the Pilot for Oscar’s story works very well for me. Personally, I really would love for Jaune to become a big brother character to Oscar; growing to care about him deeply and looking out for him just as much as Ruby does. 

I still really love the idea of Jaune helping Oscar to sharpen and improve his tactical skills on the battlefield. I once shared a small theory about Jaune and Oscar bouncing off of each other with battle plans after Jaune noticed Oscar’s potential as a good strategist (similar to how Pyrhha acknowledged his potential). So Jaune, being the big bro that he is, does his best to nurture and encourage that side of the young boy, just as Pyrhha helped him long before.

I’ve grown weary of the Writers constantly fast-forwarding or downright omitting certain aspects of Oscar’s growth. It’d be nice if they took the time to show his progression and one idea I hope they do is showing more of Oscar’s growing bond with Jaune.

While I didn’t particularly like or enjoyed how they executed Jaune learning to appreciate Oscar’s presence on the hero team outside of Ozpin, I still recognized it as a highlight to indicate Jaune starting to chum up to Oscar. 

Outside of Ruby Rose, Jaune Arc is the second character I’m hoping Oscar grows closest to. If Ruby is to be Oscar’s best friend (and potential love interest), Jaune, in my eyes, will be his big brother---both in arms and off the battlefield. 

I’m looking at Ruby and Jaune to represent Oscar’s right and left hands---the people he turns to the most for guidance and comfort while Ren and Nora will form his legs (ironically)---representing the strong, firm, pillars that are meant to keep Oscar grounded and standing firm and tall.

 It is for this reason why I’ve been advocating so much for Jaune to personally ask Oscar to join JNR so that Team JNPR can be revived. 

And yes, I said JNPR. Not JNOR. Not even ORNJ. The leaders of each respective huntsmen team are always the first initials in their team name. This is why I never supported the ORNJ substitute team name since if Oscar is to join JNR, I don’t want him to be immediately appointed as the new leader---at least not right away while he’s still very green as a huntsman and certainly not while Jaune Arc is alive and well.

I wouldn’t expect him to. Jaune has always been the leader of his team. His part as a frontrunner has been important to his story since the get-go and I’d like for him to remain as leader of Team JNPR and continue to mature with that tactical and leadership role since my assumption has always been that Jaune Arc is destined to become a great leader at some point for his foreseeable future arc (like a Commanding General in the Second Great War of Remnant who goes down in history as the valiant commander who ended the second war to devastate the world).

Besides; JNR retaining their JNPR name after being revived is more meaningful to me. I like the idea of JNR once believing that their original team was lost after they lost Pyrhha only to have it rise from the ashes through Oscar who they will all soon realize is a perfect fit for them. 

I really like the notion of Oscar’s presence in JNPR and his comradery with the remaining three symbolizing that he’s meant to complete them and make their family feel whole again. Because at the end of the day, that’s what JNPR was and who they will continue to be: A family.

Seriously, all arrows seem to be pointing to Oscar joining JNR and reviving JNPR. Not only is Oscar’s last name Pine (adding back the ‘P’ in JNPR) but who better to revive them than the kid whose theme is reincarnation. C’mon. It is too perfect!

So yeah, Jaune is Oscar’s Pilot, in my books. 

This leaves Mr. Lie Ren. Who can Ren be in Oscar’s Little Prince Story? 

If I may be very honest here, I don’t have the slightest clue. In rereading the descriptions for the characters from the Little Prince, none of them really stands out to me for fitting Ren at all.

It is for this reason why I’m starting to lean toward  the thought of Ren sharing the role of the Wise Fox in Oscar’s Little Prince Story with Nora. 

Ren and Nora have been together since the start of the series. They’ve even known each prior to the main story of RWBY. So much so that the show has drawn attention to it once or twice.

“...We’ve been friends for sooooo long. What are the odds we’d still be together. Well, not together-together...”

They are always together and the series constantly likes to emphasize just how powerful their bond is along with their devotion to one another is. Ren and Nora have been through a lot together after surviving the fall of Ren’s former home in Kunoyuri while living on their own as orphans alone in the world at such a tender age. And through it all, they stayed together. They stood by each other through thick and thing and their strong friendship is what eventually made for an even stronger and very fitting love and romance.

In a way, I’d like to believe that Renora are the embodiment of the important lesson that the Little Prince learnt from the Fox.  The fox in the Little prince was a red fox and it is stated that red foxes are usually together in pairs. 

Therefore, I think both Ren and Nora can be Oscar’s Fox. Yeah, that works well for me.

Overall, this just affirms what I’ve been saying for the longest while. 

RNJR are meant to be Oscar’s Golden Circle. 

JNR will become Oscar’s surrogate family and siblings in arms whereas Ruby will become Oscar’s best friend, closest confidante out of the four and possibly, the love of his life.

I’d expect nothing less given the small hints between Volumes 5 and 6. Then again, I wouldn’t put it past the Writers to make sudden changes to certain previously established character dynamics after seasons of build up so…perhaps I should just keep my theories to myself and wait and see what’s to come for V7.

But all in all, I still would like for this Pinehead headcanon to be something to become canon in some shape or form. Maybe. Possibly. We shall see soon. 

~LittleMissSquiggles (2019) 

[accidentally-logince]

Multi-Genre Chapter 2

If you missed: Chapter 1

Summary: Virgil is able to fulfill his dream of becoming a rock star—at the expense of losing his boyfriend, Logan.

Warnings: Anxiety, homophobia, mentions of crying

Word Count: 2k

Pairings: Analogical, pining Royality

⥦ ⥧

Virgil

⥦ ⥧ Throughout the car drive, my head is overrun with fuzz. I can't hear myself think through the nerves buzzing in my mind. I think Logan tries getting my attention a couple times, but by the time I noticed his muffled voice, he'd stopped talking. I don't know if he realizes I’m not listening.

"Virge.

I shake myself out of my stupor, and my eyes start to focus again. "Yeah?" Logan is looking at me with his brow furrowed. 

"We're here," he says. I turn to look out my window again, catching glimpse of the tall building. "Listen, if you're too anxious, we can call them, see if you're able to move the meeting, and you can come over with me to help Remy move—"

"No, I... I'm gonna go in," I say, but my voice cracks. I clear my throat. "I've been waiting for a long time to do this... I have to do it eventually, so I'm gonna just... get it over with. A-And I want to know. Y'know, i-if they think it's good enough—" Anxious tears have started blocking my throat, but I force them back. I can't chicken out. This is my dream. This is what I've always wanted. It's normal to feel anxious.

Logan wraps an arm around me, gently laying his chin on my shoulder. "They would be fools not to realize your talent, Virgil. I have no doubt they'll love you." 

I lift my hand to hold his, nodding absentmindedly. "I'm gonna go in now," I say after taking a long breath. Logan lifts his head from my shoulder and presses his lips to my cheek. 

"Knock 'em dead, Songbird."

⥦ ⥧

When I get closer to the entrance, I look up, taking in the neverending floors. I remember this place being a little less... terrifyingly gargantuan. Or maybe that's just my anxiety making it look bigger. I finally reach the doors and walk inside, focusing on the clicking of my feet against the floor, rather than the fact that I think my hands are sweaty, and oh god, I'm probably gonna have to shake his hand and he's totally gonna notice and think I'm weird—

I take another deep breath, wiping my hands on my jeans. There's no one at the front desk, and I worry about looking strange just standing around. There's a couple other people in the lobby, and I don't want them to stare at me. 

Luckily, I'm saved when I hear someone walking toward me. I think it's the receptionist, and turn to meet their face, only to find a man with large round glasses and a blue polo shirt making his way to me. "You must be Virgil Delacore! Roman is waiting for you upstairs, just follow me," he says, holding out a hand. I shake it, and he nods at me with a smile, leading me toward an elevator.

"My name is Patton. I'm Roman's personal assistant." He doesn't say anything else, and I take that as a bad sign. But then, why would they still want to meet in the office if I was rejected? I tap my fingers against my legs as the elevator starts moving up, causing my stomach to lurch. I try to subtly grab for the side rail. 

When we get to our floor, Patton lets me step out first. I notice the strain around his eyes now, the way the corners of his mouth twitch every so often. He's faking his smile. I've done it plenty of times myself in order to know the telltale signs. Something about the way he squints a little makes me think it's not just a plastered-on smile for his position. He's upset. I decide not to ask. I hardly know him, I don't want to make him uncomfortable.

Patton leads me down a hallway littered with doors, all with fogged glass and a number above the doorway. He stops at room 604, pushing it open and stepping aside to let me in. I nod gratefully at him, trying to mask my nervousness. At the desk is Roman. We talked briefly over the phone, and he's a big name in music, so I of course know what he looks like, but being in the same room as him is surreal, and I find myself needing to clear my throat in order to speak.

His hair looks like a wave running down his face, and it hangs over his eyes as he gazes down at a sheet of paper. He seems to notice me, and places it on the table, spinning his chair to face me. He's wearing a brown letterman jacket with a "P" on the front, and the collar is red and white. Between his and Patton's outfits, I don't think there's a dress code here. I feel that little bit better about my worn hoodie.

"Here, sit at my desk," Roman says. I force a shaky smile. This guy has been my idol forever, and now he's casually asking me to sit in his office. I walk to the chair on stiff legs, sitting down a little too hard. I wince, and fold my hands into my lap, eyes wandering around the office. It's clean, even by Logan's standards. “It’s a pleasure meeting you in person, Virgil.”

I blink stupidly, waiting for him to keep talking, but then I realize that now it’s my turn to talk. “O-Oh! Yeah, of course, i-it’s an honour to meet you.” I curse myself for the stutter in my voice. “I’ve, uh, I’ve looked up to you since I was a kid.” 

Is that weird to say? That’s probably weird to say. But Roman just grins. “I’m flattered. You must be what? Eighteen?”

“Uh, Twenty-One, Sir,” I correct. Roman makes a sound of surprise.

“Ah! You look quite young for your age,” he says with a nod.

“You do as well, Sir.” Roman is in his forties—a good twenty years older than me—but it doesn’t show on his face. To the outside eye, he looks to be in his mid-twenties. He almost hasn’t changed since I first saw him on TV as a kid.

“For the sake of your sanity and mine—just call me Roman, okay? It’ll make things easier down the road.” He folds his fingers together and lays his chin on the interlocked digits. I find myself unable to speak for a couple of moments, needing to take in his words.

“Uh, ‘down the road’?” I ask. “Does that mean that you... you like the songs?” I can’t help the small smile that forces its way onto the corners of my mouth.

“I love the songs!” He slams one hand on the desk for emphasis, and I sit up straighter in my chair, my smile spreading wide, no longer too worried, since, oh my god, Roman Prince likes my music! Loves it even! I can’t help bouncing a little in my seat. Logan was right, he actually loved it, he looks so happy about it too, I can’t wait to—

“Though, there is just one little problem.”

The fireworks in my brain come to a screeching halt, and my brow furrows. “A... problem?” I squeak out. “Well, I-I can see what I can do to fix it, I’m never opposed to improving my work. What’s the issue?” It must not be big enough to make me unsuitable, since he’s obviously decided I’m good enough already.

“You have a boyfriend, correct? Logan?” Roman asks, peering back down at the sheet on the desk. I still can’t read what’s on it. I have a hard time reading when the words are right-side up—Logan usually proof-reads all of my stuff, since I have dyslexia. I learned it’s easier to write it while the ideas are in my head and have it edited later, rather than slave over the spelling.

“Yeah, we’ve been together for just about three years now.” I don’t know why I’m sharing my relationship details, but either way, Roman shakes his head.

“We may need to... change a couple of lyrics here and there,” he says, tapping the page again. There are some words circled, and stuff scrawled in the margins in red cursive. “In regards to that.”

I swear I almost feel my heart skip a beat. “I... I’m sorry, what’s that?” I ask, hoping I misheard him. Roman sighs.

“Listen Virgil. You’re extremely talented. You really are. I have absolutely no doubt you can make it in music, but the problem is, plain and simple, that people won’t recognize your talent if they know you’re...” I notice him tap his pen a little faster, and he bites his lip for a second. “...Gay.”

My heart drops and shatters, and I wilt in my chair, staring down at my hands. “That’s not exactly something I can... change.” Roman looks like he’s holding back an argument, but instead he just tries to give me a reassuring smile. It doesn’t work, and I find myself stuck between wanting to cry and wanting to storm out of the office.

“You wouldn’t need to ‘change’ it, per se,” he says. He places his pen down beside the paper, and spins it around, sliding the sheet toward me. “There would just need to be a few adjustments made here and there. The songs would stay almost exactly the same, just a few little tweaks.”

I glance down at the page, a song I wrote for Logan a couple years back. Some of the words are crossed out and changed, creating the illusion that it was written for a girl. It feels wrong to read, so I move my eyes away from the sheet, wanting to look anywhere but down so that gravity can’t pull my tears out of my eyes. I find myself meeting Patton’s eyes. His fake smile has since faded, and he stands with his arms crossed, leaning against a bookshelf. His eyes are cast down sadly, and I notice him blinking a little fast. Is he... is he upset at Roman for this too?

“I really don’t know how I... feel about this,” I whisper the last part, trying to take a subtle breath. The last couple of minutes have just been me trying not to cry, and probably looking stupid in the process. 

“It’s still your choice whether or not you work with us,” Roman says, leaning back in his chair. “Tell you what, I’ll leave you with a couple more songs—“ he leans down and opens a drawer, flicking through a file to pull out more papers sprinkled with red cursive. I almost feel sick to my stomach. “And I’ll also send you off with my card, so you can call me with your decision. If you don’t call within a week, I’ll have to assume your choice has been made to deny my request. I can’t be waiting forever.”

I just sit and stare down at the revised lyrics, throat tight. I try forcing a couple words out, but they don’t make it all the way up, and everything is awkwardly silent for a few moments, until I feel a hand on my shoulder.

“I’ll walk you out, okay Virgil?” Patton’s voice is gentle and soft, coaxing me to stand up. The way he gives me a sad grin makes me feel that little bit better, but I still can’t bring myself to smile as he escorts me back to the elevator. The ride down seems longer than before, and Patton sighs. “I’m really sorry. About... all that,” he mutters. Then he lifts his head, trying to smile again. “I understand completely if you want to decline the offer. It’s all up to you, okay?”

The elevator slows to a stop, and Patton gently pats my back as I walk out. Even though I hardly know him, it’s actually comforting. I give him a weak grin before the elevator doors slide shut again, and he’s gone. I decide to walk home, instead of getting a cab, wanting to be alone with my thoughts. It’s only a couple of blocks anyways.

⥦ ⥧

My Other Fics

Tag List: @monikastec @misstallip @aikogumi @another-emo-blog @roses-for-roman @confinesofpersonalknowledge @phoenix-galaxies @well-love-has-failed-me @theresneverenoughfandoms @lilbit-gay @emi-loves-them @logicaltimeink @never-ending-sufferage @lunareclipse-524 @kameraishere @salty-potatoo @hot-tea-and-sweater-paws @riley-castillo @romansleftshoulderpad @theunoriginaldaisy @hissesssss

[cannibalmariku]

Disconnect.

Smoke wafted in thick curling tendrils up into the air above where he sat. Lit rolled paper between his fingers that he took another long drag from, pulling the smoke into his lungs and holding it there for a time. The small burning though slightly uncomfortable, was something that sated him.

The detached feeling from his body reminding him in ways of his host. How it felt when he was in control. Bittersweet nostalgia for a time he was so close to victory. Of course, having his own body now made it easier to deal with that pain. Easier to inflict it on others, not that he ever had a problem... A sort of state of dissociation that might plague others, and yet he found it ideal to his situation. To feel nothing, emotionally in the regard of anothers pain besides that of fascination and amusement. They were all just toys.

He didn’t want to focus on that now, not of his other half. Instead keeping his attention on the news anchor chattering away on the tv. Half of what she said hardly registered, mellowness taking over and feeling his muscles grow more lax. Sinking down against the couch cushions and leaning his head back. Smoke passing his lips and threw his teeth as he breathed out, several small coughs following suit from his chest. It was so mundane, these silly little things people seemed to care about. Some nurse saving a life, or school loosing money. It all was mindless, trivial garbled information to him like static white noise in his subconscious.

Half lidded lilac eyes focused on the anchor woman’s face with distorted, intrusive thoughts of things that could happen to her by the hands of some brute. How unfortunate for such a young, up and coming girl to fall and burn.

His eyes did widen slightly in an instant, lips parting as he took up the remote to turn the volume up. On the screen displayed by the woman’s face was a picture of his latest acquired pet in a missing persons report. This was the only reason he felt he paid any attention to the news, for his own personal interest.

‘There are no leads and the only suspect is the teens stepfather. it has been two months and the search party has ended, but if anyone has any information please contact the police.’

The smallest of twisted smirks tugged at the corner of sadistic lips. The smoke perhaps aiding in his slight giddiness and relief.

“step father...” He mumbled it to himself as if going over the absolute absurdity of it from his own perspective. Not that he would protest against them putting some other man in jail for his little confiscation of the others child. No, not a child... He was eighteen. Not that it mattered.... He belonged to Mariku now regardless. These things always gave Mariku a small sense of anxiety whether he would admit it or not, but he found solace in the conformation that the search party was over and the police seemed to be throwing rocks into a field for results to end it. Besides... That was all the way on the other side of town.

Looking primarily around the boys home.. for a dumped body he presumed, what a waste of perfectly good meat that would be...

Taking one last drag to finish off his joint, setting the burnt end in an ashtray on the coffee table and snuffing it out.

His mood lifted a bit from the new information and the more obvious. Quietly, he stood from the couch and moved to the basement door in the kitchen. Brass deadbolt lock making a heavy ‘thunk’ as it sunk back into the door.

Oh..?

He could have sworn as the door was pushed open that he herd a sniffle from the darkness at the bottom of the stairs. Light illuminating his silhouette as it poured down into the basement like some god like image of an other worldly beast. His toy was awake it seemed.. Good.

The lights were flicked on and the low hum of florescent bulbs filled the room. The body huddled on the mattress near the foot of the stairs flinched visibly and curled in on himself. Covering his head with his hands and drawing his knees to his chest as he lay on his side. Heavy shackles around his ankles creating a soft ‘clinking’’ sound when he moved.

Why did they always insist on this.. As if it would be so easy like some simple minded ostrich sticking its head in the dirt. The idea causing a small giggle to emit from his throat. Stupid kids... Stupid people. Pathetic!

As the wooden door was pulled shut and locked behind him, his bare feet met the wooden steps with a ominous sort of creek with each careful placing of his footing.

“Don’t look so excited, please.” He rolled his eyes, though the fear was perfectly warranted. Of course they were afraid and shaken to their core. Of course they sobbed as Mariku carefully walked around the mattress to his work table. Some soft utterance of ‘please’ or ‘don’t’ no doubt being spilled into the dirty mattress endlessly.

Like a beaten animal.

How easily mortality sank in and how fast desperation made them think to appease. How far the fall from normal, invincible young peoples minds... After all, you never think it will be you under the tarp at the scene of a car accident.

A beaten animal.... That’s all it sounded like to him, in which case it wasn’t entirely to far from the truth. This one had fought at first, Tooth and nail in fact... It took him about three weeks to break him and even then he still saw small flashes of defiance behind those eyes from time to time. He did cry more... Not that Mariku minded. After all he had subjected him to so much already. He had screamed so nicely when Mariku drug him across the floor by his hair to clean him with the hose. Water like ice and stripped down to nothing. Completely vulnerable and humiliated.

Mariku looked back over his shoulder, staring with mild interested at the body now huddled in the corner on the mattress. Hugging his knees and hiding his face away from the beast that wore human skin. A disguise that so many fell for and swooned for. Called friend even. Fell in love with.

A being with no sympathy and mercy shaped like a wooden bat. That would be merciful... A hard crack to the head.. For Mariku at least, compared to so many others. Gutted and fingers broken, eyes gouged and tongue cut off with scissors. Dissected alive and strangled. Drown, stabbed, amputated, teeth yanked from solid sockets, decapitated, skinned and flayed, tearing out throats with his bare claws, hung from their ankles and cut down the middle with a chainsaw, choked with wire cutting into their throat, bodies mutilated, fingers cut off with sheers, skulls bashed in with a hammer, ect.... The list went on and the thought of all of them making Mariku’s mouth water.

Of course the brat had no idea of any of it. To him, he knew only what he had seen and what Mariku had threatened. So many harsh and disgusting things coming from a once sweet mouth. It had been innocent enough in the beginning, oh he wondered how betrayed the boy felt... To have such a sweet man offer him a place to stay when he couldn’t go home and to end up at his complete mercy. Kids were so dumb... So easily manipulated. How they looked so hurt the second they would realize this man wasn’t just some kind gentlemen.

He had shoved him down the stairs, his ankle was probably fractured at least... There had been no warning, just the other had seen to much. He was standing at the top of the stairs after being instructed to not go near the basement for anything. Woken up in the middle of the night with a feeling of suspicion to find the brat standing there... Dumbfounded, door wide open as he had left his temporary spot on the coach to investigate. A heavy foot colliding with the boys lower back knocking him forward down the steps. And after Mariku had been so generous... Idiot was lucky his neck didn’t snap or bust his head open to Mariku’s surprise. He supposed it was fate or something cliche like that.. The boy didn’t die then and there.. So he kept him. Why let it go to waste..? 

Eyes temporarily tracing over the purple and swollen ankle before looking away with the smallest of smirks.

‘P-please....’

He did not look at him, having his attention back on the bins of tools under his work table. He had herd the other but did not look. It was futile.

‘Please! Mariku!’

Oh, how delicious his name sounded in the tones of desperation and anguish. Such sorrow bouncing off the walls and meeting his ears. The cracking of his voice a tell tale sign of his age. Not yet a man but no longer a young boy. How frightened he must have been for a man twice his size to be looking at tools and knives. Having already hurt him, beat him and choked him with bruises all along his neck to show for it.

Mariku took up a rather large hunting knife, inspecting it before finally looking back over to the other, seeming to dwell on it a moment.

‘N-no!!”

He sighed, putting the knife back to look for something else. “You’re right.. something else...” It felt as if anything he picked up seemed to boring. To typical. To cliche... Mulling over something he hadn’t used for a long time.. now, what had he not...- ah~ right. A soft giggle leaving him as the lingering high still toyed with his mental state. A sort of numbness accompanied by paranoia. Something he would drown out soon enough...

Carefully he took something in his hands, standing straight as he turned, a hammer in hand with rusted patches on the metal head and a sturdy looking wooden handle. Flipping the thing in hand to catch it again by the handle and inspecting it. Wide hazel eyes staring at him from the corner of the room as a shriek broke loose. Fingers clawing at the concrete walls as the boy shook his head. Pressing himself tightly to the cold wall as if he could somehow sink into it.

“I haven’t even touched you yet, shut up!” He snapped sharply, growling in annoyance as he reached for a small radio on his table, flipping it on and adjusting it until it landed on some cheerful sounding old song. One that did not match the tone of this ordeal at all to the boy and caused a worsening feeling of dread. What kind of demented person....

Mariku however gave a small twirl, hammer in hand as he danced to the music a bit. A sort of manic smile tugging at his lips as he sauntered over to the boy. Swaying with each step to the beat as the hammer in his hand swung with an almost lazy grip in a smooth circle. Humming the tune to himself as he knelled down over the mattress, shifting closer to the boy as he shrunk in on himself and sobbed.

“Don’t be selfish... come here... I only want to play with you, darling~!” He cackled, grabbing a fist full of the boys hair as the others hands flailed and attempted to swat the older male away. Nails aiming for his face only to have his head slammed back against the concrete harshly. Blood coating the back of his head and sticking to the cold concrete from the impact though he remained conscious, to Mariku’s amusement and delight.

He flashed the boy a toothy, wild grin. eyebrows raised as he traced his tongue over his teeth. Wild amusement more then apparent as he shifted his face closer. Still holding tightly on the boys hair as he yanked it back. Forcing his head at an angle.

He did wonder how his victims both present and past viewed him in these instances of sadistic intimacy. If the look of fear and absolute terror was akin to any human being stared down by a tiger or a wolf and that moment they would lunge, aiming for the throat. A kaleidoscope of emotions and and at any given moment, how life could be forcibly drawn from their bodies and how truly fragile this mortal existence was. Just the right hit... Jostling or to hard a blow... A cut or a slice in just the right place, and that was it. A human would die.. Like any living thing. So fragile and pointless. 

His breath against the boys neck as he could practically hear the blood rushing threw his veins at this point. Warm wetness sticking to his fingers that still held the boys hair, the hammer twirled in hand before he suddenly bashed it against the youths knee. A sickening, loud crack bouncing off the walls along with a chilling scream from his preys throat with an agonizing sob that drew out for far to long. Yanking at his hair again as blood coated his fingers. Aiming for the already possibly fractured ankle that he slammed the hammer head against with an even louder animalistic sound of terror and pain.

Fingers clawing and shoving, trying to get the larger man away from him. How could any living thing be so evil? So heartless and cruel? So lacking in empathy and depraved. There was no real explanation... Mariku was just Mariku. Sure some small things went into it, where he came from.. The tortured he had endured as a child. The inner workings of the mind and perhaps the missing pieces most sane people had that were vacant in his brain. 

He found himself lost in the moment, drinking in those screams and the hands trying to claw at him only fueling his anger. These acts of Ultraviolence committed by his own hand, this was just one of many. Raising a strong arm to twirl the hammer around in his grip, sharp two pronged side meant for extracting screws now aimed at the boys head as his other hand grabbed the boys throat. 

Leaning in to lap over the side of his prey’s face up along his cheek to his forehead. A last uttering of some snide words in the boys ear. “Goodnight dear, so gracious of me  to set you free~” He pulled back only to swing with full force at the others head, a cracking, sickening and gushing, awful sound and a sudden silence that was almost defending. Though terrible, an end like this was merciful for the beast. He could feel the body beneath him going limp after several seconds of twitching and jerking as blood poured from the opened gash in the boys head that had no doubt made contact with his brain. 

Slowly, Mariku pulled back, taking the hammer from his latest victims head and examining the matter that clung to its surface as he could feel a small giggle rising in his chest. Still a bit high from his joint and dropping the weapon to the ground as he lost himself in a fit of laughter. Clutching his chest as he tried to calm himself. It was just so funny to him. All of it. Maybe it was the weed or just his sick mind or both, but it never failed to amuse him endlessly. 

When he would regain his composure, it would be time to get to work separating the meat and storing it away. At least in death, Humans always proved to be more useful. 

[breziarchive]

i guess i’ve made the executive decision that i WILL be posting this fic when things are all nice and done but in the meantime, here’s a snippet i wrote on the plane back from the midwest

yasuko and majima brotp >:V (implied saejima/majima, the full chapter/fic is nowhere near completion so the context and stuff will be added to AO3 much later, keep an eye out!) (finished fic will be covering majima and his relationships in the late 80s)

[ko-fi]

~~

The cold railing burned Majima's elbows as he leaned against it, just outside Saejima's apartment. He had only been by to make sure they had enough groceries for the week, and, getting no response from his sworn brother—as it had been for the last month and a half—he left the food just inside their door. He was about to just leave them with some bad joke and a teasing nod at Yasuko, awkward cold silences be damned, but Yasuko caught his attention with a frantic sign to wait up for her. So, there he was in the February chill, smoking a cigarette from a pack he had meant for Saejima, but he took it out of the grocery bag at the last second. He had bought the good stuff, and if Saejima was still gonna cold-shoulder him with barely a glance when he showed up with food, well, then, he could buy his own damn vices.

The door, always sticky in the winter, opened and closed with one of Yasuko's grunts. He looked back over his shoulder as the young teen beamed at him. At least Saejima hadn't forced Yasuko to forsake him too.

“Hey, kid,” the cig in his mouth bounced in his lips and he glanced at her hands, “What the hell's that?”

Yasuko presented the box, too excitable to be formal and precise. It wasn't entirely homemade, but it was carefully decorated. She had spent plenty of time painting hearts and cute faces on the sides. Majima couldn't believe the steady hand she had, even though he knew she had been put up in bed for weeks with nothing to do but paint and draw. Despite the adoration at her effort and the gesture itself he tried to keep his expression stoic. That it wasn't as hard as it should've been thanks to his—her—brother made him feel guilty.

“Happy Valentine's Day!” Yasuko hopped on her feet into a perky bow, but Majima didn't take the box.

“Aw, thanks kid,” he answered flatly, “But I don't accept love letters from fourteen-year-olds,”

Yasuko pouted, “Majimaaa,”

His face split into a grin and he slapped his hand down on her head, ruffling her hair until the static in the air took some strands airborne. Another, more emphatic protest from her and Majima giggled, taking the box.

“What's all this, Yasuko-chan? Ya didn't hafta,”

“Sure I did! You don't work with any women, and you don't have a girlfriend,”

Majima disguised a choke with a puff of smoke.

“And it's kinda sad to not get any chocolate on Valentine's Day!”

“What would you know, pipsqueak,” he retorted, “I could be swimmin' in chocolate at home!”

“But none of them are mine!”

“Awright, awright,” Majima gave in with a comically defeated pout, “Gotta watch yer smart mouth, Yasuko-chan,”

“If you're scared I'm gonna outwit you, I think I already did!” Yasuko put her hands on the railing to push herself up to Majima's height but pulled back, seething at the chill. Majima watched with half-lidded interest, mock scoffing and pushing his thumb under the lip of the box. The day she actually beat him in a battle of wits instead of him intentionally giving way was the day he checked himself into a nursing home.

Store-bought and homemade chocolate treats alike met him as he flipped the lid open. Despite the act he put on he smiled, warmed by her work.

“Taiga already ate all his,” Yasuko complained, “Completely spoiled his dinner! I'm glad you brought more food, you know what he likes,”

“Mmhmm,” Majima soullessly agreed. Cigarette smoke billowed from his nostrils. Making a grunt, he plucked the cig from his mouth and blew the rest of the smoke out. Yasuko watched as he held it between his pointer and middle finger, using the other three to pluck one of the homemade chocolates out from its wax paper.

“I can hold onto that!” she piped up. Majima glanced at her from the side.

“What, the box?”

“No, your cigarette!”

“Uh,” Majima regarded her, “Ya can't outwit me that good, kid,”

Yasuko huffed a sigh, “I knoww, I wasn't trying to,”

Majima sighed himself, then gave in. An annoying perk of her honesty. The thought occurred to him that he was flimsier than tissue paper as he handed it off to her way-too-excited hands. She held it in such away that hallmarked her inexperience. Majima smirked.

“Don't ya dare tell yer brother,”

Yasuko nodded, looking at the cig and not him.

“Ever.”

Still no acknowledgment and Majima turned to face her.

“Yasuko-chan,”

She looked up, beaming and mischievous, “I heard you! I just wanted to see how serious you were!”

Time to look for nursing homes.

Yasuko continued to look at the thing in innocent wonder and a vague sense of fear. Majima almost scoffed at it, since he had pilfered his first cigs at age twelve, but all the same she had been sick and it spoke to Saejima's commitment that she had managed to avoid it until now. Well, this made two for two with Majima's offenses to the Saejima family. Damn. Considering her recent illness, too, he should've been more vigilant about the whole thing.

“One puff,” he ordered retroactively, “That's all you get,”

Yasuko nodded and hesitantly put the cigarette to her lips. He finally popped the chocolate in his mouth and chewed as he watched, now more concerned than interested.

He couldn't say it went any differently than expected. Yasuko started coughing, nearly dropping the cigarette off the ledge. Majima's hand shot forward to save it—that was the good expensive shit, damn it—and in doing so nearly sacrificed the rest of the chocolates as well. Once the cig and box had been saved in a snapshot of time, Majima swallowed and gasped. He bit his lip to hide his smirk so as not to embarrass her, but he wouldn't last long.

“Shit, kid, pull somethin' like that again and I'll be divin' off the ledge to save all my goodies,”

Yasuko continued to cough and he laughed through a sympathetic grimace, “You okay, there?”

She nodded though it seemed to take her a moment to think about it. Majima waited for it to calm down, but it wasn't happening fast enough for him and he started slapping her back and looking around nervously.

“Hey, hey, keep it up and someone'll call the cops on me,” he glanced at the apartment door behind him, “Or worse,”

“That's—,” Yasuko regained her voice, though raspy, “—disgusting!”

“Well, yeah,” Majima answered, glad she was quieting down, “It ain't good fer ya,”

“Then why?”

“'Cause it's good fer me. I mean, it ain't good, but I'm kinda past that,”

“Majima...,” Yasuko pushed the last few hacks out then deflated against the railing, no longer deterred by the coldness.

“Damn, I didn't just cost ya yer new good kidneys, did I?”

Yasuko frowned and chastised weakly, “That's not how kidneys work,”

Majima's eye glinted in humor as he placed the cig back where it belonged and inhaled.

“Majima...,” Yasuko said after a while of him rooting through the chocolates, “You never come over anymore,”

“Sure I do,” he dodged, struggling to unwrap a store-bought one with only one hand, “I drop food off all the time,”

“But you don't stick around,” she pointed out, “Ever since New Year's. If that's your resolution, it's a bad one,”

Majima stared at her. Sighing, he gave up on the chocolates, closed the box, and flicked the butt of the cigarette over the edge. For a moment Yasuko looked scared that he was gonna up and leave, but she relaxed as he readjusted his arms against the railing, dropping the box at his feet so he wouldn't knock it over.

“I guess...,” she said carefully, “It's more like he hasn't invited you,”

Majima sighed, “Yeah...,” he swallowed and dropped his head, “I know.”

“What happened?”

“I guess we had a...,” he paused, trying to find the right word, “Disagreement.”

Yasuko hummed, gaze darting from him to the box, “I miss you, though,”

“Yeah? That's a first,” he joked, but for him it really was a first. The corners of Yasuko's lips twitched, but she looked worried.

“Do you want me to talk to him?”

Majima shook his head, “I ain't the one that has problems talking right now. Besides, uh...,”

He shifted, looking up at the clouds and struggling to tell her properly. A puff of a cigarette was one thing, graphic details of New Year's was another. Yasuko clearly hadn't reached her full height yet—she was shooting up like a weed, though, almost as bad as Majima had. Growing faster than her body could keep up with left her without any fat to her cheeks and waist—not that the illness had helped with that. Point being, she wasn't even ready much less well-equipped to solve or even help the problem.

“Dunno if this is somethin' I can explain, much less somethin' you can help with, Yasuko-chan,”

She visibly wilted beside him and he smirked, leaning in, “Hey, not that it ain't appreciated, pipsqueak. Grown-ass crusty adults wouldn't know what to do with this shit,”

At that she smiled, comforted at his acknowledgment. They let each other be quiet for a moment, listening to the city sounds mingling with the exasperated apartment dwellers around them. Yasuko clasped her hands in front of her and drew her feet in. When she spoke her voice was soft, almost mousey.

“I mean...how do you feel about this? Whatever it is that happened?”

Majima looked over at her and she swallowed and clarified, “It might help...Maybe if I told him how you felt?”

He regarded her for a while, then looked away to contemplate. At this point it really didn't matter, did it? Yasuko was patient as he took his time.

“Uh...,” he grunted uneasily, “Um...Ashamed.”

He pretended not to see her brows raise in surprise.

“Ashamed, yeah. Definitely.” he muttered further.

She didn't have a response and her gaze fell to the box at his feet, staying there. Sucking in a breath as Majima hadn't the strength to look at her, she pulled her energy back and nodded brightly.

“Okay. I'll tell him that,”

“The hell you won't,” Majima fought but there was no real threat in his voice. Yasuko had already turned to go back into the apartment. Flashing him a grin, she winked.

“Maybe I'll tell him that you said he was making dinner tonight!”

“Yeah, do that. Wait—,” he caught her with her hand on the door handle, “No, you tell him I told you to make dinner. That'll guarantee that he's cookin' instead.”

Her grin turned mischievous again and she opened the door, sending him off with a loud good-bye that he returned with a lopsided smile. Though he wanted to fish out another cig he picked up the box of chocolates instead, eating them one by one as he wandered the streets back to his apartment. The chocolates were gone by the time he reached his door and he made a note to not tell Yasuko he had also thoroughly spoiled his dinner.

[parkerparlour]

Murder House - Peter Parker

Summary: You convince Peter to follow you to an abandoned haunted house, but really he's only going to make sure you're safe. Also, he's absolutely terrified.

Word Count: 2.1k

Warnings: Mild swearing, mentions of old-time murder (not graphic), and ghosts.

A/N: Spooky times, getting in the spirits! I planned for Peter and the crew to be later in their senior year so either late 17 or 18 years old, as that would the age I think parents would be more okay with kids randomly taking trips??

It's a cold, fall Saturday, and somehow you convinced Peter over the week to drive you up to an old, supposedly haunted building you heard about online. He said no at least six times, three of those in rapid succession ("No, no, no, Y/N, that's too dangerous!"), but your puppy eyes do him in every single time, so really he has nobody to blame but himself. He's starting to really regret this decision.

Peter stares straight up at the large, old building, eyes wide and mouth agape. He looks scared shitless and it almost makes you laugh, comparing in your head the little trip you planned to his usual life.

"You're telling me you're scared of some ghosts? You fight villains practically every day, Peter."

"Yes. And villains do physical damage that can be healed. This could psychologically mess me up, Y/N."

Peter's hand is tight in yours, his fear radiating off of him in waves. You almost feel a little bad, you didn't know how he'd react before and he seemed fine on the ride up here.

"I mean, it's not a big deal," you say, gesturing to the giant old building. "A couple people were murdered in here like 150 years ago. What's the worst that can happen?"

You said the question rhetorically, but Peter actually answers, "Uh, death. A hobo. Trauma. Mostly death."

You shake your head, pushing the creaky door open and stepping inside. The air is musty and old, clearly nobody has been in here in a while. You start navigating around the house, knowing the floor plans from studying them online via the forums you found this story on.

"This is such a bad idea," Peter whispers, the vibe of the entire building making him get an adrenaline rush he's never felt before, even when working with the Avengers. This is a whole new type of fear for him, and he does not like it.

You reach the bedroom where the murders happened and want to take pictures. "Peter, honey, I kinda need my hand back so I can take pics. Or else this isn't worth it."

Peter curses under his breath, "Fuck, fine, okay," dropping your hand. His hand immediately settles on your back, always making sure he's touching you as you wander around. He wants to be able to grab you and run if need be, heck, he'd bust through a wall if any sign of danger arose. Just pick you up and sprint away from whatever, whoever, is in this house.

Everything goes fine, you tell him where to point the flashlight, you take pictures, and move on to the next thing that's interesting to you. Peter is just starting to think that this isn't actually that bad, you're just in a weird old house with some creepy backstory, it's all gonna be just fine. He's hyper-focused on his breathing, making sure the breaths are slow and even instead of panicked and short.

Suddenly, as you're taking a photo, your camera shuts off. It won't power back on no matter what you do. "Huh. Strange," you pause, holding the camera out so Peter can see the black screen, "My camera stopped working. I think the battery went dead."

"Wasn't it just full like ten minutes ago?" Peter asks, heart rate kicking into high gear again. He doesn’t like this, his palm starting to get sweaty, slick with fear, where it rests on the small of your back.

Suddenly his flashlight turns off and drenches you both in darkness. "P-Peter?" You ask, suddenly very, very scared.

"I'm trying. It won't turn on. You memorized the house layout, right? Can you get us to the hallway where the windows are?" Peter's voice sounds calm but in reality he is everything but. His hand is shaking as his thumb tries to flick the flashlight on and off, but nothing is working. He even gives it a few good shakes and he can hear the still-energy-filled, heavy batteries clank around.

You grip Peter's other hand tightly, inching yourself towards where you remember the door being. Your veins feel like they've been shot through with ice and your heart is in your stomach. Swinging the door open, the hall is considerably more well-lit than the bedroom, moonlight and the streetlights streaming in through the large window.

You turn towards Peter, and something feels off.

"Now... I don't want to alarm you, but did you whisper something to me while we were finding the door?" Peter asks, face incredibly pale. He already knows the answer.

"N-no. I didn't. What did it say?"

"Help me," Peter says, tone low and laced with concern. He knows it wasn't your voice. It couldn't have been. It was a man's, far too deep to compare to yours.

"Oh... my..." you trail off, eyes glued to the nearly pitch black entryway of the room. You swear you see something moving and your throat tightens.

"Let's get the hell out of here," he says, eyes wild with fear and you know yours are the same.

"Agreed."

You both all but sprint out of the house, only finally catching your breaths once you're in the car, doors locked, safe.

"Why did we come at night?" You ask, pulling the camera's cord over your head so it doesn't dangle from your neck anymore. Peter huffs as he turns the key in the ignition, starting the car with a low rumble.

"Don't look at me, literally all of this was your idea." Peter's hands crank the temperature dials way up, trying to warm the car as fast as possible with how cold he feels right now after that ordeal.

"I know," your smile isn't quite real, still shaky but trying to make light of the situation.

Your camera powers on all by itself and you look at it in confusion, pulling up the photos. You gasp, making Peter lean over to see.

"What? What's wrong?"

"Look. This is the photo I got just before it turned off."

The silhouette of a man can be seen. He's coming towards the camera, one hand out and covering a good portion of the photo, but his eyes and hair are clearly distinguishable. It's no doubt the husband that was murdered there, perfectly replicated based on the antique pictures you've seen of the man.

"Wow," Peter says, staring at the tiny screen displaying the picture, "that's actually kind of incredible? Not the whole fearing-our-lives-and-running-away thing but this picture is neat." He gently pulls the camera from your hands, "It's like history being relived. You can see he's sitting in that chair, it must have been his."

You roll your eyes at how the photography nerd side of Peter decided to come out, compared to just a mere two minutes ago you both were about to pee your pants from fear. But you like how he's dissecting the photograph, making educated guesses as to what was going on.

"If I had to guess, I'd say he was probably fine with you photographing the rest of the room, just not his favorite chair. But I don't know, I could be wrong... What else is known about this house?" Peter asks, handing the camera back to you as he gets ready to drive away.

As he gets the car back into the street and starts on the way home, you relay the things you've heard. "Well, you're right about the chair. There's actually more than one picture online of that chair, but none as clear as the one we just took. And none of them are as close as this one. It's fascinating." You power the camera off, gently setting it in your bag that sits by your feet. "There isn't much to tell about the couple that lived there except for the fact that their lives were taken far too young. They were only just married for a couple years, the lady was 23 and the man 25. No kids, but good jobs and a bright future. It's more of a sad story, actually, now that I think about it."

Peter's eyebrows furrow and you watch his expressions from the side, as he keeps his gaze locked on the road. "That's really sad, yeah. Only 23 and 25? That's so young." He bites on his lower lip, contemplating just how brutal it really was.

"We should definitely show this to Ned," you say, almost giddy at the idea of retelling the story to him. He wanted to come, but got super busy this weekend with family, so he had you two swear oaths to tell him every minute detail as soon as you got back. Or, as soon as you saw him again.

Peter drops you off at home, pressing a kiss to your lips and murmuring a soft, “I’m glad we didn’t die tonight,” which makes you chuckle. You head inside, the clock reads only 11PM but it’s been pitch black out for hours. With a yawn you decide it’s time to head to bed, the excitement for the night having passed.

The rest of the weekend passes normally, with you and Peter having the usual Sunday meet up to study and chill together to finish the homework you put off for the trip. There's no mention of what happened the previous day - you have suspicions that Peter actually might try to repress the memory after Ned hears the story, not that you'd blame him because now that you've "ghost hunted" once, you probably won't do it again.

Monday, Ned immediately finds the two of you at the lockers, demanding the play-by-play.

"Dude, what happened? Did you spot a ghost? Or even two?" His hands grip Peter's upper arms, practically shaking the other boy with how excited he is.

Peter grimaces at the memory of the house, "Honestly, I'd rather let Y/N tell the story since it was all her idea anyway."

The bell rings and Ned points a finger at you, "I expect a full report during lunch, Y/L/N, don't skimp on the juicy details." 

You laugh at how he used your last name before going your separate ways, Ned to Algebra and you and Peter to Biology. The morning passes quickly and soon enough lunch rolls around. As you and Peter make your way through the lunch line, you both can see Ned bouncing in his seat over where he's sat near Michelle.

As you sit to eat, Ned barely lets you actually eat since he keeps asking questions during the telling of the story. You manage to finally nibble on your sandwich as Peter takes over for a bit, telling his part where he heard the voice.

"Dude, you heard a voice? That's awesome!"

Peter chuckles, shaking his head, "No, not awesome, try more like absolutely terrifying!"

"Oh! I also got a picture, here," you pull the photo up on your phone, having transferred it after getting home that night. Ned's eyes bug out and Michelle gets interested, leaning over to peek over his shoulder.

"That… is freakishly awesome," Michelle says, eyes looking all over the image almost as if trying to dissect it in her mind.

"This is crazy, you got such a good picture! I've never seen one this good from that location!" Ned says, knowing this because as soon as you told him about the story on Friday he looked up as many forums as he could.

You and Ned spend the rest of the lunch period gushing over other spooky stories you've heard of, with Michelle chiming in sometimes. Peter just watches how your eyes light up, how excited this topic makes you, and decides he'd be willing to take you to other places if you wanted. Not that you want to go to the houses anymore - at this point, you've pretty much decided to be a passive lover of ghosts, just looking at stories. But the stories still fascinate you.

Peter reaches out, grabbing one of the two hands you were gesturing excitedly with, and holds it down on the table, just enjoying listening to you. You end up dropping both your hands, holding his one in both of yours, as you keep talking with Ned. Peter’s thumb runs over your fingers and he's almost in a trance, just listening without really comprehending.

Suddenly Ned pipes up, "I found another house we could go check out, if you want."

You hesitate, "I mean… this last time was really freaky? I'm not sure-"

"I'll drive," Peter cuts in, making you look at him in shock.

You furrow your brows, "I thought you were done with ghost hunting? Like I kinda was?"

He shrugs, "I mean, it's not like we died." You shake your head with a chuckle, remembering Peter’s words from before he went into the house.

Ned claps his hands together, "Then it's a deal, we'll go up during our next break. It's a bit of a further trip, we might have to spend the night at a hotel..."

Michelle pips in too, "I'd like to come. This seems pretty cool, for being also super weird."

Peter grins, "Group field trip!" His hands squeeze yours and you’re grateful he’s coming along - honestly, you’re not sure how you would have gotten through the trip if he wasn’t with you.

The next couple weeks until break are spent excitedly planning, booking a couple hotel rooms, and getting more and more hype with each day. You just sit in wonder at how you found such great friends that they're willing to go along on such weird adventures.

You picked a good bunch.

[yourjughead]

Superheroes (requested)

Synopsis: Jughead is totally head over heels in love with y/n which is why it hurts him so deeply when he finds out the reasons you missed Cherly's latest party. Pairings: Jugheadxreader, VeronicaxArchie mentioned. Warnings: Swearing. Fluff. Mentioned and implied domestic//physical abuse. Bruising. A/N: I absolutely adore this request. Even if you all hate it I don't care because I love it. Thank you for the request. Protect yourselves little Superheros. ----------------------------------------------------- Jughead POV Cheryl's House parties. A conclave of wasters, and me. I had no intention of going, didn't even wanna talk about it but then Archie used my kryptonite. Y/N Y/L/N. “Come on Juggy you have to come!” Archie's whining was getting tiresome. “No Arch I don't feel like joining a cult tonight thanks” I retort, vaporizing his character on screen. “Hey! Uncalled for!” At least this whining had a different subject. “Fine I won't make you go….you know who might though?” Grinning ear to ear, pausing the game. Oh he's evil. “Don't.tell.y/n” I looked from the TV at Archie as seriously as I could, he was busy on his phone and i threw myself back into the air mattress exhaling loudly. Y/N was my best friend in the entire world, I'm just sorry I told Archie that I was totally in love with her. A fact himself and the gang would never let go of but Y/N couldn't catch on to...or she did and was being polite. Y/N, like me, was adverse to such displays of wealth and status that Cheryl Blossom relished in. However y/n went to all the parties just to drag me along and get under my skin. How could I not love her for that. “Too late” he grinned. Oh fuck. As if on cue my phone lit up as I threw Archie a dirty look sitting up to retrieve my phone. *Sms: MassiveGoof: Jug.you're going. End of. Xx    :P -6.57pm I threw myself back onto the bed. “I hate you both” when I loved them both. “Come on let's get ready” Archie was clearly gloating at the use of my kryptonite against me. ~~~~~ The party had been drumming on around me for hours. I stood waiting for y/n, the entire group knowing exactly what I was doing. I looked at my watch, she should have been here 3hrs ago. I had texted her when she was 5minutes late and then every 15minutes after that. Nothing. “Archie I'm going to bounce” I had interrupted him attached to Veronica's neck. He waved me off and threw me the keys. Great.driving. *Sms:Dork: hey y/n I'm coming over okay? I swear you better be eaten by a shark or something for standing me up :P Just want to make sure you're okay, be there in 15. -12.43pm. I made the short drive from Cheryl's to y/n’, granted it wasn't smooth by any means. If y/n was here she'd yell at me to stop driving like a boy and drive properly like a woman. I hated to lover her berating. I pulled up outside the sweet old English style house, picture perfect in every way. I knocked on the door and was greeted by y/ns mother smiling. “Hi mrs.y/l/n...sorry I know it's late I just really need to talk to y/n right now...school project emergency” “I'm sorry Jughead, y/n is out right now but I'll let her know” she smiled closing the door before I could protest. She was always a lovely woman to me, sweet as can be but in this moment I felt uncomfortable around her. Where was y/n? Why wouldn't she reply to me? Time to brazen. I peeked in the sitting room window and saw her mom watching her soaps, no y/n. I crept around the back of the house and looked up to where her bedroom is. Huh, the lights on. Things aren't adding up. Okay time for athletic Juggy. Oh God y/n would love to see me try and climb this tree. She'd probably try and knock me down, wow I love her. I shakily climbed the tree to her window. I hadn't done this since I was a kid, her mom caught me once and I wasn't allowed to see y/n for 2 weeks, worse 2 weeks of my young life. I looked in the window of her room and almost fell out if the tree in shock.There was y/n, except she wasn't my y/n. This y/n was bawled up in the corner of the room, knees tucked tightly to her torso, shaking. This was not my outspoken, outlandish best friend I had come to love and adore, this was a shell of her. I watched her a little longer and she didn't move from her corner. I don't remember the last time I saw her in shorts and a tank top...come to think of it I had never seen her in them. She always wore hoodies and jeans and when it was hot she wore loose shirts and long leggings. It was then I saw why. My beautiful y/n was coated in bruises. Neck down. I couldn't stand to see my beautiful doll broken like this. I couldn't just look at her anymore. I lightly tipped the glass, so lightly I was afraid she wouldn't here it and I'd fall out of this stupid tree. I was wrong. She practically jumped out of her skin at the sound. This made me so incredibly sad to see. She slowly and unsteadily came to the window and unlocked the latch before sitting on the edge of the bed with her head dipped down. I slid across the tree .and took the big step in. The whole time she kept her eyes on the carpet. I was half glad of this cause I made a right ass of myself trying to get in that stupid window. I sat down next to her on the bed and took her shaky hand in mine. She leaned on my shoulder. “Y/n” I whispered and she started crying. My least favorite sight in the world...that and Archie in the morning. I rubbed the back of her hand gently and just let her cry on my shoulder. My heart was breaking for the girl with the broken heart. I slipped my hand around her waist to support her practically limp body. “You don't need to tell me what happened if you don't want to” I tried my best not to push her too much but I wanted to help her and needed to know what was going on. I looked down at the marbling decorating her body, my stomach twisted. How could someone do this to my y/n, my beautiful, perfect y/n. “N...no it's time you knew” her voice was hoarse as if she had been screaming for hours. “My mom….she gets mad and just….its my fault I left my mug on the counter and and and” she began but couldn't finish and soon started sobbing. I cuddled her in close to me. I want to take her pain from her. I kissed the top of her head tenderly. I want her to feel nothing but love. “Y/N what your mo..what that woman did to you was never ever your fault okay? Now I know, I'm  going to help you okay sweetie” Y/N suddenly pulled from me panicked but not letting go of my hand. “No no Jughead she'll hurt you for even being here. She'll hurt me for you even knocking at the door I know she will, she's waiting for her show to finish in..” she glanced frantically at the clock on the wall “13minutes, please Juggy go” she let go of my hand and stood next to the window,  crossing her bruise checkered arms over her chest. I stood and gently put my hands on her shoulders,careful not to grip too hard and hurt her peppered body even more. “No” I said with force. I started moving quickly but quietly around the room grabbing random things and shoving them into the bag as y/n watched me. “Y/N/N 13minutes isn't that long and I want to rescue my damsel...my Superhero and unless you want me grabbing all the wrong underwear I suggest you help" she gave me a weak smile with thankful eyes as she busied herself quietly grabbing things. We finally had everything we thought she might need and I helped her fragile body onto the tree so she could shakily climb across and down the tree with a small bag. I tossed the the gear bag down to her. Then I noticed something. Complete quietness. Shit. Not good. I heard ferocious stomping uo The stairs as I lunged off the window onto the tree. Then I saw her. The beast. Y/Ns mother had her arms flailing as she wielded a fireplace shovel, crashing in through the door. She frantically tore out the closet looking for y/n. She looked up and met my eyes as I was about to climb down the bulk of the tree, nothing but insanity and anger behind them. She hurled her body towards the window. Adrenaline pumping I practically dropped out of the tree. I grabbed the gear bag and y/ns hand and we ran. I've never run so fast in my life. I threw the bag in the back of the Pick Up Truck and y/n ran around the side of the car to the passenger seat. I jumped into the seat of the car and tried to start the car as it hissed. Y/Ns mother came flying out of the house throwing things. Y/N screamed an absolutely blood curdling scream. I had never and want to never again hear the likes of it. The car finally turned over and I hit the gas harshly as her mother was about to reach the door handle. Yup, i would definitely fail drivers Ed. I was panting hard and didn't slow down until I was far from her house. I have never been so afraid in my entire life, how did y/n survive this long. I looked over at y/n and she was clung to the seat, fear had stolen her ability to move and speak. I kept one hand on the wheel and the other sweetly wrapped around y/ns hand, never wanting to let go again. About 20 minutes from y/ns house I pulled over and rang Fred Andrews. I told him everything, I gave y/n the phone at his request and she attempted to tell him what happened but she had to stop half way through because she was crying too much. Mr.Andrews told me to come to theirs and he was ringing the gardí ((police guards etc.that's a but of Irish now for you haha)). I told him we would be about 40 minutes because we had driven so far out of town to escape the witch and also y/n needed a moment to catch her breath...we both did. I hung up and went to the back of the pick up where y/n was sitting looking at the stars. She's still so beautiful even in this state. I climbed in next to her and she draped some of the blanket over my legs. I wrapped an arm around her and returned my other had to hers. I kissed the top of her head again and she cuddled in next to me. “Y/N…” “I know Juggy, I know...I love you too” her sad eyes were slowly looking more hopeful. “I will never ever let anyone ever do anything even close to that to you ever again, I Forsythe Pendleton Jones the III swear” I smile at her and she returns it, there's the y/n I know. We both leaned in till our lips met. It was the sweetest of kisses, pure and tender. “Thank you so much for saving me Jughead” she squeezed my hand tightly. “Thank you for being worth saving. I love you so much” I kissed her again. “As much as I want to stay like this forever y/n/n, and trust me I do, Mr.andrews is waiting for us, he said you can stay with us, even coaxed him to letting us share the bed if that's okay, I don't want you out of my sight ever again” this time she kissed me. “If you're driving I won't even make it to the Andrews’” she laughs. Oh that sound. The sound I want to hear every day for the rest of my life. --------------------------------------------- Xx Tag: @sunshine51879 Help: Ireland Child Line - 1800 666 666 United Kingdom  There-4-Me Childline UK - 0800 1111 Muslim Youth Helpline �� 0808 808 2008 Childline Scotland - 0800 44 1111 United States of America National Runaway Switchboard- 1-800-621-4000 Childhelp USA - 1800 422 4453 Covenant House - 1800 999 9999 Australia Kids Help Line - +61 7 1800 55 1800 New Zealand The Kids Help Foundation Trust  – 0800 942 8787 Youthline Charitable Trust  – 0800 376 633 Kidsline - 0800 543 754 Belgium Kinder- en Jongerentelefoon Vlaanderen VZW – 0800 15 111 Canada Kids Help Phone – +1 800 668 6868 France Allo Enfance Maltraitee  - 119 Italy SOS il Telefono Azzurro-19696  Mexico Acercatel - 01800 110 10 10

[believe-that-you-can-my-friend]

Can i request for a bad boy serpent jughead jones and the sweet girl next door betty cooper fiction and maybe with a steamy make out session scene? Thank you!

Fruit Punch Lips & Leather Jacket Dreams

Part 1/3: But Mama, I Want a Bad Boy

So the story is slightly AU. Jughead never attended school in Riverdale, never was friends with Betty and Archie, as a matter of fact they didn’t even know each other. No murder ever happened, Betty was never pinning over Archie. I also made some other small changes that you’ll notice upon reading. Plus, I made Reggie a Serpent too, for no reason really, I just wanted him to be Jughead’s childhood best friend in this universe. :p Last but not least, Betty turned out to be extremely feisty while I was writing this; she is still a sweetheart in pastel colors but her character is a tad more Betty Cooper in episodes 12 &13. I hope that’s ok! Thank you for requesting, dear anon! Enjoy, lovelies! ❤️(Okay, this is 34 pages long. I don’t even know why, I don’t even know what I have written in so many pages. I apologize in advance for that mammoth length. Warning: turns mildly smutty but definately hot and heavy at the end.)

Southside Elementary Schoolwas a rare example of fine architecture in the small town of Riverdale. Rebuiltat the outskirts of town, after a disastrous fire caused by a minor during aprank gone wrong a couple of years ago, and squeezed between Southside Kindergartenand Southside High, it looked nothing like the two crumbling, cement coloredbuildings on its sides that lacked any learning motivation. It was modern, purewhite with splashes of green and purple and it brought a fresh air of change, apromise that maybe the next generation of Southside kids would not have theominous fate of their ancestors.

The Serpents had outdonethemselves with the construction of the of the building, hiring Fred Andrewsand his crew – one of the few people that wasn’t driven by discrimination andalways agreed in doing business at the south side of town – and wasting a largeamount of money from their infamous Serpent vault to create a place appropriatefor shaping young minds. Maybe that’s why sweet and always optimistic BettyCooper smiled every day at three o’clock sharp when her sneakers would hop upthe marble stairs of the buzzing with life building. Because it was proving herright; Serpents would do anything for their children, just like any otherparent on a prestigious office job. Serpents weren’t the monsters everyonethought they were.

Her excuse for walking all theway from their quaint north paradise to the disreputable south district fivedays per week was something that Betty always found fascinating; volunteering.Nurturing and caring by nature, she was constantly filling her free time withactivities that offered assistance to those needed; taking care of stray catsand dogs down at the animal center, gathering food supplies and clothing forthe homeless at their local church, being an annual blood donor, being proudcofounder along with her best friend, Veronica Lodge, of the two years nowsuccessful female empowerment club, Girls Speak Louder, at Riverdale High. Andwhen senior year came and she needed a bigger challenge, something to bring herout of her good girl comfort zone, a tiny announcement had caught her eye,stuck on the bulletin board at the center of her high school corridor; Volunteers needed at Southside Elementary School.

Her sister was excited likeher, her mom was concerned, her dad was livid. Hal Cooper, always the biggestsupporter of his daughter’s choices and the proudest for her accomplishments,was petrified that his innocent little girl had decided to step foot in thatgodforsaken place amongst snakes and muddy waters. Betty talked him into it ofcourse, mustering all her good girl charm during one of their father-daughtermechanic sessions, and here she was now, already two months in her position ofassisting little ones in reading and writing after school, along with beingresponsible for the school’s still limited but gradually expanding library.

“Miss Betty, you look sopretty today. Your shoes are the cutest.” Sasha, one of the youngest in her‘class’ complimented her like every day, the little girl holding the teen in apedestal of idolization. Betty smiled sweetly down at her, turning her feetinward so for the tips of her violet floral slip on Vans to touch incoordination with a smooching sound out of her lips, indicating them kissing,and causing the little girl to giggle.

“Thank you, Sasha, but youdefinitely are prettier.” Betty spread positivity like a pro, feeling her heartswell when the small angel beamed up at her, one of her front teeth missing andmaking the smile even cuter.

“Will you do my hair inpigtails like yesterday?” she demanded in a sugary voice, chubby fingerssmudging the lead against the open notebook in front of her.

“If I see all those sentencescorrectly and neatly written.” The teen sent her a playful grimace and muffledlightly her frizzy locks in affection as she nodded cheerfully and went back towork. Her green eyes darted to the rest of the kids, some writing and somequietly reading, and seeing as nobody seemed to need her assistance, she movedto the window for aimless gazing, relishing to the rare feeling of warm sunraysbathing her face and the skin of her arms her blush pink sleeveless button-upshirt left uncovered.

Loud cheers and cheerfulshrieks caught her attention and Betty focused on some kids playing soccer inthe yard, a lanky raven haired girl amongst all the boys scoring a goal beforedoing a cartwheel in victory with a carefree laugh that brought a laughingsmile on Betty’s lips too. She landed just on time to greet five guys that hadjust entered the school premises, the one in the very front high-fiving her andmuffling her hair in affection, and Betty felt as if a meteor had struck at thecenter of her chest making her heart bounce violently at the sudden impact.

She had seen them before,rarely around town but frequently the hours she was volunteering, the two ofthem dropping by almost every day to pick up their younger siblings whereas theother three just tagged along. Betty was guessing they were around her age anda close group of best friends, an exclusive and childhood originated boys’squad, carrying around an air of bad boy charm and a smoldering confidenceinflicted by their matching black leather jackets; Serpents.

However, the tightness in herchest wasn’t because of fear or intimidation, the basic normal reactions everycitizen of the north side showed upon coming face to face with the imposingpresence of anyone from the South. It was because of him, the one always at thecenter, always at the front, that had the ability to fuel the sleeping lava atthe depths of her monotonously perfect self. She didn’t know who he was, shedidn’t even know his name, but what she did know was that when he was around,he was pulling her in like a magnetic force, like her own personal center ofgravity, and her eyes couldn’t do anything else but stare, gawk at his terribly handsome face and lean physic clad in darkcolors, while her mind was turning into a useless organ, floating in theturbulent waters of a hypnotizing nirvana.

Today, of course, was noexception. Betty couldn’t help but roam her eyes over his willowy body, longlimps and slender figure, so far from all those typical buffed jocks and so Betty’stype, spotting his usual black jeans and combat boots that gave him the bikerguy vibe that worked wonders into her mind and, to be honest, her body too. Whatcame as a surprise though was today’s choice of shirt, a white cotton vest,skintight and tucked inside his jeans, him not wearing his Serpent jacket ontop of it but having it draped over his shoulder, due to the afternoon heat. Andwhat a pleasant surprise that was.

Betty could feel her skinburning, not from the furnace like weather outside but from the way the materialwas clinging deliciously against his muscular chest, his board shoulders, histoned stomach. For the first time his biceps were uncovered, well-built andflexing in a manner that screamed raw masculinity, and she actually felt a tadannoyed at his habit of wearing what seemed like forty layers of clothing,keeping those bad boys only for the girls that Betty was sure were constant inhis bedroom. At that thought her eyebrows knitted together in a frown, the girlactually catching a hint of jealousy puffing her chest, shaking her head tosnap out of her reverie and scold herself for how stupid she was acting,letting her hormones and tiny idiotic girl crush get the best of her.

But then he smiled at theelementary kids that were now flocking around him bouncing in excitement, thatboyish smile that Betty had seen him sport before only around his little sister,and made her stomach flip in an unknown fashion, as he ran his fingers throughhis always messy black waves and the youngest Cooper could actually feel herknees getting a little weak at the sight of him being so effortlessly gorgeousand so hot. A giggly boy passed himthe ball and he dropped his leather jacket and messenger bag recklessly to theconcrete, rolling the worn out soccer ball with the tip of his combat boot overhis foot and then bouncing it on top of it, juggling the ball from one foot tothe other and tricking expertly the boy in front of him, stealing the ballcompletely. Due to his physic he was very fast and agile, coltish legs makingit seem like he was flying amongst the hyperactive children, musclesstretching, shoulder blades flexing, dark mane swinging sexily against hislaughing eyes. Betty was having trouble breathing, the air inside the smallclassroom suffocating her, and her hand came unconsciously to rub the base ofher neck uneasily, a heavy gulp vibrating under her sweaty fingers as theypushed the lapels of her shirt more open in a desperate attempt to supply herbrain with much needed oxygen. He was in an illegal biker gang, one of thosebad guys that everyone kept advising her not to even spare a second glance at.How could he be so charmingly handsome and irresistibly human?

He was good at the game, hewas being cocky and confident, doing tricks and advanced moves despite playingwith eleven year olds and the heat Betty was feeling was getting amplified, forsome reason the blonde being attracted to his whole Alpha male persona. She hadbeen around a lot of star athletes in her life as a cheerleader but he hadsomething else, a raw passion and intensity from having learnt to kick a ball carelesslyin the freedom of some soil, pebbly streets, an unremitting youthful ardor thatthose prestigious golden boys would never gain in the luxury of their personal traininggyms. With a gracious twirl, he trapped the ball between his ankles and jumped,sending it flying backwards before twisting his heels in a way that Betty hadseen only professional soccer players do in the games her dad watched in thebasement, kicking it over his head and to his sister who scored once again, theunknown Serpent and his friends erupting in hollering cheers, practicallyshaking the thin glass on the windows of the building.

The raven girl ran to him inglee and he hoisted her up his back to lie on her stomach, both of themoutstretching their arms at the sides and mimicking a helicopter as he ran in acircle, Betty giggling lightly along with them at their celebratory ritual. Herlaughter though was cut short when, free of his sister’s weight, the guyresponsible for her flaming cheeks and fluttering heart pulled his vest fromhis pants and used the hem to wipe the sweat off his upper lip, flashing her adelicious, glistering set of abs and a small hint of raven hair right at the centerof his two prominent V lines, disappearing seductively under the waistband ofhis jeans.

Betty actually bit her lip tohold back a moan. For the first time in her life she was feeling such a strongattraction, a burning desire, for a guy, let alone a complete stranger. Yes,she had had her fair share of crushes in the past and some heated make outswith her two previous boyfriends on backseats or under the bleachers butnothing compared to this, nothing ever came close to that powerful urge she hadto kiss him long and senseless just by looking at him. That’s why things neverwent further than some heavy caresses and awkward grinding over clothes witheither Trev or Chuck. But staring at him now, flashing boyish smiles andrevealing more and more hard mass of an Adonis-like chest, good Lord, Betty’smind was creating raunchy scenarios and she needed to be stopped.

He was the one to snap herback to reality and his cocky attitude that seemed to be a reoccurring trait ofhis character. Because he knew that all this time she was staring at him, evenputting on a little more of a show just for her sake, so when he let go of hisshirt for it to fall loosely against his toned abs, his baby blue eyes,mischievous behind disheveled black locks, connected with hers through thewindow and he winked at her, he gave her an actualboyish wink and a sexy side smirk that melted her insides in an instant andcaused her heart to stop for a torturing second. Instantly, blood shot in heralready rosy cheeks, her green doe eyes became round balls of embarrassment andBetty averted her gaze to her feet, mentally cursing herself for being caughtbut mostly for not being anything like Veronica or Cheryl, both of them pros atflirting and seduction.

“Miss Betty, I can’t spellthis word. Can you help me, please?” a voice called from the back of the smallclassroom and made her jump, disappointed that her daydreaming bubble had burstso violently and he was now with his back at her, walking away with aprotective arm curled over his sister’s shoulders. A heavy burden ofdisappointment landed on her chest and she sighed sullenly as she turned away too,ready to get back into her bubbly Betty Cooper mode and assist her littleangels.

What she didn’tknow was that the strange boy was still smirking. And it was all because of thestunning blonde vision that had caught his eye long before he had caught hers.

Doesn’the have an IG account? Or even a Facebook one? What century does he live into?I wanna see the goods…😉

Betty shook her head with atsk of amused disapproval at the blue bubble that popped on her phone’s screen,accompanying the multiple others that filled her and Polly’s personal chat.They were texting back and forth for an hour now, the two sisters talking abouttheir day, Polly’s tons of reading for med school, Betty’s latest article forthe Blue & Gold, Betty’s recent boy toy obsession. The younger Cooper hadmade the mistake to confide in her sister about her small maybe there crush that very night after the winking incident,merely because she just couldn’t get him out of her mind and she needed to venther teenage frustration to somebody before she would end up locked in a mentalfacility. However, that proved, well, a mistake because now her teasing wasrelentless. She loved her sister to the moon but her pestering nature andprankster mentality was the only thing Betty definitely didn’t miss now thatshe was in California for college.

Yousound like Veronica and that’s scary, have that checked. 😘 And I told you,I don’t even know his name!!

Betty pressed the two exclamation marks in frustration, hitting replyand actually groaning out loud at the response that came in barely a heartbeat.

Then ask him!

So simple, yet, so impossible. She sighed, biting her lip as the tappingof her thumps were filling the silence around her.

He’s bad news, Pol…

The “read” sign appeared under her white bubble; Polly started writingsomething, then stopped. Betty signed again, dropping her phone carelesslyinside her turquoise backpack with a heavy heart. She knew that there wasn’tgonna be a response because her statement was right; he was bad news for girlslike her. He was raised in a world of pedal smoke and black leather and she camefrom a chamomile scented and strawberry flavored wonderland. They weren’t yinand yang, they were simply complete opposites and Betty was old enough to knowthat such fairytales never had a happy ending. Behind the words of love andprosperity that people always added at the end of every fantastic story about agolden-haired princess and a dark charming prince there was this whole otherdimension in which he and she were never destined to be together.

Betty gathered her things with an atypical somber mood, then put herdenim bomber jacket over her scantily clad form. Her schedule at school todaywas heavy, with two extra hours of cheerleading practice after the end of classes,so she didn’t really have time to change out of her uniform before coming tothe south side for her volunteering work. The little girls were ecstatic andthe little boys in awe upon seeing their teacher in the colors of blue and goldthat suited her like a second skin but right now she was actually feeling alittle wary about her attire. Betty always felt good in her cheerleading uniform,still with a long list of insecurities on her shoulders but comfortable in herown skin nonetheless, but at that very moment her chest tingled with thissubconscious fear that every woman in a short skirt sported upon walking aroundalone after darkness had settled. It was in the feminine DNA, subscribed intheir genes, and she hated with every fiber of her body that in their time andage she was still supposed to feel threatened by any man that happened to passher by in the street.

But Betty Cooper rarely gave up, if ever. So when her dad had told herthat he wouldn’t be able to pick her up tonight – that was their deal for hervolunteering at the Southside, him dropping by every night after her shift todrive her home – she didn’t tell Archie to come instead, as Hal had made hisdaughter promise him. She was a big girl now, a woman; a strong and fearlesswoman. And she was more than capable of walking home alone without needing anyman to play her knight in shining armor. She was going to be her own knight, ifneeded.

So she waved at the polite middle aged janitor, tightened her preppyponytail and headed for the road, enjoying the earie vibe of the south side ofRiverdale at night. Her thoughts wandered to him again like every other night –secret adolescent musings under the protective pastel veil of her teenage room thatleft her lying with an aching longing on her virginal white cotton sheets –trying to guess what grade he was in, if he was a jock or maybe he liked poetryor photography, if he enjoyed living in Riverdale, if he dreamt of getting outof here just like her. And as time was passing by quickly and her squeaky whiteNike sneakers were a few meters away from Sweetwater Bridge that separated thetwo sides of their town, loud guy voices made her ears perk and her hands bawlinstantly into fists, as shiny green eyes turned to the source, a small andabandoned looking park in the middle of old, graffiti filled houses and lifelessoak trees. There, on the only rickety bench amongst rusty swings and avandalized seesaw the four boys of the young Serpent squad were engaged inheavy banter and boastful laughs, sharing a joint and a cooler of beers.

To her surprise, she wasn’t scared at the late night encounter, onlyseverely disappointed that for the first time he-who-doesn’t-have-a-name wasn’tat the center of the small ground of friends that seemed to always be attachedat the hip. Betty’s beautiful features dropped in a heartbroken pout asdesperate eyes scanned each of them in hopes that her secret boy crush was alsolurking in the darkness and she was just unable to notice him – impossible butstill she had to check – but once her attempts were proven fruitless and hermind snapped out of her lovesick girl world, that’s when she felt theatmosphere shifting. Four pairs of eyes were staring back at her, setting herunder the microscope with their scrutinizing gaze as she was lazily walking by,Betty feeling an actual shiver run down her spine in uneasiness, as she snappedher head down and away from them, cheeks flushing crimson and heart boundingagainst the golden R of her cheerleading shirt.

“Nice legs!” one of them hollered in boyish delight, sending his friendsin a fit of manly laughter before joining in too. Betty flinched at hisdisrespectful attempt of a compliment and shoved her fists further into thepockets of her jacket, picking up her step. Suddenly, she was hyper-aware ofeverything around her; the chilly breeze of the early-spring night, theobnoxious fluorescent light of the cheap street lamps over her scantily cladform, the light thudding of her backpack against her waist, the brushing of hertiny cheerleading skirt over the very top of her thighs, barely an inch longerthan her bomber jacket. Her nerves were on code red territory.

“Man, those suckers from the north side always get the good ones.” Hemurmured in appreciation, loud enough for her to hear, before shouting againtowards her direction. “Don’t you want a change of flavor, babe?”

Betty’s tongue slipped, a tsk sound of disgust accompanying her fed-upeye roll, stealing a subtle glance from the boy that thought himself to be anirresistible player. Freakishly tall, board shoulders, well-build physic, spikyraven hair; yeah, she was right, a Serpent anda jock. Double that male ego cockiness she loathed.

“Come on, Reggie, leave her alone.” Another boy scolded his friend butBetty wasn’t really fooled by the insignificant chivalrous intervention.

“We’re just messing around here, babe.” Reggie, as she had now learnt,spoke up again, an undertone of mischief coloring his baritone voice. “But hey,if you really want some Southside in you, here’s your chance.” He barked a loudlaughter and the boys around him couldn’t resist laughing too, clapping soundsfilling the air by what Betty assumed were congratulating hi-fives.

She knew that any other girl in her shoes would duck her head to theground and practically run away from the possible danger. But she was BettyCooper, cofounder of a female empowerment club and vocal protestor against anykind of harassment and bullying, so she came to an abrupt stop and held herhead high, feeling her dark palette of colors staining the perpetual sunshineof her personality. Turning swiftly on her heels, she started pacing towardsthem in determination, dry leaves getting crashed violently under the weight ofher footsteps, and her green eyes became two pools of painful annoyance uponseeing them murmuring in excitement and puffing up their chests, clueless andhopeful that such a preppy looking girl was ready to walk on the wild side withthem.

Betty stopped right before the guy with the big mouth. He towered overher, way too many inches taller and boarder than her, pleased lopsided smirkintact, but her confidence never got bent, maybe because behind the cocky glinton his coal like eyes she could only see boyish teasing and not the actualbloodcurdling threat that some guys, and even older men, in her seeminglyperfect side of town had inflicted upon her and a plethora of other girls withjust a simple yet utterly perverted glance. Nonetheless, the guy in front ofher was still rude and disrespectful; and ignorant impoliteness was ranking onthe top five bullet points of Betty Cooper’s list of pet peeves.

“Why don’t you say that to my face, huh?” she tilted her chin up, herserious expression and curt tone catching him off guard. “Go on, what? You lostyour balls now that you are face to face with the cute, defenseless little girlyou were looking to score five seconds earlier?” Reggie shuttered someincoherent mumblings, chuckling in awkward obliviousness as he tried to come upwith another of his clever remarks. Betty didn’t let him with a shake of herhead and knitted in frustration perfect eyebrows.

“Seriously, what made you grow such an inferiority complex that youdesperately want to validate your masculinity by throwing tactless andborderline laughable comments at any girl, with the hope that someday one ofthem might actually take up on your offer and finally give your right palm abreak?” He bounced his head back in surprise, eyes blinking rapidly, the boysaround him going silent and still as statues while watching the hurricane thaterupted from the sweet looking blonde girl. “Were you raised in a misogynist environmentor is it just you, compensating for a rather small capacity of male genes?” she colored the adjective withenough sarcasm and casted her judging green orbs momentarily to the front ofhis jeans, catching with the corner of her eyes two of his friends droppingtheir jaws at the well-played insult. “I could stay here and educate you about howinsensible and, bottom line, politically wrong this catcall culture you are soin too deep is but I’d rather save my breath and my well-rounded opinions for somebodywith an actual dimensional brain, so simply hear this out; get over it, man upand stop walking around like a freaking sexist cliché.” Betty ended her speechfull of spank, head raised in superiority and inner pleasure upon reddeningthem speechless, her shiny green eyes never unleashing the hold of his nowdisorientated and full of embarrassment ones.

A slow clapping echoed in the stillness of the night and startled her,snapping Betty back into reality and dissolving her Simone De Beauvoir momentwith a gentle blow, before, there, through the darkness, emerged the darkprince that had invaded her dreams, dressed in black and leather, lips looselycurled in an easy going smirk around a burning cigarette. She took a shy stepback, intimidated and flustered by his presence as always, lowering her Bambieyes to the ground and curling her arms awkwardly over her chest, stealingtiny, self-conscious glances under her lush eyelashes of his approachingfigure. There was intensity in his eyes, their calm baby blue shadecontradicting with the tsunami of foreign emotions his stare dedicated to heronly, and Betty felt herself losing any sense of her surroundings under suchearth-shattering connection.

“Well, I’ve never saw anyone shut Reginald Mantle Jr. up in a merematter of seconds and with such excessive vocabulary. Impressive, truly.”  She heard his voice for the first time,directing her fully as if no one else was occupying the planet but her, and shefelt her insides clench at its thick tone, soothing yet husky enough to painther fantasies of him with even more appraising colors, and his stare that heldsomething new, something that she had never experienced before in anyinteraction with the opposite sex. She was sure her cheeks were instantlyvibrant red. And his lips trembled in a tiny smirk because he noticed.

He then turned to his friends, shifting subtly to become a human barrierbetween them and the timid looking girl. “And I thought you, dickheads,” the offensive word wascolored with a mild annoyance along with the usual endearment such insults heldin the bro word “knew how to treat a lady.” His tone was castigating and hisposture tall and imposing but Betty never felt threatened by it, only stronglycared for and protected. Faint murmurs echoed to her left and she dared to peekat the boys next to her, seeing them, to her amazement, drop their heads to theground in remorse and uneasiness. Her speculations that he was the alpha of thegroup were correct and the blonde girl felt a strange heat ignite at the depthsof her, up until now, dull existence.

“We lack some sunshine here at the Southside. It’s a shame if we pushher away.” He offered her a sexy boyish smirk, thick raven waves playing hideand seek with his mischievous eyes and Betty almost lost her footing, meltedright there on the dirty playground, as she felt a trembling sigh puffing herchest in girly delight.

“C’mere.” He nodded towards his direction, adorably sweet if she dared sayso, jerking his head to the side and effectively pushing his hair out of hiseyes.  “I’ll walk you to the bridge.” Heoffered, staring down at her intensely again.

Betty’s cheeks heated up once more and her fingertips went numb fromnervous excitement. “It’s fine, I’ll—” she stuttered lamely but he cut her off.

“I promise I’m not a serial killer.” There was evident teasing in histone, her looking at him like a cute deer caught in the headlights that amusedhim to no end. “Plus, I don’t bite.” He went on cockily, straightening up hisboard shoulders. “Not without permission at least.” There was a wink again, oneof those completely sinful ones that only he could master, and Betty’s will toobject vanished in a heartbeat at the innuendo, jelly legs shyly brining her tohis side like she was compelled.

He gave her a full smile this time, a pleased one that she reciprocatedwith a tiny smirk, and made a grand gesture with his arms for her to go firstin gentlemanly politeness, the blonde infatuated girl nudging her cheek againstthe denim of her shoulder to hide her raging blush, biting her lip to preventher giddy smile from spreading widely on her face. There were some faintwhistles of appreciation and teasing from the other males, him flicking thestub of his cigarette towards their direction in fake warning mixed withswaggering pride, and Betty would have been uneasy under the attention, if itwasn’t for his hand landing respectfully between her shoulder blades, givingher a gentle push. His large palm sent shivers down her spine, despite thelayers of clothing, and Betty was sure she was going to die at some point downtheir small walk to the bridge.  

There were some minutes of silence filled with only the sounds of naturearound them, Betty making her pace a little slower than usual on purpose,wanting to prolong the unexpected encounter and the delicious tightness in herchest, and him falling into a lazy pace next to her, shoving his bony fingerscasually into the pockets of his ripped skinny jeans. She was observing theirfootwear as she was trying to control her raging heart and sweaty palms, whitesneakers contradicting with black leather boots, her round green eyesappreciating his long strides opposite her multiple small steps. Withoutactually thinking, she spoke up.

“You know, I don’t really go around acting like a bitch.” Betty for somereason wanted to clarify. “Or having late night strolls with strangers for thatmatter.” She went on cleverly, letting her eyes run up his lean physic to landon his handsome profile, her heart skipping a beat at the pretty smirk he wassporting.

“Figured.” He shrugged casually. “You’re practically oozing good girlcharm.” The words rolled around a teasing grin that got wider as he heard herscoff, his eyes playfully catching hers and making her swing lightly on herheels at the contact. “But you should, if the effect is that spectacular.” Heturned back in front, getting serious and almost tired as he continued. “Somepeople need a reminder to shut up; their idiocy is killing me day by day.” Hesighed.

Betty frowned, a silly grimace of confusion wrinkling her stunningfeatures. “You realize that we’re talking about one of your friends, right?”she huffed amused.

He chuckled with no sound, shaking his head. “Reggie is a good guy, allof them are. And I love him as a brother; we are brothers in every sense of the word.” There was a softer tonein his voice, an undeniable affection, and Betty caught herself smiling atthat. “So” he trailed off, offering her a jaunty side glance, “that gives meall the more right to call him out on the fact that he lacks courtesy and sufficientbrain cells.” His sardonic remark surprised her and she let a rather loudgiggle, him sending her a charming smile that caused her to bite her lip againat the way her stomach dropped in newfound desire, the blue shade of his eyesdarkening a tad at her reaction. Silence fell between them again, both snappingtheir heads down and in front to avoid the contact, the magnetic pull andsexual tension between them way too much to handle.

“And it’s Jones, Jughead Jones.” He suddenly exclaimed, gaining herattention back effectively. “In case you didn’t want us to be strangersanymore.” The raven haired boy offered in all his self-conscious glory, earninga raised eyebrow in return.

“Jughead?” Betty wondered incredulouslyabout the absurd nickname.

“Trust me, the real one is wayworse.” He snorted loudly. “My parents hate me; it’s strongly established sinceday one.”

“Well, it’s unique.” She shrugged a shoulder, secretly liking how itrolled over her tongue and matched his unique aura. “Cue in here my own boringname—” she sighed in exasperation but she didn’t get the chance to introduceherself.

“Betty Cooper. I know.” The boyish smile that he wholeheartedly sent herway, pleased and even shy, was all it took for the girl to completely gospiraling to another universe filled with sparkly love hearts and cupid arrows.

Luckily, self-preservation was still a thing at the back of her numbbrain. “Are you stalking me or something?” she grimaced in panic and horror.

Jughead laughed lightly at how adorable she looked, a reaction sobizarre in coordination with his dark parade looks. “Contrary to popularbelief, the fact that I belong in a sovereign motorcycle club doesn’t make menecessarily a pervert.” He reminded her cleverly, raising both his eyebrows.

She bit her lip again,embarrassed this time. “I’m sorry.” She murmured guiltily.

He momentarily focused his eyes on her trapped rosy lip; he just couldn’tresist. “It’s fine.” He sighed a little out of this world before shaking hishead to snap out of the hormonal reverie the preppy blonde seemed to drown himinto with just a simple lip bite.

“You’re a teacher down at our elementary school.” His tone turned aloofagain, him falling a step behind her to catch a scrunched soda can with thesole of his boot, kicking it idly back and forth between his feet while walking.“People on the Southside talk too,you know. Leggy blonde princess joyfully bouncing around in our underworld?That’s not a sight we enjoy every day.” Jughead informed her ingeniously, blueorbs momentarily enjoying the view of her killer legs in front of him andnaughty smirk curling his lips as he dropped them back to the rolling aluminum againsthis feet.

“You mean gossip.” She spatthe word with venom, twirling graciously along with the hem of her blue skirtto face him, Jughead appreciating the action and enjoying the way she took somebouncing steps backwards, high ponytail swinging in a silly fashion, before thetip of her sneaker kicked his shoe, stealing control of the useless can. Hehuffed at the challenge. “The perks of living in an awfully small town, I guess…”She kicked the soda can with venom, sending it flying against the tire of anold Suzuki with a shrieking sound that imitated the scream of frustration hertone was hiding, before regaining hold of it. “And I’m not a teacher; I’m justvolunteering.” She passed him their makeshift ball with a tiny flirty smile.

“Good.” He nodded once, fighting to smile back at her while doing sometricks with his right foot. “Cause I was seriously enraged that our teachers atSouthside High look nothing like you.” Those impish baby blues was on heragain, a single curly strand of hair falling effortlessly over them and Bettygiddily squirmed under his stare and the sexual undertone of his words.

“Damn, those first graders are lucky.” He sighed deeply, completelyinfatuated, and she suddenly felt his hot breath next to her ear, creatinggoosebumps against her skin, as he teasingly maneuvered his body in front ofher, pretending that her shapely legs were a tantalizing soccer goal beforekicking the can in between them, successfully scoring with a naughty grin. Theaction surprised her and she stumbled over his combat boots, hands flying offher sides in reflex and landing on his hard chest over the soft material of hisdark blue flannel in an attempt not to fall face first on the asphalt. What shecame face to face was a pair of piercing eyes, long gone their playfulness, andtwo wet, chapped lips, parted and exhaling once heavily at the impact, his ownhand reaching under her bomber jacket, gripping her hipbone to steady her,thump lightly grazing the soft skin her cropped cheerleading shirt leftuncovered. He smelled of nicotine and heady cologne, a scent that she now cravedon her bedsheets, and she of sensuous jasmine and fruit gums that had himurging to taste, drink greedily until there wasn’t a hint left on her bubblegumlips. Her Bambi eyes were round against his hazy ones that dropped instantly toher mouth, driven by some spell that was pulling him in, closer and closer,dizzy by the way she trembled against him and the tip of her tongue that cameto highlight the shimmery lip gloss that all this time was titillating hismind. His lips ghosted over hers, her eyelashes fluttered close, both theirhearts started thudding violently. But a dog barked loudly in the distance andstartled them, bodies jumping in fright and breaking their amorous bonds, amoment of magic forever lost.

Jughead was the first one to take a step back, giving her space, herface and heart dropping in disappointment.

“What grade are you in?” she blurted still light-headed, cursing herselfand biting the inside of her cheek instantly at her dumb word vomit, her stillnon-functioning and always weird brain picking that question instead of something more interesting or suitable tosay. Damn her and her inability to flirt like a normal human being.  

He sighed, disappointed and frustrated at the interruption too, butletting a breathy chuckle at the odd question. “Senior.” He fell back next toher, both resuming their walk, thankful for the light breeze that helped toease their pumping veins. “And hopefully next year I’ll be somewhere far, faraway.” He wished in longing, taking a deep breath, trying to taste what freedommust feel like.

“I thought you belonged in a sovereign motorcycle club.” Betty quoted himcheekily, earning a half side smirk in amusement from him. “That sounds like amapped up fate to me.” She pointed out with a hint of genuine concern.

“I guess I’m weird.” He shrugged casually. “And I have layers.” Headded, somehow vulnerable, focused on his combat boots. “Most people our age inthis lovely, quaint little town, either north or south, are interested inbooze, weed and sex. Well, my only vice is those bad guys.” He took a pack ofred Marlboro out of the pocket of his jacket with a smirk, retrieving acigarette and shoving the packet back in its place before unburying a metalliclighter, his initials and a snake craved on the side.

“Sucks to live here, right?” she watched as he flipped the lid expertlyand flame erupted, lighting the tip of the rolled tobacco, him inhaling astrong drug of poison that made his Adam’s apple bop. Betty gulped at thesight, chest deflating in a hot and bothered fashion.

“Understatement of the year.” Jughead mused in a snarky manor, voice atad raspier as he exhaled a cloud of smoke while licking his bitter lips. Bettyfelt a tingling sensation low in her belly, even though she knew there wasnothing attractive in cigarette reeking guys. Somehow he managed to make eventhat sexy, her mind instantly creating fantasies of him bare-chested, blowingcircles of smoke against her own open mouth.

“Our very own Great Wall restricts me from going any further.” His wordsand abrupt halt of his long limbs next to her snapped her back to reality,Betty blinking a few times to regain consciousness, upon stopping along himright at the start of Sweetwater Bridge, the human structure over the wateryboarder between their town’s rival sides.

“We don’t bite either, you know.” She fidgeted with the hem of herjacket, using his words from before and raising her eyes to witness hisreaction at her idle attempt to flirt.

He chuckled, bringing the cigarette to his lips. He inhaled, locking hiseyes on hers, before exhaling, blue orbs turning sly and intense once again. “Well,I have a feeling you do.” Sexy and mysterious, he managed to fuel the red onher cheeks and the tingles in her chest, a view that he rather enjoyed.  “Have a good night and stay away from trouble,alright slugger?” Teasingly, he pointed a warning finger at her.

Betty snorted a giggle, voice soft and sweet when she spoke again. “Goodnight.Thanks for walking me here.” She offered him a wide, dashing smile that gluedhim in place, unable to move, unable to think straight, blinded by the etherealbeauty of the girl in front of him. She ducked her head shyly under his gazeand started to walk away, internally squalling at the plot twist in heruneventful teenage life.

“Hey, Cooper!” His loud voice made her stop and turn back once again,preppy ponytail bouncing in anticipation just like her heart. “Save me anothersmile next time you see me, okay?” Jughead offered her his most gorgeous boyishsmile, laughing eyes, dimples and all, and now it was her time to stay stunned,altering her weight from one foot to the other in girly fashion, as he turnedto head his way with another one of his winks, leaving her staring with rosycheeks and a speeding heart.

The beeping of her phone made her jump, anxious fingers digging in herbag in fear that she was terribly late and the whole North was heading overwith torches and pitchforks led by her parents in an avenging mission.Hopefully, she audibly breathed in relief as a new message from Pollybrightened her screen, her sister’s words bringing back a dumbfounded smile onher lips.

Well, you never know. Give him a chance; he mightsurprise you. 😉

“They are Serpents, snakes.And their place is at the south side slithering in the muddy waters of theirswamp not mingling with us, infecting the town we built from scratch! You knowwhat? They should be thanking us for letting them lurk around our territories.But they are on borrowed time and now it’s our chance to cut off the head ofthose venomous, disgusting reptiles!”

Betty frowned upon pushing open the glass door of Pop’s diner andspotting her far from beloved ex-boyfriend and captain of the football team,Chuck Clayton, in a heated monologue, surrounded by other jocks that looked athim like he was some kind of savior or messiah. Next to the table they occupied,her friends were enjoying dinner and some shakes in their usual booth by thewindow, murmuring what was clear frustration about the aggravated jock. Bettycasually made her way over, avoiding on purpose Chuck’s eyes that rose uponspotting her walk by, and she slid graciously on the empty leather seat next toKevin.

“What is he going on about?” she whispered boringly, dropping herbackpack to the floor and stealing a fry from the plate in the middle, chewinglazily and leaning back more comfortably while resting a leg over Kevin’sthigh, the boy patting her knee in greeting and sympathy that she had brieflydated someone so self-centered and awfully arrogant.

“The Serpents, as always.” Veronica, from the window seat across her,legs on Archie’s lap and arms curled around his neck, whispered back with aneye roll, the redhead nodding once in annoyance too. “Seriously, Chuck” sheturned to the guy on the other table, annoyed “can you take the testosteronedown a notch? We are not intimidated by it, we are not interested in it. Just stop.” The brunette colored the wordwith a fed up huff, closing her eyes to indicate how tired she was of hisprivileged bullshit.

“Just go back to sucking face with Andrews, alright VeLo?” Chucknarrowed his eyes in fake politeness, Archie straightening up inside her embracein defense, earning a soothing pat on his chest by his girlfriend. “Let ushandle the mature stuff as we know best.” The boy went on dead serious, sendinga glance at Betty who scoffed and turned away.

“Yes, of course, bitching and moaning like a spoiled little school girlfor over half an hour is really mature, Chuck, great job.” To Kevin’s otherside, Cheryl deadpanned while focused on polishing her nails a vibrant red,sending the people around her table in a fit of light giggles that the jocksacross them completely ignored, getting back to their heated conversation.

“This is riveting to watch.” Kevin exclaimed in his usual thrilledvoice, eyes sparkling in excitement. “We are the protagonists of Riverdale’smost vexed debate since 1972; should the north side and the south side beunified? Guys, we are making history!” He squeezed Betty’s thigh as he squealedin delight, his best friend smiling fondly at his over-jubilant reaction.

“Kevin” she giggled, patting his hand on her thigh “they are just goingto attend our school for a month. And only the seniors. I highly doubt thatthis is going to change Riverdale’s entire viewpoint overnight.” The blondespoke softly, like giving a life lesson to a five year old, and the alwayscoiffured on point teenager pouted, before turning back to the others.

“Still something is changing.” He insisted, Betty scoffing in amusementnext to him. “Even if it is just the eye candy around campus.” He faced heragain with his laughing eyes and a sweet grin, making it impossible for her andthe rest of his friends not to chuckle at his bright personality.

Tomorrow was going to be a big day for the town of Riverdale. The seniorstudents of Southside High were going to start attending Riverdale High for thetimespan of a month, after a serious incident with their school’s centuries oldcentral heating that resulted to broken water pipes and flooding classrooms. Upuntil the problem was going to be fixed, mayor McCoy had agreed to the studentstransferring to Riverdale high school, a decision that rose heated controversyamongst the residents of the North.

“Things are not looking very good, guys.” The atmosphere around thetable shifted, as Archie untangled himself from Veronica to lean forward andinform them secretly. “Locker room talk has gone to another level and withChuck practically urging every Bulldog on a vigilante mission I’m not sure everythingis going to run as smoothly as the school board thinks.” The boy shared hisconcerns.

“They are not here to cause problems.” Betty voiced with certainty. “I’vebeen to the South over three months now and everyone is just normal, you know,they are normal people.” Her eyes darted over each one of her friends thatdidn’t look very convinced. “Nice, even.” She threw in exasperation, a certaindark haired guy popping immediately in her mind. To her disappointment, shehadn’t seen much of him after that night, only catching his lean posturebriefly as he dropped by the elementary school to pick up his sister, too muchin a haze for them to even lock eyes through the window. Betty was back to herpessimistic usual self, regarding boys and their lack of attraction towardsher, and for some reason this time it hurt a tad more. It didn’t help that herdaydreams of him were now actual dreams too, heated and intimate, leaving herpanting and in a mess of sweat along with damp lace between her legs eachmorning she would wake up with the thought of him, her fingers tracing her fulllips where she could still feel his sensuous breath from that night that he had sether perfect good girl world in flames with just a brush of his intoxicatingnicotine stained ones.

At the exact moment, the bell over the entrance chimed and everyone’seyes rose in curiosity. All conversations stopped, the atmosphere became eerieand cold. Five young Serpents, the five ones Betty had seen multiple timesduring her volunteering hours, were sauntering menacingly inside the smalldinner, leather jackets shinny under the bright neon lights. They looked angry,threatening, and they were headingtheir way with matching heavy steps and stone cold eyes.

“You were saying?” Kevin murmured in panic next to her but Betty tunedhim out, as everything else around her, around him.

Jughead was at the center of the small squad but this wasn’t thehandsome guy she was fawning over from afar nor the charming boy that made herfeel weak in the knees that single night he almost brushed his lips over herinviting ones. His appearance was disheveled, hair not its usual perfectlyimperfect mess but greasy and dirty, the black S t-shirt he had on ripped andbloody under his Serpent jacket with what seemed like oil and asphalt stains onit, his dark jeans dusty and with a hole on his left knee revealing a big,nasty wound that continued hidden up his thigh. His hands were bawled in tight fistson his sides, knuckles bloody red, and his jaw was set, painfully wrinkled likehe was holding back a threatening to explode volcano, his face stone cold andlittered with a couple of scratches on his left cheek and temple, a bloody cuton his lower lip, a mauve bruise peaking under some sweaty dark waves on hisforehead. What had her turning anxious though, terrified even, was his lifelesseyes, their soothing blue shade vanished and their clever glint traded forsomething else, something darker, that promised war and revenge. Bettyshivered; she didn’t know him, their brief encounter was not enough for her toshape an accurate opinion for his character, but deep down she always thoughtthat under his dark exterior he was hiding a golden soul. Now, that his hostileorbs didn’t even spare her a glance but stayed set on the buffed varsitycaptain, she wasn’t so sure.

“Do you consider yourself a clever guy, Clayton?” the Serpents’ leader growledlow in his throat, standing tall and tense next to the seated boy that ignoredhim, draping casually an arm over the back of his booth.

“That’s not even a question.” Chuck offered him a cocky smirk, winkingat some other jocks across him who chuckled at how pathetic those Serpentswere.

“Yes, you are right.” Jughead let a humorless chuckle, clenching andunclenching his jaw and trying to control his trembling hands.  “Because there are not two options, just plainno.” he leaned forward, palms flat on the table to spat to his face with venom.“You are a fucking brainless son of bitch that doesn’t even have the decency toman up and admit of his actions.” His voice was controlled, steady, and thatmade his tone even more deadly, Betty fidgeting with her key necklace nervouslybehind them.

Her ex sprung to his feet, growling inches away from the raven hairedboy’s fuming face. “Watch how you talk about me, snake.” He narrowed his eyes and Jughead mimicked him with hatred,both panting angrily like two bulls ready for a face off.

“Did you or did you not pick at the brakes of my bike?” The angrySerpent punctuated every single word sternly, between pants and heavy breaths,really trying to control the boiling lava in his chest. Everyone around themwas holding their breaths, Betty sharing a nervous side glance with Archie.

“Welcome to the neighborhood, pal.” Chuck chuckled darkly and the blondegirl gasped, her mind not being able to even grasp how he could do somethinglike that. She always knew he was an asshole but never imagined he would stoopto that level. Betty’s green orbs darkened with rage too.

Jughead huffed, closing his eyes and trying not to lose it, animpossible task since all he could see was red. “I will fucking crash you” he spat murderously “I promise you, this is thelast time you get to joke around with your buddies while playing with any ofour lives.” His voice reached a higher octave, sealing his promise with agravely look and turning to walk away, not trusting himself with beingcivilized anymore and hating indulging into any form of violence.

“Guess I should have cut those breaks off completely.” He heard behindhim Chuck and his teammates erupt in loud laughter, some hi-fiving their leaderin delight.

Jughead stopped dead in his tracks and huffed in fuming rage, lickinghis lips slowly, teeth itching to draw blood. In one swift movement, Chuckcollided with the wall with a loud and painful thud that had the other Bulldogsspring to their feet and the rest of the Serpents lashing forward in warning,both sides ready to assist their leaders, Jughead’s hands fisting the otherboy’s letterman jacket and his irate face being inches away from his as he spatwith venom.

“You may not give a damn about me and, trust me, the feeling is mutual”his eyes were seeking to burn him alive under their furious stare “but rightnow there’s a terrified eleven year old, banished from your precious expensivehospital and with an ugly cast around her throat, that could have been killedinstantly if her head landed a few inches closer to the pavement.” Veronica andCheryl gasped in horror, Kevin brought a hand to his mouth in shock andArchie’s murmured “Jesus, Chuck” wasin utter disgust. Betty could feel her chest tightening, her lips in a thin lineas she was shooting daggers to the prick she used to call her boyfriend, nailsurging to pierce the skin of her palms in frustration and then claw his eyesout with her bloody fingers.  “So, shoveyour cocky remarks up your ass and don’t push me today or, so help me God, I willend your football career in a fucking blink.” His wrath was lethal, the boneson his jawline flexing in a way that screamed danger and Chuck had hopefullythe good sense just to shove him hard backwards, freeing himself.

“Go back to mud, Jones.” He yelled and nodded towards the door. “Otherwise,this is only the beginning.”

Jughead’s trembling fingers took hold of a beer bottle from the jocks’table. The glass crashed against the wall violently, inches away from thequarterback’s face who ducked expertly to avoid it, the teens around themletting a panicky shriek at the cracking sound.

“Hey!” Pop emerged from the kitchen, before things would escaladefurther. “If you wanna resolve your differences, you do it out of my shop. Orelse I’m calling the police.” The elder man warned, far from his usualkind-hearted demeanor, and Jughead raised his arms in surrender, beforestriding in angry swagger out of the diner, his gang members following behindhim while throwing deadly looks to the Bulldogs that started barking inhostility.

Betty didn’t even think twice as she flew out of the booth and stompeddetermined behind them, completely ignoring the confused looks from herclassmates.

“Wait!” she shouted once outside, ankle boots clicking stubbornly andsparkly eyes trained upon the back of Jughead’s head, his raven waves fallingto the side as he turned sharply at her loud call. He frowned at her, deeplines painting the middle of his forehead but stilled his movements, giving anod to his friends to go ahead without him. They complied, sending some weirdlooks to the blonde that came to a halt in front of their leader, before movingfurther away to wait for him next to their bikes.

“Chuck is the asshole.” She spoke in fury, her own fists now clenched ather sides. “Why are you the one leaving?” she demanded, tilting her chin up,fed up with how unfair the situation was.

Jughead huffed in fake amusement at her silly words, looking over herhead where her friends and his rivals were watching them closely through thediner’s windows. “I’m not welcomed here. Nor will I ever find my right heretoo.” He made a face in clever arrogance.

Betty’s gaze dropped to his appearance, concern coloring her voice. “Isyour sister okay? Do you need help?”

“Thanks, but we had enough of all of you.” The guy offered in bittersarcasm.

“You’re hurt too.” She pointed out with a heavy heart, the pads of herfingertips instinctively touching the corner of his mouth next to the deepwound there.

Jughead was taken aback by the move, his own hand grabbing her wrist inreflex, a little more forcefully than intended, not being familiar withaltruistic gestures of affection. His rough action caused her to stumbleforward, letting an audible gasp of shock at the close proximity and the heatradiating from his hard body and tempered mood. Betty felt electricity shootingthrough her veins as their eyes connected for the first time, his stormy andhers gentle, and her lips parted on their own accord, driven by the force thatwas always there between them. From up close she could see clearly the resultsof the accident, not only the physical ones but the ones imprinted in his soul,his terrified agony about his sister, his guilt that if something would havehappened to her it was all his fault. A sigh trembled against her lips, warminghis nicotine laced ones.

He wanted to kiss her again, even more than he did that night that sheinvaded his world of darkness and highlighted it with splashes of lush golden. Buthe was angry at the world they were living in, at the assholes of her kind, atthe assholes of his, at his own self, at her, at her crystal clear eyes thathad the ability to pierce right through his tortured soul. He couldn’t handlethe intensity of the moment so he took a step back, dropping her arm as violentlyas he had taken hold of it. It fell numbly to her side, the girl blinkingrapidly to regain her calm and steady her ferociously beating heart.

“I can manage.” He replied coldly, the small patch of skin that brieflystayed under the softness of her fingertips still burning.

Betty curled her arms over her chest, trying to hold her body fromshaking under the force of his presence, before whispering in horror. “What hedid is attempted homicide. You should go to the police.” She advised him seriously,eyes pleading and voice almost breaking at the weight of her words and the whatif behind them.

“Right…” Jughead scoffed, running his fingers through his hair. “And whodo you think objective and unprejudiced Sheriff Keller will believe?”his tone and choice of adjectives oozed dark sarcasm, eyes narrowing venomouslyupon continuing with the hard truth.  “Thelost cause of a guy from the wrong side of the tracks or your precious goldenboy? Hm? Answer me.” He challenged, board shoulders hunched in a desperatemanor as he towered over her, moving some threatening inches closer again, amix of desire and anger making him want to push her to the nearest wall andravish her in the roughest of ways.

Betty’s strong will wavered under his imposing posture, eyes dropping tothe small distance between them and the bloody stains of his t-shirt, a sightrembling on her lips at the way he was invading her personal space andconquering more and more ground. “You are not a lost cause.” She breathed in a steadfastwhisper. “You have witnesses, I can come with too, I’m sure my friends will alsoagree to help—” she started brainstorming but he cut her off, his bony, bloodand mud stained fingers grabbing a strong hold of the soft cashmere sweater onher shoulders, leaving a mark to contradict its white purity.

“I am not one of those polished, preppy boys you hang out with, youunderstand that?” Jughead raised his voice, highlighting the words with enoughrage that shocked her, her body shaking like a rug doll under his grip. “I’m abad guy and bad guys deal with their businesses on their own, the way they wereraised with.” He spoke inches away from her lips and Betty could almost tastethe bitterness in her own mouth, her eyes filling with fat, sullen tears at thecoldness of his tone and the pools of blue that felt icier than ever. He shouldhave felt bad at being responsible for shadowing the most beautiful pair ofeyes he had ever seen in his life, and a part of him did broke at the sight, but he wouldn’tshow it, he couldn’t get attached. Dark necessities were part of his design,she wouldn’t understand. “So save me your good girl musings and let me be. Goback to your pastel world, Cooper. This is reality.”

And with that he was gone, Betty stumbling back as he freed her from himwith force, watching him behind a blurry cloud of tears while he hopped onReggie’s bike without sparing her a second glance. The engine accelerated witha roar, a roar that matched the painfully breaking of her heart and Bettyremembered why she didn’t believe in fairytales after all.

Did you hear?

Those Serpents are dangerous!

Something happened yesterday at Pop’s.

I bet they started it.

Chuck didn’t say a word.

Clayton almost killed him.

Maybe that Serpent was worth it.

Maybe we all need to stop.

“Small town likes its drama, huh?” Veronica hummed around her paper cupof her coffee, pushing the passenger door of Betty’s white Mini Cooper closedwith her hip, and taking a seat on its shinny hood as her best friend gatheredher school stuff for the day. The city girl, even though living in Riverdalefor two years now, couldn’t still get used to this mentality of petty gossipand ugly prying, her chocolate eyes watching in disgust the teens around hergathered in small circles, being all hush-hush and curiously looking her andBetty’s way.

“Ignore them, it never goes away.” The blonde sighed, locking herparents’ early gift for her seventeenth birthday, and coming over to join herwhile perching her backpack on her shoulder. She knew the incident at Pop’syesterday would be front page material for their school community; there wasnothing new about that and she didn’t care. Not when she still had a heavyheart and an ugly knot in her chest caused by the Serpent’s stone cold eyesthat haunted her.

“Are you okay, B?” her best friend asked in concern, perfect eyebrowsknitting together.

“Yeah, yeah, just tired. Stayed up late for a history paper.” She liedexpertly, plastering a fake smile on her glossy lips.

“You know you can talk to me about anything, right? Veronica Lodge isnever judgy.” she went on playing indifference and taking another sip of herlatte. “Not when it comes to hot boys, at least…” she sent her a glare over herbrown cup.

Betty just raised an eyebrow, faking ignorance.

“Oh don’t play dumb with me, Betty Cooper.” Veronica scolded her with aswat of her perfect manicured fingers. “That smokeshow of a Serpent, the darkhaired, Holden Caulfield one…” she nudged the side of her calf with the tip ofher designer heel, giggling around the words in girly delight. “Come on B, Isaw the way you two were looking at each other. Or should I say practicallyundressing each other?” she smirked naughtily.

“That’s nothing!” Betty’s signature blush colored her whole face and thebrunette gasped in excitement, ready for more juicy details. “That’s—” she wenton to clarify that nothing had happened between them but her eyes caught Kevinand Cheryl practically sprinting to join them, both flustered, and she grabbedVeronica’s arm in alarm. “Don’t say anything just—hey, guys!” she chipped incheerfully, relieved that the other girl got the message and turned to greetthem too with a happy smile.

However, none of them was interested in polite pleasantries. “They arecoming.” Kevin said with difficulty, panting like he had ran a marathon withCheryl next to him nodding vigorously with wide, intrigued eyes. Betty frownedin confusion. “With bikes and leather, emerging from a cloud of gas smoke.They. Are. Coming.” He pointed out every word with fascination, grabbing hisfriend by the shoulders and turning her suddenly to the direction of theschool’s driveway right on time as loud motorcycle engines could be heardapproaching.

It was like those slow motion scenes in action movies. Amongst grey gassmoke, five beasty motorcycles in a triangle formation shined under the gloomymorning glow, their black color polished and threatening imposing and theirsilver details on the sides glistering like sharp blades of lethal weapons. Thefive riders were hidden behind black futuristic helmets that gave them an airof mysterious danger, all of them dark, brash, like avenging fallen angels inall their black attire glory and their matching snake jackets as a proud war symbolover their muscular shoulders. Only one was standing out from the others, thefirst one at the top of their pyramid, as a bloody red plaid shirt was hangingfrom his hips, swaying like a red flag against the wind provocatively. Evenwithout it, Betty knew that behind the helmet it was him, guiding his people to the path of victory.

Everyone was looking at the spectacular show mesmerized, like time hadstopped and all hell had broken lose, sending its devils on hot wheels to giveanother meaning to the definition of sin. Three of the bikes speeded in frontdoing an impressive wheelie whereas the other two, Jughead’s and the one on itsright that Betty guessed it was Reggie’s, drove in a deadly circle before theystarted drifting around each other, creating a heavy cloud of smoke and aroaring commotion of complaining engines, tires getting burnt against theasphalt with chill rising squealing. Kevin let a breathy yes of excitement, whereas the girls around him simultaneouslydropped their heads to the left, mouths agape, lightheaded and shocked by theshow. The two motorbikes came to an abrupt, violent but controlled halt thatmade Betty jump out of her sexual haze, as Jughead, still on the bike, took offhis helmet and shook his dark mane in manly fashion, before running a handcovered with a fingerless leather glove over his hair, trying to soothe backhis messy waves. Betty caught herself biting her lip, too hooked and turned onto even blink, her anger and disappointment at him and his tone last nightmagically vanishing.

“Well, hello Mr. Ride Me Good.” Cheryl’s sultry purr made Betty snap outof her daze and squirm awkwardly on her place, toying with her key necklace andtrying to control her heating body and raging hormones. Something that Cheryldidn’t even bother with, since she was openly eye-sexing the Serpent leader, afiery red lock getting twirled around her manicured fingers and a sly smirkcurling her matching full lips.

“Damn, this bad boy got moves, right B?” Veronica mused, dragging hereyes from the guy in question to land them teasingly on her best friend. Bettyjust gulped, green orbs practically glued on him, as he manly high-fived Reggieand hopped off his bike, draping a brown messenger bag over his shoulder.  

“Down, girl.” Cheryl demanded, throwing a side glance to the brunettebehind her. “You can look at the menu all you want but you have your own gingerstallion to ride to oblivion.” She scolded her and Veronica gasped a chuckle infake offence. “This black tiger is mine.”

Betty felt a hint of jealously at the comment but it didn’t last long asshe got distracted again by the guy at the front of the Serpent squad that wasnow making its way to the school entrance. Walking with a sex-oozingconfidence, red flannel swinging on his sides, shoulders rolled back proudly,raven locks over his eyes and the marks of yesterday’s accident still evidenton his face like battle scars, he turned swiftly to the side and connected hiseyes with hers, soothing blue this time and cleverly agile just like she liked,sending her one of his charming winks that she had terribly missed, beforeturning his attention back to his friends and disappearing inside the building.

“Elizabeth Anne Cooper, didyou see that?!” Kevin’s elated gasp next to her ear startled her, the boyshaking her arm in glee at the promiscuous interaction he had just witnessed,his female friend trying to calm her dizzy head and fluttering heart.

“That’s unfair!” Cheryl exclaimed loudly. “How is Betty always stealingthe good ones?” she turned to face them, hands thrown in exasperation. “Minus,Chuck; Chuck is a mega asshole.” She went to clarify with a bitchy shrug.

Kevin came to stand next to her, placing a finger on his chin in thoughwhile examining the blonde. “The good girl vibe? The doe eyes? The shy in thestreets, sexy in the sheets smile maybe?” He listed in a thrilled tone ofvoice, spending suspense around the idea of solving the riddle that was BettyCooper.

The girl in question rolled her eyes, letting a breathy chuckle. “He isjust a cocky gang member. I’m sure he meant nothing by it.” She shrugged likeshe didn’t care at all, even though she could practically feel her bloodpumping in her veins fueled by adrenaline. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, some ofus have an honor roll academic career that would like to maintain.” She threwin a fake stuck-up tone, teasing them and offering them a cute pretentiousgirly wave before turning to drag her feet lazily to Biology class.

“Low blow, Cooper!” Betty heard Cheryl shout from behind her. “Add tenmore squats for you on today’s cheerleading practice!” she turned and took hertongue out at her, laughing when she saw the redhead giving her the fingerbefore giggling too.

Betty’s happy smile stayed on her lips until she reached her first classof the day. Barely taking two steps inside, her palms became sweaty again asshe spotted Jughead and three of his friends at the back of the classroom,childishly playing with the skeleton model at the corner, ignoring the staresfrom the rest of the students around them. Betty made it to her seat, aware ofJughead’s eyes on her, but didn’t raise her head to acknowledge him, notwanting to appear like a girl that could turn into putty with just one of hissilly boyish games. Even though she totally was.

The teacher came soon after, students scrambled around to get to theirseats, and a pack of red Marlboro dropped on her desk and startled her, Bettysnapping her head up in question and catching him smirking at her whiledropping on an empty desk further to her left. She raised an eyebrow,delicately taking hold of the empty packet and bringing her hands to rest onher lap to shield the unexpected gift from any prying eyes. On the lid “open me” was written in black neathandwriting that surprised her and Betty did so intrigued, only to find a smallpiece of paper and a single cigarette. Unfolding the paper, she read:

“I’m sorry about yesterday. Meangry is not a walk in the park. I snapped at you with no reason when all youwanted was to help. I’m an asshole, I know this much. But as I later understood”there was an arrow pointing to the cigarette before the rest of the words were inbrackets “(this lone bad guy in the abyssof the empty packet represents me perfectly and will explain everything betterthan I ever will)” Betty grimaced to hide the smile that was threatening tocurl on her lips at his charismatic self, as her slender fingers pulled out thewhite roll, now littered with black handwriting all around too “I have grown another vice than smoking andthat is pretty blondes with sweet eyes and a sharp tongue. So, for the sake ofmy addicted self, can you offer me the smile you’ve been saving for me?”There was a tiny smiley face at the end and this did it, it brought a big andlovesick smile on her face, Betty biting her lip at his actions and the way he wasmaking her feel. Sure, they would have more to talk about but this was a nicefirst move from his part for reconciliation.

“Oh no, I’m not having you all gathered at one side.” Mrs. Porter’svoice pierced through her ears and Betty focused her eyes up to see what thedeal was about, the teacher talking to the Serpents that were all paired uptogether in one row. “New students mingle with the old ones, I want diversitypairs.”

Betty gathered her stuff and swiftly plopped into the seat next toJughead, the boy looking at her with a surprised smirk.

“What?” she huffed incredulously. “You are an jackass” he bounced hishead back in amusement at her curse word while she shrugged “but I’m forgivingso…” she turned to him and sighed before curling her lips in the most dashing,purely authentic Betty Cooper smile. Jughead nodded in understanding, a faintblush creeping on his cheekbones, taking his pen and writing something on heropened notebook.

What a deadly vice you are, Cooper.

“I’m starting a newspaper.”

Spotless white sneakers slid on the cement ground next to him andJughead smirked as he looked up from his slouching position near earth level. Bendedknees in a low squat and face to face with the silver exhaust pipe of his bike,he was ceremoniously dusting it and checking its condition at the parking lotof Riverdale High at a rather warm morning in the north side of town. However,every ounce of concentration over his task at hand vanished into thin air themoment that specific pair of long, killer legs appeared on his peripheralvision. Betty sex-on-legs Cooper.

“I thought your folks had one.” He addressed her, squinting under therich sunrays that created a halo of golden light around her ethereal beauty.She was leaning at the seat of the bike, the dark leather being complimented bythe porcelain skin of her toned thighs as the hem of her brown skirt had risenfrom its modest place a little under her mid-thigh, her left leg bended by theknee and both of them looking like going for miles from the angle he was openlychecking them out. Involuntarily, he licked his lips around his never fading naughtysmirk.

“I’m not talking about a town newspaper, Juggie.” Betty giggled lightly.“I’m starting a kids’ newspaper, at Southside Elementary.” She clarified,straightening up her shoulders proudly.

“Because…?” he dragged the word in confusion, raising his eyebrowsadorably.

“The children I’m helping are getting better and better at reading andwriting but stale learning is gonna turn boring and ineffective in the longrun. So they need something fun and creative to spike their interest andhopefully improve their literary skills even more.” She was speaking withpassion, loving the idea and loving those kids even more. Jughead couldn’t helpbut form a wide grin at her incredible drive and will to contribute in the bestway she could.

“Sounds good, I guess.” Nodding happily up to her, he saw her biting herlip not to break into the biggest smile in the history of smiles.

“It is. It’s innovative and I’m excited.” Her attempt was a lost battleto begin with and she finally beamed down at him. “I talked to the principal,he agrees and he even told me that maybe this will turn into a monthly schoolthing, if the trial is successful.” She gasped in genuine enthusiasm, wigglingher legs lightly while letting a cute little squeal of triumph.

Jughead chuckled; he couldn’t really help himself. “I’m sure it will.Those menaces practically adore you. And I don’t really blame them.”

He winked at her, she nudged her cheek adorably against her shoulder ingirly shyness, biting back a smile. Two weeks had passed since the Serpents startedattending Riverdale High and those two weeks were the best of both theiracademic years. They were lab partners, book club buddies and writingenthusiasts and every day they were growing closer and closer. They were innickname basis; at least Betty was. And she was always Cooper for him. Bettyhad taken a sudden weird liking in her surname and how couldn’t she? Rollingout of his tongue, it was simultaneously the most sacred and sinful thing shehad ever heard.

“Whatcha working on?” she lightly tapped his knee with the side of hersneaker, him wiping his greasy fingers on the rug he was holding before raisingto his full height, eyes following the route of her smooth legs as he did so.That naughty smirked trembled again on his chapped lips.

“Nothing really.” He sighed, abandoning the dirty rug to the side. “Ikeep hearing those tiny metallic noises, I guess I’ll have to check this beautywith Mongoose over at the garage later.” he informed her casually, Bettyknowing pretty much everything about his world at this point, grabbing hold ofhis bag and his leather jacket that were lying next to her on the sponge seat. Hehad a delicious form-fitting ash grey V neck t-shirt on and Betty actually dida subtly double take of his biceps and hard chest with lustful eyes.

“I can take a look if you want.” She said more focused on his bodymuscles than his face, feeling heat creeping up her already rosy cheeks. Uponmoving her disorientated stare back to his witty blue orbs with difficulty andseeing him sending her an amused questioning glare, she went on to explainmatter-of-factly. “My dad and I fix cars together.”

Jughead grimaced in appreciation, draping his jacket over his shoulderin manly fashion. “I’ve never thought you were a greaser kind of girl.” Hisflirty tone, a tone that he usually used around Betty Cooper, started coloringthe edges of his words again, a lopsided smirk of boyish swagger playing on hislips.

Betty bit her lip, eyes shining in playful banter. “Oh, that’s whenyou’re wrong, Jughead Jones.” She shook her head in amusement. “I’m not afraidto get a little dirty sometimes.” Her voice dropped an octave without herplanning to do so and she instinctively leaned forward, green eyes sending hima faux innocent glare under thick eyelashes.

He stepped closer too, smirk intact and the pads of fingertips brushedever so lightly over the hem of her skirt against her thigh, clearly enjoyingthe view. “I like the skirt today, Cooper.” His eyes connected with hers, theirheavy breaths mingling as she tilted her head up, craving more of his presence,more of his touch.

“Well, I can lend it to you sometime if you want.” Betty teased himcleverly, face deadpanned and head angling as she eyed his lips.

“Funny.” He let a breathy chuckle at her dorkiness, bringing his otherhand to play with the hem of her mustard shirt that had fallen over hershoulder, revealing a burgundy lacey bra strap against her prominent collarbone.“But wearing it is not part of my plan.” His lips were inches away from hers,Betty almost whimpering at the close proximity. “For either of us.” He teasedback in a low voice and the blonde swore her bare thighs clenched involuntarilyat his dark tone and full of promises innuendos in a desperate need to makethat boy hers now more than ever.

She felt the bra strap snap with sound against her sensitive skin. Butit wasn’t by his delicate fingers and suddenly, there was someone else’s breathat the swell of her ear. Betty snapped violently back to reality, literallyjumping on her seat.

“Nice one, Betts. Raunchy.” Chuck appeared out of nowhere with avenomous smirk and mood set for trouble, looking between the two teens thatwere caught in an intimate moment seconds ago. Jughead stiffened against her indefense.

“Get off me, Chuck!” She pushed him away by his shoulder, grimace ofutter disgust in her face. “And don’t call me that.” She warned with fury inher eyes.

“I’m just appreciating the change in wardrobe.” He shrugged in astandoffish manner. “Pink was not really your color.” Curling his arms over hisbuff chest, his coal eyes roamed over her body in a way that always made herfeel uncomfortable.

Betty’s glare at him turned cold as ice. “We both know that you neversaw anything.”

“Well, maybe this is a subtle plea for me to do so this time. I’m alwaysup for it, babe. All you have to do is ask.” The varsity captain exclaimed witha grand hand gesture, relishing in the fake status points his letterman jacketwas offering him.

“This is over, Chuck. I ended it.” The blonde girl pointed out bravely. “Howmany times do I have to remind you that I broke up with you?” she threw to hisface, doe eyes narrowing menacingly and nails digging in the leather of theseat she was resting on, trying to control her anger.

Chuck returned her hostile glare. “Yeah, and look where that decisiongot you.” He whispered, mean and bitter, leaning forward to bring his faceinches away from hers. “Turning into nothing more than a Southside slut.” He spat each word with hatred, the insult at theend accompanied by one of his cold and presumptuous side smirks.

Betty didn’t get the chance to reply. Jughead, that all this time was inthe background engaged in a battle of control with his boiling range, lashedforward, his fist colliding hard with Chuck’s jaw with an audible sound of bonesbreaking. His blasphemous words made him see red, sending the jock flying tothe ground and jumping over him, straddling his abdomen as he started throwingpunch after punch on his face. Betty was screaming for them to stop, peoplewere starting to gather around murmuring and snapping pictures and Archie withReggie rushed through the crowd to get Jughead off the laying boy, only forboth of them to be shoved back angrily by the blinded with rage raven hairedguy as he kept beating the crap out of his rival, crackling bones brutally andteaching him a good lesson for disgracing the perfection that was Betty Cooper.

“Hey! HEY!” the principal’s voice echoed loudly, as he quickly emergeddown the stairs and to the crowd of people in the middle of the parking lot. Grabbingthe Serpent’s shoulder, he detached him violently from Chuck that sprung to hisfeet in a bloody mess. “Mr. Jones, in my office now!” Weatherbee shouted to theboy with the blood stained knuckles and angrily panting chest.

“What?!” Betty snapped, stepping between the principal and the defenderof her honor. “Jughead didn’t do anything wrong! Chuck was the one sexuallyharassing me!” she exclaimed urgently.

“Jones lashed out on me, I was in self-defense.” Chuck hollered, likethe spoilt brat he was.

“Mr. Jones, with me.” The principal insisted.

The disheveled raven haired guy let a dark chuckle, curtly brushing histhump over his lower lip, wiping the blood there. “No need. I’m perfectly awareof the verdict.” He took some smoldering steps backwards, sending anapologizing and sullen glance to Betty, before turning around to walk away withheavy, fuming footsteps.

“Detention for the whole week, Mr. Jones!” the elder man in chargeshouted over his back. “I’ll see you after class.”

“This is ridiculous!” Betty complained in a high-pitched voice. “Chuckis walking around disrespecting girls and you are going to completely ignore itbecause what? He is the coach’s son?” she was starting to get furious herselfnow, demanding equality and justice for the wrongly punished boy.

“Ms. Cooper, I advise you to lower your voice and watch your tone, ifyou don’t want to face the same fate as Mr. Jones.” Weatherbee warned her withstern eyes behind his glasses.

“Brilliant!” the teen huffed. “Should I stay silent while being treatedwith misogyny? Is that what you’re implying here, Mr. Weatherbee?” she narrowedher pretty eyes at him incredulously, always ready to fight for her rights.

The principal sighed, turning to the other party of the argument. “Mr.Clayton, care to explain yourself?”

“I was just pointing out how Betty’s shirt was way too low on hershoulders for school grounds.” Now supplied with some paper towels, her explayed the golden boy card, looking her straight in the eyes. “Can you blame usthen if we get distracted and tempted, sir?” He ended his sexist statement witha cocky smirk and the girl actually lashed forward to attack him with a lowgrowl, only for the principal to block her view.

“That’s enough, Mr. Clayton.” He cut him off, wanting to relieve thetension. “Ms. Cooper, I would like you to put on your jacket or change into adifferent shirt.” He suggested in his authoritative voice again.

“What?! This is absurd!” Betty resented, eyebrows knitted together in apainful frown, hands bawled to her sides in fists and trembling from anger.

“You know we have a policy regarding wardrobe that is offensive orprofane. And any student should respect that policy.” He reprimanded her.

“I’m wearing a mini skirt and you are telling me that a patch of skin aroundmy collarbone along with a bra strap is tantalizing the male popularity?” she almostyelled in disbelief and at how ludicrous all these sounded.

“The length of your skirt is approved by the school’s dress code. Thehint of undergarment is not.” Conservative and narrow-minded, the elder manrecited as if reading straight out of the school’s protocol charter.

“Well, it’s not my fault my male classmates are that stupid to not know thatunder my shirt were actual female breasts, before I came to school sporting avisible bra strap.” Betty deadpanned, holding her ground proudly with fierygreen eyes, sending the students around her in a unified fit of shocked gasps.

“Ms. Cooper!” principal Weatherbee hissed in offence. “Show somemodesty! You either change the shirt or you are gaining detention. For amonth.” He gave her an ultimatum in a strict, warning tone of voice.

“You want me to lose the shirt?” the teen challenged, feeling her handsclench in fists at the curt nod of the man in charge of their school community.“Fine.” She shrugged casually and with one swift movement she crossed her handsat the hem of her shirt, taking it off her body and throwing it to the ground next to the bewildered principal, a wave of camera flashes and disbelievingbuzzing rising around them.

“How’s this for modesty?” Chin up and shoulders rolled back proudly,showing off her bra and her nature that she was supposed to be ashamed for, Betty’sdetermination didn’t faze under Weatherbee’s furious stare or her classmates’murmurs of disapproval and scrutiny.

“Don’t bother showing up here again for a week, Ms. Cooper. You’re suspended.”He shouted in his usual authoritative tone of voice, completely appalled fromthe behavior of one of the school’s star students.

“Oh, I wasn’t planning to. Indulging in a chauvinistic and racistenvironment is something I’m better off.” Grabbing Jughead’s Serpent jacketthat was long forgotten on the ground and throwing it over her topless torsocontemptuously, she grabbed both their bags and followed his trail away fromthe crowd, mentally flicking her middle finger to the narrow-minded mentalitythat was Riverdale.  

Jughead watched as his fingers drummed over the beige plastic incoordination with the torturous ticking of the wall clock over the white board.The book he was pretending to read, even though his favorite, was proving to bea rather unsuccessful form of distraction from the dullness of the emptyclassroom and his still turbulent level of anger. With long limps crossed atthe ankles and sprawled under the desk he occupied at the further back of theroom, the raven haired troublemaker was hiding behind the hard copy of hisbook, thankful that at least Weatherbee was occupying himself with somepaperwork and not holding him under his scrutinizing and accusatory gaze. Thatdidn’t mean he felt less uneasy with the situation; getting detention becauseof an illiterate dumbass like Chuck Clayton was the epitome of wasting time. Thereason behind his outburst though, in the form of a blonde, doe eyed vision,was making him wonder why he wasn’t still there at the hallway breaking a fewmore bones of his in sweet revenge.

Weatherbee announced that he needed some files from his office. Jugheadexhaled the deep breath he was holding as the door closed behind the elder manwith a soft click. However, he once again sucked in a breath when it re-openedand in sneaked no else than Betty Cooper, sporting her most persuasive coyexpression and his own Serpent jacket. His eyes almost rolled at the back ofhis head at the sight.

“I thought I’ve lost that by now.” Sliding up to sit more straight onthe uncomfortable wooden chair, Jughead’s lips formed a sly smile feelingexcitement coil low in his stomach and even an involuntary twitch inside hisskinny jeans. She looked utterly sinful, cheeks rosy and lips prettily pink asalways, her perfect ponytail disheveled and the black leather adorningher tiny form. It was zipped up a little over her breasts, the material curvingdeliciously over her spectacular female anatomy, and it fell over her hips, thehem of her skirt barely visible over his favorite view, those miles-long legs. TheSerpent could feel his mouth going dry instantly, as she approached.

“Well, good for you, I’m a neat freak.” She threw him a cheerful BettyCooper smile and shook an arm in a dorky fashion, her hand buried inside thelong sleeve, making him chuckle lightly. As soon as their eyes connected though,the atmosphere shifted.

“Please tell me you didn’t get detention too.” He raised an eyebrow inquestion, examining her as she rounded the desk to rest at the edge of it,facing him.

“Well, I got it worse.” Betty shrugged matter-of-factly. “I’m suspendedfor a week.”

Jughead huffed in disbelief. “Because of the prick, Clayton?” he wasstarting to get worked up again.

The blonde shook her head, focusing her round eyes on his knuckles,covered in dry blood now, on his lap. “Because Weatherbee wanted me to take offmy shirt, claiming that it was too distracting for my male classmates.” Shegrimaced at the accusation, words coming out in scoffs at how ridiculous thestatement was. “So I did” she shrugged again “and threw it to his face.” a badass smile started creeping at the edge of her lips and she raised her head to face him, feeling her heart flutter at the heated look of appreciation and male intrigue he was giving her.

“Damn, Cooper” he gasped, teeth chewing on his bottom lip “I wish I could have seen that.” Images of her stripping to her bra in the middle of the school parking lot filled his brain and the primal side of his subconcious cursed him from getting caught up with the Clayton crap and missing such spectacular view. But then he struck him that now, at that very moment, she was naked under his jacket, the jacket that he was sure would be soaked in her scent of jasmine and female delicacy, and his fingers gripped the denim material on his thighs to anchor himself and not lash forward in a frenzy to make her his. 

What he couldn’t control was his stare, filled with sexual promises and undertones, that she noticed and blushed prettily under, dropping her eyes shyly to watch her fingers picking at the hem of the leather jacket wrapped around her. Jughead wanted desperately to find out where this natural redness began and where it ended, which parts of her body were scarlet red, rosy, blush and all the rest of the palette of her colors.

“You didn’t have to stand up for me against him.” She went on in a lower voice, changing the subject. “He is a brainlessfuckboy; his insults don’t affect me anymore.” The time when Betty was behaving like a giddy school girl for the attention of the Bulldogs’ captain was long before gone, as well as her tears at his classic bastard behavior during their short-lived fling.

Jughead shrugged, trying to appear aloof and standoffish. “I wasn’t raised to be an idle onlooker. We protect and respect women;it’s a Serpent thing.” It truly was, there was a high morality amongst their clan regarding the protection of women and children.

“No” Betty shook her head, sending him a timid, grateful smile “it’s a Jughead Jones thing.”

“Maybe so.” The smirk that danced over his thin lips was borderline adorable before he turned serious again, blue orbs searching for something on her stunningly beautiful face. “I’m sorry if I scared you.” he finally said this thoughts out loud, his tone of voice turning softer, like the cashmere or silk he was sure always adorned her feminine curves.

Betty’s perfect eyebrows knitted in a heartbreaking fashion, the girl sliding over the desk and closer to him, the side of her calf brushing the side of his knee. “I’m never scared of you.” She promised him truthfully, only admiration and longing intensifying the shade of her green irises. The irises that dropped to his lips, spotting the wound there and worrying about it. “Your scar has opened up.” It was more a whisper of desire than a concerned statement, as she instinctively bent down at him, leaning forward, lips once again inches away from his parted and inviting ones.

“Cooper…” he dragged her surname in a low manly breath, his own eyes dropping to her mouth and the rosy tongue he so badly wanted to graze with his teeth and suck in the abyss of his mouth.

“Jones…” she returned his tone, moving an inch closer.

“You’re playing with fire.” his tone held a subtle warning, an undermined threat, a good girls get burnt by bad boys like him kind of message.

She got the insinuation. And she leaned even closer, lips dancing against his as she sighed in insatiable hunger.

“Good. Burn me alive.”

He didn’t need more encouragement after that. In a swift movement thatsucked the air out of her lungs, Jughead moved forward with an almost painful growl, taking hold of hercheeks and claiming her luscious lips, raw and demanding, drawing a shockedgasp out of them. The force of the movement made her lean backwards, fingersgripping his t-shirt at the sides of his waist, his sinful mouth coaxing hersopen, demanding more, demanding entrance. She granted it of course and histongue invaded the hotness of her mouth with a big exhale of oxygen in the formof a male hiss of appreciation and anticipationthat travelled to all hernerve-endings instantly, causing electricity to shoot through her veins. Astrong arm curled around her waist and lifted her up effortless, Betty’ssurprise squeal rolling from her tongue to his, as the two muscles twirled in awet hurricane of lust, him hoisting her on the desk with a loud thud andsettling between her legs, dropping his hands on her hips and sliding them overthe plastic surface while jerking his own in perfect coordination, her skirtgetting wrinkled between them.

There was a sizeable bulge against the skimpy lace of her panties andBetty dropped her head back at the contact, breaking their kiss to let a filthymoan as his teeth closed around her chin, lips trembling against her flesh in awanton groan at the heat and wetness against the front of his pants. Herfingers twirled the front of his t-shirt, effectively pulling him flat againsther, as he started littering her smooth neck with open mouthed kisses and wet,bruising sucks, her left leg hitching over his side, the heel of her sneakerurging him to grind harder and firmer against her dripping wet center, and herother curling around his knee, keeping him captive between her thighs, aprisoner at her mercy. He was leaving dirty sighs and heavy breaths against thesensitive skin of her collarbone, biting and nibbling and creating love bites ofall shapes and sizes, and Betty was losing her mind, letting high-pitched sighsand moans at a need that she never felt before, an insane urge to rip hisclothes and demand for him to ride her fast and dirty, treat her like his precious, roaringmotorbike.

“I wanted to kiss you since the first time I saw you through thatwindow.” His tongue licked a trail from the dip of her collarbone to her ear,biting the earlobe before growling the words in a whisper and circling his harderection against the place she needed him the most. “You are the most exquisitevision I’ve ever seen in my life.” His hand pulled at her ponytail to suckviolently just under her jawline, Betty writhing and gasping under him, archingher chest against his fingers that were now playing with the zipper of his Serpentjacket.

“I’ve never been this crazy for a guy before.” She whined pathetically, tightening even more the hold of her leg around his hip, feelingher whole body shiver under his skillful ministrations and dominant nature.His bony fingers curled around her chin, forcing her to look at him, as hisother hand started lowering the zipper torturously slow, both their chestspanting hard and their eyes darkening more and more with lust but never backingfrom their passionate stare off. Jughead was the first one to declare defeat asthe leather outerwear loosened around her breasts, him licking his lips at thesight of the two mounts, round, firm and heaving, pushed up mouthwateringly andwrapped in sexy dark burgundy lace for his eyes only.

“God, you’re so sexy.” He hissed sensually, bouncing his head back towatch his large hands caress from the shoulders to her sternum, over herbreasts, her ribs until they settled firmly on her prominent hipbones, Bettyarching under his touch, head rolling heavily side to side as low erotic sighswere leaving her open in wonder lips. His chapped lips came to kiss the topof her right breast and she mewled, then his teeth pulled the flesh at thecurve of the other, right next to the cute little bow at the middle of her bra,making her gasp and buck her hips towards his rolling ones, before he movedfurther down, leaving wet kisses on her flexing stomach, her ribs, her navelthat had her moaning low in her violently rising and falling chest and grippinga fistful of his tantalizing raven waves for dear life.

The ultimate destination was her left hip, Jughead smirking against thebaby blue lacey thong that the misplaced on her waist skirt revealed, before curling hisfingers around it and pushing aside the material for his mouth to linger, partedand watering, against her hipbone. Betty’s eyes snapped open, their green shadedarker than ever before, and she looked down at him, Jughead connecting theirlustful orbs from his place almost between his legs. Opening his lips andsucking loudly her flesh there, she closed his eyes to relish in the feeling offilthily abusing her skin, bringing his teeth to the game and biting hard,sucking and nibbling, the angel underneath him forming the most voluptuousmoans that went straight to his painful now erection that was begging to sinkinto her thrashing body that was created by and for sin. A sultry fuck left her bubblegum pink lips andher head fell backwards as she rested her palms splayed on the desk behind her andJughead almost lost it at the sight of pure and innocent Betty Cooper gettinglost in pleasure with a bad boy like him, a boy that parents always advised good girlsto stay away from. With mouth wide open, silk sweat on the swell of her breasts,the infamous Serpent jacket still draped over her shoulders and legs spreadwide with a patch of soaking wet lace between them though, she was far from the goodgirl everyone was mistaken her for. And that was driving Jughead Jones mad and utterly helpless under her spell.

Once pleased with the large round redness on her skin that would turninto a lovely mauve bruise to compliment all of her other choices of pantiesfor the rest of the week, the raven haired boy let the waistband of her thongsnap back against her hipbone, Betty letting a hiss at the contact of the elastic with herirritated skin, before she watched him running the tip of his tongue in astraight line from her navel all the way up her stomach, the valley of herbreasts, the front of her neck, before shoving it again inside her mouth andtreating her with a wet and lazy make out.

“Jesus, Jughead, what are youdoing to me?” The blonde beauty murmured against his lips, fingers dancing fromhis chest to his neck, only to get lost inside his thick hair.

“You’ve seen nothing yet, Cooper.” He licked her down lip and then bitit lightly, her moan of appreciation and dizzy sexual desire warming his partedmouth. “Now, off you go.” He curled his hands around the back of her thighs,effortlessly putting her on the ground and holding her close as she stumbledforward, too lightheaded to actually stand on her own.

“You can’t be serious.” She scoffed looking up at him, her body rigidand wanting more of him, right here, right now.

“Weatherbee is going to be back any minute now.” Jughead reminded her,bending down to brush the tip of his nose against hers in newfound affection. “AndI want to do this right with you. I wanna take you out on a date” he gave her one of her favorite boyish smiles before dropping to leave a tender kiss on her neck “and a second” another kiss “and a third…” another and another and another and she was dizzy once again.

Betty smiled dreamingly, eyes closed and lips pecking the collarbone she was nudging her cheek against. “Only if you pick me up with that bike of yours.”

He chuckled against her skin, feeling her shiver, before pulling back and pushing a rebellious golden lock behind her ear. “You got yourself a deal. Friday night?” he raised his eyebrows in question.

“Friday night.” she confirmed with a happy nod and a girly smile, lower lip trapped between her teeth. “I’ll wear my shortest dress.” she toyed with his hormones like a pro, making him moan, slender fingers curling around his belt loop and rubbing her bra clad chest over his as she leaned to whisper playfully next to his lips.

Jughead’s eyes glistered with naughty mischief. “And those panties.” he offered back, drinking in her body hungrily and sneaking a hand over her firm behind under her skirt. “I wanna take a closer look.” He squeezed the bare skin of her ass, Betty jumping and letting a squeak of girly delight as she landed on his hard chest with a flustered giggle. “And don’t forget,Cooper. You owe me a smile.” he tipped her chin with the pointer of his free hand in faux warning before leaving a chaste kiss on her lips and untangling himself from her, instantly feeling empty.

And smile she did, bright and dashing andyouthfully, receiving the one thing that made her start falling in love withthe bad boy and his golden heart; a wink.

[thekuroiookami]

KnB (Kagami x Reader): Butterfly on my right shoulder - Part 1

For not the first time that day, Kagami wondered how he got himself into these things.

Oh wait, I know. It was Kise that got me into this.

Gritting his teeth, he pulled himself upright with a grunt of effort. A slight adjustment had him careening to the left. He windmilled his arms, trying to keep from falling painfully.

Kise, that smarmy bastard, was tutting as if this wasn’t all his fault. “Kagamicchi, I expected more from you. Your sense of balance is terrible.”

Moriyama, equally smug, started sprinkling salt into his wounds. “That’s right. What’s the point of growing up in America if you can’t skate?” He skated a few lazy circles around Kagami to rub it in.

“For the last time,” Kagami growled, “I grew up in L.A. Los Angeles. There isn’t exactly a pile of snow to wade around in.”

Moriyama wouldn’t let it go. “But surely you had ice rinks like this one? I mean, it isn’t winter here either.”

Kagami had to admit he had a point. The red-head chose not to exacerbate the situation by giving Moriyama more fodder, and instead concentrated on unfolding himself. On the bright side, Kasamatsu was as bad or possibly even worse off. Kaijo’s ex-captain was clenching on to a rail with a death grip, knuckles white.

Moriyama gave Kasamatsu a hearty thump on the back that almost sent his feet out from under him.

“Moriyama, you idiot, are you trying to kill me?” Kasamatsu’s voice came out even raspier than Kagami’s.

“My dear Yukio-chan, you will never get a girl like this. It’s a good thing the rink is almost empty, or I would be hiding from second-hand embarrassment.”

Kagami tottered to a standing position and looked around, surveying the area. Aside from a couple of kids, who seemed to be leaving, there was no one on the rink. He was silently congratulating himself on not having anyone witness his humiliation when a girl, about his age and dressed in black, glided out onto the ice. She gave them all a brief glance and then proceeded to ignore them, settling a pair of headphones over her hair.

Moriyama was instantly on alert. “It’s girl. A CUTE GIRL. This is the perfect opportunity to demonstrate my masculine appeal and flirt with her. Kise, come with me!”

A bewildered Kise attempted to resist. “But why do I have to get involved in your business, senpai?”

“Because you’re pretty and she will be much more susceptible to my charm with you blinding her.”

The girl in question was totally oblivious, moving in a smooth serpentine figure across the length of the rink. It brought her closer to where they were standing near the edge, and Kagami saw that Moriyama’s assessment was correct. She had a pretty, sharp face, set in concentration.

Kise continued to refuse to participate in Moriyama’s absurd plan. “I don’t want to, Moriyama-senpai. It sounds troublesome.”

The senior would not be deterred. He grabbed Kise’s arm to pull him forward. “Come now, Kise. Listen to your elders.”

Kagami saw a series of disastrous events happen in slow motion. Kise tugged his arm back, sending an unprepared Moriyama off balance. He toppled over, crashing into Kasamatsu, whose already precarious stance was instantly destroyed. Kasamatsu flailed, grabbing the not-very stable Kagami for support. Unfortunately, Kagami had been standing with his back to him, so this just made him wobblier than before and he pitched forward. His last thought as the ice came hurtling up to meet his face was that he’d never trust Kise again.

What he didn’t expect was the fall to be so…pillowy? He opened one eye, propping himself up with a hand and looked up to see a pair of cobalt blue eyes. He blinked in fascination, caught in the crystalline depths of the girl’s irises.

You, however, were not amused. The boy you had caught from falling was about half a foot taller than you, and a lot heavier. You just wanted his deadweight off.

“Say, this might be comfortable for you, but honestly I could do without this experience.” Your voice was flat.

“I…err…what?”

Kise hissed at him. “Kagamicchi, get off of her! You’re in a really embarrassing position!”

He looked down and flew back like a scalded cat. Kagami’s face sizzled, almost electric in its redness.

WAS MY FACE JUST RESTING IN HER CHEST?

He stuttered, burning in the awkwardness of the situation. “I-I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to…your chest was soft…I mean, I didn’t realize…I’M VERY SORRY!”

You were hardly paying attention, now that you were free of the cage that had been his body. Though you had to admit his arms, in the brief contact you had with them, had been intriguingly muscled. You suspected you could break wood on his biceps.

I wonder what he does that he’s got muscle tone like that but no sense of balance.

You slid your eyes in his direction, brushing off your clothes. He froze, waiting for the inevitable crackdown.

“Be more careful next time. It’s difficult to skate if there’s blood on the ice.” With that, you sailed away, already stepping back into the routine to set up for your jump.

Kagami watched, stunned, as you smoothly skated backward, twisted and jumped with a leg outstretched and landed in a dizzyingly fast sit spin. Kasamatsu’s voice came from behind, awed.

“That’s…amazing. It looks really dangerous.” Before Kagami could agree, Moriyama cut in.

“More importantly, let’s talk about how Kagami conveniently fell face forward on to that young lady’s chest. I’ve never even been that close to a girl, much less her…softer parts. Tell me, Kagami, how did it feel?”

All three of them stared the ace with unblinking intensity, waiting for a response.

Kagami went back to the shade of his hair again. “WHY ARE YOU ASKING ME THESE QUESTIONS? Besides, whose fault is it that I ended up doing that, anyway?!”

The culprit was unrepentant. “Kagami, you have no game.”

Kise and Kasamatsu’s face took on dubious casts. “Look at who’s talking. You’re in college and you still haven’t found anyone to put up with you, Moriyama.”

He waved it away. “Anyway, Kagami, I think you should get that young lady’s number. I think she likes you.”

The duo of sceptical faces turned into a trio as Kagami turned to Moriyama with a flabbergasted look.  

Kise finally showed a modicum of sense and intervened. “I think we should just go for lunch now. Kasamatsu-senpai, lead the way.”

As Kagami followed them off the ice, he cast one last look at you, gliding across the rink, and became a little wistful.

I wish I had asked for her name.

XXX

Two weeks later, Kagami had his wish granted. In a manner of speaking. Looking back on it, he supposed he had Aomine of all people to thank for it.

Kagami growled in frustration as Aomine ducked past him, yet again, and moved into a graceful layup, the movements fluid. The second boy sauntered back, grinning, not even bothering to watch the ball fall into the net.

“5-3. My win. Again.” Aomine took a swig out of his bottle to emphasize the sentence.

“Tch. I can’t believe you became even faster than before. Was that really necessary?” Kagami wiped his face with his wristband, trying to catch his breath.

“Should have thought about that before you and Tetsu decided to bulldoze everyone at the Winter Cup. Made us all fired up. What did you think was going to happen?”

Deciding not to delve to deeply into it in case he discovered Aomine actually had a point (and what a horrifying thought that was), he shook it off and looked at the tanned figure.

“Shall we go at it one last round and call it quits?”

“Still haven’t had enough punishment? Fine then, I’ll take you on.” He sunk into a defensive position as Kagami began dribbling the ball.

Kagami decided to try something new and moved to the left, speeding up. Aomine kept up easily, eyes narrowing as he leaned forward to snatch the ball. Kagami abruptly gave the ball a sharp push downwards. Aomine was startled as the ball bounced off under him, coming up behind him in time for Kagami to dunk it into the net. The red-head landed with a victorious thud.

“Ha. Take that for punishment, Ahomine.”

The person in question had wide eyes. “What in the world was that?”

“Something I worked out with Kasamatsu-san. Though it doesn’t always work, because most players are shorter than me.”

Aomine looked down in horror. “You mean I could have permanently been disfigured?! Bakagami, were you trying to kill me, or does it just come naturally to you?”

Kagami opened his mouth to retort when he had a crawling sensation up his neck, like he was being watched. He whipped his head around to find the girl from the rink watching him with her hypnotic blue eyes. He dropped the ball in shock.

You slipped the headphones from your ears when recognition dawned. “It’s the clumsy oak tree from before. Yo.”

“You’re…I mean…um…hello? It’s nice to m-meet you!” His ears had gone red, and he was making frantic gestures.

You slid your eyes to Aomine, who was watching the whole interaction with interest and took him in.

Hmm, this one’s physique isn’t bad either. Are they still playing one-on-one? They were here when I went by half an hour ago.

You moved to put your headphones back in. “Do continue. Didn’t mean to interrupt your game. See you around.”

A hand on your wrist stilled you. You looked up to find, once again, Kagami’s sturdy form looming over you. He tugged your hand up gently. “What happened to your hand? Are you injured?”

His long fingers were rough and calloused, easily wrapping over your wrist. A bloom of warmth spread out from his touch. You replied, still sounding bored. “Nope, it’s just a sprain. I fell, it happens.”

He sucked in a breath. “Don’t tell me it’s from that day…”

You were vaguely fascinated by how his face had gone from gruff concern to abject sadness, so it took you a second to catch up. “Huh? Oh. No, this was another fall.”

Kagami had some practice with emotionally unreadable personalities (i.e. Kuroko) so even he didn’t fail to notice the way your face darkened. It was subtle, but still present. He suddenly felt the need to pick you up and press you to him.

He dropped your hand like it was on fire and backed away.

What was I thinking just now?! And since when did I just go around grabbing people?

Aomine decided enough was enough. “Oi, Bakagami. Either we finish this game or you flirt somewhere else. Don’t waste my time.”

Kagami’s already strung out nerves felt like they’d been put through the dryer. “W-what are you talking about? Shut up, Ahomine! Who said anything about f-flirting?”

You watched them go at it for a bit, face expressionless. Eventually, when you could tell no progress would be made, you spoke up.

“Is it alright if I stay and watch you guys play?”

They both stopped mid-argument and turned their heads to you. You thought their coordinated robotics were rather fascinating.

“What?” Aomine sounded annoyed. Well, more than before.

“You still have one game left, yeah? If it doesn’t bother you, I’m going to watch from over there. Whenever you guys are done bickering like five-year olds, that is.”

They both had the grace to look chastened. Kagami ruffled his hair nervously. “If…if you want to.”

You nodded and settled yourself on the bench, crossing one knee over the other. Kagami swallowed his self-consciousness and turned back to find a gleefully vengeful Aomine.

“You’re going down, Bakagami.”

In the end, it was a very close match, but Aomine won again. Somewhere along the way, he’d gotten so absorbed in the game that he’d forgotten you were there. So Kagami flinched in surprise when your voice floated out to him.

“That was really impressive. Do you guys play for your school teams?”

He looked up from his prone position on the ground to see you leaning against the base of the net. Your expression had finally shifted from indifference to one of interest. His heart skipped a beat.

Aomine mumbled from his similarly horizontal posture. “We’re the aces. Couldn’t you tell?”

“Not at all. Which school is it?”

Kagami belatedly realized introductions had never been made. “I’m Kagami Taiga, second-year ace for Seirin High. That moron over there is Aomine Daiki, second-year ace for Touou Academy.”

There was a pause as you took this in. “I see. I didn’t realize it was you two. That’s interesting. I suppose it’s my turn then. I’m ____, third-year in Komae High. Nice to meet you.”

Kagami sat up, surprised. “Y-you’re older than me? Ma’am!” You blinked, unconcerned.

Aomine lifted an eyebrow in interest. “Is that the girls-only school famous for their cute sailor uniforms?”

You nodded. “That’s the one. Oh, before I forget, here.” You held out ice-creams to the both of them.

“I was on my way back from the konbini. Take those and cool off.”

Aomine accepted his without any hesitation and bit into the popsicle with a sound of joy. “Man, that feels good. Thanks.”

Kagami, still reeling from the revelation that you were a whole year older than him, was slower. He jolted as his fingers brushed yours, sending electricity up his arm. You seemed unaffected, biting down into the popsicle with a hum. He had to turn his head away to hide his blush.

Do not think about her lips and the ice-cream. Do not. DO NOT.

He cleared his throat to distract himself. “So, um, what club are you in, ____-san?”

You released the lolly with a pop to speak. He gripped his own ice-cream harder. “None at the moment, I guess.”

Aomine sucked back the last bits of ice and inspected the wooden stick. “I guess? Wouldn’t you know if you were in a club or not?”

You seemed to curl up into yourself at the question. Kagami mentally cursed Aomine’s bluntness. He was curious too, but he didn’t want to torture the reply out of you.

Your voice was subdued when you spoke. “I did have something I liked to do until recently, but I’ve stopped. So for now, I don’t have a club. It’s probably for the best. I should focus on my exams this year.”

You clearly didn’t want to broach this subject any longer, so Kagami said the first thing that came to mind. “Would you like to have dinner with me sometime?”

Two pairs of blue eyes widened at this. Kagami realized all the implications of the statement and backpedalled.

“I mean, like, as thanks! Not a date. Or anything romantic. To thank you for the ice-cream and as an apology for knocking you over that time. It can be lunch or something. I’m a decent cook, I swear.”

Aomine seemed to have recovered from his initial shock and was now finding the whole thing hilarious. “It’s true. He might have no brains, but he can cook like he does.”

Your lips had tilted up in vague amusement. “I suppose I should take advantage then. I have high expectations of you, Kagami-kun.”

Kagami had to work hard to supress the riot of feelings that your words caused. He couldn’t believe that he’d get to meet you again. On purpose.

And she called me Kagami-kun…

He snapped back to reality to hear, Aomine Daiki, of all people, giving him dating advice. “Bakagami, you should probably exchange numbers now.”

“Eh?”

“If you want to take her out for dinner. Or do I need to pound it into your thick skull for you to get it?” Aomine’s voice managed to be low and frustrated at the same time.

“Ah. C-could I have your number please?” His heart pounded as you looked up from your bag.

“Yeah, sure. Just give me a second. I’ll give you my phone so you can give me yours too.”

Kagami gulped as you handed him your absurdly delicate looking, snow white cell phone. It looked so fragile in his hands.

I’m really doing this. I’m giving a girl my number. So we can meet up again. Coach would be proud of me.

When he was done, you snapped your phone shut and swept your gaze over him. “I’ll call you, Kagami-kun. It was fun meeting both of you. I’ll see you later then.”

He managed a coherent reply. “Okay, see you around, ____-san.” He turned to leave before he could mess this up any further.

“Oh, and Kagami-kun.” Your words stopped him midway. He turned to look over his shoulder.

“Yeah?”

You gave him a heart-stopping smile, full of secrets and laughter. “I wouldn’t mind if it were a date.”

Kagami barely heard anything Aomine said on the way home, his brain was too busy falling apart.