#like why are you trying to make someone feel guilty for cremation

[thxnks4themrms]

Dude if you don’t like cremation or it goes against your religious beliefs I don’t care just don’t shame people for doing it tf

[stardustprompts]

how to sell a haunted house - grady hendrix sentence starters change tenses/pronouns as needed !!  some lines have been edited for clarity / length / ease of roleplaying tw ; death , alcohol , language , mental health

‘you need to sit down.’

‘what did you do?’

‘jesus, i’m sorry I’m not doing it the right way. i’m sure you’d be perfect at this.’

‘I find knowing these details makes it easier.’

‘you should have a drink, too.’

‘i’m not going to die. not for a long time.’

‘just because we shared a bathroom for fifteen years doesn’t mean you know a thing about me.’

‘my yoga instructor knows more about me than you do.’

‘I knew you’d do this. I knew you’d show up and start telling everyone what to do.’

‘look, I know you need to be in charge, but I’ve taken care of this.’

‘stop telling me how to deal with things. things are dealt with. I dealt with them.’

‘you can’t argue with someone when they’re upset.’

‘I don’t know what got into me, but I overreacted and I’m not proud of if it, and it wasn’t fair to you.’

‘you always needed everyone looking at you.’

‘I didn’t do it for attention. I did it because I was upset.’

‘I don’t like coming in here anyways. it’s got bad vibes.’

‘you can’t put a price tag on love.’

‘being here is really bad for my mental health.’

‘I know you don’t like me because i’m not successful enough for you.’

‘i’m actually happy with my life.’

‘if we aren’t related, if we met today, we wouldn’t chose to be friends.’

‘I don’t think we should be in here at all. I think my plan was better.’

‘don’t you feel the vibes?’

‘this is happening too fast. we need to slow down.’

‘your house is haunted.’

‘every single time I give you the benefit of the doubt, or I try to help, it comes back and bites me in the ass. every! single! time!’

‘our house is not haunted.’

‘i’m telling you there’s weird vibe. I can feel it in my gut.’

‘methinks thou doth protesteth too much.’

‘ghosts don’t exist.’

‘there are true things and there are false things, and there are no in-betweens.’

‘there are facts, like houses and car accidents and cremation, and there’s bullshit like ghosts and vibes and exorcisms. and if you start getting the true things mixed up with the false things, you’re fucked!’

‘reality is not a consensus!’

‘when you don’t like the way a conversation is going you deflect with personal attacks.’

‘you’re like some kind of emotionally abusive octopus entangling everyone in your word tentacles.’

‘even I know that you don’t go back in a haunted house after dark.’

‘the only things here are memories, and those can’t hurt us.’

‘you’re very threatened by new ideas.’

‘I offered to stay tonight because I thought it would be good for you. i’m hoping it gives you some closure.’

‘why are you so mad at me? is it because you feel guilty?’

‘i’m sorry you remember it that way because that must feel terrible, but that’s not what happened.’

‘stop telling me what I remember!’

‘no one ever says no to you, (name) because we’re all scared you’re going to lose your temper.’

‘oh, fuck you. nice try, (name), but fuck you.’

‘no matter what you did, I still don’t want anything bad to happen to you.’

‘everything has to be a big production and you’re the star.’

‘everything has to be a big production and you’re the star. all because you can’t face the fact that your life is sad and empty.’

‘it’s a little late for you to start being my brother now.’

‘you blew my mind. it felt like we were the only two people left in the world.’

‘no matter what, I don’t want to ditch you here with a bunch of ghosts.’

‘right now what you need, for once in your life, is to listen to me.’

‘the way you’re laughing is actually really, really scary.’

‘none of this is real.’

‘stop being scary.’

‘I don’t think I’m well. I think something is really wrong inside me.’

‘don’t you fucking laugh at me. for the first time ever, my life finally makes sense.’

‘I don’t think I know what’s real anymore.’

‘my explanation is logically consistent. yours is all magical energy.’

‘it was absolutely terrifying.’

‘how much trouble are you in?’

‘look at me. you’re not crazy. this really happened.’

‘don’t make this funny.’

everything you’ve seen tonight, i’ve seen it too.’

‘i’m sorry I wasn’t stronger.’

‘it was easier to pretend nothing happened.’

‘my entire life I’ve always known something was wrong with me. i’ve spend my entire life scared that if didn’t do everything exactly right, reality would unravel around me and I’d lose myself again.’

‘I forgive you.’

‘I hope you feel better. i’m fine.’

‘I didn’t think you had it in you.’

‘get out of here.’

‘all the things I did, I want to forget.’

‘i’m not doing it! i’m not doing it again!’

‘you need to get out of here right now.’

‘it won’t hurt me, but it’ll hurt you. you have to go right now!’

‘don’t let him do this again. don’t let him take over.’

‘I need a beer.’

‘an apology would go a long way.’

‘can you keep it down? I had to lie about what happened to a lot of people.’

‘are you seriously upset with me because I saved your life?’

‘you need to accept reality.’

‘you’ve become such a grouch.’

‘I wish you’d let someone take care of you.’

‘do you agree that there are forces greater than this world and we are helpless in the face of them?’

‘we don’t have time to fuck around.’

‘i’d like to say this the weirdest shit that’s ever happened to me but I have a bad feeling it’s about to get a lot worse.’

‘I told you this was a bad idea.’

‘I think we’re fucked.’

‘this is wrong. what you’re doing is wrong.’

‘let’s talk about something that’s actually interesting.’

‘it just hurts a little. and by ‘a little’ I mean ‘a lot’ and also ‘all the time.’’

[jaydovekj]

im literally so obsessed with everything you post on ao3. I've read 2/3 fics (about to start "he loves me not") and the way you write just pulls people in.

like. I got so emotional about "mutually assured destruction"; it's crazy. you have one of the most human interpretations of kristoph gavin ever. (/vpos, by. the way)he's a person. he's so painfully human. it makes the bad things he does hurt that much worse. the way kristoph introduced himself to phoenix? yeah. Im crazy. he knows. kristoph knows what he did. he couldn't have expected to become as close to phoenix as he became. you write emotions so well. they feel so raw and real in a way that fits the individual characters so well. also you reminded me of my personal interpretation of kristoph being genuinely jealous of klavier & thus harboring distaste (hate, maybe.) for his little brother over the years. that one sentence in "mutually assured destruction" that was like ""everyone in the fucking world loves klavier gavin."‘God forbid I resent that the entire damned world is obsessed with Klavier Gavin.’" I love to think that kristoph can be just so bitter and jealous and petty sometimes and this pic fueled it and THEN phoenix replying, "‘Nobody else is,’ says Phoenix. ‘Just you.’" I'm,,,, crazy over them,,,,,,, call him out like that ig phoenix. go off???

ALSO. im absolutely crazy over phoenix's reaction to the breakdown. then phoenix knowing kristoph isn't afraid of needles and recalling that, when said man is on death row and to be put down with such drugs to shut his body dow. only kristoph's family and phoenix showing up to the funeral. and last? phoenix recalling how kristoph mentioned that he wanted to be cremated when he dies. god, the whole concept of grief and death and such mourning that would come from kristoph being on death row (which very well might've happened in canon!) and thus executed is something I don't think is explored enough. for me? literally makes my heart ache so badly. maybe its my own fear of death speaking for me, but I think death row would be the worst way to go. so much potential, yet kristoph wouldve done more harm than good anyway. mortality is such an interesting topic to me.

also?? the car crash thing for kristoph is SO good, oh my goodness. it fits. like, actually? perfect. in "piano, forté", for instance, you can see how different klavier notices kristoph to be after the car crash. sure, not a fix based on the canon timeline but it applies nonetheless.

KRISTOPH HAVING (nerdy, in klavier's words) TATTOOS>>>>>>>>

the entire thing about kristoph being someone phoenix settles for instead of miles.... ohhhhhh............. I love the idea that kristoph loves phoenix. like, really, he loves him. why else would someone so cynical and logic-driven try to get phoenix a non guilty verdict when it wouldn't benefit him? what I mean is, if phoenix went to jail/got the death sentence for murder in turnabout trump, the loose ends would be tied up. who would be working towards fixing phoenix's reputation/opening back up the topic of what happened to get phoenix disbarred when he's dead, dykwim? instead, he pointed apollo's finger at olga orly so many times.

phoenix missing kristoph.

kristoph saying phoenix would never be rid of him. and its true; kristoph will live on through phoenix, apollo, and klavier. he's changed so many lives, mostly negatively, but god, doesn't it hurt phoenix to think of life without having known kristoph gavin? dykwim? that's how I mostly interpreted it anyways, along w/ the lasting psychological effects and trauma and stuff kristoph caused.

honestly? I didnt spend much time thinking about krisnix till I read your fics and now I cannot STOP. in the best way possible. god, you just get them, dykwim??????

ARE YOU THE KRISNIX & LITERATURE PERSON

er yes i believe i am!! that sounds like me tee hee,, how can i help?

[nexisx]

How the jjk men would react to your suic1de (Yuuji, Megumi, Gojo, Nanami, Toji, Sukuna)

CW: Mention of suic1de, angst, grammar errors, bad english, probably sucks💀

Note: This can be extremely triggering! I wrote it because it helps me to cope, but please if you don't feel comfortable with certain topics don't read!Remember tho that your life is worth and you deserve to live it happy<3

Edit: I can't understand why but most of the tags don't work so if you like it (and if you want to lol) please reblog! It would be very appreciated<3

Itadori Yuuji: he hasn't been the same since that day. He continued to look happy, but inside he knew that something had changed forever. He found your lifeless body on the bathroom floor with an empty medicine box, he immediately tried to feel your heartbeat, then he tried countless ways to wake you up, in the hope that you were still alive. After he realizes he has lost you forever, he just sat next to you, starting to cry. He knew you were sad, in fact he always tried to cheer you up, but he didn't succeed. And he blames himself for that.

Fushiguro Megumi: when he found your body he screamed, immediately asking someone for help. Then he went to Gojo, crying, almost unable to formulate a meaningful sentence. He was deeply shocked, which is why he perhaps went to him and not to someone else, he needed the consolation of the only adult who was close to him, after all he was just a boy. When they took your body away for the funeral he resisted, not wanting you to leave, even though you had already abandoned him. It took him days to calm down a little, Yuuji and his friends have always tried to make him feel better, but even after everything returned to normal a veil of sadness was always visible on his face.

Gojo Satoru: everyone noticed a change in his usually idiotic behavior, but he never wanted to talk to anyone about it. He was the first to find your cold body and he made sure to take it away right before the students or other people saw it. He didn't cry at first, he was too shocked, but now his eyes start to tingle at just the thought of you. He didn't quite realize how bad you were, so he always had a cocky attitude, but he regrets never stopping for a moment and talking to you seriously.

Kento Nanami: he knew about your situation. He always tried to talk to your rational side, trying to convince you to go to a therapist, but you never listened to him. So, you left him a letter, telling him none of that wasn't his fault. But how could he not feel guilty? He never found your body, they just told him you killed yourself, they didn't even tell him how, for his own good. All he had was that useless piece of paper. Useless, but which he always keeps with him, wherever he goes. Since he has always had a cold and detached nature, people stopped worrying about him after a while, but they don't know that he brings your favorite flowers to your grave every morning.

Fushiguro Toji: he found your body in the bathtub after returning home from a mission. The scene was grotesque, but he didn't even flinch. He knelt in front of the tub, clenching his fists, trying to hold back his anger at you and at himself. He stroked your cheek, brushing your hair away from your face. He sat there for hours, thinking about nothing, then he decided it was time to take your body away. He had you cremated, as you always wanted. You told him casually once, but he never thought it would be his responsibility to do so. Since that day he has become darker, more threatening, he scared people but he didn't care. He spent his time trying to find a culprit, but there was no one to blame and he knew that. Even today, every time he thinks about you he gets angry.

Sukuna: when he found your body he sighed. He knew you were bad, he felt it, but he didn't know how to help you, after all he was just a curse, he couldn't understand human feelings. He took your body in his arms and sat on his throne, looking at you for hours, memorizing your every detail. He tried to heal you in many ways but it was already too late, or maybe it was better not to, even though he liked to hurt people he didn't like to hurt you, so he gave up and decided it was better to let you rest in your endless sleep. He would never admit to anyone that he had feelings for you or that he misses you, but every now and then when he thinks about you again he feels down in the dumps without understanding why, and he curses you for making him feel those strange feelings.

[arcadejohn127-9]

What if Mc was a person who don't take shit from anyone, demon human or Angel, and just was this small sassy piece of dynamite? How’d everyone react?

MC who takes no shit - brothers + undateables

Satans pact and chapter 16 spoilers

Lucifer:

So you've chosen death

This man can't even handle the smallest sign of defiance

an actual bitch boy

"You are here because you were picked to attend, you were listed to be under my care, this is MY house! You follow MY rules-"

"hold that for a second, I'm calling Dia."

He's so easy to rile up

You feed off his quick temper, he makes it too easy

But he deserves it

Too many times he thinks he can just control you and his brothers

You've cut Mammon down from the ceiling, when faced to Lucifer you just handed him the rope

"If you want someone to hang so much, do it yourself, old man, it is your fault after all - if you didn't leave your cursed valuables lying around Mammon would of never tried to steal them and get himself cursed."

Mammon:

He both scared of you and in awe of you

He's surprise you're still alive at this point

Of course you're alive, the great Mammon is looking after you

You have definitely called him out for being a tsundere

"So, you wanna make out or do you wanna keep yammering on?"

"I- You can't just be saying that to demons!! Why would I wanna kiss some human-"

"Kay, I'm going to go see if Levi wants to-"

"WAIT! DON'T DO THAT!"

Whenever he steals something from you or the others, you go on a man hunt

"Sell your own stuff! You always have something new in there! or are you that scummy and bad with money you need to steal off others ?"

Please have some mercy with him

In general, finds your sassy attitude interesting, always wonders what the new comment or roast will be

Levithan:

Scared and in awe but times it by 10

Is mostly terrified because you make him upset

Didn't expect to be called a guilt tripping bitch

"You're busy? I get it, I mean - why would you ever want to spend time with someone like me? I'm just some nobody, a yucky otaku who no one wants to be around-"

"I get having a low self esteem but shitting on yourself at EVERY given chance and then go on to be about how yucky and worthless you are when I just wanna spend time with someone else?! You can fuck right off!"

He thinks you're a delinquent, has gotten you a cool jacket so you can put it over your shoulders

You can pat him on the back for at least being able to stand up for himself, he's always ready to brawl and never shys away from calling his brothers out

Always lets you wear his headset and just watches as you cuss and sass any petty player

Satan:

It seems you keep choosing death

You wanna get sassy and back talk the literal embodiment of wrath????!

So - do you want be buried or cremated?

You take none of his shit

He respects it just as much as he hates It

We all know he has good control over his anger but there's a limit on how much of your attitude he can stand

"You're so petty, do you have to be a smart-ass about everything?"

"that's rich coming from the guy who threatened to cut off my limbs because I wouldn't make a pact wth him."

When he doesn't respond you just nod to yourself, checking your nails

"Yeah that's what I thought."

If he needs to come up with a good come back he always asks you

Sits back and watches you argue with Lucifer

Asmodeus:

He loves it until you call him out

Didn't expect to get psychologically profiled

"At first I thought you were just a narcissist but now I see you're just a Insecure man who placed his value on his looks and how people perceive him-"

" You can't seem to handle any type of bad press about you-"

"Oh? Did you make yourself look bad then blame it on someone else because they just wanted to do what they please? Oh boo hoo!"

You could end this man's career with a single word

But, if you're 'no shit' attitude is targeted to someone else? He's all over it

Will sigh dreamily and watch you chew Someone out

Unless you get super roasty and rude - he encourages you to talk to him with an attitude

"You're so hot when you talk like that~"

Knows you aren't all sass, he definitely enjoys your more softer side

Will invite you to a sleep over so you two can gossip and rant over a bottle of wine and do a mini spar

Beezlebub:

What prompted you to be this sassy? He's baby!

I mean, he did throw a fit when you ate his custard and destroyed your room

Sure, constant hunger is painful but he can survive without one custard

Yeah- he can be up for roasting and being chased out

"You've told me you literally want to eat me! How is that comforting?! You're hunger tantrums are already bad enough but now I know I could be on the menu?"

"No thanks! Do the hokey pokey and turn your goofy ass around!"

Has a habit of being your stool, he doesn't mind really, finds it pretty adorable actually

You're so small compared to demons so when a gym jock is being rude about you or Beel

You just snap your fingers and he'll sit down, hunch over and put his hands over his head

You'll just step on his palms (you take off your shoes angrily whilst telling the jock demon to not move an inch) and just go off

He understands where alot of your cusses come from, he agrees with you and feels guilty on his behaviour

Really likes it when you stand up for him; normally no one does that because he's such a big guy

Belphie does it but things can be abit disheartening when your twin Is the only one rushing to help you

Belphegor:

You know what? Understandable, please, fire away

Just keep making jokes and references to all the bad things he's done

He needs to be put in his place

The dude has literally killed you! If you weren't going to give him an earful when you recovered then what was the point?!

This man is one of many bastards in this school

Either watches you go off on people or sleeps mid arguement to stop hearing you call him out

"I'm innocent, I haven't done a single thing wrong in my life."

"wELL-"

He will always respect you for looking out for his twin, when he can't do anything he always looks to you to step in

Has held things out of your reach just to watch you get mad

UNDATEABLES↓

Diavolo:

You've chosen a fate worse than death at the cost of sassing a pure man

He gets upset but is very understanding, it's his companions who will handle your fate

I honestly, CANNOT, think of a reason you'd want to be sassy or rude to him

If it's just in general and not meant to offend him; he thinks it's very attractive

You've got a silver tongue and able to make a comment without much thought

Very impressive

His type is Lucifer very simple

You'd call him out for letting dangerous behaviour happen at the school and putting loads of faith into Lucifer

Perhaps point out how reckless inviting humans to a demon realm - who could easily be killed if they don't have an escort with them at all times

But other than that? He's safe

Barbatos:

He is your executioner

He can handle a jab

But he will remind you he was the one who saved you if you get too out spoken with him

that only gets him more cussed out though

"So you're aware of pretty much every event that happens, Right?"

"You could say that."

"Then shouldn't you use those abilities to then help anyone and stop all sorts of tragedies?"

"My Lord has stopped me from using my powers freely."

OKAY THAT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN CUSS DIA OUT ON

In general, you just make comments about how vague he is

He's too mysterious that it's just ridiculous

You want to get to know him but he just gives you that smug look and amused laughter

Solomon:

Can you really be blamed for being Sus of him?

He's so suspicious, for what?! For what reason?!

He doesn't like being called old? Depending how disrepectful you wanna be, you like to use the nickname "Grandpa Solo"

"I'm surprised you aren't actually some evil Wizard trying to get the brothers pacts so you can be the most powerful human alive and take over the Devildom."

"Who says I'm not?"

He's witty and smug

You're sassy and explosive

You're a duo that should be feared

The two powerful humans banding together? I'm sure there's a website on the two of you with theories of your evil plans

Simeon:

Finds your attitude delightful!

Didn't want his kindness to annoy you but it did, sometimes it is a crime to be Too nice

His favoured company are all sassy bastards so it only makes sense he likes you very much

"You gave them bangles that made them into SAINTS! that's fucking weird! And you had them turn into angels despite the fact they have truama from heaven!"

as mischievous as Simeon can be

His angelic nature really does pop out alot

"aren't you tired of being nice? Don't you want to go ape-shit?"

"Of course not, there's no need but thank you for worrying about me, I know I can seem force and strange to you but I really do enjoy being kind to others."

"disgusting."

Almost fought him during the TSL event; you didn't expect him to do a 360 and become super strict

Despite your hard shell you care alot about the people you're close with and can't stand to see them upset

Luke:

It appears you're trying to throw hands with a 10 year old

He does seem demonphobic

Why are you always denying your true feeling??!! Just admit you like demons!

You try not to swear and be outwardly rude Infront of him

But sometimes this little boy really tests your patience

"Okay species-ist."

Is your main response when he's being a tsundere

He's the one who's the safest from your attitude

[remuscore]

I'm enjoying this au too much lmao I'm sorry for the person I have become but since I cannot draw for awhile, y'all are gonna get small oneshots of them instead.

Warnings: Descriptions of a dead body, a little bit of body horror?? Idk what else. Oh yeah and since pronouns don't matter in this au, I used mostly she/they for Janus just cause that's what I ended up writing

_____________

Virgil remembers little of his rebirth.

He remembers sitting and waiting in a small dim room, filled with sheet covered science equipment and dusty glass tubes. He didn’t have the best hearing after it all― they always felt clogged― but he remembers hearing that smooth voice from the other side of the door talking about things he couldn’t understand. He remembers Janus coming in and wiping their hands on their pants despite their gloves, shaking them out to release some buzzing excitement. They had smiled at Virgil and said it was time to show him off.

After that was a blur of yelling and hands trying to grab him and suddenly Janus had grabbed their arm and they appeared in a little old cabin in a forest.

Virgil had a lot of nightmares of hands and tearing after that night. He would trace the missing fingers that someone had stolen when they grabbed his hand. Now, Janus had gotten him some form of prosthetic so that he could still use his hand, wooden joints and bones melding into the taunt flesh. Virgil often got stuck staring at them, just trying to bend the bark.

“Good morning, Virgil,” Janus said, descending the rickety steps of the cabin. Their cape dragged on the floor and trailed soft yellow petals with it. They didn’t need to step over any loose rocks or twigs, the objects simply moving out of the way when she came near. She smiled at their experiment as they put in their earrings. “How did you rest?”

Virgil kept silent like usual. Talking either caused black gunk to spit from his teeth or was just useless babbling. Most of the time it was both. It was hard to talk when all your muscles were only strong enough to hold your head up. He wanted to talk. It felt like hell not being able to say a single word since he had been awakened.

“Not going to try today?” they asked. Once their earrings were all on, they sat on the steps besides Virgil. She had made some furniture out of wood, but they weren’t the best. Her magic was more about science and spells than making things, hence why Virgil was such a disaster. “Do you want to try a ‘hello’ or maybe a ‘hi’ at the very least?”

Virgil didn’t care about those things. He just wanted to ask one thing. One syllable.

Why.

It was a long struggle on the ‘wh’ just trying to get past that point. It was already gathering spit and falling from his lips, but this is the farthest he’s gotten so far. Janus was grinning nonetheless, pointed teeth barred. Virgil had the sudden thought that maybe Janus thought he had said ‘hi’ but just a really messed up one, so he tried again. Repeating the word with more strength to his broken voice to make it more obvious. Janus just nodded in delight.

“That’s very good, Virgil,” she praised. Their hand came up to wipe away a bit of sludge that had dribbled down his chin and heading towards the stitches in his neck. “I know it must be frustration now with having to relearn these skills from when you were a child, but you’ll get there in―”

“Why?” Virgil interrupted angrily. He jabbed his chest with his stiff fingers, hitting the large stitches in his chest from where his organs had been taken out and put back in. He jabs the same hand into Janus’ chest too, making her pull back in surprise and rub the spot. “Why? Why?”

“Why?” Janus parrots, ears lowering. Her expression turned sad as she looked at how hard Virgil was hitting his chest (he didn’t have any control of his strength now that his nervous system wasn’t working. He was completely numb). “Why… why what?”

“Why!?” Virgil shouts in a volume that shocked even him. His body really is all out of control. He pushes Janus' chest this time, shoving her back against the banister. “Why me? You? Why you— to me?”

It was so humiliating how hard it was to get those words out. He had to swallow pointlessly against the gunk under his tongue. It was pouring out his mouth now. He brought up his hands to try and wipe it away, but he still couldn’t make a fist or turn his wrist to use his palm so all he did was smear the gunk on his fingertips.

Janus gets up suddenly and Virgil doesn’t watch to see where they’re going. He felt like he wanted to cry in anger, but didn’t know if he even could. He hasn’t drank or eaten anything since he was alive. Janus returns to the step and reaches out to him again, wiping away all the drool with a cloth. Virgil let them just because he didn’t feel like trying to do it himself and risked humiliating himself more.

“Why did I bring you back?” Janus said, clarifying that that was what Virgil was trying to say. He nodded with a sharp jerk up and down with his head. They sighed softly. They folded the cloth over to the dry side and continued cleaning his face. “To tell the truth, you were the freshest body on such short notice. They haven't cremated or buried you yet, so it was easy for me to just take you and bring you back. And I know stealing a body isn’t exactly ethical, but I was saving a family from the heartbreak of identifying your body. Sure, it was probably frightening to hear your son died and someone had stolen his body and next thing you know, you’re watching the news and hear about a local manic that had—”

They stopped themself and shook their head, laughing faintly. “Anyways there was no significance on why I chose you. You died from the drug I needed and were healthy enough to keep all original parts. I’m sorry I don’t have a better reason.”

She pulled away finally and took Virgil’s messy mistake, wiping at his fingers. The black sludge was stubbornly sticking to his wooden fingers and Janus had to adjust their grip on it to wipe more furiously. They sighed again in frustration.

“I didn’t expect anything like this,” they said, their normally smooth and controlled voice was now bitter and imperfect, a small lisp slipping through. “I thought my notes would at least be taken into account. They were all so impressed by the doll and yet when I showed them you, no! That is sick and disgusting! I brought a man back to life using the same drug that killed him and that was all they had to say about my findings? It’s ridiculous!”

They stop. Virgil still has stuff in between the cracks in the wood. Janus’ thumb brushes against what would be the nail and Virgil could almost feel it. It was a weird feeling. He wonders if he’ll ever forget what it’s like to feel.

“I’m sorry,” Janus gasps and Virgil looks up. Her eyes are screwed shut and they rub their forehead, mouth pulled down into a harsh frown. “God, I’m so sorry. What have I done?”

Virgil wasn’t sure what to do. He didn’t know Janus, they were just forced together now. Janus was a big question mark in the beginning but now they’re an even bigger question mark with how their morals kept switching around. Just seconds ago she was boasting about what she did and now she’s apologizing for it? And Virgil couldn’t bring himself to be angry either way because on one hand they had brought him back to life which was honestly amazing because Virgil distinctly remembered not wanting to die when he was dying, but on the other hand Janus had stolen his body from his family and he is practically a prisoner here because if he were to go back to human society, he would probably be euthanized or worse; dissected and studied like a rat, never to die because his existence is revolutionary.

That’s another reason why Virgil couldn’t bring himself to be mad at them. She practically saved his life.

She was a weirdo freak, but Virgil guessed he was now too.

So he brought up his hand and placed it on their head, making them stop. He dragged his hand slowly through their hair, combing through any small knots and petals stuck in there. They opened their eyes and they looked so sad. Virgil didn’t understand why, but maybe she just felt guilty. Maybe she should be, but Virgil still didn’t want them to be.

“Don’—” spit flew from his mouth and his lip twitched into an annoyed scowl. “Do… no’ cry.”

“I’m not crying, dear,” Janus awed, bringing up her now empty hands and holding Virgil’s face in her hands, pressing against the stitches. He knew she wasn’t crying, but it was easier to say than don’t beat yourself up about it. “At least you’re nice. I don’t know if I could handle a mean little monster.”

Virgil grunted. Guess he was a monster now.

[atsukashii]

hi! for the event could i request: lana x bakugo katsuki + she/her pronouns + ☀️+ orange

thank you!!

life goes on like this again

✘ waking up to your boyfriend is one of the best things, although waking up to him cooking shirtless in your kitchen - yeah that takes the cake.

✘ GENRE: fluff

✘ WARNINGS: none

✘ WORD COUNT: 1.6k

✘ A/N: i got your message about changing your character to daichi, so i hope you like it!

Morning light paints the world behind your eyelids a mixture of shades of pink and orange, and once you open your eyes, the room around you isn’t much different. Early morning light gently slips through the cracks of your open blinds, turning the white walls of your room into a flux of pastel dawn colours. Trying to stay in bed for as long as possible, you turn over, pulling your sheets higher over your shoulder and cocooning yourself deeper into the warmth, more than content to just close your eyes and go back to sleep. However the lack of a presence next to you makes it borderline impossible, and soon enough you find your feet hitting the wooden floors of your apartment before you shuffle out of bed to do your morning routine.

Once you emerge from the bathroom feeling a little bit more awake, you slink down the hallway, not thinking that the noise of sizzling in the kitchen is anything abnormal. However, the second the wafting stench of something burning meets your nose do you wake up completely. With hastened steps, you walk to the kitchen, worried that your boyfriend left something on the stove before he left for work - something that would be uncharacteristic of him. But as you round the wall and step into the kitchen, a soft smile pulls at your lips.

Standing in front of your stove, shirtless, with his broad shoulders tense and looking more bronze in the warm morning light from your kitchen window - stands your boyfriend. Daichi looks like something you’ve plucked out of a dream, and whilst he hasn’t noticed you, simply standing there and appreciating him is what you plan to do; even if he’s currently glaring at whatever he’s trying to cook in the pan.

But Daichi Sawamura has eyes in the back of his head, you’re sure of it. You’re only standing there, staring at his back for only a few seconds before he’s glancing your way, his brown eyes flashing in surprise before a groan tears out of his mouth. You raise your eyebrows at his reaction.

“No no no, go back to bed, they’re not done.” Daichi complains, with pinched brows. He was concentrating really hard on whatever he was cooking, and your curiosity gets the better of you. Ignoring his protests, you smile as you wrap your arms around his toned waist and press a soft kiss between his shoulder blades.

“Are you cooking…” you start, tilting your head to see around his large frame, and into the pan sitting on the stove. The circular and flat thing in the pan gives it away straight away, making butterflies flutter inside your stomach.

“Pancakes?”

“More like cremating them,” he mutters under your breath, and you have to bite your lip to restrain yourself from giggling. You gently tap his abs with your hand and press your cheek to his back, closing your eyes and taking in the warmth that comes from being close to him.

“It’s the thought that counts, right?” You’re one hundred percent sure that your statement would have been far more convincing if your stomach hadn’t chosen that exact moment to growl in protest.

Daichi pivots on his feet, so that his side is pressed against your front and looks down at you frowning. Not at your words, you think, but the whole situation.

“No, it’s not the thought that counts because you can’t eat thoughts to sustain yourself.” Daichi replies with a pointed look. You’re trying really hard not to smile, because you can see how flustered he is about this, so instead you just tilt your head and let a sliver of one slip through.

“Daichi, really it's fine.” You promise, but your words fall on deaf ears as he finally turns to you fully, and you can tell he wants to cross his arms but can't because of your position and the fact he’s got a spatula still in one hand, so instead he just rubs his face. “I’m more surprised that you’re home. It’s a weekday after all.”

The man drops his hand from his face, his hair now a mess from him messing with it, but you think he’s never looked more handsome than in this moment.

“I wanted to take a day off to spend with my girl, and make her breakfast in bed, is that too much to ask?” He asks exasperatedly, waving the spatula around in his other hand.

“Apparently so,” you joke, quickly hip checking him away from the stove, before grabbing the pan and scooping the blackened pancake into the trash. Swiftly washing the pan, you return to the stove once more, turn on the heat and begin to cook the rest of the pancake batter. This time, it's Daichi who is standing behind you, watching over your shoulder as the butter melts in the pan, and you finally pour some batter noto the hot skillet.

“You see, this is why I wanted to cook you breakfast, because you’re always doing the work.” Your boyfriend complains in a groan, resting his forehead against your shoulder as if admitting defeat. A sweet smile pulls at your lips as you take in his gratefulness, because it’s the truth. You’re the one who cooks the meals for you both a lot, but the main reason for that is because you actively enjoy it. A fact he knows well, because he’d never stand for it if you didn’t.

“Yeah but I actually enjoy it. And please, you cook for me sometimes.” You can feel the look he gives you as he raises his head from your shoulder. “Today just isn’t a good example,” You finish, biting your lip to stop you from giggling at his antics.

“I know you enjoy it, I’d never let you cook food for me otherwise.” There ya go. “But I still feel like you do a lot around here, and I'm…” his voice trails off, and you immediately turn around to face him. His voice lacks any of the dominating confidence that he carries without knowing, and that alarms you. You don’t need to look into his eyes to see something is bothering him, but as you mentally make a checklist of his tells, you need to ask.

“Daichi, what’s this actually about?” You ask, your head tilting slightly as his eyes slink away from yours, settling on the small potted herbs resting on your windowsill.

“I was talking to one of the new recruits yesterday, and he made a passing comment after he saw the lunch you made for me.” He explains, and you nod your head encouraging him to continue. You’ve always made him a work lunch from the day you moved in seeing as he had a tendency to get intensely serious in what he was doing, and would often forget to eat. But if you made him food, he’d feel guilty if he forgot to eat it. Had you essentially guilt tripped your boyfriend into being healthy and not forgetting meals, yes, and it was worth it.

“And he mentioned that I was lucky that I have someone that does everything for me, and It made me realise how little i put into this relationship.” Daichi admits and you blink at him for a moment.

And the next, you wack him in the bicep with the plastic spatula in your hand.

“Ow!” he curses, clutching his arm, even though you both know you only tapped him. SO instead, with your free hand, you point right in his face with your index finger, and level him with your most serious glare.

“Now you listen to me Daichi Sawamura, you do not lack effort in this relationship. You are not putting in abysmal amounts. You are the love of my life, and you make me so happy by just simply being in the same room as me, and the fact that you come home to me every day, call me on your break when you're bored, or buy me flowers randomly because you know I'll love them. That is more than enough.” You argue, poking his bare chest with your finger.

“And if anyone tries to tell you that you are anything less than the perfect boyfriend, you’ll have to help me hide a dead body.” Your chest heaves as you finally get all the words out. Daichi is the perfect partner in every sense of the word and the fact that some recruit made him feel less than that really pisses you off.

You’re about to ask for his number so you can beat him with your spatula before warm lips are pressed to yours with a force that almost knocks you back onto the stove. However, strong arms wrap around your waist, stopping the accident before it happens, and you drop the utensil to the floor to slip your hands into Daichi’s short dark hair. Once again you’re gasping for breath when he pulls away, but the smile stretched across his face almost has your head spinning.

“Thank you sunshine, I- I really needed that.” He whispers, placing another kiss to your brow before leaning his forehead against yours. “I love you too,” You close your own eyes, reveling in the peace of the moment, and content that he finally sees what you do.

But the smell of burning interrupts the moment and you immediately curse, turning on your boyfriend and yanking the pan with the now burnt pancake off the heat. Daichi erupts into loud, heart filled laughter from behind you, and you give up, putting the pan in the sink still with the ruined food inside before turning to your boyfriend.

“Want to go out for breakfast?” He asks through his laughter and you nod your head, grinning right along with him. It was the little things like days like today, that made you fall in love with Daichi a little deeper.

✘ EVENT STATUS : CLOSED ✘

[amethystpath-writes]

Okay so this isn’t my original idea but remember that one post where it was like one soulmate is killing their other soulmate to stay immortal but their soulmate keeps on being reborn or just doesn’t stay dead for long??

If that’s too confusing basically can you do a continuation of your own prompt there the villain is the immortal, not the hero. (Prompt 41?44? I don’t remember oops)

I don't think I know that post, but if you still want me to write it and you can find it, feel free to send another ask! For now, I'll just fill the prompt!

******

“But- but I killed you.” Hero swore he couldn’t breathe. Villain wasn’t supposed to be in front of him right now. He- he was supposed to be in the morgue or wherever they kept and processed dead bodies. He was supposed to be dead. This had to be some kind of trick. Maybe there was a part of Hero’s mind that felt guilty for killing Villain, and now he was hallucinating. “I watched you die. I- I checked your pulse. You’re dead.”

Villain huffed and rolled his eyes. “Why is this always such a surprise to everyone?” He took two steps forward, watching with boredom as Hero flinched back, shielding his eyes. “You need me to pinch you? Convince you I’m right in front of you?”

“Not real,” Hero muttered. “Not real, not real, not. real. It’s in my head. It’s just in my head.”

Tossing his head back, Villain sighed. “Most of your little crew in the past at least tried to swing at me, finish the job. Some of them actually achieved killing me for a second time. I was impressed! Much more exciting than what you’re doing right now.” Hero kept muttering. Villain asked, “You really think you’re imagining me still? What’s it gonna take? Do I need to jab you in the gut? Would that help?”

Maybe I’d deserve that, Hero thought, continuing to consider the concept of guilt. What Hero was really curious about right now was, How is this so real? He acknowledged it was all fake, but he didn’t think his brain was capable of creating such a realistic version of Villain. The look, the voice, the condescending tone, everything was drawn up to a T. It shouldn’t have been possible, especially after a whole week of Villain’s death.

“Alright, this is getting old. I want to try something new since I haven’t had this reaction before. You really shouldn’t be a hero if you go into shock this easily.”

The image in front of Hero was moving closer. Villain was pulling something out from behind him. Hero already knew what it would be; Villain always kept handheld weapons back there in case his powers- whatever those were, Hero never knew- were unsuccessful. Usually it was throwing knives. This time it- Hero swallowed.

“You remember this. Good.” Villain nodded. “I figured you would, given how you stabbed me with it- rude.”

Now Hero had the sense to stand from his seated and shaking position. As a change, he was now in a standing and shaking position. This was becoming real to him- too real.

“Okay. What I’m thinking is that I clean this blade- a very pretty one by the way; love the chromatic look…I’m going to go over to that sink, and I’m going to clean this.” Villain made his way to Hero’s kitchen, turning on the sink like he said he would. He began scrubbing with the pad of his thumb. “I have two reasons for this: one, there are other victims’ blood on it now- from the morgue; they were about to cremate me if you can believe it. Props to you; that was my first time ever being in one of those places. And, two, because I want this to play out for you as it did for me- it was clean before you stabbed me with it; it should be clean before I stab you with it.” Villain turned with the blade now clear of any blood.

Hero couldn’t move, but he didn’t need to, did he? Because this was all his imagination, all his guilty conscious. Nothing else.

“You aren’t going to do anything to protect yourself,” Villain observed aloud. “You’re just going to stand there shaking like a rotting leaf stuck in a tree during October. Fine, then. Might as well take this to my advantage.”

**

Unable to move or think for himself, Hero was easily taken by Villain. All the while, Hero continued to believe this was a hallucination. Villain absolutely could not be alive because that meant- that meant he could…No. Villain can’t- can’t come back to life.

Hero knew for a fact he killed Villain. When he bled out, Hero listened to the silence of his opponent’s chest, watched its stillness. He. Was. Dead. It was that solidity in Hero’s mind that made him deny the obvious fact in front of him. Because it was impossible to become…undead. It just wasn’t possible. And since it was impossible, the person standing in front of Hero, talking to someone or something else in the room was fake- was a ghost in Hero’s head.

“-tired of this game. It’s becoming boring, but I found some entertainment for myself, and I think it can become a lesson to you. See…”

A red light was in front of Hero’s face. He looked, blinking slowly, beyond the red light to Villain. Hero didn’t quite understand where he was, or what his mind was conjuring up at the moment. He felt so tired because of his current insanity, and so it didn’t matter much what his location was.

“I think this can serve as a lesson to you- not that I care to help you, but it gives me an excuse to torture a poor soul.”

Hero blinked again. The red light belonged to a camera, he realized. Villain- or Ghost Villain- was recording him and talking to whoever was watching on the camera. In all reality, Hero figured it was he who was recording himself. Maybe he was even talking- he didn’t know. He was likely telling his base leader about how he was losing his mind and thought he was in a cellar-like room with Villain.

“I’m going to screw this back on the tripod, and then, I’ll show you what happens when you guys keep sending your men to kill me. It doesn’t work, alright? And I’m tired of dying.”

The chromatic knife was lowered in front of Hero’s eyes. He didn’t startle at it, but, as it was lowered out of his vision and Villain’s amused grin replaced it, he felt worry. Worry turned to searing pain in Hero’s leg and he let out a blood-curdling scream, grasping at the cold ground, fingers curling into fists that grasped onto nothing. The same pain magnified again as the knife came into sight once again- this time half coloured with red.

It’s real, it dawned on Hero as he finally looked down to find a hole in his leg. “A-augh!” It was throbbing and he swore he could feel his blood pulsing out of the wound. His stomach twisted with his pain and he turned to his right as to not throw up on himself.

What made the pain in Hero’s leg worse was the fact that his muscles were clenched. He couldn’t relax them no matter how hard he tried and that only meant the throb was everlasting.

The knife made its strike again- this time down the arm opposite of Hero’s now-injured leg. He hollered again, writhing and crying in anguish. “Stop! Stop it!” Quieter, he repeated to himself, “It hurts. It hurts, it hurts.”

For once his body protested as he eyed Villain in front of him. His good leg twitched like it was ready to assist in springing on and tackling Villain to the ground. But the controlled side of Hero’s mind told him it’d only make him hurt worse. Not to mention, he might land on the blade and therefore kill himself. Wait. “You’re- you’re going t-to kill…kill me.”

Villain paused, tilting his head almost curiously at Hero. “That was the plan originally, but then you fell to cowardice, and that was boring.” As he spoke, Hero could feel his limbs jumping, spasming. “So, now we’re doing something else. Kinda like it, actually. Centuries have gone by, and I never actually took my time with any of you. For once, I am seeing the true and utter fear I felt when I died for my first time.” Villain continued, “I could have been such a great person, you know? I would have been a perfect good guy, unable to die and all. But instead of seeing that vision, I was seen as a threat to humanity. They began hunting me, trying to figure out how to put me down for good. I decided to fit their little role, though.”

What Villain did and said next shocked Hero. “Go on, try it.” Villain held the blade handle out to Hero on the ground. “Take it. I’ll let you kill me again, and then you can leave.”

“You’re lying. That’s- that’s a stupid th-thing to- to offer. Why would you l-let me kuh-kill you, then let- let me go?”

Villain shrugged. “Something new. I want to live something different this time. I told you many times that few have killed me twice- and the ones who did it were killed as soon as I could find them. I want to see how far you can go if I give you a month’s head start.”

“You- you want to hunt me.”

“I do. Seeing as you did it to me, I think it’s fair.” He jutted the handle out to Hero again as an offer. When Hero took it, Villain said, “I know I took out your dominant arm out, but- well, I have confidence you’ll do just fine if it means you get to kill me again.” Villain tapped at his chest, right where his heart was located. “Go on. I know you want to.”

Hero considered this for a moment, staring at the knife- at the knife with his blood on it now instead of Villain’s. Did he ever question why his organization was going after Villain? Not really. He just knew Villain murdered every single man Leader sent out. Maybe it was self-defence, in which case Hero shouldn’t have been going after Villain like he was, shouldn’t have killed him like he already did once and was being given the opportunity to once again.

But now was different. Now, Villain really was sadistic- assuming he wasn’t before. Villain, if he was any sort of a healthy and sane man, would have had Hero jailed for trying, and succeeding, in killing him. Or, if he was afraid of the authorities taking him in for being- ahem- unkillable, then he would have only kept Hero locked up. Villain wouldn’t have had Hero in a cellar room, stabbing and slashing at him while a camera recorded it all. If Villain ever was good, that morality was stripped from him now, and that meant Hero needed to take this chance at life. Maybe he could go back to his base and demand answers. Because based off what Villain told, they knew he was immortal, and they never told Hero- or Hero’s previous teammates, who were now ‘mysteriously’ dead.

Without another word, or even a warning glance, Hero weighed the knife in his left hand, gripped the handle, and slashed at Villain’s throat. As he laid dying, Hero searched for the key on Villain’s person, and left.

[docholligay]

Official Statement

on the topic of first person things, this is something I’ve noodled with for a great while, working on, on and off for, oh, according to my first notes, over a year and a half. It’s one of those things you work so long on you get afraid to publish it ever, but HERE IT IS. YOu can find it in time HERE . I HOPE YOU KIND OF ENJOY

Lena, Tracer...she was not very big. One hundred and sixty centimeters, she used to say, and I suspect she added one or two, though I don’t know. Much smaller than me.

We fought once. Not sparred, we did that plenty, it was part of our training, and we were well matched, but no, one time, we fought. She was wrong, and so was I, though I would not know that until later, of course. It was one of the hardest hand to hand fights I have ever had. She was strong, She broke my collarbone. I was in a sling for a handful of weeks, which is unusual for me. 

She was not very big, as I have said,  but she was heavier than you would have thought. This became particularly clear to me when she was on top of me, breaking my collarbone. I am no weakling, you must know that, or you would stand closer, and look less nervous, but she was compact muscle, Tracer. I don’t mean to laugh, but you would not keep your distance from her, and you would be wrong.  I would have guessed her at, oh fifty-seven, fifty-eight kilos, or so, in those days. Maybe more, I know my wife could tell you but as you can imagine it was not a common topic between us and my memory of it has faded.

I have no idea what you know about her, outside of the papers, but she was very athletic. We used to bicker, back and forth, over who was more so. She was faster, always. I could lift more. I fought her once and I did not want to do it again, but she rarely used her body for such things. She liked to play. She never grew up, and I was annoyed at her for it, at times. She would climb trees or scale a pipe against the wall and all the time I would be yelling “Yalla, Tracer, we’re going to get arrested.” We never did, so maybe this is me doing it for the both of us. I thought she would fall, but she never did. Her balance was...very sure. Then.

Without her, we would have lost London. You can hate her for being English, but you know this is true, and also you know Dublin would have fallen next, so try not to get smug. She was uncommonly brave, and uncommonly skilled.

I am rambling. Usually I don’t say this much. She was the voice, between us.  She could talk forever and you would wonder where she found the energy but she always had it. Tracer worried about it, that I have no gift for press releases and the media and other things that involve the art of saying things in a particular way. I am more plain-spoken, which I think she respected in me. But of course, she was the first to find someone who could play her part. An understudy. 

She introduced me to my wife, you know. I still remember her jumping over that fence to say hello. I did not for a moment think she would clear it. I was wrong. She was very athletic.

As I have said. I keep remembering, and thinking on it. 

You think I am avoiding the question, but all of this is an answer.

It was after London nearly fell, I noticed it first. I should have noticed it earlier, but sometimes I am as guilty as the rest, with the things I want to be true. Brushed it away. It was nothing, and if it were, Angela could fix it. I meant only to believe in Angela, and now I worry there was too much pressure. I said nothing to her, but I know she feels she should be a miracle worker. There are no such things as miracles. It was never my business to believe, but to do. 

Lena...Tracer, had always been very quiet about her health, and I allowed her to be. I respected her. Truthfully, I thought she was so strong that it was irrelevant. She had survived the unsurviveable so many times. She told me she was born under a lucky star so many times that I believed it.  I can be silly. I don’t believe, and then I do. I never believe in the right thing. She would shake, sometimes. She had before as well, and so I told myself I was only paranoid, but I knew it was different. I said nothing when she started to take pills at the lunch hour, or called off work, from time to time. I knew something was wrong, but I would not make her tell me. She needed me not to know. I was her friend. I owed her that.

She was much tougher than you would think, looking at her. A terrier of a woman. She laughed. She married. She jumped off the edge of the couch and teased me about being straight-laced. And so it was easy to forget, because Lena was herself.

And then, hmmm...she had a seizure, in our office, one grey day in November. Even I can only ignore so many things, but even then, because I, for a moment, was a believer and a fool, thought that she would only have to step down. Retire. 

Then she told me the truth. 

I know, that you know, that she is dead. She died yesterday. But what you do not know, is the experience of watching her decline. We fought once, and she broke my collarbone. She slammed me against a wall. She climbed drain pipes up the side of a building. I knew few people in my life who took the pleasure of moving in the way she did.

She had a seizure in November, and by April she was struggling to walk. It was like a snowball. It got bigger and faster as it came down the hill. I hope you never know what that feels like, to see. It did not seem to matter what Angela gave her, or what we did. Her body would fight her. She was in pain, often. Her seizures got worse, and she began to have spasms, she could hardly hold herself up, or feed herself, often, at the end, and we had a front row seat to the entire thing, and I knew who who was to blame.

Her last birthday was very warm. We knew she would not have another one, and she said as much, she was never stupid. Silly, but not stupid. It took me time to learn that. My birthday is in six weeks’ time. I never celebrated my birthday much, until she got ahold of my life.

I apologize. I am trying to give a simple answer, and the answer is very simple, but it takes me time to get to it. Because I need you to understand things. I need you to understand that over the course of a year, I watched, we all watched, this pain is not specific to me though I am being selfish and taking it for myself, we all watched her struggle to walk, and to sit up, and to care for herself. We watched her suffer pain. We saw her suffer terrible crises, and sometimes she would lose her sight for a time, or struggle to breathe.

So why are you here, and not the others, Fareeha Amari, you might say, and I would say in return, well, I am not a creature of patience or forgiveness and I think even my mother, and especially her, might admit to that.

So you don’t have to be afraid. I will not hurt you. I promise that. I did what I came to, and I accept the consequences.

Yesterday, she died. She died in Winston’s arms, where she felt safe, and Emily was stroking her hair, and I was there to see her off. It was peaceful, finally. Angela would not have allowed it to be otherwise. She is good and kind. I love her. I am trying very hard, to say that with more freedom, of people. I love her. I loved Lena. These things are important to say.

Angela will be so angry with me.

Anyhow, yes, yesterday, she died, and after she took her last breath and it all was settled, I carried her. I did not want anyone else to do it. I owed her that. Assuming I am released on bail, I will dress her to be cremated. She would not have wanted Winston, Emily, to have to. I laid her on the metal table off of Winston’s workspace. Angela used it, often.

I had never noticed, because I never take time to notice these things, but the table had a scale. Forty four point two seven zero  kilograms. Forty-four. Is what she weighed. The day she died.

And that is why I came to Ireland. I figured I would take the fourteen kilos I was owed, that Moira O’Deorain took from her, out of the rock this miserable country erected to her. I would do it again. Vandalism and property destruction and whatever ridiculous thing you are changing me with are nothing compared to what that woman did to her. I took an ice pick to that plaque because you cannot kill a person more than once.

She deserved to suffer, but because I cannot do that I will wipe her from the earth myself.

That, officers, is my official statement.

[olivia200312]

You're Not Alone~ RID2015! Optimus x Depressed! Human! Reader

Plot: Y/N's grandfather passed away and Y/N is very depressed. She's not eating and sleeps less but Optimus comes to the rescue.

My grandfather sadly passed on February 5th. The news hit me like a truck. I never felt that much pain in my life. I nearly landed in the hospital from not eating enough.

Note: the art goes to the owner!

Head area:

Brain: Processor / Brain Module

Head: Helm

Face: Face plate

Ears: Audio receptors / Receptor Orifice / Audials

Nose: Enstril / Olfactory Sensor

Eye brow: Optical Ridge

Eyes: Optics

Mouth: Intake

Lips: Dermas

Teeth: Denta/Dentas

Tongue: Glossa

Chest area:

Chest: Chassis / Thoraxal Cavity

Back: Hexa-Lateral Scapula

Spine: Bipedalism cord / Back Strut

Chest and back armour:

Chest plate

Back plate

Mid-section plating

Neck guard

Side plating

Arm area:

Arms: Arms / Restarlueus

Forearms: Bitarlueus

Hands: Servos

Fingers: Digits

Arm armour:

Gantlets

Shoulder pads

Arm guard

Lower area:

Pelvis: Pelvis

Butt: Aft / Skid-Plate

Thighs: Tibulen

Calves: Cadulen

Feet: Pedes - the high heel bits are called Struts or Heel Struts.

Lower armour:

Skirt plates

Aft plate / Skid plate

Thigh guard

Ankle guard

General/Internal components:

Muscles: Cables / Pistons - It depends on the area in question.

Veins: Fual lines

Stomach: Tanks

Lungs: Vents - used to stop the con/bot from over heating.

Heart: Spark

Tattoos: D-con/A-bot Insignias and the lark

T-Cog: The thing that allows all Cybertronians to transform, be that their arms or their whole body.

Bonus:

Penis: Spike

Vagina: Valve

Body: Frame

-----------------------------------------------------

Today was a depressing day for the young Y/N. You may ask why a depressing day and what happened? Her grandfather sadly passed away. The news hit her like a truck. For years, no one of her family members died until she's a young adult. She was just keeping herself busy in her room, her house until she got a phone call from her mother. She got the devastating news. She dropped her phone and cried a lot.

When a few days passed by, she didn't show up at the scrapyard like she usually does. Everyone there got very worried about her. Y/N won't pick up her phone whenever they called. She even got a lack of sleep and refused to eat. She then showed some symptoms from not eating anything like headaches and dizziness. She laid for hours on her bed.

At the scrapyard~

Optimus is the leader of the Autobots and he's a mentor to Bumblebee. He's helping the scout (or now warrior) how to be a good leader to his own team, The Bee Team. Optimus is a leader for kilocycles (years). He knows exactly how it feels to be a leader when he/she is struggling to control the team. When Team Prime was together at the time, he had times and moments where he loses it. One very clear memorable clip is where Starscream escaped with Omega Keys.

Y/N is his sparkmate for a long time. They love each other to death. They're even connected to each other! He became anxious when he didn't saw Y/N for a few days. She visits the scrapyard every day. He understands when she doesn't appear for a day or two but almost a week passed by. He knew that something was wrong... but what? Everyone got the answer why.

"Everyone, I got very sad news." Denny walked to the bots and Russel while holding his phone. He had a sad expression.

"What is it, Denny?" Bumblebee asked worriedly.

"Y/N's grandfather... passed away. That's why she didn't show up."

Everyone looked shocked. Some of them looked sad while others looked with sympathy. Y/N's grandpa was an old man and he did have problems with his heart his whole life. He had to take medicine and take it easy. He did have a couple of heart attacks but he's immediately saved at the hospital.

Years later, his health got worse, including his living conditions...

Optimus looked very sad and with sympathy. His poor sweetspark. He had no idea that she's suffering... He knew what he had to do. He transformed into his famous semi-truck form and drove off. The others knew what he's doing so no one stopped him.

With Y/N~

Y/N was just crying on her bed while holding a photo of her grandfather and herself when she was a baby, taking her first steps. It is a very important memory of hers. She feels guilty for not telling sooner to others like why she hasn't shown up and what's bothering her. She couldn't help it. She feels weak a lot and hasn't left her bed in hours. She does drink water at least.

She didn't hear footsteps quietly to her. She cried harder due to the memories of her grandfather but she gasped and yelped when she felt servos on her. She struggled but she quickly calmed down when Optimus shushed her and comforted her.

Y/N looks over her shoulder slightly and cried. "O-Optimus..."

"Shhh... I'm here, my sweetspark. I'm here." His voice was so soft, soothing, gentle, and comforting that you could get lost.

Y/N whimpered, sobbed, and cried softly. She felt Optimus pulling her into his arms. That caused her to have a melting breakdown against his chassis. She was also shaking. Optimus tried his best to calm his mate down. He felt very broken when his previous mate, Elita-One, previously known as Ariel, got offlined by Megatron, who was once like a brother to him. Optimus didn't show emotion after Elita died. He just had to be a darn leader and not show any weaknesses. It was extremely hard for him. He learned to move on but seeing his mate suffering in pain, he felt sad. "Please try to calm down, my dear."

"I... I c-can't. I-It's just..."

"I know, sweetspark. Shhhh..." Optimus shushed her and continues to comfort her.

Y/N just let her feelings out. She continues to cry hard until she felt no more tears were rolling out. Optimus was there the whole time. He comforted her, soothed her, shushed her, caressed her, held her, and even whispered sweet things into her ear. He gently pulled away (while still holding her) in order to face her with care and love. "How did your grandsire passed away, sweetsprak?"

Y/N breathed due to crying hard. She knew that he's not forcing or pushing her to tell. She can already tell and see it in his optics. "I-It just... happen suddenly. H-He just stopped eating and drinking. He... refused. H-He also... got another heart attack. He n-never... woke up."

Optimus looks with pure sympathy. A lot of old people rather die peacefully in their sleep than by disease. In fact, dying in your sleep is painless because you don't feel anything. When someone is dead, then what will happen to the body? Well, Y/N's grandfather wants his body to be... cremated. Cremation. Or maybe these words will understand you more: it's where the body is burned until the dust is left. Y/N's grandfather doesn't want bugs to eat his body so the family granted his wish. When the dust is left, then it will go in a beautiful vase and stay there forever. The vase can go to the funeral or either at your home. When the body is buried in the coffin, then it can take like 100 years for the body to be a full skeleton. Skeletons can also be dust and the only thing that will remain is teeth. No kidding.

Optimus wiped Y/N's tears away with his digits. "Did you eat anything? When I look at you at your body language and read your expression, you didn't have enough of recharge."

Y/N truthfully shook her head no. "N-No... I just... couldn't. I did had headaches and felt dizziness."

Optimus sighed and cupped her face gently and looked deep into her eyes. "Please eat and get enough recharge, sweetspark. It happened to me too after I lost Elita. Ratchet warned me to eat and get enough rest or else he'll force me to go to the hospital where they'll feed me and put me to sleep. I... I can't bear losing you."

Y/N went quiet. So, her lover went through the same with Ratchet's warning? He is a doctor after all and it means that he knows everything about conditions like Y/N is suffering right now.

Optimus kissed her cheek lovely. "You're not alone, sweetsprak. We're here for you, including your grandsire in your human spark."

Y/N couldn't help but snuggle up to Optimus, who gladly held her and started to rub her back to make her go to sleep at ease. He also massaged her scalp on her head since it's like every woman's weakness to go to sleep or relax. She finally closed her eyes and fell asleep. Optimus watched over her and he made sure that she went back on her feet.

I nearly landed in the hospital because of a lack of sleep and not eating enough. My mom warned me to start getting enough rest and eat a lot or else I'll have to go to the hospital.

[drazzilder]

A Hellish Encounter

By Drazzilder 

Chapter 28: Last Goodbye

The next morning, you wake up still on top of Zaheer and to the sounds of Enji’s snoring. That is a record for Zaheer being outside of you but theorize that sleeping must not count or something. You must have woken him as he begins to rumble and he startles Enji.

“Shit! I forgot how we went to bed last night. Is this what’s it’s like when you wake up on top of me because I could get use to this.”

“Something like this, your just smaller than Zaheer.”

“It is nice. Oh, and don’t tell me you forgot what happened last night?”

“Oh, I can speak for both Enji and I, we never forget it. I’m thinking we might have to do it again sometimes.”

“I agree.”  

“Really? I wasn’t too much?”

“Hey, I couldn’t move my legs after the first time with Enji, if I can survive that, I’m good.”

“That’s good, because I can think a few more things we can try.” Enji says as gives you a small kiss on the lips.

After getting ready and packing up; you are about to leave when you get a phone call right as Zaheer goes back inside of you.

“Hello, is this (Y/N)?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

“Great! I’m Janis from John Hopkins hospital.”

“Ok? Why are you calling me?”

“There is a patient here who is asking for you.”

“Ok, I have visited kids in the hospital before, what’s his or her name.”

“Adam.”

“Adam?” You look at Enji who was listening to everything. You dropped your phone as you stand there looking at Enji with no color to your face. You’re completely frozen when he picks up the phone for you and puts it on speaker.

“Miss, does this Adam look like a beast?”

“Um, I guess? How did you know?”

“I just know. Give us some time, we will be there. Bye.”

“Adam would never go to a hospital; he must be in trouble. We have to go.”

“(Y/N) I have to tell you something. As part of the agreement of not sending you back to the US, you are not allowed back in the United States.”

“What? Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

“You never wanted to go back there until now so I felt it was ok to keep it a secret from you. I’m sorry, I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“It’s ok, but if I’m not allowed there, how can I visit Adam?”

“If we teleport right to the hospital and don’t stay long, we should be fine. This agreement also took you off the FBI watch list so no one should be looking for you.”

You take your phone back from Enji and quickly look up the hospital online. After some time, you figure out the best way to get to the hospital. After sending your luggage home, you take Enji’s hand and teleport to the lobby of the hospital, startling many members of the hospital staff. You talk to the receptionist to find out where Adam is and you make your way to his room. You freeze at the door, fearful of what you might see.

“It’s ok, I’m right here.” Enji says as he squeezes your hand.

“I know but I’m worried.”

You slowly open the door to see Adam lying flat on the bed, only an IV and a heart monitor are hooked up to him. He is covered in bullet holes and bandages. You run to his side, leaving Enji at the door, and gently wake him up.

“Adam?”

“(Y/N)? You came.” His says in a weak voice with a faint smile.

“What happened?”

“I was...*cough* I was shot, someone thought I was a monster. Kind of funny when you think about it. I have been waiting for you. *cough*”

You begin to cry at the point. “Adam, I’m so sorry. I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner. I’m sorry I left you. I’m sorry you got hurt. I never wanted this to happen to you.”

“It’s ok. I know you are happy.” He says with a faint smile.

“What?”

Looking at Enji, “When that man declared his love for you, the news went around the world. I saw it and I knew you were happy. I’m glad you found someone who loves you.”

“But… what about everything we had? I know it wasn’t true love but I still cared for you, you were my best friend. Was that all for nothing?

“What we had was good but what you have now is special. You even learned how to control your powers better because of him. You have grown because of him. Just look at the hero you have become. I know you love him that’s why he has a wedding ring on.”

Enji quickly covers his hand but it’s too late. You look back to Adam who has a few tears in his eyes to match yours. “Adam, I don’t want to lose you. Not like this.”

“I know you will be ok with him.” He raises his hand to your face.

“Adam…” you put your hand over his. Sitting there a moment, you start to feel something you haven’t felt in years.

“Adam? What are you doing?”

His hand begins to glow and you’re filled with that familiar feeling again. “I’m giving you the last of my energy, that way you will always have a part of me. Zaheer take care of him, same with you.” As he looks at Enji who just nods in response.

“ADAM, PLEASE! DON’T GO!!!” You plead but it’s too late. His hand falls down as his eyes go dark. The heart monitor holds its tone telling you he is gone. He was keeping himself alive just for you, to give you the last bit of himself that he could. You hunched over the bed crying when you feel Enji’s hand. It pulls you away from the bed and into his arms. You use his shirt to absorb the tears as you stand there crying uncontrollably. You manage to get out the words: “What……will happen…. to him?”

“I’ll tell the hospital to cremate him and send his remains to us. We can set up a small shrine next to Touya’s, ok?”

You can only nod in response. Enji uses his quirk to calm you down enough that you two can get out of there. You know you can’t stay long so you teleport back home shortly after. At home, Enji lets the kids know what happened and they all start to try to help. Natsuo plays racing games with you, even letting you win a few races. Fuyumi cooks your favorite dinner and even sends Enji to go buy your favorite dessert. Shoto asks for help in his newest project which did mostly go well. The last event of the day was everyone in the living room rewatching your favorite movie. You do cheer up a bit, but you’re still sad when you finally fall asleep.

Enji wakes up in the middle of the night knowing something is wrong. He doesn’t feel you on top of him like normal. Looking around the room he notices Zaheer in the corner looking concerned.

“Where is (Y/N)?”

“He’s not doing well.”

“Where is he?” he responds with more concern.

“I can take you to him. He made me promise to leave him alone but I know better. Come on.”

In a red flash, Enji and Zaheer are at the beach you first took Enji after he confessed his feelings for you. You are sitting, just staring at the ocean, arms crossed over your knees resting your chin on your arms. Zaheer goes back inside of you as Enji sits down next to you, turning on his flame beard to keep himself warm in the cold night air.

“I know you’re not ok. Please, talk to me.”

After a few minutes of silence, you speak. “I feel guilty.”

“Why? Do you feel guilty about us?”

“I feel guilty that I was here enjoying life while Adam was still on the run. We cared for each other, we loved each other. It’s not the same love you and I have but it was love. I would do anything for him but I left him. Now look what happened; he’s dead now. It’s because I wasn’t there. I couldn’t protect him. He would always protect me and save me but I couldn’t do the same. It’s because I was selfish in my actions. It’s because I…..I….I….” You try your best to contain them but stammer as your emotions can no longer be contained. You begin to cry like you never have before. The emotions have gotten so intense that you partially lose control of your body as you fall flat on your back. You can’t feel your limbs but you don’t notice through the mental pain. Your sobbing has turned into something more like howling and your eyes are burning from the volume of tears. Nothing in your life prepared you for how you feel at this moment; you lost someone so close to you, someone who saved you, someone you cared deeply for. Enji lays there with you, his hand under your head using his thumb to rub your head trying to calm you but he knows those emotions need to be let out. It seemed like an eternity before your tears slow and Enji speaks.

“You can’t blame yourself for what happened. You didn’t do anything Adam said not to do. He said to follow your heart and you did. Do you regret falling in love with me?”

“No, I couldn’t be happier I just feel like it was unfair to Adam. He had to go through almost as much as me and he deserved to be happy. Even though I love you Enji, I still worried about him every day.”

“I can sympathize with that. I finally get to see Rei again after years and she leaves again. I never wanted to lose her even though I didn’t love her like I love you. But her last action was to save you. She wanted you to be there for the kids, to be there for me. She wanted you to be happy. Didn’t she say there is a lot of love for you?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t disappoint her, don’t make her life a waste by being sad constantly.”

“Don’t you think I feel guilty about that too. I know I had nothing to do with what Rei did but I still feel like it’s my fault somehow. How did you not break down when she sacrificed herself?”

“I almost did, but I tell myself why she did it. She said she did it for both of us, for her children.”

“I know but…”

Enji goes to hug you close. “Rei gave her life because she believed in you. She saw what you were doing for me and the children. She saw how happy everyone is now and she wants that to continue. If you can’t stop the guilt for yourself, do it for me.”

“I can try to do that for you. I would do anything for you.” You smile through your tears.

“That’s my, little flame.” He says kissing the top of your head as your crying almost stops.

“Enji, I love you so much.”

“I love you too. Let’s go home.” And you disappear in a blue light.

Next Chapter

[yunatheintrovert]

Helloooo I have a question/prompt (I guess?) for you! I’ve been wanting to know how (in your Soviet-Afghan war AU), how Belikov reacted when he found out that Bell was Adler’s protégé/accompanying him on the Lubyanka mission? In the game, I don’t think Belikov and Bell interact until he opens the door in the basement to let them in. So in your AU, how would he respond to letting Adler in and *what the fuck* Bell is just chillin in the background? 👀

Hi, zombie-nymph! It’s great to get another awesome ask from you. 

To start, I’ll provide some context for this AU. When Bell gets recruited by Perseus, her death is faked. Belikov soon finds out about Bell’s “death” and what she was going through after they got back from Afghanistan. And he feels guilty and responsible for leaving Bell to go through all of that alone when he should have been there for her. Preoccupied with the initial dilemma he was facing about whether or not to become a double-agent for the CIA (as he was questioning his allegiances), Belikov had neglected to notice how a depressed Bell was distancing herself from him and everyone else. And Belikov realizes that too late when he gets notified of Bell’s “death” by Charkov. Of course, the circumstances of Bell’s “death” are fishy and the body isn’t even identified before it gets cremated, making Belikov think Bell perhaps wasn’t dead and got into trouble with the wrong people. After trying to find out what happened to Bell through his connections in the KGB and other places, Belikov resorts to going to Hudson and the CIA, making a deal with them involving them finding Bell in exchange for him working for them (although there are also other reasons why Belikov works for the CIA such as his disillusionment with Soviet leadership after all those years in Afghanistan in the Soviet-Afghan War). 

And now to answer the prompt: how would Belikov respond to seeing Bell in the Lubyanka building?

Well, Belikov would be absolutely in shock. Honestly, he’d look like as if he’s just seen a ghost because he’s been told time and time again by Charkov and the others that Bell was dead and that Belikov was just obsessively drowning himself in guilt. But he always knew Bell was alive deep down even though he did have his doubts from time to time. And to see her now alive in front of him is just an absolute shock. Belikov would instinctively take a step towards Bell as he is about to say something when he is reminded of the guards he called down to the basement. He quickly snaps back to his usual self and tells Adler that they’ll need to take out the guards in order to get the uniforms. After the uniforms are secured, Belikov can’t help but glance at Bell from time to time because he still can’t believe she is alive and in front of him. As the shock fades away, anger sets in as he realizes that Hudson must have known where Bell was since she is apparently working for the CIA and Hudson never told him that despite their deal. And then after that determination sets in because after all these years, he isn’t going to let anything happen to Bell. 

In addition, throughout the Lubyanka mission, Belikov would be acting rather protective of Bell (such as sticking rather close to her), something Adler notices and wonders about. 

(there also might be a scene where when Bell saves Belikov from the guards by deploying the gas canisters in the vents and taking the guards out, Bell calls Belikov Mitya “for some unknown reason” as she asks if he is okay while handing him the gas mask.)

Anyways, I hope that makes sense and that I wasn’t rambling too much there haha. 

Thanks for sending the ask! It honestly made my day to see someone taking an interest in one of the AUs I do for Belikov/Bell especially the Soviet-Afghan War AU. 

[eleventhdoctorsangel]

I’m coming apart

Summary: When the Dover's older daughter gets taken along with Joy and Anna but gets tired up in the RV and locked in the bathroom. She was found by detective loki when Alex crashed the RV. Her clothes were torn. After being found and seeing how hurt her parents and the Birch's are she soon starts to feel guilty. She feels like she can't confident in anyone. It wasn't until she started to talking to detective loki did she feel the weight start to leave her.

More police officers and an ambulance showed up soon after. EMTs came and took Alex’s away and by that time it was getting dark. Another officer questioned me on about why dad would do something like this, why he picked this building stuff like that. I was going to call dad but I couldn’t find my phone. I guess i must have left my phone out at home. But I don’t think he would have answered. I was leaning against a wall as some officers left and some stayed. David was stand next to me. “Hey I need you to go over to Holly Jones. She needs to be notified. I’ll have another officer take her home.” David’s boss said as he came over to us. “No. I need to find Dover.” David said. “Come on. You’re done with Dover.” David��s boss said. “You want me to go to Holly Jones.” David said. “I want you to go to Holly Jones and notify her please. Don’t worry someone will take her home.” David’s boss said. “Sorry sir but where I go she goes.” David said. His boss let out a sigh. “If anything happens to her it’s on you.” David’s boss said. David nodded. “Come on.” David said as he turned to look at me. I nodded and followed him out of the building and into his car. “Where do you think your father could be?” David asked. “I have no idea.” I said. “Don’t worry we’ll find him.” David said as he started his car. “I know.” I said. Then he drove away.

He drove a bit out of town and came across this small house. He pulled into the driveway and turned off his car then turned to look at me. “You can come with if you want or you can stay in the car. After what happened with Alex you don’t have to.” David said. “I’ll come.” I said. David and the two of us got out of the car walking to the front door of the house. David knocked on the door and waited on the aunt to come and answer. When she didn’t he knocked again but nothing happened. “Maybe she’s not home.” I said. “The lights are still on.” David said. Then I heard the faint sound of a door opening. David opened to door that wasn’t locked. “Mrs. Jones?” David asked as he walked in and I followed behind him. We walked further into the house. “Mrs. Jones?” David asked again as we walked into a bedroom where a framed photo caught David’s eye. He went over and picked it up to get a better look at it. Then we heard the floorboards creak. David turned around and started to walk toward the sounds as he pulled out his gun I followed behind him but far enough where in case something did happened would not get caught in the cross fire. Then David stood in front of a doorway and pulled his gun. “Show me your hands now. Don’t move and show me your fucking hand right now. Stop right now! Show me your fucking hands. Do not move and show me your hands.” David said. “Make sure they cremate me. I sure as hell don’t want to be buried in some box.” A women who I had to guess was Holly Jones said. “Both hands! Right now! Right now!” David yelled. Then gun shot went off got down on the ground. “Fuck!” David yelled as I heard a body hit the ground. I quickly got up and went over to David to see that he was bleeding. “Go to the car.” David told me. “No I’m not leaving you.” I said. “No go I’ll bring Anna out.” David said. Then I turned to look into the room and saw Anna on the ground. “Anna no!” I cried and almost ran into room but David grabbed my hand. “Go to the car now!” David told me. I nodded and rushed out of the house and got into the back seat of his car. Then Loki rushed out of the house carrying Anna in his arms he quickly put her in the back seat went me then he quickly got into the driver’s seat  and he quickly started to speed to the hospital. I put Anna’s head in my lap. “Anna sweetie please open your eyes.” I said crying. I could hear David groan then glace back to me and Anna. “Anna.” David said. “Come on Anna it’s sissy. Please open your eyes.” I said. Then vomit started to come out of her mouth. I quickly moved and took off my coat and put it under her. “No no no. Anna come please.” I said. David looked back to us and saw what was happening to Anna. “Oh shit.” David said has he started to go faster. I could hear car horns and tires screeching. “Anna please.” I said. But again she didn’t answer me I started to cry harder. “She’s dying.” I said. “No. No she’s not. She’s not baby. Come on. Come on Anna. Anna. Come on.” David said as he reached back. I started to stork Anna’s hair. “Stay with us Anna. Stay with us huh? Stay with us Anna.” David said. “Come on A. Do it for mom and dad please.” I said. “Stay with us Anna! It’s alright. It’s alright come on. Go move move move!” David yelled. I looked at David to see that he was wiping blood from his eye. “Don’t die. Don’t die.” David said. “Just hold on Anna.” I said. Then finally David quickly pulled up to the hospital. David opened his door and quickly got out. “It’s okay. It’s okay.” David said. He quickly came over and opened the door grabbing Anna from me. “Hey. Hey.” David said as I got out behind Anna as we rushed inside. “Hey! Help! Help! Help. Help! Help!” David yelled as we got inside.

A doctor came over and took Anna from and rushed off somewhere with her and I followed the doctor. “What was she given?” The doctor asked me as he sat down Anna on a bed in a empty room. “I..I don’t know.” I said. “Does anyone know?” The doctor asked. “The detective that brought us in.” I said. The doctor nodded and rushed out of the room to ask David what she was given as another doctor and a nurse rushed in to start an IV. “Is there anyone you need to call?” The doctor asked. I nodded. “Come with sweetie and you can call who you need to call.” The nurse said. I nodded and stood up giving Anna a quick kiss on the head. “I’ll be right back sweetie.” I said and the followed the nurse the desk. The nurse walked behind the desk grabbing the phone and sat it in front of me. I grabbed it bringing it to my ear as I dialed Moms number and then waited on her to answer. “Y/n honey where have you been I’ve been trying to call you.” Mom said as she answered. “I’m sorry I must have left my phone at home. Are you still at the hospital?” I asked. “Of course honey where are you?” Mom asked. “In the ER downstairs mom we found Anna.” I said. “Oh my god I’m coming now.” Mom said and hung up. I put the phone down and gave the nurse a small smile. “Thank you.” I said. “You’re welcome dear.” The nurse said. “How’s the detective that brought us in?” I asked. “I’m not sure dear. But I can come and tell you when I know something.” The nurse said. “Thank you.” I said. “Y/n!” I heard mom yell. I ran over to her crying. “It’s okay. It’s okay sweetie.” Mom said hugging me tightly. “Have you called dad?” I asked. “He’s not picking up.” Mom said. “I can take you two back to her room if you want.” The nurse said as she walked up to us. Mom stopped hugging me and grabbed my hand. “Yes please.” Mom said as she wiped away tears. “Come on.” The nurse said and took us back to the room Anna was in.

When we walked into the room mom went over a got into bed next to her. “We sedated her so that it would be easier to flush the drugs that are in her system.” The doctor said. “Thank you doctor.” I said. “We are going to run a few more tests then we’ll move her to a room.” The doctor said. “Thank you.” Mom said. The doctor nodded and then left the room. Mom start to give Anna kisses. “It’s going to be okay now sweetie.” Mom said. A few minutes later a nurse came to get Anna so she could get a CT scan and Xrays. Mom got up from the bed and gave Anna another kiss one the head then gave over to seat beside me and Anna was rolled out of the room. “Well I’m going to try to call your father again.” Mom said as she pulled out her phone.

Dad again didn’t pick up. It was almost an hour later before Anna was brought back. Thankfully nothing was broken and she didn’t have any inter injuries. Then she was brought up to the room and everyone thought it would be for the best to keep Joy and Anna in the same room. Once Anna was settled into the room Nancy came over and gave mom a hug. Then she gave Anna a kiss on the head. Then she came over and gave me a hug. “How Joy doing?” I asked quietly. “She’s doing a bit better since I told her about Anna. She fell asleep a little bit ago. She wanted to tell you that she didn’t blame you about what happened. All that she remembers is you protecting her and Anna.” Nancy said. I just nodded. Nancy kissed my head again as she went back over to Joy. Mom again got into the bed with Anna and quickly fell asleep. I was sitting in a chair besides Anna bed as I watch her and mom sleep peacefully. I looked over to see that Franklin and Nancy were also asleep. Just about an hour later a nurse quietly walked in to check the girls vitals since that wanted to check them every hour. The nurse went to check on Joy’s first than came to check on Anna’s. “The detective that brought the two of you in wanted you to come and see him after she was settled.” The nurse whispered to me. I nodded and quietly got up and walked out of the room. “Is he okay?” I asked. “He lost quite a bit of blood and when he was shot at a fragment of the bullet lodge into his head. We got it out but we are keeping him for a few days so we can monitor him. As soon as we finished with him he wanted to know how the little girl was. I can take you to his room if you want.” The nurse said. “I would like that very much thank you.” I said. “Come on sweetie I just need to drop off the girls chats at the desk.” The nurse said. I nodded and followed the nurse as she gave another nurse Anna and Joy charts then took me to David’s room.

He was kept in the next hallway. The nurse knocked on the door. “Come in.” David said. The nurse opened the door and took two steps into the room. “I brought the girls sister to tell how she’s doing.” The nurse said. “Thank you.” David said. The nurse nodded and move so I could walk in. Well I did the nurse left and closed the door. David was lying in a hospital bed with gauze covering where the bullet fragment was taken out. The blood was cleaned from his face and one of his eyes looked like a blood vessel broke because it was red.  “How is she doing?” David asked. “She sleeping. They sedated very quickly so it would be easier to flush whatever crap is in her system. They also thought it would be best to keep the girls in the same room.” I said as I sat down in the chair next to his bed. “Any words from you’re father?” David asked. I shook my head. “I promise I’ll find him.” David said. I let out a small chuckle. “Easy there tiger you were just shot at.” I said. “This wasn’t the first time and this won’t be the last.” David said. “Well it was probably the first time you got shot in the head. Thank you. You promise that you would bring the girls home and you did.” I said.  “I was just doing my job.” David said. “I know. But I don’t want to think about what might have happened if you weren’t on the case. I could have ended up with the girls. I still don’t know why I was taken and I don’t think I want to know the answer to that.” I said. “I have an idea but I don’t want to upset you.” David said. I nodded. “Thanks. I should get back to the room.” I said. “If you want to come and talk you can.” David said. “I know.” I said as I stood up. I started to walk away when David grabbed my hand pulling me back towards him. He pulled me onto his bed and kissed me. One hand grabbed me by the waist and the other grabbed my hair. I wrapped my arms around his neck. The kiss slowly started to get a bit rougher. David started to kiss my cheek than made his way down to my neck. He started to bite and suck on my neck.my hands moved to his hair as I gently pulled on it. The hand that was on my waist slowly started to move up my shirt. “We should stop. If we don’t someone might walk in on us.” I said with a shaky breathe. David stopped kissing me as he put his forehead against mine. “I really should get back.” I said. “When this all blows over. I want to take you out on a date.” David said as he kissed me again. “It’s a date.” I said smiling. I got up from David’s hospital bed and made my way out of his room as I went back to Anna’s and Joy’s room.

It’s been two day since Anna and Joy had been found. We have tried and tried again to get a hold of dad but nothing. They were going to spend a few more days at the hospital but the girls really just wanted to go home which I don’t blame them. Right now I was at the hospital with the girls since mom, Nancy, and Franklin went home to take a quick nap, shower, and some actual food. They had removed their IV’s earlier that morning to test to see if that needed it longer. The three of us were sitting in Anna’s bed watching TV. Both of them were cuddled up to me. “Sissy?” Anna asked. “Yeah.” I said. “Can I go see the man that saved me?” Anna asked. I smiled down at her kissing her head. “Of course but let’s wait till mom, Mr and Mrs Birchs get back. How does that sound?” I said. It was about ten minutes later before they came back. Mom had brought a bag with a change of clothes and anything else I might need. “The girls want to go see detective Loki.” I said as I got up from the bed. “I think that is a wonderful idea. Ralph can you go get a wheelchair for Anna?” Mom said. Ralph nodded and walked out of the room coming back a few minutes later pushing in a wheelchair. “Sweetie look what I found at home.” Mom said as she showed Anna a red whistle. “That’s not my whistle. Joy helped me find it on Thanksgiving. Sissy saw.” Anna said. “I found it at home sweetie.” Mom said. “But mom.” Anna said. “Come on sweetie.” Mom said as she helped Anna from the bed to the wheelchair. “Come on Joy.” Nancy said as she helped Joy from the bed.

Since I knew where David’s room was everyone followed me. When we got to his room I noticed that the door leading to his room was opened. I moved to the side to let mom go first into the room. As we walked in I saw David sitting on the bed reading the newspaper. “Um Detective Loki?” Mom asked. David looked up from the newspaper giving us a small smile as he sat the newspaper aside. “I hope we’re not intruding.” Mom said as she wheeled Anna into the room more. David shook his head. “No.” David said. “She doing real good.” Mom said as she stroked Anna’s face. David glanced at me then to Anna. “She’s going to be up and around in a few days aren’t you buddy? She just wanted to come and say thank you and hi to her hero.” Mom said. “Hello.” David said as he smiled at Anna. “Would you mind giving me a minute? Honey can you take your sister?” Mom asked. I nodded as I wheeled Anna out of the room. “Yeah. Say goodbye Joy.” Nancy said. “Thank you.” Mom said. “Bye.” Joy said quietly. “I’ll be put in a minute. Say good bye Anna.” Mom said. We thought it would be best to take the girls back to the room so they could take a nap. When we got back to the room I helped Anna back on to her bed and then pulled the covers over her.

No one’s POV

After Nancy, Joy, Anna and Y/n left the room Grace let out a sigh as she turn to Detective Loki. “She found her whistle?” David asked Grace. “No. She keeps insisting that Joy helped her find it on Thanksgiving before they were taken. But I think she’s just confused. I got her a new one.” Grace said. David gave a nod in response. Grace look at the ground as she let out a shaky breathe. “He hasn’t contacted me. I know you don’t. I know you probably don’t believe that but he hasn’t.” Grace said. “I believe you.” David said. Again Grace looked towards the ground sighing. “Do you think you’re going to find him?” Grace asked. “Yeah.” David said. “And he’ll go to jail.” Grace said not looking up. “Probably.” David said. Grace looked up with tears filling her eyes. “Anyway. Thank you for everything.” Grace said. Grace turned around and started to walk out of the room but stopped in the door frame. “Oh god.” Grace said as she put a hand to her mouth. Then she started to cry softly. “I miss him. He.. He did what he had to do to find Anna and I thank god for that. He’s a good man.” Grace said as she stared at David with tears in her eyes. She wiped away a fallen tear. “I’ve seen the way that you look at her and I’ve seen the way that she looks at you.” Grace said. David knew that she was talking about Y/n. “Do you care about her?” Grace asked. “Yes very much so.” David said. “You’ll be a good man for her.” Grace said. “I’ll try to be.” David said. Grace gave a nodded then turned back around. “Bye.” Grace said as she walked out of the room and went back to her children.

End of No Ones POV

[misha-moose-dean-burger-lover]

Free Fallin’

“Can we, uh. Drive?”

Cas turns to Dean Winchester, amused, yet not entirely surprised. The hunter’s standing in the doorway, the line of his lips slant. But he’s got his eyebrows raised in a pleading stance, his posture as unsettled as pinkening, flustered cheeks. He is, in spite of the hesitation, to the core of his being, endearing to Cas.

But Cas rallies to stay serious. There’s a chance Dean needs that right now. “If you’d really rather. Of course.”

If you really want to avoid this. 

Dean seems uncomfortable, still, though Cas just gave him an out. Cas can feel the restlessness in his guilty stare. 

It hadn’t been long since Castiel got his wings back. And this was the first chance he was going to have, post completely healing, to fly - trial runs (flights?) didn’t really count, because they didn’t have any destinations, and he’s actually been looking forward to flying with someone, because it’s been a bit of an eternity since he’s done it. Been of use, like that. So ever since the case popped up on their radar, courtesy of a small-scale hunter in Maine, who acceded to keep them updated, he’s been waiting. 

It’s too far away to drive, if urgency strikes. They’d have to fly. Especially now that they could.

(Sam set off for Texas with Jack six days ago - a newspaper article leading them to cremated ghosts with elite, mysterious family members, and a whole lot of them. It’s fairly tame, as far as salt-and-burns go, and Castiel trusts both Sam’s intelligence, and commitment to keeping Jack safe, enough to not have decided to follow, three days in.

Which means it’s just Dean and him.)

Cas knows he’s never been more enthusiastic on a personal level about the discovery of a vampire’s nest. And he doesn’t pin it to a hunter’s heart dripping gamelust - because he’s aware that the idea of flying across the country with Dean Winchester, after so long, is significantly more appealing than the intricacies of pretending, and ridiculous badges, when they get there. 

So alright, Cas’s been waiting for this. Packing, planning and leaving. With Dean, and Dean’s familiar duffel, and his wings - it’s been an exciting thought. No matter how little time it’d take, and no matter how many times he’s flown around the vast Milky Way in the entirety of his life as an angel - this had felt like something monumental for Cas to suggest, and for Dean to agree to, through a mouthful of dinner, and several thoughtful nods. It had felt like something special.

But now, if Dean’s in enough discomfort to come out and audibly hint at it, it’s harder for him than he let Castiel believe - in the past, or even the night before yesterday. Cas knows he’d never impose on Dean. Or reinforce the multiple, exceedingly valid arguments he hadn’t had to use the first time, in favor of flying versus driving. Dean has the right to retract his agreement, his consent at any moment, and Cas instantly resolves to not let it show that this had meant something, because Dean would end up shouldering all the guilt Cas had no resolve to create, and absorbing it to the deepest crevices of his mind, to let himself fester in it.

Cas stays impassive. Ever proficient at dormancy. 

Still, Dean picks up on it. Guarded walls come up to shelter something akin to fear. “You wanted this.” It borders on inflammatory. A tinge of accusation, but it doesn’t feel pointed at Cas. 

“I did.”

“I’m sorry, Cas.” Dean grimaces, entering the room with a streeled step. It’s as if Cas’s earnestness knocked a few layers off his shield - and reduced the distance between them, literally and metaphorically. Truly, honesty is the strongest axe Cas swings at Dean’s unhealthy defenses, with.

“Dean, you needn’t be.” Cas assures him, and he means it, although the disappointment within him is giving way to a sullen sense of despondency he doesn’t wish to indulge in, so he deflects by concentrating on Dean instead. 

Dean shifts, raises his eyes from the floor to meet Cas’s, and they linger in a stare of depthless confessions. 

It’s unlike them.

So when Cas tries to render a small smile, because it felt like the silence needed to be reacted to - needed one of them to pull off, there’s no way for him to know that it’ll push them over the edge. Dean wrenches away from him, and Cas sees the strings holding him stoic, snap.

“Sonuvabitch, Cas -”

Dean storms up to him, glaring. He’s angry, it almost radiates off of him - just not, per se, at Cas. 

“- we’ve all come such a fucking long way!” He growls, and Cas meets his stare uncertainly, thrown off. This is unpredictable, to say the least. Dean’s positively glowering at him - except it’s through him, like he’s been hollowed out. “We saved the goddamn world, man. Died a combined total of a hell of a lot! Sam’s gone from being an angry teenager to a kickass, new-age Bobby Singer. Dammit Cas, we lost your wings and got them back.”

We lost your wings.

Cas nods, faintly. He still isn’t sure where Dean’s going with this. 

“Back then? You would’ve put two angelic fingers on my forehead, and zapped me the fuck to India, or something.” Dean grits out, edging towards his worst temper. Cas can hear him trying to restrain himself. “But now, you won’t - now, you listen, and you try - because you’ve grown, Cas. You’ve become family, and I -”

Cas doesn’t think about the fact that if Dean isn’t angry at him, there’s no reason to be yelling. Instead, he thinks about the rare haziness in intense, green eyes, and the pain in his crushed voice.

“And I haven’t fucking changed.” Dean ends abruptly, inflicting a scornful glare at the floor, and -

Oh. 

“Dean,” is all Cas says, because he isn't sure Dean’s done yet. They’ve always jumped to conclusions, and realized they were wrong later, but Cas really doesn’t want to interrupt right now. 

“Ten years, we’ve known each other.” Dean looks up again. There’s too much in his eyes. “Forty years, I’ve been hunting. And I’m still the goddamn same, Cas. Angry, pissed-off, worthless. The hits just keep on coming, and all I do is bury myself in the losses, and then Sam or you screws my head on straight and we pull a miracle out of our asses, but end of the day, I’m this fucked-up, hurting piece of shit, and -”

Emotions shine at the corner of Dean’s eyes; years of keeping it all down, finally overcome. With the surfacing ruinness, Dean lets out a strained sound, and lets his head fall. Chin buried in his chest, at last, he forces out. 

“- and I’m still too afraid of flying.”

“Dean.” Cas loses what remained of his reticence, and if Dean has more to say, he can say it with Cas close, hovering near with his hands featherlight along Dean’s arms, wanting to comfort, but not knowing how. Cas wants to be there - but he’s never gotten a chance before. He has no idea how. “Dean, look at me. Please. It’s not like that, Dean, you’re not those things - Dean, you’re one of the best men I know, just, please -”

Cas knows he isn’t doing the most articulate, or efficient job of reassuring the volatile, shaking hunter - almost - in his arms. None of it seems to seep through, however hard he tries. It’s years of repression. Like the other shoe dropping, the facade of being okay just crumbled - and it’d been the most convincing one yet, one Dean’s been hiding under since God was sent away. 

Instead of listening to Cas, Dean’s lost in his head. He scrubs his face with his hands, and then fists them in his hair, screwing his eyes shut. It hurts Cas to be so helpless right now - because no words seem to make a difference.

“I’m scared of it, Cas.” Dean repeats, voice breaking mid-sentence, and the heels of his palms pressed to his eyes.

Cas looks at him, terrified. He wishes he could hug Dean - wrap himself around him in a tight embrace, and not let go until Dean stops shaking, because right now, he’s trembling, but Cas has no idea if he’s allowed to do that. Dean is - well, from what Cas interprets of the situation, he’s having a panic attack, and Cas doesn’t want to cross boundaries. 

Cas just wants to brush off Dean’s tears, which have never been there before, and run his hands through his hair, and caress his temple, and he wants to soothe Dean’s knuckles with his thumbs, and he wants to tell Dean how wonderful he is, again and again until he believes Cas, and then calmly, he wants to take Dean’s hands, and -

That’s probably exactly what Castiel needs to do. 

Dean’s too out of it to register Cas gently plucking Dean’s hands from his face, freeing his hair of their assault - or maybe, he just can’t comprehend Cas holding his hand so tenderly, like it’s some kind of a precious thing, and Cas’s hands curl around his fingers, pushing Dean’s palm against his. 

Dean’s hands are colder than his, so Cas squeezes till Dean’s feel warm, and he looks at Dean as he does it, and Dean’s noticed now, and he’s staring at their hands, held between their chests, and he’s looking such awe - this delicate, beautiful wonder which makes Cas demand from himself why he hasn’t done this before. 

Somehow, as the seconds pass, Dean quietens. 

And as Cas holds on - simply holds on, running the pads of his thumbs on Dean’s skin, Dean’s chest stops heaving. He still looks dazed, and is breathing heavy, when Cas moves insufficiently closer, swaying into Dean’s space. 

“Will you let me try again?” Cas asks, in the same voice he’d have asked, do you trust me, and Dean understands it. 

He keeps looking at their hands. 

“Will you let me take you flying?” Cas says. “And we can hold hands, or if you’ll let me, I can hold you, and I promise it’ll be alright.”

There’s nothing, for a while. 

And then, Dean’s right thumb twitches, tracing the second knuckles of Cas’s fingers, and Cas feels a shadow of solace go through him, nervousness mingling with grace in his veins. 

“I’d let you take me anywhere, Cas.”

Cas feels his heart swell. Dean looks up slowly, seeking out Cas’s eyes, and Cas holds his gaze, and just like that, they’re back to saying things without any words. 

You fell from Heaven. Pulled me out of hell. We’ve been to purgatory together, so believe me, I’ll go to the corners of the world with you. 

“Maine?” Cas ventures, with growing confidence, for a smile - history assures him that Dean’ll join in, and he almost does. Only a wisp, but it’s there. 

“Yeah, but fucking hold me, okay?” Dean huffs, and it’s such a relieving sound of mild exasperation, more than a reach for normalcy, and Cas adores it. He knows Dean isn’t alright - not yet, and he doesn’t know how long it’ll take in the long run, but he knows he’ll be there for Dean. Through all of it, and on the other end. 

This is the farthest they’ve gotten, too. Dean’s hinted at these issues before, but he’s never had a breakdown in front of Cas - or anyone, and he’s never not backed off into a shell, after. This Dean is trying, and it’s wonderful. And it’d be growth, if Cas had ever looked at Dean Winchester, through the lens of an all-knowing immortal, like he’s not the most incredible being in the world, but a specimen, an experience - a phenomena to be analysed. 

Cas looks on, trying to dissect the way Dean’s eyes stay glued to his, unconsciously, and trying to read Dean through them. He can sense faith, and hope, and his resolve is renewed. 

“Well, we’d have to let go, first.” Cas points out, slow, and Dean tentatively does it first, ending up with his arms on his side again. Circling back to awkward, and adorable in his nervousness. But Cas doesn’t let him fold in, and retreat into himself, because now that he’s got Dean saying yes, and Dean asking him to, of course he’s putting his arms around him. 

Of course, he’s putting a hand on Dean’s hip - and drinking in the subtle responses of his body to Cas guiding him closer, and his other hand goes to rest on it’s eternally demarcated place on Dean’s left arm, as he looks up at Dean with all of the admiration and reverence he feels inside, trying to coax it into his eyes, and it’s not even a fraction of a millionth which makes it there, but Dean still blushes, so maybe for now, it’s enough. And then Dean’s hand grazes against Cas’s elbow carefully - because Cas hasn’t asked Dean to touch him yet, (so he doesn’t), but oh, how he wishes he would.

“How are you, Dean?” 

“I’m going to close my eyes.”

“How would you know you’re not scared if you closed your eyes?”

“How do you know I’m not going to be scared?” Dean throws back, still vulnerable, but a lot more himself. It’s a challenge, a flame disguised as a rhetoric, but Cas treats it like a question. And answers, as plainly as he can.

“Because now, you believe in me.”

It’s not a lot of words, and not the most eloquent Cas has ever been, but it conveys so much that it almost stuns Dean again. He nods, jerkily.

I’ve always believed in you.

Dean waits.

Trust is not the same as belief.

Cas decides it’s not worth this moment wasted, to stop for supplies or guns. They can circle back for them. This is it. Dean’s ready right now, and Cas wants to show him how beautiful it can be - and how with Cas, Dean never needs to fear flying.

Castiel would, and has given up his life for Dean Winchester. He’s charred, ruined, and lost his wings. Yet now, the angel shall show him how to live, on those very wings. Life is a string of poetic ironies, threaded together by choices. Love is the first pearl, and courage is the last.

“Cas.” Dean breathes out, as Cas starts to dissociate, focusing himself deep within. Dean stares openly, for Cas’s eyes are closed now, as he reaches through the realms to gather himself. “Of course, I believe in you.” Falls from his lips in an awed whisper, and the sound of his voice is still too much for the frailty of the moment.

That’s when it happens.

“I love you.” Cas lets out, because it seems far too important that Dean knows, and there’s limits to implications which can’t hold him back anymore. They’re going to fly together. 

Dean’s eyes widening is the last thing he sees, before he needs to concentrate his grace again. It feels like giving in to an old habit you’ve had to live without, more than a lover you’ve moved on from - and Dean’s hands grabbing onto him don't even register as they take off. His grand, celestial wings flap, and time hurls them out of their reality. 

Everything fades, and with the sounds, borders, and colors, so does Castiel - once again, heavenly. Everything goes away, stripping their hearts bare and momentum flickers on their skins, as ethereal, sky-like wings render the only one who remains, speechless.

Beholding the magnificence of his angel, love resonating through his ribs, Dean keeps his eyes open. 

*

It never takes too long.

Dean holds on to Cas, with arms clinging around his neck, until the end. It feels like he’s gliding - but somehow also like he’s driving hands-free in the clouds, though he’s surrounded by too much of everything for it to be the sky. He’s not terrified, but he’s overwhelmed, and he’s goddamn living- hell, he’s never lived this much in a breath, because the second he’s trying to replace the oxygen in his lungs, he finds the chasm of warped space start to dissipate. 

The ground under his boots returns, just like that.

He breathes in air - cold, real air, in the middle of a field which is certainly not Kansas, with a full-blown smile on his face which he’s not even thinking about. It still feels like he’s floating, to some imaginative part of his consciousness. It makes his heart slower, and shoulders lift, and he’s unjustifiably happy, and peaceful, and to hell with being afraid, he feels content.

Dean Winchester feels brave again. 

Maybe it’s because of Cas’s words. Maybe it’s because his arms are still fastened around him. Or maybe it’s because, Cas. He’s everything. Dean's been an idiot to have been trying to ignore the things he feels, because if he’d gotten here sooner, he could’ve had more of Cas looking at him like that, and Cas’s hands planted warmly on his sides, and Cas just smiling at him from this close. 

Now, he’s determined to make the most of the time he’s got. 

When Castiel slowly opens his eyes, looking composed again - and a little proud, definitely pleased, almost too lovely, Dean doesn’t hesitate. Doesn’t wait for the voice in his head to catch up, and start second-guessing what he’s wanted to do forever. Dean just lurches forward, grabbing the trenchcoat lapels to reduce the gap, and kisses him. 

Cas responds almost right away, pushing back into the kiss, and Dean, with all of himself, and letting both arms circle Dean’s waist and shoulders, ending up impossibly close. Dean cups Cas’s face, tilting it towards himself, as he kisses him with everything he’s ever felt. There’s gratitude, and apologies, and need, and want, and then there’s the love, and that’s where he stops thinking. 

“Cas, I -” Dean pants, running out of breath. They’ve stopped kissing, and are simply paused in the moment with their foreheads leaned into a reassuring touch. Dean’s waiting to hear himself say it, and he hopes Cas is, too. “I - god, Cas - I love you too.” He takes a full breath. “I love you so much.”

And then Cas breaks into a smile, chest heaving as well, with the corners of his eyes wrinkling, and lips pulling up, and Dean gets to lean in and kiss him again, and he gets to tell Cas he loves him, and tell Cas he loves him every morning, and every time he feels like it’ll burst out of his chest if he doesn’t, and he gets to want Cas to hold him, as they fly, and -

Goddammit, he gets Cas. 

And that’s a happy ending, if Dean Winchester’s ever dreamed of one. 

[prose-for-hire]

I [still] know what you did last Halloween...

Part one // Part Three // Part Four

Pairing: Scooby gang x reader (platonic)

This is the second part to a platonic story with the reader as part of the Scooby gang. Set season 3. This is a multi-parted serial killer/slasher fic for Halloween. Yes, I had to include Spike. Yes, I am sorry. Reader lived with Giles, but is not related. 

Warning: It is a serial killer fic, main characters are going to die (I’m sorry, it’s Halloween). Violence. Blood mention. Alcohol consumption. Swearing.

Sunnydale students: SOS

Sunnydale Express, October 1999.

The Sunnydale slasher strikes again, leaving one teen dead and two injured. There was a house party last night [12/10/1999] which left the student body with one less. The identity of the teen, who is yet to be identified based on extensive injuries should be announced to the public after the family is informed.

However, it makes us at the Sunnydale Express question: was it the teens fault for breaking curfew?

It was the day of the funerals. There was to be two back-to-back.

The first funeral was Giles’. It was an intimate ceremony, the core group and a Watcher who had never met Giles alive. He was there to ��oversee’ matters but Wesley told him where to go. This had surprised you, the man wasn’t usually so forthright but he had appeared to be fond of Giles in some way.

Your group stood, staring into the open grave. You were now minus two members. There had been some crying earlier, but everyone’s faces were stony now. As if they were set in place. Exhausted from crying, not sure if you would die from dehydration if you wept another drop.

All of the colour had been sucked out of the world and you were all now aware that you were only briefly passing through this life. You weren’t aware everyone else was sharing your cynical thought, but they were.

You felt the most immeasurable guilt. You felt guilty for Giles’ death. For being the reason he was gutted so brutally. Used to write a crude message on the wall. His life had come down to being the ink in someone’s pen and it angered you that this was what his life had been reduced to. But mostly, it sickened you.

And, as Willow tapped you on the shoulder and gestured that it was time. Your mind still trying to wrap your head around the imagines you had seen in the past week. It was never going to get easier.

It was all a blur. It was screaming and rushing of bodies all around you. 

The room had started to thin. Only the injured and your friends remained. Willow had started to mutter something, a kind of protective spell - she grabbed your hand needing your strength. 

The slayers danced around each other, their fight mean and brutal. he appeared human, but his reflexes were good. Almost, too good.

He was blocking them at every turn. He appeared to be enjoying it. He was studying them. Learning their movement. Anticipating what would come next. They fought hard. Buffy hissing as the tip of the scythe cut into the flesh on her upper arm.

Then it happened. You could barely stomach thinking about it. Xander had walked into the room-

Xander had been a good friend to you. He was never perfect and you liked that about him, he never pretended to be someone he wasn’t. He looked out for you and he had been there for you when you had almost broken down and run to the police months ago. He had been firm that it had to be kept secret what you had done, but never refused you a shoulder to cry on.

His funeral was a lavish affair, his parents turning on the waterworks despite everyone knowing how they would treat him at times. They had paid for only the best, with a large number of people attending. The church was packed out. It made you wander that if any of them knew what he had been involved in with the rest of you, would they be so quick to say they had always liked him? Always seen him as brave and strong?

Any time the family saw any of the people that were there that night they scowled. They glared. And they burst into more tears. Why were you spared, when he wasn’t?

The six of you huddled together. Oz was more distant than usual, his hand on Willow’s shoulder as she couldn’t control her sobbing now. Buffy was sat with you, trying to hold it together as you wrapped an arm around her - willing yourself not to fall apart either. Cordelia and Faith had started bickering. It was getting progressively louder and your group was getting funny looks. They eventually stopped but only when the priest shushed them and started to say the final words before Xander was cremated.

Bravery. It was a word that had been said a lot that day, in that stuffy church hall. But it rang true, clearer than the tolling bell.

He had been brave.

 Everything stilled when he entered the room, as if time had been slowed for that one moment. And who knows, maybe it had. It was Sunnydale. The masked figure stopped fighting Buffy and stepped over an injured party-goer. He had been waiting for this. the guest of honour.

The masked figure had just been killing time fighting the slayers. Xander’s fate was decided before he had got to the party that night. 

Xander’s face had twisted in horror, his eyes met yours and you started to scream. He nodded, resigning himself to what was coming. The figure swung his scythe back, shrugging Faith off him who had tried to tackle him and swung at Xander.

A sickening noise. A splatter of blood sprayed the entire room. Willow dropped your hand in horror, stunned into silence as Xander’s head rolled to Buffy’s feet, the same look in his eye. 

There were media crews set up everywhere outside the church. They were using Xander to tell their stories. It would anger you, but you felt too washed out to say anything. You didn’t even comment when you overheard Harmony on her fifth interview, now talking to the local news outlet.

“Did you know the victim well?”

“Well, yeah. He was a total dork- which was so cute we all loved him” She smiled saccharine sweet making sure nobody had noticed her initial look, “Like, everyone wanted to date him he was a total stud-bucket”

“Were you there that night?”

“Yeah – everyone was, duh! But Carrie totally crashed and I don’t hang around with losers. Even being seen with her is like social suicide!” Harmony maintained firmly, as if that was the most important thing she had been interviewed on, “So I left early”

“Okay- that’s great Harmony. One last question: how are you and the rest of your high school class going to cope after this devastating loss?”

“Well, we’re all gonna graduate as long as we’re not all dead first. I am going to be a counsellor at Camp Crystal Lake in the summer. I’m just pleased to have a break from Sunnydale – senior year has been kind of a bummer so far what with the killings” Harmony shrugged and turned away, swishing her long blonde hair as she walked and her clique followed her. Even Cordelia rolled her eyes as Harmony walked past your group.

You stood motionless for a moment, it felt like a second to all of you but to onlookers there had been enough time to paint a detailed impressionist painting. The only title fitting was: loss. 

“Where do we go from here?” someone finally spoke up.

“To the function”

“I-I don’t think I can” Willow sobbed into Oz’s shoulder.

“It’s worse if we don’t show our faces. Even if it’s just for a minute…” You suggest, really wishing the words hadn’t come out of your mouth. You didn’t want to have to face Xander’s family again, “Angel said he might come, what with the sun going down soon”

“Free alcohol. Score” Faith smiled.

“You’re right” Buffy said, still staring into the distance.

“You wanna get drunk?” Faith raised an eyebrow that lowered when Buffy shook her head.

“No. Y/n’s right. We should go. But we all need to talk – in private, when our heads are clearer. Need to figure out what’s going on” Buffy spoke, her usual self-assured tone was weakened slightly. Her voice hoarse from all of the crying.

You all nodded distantly, walking into the function room together, but feeling miles apart.

Death! Destruction! Mayhem!

Sunnydale Express, October 1999.

Rioting of many stores in the centre of town has been widely reported by those on the ground. Many young people, have taken to the streets to ‘protest’ the curfew. These troubled teens do not understand the importance of hard work and have instead taken to looting and picking up where the killer left off: damning our town.

They have old friends to meet; Disco music to dance to and big ticket items to steal from struggling small businesses.

Meanwhile, the death toll of the cases related to the ‘Sunnydale Slasher’ is now 5, and we ask the residents of Sunnydale: when will they learn?

You walked into the magic shop, one of the only shops on the row that appeared to be untouched. Maybe people knew better than to loot a magic shop. The rest were fair game. You had been hoping to find some kind of ingredients that would help you sleep. Or at least, allow you to relax for even a minute. You felt responsible. For everything and you weren’t sure how to deal with it anymore.

But apparently, this store hadn’t been untouched by those taking what they wanted. You stumbled in on a vampire having a midday snack. Spike. Shit.

You started to back out slowly, but he had seen you. He dropped the corpse of the shop-owner and stepped over her, walking slowly towards you. You sighed, you really weren’t in the mood for this. Everyone around you was dying and now you had to talk to one of the undead.

“Don’t move” He warned, pointing at you as he licked the side of his mouth to catch the blood that had been dripping there. When he noticed that you weren’t even scared, almost a little bored – waiting for him to finish he got annoyed, “You know what I could do? I could snap your neck and-”

“I already have one killer after me, what’s one more?” You sighed again. He raised an eyebrow and you just shrugged, not willing to get into it. Not until he said something.

You had sat, sliding down the wall and he had for some unknown reason (to either of you) decided to join you. He was sobering up and needed some kind of distraction at any rate. He had been staring, sitting beside you and scanning your features in a way that would make you feel uncomfortable if you had cared what he was deciding on.

“You seem different, y/n. From last time, I mean. Not sad, but damned near it - you’re almost making me feel better about my Dru”

“I killed someone. Well, not me, but I helped cover it up…” You admit, after a huge sigh. Spike barely even blinked, this kind of confession didn’t phase him in the slightest.

“Who did?”

“Slayers”

“I think they have a licence to kill, love. Don’t make it right but there it is” he shrugged, ready to get back to his feet and look for some liquor. Until you spoke again.

“He was human” You say softly, “Mr Bates. He had a name and a-a family-”

“I’ve killed hundreds of humans, so what?” He spoke over your turmoil. He didn’t feel guilt in that way, so he couldn’t really relate to your low mood.

“It hurts. It aches… but worst of all it makes every experience I’ve ever had… tainted. Wrong in ways I can never describe. It’s like I’m walking through a nightmare, and everyone else is right there with me. It’s not as if I can go to the police. Or talk to anyone else about it… not properly”

“Thanks, that’s sure to make a fella feel special” implying he wasn’t counted in anyone. But he wasn’t very hurt by the statement. This was the first full conversation you had together, he wasn’t that invested in your relationship.

“You know what I mean” You shrugged. And he did. He started to explain to you why he was back. About Dru and everything that had happened since you last saw him. You tried your best to wade through your own thoughts and chip in here and there. He clearly needed to vent too.

You and Spike eventually left together. You had convinced him, after hearing of his predicament, he needed to convince Dru to take him back and he agreed. You walked part of the way before he was going to go and get into his car and you were going to head home.

Night had fallen and you were about to part ways when he came for you. Spike heard him before you saw him. But the figure still made the both of you flinch slightly, before Spike rolled his shoulders and decided he would have to fight doubly hard for showing that weakness.

The hood was down and you could see the mask properly. It was a black material, with a chiselled grey skull etched so forcefully it was as if it was his actual face. The bones were harsh and looked as if it could cut despite it being a plastic mask.

Spike ran straight for him and started to match his offensive blows with his own. Spike appeared to have the upper hand as you just stood and watched. You knew if it came down to it, you could be collateral damage and neither of them would be too bothered.

Somehow, Spike had been knocked to the floor and before he could get up, a scythe had been lodged deep into his torso, hitting the ground beneath him with a horrible metallic sound. The reaper hacked at Spike, who hissed and cursed at him, but didn’t die as the killer had suspected. The reaper stepped back a few paces. It allowed Spike to get to his feet. There was a lot of blood running down Spike’s torso. His shirt was in tatters.

“I bloody liked that shirt!” He snarled, looking down. Trying not to choke on the blood that was moving up his trachea. If he had been mortal, he would have died ten minutes ago.

The masked figure cocked his head, figuring something out. Not working. Not human.

Spike charged at him, throwing punches and blocking the scythe easily. He was stronger. Spike had bit into him and knocked him to the floor. He started to stamp on him repeatedly until a gargled choking sound was heard from behind the mask. He landed on more swift kick for good measure before deciding he was as good as dead.

Spike turned back to you, for some unknown reason, and for probably the first time in his un-life he went to check on you. A human. He felt that you had some kind of bond after you both shared your woes. He was about to ask if you needed any help before he drained the killer and left to find Dru, but the words never left his lips.

“Spike!” You screamed as you saw the killer rise to his feet and remove a stake from his pocket. It all happened in slow motion. Spike wasn’t able to turn quick enough, he had been caught off-guard. Bollocks. The killer plunged the wooden object directly into his heart and the bleach-blonde vampire exploded into a pile of dust.

“You did this” He spoke for the first time. His voice like gravel. He knelt and took a handful of dust and walked towards you. You stumbled back, hitting a brick wall. You had nowhere to run. You were backed into a corner. He threw the dust over you, leaving you spluttering and rubbing your eyes. You were expecting death any moment, but it never came.

When you opened your eyes again, there was nobody except you in the street.

Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust

Sunnydale Express, October 1999.

Many have petitioned the Mayors office due to the large volume of litter and dust that has appeared, often overnight, leaving citizens having to take matters into their own hands. The large number of ash filling our streets tells us that unauthorised fires and barbecues have been set up through town with little being done by authorities to subdue this illegal activity – especially after our newly enforced curfew.

We implore the mayor’s office to make an immediate press release and ensure there is enough man-power to make sure our humble town is cleared during the night.

You were in Giles’ house. It had been left to you. You were touched, but every footstep you made in that house filled your body with guilt.

You were hosting a scooby meeting. You didn’t have any food in, everyone had started to pass around Giles’ single malt, drinking it straight from the glass. Even Buffy took a sip every now and again. You all needed it. Life was starting to become unbearable. Cordelia had joined late, rushing straight from cheer practice.

“What do we know?” She asked as she set her bag down and looked around as if you had the killer tied up in the bathroom, waiting for her to come so you could unmask him. 

“Zip. Nothing”

“The killer is targetting us, that’s all we know. Some kind of twisted revenge. We just need to find out how he knows and why he’s so strong”

“Simple then” Faith shook her head.

“Oh and he takes out anyone in his way, so it’s not just us”

“What did the swim team ever do to him?” You wondered out loud

“It’s the tight pants, he likes a little modesty” Faith snickered and you scowled. How could she be so okay with this? She was the one that had stuck the stake in his hear, finished him off. You were feeling all this guilt and she just didn’t seem to even care.

“But does he even have any proof? Let’s just go to the police and say we’re being targeted”

“Yeah there’s witness protection! We could get new names!” Willow backed Buffy up quickly.

“That won’t change anything. We’re still killers” You mutter and everyone stopped. You had never said anything like that out loud before. You were usually the one that kept everyone optimistic. But it was too hard at the moment.

“Shut up! We’re not! It was an accident. Just an accident”

“How do you explain Giles?” you said glumly, glancing sideways to where his body had been.

“What is up your ass today? God, people are dead. We all feel it. But you’re just giving up! It’s not right!” Cordelia shouted. 

“I’m living in our dead librarians house. Rent free” You sighed, “The house we cleaned and made look like an accident”

“Can it, y/n. None of this is our fault. We gotta do this or we’d be in jail”

“But if we keep doing this, we’re going to die” You replied, “Like Spike… he was gone. Just… dust”

“Well, I can’t say I’m gonna shed many tears” Buffy muttered.

“He was… nice. The last thing he did before he died was come over to check on me”

“Oh come on, y/n! He was probably gonna eat you”

“Whatever. I know what I saw and I can’t help feeling that you’re suddenly on team psycho” you muttered. Faith was watching in interest, but didn’t speak up again. She took another swig of alcohol and shrugged. You couldn’t help think you saw a satisfied smirk on her face, but it may have been a trick of the light. Or the whiskey. You set the glass down and went to see what Willow was looking at some research. 

Giles had left some books open on his desk. He had been looking into the Sunnydale slasher, it seemed. When the books gave you nothing, you turned to the internet. You all started looking for some magical solution. There had to be something.

As the night wore on and the words got blurrier, it was getting harder to concentrate. And harder to get along.

“There’s no- no trace!” Willow said, getting more frustrated, “I can’t find anything”

“Maybe if someone did less cheating on her boyfriend and more reading” Cordelia snapped.

“That’s so not fair! I’m doing more than you!”

“Will, you’re doing the same amount as her” You offered. Cordelia had been researching too.

“Why are you always on her side – you’re supposed to be my best friend”

“I’m just being fair”

“You think this doesn’t involve you, huh?” Faith suddenly stood up and stared you down. You had been the first to admit you were at the centre of it all, but the way she phrased the comment, just made you snap.

“Well, you were the bitch that killed the poor man and managed to be surprisingly cool about it. Maybe you’ve done this before. Maybe, you did it on purpose!” You shouted and Faith pushed you hard. You landed on your ass.

“Fuck you!” She screamed. Not as cool or collected as you thought. The flash in her eyes spelled danger. It concealed guilt and deceit. It told you everything you needed to know. You got to your feet, walked straight out of the room and slammed your bedroom door. Allowing them to let themselves out.

Cordelia had gotten worked up as you stormed out, standing up to Buffy and shouting, “Sunnydale would have been better without you in it! All you do is attract stuff like this. You know who I blame, Buffy? You. You’re a Slayer all wow and look at me but what have you done? What have you done to protect any of us?!” Cordelia flung her arms out in annoyance, the glass that had been holding the whiskey flying out of her hand and crashing to the floor.

“Cordelia-” Buffy started.

“No, let her speak” Faith said nodding along.

“They’re picking us off one by one and of you – either of you – have done anything except hide bodies and celebrate that you’re slayers so you’re not gonna die! What about us!? What about people that are meant to be your friends?” Cordelia shouted. She was scared. She was angry. She couldn’t trust any of them anymore. You had given in. Willow just agreed with Buffy and she had a history with her. Buffy and Faith didn’t seem to be anything and she just wanted to escape. Hopefully with her life intact.

“Cor, we’re doing everything-”

“You’re not! You’re so not!”

“So what’s your plan then, huh? Lay down and wait for the killer to come get you? ‘Cause I haven’t heard anythin’ helpful come out of your mouth” Faith

“Shut up anyway, you just got here and you expect us to care? I hope you go next!” Cordelia screamed in Faith’s face. Faith just shrugged, but the whole room could tell that had stung her. She then turned back to Buffy,  “This is your fault, Buffy. This, everything that has happened since last Halloween is your fault”

“Get out” Buffy said firmly, “Go!” she raised her voice as a tear slid down her cheek and Willow quickly went to comfort her.

“Fine. I’ve had enough! I’m leaving – I’m moving! I don’t wanna see any of you ever again!” Cordelia shouted, slamming the front door behind her and cursing every single one of you as she huffed and stalked away into the night.

[greytoiletpaper]

Bathe Me in the Purest Water (I Don’t Feel Clean)

Yeah, so I wrote this like a couple months ago and i only just caught up with the manga and just... wow. I loved it, and I guess I just want this solidified here :). And yes, this fic was originally inspired by this comic, I love it so.

AO3 link

It is a shrieking wail bouncing off the walls of the Todoroki household at ungodly hours of the morning that has Touya bolting upright drenched in a cold sweat. Briefly, he wonders how fucked up it is that he thought he was hallucinating the sound. It is nothing like the cries of his siblings he has long since memorized. Yet, something about the sounds is so raw and so young, that refuting them as little Shouto’s cries is impossible.

Touya finds himself sprinting from his room, searching all over for the source of Shouto’s wails. The awful noise rings from every room and in his eardrums that he even considers whether the youngest Todoroki somehow developed a second quirk. Enji would have a field day with that. His mind is compartmentalizing, but joking is the only way he can stay sane when Shouto’s wailing turns into screaming. When he stumbles into the kitchen, he wishes that the joke was reality rather than the sight that greets him.

There is a kettle in the shaking hand of his mother while she mutters her husband’s name under her breath. Her eyes dart around every part of the room except the screaming face of her youngest son. A raw burn is on Shouto’s face, marred and angrily red as if a scalding liquid has run over it. There is evidence abound to figure out what happened, but that is yet to be Touya’s concern. For the rest of his life, no sound will ever haunt him as much as his baby brother’s screams turning into a weak gurgle.

He misses the way that Rei flinches when he moves closer, how his mother shrieks her husband’s name even though Enji only returns home from his mission tomorrow. Instead, all his attention is on the brother who looked up at Touya like he hung the stars curl up in a ball and shake. It is five seconds later when his other siblings rush into the room that Touya snaps out of his fugue. He gathers Shouto in his arms, whispering frantic platitudes in his ears and praying for the health of his baby brother.

Todoroki Touya is twelve when he has to bandage half of his five-year-old brother’s face. Their mother is sent to a mental health ward the next day, and their already-burning family peels more at the edges.

---

It is beautiful, the way that its form crinkles and curves at the edges. In all of his time with Cremation, he has never seen the azure flames seem so… gentle. Endeavour’s fire is like his rage, pure concentrated firepower that is only broken by small, consistent licks of flames at the edges. Touya’s flames are akin wildfire, they lash and lance and branch out in a chaotic collage that only he seems to be able to tell discern the individual licks of flame. Yet, in his hand, the flames seem so docile in their current shape, made of small bits of fire that skirt and weave themselves in a trance-inducing pattern.

Their shape is simple, but the forget-me-nots that his flames have formed are the product of the past three weeks of hard work and practise. Since Enji has stopped training Touya in favour of Shouto, he has had so much more time to focus on fine-tuning his quirk. His father taught him how to make his flames hotter and so much more destructive but here before his eyes is the proof that his fire can be used to make something instead.

He tries not to be guilty at the fact he gets to have this while his baby brother is beaten black and blue the floor below him.

Across him, his mother’s face lights up in her scarce, genuine smile that reminds him that even with all her cracking pieces, Rei Todoroki is still a mother that loves just as much as she is hurt. (She is so very hurt and there is nothing he can do to take it all away). It is thanks to her that he even learned controlling his quirk is possible.

It seems ironic, that he learned how to destroy with his flames from his pro hero father but is learning fine control from his civilian mother.

“That’s a beautiful flower Tou-chan,” He blushes at the nickname, but his mother is rarely happy, so he does not protest. “I hope one day all of you can do this with your quirks, it’s such beautiful artwork we can make with what we have been given.”

With her ice, his mother forms a beautiful, twinkling rindou flower and cups it in her hand. It is breathtaking to look at, seemingly ethereal with the frost emanating and little flecks of snow dancing in the lamplight. It is rare for Rei to use her quirk and every time, Touya is lost in the way that the ice seems to flow and skirt as if a small part of a blizzard appeared and made her craft. If he looks closer, the movement of his mother’s ice is familiar, shifting and undulating in ways so, so similar to how his fire is in his hand right now.

The quirk doctors said Touya inherited his mother’s constitution, everyone assumed it meant he was weak. He can apparently control his fire as if it were an ice quirk. Using Cremation for too long makes him feel like he is physically melting. In hindsight, he should have realised just how literal the quirk doctors were being.

---

He read in a textbook once that sometimes twins can swap their intended quirks in the womb. Fuyumi grabs the kettle from its undoubtedly searing bottom without even a wince, even though she has an ice quirk that freezes her arm at just a second’s usage. For the time being, it was the furthest thing from his mind. Shouto only barely breathing and all Touya wants is to hold someone so young and already so scarred in his arms and take all his tears for himself.

---

A week later, Enji puts Shouto back into training. Everyone protests this, but there is hardly anything they can say that can sway their father when he pulls his Endeavour face and disregards them in his own way of lovingly shoving his other children to the ground. Does Touya feel some satisfaction that the old man hesitated for a second before he lays his hand on Fuyumi? A little, but it fades as quickly as it came when there is still nothing stopping the prick from forcing their baby brother from being put back into what is no doubt extra hours to make up for “valuable training time gone to waste”.

Enji’s words, not his.

Frustration, anger and pain – so much pain – is what spurs Touya into action. He leaps onto Endeavour’s back, furiously trying to pry Shouto from the sick bastard’s hands and earns a knee to the gut for his efforts. Enji leaves him in the hallway and even though his other siblings are moving him to his room all he can think is how his baby brother looks so afraid as if he knows this time there will not be a mother to comfort any of them afterwards.

---

He wakes to the sound of Shouto’s tears slightly muffled in the central courtyard. The sun is only on the cusp of rising but sleep had eluded him for hours regardless. In the morning rays, his baby brother’s face is a mess of tears and aborted hiccups. A pang sounds in his chest, Shouto is so young (they all are) and he already has to learn how to make himself silent in fear of the flaming shadow that is their father. There is a small patch of ash by Shouto’s feet and soot on his face. Touya has a hunch as to what happened, but it never hurts to see his brother’s perspective.

“What’s wrong, Shou?” His question is met with silence, so he pushes on. “Did you burn yourself?”

Only an idiot would ignore how Shouto flinches at the question, so Touya crouches gently to make himself seem as non-threatening as possible. His baby brother does not relax, but a soft mumble just barely escapes him.

“It’s scary.”

“What’s scary?”

“His half.”

Touya frowns, just because Enji is why Shouto has fire, does not make it solely their father’s fire. Even then, no child should live in fear of their quirk. Although, looking down at the skin grafts on his wrists, Touya is in no place to judge his baby brother’s fear.

“Why do you think it’s scary?”

Another silence stretches out, and Touya can see his baby brother’s struggle to process the words. He almost changes the topic when the rest of Shouto’s confession spills out.

“It looks too much like his. I don’t want to burn myself too much and I still can’t control it. But dad keeps pushing me and- and I don’t want to-.”

Shouto looks like he is going to explode with tears, the wicks of flame and ice coming off him signal how close he is to a meltdown that would no doubt bring their father in screaming. Without thinking, he pulls his brother close, enveloping his tiny shoulders with his arms and making soothing motions on his back. While Shouto quietly sobs into his shoulder, Touya ruminates on how to comfort the boy with how to control his fire, which is the exact train of thought that makes him huff a laugh.

“Hey Shou, I’m going to try teach you something Mom taught me. You wanna see?” Looking at the soft, tentative smile Shouto gives him when Touya pulls away, he cannot help but be drawn by how much it reminds him of their mother’s. He holds out his hand palm up before his brother. “She taught me how to control the pieces so that it hurts a little less.”

The courtyard is thrown in shadows highlighted by the blue of Touya’s flames, and he can see just how enamoured Shouto’s face is in the azure light. He has the curls of his fire shift and form the forget-me-not that he has been practising making for so long.

“See Shou? Fire is not always that scary.”

Shouto only makes a small noise of assent, his eyes still entranced by the small dancing movements of his eldest brother’s fire. He reaches out, hesitantly, and tries to cup his hands around the flames.

“Can I learn how to make one?” The change in attitude throws off Touya for only a moment, but the shy, almost hopeful look in his brother’s eye would never have him say no even at gunpoint. He smiles.

“’Course Shou,” It is still a gamble trying to see if Shouto can use his fire this way, but Touya cups his brother’s hands anyway. “Try making a little fire first.”

The flame in Shouto’s hands starts off as little embers before igniting into a small flame just about the size of the boy’s fist.

“If you start off small and make all the pieces of your fire slow down even just a little, you can make things with them.”

Shouto frowns at the words, mulling them over in his head as the fearful parts of his face fade away into the focus he is exhibiting now. Slowly, the licks of flame seem to move in a blend of wild, yet seemingly calculated movements as they form into a stem. Shouto giggles even as it holds the form for all of five seconds before they give out. Touya laughs at the adorable pout that crosses Shouto’s face and holds his hand out for a high five.

“That was a great job, Shou!” It is. Touya took way longer to have that kind of focus and he held the stem for only half the time. He says as much. “Don’t worry that you can’t make the full flower right now. Mom and I can teach you. One day, your flames make a shape that means a lot to you and you only.”

As he ruffles Shouto’s hair and the boy gives him that look like he hung the very stars, Touya sees the shadow of his father crossing the walkway above them. Moment over, Touya picks his brother up and faces him away from Enji while staring the man down.

“You want something to eat?” Shouto makes a mumble that roughly translates to ‘cold soba’ and Touya laughs in spite of himself. “Come on buddy, I’ll take you to mom and fix some up for you.”

---

The water scalds his skin and his thoughts are a jumble of painmakeitstopmompleaseimsorry on half of his face. It is not just the water that hurts, but the knowledge that that can be reminded to him is how half of him has fire just like his father’s. As the searing pain finally starts to die down, little but important pieces of him (memories of nights huddled with a mother to see his fire as his own, his brother making those shapes with his hands) seem to leak out with his tears.

---

Touya dies in a fire starting from his seventh attempt to pull Shouto from training with Enji. Touya dies when his wildfire swarms him and his skin blisters and melts. Touya dies as the skin grafts are stapled on to his body and even without nerves in those places, he can still feel the flames as they enveloped him. Touya dies… and Dabi rises from his ashes.