#like yes she may be just lying but i like 2 think childe talks to his fellow coworkers ab his one single friend

[majunju]

sweets

[justmeinadaze]

Inescapable Part 2 (Steddie X You)

A/N: Yes I stole the Jack Skellington thing from Fargo and yes I'm aware its not Halloween but I need this damnit so :D.

Warnings: Older (Early 30s) Prisoner Steddie (Daddy Steve and Sir Eddie) & Young (Early 20s) Fem Sub college student Y/N, SMUT, Dom/Sub dynamics, home invasion role-play, degrading, light slapping, spanking, choking, overstimulation, DP, LOTS of dirty talk, squirting, aftercare, I think I got everything. This is all consenting and a safe word is established.

ANGST, they did break out of prison to see her, the do play with her a bit (taking pictures to show they're watching), they do get jealous and she does what she can to egg that on (brief), cliffhanger ending because I'm me and I love yalls reactions😈 😉.

Enjoy!

Word Count: 4095

Chapter 1/ Tip me <3

How? They can’t… Are they just trying to intimidate me? Scare me? What…

Your thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the doorbell startling you three feet in the air. After hastily hiding the letter in one of your drawers, you tiptoed to the front door and breathed a sigh of relief when you saw your friends on the other side. 

Gathering some chairs, you all sat outside as the evening began and you prayed none of them would notice how on edge you were. With every snap of a twig or smell of cigarette smoke, your head would quickly turn in that direction to see what was coming for you. 

Normal people would have been scared at the thought of two convicts threatening to appear at their house but you’d be lying if you didn’t say you were excited to see what they had planned until you remembered they were stuck in a cell and your head would hang. 

“What’s wrong, Y/N? You look sad.”, one of your friends asked as he tilted his head to find your eye line. 

“Huh? No, I’m just tired. With school, work, and everything else…I just need a break.”, you giggle as you try to brush off his worry. 

As the boy nodded, his palm reached out to pat your thigh but when it lingered the disgust that filled your eyes was replaced with curiosity. If they really were watching, they would hate that this boy was touching you but more than anything they would be pissed you didn’t push him away. 

Without fully weighing the consequences, you grabbed his hand and threaded your fingers between his. The boy smiled before scooting his chair closer to yours.

I shouldn’t be doing this… There’s no way they are even here to see me doing something I shouldn’t be. Fuck what the fuck is wrong with me…

“Hello.”

A small child dressed like Woody from Toy Story smiled your way as he held out his little pumpkin for you to give him his candy. 

“Trick or Treat!”

Grinning, you gave him two pieces of chocolate and he beamed right back before handing you a red envelope. 

“What’s this, sweetheart?”

“Jack told me to give this to you.”

“Jack?”, you ask but the little boy just giggles as he runs back to his group of friends. 

Continuing to smile, you shake your head as you glance over the piece of paper he gave you. There were no distinguishing markers or anything indicating who it was from. Finding a couple of Polaroids, a shaky breath leaves your lips when you turn them over. 

Within the photos were images of you from outside your window putting on your dress for the evening. Rising to your feet, your eyes scanned around the neighborhood in search for any sign of them or anything that stood out but all you saw were kids and adults trick or treating. 

“Y/N? Are you—”

Powerwalking into your home, you made a beeline for your bedroom as you looked around and found nothing. 

“Y/N? What’s going on, baby?”

“Don’t call me that, Justin.”, you snapped, slightly annoyed that they had successfully rattled you. 

“I’m sorry. I just…I know you’ve been through a lot these past few months with Derek, the internship denial, and then overworking yourself. I’m here if you ever need anything.”

You needed something but it wasn’t anything this man could give you. However, he may be able to help facilitate what you actually needed…

Roughly grabbing the collar of his jacket, you brought his lips to yours hoping he didn’t feel the cringe in your face at the fact that he tasted nothing like Eddie or Steve. Justin’s hands went to work, pulling your waist to his as he backed you towards your kitchen counter and lifted you onto it. 

The sound of something crashing pushed you two apart and you quickly ran outside to see your friends giggling as someone had drunkenly fallen out of his chair and broke the glass in his hand. 

Nervously laughing, you leaned against one of the cars and wiped away the stray tear that had fallen. 

“Ok, guys. I think I’m worn out for the evening.”

“Oh come on, nana.”, one of your friends teased. 

“No, no. I have a class tomorrow afternoon.”, you lied.

Smiling, they helped you gather the chairs, placing them back inside and you watched as everyone left but Justin lingered behind.

“Do, um, do you want me to stay with you? We don’t have to do anything. You just seem a bit jittery.”

“I’m ok but I do appreciate the offer.”

Your friend seemed to buy your smile and you watch as he gets into his car and disappears down the street. As you turn to head back inside, something on your windshield catches your eye. With a shaky hand you grab the Polaroid that was stuck under the wiper and turned it around to see the image of you making out with Justin on the counter in your kitchen. Underneath were big bold letters written in black marker.

“Bad Girl.”

########################

Running through your home, you double checked to make sure every window was locked and bolted your front and back door shut. You weren’t going to make this easy for them and as the adrenaline coursed through your veins you couldn’t help but smirk. 

This is the most alive you had felt in so long.

“Come on, boys! Is that all you got!?”, you shouted into the void. 

A knock on the back window made you jump before sprinting in that direction as best you could in your dress and bare feet, annoyed when no one was there. The lights in your house abruptly turned off and you squeaked as you realized you were now at a disadvantage. 

Tiptoeing backwards into your living room, your calves hit something hard making you wince when you realized it was your coffee table. Something fell in your bedroom down the hall and you quickly ran to the front door with the plan to cut around outside to your backyard but as soon as you turned the handle you were met with a tall, broad figure donning a Jack Skellington mask. 

Fear froze you only for a moment before you tried to slam the door in his face but he blocked it with a loud slam of his palm and you turned to run towards your bedroom to hide. After shutting and locking the door, you turned in circles debating on where to hide, finally deciding on your closet. 

He’s not trying to bang in the door. Why isn’t he trying to come in?

As soon as you opened your closet door, you got your answer as another figure in a Ghost face mask wrapped his arms around you and covered your mouth as you tried to fight him. With little effort, he dragged you with him as he let his friend in who had been waiting patiently on the other side. 

Casually striding forward, the man invades your space and removes his Jack Skellington mask to reveal Steve underneath. 

“H-How?”

Calmly smirking, his strong fingers pinch your cheeks as his forehead presses against yours. 

“You don’t speak unless you’re spoken to or you need to say ‘Red’ to stop. Do I make myself clear, little girl?” 

When you didn’t immediately respond, he pushed your head against the other man’s shoulder who ripped off the Ghost Face mask revealing an equally annoyed Eddie.

“If you want tonight to go smoothly it’s best to say ‘Yes, Daddy’ or ‘Sir’ when you’re asked something and do what we fucking say.”, he growled between clenched teeth. “Now, was what Daddy said fucking clear?”

“Yes, Sir.”

Fingers threaded roughly through your hair and pulled back. 

“Not to me, little girl! To him!”

“Yes, Daddy, I fucking understand!”

“So is this what you’ve been doing with your time, huh. Trying to get your needy hands on any fucking man you can. First the picture you sent us making out with some asshole and now we see you dry humping some asshole in your kitchen. Fucking whore.”

“What picture—”

Steve’s palm collides with your cheek making you gasp. 

“I’m sorry. I don’t remember asking you anything.”

“I’m sorry, Daddy.”

As his angry eyes scan you over, he chuckles as he notices your wiggling in Eddie’s arms start to become less forceful. 

“You don’t even remember sending that polaroid to us do you, little girl?”

“No, Daddy. I’m sorry if I hurt you.”, you mumble as a tear falls down your cheek. You genuinely never wanted to hurt them. 

“Don’t worry, little girl. You’re going to make it up to us.”, Eddie declares before pushing you to your knees between them. You watch with wide eyes as they pushed down their prison sweats and their cocks spring free. The anticipation of the evening had them hard the entire time they spent watching you and as your palm barely makes it around their girths, they hiss and breathe a sigh of relief at the contact. 

Your lips take in Steve first making him grunt as his palm balances on top of your head. 

“Fuck, Y/N. Do you know h-how fucking long we’ve waited to feel your mouth on us?”

Moving to Eddie’s leaking tip, he groans as your head begins to bob while your hand continues to pump the other man. 

“You can f-finally live out your fantasy, Harrington. J-Just—shit—hold her hair like this and…” Gripping your hair tightly, the metalhead thrusts his hips allowing his dick to hit the back of your throat as you gag and squeeze your eyes shut. “That’s it, fuck, and a little whore like her can really take it.”

Yanking you off him, Eddie practically pushes you onto Steve’s cock barely allowing you time to breathe as he fucks your face. 

“And she fucking loves this shit. Don’t you, baby?” After bunching the bottom of your dress around your waist, he aggressively slides his hand under the waistband of your panties and glides his fingers between your dripping cunt. “Yeah ya do. Say it.”

“Yes, Sir, I love it.”

With a smug smile, they take turns using you till your make up and drool streak your face. 

“Goddamn! Her throat feels so fucking good.” Grabbing your neck, Steve pulls you to your feet as his lips roughly crash to yours while Eddie removes his clothes behind you. 

After placing himself on your bed, the long-haired boy wraps his arms around your waist and pulls you on to him, maneuvering your body until you were sitting directly on his face. His fingers rip at your panties, tossing them haphazardly on the floor before shoving his nose between your folds. 

“Fuck, I’ve been dreaming about eating this sweet pussy till you’re begging me to stop.”

You loudly moan as his tongue licks a stripe through you and your fingers promptly cling to his hair beneath you. A hand suddenly touches your side as your dress is lifted over your head and your eyes meet Steve’s before scanning his naked form. God, they both looked so good. 

“Does his mouth feel good, little girl?”

“Y-Yes, Daddy.”

Pinching your cheeks, he glared your way but his eyes soften as they drifted down your neck to your breasts and to your tummy. Sweat was sticking to your skin as your hips rolled and you mewled, shuddering against Eddie as you came. 

Wrapping his arms tightly around you, the metalhead held you still as he continued to devour you. Tears fell down your face as you continued to cum on his tongue but he wouldn’t allow you to leave. You squirmed to get away from him, succeeding only for a moment when you pulled his hair a bit too roughly and he let you go. 

As you fell onto your stomach on the mattress, Steve reached over and pressed his palm against your shoulder blade to hold you down and spank your behind. 

“Hey! Where the fuck are you going? We aren’t even close to done using you.”, he growled as he spanked you again much harder than before. “I would have thought a little slut like you would have wanted to cum on his face some more.”

Lost in his need for you, Eddie pulled at your ankles and lifted your ass till you were exposed for him. 

“O-Oh fuck!”, you groan as he gradually guides his cock into your aching core. 

“How does she feel, Munson?”

He didn’t verbally respond but his palm yanked your hair so your back was against his chest. 

“Fuck, sweetheart. Your pussy is just squeezing my dick. Y-You like this don’t you? Bad little girl letting us stretch out her cunt. I-If someone caught us, you’d be in so much trouble.”

“Oh my god.”

Eddie’s hips slammed into yours and your head leaned against his shoulder as his palm clung to your throat. 

“We—fuck—we jerked off to this moment so m-many times, baby. Do you still want us to fill up your little pussy?”

“Y-Yes, yes Sir, please.”, you whine as his cock continues to punch into the spongy spot inside of you. 

“Beg me, Y/N. Beg for my cum.”

“P-Please, Sir. Please fill me up. I need it!”

You don’t see it but Eddie winks towards Steve as he pushes your face back into the mattress and pounds into you till your body shakes and the coil snaps. As you wait to feel the metalhead’s release, the other boy roughly lifts you off the bed and places you on top of him as he lays back flat with his head on your pillows. 

“Wait, but—”

Fingers wrap around your throat as Steve pulls you down till your nose is to his. 

“What, little girl? You thought after everything you’ve done that we would just give you what you want? You thought you could get away with it because we were locked up, didn’t you?”

“Y-Yes, Daddy. I’m so sorry.””

“Not yet but you will be. Now…put my cock inside that little pussy.” Releasing his hold on you slightly, he allows you to move just enough to lower yourself down onto him, both of you groaning as he sheathes inside you easily. “Goddamn it. You’re so fucking tight. Don’t move…I just want to feel you…shit.”

Your head fell back as you did everything you could to not move your waist. You could feel him deep inside you and any little twitch had him hitting that now over stimulated spot inside you making you desperate to cum again. 

“Hey. What the fuck did I say?! Don’t. Move!”, he growled as he spanked your ass again hard.

“Oh, Steve, you can’t blame her. Little slut like her is just so desperate especially with a cock so close. Right, baby? Say it. Say you’re a desperate little slut.”

“Please… I want to cum.”

“Now she wants to cum. She was just running from it earlier!”, Eddie scolded as he pressed his face to the side of yours. “You wanna cum again you listen to what we say. Good girls do what they’re fucking told.”

“I-I-I’m a desperate little…little slut…” 

At your words, Steve’s palms hold your hips and guide your movements allowing you to grind against him. 

“Good…good girl. We’ll make you deal, Y/N. If you cum again on Daddy’s cock, we’ll fill you up just like you want. We can do it at the same time…” As you bounce harder on top of him, Steve’s hands roam your body and roughly knead your tits. “Has anyone ever taken you here, sweetheart?”

At Eddie’s question, he guides one of his fingers inside of your ass and it takes all of his friend’s energy to not cum on the spot when he watches your mouth fall open in a silent moan as you come undone.

“I’ll take that as a no.”, he chuckles. 

“N-No, Sir. C-Can…fuck…can I have water please?”

After nodding, you watch as he disappears out of your room and Steve searches your bedside drawer before producing a bottle of lube. As you wait you can’t help but reach out to run your palm delicately down his chest. You could feel his eyes watching you as you traced the faded scar just below his neck and down to the darker ones on his side. 

When Eddie came back, he threw his body in front of yours and handed you the glass you asked for, thanking him, and chugging it back. His scars were much darker but like Derek said in his interview with them, they were similar to Steve’s. Just as you had with him, your fingers traced fading marks and every tattoo you passed with fascination. 

When your eyes met his chocolate ones, you rushed forward to capture his lips with yours and without hesitation he took you in his arms, cupping your face to bring you as close to him as possible. 

Mewling, you sink down on to his cock, capturing his own moans on your tongue as you roll your hips. When you freeze, Eddie’s waves tickle your face as he looks behind you to see Steve lathering lube between your cheeks before stroking it along his length. 

“Remember, just say ‘Red’ if you want to stop.”, he whispers.

“Yes, Sir.”

Straddling his knees over Eddie’s thighs and your feet, Steve exhales and guides himself gradually inside of your ass. Your nails abruptly dig into the metalhead’s shoulders as you bury your face into his neck. 

“Hey, hey. You’re doing so good, princess. Look at me, pretty girl.”, he coos as he lightly but firmly tugs at your hair. “There she is our beautiful girl. Are you alright?”

“Hurts, Sir.”

“Do you want to stop?”

“No, Sir.”

Next to your ear, you hear him run his tongue along something before a jolt of electricity runs through you as his thumb slowly circles your clit and Steve inches a bit more forward. 

“Fuck—Good girl, honey. I’m almost…I’m almost all the way in…you’re doing so good.”

“I love you both…so much…I’m so sorry for hurting you…trying to make you jealous.”

When Steve’s hips connect to yours, you shudder as his breath ghosts your shoulder. 

“We—mmm—we love you to, Y/N. Fuck, Ed, I’m not gonna last long.”, he quickly pants out as he hangs his head and does small thrusts to allow you to get used to them both inside you. “Are you ready, baby?”

As you nod your head, Eddie pulls on your hair again a bit more roughly and you know what he wants. 

“Yes, Daddy, I’m ready. Please…I need you both.”

The metalhead’s arms hold you to his chest and Steve’s fingers dig into your hips as they both pump into you in the same rhythm turning you to jelly as you melt into their embrace.

“That’s it, sweetheart, fuck you feel so good. Taking us so fucking well. Who do you—mmm—who do you belong to, little girl?”

“Y-You and…and—fuuuuuck—”

A palm wraps around your throat, pulling you till your nose was squished against Eddie’s.”

“Finish that fucking sentence. Who do you belong to, Y/N?”

“You and Steve.”, you moaned.

“Say it louder, whore, so we know you fucking understand.”, the man behind you growled roughly as he pressed his chest into your back, pushing him impossibly deep inside you. 

“I belong to Eddie and Steve! Fuck, harder, please.”

Both men thrust aggressively into you, Eddie holding you flat against him as Steve’s palm gripped your headboard for more leverage.

“Some…something’s happening…” Your body shook as an overwhelming feeling of pleasure coursed through you and the rubber band in your belly snapped. 

“Oh my God.”

As your arousal warmed him, Eddie grunted loudly in your ear as his pace faltered and you felt him warm your insides. Steve soon followed, circling his arms around you and clinging to your slightly limp form as he emptied inside you. 

##################

You weren’t sure how long you were asleep for but you woke up to the soft feeling of their lips and fingers roaming your skin. When your eyes found Eddie’s in front of you, he gently smiled your way before rolling out of your bed and comically falling to your floor making you laugh as Steve shook his head behind you. 

Bouncing to his feet, the metalhead collected you into his arms and waited for his friend to finish getting the shower ready. After the three of you climbed in, you watched them as they exhaled pleasantly at the water pressure.

Opening your different soaps and shampoo, they inhaled each and every one, even the ones they didn’t use as if trying to capture your different smells in their memory. 

Lurching forward, your arms wrapped tightly around Eddie who promptly tangled his fingers in your hair as he pressed your face into his chest. You immediately felt it within his energy…he didn’t want to let you go and you didn’t want him to. 

Steve gently but firmly pried you two apart, turning off the shower, and guiding you out to dry you off. After placing you on the edge of the bed, he found one of your shirts and playfully pushed it over your head with a big smile that you tried to return but struggled through the tears that were beginning to fall. 

As they began to reach for their prison uniforms on the floor, you couldn’t stop yourself as you ran to grab what you could of their clothes and hugged them to you as you pressed your back to a corner. 

“Please…”

“Y/N, we have to go back. This was for one night.”, Steve sighed as he tried to sound authoritative.

“Make it longer.”

“How? By putting you in danger? Your name is in all our visitors logs and the guards fucking know you by name, Y/N. If we don’t go back, this will be the first place they look.”

“Then let’s leave, Eddie! We can go to Canada or Mexico.”

“And you’d give up your dream of being a lawyer? Just like that?”, Steve responded sternly. “No. We’ve been accused of ruining plenty of lives. I won’t actually be guilty of one.”

“That’s my choice to make, Steve. I can be a lawyer anywhere. Plus, Dustin Henderson and his girlfriend are good with computers. I’m sure they can do something to help.”

At their friend’s name, both their eyes darkened as Eddie took a confident stride towards you.

“If we find out you asked them to do anything, Y/N, I swear to God. Like Steve said, we won’t be responsible for ruining more people’s futures.”

“How Martyring of you, Edward.”, you spit. “It’s ok for your futures to be destroyed as long as everyone else is fucking happy. What about me?!”

“Do you think we want this, Y/N?! Do you think we actually want to leave you?! We spent everything, fucking every cent we had to come be with you tonight! It fucking kills me that we can’t fall asleep with you and hold you. That we have to go back to that bullshit with actual murders and men who have done unspeakable things but… we have to. We have to do this right, honey.”

Sobbing, you slide to the floor and they follow you down, kneeling in front of you. 

“I love you both so much.”

Steve pulls you to his lap, rocking you back and forth as they try to comfort you. 

“Hey, sweetheart. We don’t have to leave until 6 am and it’s only two. How about we lay with you till you fall asleep, baby?”

After nodding, they tuck you under the covers and you promptly lay your head on Eddie’s chest while Steve cuddles your body to him and kisses your shoulder. 

“I love you, Y/N.”, the metalhead coos as he kisses your forehead, his heart breaking as you continue to quietly cry. 

“I love you to, pretty girl.”, the other man tries to sooth as his fingers caress your skin. 

#################

February 5th, 1998

Eddie and Steve, 

I’m sorry I haven’t answered your calls. 

I know after our last visit you both were really worried about me. 

There’s something I’ve been keeping from you… I lied. The prison doctor who looked me over after I passed out did find out what was making me nauseas and dizzy. I thought it was stress but…

I’m pregnant. 

What…what are we going to do?

I’m scared. 

--Y/N

#################

@lemme-slytherin-that-dick @micheledawn1975 @paleidiot @fireeyes-on-teller-dixon-grimes @noooah @baileebear @dashingdeb16 @nailbatanddungeon @rockmusiciscalming12 @mikeyswifie @poofyloofy @eddiexmunsonlover @dreamliners

I think I got everyone but if I misses anyone please let me know!

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for telling my mixed race cousin the truth about her racial background?

This happened a few months back but continues to divide our family to this day, and I have my own regrets about it, so I thought it would be good to get some outside perspective.

My little cousin (we'll call her May) was privately adopted by my aunt 17 years ago. Her biological mom already had 4 kids at home, 2 of them special needs, and she was an unplanned pregnancy. But she was also deeply religious and against abortion, so she went to her (southern baptist) church for help. My aunt was a member of that church and was having trouble conceiving, so she offered to adopt the woman's baby and she agreed.

I know all this for a fact because my aunt asked my mom to come with her as emotional support when she met with the bio mom and dad at their home to talk more about the details. I was dragged along (8 years old at the time) and saw the bio parents myself. The mom was white, and the dad was black. I sat and listened to them talk about boring adult stuff and heard both the man and woman refer to May as "their baby". Then I got bored and went in the other room to play with their kids on the xbox.

Fast forward 17 years later to the present day and May has done pretty well in life. She's a straight A student with a 4.0 and wants to be a physicist. She knows she's adopted and knows she's mixed race (would be pretty hard to hide, since both her parents are whiter than mayo and she's obviously not). I never said anything about her being half black, because I assumed she knew. I found out she does not when she was talking about looking into scholarships and says maybe she can get a scholarship for Indigenous peoples. I laugh because I assume she's joking.

May looks at me and asks why that's so funny, and I say because she's not Native American. She looks truly pissed now and like she's geared up for a fight against a racist and says yes, she is. I look at her parents for backup but they won't look me in the eye. "May, I met your parents. You're half black," I told her. She calls me a liar and says that's stupid, because her parents got her through an adoption agency and she knows she's half Native American.

Now I'll tell you, I know my aunt and uncle made jokes about how she "looks like an Indian" when she was a baby. I know they dressed her up in racist "Indian" outfits every Halloween (first I wasn't old enough to know it was racist, then I thought it's not worth the argument bringing it up). I know her cringey online persona when she was 12/13 was called "PocahontasGirl", and her online "aesthetic" has always been nature and romanticized, spiritual Native American stuff. And again, I never said anything because it wasn't worth the argument, and I figured she would grow out of it when she was less immature. I had genuinely know idea it's because her parents have been lying to her.

I tried to convince her I wasn't lying, I tried to get my aunt and uncle to back me up, but May is a terror when she's mad and she was screaming and crying at me for being racist and calling her parents liars so I just left. She's blocked me everywhere since then, and my aunt called my mom to rant about me filling her daughter's head with lies and trying to break up their happy family. My mom said I should have just left it alone, I said May deserves to know who she really is, and how can my mom condone lying to her when we both know the truth? My mom said just to drop it, it isn't any of our business. That she didn't like the fact that my aunt lied either, but bringing it up now was an asshole move because it would divide the family no matter what. Either May would believe me and hate her parents, or believe her parents and hate me.

In my heart I feel like it's wrong on so many levels to adopt a mixed race child then lie about their heritage, and I think my aunt and uncle are just plain racist. But I can't blame May for not believing me and believing the people who raised her. And I truly do miss her, having known her all her life. AITA?

What are these acronyms?

[asteriastarr]

Could you do a deuce x human reader where her family is kinda chaotic. It can go anyway you want ily

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH THANK-YOU FOR THE REQUEST ANON!!!! So like idk how good this one is but it's like kinda long and uh I may do a part 2 because omg this request gave me sm ideas. Also the only reason I gave reader 8 siblings is because big families are usually the most chaotic. Anyways I hope you enjoy! Ly! (Also i did a dif thing here where I made the tense 2nd person to try it out cus thats what a lot of people on here use, tell me what you guys think!)

POV: Deuce meeting his Human!girlfriends family.

“Before you meet my family, you should probably know that they’re a bit… chaotic…”

That is what you had warned him of before he came to have dinner with your family, while he wasn’t completely sure what you had meant by that he was sure he could handle whatever it was (Like- what could possibly be more chaotic than the fact he was a gorgon that literally went to a boarding school for monsters). Besides- he was determined to make a good impression on your parents, while you knew and were… mostly, okay with the… scaled situation, your family didn’t. He had to make this good impression now because he knew he couldn’t exactly hide it forever and he’d rather your family liked him when they do find out.

You didn’t talk much about your family, the only thing he really knew was the fact you had eight siblings, most of them twins and that you were the middle child and the only one who wasn’t a twin (hence why you were the only one with your own room). Deuce knocked on the door and after hearing what sounded like arguing was greeted by your smiling face.

“Hey, Deuce!” You greet, gently reaching up to adjust his beanie to ensure the snakes were covered “Come in!” You grab his hand and guide him inside. “You’re a bit early but we can just like- hang out in my room for a bit until dinn-” You began before being cut off by your younger brother running in front of you.

“Who’s this?” He asked “Is he your boyfriend”

“No, he’s my long-lost twin brother.” You said sarcastically trying to move past him.

“No, he’s not! You don’t have a twin! And besides his hair is green, you don’t have green hair!” Your brother exclaimed, “Wait, why is his hair green?”

“Because he’s secretly the Joker.” You stated, finally managing to move past your younger brother “Now, leave us alone you little brat.”

“I’m telling mom you said that!” He exclaimed.

“Go ahead! I’ll just tell her that you got suspended for a week for punching a kid and didn’t even tell her.” You retort pulling Deuce up the stairs before being stopped again by two of your younger sisters Valentina and Valeria.

“Y/n have you seen Jinx?” Valentina asked.

“No, and if Mom finds out you let that snake out of its terrarium again, you’re going to be in huge trouble.” You warned.

“What about Cookie? Have you seen Cookie?” Valeria asked teary-eyed.

“No, I haven’t but if I see it in my room again, I swear- I’m going to squish it.” You threatened.

“But Y/nnn-” Valeria whined before apparently finally noticing Deuce “Does Mom know you have your boyfriend over?”

“Yes, she does actually, now leave us alone please.” You hissed, trying to manoeuvre past them.

“His hair is weird,” Valentina commented.

“So is yours and you don’t see him commenting on it.” You snapped, pushing past them and finally entering your room.

You sigh as both you and Deuce sit on your bed.

“Your siblings seem nice,” Deuce commented as you scoffed.

“You don’t have to lie Deuce, they’re annoying.” You spoke.

“No, they uh- seem, sweet.” He said as you moved your head to lay it in his lap.

“Awe, aren’t you naïve.” You said, lifting your head to press a kiss on his lips.

[azurlily]

Day 6 of 31 of the yandere month May challenge. This yandere is extremely creepy in the sense that it's sort of non-con, but not at all at the same time. I also think Sevika is naturally a very intense almost yandere, so this isn't like the others. You'll see.

Also a reminder to everyone this is the last month you can request a specific type of reader for free. After this month it becomes commission work. Ask any questions in either DM or on my asks/requests.

Sevika gets pissed when you go out on a mission with Jinx. She teaches you how to obey orders.

Yandere!Sevika SMUT

There are many dumb things that you can do in your lifetime. Stealing from someone important, lying about your job details, and worst of all pissing Sevika.

How did this even happen? Well you and Jimx have been getting more buddy buddy. So...why not go up to Piltover with her?

You told Sevika about your plans, she insisted you stay home. You told her it wasn't a big deal, and that it'd be good for you and Jinx to get along.

"No, and that's final. Your aren't going anywhere princess, so don't even try. Besides, you're in better condition, and our relationship has been doing better. Let's not ruin it."

Sevika and you had been fighting these past couple months. She wouldn't apologize for taking you from your house suddenly. She said it was just because she wanted fo see you. It took about 2 weeks for her to apologize and when she did, it wasn't very conventional. For her at least.

"Yes- flowers. They're yours, I-uh. I apologize."

That's all she told you before forcing you into a hug. Sevika only apologizes once in a blue moon. The apology ended in sex, of course.

Anyway, she gave you a bad vibe when she looked at you like that. Sevika for the life of herself would never hurt you, but she would intimidate. Sevika loving you basically secures you safety.

You fought with her saying that Jinx isn't a child and that neither are you. You both can do what you want. She rolled her eyes and slapped you ass.

"Mhm, you ain't a kid, but you act as stupid as one. Now, no going with her, I'm serious."

You asked her why and she kissed you on your forehead and left. You didn't get an answer and now you were frustrated. So, of course, knowing it'll blow up in your face later.

You and Jinx were almost caught. You got grazed by multiple bullets, and were in a good bit of pain. You were in a lot of pain, and Jinx felt like an ass for taking you with her.

When you two got back Jinx was teln by Silco for a "short" lecture. You laid on the bed Sevika and you share when you come over.(or when she abducts you) She came in about an hour later, she'd thought she was getting a small moment of peace.

"Oh- you're back. Listen about earlier with the whole Jinx thing. I'm not gonna say it, but I'll take you out- HOLY SHIT!"

She stood there for a second, trying to figure out- what the hell happened? It took her a minute and then it hits her. You fucking idiot.

Sevika thinks about how badly you're hurt, obviously there had to be more than one person. This was more than likely a surprise attack, which was cowardly and not something she was all into.

She imagined for a second the blood she's going to have on her hands later. It's going to be a lot, she intends to bathe in it. How dare some Piltover scum hurt you!?

She doesn't say anything and stares at you for a moment. She turn around and leave the room, only to come back with bandages.

Sevika gives you a cold stare and forces you up. She knows it hurts, as it should. She's pissed, and you dealing with the pain is her way of saying fuck you without opening her mouth. She refused to talk while fixing you up, she knows if the did the only words she'll be saying are: who and why?

She watches you wince and whimper, she sees you eyes glaze over in tears and watches as you shake in pain.

"It hurts, dont it? Well good. Now you know why I didn't want you going out with Jinx, she's a damned trouble maker."

Sevika was finally able to say something without straight up yelling. She watches your reactions, sees the fear, anger, embarrassment, and finally you start to cry.

She watches you cry for a good second, she moves you robotic arm up and pats your head. Then she grabs your hair and tilts your head up roughly.

"I try, I really do, but you seem really intent on pissing me off. So, this behavior needs to be punished. I'm giving you the choice on the punishment, it's easier for me. You have two choices, overstimulation or edging."

You groan as her mechanical hand squeezes your hair. Sevika is enjoying this, and evidently so are you. You choose overstimulation, it's better than being denied. At least you get what you want, even if you get too much of it.

Sevika stands up, putting the bandages down and looking at you with a glare. You know the drill, and in situations like these it's best not to brat off. You begin to undress, keeping your underwear and bra on. Sevika likes to take those two peices of clothing off specifically.

You watch her flex her mechanical arm, giving you a disgustingly smug smile.

"Lay back."

You lay back, putting your arms over your eyes. You feel cool metal run up and down your thighs. A second, warm hand unclasps your bra from me front/back. She didn't need to see her to see the smug look. She knows just how to handle you.

"Hands up, I want you to watch."

You do as Sevika commands and move your arms above your hands. She warns if you try to stop her she will tie you up. Her mechanical hand slowly rubs your thighs, she grips it roughly. Deep red marks starting to form. You look at her, tears in your eyes.

"Nuh uh, I don't wanna see them tears. You have brought this upon yourself, so lay back and- safeword. If...you need to."

Sevika pulls your thighs apart, opening them widely. Her warmer hand moved from groping me to rubbing on my thighs. She lowers her head, pressing it against my thigh. She hums quietly, you can feel the vibrations, shaking slightly you look down at her.

Her eyes are a beautiful, silvery grey, you couldn't stop staring. She notices and gives you thighs a tight squeeze, the smirk never once fading.

"My, my, my, you're shaking. I wonder, are you as exited down there too? Well? Are you slut?"

Sevika doesn't hold back on the insults, maybe the praise, but she loves to degrade you. Sevika runs her mechanical finger up and down your panties, the wetness and slicks becoming more apparent.

She growls, oh god. Sevika, no longer being able to take it, practically tears your panties off. She originally intended to come home and take you out, then she'd probably end up fucking your brains out in some alleyway in Piltover. She's been pent up all day thinking about it. Now she can fully relax, and take good action on you.

Sevika moves her head until her face is just hover over your pussy. You groan and whimper when she doesn't start. You didn't agree to be teased, dammit! That's why you chose this option!

"Oh hush. You'll get what you want, princess."

God that nickname turns you on, plus feeling her hot breath against you only makes things worse. You grind you hips up trying, hoping, to get some sort of friction. When Sevika slaps you thigh, hard enough to leave a mark. You know to stop, for not at least.

Finally Sevika herself is tired of waiting too, she presses her tounge into you. The way you squirm, feeling her hot, long tounge tear you open. It does something to her, in a way you will never understand.

She grabs both of your thighs, pulling you so you're hips are right on her face. You wrap your legs around her head, squeezing harshly as she eats you out. Sevika goes from small licks, to sucking on your clit, to pushing her tounge inside you. She does everything she can to hear you scream, and scream you do.

How can you not? This woman is skilled with her tounge in every way, she knows just how to tease you, and just how to make you cum in minutes. That's exactly what she's aiming for now, she wants to see your freshly fucked face, as soon as possible.

Sevika doesn't pull back when you begin rocking your hips, on the contrary. She tries pulling you closer, although you can't really get any closer. As you're stomach begins to tighten and your breathing begins to quicken. You both know what's coming, you, to be more specific.

As you feel piping hot bliss rush over you, you shake and spasm. Sevika doesn't let up though. No, in fact she continues as your orgasm begins to slowly die down. That's when the fun really starts.

Sevika can feel you fighting, slapping, pushing hitting. She said not to use your hands, but she knows you cant help it. You're a dumb slut, and sluts don't know how to think. Especially not you.

You start grabbing and pulling on Sevikas hair, you knew this was the outcome. Didn't stop you from acting like you were innocent. Doesn't matter anyway, the more you push, and pull, and bite. The more fun Sevika is having. You can practically feel her grinning.

You scream and cry, feeling yourself build up once more. Your hips spasming uncontrollably, your entire body was shaking. You knew it was only a matter of time before you came for the second time. After that she'd keep going until you passed out.

You really are stupid, but that's okay. Sevika always cleans up your messes, and after she finishes up with you. She's heading to Piltover to rip some heads off, she might even bring you a souvenir.

[amorganva]

Putting down my unhinged theories

I voiced all of these during my playthrough but I wanna put them down anyways Lies of P is a game of lies and I often feel like the game itself is trying to lie to us so...... Compiling Theories

Carlo and Romeo didn't die of Petrification disease I honestly believe that something else killed both of them. The Petrification disease is just too much of a convenience and would've been used as a cover up. Why else would the stalker be like "Gemini, get rid of them." "I'm so sorry....I was too late" if it was only Carlo contracting the disease. The pose the body is in to me clearly conveys DEAD. And even if he caught the disease, Mr. Geppetto, the amazing Geppetto of the Workshop Union who sends his son to the MONAD CHARITY HOUSE - Valentinus Monad: Leader of the Alchemists - surely, SURELY he would've gotten a cure for his son/be able to afford it. Hell, Geppetto knew of his daughter, Sophia, and of Simon Manus. He had the connections. Giangio cures Antonia after all and she only dies because her organs were too damaged already so the disease was the thing keeping her alive. If caught early on, Carlo would have lived and given Romeo part of his cure seeing as it's implied that Geppetto didn't very much like Romeo - worded as "a grudge." What this grudge is about - getting his son killed or something else....we don't know yet but hopefully will find out.

2. There's 2 Geminis "Gemini, get rid of them." ...How? He's a cricket guide. Or is he? I honestly think there's a cricket Gemini and a Stalker or puppet Gemini. Or it's one and the same and he's now "atoning" so to speak by helping PCarlo in his cricket form. It feels like Sophia knew Gemini from somewhere because she's like "I see they got Gemini too." And since Sophia knew Carlo as a child from their time at Monad... "Gemini get rid of them" may have been misinterpreted....and subsequently covered up since she was a famous, legendary stalker. Also his name spelled Gemini, to avoid copyright they couldn't go with Jiminy but...they could have also used any other name since most names are based on the original story or versions thereof and the cricket is only ever the cricket. Sticking with Jiminy but spelling it like the astrological twins sign is too much of a coinkydink for me. Gemini was there in the car, the car that Geppetto based his secret workshop in. Mhh..

3. If Camille acted on instinct saving a baby - something beyond her programming - then PuppetRomeo and P are 100% acting on muscle memory from their lives mixed with puppet strength/speed. Which means that Romeo and Carlo were actually pretty good stalkers-in-training. I talked about this in my Romeo appreciation post but I can totally see live Romeo doing fancy moves like that, like he's dancing, and Carlo just wanting to get things done quick and clean. This lends to my theory that something other than a disease must've gotten to at least Carlo because he'd be more skilled than that. (He took down all major puppets and a demigod thing by himself with the occasional Sophia rewind....no way in hell that's just programming, since P is awakening) Then again we don't know how old exactly he was when he died. But Geppetto made him a young adult puppet and the nameless puppet is clearly not a child (assuming it's Carlo's OG body yes?) so it's safe to think he could've handled himself in combat somewhat by that point. Something more powerful did him in and the game is lying to you and I stand by that until the series is finished and I'm either right or have to concede that it just do be like that and his origin story is just kind of "yeah he died. Nothing more than that. Let's get the plot going." But that feels very Un-Neowiz because this world and its characters are full of easter eggs and research and care that I don't think the devs would just handwave something as big as this.

4. Not so much a theory as a comment but imagine seeing the guy you had fun talks with, helped out, nerded out with, listened to music with all of a sudden just kills you and every one of your friends. The evil ending is so devastating and I feel the badest for our girl Eugenie she's so sweet. Eugenie and her country and origin will hopefully get more elaboration, maybe Carlo will sail beyond the seas of Krat. Also that literally no one at the hotel seems to realize P is a puppet. Maybe Antonia since she knew Geppetto. But since you are required to lie and P is a special puppet who can lie....easy mistake to make. Venigni would've realized Law 0 much sooner - that Geppetto can create exceptions. Which also makes the Romeo fight even sadder - because P is exempt every other puppet must attack him...he can't help himself. My bro better be revived with some ergo, we need more of him and I think the devs know by now how popular of a character he is...I think...I hope...(alongside the lords of drip - the BRBH) 5. There's not really a timeskip in the lore. Sophia was trapped for a few years...maybe? She knew Carlo and Romeo since they were children at Monad and she's maaaaybe in her late 20s? early 30s? That means that the time between Carlo's and Romeo's deaths can't have been more than a year or two from when the game started. The King of Puppets was created to cover up the true origin of the Frenzy - that's Romeo and he awakened way before Carlo - his model only looks shabby because he literally exploded into flames, not because it's decades old (if you look at the model textures they might look old and grainy but that's literally everything in this game - look at Ps sock textures).

They were created after Arlecchino - Covenant. Carlo's body proved unstable, volatile - making Geppetto spend more time on a new and improved version of a puppet which is why P looks so human and polished aside from the Legion Arm. I still commend Geppetto for giving his son freckles. He did this for us. Aside from that you'd probably recreate your child the way you knew them and the last G probably heard from his son was the Graduation which would be like 17/18. So he was probably just a little older - like early 20s.

6. Carlo's journey is that of a Heart, a Brain, and Courage. Tying in with the Wizard of Oz, if Dorothy doesn't end up as our player character, I feel like Carlo received his Heart in the first game from Geppetto and Sophia. The second game will focus on recovering more of his memories and personality - the brain. The last game, because it 100% is a trilogy, will focus on the courage to do what's needed to save....Krat? The world? His friends? Who knows - from whatever org Paracelsus belongs to. And then...we go home :)

This is probably why the game has stuck with me well after having played it multiple times. I love it when it gives you material to theorize with but also isn't so open ended that it's not satisfying, that the story is just whatever you want or gives you nothing to work with. Maybe I should do some Link Click crossover doodles mhh.

[evan4ever]

Vegas, baby

Part 5 — part 4 here

Warnings: pregnancy, none really

a/n: sorry this chapter is a bit boring, promise it’ll get intense soon! and please excuse any errors 🫶🏻

—

Your POV

You paced back and forth in your room while Shayla now sat at the end of your bed watching you. She was just as nervous as you, hoping that even though the message was from Sarah Paulson verified Instagram, that it was legit. Not some scam that was going to throw you back 10 steps rather than what could be a step closer to the outcome you were desperate for.

Your heart beat faster with every ring on the other line, worry setting in that she may not pick up and that you were wasting your time. What if this was pointless you thought. What if it was a harsh joke and you would end up back to square one -

“Hello, y/n” a friendly voice interrupted your negative thoughts and you were stuck not knowing what to say when you realized Sarah Paulson was quite literally on the other line of the phone. “Are you there?”

You breathed in quickly and nodded, as if she could see you. “I… yeah. Hi.” You cleared your throat awkwardly still not sure what to say but remembering that she was pretty much in control of what might happen. “I’m here”

“Fantastic! It is so great to talk to you, thank you for trusting me and giving me a call.” Your nerves slowly dissipated at her friendliness.

“Yeah, thanks for getting ahold of me.”

“Of course. So, I suppose I’ll get straight to the point?” You both chuckled nervously but you stayed quiet to allow her to continue. “I’ve read something on the news as I’m sure you’ve seen is all over. I do hope it isn’t causing you any trouble, considering you seemed pretty adamant about staying quiet in the video when Evan’s name was brought up. I have to ask — are you 100% sure the child is his? That your friend or whomever the woman in the video who called him out was wasn’t only joking around and it happened to go viral?”

You were slightly annoyed that anyone would think you’d by lying about something like this but quickly remembered that she’s only making sure for the sake of her friend. “Yes. I’m positive it’s Evan’s. I have tried reaching out to him any way that I could, but he’s pretty hard to reach.. all things considered.”

“Absolutely. That’s why I reached out. I apologize on his behalf for being hard to contact, but I do appreciate that you have tried. So the next step I suppose would be to meet up? I’m sure there’s plenty Evan and yourself need to talk about. We could come to you.”

Your heart nearly popped out of your chest at her words. You knew the point of the conversation was to help you and Evan figure things out, but the fact that they will come to you? To your hometown? And you’d get to see him again? Your mind quickly went back almost 9 months ago to that night in Vegas. You didn’t feel anything for him then, but now that he was going to come and possibly be in your guys’ baby’s life, in your life, you couldn’t help but feel your stomach explode into butterflies. Yet your mind reminded you to forget that this could go one of two ways and to be prepared. It was an ugly battle between your head and your heart.

“Are you there?” Sarah’s question brought you back and you cleared your throat.

“Yeah! Sorry. Um that sounds… that sound really great. I’m in your/home/state. Sorry that you guys have to take the time to do this.” You apologized and genuinely meant it. It probably wasn’t the best timing for them considering it wasn’t for you either. You were so close to your due date. 2 weeks and baby would be here so it was pretty time hungry but if it would make matters better, you were happy to do it.

“Please don’t apologize! Evan is already headed to pack!” You could hear the teasing in her voice and what sounded like a man on the other end, possibly Evan, and it brought a smile to your face. “If you could go ahead and text this number your address, we’ll be on the first flight from LA. Hopefully be there by tomorrow morning. Does that all sound okay?”

“Yes, that sounds really great. I’ll text you as soon as we hang up. Um, thank you — for doing this. I really appreciate it.”

“Please, I’m happy to. I want what’s best for you both. I’ll see you very soon!”

The conversation ended and you stood in place, holding your phone to your chest as you went over what just happened in your head again. This was really happening.

“Hello?!” Your eyes shot over to Shay who was staring at you wide eyed waiting for you to fill her in.

“They’re coming here,” you nodded, seeing Shays eyes light up, “they’ll be here tomorrow.”

“Holy shit. Holy shit!” Shay stood excitedly and practically skipped over to you grabbing your shoulders and turning you to face her completely. “They’re coming here. Evan is coming to you!” She let out a small shriek causing you to squint a little.

“I know” you nodded and attempted a smile which caused hers to falter. “I’m glad, really. But honestly, I’m terrified. What if everything goes wrong? It seems like that’s my life lately.” You chuckled harshly.

“Hey” Shay let her hands hold either side of your face in a caring manner and gave you a reassuring smile. “Everything will be fine. You got this, okay? Just… take it one step at a time. Don’t let anyone else be in control. You grew this baby, you are his mother, you are in control. You just have to remember that.” You had a tendency to be quite a pushover and Shyla knew that. You were a people pleaser and conflict quite literally made you want to vomit.

You gave her a smile and nodded, feeling her squish your cheeks and pull you into a hug, allowing her to comfort you and and hugging her back.

After a minute, Shay pulled back letting her hands remain on your shoulders again. “Okay. So you should make yourself look hot.” She nodded with a determined look but you quickly objected.

“No. No I want him to see me this way. Im almost 9 months, I’m two weeks from having this baby. He doesn’t need me to be hot, he needs to be okay with me being myself.” You slipped from her hold and walked out to the kitchen, grabbing a mug and filling it with your decaf coffee that’s cold now and topping it off with some cream. Shay followed and sighed knowing you were right.

“If you say so. But listen, I have to go to work. Please keep me updated? And I’ll see you tomorrow? Call me after you meet with them?” You nodded to each of her questions as she strode to the door slipping her shoes and jacket on then turning to you again for vocal confirmation.

“Yes yes and yes.” You smiled and she grinned and waved, leaving your apartment to you and your loud mind. Your eyes immediately shut and you let out a long sigh that you’ve been holding in. She was right, you were in control. But when money is involved, you felt like you were nothing. You sincerely hoped it wouldn’t turn into that, that he would come here and he would want to be here and do this with you rather than against you. You knew he was busy, you knew he worked a lot and had an important career. But your child isn’t a toy and you were damned if anyone wanted to turn him into one.

—

Evan’s POV

As soon as Sarah filled Evan in on what was agreed on, he did in fact go straight to his room, shoving clothes and all the necessities he needed in his bag. He wasn’t sure how long he was going to be there, whether it would be a day or a week or a month. He was determined to be there for you since he wasn’t able to be the last 8.5 months of your pregnancy. It was eating him alive, but he knew he had to give himself grace just as you did for not being able to reach him. This was nobodies fault. But now he has the chance to make things right, and he wanted to. He thought about what he could, should, do. Does he need to move to you? Does he move you to LA? How do you coparent correctly with the amount of distance between you and his job. He wasn’t necessarily a fan of picking up his life and completely changing it, but he was sure you wouldn’t want to change what you’ve built either.

He shook his head at all the thoughts and settled on it being something you two would talk about. Right now, all he wanted to focus on was going to you, seeing you again, and talking about the child the two of you made together.

His life wasn’t ready for a child ti be in it. He wasn’t necessarily excited that he’d have more responsibility, but he was going to take responsibility regardless. He was 35, you were… well. He didn’t know. You never told him. You were definitely in your twenties though. You could both do this, he was sure of it.

“Did you book a flight?” He asked as he walked out to Sarah who was sat perfectly at his island counter. She turned and smiled to him, showing him her phone screen that showed the two flight confirmation codes. He sighed and gave her an appreciative look. “Thanks. For all of this. I honestly don’t know what I would’ve done if you didn’t. I don’t know what’s right and what’s wrong here.” He shook his head and leaned his back against the fridge, closing his eyes as he let his mind wander again.

“There’s no right or wrong yet. You just have to go to her and talk. That’s your focus. The right and wrong will come into play then, so just be ready.” Sarah stood from her spot and sighed facing him. “I’m going to go so I can also pack, seeing as you’re already done.” She grinned, glancing down at his filled bag then back to him. “We leave tomorrow at 6:25. I’ll email you your confirmation code and all that good stuff. Be there early please, and I’ll see you then.” Sarah had made her way ti him and opened her arms wide, him accepting the hug graciously and giving her a small squeeze.

“Thankful for you.” He called out as she made her way to the door, smiling and raising her arm in acknowledgment and leaving his home.

It felt like tomorrow was an eternity away for him. He was so impatient, even with the amount of nerves he was feeling and all of the negative and scary thoughts that came to him. He just wanted to get this part over with, seeing you again, coming to terms with what was happening. He knew he would as soon as he was able to see your bump for himself.

It took everything for him not to make a new Instagram just so he could go to your page and look at all your pictures. He only was able to see a few and it wasn’t enough for him. He wanted more. He wanted to see your life through your pictures and words. But he removed himself from Instagram for a reason and he knew it was best to stay off of it until this blew over on social media. He didn’t want to make anything worse for you, imagining all of the comments you must be getting. Probably more negative than positive. He was so grateful for his fans, truly believing he wouldn’t be where he was if it wasn’t for them, but man they could be extreme sometimes. He knew it was out of love, but damn.

So the hours went by and Evan did everything he could to take his mind off of it but really to no avail. He barely slept through the night, tossing and turning, imagining different scenarios in his head, trying to think of the right words to say to you. Nothing seemed right. What was right for you wasn’t for him and what was right for him wasn’t for you. He overthought everything, wondering how he could’ve been so careless. He should’ve been more careful in Vegas, but it is what it is and the choices you make have consequences. He could ignore it, leave you to do it yourself which would honestly make his life easier rather than adding another thing to his plate. But that was wrong and he knew it.

The following morning finally came around and with maybe an hour or two of sleep, Evan drug himself from bed and to the shower, readying himself for the events that were to come. He was tired and sluggish but made it in time to meet Sarah, who looked as good as always, the early mornings never faltering her appearance or great attitude. She greeted him with a smile and they made their way to the front together to check themselves in for their flight, loading their luggage and making their way to the coffee kiosk that the airport had.

“Oh thank god. I need like… straight espresso, I need caffeine.” He groaned as they ordered, ordering himself a large double shot in the dark. They tipped the barista who was a nice young lady holding herself together as she served two of her favorite celebrities. This was LA, after all.

Once retrieving their drinks, they settled themselves in the waiting area. Evan dipped down nearly half of his drink before he set it down and rested his elbow on the chair next to him and resting his head in his hand and letting his eyes close. They had about 40 minutes till it was time to board the plane so he took advantage and took a nice Power Nap while Sarah worked on some business on her phone, already rested and not needing anymore.

—

Basic POV

Within the next 2 hours, Evan and Sarah boarded and were on their way to you; meanwhile you had just barely got yourself out of bed by 8. Sarah had been keeping you updated with where they were. You had about an hour and a half before they’d be there, enough time for you to shower and ready yourself. You rethought about Shay’s words and your reply. The more they played in your head, the more you wanted to follow her recommendation. No, you didn’t want to look hot necessarily, but definitely good. You were pretty swollen and uncomfortable, but considering you’ve been living in your extra large sweatpants and an oversized tshirt, you figured maybe it’d be nice to dress up for a change. Maybe it’d make you feel good. And not that it mattered, but you did want to make a good impression.

You showered and dried off, blow dried your hair so that your layers laid nicely, then pulled your makeup out contemplating on a look and settling on a nice “natural” look that would hopefully make you glow instead of making you look so pale and sick. Once happy with your look, you made your way to your closet and picked through multiple outfits, groaning in annoyance when nothing was right considering they were your regular clothes and you were much larger at this point, ya know, almost 9 months pregnant. You finally tried on one of your fleece dresses and to your surprise, it fit perfectly over your bump, even making it stand out more which you appreciated. You slipped on some flat white tennis shoes and slipped your purse over your shoulder. Looking at the time, you had 20 minutes to spare giving you just enough time to meet at the coffee shop you suggested to meet at. Your apartment wasn’t messy but you just felt better not bringing anyone to your personal space yet.

You glanced at yourself once more and sighed in relief that you looked nice and it did in fact make you feel good. You grabbed your phone and car keys and exited your apartment and made your way down the sidewalk to your assigned parking spot, getting in your vehicle and starting it. It was chilly here, so you gave it a moment to warm up before backing out and driving straight to the coffee joint, Steady Grinding, parking and making your way inside. You ordered yourself a decaf latte and found a spot at one of the cute little tables that had 3 other chairs around it. You managed to pick a spot that was more secluded from the front and the rest of the tables, right by a window allowing you to watch the world go by while you waited for the father of your child to show up.

Your heart was beating what felt 100 beats a minute and it was so tight from the build up if nerves to just get here. Anytime you thought about what was going on, it would make your stomach flutter and your head spin. You wanted to cry from the many emotions you were feeling to finally be where you’ve wanted to be since you found out. It was so much to be holding onto, and your precious baby boy could tell. Your mind came back when you felt the kicks he gave you, looking down and watching the movements he was able to make so perfectly. You smiled and rested your hand over your bump and felt him push on it a few times before settling down.

“Mommy’s here baby, sorry for all of the mixed emotions you must be feeling from me.” You whispered down to him. You often talked to him, reading somewhere online that they can hear you and can ultimately build a stronger bond. You wanted to build the strongest bond you possibly could. Your baby was the most love you’ve ever felt, even though it was the hardest feeling to come to terms with in the beginning. You’ve never loved anything more.

You were too busy rubbing your belly in hopes your little one could feel it and an attempt to soothe him and yourself, that you didn’t hear the ding of the bell when someone entered.

When Sarah and Evan entered, Evan’s eyes immediately scanned the room going over every face trying to find you. He’d be lying if he said he wouldn’t be able to find you in a large crowd, your face was imprinted in the back of his mind since the day you two shared intimately. You were a different kind of beauty, you were art. And when his eyes finally landed on you, his heart nearly exploded. There you were, holding and rubbing your very obvious bump, inside the making of you both. Evan couldn’t explain the feeling he had when he saw you. It was exactly what he needed to confirm that this was real. You were real, and his child was real.

And as if perfectly on cue, feeling someone’s eyes on you, you swiftly looked up from your tummy and instantly met Evan’s eyes that were taking you in. You were winded the moment you saw him and your mind blanked.

This was really happening. This is real.

He was here.

@demxnicprxncess

@quicksilversg1rl

@evanpetersfav

@kylespencersvocalcords

@evanpetersmood

@totta69

@ava1262

@1109oo

[ask-missparker]

A Wedding & It's Muse / Ouat Au series ⚔️

Pairing: Snow!Amelia x Prince!Nicholas

Extra characters/mentioned: May Parker, The Pirate Gang, King Alexander, Darcy Lewis etc

Notes: Right off the bat I'mma say this is angsty and fluffy.

Timeline: Flashbacks

Summary: Every visit has their story, this one meant a sweet like surprise at the end of some kind. In another words, Nik and Mia decided to see May at her cabin.

Season: 2

---

"You ready?"

"Hm? Yeah."

He looked over his shoulder, seeing his bride to be stepping out of their shared home in the cabins dressed in her brown jacket, cream color pants and boots. Her hair was deemed shorter and her makeup was blushed on like it was nothing.

It was a contrast to his darker browns and creamy reds he was wearing. His hair was slightly longer than usual, he liked it that way, and he was wearing his famous chains around his neck, along with his rings.

Today was a day, Nicholas didn't believe he would ever get.

Meeting the parents.

Yes, he has met his friends parents when he was a child, but this was completely different. It was the mother of the bride. May Parker. He has heard stories, seen photographs of her and even used the women's jewelry to find his way back home multiple times. But he never once met her.

He was nervous, he tried not to show yet, but his wife bride knew. She knew he was nervous, it's way she made him tea that morning to calm the nerves and kept a hand on the small of his back, rubbing circles to comfort him the whole way to her mother's house.

God! He shouldn't be nervous to meet her but here he was scared out his mind. What if Ms Parker hates him? What if he overhears her telling her daughter she made a mistake choosing him? What if-

"Honey."

Nicholas looked down at his bride who's kind yet soft smile meet his eyes. She gave him a reassuring smile that seemed to ease him a bit.

"What's on your mind?" She asked, as they walked along the path.

"Hm? Oh no, nothing..just thinking.." He replied, holding the horse's reins as he loops his fingers around it.

"I know your lying, you're nervous..tell me what's wrong."

He sighed, "..okay, I um, I'm scared about meeting your mother. What if she hates me? I mean, come on, my brother is pure evil, so she might think that-"

"She won't. She knows, you're not some mad titan or some horrible prince who stole my heart." She replied, reassuring him.

"There are posters with my face on it."

"So? My mother is kind, caring and deeply protective of her daughter. She would know from my letters that if you were wrong for me."

"She knows about me?! Luv, what did you say?"

"Only that you fought for me, helped give us a home...and how you're loyal to those you care about."

"You didn't tell her...about the part where I broke your heart right?"

"No! And you did for good reason. Hey, she will love you. Just be yourself, okay?"

"Okay, love."

----

And somehow Snow was right.

Because the moment, they walked the path and found the small house, he was met with the sight of timeless devoting care. May Parker was reading a book at the front of the house, looking once she heard their horse, Maximums, footsteps and her daughter's calls. She put her book away and stood up, to bring herself into Amelia's embrace as two hugged.

For Nicholas, he saw the ease in her face when she looked at him. May smiled kindly, fixing her bangs and took his hand gently into her own as she greeted him. Her smile was so soft, he swear he melted into her embrace. He also saw where Mia got her look's from. Both women were breathtaking as they led him inside the house, leaving Max outside to enjoy the fresh breeze and a couple of carrots.

Once inside, Mia beside him with a comfort hand on his shoulder talking to her mother. Nicholas got every other word that came out of her mouth as he listened to the two talk. He chuckled hearing their laughs, as he slowly involved himself into the conversation.

At some point Mia went out back to check on Maximum and collect extra water from the well, leaving him and May alone. Which lead Nicholas back to sitting awkwardly in front of his future mother-in-law.

May poured him another glass of water and said, "So, now that she's gone. I wanna know about my future son-in-law."

"Oh no, ma'am, th-there isn't mu-much for me to ev-even say, really..I um just some prince.." He replied, taking a big gulp of water.

"You don't seem like a prince to me, honey."

"Ma'am?"

"I mean, your eyes are of a prince and your background seems to be of one as well. But your soul isn't filled for the royal class."

"I uh..I am sorry to disappoint then..ma'am.."

"First, you can call me May. And secondly, it's not disappointing, it's inspiring. Your soul is meant for the sea. For adventurous minds."

That seemed to stop Nicholas, as he heard those words escape May's lips. Yes he is born royalty and after his folks died, he has been on the run from his brother finding adventures elsewhere away from the throne. And when he left those royal clothes, he found himself with pirates, who soon became his friends.

He soon learned he loved to sail, going to pubs, sword fight and live on his own. Hell, he adored search and rescue, getting a treasure as a reward. He loved to explore and embrace the more curious side of things as a pass time.

No one where said anything about that to him before. And here stood May seeing right through him, as a pirate prince.

A smile grew on his lips.

"Can you adopt me?" Nicholas said out of the blue, chuckling as he did.

May chuckled, "Well no. But we are gonna be family so, you're in luck, I got a space here for you."

"I gotta ask, how did you..know?"

"About the sea part?"

"Y-yeah.."

"My husband had a friend who loved the sea, despite being a farmer. He used to go to the harbor and just take it all in."

"Well I'll be damn..well you should also know, I am a swordsman and I fighter.."

"I know. My daughter said from your letters that your crafty with that sword of yours."

"Ah well, I try. Speaking of your daughter, I promise that I will treat her right and that I will be a good son in law to you..even if I mess up.."

May just smiled. She could tell he had a lot of things on his mind and his past wasn't so bright, but he was willing to make an effort to do good in this world. Bring a spark of light back to the surface, despite him having to work twice as hard to earn it.

The two of them kept chatting, sharing stories about their lives and so much more. By the time Mia returned, May brought out her famous pies, which resulted in the prince of light to dig into the savory sweet treat. His bride laughed, but soon shut her mouth the moment he stuffed a piece of blueberry pie in her face. She hummed wiped the blueberry treat of her lips and took another pie.

To May Parker, they looked like a couple of children enjoying her homemade food. She chuckled shaking her head at the pair, not seeing a princess of fairness and the prince of light who fought to be together, but a girl and boy giggling in peace. She left them to go outside and check on her flowers, telling the couple she will be back later.

"I like your mom." Nicholas said, licking his lips before taking another bite of the pie.

She took a sip of water and replied, "Is that so?"

"Yeah. She's all too kind and harmless."

"So you're not scared of her anymore?"

"Nope. She had me speechless and.."

"And what?"

"And had me realized how beautiful you're gonna be when older."

"Oh shut up!"

She playfully pushes his shoulder as he laughed.

"I'm serious you're mom is stunning and I know your gonna be smoking hot as-!" He exclaimed grinning.

"Don't finish that sentence!" She laughed taking another bite of pie.

"Okay, okay, in all seriousness, meeting your mom made me remember how it felt to have one. And I am so lucky you're gonna be wife."

"Aww, baby, I promise you this. We will visit my mother more often if possible, or you can write her letter too, if you like."

"I'll love that. Remind me to thank her later for the warm welcome too."

"Noted."

Before the two of them can wash up and head upstairs to unpack, they heard a piercing scream and the sound of grunts followed behind it. Nicholas pushed past the doors and rushed outside, as Amelia followed gasping at the sight.

Five knights rushing around invading their private moments. Nicholas took a sword and went to fight them, Amelia grabbed her crossbow as she yelled for her mother to run off. May nodded and ran away as quick as she could.

The couple fought as the knights, to the best of their abilities. Amelia shoot one in the back and escaped the grasped of another, huffing as she did.

By the time Amelia looked up, she saw Nicholas already slaying the solider and his men. She winced the way he cracked the neck of one and killed the other two. He looked inside the wagon with the horses, to make sure none of them were hiding.

But there was none.

Another silent scream was heard.

The two rushed over to the where the flowers were, Amelia kneeling over to gentle get her mother to stand. He noticed his mother-in-law was huffing and whining, holding her chest.

Nicholas thought quickly, seeing May Parker was shot in the chest and bleeding out, he gently rested her in said wagon hearing the older women humming deeply. He knew she needed to be comfortable.

"Wh-how..who could've done this?" Amelia said, using whatever cloth in the carriage to apply pressure to her mother's wound.

"You know who, love, my brother. Might even be Shaw." He said, unsure which of the two, but seeing the dark horses he knew, "..yeah, my brother.."

"Why would Alexander..?"

"He hates us that's why.."

"H-how can we..how can we help her?"

Nicholas rested his hand on top of May's giving it a gentle squeezed as she smiled softly at him. He knew he needed to try something, even if he failed. He told them about a lake once used to heal others, it was a tale and there might no real spell but he had to hope for something. Amelia was hesitating to do so, not wanting to risk a trip and rather just find another solution but one look from her groom told her to have some kind of hope.

----

So then the three were off. Max wheeled the wagon, as Nicholas steered the way to the lake. Amelia was sitting inside the carriage, patting her mother's forehead with a cloth and applying pressure.

May mumbling words and getting the others to talk with jokes, and thoughts on her mind. She hated the silence.

"..tell me about your wedding..h-have you two started planning a date?" She asked softly.

"No, mama, we haven't. I don't even have a dress made yet." Amelia admitted with a soft chuckle.

"Me and your father got married in our second hand clothes..we just needed each other..you can use our rings for that.."

"N-no, mama, they are yours to keep."

"Have you picked out a cake?"

This time Nicholas spoke up, "I keep suggesting on soft angel cake but the missus wants classic vanilla."

"I like angel cake.." May said softly.

"Me too! And I might have to add your pie to our list of treats."

"That would be nice..I would like chicken at the wedding and white rice..oh! And flowers!"

"What kinds? I saw daisies in your front yard."

"Oh no, the daisies were from a friend..Darcy Lewis..I like..I like orchids."

"So did my mother. She liked sunflowers too."

-----

Mary chuckled softly, hissing and growing weak over time. Thankfully Max arrived just in time to the area where the lake was supposed to be. However when the two climbed off the wagon to go searching for water, they found the lake was deemed as empty.

Barely any water left.

Amelia hurried scooping up whatever water she could into a bottle, hoping it would work to save her mother. Or at least buy them more time with her.

Nicholas was gently patting his mother-in-law's forehead and softly smiled, "How are you feeling?"

"Tired..weak..my chest hurts.." She responded, clearing her throat smiling back.

"I bet you are. Look, May, I apologize for today..if-if I known my brother was going to look for me, I would've scouted the area before and.."

"Hey, you couldn't have imagined this to happen..it's not your fault, none of it is.."

"But..you're badly hurt.."

"It's okay..and I'm not afraid to end my life this way.."

"No, no your gonna be alright. Just breathe.."

"How much do you want to live at life with my daughter?" She asked suddenly changing the topic.

"W-what..?" He muttered.

"How much are you willing to do so be happy?"

"Whatever it takes, I'll try my best.."

"Start with the thing you like to do so most..what is your favorite thing?"

"..uh..um, when I child, I used to draw a lot..and sing..I haven't done a lot of it lately.."

"And return to those hobbies, my dear. Aside from your skills like fighting, your strength comes from your art..am I right?"

He nodded in response, smiling softly, "..y-yeah, it is. I hope to one day paint so much as possible.."

"..maybe you might show my grandchildren a thing or two about that..but it all starts with you.." May added smiling.

Amelia returned once again, holding the amount of water she was able to collect, requesting for her mother to drink it slowly. May nodded drinking the water from the lake, taking a deep breath as she did.

Amelia knew it wasn't much but she hoped for the best, waiting for the results. Her mother's color started to come back slowly and her labored breaths subsided for a bit. She chuckled softly at the results, yet she stilled worried. Nicholas smiled to himself, readying the wagon for their journey back.

She sat beside her mother, "..mama, how do you feel?"

"A little better..but not the best right now.." May respond.

"No shit, you got shot, ma."

"N-not funny."

"Sorry, I just hope your okay.."

"I will be..knowing you're gonna be happy.."

"I am happy.."

"Cause you will be marrying your prince."

"Is that how you felt when you married dad?"

"Oh yeah, I married my prince..well, he was more like a knight in shining amor.."

She chuckled at her mother's light joke. She knew her mother's stories and jokes were a way to keeping the memories light, even if they might feel sad.

Her mother was dying, she knew it..

"..mama I am sorry..so-so sorry.." Amelia said, as tears started to appear.

"Hey, no, shh. Don't be.." May said, placing a hand on her cheek, "Don't cry.."

"But..but your not getting better..and we let you get shoot and..and.."

"Shh, it's not your fault..it didn't know it would happen. And I'm not mad at you."

"But those..and the lake wasn't enough.."

"Hush my darling..promise me, you will save me a seat at the wedding."

"Y-yes mama..yeah.."

-----

It was getting late, very late, and the older women wasn't getting any mother.

The pair knew it like the back at their hand.

There was this painted feeling in Snow's chest at the thought of her mother going to the stars and this being her last time seeing it. It took all her strength not to let tears show, as she played with her mother's hair braiding it as she heard May talk.

She smiled hearing her mother speaking her thoughts out in the open, as if letting the nature know she was one with them.

Nicholas was quietly smiling, listening to his mother-in-law talk to them, as he chuckled holding the reins of the horses. He only met the women yet he felt like she was a memory coming back to life. One he won't forget.

She kissed her mother's forehead listening to the wind and watching the sun set below the trees. Despite it all, Amelia wasn't too scared of watching mother join the skies.

However, she couldn't shake the feeling of her mom not being at her wedding. When she became a princess, she vowed her mother would watch her get another chapter to her story and inspire her next move.

And that's what she wanted to do.

"Stop the wagon." She said, looking up to face the front of the carriage.

"What?" Nikolai exclaimed softly.

"I said stop the wagon, darling."

"Why? We're almost home to your mother's house."

"Let's get married."

"Excuse me?!"

That caught a gentle laugh from May.

"Let's get married. Today!" Snow repeated.

That's when Nikolai stopped the carriage and whipped his head around to say, "Are you insane?!"

"I fell for you, didn't I?"

"I-that's not the point! We can't get married, not now, I mean!"

Nikolai thought for a moment onto what she meant, looking around at the forest they were in and the fact that they were alone. No bad brothers, not knights on their tail, no weird friends or foes. Not even magic to stop them.

Yes, he wanted to have a grand ol' wedding with their friends around, dressed in their best clothes, guards around the castle around to protect them and a brand new home waiting for them to enter.

But then again, all he needed was a kind moment with her to seal the deal and make her his wife. Aside the fact that his mother-in-law was dying, it was somehow peaceful. Here, he stood with no worries about threats or fears in front of them.

"Let's do it." He said after a moment.

"Really?" She asked, wanting to confirm his words.

"Yes, yes, let's get married right here, right now."

The pair grinned, leading the carriage to a spot that was all too wonderful. They were surrounded by greenery, flowers such as tulips, daisies and orchid, there was a small lake that shinned behind them allowing the reflections of the sun set to play above.

There was no one to marry them, but it didn't matter.

A couple feet away was Max as his rein were connected to the wagon that held May gently applying pressure to her wound, as if the pain wasn't there at all. As she was deemed to be at peace with the sight in front of her.

In front of her stood, her daughter and son-in-law, holding hands standing in front of their makeshift arch, saying their vows to one another. The two of them were chuckling and grinning, shaking their heads as the words escaped their lips.

Most of the words were inaudible to her, catching every other word possible, as it seemed so beautiful and intimate to her eyes.

"I do."

"I do."

Nikolai smiled leaning in to press his lips softly against her very own as she hummed in respond resting her hands against his chest. They held one another close sealing the deal, pronouncing each other as husband and wife in their minds.

May watched seeing the two smile, to utterly in love, as the kiss seemed to be a mix of love, strength and wishful thinking all meshed into one. It reminded May of her wedding day years ago with her husband, knowing Ben Parker, Nikolai’s mother and all the angels above were watching this ceremony in glee.

She smiled as her eyes slowly closed, allowing that to the last sight her eyes gazed upon. She let out a exclaimed breath, as if telling the world she was now ready to join the others in the sky tonight..

..So still.

So bright.

When Amelia and Nikolai parted lips, resting in another's arms, their shoulders dropped looking over at the view of May.

She was resting peacefully..

Their muse.

----

—-💍💫—-

Ahh so that’s what I got for this season 2 flashback fic. I hope you like it.

Tell me what you think in the comments below!

Tags: @missstrawbs2001 @purpleprincessonfyre @meiramel @gcthvile @rickb-chaos @gaminggirlsstuff @wizzzardofoz @thechoooooosenone @luna-d-marsh @thecavalrywife @cherrysft and etc

[emma-frxst]

The Implicit Demand for Proof (11)

Pairing: Detective David Loki x reader

Summary: you, a forensic psychologist, get called in on a high priority child abduction case in Conyers, PA. What happens when you catch feelings for detective Loki?

Warnings- movie level violence, su*cide guns, language. (I don’t think I’m forgetting anything.)

A/n- alright folks this chapter includes the scene where Bob Taylor dies by su*cide (unalives himself).We will process readers reaction/ Lokis reaction to it and thoughts/feelings about it. I know y’all have seen the movie and know what happens , just giving you fair warning.

A/n 2- this chapter is long as fuck, do with this information as you will.

Series masterlist here

-

“Bob Taylor, I’m agent (L/N) with the FBI.” You said, sitting down at the table across from him.

“So I hear that you told detective Loki you killed Anna” you slid Anna’s picture in front of him. “And Joy.” You did the same with her picture.

He let out a quiet ‘yes’.

“Okay. I’m going to get you a tissue for your bloody nose and a bandaid and then we’re gonna talk, ok?”

He nodded.

After making a psychological profile of Bob, you decided that going in soft would be best. You could tell it was already working. His body language changed almost instantly at your presence. He was less nervous, but nervous nonetheless. He had definitely been doing something.

.

Loki watched (y/n) interrogate Bob while forensics processed the clothing found at the scene. David was enjoying every minute of it. It was so fascinating to him how easily (y/n) got into Bob’s head.

“See, what you’re telling me is different from what you told my partner.” She said.

Partner…Loki no longer felt an overwhelming feeling of dread at that word; it had grown on him since she had been around.

“Let me tell you something Bob. I’m a forensic psychologist. Do you know what that is?”

He nodded yes

“You do? Good.” You paused. “Then you may know that means I know when you’re telling me lies. And I don’t like lying!” You exclaimed, slamming your fist on the table.

He drew back, shocked that you were no longer friendly.

It gets them every time.

“I-I- I’ll draw a map..to the bodies.”

You swiped your photos off the table then placed some paper and a small pencil in front of the man.

“Get drawing.” You spat.

Oh Loki definitely liked her. That bit of sass coming out right then? Yes please.

“Loki, the families are here.” Officer John informed him as he poked his head into the room.

Loki let out a sigh. Time to see if any of the clothes found belonged to the girls.

.

Loki came to stand next to you as you watched Bob Taylor obsessively draw mazes from behind the one way glass.

“How’d it go with the parents?” You asked him.

He sighed.

“Both sets of parents recognized at least one piece of clothing. Dover blames me for the whole thing. Says I wasted time following him.”

“Shit.” You said as you anxiously ran a hand through your hair. “You know it’s not your fault, right?”

“You get anything?” He inquired, changing the subject.

“No…yes…I dunno…something’s off.” You stated.

“What’s he doing right now?”

“Drawing us a map to the bodies.”

Loki, with brow raised, doubted that.

“It looks like the scribbles on the walls in his house.”

“Good eye, detective.” You complimented.

You didn’t miss the way Loki’s lips curved upward into what was almost a smile.

“What are you thinking?” He inquired.

“I’m not positive. Is the conference room free? I need space to think.”

“Yeah, it is.”

You grabbed your increasingly thick file folder and made your exit.

.

Loki didn’t wanna bother y/n while she was working, but Bob Taylor had been doing nothing but scribbling mazes for the past hour and he was getting bored. He needed an excuse to interrupt her.

Then, an idea struck him.

Coffee.

Not shitty break room coffee. The good shit from the shop down the street.

.

After a quick trip, Loki made his way down the hall to the conference room and leaned up against the door frame.

She had all her papers spread out on the bulletin board and onto the table and some even in the floor. String connected from one picture to another as (y/n) scoured her web of case notes. She was too focused to notice him standing there.

In the few seconds Loki stood there awkwardly with coffee in hand, he began to overthink his decision.

Is it weird that I knew her regular order? Would she get the wrong impression from this? What if she think it’s strange that I went out of my way just for her? Maybe I should just let her be, I should go. Oh too late she saw me. Fuck. No, it’s fine. Just be cool.

She smiled immediately upon seeing him, putting Loki’s troubled mind at ease.

.

Movement at the door caught your eye, you turned around and noticed Loki standing there, immediately motioning for him to come in.

He carefully stepped around all your organized chaos until he was in the center of what looked like a paperwork tornado.

“I hope you know I don’t usually work in such a mess like this.” You sheepishly admitted.

“Even if you did I wouldn’t stop you.” He assured you.

You looked up and noticed he was holding two cups of coffee.

To your surprise, one was for you.

“Figured you could use one.”

You smiled at the gesture, coffee and detective Loki? What more could a girl ask for?

“I can always use one. Thank you.”

You took a long sip and you were immediately taken aback by the the delicious flavor flooding your tastebuds.

This definitely wasn’t break room coffee. This was coffee shop coffee.

Actually, it was exactly what you would order at a coffee shop.

You looked at the order label stuck to the side of the cup.

Yep. That’s your order, down to a T.

Loki had memorized your coffee order.

Loki had memorized your coffee order!

“You memorized my order?” You couldn’t help the sheepish grin that plastered itself onto your face.

Loki, who was was looking very pleased with himself, nodded.

“You only order it a hundred times a day-and that’s since you’ve been here. Can’t imagine what you’re like back home.” A sly grin made its way to his lips.

“Hey!” You exclaimed, playfully whacking him with the papers in your hand.

He let out a chuckle, which was music to your ears.

“Sounds to me like you’ve got a caffeine addiction” he mumbled, taking a sip of his coffee as he nonchalantly sat on the edge of the conference room table

“If anyone around here has a coffee addiction, it’s you mister.” You said, sitting beside him.

“Ain’t no denying that.” Loki confessed.

“Well, here’s to caffeine addictions.” You said raising your cup for a toast.

He raised his cup to yours, the plastic not making much of a sound.

You were suddenly hyper-aware of your proximity to Loki. You glanced over at him- taking in all the small details. The way his cologne intoxicated you, the faded tattoos, the way his hair always fell out of place in the same spot first. Loki turned, locking eyes with you. As much as you didn’t wanna seem like a weirdo for staring at him, you couldn’t pull your gaze away.

David’s eyes searched your face for a sign, a signal or something that told him that you were feeling this too.

Your heart began to race and your palms grew sweaty.

Your eyes flickered between David’s eyes and lips, God you wanted to taste him so badly.

Loki nervously cleared his throat and looked down at the floor, breaking the trance he had put you in.

“So..” you started, trying to hide your disappointment. “I called my people back home and got everything we could find on Taylor, right?”

“Right” he confirmed, his face a mixture of emotions.

“They just got back to me after digging around some more.” You rustled around in the paper pile to find your notes.

“Apparently he was kidnapped when he was young, the captor kept him drugged up. Hospital reports show a mix of LSD and ketamine. Bob escaped, but they never caught the guy.”

You looked up from your notes at Loki to make sure he was listening- And there was that look again, like those blue eyes were staring straight into you.

“So you know how the other day after we went to the mall and I was talking about the suspect probably having extreme trauma the need to control it?”

“Yeah.” Loki replied.

“Taking Anna and Joy…is his attempt to control his trauma. And that experience of being kidnapped fucked him up so much, all he can do is draw mazes for hours on end. That trauma is all he can think about. I think his mind is a fucked up maze and he can’t get out.”

“So..?” Loki trailed off.

“So..I don’t know.” You sighed, feeling defeated. “We could question him together. Good cop, bad cop style?”

“Okay. You’re the bad cop though.”

You scoffed, feigning offense.

“Me? The bad cop?” Your voice going up an octave.

“Yeah.” Loki smirked. “I watched you interrogate Taylor. It suits you.”

“Yeah? You profiling me now detective?”

Loki chuckled. “Yeah..Well, did I do good?”

“Yeah, Loki, you did good.” You said, patting his arm.

Poor, touch starved Loki longed for just a few more moments of your touch. Damn he shouldn’t chickened out of kissing you.

.

“How long has this Bob Taylor been working on this map?” Captain O’Malley came by to check on things.

“Three and a half hours.”

“And you think this is going to lead you to the bodies? cause I sure as shit don’t.”

“Do me a favor Captain and go fuck yourself. We weren’t getting anywhere questioning him.”

Both your moods had shifted dramatically within the last two hours. Feeling the pressure from everyone, you were feeling particularly anxious about this case.

“There was no getting to him, it was like he’s in a trance. He shut down.” You confirmed.

“That looks more like a maze than a map-“

“He’s got a thing for mazes!” Loki spat.

“I’m going home. Call me if something happens.”

You and Loki were at your wits end trying to get this motherfucker to talk.

Loki let out a big sigh.

“Gimme that card John, the key card.”

Loki stormed into the interrogation room

He blinked ‘hard’ a few times and placed his hands on his hips.

“Alright it’s done now. Tell me what you’re drawing. You said you were drawing a map, that looks like a fucking puzzle. You tell me what you’re drawing.”

He blinked ‘hard’.

“Tell me what you’re drawing.”

Loki grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him back from the table.

“I can’t!” Bob cried out.

“Yes you can!” and before you knew it he slammed his face into the desk.

“Shit!” You exclaimed as your adrenaline shot up, what the hell was Loki doing?!

Yes you can! Yes you can!” Loki yelled at him over and over.

You and officer John and another officer who you didn’t know all barged in the room desperately trying to tear the two apart. The guys had hands on Loki desperately trying to pull him off, while you grabbed onto Bob Taylor and tried to pull him away, but Loki had a death grip on the man.

“Loki what the fuck are you doing?!” You asked, your anger bubbling to the surface.

In a split second, Bob jumped on the opportunity to pull the gun from the officers holster while he was distracted.

“Oh shit! Gun! Gun! Gun!” Loki yelled and drew his weapon.

You instantly went into crisis mode and drew your weapon.

“Bob you don’t have to do this.” You said. He glanced at you and in that split second you saw a broken man. A victim. He was tired.. tired of trying to escape the prison that was his mind. You’d seen that look before. You knew then it was too late, he had made the decision.

“Bob, put it down. Put the gun down. Bob, Bob. Bob, Bob. No. No no no no! No no no!-“

Bang!

You grimaced at the ringing in your ears from the gunshot.

The sight of Bob Taylor’s brains splattered on the wall made you queasy.

“Fuck.” Loki said in disbelief, “go call fucking R.A.” His voice wavering. You didn’t miss the way his lip trembled and his hands shook.

You angrily shoved your gun in its holster and bolted past Loki and the officers towards the bathroom.

Loki wasn’t the only one starting to crack under the pressure of the Dover-Birch case.

The gravity of what had just happened hit you like a ton of bricks. He was dead. And you watched it happen. You started to feel tightness in your chest, you were breathing but couldn’t get any air. Your heart felt like it was going to beat out of your chest. Your head started to spin.

You turned on the sink and splashed cold water on your face.

Deep breaths, deep breaths you reminded yourself.

Once the room stopped spinning, you hoisted yourself on to the bathroom sink, you guessed that was as fine of a place to sit as any.

Your chest filled with anger. This was a mistake that was 100% avoidable. Now how were you going to find the girls? Your only real lead was fucking dead.

.

You planted yourself in the seat beside Loki who was waiting just outside the interrogation room.

“Will you sign my incident report?”

He signed the report and handed it back to you without saying a word.

After a few minutes of silence, Loki spoke up and asked if you were okay. It was a simple question but it filled you with anger. Blame it on frustration, lack of sleep, or unbounded stress piling up from this case. Or hell all three, but you couldn’t hold it in any longer. Professionalism be damned.

“No. No Loki I’m not! Our only lead on this case just blew his fucking brains out!”

He blinked ‘hard’.

“Sorry. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell.” As mad as you were, you knew the last thing Loki needed was you yelling at him.

You sighed. “I’m sorry Loki.”

“S’okay. Loki mumbled.

A heavy silence lingered.

After a minute or two, the medical examiners walked by, body bag in tow.

The captain followed them, holding Bob’s “map”.

“He explain this before he ate the bullet?” O’Malley questioned, trying his best to hold back his anger.

“I’m sorry.”

“Fuck your sorry. Save it for the girls parents.”

Loki stared at the paper the captain handed him.

“Does that look familiar to you? “ he asked, holding up the paper.

“No, sorry.” You said with a yawn, the all too familiar tired feeling sinking into your bones.

You stood from the cramped chair, hoping Loki would follow you.

He didn’t.

All he could do was stare at Bobs drawing.

“Goodnight, Loki.” You said, in a hurry to gather your things and leave.

“Night.” He murmured, unable to tear his eyes from the paper.

.

As y/n rounded the corner of the bullpen, Loki could’ve sworn he saw tears in her eyes. He wanted to go to her and apologize and tell her they’d find the girls some other way, but his feet felt like they were cemented to the floor.

What was he supposed to say anyways? Sorry I got our lead suspect killed and screwed up the entire investigation. Don’t think they make a card for that.

-

loki only tags: @spideyrights @sataninsatin @go-commander-kim @severuined @romancries @eclecticfashionbookszipper @fagen @sizzlingcloudmentality @kissyabish @gyllenhaal-darko-bloom-vibes

[musicfeedsmysoul12]

Pulling on the Strings of Destiny: Book 2 Chapter 17

Summary: Four days pass for Japan, and everyone is on edge.  They wonder, and wait. What will happen next for them? Will Midoriya  keep rising? What sort of things would she face. They all turned towards  the screens, wondering. None more so then the future class 1-A, more so  as they get a glimpse into their first sports festival, first  internship and their final exams. Watch as Midoriya’s future continues  to unfold, as she learns more about her family, society and herself.

Warnings: References to underage pregnancy and the assualt of a minor. References to child harm. Toga Himiko to, she is her own warning.

ON AO3

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 “Now, we all need a talk about collateral damage and how much is too much,” Midnight announced with a smile. Ochako blushed, looking down. “I have noticed you all seem to be a bit too gun-ho about destruction in general, which is a teenager thing. I suggest keeping that impulse to video games where you can run around stealing things or killing people without consequences.”

 “Murder hobo,” Kaminari whispered. Sato snickered, and Ochako giggled herself. That was funny.

 “Aizawa aside-” Midnight said, prompting laughter from the class, which she snickered at, “those things work in video games, not real life. You have to think about the damage you’re causing while you fight people and how they may react. Uraraka had a good idea of using the debris to combat Bakugou, but she used too much. In a real fight, it could have killed her or Bakugou.”

 “And I dragged it out. I could have gotten him earlier,” Ochako said regretfully.

 “Yes, you did,” Midnight agreed. “But he also was taking too long. I understand with the Sports Festival, it’s as much showmanship as it is talent, so a little showing off is fine, but just as many people will be keeping an eye on how far you go,” Midnight nodded. “We already knew that Hatsume was pulled because they were thinking of the reaction to her hijacking the festival to show off. Iida, can you explain how things would happen?”

 Iida didn’t respond for a second, and Ochako looked at him worriedly. She hoped he was okay, though she felt he was too busy thinking about his brother. Still, the blue-haired teen blinked and looked at Midnight.

 “If she had humiliated me, IidaTen would ban her. Most likely just for a year or so, but given our connection to many other hero agencies and support companies, she would be unable to find a spot as an intern,” he said. “Given it may have been her lying to me, she would also be watched more by others.”

 “Exactly. That amount of poor sportsmanship would not look good for her. Bakugou and Uraraka both went too far in their match, which will have long-term consequences for them too. Or, well, short term. I doubt either will gain many high-ranking offers because of this,” Midnight said. “A few will offer, but other than maybe Best Jeanist and his PR project, I doubt anyone is above the top forty at most.”

 “Best Jeanist runs that every year,” Yaoyorozu said. “My cousin talked about it, how he always picks the students he feels needs a talking to.”

 “He does,” Midnight nodded. “He has a good heart, much like Uwabami. She goes for girls who have low self-confidence to try and cheer them up, or she goes for girls who are known to be… problematic about certain parts of the hero industry such as media training.” Midnight shrugged. “With the retirement of our more recent internship coordinator, we are worried about that, given he’s the one who can accurately know where you kids should go, but a few flubbed internships won’t be a big deal in the long run for first years.” Midnight waved a hand. “Not the point; we’re discussing that collateral damage is a serious thing, and you need to be aware of it, as well as know how to handle the necessary amount of showboating the industry requires if you’re a limelight or twilight hero.”

 “The Darkness Calls for Me,” Tokoyami said dramatically. Dark Shadow snorted, poking her head out of her twin.

 “He means we’re going to be underground. Easier that way,” she told the class, prompting giggles.

 “Aizawa will handle that if you want,” Midnight told the Tokoyami twins. “He has all the connections needed, though I do think you two could be a great limelight duo.”

 “Too much light hurts,” Dark Shadow said. “Rather not.”

 “Even before knowing she is my sister, I worried about the harm light could cause to Dark Shadow,” Tokoyami agreed.

 Ochako was impressed that within a few days, the two had come together so well. It was awe-inspiring. She was also happy they were now discussing heroics like that. Knowing she’d been a bit of an idiot in showing off wasn’t that fun.

 Elsewhere in Japan, Best Jeanist hummed. Death Arms squinted at him, looking thoughtful. “You gonna offer the kid an internship in this timeline?” the punching hero asked.

 “He’ll most likely be sent to Second Chance, and internships for them only occur during university level,” Jeanist denied. “Unless he washes out.”

 “He won’t,” Mt Lady said. “I think he’s going to get his head out of his ass, even if it’s because he gets sent to Second Chance rather than staying at UA.”

 “He might stay,” Kamui Woods said. “He’s shown he’s smart; he aced the mock exams, right? Kid might stick around if he wises up.”

 “Nah, he won’t until it’s big enough,” Mt Lady disagreed. “Kid like that? He’s getting consequences now, but he won’t like understand why he gets them UNTIL he crosses a line of no return. He’s skilled and smart, but he’s been pandered to for years. He’s going to crash first, and then he’ll realize he fucked up.”

 “Like we’re realizing we fucked up?” Kamui Woods asked. The other two new heroes winced, but he wasn’t wrong. They’d fucked up, and the whole country knew about it. They would have to work to get back into the good graces of the public, and it would be a very long battle to do so.

 As the heroes contemplated that, the timer hit zero, and the screen began.

The screen reveals Midoriya checking on Tomoe, smiling at the sleeping toddler. “I’m going to get at least third place, baby,” the teen says softly.

 “Not going to win it all?” Mic asks her. She shakes her head.

 “Maybe, maybe not. I think I need to beat Todoroki’s head in more than I need to win.” She tells the man. He frowns.

 “I do,” Izumi said as she glared at the screen. Where was her mother? Why weren’t they showing the woman? It wasn’t FAIR.

 “Don’t set yourself on fire to keep others warm,” Shouta told her as he returned to the car. They’d head to UA early, given all the emotional scenes going on. The media didn’t need to see her break down. Maybe she would be able to hold back her emotions so she could continue cleaning the beach, maybe not. Only time will tell. Hopefully, she could- the media and public would eat her alive if she didn’t.

 “I… I won’t,” Izumi said. She had Tomoe to think about; she couldn’t sacrifice herself for others because of her daughter.

 She wouldn’t leave her daughter alone.

 “Ah, one of the ‘I need to beat some sense into you’ moments?” Mic glances to the side where his husband sits.

 “I can feel you staring,” Aizawa mutters.

 “You should. We both got our asses kicked back and forth by Nemuri, and I had to kick your ass too.” Mic says. He turns back to Midoriya. “It’s common for some morons in the hero course not to actually see clearly until they get their asses kicked, so don’t worry. It’s a time-honoured tradition.” Midoriya laughs at that, walking out of the announcer’s booth. She walks down the halls, her head lifted. I’m continuing the ass-kicking tradition to get through someone’s head. Nothing is going to stop me.

 “Ah yes,” Hizashi laughed. “That.”

 “Ass kicking tradition?” Izumi asked, latching onto the conversation.

 “You probably figured out that sometimes we fix the matches so certain people fight each other, right?” Hizashi asked. Izumi nodded; it was pretty obvious. “Sometimes, for a good humbling, we set certain people up. Like a few years back, we set Togata against a guy who’d been running his mouth for the first month and being a bully. Togata kicked his ass. Kid was terrible with his Quirk at the time, but he was better than the other kid.”

 “Oh? Who was it?” Izumi asked curiously.

 “If you’d watch the festival, he’s the first one Togata fought,” Shouta said, not wanting to give up personal information on a student. Izumi would figure it out herself.

 “Lazy kids in the hero course get set against Gen Ed kids who have a shot at the course,” Mic chirped as he started the car. “Gen Ed kids who are pests about not getting into the hero course while not doing ANYTHING to increase their chances for the festival or catching the eye of a teacher get paired against hero students they’d look down on, list goes on.”

 “Sometimes we also make sure kids don’t fight until the end, like how you in the future asked about Shinsou. Usually, it’s because they have a nasty rivalry going on,” Shouta said. “We’ll then pair them up for final exams if it’s not fixed…” he frowned. “I just realized if you hadn’t said anything, we might have done that with you and Bakugou.”

 “What?!” Izumi asked.

 “I can see it. It looks like a rivalry mixed with pigtail pulling if you don’t actually try to look into it,” Hizashi said.

 “Are you kidding me?” Izumi asked. “How the hell is it a rivalry?!”

 “I’ve seen way worse,” Shouta said hollowly. “Usually between boys, so maybe we would have caught it otherwise.”

 “You’re both crazy,” Izumi said. Though, maybe they were right. If she didn’t have Tomoe, she might have been still convinced Bakugou was her friend. It took having the little girl for her to realize how he treated her was wrong. Maybe she would have been so desperate for Bakugou to be her friend that she would ignore all of the warning signs.

 Maybe.

 Back in the announcer booth, Aizawa turns to Mic. “You didn’t mention the heart eyes you developed after I kicked your ass.”

 “... what?!” Izumi asked in shock. Hizashi just whistled as Shouta groaned.

 “Ha! Well, comfortable with people liking her or not, she needs a bit more time, I think, to contemplate that.” Mic laughs. “I don’t know if Todoroki could handle dating a single teen mom anyway.”

 “You don’t?” Aizawa asks, then pauses. “Wait, why are we talking about this?”

 “Please, like you don’t eavesdrop on me and Midnight discussing the love lives of the kids.” Present Mic snickers. Aizawa just sighs.

 “It’s so much fun!” Midnight cooed to the class as they all snickered. Shouto ignored their glances, too busy waiting for the screen to show the battle. He’d beat Midoriya, he knew it, and prove his mother’s ice was all he needed to be number one. Crushes wouldn’t factor into it; he wasn’t there to find someone. Besides, with his father wanting Midoriya as Shouto’s wife, the teenager would never date her.

 He would always want to spite his father.

 Meanwhile, Endeavour scowled at the screen. Perhaps Shouto’s temper tantrum would lead to his defeat, but they shouldn’t count him out! Though… the idea of a crush would be helpful for PR when he could arrange the marriage. It would only take a little manipulation…

 The man was absorbed in his thoughts, plotting how to make it happen. His legacy would reign for a very long time; he just knew it.

 The screen changes to show an alley. Laying in said alley is Ingenium, blood staining the ground around him as he chokes. Above him is Stain, the man sneering down.

 The screams echoing around Japan nearly deafened a few people. In Hosu, Tensei froze in horror as Native grabbed his friend’s shoulder tightly. Elsewhere, in an office building with a live stream on a big screen, a person dropped to their knees in shock.

 No, not Engine Boy, not him. Not when they finally had the courage to text him after all this time. No!

 In UA, Tenya yelled, diving for his phone desperately. He had to call Tensei. He had to make sure he was okay. Midnight stared at the screen in horror as by the beach, Hizashi had to park, breathing heavily as Shouta remembered the falling building, his hands shaking.

 The Iida parents dove for their phones, too, hands shaking in horror. Their son, they had to call him. He had to be okay!

 Stain stared at the screen. Why would he hurt… no, Ingenium had to have done something terrible. Stain went after the unworthy! There must have been something the so-called hero did. There had to have been!

 Stain was the sole voice against corruption. He would be the one to cull the unworthy! Ingenium was just another face to it.

(He would go down in history.)

"Fame... Money...” Stain scoffs. “That's what all of you who call yourselves heroes are really after. But you bastards are not heroes. Except him. The only one with permission to kill me. All Might is worthy.” Stain stabs down at a phone lying on the ground, the screen showing a missed call from Iida Tenya: the phone breaks, and Stain leaves. Ingenium shakes, choking more as he tries to move.

 Can’t… can’t die here… his thoughts echo. He growls out loud and sends a gust of exhaust from his arms.

“Someone see,” Tenya begged as he pressed the contact for his brother. Someone see his brother, someone save Tensei.

Outside the alley, a person dressed in jeans and a loose t-shirt is walking by. They see the exhaust and frown, turning to walk into the alley. They freeze before rushing forward and dropping to their knees beside Ingenium, pulling out a phone. They begin dialling a number, pressing the phone to their ear.

 “This is pro-hero Info Dropper,” the person says. “I’m on-site at a new Stain attack; the victim is Ingenium,” their eyes flash, “He’s alive, but…” the screen fades away, returning to the stadium where Iida is frowning at his phone.

 “Oh, thank god,” Mrs. Iida said in relief as Mr. Iida dropped to his knees. Info Dropper had saved their son. He would live.

 Thank any god listening.

 Info Dropper shakily stood up from where they’d fallen, shoulders shaking. They swallowed and spoke out loud, “Iida Tensei.” Their eyes flashed, and their mind twisted as knowledge came to their mind.

Minor sprain two weeks ago-

In Hosu holding his phone-

Scared-

Still in love-

 They slapped themself across the face before the thought continued. They didn’t want to know. Didn’t want to hope. God, things were so fucked up, weren’t they?

 “Goblin,” Fairy said, the leader of the Court looking at Info Dropper worriedly. She used the name they had for International work and stood with Statistica, who’d dropped her work.

 “I need to go to Japan,” Info Dropper said. “I… I said I was, but I need… I need to go.”

 “If you leave now, you’ll be quitting the Court,” Fairy warned them. Info Dropper didn’t flinch. Other than brief missions or the occasional vacation, they hadn’t been back in Japan for years. Rules within the Court: you had to maintain residency in Canada and stay there.

 “The Kid is more than ready,” Info Dropper said.

 “What?! ID!” Statistica, Elric Aria, said in shock. “I’m-”

 “I was retiring soon anyway,” Info Dropper confessed. “I… I got news from Squirt, and I realized I’d lost myself. I lost who I was here. Too fucking busy with work and healing from Sara.” their eyes flashed, and they closed them as the information entered their mind. Still in prison. Good. (May she rot.) “I can’t stay.”

 “Understandable,” Fairy sighed. “We will miss you, Gobl… Info Dropper.”

 “I know. But I have to go,” Info Dropper said quietly. They had to. It wasn’t just for Tensei (they could think his name in their mind, could hold it carefully). It was for Squirt, their baby brother. He just got divorced, and they didn’t know. They’d been busy with a mission when he found out he was cheated on, as he went through it alone because he didn’t feel comfortable contacting any of ID’s old friends, losing all of his in the divorce.

 They gave their life to the Court. They couldn’t do it anymore.

 (They saw Midoriya and her love for her daughter, how she would give up everything for Tomoe, and felt shame.)

 “My brother must be on a longer patrol than normal.” He says out loud before tucking his phone away. He walks away from the waiting room, heading to the stands where 1A is waiting. He sits beside Uraraka. “Who do you believe will win?” he nods to the field where the figures of Todoroki and Midoriya can be seen.

 “No! I need to…” Tenya said as his phone connected to Tensei.

 “Tenya, I’m okay, I promise,” Tensei said over the phone.

 “You better be,” the voices of their parents said, and Tenya felt only relief. A conference call so they could reassure themselves Tensei was alive. They could be aware if he was hurt.

 He was okay, though, and would be okay in the future.

 He had to be.

 “It depends on who manages to get the first attack.” Yaoyorozu voices. Uraraka hums, looking at Iida, who shrugs.

 I think there’s more to this than we know. Midoriya was acting weird after she came back from talking to Todoroki… Uraraka thinks before the screen goes to the field.

 “She won the first competition, and he swooped in to win the second! They’ve been neck and neck this whole time! Give it up for the two class A stars, Midoriya Izumi and Todoroki Shouto!” Mic shouts over the intercom.

 “Here we go,” Midoriya says softly. Todoroki’s eyes narrow.

The screen moves to show Shigaraki sitting next to his boss. High-pitched screams echo.

 “I’m SORRY!” the voice screams. It’s a feminine voice, one recognizable as Mrs. Midoriya. “Please, please honey-“

 “No…” Izumi whimpered. “No, no-”

 “Izumi-”

 “NO!” Izumi sobbed. Tomoe made a noise, and Izumi turned to unbuckle her daughter from her car seat to hug her.

 Her mother was being tortured in the future. Her mother was… had been tortured.

 She vanished, and it didn’t make sense. Izumi’s father- no, Hisashi had taken her. It had to be true.

 Her mother was most likely dead now, after how long of torture.

 Her mother would never return; she would never see the woman again. She had already thought that, but now…

 She was dead. Izumi would never see the woman again, never reconnect, never be able to convince her perhaps that Tomoe was perfect. A half hope, one she’d abandoned when she thought the woman left her and when Inko had kicked her out in the future, but…

 She honestly never would. She lost her family.

 The sadness suddenly changed, and she growled through her tears.

 “I’m going to rip my father apart,” she vowed angrily.

 “We’ll help,” promised Hizashi, looking thankful he could focus on that and not his friend.

 “Mama?” Tomoe asked, looking at Izumi in worry. Her mother kissed the child.

 “I’m okay, baby,” Izumi said. She would be okay.

 Her mother was dead, but Izumi had already accepted that the woman was no longer her mother in a way. It stung, it burned, and Izumi would mourn her for a very long time. But she could stand; she could breathe.

 She would be okay. She would beat her father and get revenge. That was a promise.

 “Ah, I wonder if my daughter will triumph here.” Remarks the man on his throne-like chair.

 “She will,” Shigaraki remarks. “My sister is showing off all her skills against those NPCs.”

 “Wait, he’s saying she’s his sister?” Mika wondered out loud as she paused in cleaning off graffiti.

 “...he’s very strange.”

 “No duh,” Mika muttered. What was with that logic?

 “Already thinking of her as a sister?” laughs the man beside him. He reaches out to place a hand on Shigaraki’s shoulder. A green light briefly flashes. “Good. She’ll need a protective brother when we bring her and my granddaughter back.”

 “You don’t touch her,” Toshinori vowed. He would not let All for One, because it had to be him, touch Izumi. He would keep her safe from harm and make sure that her so-called ‘father’ wouldn’t harm the girl. He would protect her like he hadn’t protected Nana.

 He wouldn’t fail again.

 Elsewhere, Mitsuki growled like a dog, teeth bared.

 “You touch a HAIR on that girl’s head, and I will MURDER YOU HISASHI!” she screamed. She heard her son’s explosions and, for once over the last few days, didn’t mind. What they just saw was horrific.

 Inko was dead at the hands of the man she loved. She would never be better, never be the woman Mitsuki knew she could be. Never breathe again.

 And yet, her death was just a moment; the screen would change. Inko died, and the world kept spinning even as Mitsuki screamed.

 Inko died in both the present and the future. She would only be remembered as a bad mother, and it wasn’t wrong.

 It still made Mitsuki scream.

 The two villains watch the television as the voice of Mrs. Midoriya continues to scream.

 The field is shown again, the two staring at one another. A voice echoes around them."My father is the hero Endeavor. He's the number two hero. You must know him.” Midoriya narrows her eyes at Todoroki.

"It's my Shoto's duty to surpass All Might as the number one hero," Endeavor’s voice echoes. Midoriya bares her teeth as another moment from before comes to mind.

"So if you are connected to All Might, the number one hero, then that would mean I have even more reason to beat you," Todoroki’s voice says.

 They were similar. Shouto knew that then, knew he and Midoriya were too much alike. Their fathers were monsters who took their mothers away. They were haunted by a legacy and had their abusive fire user in their lives.

 But they were different. Shouto’s mother wasn’t like Mrs. Midoriya. She was kind and sweet and loved him. Sure, she hurt him one time, but it… it didn’t matter. She’d been having a mental breakdown. He could forgive her for it. She just saw his father in him.

 They were similar, Shouto knew. And this fight would show the world it, even when he won.

 “I won’t go down without a fight, Todoroki,” Midoriya says out loud. “I’m gonna be a hero with every aspect of my being.”

 “Good,” Todoroki says. Midoriya snorts.

 “Why are you here if you’re not going to do your best to be a hero?” she asks. Todoroki pauses, blinking. Suddenly, a child version of himself is on the screen, crying as he hugs his mother. She’s hugging him, shushing him.

"But honey, you do still wanna be a hero, don't you? Just remember, stay true to yourself," his mother says. Suddenly, the screen returns to the fight just as Midnight cracks her whip.

 Rei breathed out slowly, seeing herself with her son. Her baby. She couldn’t protect him, and now he would be just like his father, a hero.

 She had to fix it, had to stop it, right? She was a good mother who only wanted the best for her children.

 Meanwhile, her children stared at her—Shouto with regret, Fuyumi with sadness, Natsuo with conflict… and Dabi with hate.

Now! Todoroki thinks before sending a glacier of ice at Midoriya. The green-haired girl lights up, lightning coursing around her before she smacks her hands together, creating a shockwave that causes the ice to break. The pressure nearly tosses Todoroki out of the arena. He quickly establishes an ice block to stop himself from flying out.

 “Tch,” Todoroki tisks. She’s fast- he has to slam down a foot to prevent Midoriya’s rush towards him on his left side.

"Wow! Midoriya managed to break Todoroki's insane opening move!" Mic yells over the intercom. Midoriya bares her teeth as she shakes her hands slightly. They’re red and looking sore.

 Not broken. Not good, but not broken. She thinks.

 “And mom is forgotten,” Izumi said out loud. “The future moves on.” She had moved on to anger, but knowing that her mother’s death occurred, brushed over and forgotten, still hurt.

 She hoped the future her at least had a good fight, watched it hopefully as Tomoe was buckled back into her seat and the car moved on to UA, the media trying to get close but defied by the various officers around.

 She hoped to get it through his head that he needed to use his Quirk to its fullest.

 The screen moves to show All Might frowning at the area.

 She had no way of knowing how powerful young Todoroki's attack was going to be, so she abandoned restraint and fired off a shot at a hundred percent, the hero thinks. Hopefully, she doesn’t need to again.

 The screen shows the area where Todoroki is sending another large glacier of ice at Midoriya. She glares and kicks out just as it reaches her, breaking the ice.

"She countered again!" Mic yells. Midoriya lets out a breath of air.

 Todoroki is fast. I don’t know much about his fighting style other than he uses ice only to overwhelm us and doesn’t use his fire. That’s not enough. I need an opening… She thinks quickly. The ice behind him prevents him from flying out with the wind forces I put behind my moves. Smart. I’ll have to push a bit harder to be able to beat him.

 “Go, Midoriya!” Ochako cheered. Iida, still on the phone, shot her a half smile. Good. He needed to focus on the present. And currently, Midoriya was being awesome. Hopefully, it distracted the girl from knowing of her mother’s fate.

 No one deserved that.

"Let's continue," Todoroki says before sending another ice glacier at Midoriya. She rolls her eyes and, with a flick of all her fingers, destroys it. They look very red as she glances at her hand.

 This is a lot more force than I usually use. If he goes harder… who am I kidding, he would. He’s not stupid…

 The screen shows class 1A, who are watching the scene closely.

 “It really might be neck and neck,” Kaminari says. “I wonder who’ll come out on top.”

 “Midoriya,” Iida and Uraraka said, though Momo wasn’t sure. Todoroki was quite strong, and Midoriya hadn’t been as trained as long as he had. Yet…

 Todoroki chose to cripple himself. He decided not to try as hard as he should have against Midoriya. It could be the tipping point.

 (But was she right in her thoughts? Was she right to assume? Was she? She’d failed herself, and even with the kind words, she still had misjudged things so much.)

 “I’m just curious what will happen if Todoroki and Bakugou both win,” Kirishima says. “They both have attacks that could total the arena!”

 “If?!” Bakugou asks. He looks insulted as he glares at Kirishima. “Eye bags has nothing on me; I’ll cream him into next week!”

 “Fuck yeah!” Katsuki shouted. He was furious. Auntie was dead before she could show people she changed, and now fucking Shitty Hair was saying stupid shit. If. He was the best of the best! He’d win! He would win and then one day murder that fucker Hisashi in revenge for his Auntie. A perfect debut, honestly, taking revenge for his Aunt and his wife. Deku would be thankful he could do what she hadn’t. He could already see it.

 (He mourned his aunt, but he would avenge her. He loved her and would make sure she would not be forgotten. She could have changed like he would.)

 “You never know, Bakugou,” Uraraka taunts a little. The blonde gives her a dirty look she smirks at. “I think Midoriya will either come out on top or barely lose.”

 “Really? Todoroki is really strong.” Kirishima says as he looks at the arena with a frown. “Can she keep breaking the ice?”

 “Theoretically, yes. There’s always an endpoint, and Todoroki has a limit.” Yaoyorozu says. “I believe anyway. He may be throwing around a lot of ice, but eventually, he’ll run out of steam. Midoriya, though, doesn’t use her full strength, meaning she has more of a pool to draw from.”

 “Oh, man! I forgot about that!” Kirishima says. “Midoriya is pretty badass, isn’t she?”

 “She is,” Kaminari says, grinning. “Love a woman who can kick my ass.” He sighs jokingly and then pauses. “You know, Shinsou wasn’t so bad either.”

 “No, he ain’t,” Denki agreed with his future self, grinning at the screen. Anyone who could kick his ass was his type.

 In his school, Hitoshi nearly fell off his seat as Atakani laughed at the screen. The teacher sighed, attempting to calm down the group. It didn’t work very well.

 “You are such a disaster bi,” Jirou voices. She pauses, but the laugh from Kaminari makes her relax.

 “Not wrong!” Kaminari says. “Come on; you’re as bad as me, though.”

 “…Yeah, you’re not wrong,” Jirou allows. Sato, sitting next to her, laughs himself, shaking his head.

 “Ha! You admit it!” Denki pointed at Jirou, who blushed but shrugged.

 “People are hot.” She said. “...and yes, that includes Midoriya as well as Shinsou.”

 The class burst out into giggles as Midnight cooed over their youth.

 “Holy shit!” Ashido says. “Midoriya just backhanded that ice hard enough to break!” The scene goes back to the arena. Midoriya is frowning as she looks at Todoroki.

 This isn’t making sense. He’s not going full out. He can go harder… and he’s not breathing frost. She squints at Todoroki, who responds by running towards her, creating a bridge of ice to speed himself up. She punches the air, shattering it. He jumps off the bridge and sends another glacier, the ice catching her feet. She ripped herself from it, the ice shattering.

 “…Are you going easy on me?!” Midoriya yells. Todoroki ignores her.

 “He’s deeeeeead.” a civilian muttered. Never go easy on anyone, especially someone with a strength Quirk. You’d end up with your ass kicked sooner or later.

"You want an endurance match. But I'll end this quickly," Todoroki says, sending another ice glacier at her. She flicks a finger, a very dark scowl on her face.

 “No, no, we are talking about this. You’re not going full out. Not even with your ice? Realizing you can’t solely rely on it? Or are you refusing to go all out and hurt me?” Midoriya demands. Todoroki sends a rush of ice at her, and she dodges it, eyes narrowing.

 It doesn’t make sense. His Quirk is next level, but added to that is his judgment, mobility and reasoning. He’s incredible, so why would he be… Midoriya wonders. The screen moves to the stands where heroes mutter to one another.

 “Dang, should I put money on TodoMido?” asked a civilian woman.

 “Dude, her mother was murdered, and she's fighting to get his head out of his ass.” her friend said.

 “Enemies to friends to lovers.”

 “… okay maybe.”

"That kid's already better than most rookies," one of the heroes comments.

"Guess that's what you can expect from the son of the number two hero," another says.

The screen shows the arena. Midoriya studies Todoroki, noticing how while he isn’t breathing frost, part of him is covered in it. The boy shakes slightly, making her eyes widen.

 “Oh, you’re not going easy.” Midoriya realizes. “You’re already too cold, aren’t you? Well, there’s a way to fix that, isn’t there?” Midoriya mocks.

 “I will never use his power!” Todoroki barks.

 “Never!” Shouto snarled to himself.

 In her hospital room, Rei hesitantly nodded. Good, that was good. Maybe… maybe she could understand him being a hero with her ice.

 “Really? What if I was a villain?!” Midoriya kicks another rush of ice. “All I need to do is wear you down, have you throw more and more ice, don’t I? Then when you’re collapsed, I’ll take care of you.”

 “I’ll have beaten them before that happens,” Todoroki snarls.

 “Even if I could use fire?” Midoriya asks. Todoroki growls, glancing up at the arena where his father can be seen on fire. “Oh, don’t you dare-“ Midoriya slams a foot into the floor, forcing Todoroki to create ice to keep himself upright. “I’m your opponent, not him!”

 “Don’t give him the time of day,” Natsuo muttered. That bastard didn't deserve a second look. Ever.

 “Fine,” Todoroki sends out a giant blast of ice. Midoriya grits her teeth and flicks a finger. Said finger becomes purple and bruised, making Midoriya hiss. Todoroki freezes, his face going pale.

The screen shows Endeavor standing above a young Todoroki, kneeling on the ground, coughing and shivering. A small pile of vomit rests under him.

 “What the fuck…” Hawks said, staring at the screen. His mind flashed back to a similar moment in his training, where a cruel trainer had sneered at him to stand back up. A nicer one stepped in, soothing Hawks. It had been nice.

 Only later had he learned it was all a ruse to get him loyal. But he still… he still was. Sure, it was a cheap trick, but it was for the greater good. They weren't his parents; they were trainers.

 Endeavour… Endeavour was Shouto’s father. He couldn't… He couldn't do that. It was cruel. It was wrong! He…

 It couldn't be real.

"Now stand up. If you get hurt that easily, you can forget about beating All Might or even a small-time villain," Endeavor barks. A pale-haired woman rushes in before dropping down to kneel next to Todoroki.

"Please, stop pushing him. He's only five years old," Todoroki's mother says.

“Five?! And he's training him like that?” was screamed across Japan. Even Hawks couldn't defend it, staring in horror.

 Five years old.

 Five.

 The thought made people sick.

 Endeavour would have ignored the screen if his office door hadn't burst open. Burnin’ stood there, staring at him as if she saw a ghost.

 “What-”

 “I quit. I refuse to work for you, you abusive son of a fucking bitch.” she said before turning around to walk out.

 “Burnin-”

 “No!” she whirled around. “I… I can't… FUCK YOU! Fuck you, Todoroki Enji! Fuck you for your abuse. Fuck you for the lies!” she glared at him. “I joined here hoping to make a difference. But all I see is the monster I grew up with, now in a form I thought I could respect.” she turned around again and walked off.

 Endeavour knew Burnin’ was abused. That her father did horrible things to her, and she'd stopped him when he went after her younger sister. He'd helped gather evidence when Burnin’, a young sidekick, had told him her mother was threatening her about it.

 Hearing him compared to that man…

 It was the first time he wondered if he'd done the right thing.

"He can take it. Get out of my way," Endeavor snaps, the screen focusing on Todoroki as the sound of flesh striking flesh and a woman crying breaks out.

 “She fell!” Endeavour snapped. It was something he'd told himself before and something Rei agreed to. It had to be true. He wasn't…

 He wasn't like those people. The abusers. He was tough. He was strong. But he wasn't abusive! He had a reason for it! To make Shouto surpass All Might, ensure he didn't burn up like Touya! He wasn't a monster!

 Elsewhere, Dabi watched with dark eyes. The masterpiece who replaced him was so weak that he threw up? Endeavour had truly gone hard on Shouto, more than he had on Dabi, which means that the brat always meant more than Dabi. 

 He could have handled that training! Little brat! Whining that Endeavour was a monster, and he was, but not admitting he couldn't take the training! Ha! Brat.

 Fuyumi closed her eyes and put her face into her hands. She was at the school she taught at, in the break room. She couldn't go to her class. Not now. Not with what was being shown.

  “Todoroki…” a fellow teacher said softly, “I have a spare room.”

 “… Shouto is safe at his dorm,” Fuyumi said, wiping her eyes. “Dad… he’ll be at the office late with everything. It'll be okay to grab my stuff.”

 “We’ll help,” the teacher promised.

 Natsuo had left his class, sitting on a bench in his university to breathe. He hadn't entirely understood the abuse Shouto or Touya faced. Toys had trauma dumped a lot on him, and he thought he'd known.

 But to see it was something else. It made Natsuo uneasy to see, and he was scared. He was scared of what it could mean. What could happen now in the future?

 Endeavour was exposed, and they would face the consequences. Good or bad.

 He thought of his mother, wondering how she would react to everything. He'd been thinking more about her lately. On how she'd ignored him for his entire childhood and how the few times he'd visited her, she seemed to be deluding herself with the idea she was a perfect mom. He hadn't wanted to hurt her feelings yet.

 But… things were coming out. And he was hopeful for them.

 In her hospital room, Rei closed her eyes. She didn't want to see more, something mimicked by her youngest, who refused to watch his mother be hurt by his father.

 Suddenly, the screen shows older Todoroki taking a punch to the face from Midoriya.

 “Eyes on me!” she shouts. “God, what is wrong with you?” Todoroki throws more ice at her, and she dodges. “Stop getting lost in your head? What are you going to do if someone takes advantage of you this way?” She kicks his left side, and the boy grunts. “Come on, fight back properly!”

 “I won’t become him!” Todoroki yells. “I won’t use his fire!” He turns to launch ice at Midoriya, who bats it away easily. She scoffs.

 “Yeah, you won’t become him. You’ll probably never become a hero if you don’t TRY HARDER! I barely had to use five percent there!” Midoriya kicks at him. “Why do you keep acting like you’re above us?” Todoroki blinks, and the screen changes.

 “I'm not,” Shouto said.

 “You kinda are,” Shouji voiced. Shouto turned to stare at the many armed teen. “You don't use your Quirk to the fullest and say it's unnecessary. How is that not saying you're above us when we go all out, but you don’t need to?”

 Shouto turned away, not wanting to admit the boy was right.

The screen shows a young Todoroki watching his three siblings play. A boy with red and white hair kicks the ball they use reasonably hard. Todoroki looks interested, but his father passes by before he does anything.

"Ignore them, Shoto. They live in a different world than the one I'm training you for," Endeavor says as he grabs Todoroki's wrist and drags him away. Todoroki looks so confused and upset as he does.

 In the present time, Shouto flinched violently.

 He was above his siblings, according to his father. Did… did he internalize the thought? Did he believe it even when he said he didn’t? Shouto didn’t know, and it felt awful, like a slug sliding down his throat.

 The screen moves back to the fight, where Midoriya punches Todoroki again.

 “God, you know, I felt sorry for you!” Midoriya shouts. “I still do, but if this is what you’ll do when confronted with someone who won’t stop? A woman who won’t? I damn well feel less sorry and more PISSED.” She kicks out, and Todoroki makes an ice block as he dodges back. Midoriya continues. “You don’t want to be like your dad? Fine! Figure out who YOU want to be! But don’t pretend you’re on a high horse when you cause people to DIE because you refuse to use all of your Quirk!” Todoroki growls and throws out a large blast.

 “SHUT UP!” he shouts, shaking. Midoriya laughs, unable to help it, as she throws her head back.

"You're trembling, Todoroki. It's easy to forget that quirks are physical abilities, and that means there's a limit to the cold your body can take, right? I get it. Usually, you'd make up for the drop in temperature by using the heat from your left side. But you refuse to do that now,” she snorts. “Meanwhile, here I am, using my Quirk to the best of my abilities.” She flicks out a finger, purposely breaking it to shatter some ice. “Even if I may break, because in a real fight? If I’m protecting people? I’m going to do it. I’m trying to win, not just for myself but for my daughter! My friends! Everyone who believes in me!” She kicks another glacier apart, baring her teeth. “What are you fighting for?”

 “SHUT UP!” Shouto shouted at the screen. Midnight’s whip cracked in warning, but Shouto barely paid attention. Midoriya didn’t know what she was talking about! No one truly understood!

 Meanwhile, Izumi scowled at the screen. After seeing her mother die, she now had to watch Shouto refuse to use his Quirk to its fullest. What if someone else had their mother captured, and he couldn’t save them? What would he say to the children? ‘Sorry, I’m too busy being stubborn, and I let your mother die.’ Or something like that.

 It made her angry.

 “I’m going to be a hero with my mother’s ICE!” Todoroki roars, sending more at her. Midoriya cackles, shaking her head as she breaks it again.

"You think you can win with half your strength? Look at me, Todoroki. You haven't managed to put a single scratch on me yet that I didn’t do to myself!” she taunts. “So come at me with all you've got if you wanna win!"

 The screen moves to the announcer's booth. Mic looks worried as he gazes down at the field.

 “The microphones blew; what are they talking about?” he asks.

 “Given what I screamed at you during our first sports festival… I think it’s probably best we don’t know,” Aizawa tells his husband.

 “Are you sure?” Mic asks. “We both said heavy stuff.”

 “No, not now.” Shouta sighed. They should know what’s going on and help. It would be difficult without proof, but no child should be abused. No child should harm themselves like Todoroki was to spite their parent.

 “Yeah, let the guy choose to tell us,” Aizawa says. Mic frowns, but his phone goes off. He reads the message.

 “Nezu says mics will be back up in a second,” Mic says right before the screen returns to the field, where Midoriya dives out of the range of more ice.

"Midoriya, what are you trying to do here? You want my fire? What, did my monster of a dad bribe you or something? Now I'm mad," Todoroki yells angrily.

 “Oh, he talked to me,” Midoriya brushes it off. “But I told him off. Told him he wasn’t you. I told him that the parents of great heroes end up as footnotes! But this?! This isn’t the mark of a great hero, Todoroki!”

 “SHUT UP!” Todoroki screams. More ice follows his yell, and Midoriya has to smash it again, breaking another finger. She breathes heavily. Todoroki growls. “Why are you doing this?! What goal does it serve to take all these hits?!” Todoroki demands.

 “I told you. I’m fighting for myself. For the little girl I have up in the announcer’s booth. For my mentor!” she yells. The screen shows a bar where a green-scaled man sits, watching in awe. The microphones are back up, and Midoriya’s voice can be heard. “I’m fighting for every damn kid like me out there, the ones who get beaten down and called names. I’m fighting because this is MY POWER! My choice, my ability!” The screen goes back to focus on Shouto’s face before moving to reveal a younger Shouto being hugged by his mother tightly.

 The screen goes back to the arena, where Midoriya kicks more ice. A chunk flies off and slams into her face, forcing her head back. Todoroki freezes, eyes horrified. But she straightens her neck and grins. A bit of blood trickles down her face.

 “Holy shiiiiit,” Denki muttered. That grin was ten kinds of feral, and it was hot. Even as Todoroki gasped in horror at actually hurting Midoriya, Denki couldn’t look away.

A few of the other classmates were in the same boat, unable to look away from that grin. It was wild, dangerous and fierce—everything they could want in a smile.

 “Oh,” Tenya said very quietly. It clicked then what Shinsou had meant in the future and what his brother joked about. He liked Midoriya. He liked her.

 He wouldn’t do anything. She was… she wasn’t ready. She probably wouldn’t be for a while, and he valued her as a friend more than anything else. He wouldn’t make a move. Though if she did first… maybe.

 God, he’d gotten a crush just by watching some videos. That wasn’t normal, was it?

 Ochako was in the same boat. Midoriya was amazing and beautiful and kind, and Ochako couldn’t stand it. Looking at the screen, seeing her fight so hard to help someone, hearing her scream why she fought…

 How couldn’t you fall in love with that?

 “I’m not gonna stop Todoroki. I won’t back down. I’ve spent years a Quirkless weakling abandoned by society, but I fought back each day! I’m giving it all I got.” Midoriya says. “You wanna reject your dad? Fine, go ahead. But you will never reach the number one status if you don’t use all of your power.” She runs at Todoroki, who barely creates an ice wall in time to pause her. Midoriya winds a fist up and punches through.

"Shut up," Todoroki says as more ice forms. However, the image of him flickers back to show him and his mother, with the younger version of Todoroki crying on her lap.

"I don't want to, Mom. Please, I... I don't want to be the kind of guy he is. I don't want to be someone who bullies you and hurts people, Momma!" Todoroki says. His mother pets his hair.

"But, honey, you do still wanna be a hero, don't you?" his mother asks. The screen returns to the arena as she speaks more, "Just remember, stay true to yourself. You can be the kind of hero you want to be when you grow up.”

"I’m going to WIN Todoroki. You know why? Because I keep fighting. Because I look my demons in the eyes and say no. I don’t give up and let them control me!” Midoriya yells. Her nose drips blood still, and the screen changes again. Young Todoroki is walking down a hall, his mother’s voice speaking.

 "Mom? I feel like I'm going crazy. I can't take it anymore. Every day, the children seem more like him.” She says. “Touya is gone. And Shouto… That child's left side sometimes looks unbearable to me. All I can see is his father. I can't raise him anymore, knowing he’ll become like his father with that fire. I want to run away from this life," Mrs. Todoroki says. “The doctors… mom, no, please listen. I can’t do this; I keep seeing his father!” Young Todoroki enters the kitchen where she is, looking confused. His mother is in front of the oven where a kettle is boiling.

 “NO!” was the collective scream from Japan. They didn’t want to see it, didn’t want to experience the moment. It was terrifying, and they didn’t want to see the child harmed.

 Meanwhile, Shouto felt his body freeze. No, not this. Please not this.

"Mom, what are you saying?" Todoroki asks. His mother turns, the screen focusing on her eyes as the kettle whistles. The screen returns to the arena, where Todoroki takes a hit from Midoriya. The teenage version of Todoroki flies back.

I remember,  he thinks. The screen changes again to show child Todoroki with bandages over his left eye, his father in front of him looking annoyed.

"Moronic woman. To hurt you at such an important time," Endeavor says as he shakes his head in disgust.

"Where did Momma go?" Todoroki asks softly.

"Huh? Oh, she hurt my masterpiece, so I put her in a hospital to keep you safe," Endeavor replies with a shrug.

 “He’s your son!” Spinner shouted at the screen. “He’s your SON, NOT A MASTERPIECE!”

 “Go fuck yourself!” Magne screamed. Their comments were echoed by the future class A screaming at the screen. In their middle schools, Monoma and Shinsou threatened Endeavour if they got a hold of him.

 Fuyumi sobbed as Natsuo cursed darkly, and Dabi huffed. It's all about Shouto still, pathetic.

"That was your fault," Shoto says.

"Huh?" Endeavour asks as he looks at his son. The screen focuses on child Todoroki, who glares up at him with watery eyes.

"You're the one who made her hurt me!" Shoto yells.

 I… I didn’t want to use the Quirk that made me like him. That made her hurt me. Todoroki’s inner thoughts occur as the arena is shown again. Todoroki stands up from where he’d fallen, looking up at Midoriya.

 “Oh fuck,” Hound Dog sighed. It wasn’t just to spite Endeavour; it was about how his mother hurt him. He connected fire to being hurt by his father, obviously, but also because of what his mother did to him. No wonder he refused to use his fire if that was the reason.

"I refuse to use my left side," Todoroki says, though he sounds a bit confused. Midoriya senses it, and she snarls out an answer.

"It's yours! Your Quirk, not his!" Todoroki pauses before the screen shows him and his mom watching an old show where All Might is speaking.

"Yes. That's right. Children often do inherit Quirks from their parents or develop similar power sets. But the most important thing to remember is that a quirk is what you make of it, regardless of your history. You decide how you'll use it. That's what I mean when I say, 'I am here.' Only you can decide to become a hero, no one else. Take this to heart, kids! You've got it!" All Might says.

 The screen goes back to Todoroki and Midoriya. She glares at him. Todoroki stares back as his mother’s voice speaks in the air.

"You are not a prisoner of your lineage," she says. "It's okay to use your power to become who you want to be.”

 “… oh,” Shouto said. It felt like something secret had been unfolded, a truth of the universe before him.

 His power was his own. His father gave him the genes, but it was HIS fire. His mother hadn’t been right. The fire wasn’t Endevaour. His ice wasn’t his mother’s.

 It was Shouto’s. It had always been Shouto’s. And yes, he’d unintentionally internalized a lot from his father. Possibly even his mother with his fear of his fire. But it was wrong.

 It was all wrong, and his fire was his own. He had control over himself.

 “Are you going to use all of your Quirk or not?” Midoriya asks. Todoroki stares before he suddenly laughs, steam coming off him before he bursts into flame. Shocked cries echo around the stadium.

 “Hell yeah, kid! Own that fire!” Yao screamed in the bar, pumping his fists up. Others yelled similar encouragement, as class A went wild with cheers as Todoroki looked at the screen with awe.

 “Wait, is he…” Mic’s voice says over the intercom.

The screen shows class 1-A in the stands. Uraraka laughs hard.

"He's using his fire!" Uraraka says. “Midoriya wanted him to!” Iida nods, Todoroki’s words from the cavalry battle returning to him.

"When I'm in battle, I never use my left side.”

"Incredible," Iida says, shaking his head.

 “Him or Midoriya?” Uraraka jokes.

 “Both,” Iida muttered as his on-screen counterpart spoke.

 “Both,” Iida says before the screen shows All Might watching the fight. The man laughs.

You made him use his fire, Midoriya. Don't tell me you were trying to save Young Todoroki this whole time! All Might thinks. The screen goes back to the arena where Midoriya is grinning with all of her teeth.

"You're helping your opponent," Todoroki says as the frost melts off his right side. "You fool. Even though you want to win this battle. Now which one of us is screwing around? I want it, too. I'll be a hero!" He grins back at her. The screen briefly shows Endeavour, who has his own smile, stepping forward.

"Yes, Shoto!" he yells. The screen goes to the announcer’s booth, where Mic frowns in confusion. It goes back to Endeavour, who shouts some more.

 “Oh shut up, you trash can!” Kaminari yelled.

 “Fuck off, asshole!”

 “Tais-toi et laisse ton fils tranquille, salaud sans style!” Aoyama yelled.

 “You’re disgusting!”

 “BOOOOOO!”

 Multiple people in Japan echoed the sentiment; no one was happy with Endeavour, even as said hero smirked.

 His masterpiece used his flames. Things had worked out for him after all. He’d made the right choices, and no matter what, his name would go down in history as the father of a legacy.

 It had to be true. It had to be.

"Have you finally accepted your purpose? That's it. Very good. This is the dawn of a new era for us. With my blood in your veins, you'll surpass me. You will live up to the reason I created you!" Around him, people are giving him weirded-out looks.

 “Told you, Kaze,” one whispers to her seatmate. The mutation Quirk man shrugs, looking baffled. The screen goes back to Mic, who looks at Aizawa.

 “…Well, that’s not concerning at all,” Mic mutters. The screen returns to the arena where Midoriya is beaming, her grin becoming more prominent as the fire casts shadows on her face.

 “Well then, Todoroki, let’s see what you can do!” she cries out as lightning flickers around her even brighter. Todoroki stares at her, eyes wide, before a reckless grin takes over his face.

 “You’re crazy!” Todoroki laughs. He adjusts his stance and begins making ice along with his fire. Midoriya throws her head back to laugh, lightning all around her as the fire makes more shadows and sunlight reflects off the ice. For a second, she looks otherworldly, pure power echoing around her, face bloody and fingers broken. Todoroki, even as he gathers his power, stares in awe. She’s beautiful… he thinks before his grin grows. I never thought this could be so much fun: his own energy increases, the power around him of fire and ice building. Light and shadow flicker over him, giving him his otherworldly hue.

 “She’s not the only beautiful one,” muttered Hitoshi, unable to look away. Two powerful Quirk users facing one another in battle? How could neither of them be beautiful?

 Izumi covered her face with a whine. She was happy about helping Shouto, but again, with the beautiful stuff? It was embarrassing! But…

 She looked amazing. She was bloody; she’d fought a good fight, and she was facing down someone just as strong as she was. She was holding her own, surrounded by lightning, as she laughed.

 Then Todoroki. Izumi stared at him through her fingers, seeing the flames flicker around him, the shadows darkening the area only for light reflecting off his ice to destroy them. He looked like a god, to one of war who was facing down the goddess of lightning.

 He was handsome, and it was a thought Izumi didn’t feel so against him. She wasn’t ready for a relationship for a while. But Todoroki… he was very handsome.

 Cementoss and Midnight are staring at the two in shock.

 “What the shit?” Midnight asks out loud. They’re like demigods… man I hope someone gets a good photo! Maybe some fan art!

 “Should I…” Cementoss stands up.

 “Be ready,” Midnight says as Todoroki sends a glacier at Midoriya, who breaks it by smashing her heel down, cracking the stage. Todoroki responds with a wave of fire, Cementoss throwing up a concrete barrier just as an explosion begins from the action. The screen moves back to 1A, who are thrown around by it, covering their faces.

 “This is INSANE!” Kaminari cries out.

 “IT IS!” Denki agreed with his on-screen self. Those two were so powerful and facing off like that?

 Holy hell, Denki couldn’t look away. The sheer amount of power… damn.

 In his lair, Hisashi smiled at his daughter. He was proud of her, showing her skill like she was. So beautiful, dangerous and wild. She would sit very comfortably on her throne with that power. And that Todoroki boy…

 Hisashi disliked the beautiful comment, but he did wonder about that Quirk. It was a very strong one. Very versatile. Also, didn’t the doctor have some project with the eldest Todoroki child going on? He should look into it more. If he could, he’d love to make a bodyguard for Izumi out of the youngest Todoroki as long as he could get that Quirk first, however.

 He wanted it, and he would get what he wanted.

 “What’s going on down there?!” Yaoyorozu asks. The screen goes into a split, showing the teachers standing up in shock on one side with Endeavour on the other, his mouth open in surprise before moving again to show Kaumi Woods and Death Arms outside the stadium, staring up at the smoke rising from it in shock.

 When the screen returns to the area, it shows Cementoss standing up from where he’d been knocked over.

 “Quirk’s don’t make a hero, but those two? Those two are amazing.” The man says. The screen then goes to the announcer’s booth. Tomoe is awake and making confused noises.

 “Did… what the hell is up with your students, Eraser?” Mic asks. “What just happened?!”

 “Mama!” Tomoe whines. Mic gets up to get her as Aizawa sighs.

 “The air around the ring had been thoroughly cooled down, and then when it was rapidly heated up, it expanded, causing the explosion as we saw it,” Aizawa says as Mic returns with the toddler.

 "Wait, that's what caused the explosion? How hot did that fire get? Jeez, I can't see a thing! Is the match still going on, or what, huh?" Mic asks. The screen goes back to the arena where Midnight is standing up and looking around. It appears everyone is trying to see what’s going on. When the smoke clears, it shows the two students still in the arena, Midroiya with her feet dug into the ground hard, the jagged cement having cut into her and making her bleed. Todoroki is leaning against an ice block. The two stare at each other, breathing. Midoriya pries herself from the cement and then falls forward, unable to stand. Todoroki tries to move as well but drops down. Midnight hesitates.

 “…It’s a TIE!” Midnight announces.

 The stadium erupts into screams right before it all goes black.

 The same reaction arched around Japan, people screaming in shock. Even after everything, after what occurred, those two came out into a tie. How insane was that?

 The entire chapter had been a roller coaster of emotion, and now they got this.

 They could only wait to see what happened next.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Notes:

-I do think some of the matches in canon are fixed. I mean, come on: setting the two guys who basically have the same Quirk against one another? That’s fixed.

-Bakugou getting so many offers in canon was one of those things that confused me, given how he acted. But I am mostly convinced they were low ranked people wanting the prestige of having the guy who got number one in the festival. Best Jeanist just got him for PR reasons.

-No one can convince me that Mic and Midnight don’t gossip about their students like that. They have already discussed who Izumi could choose, though acknowledging she isn’t ready to date right now. (Am I mildly obsessed with this? Maybe. I like romance.)

-Info Dropper!! My beloved OC!

-I firmly do think if canon!Izuku was a woman, Todoroki would have gone a little easier on her. Here, the fact she breaks a finger because of him kind of shocked him enough to take a punch. Freezeing someone in place is different then them hurting themselves.

-Also, no, Todoroki isn’t holding back. He’s just more tired from having two earlier fights. But he is going a bit easier on her then canon.

-Midoriya in this world is a bit meaner then canon mostly due to the fact that she has a lot more anger. It simmers under her skin more.

-Listen… I am CONVINCED that part of Todoroki’s issues with fire is more cause his mom hurt him for looking like his dad then wanting to spite him. Fire = Make him like his dad. Being like his dad = Pain.

-As Izumi didn’t hurt herself as much in this fight, she was able to stabilize herself more. Of course… given they were both in the boundary… look, I had the idea I ran with it.

-I will be doing NaNoWriMo this year with all my fanfics. During this time I may post random things like one shots. We will have to see!

[skullamity]

TLOU finale thoughts: Seeing a lot of people arguing about whether Joel made the right decision, or that it is indesputable that he made the wrong decision, and listen, listen...

I have not played the game, I haven't had a PS since the PS2 and my computer can't handle modern games. That's fine. I'm just saying that I don't know how the game presents it, but the show did a fairly good job of convincing me specifically that there's never going to be a cure for this.

In the very first episode, a foremost expert in this field is offered literally any resource by her government to work towards a vaccine, and what does she tell them? You can't make one, that's not how cordyceps and how we interact with them (or aren't supposed to be able to interact with them) works. And when she is offered all the resources they can offer, she opts to go home and spend however long she has left with her family. The episode really fucking sold me on this point.

Fast forward, and we have Dr. NoHypocraticOath lying to a child so he can give her brain surgery that will kill her on purpose. Is he the foremost expert on this shit in North America? Well I don't fucking know--if he had a name I don't recall anyone saying it. Didn't get to see much of his face, but he didn't look Joel's age. It's been 20 years since the apocalypse, does he even have a medical degree? Did he make one up? Did he read some books and decide that he was an expert/had a degree? And even if he does have a medical degree, what does he know that that FOREMOST EXPERT IN EPISODE ONE DID NOT, EVEN WITH UNLIMITED RESOURCES OFFERED?

And let's be real, since we are talking about resources. Expert in episode one was like...the amount is NONE. NONE resources will be required because we are literally all going to die, you can't make a vaccine for this shit. Would she have changed her tune if Ellie had been alive then and available? I'm not sure the answer is yes!

But Dr. Childmurder is like yeaaah I think we can pull this off in this extremely unsanitary operating room in this burnt out pediatrics ward using equipment that may not even run properly because anyone who knew how to service it is probably dead. DOUBT!

Now, I guess you can argue that Joel doesn't know about that lady in episode one. He was on the other side of the world and never met her, probably wouldn't have even seen her on TV because she was spending her last moments with family. He's running on limited info, you could say, and I suppose you could argue that because he doesn't know this, he's in the wrong because for all he knows, maybe Dr. Stabbington McBraintheif had the right idea! He should have believe Marlene when she said it was for the best!

And to that I say...again, no. Joel's maybe not a rocket scientist, but he is a survivor before anything else. Even if he wasn't emotionally compromised and his ability to not crumble wasn't all in on Keeping This One Kid Alive, he's been built up to be competent enough to sniff out shoddy reasoning, bullshit and decisions made out of desperation rather than sense. If I can look at this shitty hospital and these garbo conditions and these desperate people who have elected not to inform someone volunteering to help that they've decided to just kill her and hope this works and think that that's super fucking suspicious, then Joel can too, and should have, and did.

Do I agree that lying to Ellie was the best way to cap that off? No. Their entire relationship has been based off of being truthful even when the truth was mean, and being real and him not treating her like an actual child. Whatever's going to happen in season 2 is probably going to be super fucked up, it's probably going to hinge on that lie, and it probably could have been completely avoided if Joel had just said, "I woke up and Marlene wouldn't take me to you. She proceeded to tell me that she'd tricked you into thinking you were having some tests done, but that they were literally just going to kill you. Maybe you would have wanted that, if they'd asked you! But that was the biggest fucking red flag, and there were A Lot of red flags, from the Doctor willing to just flat out murder you looking not old enough to have gotten his pediatric brian surgery degree before colleges stopped being a thing to the shoddy equipment to the fact that they literally tried to bribe me and when I was like absofuckinlutely not, she started to march me out to the highway and told them to shoot me if I at all deviated from that path. Isn't that completely fucked up?" Because even if Ellie was mad about that, she has generally respected Joel's opinions on people and things and probably would have forgiven him eventually for killing them.

But yeah--maybe it's different in the game and for all I know someone does manage to synthesize a vaccine form Ellie's brain at the end of the second one. But the show? Has made it pretty clear that Marlene's cure was a last ditch attempt to find a cure and there was zero guarantee it went anywhere. I see a lot of people addressing this like the cure would have definitely been able to be made, but there was like...zero evidence to suggest that this wouldn't have just been a total waste that also killed a beloved child, and making the call Joel did was objectively the right decision based on the info he had at the time, and based on literally everything else the plot has told us about cordyceps for the entire season.

If you were for some reason convinced that the cure had even a tiny chance of being synthesized form this, you're welcome to explain it to me. I just can't see it!

[flock-from-the-void]

Get to know my OC II

I was tagged by @gummybugg here! I encourage everyone to check out what Blair and Elijah said about themselves!

Tagging! @heavensfallenfaction, @chuuyas-beloved, @aether-wasteland-s, @silverslipstream and @fire-but-ashes-too too! i thought it was funny ok

Check out past contestants! Guan Zhuyu from MoS

For this one, I choose the main from And May the Moon Shine Over Your Ways, my little guy, Tiv!

Behind the sea of golden crops, I saw an auburn bush. I chose a shortcut and after a moment, the rest of the elf was revealed. They were lying on the dry grass, reading a book. Even though they were pretty tall, they looked delicate. Without me asking, they softly said “how can I help you?”

“Ah. It’s pretty easy. You don’t have to go anywhere,” I added, as they were getting from lying to sitting. “I’d like to ask you a few questions, that’s all.”

“Oh? That sounds… fun?”

“It will be fun, I promise. Let us get started.”

1. Are you named after anyone?

That’s… not really a thing we do. Usually, we get names after some special events of talents. I have two! My first name ever was Tiveor’fiehuhue, it’s after an unusually warm winter day, when I was born. The second is Ipsenel, I got it as a child after helping a lot in something, I… I’m sorry, I don’t really remember what that was. My father should know, maybe try asking him?

2. When was the last time you cried?

*laughs* That was a bit cringey… My little sibling broke their tiny toy horse, the poor animal lost its head. When I saw it, them crying and the horse decapitated, my eyes got wet. It was such a cute toy, you know? 

3. Do you have kids?

awkward silence …No.

4. Do you use sarcasm?

While talking with my older sister, yes. She deserves some stings. quiet giggle

5. What's the first thing you notice about people?

I’m a bit interested in cloth-making, so clothes.

6. What's your eye color?

Brown. Sei, I mean my sister, could probably tell you more. She paints a lot and is so good with colors! You wouldn’t believe how many different colors she can make.

7. Any special talents?

I’m decent at lacing. See? Not that bad. shows the lace at the end of his sleeve

8. Scary movies or happy endings?

Both. I… love all the stories, somehow.

9. Where were you born?

points at a close mansion Here!

10. What are your hobbies?

So nice of you to ask! Beside the laces, I make embroidery and knit! I practice Rhetoric, some tiny fun stuff. Usually things for my little sibling and their friends, spending time with tiny stars is inspiring beyond comparison. Of course, I read a lot of books too, of any genre like I said.  

11. Do you have any pets?

When I was younger, we had a cat. She was brown and fluffy, and I used to hug her all the time. I’m not sure if she liked it though… Now we don’t have any. I think we should, it’s good for the children.

12. What sports do you play/have played?

Sei knows a lot of sports and she tried… actually still tries to find something perfect for me. I can ride a horse, but that’s hardly a sport, just a basic transportation method… Oh, I know, ice skating! I enjoy that a bit! I guess the summer made me forget that.

13. How tall are you?

Uh… pretty tall? About as tall as my mother, we’re both just a dot taller than most.

14. Favorite subject in school?

Rhetoric. Talking to flowers and rocks was always fun for me!

15. Dream job?

Helping Sei. That’s probably what I will be doing, lucky me! Some villagers suggest that I should go to the capital and pursue Rhetorics but I… I’m happy with what I have. I want to leave that possibility for my younger sibling as well, we don’t have enough to send off two children. Ah, and above all, Sei won’t manage to be an acceptable ruler without me. laugh

“And that would be all!” I say, clothing my notebook. “By the way, what are you reading?”

“It’s a very convoluted romance. It made me cry so many times… The main character…” [the remaining 50 pages of Tiv’s blabbering was cut out by the redactor]

Ps, have I ever mentioned how much I love this tag?

ammsoyw taglist: @gummybugg, taglist is always open!

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

Am I the asshole for breaking my promise to my sister and telling my mom something she was not supposed to know?

(TW: grooming, incest, and pedophilia)

This might be beyond Tumblr's pay grade but it just happened and I feel like the worst monster on the planet right now.

So on Christmas Eve one of my sisters (Tracy 25 f) took me aside and told me that another one of my sisters (Barbara 17) was texting her and telling her that Barbara's dad (and Tracy's step dad) was sexting our mom, coming around in secret, sleeping with our mom, and even talking about getting back together.

So naturally Tracy is upset about that information because this man groomed her and sexted her while she was technically an adult so that was a traumatic part of our lives because he raised her since she was 2 years old.

She made me promise to not tell my mother that Barbara was texting these things to Tracy. I told Tracy that wasn't happening because our mom doesn't even date and she would never do that. And I visit my mother on a week weekly basis.

I did tell my mother about this after we left the house together because I knew someone was lying to stir up trouble and I thought she deserved to know that her daughter thought she was sleeping with a pedophile.

My mother was not happy about this information and she told me that no matter what she did she was a monster in everyone else's eyes and she brought it to my attention that Tracy may be faking the texts from Barbara to make people feel bad for her (admittedly I did not think about that and I did not see the texts myself).

So my mother brought it up if Tracy told me that then she's telling everyone that. My mother told me that it makes her want to just get up and leave without telling us where because she hates the fact her children would think that,

And while it was unsaid I'm pretty sure my mother hates me for believing that Barbara might have been texting that especially since she said a few different things that made me uncomfortable like

"She was 18 when she made a choice to sext the wrong person. Yes she was pressured into it but she made a choic

And

"We keep treating Tracy like she's a traumatized child but she's not acting like a traumatized child she's acting like a jealous ex-girlfriend."

Those statements make me uncomfortable because I don't want to blame my sister for being groomed. My mother's marriage was also ruined, Barbara lost her father and our lives were turned upside down by I don't want to even think about Tracy choosing to sext my step father when she was still a teen.

So Tracy may be lying about the texts from Barbara. My mother is beyond upset, and I broke my promise to Tracy and I made my mother feel terrible during Christmas and I hate myself so much.

So AM I the asshole for telling my mother that one of my sisters told me that my other sister was telling her that she was still seeing her ex-husband who groomed one of her children?

Once again I'm sorry and I wish I could have known what to do

What are these acronyms?

[covenscribe]

multiples of 10 for amour & the latest tav asks

10. What was your Tav like as a child?

They were routinely kicked out of their parents house when they didn’t feel like being parents anymore so Amour grew as a self reliant  kid who hated all adults and stole anything they thought they could get away with. They also bit people a lot, very feral child.

20. Finally, what does your Tav feel as the Nautiloid crashes? Are they scared? Are they thinking of a way to survive?

Amour really thought they were going to die on impact and is thrilled when they wake up alive. Though quickly they try to think of ways to survive, they have never been away from Baldurs Gate further than Rivington and any knowledge about the outside world from the limited amount of books the brothel would get. Admittedly most of them were just inaccurate naughty books.

30. Who does your Tav think of when they go to sleep at the goblin/tiefling party? Or are they lucky and do they get to spend the night with the person they want? 

Amour drinks too much at the tiefling party, flirts with everyone but after Astarion’s “I love you” line, laughs really hard and basically says “Ha I know you’re lying because no one actually loves me.” Walks away and takes their bedroll to sleep against a tree away from the party alone.

40. Did your Tav agree to kill the Guardian or did they go talk to them instead?

Is very tempted to kill the Guardian but decides against it because they trust Vlaakith less and the Guardian does seem to be the only thing keep the mind flayer infection at bay

50. Does your Tav save the tieflings & gnomes? 

Yes! It was their first priority to rescue them

60. Did you clear Moonrise Towers of the shadow curse?

They found the House of Healing on the way to Moonrise Towers and were able to clear the shadow curse after rescuing everyone during the first trip to moonrise

70. Does your Tav make a deal with Raphael? 

Nope, would never trust him.

80. Does your Tav free the slaves from Steel Watch Foundry? Do they side with the Gondians or with Wulbren? 

Frees the slaves and sides with Barcus

90. Do they betray the Emperor/Orpheus/their companions for the Absolute?

No, destroying the absolute and protecting their friends was their goal

100. Did Karlach get upgraded? Did she turn Illithid? Did she return to Avernus? If so, did Tav join her, or Wyll, or both?

 Karlach was fully upgraded but turned Illthid for the final showdown with the absolute.

[afflatusmiqo]

hgggh

I finished Assassin's Fate last night and I really wish I had someone to talk it over with.

I wish I could remember everything from the last 15 books that might be relevant for interpreting everything.

The circumstances were really horrific. I wonder if the author had to put the Traitor's Death in there just so we would know that it was really, truly, actually the end this time. (At least, the end for Fitz as we knew him.) When the Fool said his death would not be fast, I had a glimmer of hope that he would have more years with Bee.

tbh it was as happy an ending as I could have expected -- everyone who loved Fitz coming to be with him; he and Nighteyes and the Fool becoming complete. (I just wish it could have happened later!)

Like many people, I've been trying to figure out what Bee's last lie was that so impressed the Wolf (who I'm assuming is mostly Nighteyes, but idk there), and which father he is comparing her to.

If the father that the Wolf refers to is Fitz: well, Fitz is best at lying to himself, particularly about whether people really love him. So perhaps she was lying about not wanting the Fool to stay with her as a father figure, or about not wanting Nettle and Riddle to adopt her. Neither of these seem very consistent to me.

(I don't think she's telling the truth when she says that she's fine on her own, though.)

I see several people online saying that they think the lie was that Fitz loved Beloved over everyone else, implying that Beloved needed to be loved "the most" to give himself up for Fitz. I don't think that's something the Wolf would find amusing anyway - it's not a very clever lie.

Yes, I do think Fitz wants the Fool to be with him and Nighteyes forever in the Stone Wolf and the Skill Stream, as one being, which is, a pretty enormous kind of love. I do think he truly wants to be with Bee, too, but he definitely does not want Bee to lose her mortal life or to stop being her own person. As a reader, I think it's a bit mean for that to be a "true" ordering over people Fitz loved, although I totally understand why Bee (and Nettle) would feel that way especially at the time.

(OTOH, there really is no one else Fitz thinks about the way he thinks about the Fool.. honestly, it's just too sad for me to think about Fitz having truly failed Bee.)

Perhaps the lie is that she ever *did* lie about one of the things she said to hurt Beloved. I think she may have lied that she *didn't* have a dream about the black and white rat leaping away from the "thing that used to be a man." The details seem too accurate for her to not have dreamed them. Perhaps she did write down a true dream in the first place, but realized that she could avert that outcome by lying that she dreamed it. Or, maybe the rat didn't jump away, and that's the part she lied about.

Earlier in the book, just before she tells Beloved about her father's letter excoriating him, the narration says "An omission is as good as a lie". I'm not sure if the omission is hers (something about the letter) or Beloved's. As in: if he won't reveal anything to her about himself, she'll give him a lie in exchange, because she's a very hurt child. I do think it's entirely possible that Fitz wrote a letter somewhat like the one she describes. We saw a few examples of heartbroken love letters from Fitz to Fool back in Fool's Assassin. In particular, I'm remembering one where he says he's not going to give up on his daughter to go off on a wild goose chase for the Fool's son (oops). Bee's lie may have been (1) to omit all of the *other* letters he wrote (his love letters), (2) that he didn't burn it (there's a chapter intro near the end of AF referring to a burned letter), (3) something else in the letter.

Tangentially, I've also been wondering about how related the White Prophets are to dragons. When trying to explain to Bee how he could be her father, Beloved drew an analogy with Heeby and Rapskal. Beloved's haughtiness really does resemble the dragons that we've met in some ways, but his love is more like a human love, I think. (iirc he was the one who said that the Liveships would be a new kind of dragon because they also had the memories of humans)

[2n2n]

I know it's only one question at a time but I need to ask these questions all together. 1st: What is your theory of why Hanako-kun was sealed? (I'm quite curious)2°: Do you think Hanako-kun will lose the seal in the manga probably because of Tsukasa?3°: If that happens, do you think he will lose control? For the theories that say they have a lot of power P.S: I love your posts 😍and sorry for asking three questions at the same timeI 😅

There's no rules to questions! So long as you don't mind a possibly long answer. I'm glad you're just curious about my thoughts ^^ I would be talking to myself all day even if nobody was listening, but it is nice if it's entertaining for someone too (: Lets ponder together…

1.Why Hanako was sealed... This I have so few thoughts on. I'm always a little dubious about Minamoto claims, as they have a family narrative upheld, and they obfuscate knowledge and details to suit their dogma. Obviously they aren't always 100% lying, but at least I consider they have a kind of propaganda with their storytelling...

Even when Teru, valuable Minamoto son and current champion or whatever, comes to Nagisa for help, the impulse is to keep information from him ... its all like that inside this lousy business.

everyone seems to work in this duplicitous way to maintain control of handling situations. They don't want a delegation. They want to take care of problems internally. Information can be hidden, distorted, or retold favorably.

How old is/was grandma Minamoto? Did she seal Hanako right away? Was he a normal ghost? Was he distorted by rumors, was he given another chance, does it tie into why he became a mystery, did the Minamoto used to work with the mysteries, or was that always a solution forged by some other group? Why didn't she exorcise him? Did she choose to not, because of something about him, as a mercy, or ... could she just not? What does 'using all her strength' mean, lol?

A lot to wonder but not anything to know. I only try to remain skeptical of whatever bullshit Heroic story Kou specifically was fed as a child, since Teru doesn't want him knowing their family's unpleasant history, or sympathizing with kaii…..

2. I think it's more likely Hanako would lose the seal because of Yashiro, than Tsukasa … I feel as if the seal represents repression, or things Hanako holds back, or… things about himself he doesn't want to be true, or doesn't accept. When Yako talks about her warped self "still being me", he touches it.

I don't think he likes what Yako is saying, given he believes being a kaii warps you past recognizability, and he himself has given up his identity to his kaii existence, erasing Amane.

I'm sure whoever is behind that seal, maybe Hanako wrestles with the idea of that, too, being "himself". Many aspects of his self, his past, he doesn't want to consider, anymore. Or at least ... he doesn't want someone like Yashiro to see.

Yashiro can peel seals, and she's interested in getting to know Hanako. I hope there comes a situation he either finally wants it taken off to do something he needs his full strength for, OR a situation Yashiro makes the decision for HERSELF to peel it off, even if he resists or is afraid. I would love that, anyway (: dreams.

As for Tsukasa, somehow I think looking at him reinforces the desire in Hanako to keep it stuck on. A reminder of what 'loss of control' once resulted in .... In any case, I think Hanako wants the seal to stay, that's my impression right now, given it feels as if he could probably easily privately ask for Yashiro to peel it? She's so in love with him, and she was so ignorant early on … If he's had it on for so long, he may be more afraid of 'returning' to a way he once was, if it's taken off.... ?

3. Yes, I think Hanako has a lot more capability when not sealed! For one thing, Tsukasa seems to gain more and more power as the yorishiro are peeled, and the power is "returned to its original form" (the well God... ? Tsukasa ?) … he seems stronger.

Tsukasa's 'sleep' spell was a lot more effective on Yashiro (in Hell of Mirrors), than Hanako's was (in Picture Perfect), for some reason…

While I think Hanako is hiding his abilities even as it is, and is disguising any benefit destroying yorishiro may have, I imagine his own yorishiro, or ~battery as HE HIMSELF HAS PUT IT, gaining more and more, would have to benefit him… ? I dunno, it's extrapolation at this point-- maybe Tsukasa would weaken, and Hanako would strengthen, if Hanako were to be peeled, as the flow of power between them would suggest …? Maybe Tsukasa can only gain strength right now, BECAUSE Hanako is sealed, and can't absorb more?

I always feel as if power between them could actually instantaneously flip, 'cuz Iro-sensei likes that kind of twist... Tsukasa is Amane's belonging, after all...