#like. thin intimidating lady and round silly lady

[indigo-flowers09]

hey tumblr you like women right?

wanted to draw pretty women so i drew market

[pink-pkmn-trainer]

When it came to demons, Jax wasn't much more than a troublemaker. Stealing things, jumpscaring people, and generally being a nuisance. He acted as though he was free of consequence: but sooner or later, he'd be humbled.

Just as he was making the daily rounds of mischief, about to snatch up another lady's purse, he felt the wind knocked out of him by something approximately human-sized, sending him flying about halfway across the park. He hit one of the many trees spine-first, groaning in pain as he slumped to the ground.

"Hey, what th-" the words died in his throat when he looked up and saw what, or rather who, had shoved him.

Sitting before him was a young woman with long, dark brown hair. As he examined her, he took notice of the horn on her head, and the long, thin tail lashing behind them. He couldn't tell if she could see him or not, as her eyes were covered by a pair of tiny white wings, with a second, larger pair sprouting from their back. All dolled up in a dress with a corset and gloves, he had to admit it was the last thing he expected to see.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't one of those silly angels from above. What brings you here, little birdie?" he mocked, resting his chin on the palm of his hand. The angel had a nervous and panicked look on her face, the eyes on their halo frantically glancing around. She eventually replied to his question.

"Heaven sent me here. They said I was selected to be the new 'guiding angel'? I honestly have no idea what that means..."

Jax just had to roll his eyes at that. Every few years, Heaven would send an angel down to Earth to keep all the wild demons in check. When would those featherbrains learn? "Of course, another guiding angel. What's your name, doll?"

She seemed hesitant to answer. "It's Ace."

"Ace? Like the card?" he inquired, earning a tiny nod from them. A smirk grew across his face and he replied: "You must be the ace of hearts, then, because you certainly have mine~"

"Wh- huh??" the angel blushed bright red and turned her head away. Jax just laughed, was this little wimp seriously the one they sent to deal with him?

When Ace managed to compose herself, she had a look of confusion on their face. "I still don't know what they sent me here for."

Jax sighed. "Ah, right. You basically just have to keep the rouge demons running around from causing any mischief. Not the most complicated job, honestly."

This didn't seem to ease the angel's nerves. "D-Demons..?"

"That's right, princess. Trust me, it won't be fun. Oh, by the way-" he leaned in, their faces only inches apart, and whispered in an intimidating voice. "As one of those demons, I'm gonna make your job a living hell~"

Ace flinched at the close proximity, leaning away from him as her cheeks tinted red. Jax chuckled one last time before snapping his fingers and disappearing with a poof. Reappearing a few paces away, he watched her from a distance, reveling in their confused expression.

This was going to be fun.

(@unfunnyaceartist syfsfsgcdtcdrds i hope you like it-)

[missvifdor]

(The continuation of this post where during a spell class a portal opened and the boys' female doubles as well as MC's appeared in the class) (I think I could make it an independent "story" for the adventures of my MC /OC /YUU)

My MC /OC /YUU and his double crossing the gaze in the class: * Double bi panic *

*Now we will have to find a solution to bring these young ladies and this gentleman back to their reality, but in the meantime here is the look of our twisted guys if they were girls*

Dorm leaders:

Riddle: Looks both serious and cute, with a round cheeky face and big eyes with long thick lashes as well as a pretty pixie haircut. Obviously she stays small but is always bigger than my MC OC YUU, her voice both soft and sharp, a very interesting contrast.

Leona: Made more of a woman than a young girl, still has magnificent hair, bewitching eyes and has a very toned and nicely muscular body. His voice is deep with that tone both seductive and bored. She knows perfectly well that she is beautiful, that she has charm and adores the handset with her immense intelligence. It's an absolutely formidable combo. She is the same height as her male double.

Azul: Gives that mafia-like aura (Or Sugar Mummy), with her hair styled in an impeccable bun and her tailor that is both professional and flatters her gorgeous figure perfectly. Her smile is both sweet and dangerous. But we all know that deep down she is a sweet girl who needs reassurance and who needs to realize how smart, hardworking, and beautiful she is (and we know any of us don't would stop proving it to her). She must be two or three centimeters shorter than her male double.

Kalim: She's still a sun ball and a full cinnamon roll! So positive and supportive! Tie up her long silver hair with a cute headband and always do her makeup in warm tones (where instead Jamil helps her with her makeup like that). Always wears tons of gold bracelets on her wrists and ankles, is very tactile, and has no problem cuddling the people she loves and appreciates! Is the kind of friend who makes sure you eat well and that you don't miss anything. (I can see her thinking that she and Jamil have more of a sister relationship than a master and servant relationship). Is exactly the same size as her male double.

Vil: Let's be honest here, Vil would be the most gorgeous woman who hasn't set foot at Night Raven College for decades after The Beautiful Queen! You almost feel like she's straight out of a fashion magazine but no, it's just that our Reine des Poisons takes so much care of her and works so hard to come to such potential! Her magnificent hair would reach her shoulders, her voice would be as beautiful as honey on a slice of bread and her makeup and manicure would be as perfect as it gets! Maybe she would be a little taller than her male double (even without heels). (I don't know why but apart from her care and makeup, I also see her very well making her own jewelry as well as her perfume).

Idia: Haired with two long, fiery quilts, she would be more the type to have an e-girl style but with very loose clothes that would not show her forms (the poor one does not realize that she has the potential to become a model for lingerie). Her voice would be both sweet and high-pitched, and she could also be smaller than her male double. (And Husbando, so many Husbando!). Doesn't trust her smile because of her sharp teeth but that is her charm and she is so fucking cute! Maybe she would be more organized and manic than her double even if her room would still be in a very big mess (at least she didn't leave her underwear lying around in plain sight, she would die of shame if anyone saw the cute and childish little designs on it).

Malleus: This woman ... Would be exactly the same size as her male double! And she would be so beautiful and elegant! With long black hair that she would let hang down her back, as well as her incredible figure! (Also gives those Magical Sugar Mummy vibes). His voice, by all the gods ... The most sensual and that playful note we've ever heard. Her voice is also so deep and sweet (let's not even talk about her laugh or I'll die of happiness). Still gives that awesome and intimidating impression on people but is so sweet when you get to know her (Always make that adorable pout when she's sad or upset, you feel like hugging her tight and telling her that even though she is scary in the early days, she's the sweetest person we've ever met!).

The Vice-leader:

Trey: Don't lie to each other, give these married vibes over and over again. But beware, also hides his game very well because in private ... 🥵. Her beautiful hair tied in a ponytail and her voice in playful tones. Would be the type to wear stockings with his uniform and is the same size as his male double. Smells like cake and vanilla, it's both so nice and it also makes you so hungry!

Ruggie: Is quite skinny because as we know Ruggie often endures difficult months. Short and messy hair, has a cheerful voice and an infectious laugh (Quite fond of pretty things in the background, but since she doesn't have much money, she can't really afford it. If she could, she would certainly treat herself to some pretty hair accessories). Perhaps an unacknowledged Tsundere side. Since she cannot feed herself properly for someone her age, she is most certainly smaller than the average for a Beast Woman. Would probably like to have a cuter look, unfortunately she can't afford it as she doesn't want to look "weak".

Jade: Holy shit, this woman is so dangerous and sweetly sadistic, if you ever pique her interest and she likes you on top of that, I'm sorry for you. Her body is certainly muscular and graceful (She also has quite incredible strength). Has long, wavy hair that she wears half-loose and is exactly the same height as her male double. Her voice and at the same time so soft and cold, you don't know if you should feel comfortable or on the contrary, run as far as possible. Obviously loves going for long hikes, (Her legs are so muscular, if she catches you with that, you won't be able to go anywhere). His tone is so teasing, you can't resist him for long.

Jamil: Very tall, even a few inches taller than her male double. Just like Trey, she smells so good, like cinnamon. Has a fairly athletic build, and remained a very, very good dancer. Very skillful, maybe makes her own wrist and ankle bracelets, also wears a lot of jewelry (not as expensive as Kalim's, but still very pretty and it shows her really well, especially the snake designs ), also wears a lot of ear piercings. His hair is very long, silky, and worn the same way as the male Jamil (maybe with extra pearls in his hair). Her voice is deep (sensual) and with a note of irony and sarcasm. Her make up apply lightly but always in such beautiful warm tones (she also highlights her cheekbones), especially with eyeliner to highlight her intense gaze.

Rook: His hair is worn in the same way as the male Rook, also wears a multitude of hats as well as pretty earrings. Likes to tease those around her, smiling and bright. Has a French accent, of course. But remains someone dangerous in the end. Is the same height as her double, is athletic, skillful and has excellent eyesight (Normal for a hunter). See beauty in everything and everyone! Don't you think you're handsome? Rook will give you ten points for why she thinks you are beautiful and why you should stop thinking that way because otherwise she will stalk you until you accept this truth. Her voice is happy and confident, deep and warm. May like to wear accessories like long socks with natural or animal designs. Specialized in throwing knives.

Ortho: So cute! The little sister you will want to protect at the risk of your life! So smart and friendly, curious too. Wears a cute fiery pixie hairstyle and has a cheerful, thin voice. Is so small and skinny.

Lilia: Oh boy ... see Draculaura from Monster Hight? She has the same look. So much into jokes, loves to surprise people to scare them. Her voice contrasts completely with her appearance since it is deep and velvety. Same size as her male double. Even though she looks so young, she still acts like a child mom. (Obviously, is always so bad in the kitchen, she brings out stuff, sometimes you are afraid that it will come to life to devour you). Despite her jokes, she is still very good advice and listens.

The rest of our boys:

Cater: If fashionable, is certainly a great influencer. Cater pays so much attention to everything, especially the little details and accessories that she wear. Makeup always on top and colorful, could become a model if she wanted. Is smaller than her male double. Joyful and higher pitched voice, her hair is a bundle of silky curls always worn in a cute way (Like Ariana Grande). (Has a multitude of fans and contenders) carefree and likes to give cute or silly nicknames to people she loves and appreciates. Would be the type to flirt with his friends for fun. Probably has a passion for nail art and would be so proud to show off her designs on her Magicam account! Would act with the first years like a big sister although she is not always good advice. She is so teasing.

Ace: Short, messy hair! Pretty tomboy style, enjoys teasing others too much for his own good, always smiling like shit and communicative. Is a sporty person, and quite arrogant, maybe also a little Tsundere side. Is a hopeless hideaway romantic. Even though she likes to do her makeup, she doesn't like taking fifteen years to do it and does the minimum required. Of course has a more feminine side when she's out of school, but honestly, feminine clothes are never practical for big movements. Act confidently but not too deep down. Her voice is happy and dynamic. Is one or two centimeters smaller than her male double. Likes to wear necklaces and chokers. Rather skinny but not as much as Ruggie.

Deuce: So sweet and so want to do her best to make her mom proud of her. Wearing long hair tied in a low ponytail, her voice is high-pitched and strong. Is quite tall (even taller than her male double). Read romance books on the sly but can't help herself when someone finds out. Probably already dyed his hair blonde during his delinquent period and dyed it before entering Night Raven College. Likes to wear barrettes in her hair, also does her best with her makeup but was not used to it before (it was mainly Ace who taught her everything she knows). Secretly loves wearing skirts and dresses, she hasn't been able to experience it before because she didn't think it would look pretty on her (But she's actually pretty). Certainly be shy and insecure when she finds new people, afraid of doing things badly. Blushes so easily that it is funny. When his delinquent side resurfaces, his voice becomes more serious, threatening, his posture leaves no room for shyness! She might want to change for the better, but that doesn't mean she's going to let others do if they want to bully her!

Jack: Do you see Jasper in the Steven Universe? You now have Jack as a woman. She is muscular and strong! The part she's most proud of is her muscular back! His silvery hair his savage and remained indomitable (But that gives him a crazy charm). Don't take shit from people and still is a Tsundere. But her wagging tail always betrayed her about her emotions, as well as her ears. Same size as her male double. Secretly loves cute things and certainly has an army of adorable stuffed animals in her room in Savanaclaw. Wears a biker style, and because she lives in a cold region with her family, she doesn't get cold easily, so her muscular arms are uncovered all the time (for your viewing pleasure 😏). Her voice is serious, so serious! But if you're friends, you definitely hear that thoughtful little note in her voice. If his male version is the Best Boy, his female version is the Best Girl! She takes care of those she loves and is always ready to help!

Floyd: Is exactly the same size as his male double. Wear her hair short cut in a boyish style (she doesn't have the time or the energy to dwell on her hair). Her voice has high notes, especially when she finds something or someone cute! Very expressive, has no filter. Like her sister, she is muscular and graceful. Her dress style could be similar to those of men in the 40's (she much prefers masculine clothes because it is more comfortable and she doesn't have to worry about her chest with large shirts. does not have to wear a bra!). Love accessories like earrings or piercings. Has immense strength and doesn't always control it. Dislikes makeup, she doesn't want to bother with it (but finds it charming on others, that's just her personal opinion). If its male version is not to be upset, it also works with its female version! Especially when it is at this time of the month, run away poor fools!

Epel: The same problem as with its male version! Except that instead of being manly, she wants us to find her sexy and not cute! All her life in her hometown has not to stop telling her that she was cute! Really ? Was she nothing else ?! She wants people she finds attractive to find her sexy, not cute! Just because she is petite, because she has big, innocent eyes and a round, youthful face, doesn't mean it's her definition of beauty or femininity! Much like her appearance, her voice is cute, slender. Her hair is long, wavy and held up with a red ribbon in an elegant manner. Compare to her male version, Vil lets her speak with her accent because it is one of her charm assets. Her face is decorated with delicate freckles. Is quite skinny with a tiny bit of shape but not a lot (let's say she has a lot more than Riddle). Epel is a little smaller than the male Epel, but not much.

Silver: She is the equivalent of Disney Princess Aurora. Except that, unlike, even if she falls asleep anywhere, she doesn't need a knight to protect her, she is her own knight! Remain a formidable swordsman! In spite of everything, remains someone calm and taciturn, very easygoing. She is very fond of animals and as they naturally flock to her, she is very happy about this fact. Wear her hair up to the shoulders and tie it in a ponytail for practice. She has a fairly toned body, but not too much. Her voice is soft and measured. She is much smaller than her male double.

Sebek: Acts hard but is so soft in the end. Looks pissed off all the time but that's just her natural expression. Wears her hair like her male version, and is the same size. Her voice carries so far, it's very impressive the first time you hear her! It is a bit sharp, but not in an unpleasant way. Carries so much esteem and respect towards Malleus, she would also like so much to be like her but she would never dare to compare herself to her! Blushes so hard and so quickly if you press the right buttons, it's so funny to see her get annoyed! Her figure is quite toned and sporty.

And finally, My MC /OC /YUU: Just like his female version, he wears round glasses, is always 150cm tall and has long wavy hair. Has fairly broad shoulders and is slightly muscular without really being so. Does everything possible to make girls feel comfortable and safe in his presence! He knows how exhausting the life and daily life of women is because of societal pressures and the male gaze. He knows that because of assholes, women are afraid of men and are afraid to even be in the same room as them, so he will do his best to ensure that she never feels that way around him! And if someone has the audacity to make one of them feel these feelings, oh boy ... that person won't last long! He was raised by his mother alone, and she taught him respect, consent and righteous values. He is an ally, so rest assured 😊😉. His voice is soft and serious (Also watching him get angry and argued in French is quite impressive! The sound of Rs in his mouth sounds even more aggressive).

[octania]

(ardent menage a trois anon) I got my period recently and everything feels sore and achy. Where's Obi and Benimaru to hold me close and make the pain go the fuck away?

Baby, I know it took a few days, but your ask inspired me to do this HEADCANONS, so I hope they will help you through your pain. 🥺 🥺 💗

______________________________________________________________

Benimaru Shinmon x Reader // Obi Akitaru x Reader HEADCANONS

Word count: 1.3 k

Warnings: None

Short description : How would Obi and Beni help you go through your painful period days. 🥺

Obi Akitaru

.Obi Akitaru is the type of man women have been dreaming about since they were little. All those stories about the prince charming coming in your most difficult moments, came true when he entered your life, showing you that fairy tales are real, and that he doesn't need a sword and a horse to be your savior, this hero comes dressed to the  firefighting uniform.... not bad when you think about it better, right?

You mood swings and nasty tamper do not intimidate this buff. Truth be told, seeing your face all flustered, nagging about most silly things and just roll around holding a pillow, mumbling how you want sweets gets his face all flustered and the corners of his lips curls into the most adorable smile. He sat down next to you on your peach colored  blanket, diving under the big pillow shaped like a fluffy cat that he bought you for your second date, searching for your cute little face twisted in a expression of dissatisfaction. When his caramel eyes caught yours, he pushed himself a bit further, placing a soft kiss on the tip of your nose, sliding his hands under you and picking you up like you weight  nothing at all and landing you on his prominent chest, curling you up by cupping your ass in his palm and pushing you up so your scalp kisses his chin, as he starts playing with your hair with one hand and patting your back with the other. “What kind of snacks do you want? “- he whispers in a tender and caring voice, lowering his head so he can look at you. “Would you like some (your favorite candy) or something else princess?”- kissing the corner of your eye to wipe the tear of joy that got there from how emotional you’ve got releasing what a perfect man you have.

Obi would check the ways to make your suffering easier. First he would collect the knowledge on the field, meaning when your first PMS struck, he watched and listened carefully what you desired, wanted and how you acted, adapting to you needs fully. The other way he expended his horizons were just simply googling what do to make your pain go away and make you as comfy as possible.

 From the few things he gathered, one was to make the cramps go away, by heating the water and placing it in a rubber container that was shaped like a round pillow, maybe 10 inches wide, and placing the warm thing on your lower back. The feeling of it heating your back made the nasty cramps get less painful, soothing sensation taking over. You melted on his act like marshmallows in the steaming cup of coco he brought for you as well, to make your taste buds get the candy they crave and to make your insides warm as well.

He would decorate the bathroom with scented candles, making the environment relaxing while you take a hot shower, putting on your favorite music on his ipod and just creating a heaven of experience from nothing more than a simple shower. When you would be done, you would notice a brand new robe placed on the edge of the washing machine. It was pushy and smooth on the touch, in your favorite color. When you put it on you realized the hood had two cat ears on it. A familiar voice made you jump from surprise when he spoke just from the outside the bathroom. “Because you are my little kitty.”

 When you stepped out of the bathroom, he picked you up, carrying you to the bedroom that had only the small decorative light bulbs on, your bed filled with plushy pillows and blankets, table next to the bed covered in bowls full of snacks and candy, and next to it a freshly ordered pizza that had steam rising from the cardboard box. On the TV, you realized you favorite move was paused, waiting for you to place your head comfortably on his strong chest, while he massages your belly with his wide palm, making slow, tender circular motions to ease the tension inside.

Benimaru Shinmon

Believe it or not, Benimaru handled your tantrums from PMS rather well. Sure, at first he was confused, not sure how to approach you after you started yelling on him for stupid things or just being rude for no reason at all, but when he saw you placing your hand on your belly or back and suffering in silence for a few minutes, waiting for the cramps to go away, his heart sank, not being able to just stand there and do nothing while you were in pain. First thing he did, was slowly walking to you, placing his hands on your tummy and lower back under your shirt. You asked what he was doing, but he said nothing, just placing his chin on your shoulder. Suddenly, you felt a warm sensation spreading on your skin, making your pain slowly to fade away. You closed your eyes, leaning on his wide chest while he continued heating his palms and releasing you from the unpleasant feeling.

He would go to the market, approaching the wise old ladies on the stands, explaining how he needs something to cure your condition but still to be tasty. “I heard they like sweet things in that…um..time.”. Old woman laughed when he said it like it was a disease and he desperately wanted to cure you from it. But from the look on his worried face she suppressed the need to tease him, and packed the most delicious fruit tea made based on a traditional recipe.

In the evening, he made sure that the bathhouse was empty, taking you there by surprise. He turned all the lights off, leaving only a trail of torches around the bath itself. He uncovered his hand, slipping it under his blue haori, and releasing his flame, lighting the torches with ease like they were candles. “You have the place for yourself (Y/N). Relax and enjoy it.”- he placed a kiss on your forehead, shifting his hand from your shoulder to your back, cuddling you slowly, while he murmured under the kiss. “There is a teapot full of delicious tea. Woman on the market said it will help.”- he smiled, jerking his head in the direction of the small wooden platter on the edge of the bath. On it, there was  a beautiful porcelain teapot that was painted with sakura flowers, and a small cup with the same print. Tears almost fell from your glossy eyes when you saw how much he tried to make it easier for you.

He would cook for you, even asking Konro to help him so he is sure he does not screw this up. Older man accepted without saying a word, proudly gazing upon how Waka is giving his best to make you happy.

The dinner would be in your garden, as you sat in his lap and he was resting his back on the wide trunk of the tree. He fed you sushi and other delicious things he made with chopsticks, listing to you carefully while caressing your cheek with his. He would even go so far from his usual self that he would bite the mochi, pushing the other half towards your mouth while he was still holding the other part, making you eat it from his lips and when you bit the other half you two met halfway into a tender kiss.

 After the dinner, you placed your head on his shoulder, enjoying him stroking your hair and whisper sweet nothings in your ear. In one moment he rose his hand, pointing with his finger to the sky, when fire started appearing from thin air, making small explosions that resembled the firework. He made you your own private little show, while he kissed the back of your neck and murmured along your skin that he loves you. 

[bat-besties]

Hold me closer

Melancholy 3am kitchen slowdancing but it’s an assassin and spy on the run. 863 words.

The light from the streetlamp filtered through the thin material they had put over the windows, throwing the abandoned kitchen into washed-out relief.

Logan turned over blinking when he saw Patton wasn't beside him.He pushed himself up to his elbow.

Patton was curled in the corner of the room, staring at a wall. He was letting his breaths out rhythmically, almost mechanical. His eyes were open, but unseeing.

"Are you okay?" Logan asked, voice gruff with sleep.

The silence felt empty, thin as the light. "Okay," Patton echoed.

Logan savoured the warmth under his blanket for a moment later before he came over to stand by Patton. "You need to sleep."

"I don't have to," Patton said, tilting his face up to look at Logan. A small challenge in the eye contact. Logan had promised the assassin that he was free to make his own choices, from now on. With tiny pushes, incremental as a cat sliding something fragile off a shelf, Patton waited to see where the limit to that would be. Logan was a spy, after all. An old enemy, even if they'd escaped together, hidden together, laughed together, a few times.

"No," Logan said, holding his hand out to Patton. "Me neither. So, maybe- we could pass the time, a while."

"How do you want to do that?"

"Um," Logan left his hand out, but was rapidly beginning to feel more awkward. "I have a memory. Before my training. My parents, in the kitchen, dancing."

Patton slid his hand into Logan's and got up, smiling faintly. "Ah, I like our little kitchen, but we don't got a radio."

"I'll..." Logan blushed slightly. "I can hum."

"Sing, if we're going to." Patton put an arm around Logan's waist and tucked himself next to him. You'd have to be in close quarters with him for a while, but Logan had a feeling the assassin was almost as much of a hugger as he looked. He leaned into little touches: high-fives, sitting side-by-side, passing equipment. Logan thought it unprofessional to offer a hug, and Patton never asked.

Logan took a step back and Patton went with him, their bare feet cold on the cracked title.

"Blue jean baby," Logan started softly,  "L.A. lady, something-something for the band."

Patton giggled a little, and Logan put his hands on Patton's shoulders, swaying his hips a little. "Uh, da-da....pirate smile....you marry a music man. Ballerina, you must have seen her, dancing in the sand."

He was a little off key, and very red. Patton pulled him closer, putting his face over Logan's shoulder so he couldn't see his face.

The man was small, so much less intimidating than in their early games of cat-and-mouse. Still, Patton could incapacitate him easily from this position and escape by himself. But Logan had helped him to leave, and the two were sticking together. Something protective fluttered in Logan's chest, alongside the old anxiety.

A police siren in the distance, and the air was paper-thin again, the scene a poor mockery of the safe domesticity neither had.

Logan raised his voice, "Music man he makes his stand

In the auditorium

Looking on she sings some songs

The words she knows, the tune she hums."

Patton hummed a little with him, playful, smiling.

Logan's voice wobbled. "Hold me closer, tiny dancer...."

Somewhere in a high building, his investigation file with Patton marked for arrest.

"Count the headlights on the highway."

Somewhere on the city roads, his colleagues after him.

"Lay me down in sheets of linen."

Somewhere underground, Patton's mark list with his name on it.

"You had a busy day today."

They'd slept in this place a few nights. It was time to run, soon. After a month, they were both tired of running.

Logan buried his face in Patton's hair and Patton held on tighter, until they were hugging, not quite dancing, but still afraid to stop moving. He made his way through the chorus again, keeping the dark at bay. Another round, and Patton had the tune too. he hummed along and the tune was more layered, now, a fragile shell around the moment.

"Blue jean baby, L.A. Lady-"

"Logan Logan for the band," Patton giggled, and came out to dance holding hands. They pulled each other in a shimmy, then Patton twirled into meet Logan and Logan began to laugh. "Ballerina, you must have seen Pat dancing in the sand."

They laughed again, silly and happy for a moment.

Maybe they saw the kitchen as it might once have been around them, clean and homely, potted plants on the windowsill, sun and laughter making it airy and light. Maybe the stained walls and chipped tiles were the only things real to them.

"Oh how it feels so real

Lying here with no one near

Only you and you can hear me

When I say softly, softly- Patton?"

Patton looped his arms around Logan's neck, "Hold me closer, tiny dancer!"

They sung the chorus again, and again, and when they slept, it was in a tangle of limbs, the music lifting the suffocating reality off their faces like a kitchen chair in the middle of a blanket fort.

[be-dazzled]

She’s In Your Court #SIYC

Gray Fullbuster, Juvia Lockser FFnet link: Click here Tumblr: Genre: Multi-chapter, Romance Rating: M for Sensitive Language

Summary: Gray Fullbuster is a player both in love and in life. He plays Professional Basketball and is being groomed to be in line with Basketball Legends Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant and Stephen Curry. There’s just one problem, Gray Fullbuster is a play-ah. His life is a giant mess of crazy parties, waking up with random women and waking up in random women’s apartments. Just living the life.

The opinion of the public on him is waning. To save the million-dollar endorsements in the verge of disappearing, Gray needs to change his image. Therefore, Gray Fullbuster, Fiore Knight’s Team Captain and Most Valuable Player, will be in the next season of “My Star Can Dance”.

There’s another problem: it seems like his star isn’t that bright since his partner, one of Fiore’s prominent ballerinas, doesn’t know him? His billboard is hanging in front of her dancing school! And it was a good billboard since all he was wearing was his six-pack and an Aztec bandana. How come she didn’t notice?

And the night is gonna be just fine Gotta fly, gotta see, got to be I can't take it So, baby, yes, love never felt so good

 – Love Never Felt So Good, Michael Jackson

“It’s not a date.”

 Juvia fixed her hair, pulling her blue locks away from her face and into a tight bun – a force of habit. Yet, the style showed off her slender neck – one of her many assets. And Juvia Lockser was well aware of her asset inventory and put them on display once in a while.

Mrs. Lockser stood and leaned against the door frame; watched her daughter put on her own make-up. She had one brow raised; not buying her daughter’s words.

 The ringing of the door bell peeled her off from the door frame. It was Mary – Juvia’s part-time assistant. Her voice travelled to Juvia’s room, announcing that she brought the financial reports from the family’s accountant. Mrs. Lockser reappeared and returned to her original position.

 Juvia was now putting on final touches to her evening make-up; not too much, not too little. She stood from her dresser and checked her look for tonight at the full body mirror. She was more than satisfied.

 Juvia wore a bluish-silver sequined long gown with a V-plunge neckline that was low enough to show some decent skin. The twin spaghetti straps were thin but strong enough to hold the gown on her body at the shoulders. She looked elegant but still sexy.

 “You’re saying that but that is definitely a date dress.” Olivia teased.

 “I-it’s not. I wear this all the time.”

 The surprise of the gown, however, came when Juvia turned around to reveal an open back from the shoulders to reaching nearly the buttocks.

 Mary poked her head out of the door frame and agreed.

 “No, Ms. Juvia. That is definitely a date dress.”

 “It-it-it’s not a date!”

  The Magnolia Great Hall. To hold an event in the Magnolia Great Hall was making a statement.

 Mrs. Lockser drove her daughter to the Magnolia Great Hall. The latter refused Gray’s offer of picking her up and going to the Fiore Knights annual gala party together. Juvia avoided anything that would resemble her attendance to the event as a date.

 “Enjoy your date, honey–”

 “–It’s not a date, Mother.”

 Juvia narrowed her eyes at the older Lockser which earned an earnest giggle from the driver. She was growing tired of reminding everyone (mostly, her mother) that this wasn’t a date.

 “Anyway, just don’t catch a cold. Alright?”

 Then, Olivia drove away, leaving Juvia confused whether the reminder was a motherly gesture or the older Lockser was taking a swing at her. She was, after all, wearing a backless mermaid gown in a cold September night. Juvia was now having regrets as  the harsh cold slapped her exposed skin. It wasn’t like she came to impress Hoopster. So why did she have to wear this gown again?

 “You clean up pretty well, Ms. Lockser.”

 Juvia raised her gaze at the man rushing down the steps of the Magnolia Great Hall. His sleek black hair was slicked back; the ends brushed the collar of his crisp dark suit. If she was being honest, Gray Fullbuster looked professional, sexy and dangerous. Not necessarily in that order.

 “So do you, Fullbuster.”

 Acting like a real gentleman, Gray offered his hand to Juvia and escorted the lady up the low steps. Experience told Gray that on parties like this one, women tend to wear really tall heels, like there was some kind of saying that the taller the heels the better. He didn’t understand women’s need to be off the ground but Gray learned, and he learned the hard way, never to ask a woman about it. He had no complaints when they wore the heels and the heels alone.

 Gray led Juvia up the stairs and was taken-aback when he realized that Juvia’s upper and middle back were uncovered. It was almost sinful to look at. Especially, when Gray’s dark, curious eyes kept drifting down somewhere they shouldn’t.

 When Juvia noticed that Gray fell behind and stopped moving, she quickly turned back to find him appreciating the great view she put on for tonight. Hoopster was totally mesmerized. Now, she was not regretting wearing the dress.

 “Is there something wrong, Fullbuster?” Juvia asked. A smile of triumphant played about her lips.

 The question pulled Gray back to reality. He shook whatever thoughts he was having and turned to Juvia like he wasn’t gawking at the woman.

 “Ah, nothing.” Gray stepped ahead and took the lead.

 The steps were polished to perfection and Juvia felt that they were a little slippery. She was used to wearing high heels but she felt a little wobbly. Her escort was all attentive to her and walked with in her pace. The length of her gown wasn't helping.

 As her luck would have it, Juvia missed a step and was about to fall to her great embarrassment. She shut her eyes closed and yelped when she felt gravity pulling her down. Good thing her escort was a professional athlete. His free hand quickly grabbed the lady by the waist and crashed her body against his. At the same time, acting on survival instinct, Juvia threw her arms and wrapped them around Gray for stability.

 When she opened her eyes, Gray’s dark ones filled Juvia’s vision. They were pulling her in, drowning her in their endlessness. Then Juvia realized that Gray was close. So close that their foreheads were almost touching. So close that she was almost sure Gray would feel her heart hammering against her chest.

 “You know for a dancer, you really are clumsy.”

 And she realized too, that she was clinging to Gray like her life depended on him. And suddenly she felt him everywhere all at once.

 “Oh!”

 Juvia pushed him away, cautiously as not to throw herself off balance.

 “Well, the people maintaining this place did a really good job polishing the steps.” She reasoned, masking her embarrassment and fluster with her usual witticism.

 “I guess that’s why this place is really expensive.” Returned Gray. “C’mon. Let’s see if the inside is as slippery as the outside.”

 Because for sure Gray didn’t mind Juvia clinging to him all night.

  The inside of the Magnolia Great Hall glowed in muted gold. Impressive chandeliers hanged from the ceiling, round tables dressed in gold tablecloth spread across. Well-dressed men and women scattered around the room. It felt like Juvia was walking into the Oscar’s or Emmy’s Awarding Ceremony. It wouldn’t surprise the ballerina if she ran into two or more celebrities. The glitz of it all would easily intimidate a regular person. But not Juvia Lockser. Despite being a stranger, she easily belonged to this world.

 “Hey, Captain!”

 Juvia immediately recognized the first person who approached and welcomed them. It was Fiore Knights’ Vice Captain and Point Guard, Natsu Dragneel, in a dashing suit and a loose and spiky pink hair.

 Gray grabbed the hand Natsu offered and pulled him in a decorous chest-bump.

 “And is this the famous Juvia Lockser?”

 Juvia’s heart throbbed. Her silly little crush on the Point Guard made it hard to control the beating. So, she had to contain herself when the Vice Captain extended his arm for a handshake.

 “I can hardly call myself famous, Mr. Dragneel.” She managed to say as she took his hand in hers for courtesy.

 Natsu surprised her when the Vice Captain flipped Juvia’s hand and placed a light kiss at the back of her palm.

 “Okay, I think that’s enough.”

 Gray pulled Juvia’s slender hand away from his Vice Captain, throwing the latter a stink-eye. Natsu was holding the Captain’s date too long for his liking. It was making him feel an irrational urge to kick his Vice Captain. Gray placed his hand at the small of her back, nudged the innocent woman forward and ushered his date towards their table. Like marking his territory.

 “I was just pulling your leg, Captain.”

 Juvia did not see it nor did she mind what Natsu said after them. She had no idea what he was talking about; and laughing about for that matter. His boyish guffaw echoed throughout the great hall. As Juvia had her back on the Vice Captain, she could only imagine him holding his stomach as he laughed his heart out.

 Gray was obviously aware of it though with the way he turned around and threw a finger at the guy. Juvia never understood this type of love among men.

 As the ‘not-dating’ couple walked towards an occupied round table, with the warmth of Gray’s palm burning her exposed skin, Juvia quickly recognized the faces seated around it – the Fiore Knights. Her heart skipped a beat and it had nothing to do with Gray’s palm sliding down a dangerous path. Okay, maybe a little to do with it but not entirely. Juvia scolded herself to maintain her composure. But as soon as she and Gray reached the table, the men around it stood to acknowledge their Captain and his ‘not-date’. Juvia’s fan-girl heart somersaulted.

 The men exchanged pleasantries the way Gray greeted his Vice Captain earlier. The curious men gathered around the Captain and his date before the former had the chance to introduce Juvia. They were all nice towards her, looking all sharp and formal. The Fiore Knights’ Small Forward, Loke Regalus, almost grabbed Juvia’s hand if Gray had not acted quickly and shook the poor guy’s hand instead.

 “Sorry, Captain, but your seat is over there at the Owner’s Table.”

 It was Natsu who informed Gray, placing a hand over the Captain’s shoulder which made Gray lean on the side a little.

 “Aw men. And the boys were looking forward for this meeting with Ms. Lockser.”

 Loke looked serious and offended but the glint in his eyes piqued Juvia’s interest.

 “Shut up.”

 The voice came from Gray who looked like he was holding back. At the same time, he looked relieved about something.

 “C’mon, I’m going to introduce you to my mother.”

 Juvia froze. She almost dropped her purse. Introduce her? To his mother? The world started spinning.

 “Hey, are you alright?”

 Juvia felt weight on her shoulders. She managed to return to Earth and look up to Gray’s gorgeous face pulled in a worried expression. He still looked heavenly.

 “Gray?”

 But the voice did not come from Juvia. It came from a stranger’s who now emerged from behind Gray.

 The stranger was a woman who walked with grace and sophistication. There was a certain air about her that reminded Juvia of her own mother. But the older woman’s face was stern and she looked like the rich, terrifying women Juvia and her mother watched in dramas at night; a powerful mother who would do anything to keep his son away from the woman who she felt unworthy of him.

 So why...

 “Oh my gosh, it is you!”

 Why was this intimidating woman suddenly embracing Juvia?

 “I’m such a big fan of the show.” The woman said, not breaking the contact.

 Juvia hesitantly returned the woman’s embrace out of courtesy. She looked over the older woman’s shoulder and watched Gray’s lips formed the words: she’s a hugger.

 “Mother, you can let her go now.”

 Gray did not look like he was annoyed, although he tried to sound it. Instead, he looked even pleased at the sight.

 The woman heeded Gray’s words and withdrew her arms around Juvia. She instead placed her hands on Juvia’s arms and studied her like she couldn’t believe Juvia was standing before her, in the flesh.

 “You look more beautiful in person.”

 “Thank you.” Juvia said, sheepishly tucking her hair behind her ear. Inwardly, she was quite happy with the compliment. Who wouldn’t be when the mother of your… dance partner said you were beautiful?

 “There they are!”

 Another stranger’s voice, now coming from a man, came from behind Juvia. She spun around to see an older man, around his 40s, smoking a cigarette.

 “There’s my beautiful family.”

 The man donning a flamboyant fur coat bit the cigarette between his teeth then walked over towards the trio with open arms.

 Juvia bowed his head to show the man respect. Also, because she wanted to hide the red spread over her cheeks when the man called them his ‘beautiful family’. She probably wasn’t included in the phrase but she couldn’t help but get flustered.

 Mrs. Mine met her pompous husband halfway and kissed him on the cheeks. Then she moved and stood beside her husband as they awaited Gray to make his greetings.

 “How about my good ‘ol son?”

 Gray did not leave Juvia’s side. Instead, in a formal and distant voice he greeted the man with a simple word.

 “President.”

 “Huh? Not gonna give your old man a hug after all that ruckus you caused? C’mon, appease this old man.”

 Mr. Mine spread his arms in an inviting embrace to which Gray never responded.

 “Oh, I get it. A little shy with your female companion around to watch?” President Mine turned to Juvia as he spoke, “This family is a hugger.” Then, he walked over to where Gray was and pulled the poor guy for a hug.

 Juvia was not sure if she should pity Gray who was stiff as a stick as President Mine wrapped him in a tight but unwelcomed embrace. She held the laughter that was about to erupt when she saw Gray’s annoyed expression.

 “You can let go of me now, President.”

 President Mine then let out a hearty laugh.

 “And who is this beautiful lady?”

 Wakaba Mine blew a smoke away from their circle before addressing the beautiful woman standing beside his own beautiful woman.

 “My name is Juvia Lockser, Mr. President.”

 “Please call me Wakaba. Don’t follow in this guy’s poor manners.”

 Before President Mine was able to reach out a hand to Juvia, a man in a black suit approached and whispered something to him. Juvia noticed the small lapel attached to the young man’s coat. He must be part of the security detail, Juvia thought.

 “Guess it’s time to get this party started.”

 The owner of Fiore Knights nodded and excused himself. The man in the black suit then led him up the stage and behind a decorated podium. Wakaba Mine commanded with his round voice as he welcomed his guests.

 “Let’s take our seats, Juvia. It will take some time before that old man get his message across. Ouch!”

 “Don’t talk about your father like that.”

 Mrs. Mine slapped her son’s back before inviting Juvia to sit next to her at the Owner’s Table. The ballerina could only offer poor Gray a comforting smile.

 Gray took the seat next to Juvia whilst sputtering words under his breath. He was right. President Mine took more time than required to finish his speech. The old man loved the attention, making jokes here and there, sometimes at Gray’s expense. Gray was a good sport and laughed along with the audience.

 Good thing the waiters started to serve the appetizers. Juvia was already starving. As they reached the main course, Juvia began to wonder if the President was not hungry. As if sensing her thoughts, Gray leaned in, his lips brushing against Juvia’s ear when he informed her that President Mine had the tendency to forget about food when he was holding a microphone.

 “It’s his favorite past time aside from making fun of me.”

 Juvia did not catch the last thing Gray said. She was busy calming her heart and hormones.

 A thundering applause broke out and drew Juvia’s attention back to the podium. A rustle at the side drew her attention to Gray who was now leaving his seat and making his way to the stage.

 “Good evening.” His voice was deep, cool and confident. “I would like to thank everyone for the support they have given the team for the past few years. From back when we were starting and no one believed in us. The road wasn’t easy. We had to practice every day, day and night in the last six years in order to be where we are today. But we won’t stop here.”

 A hot swell spread in Juvia’s chest. There was something about how Gray carried himself on the stage that made Juvia look at the man in another light. Gray was proud, confident and genuinely grateful. His pride was coming out of years of hard work, of highs and lows, of blood and sweat. His skill and talent were not served to him in a silver platter. Gray earned it.

 “You were the first people who believed in us. So we offer this future wins to all of you.” Gray turned to the Owners’ Table. “Mother, President. Thank you for believing in us first before the world ever believed in Fiore Knights. From this day onwards, we promise to work even harder than we ever did in order to bring pride to the name we all worked hard for.”

 Gray stepped back from the podium and walked at the center of the stage. As if on cue, the men around the Fiore Knights’ table stood proud, faced the Owners Table and shouted in unison, “Thank you for your support.” Along with their Captain on stage, the members of the Fiore Knights basketball team bowed in gratitude.

 The scene was so touching that a tear almost escaped Juvia’s eyes. She couldn’t explain the feeling. Tonight she saw another side of the annoying Hoopster who walked into her studio like he owned it; the Hoopster who annoyed the hell out of her every chance he got. She liked this side of him. Too much for her own liking.

  After a few more speeches were given, President Mine returned to the stage to invite everyone to the dance floor.

 “I know we’re kind of ‘danced out’. What with all our practicing and everything. But this song is really fun to dance to.” Gray extended his hand, saying his invitation over the music. “Care for a dance, Ms. Lockser?”

 “One is never ‘danced out’, Mr. Fullbuster.” Juvia placed her hand in Gray’s. “Especially, not this ballerina.”

 The two stood and walked away from their table; spun and danced their way to the dance floor, even sang along with The Groovefellas band, enjoying a lively version of ‘Love Never Felt So Good’.

  Even all the way to the car and through the whole ride to her house, Juvia never had that much fun until Gray. Juvia had two to three glasses of wine. She wasn’t drunk or anything but everything seemed exciting.

 Gray walked Juvia to her door, recounting all the fun things that transpired during the party. Such as when Gajeel Redfox, Fiore Knights Center, grabbed the microphone and started to rap. Also, when Natsu asked to dance with Juvia but had to dance with Laxus instead. It was Gray’s doing. Before the night ended though, Natsu was able to dance with the Earthland Sports reporter, Lucy. Also Gray's doing. There was also a time when an older woman hurt her back dancing with Loke. It was so much fun watching Fiore Knights making fools of themselves. But the high of the night was watching the big men of Fiore Knights singing ‘Dancing Queen’ on stage, in falsetto.

 “I really had fun, Gray.”

 Gray guided the wobbly Juvia through the path-walk of her own home to the patio.

 “I’m glad you did. Let’s do that again sometimes.”

 “I’d love that.”

 The Lockser House seemed silent and asleep. The lights were off which worried Gray.

 “Should we call someone?”

 “It’s okay. I have my keys.”

 Juvia scrambled for her keys inside her purse. It was dark and she couldn’t find the small thing inside her small bag.

 “Here, let me help you.”

 Gray turned on the light on his phone, leaned over to see inside the purse.

 “Found it!” Juvia was happy to announce.

 She looked up from her purse and came face to face with Gray. Her heart thumped wildly. Gray was a breath away. She inhaled his scent – ocean, summer and sexiness. She wasn’t drunk but the scent was intoxicating.

 “Well, good night, Ms. Lockser.”

 Her gaze fell on his lips, red and swollen and very tempting.

 “Good night, Mr. Fullbuster.”

 Juvia’s gaze never left Gray’s enticing lips and he never moved away from their position. Instead, Gray took another step towards her, bridging the mere distance between their faces.

 “I’d really like to kiss you right now, Ms. Lockser.”

 His voice was low, hoarse and a little too sexy. For a moment Juvia thought she forgot to breathe. When she remembered that she did know how to breathe, Juvia managed to voice her consent.

 “Okay.”

 Gray did not rush into it. He took his time, savoring every moment. Heat met heat when je placed his arm at the small of Juvia’s exposed back and pulled her gently against him. The places he touched burned and Juvia wasn’t sure anymore if the heat was coming from her or Gray.  She didn’t care. All she could think about was how much she wanted his kiss.

 Gray’s other arm cupped her flushed cheek and before the anticipation of the kiss killed her, Gray pressed his mouth against Juvia’s.

 The kiss started innocent like those written or depicted in children’s books. Just a mere light touch of the lips. But Gray wanted more. He asked for more. He traced Juvia’s lips with his wet tongue, begging them to part. Juvia was more than happy to indulge him. She wrapped her hands around his neck and followed Gray’s lead. The heat from the searing kiss traveled down her spine to her fingertips. He withdrew his hand from her face and started to explore her exposed back. Juvia’s knees buckled when she felt Gray’s warm and wet tongue tasting hers. The kiss consumed Juvia and if Gray wasn’t holding her, she might have fallen to the ground.

 It took all of Juvia’s willpower to pull away from the kiss. But she needed air, both of them.

 “A good night is an understatement.” Gray said, resting his forehead against hers. “This is one hell of a night.”

 Juvia could not agree more.

Writer’s Corner: Happy New Year! I uploaded this first at ffnet with no apparent reason but I did and I will do that for the next few chapters. Please do reblog this chapter and when you have some time drop me some asks, alright? Tell me what you think.

[rosexwilson]

SECURITY BREACH —

what: titans meeting regarding the asylum breakout who: rose wilson, tim drake [ @not-red-robin ], amon tomaz [ @amontomaz ] zachary zatara [ @mostpopularmagi ], connor hawke [ @connorxhawke ], cessily kincaid [ @cess-kincaid ], stephanie brown [ @majorspoileralert ], tommy shepherd [ @sospeedy ], gwen stacy [ @spxdergwens ], peter parker [ @cfpeterparker ], laura kinney [ @iamnotyourexperiment ], bart allen [ @impulscs ], kate bishop [ @adorable-archer ]

ROSE: Things seemed to be complete chaos, thanks to the recent prison and asylum break, but also because this was the first time this team was really going after something big. It was kind of like they were all learning how to be heroes for the first time. Rose yelled over the sound of people getting ready. “Okay, rugrats, listen up!” she shouted. “Tim and I have talked to some Justice League people, and they’re going to go after the prison inmates, which means we are  left with the escapees from the asylum.” She turned on the projector connected to Tim’s laptop that was showing a map of the area surrounding the asylum. “We’re going to split up into teams of two and three, and cover this area in quadrants. If we’re done and we still haven’t found all of the escapees, we are going to fan out from there.” She pointed out areas with a laser pointer. “There will also be a team of two in charge of getting the generator back online. Everyone, please, stay on your comms—we will be communicating everything through our frequency, so please stay plugged in so you know what is happening.”

TIM: Tim looked out over the gathered team, the beginnings of hope in his chest. Things were troubled right now, but everyone here was ready to help. He let Rose take charge, given that she had more experience with this new team. They had discussed the teams already, and who should take which area. The blueprints of the asylum were up, but he knew from past experience that you couldn’t always trust the public records to be completely accurate. “Team assignments are as follows;” he said, picking up where she left off. “In Quadrant one, we have Green Arrow, Impulse, and X-23. Quadrant two will be covered by Ravager, Hawkeye, and Zatara. Spider-woman, Speed, and I will be in Quadrant three. The last quadrant will be taken Osiris and Mercury,” he said. He turned to the last two members with a serious look. “Spiderman, Spoiler, it is up to you two to secure the generator and get it back online.”

AMON: Amon grinned before shouting “BLACK ADAM!” and causing lightning to consume him completely. When the light disappeared into a thin cloud of smoke, it left Amon in his black and gold Osiris uniform with flickers of lightning surrounding his eyes and fingertips. “Last quadrant?” Amon’s arms folded over his chest as he chuckled, he looked over to Cessily with an amused grin, “Best for last, right?” He was certainly no stranger to big ops like this, hell he just got back from being stationed in the middle of a war on Thanagar for six months. That was the last time he really used Osiris out in public. Osiris was built slightly bigger than Amon was naturally and almost always had a confident grin at his lips. “So do we have to keep them alive or---” Amon trailed off with a laugh.

ZACH: The young Magi couldn’t help but roll his eyes as the other used whatever magic he had to transform, “And people say I’m dramatic.” he deadpanned, before looking at the two he’d been lumped with for this shindig. “I’m not supposed to be seen doing this so… revoC em ni edahs.” he cast, the spell going over his clothes and deeping the shadows around him to an almost absurd degree, enough to conceal his features pretty well anyway. “Now, if you two ladies can try not embarrass or annoy me then we might just make it through this. Oh, and try not to hold me back as well,” he added lightly, “I’ve a natural habit of stealing a show.” And even if they were going into an asylum to deal with a massive breakout, he’d consider this a show, it made things easier that way.

CONNOR: He finished tying his mask around his eyes, making sure it was fit snugly around his head before he looked up, his bow in one hand and his quiver strapped tightly across his chest. “I hope we have to keep them alive,” he said with a furrow of his brow. He paused for a moment, his lips pursed. “Do they have a uniform from the prison that we can follow? Something we can use to identify them? Ideally, I’d like to be able to find and extract them without hurting them, but I know that might not be realistic.” He stood up and put his bow down where he was seated before, stretching out his shoulders to make sure he was completely warmed up. “And where are we going to take them? Is the asylum secure again, or do we have to take them to a secondary location?” He paused, looking back at his quiver. “I could get some handcuff arrows…” he said, trailing off as his brows furrowed again in thought.

CESSILY: It wasn’t the time, really, but Cessily felt almost out of place. She had not met most of the people standing there with her, aside from Laura and Tim, but the adrenaline was enough to keep her focused. Her eyes went a little wide when a man in the group, Osiris, apparently, was engulfed by lightning and then he was very, well, like she was one to talk, shiny. She flashed him a grin though and nodded, her red ponytail bobbing. “Best for last,” She says, sliding past the boy with the mask on to stand beside Osiris. “Cessily, but they call me Mercury,” Or they had, in situations like this at least. She could feel her heart beating in her chest and it all felt too familiar, but with only one other X-man in sight, it also felt a little weird. Looking around she made a mental note of the names of the people she did not recognize. “Is there any other… external threat? I heard they were armed? Is that true? All the wires are getting crossed between here and the prison,” Cess said, arms crossed over her chest.

STEPH: Secure the generator. It was such a strange task to be assigned to Steph, that she almost wondered if it was a passive aggressive action on Tim’s part. In the past, she may have even made some noise about it. But now? She knew better than to waste time on something so petty, not when lives were at stake. Plus, proving that you can’t follow orders on your first assignment just wouldn’t look good. “Hey, you’re a wiz with this stuff right?” She asked Spider-Man, who she didn’t know much about, other than he was some kind of genius. “You be the brains, I’ll be the muscle.”

TOMMY: It had been so long since Tommy actually got to do something that he was practically vibrating to just get started. As soon as he heard his name and figured out where it was going, it took a hell of a lot of self control not to just be gone before hooking up with Gwen and Tim to figure out the game plan. Well, the game plan beyond ‘round up the crazies and put them back in the box.’ He snapped his goggles into place and stretched his arms above his head. “So I can get the whole place canvassed if you guys just want to meet me. Might be done before you get there, though,” he grinned. A bunch of criminals escaping an asylum wasn’t exactly cause for celebration, but damn he’d been so bored.

GWEN: She wasn’t exactly a team player in the past, mostly because she never had a team to play with, so this was kind of new and exciting for her. She was chewing gum behind her mask, the fabric moving in a strange way over her jaw as she sucked the last of the flavor out of it, leaving her chewing what was basically silly putty. She raised her hand. “Yeah, all right, question: are we supposed to, like, know team formations and shit? Because if this is about to turn into some synchronized swimming bullshit, I’d like to know so I can get the fuck outta here.” Gwen’s tone made it clear she was joking, but she realized soon after she spoke that this was probably the wrong time to make a joke. “Wait, shit, I take that back. I don’t want to be a bitch. Just, like—is there something specific we’re supposed to know, or is it, like—do what you’re comfortable with?” She gestured vaguely between them. “Because we’re all pretty different.”

PETER: Peter listens with interest, hands positioned on his hips. He had plenty of experience with big missions like this. He was an Avenger once after all, and beyond that he has been on patrol everyday since he was fourteen. Secure the generator might sound easier than it will be, but he was a genius after all. The lenses of his mask expand as he looks over at Spoiler who he was teamed up with. Peter will admit to not knowing a lot about her, but he smiles regardless of the fact she can’t see that. “I’m great with technology, don’t worry. If anyone can do this it’s us.”

LAURA: Taking orders by those who were not the X-Men made her uncomfortable. Unlike some of the others who seemed intimidated by Rose, she didn’t feel one iota of nervousness around her. Then again, there were very few people who intimidated her. She’d met women far more terrifying that this woman - and fear was a useless emotion. She liked to act. React. That was the only thing she really know how to do. She felt an odd warmth - or maybe it was relief? - at being paired with Connor. He could take care of himself and she had no doubt of it, but something about him made her want to keep him in her sight. In her opinion, Tim should have remained the leader of the group, but Rose did inspire. Being called a Rugrat was most definitely irksome, but she was silent and continued to watch with an unreadable expression. This was a serious situation and there was no time for jokes. Connor’s concerns made her sit forward and she eyed him carefully. “I will do my best to avoid killing. But I will not lie to you; it will not happen.”

BART: There was a smile on Bart’s face as he listens to Rose and Tim talk, giving them their orders. When it was time to split up into their teams he doesn’t waste a second going to approach the two people he would be with. He adjusts the goggles on his head as he looks up at them. “Oh boy. Well I won’t be killing anyone. I can promise that.” He teases with his happy expression still on his features. “I don’t know if the Asylum is secure again, but perhaps once we start gathering them it will be?” He questions as a hand is brought up to his face to stroke his chin for a moment.

KATE: There was a lot going on in her head at the moment. Honestly there was just a lot going on around her. But first things first. “Did she just call us Rugrats, not 100% sure how I feel about that. Hmmm. Kay.” She went silent again and inhaled nervous energy. “Cool escapees from an asylum.” Keep your comments to yourself Kate. She muttered in her head. She looked around and at least some faces looked familiar. However her attention was shifted over to the boy who made a comment.  “Hey Harry Houdini. I can’t make promises. You are dealing with a Hawkeye, chances are, you’re gonna end up in a dumpster. But I’m gonna do my best to make sure no one is around to see that.” She threw finger guns and clicked her tongue. She was once again surrounded by people with superpowers. “I know my boomerang arrow would come in handy.” Don’t miss. “So when this is all said and done I think we should all get pancakes.”

ROSE: “Everyone, you’re going to be taking the escapees back to the asylum. Hopefully, Spider-man and Spoiler can get the generator up and running sooner rather than later, but even if that’s not the case, as long as they are all restrained, SWAT and SCPD at the scene should be able to contain them. If anything gets way out of hand, Spider-man, Spoiler, you can call for back up.” Rose looked around at the team, feeling a little like they might be out of their depth, but there was nothing else to be done. They were going to have to learn by doing—learn how to be a team by actually being a team. Training was all good and fine, but it would be useless if they couldn’t handle a situation like this. She pulled her mask over her head. “Do what you’re comfortable with and keep communicating, you should all be able to work together so long as you keep communicating. Can’t stress this enough, you have to stay on your communicators. These communicators will also let Red Robin and myself see where all of you are, and if you’re in trouble, then we can come get you. The prisoners are all uniformed, but we can’t preclude the possibility that some of them might change and find some clothes, so Red Robin will be running facial recognition and will point out people that we should be going after who might not be in the scrubs. The asylum escapees are not armed as far as we know, but if you see someone who is armed, you can bring them back to the asylum. Worse comes to worse, they’ll get turned over to SCPD there.” She paused again. “And please, try not to kill anyone.”

TIM: Tim nodded at Rose’s words, switching the screen over to a lineup of faces. “These are the ones that have been confirmed to have broken out, but the list is incomplete,” he warned. “Keep their faces in mind, but if you aren’t sure take caution. I’m giving Ravager, Green Arrow, Spoiler, and Osiris cameras that should link back to the base and run faces through the program to check for matches.” He knew that might take too long though, so he was relying on the team’s memories. “Don’t be afraid to call for backup. We don’t know how powerful these people may be, so don’t let pride stop you from asking for help.” He gave them all a stern look. “We are trying to prevent casualties, ourselves included. I don’t want anyone to get hurt.” They would have Josh waiting on standby, but they shouldn’t be reliant on him. “I know Ravager and I have worked with a lot of you before, and we will have a proper training exercise soon. But for now, do your best to work with each other, and be open about what you are capable of.”

AMON: “Connor, you talk too much.” Amon snickered as he glanced over at him before rolling his eyes at Zach in return. “Call it dramatic now, Rent-a-Magician, but when you need saving later-- I’ll remember that.” They all felt nervous, or at least the ones who were fairly new to this type of situation. It was cute, especially by how confident everyone seemed to be. From being a soldier for CEMA, Amon knew to always expect the worst. Someone was going to get hurt, whether it was them or the patients, that was just a fact. But Amon also knew that he was always willing to do anything for his team at any cost. With the power of Black Adam, he was strong-- he was still learning to control that strength when he wasn’t in an absolute war zone. He’d only ever used Osiris in cases of extreme violence, so all he was hoping was that he wouldn’t make the team seriously doubt him by the end of this.

ZACH: “That’s Mr. Rent-a-Magician, Sparky. And when you no doubt face defeat at the hands of a piece of rubber I’ll be sure to help you out once I’m done laughing.” Zach had helped out in the original Titans back in the day, and it was only some escaped mad-people, how hard could this be? A few spells and he’d be home before anyone even knew he was gone. “Oh please,” he snorted at the archer girl, “Put me anywhere near a dumpster and I’ll turn that bow of yours into a really pissy rattlesnake.” He’d only just gotten the hang of conjuring animals and while it didn’t last too long it would be long enough to get a few good laughs out of. “Red-Douchebag, if I was gonna be open about what I could do we’d be here all night,” cause he was just that good, “So rather than stand around holding hands and giving pep talks like before the big game, shall we get on with this and save the day in a non-lethal yet still awesome manner?”

CONNOR: “We shouldn’t fight,” Connor said softly. He pressed his lips together lightly, his brow furrowing some more. “I don’t think I talk too much.” Frowning slightly at Zach, he looked back to Tim and Rose. “Yes, should we go out?” he asked, pursing his lips slightly. He picked up his bow and strung it easily, testing the tension on the string lightly before holding it one hand at his side. He brought his other hand up to pull his hood up over his head, the brown fabric hanging just barely over his forehead. He was anxious to get started. Connor had been with the Justice League before, and it hadn’t worked out because Connor had wanted to do something to help the common man rather than to go after the universe-saving battles. This seemed like exactly that, but after working on his own so long, he wasn’t sure how well he would blend with other heroes. “We’re all ready, right?”

CESSILY: What was there to say. Cess could take orders and this hardly seemed the place to be aggressively assertive. The asks were simple: rescue, don’t kill, don’t get hurt. The goals were always the same no matter the team. She could respect that. Looking over toward Connor, she nodded. “Yeah we’ve been here a whole twenty minutes, if we can’t get along, we’ve got issues. It’s not a who can get the most attention contest,” She said casting her eyes toward Zach, looking him over, unimpressed. “I’m ready,” She confirms, nodding toward Tim this time.

TOMMY: “Is that the end of the pep talk? The longer we stand here putting each other on the back, the more time we’re giving these jackasses to do some damage.” And he just wanted to go. “Do you do the web shooty thing?” he turned suddenly and asked Gwen. “Always wanted that.” Running was fun and all, but the whole ‘swing around buildings’ bit looked fun. He rocked back on his heels and looked around at the others, vaguely surprised at how big the team actually was. It was comforting to know just how many people were willing to break the law.

GWEN: “Yeah, let’s head out,” she said, pushing herself off her seat and standing. “I do the web-shooty thing. You want to do the damsel in distress bit and swing with me or what?” she asked, only half teasing. If he wanted to, Gwen would do it—in her opinion, swinging around on a web was about the only fun she could have when trying to help corral escaped convicts, some of whom had guns, more of whom had powers. It wasn’t going to be an easy night for any of them, that was for sure—so she might as well get her kicks wherever she could, right? She adjusted her suit slightly and pulled her hood up so that it rested on top of her head, kneeling for just a moment to make sure that her teal sneakers were laced up tight. “Because I’m ready to go.”

PETER: Luckily Peter was good at this sort of thing. He had confident in his ability to get the generator working. He has tinkered with enough Stark technology to feel like if he can handle that then this shouldn’t be so bad right? He stretches a bit, and if push came to shove it wouldn’t hard to trap the escapees with a web. They don’t dissolve for two hours anyway so they wouldn’t go anywhere. “If we need backup call, understood.” He salutes dramatically before turning to Spoiler. “You ready? I think we should start working on the generator soon as possible. I want to get my hands on it.” The sooner Peter started working on it the better.

LAURA: Tim’s stern look made Laura pause, but then she lifted her head in respectful acknowledgment. She wasn’t going to kill anyone unnecessarily. That certainly wasn’t the goal. They were going to be dealing with people who were not all dangerous, although it wasn’t encouraging that they were found criminally insane. However, there were a variety of ways to incapacitate people. Transporting them back to the institution would be a momentous task, but not impossible if they had people like Tommy doing it. There was a series of bangs from outside and her gaze flicked to the door. “We need to go.”

BART: While doing one last stretch Bart nods at those he was teamed up with. It was now or never right? He couldn’t believe they were actually doing this, the first big mission he’s been part of in a while. He felt good about it, always loving being part of sometime. Once this had all just been an idea, and now they were something again. He doesn’t smile just yet, knowing there was a time and place for it. “Yeah I’m ready, we should go. Lead the way guys.” He says motioning toward the two he was paired with.

KATE:  “So lowkey that’s a no on the whole pancakes thing. It’s okay. I’ll ask my dog.” The archer reached to fix a tip on one of the trick arrows and nodded. When it was time to get serious she could be but the energy in the room was strange, a mix of anxiety and excitement. She was, well she had a job to do and at the end of the day the city was in trouble and all these people needed to play hero. “Stop the insane. Don’t kill. Save the city. And don’t get caught despite the good deed. Good luck, friends.” She threw out finger guns and clicked her tongue with a smile.

ROSE: She nodded out at everyone there. “You all know what you have to do. Green Arrow, Spoiler, and Osiris, see Red Robin to get fitted with your camera.” She already had hers, placed over her eye like a monocle, scanning the room and pulling up information in Tim’s system about everyone in the room. She pressed her lips together, turning to Tim. “You don’t have anything else, right?” Rose turned back to the room. “Stay in contact and stay safe. At the end of the night, you don’t have to come here, but please check in with either Tim or me and let us know that you’re okay.” Rose didn’t intend on having anyone on this team arrested or worse that night, but that was one of the many dangers of being a vigilante these days. She was sure everyone could take care of themselves, but it was the potential for arrest that was worrying. She couldn’t let that in, however—she had to be calm and collected.

TIM: Tim looked out at the group one last time, the strange feeling of hope still in his chest. This was it, his team -- no their team, and they were going to do a damn good job. “Watch each other’s backs out there. Remember, we’ve all got each other to rely on, no one has to do this alone.” Maybe it was weird that he was feeling this optimistic, considering the city was in chaos, but he believed in them, in their mission. These were good people, and together they could save so many more. “You don’t have to debrief tonight, but we will try to arrange a meeting sometime this week to report.” With a firm nod, he finished with one last order. “Titans, move out!”

[avelyst]

Impulse

After a cold, snowy night in Marinette’s room, the last thing either hero expects are the new discoveries that follow. Things can only get more complicated from here. 

Chapter One

Marinette likes the winter. She likes the warm apparel, the foggy windows, the snow piled high in the streets. She likes to curl up in her blankets, sketching designs as the snow falls. And on particularly cold days, she likes watching the steam curl up from a fresh mug of hot chocolate, specially prepared by her father.

But even as someone that doesn’t mind the cold so much, there are some things Marinette just doesn’t like about the season.

One of them is roaming the rooftops of Paris in spandex, when the temperature rivals the freezer in her parents’ bakery.

And on a night like this – when her nose is pink and her face is nearly numb from the wind’s bite – she is reminded that, while she thoroughly loves this season, it is certainly not her favorite.

Marinette breathes into her cupped hands, shivering under the breathable material of her suit. She’ll have to look into finding fabric for a coat that allows flexibility and movement.

It’s been a long night. She didn’t want to patrol at all, originally. But lately there have been several akumas, and the crime rate has spiked exceptionally. The colder it gets, the more desperate people become – and standing on a ledge, overlooking the city lights and thick sheets of snow, Marinette can almost see why.

She imagines her bed, and the thick, cozy blankets waiting for her there. Just the image of it is enough to make her ache – or, that could also be the frostbite in her fingertips.

As she contemplates, Chat slips up behind her, nearly undetected. Nearly, because the crunch of snow gives him away.

“You look a little under the weather, My Lady.”

Marinette cradles her elbows, rubbing heat into them as she turns to meet Chat’s gaze. Her lips press into a thin line, and she dismisses his playful grin entirely.

“We should call it a night, I think. There will be a storm moving in,” she says, trembling.

His lips curve devilishly as he notes her shuddering, the clatter of her teeth.

“If you’re looking to warm up, I’m always at your dis-paw-sal, Bugaboo.”

Marinette shakes her head, turning her gaze toward the streets below so he won’t see her amused smile. His cheeky tone doesn’t mask the shiver the travels down his spine, and she imagines that he’s also probably colder than he lets on. Cats aren’t fond of the cold, and she’s fairly certain his suit is just as thin as hers.

“Go home, Chat. We’ll reschedule the patrol for a different night.”

He looks ready to protest, but she’s too impatient for his bravado or flirting, and she’s already hooking her yoyo onto a chimney in the distance, lunging off the roof.

She dashes across the buildings, leaping through the cold night toward the bakery. When she looks back over her shoulder, he’s already gone.

Good. Maybe the silly cat will be sensible.

Chat is not sensible.

He knows it’s cold. He can’t feel his face, or the snow that catches in his lashes and clings to his hair. But he doesn’t want to go home – not after the afternoon he spent grueling over studies for a Chinese exam and sheet music for his piano lessons. Nathalie had slapped a whole stack of it on his desk before exiting his room briskly, pulling the door shut behind her. And being the dutiful son he was, he’d gone over all of it.

It was all he could do not to transform and jump out the window before nightfall, before the actual patrol was scheduled. Sitting there, bent over the papers with heavy eyes, all he longed for was Chat Noir’s freedom.

Now he has it, and an impending winter storm isn’t going to take it away.

His mind wanders, and he recalls Ladybug’s cool, level gaze. The pink splotched across her face, pooling in her cheeks and collecting in the tip of her nose. The shake of her head at his joking tone, the small smile that threatened to curve her lips.

He wonders what she does when she goes home – when the cold closes in and she’s resigned to the confines of her house.

It’s probably warm, wherever she is. Saturated with her scent, undoubtedly.

Chat has to stop himself. The path those thoughts follow is a dangerous one to tread, and he’s worn his way through it so many times, he’s well-aware what lies at the end.

When he looks up, he recognizes his surroundings immediately. He’s circled this part of the city a few times in the span of an hour, his hair whipped back and tipped with frost, hands clenching and unclenching at his sides to urge heat into his fingers. He can make out the outline of the school, illuminated from the streetlights. A sign hangs over the bakery across the street from it, the light dim but familiar.

If he passes the bakery during the day, he can usually smell the baking bread, the fresh scent of cookies and pastries. But at this time of night, he can’t smell anything.

After a few seconds, his eyes settle on the balcony.

Marinette’s balcony.

He wonders what she is doing right now; probably holed up and attempting to keep warm – the second sensible girl he’s run across tonight.

After a few seconds of contemplation – and another chilling breeze in his hair – he shoots across, landing on the uneven shingles of the neighboring roof. Chat scales the side of the bakery, clawing his way over the railing of the balcony.

The plants are withered and dead, caked with snow and buried beneath the weight of it. He can see distinct footprints in the packed ivory, much smaller than his own, leading to a trap door that has been cleared.

Chat shakes the snow out of his hair, a shiver running across his limbs as a gust of wind hits his neck. The wind picks up, and he sways on his feet, struggling to suck in an icy breath. It’s a reminder of Ladybug’s warning about oncoming weather, and Adrien chastises himself for being reckless and ignoring it.

He tries to recall what he knows of Marinette. She’s shy and reserved, easily flustered and possibly clumsy. She’s hardly spoken a word to him without stumbling over herself, and she is fairly withdrawn from anyone aside from Alya.

No, that’s not entirely true. He remembers her run for class president, and her straight-forward confrontations with Chloe. In the past she’s been indifferent toward Chat, with a considerable amount of spice in her personality once the two of them spent more time together – albeit, as brief as it was.

So, there must be something more there, underneath the timid blue eyes and embarrassed smile.

Chat kneels next to the trap door, swiping at the fogged glass to glimpse into the room below. She might be asleep, and if she is, he doesn’t want to disturb her.

Warm light splashes onto her desk from a lamp, illuminating an array of sketches. Various designs are outlined in charcoal and colored pencil, a sketchbook open and forgotten underneath one of Marinette’s hands. Her hair spills over her slouched shoulders like dark ink, released from her usual pigtails. Her lashes cast dark shadows over her cheeks, lips parted in unconsciousness. It takes him a moment to recognize her lovely features, under the unusual lighting and without her signature hairstyle.

Someone has draped a blanket over her back, and a cooling cup of hot chocolate sits on her desk, nearly empty.

Chat crouches next to the trap door, uncertainty flashing through him. She looks so comfortable and cozy; the sight causes his numb hands to ache, down to the bone.

Ultimately it’s the wind, pressing and relentless, that urges Chat to drop down from the balcony and round the corner of the building – to her window.

He peers into her room, revealed in a new light from this angle. He can see her slumped form from here, warm and inviting. Chat raps on the glass, his luminescent, green eyes darting from her desk to the little door in her floor. Hopefully he won’t be alerting anyone else in the house to his presence.

He can only imagine her father’s reaction if he saw a strange, masked boy outside her window, lurking out in the cold. The thought is almost more intimidating than a possible akuma attack.

As though sensing his presence, Marinette startles, several papers fluttering from the desk onto the floor. He’s barely tapped on the glass again, and her eyes drift to the window, bleary and disoriented.

They stare at one another for several seconds as she seems to collect herself, registering the sight of him. The recognition surfaces in the furrow of her brow, her blue eyes rounding. Chat grins broadly as she pushes back out of her chair, crossing to the window.

Marinette fixes him with guarded eyes as she unlatches it, shoving it open. A rush of warm air tickles his face, and he unconsciously leans into it.

“Chat Noir?” she sighs groggily, rubbing her eyes.

“Were you expecting someone else?”

His smile is impish – daring.

Her pajamas look flannel, the top button open to glimpse a soft collarbone. A tinge of pink warms her face, undeniably inviting to a shivering cat, grasping anxiously at her window frame with frigid claws. Marinette’s hands fall away, and frustration flickers in her tired gaze. She seems to bridle it, schooling her features into nonchalance. The display of expression in that one moment is more than he’s experienced from her in over a month of fumbling for conversation as Adrien.

“I wasn’t expecting anyone. Do you have any idea what time it is?” she asks sharply.

Chat digs his digits into the structure, shifting his weight. Puffs of hot breath steam from his lips, curling into the air before dissipating between them. Marinette stares at him pointedly, unfazed by his visible shuddering.

“A hero’s responsibilities are never off the clock,” he quips.

She frowns at him, and his eyes follow the movement. The downturn of her lips, the slight knit of her brow. Her hair is disheveled from her nap, the impression of lines from notebook paper on her right cheek. And despite the button-down pajamas, she still manages to look resolute.

“I was patrolling,” he admits finally, “I was lost in thought, and it grew cold. When I saw the light from your window, I thought…”

The last part isn’t entirely a lie, he reasons. Her gaze is unwavering, but he can see the gears turning behind it.

“You thought you’d just come scratching at the door, and I’d let you in.” she says plainly.

“A storm is coming,” he adds.

He can’t read her expression, but he can see the way something shifts in her features. There’s a part of her he’s rarely seen – the part that thinks practically and evaluates a situation.

When she lets out a sigh, her fingers hooking in his collar – dragging him in over the threshold with surprising strength – he can sense the resolution there. A satisfied smile flits across his face at her consent.

Marinette has never considered herself a cat person.

She’s not especially fond of their self-entitled attitude, or their demanding need for attention. As she sits at her desk, her chair swiveled to face the boy perched on her chaise lounge, she’s reminded of the most distasteful similarities between her partner and the real animal.

Chat stretches out over the piece of furniture, rubbing his face into a pillow. He looks absolutely content, the dark flush in his cheeks receding as he acclimates to the temperature of the room.

The frost in his hair and on his suit melts, and she chastises him lightly for getting her things wet. But her irritation ebbs as she watches him stretch out, his chest rumbling with delighted purrs as he sinks into the cushion.

Marinette collects the papers from the floor to busy herself, arranging them into a neat stack. It’s quiet in the bedroom, snow falling hard and fast outside, a hushed consistency. The only sound between them is her quick, nervous breaths, and the deep vibration in Chat’s throat. She fingers a loose thread on her leg, suddenly self-conscious.

She’s comfortable with Chat – she knows Chat.

It’s not the first time she’s been unmasked with him, and it’s not like he seems to suspect anything. But this is the first time she’s been alone with him – really alone with him – as herself, and not Ladybug, with no civilian eyes or meticulously aimed lens to follow.

Chat holds no affection for Marinette – it’s Ladybug that he’s infatuated with. So she really has nothing to fret over.

And yet.

Those thoughts, those inward reassurances, do nothing to snuff the anxiety in her stomach from the proximity.

“I’m sure a very busy hero like yourself has important things to do,” she says in an even voice, “So whenever you’re feeling better, feel free to let yourself out.”

She tries to sound light, casual. But there’s a quiver in her voice, and she prays he doesn’t notice.

A pair of bright eyes consider her from beneath the pillow, slit with leisure.

“Are you so eager to be rid of me, Princess?”

“Oh, no! Of course not. But I’m sure Ladybug would worry about you,” she clears her throat, adding, “And my parents have a strict no-pet policy since we live above a bakery.”

A chuckle escapes Chat. The sound is low and warm, like the shift of sheets on skin. Instead of answering, she can see his gaze flit over her head, examining something on the wall behind her. After a few beats, he sits up on the chaise, and there’s something in his eyes. It races across his expression fleetingly – surprise, interest, and then genuine amusement. It unnerves her, the way the corners of his mouth lift.

“You’re a big fan of fashion…or one model in particular?”

Comprehension splutters through her, and Marinette’s face flushes. She twists around, eyes widening, her ears growing impossibly warm. Posters, magazine clippings, and various illustrations of Adrien Agreste adorn her wall, littering every open space that’s not occupied by her own designs. The meager light from her lamp casts shadows over the room, but it escaped her that Chat can see in the dark. Embarrassment crawls up her neck, blooming in her cheeks as she averts her eyes, pretending at indifference. She can feel Chat’s piercing gaze, settled on the back of her head as she glances guiltily toward the framed picture of Adrien on her desk.

“I’m a fan of Gabriel Agreste’s work,” she says feebly.

“And of his son.”

There’s that smirk. She can hear it in his voice.

“He’s a talented model,” she argues.

But there’s no denying the stutter that threatens to disable her explanations, or the darkening blush that pools in her face. And it too late, because Chat has already taken notice, and she can feel his attention on her. She expects him to tease, to haggle her for her juvenile crush.

Instead, there’s an underlying range of emotions that play out behind the eyeholes of his mask, and Marinette looks over her shoulder at him, pausing as she notices it. She’s barely recognized the uncertainty, the indecision in his eyes, before he’s risen to his feet, rocking back on his heels.

The energetic surety of his posture returns in that split second.

“It’s late for a school night,” he circles around her room, curiously inspecting the things on her dresser, “What are you doing up at this hour?”

Marinette turns back to her desk, tracing the outline of her latest work with gentle fingertips. Her eyes roam the discarded pencils and tools, the shavings and pieces of lead strewn across the surface. She really gets engrossed once a design sets into her mind.

The moment she returned from the patrol, she had enough time to let the transformation drop and settle down at her desk, before the papers in front of her started to become hazy. Between half-conscious sketching and dim lighting, she can’t remember when she drifted off.

“I’ve been working on a project,” she answers vaguely.

She’s hardly aware of his presence over her shoulder, the inquisitive eyes that sweep over the sketches under her hands, until she feels his breath stirring her hair.

“You’re very skilled,” he says.

His voice is silky and quiet, interest lacing his tone. He shifts behind her, his hand crossing over her shoulder to touch one of the drawings. Marinette grows still.

“This one – the lace is detailed. Delicate work, but it complements the neckline nicely.”

There’s a scent on his suit, on his hair as he leans over her. Has he always smelled like this? The cologne is familiar, but she can’t place it, and it’s unbearably distracting as his fingertip traces the drawing. Marinette’s eyes fall closed as she breathes it in, her head growing light. It could be that she’s still tired, still half-awake, and the light from the lamp is pleasant and homely…

“-mind, Princess?”

Her eyes snap open, “What?”

“Is there something else on your mind, Princess?”

There’s that amusement from before, rolling off of him as he laughs quietly. Marinette’s face burns.

“You know a lot about fashion,” she points out, “For a cat.”

Chat hums low in his throat, and the sound is almost as hypnotizing as his scent.

“A coat is only as good as its grooming,” he says.

“Going by how cold and miserable you looked out there, your grooming must be subpar,” she sniffs – and a waft of that sweet, musky smell assaults her senses.

The glee doesn’t leave his tone, and she’s starting to think he’s enjoying this.

“The whole point of spandex is that it’s flexible and breathable. If I wore a coat, it would only be a restraint during a fight.”

His hands find her shoulders, and her stomach dips at the unexpected touch. The chair swivels, and Marinette’s breath hitches uncertainly as she’s pulled around to face him. Chat leans into the space between them, palms resting on the back of her chair, his presence caging her in. An unfamiliar heat wedges in her abdomen as he eyes draw over her.

“Does my princess really think my grooming in sub-par?”

His pupils are blown, set against a vibrant shade of emerald. In the shadows of her bedroom they are incredibly bright, flecks of yellow and vivacious green, smoldering from behind the confines of the mask. She can’t remember his gaze being this intense before – or a time where she would have ever used the word ‘mesmerizing’ to describe any part of Chat.

“I’m not your princess,” she says softly.

The vivid, cat-like orbs crinkle as he smiles.

“Ah, yes. You already have a prince.”

His attention darts to the picture frame behind her, and she bristles at the hilarity in his tone. He’s entertained by this – by the childish notion of her interest in a boy. In someone unattainable. His ability to flip between being flirtatious and taunting is striking.

Who is he to joke about impossible relationships? Just over an hour before, he’d been practically fawning over Ladybug.

Marinette hackles with annoyance, her cheeks puffing indignantly.

“Better a prince than a pushy stray.”

The smirk slides from his lips, his expression hardening unexpectedly. He considers her carefully for a moment, as though deliberating.

“And what if your prince were a frog, hm? What then?”

Marinette’s heart lurches as he bows toward her, the cool tips of his hair grazing her cheeks.

“Would you still kiss a frog?”

This close, she can’t escape his scent, or the burn in his eyes. She’s still upset, still frustrated, she reminds herself desperately.

“At the end of the day,” she breathes, “A frog is still a prince underneath.”

Their noses almost touch, and Marinette can feel his breath on her face. She’s sucked into the unyielding slant of his eyes, the sharp curve of his jaw as it works.

When Chat breaks away, his hands falling from the chair, her heart is thrumming. Marinette watches him move to the ladder, climbing to the secluded nook where her bed is tucked away.

Frantic thoughts race across her mind, panic lodging in her throat. Countless scenarios surface in her imagination, unbidden and each one more ludicrous than the last.

“Wha- Where are you g-going?”

Chat peeks over the edge of the loft, his eyebrows raised.

“To take a nap – unless you have a better way to pass the time?”

Marinette reddens, glancing toward the window. The snow is still falling, and so is her sensibility.

[kartiavelino]

This global wrestling star was a body-hating tomboy growing up

By day, Kimberly Benson wears fairly clothes, enjoys singing and works along with her mother and pop operating the household bus-hire enterprise. However by evening she is feminine wrestling star Viper: The Vixen of Violence, beating up males twice her dimension. With choke holds, physique slams and headbutts, it’s a robust job — however one she loves. The super-strong 27-year-old, who stands at 5 foot, 5 inches, weighs 204 kilos and may deadlift 575 kilos, says: “I’ve had over 50 black eyes and have a fixed mashed-up lip from all of the boots to the face — however I’m residing my dream.” Holding 4 championship belts, she is on the high of her recreation — however Benson says her largest achievement has been studying to like her robust physique. She says: “Earlier than I began wrestling I had little or no confidence. I was all the time the tallest, largest woman in school and was very acutely aware of it. “I hated my determine and would by no means have worn something revealing. “The minute I stepped into the ring, every part modified. Folks acquired excited that I was massive, it made me totally different from all of the slim, super-toned feminine wrestlers. “Being the largest woman within the room used to terrify me, however all of a sudden it was being celebrated.” Benson selected the stage identify of Viper, impressed by her favourite American wrestler, Stone Chilly Steve Austin — The Texas Rattlesnake. She says: “Once I was in character as Viper, it didn’t matter if Kim wasn’t feeling assured, as a result of Viper was. She’ll put on a leotard and beat individuals up. The extra individuals liked her, the extra I discovered to like myself. “I get a great deal of messages from mother and father saying how comfortable they’re that their youngsters have footage of me on their wall and never stick-thin, airbrushed fashions. “I attempt to observe a bodybuilder food plan, with portion management, however I’m by no means going to be that woman who says, ‘I can’t have that pizza.’ “I’m not going to be shy about having a steak if I need one. I don’t wish to be the identical as anybody else.” It’s an perspective that has introduced her followers throughout the globe, and she or he says: “Wrestling has taken me all around the world — France, Germany, America and Japan six occasions. “Once I go to Japan I get stopped consistently by individuals wanting footage with me, it’s loopy. I’ve 1000’s of followers there. “I typically go there for 3 months at a time to wrestle and see all of them.” It’s a great distance from her quiet upbringing within the small city of Kilbirnie, Scotland, and her first bout. She says: “The primary time I went into the ring I was terrified. My dad didn’t come to observe as a result of he was too nervous about me. “It was robust, however afterwards it was the largest rush ever and I signed up for the following one immediately. I simply love throwing myself at individuals. “Once I began out individuals thought I was a silly, fats, blonde woman who wouldn’t quantity to something within the ring. I needed to show them improper. “When a 280-pound male wrestler slammed a steel chair on my again and I was rolling round in ache, I acquired up, picked him up and slammed him to the bottom. Now I’m holding the title belts for the largest wrestling firms on the earth.” Benson was 9 when she first fell in love with wrestling. She says: “At college I was a tomboy, I didn’t have a strong group of pals. Once I was 9 I had a break day faculty sick and stumbled throughout wrestling on TV. “There was blood and ache — and I was hypnotized. I liked it. “I watched it continuous however I saved it secret. I didn’t need my classmates pondering I was loopy.” At 16 her then-boyfriend instructed her about a wrestling faculty close by. She says: “I was engaged on the [registers] at [a grocery store], however I went that weekend. I acquired completely battered. It’s very robust love. I was the one woman and so they simply put me in a ring with a great deal of guys. “The subsequent morning I felt like I’d been hit by a bus, it was painful however superb. I was hooked.” A yr later she was prepared for her first bout — however first she needed to choose her look. She says: “All the opposite ladies wore crop tops and pants. I regarded within the mirror and thought, ‘That’s not going to work for me.’ “However I didn’t wish to cowl up. I attempted on a leotard and felt unbelievable. My fishnet tights look good. I really feel empowered when in my outfit.” Benson’s mother and father Niven, 61, and Yvonne, 56, now go to cheer her on — regardless of how robust it will get. She says: “At first they thought it was simply a section I was going via, however 10 years on, they’ve realized in any other case. “It’s arduous for my dad seeing me getting all beat up. Poor man doesn’t know whether or not to leap into the ring and assist me or cheer. “Generally it may be fairly brutal, seeing your daughter coated in blood. When phrase first unfold in school, everybody known as me ‘That mad wrestling lassie’ — and it’s type of caught.” However her popularity because the Vixen of Violence has made it tough to satisfy a man courageous sufficient so far her. Benson has been single for a while. She had a transient dalliance with a fellow wrestler however that fizzled out a while in the past. She says: “Males discover it actually intimidating realizing I may beat them up or elevate them over my head. I’m additionally a massive woman and a massive persona, so it’s going to take a particular man.” Whereas the giants of WWE wrestling are millionaires, Benson has made tens of 1000’s of {dollars}. It speaks volumes about her incomes energy that she nonetheless works for her mother and father in her downtime. She has had a style of WWE, as soon as that includes beneath the identify Piper Niven at a particular occasion. Her massive persona is being featured in a BBC documentary subsequent week, with cameras following her to Japan. She says: “They love me there as a result of I’m a lot greater than their wrestlers. I throw them round and catch them. “I like that it’s cool to be a robust girl.” Share this: https://nypost.com/2018/06/06/this-global-wrestling-star-was-a-body-hating-tomboy-growing-up/ The post This global wrestling star was a body-hating tomboy growing up appeared first on My style by Kartia. http://www.kartiavelino.com/2018/06/this-global-wrestling-star-was-a-body-hating-tomboy-growing-up.html

[annamariemirfin]

My final day at the cafe

Yesterday was my final day at the Cafe!  I have reached the conclusion that even if Artigiano isn’t particularly ‘trendy’ and even if the wages and hours haven’t been flash, for the most part I’ve enjoyed working there and I feel fortunate for my experiences. This was my first experience of working with a group of other young people full time, and I found it to be quite a unique and rewarding way of getting to know a really neat bunch of people! I have come to really adore my co-workers. I appreciate their personalities, their company; I like expressing myself around them and I feel genuinely excited to see them. Here is a quick little profile of each staff member (mainly for my own benefit, and memories): Martina from the Czech Republic: kind, gentle, thoughtful and hardworking girl / young lady who I was particularly close to.  We would feel sad when we weren’t working with one another and I felt that I could genuinely open up to her. We always loved catching up. I have found a good friend in Martina and I hope that we will visit each other again one day! In person Martina is: softly spoken with a lovely, initially unfamiliar, sounding accent and excellent English. She has a humble, friendly demeanour and a warm smile. Nickolaus from Berlin, Germany: truly a kindred spirit. He felt at once like a good friend and my younger (german) brother. We had a lot of fun together chatting at the cafe and sometimes hanging out outside of work. Nick is funny, intelligent, mature, confident, thoughtful, mischievous, extremely frugal, organised, good-hearted, empathetic.. I was very surprised and grateful to make such a special feeling friendship. In person Nick is: tall but young looking (he’s 18),  rosy cheeked with a poof of thick brown, tennis-player style hair. And of course he has a pretty strong German accent which I would very much enjoy, Yah. We would laugh at one another’s pronunciation often.   Cody - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: my wild, crazy, lovable, expressive, funny manager. Cody is quite a character and I very much enjoyed working with him. He would surprise everyone with totally quirky, impulsive little statements, loved to tease, and liven up the cafe with his singing, sometimes dancing, and other silly shenanigans. He can also be very serious, collected, and is a patient, kind, caring teacher and supervisor. It’s hard not to like Cody. Although I would sometimes feel a little shy around him, I found I couldn’t help but appreciate him and his personality with a lot of adoration. In person Cody is: tall, thin and wiry, with sleek, well-kept blonde hair (he used to be a hair dresser), very agile and fluid in his motions, energetic. Donald - Canada: Donald is a truly great guy. I really enjoyed his company and our talks. He’s totally not enthusiastic about working at Artigiano (this is no secret : P) but he’s very respectful and appreciative of the staff there, kind, generous, alternative, reflective, funny and great to talk to…character profile: he moved to Vancouver for skateboarding, is friends with a lot of artists, has a little glasses and mouth tattoo on his hand, wears round rimmed glasses, wide cut pants, skate shoes, elegantly pours beautiful latte art and drinks lots of traditional amercianos. Morgan, Edmonton, Alberta: I gelled with Morgan due to his fun, silly, artistic nature. He’s studying photography at Emily Carr university. We enjoyed hanging out and joking around together. In person Morgan: walks slowly and somewhat like a male model, squints his eyes a little when he smiles, has a buzz cut, dresses alternatively and artistically in wide jeans, vans, is often seen wearing a ‘toque’ and sometimes also sometimes has a camera around his neck. And because this is taking way too long I’m just going to have to condense the rest, like the condensced milk in a Spanish latte. Steph - Calgary, Alberta: Steph intimidated me at first because she came across as a bit bossy but in the end she was one of my closer friends at the cafe. Steph is full of energy, fun, funny faces, digestive health tips, smiles and date stories. Andy (Andy Joe) - Vancouver, originally Taiwan: everyone loves Andy. There is no way you can’t love Andy. Full of laughs and infectious, smiles unbelievably kind, silly / fun, a great leader, good street fashion sense, and about a head shorter than me. Mizuki, Japan: sweet, studious, pretty, quiet but with good sense of humour. Allannah, NZ/ Australia: loved meeting and talking to someone from the same part of the world as me. Empathetic, and kind I felt like I could truly open up to this girl. Zach - Vancouver: good looking, muscular individual who sort of exudes the pretty, gay guy vibe, reminds me of a leopard for some reason, studies accounting, speaks in a very low, unenthusiastic sounding voice when announcing drinks, passes sarcastic comments, has a lovely smile, shares silly / jokey chats.  A personal reflection: Something that surprises me the most is just how much I have valued the company of other people that I have got to know in Vancouver. I would even go as far as saying that I have come to value human company more than I have in most other periods of my life… At start start of my time in Vancouver I wondered how I would ever find people that I truly enjoyed spending time with or felt like I could be myself around. I regarded these relationships as rare and unlikely, mainly thinking back to Dunedin where I didn’t particularly associate with the majority of the student population at uni (I almost actively avoided it), and where I only had a few close friends. I remember also, in my early Vancouver days feeling very sorry for myself due to the sudden, crippling absence of every single person I cared about in my life. And yet at the same time - in my state of grief and despair- I didn’t have much of an interest in trying to make other friends right then, it would only seem like an effort, it couldn’t possibly be rewarding. Since then I have learnt to live without people such as Ike in my life, and I have developed wonderful connections to other people in this city. In addition I have made some lovely friends outside of work and I have very, very much appreciated being a part of family life in Helen and Rodney’s household. They began to feel like my family away from home and I also developed connections with them that I never expected either. It’s great not being at university and spending more time on what matters.