#maybe there’ll be another one next month!

[freezingsheep]

It happened!

Weeeeeks ago when I migrated to this hellsite (affectionate) I shared the one thing I’ve actually created - the digital escape games I made during lockdown. I amended the starting forms to add Tumblr as an option for where people found the games and waited for the influx of new players.

And I waited.

And waited.

I even pinned the post to the top of my blog so it didn’t get lost. And then unpinned it a couple of days later when it still had zero notes because it just felt a bit sad. I resigned myself to the fact that maybe Tumblr just isn’t that kind of vibe and let my zero-note post slip shamefully down the stack.

But now look! My first ever Tumblrina!

Unfortunately this one is a 2-player game and only one of the characters was initiated so “A” has not actually gotten past the first screen… but still… I’ll take it!

Link added in case any of you beautiful weirdos were curious and/or fancied making my day.

[lullxby]

I’m on my knees begging for a jealous percy x fem!reader please 🙏🙏

:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ ALWAYS BEEN HERE (p.j.)

summary : in which percy and y/n din’t notice each other, even though they’ve always been there.

w.c. : about 1.5k

a/n : first writing in a few months! there’ll probably (definitely) be a part 2 for this but i just needed tk get smth out 😭

requests r still open!

wattpad: poet1cmystery

warning(s) : none!

| riordanverse masterlist | navigation |

*ੈ✩‧₊˚

percy shouldn’t care if you were flirting with another guy. even if that guy was taller, stronger, and older. he shouldn’t care. he really really shouldn’t. the two of you hated each other.

that being said, he couldn’t draw his eyes away from you and luke castellan’s bodies, so close you were practically touching. you laughed at every one of the older boy’s jokes, your lips rounding around your teeth and you smiled widely.

“gods, they’re all over each other,” the boy scoffed, looking to his best friend, tearing his stare away from the sight across the campfire flames.

grover, as unphased as ever, just shrugs. “yeah. have been for a couple weeks now,” he says, shoving a perfectly-roasted marshmallow into his mouth, “‘m happy for them. they seem to like each other.”

“yeah, a lot.” percy adds with a roll of his eyes.

“i don’t get it!” he continues, “why are they so out and the open about it?! that’s too much pda.”

he would act this way with anyone, right? yeah. you guys just shouldn’t be on top of each other like that.

“percy, they’re barely touching,” his satyr friend points out, his voice flat.

“so?- still! grover, you’re supposed to be on my side,” percy insisted.

“alright,” the overall passive boy supports, “i guess they’re kinda close, especially in public.”

“exactly!” percy agreed, enthusiastic while keeping his voice low.

*ੈ✩‧₊˚

the next time percy saw you and luke together was at the arena. you and percy were sparring, your swords clashing together as sweat fell down the both of you.

suddenly, luke came into frame. he wasn’t in the way, or even in the main part where people would spar. he was sort of off to the sides, but close enough to distract percy.

you were able to pin the boy down, cheering in triumph and getting off of him.

he blinked, his brain catching up to what had just happened. he lay still on the dirt, looking up at you.

“dude, are you gonna get up?”

except it wasn’t your voice, it was luke’s.

luke stood over him, just mere inches away from where you were standing. why did you guys always have to be like that?

it was like the gods were trying to torture him.

luke wasn’t even a good person, not even close to good enough for you. you were sweet, and funny, and you always thought of others. maybe you weren’t that way withh percy, but he wasn’t blind.

“need a hand?” you asked, extending your arms towards him.

he grabbed it silently, pulling himself up.

his mouth opened to say something, to relieve himself of the thoughts swirling through his head. though, he didn’t get the chance to, considering luke came up to you, slinging an arm around your shoulder.

“c’mon,” the boy said, his tone slightly harsher than percy preferred.

that stayed with anyone. nobody should be talked to like that, even if he constantly butted heads with them.

surpising not only you, but his self aswell, he shot you an apologetic glance.

you just let it slide off, as if you hadn’t seen anything at all.

*ੈ✩‧₊˚

later on that week, he saw you and luke arguing about something.

the two of you shouted at each other, words percy couldn’t pick up. luke was looking st you, a flame in his eye, as if he didn’t care at all.

percy knew you saw it to, because you held your hand up, then stormed off.

he couldn’t lie, he felt bad. you didn’t deserve that. you deserved someone better, someone who would care.

that clearly wasn’t luke.

should he comfort you? you looked upset.

he should atleast ask if you were alright.

so that’s what he did.

he slowly approached you, as if you would turn and get angry at him for doing so. you were turned away, your back facing him as you chewed anxiously on your nail.

“y/n?” he called out, standing a couple feet away from you.

you spun on your heel, your tear-brimmed eyes not going unnoticed by percy. he didn’t comment on it, wanting to at least let you have something.

“i uh, heard what happened. you alright?” the boy asked, his hand reaching up to awkwardly scratch the back of his neck, awaiting your response.

he watched as your facade changed, pulling your hand away from your lips sighing deeply.

“yeah, i guess. he was an asshole, so i mean, it was bound to happen,” you said, trying to assure you weren’t sad. your voice cracked as you spoke, something you tried to cover with a small laugh.

after years of arguing with you, percy had gotten used to all the small things about you. how you were when you were lying, when you were sad, angry, anything.

so, he said the first thing that came to mind.

“want a, uh, hug or something?”

that wasn’t weird, right?

of course not.

he was just comforting you. he’d do it with anyone, obviously. he wasn’t a monster. he wasn’t about to just let you stand there in yiur sadness.

you just nodded, hesitantly wrapping your arms around the boy’s neck.

the embrace was a stiff, but comforting nonetheless. it was good to know there was at least someone who believed you and din’t blame you for the split.

you knew in just a few hours time people would start asking luke what happened, and fall victim to his charm, just as you had.

percy waited until you pulled away first, not wanting you to feel like he was just doing this to do it. he truly didn’t mind holding you for longer, and over a few seconds he tightened his arms, making it feel more natural.

after a moment, you unraveled your arms from him, sending him a soft smile to accompany your soft words.

“thank you, percy.”

he took in your appearance, his eyes roaming all around your face. a small tear had made its’ way down your cheek, something that he didn’t fail to notice, but also didn’t want to comment on.

after all, you two weren’t close. what would he do if you started crying? he didn’t have time to think about it, as you turned and walked quickly towards your cabin, as if you had been itching to get away.

he saw you next at the campfire, a few days later. considering the amount of time that had passed, he just assumed that you were taking time to comprehend everything.

when you sat across the fire from him, you looked completely fine. as if nothing had happened.

your friends swarmed around you, their faces lighting up at the sight of you. percy assumed they hadn’t seen you either.

you laughed and chatted with the other half-bloods around you, but it all looked strained to percy. maybe he just wasn’t used to you smiling in any way except sarcastically, or the stuff with like was still hitting you hard.

luke.

percy’s mind roamed. what had you even seen in him? he couldn’t have been that funny. and he certainly wasn’t the nicest guy around.

was it his looks? percy asked himself. he knew luke was attractive, but that couldn’t be it.

his thoughts vanished as he heard someone say your name.

they seemed to do that now a days. he chalked it up to you going through rough time.

he heard your name again, and saw you sort of pretending you didn’t hear it. your conversation with your friends continued, not paying any mind to someone trying to get your attention.

rude, the boy thought, his previous feelings for you resurfacing.

his negativity towards you dissolved as he saw who was bidding for you.

luke.

why did everything revolve around luke?

he didn’t know why, but percy wanted to help you.

him and luke weren’t friends, but they weren’t enemies. so, he approached the other boy, sparking up a conversation. he said everything he could think of, anything that would get luke off of your back.

as much as percy disliked you, he disliked seeing you cry even more. so, if he stopped someone from making you cry, it was a win-win.

he walked off with luke, looking back to see if anyone was looking at him and the other boy. when he did, he locked eyes with you, and noticed a small smile blooming from your lips.

he offered one back, then watched as you turned back to your friends.

maybe you guys weren’t so against each other anymore.

percy couldn’t help but smile at the thought.

percy jackson taglist: none, lmk if you’d like to be added!

[cevansbrat0007]

Cross-Country Christmas (Teaser)

Summary: After Ari is left stranded by a surprise winter storm, you find yourself wishing for a little Christmas miracle...

Warnings: Mature Themes, Angst, Ari Being A Menace, Holiday Themes, Smut, Arguments, Spanking (mentioned), Pet Names, Cursing, More Warnings to Come Minors DNI

A/N: This is only a TEASER, the longer fic is coming soon. Part of my Sweet Renegades Series. Semi-proofread, not beta'd. All mistakes are my own. Likes, comments, and reblogs are always appreciated. Thanks for reading!

8:30am on Christmas Day - Bell’s Creek, Texas

“I promise I’ll be fine, Beast.” Drying your tears, you crumble up your tissues in your fist before discarding them in favor of taking a sip of your coffee. “Like you just said, there’ll be other holidays. And certainly other Christmases.”

Ari was still stuck in Omaha. And while you had suspected this call was coming, you hadn’t been prepared for how much the disappointment would affect you.

By all accounts, your Bounty Hunter appeared to be in good spirits, albeit a little tired. He was still on standby, even though all flights were still grounded indefinitely. But you’d at least been happy to hear that he’d somehow managed to catch a few hours of sleep. 

Not only that, but he’d also made a new friend in some guy named Clint. They apparently had a number of things in common, with the most important being that they’d both served overseas. Ari had also alluded to his new buddy being in law enforcement as well. 

But if you were being honest, you’d been so focused on trying to sound positive that you hadn’t quite been able to focus on his words as much as you would’ve liked. Thankfully, Ari seemed keen on having a conversation – even if it felt a bit one-sided.

“The airline keeps offering to put us up for the night. Anyone who accepts will be guaranteed a spot on one of the first flights out.” Ari coughs softly before continuing. “However, if you’re willing to wait a little bit there’s talk about them sweetening the deal with some sort of voucher or somethin’, plus miles and all that shit.” 

“Oh?” Is all you can manage, forcing yourself to take another pull of your now lukewarm coffee.

“Yeah. So, Clint and I were thinking…” He trails off, briefly leaning away from the receiver to comment on something you couldn’t see.

“You two were thinking…what?” Your next sip of coffee tastes surprisingly bitter on your tongue. Maybe you would dump out the pot and brew a fresh one. 

“That we should take ‘em up on their offer and just ride this storm out. We take the points, get the voucher, and then maybe in a month or two, we go on a vacation together somewhere nice.” 

“You and Clint?!” You screech, accidentally knocking over your mug in the process. “Shit!” You scramble out of your chair to grab a dish towel and hurriedly mop up the mess. 

“Hate to break it to ya, baby, but Clint’s not really my type.” The Bounty Hunter chuckles into the phone. “I was talking about me and you, Bird. We can pick a destination and have ourselves a holiday do-over.”

A beat goes by before you respond the only way that makes any real, logical sense. Even though it seems to take every last bit of your resolve.  

“Okay.” Your voice comes out small and resigned. 

“Aw now, don’t fret. I’ll be home soon.” Ari does his best to reassure you. “And once I’m back, we will spend every waking minute making up for lost time. You have my word.”

Well, when he put it like that…

“I guess we can hold off for a little while longer.” You sniff, wishing you could just go back to bed and sleep until tomorrow. “But you had better keep your promise, Beast. Otherwise I’m gonna have to track down Santa and ask him for a new man.” 

Your half-hearted attempt at humor elicits a short bark of laughter from Ari which, in turn, makes you smile as well. It would be hard, but you could make it 

“Try it, sweet Bird, and I’m telling you right now that I’ll have you in my truck and over my knee before you make it outta the next county.” Comes his gruff response, clearly not enjoying the image of you hanging off another fella’s arm. 

You know without asking that he’s probably not kidding – so you decide to leave it alone. If he wanted to thump his chest a little, then you’d let him. 

“It was a joke.” You tell him when the line falls silent. Standing, you pad towards the fridge on bare feet, stopping once you reach the doors. Yanking one open, you survey the contents, silently wondering if you should even be bothered enough to cook today. Granted, you’d already brined the turkey so –

“Joking about my replacement isn’t funny, Bird.” Ari growls, the sound rumbling from somewhere deep in his chest. “Especially when I can’t be there in person to plead my case.”

You blow out a harsh breath at the same time as your eyes roll heavenwards. Why couldn't he understand that you needed to crack wise here and there in order to keep from crying?

END TEASER

[steddieas-shegoes]

“We should probably just do vanilla cake, right?”

“Our daughter is not boring. She should have confetti cake.”

“Vanilla isn’t boring!”

“It’s literally called being vanilla when someone doesn’t like a little fun in the bedroom, Steve.”

“First of all, don’t call me that. Second of all, she’s turning one. She’s not gonna care. She’s never had most of this stuff.”

“So her first adventure with it should be fun!”

Steve and Eddie had been arguing about Ella’s first birthday for a month now. It was starting to become an issue as it was two weeks away and they’d planned nothing except for the guest list.

Even Robin was starting to get worried they wouldn’t be able to pull it off.

“What if we let her pick?”

“She’s one.”

“Yeah, and? We give her two options on pieces of paper and she picks one.”

“That’s a terrible idea.”

“Why?”

“Because what if she picks princess plates but dinosaur decorations?”

“Why can’t she have both?”

Steve glared at him.

“I’m just saying, she’s one. This party is more for us than her, and she won’t remember it.”

“But there’ll be pictures.”

“And when we all look back at them, she’ll be happy that we let her have whatever made her little one year old brain happy.”

Steve sighed, which meant Eddie was winning. This was the first time he’d had the upper hand the whole time.

“Where can we get a confetti cake?”

“You know Lena? Owns the bakery by the tattoo place?”

“The one who gave you the notebook of all the queer friendly spots in town?”

Eddie snaps his fingers and points at Steve.

“That’s her! She already offered to make one.”

“And you told her yes already, didn’t you?”

“I can neither confirm nor deny such allegations.”

Steve rolled his eyes and turned to continue writing things on his checklist that had nothing checked off.

“We also should check with Joyce about using the cabin. I know we said renting the bar out in the morning would be good, but imagine a first birthday in a bar.”

“It’s metal as hell, Stevie.”

“It’s questionable parenting, Eds.”

And here they were at another problem.

————————————

“So you’ve accomplished nothing?”

“We got a cake!”

Eddie was sitting on the couch supervising Ella’s play time while Steve and Robin were “planning” her party in the kitchen.

Eddie had been banished from all party endeavors after he brought home a baby-sized electric guitar and drum set and said it was for her to play at the party.

Robin took over and, admittedly, they’d accomplished a lot more already.

But this was their first official meeting and Robin was shocked to find out that they had next to nothing with only one week until the party.

“You stop talking!” Robin yelled back at him.

So he focused on entertaining Ella.

“Baby girl, I don’t know about you, but this party planning business is not what it’s cracked up to be. Maybe we should just give you your presents here and call it a day, hm?”

“Dada! Pay!”

“Yes, baby, I’m playin’.”

He helped her build a castle with her alphabet blocks, smiling when she pointed to the D and said “D. Dada!”

She was so fucking smart, it was scary.

When she got bored with the blocks, she started tapping on her plastic keyboard, hitting the same two notes again and again.

Eddie showed her the D key.

“This is D, Ella. See this one? You push this and it makes a D note. D like Dada!”

Ella pushed the key and then clapped.

“D! D!”

“Yeah, D!”

She kept smacking the D key, and Eddie kept smiling at her.

Someone cleared their throat behind him and he turned to see Steve smiling down at them, hands on his hips.

“Oh. Ella, show Daddy what you learned.”

“D! Dada! Daddy!” She said as she banged the D key.

Steve sat down next to Eddie and put his hand on his knee, squeezing it once before running his thumb back and forth over the hole in his jeans.

“You showed her that?”

“I’m gonna make her into a baby Mozart,” he said as he nodded. “She’s a natural.”

“Okay, love.”

“How’d the planning go?”

“Robin’s handling it.”

“All of it?”

Steve sighed.

“She said I’m being unreasonable.”

“But when I say it, I’m being rude and not giving you a chance.”

“When she says it, I know it’s true. When you say it, I know it’s because you’re not getting your way.”

“Do you hear this Ella? Slander from your father. I remember when it was just you and me, playing some tunes…”

“Oh my god,” Steve said around a laugh.

“Sometimes three’s a crowd, huh Ella?”

“Dada song!”

“Here, I play, you help.”

Eddie sat Ella in his lap and moved the keyboard in front of them, holding her tiny hands in his to guide them through Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

Steve clapped at the end of it, beaming at them both as if they’d just performed at Madison Square Garden.

“Incredible. I’d offer you a record deal on the spot.”

“Already had that, I’m retired. Thank you, though.”

Eddie kissed the top of Ella’s head as she kept banging on the keys, then leaned over to kiss Steve’s forehead.

————————————

Robin pulled off a hell of a party.

Not only did she manage to find princess rock star decorations, but she managed to find a live band that was willing to play kids songs, and a caterer who was willing to serve an entirely new menu so last minute.

There was even an open bar for the adults.

Eddie’s entire band and their families were there, the Hawkins crew and their families, Steve’s coworkers and their families, and most surprising of all, Steve’s mom.

He’d gone back and forth on whether to even invite her, but since she’d left his dad, she’d been trying to reconcile and get to know him again.

She brought a Barbie dream house because she didn’t seem to understand that one year olds weren’t quite at Barbie level, but it was the thought that counted or so Eddie kept reminding Steve when he got mad about “thoughtless gifts that just take up space.”

Ella loved playing with all the kids and sharing her new toys. Eddie and Steve had built her a play set at home that she didn’t even see yet.

She was spoiled, but it was the best kind.

Not the kind that Steve had growing up; useless and thoughtless gifts that were flashy and expensive because that’s what helped his parents feel better about leaving him with nannies or alone.

The kind where love was in abundance, where everyone wanted her to have the best because they loved her, where the best was sometimes the dollar store magic wand and tiara set so she could play princess and sometimes was a toddler sized drum set. Everyone came to her party because they were excited she was part of the family, not because they expected a big blowout with the finest food and drinks money can buy.

Eddie took a moment to look around at everyone. He never knew he’d end up here, he couldn’t have even dreamed it in his wildest ones that came from being cross faded in high school.

Steve wrapped his arms around him from behind, kissing his shoulder when he started to lean back.

“Turned out great, right?”

“It did, sweetheart. Always does with you.”

[shuadotcom]

Polaroid Love | KMG

Summary: The prospect of meeting Mingyu’s family has you feeling a new emotion that you’ve never felt with anyone else. 

Pairing: Kim Mingyu x GN!Reader

Genres & AUs: Fluff, slice of life, established relationship au, college au

Rating: PG15

Warnings: Profanity, a make-out scene, mention of something suggestive but otherwise just fluffy

Words: 4.8k

Note: This was supposed to be posted on Mingyu’s birthday, but life happened so here it is now! Thank you to my wonderful beta @playmetheclassics​​ ily Indi mwah! 😘 This banner took me like an hour to make in canva and I’m very proud of it thank you very much. Anyway I love Mingyu 🙂

Net tag: @kflixnet​​

“Please? It'll be fun!”

“No.”

“Please? You just have to show up and talk to a couple of my family members. It's not a big deal.”

“Mingyu, no.”

“Pleaseeee!”

“I said no, Gyu!”

A chorus of shushes is heard after your outburst, along with glares from the other library patrons. Bowing your head quickly, you whisper apologies while your boyfriend giggles from next to you. A light pinch to his thigh stops him, though.

“Ow!” Mingyu whines, rubbing the sore spot. “That hurt! You're always so mean.”

Rolling your eyes at his dramatics, you stare at your book again. “Don’t be such a baby.”

He’s about to respond when you’re interrupted by your best friend and roommate nearly colliding with your table.

“Did you guys hear!?” Jeongyeon is out of breath as she harshly whispers at you.

“Did we hear what, that you're in love with Park Jimin? The whole campus knows.” You laugh and dodge the pen she throws at you.

“No, smartass! We're going away for spring break.”

“Who is we?”

“All of us! You two, me, Soonyoung, Hansol, Junhui, everyone. Jeonghan was able to convince Seungcheol to help drive us all to the beach for the break.”

“How the hell did he accomplish that? I remember when we brought it up a few months ago, Seungcheol said he’d rather do a pop quiz every day over break before taking all of us anywhere.”

Jeongyeon shrugs. “Who knows? You know Cheol can never say no to Jeonghan.”

“How many vans do you think we'll need to get?” Mingyu asks, leaning over the table in excitement.

Jeongyeon taps her finger against her chin in thought. “Maybe two? There’ll be fifteen of us, so it depends on how many seats they have.”

“Oh, only fifteen? I would’ve thought Jimin would be coming,” you tease, watching her get flustered at another mention of her crush’s name.

“I - I don’t even know what he’s doing for the break.”

“Ask him and see if he’s free. Maybe if you're lucky, you guys will get to sit next to each other for the whole drive.” You watch Jeongyeon's eyes widen, and you can practically hear her mind running at full speed in thought. “Well, I'll leave you with that thought. I'm off to lunch.” You stand up and gather your books with Mingyu right behind you.

“Poor Noona. You’ve left her in there to stress about how she’ll ask Jimin-hyung on the trip," he chuckles, throwing an arm over your shoulders.

Rolling your eyes, you wave off his concern. “She’s fine, I promise. She’s been into him for about two years and frothing at the mouth for a chance to get closer to him. He likes her too if the way he practically drools over her whenever they are within a five-foot radius of each other is any indication. One of them needs to suck it up and ask the other out because they're torturing themselves.”

“If it’ll help, I can talk to Jungkook about it during class later and see if I can get him to mention it to him.”

“Good idea, Gyu,” you praise him, placing a kiss on his hand that’s dangling over your shoulder.

He squeezes your shoulder in response, pulling you closer to his body. “Don’t worry about it. The only thing you need to worry about is picking out an outfit.”

Skeptically you crane your neck up to look at him, brows furrowed. “For what?”

“For my family reunion.”

“No.”

“Please?!”

“I said no. I'm not going.”

“But-”

“No.” You reach the cafeteria then and slip from Mingyu’s embrace. He has a class in the building next door, so you know he won’t pester you anymore for at least an hour.

“Baby!”

“See you later, Gyu!” You blow him a kiss and slip inside before he can say anything else.

The rest of the week is crammed with last-minute assignments, everyone making plans for spring break, and Mingyu bringing up the family reunion any chance he gets.

It's not that you don’t want to go because you dislike Mingyu's family or anything. You’ve never actually met them, which in itself is the real problem. What if they don’t like the way you look? What if they don’t think you’re good enough for Mingyu? What if they end up hating you completely?

You’re not usually one to worry too much about what people think of you, but the idea of anyone as close to Mingyu as his family not liking you fills you with an immeasurable amount of dread. You’ve been dating for nearly a year, and you care about him more than anyone else you’ve ever been with. You’re lucky enough to have been able to fall into his friend group so easily and get along with everyone, but his family is so much deeper than that. You’re not sure you can handle someone like his mom taking one look at you and deciding you’re not right for her son.

You have a few weeks before the reunion, so you figure if you can deny him enough times, he'll forget about it and stop bringing it up. So far, your plan is failing miserably, though, as every other day, he’s bringing it up in person or sending you message after message about it.

You’ll be the first to admit that you have a problem opening up and talking about your feelings. You tend to bottle your emotions up inside, keeping them tucked close to you and have been that way as long as you can remember. Because of this, you’ve yet to tell Mingyu the real reason you keep turning him down, at least not yet, not until you can gather the courage to dive into your feelings more.

It’s been a week since you’ve been trying to deter the reunion conversation with Mingyu, at times even turning down hanging out with him completely to doge the topic, citing you being too busy with assignments, which is half-true. Running from your feeling is the other half of that excuse, but he doesn’t need to know that yet.

After your last class on Friday ends, you head to the library, hoping to finish your homework before meeting Jeongyeon for dinner and starting the weekend. While you’re on the last question of your sociology assignment, a noticeable shadow appears over your table. When you glance up, Wonwoo, Mingyu’s roommate, is staring down at you with a stoic expression.

“Yes?”

“Mingyu is very distressed.”

“And?”

“And you should fix it. He's been moping around our room all day and blowing up the group chat nonstop. He keeps whining about how you won't go to his family reunion and meet his family.”

“He's a drama queen,” you mumble. Wonwoo sighs and leans over the table in front of you. Wonwoo is probably one of the guys in your large group of friends you were closest with, besides your boyfriend, of course. The tall, dark-haired man seemed intimidating and cold when you first met, but his looks are deceiving. Wonwoo is nothing but sweet and funny and has proven to be a great listener when you needed to vent when Jeongyeon or Mingyu weren’t around.

“He really likes you, you know. He doesn't shut up about you when you're not around, and it kind of makes the rest of us want to strangle him.” Wonwoo lets out a laugh and looks back at you as you avoid his gaze.

“Look, he wants you to meet his family because he's serious about you. He's only dated three other people in his whole life, and none of them met his family beyond maybe his parents and sister here and there. He never even mentioned bringing any of them around his entire family, so think about that.” He stands upright after his words, giving you one more look.

“I don’t want to pry, so I won’t ask you to tell me why you won’t go, but just know it’s more important to him than he’s probably said to you.” With that, Wonwoo sends you a wave that you feebly return before leaving you alone in your corner of the library.

The thought of just how important the reunion is to Mingyu hadn’t been something you thought about. And the knowledge of you being the only partner of his to meet his whole family has butterflies taking flight in your stomach and dread washing over you. Something new and foreign stirs in your chest at that moment, which has your mind whirling.

Quickly, you stand up and gather your things, sending a brief text to Jeongyeon to bring dinner to your shared room because you have something very important to discuss with her.

Your dorm building is just as busy as it usually is when you get inside, with students kicking soccer balls in the hallways, leaving their doors open while they blast music, or loitering in the halls and chatting. You take the stairs to the second floor to successfully dodge Joshua, who you glimpse heading into the elevator down the hall. Wonwoo had only cornered you to give you a small lecture, but you’re sure Joshua won’t hesitate to bring it up and try to press a little as to why you keep turning Mingyu down.

When you round the corner of your hall, you spot Jeongyeon already there, hanging outside your room while conversing with one of the younger men in your group of friends.

“Beat it, Chan.”

“What?” A look of surprise flashes over his face as he looks between the two of you.

“You heard me. Leave.”

“But earlier this morning Jeongyeon-noona said I could eat dinner with you guys tonight!”

“Yeah, well, Jeongyeon and I have something very important to discuss, and you're not invited.” His intense pout instantly makes you feel bad.

“Sorry, Chan,” you sigh. “I just really have to talk to her about something that’s kind of an emergency. Can we take a rain check?” You soften your tone, hoping to lessen his disappointment.

Chan glances at Jeongyeon, who shrugs. “Alright, fine,” he relents. “But you have to buy me a snack next time for being mean.”

“Deal,” you roll your eyes at both him and the smirk on his face. “I think your boyfriend needs some company anyway. Bye!” He meets your gaze, chuckling at the face you give him, which you know is one of exasperation. You wait until he’s down the hall before turning to face Jeongyeon.

“I guess you weren't joking in your text about something ‘life-changing and imperative’. What's going on?” She asks as she unlocks the door.

“Well, I haven't told you something because I just wanted to keep it to myself because I hoped it would go away soon, but Mingyu is stubborn, so it hasn't.”

“Which is exactly why you two are meant for one another.” You shoot Jeongyeon a look and snatch one of the bento boxes from her hands.

“Could you hang back on the sarcasm while I talk? And just let me get it all out first.”

“Yeah, yeah, go ahead. I'm all ears.”

You each sit on your respective beds facing each other, and you let the word vomit flow. You recount Wonwoo’s words about the family reunion to her and what he had told you about Mingyu’s past partners, and how much this all means to him. You also let out your feelings that you’ve been trying to keep to yourself - about your insecurities and worries about making a good impression and the guilt nagging at you every time you turn Mingyu down.

“This is just so important to him, and I can't even do this one thing! The thought of all of those people there judging me for my major or the way I look or the outfit I decide to wear, or literally anything about me! It's way too overwhelming, and every time I think about it, I go into panic mode, and I start to feel anxious and itchy. I’m terrified that they won’t like me, Jeongyeon.

“What if they try to tell Gyu to break up with me or something? What if we get there, and he sees me being weird and awkward, and I make a bad impression, and he decides that I’m not who he thought I was, and he wants to break up with me on his own? But then I’m so guilty about disappointing him and not going, and I feel like I lose whether I say no to him or whether I go and then fuck everything up. I just don't know what to do!” You let out a groan and flop backwards on the bed. Your forgotten dinner, now getting cold, jostles on the bed next to you.

The room is quiet for a few minutes before Jeongyeon speaks. “You love him.”

You sit up so quickly that your head starts to hurt. “What did you say?”

“I said you love him. That's why you feel so guilty and are so confused. I've known you since we were teenagers, Y/n. You are one of the most stubborn people I have ever met. When you don't want to do something, you simply don't, and you don't give it much of a second thought. Of course, you consider doing things you don’t want to for me and your other friends, but this is different!”

Jeongyeon hops off her bed to sit next to you, offering you a comforting back rub. “You feel the way you do because you love Mingyu, and you’re scared that his family won’t like you, which will break your heart, and you don’t want to lose him.”

You don’t respond to her, so she continues.

“If you want my opinion, I think you should go to the reunion. If you want to stay with Mingyu and keep this relationship going, you’ll have to meet his family eventually. You can’t hide from them forever if you stay together. Plus, I’m willing to bet he feels the same. Mingyu looks at you as if you are an actual ethereal being and like you’re the center of his world. I don’t think you have to worry about his reaction when and if you decide to tell him the truth about everything you’re feeling.”

Jeongyeon’s expression is soft as she looks at you, waiting for your response and giving you time to process everything.

Do you love Mingyu? Sure, you love spending time with him. He’s the most attentive, sweetest, kind-hearted partner you’ve ever had. He pays attention to every detail about you, whether your likes and dislikes or silly, arbitrary things. Every day with him feels like a dream, and you often wonder how the hell you got so lucky to end up with a boyfriend as amazing as Kim Mingyu.

Being with Mingyu is the happiest you’ve ever been, and the idea of loving him - of him being the first person you’ve ever been in true, genuine love with is uncharted waters for you. The mere idea of losing him leaves a gaping hole in your chest - the hypothetical of that situation alone makes your eyes water. Not hugging Mingyu? Not holding hands or sharing laughter with him? Not seeing his beautiful, perfect face in the morning as he snores just the tiniest bit? You and Mingyu haven’t been together for that long, but any world where you have a Mingyu-shaped piece missing from your life isn’t one you ever want to think about.

As if sensing you deep in thought, Jeongyeon gives you a final pat before leaving you alone. She grabs the rest of her dinner, letting you know she’ll be back later and mumbling something about “finally having a breakthrough and needing to take care of something.” You bid her farewell with a simple nod, reaching for your bento box to quiet your grumbling stomach. Eating in silence, you try to sort through the jumbled mess in your head, digesting the new thoughts and feelings you’re experiencing, all for the first stressful time.

You stay holed up in your dorm room the rest of the weekend, thankful now more than ever that you managed to get a schedule with only weekday classes.

Mingyu, being the caring boyfriend he is, knows something is wrong on Saturday morning right away. When you wake up, you have a few texts from him, asking to see you and take you out.

His desperation to check in with you and see you are obvious, even through written words, which makes it hard to turn him away.

[Y/n] I want to be alone this weekend, okay, Gyu? I’m not feeling very social.

[Gyu💖] Are you sure? Is everything okay?

[Y/n] Yeah, I just want alone time, okay? 🙂

[Gyu💖] 🥺

[Gyu💖] Okay, baby. Whatever you want ❤️

You can practically hear the pout in his text, and it feels shitty to turn him away, but you need more time. Since Friday night, when Jeongyeon had planted the seed in your brain, you decide it would be best to avoid Mingyu just to get your thoughts in order.

Jeongyeon passes along the message to the rest of your friends that you’re fine and just need some alone time. It’s the only thing that quiets your phone and stops your various group chats from continuing to go off. Everyone is kind enough to respect your wishes though, allowing you to spend the two days drowning in your thoughts and eating almost half of your and Jeongyeon’s instant ramen stash. It was probably dramatic to hide away all weekend, but it helped you wake up on Monday with a clearer head.

“I hope you plan on talking to Mingyu today,” Jeongyeon says as you get ready for your Monday morning lecture. “I saw him yesterday when I was eating lunch, and he looked like a lost, sad puppy without you there bossing him around. All he needed was a rainstorm and a choreography routine, and he would’ve looked straight out of an early 2000s break-up song music video.”

The image makes you laugh just a little before frowning and feeling bad for leaving him hanging all weekend.

“I am, I promise. I just needed to get my shit together.”

The two of you head out across campus to your shared lecture hall. Mingyu has class is in the building on the other side of campus, so you won’t have to see him for a couple of hours, giving you plenty of time to calm your nerves.

That idea is dismissed when you get inside and spot him by your classroom door. Mingyu’s long legs allow him to reach you in an instant, gently grabbing your arm and whisking you around the corner and into the stairwell. You can already tell he’s unhappy just by the look on his face.

“Are you breaking up with me?” Is the first thing out of his mouth.

“What?”

“I asked if you’re breaking up with me. I know you said you needed time alone, and Jeongyeon told us all the same thing, mentioning that you were just taking a couple of mental health days, but does that mean that you’re breaking up with me and were just taking time to think about doing it?”

“Mingyu, I-”

“Is it because I keep pressuring you to meet my family? You don't have to!”

“It's not that I just-”

“Am I too annoying? I swear I won’t bring it up again! And if there’s anything else that I do that’s too annoying or immature,  just tell me, and I'll change, I promise!"

“Mingyu, you don't understand. I just need to-”

“No, you don't understand! I really like you, okay, Y/n? I like you more than anyone I’ve ever dated. Just going two days without being around you killed me! That, on top of the fact that I couldn't even call you or see your face, made it so much worse! I just wanted to break down your door and come in and hold you in my arms even though you'd probably be yelling at me the whole time. I just hated the thought of you being unhappy, and I couldn’t do anything about it.” Mingyu looks almost near tears as he takes in a big breath.

“I don't care if you say that it's too soon, but I just need to say that I think I'm in love with you! You don't have to feel the same yet or say it back, I just needed to say it. Even if you think I'm foolish or that I don't know anything, and-”

“Kim Mingyu, I love you too!” You yank the front of his shirt and pull him closer.

“What did you just say?” Your forehead rests against his, his brown eyes wide as he gapes at you.

“I said that I love you too. That's what I was doing this weekend. I needed time to think about my feelings and figure out if I was in love with you, and I am. I felt bad about saying no to meeting your family, and I felt like such a terrible partner, and I couldn't figure out why, but I was able to think about it, and goddammit, I love you. I love you a lot, and it scares me because I don’t think I’ve ever truly been in love, but I know that I love you.”

You barely have the chance to catch your breath from your speech before Mingyu is leaning down and stealing the air left in your lungs. He presses you against the wall as your arms wind around his neck, and you sigh into the kiss, indulging in the familiar, comforting taste that is Kim Mingyu. He drags his tongue across your bottom lip, asking for entrance which you immediately grant him. The kiss easily deepens as your tongues intertwine, and his grip on your waist gets tighter. If you hadn't needed to breathe, you would've spent the rest of the day exactly the way you are.

Mingyu pulls away, allowing you to breathe, both of you panting, flushed, and smiling like idiots at each other.

“You love me,” Mingyu whispers.

“I love you.”

“Say it again,” you roll your eyes at the wonderful, wide grin he shoots you but repeat yourself, punctuating it with a quick kiss on the tiny mole on his nose.

“And I love you too.” Mingyu murmurs, nuzzling his nose against yours before capturing your lips once again. Your hands move to his hair, fingers grabbing at his soft strands.

“Ahem!” A sudden voice makes the two of you spring apart. When you glance to the doorway, you see Jeongyeon waiting, her face serious and her arms crossed. “Hey, so this is cute and all, don't get me wrong, but we have a lecture to get to like now, Y/n.”

Groaning, Mingyu peeks over his shoulder at Jeongyeon. “Fine, I'll let go.” When he turns back to you still in his arms, a different expression clouds his features. “But this evening, after your last class, I'm coming to your room, and you're all mine.” His words and the look in his eyes make your face heat up, already knowing what you have to look forward to tonight.

“O - okay,” you croak, clearing your throat. Mingyu gives you one more kiss before slipping past Jeongyeon and waving at you both down the hall.

“Ugh, please don't tell me you guys are going to have sex in our room. What about me?!”

You snap out of the trance your boyfriend left you in and side-eye your best friend. “What about you? Why don't you go do the same with Jimin while we're busy? I may have barricaded myself in our room, but I still have a way of knowing things. Like how Professor Ok caught you two making out and having quite the heavy petting session in the back of the cafeteria yesterday.” Jeongyeon’s jaw drops as her cheeks begin to turn bright red.

“How did you know that?!”

“I have my ways.” You smirk as she follows you into your lecture. Even though you were a recluse all weekend, you still checked your phone from time to time. A celebratory message from Seungkwan in your group chat with a few other nosey friends confirmed the news and everyone was relieved to finally have confirmation that Jeongyeon and Jimin had admitted their feelings for one another.

“All I know is, it's about damn time.” You practically skip to your seat, leaving Jeongyeon stuttering out an excuse behind you.

“I'm not moving this van until you all have your seat belts on.” Seungcheol eyes all of you in the rearview mirror and waits until he hears the click of seat belts to pull out of the campus parking lot.

After much debate, all of you decide to spend the week in a hotel near the closest beach to you. Winter has officially left, and spring is now in its place, with weather warm enough for shorts and tank tops. You had all chipped in to rent a fifteen-passenger van and are leaving campus at eight in the morning, thanks to Seokmin’s nagging about getting the best spot on the sand.

Once the van starts to move, Jeongyeon turns around to the row of seats behind her and lays her head on the back of the seat. You look up from your phone to meet her gaze, already knowing what she’s going to ask.

“So, how was the reunion? I didn't get a chance to ask you since you guys got back.” You and Mingyu had gotten back from his parent's house the night before when Jeongyeon was asleep, and with the excitement of getting ready to leave this morning, the two of you hadn’t gotten much time to talk about it.

“It was really fun, actually. His family was super nice and accepting. He threw a fit at one point because his little sister and one of his cousins were attached to my hip. His mom threatened to show me any and every embarrassing picture of him she had if he didn’t stop acting like a baby and that worked.” You let out a quiet snicker, glancing at Mingyu, asleep on your shoulder.

“She was seriously so sweet, though. And the only time I embarrassed myself was when we were going into the house to help her with some of the food, and she said something along the lines of ‘When you two get married,’ which made me trip, and Gyu had to catch me before I ate dirt.”

Jeongyeon stifles a laugh, covering it with a cough. “Well, hey, at least she likes you! You were worried over nothing.”

“Yeah, you’re right. But oh! I take it Jimin had other plans for break?”

She flushes, nodding. “Yeah, he already had a trip booked with his friends, so he couldn’t come. We have a date planned for when we both get back to school, though, so I’m excited about that.” A dopey smile plays on her lips, and you coo at the gesture.

“I’m so glad you two finally admitted that you like each other!”

“Me too!” Soonyoung pipes up from next to Jeongyeon. “Do you know how annoying it was to hear Jimin gush over you in dance class every week? I swear, every time we were partnered up, his first questions were always about how you were doing and if you were seeing anyone. I can only answer back ‘fine’ and ‘no’ so many times before I lose my mind!”

“Shut it, Soonyoung! I thought you were asleep!” He ignores Jeongyeon and turns in his seat to face you.

“I hope I don’t have to hear him talk even more about how great she is! I don’t think I can stand fifty minutes of him running how mouth about how much he likes her and all the dates they go on and how good she is in bed and -”

Jeongyeon sucks her teeth, snatching his tiger plushie from his hands and hitting him over the head with it a few times. “You know all about running your mouth, don’t you?! Stop talking about my relationship!”

“I’m sorry, stop it! Y/n, get her!”

“Sorry, I can’t hear you!” Popping your earbuds in, you gesture to your now occupied ears, dramatically shrugging at your friends.

Mingyu stirs next to you, and you can’t help but brush away a stray piece of hair from his face. The commotion barely phases him as he adjusts to wrap his arms around your waist and bury his face into your neck.

Aside from Jeongyeon threatening Soonyoung’s life, everyone else is either chatting quietly with each other or sleeping, the energy low from getting up so early, but you’re nowhere near tired, still feeling full of warmth and admiration for Mingyu’s family and how well they treated you. Instead of trying to sleep, you settle for laying your head on top of Mingyu's and simply enjoying the warmth of your boyfriend the man that you are wholeheartedly in love with.

[ekgrimm]

SiLK - JJK OC Fic

SiLK: Ch 3 - SMAU & Written Passage after the cut Characters: Geto, Gojo, Shoko, Haibara, Nanami, OC Plot: The group chat celebrates the new student's admission, but it comes with conditions. Word Count: 1,074 TW/CW: Spiders, Religious Trauma, Language, Angst A/N: Happy Holidays!! It's time to introduce my OC!! YAY! The next post will be a little mood board about her and her general vibe :)

Geto's PoV:

Otero's PoV:

Otero flipped her phone shut with a quick clap, not bothering to read any of his additional responses and tossed it to the side of her aunt’s couch. The sorcerer and his associates were her means to an end and she was an asset they sought to obtain or destroy. What else was he if not an enemy?

Her trip to Tokyo was not supposed to end up this way. The letter from her father’s lawyer she received a month ago stated he was granted visitation rights and she was the first person he wanted to see.

Two months later and the closest she got to her father was a panic attack in his lawyer’s car on the way to the prison.

Idiot, she cursed herself mentally in Spanish, you’re a pure fucking idiot. You got yourself into this mess. You just had to come here to prove a point didn’t you!

She dug her palms into her eyes to rub away her shame until they stung despite the soft velvet gloves covering her hands. The cushion next to her head vibrated. Her aunt’s name flashed across the caller id.

“Yes?” Otero answered, one hand rubbed away the stinging pain.

“Oh good you’re still awake!” her aunt replied in her too sweet of a tone. Otero heard her aunt’s real voice when she ripped into the neighbors for being too loud or nosey. This overly sweet one she reserved just for her, maybe to make up for lost time not being her aunt. Or maybe in the hope Otero still considered her family after throwing her to the wolves. “You got all your stuff packed for tomorrow morning right?”

“Yes.”

The firm her father’s lawyer worked for agreed to fit the bill for a two week stay in a hotel as such she only packed enough clothes, bare bones toiletries, a single pair of shoes and a Bible. She didn’t think she was staying longer than that until a near carbon copy of her mother stormed into the firm demanding to see her father. She also didn’t think her new aunt was going to drag her into a secret demon hunter society. Curses, stupid, they call them curses.

“I gave them your measurements for your uniform and also grabbed some super cute pens and notebooks for you!” she squealed. “Plus the auxiliary managers can get you anything else you think you’ll need. Oh you’re gonna love the campus; it's so beautiful…”

Otero rested the phone next to her ear and let her aunt chatter. Feather-like touches tickled the underside of her foot. She gently swatted the sensation away with pointed toes but it persisted and tickled her again.

She swatted. It retreated.

Another tickle. Another swat.

Back and forth like two toddlers picking on each other. Adoration swelled in her heart. How easy it was for her pet familiar to comfort her. A wispy giggle escaped her pursed lips, making her move the phone away and miss her aunt’s question.

“What was that?” Otero asked after she flipped onto her stomach, feet and head swapping locations on the couch, her arm slung over the side, hand chasing after the mischievous presence beneath her.

“I said you’ll only have two classmates,” her aunt repeated, “two boys. Not the ones from the meeting though. These two are a year below them. But there’ll be ladies around the campus if you need them.” She added the last bit too hastily to not raise suspicions.

Did her aunt know what had been done to her niece? Did she know by whom?

“Why would I need women around?” heavy accusation laced Otero’s words, better than stuttering and choking at the lump forming in her throat or the creeping disgust of her own body. Her hand continued searching underneath the couch. Fingers mindlessly brushed a long, spindly leg.

“Well I-I thought…,” her aunt’s honey voiced facade faltered for a moment before returning in full force. “Nevermind sweetheart! Have you eaten anything yet? I can get delivery sent to you! Anything you want!”

“Don’t. I can fend for myself.” One of her aunt’s colleagues called her attention in the background and her aunt ended the call with hurried goodbyes and a click.

Otero’s head draped over the side of the couch, eyes squinting at the dark. The dim glow of eight small eyes squinted back.

“You, my dear Anima,” she huffed in Spanish and pulled her hand out from under the couch when the weight of her familiar rested on her palm, “are going to get us into deeper shit than we need to be.”

Shikigami, they call them, she reminded herself. The cat sized tarantula wrapped its legs around Otero’s arm as she scooped it up from the floor. It then latched itself onto her shoulder as she raided her aunt’s kitchen. Anima's palps rubbed over its fangs eagerly when its mistress passed over a hidden packet of instant noodles.

“Good eyes,” Otero praised, reaching behind her shoulder to hook a finger to one of its legs; their version of a high-five, “but let's make it fancy.” The two worked in tandem, digging through the fridge for leftovers to add to the pot. “Listen, I know you're hungry but can you not drip venom into my soup?” She chuckled and fed her shikigami a steaming noodle.

After transferring her dinner into a bowl, Otero sat back on the couch; her makeshift bed for the past two and a half months. When her aunt discovered she was her long lost niece, she insisted on taking her in at her apartment after her hotel stay ended. On the first night Otero stayed at the apartment, her aunt claimed to sense odd energy from her. The second night, her aunt swore one of her niece's tattoos moved. And on the third, her aunt tried to squash Anima.

Otero’s trip to Tokyo also didn't involve learning she wasn't the only damned soul walking the planet.

They existed here too. They called themselves sorcerers.

She wondered if they knew they were going to burn in Hell when they died just like her. Just like God intended.

Dishes washed. Teeth brushed and bed made, she kneeled and prayed to a God who loved her, but not enough to save her from her past sins.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

[tracybirds]

Been sitting on this bit of fic for a couple of months :) Think I'm ready to put it out in the world

Hunger Games!AU - initially inspired by @tanushakyrano who I believe is knee deep in their own hg au <3 and also thanks to @gumnut-logic whom I inflicted this on when I first wrote it and played cheerleader :D

Hopefully more to come (I have ideas.....)

---

The clang of metal on metal pulled Gordon from his sleep, the grey light of a new day greeting him. For a moment, he didn’t move. If he stayed still, curled between Alan and Virgil, he could stave off the day and ignore the jolt of fear that clamoured for attention in his belly.

Another clanging pulled Scott upright, muttering as he rubbed a hand across his eyes. He reached out and placed a hand on Virgil’s shoulder and shook him roughly.

“C’mon Virg, dawn bell’s ringing.”

Virgil groaned, mumbling for five more minutes, but the day had begun and no-one in the district cared if one of their citizens would rather have a lie in.

Scott glanced across at Gordon as he hauled Virgil upright. “Don’t you have chores waiting? Harvest doesn’t stop just because it’s Reaping Day. You and John better get gone.”

Gordon didn’t say anything, the sick feeling in his stomach intensifying at the word. John was up already, pulling on a threadbare shirt. He didn’t look at any of them.

Alan yawned. “What am I doing today?”

Scott crouched down, smile fixed firmly in place. “You’re going to help Grandma with the meals – try barter with the Jones-es down the way for some grain – and we’ll see you in the afternoon.”

“Can’t I help with harvest? Pol’s been helping since his birthday.”

Scott swallowed thickly. “No, Allie. Not ‘til your first reaping’s done, you remember what Dad said. We’ll talk next summer.”

Alan nodded. “Okay,” he said easily. “Next year then.”

He scurried away without further protest, and Scott slumped forward with a sigh.

“It’ll be over soon,” said John quietly.

No-one said anything, not wanting to speak their fears aloud and invite them into reality.

“I want to apply for extra,” said Gordon, suddenly. “It’s John’s last year, and we need the tesserae.”

 “No.”

All three older brothers spoke as one.

Gordon met their horrified gaze steadily, his jaw set and face grim.

“You know I’m right. We nearly didn’t make this year without Virgil’s share. If we lose John’s too and there’s no way to make up the shortfall, what do you think will happen come winter?”

“It’s not worth the risk,” spat Scott, his fists shaking.

Gordon snorted. “It’s no less than what you did for us, or Virgil, or John. I’m fifteen now. John’s put his name in, what, eighteen times this year?”

“Twenty-four,” corrected John. He shrank back from Scott and Virgil’s twin looks of horror.

“I knew it,” said Gordon triumphantly. “Every year since he was fourteen, I’m older than that.”

“This isn’t a game, Gordon,” snapped Virgil. “You don’t win for getting your name in the most times, you just get dead.”

“We need that tesserae,” argued Gordon. “Look, I get it, we’ve been that low before, I can do the math as well as you, but last time that happened we had Dad.”

At once, the light diminished, as though the mere mention of the man who’d towered over their family extinguished all oxygen from the room, taking the candle flame with it.

Scott looked like he wanted to hit something, fists clenching and unclenching at his side.

“We can manage,” said Virgil. “There’ll be three of us working for the adult wage next year, we won’t need the extras.”

“Yes, we will,” interjected John.

The admission fell from gritted teeth. Living was a numbers game in the districts, and no-one kept track of the numbers better than John. Gordon exhaled slowly, hope and dread flickering internally with equal measure.

“He’s right,” said John, his voice louder. “Maybe we’ll survive without it, but that’s no guarantee if the crops fail like they did in ’56. Or if a new craze sweeps the Capitol and they need more grain than usual to make whatever extravagant waste-of-space meal is the hot menu item of the season. There’s too many uncertainties, and we can’t base our food supply on a best-case scenario.”

Virgil chewed at his bottom lip, still staring at Scott worriedly. “We might need to trade for medicine or fuel come winter, too,” he admitted reluctantly. “It was only luck we didn’t lose Gordon right alongside Dad that year. And Coney, she says this winter’s going to be a hard one.”

“What does Coney know?” scoffed Scott. “You’d risk Gordon’s life on a maybe?”

“It’s my choice,” snapped Gordon. “Besides, I’d be six slips out of what, a thousand? We need those supplies and you know it.”

Scott opened his mouth to argue, but a second clanging toll rung out and interrupted him.

“That’s the assembly bell,” said Virgil, eyes darting between Scott and the door. “We need to go.”

Scott hesitated, lips pursed as he levelled Gordon with a solemn look in his eyes. “Your choice. You’re right, I can’t stop you. But please, Gordon, think it through. You don’t know what it’s like to watch your little brothers…” His breath heaved in his chest, and he turned away. “Let’s go,” he said to Virgil, leaving John and Gordon behind.

The tension remained, shooting sizzling static through the air as Gordon tried to catch his thoughts and reorder them.

“You’re going to do it, aren’t you?” said John quietly.

“Next year we’ll need more than seven allotments.”

There wasn’t much else to say. Unless they brought in a fourth wage next year, by manner of marriage which only meant another mouth to feed, they wouldn’t last the winter.

The wages in District 11 were just enough to keep the population meagrely fed when the weather was fair and the farming a success. But there was no margin for error. Consequently, the poorest members of the district were reliant on the reaping for extra resources.

Gordon wasn’t stupid.

The least valuable were always more likely to be selected.

It was simple math.

[aswegoalong72]

Hi! I’d like to keep you all updated on book progress, so I’m going to try to do weekly updates alongside miscellaneous information about the main location in the novel itself.

To start, I’m going to give a rundown of all the books, and where I sit with those:

Dawn - ~6% complete (696 words) Yuniv & Semat - 1% complete Deep Freeze - 1% complete To Touch Tenav - 1% complete Piercing The Veil - ~42% complete (118,307 words) “Book Two” - ~2% complete (483 words) “Book Three” - 1% complete Universal Ideal - 1% complete

As you can see, I’m still in the very early stages with all this! The only book that has a very appreciable amount of development is Piercing The Veil (PTV), which was originally going to be the first and only book before I decided to expand things more.

The only other books with any actual written material are Book Two and Dawn, which both are very minimally worked on apart from the beginnings of a chapter or two.

The rest are all unwritten; despite this, I’ve done a reasonable amount of worldbuilding for them, and am ready to get to them once I can get to them, hence the 1% progress.

As for progress, in this past week, I’ve made very little on PTV. I’ve done a little editing of the current chapter I’m working on, but that’s it.

Dawn has seen the most work this week, with two short stories being started and heavily workshopped! Dawn is pretty much ready for me to go once I get the time and energy, so maybe in a few weeks we’ll start seeing noticeable progress in it.

I’m only going to do roughly 10k words for each short story, which there’ll be about 8 of. It’ll cover the period from ~290,000 BC to 1112 AD in the Gregorian calendar for their history, featuring a few major events in their societal evolution.

The one I'm very excited about, and has seen the most development of the two I've started working on. As such, it'll probably be the first to be finished of them all! That about wraps it up for progress. I've been struggling a bit health wise this past week, and haven't really had the time or energy to do much work. I spent most of my energy already early in the month, it seems! To finish this entry off, I'd like to leave you with the song that gave me the title for this project.

"As We Go Along" by The Monkees (1968) - (direct link since yt sucks)

This song is very important to me, as I feel it perfectly encapsulates the entirety of my story's setting and feeling. Life isn't a competition, take things slowly, and love one another. I also really appreciate the "for I’m not gonna try/to hurt you/or heal you/or steal your star" line, as it really fits into the theme in the later books. That's all I'll say on the matter :) Until next week! <3

[aeghina]

Vampire AU

CW: mentions of blood, nudity and sex

Part 2!

“Is he your son?” Someone asks in the store line. Mask fortunately doesn’t pay attention, still looking at the chocolates near the cashier.

“Little brother actually.” They tried the son lie before, he looked too young to have a child even some centuries ago when women started having children at fourteen. Actually, some girls still have babies at fourteen these days. Some things never changed, but this should. 

“Oh I see. So you’re not taken.” he eyed the person again and let his senses focus. Woman, near thirties, no smoke smell, no easy to recognize disease, pretty common face after seeing so many hylians for the last thousand years living in the country. Ah, he had worse people before.

“No, single and ready to mingle.” He ignored the huff from Mask

“I’m taking a box of each.” Mask said and he waved him off, the other putting different chocolates inside the cart, but Warriors’ eyes still focused on the woman 

“I’m actually new in the neighborhood.” She says, slightly embarrassed. Blood rushed to her cheeks and wasn’t that a lovely vision? His mouth watered.

“You should come for the potluck this saturday, everyone is welcome.” He nodded with an easy smile, they walked a bit closer to the cashier when the line moved “Maybe stay for dinner.” 

“I’d love to.”

“Great!” He swallowed, thickly and had to control his senses to not be overwhelmed. Too many people here, no need to start another carnage, the last one took months to clean and years in another country until they were ok to come back. 

“You should put in the salad dressing.” Mask counted the bags and checked the needles before locking them inside the chest again. Warriors hummed, crumpling the herbs and poured it in the gravy pan. “Not everyone eats meat these days.”

“Not everyone likes salad too.”

The only good point of living forever is learning to do a lot of things. Their group of horrible cooks could now make a decent feast and nowadays people were so happy to participate in a neighborhood potluck, it was easy to mix some herbs that would improve the blood flow and say it is a family recipe, it was even easier to have a group only large enough that everyone could sit down in the couch after lunch and lounge and plan for the next one. The market lady came and he introduced her to the others, she’d need good connections just arriving in a city and he was more than happy to provide. 

Someone had to miss her to tell the news to the family in case things get out of control.

“Did you get your toys Junior?” He asked and the glare Mask sent made him snicker when the other vampire brought his bag.

“Whore.” He mumbled in old hylian, a dead language that they could use to talk in secret even in private

“Grouchy bastard.” He replied without batting an eye, the insults were too common by now to really offend. He knew Mask was a bit jealous, it was hard to be taken seriously as a kid. “Thanks for watching over him tonight.” Warriors says to the couple, waiting with their own child

“Not a problem, Link.” the friendly neighbor smiled, running a hand over their stomach “But man, that lamb was good. Send me the recipe later.”

“Absolutely.” he nodded and waved them off. 

“Save some food for me!” Mask complained 

“Don’t worry, there’ll be enough.” Hopefully. He probably should fill a blood bag instead of biting.

Ah, who was he trying to fool? With a warm body under him, heart racing and blood flowing full of adrenaline and dopamine after sex, his fangs were out and piercing skin.

“Wars!” He groaned and let go of the woman, licking his lips to save every possible drop 

“What?” He licked her neck, closing the wound. It had the double effect of medium anesthesic, so he sucked on the skin, leaving a red mark that wouldn’t be too questioned other than the expected after a wild night.

“Problem. Big problem.”

“Someone better be dying.” 

“They are.”

“Gods kill me.” He grunted, raising his head to see the other by the side of the bed, the woman passed out under him, still so warm and delicious. Mask was looking at her too, eyes large and mouth hanging and he could see the fangs poking out of his lips “Nah-ah, she’s mine. You had a whole family to eat from.” Mask shook his head 

“It’s her.” Mask showed his phone “Four just sent me.” A picture of a young teen, hiking a hill and giving a thumbs up.

“Where?” Mask raised his arms, as frustrated as he was. “Damn it all, have you called Sky?”

“Not picking up.” Mask looked to the woman again, not with hunger but concern “Are you going to leave her here?'' The woman slept without a worry in her mind. They couldn’t disappear without an explanation. This would work maybe fifty years ago, but these days? Not a fat chance. He sat down on the mattress

“You also can’t disappear from the Wolton’s house.” He sighed and covered her with the blankets “Call me at six, I won’t pick up for two first tries then I’ll take the third one.”

“Korean?”

“German, I think I’ve told someone about us having family in Munich.” Mask nodded and went to his room while Warriors went for the closet where he kept the luggages, not caring about dressing.

Clothes were never really a worry for them. An immortal life meant their savings doubled every fifty years, without counting investments (or heists when they were particularly bored). But they carried magic items, books with curses and spells that while harmless in human hands, could be one hell of a headache with someone from the other realms. Mask was already filling his luggage with small boxes, he knew each carried a different mask that could shapeshift him or drive a man to madness. A nasty thing he enjoyed collecting over years. Warriors debated over taking the fire rod. The house would still be theirs but who knew how long until they came back? Better take it too. 

“Got any space left in your magical bag?” Mask put his hand inside until almost the shoulder with a frown but nodded, he threw the rod at him and it was safely kept.

“I think I can only fit one bottle here.”

“Put the dragon blood. Wild would kill us if it’s wasted.”

He walked around the rest of the house, checking. No noteworthy work of art here, he got a couple more magical tools that were in the office. Alright, everything looked harmless enough for humans until they could come back or ask someone to come. Mask was carrying now two large bottles of silver liquid, comically big in his little arms.

“Oh shit.” Warriors dragged a hand on his face “Why is this here?” Mask shrugged, the bottles clinking with the motion “I swear, it’s a miracle we never stopped carrying those things.” He carefully put the bottles near the curses book, involving both with fabric stitched in fae glamor. For human eyes, hopefully, they’d look like shampoo or something harmless. A soft sound coming from Mask made them glance at each other before Mask got his phone.

“Wind found him.” Mask frowned to his phone “Hyrule.”

“Of fucking course.” If anything, Hylia was predictable. He closed the first luggage. “Central? The woods?”

“Ordon.” Warriors almost broke the zipper.

“Ordon?” he hissed back.

“He lives in a bigger city north, but hometown is Ordon. That’s basically our backyard.” Mask nodded while he put the luggage against the office table. He crouched near the drawer pulling documents they would need to travel and stuffing them in the outside pocket of the luggage for easier access.

“How is she coming any close to it with a holy spring right there?” the smaller vampire shrugged and Warriors sighed, putting his head against the luggage “Please tell me he’s a priest or something.”

“I think he’s a student.” Mask hummed “Wind is looking for a better picture. There’s him and another guy. Dividing?”

“Dividing.” Warriors pulled his hair backwards, looking up to the ceiling. They barely started in this city. 

The acting on the next day was easier than the last preparations from the night before. He pretended to be asleep and the woman stirred when his phone ringed loudly one, two and finally before it became a third missed call he picked it up. He apologized, saying it was a family problem and he had to pick up his little brother immediately and she was understanding enough (gods dammit it all, he could have fed more, she wasn’t even dizzy!). 

They were out of the city and inside a plane in less than two hours. 

[cfs-crohns-colitis-warrior]

It sucks being chronically ill. I want to be able to make money to pay my own way in life, to pay for my share of things, but I can’t work at the moment, maybe ever, so how am I supposed to do that?

A normal job is out of the question, I tried that in 2021 and struggled a lot after only about a month of part time work, and it was fairly straight forward and easy stuff, just basic filing etc.

Working from home is tough too. I don’t know if I’ll always be able to do the hours requested, because I never know what kind of week, day or even hour I’m going to have. I might manage all my work one work, the next I might not manage any of it. I’m going to struggle finding something flexible and simple enough for me to do (cause I don’t have that many skills) and even if I find something suitable it’s not guaranteed I’ll even get the job, especially since they’re more likely to go with someone who will be more reliable.

Then there’s the fact that I only have so much energy, and it’s always a debate on how to spend it. I have to use so much for showering, eating, just basic living to keep myself alive and clean basically. The thing is, I don’t want all my remaining energy to just go on work and earning money, because what kind of life is that? I want to be able to enjoy my time too. I want to be able to sit and read for a bit before bed, I want to be able to use my energy to cook delicious food or to help keep the house clean. But after all that, what energy is there left for work?

Even starting my own business will be a struggle. I doubt I’ll ever earn enough that it would be a replacement for a part time job, let alone a full time one. It’s just my hobby that I want to use to earn a little money from, because it’s much more flexible for me to do. The truth is though, I can only manage so much, and what happens if I stop being able to make anything?

Sure, at the moment I’m on benefits which helps me pay board and my phone bill etc, and I’m able to budget money for other stuff like entertainment when I can manage it and for going out for food, but I pay for very minimal things since I still live at home with my mum and dad.

What on Earth will happen when I’m able to move in with my boyfriend? My benefits will likely stop, since they don’t view someone as an individual, and so all money issues will fall to him. I’ll have to rely on him to pay for everything, and he’ll be the sole earner, earning barely enough money for one person, and having to pay for two. I don’t want him to pay for everything. I want to be able to pay for my own stuff, but I’m just too ill to be able to afford it. What the hell am I supposed to do?

My dad had a decent job, and my mum didn’t work and wasn’t able to get any benefits, so my dad has always paid for everything. I’ve seen first hand the kind of strain that can put on a relationship. My illnesses will already put a lot of strain on us before money even gets involved. Now I’m worried about how everything will affect my relationship and what on Earth we’re going to do. All I want to do right now is go to bed and go to sleep, but I’m too worried about the damn future thanks to unforeseeable illnesses that take everything from a person and they have no way to stop it or reverse it.

All I can hope for right now is that there’s something out there for me, some way to earn an okay amount of money at least, or that there’ll somehow be some miracle cure found soon that means I’ll be able to work a normal job again.

Anyway, another rant over, worries out of my head a bit. This is basically just a way for me to voice my thoughts and feelings to try and not keep it all bottled up inside me. I hope other peoples lives are going better than mine right now…

[shadowsong26fic]

Coming Attractions!

I missed last month due to a Variety of IRL shenanigans (some work-related, some car-related), but it is the first Monday of a new month, so here we are!

I do want to make a quick plug for Galactica Big Bang, which I will be running in the second half of this year. Signups will open in July, and there’ll be more details on that in the not-too-distant future. I have set up an event Discord (which can also be a place for other BSG fans/creatives to hang out as far as I’m concerned), so please feel free to check it out!

And, as usual, I’ll go ahead and do an open question night. My askbox is always open, but I’ll be keeping an eye on it to answer questions tonight. Anything I’ve posted about here on tumblr or on AO3 is fair game. I do accept prompts, but no promises on when I’ll actually get around to filling them (I think I still have some floating around either here or on Dreamwidth that are over a year old, oops...)

Star Wars:

I ended up dropping out of SWBB as a writer--mostly due to the aforementioned IRL stuff, I ended up falling way further behind than I wanted to be. I might have been able to catch up, but it was just. Yeah. Anyway, I am still participating as a beta/mod/offering podfic for the first time, so that should be fun! (I really do love this event, I’ve been doing it for...this is either my fifth or sixth year, lol. So dropping out was Not Easy, but it was the right call to make so...yeah, there it is.)

I am going to hold on to what I did get written/that concept (which is--Anakin never ended up in the Jedi Order; he and Ahsoka run into each other about halfway through the Clone War and team up for an Adventure) for next year, unless I come up with something I like more in the intervening time. Or I might just finish it outside any event if I really get Inspired, but we’ll see.

I swear I haven’t abandoned Precipice. I know I keep saying that and not actually getting any updates out, but...you know, that fic/AU is important to me and I refuse to let it die, so I want to get it updated At Some Point. That being said, I’ve gotten...like...three separate comments on fics for entirely unrelated fandoms asking me to update it??? Which. Not Cool. Not really getting me enthused for working on it. Why do people do that. (in one case, it was for a project with a co-creator; and in another, that was the only comment i got on the fic in question so i’m. pretty mad about it, lol.)

Let’s see, what else is actively going on here...Obianidala has been one of my ships for the Year of the OTP project. It’s been fun; I’m particularly proud of what I wrote for them in March.

...yeah, I think that’s it for this fandom. There’s other stuff drifting around in the back of my head, as is pretty much always the case, but nothing I’m working on in any concrete sense. our faces like a mirror is definitely still there, for example, especially since Bo-Katan has been in the news lately; crossovers (BSG or going back to Jedi of Valdemar) are always fun...but nothing I’m actively planning to do Actual Work on at the moment.

BSG:

Well, there’s Galactica Big Bang coming up XD I don’t know if I’ll write for it since Running the event will already be a lot; especially since I’m going to offer to pitch in with podfic and/or fanmixes (if I decide to count those as art) if we have enough of a mismatch in terms of numbers there. But a few things have been floating around as possibilities in my head if I do decide to participate--maybe doing something with the Selkie AU I posted for February for the Year of the OTP; maybe something related to the AU I’m going to poke at for this month (which is something I’ve been really looking forward to since I decided to do this event). I’ve also been thinking a lot about Zarek lately; might be interesting to write about him (either the events leading to his original arrest; maybe in parallel with the mutiny and/or his arrest on New Caprica?) Anyway, I’ll see how things go/how many people sign up and what might be feasible.

(I mean, I do at Some point want to get back to the Selkie AU and what I’ve nicknamed the Backup Plans AU at some point, so those will probably pop up again eventually whether or not I write them out for an Event.)

I am also working on The Other Battlestar. Last time I did one of these, I did a brief blurb on some OCs that will be involved for Plot Reasons. I’m...genuinely not sure when I’ll start posting but at This point, my goal is to do that before signups for GBB open in July, so, wish me luck XD

(Seriously, though, is there an actual convention for tagging a Cylon OC who uses their model’s base/shared name?)

Again, crossovers/etc. pretty continuously percolate in the back of my head, but none I’m actively planning to write down. ...not yet, anyway. So those are the main things I’m working at now.

Original Fic:

Well, again, Year of the OTP has me doing three ships from my original stuff, too. I’m glad I decided to do that; it’s gotten me to get more actual text down for my original stuff, and since one of the three couples I’m using I haven’t done much with, it’s a good way to explore the two of them.

Castlevania:

Incinctus is another one I swear isn’t dead, really. I haven’t quite gotten past the wall I hit with the next chapter...maybe if/when I rewatch the series (at some point before Nocturne actually comes out), I’ll get back to it?

AtLA:

My roommate has been rewatching the series again, and since it is my other other forever fandom, that’s brought some of my old fic ideas drifting back to the surface. Not necessarily in an ‘I’m going to actually write this’ kind of way, but also not...really ruling out the possibility? I did have a few I was working on a while ago, but we’ll see how that goes.

Link to my masterpost of Year of the OTP fills, if anyone wants to check those out.

...I think that’s pretty much what’s going on on my end! Like I said, Open Question Night, come hang out with us on the GBB server if you’re into that!

[betzabobababi]

Third Times the Charm

Hello Hello! This is by far one of my favorite things I have written! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Please don't hesitate to like, comment or reblog. It means so much to authors. It also gives them feedback. Anyways without further ado!

Tom Holland x Reader *Y/n Y/ln*

Warnings: Mentions of a fire. Calling 911. Weddings. Proposing

Summary: Tom tries repeatedly to pop the question.

Type: Fluff <3

AUTHORS POV

Tom had been trying to pop the question for months now. He asked for your father's blessing; he told his mum. He even asked Zendaya, your sister, and some of your other close friends for help on picking the ring, date, and place.

So when the day finally came for him to get down on one knee and ask for your hand in marriage, you had to postpone your date because your sister went into an early labor.

Tom reluctantly delayed the occasion and planned another date. This date was in a small family owned Vineyard somewhere in napa. The sun had started to set and just as you were about to turn around (Tom was already on his knee) you spotted that a part of the grape Vines had caught on fire. Hurriedly you called 911. At this point Tom had already gotten up and started to pack up your stuff so you could get out of there safely.

Exasperated by his multiple failed attempts to ask for your hand in marriage he decided that he would try one last time and if it didn't work he would wait a while longer. He thought "maybe the universe is purposefully trying to sabotage my plans because it's not time yet" 

So the third time he tried to pop the question, he set a date in which he made sure you both had no plans or meetings going on. He drove you to a park somewhere downtown and he had a picnic set up.

 He was very nervous, “What if she says no?” or “what if i mess up the speech?” “Third times the charm-Third times the charm-Third times the charm” he kept repeating to himself. If it didn't work out it was ok. But he just really wanted it to work out.  Around an hour into the picnic he mentally psyched himself up one more time and as nervous as he was finally decided to pop the question.

“Y/n Y/l/n *you got this tom!* you are one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I love you more than anything in this world. I can guarantee there’ll be tough times.*he gets down on one knee* I guarantee that at some point one or both of us are gonna want to get out of this. *reaches into pocket* But I also guarantee that if I don't ask you to be mine *takes out the ring* I'll regret it for the rest of my life because I know in my heart you are the only one for me. Be with me now and forever?” At the end of his speech Tom’s whole face was flushed a bright red. Breathing heavily he looked into your eyes, looking, searching for any sign of rejection. But when he looked at you all he could see were the tears that were threatening to spill. He could only see your wide smile.

And as if the world suddenly stops, he sees your mouth opening. “YES YES OH MY GOD YES A MILLION TIMES YES!” you said nearly shouting. You were screaming, but at a reasonable level for a person who just got asked for their hand in marriage. Tom let out a sigh of relief finally being able to breathe again. You lunged at Tom and wrapped your arms around his neck, trapping him in a tight hug. When you both finally let go you saw Tom’s family and yours emerging from the trees surrounding both of you. Harry had a camera in hand and was clicking away. Nicki and Dom were in tears. Your sister was carrying her newborn, looking at you with one of the biggest smiles you have ever seen on her face. Her husband followed close behind. And your father beside him. Paddy walked in between his parents. Sam walked next to Harry, carrying a tray of delicious looking desserts. As they reach you and Tom, one by one congratulate you and engulfed you in big hugs. After giving them their love they talked with you guys. Both you and Tom explained your hopes and wishes for the wedding.

“Hey Tom?” you said to him as you were walking back to the car. “Yes Love?” “How many times did you try to propose?” Tom chuckled at the question. Eyes shining with love. “Believe it or not, I only tried three times.” Tom responded. “You know what they say Tommy, Third Times the Charm.”

[afairywithacrown]

Just a piece of paper

Tsukishima x reader

warnings: None! just a little cursing probably. Overall just Fluff

Watching the girls putting two love letters into Tsukishima’s locker let down your hopes.

You know he gets a lot of attention normally, it’s natural he gets a lot of love letters on valentines day. Somehow now the piece of paper you put your heart in is not that important anymore, it could get lost in those two other ones. God knows how many other girls had leave their letters and how many would do it through the day.

Trying to walk away with a knot in your throat, you bumped into something that wasn’t there before.

“Sorry-“

“What you have there?” Of course, life has to be cruel with you.

“Nothing, just a piece of paper” Your eyes met up with his and the sweat in your hands increased notoriously.

“It has my name on it. Is for me?” A sadistic grin appeared in his face letting you know he knew exactly what was happening.

“Well… yes, but that doesn’t mean it’s for you”

“Then what is it?” Tsukishima said persistently.

“Just a piece of paper with your name on it.”

“So, i assume there’ll be no problem if i take a look.” His hands held the letter softly, before taking it out of your hands you pressed it against your chest, and just assuming your cheeks were bright red, you spoke in a nervous tone trying to explain yourself.

“It’s a love letter… from a girl. She asked me to give it to you” Your excuse would’ve been believable only if you hadn’t been so nervous about having it in the first place.

Your reaction caught him off guard and after the initial shock, he came back to his original condescending face.

“Oh, in that case, why would you try to hide it from me?”

Not having an answer for it he continued when you looked away.

“Are you jealous? You don’t want me to look at it?”

“I'm not jealous, don’t be stupid.”

“Then can I have it? After all, is for me.” Head slightly tilted trying to get to your sight and eyes looking into yours on what you assume he reads your mind and knows already what exactly does the letter says. Holding it making it wrinkle a little you finally give up and hand it to him.

“Thanks, when I'm done reading it, I’ll tell you what I think so you can… tell her.”

“I don’t really care what you think about the letter, my job was only delivering it to you”

He kept it in his hands for a couple of seconds before walking away in the other direction not saying a word. Your lungs let a big amount of breath you were holding without noticing it.

His reaction after having it in his hands was the expected, he was teasing you, of course, he knew it was from you. Probably was the most gentle way he could’ve rejected you without breaking your heart so hard.

Tomorrow will be an old story and you will forget about it like your little crush was supposed to many months ago.

Opening your locker to get the books for your next class you noticed a white piece of paper you couldn’t remember leaving there. With curiosity you took it and after analyzing the blank envelope you realized it was a love letter. Not a normal one people leave, no name or little hearts drawn in it, just what it seems to be another piece of paper in it.

Looking around trying to find the responsible, and maybe thinking it could’ve been a mistake, someone who thought this was someone else’s locker, your eyes met up with his.

Your letter still in hand and a soft smile uncharacteristic of him. Looking back to the mysterious paper in your hands you could’ve never imagined he could feel the same about you.

[novaiya]

Good Things Come in Three - Arthur/Reader/Sadie (NSFW)

Summary: You and Arthur skip the gang's celebratory party in favor of some alone time, barely closing the door of the hotel room before freeing each other of your clothes. Naked and on the bed, you almost get down to business when Sadie knocks on your door, asking if she could join the fun. You didn't expect the night to take such a turn, but that's not to say you're opposed to what she's suggesting.

Words: 5,157

Warnings: threesome, girl on girl kissing, face sitting, honestly, nothing too out of the line, just some good ol' F/F/M

A/N: I've wanted to write an RDR2 threesome for months now, and finally, it happened! Hopefully there'll be more to cum (lol) I actually have a rough draft of a Arthur/Reader/Charles sitting in my folder, so maybe I'll do something with it soon. Also, I'm going to horny jail.

AO3 Link.

With successful completion of a big score came a big celebration. The job was two weeks in the making and involved half a dozen members of the gang, you included. A small bank in a cholera ridden town, though heavily guarded with lawmen both inside and around it; you knew there was more to it. After a little bit more digging, you discovered that one of the residents of town struck gold and was keeping his findings there for the time being. It took careful planning and rigorous preparations but on the chosen day, you were all ready.

Contrary to how the gang’s plans often went, this one went rather smoothly (probably due to inclusion of you and Sadie, women’s touch as they say) and not a day later the gang was about $40,000 richer, a few gold bars heavier and miles away.

The spirits were high; Not only did the job go smoothly, but nobody got hurt or caught. Dutch was ecstatic and decided that celebration was in order. As soon as you came upon a town with a functioning saloon in it, all the horses and the wagons were stopped and everybody went inside.

The saloon, which only a few minutes before was quiet and deserted, with only the barman standing and polishing the empty glasses, quickly filled with two dozen of the gang members and their combined laughs, cheers and songs.

“What’s your name, mister?” Dutch said to the barman as the gang filed into the saloon.

“Howard, sir.”

“Howard,” Dutch repeated as he shook Howard’s hand and inconspicuously slid a few bills into his hand. “These people,” he said and motioned to the members that had already scattered themselves around the saloon, some at the poker table, some by the bar stock. “They had a rough go at it. Can you please make sure they have a pleasant evening?”

“Well, of course, sir!” Howard beamed, already putting the bills in his back pocket. “I’ve been serving drinks at this saloon since before the war, sir, I know what people need.”

“That’s what I’m talking about,” Dutch said, patting Howard on the back. “Now, people,” he turned his attention to the gang, his voice raising a few octaves. “Tonight, we celebrate. I want all of you to enjoy yourself. Drink, eat, gamble and do whatever else you want, as much as you want. You deserve it.”

Dutch’s address was met with loud cheers and long applause and thus, the night began.

The last time Howard served so many people so quickly was in ’65 when the war ended. Yet, even then he didn’t remember having to go into the basement to bring more stock and having to wake up his sons so they could help serve the patrons quicker. As he filled each glass to the brim, he wondered how people could drink so much.

You wondered too as you watched your fellow gang members down one drink after another after another. Some fared better than others. Dutch and Hosea, preferring to enjoy their liquor rather than get wasted, sat in the corner of the room by the fire, nursing their whiskey and already planning their next move. Lenny, still being young and inexperienced, was already dancing hand in hand with Sean, who despite not being new to drinking, couldn’t hold his liquor. Pearson, along with Uncle, started playing their instruments and added live music to the mix of singing, laughter and talking that already filled the saloon. Even Charles joined in on harmonica a few times.

Howard wondered what the lot of you did to call for such a celebration, but he knew better than to ask questions. The money was paid and the drinks were sold; that’s all that mattered.

To say that you were tipsy was an understatement. Perhaps drinking a shot of whiskey and chasing it with a beer was not a good idea, but good ideas rarely made their way into your head, especially when running with the Van Der Linde gang. You were sitting in Arthur’s lap, your arms draped lazily over his form, your head on his shoulder. The two of you were sitting at the poker table, with the other players being Javier, John and Micah. All four of the men were far too drunk to make the right moves or plan their strategies, yet it didn’t stop them from gambling their share of the bank job and hoping for the best.

Unsurprisingly to you, Arthur was winning. Out of all the four men, he was the least inebriated (no thanks to his big size and ability to hold liquor), and even when the drinks were not in play, Arthur was generally a good player, knowing when to hold, to fold, or to walk away. Each time he won some, you’d land a kiss on his neck or his cheek and whisper in his ear, “Good job, love.” The stoic, ruthless gunslinger would turn into mush at your words and your touch, and with a pink blush on his cheeks would say, “Thank you, sweetheart.”

Despite enjoying a game of poker from time to time yourself, you found yourself a little bored and were looking forward to when the game would finish. As you sat in Arthur laps, waiting for the men to call it a night, your eyes traveled over the saloon, taking in the scenery around. It was a nice change to see the gang members so happy and carefree, the only thing on their mind, their next drink.

As you scanned the room, your eyes met with Sadie’s. She was leaning against the bar stock with a drink in her hand. You couldn’t read the exact look in her eyes; it was fierce, determined and hot. Hot. That’s exactly how you felt under her gaze. You shifted under Arthur, suddenly too aware that you were sitting on his lap. He groaned a little, one of his hands coming up to your hip to stop your movements.

“Careful, sweetheart,” he said under his breath, loud enough only for you to hear. You could still feel Sadie’s gaze, could see it from the corner of your eyes. His hand massaged your hip a little and he added, “I’m almost done here. Wanna go upstairs?”

A salacious smile, fueled by the alcohol in your veins and Arthur’s body against yours spread on your lips, and you hid your head in the crook of his neck, whispering, “You know I do.”

Arthur chuckled, before turning back to the game.

“All in,” he said.

Javier dropped out, but John and Micah went along, going all in.

One card up, second card up.

“Yes!”

You almost jumped out of Arthur’s lap as he roared, scooping up his winnings in no time.

John groaned, dropping his head onto the table with a loud thud, already preparing himself for Abigail’s wrath as soon as she would find out. Micah, on the other hand, was fuming, and his face was almost as red from the rage as his shirt. “Stupid game,” he said as he got up from the table and went to the barman, getting himself another drink.

“I got lady luck in my lap,” Arthur said before turning his head to you, capturing your lips in a kiss. You moaned against his lips and waved your fingers through his hair, not caring even a bit at the John and Javier present, the latter even whistling at your display of love. One of his hands was on your hip, and the other started to make its way up your leg and under your skirt, dangerously close to the hem of your drawers.

You broke the kiss, panting slightly, and said, “How about we get a room?” you said before kissing his jaw and adding, “Unless you want to take me right here at the table.”

He could feel himself stiffen at your words, and without wasting anymore time, got up from the chair and took your hand in his. No one paid you and Arthur any attention as you traversed through the saloon, everybody too busy with their own conversations or drink, except for Sadie. You could feel her eyes the entire time as you walked across the room to the stairs, and your mouth felt dry when you walked right past her, her deep, brown eyes staring right into your soul and calling out to something. As you walked up the stairs, you turned back one last time, and saw her sending you a warm, though hinting, smile.

The two of you giggled and laughed as you tried to undress each other, the alcohol doing its job at making your fingers nimble.

He pushed you against the door as he ravished your mouth, making your head feel dizzy and your need for air almost as strong as the need for Arthur. When he broke away from your lips, his mouth turned to attacking your neck, leaving kisses and hickeys all up and down the column of your neck as his hands worked on undoing the buttons of your blouse.

“Oh my god, Arthur,” you moaned, your eyes closed as Arthur finally discarded your blouse and revealed your chest to him, his mouth landing on one of your nipples while his fingers worked on the other.

“Been hard since the moment you sat your pretty little ass down on my lap,” he groaned against your chest. He sucked on one of your nipples, covering it in his spit before adding, “Thought of taking you right then and there when I felt your nipples brush against me.”

“Fuck,” you moaned, your fingers in his hair as he placed his mouth back on your chest, giving your other nipple the same treatment.

“You sure were as good with them cards tonight as you are with your mouth,” you said breathlessly when he released your nipple.

“Darlin’,” he said, his voice dropping an octave and having a dangerous edge to it, “There’s a lot of things I’m good at.”

“Then show me, cowboy,” you said as you pushed him a little before dropping your skirt together with your drawers on the ground, presenting yourself to Arthur in all your naked glory. He could feel his mouth go dry upon seeing your body, illuminated by a faint light from the lantern. No matter how many times he saw you naked, you always managed to take his breath away and wonder what he did to deserve a creature as marvelous as you.

He picked you up effortlessly and carried you to the bed. The cotton sheets felt cool and soft against your skin as Arthur laid you down before covering your body with his, his mouth on yours in seconds.

“Too many clothes,” you mumbled against his lips and pulled on his suspenders, the strap hitting him with an audible slap when you released it.

He didn’t waste much time, pushing his suspenders to the side and pulling out his shirt before throwing it on the floor, revealing his golden chest and torso to your eyes. You ran your hand up his torso, through the light blonde hair that covered it and up to his chest where you could hear his heart beat wildly. His hands were on his pants, ready to pull them down and reveal his leaking cock when a knock on the door froze both of you. You both darted your heads to the door, wondering who and for what reason would knock on your door. Perhaps it was one of your drunk friends, lost and trying to find an available room.

When neither of you answered, keeping still and quiet despite your breathing hard and heavy, a voice spoke from behind the door.

“It’s Sadie,” she said as if mentioning that it’s her and not one of the drunken boys would make a difference and by god, it did.

Her intense stare flashed before your eyes and you once again felt the weight of it over you. Perhaps the alcohol was doing it’s job, making you bolder and daring, but you turned your eyes at Arthur, searching for something in them; a visible ‘no’, a confusion or some sort of opposition, but when none came, you turned back towards the door and said, “Come in.”

You saw the doorknob twist before the door opened with an audible creak. As soon as Sadie passed through the threshold and closed the door behind her, her eyes landed on the two of you on the bed.

Arthur was just in his pants, situated between your naked, spread legs. Her eyes raked over his golden chest down to the bulge in his pants before darting to you, your nipples perky and at attention, your chest rising and falling each time you took a breath. It didn’t miss you when she licked her lips, her eyes still on your naked body.

“I…” she began, sounding just a hint sheepish, “I’m interested in joining. If it's okay with the two of you that is.”

You could feel yourself clench around nothing and your heart rate pick up a few beats upon hearing her words. From the way she occasionally watched you and Arthur engaging in some PDA and the looks the two of you would often share, you could feel something more than friendly feelings floating in the air. It would be a lie if you said you weren’t curious; Sadie was a beautiful woman; from her piercing brown eyes, to her full lips and her dirty blonde hair. You caught yourself thinking that she reminded you of Arthur in some ways, both of them having a similar, burning fire in them, bravery that could rival anyone else’s in the gang as well as a softer, caring side. Maybe that’s why you liked her and weren’t opposed to what she was suggesting.

You licked your lips and was more than ready to say yes, but turned to Arthur. After how long the two of you had been together, you didn’t need to use words to communicate. You looked at him, raising your brows slightly, silently asking, “Are you okay with this?” He gave you a lopsided grin, nodding his head just a tiny bit, his way of saying, “If you are, I am.”

You smiled before biting your lip and turning your head to Sadie. Arthur moved to the side, making room for you so you could get up from the bed. “Join us,” you said when you came to stand next to her, taking her hand in yours. She flashed you a smile, the one that was making you weak in the knees, before one of her hands made its way to the back of your head, bringing your head closer to hers. You could feel her breath against your lips, could smell the strong scent of whiskey on them. It felt that just by inhaling the scent, you were getting more intoxicated.

Her lips were soft and warm as she pressed them against yours, stealing your breath away as she kissed you. You tangled your fingers in her hair, deepening the kiss and moaning against her mouth when she slipped her tongue in. All tongue and teeth, the kiss was desperate and needy, as if the two of you were starving for each other. Arthur could do nothing but watch as the two of you kissed, his mind on fire at looking at one of the most erotic things he’s ever seen in his life. He could feel himself become rock hard to the point of pain, and palmed his erection through his pants, trying to relieve some of the tension.

Her clothes dropped on the floor in a pile as you helped to disrobe her, your lips not leaving her for more than a few seconds as you helped her pull her blouse over her head and her pants down. Your lips were swollen and wet when the two of you finally broke apart, lazy grins on your faces. You turned around to look at Arthur; he looked desperate and needy as he sat on the bed, his cock already in his hands, rock solid, leaking and red at the tip. Your mouth watered at the sight of him, and you smiled at Sadie before the two of you made your way to Arthur.

“Ladies,” he groaned as the two of you got up on the bed, making your way to Arthur like panthers to their prey. You pushed his hand aside, replacing it with yours. If there was heaven, then this was certainly it, Arthur thought when he watched the two of you bring your lips to his cock, your mouth on his tip while Sadie’s on his base. He fought back the urge to snap his hips forward, pushing more of himself in your mouth, and decided to simply take what the two of you were giving him. While you sucked on his head, popping the head in your mouth from time to time before sucking on it, Sadie was kissing up and down his cock, making a mess as her spit covered him from the base to the middle. Arthur couldn’t help but twitch when she took one of his balls in her mouth, and you took his cock deeper, the head hitting the back of your throat. His eyes rolled to the back of his head and he moaned loud, perhaps too loud, at all the attention he was getting.

Thankfully, the two of you didn’t torture him for too long or otherwise he was sure he would’ve been cumming down your throat within minutes. As Sadie popped his balls from her mouth, and you took his cock out of yours, you kissed once again. Neither of you minded the taste of the man on each other’s lips, perhaps even chasing it as your tongues clashed against each other.

You turned to look at Arthur, your eyes almost completely black and full of lust, and said, “Arthur, I want you to fuck Sadie.” Your hands ran up his cock, giving a few slow, sensual strokes and earning a groan from him before adding, “I want her to feel how good your cock is.”

To say that he was expecting the night to go down like this would be a lie, but that’s not to say that he wasn’t enjoying it. He didn’t trust his words, so he simply nodded his head and pushed his hips a little for emphasis.

Sadie’s hand was in yours as she moved to straddle Arthur, his cock right against her nether lips. He could feel her witness coating his member, the heat from her lips already spreading over him. Arthur held himself in his hand as Sadie lowered herself on his cock, moaning at the stretch of being filled by him, pleasure bordering on pain from how thick he was. You kissed her all over, her neck, her cheeks, her lips, her chest, as she took him inch by inch, her breathing ragged and her eyes closed. When he was all the way in, his pelvis flush with her, it was as if everybody breathed a sigh of relief. Sadie felt full, unbelievably so, and without even moving, she could already feel unbelievable pleasure filling her.

You lowered your head to Arthur’s, kissing over his neck before bringing your lips to his ear and said, “Make her feel good, Arthur.”

The first pull and push of his cock had Sadie cry out in pleasure, her face contorted in ecstasy as Arthur pushed deep inside her. His hands were on her hips as he held her in place, pistoling his cock in and out of her wet channel. You could feel your wetness run down your legs as you watched her, so lost in pleasure and so beautiful as she moaned.

With his hands still on her hips, he turned his face to you, capturing your lips in a kiss. You could feel his hunger and desperation as his tongue danced around your’s, making your head spin from the intensity of the kiss.

When he broke away, a spit connecting your lips just for a moment, he said, “I want to feel you too.”

You didn’t have to be told twice. With excitement and lust and arousal coursing through your veins, you sat up on the bed before swinging your legs over Arthur’s head and bringing your soaked pussy over his mouth. He removed one of his hand’s from Sadie’s hips (who was now riding him in earnest herself, taking her pleasures from his cock) and placed it on one of your thighs to bring you down over his mouth.

Your moans joined Sadie’s as Arthur sucked on your sopping lips, before diving his tongue right into your hole. The room filled with nothing but sounds of moans, groans and skin slapping against skin. Perhaps, if someone looked up a definition of hedonism, a picture of the three of you would be there, indulging in your most basic carnal desires and chasing your pleasures.

With your eyes closed and your mouth open, you could do nothing but shake with pleasure as Arthur ate you out, his skillful tongue working between plunging itself into your hole and sucking on your clit. The feeling of Sadie’s hand on your cheek made you open your eyes. She was completely debauched, her face flush from arousal, her pussy wet and dripping as Arthur fucked into her. She brought your face to hers and kissed you, her tongue pushing past your lips right away. From Arthur tongue in your pussy to Sadie’s in your mouth, you could feel yourself nearing the edge.

“Fuck!” Sadie cried out, breaking away from your lips as her orgasm washed over her like a tsunami. Arthur didn’t let up for a moment, pistoling his hips in and out of her quivering hole until she couldn’t take it anymore. She felt herself gush all over him as he brought her to the peak of pleasures to the point where it was becoming all too much and she had to stop. She breathed heavily as she recovered, sitting to the side and waiting for the ringing in her ears to pass.

Satisfied with making one of the women happy, Arthur turned his full attention to you, both of his hands on your thigh, bringing you impossible close to his face, so much so that you wondered how he breathed.

“Arthur,” you moaned as he fucked you with his tongue and brought his thumb to play with your clit.

Sadie was at your side then, kissing down your neck till she reached your nipple and sucked on it.

“Oh my god,” you moaned, tears welling in your eyes as all the sensations were becoming too much. “You’re gonna make me cum,” you said to both of them, and not a moment later, you did.

You kept riding Arthur’s face as you chased your orgasm, crying his and Sadie’s name as they kept bringing you higher and higher. After a few more moments, you finally came to a stop, your thighs still shaking as Arthur helped you from his face down to the bed, laying at one of your sides while Sadie laid at your other. He kissed up and down your neck, leaving small bites and hickeys all over, while Sadie kissed over your chest, marking you as well.

Only after a few moments did it dawn on you that despite making the two of you cum and see stars, Arthur still hasn’t, his cock rock hard.

As if thinking the same thing, Sadie looked up at your from between your breasts, saying, “I wanna watch him fuck you,” before licking your nipple.

You moaned at that, your pussy twitching in anticipation, and looked at Arthur.

You were still sensitive from your orgasm, but you wanted to watch Arthur cum, so you spoke against his lips. “Arthur, please.”

He could never say no to you, not when you spoke his name with such a need in your voice. He smiled against your lips, brushing his nose against yours before saying, “Anything for you, darlin’.”

You parted your thighs to accommodate him and licked your lips when he took his cock in his hand, giving himself a few pumps before pushing just the head of his cock in. There was more than enough preparation, your own wetness and Arthur’s spit running down your pussy and your thighs, yet you still felt that familiar burn as he split you open, pushing more of himself in.

Inch by inch, he filled you, taking a pause here and there to let you get used to the feeling of him filling you to the brim. When he was all the way in, the head of his cock pushing so deep inside you you could practically taste it, you sighted his name, your head rolling back on the pillows and your fingers clawing at the sheets.

Sadie’s hand was on your lower abdomen, right where she could feel Arthur push in you.

She licked her lips before turning to him and said, “Fuck her proper, Arthur.”

The drag of his cockhead over your insides had you clench around him, the tears in your eyes coming back as your sensitive walls spasmed over him. One of your hands was clawing at the back of your pillows, the other at the sheets under you, and you could do little more than simply take Arthur’s pistoning, his cock reducing you to cries and moans of his name.

Sadie turned your head towards her, capturing your lips in her once again before speaking against them. “Tell me how good he’s making you feel,” she said.

You tried to speak, but as you opened your mouth, a moan came out as Arthur delivered a particularly rough thrust, hitting that special place inside of you. Out of the corner of your eyes you could see him smirk.

“So good, Sadie,” you finally managed. The bliss you were feeling had your mind going haywire as Arthur’s thrusts pushed you closer and closer to the edge of euphoria. “Fuck. He’s fucking me so good,” you moaned, your words no doubt feeding Arthur’s ego, making him puff out his chest more and fuck you harder into the mattress, “He’s gonna make me cum.”

Sadie smiled before kissing you once again, alternating between sucking on your tongue and delving hers into your mouth.

Arthur was at the end of his rope. He was holding out his own release, hoping to deliver you to yours first, but it was proving hard when your cunt spasmed over him each time he pushed inside. It didn’t help either that you and Sadie were all over each other, your lips against one another, your hands exploring each other’s bodies. Not even in his wildest dreams or fantasies had he seen something like this.

He placed both of his hands on the back of your thighs before pushing them up so your legs hung on his shoulder, kissing one of your ankles as he did so. Your legs twitched each time he slammed back in, the new position making him go in even deeper if that was possible, and if it wasn’t for Sadie’s mouth on yours, you were sure your scream’s would’ve definitely alerted somebody.

Delicate and slow, her hand traveled from one of your breasts, down your stomach and to your wet pussy. She could feel where Arthur was entering you again and again, the wetness around your walls making for an easy, though loud with sloppy sounds, entrance. Using two of her fingers, she started to add small circular motions around your clit, making your toes curl.

With the combination of Sadie’s fingers on your clit and Arthur’s cock in your pussy, you came, arching your back from the bed as pleasure coursed through your veins, so hard you thought you were gonna blackout from it. Sadie kissed you through it, muffling your cries and moans and screams with her mouth. The orgasm swept over you like a hurricane, leaving you completely boneless as you laid there, managing to do nothing more than keep taking Arthur’s cock.

The feeling of you spasming and tightening over him was too much for Arthur. “Fuck, darlin’, I’m close,” he said, the sweat on his face making it shiny.

With Sadie’s mouth away from yours, you managed a broken cry and a small, “Yes” moving your hips just a little to help Arthur to his release.

Sadie moved her hand from where it was near your clit to where Arthur was entering your sopping pussy again and again. With a mischievous smile, she took his balls in her hand and fondled them before saying, “Fill her up, Arthur.”

Arthur came with a heavy groan, his pace all out of rhythm as he kept pushing his cock into you, stuffing you full of his cum until you could feel it running down your thighs.

At last, he stilled, his breathing heavy as he pulled out of you and lowered your legs from his shoulder to the bed.

You could feel Arthur’s sweat drop from his forehead to yours as he bent down to kiss you, slow and tender, before dropping to your side. His head was on the pillow as he stared at the ceiling, still trying to comprehend what had just happened. On your other side, Sadie was catching her breath too, the activities you just engaged in making her previously clear complexion looking a tad bit pink. You could see a satisfied smile on her lips as she raised herself on her elbows to look at you, brushing a piece of hair out of your face before laying back down on the bed, one of her hands under her head.

As you laid there, well-fucked, satisfied and bemused, you wondered how you’d look Sadie in the eyes in the morning, when the effects of alcohol and lust would vanish, and you’d have nowhere to hide as the sun would illuminate every corner of the room. You remembered Dutch’s words, telling all of you to enjoy yourself. “As much as you want,” he specified. You’re not sure if he had this in mind when saying that.

Sadie, however, decided to not wait for the morning and spoke up now, saying, “Might I say that the two of you sure know how to fuck.”

The ease with which she spoke eased your restless nerves, and you felt yourself relax as you laughed at her words. At your side, Arthur couldn’t help but shake his head, a small smirk playing at his lips.

You knew the next morning would still bring the awkward laughs and pink blushes, but you decided you could deal with that later. Right now, you were happy to enjoy the warmness of the two bodies pressed at your sides.

[opalsdarkreadings]

✰𝙅𝙪𝙟𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙪 𝙆𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙎/𝙊. 𝘽𝙤𝙣𝙪𝙨: 𝙎𝙪𝙠𝙪𝙣𝙖 𝙍𝙮𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣✰

Pairing: Gojo, Yuji, Fushiguro, Nobara, Sukuna x gender neutral reader

Warning: angst, depression themes, mentions of blood

Notes: I love the smell of saddens and crying in the morining, great starter of the days. lol I hope you all enjoy, there’ll be some grammical errors so please just ignore and I’ll try to fix them when I spot them. And I’m addicted to this series and characters so I’ll be releasing a bunch of others stuff regarding this show soon.

✵𝗴𝗼𝗷𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘂✵

You were going to get up, you always did. The two inseparable prankster would be back at it agian like always. Like old times. You....you were fine

But the pit of his stomach twist and churn, his heart aching with a new found sense of despair. He knew, so why didn’t he just accepted it.

NO! You were going to get up, you just liked to joke around that’s all. So why did he feel a surge of rage so deep, so painful that ach his very core. Even destroying the special grade left nothing but dissatisfaction.

For the first time in his life he felt... hesitant.

Your body unmoving from the blow dealt by the curse demon. The curse being dealt with in seconds afterwards. The stillness felt eery, his heart pounding against his chest as he makes his way to you unmoving body

He crouch and pulled the slik blind off his face, beautiful bright blue eyes scanning over you body. Sadness being reflected in them but he kept that signiature smile of his

“S/o...can you still move?” He asked hoping, silently praying you could at least answer him.

...nothing.

“Cutie-chan~ quit playing around...get up so we can go home....” the weak laugh that left his lips felt more like whimper, as you continue to not answer him.

He doesn’t even know why he’s trying, he should be use to it. He’s lost thousands of friends in battle, time and time agian. One of his students wouldn’t come back, a coworker that didn’t make it, a close friends that died tragically. He’s heard it all.

So why did it hurt so much?...

Droplets fell over you color ridden cheek, you body being lifted into a broad chest. As Satoru buried his face into the crook of your neck, that awful perfume he hate infiltrating his nose, a choked laught left him.

“God I hate that perfum..”

That smile of yours as bright as the evening star, flooded his mind, your words ringing out as he cradled your dead body.

“I know you do, but you still love me~.”

✵𝘆𝘂𝗷𝗶 𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗿𝗶✵

That face, you always made that face whenever you did something stupid. Honestly, he couldn’t talk much, seeing on half the crap he’s done was on impulse, however...god you were an idiot.

You Could’ve lived, left him there on the cool slab of the concrete, the beast that was too far over their heads coming his way. He could’ve handled it, Sukuna was a stubborn bastard, but wouldn’t let him die.

You were and utter fool and he cursed about it to this day.

But it all felt like slow motion, the pounding of your footsteps hitting against the ground, his weak shouts trying to get you to go back. The drop in his stomach as that sickening crack echoed out the domain.

There was so much blood, the walls were splattered with it, the floor painted a sea of red, your body nothing more than crushed remembrance of what it used to be.

He’s never felt such a feeling of rage so strong before. All his actions a blur until late on. When he’s bound by a cursed rope and set aside near the school where the cursed demon was located.

A stretcher hauling, what’s once was your body. Your hand peeking out from under the blood covers. That’s all it took for him to lose it.

The rope keeping his struggling body from moving as he sobbed hysterically.

“S/O! S/O! Answer me please..please! Why would you do that?! You’re such an idiot damnit, don’t you dare leave me...you promised.” He fell over the harsh ground, tears cascading down from his cheek to the floor.

Fushiguro and Nobara gazes lowered to the ground. Effectively trying to hold back their friend as your body was carried off.

His sobs turning into quiet whimpers. It dawned on him, he’s was official alone now. You and his Grampa being taken from him unfairly. He had no one, you would never smiles at him agian

Slap his head whenever he got a little to handsy or tease Him relentless when he slipped up and blurtted out random things

Your sweet laugh would be distance memory of the past, something that made his heart squeeze with hurt.

“That’s no fair...it’s not fair.” He mumbles soflty to himself

Sukuna for once, was eerily silent.

✵𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗼 𝗠𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗺𝗶✵

He still couldn’t believe it. It all happened so quickly. One minute you two were sharing a passionate night, basking under the moonlight as you kiss and bodies dance together.

And the next, he’s cradling your bleeding body, words stuck in his throat and horror swirling on his eyes. Trembling hands trying to stop the blood from gushing out from your neck.

The bastard had got away but he could care less. “S-s/o..just...just stay awake for me okay...c-can you do that for me?” His words trembled off his lips, your eyes shifting over to his. The dullness setting in.

Weakly, your fingers brush over his cheek, his hands reaching up and taking hold of them as he kiss over the knuckle. “You’re....you’re gonna be okay! I promise the others are coming.” He hadn’t realized it but tears had already started falling from his eyes.

He was lying out his ass, the culprit behind this, another cursed user, has been terrorizing this part of town for months now. They weren’t letting him getaway, so you’re mostly his responsibility till the aftermath. He knew you didn’t have that long.

He went to move you but you grunt in pain, more blood pooling out from the wound. He cursed and held you on the bloodstained ground.

“I’m sorry...I-I’m so sorry..” he mumbles into your neck, uncaring if his face was stained with blood as his quiet sobs racked his body.

With as much strength you could muster, you raised your hand to be lazily placed over his head and stroked it over it like you always did.

“I...I l-love you..” you whispered to him, your body becoming slack and your hand falling to your side.

He didn’t need to check, he didn’t need to see whatever expression your face was making to know that you were gone. His grip over your lifeless body tightens, his cries reaching into screams.

This felt all too familiar to him.

He wanted to blame you for breaking his defense, to inching so close to his heart. For making him so happy and attached, but he couldn’t lie and say he didn’t enjoy the moments that came with it.

The memories that’ll forever stay replaying like a broken record in his mind. This is why he didn’t try to make friends, he didn’t try to get close, he hated that he loved you so much.

✵𝗡𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗞𝘂𝗴𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗸𝗶✵

Maybe she was too mean to you, not caring enough, She mishandled you to many times, to many fights and arguments over tedious things that should have been left as it was.

Was this her punishment? She allowed for such actions to boil and fester, and now what? A dumb argument over a stupid past that no longer connected to you and the exchange was your life. 

Even though you said you sorry’s, I love you’s, there was still tension before you both part. Nobara saving to say all those mushy things she felt for when you were back in her arms

Oh, the deep regret she felt.

The way her teammates came back quieter than usual and more seemly more sluggish then earlier

“What are you idiots standing like that for, that cursed demon shake you that bad. Hmph, simple enough what would you guys be with me?” She teased her sly smile spreading over her lips before it falter

They didn’t even try to agrue much less protest, they just seem distraught, stunned even. Then I dawned on her, they were missing someone...they were missing you.

“Where’s...where’s s/o?” She asked them soflty. A look of guilt overcame Yuji's features as he fished for something out of his pocket.

Confusion ran across Nobara face before it morphed into horror. A single scrap of a school uniform being held out in his hand.

“We...we couldn’t get their body..” Megumi finished his gaze meeting her’s before falling back to his feet. Fist clenched tightly to his side.

She barely heard anything after that, her eyes fixated on the single scrap of clothing. She inched to Yuji taking it and stroking her thumb over the material.

She bites her bottom lip, this was fates cruels joke. She didn’t deserve you from the beginning, it seems like everywhere she went someone had to leave her.

But why did it have to be violent? Why you out of all people. Maybe she should have told her how much you meant to her.

How much of a rock and pillars you were in this crazy life of hers. A beam of reassurance and love that she could always depend on whenever she needed you.

How does she continue now, that beams were gone, taken from her so harshly. The only things she could cling so desperately to have been the last thing she saw you in.

What a cruel world she lived in.

✵𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐤𝐮𝐧𝐚✵

There was always some form of a catch when it came to huamsn. No relationship or friendship was formed without a common goal or another interest being taken into play.

The sweet smiles, honey-coated words, and gentle touches were always a facade...wasn’t it?

He could care less about what happened to you, what became of you. After all humans are dirty devilish creatures so even more so then cursed beast.

But he didn’t understand... he didn’t understand why he felt such strong stings of anger, sadness, and a bit of shock bubble in him as you push him out the way.

Did you place some sort of technique over him, that made the king of curses catch such disease as emotions? Laced your words and touches with magic that only you could see and undo....no that’s not it.

Possible it was this damn vessel's fault. Always hanging off your words and embraces like a lovesick fool. Opting to distract himself with your praise and love then rather focus on what’s important at hand.

though denying that he didn't enjoy your persevere, from time to time would make the ping of guilt worsen.

Your body hit the floor with a loud thud, the gaping hole through your chest made the anger and feelings of anguish flow in him.

He didn’t even notice when he had taken over Yuji's body, destroying the very thing that took you away from him. The slaughter more animalistic and erratic as his state of sanity seems to be blown out the window.

He cares not for the look of horror and fear that clouded Yuji's teammate's face. Not concerning much of his attention to them, he came over, plucked your dead body from the ground, and disappear.

Appearing back to that place you talked with Yuji so dearly about..what was it again. He couldn’t recall the name, only knowing about the large wisteria trees that guard the scenery. 

“Dumb human...surely foolish beings you are.” He mumbles you head was press into his chest as he looked out from the Cliffs view.

“Look what you have done, making me feeling things for you..” his voice soft as he pushed back small strands from your face. Yuji memories of this morning playing back

“You two better make it out of here alive or I’m kicking both of your butts.” You proclaimed earning a whine from Yuji and scoff from Sukuna as he appeared on the other’s cheek. “Dare I ask how you’ll be able to deafest me, don’t bite more than what you can chew.” He threatens but only succeeded in making you laugh, “Mhm..yeah you’re right I’m just worried about my two favorite boys.” You had told them, leaning in and kissing a flustered Yuji, “I love you both so be safe.” Okay and no stupid actions.” You scolded Yuji plucking the boy's head.

A weak laugh fell off from his lips, “Looks who’s talking, you’re the one that’s gone and died on us..” he spoke aloud. Moving to crouch by the tree and sit your body against the bark.

He let one finger trail over your lips and down your features letting them be engraved in his memory as he gazes down at you.

That disease having still affecting him, even as you lay dead in front of him. These feeling of sadness and heart ach and most of all loneliness suffocating and clawing at his throat

He dare not shed a tear, Yuji would do enough of that for the both of them. Instead, he let his hand gently cup over your cold and colorless cheek. The warmth he remembers oh so clearly, know felt like something that occurs ages ago.

He leans his forehead against yours and shutting his eyes, and allowing Yuji to take control.

You’d never heard him say, though he wished you are hear so he could that dazzling smile as he did

“I love you... S/o.”

[crystalninjaphoenix]

To Be a Hero

A JSE Fanfic

SepticHeroes AU: Part 12

Big news in this part :D Also a lot of setup for future events. Also a lot of dialogue. I’m gonna keep this author’s note short and spoiler-free. Jackie has a talk with Leapfrog, who delivers said big news ;) Then later, he and Chase hang out with Schneep and have an interesting conversation. And while that’s happening, JJ gets a familiar visit at his shop. Happy reading!

===============

It was only a matter of time before the peace in the city was broken with another big crime. Jackie just considered himself lucky that it had been one he could take care of while his leg was still healing.

He’d woken up that morning ready to go to work, only to hear on the police radio that there was a bank robbery downtown with super activity. Once he’d heard that, he’d jumped right out the window without even bothering to shower or tell Chase he was leaving, only pausing in his flight to call his day job and tell them he was calling in sick. Once he’d done all that, it only took about thirty minutes to deal with everything.

Now he was standing outside the First Bank of Daindover, watching as the police were pushing the villain known as Titanium into a squad car. “Mark this day, Windstorm!” Titanium shouted. “You’ll rue it!”

“I’ll rue it like I rue’d all the other days you got arrested!” Jackie shouted back. “Maybe next time, you should try robbing somewhere more creative!” Seriously, this bank was robbed by super villains at least once a month. He couldn’t believe they hadn’t upgraded their security.

Titanium shouted some very generic villain insults at Jackie, which got cut off when the car door slammed shut with her inside. “Good work, kid,” a voice said.

Jackie turned around. “Hey, Ace. Thanks. She’s no problem, really. But this is the third time. How does she keep getting out?”

Ace shrugged. “Hard to keep someone who’s invulnerable inside a normal jail. First time she escaped she just ran right through the concrete wall. I hear they’re going to put her in Byrthon Vault for security. I don’t envy her.”

“Finally graduated to the big-boy prison,” Jackie muttered. He was trying to make a joke, but it just sounded grim when he said it out loud.

“Hey, how’re you doing on this case you’re working on?” Ace asked. “Were those files I lent you any help?”

“Some, yeah. Thanks. Oh! I ran into the villain behind all the string nonsense. The Puppeteer.”

Ace raised an eyebrow. “Fitting. Anything the department can use? Identifying traits, powers to look out for?”

“Nothing identifying, no.” Jackie shook his head. He recalled his and Spitfire’s run-in with the Puppeteer last week. That costume had covered everything, and the synthetic voice hadn’t been any help. “But, uh, weird thing. His powers aren’t actually mind control.” He paused for Ace’s reaction, but the detective just gestured for him to continue. “While I was there, he controlled a bunch of these crash test dummies to attack. It was crazy. There were so many of them.”

“Huh.” Ace thought about it. “So, the Puppeteer can control anything that’s human-shaped, then?”

“Yeah. Yeah!” Jackie nodded. “That’s exactly it! I hadn’t put it together. I guess I was too hung up on the type classification. Though... it really shouldn’t be possible for him to control both living and non-living things.”

“Look, kid. The Super Types are useful, but they’re used for people, and people can’t be sorted into boxes so easily. There’ll be exceptions and overlaps with any labels.”

“True,” said another voice. “But sometimes we need shortcuts.”

Jackie spun around in the other direction. “Leapfrog!” he gasped.

Leapfrog smiled at him. He hadn’t seen her in person since she first recruited him, but she looked exactly like he remembered. Same waist-length blond hair. Same yellow suit, green tie, and green mask. Same copper shield-shaped badge, this time pinned on her lapel instead of in her pocket. “Sorry for eavesdropping,” she said. “Couldn’t help it. How have you been, Windstorm?”

“I’ve been good.” His leg, while still slightly injured, had healed to the point where he could stand on it for long periods instead of hovering all the time. “Uh, nothing new since I talked to you on the phone last week.”

“I heard you filling this man in on those events.” Leapfrog nodded at Ace. “Hello. You’re part of the police’s villain division, I assume?”

Ace nodded, and held out his hand. “Detective Alan Ainsworth. Call me Ace, everyone does.”

“Jenna Croakes. Call me Leapfrog, it’s my secret identity.” Leapfrog shook Ace’s hand. “Do you mind if I talk to Windstorm for a bit?”

“Not at all. I need to wrap things up over here, anyway.” Ace jerked his head back towards the various police officers still milling around the bank. “Good luck, kid.” And he turned to go.

Jackie watched him for a moment, then looked at Leapfrog. “Alright, what, uh...what’s up?”

“Let’s talk somewhere a bit more private.” Leapfrog glanced around, then pointed up at a nearby three-story building. “Meet me on the roof.”

“Meet you—? Uh, okay.” Jackie nodded. He backed up a bit, gave a little jump, and flew upwards. The wind carried him over to the building, where he carefully landed. He turned around, looking for a roof entrance that Leapfrog could possibly use, only to see her landing right behind him, legs bending as if catching herself after a fall. “Whatdafuck?!”

“Not a flier, if you’re wondering.” Leapfrog adjusted her suit jacket. “I jumped.”

“Jumped?! Oh.” Jackie hit his forehead. “Leapfrog. Jump. Duh.”

“It’s not all that useful for fighting crime,” Leapfrog said. “Which is why I’m a recruitment liaison and not a Hero. Anyway. How is the search coming? I know you reported your Puppeteer encounter last week, anything new since then? With him or the Specter?”

Jackie shook his head. “Sorry. But I’m keeping an eye out for any potential targets for either of them.”

Leapfrog gestured off the roof towards the ground. “Was that villain down there involved?”

“Titanium? No. I checked her wrists for strings, nothing there. She just wanted to rob a bank, I guess.” Jackie paused. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be, these investigations take time,” Leapfrog reassured him. “I just wanted to check. Now, as to why I’m here. I was going to stop by your flat, but I heard the police call and figured you’d rush to the bank. I have an update for you.”

“Alright.” Jackie nodded. “Thanks for not going to the apartment, my roommate would have lots of questions. What’s, uh...what’s up?” Didn’t he just say that earlier? God, the nerves jumping around his stomach were messing with his words.

“It’s about the neutrinalin,” Leapfrog said.

Jackie’s attention sharpened even further. “Yeah?”

“It turns out, they refuse to give it to anyone who’s not an official Hero, or who doesn’t work in one of the super prisons,” Leapfrog said.

“Oh.” Jackie slumped.

“So, I have a question for you.” Leapfrog paused. “Do you have any plans on Halloween?”

“Huh? Uh, not as of right now.”

“Good. Because the League scheduled your official welcoming ceremony for that day, and it would be really hard to change that.”

“...wait.” Jackie blinked. The nerves in his stomach began leaping around in anticipation. “You mean...the ceremony that would make me...an official Hero?”

“Well, technically, the ceremony is just a formality. What really matters is this.” She reached into her pocket and took out a silver shield-shaped badge with a stylized LoH on it. And as she handed it out to him, she smiled. “Congratulations, Windstorm. You’ve passed the probation period.”

Jackie stared down at the badge in her hand. He could see the word ‘HERO’ on it, along with his super name, ‘Windstorm.’ Slowly, he took it, half-afraid the badge would break at any moment. He stared at it, running a finger along the engravings, then after what was probably too long a moment, he looked back up at Leapfrog. “You’re... serious?”

“Very serious,” Leapfrog confirmed, chuckling a little bit.

He looked back down at the badge. “ I-I’ve only been doing this for about three months.”

“And you’ve been exceptional.”

Jackie laughed. “I haven’t even done that much...”

“Well, you’ve done enough. Honestly, I’ve been recruiting Heroes for ten years now, and you’re among the brightest. You remind me of a Hero I recruited in my early days, name of Light Phoenix. Both so enthusiastic, so dedicated. Both making Hero status in record time.” Leapfrog grinned. “You deserve it, Jackie.”

He lifted his head. And in that moment, he realized that he’d been slowly lifting into the air, as Leapfrog was a lot shorter than she was a few seconds ago. He lowered himself back down. “I...” He started, then stopped, and shook his head with a smile on his face. “I don’t know what to say. This... this is my dream. I-I can’t believe it.”

“Believe it,” Leapfrog said. “The League doesn’t want the press to know about it until the 17th, but everything on our end has been completed.”

“Can I...can I wear the badge?” Jackie asked tentatively.

Leapfrog nodded. “Whenever you want. I do suggest wearing it out while patrolling and stopping crime. Preferably over your heart, either outside your suit or inside. The metal is a lot more bulletproof than the suit fabric, and we’ve had cases of badges saving Heroes’ lives. Oh, and you will have to wear it to League gatherings and stuff.”

“Right. I can...I can go to League gatherings now.” He was half tempted to slap himself, to see if he would wake up. This was so surreal, and yet it was real. The badge was in his hand. It was heavier than he expected, a solid weight in his hand.

He was surprised that becoming a Hero was so...easy. Not that fighting crime and saving people was easy. But the entire process, from him putting in his application to this moment right now, had taken a little less than four months. It was a little strange, but he wasn’t about to question it. After all, he had been doing hero work for two years now. The League probably just saw his track record and decided he had enough experience.

“There are some you’ll have to go to,” Leapfrog said. “Mostly boring things. Part of being a Hero involves communicating with government officials and police and stuff. A lot of meetings. Occasionally a fun ball or something. I’ve seen people get asked to do commercials for products, that sort of stuff is up to you.”

Jackie laughed. “I’ve always wondered how people got Heroes for stuff like that! Wow. Wow.” He turned the badge over, examining the pin. It was designed vaguely like a button’s, but a lot more solid and secure. It would probably puncture a noticeable hole in his super suit, regardless of how tough the material was supposed to be. He started to put it on, then thought better of it and slipped it into his pocket. “Thank you. Thank you so much, I...” He laughed breathlessly. “This is incredible.”

“Well, super Heroes do the incredible every day.” Leapfrog gave him a little salute. “Call me if you need anything. I’ll probably be calling and texting you a lot, since your Red Line now has permission to access more League databases and such. You need to install some things and do some training.”

“Got it.” Jackie nodded. “So, uh...” Another smile crept over his face, this one a bit more impish than the others. “Am I the best recruit you’ve ever recruited?”

Leapfrog blinked, then laughed. “You’re up there. Definitely the best in this city.”

“I’m the only Hero that’s ever been in this city.” Jackie paused. “Oh. Right. I’ve been meaning to ask you this for a while. I noticed Timekeeper wasn’t in the League database of Heroes. Did you guys never recruit him?”

Leapfrog shook her head. “No. Once the higher-ups heard about him, they certainly wanted him to join. But he never applied. We were discussing me going over to ask him to join in person, but he disappeared after that battle with Earth Shaker two and a half years ago.” She sighed. “Always wonder what happened to him. If he’s still out there somewhere.”

“Yeah.” Jackie stood there for a moment, wondering the same thing. Then he raised into a hover. “Well. I’ll see you, then.”

“See you, Windstorm. Good luck.”

He smiled, and flew off, heading no direction in particular.

A Hero.

An official Hero.

Today was the best fucking day of his life.

===============

There was a knock on his bedroom door. Jackie, slouching in his desk chair, quickly sat up straight and closed the notebook he was looking at: the one with all the information about the Specter and the Puppeteer. His eyes darted around the room, making sure nothing super was out in plain view. Suit was in the wardrobe and badge was in the desk drawer... and there was nothing else. Good. “Yeah, come in,” he called.

Chase pulled open the door, glancing around. Frosty stuck his head into the new gap, also looking around. “How do you keep this place so clean?” he muttered.

“Clean? I’m clean? Please tell my mom that, she’s complained about my messiness since I was old enough to do chores.”

Chase laughed. “I’m just saying. At least you have your dirty clothes in a basket. Anyway. Uhhh...” He paused, momentarily forgetting what he was going to say. Quickly, he checked his phone. “Oh yeah! Have you been to Schneep’s place yet?”

Jackie blinked. “No. Why?”

“Well I was thinking about going over and hanging out. It’s been a while since I’ve seen him. Do you want to come?”

“Now?”

“Well, whenever you want.”

“Umm... sure.” Jackie spun his chair around to fully face Chase. “We could go over for dinner or something. It would prevent us from ordering pizza again.”

“I swear, we don’t do that as often as you think we do,” Chase insisted.

“Heh.” Jackie grinned. “What’s Schneep’s place like?”

“Nicer than this,” Chase says. “But not, like, for rich people. Just above average. You’ll see. Oh! Wait, yeah, I should tell you. His apartment building isn’t near a train station. Are you gonna be okay with walking, or should we get a cab or Uber or something?”

“I’ll be fine, thanks. You?”

“Yeah, I know I’m fine. Walked there a lot.” Chase glanced down back at his phone, switching from the notes to the messages. “I’ll tell him we’re coming over around...six? Is that good?”

“Maybe six-thirty,” Jackie suggested.

“Good idea. We’ll need more time for the walk.” Chase typed something out, sending a text. About thirty seconds later, he got a reply. “Great. He says he’ll make food.”

“Great.” Jackie gave a thumbs-up. “I’ll remember. Anything else you need?”

“Thanks for editing my video again,” Chase said. He gave a little laugh. “I don’t know how you had time to do that, since you seem to be working or at the gym all the time.”

“I’m good at multitasking,” Jackie said. “Also, it’s no problem. It’s fun.” He liked seeing Chase’s process for video-making. It was like they were hanging out together, filming something.

Chase raised an eyebrow. “You and I have very different definitions of fun. But alright. We’ll have to catch the green train at around 5:45 to get to Schneep’s place.” He chuckled when he saw Jackie’s surprise. “Yeah, it’s pretty far out on the edge of town. Gotta be an inconvenient commute to the hospital.”

“Got it.” Jackie nodded. “I’ll set an alarm.”

“I will too.” And with that, Chase closed the bedroom door—slowly, so Frosty had time to get his face out of the way.

Jackie picked up his phone and started setting the alarm as promised. He was planning on more patrolling tonight, but it had been slow for crime. Nothing the police couldn’t handle. And Spitfire Cat didn’t have any new leads to follow up on. So time for a free night.

===============

Chase wasn’t kidding when he said Schneep lived on the edge of town. They caught the train at 5:45 like planned, and still barely reached the building by the time 6:30 rolled around. This area was practically a different city. Or, it would be, if Daindover wasn’t a massive urban and suburban area.

These apartment buildings were new. They’d only been built about three or four years ago, which was a hell of a lot newer than the rest of the city. Each building was only three floors high, their outsides painted vivid colors: red, yellow, green, blue. Jackie wondered if it was weird to be surprised that Schneep lived in a place like this. But he did live there. In Building A, Flat 2D, to be specific. Chase and Jackie took the elevator up to the second floor, where Chase knocked on the appropriate door.

“Just one moment!” Schneep’s voice called from inside. Some dishes clinked, and then the door opened, revealing Schneep in a dark blue sweater. “Ah, you two are on time,” he said. “Thank you for not inviting yourselves to dinner and then being late. To the dinner you invited yourselves to.”

“You didn’t have to let us come by, bro,” Chase said. “Don’t be salty.”

“I am not salty, I am the sweetest person I know,” Schneep said, face deadpan.

Jackie couldn’t help but laugh at that.

“Well, come in.” Schneep stood to the side. “Ah, Chase, I actually bought a bed for Frosty, since you kept coming over.”

“Aw, really? That is sweet. I’m touched.” Chase put his hand over his heart. “But, well, Frosty’s working right now.”

“I know, I thought just in case.”

The two of them walked into the apartment, and Jackie looked around. Chase wasn’t kidding. It was nicer than their place. The front door opened into a combination living room and dining room, with an archway on the left leading to a full kitchen that smelled of something cooking. To the right were two doors, one of which was ajar to show a bedroom. Right by the front door, to the left, was another closed door. A curtained window overlooked the street below. The whole thing was probably as big as Jackie and Chase’s apartment, but with one less bedroom, resulting in a lot more space. “You have a lovely place,” Jackie said.

Chase laughed. “Wow, so formal all of a sudden.”

“Well it is!” Jackie said defensively.

Schneep smiled. “Thank you.”

Jackie glanced around. “Um, sorry to ask this, but...I need to use your bathroom.” He reached for the door to the left.

“Do not go there, then!” Schneep braced his arm over the doorway just as Jackie grabbed the doorknob.

“Whoa, okay, sorry!” Jackie backed up. “Why? What’s in there?”

“My closet,” Schneep said. “And nothing. Sorry for being loud.”

Chase chuckled. “The doc is hiding his secret identity from us. He’s been Windstorm this whole time!”

Schneep rolled his eyes. “I am not.”

“Well has anyone ever seen you and him in the same place?” Jackie asked, a smile twitching at his mouth.

“Yeah, you seem to be the right height and build, too.” Chase squinted his eyes, stroking his beard. “Hmmm...”

Schneep reached over and gently shoved him.

“Whoa, be careful!” Chase laughed. “Alright, bit over.”

“Let’s just go in and eat dinner,” Schneep said. “I went to the trouble of making it when you two invited yourselves over. We should not let it go to waste.”

A couple minutes later, the three of them were sitting at the dinner table with plates of food. “You didn’t have to make something so fancy,” Jackie said.

“I worry about your diet if chicken and mashed potatoes are fancy to you,” Schneep said.

“Well you have like...broccoli and shit, too. Green stuff.” Jackie glanced at Chase. “The only time we eat anything green is when Chase asks for pepper on the pizza.”

“That’s twice you’ve mentioned pizza today, I think you have the problem, not me.” Chase cut off a piece of the chicken and held it out to Frosty, sitting on the floor beside him. Frosty sniffed it, seemed to hesitate, then licked it up. “Attaboy.” Chase smiled. “I know I’m not supposed to do that, but you deserve a treat sometimes.” He returned his attention to the others. “Okay, but seriously. You ever notice how all of us kinda have the same look as Windstorm?”

“Uhhh no,” Jackie said carefully. “Why? Do you have something to tell us, Chase?”

Chase laughed. “Bro, I couldn’t be a superhero. Especially him. Have you seen the acrobatics he pulls off in the air? I can’t even stand up. Nah, if he would be any of us, I bet it would be Schneep.”

“Ah, you choose the better of two options, I see,” Schneep said.

“Wha—” Jackie couldn’t help but be a little offended. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well, I am sure Windstorm would not make the mistake of wearing a binder during heavy exercise like he does.” Schneep’s bright blue eyes seemed to bore into Jackie.

“I stopped doing that,” Jackie muttered, shoving a spoon of potatoes in his mouth to avoid continuing this conversation.

“In any case, I am no hero,” Schneep said. “So it is both bad options.”

“Of course you’re a hero, doc,” Chase said sincerely. “You save people, and that’s all a hero does, right? You know, the other day, someone at work thought I was you. She realized I wasn’t the moment I said anything, of course, but I told her I knew you. Her name was, uhh...” He checked the notes on his phone. “Kira Heath. She said you helped cover the fees for her and her kid.”

“Heath? Yes, I remember.” Schneep nodded gravely, and looked down towards the table. “They were both too close to that fight between Windstorm and Hyper Charge in December last year.”

“But they’re okay now, right?!” Jackie blurted out.

Schneep looked up at him. “Yes, they are fine. I made sure. The child, Ben, he almost lost an eye from one of Hyper Charge’s blasts. But he did not.”

Jackie slumped. He remembered that. Hyper Charge was one crazy villain, never caring about how many people were around, only how impressive the explosions looked when he blew things up. There were so many people around that day. Jackie hadn’t been able to check on them all. He let the sense of relief fade away. What was left was a strange, niggling feeling about something Chase said. “What do you mean, ‘cover the fees’?”

“You know,” Chase said. “The fees.”

“No, I don’t.” Jackie slowly shook his head.

Schneep’s grip on his fork tightened. “Every hospital is required, by the Super Laws, to have a SDER Department, to respond to super-related emergencies, and treat power-created injuries. You would think that would mean going there is covered by the government, as healthcare is supposed to be in this country. And, on paper, yes. However, in reality, that is not the case.” He sat up straight. “You see, the League supplies hospitals with the special medicine and equipment sometimes needed to treat super injuries. But not for free. The hospital must pay for it. Even for use of the database. They must pay the League for it all. The government does not give hospitals the money for this, so many of them have fees. When you go in for a super-related injury, you will get a high bill.” Schneep looked at Jackie. “I did not charge you for that time you got hit by Spitfire Cat’s beam. But only because you did not make it an official appointment. If you had, I would be required to do so. Though I would not, anyway.”

“...oh.” Jackie had no idea what to say for this. “I...didn’t know there was special medicine and equipment for super stuff.”

“Oh, very much so.” Schneep nodded. “Super powers are so diverse, sometimes they require specialized solutions. These are created by the League. I am not sure how, but they are. So they can only be...acquired from the League.”

“Well... I guess that makes sense,” Jackie said. “It probably costs a lot to make stuff like that, so the League has to sell it for a lot.” He looked at Chase. “Wait, did you have to pay fees after your whole thing?”

“Uhhh...I don’t remember,” Chase said.

“You did,” Schneep confirmed.

“But he had amnesia!” Jackie protested.

“He still had his ID. And because of that, they were able to link him to an identity, and a bank account.” Schneep reached over and patted Chase’s hand. “Don’t worry, my friend. I helped cover it.”

“Oh. Thanks.” Chase looked baffled, but grateful anyway. He then shook his head. “Well, this has all been very serious. I just wanted to know if you were Windstorm, Schneep.”

Schneep laughed. “No, no. I could never handle being at the center of action. I never could. Not even when I was a child. Could you be a superhero, Chase? If you had the powers?”

Chase shrugged. “I dunno. I’ve never really thought about it. Jackie?”

“Uh...” Jackie cleared his throat. “I think it’d be cool. I’d like to help people.”

“I see,” Schneep said, eyes locked on Jackie’s face.

Again, Jackie had that suspicion. But Schneep couldn’t possibly know. How would he have figured it out? But he couldn’t shake the feeling that Schneep suspected something. Whether or not that something was right, he had no idea.

Eventually, slowly, the previous conversation was forgotten and they moved on to different topics, as people did when they talked. Stuff like work, and books, and video games. After dinner was finished, Jackie took his plate, cup, and utensils back into the kitchen.

“You don’t need to do that, Jackie,” Schneep called after him.

“No, it’s fine,” Jackie called back. “Is just by the sink fine?”

“Alright. While you’re in there, you can help yourself to anything in the fridge, if you are still full.”

Jackie wasn’t, but he checked the fridge anyway. Nothing seemed appealing, but something did catch his eye. He went back to the living room/dining room with it in his hands. “Hey, nice bottle,” he said, holding it up. “Planning for after-dinner drinks? I thought you said this wasn’t fancy.”

“That was a gift,” Schneep said. He was standing now, piling his own utensils onto his plate.

“Whoa, hey.” Chase grinned. “I wouldn’t mind—”

“Stop.” Schneep pointed at him, almost poking him in the chest. “Do not.”

“I wasn’t—”

“You know the problem. Do not.”

“Uh, I don’t know the problem,” Jackie said.

Chase sighed. “It’s nothing, Schneep is just a—”

“Chase cannot have alcohol,” Schneep interrupted, causing Chase to shoot him a dirty look.

“Oh shit, really?” Jackie asked, concerned. “Why? Is it a medical thing?”

“It’s because of my balance problems,” Chase said reluctantly. “You know how they call being buzzed ‘tipsy’? Well, Schneep is concerned that if I get tipsy, I’ll tip over.”

“Chase, as your doctor, I know you will.” Schneep folded his arms.

“Ah.” Jackie slowly backed into the kitchen, putting the wine bottle onto the counter before walking back out. “Soo...if I was to tell you that he’s bought whiskey before—”

“You fucking snitch!” Chase hissed.

“Chase!” Schneep gasped. “You dumb motherfucker!”

Chase put his head on the dining room table. “This is your fault, Jackie,” he said, voice muffled.

“No, it is your fault! It is entirely your fault! I know we are friends, but I started as your doctor! Friendship now gives no excuse to ignore medical orders in the past!” Schneep scolded.

“I don’t even drink that much of it,” Chase protested weakly. “Like...once a month. And not even that much in that one time. Like, one shot glass. I’m not getting drunk. There’s just... something about the taste that’s familiar.”

“That is no excuse!” Schneep leaned over Chase. “You should at the very least be telling me!”

Jackie went and sat down on the sofa. “I can’t believe these are the people I look like,” he muttered.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Chase asked, turning his head to look at Jackie.

“Nothing, nothing.”

“Oh!” Schneep snapped his fingers. “Jackie. That reminds me. Do you know anyone else who looks like you? Besides us two and Jameson, I mean.”

“Uh...no.” Actually, the answer was ‘yes,’ but Jackie knew that if he said that, the other two would ask follow-up questions. And he wasn’t about to tell them that he immediately thought of Spitfire Cat.

“Ah,” Schneep said. “Strange. I think Jamie and I found our fifth clone last week, then.”

“Really?” Chase asked, interested.

“Yes, he came into Jameson’s shop,” Schneep explained. “Said he was lost, despite living in the city for a long time. I thought he was Jackie, at first. But he was not. I don’t remember his name, it started with...an N, I think.”

“...huh.” Jackie wondered what that was all about. It could be just another strange man who shared a resemblance with the others of the group. Or maybe... “What was he wearing?”

Schneep shrugged. “A jacket. Jeans. Sort of dark colors. I remember he had on gloves, even though it was fairly warm that day.”

“Huh,” Jackie repeated. “Weird.”

Gloves...

Spitfire had good reason to wear gloves even as his secret identity...

No, it couldn’t be. Could it?

===============

JJ usually liked to do repairs during business hours. It gave him something to do during the long stretches of time where nothing was happening in the shop. Which there were a lot of. Business was steady, but it was always slow. Right now, the only customer was a neighbor, an older woman named Madeline. She came in every Friday to look at things, and occasionally buy them.

So JJ had enough time to sew up some broken seams in some cloth dolls and fix the joints on some wooden marionettes. Then, since it still wasn’t busy, he went upstairs to take care of some business, and then came back down. He assumed that nothing would change. And nothing much did. Except that now Madeline was talking with a familiar-looking man. He kept glancing towards the shop’s front door, like he wanted to leave this conversation and was regretting coming inside at all.

Well, the two of them were right by the display where he had to put the repaired dolls, anyway. He picked them up and headed on over, listening in on what Madeline was saying. “—the city had Moonstone as its hero at the time, before she joined the League and got promoted to National Threat Team. But she couldn’t be in multiple places at once! And that night, the police were just swamped. I called as soon as I heard the scream, and it still took them ten minutes to get over there! I timed it! Well, not literally, but you get the point.”

Ah. JJ knew what she was talking about. He stopped walking when he was right next to the pair and coughed.

Madeline and the man turned to look at him. “Oh speak of the devil!” Madeline said cheerfully. The man’s expression was a mix of alarm and embarrassment. “How have you been, Jameson?”

His hands were full, so he couldn’t reply, but he smiled and nodded. Then started putting the cloth dolls on the nearest shelf.

“It’s lovely to see you, as always,” Madeline said. “Well, I’d better get going. I’ll see you next week.”

JJ nodded at her again, and she waved as she turned around to leave, causing the bell by the door to chime. The man looked over at him, frozen into inaction. Most likely by the potential awkwardness of the situation. Jameson gave him a small smile, then said, That was Madeline. She owns the cafe next door. Sorry if she was bothering you.

“You’re sorry? It’s not on you,” the man said, confused. 

What was she talking about? Jameson asked, despite knowing full well what the answer would be.

“Um...I think she was talking about your tragic backstory.” The man’s eyes unconsciously flicked downwards to JJ’s neck, then immediately flicked up again, not wanting to stare.

She must have thought you were a relative or something, JJ said. Anyway, I don’t mind people knowing. I just would’ve preferred to be the one to explain it. He tilted his head. You were in here last week. What was your name again? Did it start with S?

“An S? No, uh, not at all.” The man gave a little laugh. “Um, call me Ned.”

Right, that was it. Sorry, I must have been thinking of someone else. Jameson paused for a moment to unload the last of the cloth dolls, leaving him with a pair of marionettes. You don’t look like a Ned.

“Yeah.” The man nodded. “I’ve been told that. I don’t know what a Ned is supposed to look like. But it doesn’t matter. That’s just...what I’m called.” 

I’m Jameson. Friends call me JJ. Nice to meet you.

“Yeah, I remember your name. Nice to meet you, too.” The man glanced around. “So...this is your store.”

If you see anything you like, and want to see more, I can give you the name of the artist who made it, JJ said Though, some of the older pieces were made by my family members. The clocks, mostly. And I make some things. Like these. He held up the marionettes, which he’d been holding in the crook of his arm while he signed.

The man took a step back. “O-oh. Uh...they’re nice.”

Jameson laughed silently. He walked over to a spot on the wall with some hooks, hanging the marionettes on them by the handles so they dangled from the strings. Not a fan of dolls?

“Most dolls are fine, it’s just, uh...” The man gestured at the marionettes. “Puppets. It’s kind of a new thing for me. These really are nice, just...”

Don’t worry, I understand. They’re not for everyone. JJ made sure that the strings were all free and untangled. Can I help you with anything?

“Oh, uh, no. I just remembered this place and thought I’d check it out.” Again, the man glanced around the shop. “Maybe meet the other people I saw here who sort of looked like me.  Guess I’ve done that. Nice Timekeeper poster.”

Jameson glanced back at it, hanging behind the counter. He felt a lump in his chest. Thank you, he signed simply.

“Are all those other pictures your family?”

JJ nodded. My parents, and such. They’re not around anymore.

The man looked at him. “I’m sorry,” he said gently.

Thank you, Jameson signed again, softer this time. He took a deep breath, and then a step back. Wel, if you need anything, let me know. I’d be happy to help.

“Right. No problem.” The man nodded. “I’ll be honest, I’m not going to buy anything. I don’t carry any cash or cards when I’m not intending to shop, and I don’t have any of those money apps or anything.”

Oh, we don’t take any apps, just cash and card, JJ said. So no worries there. And no worries about not buying anything. Sometimes you just need to look around. You can come back any time.

The man stared at him, then nodded. “Yeah. I’ll probably do that.”

The shop was quiet for the next while, as the man browsed and JJ sat at the counter and read a book. Eventually, though, the bell at the door rang again, and the familiar man was gone.

But Jameson knew he would be back again.