#maybe you can tell (ex: nova)

[youwerenevermeanttofeelalone]

If You Need Me, Dear, I’m the Same as I Was | Damian Wayne

✦ pairing — older!Damian Wayne x female!Chubby Reader

✦ word count — 8.5k

✦ request — may I request Ex Older Damian Wayne x Chubby Reader! Where the reader goes to a charity ball that her friend wanted her to go with since her friend and their family are rich and do this every year. And right when the host of the ball were thanking everyone for coming and stuff they mentioned the top person who donated the most and that being Damian. With Damian going up the stage to make a small speech, his gaze caught the reader. Making him stammer before he continued. I guess somewhere along the lines of him finishing a girl comes up and hugs him or something which send the reader running to the change room (cuz they super fancy lol) and unaware to the reader, Damian came after her. Locking the door behind him and resolving old issue they might have and maybe couldn’t have in the past. Maybe it being Robins leaving to a long mission and him not telling her about that yet. And then making up. It could be them coming out of the dressing room and being under the mistletoe or if you are allowing spicy scenes then that.

✦ warnings — nsfw, exes to lovers, angst, melancholy, hints of jealousy, hints of possessiveness, smut, hand job, cunnilingus, vaginal sex, protected sex, mentions of food, fluff.

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Hearing his name stung. He was the top donor of the night, on behalf of the Wayne family. Damian thanked the host and stood at the podium, scanning the room as he made a speech. Since when did he make speeches?

Your eyes met for a moment. He hesitated, borderline stumbling through his words, but he recovered quickly. He finished his speech with his gaze upward, on the chandelier.

You couldn’t help but follow him with your eyes as he walked down the podium, and immediately wished you hadn’t. A woman threw her arms around his shoulders. He rested a hand on her upper back. You wanted to vomit.

Making your way through the crowd, you followed the path to the changing room. Away from the noise, you heard your elaborate breath just before your ears started ringing.

You took deep breaths. You couldn’t ruin Nova’s perfect job with your makeup for a man who didn’t know what he wanted. Besides, you vowed not to cry over him anymore; the mourning phase was supposed to be over. Clearly.

You stood in front of the full-body, ornate, gold mirror to the right of the vanity. Your reflection assured you that you hadn’t somehow ruined your brand-new velvet dress. Leaning onto the vanity where small ornate mirrors matched, you confirmed your makeup hadn’t moved an inch.

Bringing a hand up to your head, you rearranged your hair a little bit, fiddling with it to fully calm yourself.

“You look stunning.”

Your head whirled to the left upon hearing Damian’s voice. His eyes were on you, but yours were on the closed door behind him.

“What do you want?” The question came out clear, smoothly. You were proud of yourself.

“You.”

How dare he say such a thing months after not fighting for you? On a night he brought someone else as a date to the charity ball he must have known you would attend because Nova’s family always did.

“Hard to believe.”

“I don’t blame you.”

“You are so considerate, aren’t you?”

Damian sighed; gaze unwavering. “This is my attempt at making things right.”

“Five months later.”

“You didn’t want to hear me out before.”

“I don’t think I want to hear you out right now either,” you admitted. You hated the way your voice softened, the fact that he still had some power over the way you felt. “There’s not much you can say that will make it right, Damian. I thought you were smart enough to realize that.”

He stood there for a moment, only gazing at you in silence. You wished he would just turn around and leave, but deep down, you knew it wasn’t his style. Everything that happened, the way the relationship ended, hurt more precisely because you knew him well. He was stubborn, somewhat entitled, and he always got what he wanted one way or another; he wasn’t one for giving up on something at the first hurdle. And yet you hadn’t seen him in five months.

Begging might not have been part of his vocabulary, but you never wanted him to beg. You had wanted him to be honest, to stop hiding things from you. And he couldn’t, he didn’t have it in him to fight for you.

The silence between you stretched, shrinking the room as you stood mere feet away from each other. The chasm between you expanded. You were almost certain he would leave at any moment, perhaps find some sick satisfaction in ruining your night.

Damian’s body twitched forward, as if he were to take a step. He didn’t. Instead, he broke the silence, voice steady, “There’s something I never told you.”

You gazed at him. Fully this time, past the cold demeanor you were trying to feign and past his tense shoulders. “Do I even want to know?”

You needed him to look at you in the eyes and tell you this wouldn’t break your heart all over again.

As if he knew that, and perhaps he did, he added, “It’s not what you are thinking.”

“Okay,” you breathed out. “Talk.”

This time, he stepped forward and walked toward the beige sofa behind the vanity. You watched him through the mirror as he unbuttoned his blazer and sat down. Damian beckoned you to sit with him, patting the empty space beside him.

Despite yourself and all the things you had promised your friends —that you didn’t care anymore, and that you wouldn’t hear him out even if he begged—, you approached. You sat flush against the arm of the camelback sofa, leaving enough space between you. He seemed to take offense yet didn’t dare complain.

“When Alfred told you I was out of the country…” he began, palms flat against his thighs as he looked at you, “he assumed you were aware beforehand. I discussed telling you what I am about to tell you with the family, and they all agreed it would be for the best. My father even suggested it might strengthen our relationship.”

He didn’t let you ask any questions as he continued, “I didn’t have time to tell you. Something came up, I had to leave quickly, and it didn’t occur to me that I wouldn’t be able to contact you once I had taken care of…” he hesitated for a moment, eyes searching your face for any sign of open-mindedness. “It wasn’t supposed to take me a week, and you weren’t supposed to be upset.”

“So you had it all planned? Including how I would feel?” You shook your head in disbelief. He was supposed to make it right, not remind you why you cried for a week straight. “You haven’t even told me why.”

“You know who Batman is.”

You almost laughed at the change of topic. It took guts to derail a conversation he had insisted on starting. “Sure.”

“And Nightwing…”

“Everybody knows we have vigilantes around,” you impatiently reminded him.

He nodded, lifting a hand from his thigh. For a second, as he flexed his fingers, you thought he might place it on your shoulder. His hand stayed in the air, and in any other instance, you would have grabbed it. Damian knew that too. “But no one knows who they are behind the cowl,” he said solemnly.

Your eyes lingered on his hand. “And you do?”

“Yes,” he admitted quietly.

In a way, it made sense. His ancestors basically founded the city, his family probably knew every secret Gotham had ever harbored. Not only that, but Bruce seemed to hold a reverence for Gotham that you had never truly understood but utterly admired.

“That’s cool,” you said, and you meant it. “I just don’t see how—”

Before you could express that vigilantes had nothing to do with your past relationship, Damian blurted, “I’ve been Robin since I met my father.”

“Out of all the things…” His words took a moment to fully register in your brain. You thought you heard him wrong for a split second. “You could be lying right now.”

“Why would I ever lie about this?” he asked. Indignation and hurt laced his voice as he added, “Why would I lie to you?”

“I don’t know.” You turned your head to fully look at him. “It sounds absurd.”

He nodded. He seemed so innocent, looking at you through his long lashes. “I can prove it. I can go as far as to prove where I was that week.”

His words tugged at something inside you, something you liked to pretend wasn’t there anymore. You couldn’t express that, though, you could only stare at him, hoping you would find anything to say. You didn’t.

“I should have told you sooner.”

Yes, he should have. He should have spared you the grief and the countless tears.

And yet you felt like an idiot. How detestable must you have been in his eyes, breaking up with him because he was too busy saving people. “Yes, you should have. I thought…” you trailed off. It wasn’t common for you to not speak your mind around him, to tip-toe around subjects as if he was just any other person. In a whisper, you admitted, “I thought I had done something wrong.”

Damian finally rested his hand on your shoulder, dragging it along your shoulder blades until his arm was around you. “You didn’t do anything wrong, habibti.”

This was cruel. He was so close and so warm. After what you could only describe as an eternal winter that wasn’t even close to being over, after the torturous entirety of what should have been the perfect autumn.

“Were you really going to tell me?”

“I was. And I am not just saying it to appease you.” He knew you so well. Damian drew in a deep breath. His voice became airy, tone lower, “I thought I would never see you again.”

Oh, how much you had missed his voice. “So did I.”

You were supposed to forget about him, to only see him again on TV solely by mistake on a rainy afternoon while visiting your parents.

“You thought? Or were you hoping?”

“I… I don’t know.”

He grumbled.

Shifting to look at him properly, you found yourself at a loss for words. You understood he didn’t want to hear that; you would hate it if it came from him. You just didn’t know if you should apologize for being honest.

“I suppose I would feel the same if the roles were reversed,” he mumbled.

“I wish you had told me,” you admitted in a whisper. It would have saved you many tearful nights and bitter days. And maybe heartbreak as a whole too.

“I was going to.”

“I believe you.”

He cupped your face in his free hand, making you look into his eyes. “Do you?”

“Yes.”

“I have missed you,” he said gently.

“I’ve missed you too.” For a moment, you debated whether to add anything else, but you couldn’t help yourself and elaborated, “It took a lot not to return your calls.”

You hadn’t even dared to block him, pretending you were being the bigger person by simply ignoring his messages and calls, when in reality your heart skipped a beat every single time his name appeared on your screen.

“I wish you had.”

“Would you have told me?”

“Not on the phone.”

You were busy the first few times he called, packing stuff and eventually moving. It had been a good excuse at first, a genuine distraction. Eventually, you had to talk yourself into ignoring his calls, ashamed to admit you wanted him to chase after you, to show that he cared.

In those moments, you had wanted him to feel like you did when he didn’t answer, when you found out he was in another continent because his butler-grandfather figure let it slip when you called in panic.

Now you wondered if Alfred told him how worried you had been, or how quickly you ended the call once his whereabouts were revealed. You cried so much that day. It had already been awful, and you needed Damian. You had wanted nothing more than his soothing voice to tell you everything would be ‘fine’ as he often remarked.

Perhaps you still did.

“I can almost hear you think.”

You huffed half a laugh. He and his need to know everything. “It’s what people do when they are quiet.”

“Is it?” He kinked an eyebrow. “What was I thinking about, then?”

“Knowing you, nothing easy to understand.”

He laughed, shaking his head. You had almost forgotten the melody of that sound. “Wrong.”

“Really?” Your voice carried amusement. It felt like a conversation from simpler times. “Care to share?”

You hated that your eyes zeroed on his lips the moment he started talking, not processing his words; in fact, barely registering he was speaking. You would have embarrassed yourself by only staring if his voice hadn’t once been your favorite sound.

He smiled as he continued speaking. Whatever he was talking about, was as irrelevant to him as it was to you.

His thumb caressed your skin. You hummed, almost like a spoiled cat, and felt yourself lean into his touch before you could realize what you were doing.

“May I kiss you?”

You should have said no, maybe make him work for it a little. But you didn’t want to. His lips were so pink, still so pouty and inviting.

Through a breath intake, you said, “Yes.”

He softly pressed his lips to yours, bringing his arm upward to curl around your neck so he could pull you closer. He kissed you slowly at first, gave you a chance to back out; you could change your mind at any second, it was safe to do so around him. It made you want to kiss him even harder.

Your bottom lip got caught between his pillowy ones, and things clicked like they always had with Damian. You rested your hand on the back of his head, mindful of not ruining his hair.

Damian’s tongue broke through your lips in no time. He removed his arm from your shoulders and snaked it around your middle, bringing his other hand down to your thick waist to guide you into a better position. He hummed on your mouth, kissing you deeper as he held you tight.

You briefly wondered why you had even tried to find somebody else. Not only had they been inadequate at an emotional level, but they couldn’t make you feel like floating with just a kiss like Damian did.

He dragged his lips away from yours, to your jaw first. His hand traveled upward to hold your chin up, and he attached his lips to your neck. You slipped your fingers into his hair, sighing. He smiled against your skin — he had you where he wanted.

In an act of mercy, he didn’t comment on it. He busied himself with covering your neck in kisses. He trailed down, mouth slightly open when it reached the uncovered portion of your cleavage.

You gently pushed him off you. His elaborated breath matched yours. “Not here,” you panted.

“Yeah,” he rasped, “you’re right.”

You stared at each other for a prolonged moment. He kissed you again, briefly, sweetly.

Finding yourself at the vanity once more, you fixed your makeup and re-applied lipstick. Damian stood behind you, hands on your waist, chin on your shoulder.

He ran his palms up and down your velvet gown, reaching your hips before going back up to your waist, and starting over once more.

“What are you doing?”

“Touching you.” His breath tickled your cheek.

“Maybe you should stop.”

“Maybe?” he repeated, incapable of not teasing you.

“Definitely.”

He pressed his body flush to yours, curling an arm around you. The strength of his grip and the weight of his body on your back were oh so familiar.

“Most people must be gone by now,” he said, as if he knew you only needed a little push to be persuaded.

But you couldn’t do that to Nova. “Even worse. What will the few left think when I leave this room with you?”

“That I won tonight. Without competition.”

“Flattery will get you nowhere right now.”

“As long as you don't run away again.”

“Oh, my.” You didn’t think he would notice; much less assume you had run away. “And what will your date think?”

“Emiko isn't my date. Only a friend.” His lips grazed your neck. “She’s Wally’s girlfriend. Remember him?”

You hummed. You remembered sweet and funny Wally. “Well, my date might be looking for me.”

He tensed, taking handfuls of you. “Don't call her that.”

“Why not?”

“You know the implication.” The pout was evident in his voice.

You couldn’t stop yourself from laughing. Damian didn't find it as amusing as you did.

“Go tell her I'm taking you home.”

You hesitated, wondering if Nova would be angry at you for this. Yet, it was what you wanted, so you decided to face the music either way.

You found your dear friend outside the changing room, sat on a leather loveseat —beige and with gold accents, as everything in the venue was— with Damian's friend. They both stared at you intently.

Damian squeezed your plush hip. “I’ll get your jacket.”

Nova pursed her lips. Emiko lifted both eyebrows. You inhaled, about to explain yourself, when Nova interrupted you, “I knew it would happen sooner or later.”

You felt bad that it had been so obvious to everybody but yourself, that your best friend had to put up with your crying and complaining, with your meaningless vows, just for you to fold so easily.

“As long as you're happy… I’m cool with it,” she assured you.

Emiko hadn't taken her eyes off you, as if analyzing you. Her blueish hair was down, contrary to the intricate updo she had donned when Damian made his speech.

“Everyone knew you would give in,” Nova admitted.

“That doesn't make me feel any better.”

“But it’ll make everybody else feel better,” Emiko said in almost an assuring tone. Her voice was sharp, but not devoid of warmth. “He’ll finally shut up about you and let us live.”

Nova giggled and gave you a look that told you it would be the same for your friend group. Somewhat unfair when you didn’t talk that much about him anymore, only when you were in a bad mood, but you understood her point of view.

Damian already had his coat on as he re-joined you, holding your jacket so you would slip your arms in. You did so, avoiding Nova’s and Emiko’s eyes.

“Ready to leave?” he asked.

You nodded. “But Emiko…”

“She can get home by herself,” he said softly, in more of a show of trust in his friend than in attempts to avoid taking her anywhere.

“I can,” Emiko said firmly, “don’t worry about me.”

“She can leave with me,” Nova suggested. “Night’s still young.”

“Don’t get yourselves into too much trouble,” Damian warned. You didn’t know if he was joking or worried. Maybe both.

Nova glared at him jokingly. “You get her home safely, or I swear to God…”

“Yeah, I’ll kick your a—"

“I get it!” Damian interrupted Emiko, then told her, “And you are supposed to be on my side.”

Emiko rolled her eyes. “Just go.”

Damian rested his hand on your lower back, gently nudging you toward the exit. Cold air hit your face, as if you needed any reminder of just how long winter was running. He fully wrapped his arm around you, physically shielding you from the cold.

Once in his car, he did a double take to make sure you had your seatbelt on and handed you his phone in case you wanted to play some music. Just like he always had done.

Those were the things you missed the most about him, the way he took care of you as if out of instinct, how easily he made you part of his life and imprinted every single aspect of yours. You second-guessed everything when you broke up with him, convinced yourself not a single thing about your relationship had been real.

It now sounded unfair, not only because you knew the truth, but mostly because you had been friends once. Or as close to friends as two people with romantic tension could come to be.

Damian used to take you home when you still lived with your parents, and your only relation to him was a friendship held together by his refusal to get romantically involved with anyone and your hesitance to say anything in case it would make you look uncool.

Your parents loved him. Your mom told you the breakup could only have been your fault, blaming your career choice and the way you dressed. According to your father, you scared Damian off with your eagerness to eat the world, so much so that he claimed you should slow down so it wouldn't happen again with somebody else.

Although you didn't pay their words any mind, you couldn't shake the feeling that they were more a reflection of how they saw their own relationship. They would probably divorce soon or simply grow to hate each other. They didn’t seem to have much in common apart from having raised you and your sister.

Your sister agreed they weren’t good for each other anymore, but the fallout wouldn’t touch her. She moved to Colorado because of her partner, and her love for them was stronger than her hatred of the dry climate.

"I moved," you blurted out, suddenly scared he would take the old way, the short one, the one that led to a house that was never a home.

"I heard." A couple seconds later, he clarified, "I saw the photos on social media. The ones Melissa posted."

You held a decorating get-together when you moved. Friends had come and gone throughout the day, helping with different things. You ended up changing most of those things eventually, but you weren’t alone that day, and that was all that mattered.

Neither of you said it, but both of you knew it should have been Damian hanging artwork in your living room and talking you out of hot pink wallpaper for the bedroom.

You gave him the address, and when he pulled into the parking area designated for visitors, you expected him to wish you a good night. It didn't make sense, you knew his intentions, and Damian wasn't the type to simply drop you off. Still, you braced yourself for a goodbye that didn't come. Not in the elevator, not in the middle of the hallway, not as you reached apartment 37.

His breath was on your neck, your hand in his. The cold light in the hallway didn’t have time to bother you, and the carpet-less porcelain floor was a mere afterthought as Damian stood flush to your side while you unlocked the door.

His strong cologne filled the living room, masking the air freshener you took so long to pick at the grocery store.

Damian looked around, taking note of the lack of photos as decoration and the empty space near the window. It didn't take him long to set his eyes on you. Extending an arm, you offered to take his coat.

The empty closet welcomed the coat in, and if anybody asked you, it looked full now. You hated thinking such things, hated that he was what your life had been missing. But things clicked, living by yourself wouldn't be so lonely if he stayed the night from time to time, going out with friends would be more fun if you could call him drunk to tell him you love him without worrying that you'd sound pathetic, and the boring job you accepted to shut your parents up would be oh so bearable if you knew you would get to see him at the end of the day even if it was just through a video call.

You grabbed Damian by the face and kissed him, jacket halfway down your arms. His hands immediately settled on your waist; he used his grip as leverage to lean in, slotting his nose against yours.

Contrary to his eagerness from earlier, he kissed you tenderly. Everything slowed down — well, everything but your heartbeat.

You didn't think you would ever get to kiss him again. You had mourned this, his warmth, the sighs he let out every time you played with the short hairs on his nape… being this intimate with him.

“I missed you,” he said against your lips. You didn't get to tell him, again, that you had missed him too; he kissed you harder, squeezing your pliant body as a reminder that he could, that you were there.

Your arms were tight around his neck. It was such a familiar kind of kiss —one of those you would share in your childhood bedroom while your parents were out, or in the tiny kitchen of the apartment you used to share with the roommate you had a fallout with in college—, not too heated, but not chaste enough to be considered innocent.

“Wanna move to the couch?” you asked.

He hummed, slowly moving away from you. Damian sat on the blue couch as if he had done so many times before, watching you take your jacket off and hang it with his coat. You walked toward him, debating whether you should take your heels off already or not.

His hands reached over for you, grabbing you by the hips and pulling you between his legs. You shook your head, trying not to laugh. Lifting his eyebrows, he asked, “What?”

“Nothing.” You ran your fingers along the silky lapels of his suit jacket. “You’re as forward as ever.”

“And you look incredible tonight.”

“It’s a very nice dress.”

“I do have an inclination for the model.”

You let out a tiny laugh, face warm — you were more flattered than abashed, and either way, Damian got the satisfaction of so quickly finding out not much had changed.

Kissing him again, before he could gloat about his —and only his— ability to make you feel special, you felt him slowly trace your sides up and down. His lips moved with yours in sync. You missed kissing him like this, like the world would end if you stopped for whatever reason.

There were many things you would have liked to convey in the kiss. None of them would come close to simply kissing him, though — there would, hopefully, be time to talk things out. You slipped your hands between his suit jacket and his shirt, smoothing the shirt with your palms as Damian slipped his tongue past your lips.

You removed his suit jacket; sure he wouldn't care if it got a crease or two. He was warm, even though you just now realized you hadn’t adjusted the thermostat. Not that you needed to make the room warmer, his hands all over you were enough.

Whichever spell he cast to make the apartment his own by simply stepping inside only intensified as you moved to your bedroom. Lust overpowered his curiosity, and instead of looking around, perhaps making a comment about the floral bedding, he coaxed you onto the bed.

You pulled him on top of you, kissing him once more. Damian didn’t deny you, but his hands didn’t stay put. He couldn’t help but seek some kind of control, touch heavier and rougher as he explored your body. His warm mouth almost swallowed yours, reminding you exactly why you hadn’t been able to replace him.

Softly, you pushed him off, chest heaving up and down as you breathlessly explained, “It’s getting toasty in here.”

Damian dazedly nodded.

You sat up, prompting him to crawl backward and stand up. He insisted on being the one to take your dress off, careful not to ruin it in his eagerness.

With the velvet garment aside, he made a motion to push you back onto the bed, but you reached over to grab the collar of his shirt before he could.

He kept his hands busy by tracing your figure, slowly, eyes up to watch your face as you unbuttoned his shirt.

A scar on his shoulder caught your eye, darker than his skin. It ran from the top of his shoulder to his pec, fading out mere millimeters above his nipple.

His touch faltered as you stared. You opened your mouth, stuttering as you found yourself torn between assuring him there was nothing wrong with it and the desire to ask what had happened.

“Later,” he said, withdrawing his hands from your body so he could fully discard the shirt.

You found more scars as your hands and eyes wandered, and now his preference for semi-clothed sex and dimmed lights made sense.

“Will you tell me about these too?” you dared to ask softly.

He didn’t hesitate to say, “Yes.” He even sounded relieved.

His touch resumed, and soon, the kissing did too. You dragged your hands down his torso where you found tiny scars and fading marks; you followed the pattern of some with the tips of your fingers, just by feel as you kissed.

Damian’s hand traveled up to your chest. He traced the decorative lace of your strapless bra and looked up at you. Something muddied his gaze, but he didn’t utter a single word. He pulled your bra down, freeing your breasts from the black cloth, and settled his hands on them.

You played with the waistband of his trousers, hooking your fingers In one of the loops holding his belt. The air got knocked out of you as Damian’s hot mouth made contact with your breast, derailing your attempts at teasing.

He sucked on your breasts, taking his time with each one, until he took one of your nipples into his mouth. You didn’t get to remind him not to leave marks, and you only had half a mind to thank the universe that winter was in full swing, and you had no reason to show that much skin in general.

Gripping his thigh, you shifted so you could reach properly without pushing him off you. But you still struggled to unbuckle his belt.

“Do you need help?” he asked, adopting a teasing tone.

“You think so?”

Damian huffed a small laugh, then went back to peppering kisses all over your breasts for a moment, just to see your impatient reaction. When you purposefully whined in frustration, he suppressed a smile and stood at the end of your bed to unbuckle his belt and undo his pants.

As he kneeled back on the bed, coming up briefly to kiss your lips once more, he dropped his hands onto your breasts and gently groped them while he peppered kisses along your jaw and down your neck.

Reaching over for his thighs, you found yourself frustrated as you struggled to focus on what you wanted because of his touch and kisses. If he knew he was making things harder for you, and therefore for himself, by not letting you focus on touching him, he didn’t have it in him to complain.

You twisted your body on the bed, trying to find a better angle. Damian stopped for a moment at that, allowing you room to get more comfortable.

Your gazes crossed as you grabbed a pillow to prop your head up. He gazed at you with such intensity that you had to fight a shiver as his blown-wide pupils followed your movements.

Damian held your gaze as your hands found their way to his thighs, fingers brushing the hem of his briefs. It wasn’t your intention to tease him now, or to do anything other than touch him for that matter.

“Can I?” you asked.

He nodded. “You can do whatever you want.”

Your pulse quickened at his words, blood pumping and rushing as you processed the implications of what he said. Hooking your fingers into the waistband of his briefs, you pushed them as further down as they would go.

Tracing the insides of his thighs, you fought the urge to move too quickly. His eyes never left yours, not as your fingers ghosted the base of his cock, and definitely not when you dared run your thumb along the head.

You gently wrapped your hand around his shaft, grip loose and fingers barely moving as you felt the weight and girth in your grasp. You started stroking him slowly, not once looking away from him. In some ways, it felt like it was the first time you were truly intimate, with the lights on, skin against skin.

He leaned into you, subtly driving his hips forward to get more contact. You tightened your grip around his shaft at that, still stroking him slowly but more firmly now.

His hands trailed down to your torso, stopping momentarily to tenderly pinch your belly. You let out a breathy laugh, prompting him to squeeze you more firmly.

“Keep it slow,” he gently instructed whilst he began to pull down your tights. “I’m going to get you ready.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary,” you admitted, voice coming out thick.

He pulled down your tights, moving away from your touch to tug on them and slip them off your feet. Throwing the tights onto the floor, Damian kneeled beside you on the bed, resting his hands on your thick thighs, squeezing as much of their flesh as his hands could take.

Your strokes on his cock resumed while he kneaded at your hips. He discarded your panties too. His eyes raked up and down your body, drinking you in as his hands rested on your hips for a moment, fingers digging into different spots on your lower belly, hips, and thighs, hands traveling lower.

He sighed softly as your hand moved a little faster. His own fingers reached your slit, parting your lips and gathering the slick evidence of your arousal. He hummed to himself as his fingers caressed every crevice of your pussy, as if he had never touched you before.

Damian didn’t comment on the fact that you had been right and getting you wet wasn’t needed, and instead pushed your legs further apart with his forearm, fingers still roaming your folds. He looked down, almost entranced, index grazing your clit.

Your breath hitched, your fist closing tighter around his cock by mere reflex. He let out a groan, dragging his fingers down to tease your entrance as you slowly pumped his cock in your fist.

His eyes didn’t leave your pussy as his middle finger entered you slowly, gently exploring, caressing, with no intentions to truly finger you.

Damian used his thumb to trace your inner labia, careful not to approach your clit. He looked almost relaxed, sighing under your touch as your fist massaged his cock, keeping it hard as it started to throb.

And yet he moved away from your grasp.

You watched as he kneeled on the soft rug that framed your bed. He just followed the movement of his fingers with his eyes for a couple seconds, making you sigh partly in arousal and mostly in utter desperation.

He withdrew his hand and leaned forward to lick a long stripe through your folds, bringing his hands to rest on your thighs and keep you from closing your legs. Your breath got caught in your throat, stuttering between a moan and a gasp.

You wanted to remind him that he didn’t have to eat you out, or finger you, that you were more than ready for him to take you. But you didn’t dare, not when doing so would entail admitting out loud that you had yearned for this, that you were perhaps a little desperate to have him inside you again.

Damian moaned as his tongue traced your folds in the same way his fingers had, teasing your clit with only the tip of his tongue until he himself grew impatient and started sucking on it.

“Slow down or I’m gonna—"

He interrupted you by grazing your clit with his teeth, extracting a moan from deep within you. Lifting his head so you could hear him, he explained, “I don’t have condoms on me.”

“There are some on the nightstand if you want.”

His grip on the flesh of your thighs tightened as he rose, staring at you with dark and sharp eyes. He made no other comment, no gesture, as his hands left your thighs and he moved toward the nightstand to open the drawer.

He took the open box of condoms out and dropped it next to your reading lamp once he had taken a foil packet out.

You watched as he tore the foil with his teeth, eyes following the path of his hands as he grasped his cock with one hand and unraveled the condom down his length with the other.

Damian kneeled between your legs. “What do you want?”

“You,” you answered simply. It was obvious.

“Be more specific,” he commanded.

You didn’t know where it was coming from, what made him switch to being more dominant. It was a side of him you had only seen glimpses of, but you weren’t about to complain. At all.

“I want you inside me, Damian.”

One of those, you didn’t know which one, seemed to be the magic word.

He pushed into you, looking up at your face for signs of discomfort. Slowly, he pushed his hips forward, giving you time to adjust to every inch. Once he was fully seated inside you, he came up to hover over you with his forearms at each side of your head.

“Ready?”

“Yes.” You sounded a little too eager for your liking.

He drove his hips backward, then forward, tentative for the first few thrusts. You tried to breathe through your nose, much like he was doing, but you had never learned to control your breathing nor your eagerness.

“I missed this.” His voice came out broken, strained, as he found a suitable rhythm for his thrusts.

“Uh-huh,” you hummed in agreement, eyes lidding closed as pleasure overcame you.

“Look at me, angel.”

He rested his hand on your throat, not applying any pressure nor closing around it at all, merely a reminder that you were to look up at him. This was the closest you would ever come to getting choked by him, you knew it very well, and you reveled in it, in the claim he was staking on you.

Looking at him was harder than it sounded. You just wanted to close your eyes and get lost into him, how well he filled you up, the pleasant stretch of his cock as he pressed into you. Damian stayed still, bringing his hand up to caress your face, encouraging you.

Your eyes finally focused on his handsome face, on his furrowed brow as he concentrated in fucking you deeper. His eyes bore into yours and his thrusts became harsher, quicker, making you gasp and whine.

He pushed himself up, slowing down as he grabbed at your hips. “Don’t close your eyes,” he commanded, “keep looking at me.”

You nodded, not able to speak as the rocking of his hips picked up pace once more. He brought you closer, prompting you to open your legs even more as your ass lifted off the bed. Damian ground against you as he thrust into you, filling your bedroom with the sound of skin against skin, of his groans and your whimpers as each thrust made you clench tighter around his cock, as the lewd sounds of your growing wetness mingled with everything else.

He continued with that pace, kept your eyes locked as a thin layer of sweat coated his unblemished face. His grip on your hips, vice-like, as if holding onto you was the only thing tethering him to Earth, didn’t falter for anything. But he didn’t have everything under control; his jaw was clenched, eyes wild as they stared into yours. Sounds of pleasure inevitably escaped him, groans and sighs — he had never been one for dirty talk, and in all honesty, the sight before you was enough to get you closer and closer.

One of his hands let go of your hip, traveling inward to your mound. He touched you gently, in contrast to his thrusts, until his fingers grazed your engorged clit. You moaned, and he smiled, making a sound through his nose. Slowly, Damian started to rub your clit, focused on your pleasure in an almost sobering way.

His eyes left yours for a moment, dropping to your form as he pleasured you, watching the gentle bounce of your breasts and the jiggle of your soft curves.

“Don’t stop,” you told him, almost scared he would somehow change his mind.

He didn’t stop, but for a moment, his touch became gentler. The pressure of his fingers against your clit bordered on reverential and the pointed thrust of his hips, earlier methodical, turned into another way of caressing you.

It wasn’t just sex, and you briefly wondered if he felt like this was the first time too, if in some way, he wanted it to be special. You didn’t dare to ask, and he didn’t let you either, leaning his body forward as he watched, as he touched, as he fucked you.

“Like that?” His voice, strained and deep, gave you goosebumps.

You hummed, knowing you would blurt something silly if you opened your mouth. He seemed to know, perhaps he even knew what you would say if you let yourself use your words. Once again, he had mercy on you and instead of commenting on it, on letting it taint the moment, he focused on giving you pleasure, on getting himself closer until his cock pulsated against your tightening muscles, until your gazes found each other out of instinct as your stomachs turned into knots.

He came first, stilling for a moment as he dropped his forehead onto your chest, fingers limp against your clit. He gasped, a shudder ran through him, and he briefly closed his eyes. When he opened them and looked up at you, chin resting on the valley of your breasts, he resumed rubbing your clit, watching your reactions intently, trying to gauge if he should do anything differently.

You found it in yourself to grind against his fingers, making him hiss. His softening cock, still inside you, throbbed at the movement. He pulled out and removed the condom, tying it up before delving into your pussy without warning.

His lips captured your clit, hands coming up to grope your breasts and play with your nipples as he ran his tongue through your folds, drinking you up instead of tasting you. You clenched around nothing, so close already that you grabbed his head and ground against his pretty face, doing your best not to clamp your legs shut as to not asphyxiate him.

Damian sucked on your clit, flickering his tongue against it every time you ground onto his mouth. He didn’t stop until you came, not when your body tensed up, not even when your whimpers turned into moans as your legs started trembling.

His mouth stayed there, attached to your clit, for as long as you came and then some. He ran his tongue through your folds to clean you up, then left a trail of kisses all over your labia.

You breathlessly looked at him as he laid on his side next to you, hands lingering on your chest.

He leaned in and kissed you. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” you sighed, still catching your breath.

You turned on your side to fully face him. His hand moved up to rest tenderly on your neck, giving you enough space to breathe. You couldn’t help but give him a small smile.

“I’m gonna clean up, okay?” you said gently, trying to somehow assure him you weren’t kicking him out.

He nodded, watching your every move as you rolled on the bed to sit up.

By the time you were done cleaning yourself up and had slipped one of the pairs of cotton panties you kept in the bathroom, Damian had already picked up the scattered clothes off the floor. He stood at the foot of your bed, briefs back on, as he typed something on his phone.

Feeling your presence, he locked his phone and dropped it onto the bed. “I brought you a glass of water,” he said, pointing at a glass on the bedside table.

You walked toward a dresser and pulled out a t-shirt. “Thank you.”

He sat on the bed, watching you put the t-shirt on. As you sipped on the glass of water, he leaned back, resting his weight on his arms.

Your eyes fell on his chest, once again on the long dark scar. You set the glass back down onto the bedside table and nodded upward. “Did it hurt?”

Damian blinked rapidly, then nodded. “It did.”

Frowning, you reached over, caressing the portion of the scar on his shoulder. You were at a loss for words. What does one say when the person they love admits having been in pain? And what does one do when the evidence of said pain is so tantalizingly fascinating?

“Does it bother you?” he asked quietly.

“The scar?”

“That I might get hurt at any given moment,” he clarified.

Your eyes searched for his at that. What did he want to hear? And what were you willing to put up with for him? “I find it worrying,” you said apprehensively. “It shouldn’t be your responsibility.”

“But it is.”

“But it is,” you echoed, somewhat resigned. There was no way you would change his mind, and a part of you didn’t want to. This was the real Damian you were seeing, perhaps for the first time in your life.

“Can you deal with that?” His voice carried genuine curiosity. And something more, something vulnerable and rooted deep. “If we…”

You huffed a laugh, not trying to make fun of him of course, but almost incredulous that Damian from all people would doubt himself like this. “If we get back together?” you finished his sentence.

He nodded. “I want you,” he said, as forward and direct as ever, “but I cannot abandon that part of my life for you.”

“I’m not asking you to.”

He stared at you, analyzing you, as if seeing through you. Straightening up, he reached over to grab your hand. “I know. But you might later.”

Even though he knew better than you for the simple reason that he wasn’t new to this, you frowned, almost pouting. Your curiosity got the best of you, and you asked, “What makes you say that?”

“I’ve seen it happen.”

“Well, I wasn’t there.”

Intertwining his fingers with yours, he pleaded, “Don’t get defensive.”

You squeezed his fingers. “All I’m trying to say is that it’s unfair to assume things about me when the parts that might affect me didn’t bother me before.” Perhaps you were getting a little defensive, but you had never done well compared to other people, much less to people you didn’t know. “I’m not saying it was easy,” you added, “but I dealt with it when I didn’t know why you disappeared, or why you didn’t answer my calls, or why you cancelled plans almost every time.”

His gaze softened. “You thought it was your fault.”

“Yeah,” you mumbled, somewhat ashamed now that you knew the full truth. “It’s nice to know I was wrong, I guess.”

He huffed. “You guess.”

“Well it’s not nice to be wrong, but in this case… not that bad.” A sudden shiver ran through you. “I’ll adjust the thermostat. Do you want some tea?”

Damian nodded, reaching over for his button-up.

You paused. “If you want something warmer, there are sweatshirts in the closet.”

He dropped his shirt and in two strides reached your closet. You let him be as you padded your way to the thermostat.

With the temperature adjusted and the kettle on, you came back into your room in search of some socks. Damian was laying on your bed, wearing a black sweatshirt too big for him, as he looked up at the ceiling.

Sitting on the bed, you slipped the fuzzy socks on and asked, “Tired?”

“Thinking.”

“Wanna share with the class?”

He rested his hand on your bare thigh, fingers running circles over your skin. “I never considered you might have assumed it was your fault, or that I wasn’t as invested as you, or…” Damian trailed off, not daring to finish his sentence.

“I guess you were just focused on your stuff.” You leaned over to look at him better. “It doesn’t matter anymore, Damian.”

He met your eyes. “It does to me.”

Grabbing his hand, you squeezed his fingers. “Come, let’s have some tea. Maybe a snack.”

He sighed. “Fine.” Shimmying closer to the edge of the bed, he waited for you to stand up before doing the same.

“Want a pair of fuzzy socks?” Before he could answer your question, you handed the socks to him and dropped his hand.

He was quick to put the socks on. “These feel nice,” he said as he stood.

“Right?” You grabbed his fingers and led him into the living area. “I found them by mistake looking for a sweater.”

“Did you find the sweater?”

You made a face and shook your head. “Too small for me.”

As the tea steeped, you went through your pantry and pulled out some snacks you found. Damian read the ingredients in each package.

“I never thought I would see the day you’d buy oatmeal cookies.”

You put the packages he had discarded back in place. “I’m trying to eat more fiber. And failing.”

“Odd strategy to get your fiber from cookies,” he lightheartedly mocked you, opening the package and taking a whiff of the cookies.

You playfully glared at him, but he was too busy pulling cookies out to see you.

“There’s a gala I have to attend in two weeks.” His tone was casual as he brought a cookie close to his mouth.

“Are you making another speech?”

He lowered his hand, along with the cookie, for a moment. He then gave you a confident smile. “Only if I can show you off throughout the evening first.”

You tilted your head, studying him. A part of you wanted to make a sardonic comment, maybe tease him a little bit, but the flutter in your stomach didn’t allow you to be anything but earnest. “Don’t you think it’s too soon?”

“I see no point in waiting.”

“Not even a little bit?” you pressed. When he lifted his eyebrows at your question, you hastily added, “I mean, what if things go wrong like two days later?”

“Nothing will go wrong.” He took a bite off the cookie, watching you, as if waiting for you to disagree.

“If you’re so sure…” You took a sip of tea, letting the hot liquid linger in your mouth before swallowing. Putting the mug down, you added, “I need to know the dress code, though, I donated most of my fancy stuff.”

“It’s black tie,” he answered simply, eyes on you even as he took a gulp of tea. “Why don’t we go shopping this week?”

You could only stare at him. Your hesitance was irrational, you knew as much, but you were more scared than you were willing to admit.

“Shopping,” you repeated, trying to fill the silence. “Yeah, sounds good.”

Damian put his mug down onto the counter and reached for you, resting his hands on your shoulders, thumbs grazing the base of your neck. Leaning in, he pressed his forehead against yours.

You could see in his eyes that he wanted to say something. Words seemed to fail. He inhaled deeply. Slowly, your hands came up to rest on his waist. Damian closed his eyes, grip tightening on your shoulders until he decided it was better to wrap his arms around you.

Nothing would go wrong.

[cherrywriterrr]

psych 203 eight

college!rafe x pinkhaired!oc

warnings: 18+ mdni, strong language, suggestive themes, mentions of sex, chaotic best friend energy, sibling awkwardness, post-hookup tension, fluff, jealousy, hints of possessiveness, slight angst, pillow talk aftermath, emotionally confusing behavior, more bickering, casual hookup dynamic with unresolved feelings

seven eight nine

“you didn’t have to throw him out,” nova muttered, arms crossed over her bare chest, one of sarah’s oversized hoodies barely hanging off her shoulders.

sarah stood in the doorway, clutching her iced coffee like it was her emotional support. “oh, i absolutely did. nova. you were literally cuddling. cuddling with my brother. naked. on my bed.”

nova rolled her eyes. “we weren’t naked—“

“you were naked,” sarah cut her off flatly. “his shirt was on the lamp.”

nova glanced toward the lamp and winced. “…that’s not proof.”

“and my blanket was on the floor!” sarah groaned, dramatically flopping onto the desk chair like her soul had just left her body. “do you know how traumatic that is? i came in thinking you’d be watching some dumb rom-com, maybe crying about your ex or something normal. not—not whatever that was!”

nova huffed, brushing her messy hair out of her face. “okay, first of all? we are not serious. and second of all? you didn’t need to walk in like the fucking kool-aid man and throw him out.”

sarah gasped. “nova! he’s my brother! you and rafe were looking at each other like you were one blink away from round two.”

nova gave her a flat look. “…we might’ve been.”

“gross,” sarah gagged, covering her ears. “do not say that. do not ever say that again. i can’t believe this. i trusted you.”

“oh come on,” nova laughed, tossing a pillow at her. “you trusted me with your trauma and birth control schedules, but not with your hot older brother?”

“exactly!” sarah threw the pillow right back. “and now i have to bleach my eyeballs.”

nova just grinned, falling back onto the bed, tugging the blanket back over her legs. “you’re being dramatic.”

sarah sipped her coffee like it was her last hope. “i’m not. are you sure you’re not catching feelings? because that whole ‘cuddling and forehead kissing’ situation didn’t scream ‘casual.’”

nova’s smile faltered for a second, but only for a second. she masked it with a scoff. “no feelings, i swear. i literally told him we’re not a couple. he knows the deal.”

sarah raised an eyebrow. “uh-huh. and what did he say?”

nova hesitated. “…he said he thought we could go on a date or some shit.”

“oh my god.”

“but i shut that down,” nova said quickly, waving her hand. “i told him it’s just fucking. casual. secret. exclusive-ish—like, no layla.”

sarah blinked. “…exclusive-ish?”

“you know,” nova shrugged, “like he can fuck whoever he wants, just not that bitch.”

sarah stared. “nova.”

“what?”

“you’re in so deep.”

nova tossed another pillow at her. “shut up.”

sarah caught it midair, smirking. “so when’s round two?”

“probably tonight,” nova said without missing a beat.

“i hate you.”

“you love me.”

“unfortunately.”

and through all the chaos, neither of them noticed the unread text from rafe sitting quietly on nova’s phone screen:

“u left ur necklace here. wanna come get it. or should i bring it over. also—i want round two. no interruptions.”

nova didn’t see it yet.

but she would. and round two?

yeah, it was coming. with a hell of a lot more than either of them expected.

“please, please, please,” nova begged, hands clasped dramatically as she leaned forward off the bed. “don’t tell anyone. swear on your overpriced hair serum.”

sarah squinted at her. “…the one from sephora?”

“yes.”

“damn,” sarah said, sighing, “okay. fine. you know i won’t.”

nova dropped back onto the mattress with relief. “thank you. you’re my favorite bitch.”

sarah stayed quiet for a moment, spinning slowly in her desk chair. “but nova…”

“oh god.” nova groaned into a pillow. “don’t ruin this for me. i can hear it coming.”

“i’m serious.”

nova lifted her head just enough to see sarah’s face—and yep, there it was. the concerned sister energy. the one that always came before a hard truth. her stomach twisted a little.

“i’m not gonna tell anyone,” sarah said softly, “but i don’t want you to get hurt. or… you to hurt him.”

nova blinked.

“i know how you are,” sarah continued, sipping her coffee like it’d help soften the blow. “you’re all tough and whatever but you feel shit so deep, nova. you say you don’t catch feelings but when you do? it wrecks you.”

nova stared at the ceiling, jaw clenched.

“and he’s…” sarah trailed off, biting her lip. “he’s rafe. you know how messy he can be. but he’s also my brother. and lately? i’ve seen him trying. like, really trying. and you’re probably the first person in a long time that he actually wanted to date.”

nova turned her head slowly. “…you’re saying this like we’re soulmates.”

“i’m saying this like i care about both of you,” sarah corrected, voice low but firm. “and this whole sneaky, secret hookup thing? it’s fine until it’s not. and when it blows up—because it will—i just… i don’t want you both to end up hating each other.”

nova didn’t respond. she just stared, fingers curling into the blanket.

“you don’t have to promise anything,” sarah added, standing from the chair, “just… think about it, okay?”

nova nodded once, almost imperceptibly. “i will.”

“good.” sarah leaned down, pressing a kiss to nova’s temple. “i’ll see you after class.”

nova waited until the door shut behind her.

then she rolled onto her back again, pulled her phone into her hands, and stared at the unread message from rafe.

nova chewed her lip.

no one was supposed to get hurt. but her heart?

it was already on the table.

the thing was—nova did call herself a slut. all the time. loud and proud.

“whore rights,” she’d say in class after casually flirting with the barista and the professor in the same breath.

“slut power,” she’d whisper when she left someone’s dorm at 3am with lipstick smudged and no regrets.

“queen of hoetry,” she’d declare when her film photos turned out beautifully raw and aching, like love notes to strangers she barely knew.

but it wasn’t always just a joke.

not when she sat alone in the bathtub at night with her knees to her chest wondering why she couldn’t just not care about people.

why it always hit so fucking deep.

why one kiss, one smirk, one look could make her stomach twist into hopeful knots she’d never admit to anyone—not even sarah.

because for someone so loud, nova hart loved to suffer in silence.

she fell too fast, too hard. every time.

a stranger held her gaze for three seconds too long? she’d start wondering what their apartment looked like. what their cologne smelled like on bedsheets. if they’d remember her birthday without needing the instagram reminder.

it was embarrassing. it was dangerous.

so she protected herself the only way she knew how.

she became the one who left first.

the one who said, it’s just sex, don’t get clingy.

the one who laughed when her heart cracked open like a damn glass bottle and said, “whatever. he was mid anyway.”

because deep down? no one had ever stayed.

her dad “left” emotionally before she was old enough to even spell the word “abandonment.”

and even after all the therapy and the jokes and the carefully curated chaos, her daddy issues still called shotgun in every situationship she entertained.

and rafe fucking cameron? he was a walking red flag.

a man with his own scars.

and the worst possible person to give a piece of her heart to.

but he made her feel. wanted.

like she wasn’t just a punchline with pink hair and a sharp mouth.

and that terrified her more than anything else.

so she rolled her eyes, picked up her phone again, and typed.

nova: just bring the necklace, i’m lazy

nova: and round two depends. are you gonna cry again if i call you pinkie pie

rafe: no, but i might shut you up with my mouth again

nova: promises promises

she smiled at the screen, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

because jokes were easy. and feelings were not.

and falling in love was the most dangerous thing nova hart had ever been good at.

there was a knock at the door.

nova didn’t bother checking who it was.

only one person knocked like that, lazy, like the door owed him a favor. she pulled it open and—there he was.

black hoodie. gray sweatpants. hair still damp from a shower.

holding a tiny bag between his fingers.

“brought the necklace,” he said, stepping inside like he owned the place.

like they hadn’t just been naked and gasping against each other.

nova raised a brow. “only one? where’s my crown and my daily morning kiss?”

he leaned in. slow. intentional “i can take care of that second part.”

and he kissed her.

soft. warm. dangerous. the kind of kiss that lingered. not just physically, but somewhere beneath her ribs.

and nova—nova fucking froze.

only for a second.

only long enough for the panic to flash behind her eyes before she smiled, clapped her hands dramatically, and said— “congrats. you’ve officially made out with a slut in her pajamas. bucket list item, huh?”

rafe didn’t laugh.

he just looked at her. eyes narrowed slightly, studying her like he was starting to see through the glitter, the noise, the walls she built with sarcasm and red lipstick.

“why do you do that?” he asked.

“do what?” she blinked.

“act like this doesn’t mean anything.”

nova opened her mouth—closed it—shrugged. “maybe because it doesn’t.”

he tilted his head. “so if i said i wanted us to be exclusive, what would you say?”

her heart dropped into her stomach. then bounced.

then shattered and reformed itself all in the span of three seconds.

“i’d say it’s okay, rafe. really. i don’t mind if you see other women.”

she said it lightly, like a joke. like she didn’t care.

like her chest wasn’t aching already.

rafe stepped closer. “but i don’t want to.”

his voice was quiet. honest. “and i don’t think i want you seeing other guys either.”

nova’s eyes flickered up. fast. unsure.

he went on, slow and careful.

“i wanna maybe… get to know you. for real. we have a whole semester together.”

she hated how that sentence made her breath catch.

how her throat tightened like she might actually cry. so instead she rolled her eyes, like the words hadn’t knocked the wind out of her.

“you tryna be my boyfriend, cameron? what’s next? you gonna ask me to prom?”

“i might,” he smirked. “if you stop calling me pinkie pie.”

she grinned back, but her voice was quieter now.

“i’m… not good at this.”

“me either.”

a pause. just breathing. just looking.

then she finally said, “fine. exclusivity. but if you so much as look at layla, i’m killing you.”

“deal.”

they didn’t kiss again. they didn’t need to.

the promise had already landed—somewhere fragile.

nova shifted her weight, folding her arms, eyeing him with that dangerous mix of nervousness and bravado.

her fingers toyed with the edge of the necklace he’d just given her—small, silver, something delicate that didn’t feel like it should be in rafe’s hands, and yet… somehow did.

“but no dating,” she said flatly. “like—no couple shit. no matching bios or brunch or posting me on your story with some stupid heart emoji.”

rafe leaned against the wall, arms crossed, head tilted. “yet.”

she blinked. “excuse me?”

he smirked like he’d been waiting to say this. “you’ll catch feelings before you know it.”

nova scoffed. loudly. stepped back like the very idea was a crime against her brand.

“we agreed to no feelings, rafe,” she shot back, chin tilted in defiance. “this is a fucking arrangement. i get off. you get off. end of story.”

he pushed off the wall, walking up to her. close enough for her to feel his breath.

close enough to make her heartbeat stutter. “we’ll see, pinkie baby.”

his voice dipped lower, smug and certain. “we’ll see.”

nova held his gaze for a beat too long, the necklace chain tangled in her fingers, her mouth parted like she wanted to argue, but didn’t know how.

because deep down,buried beneath glittery sarcasm, layered in fake confidence and heavy eye makeup, was a part of her that was already falling.

and it scared the fuck out of her.

so she did what she always did. rolled her eyes, flipped him off, and said, “get outta my dorm before i forget we’re not doing feelings and let you kiss me again.”

he grinned. and didn’t move.

next<< taglist series masterlist my work

just a quick reminder — if you ever want me to stop tagging you, please don’t hesitate to let me know. no hard feelings at all! also, if you’re not interacting with the posts, I’ll assume you’re no longer interested and might remove you from the taglist to keep it active. appreciate you all 💋

tags: 🏷️ @rafesbabygirlx @rafescloudie @iconiccolo @viqtoria @devoutedlover @k4yr14 @purplerose291 @qversazex @sc05 @t0x1cfaerie @certifiedlovergirl112 @faithlyn444 @mrspuffdriving @feverg1rl @eviev097 @cherryhoneybabe @ijustwanttoreadlols @rafecamwifeyy @alphabetically-deranged

[kalinara]

I think my biggest problem with Xavier's vision of Krakoa (Watsonian critique, not Doylistic), is that he seems to think that just because permanent death isn't a thing anymore, then everything's safe and fine.

I'm not saying Xavier shouldn't have invited ex-villains onto the island, but it's obvious very quickly that there are no safeguards or protections for any of these villains' former victims. Or any future victims.

So we get some awful scenes like Jamie Braddock taunting Meggan or Mr. Sinister telling Scott that he's prettier when he smiles (that one in the middle of the fucking COUNCIL meeting) and there's apparently nothing that can be done about that?

The Shadow King gets to hang around children, leading to the death of Gabby Kinney (and in her case there was some question about whether or not they'd resurrect her because she was a clone.) Sinister, we're told in Hellions, still has an ORPHANAGE. There weren't kids there, at least, but still. The fuck?

And then there's Madelyne Pryor. And yes, I agree that, back in the 80s, she was screwed by the narrative. But she's done a lot of things since then. Maybe. I admit, I can't really keep track of whether or not the one who tortured Scott and company in the 00s was actually THIS Madelyne or another dimension's. But THIS version is introduced torturing people.

Alex pushes for her resurrection. And any counter argument is immediately neutralized by pointing out that Sinister is on the Council. And...well, yeah. But it's POSSIBLE that some of Madelyne's victims might not have been on board with her running free, but that's not a thing we get to hear. (We are told that Jean supported her resurrection much later. Which I do believe, but I also think the narrative doesn't really allow any other possibility.)

Xavier's very self-congratulatory about the no prisons on Krakoa thing. Of course, there's the Pit. You go in there if you're recalcitrant and break the rules. Even if you're a child. And then you get tortured by Sabretooth because no one bothers to check in on the prisoners, apparently.

To break immersion, in a Doylistic sense, I really enjoy that Krakoa has its darker sides. This isn't a paradise for every character, and it's no surprise, when you think about it that the Summer House is on the Moon instead of Krakoa proper.

But in a Watsonian sense... Any fan of the Wolverines can verify that you don't need permanent physical harm to have a massive amount of trauma and pain.

It makes sense. Charles has that King Arthur fantasy, and part of that involves seating some of his strongest enemies at the Round Table. And it makes sense that the man whose first X-Man was an abused child that he rescued and made into his field commander doesn't necessarily have an awareness or appreciation of long term trauma.

But somehow Cassandra Nova gets to be resurrected in a safely isolated place, away from any and all possible victims. Funny how that wasn't an option for anyone else.

[genderpotionwitch]

HEY! YOU! LOOK AT THIS!

Cavern Cafe is a game development project that I am at the head of, currently being designed & developed by my game studio. This post contains a lot of info we have about it!

You play as Nova, a nonbinary protagonist, who has just moved into a new town and opened up their cafe with their brother, Nate. In the move, you discovered your parent's old spellbook. Using the spells contained inside, you discover a pocket dimension of infinite and constantly shifting cave tunnels, filled with magical ingredients and creatures.

The game is a cafe management simulator, with roguelite and horror elements. Dive into the caves to gather ingredients, and then go back to the cafe to increase relationships with your customers. As you explore further into the caves, you come across different biomes. Most of the names are self-explanatory. Green Grotto (Mossy and full of life) Dried Delves (Sandy, Desolate) Ravined Rivers (Full of water and marine life) Frostbite Fissures (Ice and snow everywhere) Magma Mineshafts (Lava, Magma, etc.) Crystal Chasms (...Yeah this is the most self-explanatory.) Toxic Tunnels (Rivers, flora, and fauna; all of which can kill you with poison or venom.) Vexing Void (Breaking the laws of physics and reality, nothing here is logical. Fish swim in the air. Deal with it.) The Inbetween (We'll get back to this later...) Each biome contains new ingredients! There are a few different kinds (Fish, Fruit, Fungi, Grain, Misc. Plants, Sweeteners, Seasoning, Vegetables, Meat, & "Standard" Ingredients). Meat is obtained from killing different monsters, and Standard Ingredients are from the surface, not the caves. But every other kind has a unique ingredient for each biome (or several ingredients per biome!) There is not a single repeat ingredient. But a stupid thing that we started, which has caught on, is that every single ingredient name alliterates. (Ex. Sizzling Salmon, Aerial Anchovies, Restless Rhubarb, Overgrown Octopi). There is NO repeat ingredients, and NO repeat description words. The player has to get creative with how they prep the ingredients, leading to wild and zany dishes; but they also have to be careful of the customer's personal tastes and allergies. This is a fantasy world, and some species are harmed by different ingredients. What may be poisonous to a human might not be for a dwarf. There will be hundreds of customers, each with their own unique personality and story you can explore through dialogue at the cafe. Each one will have a taste profile, with favorite/least favorite ingredients. As you progress further into the caves, you start to notice... are those eyes? But the moment you look at them, they disappear. Must've been your imagination... or so you think. A creature known as the Stoneheart lurks in the deep layers of the caves, biding its time to try and escape. You can find ruins and scrolls throughout the caves that tell you the story of why the pocket dimension was created; and what the Stoneheart really is. Just be careful to not let it break out... (Foreshadowing? Maybe. Why am I writing like this, I feel so cringy) This is most of what we have thus far! We have some more details on story, design, and potential other projects, but I'll be slowly talking about those here as they become more solid. If you're interested in supporting the development of this project, share this post; or if you have money to spare, consider supporting our Patreon! There are perks, although admittedly there won't be a lot right now, as we are broke teens working with hopes and dreams. But we'll get it done one day! If you read this far, have a cookie :3

[sparklemotiongalaxy]

A Vague Reason

Another Eriverse fic I thought was a good idea to write. Very short. Featuring Yinu with Kento Nanami (note: I have not read Jujutsu Kaisen, so I got Kento's personality from the wiki. Sorry if I messed him up in any capacity.)

Yes, the title is a reference to the soundtrack I found.

As always, the Eriverse AU is by @erigold13261!

"PLEEEASE!" "…I don't play the piano." "I know. But Mama told me you can."

With the Whitebloom Piano right in front of him, the person in front of Yinu sighed. He fixates his gaze on the piano, then back towards Yinu. Kento was here, and it felt strange for Yinu. Kento was someone she couldn't get. Even though he was supposed to be the half cousin of Dodo, she still didn't have the chance to properly talk to him. Dodo didn't even tell her that he had a cool half cousin! Well, until today. Kento was in the Spinose home because Yinu wanted a playmate who was not Peni. Sure, Yinu liked Peni. Kit was a great person to hang around with. But kit liked robots, and Yinu liked music. So Yinu wanted a friend who liked music, her type of music. So Mama brought in Kento. Maybe she thought he was better than someone who accidentally made Yinu smoke, hanged out with Ex-Jay, or stole ice cream from Professor Nova. At least Kento was really nice to Catherine. But this was awkward.

Yinu had no idea just who Kento was. But she can have him play the piano! It's a quick and great way to bond! Mama said she heard one of his friends say that he can! Yinu decides to use her ultimate move, her puppy eyes. "Please?" Kento sighed, even heavier this time. He now has a scowl on his face. "I have not gotten my hands on playing the piano for years. I have zero idea what Haibara told your mother, but I assure that my skill in the piano is nothing compared to yours." As Yinu thought about changing the topic to something else, he softens up. No more scowls. "However, it would be a shame to let you down. I'm going to play a song I was made to compose." "Hooray! You can sit here, and play." Yinu takes his hand, and guides him to the stool. "I already understand."

He sits down. Takes a deep breath, and puts his hands on the keys.

Yinu finds herself closing her eyes. He starts to play. Just pressing the same keys. In the same manner. An addition of repeating four sounds, rising. Soft and calming. Crescendo. A blossom.

For some reason, Yinu felt like a large hand cupping hers. Papa?

More rising, but more keys. He was using both his hands to the fullest extent. Up and away. Rising and falling. Like the lapping waves. Then. Quiet. Less sounds. Just pressing sounds. More of the sounds. The same chords, but in different ways.

Back to the same four notes. But with more background chords. Ending with a high note.

She swore she smelt the ocean.

Yinu opens her eyes. Kento looks back, and is… startled. At least, he looks at you with his eyes fairly widened. "Was my piano sound that foul?" It was then that Yinu found herself with her cheeks wet. Yinu takes out a handkerchief from her pocket, and dabs it around her face. When was the last time she even cried like this?

"No! It was… like the ocean. Quiet, but suddenly loud. Simple like the waves, but always changing. I liked it. Papa and Mama would like it very much too." Kento once again is back looking at the piano's keys. His fingers touch the keys, but not making sound. "Strange you think it feels like the ocean. I was thinking about all the things that got me to this point. All the choices I did not make, all the things I wish I did. The reasons, the excuses I made up." One thing she knew about Kento, was that he managed to get himself to Neuva York along with his friend Yu, but managed to get out with Peni and nyan friends. He probably had sure lot of regrets. "… does any of that have to do with the ocean?" Kento does not sigh. Yinu is unable to read his expressions with his entire body facing the piano like that. "Maybe. After all, my surname Nanami means 'Seven Ocean' if you take the kanji's meaning literally." "And you like the ocean?" "You seem to be fixated on that topic, but yes. I do." "Cool! Let's go someday!" It would be nice to make an album with beach themed songs. Then she could find some time to go. "Honestly Peni would be a better candidate." "But you're cool, I guess." "… thank you. And let's get your face cleaned before I get suspected of abuse." Yinu decides to ask her Mama to have more playdates with Kento.

[quetzalpapalotl]

maybe a weird ask but do you happen to have a reading list for arcee in idw1? my friend loves arcee but i dont want to make her go through all of idw1 to see her akshdjbdjx

Hi! Sorry for the delay! Not weird at all! I love these kind of questions. And I was thinking of making one anyway bc Squiggle suggested it, so this is the push I needed to get to that. And this is my girl we're talking about, I need to get everyone to read about her.

A few things of note, I write this guide assuming the reader has not read any IDW1. I will focus only on things that feature Arcee, so by following this you will be lacking a lot of context for the continuity, I will try to provide context for the bigger picture, but if there's something that doesn't make much sense just push through it (or ask!)

Unlike the IDW Optimus reading guide, I'm actually going to list every issue with Arcee in it (hopefully I don't forget any), because even doing so, you still end up with less reading material. Tho, you don't have to read every single one.

However, I will be asking you to read all of Ex-Robots in Disguise and its sequel Optimus Prime. While Arcee was a very minor character previous to this, she is a main character in those series, in fact she's the one who most consistently shows up from beggining to end. As such, I cannot tell you to just read the issues Arcee is in, it would be like skipping episodes of a tv series, you need the whole context. Besides, these comics are very thematic and mostly everything that's brought up is meant to feed the larger picture. And Arcee ends up being the thesis statement character of the whole thing. Being the best character in all of IDW1 (I'm serious), I think she's worth reading it all.

Spotlight: Arcee by Simon Furman

Well... okay, you may have heard that this issue which introduces Arcee's character is very transmisogynistic, that would be correct. I'm not comfortable telling anyone to read with without at least a warning. In the story Arcee's unique gender is said to be the result of mad scientist Jhiaxus experimenting on her, which makes everyone instinctually refer to her as "she" and made her an unstable, crazy murdered. Unfortunatelly, this will be the basis for Arcee's character. Later Barber will tackle the issues with this story and recontextualize it with the help of Jenevieve Frank, a trans woman. The retconned story will be that gender previously existed on Cybertron but was forgotten (tho, it's still present in the colonies) and Arcee is a trans woman who voluntary had Jhiaxus perform gender reassignment on her, but she ended up being the victim of malpractice. Barber will also expand on Arcee's character, her backstory, wants and motivations, so she's not just reduced to a bad surgery. However, Spotlight: Arcee can still be an uncomfortabel read. So if you don't wanna read it just read the wiki summary for it.

Spotlight: Cyclonus Spotlight: Hardhead Spotlight: Doubledealer Spotlight: Sideswipe (or all published together as Revelation) by Simon Furman

These 4 spotlights work as a miniseries, but Arcee only shows up in one page in Cyclonus and one page in Hardhead, which show her tracking down Jhiaxus, and in like 4 pages in Sideswipe, where she finally gets her hands on the guy. You may just want to skim to those pages. Althought it may be worth readin the whole thing just because the Dark Universe stuff will keep showing up. If you don't want to read it the whole thing (fair), this story is about uncovering what's up with Nova Prime and his crew (Jhiaxus, Cyclonus, Galvatron, etc), who dissappeared 6.2 million years ago when they left on an expansionist mission. Turns out they ended in a dimension called The Dark Universe which made them more or less zombies and unable to survive in this dimension for long periods if they don't return to the Dark Universe and empowered Nova-now-Nemesis with "The Heart of Darkness". They want to bring the "Darkness" to this Universe and rule it with Cybertron at the center. The Autobots fight to stop them and succed. Arcee gets to kill Jhiaxus over and over again thanks to the immortality he gets from being in the space between dimensions. Hardhead is there.

Heart of Darkness #1 and 2 by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning

In this 4 issue mini-series, Galvatron turns out to have survived previous events thanks to the Heart of Darkness, finds out that D-Void, the embodiment of the Dark Universe, is planning to kill everything in this universe and uses the powers of the Heart of Darkness to raise an army from corpses to stop it. I don't reccomend it and the art can get uncanny, but Arcee shows up in the first two issues.

The Transformers (2009 ongoing) #28 and 30 by Mike Costa (and James Roberts)

This is the Chaos event that follows up on Heart of Darkness. It runs though issues #24 26, 28, 30, but Arcee only shows up in the last two and it'll probably be very confusing since we skipped the entire Costa ongoing. The rundown is that Galvatron attacks Cybertron in order to get to the Vector Sigma at the core and fuse it with the Heart of Darkness to stop D-Void. To no-one's surprise, The Heart of Darkness is part of D-Void and Galvatron was being manipulated by it so that it can come into thi universe and kill everything. It creates an amalgamation of the Decepticons and Galvatron's sweeps to fight, but Megatron keept that occupied while Optimus and co. get to the core of the planet. In the end, Optimus uses the Matrix to purify Vector Sigma, which breaks the Matrix in half.

The Death of Optimus Prime by James Robers and John Barber

Optimus wakes up to a rejuvenated Cybetron after the events of Chaos. Arcee doesn't show up in this, but it will establish certain things important to understand what's next, so I recommend reading it. Also, IMO the quality goes way up from everything listed before.

Robots in Disguise #1-9 (volumes 1 and 2) by John Barber

Finally we get to the good stuff (unless you skipped everything until now). With the war over and Optimus and Rodimus gone, Bee tries create a functioning society among the tensions between the Autobots, Decepticons and newly-arrived neutrals. It's not going great. After the therapeutic experience that was getting to kill Jhiaxus over and over again, Arcee comes to work for Prowl in the shadows. Her character finally displays some interiority. She also sort of gets retconned to never having been an official Autobot.

Robots in Disguise annual by John Barber

Arcee doesn't show up in this, but the coming events will probably be confusing if you don't read this. We also get flashbacks to the Cybetronian past which will come in handy later.

Robots in Disguise #10-22 (volumes 3, 4 and 5) by John Barber

Megatron, who hasn't been seen since his fight with the amalgamation in Costa's ongoing, returns, which isn't good news for the fragile peace. Things get set up for the Dark Cybertron event. Arcee gets lot of cool moments here and her motivations become more clear. I want to highligh issue #18 as it featured her in the narration and we get to learn a lot about her point of view.

Dark Cybertron (volumes 1 and 2) by John Barber and James Roberts

A crossover betwen RID and MTMTE. It comprises a first issue released on its own, 10 issues that alternate betwen being published as MTMTE and EXRID and a final issue also published on its own. Rather than switching between ongoing, it's easier to read it all in the 2 compiled volumes. Shockwave sets up a very comvoluted plan for nefarious purposes. If you haven't read Mtmte you may wonder who half these people are, but having read RID (and even more if you read the Revelation spotlights listed at the beginning) you'll be far less confused than someone who has only read Mtmte trying to read this. Arcee gets some baddass moments.

Robots in Disguise #28-34 (volume 6) by John Barber

The Earthfall arc where, after the events of Dark Cybertron, Optimus gets a team to return to Earth following a message from Alpha Trion. Arcee asks Optimus to let her tag along. Tensions rise between Optimus and Prowl and Earth may not be so happy to see them.

The Transformers #35-#38 (volume 7) by Jonh Barber

Due to the coming release of the Robots in Disguide 2015 cartoon, Barber's ongoing had its subtitle dropped, becoming just The Transformers, hence why the fandom calls the entire ongoing ex-RID. It inherited the numberation of RID despite the new name, but you may not find its issues listed under the previous name in some sites, look for The Transformers (2014) in that case. We check back on Cybertron, learn more about Cybertron's past and then get to the Onyx Interface arc. Optimus returns to Cybertron and leaves Prowl in charge, but not without asking Arcee to keep an eye on him. Prowl doesn't seem to be all that reasonable and Arcee has her own ideas.

Combiner Wars by John Barber and Mairghread Scott

A crossover similar to Dark Cybertron but with the Windblade series instead of Mtmte and it takes one volume. Arcee doesn't show up, but I wouldn't recommend skipping it as some important stuff happens which I think is better to read for oneself than rely on other's people's opinion. But either way, have a summary: Metroplex's spacebridge is now operational, which means they can open a portal to Caminus, Windblade's reason for coming to Cybertron since her planet is in dire need of resources. Starscream is eager to help them out as it will mean the planet will be in debt to him and is more people to have influence over. Windblade and Optimus are worried about Starscream getting and empire, but since they don't want to stage a coup, they decide to use Optimus status as Prime (figures religiously venerated in Caminus) to combat Starscream's plot (I'm sure this won't get to OP's head later). Prowl thinks they're cowards, he thinks Starscream spreading his hands on Caminus will lead to him doing the same with the other colony words, establishing a new Cybertronian Empire and then expanding it to the rest of the galaxy. Prowl thinks Starscream should be stopped at all costs even if it means destroying the spacebridge and leaving all Camiens to starve to death. A bunch of stuff happens, including: Starscream sending Swindle and Menasor to attack Caminus so he can save it and get more clout. Prowl using Devastator to destroy the spacebridge and being stopped by Superion and Defensor, losing an eye in the process and getting arrested. Starscream using the enigma to replace Prowl in Devastator with Scoop. Rattrap setting Menasor on Caminus again and freeing Prowl. Four combiners fighting on Caminus' ground to which Prowl adds another one by using the enigma to combine himself with Optimus and others in other to have him see his way. And ultimately Prowl is arrested again (and it doesn't stick, again).

The Transformers #42-#44 (volume 8 minus the last issue) by John Barber

Optimus and Prowl have a chat, it doesn't go well. But while they are busy on Cybertron, Arcee is now the de-facto leader of the Autobots on Earth and deals with Galvatron, but just like her predecessors, she makes a quick trip back to Cybertron. Issue #44 is once again narrated by her and lets us see her perspective on Cybertron's current situation.

Combiner Hunters by Mairghread Scott

And one-shot where Arcee tries to steal the enigma of combination, putting her at odds with Windblade and Chromia. We get to see some nice interactions between them and some very nice art of Arcee in her dark deco.

Sins of the Wreckers by Nick Roche

A mini series that's a sequel of sorts to Last Stand of the Wreckers from phase one. It will make much more sense if you have read that one and LSotW it's considered one of best things to come out of phase 1, is not the best, but if you don't want to bother I think you can get the gist of what's going on. Prowl has been kidnapped and unfortunately, he's too important to not try to rescue him. Arcee is dealing with her dissapointment in him and the fact that he never actually trusted her, so she's not too happy about it, but goes along anyway. Truth be told, you won't get lost in the plot if you skip this one and Arcee shares the screentime with a lot of characters, but it's pretty good and you get another writer's take on Arcee.

For context: On the Windblade series, Starscream and Winblade have been contacting the remaining colonies and trying to get them to join the Council of Worlds, which is like the United Nations for the Cybertronian Colonies.

The Transformers #45-#55 (last issue of volume 8, volumes 9 and 10) by John Barber

Things aren't looking so good for the Autobots on Earth, Galvatron makes his move leading to the Conqueros arc. Following Optimus on Cybertron, we get to meet best girl Aileron! Whom you may recognize as Arcee's eventual love interest. Optimus wonders what he should do about the problems on Earth and arrives to a very unpopular decision leading to the All Hail Optimus arc.

Titans Return

A mini crossover, it opens with a one-shot, followed by exRID #56-57, and then MTMTE #56-57, but you can skip the MTMTE issues. Garrison Blackrock's original Cybertronian personality, Sovereign, a servant of Onyx Prime, awakens and causes trouble. Somehow, Sentinel Prime has returned.

Revolution by John Barber and Cullen Bunn (+others)

This is where the infamous Hasbroverse crossovers start. I wouldn't blame you for wanting to skip it, but Arcee is there (tho nothing is about her in particular) and it will be referenced later. Baron Karza, a guy from a place created thanks to Micronus Prime called Microspace wants Earth's ore-13 to save his dimension from entropy, but the dimensional transporting of the ore makes it unstable and explode, this means bad news it it keeps happening. The explosion blamed on the Cybertronians who are still not very well-received on Earth. G.I. Joe is sent to deal with the Cybertronians, but while Optimus wants to make peace with them, things are further complicated when Rom the space knight shoots some G.I. Joe members. As it turns out Rom's enemies, the shapeshifting Dire-Wraiths have infiltrated the Joe ranks because they too want the ore-13 because it enhances their magic. A guy that's secretly allied with Karza leads a project to develop tech against Cybertronians which result in the M.A.S.K organization Rom wants all the ore out of this dimension, Optimus is more concerned with protecting Earth than the microspace, G.I. Joe and M.A.S.K. still hate Cybertronians and then the Micronauts show up following Karza. Eventually they all sort things out between themselves and solve the crisis and the ore is stabilized. Optimus learns that Earth is not so defenseless after all

Optimus Prime #1-6 (volume 1) by John Barber

Because of editorial reasons, exRID get's a relaunch under the name Optimus Prime and the numeration resets, but it's following the same story, so don't worry about it. Starting with the new Cybertron arc, Optimus is dead set on Earth joining the Council of Worlds and will play a risky game for it to happen. Arcee is practically his right hand woman at this point, but that doesn't mean she's happy with how he goes about things. On top of it, Sideswipe has been in critical state since Conquerors and Arcee is not doing great.

Wrath of Karza by Cullen Bunn and Jimmy Johnston

Another crossover that closes the Microspace plot. Honestly, you don't need to read this, I don't even personaly recommend it. But if you have read everything else up to this point, might as well read this so you can say you've read every comic with Arcee in it.

Optimus Prime #7-10 (volume 2) by Jonh Barber

We follow how things are going after the events of New Cybertron. Arcee finally gets some sympathy from another person. Issue #9 focuses on Sideswipe but is also a very important moment for Arcee's arc and in issue #10 we learn about Arcee's past.

Transformers Annual 2017 by Jonh Barber

The conversation between Optimus and Pyra Magna after issue #8, comes included in Optimus Prime vol 2. No Arcee here, we just learn about how Optimus met Bee and Pyra's omnious encounter with Onyx Prime. This will be referenced later, but you can skip it if you're tired.

For context: In the Revolutionary series, assorted characters from different IPs follow the track of a mysterious thing called The Talisman that seems to be linked to Onyx Prime. This includes Blackrock, who wants to learn more about his past, Kup and his new bestie Action Man, Anaya Jones, now working for G.I. Joe under the name Mayday. This leads them to a G.I. Joe villian called Kreiger who has a Transformer working under him.

Said Transformer is named Centurion, who used to think he was Bumblebee because Shcokwave brainswashed him and his crew in order to study a simulation of the Cybertronian war. At the end of it all the Talisman fuses Centurion's consciousness with that of a guy names Mike Powell, aka Atomic Man. Also Transformers are allergic to the Talisman.

First Strike by Mairghread Scott and David A. Rodriguez

Another crossover. This one is better handled than Revolution IMO by mainline focusing on two main IPs and leaving everyone else for the side stories, so you get a more centered narrative. Personally I think there's some really good stuff in here, but also some really stupid stuff. Either way it'll be important, but Arcee only has a role in the last two issues, so here's the rundown: Earth has agreed to join the Council of Worlds, but during the celebration, Joe Colton, ex-G.I. Joe, and Kreiger attack Cybertron with the objective of getting the Talisman to the core of the planet and get rid of Cybertronians while they're distracted. Colton is motivated by a mistrust of Cybetronians, thinking he has to get rid of them before they take over Earth. Scarlett, the current G.I. Joe leader and Colton's daughter-figure, gathers her team and gets to Cybertron in order to stop Colton. But when she gets to Cybertron, the Council of Worlds is feeling very wary of humans and arrests them all. Scarlett convinces Optimus they need her help to stop Colton, so OP breaks out G.I. Joe. Everyone rushes to stop Colton and Kreiger before they get to the core. Kreiger reveals himself to actually be a Visionaries villian and activates the Talisman to summon the city of New Prysmos, because his plan was always to take the planet and make it a new world for his people. Colton is arrested, but the Talisman has poisoned Cybertron's energon reserves. It also has the efefct of waking up Unicron, oops.

Optimus Prime: First Strike (Unification Day: Dawn) Transformers: First Strike (Unification Day: Dusk) by John Barber

First Strike side-stories, collected in Optimus Prime vol 2. Show what Arcee was doing before showing up in First Strike #5. She joing the Revolutionaries characters in rescuing Blackrock. Way less plot relevant than First Strike, but it has some very fun character interactions, so I do recommend it.

Optimus Prime #11-14 (volume 3) by John Barber

Two mini arcs: Primeless and The Dead Come Home. In the first one, Aileron tries to keep things in order on Earth while Arcee and Optimus are busy on Cybertron, my girl is trying her best. In the second one, Optimus learns about the newsparks growing in Trypticon that the Dinobots are protecting (how this came to be happens in the Redemption of the Dinobots trilogy) so he and Arcee deal with that. Good stuff all around IMO.

For context: On the Till All Are One series, Windblade and Bumblebee get through to Starscream, who confesses all of his crimes and is then arrested. Windblade is elected president of Cybertron.

Also, Kreiger's actions caused a bunch of people from his decaying world, the Visionaries, to come end up on Cybertron. They're divided in two camps, one who wants to take over the planet from themselves and one who doesn't want to do that because that's immoral. They fight it out. The Visionaries and Cybertronians come to an understanding. The important thing is that there are now wizard dudes living in their own city on Cybertron and we are reminded Transformers are allergic to magic.

Optimus Prime #15-21 (volume 4) by John Barber

The Falling arc. Things finally seem promising until Onyx Prime shows up and ruins everything. This is one of my favorite parts (yes, including the plot twist). Lots of characters get great moments including, of course, Arcee. On top of getting to show off, this is when she and Aileron share the first explicit romantic kiss between two Transformers.

Unicron #0 Optimus Prime #22 Unicron #1-4 Optimus Prime #23-24 Unicron #5-#6 Optimus Prime #25 by John Barber

Unicron is here, Transformers have to face the weight of their history. A history Arcee is all to familiar with. And with this we read the end. Please read it in the order stated above. Optimus Prime #25 serves as an epilogue. Arcee confirms what has been suggested this whole time, that she is without a doubt a trans woman. She gets to close the book on the continuity showing how far she has come. It's a very rewarding ending after everything, I think.

Bonus:

An Arcee Sort of Day by Peri Mercer

An one-shot included in Synergy: A Hasbro Creators Showcase released to celebrate women's day. It's set on its own vague continuity, but Arcee's characterization is based on IDW's, so you may enjoy it!

[puckingeccedentesiast]

I always want to talk about Nova! Tad obsessed.

So I remember you saying maybe to 🦆 anon about Nova and Luke taking a while to date, 8 months I think. Anyways reasons for that one you mentioned was her Dad...

When Nova realises that there is something there more then friendship with Luke, wants to date him and be all freaken cute together she sorts Sid's advice?!? What do you think he says? I mean it's his baby girl telling him about a boy and her past experiences have been less then steller. Soooooo I'd think he'd be one thing to her, but does he like have a little vent to Kris or Gino about this Hughes kid wanting to date his little girl

-🎀

Ps. Gosh I bloody love we can use some aussie slang! Can I mention that I have a mad craving for chicken twisties rn 😫

Ps again . Without sounding super cliche I totes want to change my 🎀 to a 🐨

Aren’t we both!

Oh my god, that’s such a good idea. Tbh I have the worst headache atm so I won’t write it out now. (My writing gets shitty)

but Sid’s advice would to wait cause novas anxiety go really bad and her trust issues did too, and she’s terrified of Luke leaving her because ‘she’s too much’.

but yeah, there is a pow wow involved. Also I feel like Novas ex doesn’t get enough recognition for being an absolute dick.

CHICKEN TWISTIES SLAP! Have you had them slathered in Vegemite?

yes! My Koala anon!

P.S: you want to know any short stuff, preferably something low brain power? Sorry 😭 I’m positively dying. Like question about Nova or to me. I’m happy to answer!

[hungrydolphin91]

[Insert some kind of Xillia 2 catchy tagline here about how my sister and I are playing this game]. I don't even remember what chapter we're on at this point, but we did all the fun Victor stuff

Victor only took as three tries: we got very close the first time, the second one doesn't count because he confused the whole party and we all murdered each other, but by the third we had grinded a little and bought some better weapons and armor

Since we had to rewatch the cutscenes she picked different dialogue choices just to see what changed, except for the one about Ludger's cooking vs. Victor's. Sis: "I won't concede, mine's still better."

Sorry I don't have much to report about the reactions, since my sister pretty much already knew what was about to happen. She wasn't thrilled about being Elle's father, but she did feel bad for Elle finding out her father was using her, and watching him get killed, too. It's a lot for a kid to go through 😭

There's a bonus scene with Jude helping Ludger make a new pot of soup after Elle spills the first, but he mostly just stands there. Me: "YOU SHOULD BE HELPING, NOT HURTING."

My sister slapped a pair of goofy glasses on Alvin right before his character chapter so we got to enjoy all the emotional close ups with his 😏 expression. I'm surprised Presa didn't return the ring just from that 😂

Leia: "Agria, watch over me." Me: "Agria is probably flipping you off from Hell."

Why is it that Alvin's chapters are much more interesting to me than the others. I mean I'm probably super biased cause I like him but still I like how they explore more of his struggles at improving himself and what could have been based on his past, compared to, I don't know, buying a bunny doll or reading Muzet's thoughts. Maybe I'm just an angst fan.

We started prime Milla's chapter in a new session, and the second the cutscene started my sister left to go get snacks. We have a fundamentally different way of playing these games 😅

Hilariously, the cutscene was halted so Ludger can make a dialogue choice, one of them being "Sounds like I missed something." 😂

I forgot this was a Milla chapter and not a Jude one, with the iconic gay bird spirit that's acting like a clingy ex 😂

While hunting elite monsters, Milla died right at the end of a battle and didn't get the exp, but characters who weren't in the party still did. Sis: "Alvin's probably waking up from a nap like 'Guess who just got stronger?'"

We made paid the bank 150,000 with Ludger's reward money, and all we got was kitty krisps and a skill for Alvin, who again, wasn't there. Cue both of us saying "Guess who just got stronger?" and laughing.

I forgot proceeding with the plot in Marksburg triggers a boss battle with Chronos. Oops, we weren't fully healed.

Julius shows up and defends Ludger, aww. Sis: "When do we tell him he's technically an uncle now?"

I couldn't remember how many times the Chronos fight looped but it wasn't too bad really, the game's going easy on you at this point since it's scripted.

Bisley shows up to interrupt the fight. Sis: "Who are you?" Me, with utter exasperation: "...Do you seriously not know who he is?" 😩 (She did, she just didn't know why he was helping)

My sister was a lot more worried about Julius taking Ludger's place to fight Chronos one on one over the appearance of Bisley or the disappearance of Elle. I can't blame her, Julius's love for his brother is so sweet and he's frankly more compelling than most of the other original characters

Elle runs away because she suddenly doesn't want to go to Canaan anymore (it IS pretty creepy I'll give her that), and the rest of the party is somehow fine with letting this child run around unsupervised except by Spirius agents?? Even my sister who hates Elle pointed out that Ludger is kinda her closest living relative in this dimension so he should probably not let her wander off??

The SECOND that cutscene ended, Nova called. "Ludger, I know you just fought the god of time, but he gave you money, didn't he? You can't pull a fast one over the bank!"

Next time is... whatever happens next. My memories are a little fuzzy but I think we're gonna do that stuff in Spirius's basement soon, and then... oof. Hoping for a bad end, ngl 😅

[Masterpost link here, eventually.]

[erigold13261]

Some thoughts on the Family Tree Saga (I adore these):

To Celine, Joey and Gigi's Parent 1: What. The. Fuck./lh (Seriously, what was the inspo to make these three half siblings?/genq)

I wonder how Nova feels about their older sibling. Did they ever ask Nuru and Sarabi?

Uhh what happened to Tila's family tree? Where are her grandparents? Ancles?

Holy shit Noa are you okay????/lh

Hmm... if Miles has baby sister Billie, would he want to go to a college/uni in Vinyl City?

I like the idea that Maize (Ham's aunt) goes by Corn or Cereal in day to day life (That is why Ham calls herself Ham, food connections)

Have a feeling that that tree is Satoru's "official" family tree, bc I imagine the AMAB folk of blues family having non official concubines to have more children (so Satoru may have a bunch of half siblings or relatives who are not included in this tree)

Not to be nitpicky but I think the comics say that Shoko's powers are rare, and (I think) only Shoko can perform healing on other people as of now (Though I do like that its parents kept on trying for girls until they had a healer that can heal others too, only for that one to go rogue)

-Celin/Joey/Gigi: It's either a poly relationship with their mom being the center, or a singular parent was just a whore/jiggalo lol

The inspo actually comes from my own family. My nana had 4 kids, only 2 are full siblings, then my mom had 3 kids and only me and my brother are full siblings. That's probably the main reason I love the relationship of half siblings so much lol

-Nova: He most likely knows by now. Honestly he probably knew as a kid because his parents spoiled him rotten because they were just so happy to still have a child.

-Tila: Okay, my bad, I forgot about the grandparents in Tila's family tree lol. But both her parents were only kids, so no auncles. Grandparents aren't really in the picture so that's the main reason I forgot them (might change her tree honestly. I kinda blanked out when making hers tbh).

-Noa: No. No he's not. He got an extreme version of parentification and that was the major driving force for him to join Ex-Jay as a way to gain any sort of freedom (though his upbringing did kinda make him the mom friend of the group)

-Miles: Possibly not, but I think by the time he gets to college his sister will be about 3 years old (maybe 2) if he doesn't take a break from school to do so. I think at that point he'd be a bit more okay leaving to be with Gwen at school since Billie could go to daycare and stuff at that point (he'd be hesitant to, but his mom would want him to get the best education and music/art degree he can if that is truly what he wants to do with his life)

-Ham: Hey you saw my food joke/pun thing! Benny is also one! (Eggs Benny is another way to say Eggs Benedict lol). Love the idea that they will tell Maize to stop being corny or for Ham to stop hamming it up, just food puns like that as a cute close family!

-Satoru: Oh yeah, I can see that. Though if I thought of that I would have made it look like they had concubines/side pieces because I didn't even think of what an "official" family tree would look like. Like an official one from Neon J or Tatiana would probably look different from what I gave as the REAL one, but we can totally have this version of Satoru's as the "official" one the fam shows off.

-Shoko: See, I didn't know that! That is good information to know. But that also goes into the idea of "rare" as in the world, or "rare" as in anyone? Because in the world, possibly ONLY Shoko's family has that specific kind of healing power, which means it is still a rare power. But if you mean rare as in for anyone to have, then most likely Shoko is the only (or one of the only) people with that specific healing power (while other users are not related to it at all).

So personally I like the idea of a family power (similar to Eve and Pav), but we can always have it so that Shoko's family can only heal plant elementals or something like that. Perhaps only people connected by blood (so only family members) and Shoko is the only one to be able to heal outside of the family.

Definitely want to keep the idea that afab people in this family have more power than amab people, because I just like that idea for this family for some reason. Whatever the reasoning is (whether it's powers or something else), I think I'm keeping the family tree as is.

OH! Maybe it's like a power that skips generations! Shoko's parents knew their kids were most likely supposed to have this amazing and absolutely OP healing power. But each new kid just failed to produce it (even though they were girls which this power is more likely to show up in) so they kept trying (making SURE they were giving birth to a girl) until they got Shoko (and then, like you said, it defected from the family and "ruined" everything)

I actually like that version quite a bit! Gives a reason as to why the Auncle with no kid and no marriage was disowned since they weren't "participating" in keeping that generations healer alive.

[adler-the-reaper]

They're lined and colored!! Say hello to the coaches as dragons!

Si'Ha Nova - A shining icewing who caught the eye of the mysterious Traveler! As a dragon, she has frost breath due to the chosen dragon species, as well as honing some hidden powers of her own!

The Traveler - A particularly charming and incredibly powerful nightwing! Because of his chosen dragon species, he maintains his power of opening portals, as well as fire breathing (and perhaps even future sight.. we'll see >:3)

Wanderlust - The son of The Traveler and Si'Ha Nova, being a mix of icewing and nightwing genetics! Due to this gene mix, he carries the ability to expel a sort of fog as opposed to frost breath or fire, as well as The Traveler's portal opening powers (and, yes, maybe even future sight, muahahaha)!

Night Swan - A conspiring rainwing-skywing mix (with extremely minimal visible skywing features) whom possesses the ability to create a rather interesting smokescreen instead of fire given her majority rainwing genetics, since rainwings can't breathe fire. It's possible that she may be able to create venom-tainted smokescreens as well, in order to disorient opponents! Night Swan intentionally changes her scales to be a much darker color to reflect her villain persona, refusing to present her true colors no matter what (help this woman she needs THERAPY).

Jack Rose - The sky-rain hybrid son of Night Swan, Jack Rose possesses more skywing genetics than his mother, and thus as a result is able to breathe fire! Unfortunately he is unable to spew venom, but he may carry the ability to create smokescreens like his mother! His silver streak can change colors in accordance with his mood, with gold often symbolizing when he's truly happy (ex: while envisioning himself performing), silver indicating somewhat of a neutral mood, and a rather dark shade of pink symbolizing sadness/despair.

You should totally comment telling me which coaches you want to see next and maybe some dragon tribe suggestions... Jkjk!!1!111 Unless.... >:)

Hello again Just Dance community of Tumblr! Thank you for all the little welcomes and "one of us" reblogs n comments, I truly appreciate the warm greetings! 💜

Now as a little offering and expression of my appreciation, I bring to thee, some of the coaches/characters as dragons!! (Wings of Fire ones, to be specific >:3)

In order; Si'Ha Nova [icewing], The Traveler [nightwing], Wanderlust [night-ice], Jack Rose [rain-sky], and Night Swan [rain-sky]!! I'll be coloring these in soon, and then that'll be followed by the rest of the current coaches (As well as some past ones)!! Stay tuned 🔥🔥🔥

Edit: Jack Rose is now just rain-sky 👍🔥

[mariamariquinha]

Bossa Nova (Benny ‘Borracho’ Magalon x f!reader) - Prologue

One

Summary: You got divorced. Happy New Year. 

Word count: 1087 (almost a teaser)

Warnings: This piece has a lot of talks about male genitalia (you’ll get it), divorce talks, everyone here have a dirty mouth (which can be self indulgent, I’m trying to not curse that much) and Nick O’Brien. 

Author’s Note: I opened my Google Docs, stared at it for like five minutes and then I’ve wrote this. This story will have a masterlist, don’t worry. This will also have discussions about a lot of adult things so... Yeah, if you’re looking for a fluffy thing, sorry. 

MINORS DO NOT INTERACT!

Join my taglist! Don’t forget to reblog, comment and like! As always, I would love to know what you’re all thinking! ❤

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

The table was neat – the most clean table you’ve ever seen, you could tell. Theodore sat there with nothing more than a numb expression, and maybe (just maybe) you’ve spent enough time crying over the end of the relationship by yourself for him to give you any other reaction than indifference.

It was over, you thought, not daring to shake hands with him after the judge officially defined the divorce. There was a tap on your shoulder, you could tell for sure, from your brother (because it was the closest he would get to show you any affection).

“Where are you going now?” Your brother asked, watching you pull your sunglasses on nonchalantly as soon as you left the building. That made you sigh.

“I've had my chance to burn the things he gave me, I've drunk every bottle of wine in my house... I still need to test the options."

You shared a smile.

“You should try going out, you know, enjoying what youth you have left.”

“Navel piercing or butt tattoo?”

“Sounds like a very well thought out answer.”

“Oh, it was,” You adjusted the strap of the bag on your shoulder. “I did a list. These two are the first ones, closer to skinny dipping on Spring Break with some hot people from Florida.”

“Did you only think about doing the things your ex husband likes after the divorce?”

He looked at you with raised eyebrows when you turned to face him, as if he was sure he had caught you. Well, it was a fair question, but before you could answer him with another defensive comment, you saw Theodore leaving the building with his lawyer, all stiff and serious. He gave you a look, then glared at your brother, probably thinking to himself that he should work on an investigation about someone’s family before starting a relationship, especially a marriage.

"Yeah, I really don't see the appeal," Your brother murmured while watching Theodore get in his car. "And he wasn't even rich when you two got married."

"Don't tell me..." You sighed in defeat.

"At least you got the house."

"The house I don't like, yep."

Your brother was quiet, but you knew he was observing you as you watched your ex drive down the street in that Mercedes (one of his few demands). Maybe, deep down, he knew that you were sad, disappointed even, but trying to rationalize everything in a more thoughtful way. And no, you didn't like the house, even though it was worth a lot, and having it at the end of the process gave you the impression that Theodore did you a favor.

"Are you okay? We could grab lunch," He offered.

To think it was the closer you’ve got from having a better relationship with him was kinda depressing, too. That glimpse of protection, naturally reflected from the way he fought for a fair arrangement, the way he wanted to search for an honest answer about what really happened with you, would be just a distant memory – one he would likely count as a professional win and nothing more.

Still, you gave yourself the small pleasure to feel welcome, even if for a moment, or the illusion of thinking that your brother really decided to do something really nice for more than the family’s reputation during Thanksgiving. It was like a plot hatched to avenge Theodore, who 'betrayed not only you, but the whole family.'

Your phone buzzed in your pocket. Looking at the name on the screen, you groaned, and your brother peeked without discretion to the device screen.

“Now I understand why you like working with these guys,” He sarcastically mentioned, making you elbow him near the stomach in retaliation. “Big Nick really does look like a drunk detective with a small dick from the 80s.”

“I never stopped to think about the dick size of the guys I work with,” You mumbled back.

“And apparently none of your love partners either,” You stared at him with a frown, confused between answering the call and asking why the hell he would even know this type of thing about Theodore. He shrugged. “I just know.”

“Good to know you have a sixth sense for the male anatomy. Put it on your resume,” And then you answered, sighing a small ‘hello’ to show your annoyance at the way he simply smiled.

“That's the kind of thing you could use now that you’re single. Start documenting California's male resources and do a doctoral thesis.”

“I wouldn't try to compete with your cock-sucking experience.”

“Am I interrupting something?”

Nick had a mocking concern on his voice when you listened to him talk on the other end of the line. Fuck, you closed your eyes for a second, just imagining how he would never let that die for quite some time.

“No, I… I was talking to my brother.”

“I can call later. It sounded important.”

“Oh yeah, it was. You would get along so well with my brother,” Nick laughed at you.

“It's only surprising that you have such extravagant words in your repertoire.”

“And I'm sure you don't want to be the target of most of them.”

“Well, now that you’re officially single and all, maybe we could work on dinner just to help up with your research on dicks.”

“Did you really call me just to make a shit-up call like that?” Your brother raised his eyebrows by your side, to which you retributed with a grimace.

“I didn't even need to make the invitation formally, how interesting.”

“Nick,” You groaned in impatience, rubbing your forehead while eyeing the floor. "Spill it out."

“It’s work, okay? Important one.” A pause. “Think you can get to a crime scene in... Fifteen?"

The time on your phone said rush hour wouldn't start for another hour, if you were a little lucky.

“Gimme twenty. If I know you well, you'll take me across town."

“I’ll text the address.”

The call ended up like that, and your brother was looking at you with a puzzled expression when you waited for the text.

“Is it serious?”

“Kinda of,” You huffed, hiding from him the eggplant emoji with a question mark accompanying the address. “Maybe there’s a lot of men in my life, though. Should think about joining a feminist club or something."

"Or become a lesbian."

"And who would make the lives of emerging men miserable?"

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

Taglist

@sexuallover 

@paintlavillered​

[awanderingdeal]

O'Knutzy Week - Day 5

Prompt: Harvard || NOLA

Rating: M (for general themes - no sexual content)

CW: Homophobic slurs, past emotionally abusive relationship.

Credits: O'Knutzy belong to @lumosinlove and thank you to @oknutzyweek for organising all this.

“Uncle Leo!”

“Hey pumpkin,” Leo said, bending down so Nova could clamber into his arms. Her father, Mikey, was Leo’s childhood best friend, having lived two doors down until he’d moved out his parent’s house.  

She wriggled around, making herself comfortable as Leo rose back to full height. Her grin revealed that she’d lost another tooth since Leo had last seen her. “Daddy said I’m too big to be up now.”

“Never!” Stop growing so fast, kid.

"I came to tell you Finn is going to take me to the science museum tomorrow ‘cus Daddy has to work -' Nova took a hulking breath. “- And I would have to stay with Mawmaw and I don’t want to because it’s boring, Leo.”

“Oh, Finn said that, did he?” So much for a lazy morning. Leo looked over Nova’s head, finding his boyfriend sitting around the large iron table in the 'finished' area of the yard with Mikey. Finn looked up, meeting his gaze and gave a sheepish smile. “Well, it wouldn’t do to have you bored, would it?”

Leo couldn’t be angry at Finn for wanting to make Nova happy. With the spring sun warming him to the bone and the chaos of his big family surrounding him, nothing could ruin his mood. He searched for Logan too; the last he'd seen of him he'd been charming Leo's grandparents, which was when he saw.

"Nova, pumpkin, go and tell your Dad that Finn is too soft, and you may as well stay here tonight. I'm sure I have a old shirt you can sleep in."

Nova pumped her fist in victory and scurried off to deliver the message. Leo waited just long enough to make sure she was on her way before he stormed towards the lone man.

“Heck, you scared me." His ex stumbled back from the vegetable patched he'd peering in, eyes widening as he took Leo in. "Leo," he said. "What are you doing here?”

“What am I doing here?” Leo scoffed. ”It’s my mom’s birthday. What are you doing here?”

Kyle took a step back. Leo had always tried to seem less intimidating than his 6 foot 3 frame naturally made him. He worked hard to earn the moniker of a gentle giant, but right now he was glad of the presence. 

“I…I was invited to come with…” Kyle stumbled over his words. “I thought you’d be y’know…out of town.”

“Hmm, it’s almost like I prioritize the things that are important to me,” Leo huffed a laugh. Then it dawned on him. “Are you dating Rylee?” 

“Not Rylee." 

Leo thought he saw a grimace flicker on Kyle's face. If not Rylee, then who? He started to run through the list of guests, not getting very far before Kyle's stare gave him the answer. "Elliot?" 

Kyle gave the tiniest of nods. 

Leo pulled at his collar, sure that the t-shirt hadn't been this tight this morning, and Logan was right, it was too hot. 

"Leo, look, I'm sorry…" Kyle said. 

There was more. Leo could see Kyle's mouth, but all he heard was a low mumble, his own thoughts drowning out the words. 

It was worse that it was a boy. God, that was horrible, wasn't it? It's not like you didn't know he was attracted to them. Kyle had just been so repulsed by the idea of people knowing about them. He'd threatened to tell everybody Leo was obsessed with him. That Leo had got him drunk and then kissed him. Maybe it had Leo he'd been disgusted by. 

"You called me a fag," Leo spat. "You let me fall in love with you, had sex with me and then you called me a fucking fag."

“I’m sorry, I’m really sorry,” Kyle winced. It almost made Leo feel a tiny bit of sympathy for him. “I was just a kid, I was scared.”

There went that sympathy. “You were a coward.” Leo cocked his head, assessing Kyle. His sandy blonde hair was cut short now, rather than the longer slicked back look he used to sport. He was softer now. Even now, Leo hoped that meant he’d gotten a handle on what, in hindsight, had been an unhealthy relationship with food and exercise. Perhaps he had changed, perhaps he was better to Elliot. “Does he even know? Elliot? Do you even sign?” 

Kyle blinked at him “Yeah. I’m pretty good now. Not perfect at all. I’ve been learning for a little over two years.” He scratched the back of his neck, chewing on his lip. “No..No, he doesn’t know. I didn’t want to -”

Leo snorted a laugh. “You’re still a coward.” He jumped at the weight of a hand on his shoulder, relaxing as he recognised the familiar knead of Logan’s fingers. 

“Le? Ça va?” 

Leo tried to smile as he looked at Logan. “This is Kyle,” he said.

“More cousins?” Logan laughed. “ I thought -” The pieces of understanding snapping together like a jigsaw was almost visibible. “What is he doing here?” He said it with such ferocity, Leo knew the only reason Logan hadn't punched Kyle was because he respected Leo's ability to fight for himself.

"He was invited," Leo sneered. He was being an asshole. He didn't care. "Dating Elliot now."

"Oh." Logan said.

"It's alright though, because Kyle here is going to go tell Elliot everything and then he's going to leave."

"No, Leo, come on," Kyle argued. "E's been looking forward to this."

E. God, Leo really didn't need to hear their nicknames for one another. He sought out Logan's hand and squeezed it. "I said you were going to leave. Elliot can do whatever he wants."

Kyle opened his mouth, as if to speak, and then closed it again. His pinched the bridge of his nose, grinning his back teeth. "Fine. I'll go."

"Tell him Kyle, or I will," Leo said. "If you want to run away from your past then don't date my family." What Elliot did with the information was his business, but he deserved to know.

"Hey, loves of my life. What's happening," Finn sang as he barrelled over. The tip of his nose and his cheeks were a little pink. "So, next time we're down here Mikey is going to -" His gaze moved rapidly between Leo and Logan. "Pea?"

"You can tell him," Leo muttered, letting himself be pulled into Finn arms. Logan, still holding firmly onto his hand, followed until Leo found himself enveloped between the two.

It felt like both two seconds and two hours later when Finn was stepping back. He cupped Leo's face. "Are you okay?" He whispered.

Leo nodded once, then again, because he realised he was. "Am I horrible if I don't forgive him?"

"Non."

"Absolutely not," Finn added.

"He was young though. Maybe he's changed?"

"And if he has changed then he'll carry on being changed whether you forgive him or not. You don't owe him anything."

Finn quirked a smile and Leo found himself matching it. He'd once given Finn same advice, almost verbatim about his own ex.

"Somebody wise must have told you that," Leo said.

"Very wise indeed," Finn laughed, pressing his lips to Leo's gently.

Logan hummed. "More people are coming. Do you want to go upstairs? Until you feel better."

"No," Leo shook his head. He was okay. He'd been okay for a long time. No matter what Kyle had told him or what that college recruitment office had said, he could have it all. He had it all. A family that loved him. Not one, but two boyfriends who were more than proud to be seen with him. A team that had his back. He wished he could go back and tell his 16 year old self it'd be alright.

"Leo, honey, here you are." His mom sounded frazzled. He'd tried to take over managing the food, but nothing stood between Eloise Knut and the potluck table. "Sorry to pull you away but I need you to tend to the grill. Your father is burning the shrimp."

"On my way, Mama."

"Wait right there, young man."

Leo groaned. "Mom?"

His mom looked him dead in the eye, smiled and patted his cheek. "You can tell me all about it later, honey. We'll have a kitchen chat."

There was no point telling her she was fine. Besides, it had been forever since they'd sat in the kitchen, nursing cups of sweet tea, just talking.

"Okay, Mama."

Yeah, Leo was going to be okay.

[miserable-sarah]

For The First Time

Pairings: Sam x reader

Warnings: Drinking, language

Summary: Y/n and Sam meet through Donna who is trying to set them up

A/n: Requests are open!

**

Narrator:

Donna and Y/N are good friends, Y/N saved her life when she was captured by werewolves. Donna went on and on about these two boys she knows who do the exact same thing. Y/N thought it was funny being how Donna is always so bright and bubbly, it was interesting to see how knows about the creepy monster shit but still manages to live her life the way she wants to. Truly inspiring.

Donna called up Y/N for some ghost activity, she also called up Sam Winchester. She told Sam it’s just a one person job so Dean can stay back or enjoy the bar scene, whatever he prefers. Sam agreed told her he’d be there in like an hour or two, saying they were close by because of a different hunt. Y/N said about 3 hours she’d be there.

Y/n hunting outfit choice was a little fitting, she wore a black tank top (a tight one) with either an old denim jacket or leather, hug your ass tight skinny jeans, with her boots, oh can’t forget about her knife and pistol holster that rest on her upper thighs. One on each side, and can never forget her fingerless black gloves. She was a total hot bad ass. Sam’s outfit choice simple comfy Tee, flannel, jeans, boots. Simple.

Y/N POV:

I walk up to Donna’s house, Donna always makes me happy. She’s just so happy. It’s crazy. I knock on the door and wait for her to answer. I look around and notice another car in the driveway maybe she finally met someone better than Doug. Scummy ex husband.

“Hi Y/n!” She gives me a big smile before pulling me into a hug “come in, come in” she says waving her hand around excited.

I notice a man sitting at the counter, I give him a look and then back to her like ‘ooohh he’s cute okay Donna’ I’m just happy she’s back in the game

“Y/N this Sam, Sam this Y/N” she Introduced us, I shake his hand and give him a little smile he does the same. Ugh those dimples! To die for. I look at Donna waiting for her to explain

“Sam is a hunter” she says smiling at me I give her a nod “he’s one of the brothers I was telling you about”

“Oh wow! Nice to meet you Donna told me a lot about you” I say it sounds like he helped Donna out a lot

“Yeah you too, she was just telling me about the werewolves” Sam says giving another one of his dashing smiles. Damn he’s fine.

“Donna what about this case?” I ask wanting to get a head start on it

“Oh, I was thinking you and Sam could do it together” she smiles putting some dishes in the sink

“Donna I thought you said an easy one person job, I left Dean back” he says, slowly I start realizing they aren’t together. She wants us to work together

“Well, you know can never be to careful” she lets out a little laugh.

“Well I don’t mind teaming up” I say trying to make everything less awkward.

“Great! So it’s at the old mill, oh just a few miles up the road.” Donna says with very noticeable excitement

“Okay, cool you in?” I ask Sam he nods shyly. Donna is practically doing a happy dance over there. We outside and he notices my car a 1966 Chevy Nova.

“Wow, this is your car?” He asks surprised

“Yeah, well it was my dads, I just keep it and look after it. I’m not a car girl, I just know he basics” I chuckle getting in

“My brother would love this” he also gets in

“He’s into cars?” I ask just trying to make small talk

“Oh. Yeah” he laughs

“What about you? You into cars?” I ask looking over the wind blowing our hair around, and that smile. Ugh.

“Eh, not really.” He shrugs

“Yeah I feel that” I chuckle.

Narrator:

Sam and Y/N arrive at the haunted mill. Donna sent Y/N a text saying he is buried in the back there should be a wooden cross somewhere and dig there, Y/N and Sam work together digging up the bones. It’s simple salt and burn, bye bye ghost. They take a look around the mill making sure there isn’t any activity, it looks like there isn’t anything going on.

Sam and Y/n had a great time, I know kinda weird under the circumstances but they really hit it off and talked the entire time, smiling and laughing. They can’t remember the last time they felt happy.

Sams POV:

Y/N and I got back to Donna’s place, I was kind of upset. I didn’t want the night to end. She was so funny and smart. I was just enjoying our time together. Donna let’s us in, she asks about the hunt. Y/N takes over the conversation telling her what happened, she’s so bossy and incharge I really like that about her, and her smile, her face lights up when she smiles, her hair smells good, her outfit showing off her ridiculous body. She’s hot.

“You guys want a drink?” Donna asks holding up some liquor.

“Uh” Y/N says looking back at me before giving me a smile “sure” she shrugs looking back at Donna

“Yeah I’ll have one” I say sitting next to Y/N, Donna pours us a drink and I can’t help but notice Y/N staring at me “what?” I say giving her smile

“Your dimples are really cute” she smiles

I laugh in response “well thank you” I smile even more. Y/N, Donna, and I spent the night talking about hunts and just life pretty much.

As Y/N and I were leaving we got to her car “Have you ever been to Kansas?” I ask not really sure why it just slipped out

“Uh, once or twice” she says with a smirk

“If you’re ever in the area I have something really cool to show you” I say writing down my number “just let me know”

“Okay” she says taking it “I’ll text you soon” she says with a wink before getting in her car

Narrator:

Sam and Y/n call and text all the time, they really hit off that night. Donna was right they were perfect for each other.

[averagefungus]

Although Videogame music usually does suck to listen to outside of its intended context, there are some songs like Redial that just work on its own. One of the songs I can listen to the most without getting sick of it. I think the best description of the original Redial on Bomberman 64 was that of Elevator music, but this remake I think is the best version of the track to listen to.

2. The Flying Beagle album by Himiko Kikuchi is a masterpiece. I remember seeing the cover on youtube way back in highschool and on a whim decided to listen, because of the funny beagle. My mom has always been a jazz fan, but this was my gateway drug to other Jazz Fusion artists and bands like Casiopea, Spyro Gyra, and Masayoshi Takanaka, instead of just listening to what she was a fan of. Baby Talk in particular is a dance track for me, this is the perfect groove.

3. This is Rayman music. Not literally, but in essence and soul. Without a doubt the silliest song that'll be here, Geerts whistling ability has made him infamous in competitive whistling, as literally no one can come close to what he's capable of. You could trick someone into thinking that the whistling was a proper instrument, but no thats some dudes lips and his lips alone. This piece is the embodiment of "Bitches love me for my whimsy."

4. I don't exactly remember when I learned about this piece, but I can guarantee it's something my mom was listening to and I asked about. That classic jazz love from my mom is most obvious in older songs like this. This is the easiest song I think when you imagine an AMV created for your original characters since the divide is made so strong and obvious.

5. This is the best instrumental ever made. The year I don't listen to this is the year I died. Even ytpmvs with the slightest care put to audio mixing become divine with this. The original sample from David Bowies Space Oddity is euphoric to listen to on its own, and expanding it into a full beat like this has created, indeed, the best instrumental ever made. The full song feels like a bonus over this. Some special herbs and spices indeed.

6. Remember when I brought up Casiopea 4 or so paragraphs ago? I do! Im a sucker for Jazz Fusion, as stated, and Casiopea is basically THE emblem for Japanese Jazz Fusion, as I had learned when trying to find more artists. This songs just really nice and lovely. I still need to experience more of their catalogue, but for the time being I enjoy this track.

7. You know love songs pronouncing how much you appreciate someone? This is the opposite. Use this to break up with a toxic ex. Tell a girl to fuck off and then have a beautiful trumpet solo. As a Tuba player I'm biased for brass but even based on that, it's still beknownst to be a banger. Brass Bands in general I think are underrated, I would've brought up Fanfare Vagabontu if Spotify gave me the chance. The No BS Brass Band overall is a group you should look out for.

8. An exception to the VGM rule are title screens. Because you don't do anything on a title screen except change the settings and maybe relax a bit before jumping in, this is just a wonderfully chill bossa-nova beat. De-Blob is a cult classic for good reason, I really ought to beat the whole thing instead of playing level 1 over and over like I did when I was younger.

9. Does it count as VGM if you found it from a MVC3 Doom montage? (No but ask this to piss off your friends) This song speaks for itself, its an absolute banger. "Top it off, now they're playing victim and the violin/Dripping the color envy, more greener than Ireland." is a pair of verses I repeat to myself Ad-Nauseam. I only discovered this song in particular late in 2024 and it still took the #1 spot by a landslide. DOOMs entire career could make for essays from me, especially as I read further into his history and learn more of his albums, but sometimes you just want to cherry pick 1 wonderful slice out to indulge in you know?

10. Picture this.

It's been a long day. You've been spending the past day with a group of friends you've developed around competitive gaming. You just went to a small tournament, but for yourself, it's the biggest you've ever seen. Lined with arcades, you played for hours until the sun has long disappeared. And while reminiscing on the road, where conversation has died down where your faces are only illuminated by the street lamps passing by. And this song comes on...

And its been. Half a decade.

It's silly to use a funny Omni-Man meme to describe this, but I don't really know how else to represent it emotionally. Whether this tournament was pre or post pandemic matters less and less every year. The Time still slips away. I know that I will forget their faces, forget their names, and the joy that day brought will be an ache in my heart. I miss my friends. I miss them a lot.

Of course, as a tag game I can't just leave it on that sour note, so for tags I summon @ape-of-no-state @door-insurance @am-i-gay-test @smorzinc @bubblewonderabyss @t1mmytim @autogeneratedkahootnickname @lemmon-grove @sagerenard

Join if you'd like, I personally just really like writing about art! :D Maybe I'll make a part 2 of music I listened to outside of Spotify, since I know my tastes are informed by whats available, and there are plenty of artists who don't use Spotify for a good reason.

On repeat 🎶

thanks for the tag @badhairred !!

shuffle your “on repeat” playlist and add the first ten songs, then tag 10 people

Pain is Cold Water - Live From Fenway Park by Noah Kahan

Little Wonders by Rob Thomas

童话 by Micheal Wong

It's Called: Freefall by Rainbow Kitten Surprise

Anthems For A Seventeen Year-Old Girl by yuele

Look Who's Inside Again by Bo Burnham

Love Me Anyway by Chappell Roan

Falling Stars by Max LL

Save Rock And Roll by Fall Out Boy

Caramelldansen by Caramella Girls

Tagging the html tryhard gang u.u @hatsukoi-neidhardt @jihnari @voiider @mystyrust @yuureitheghost @gumbabunny @starryjellyfishies @amethystheart2421 @gifbot @jadedandconfusedao3

[thetwstwildcard]

•Terrible Oc Summaries•

Catherine: Why face your problems when you can just disassociate?

Lovette: A hoe never gets sad the hoe is in fact sad

Kiara: Don't burn your sister

Veil: If she loves you, you might die

Galatea: Demigods sure aren't stronger than real gods

Nasira: Don't use strange lamps

Emery: Maybe ballet classes were better?

Lyss: Don't summon a demon when you can just get therapy

Ephraim: You can have a pet bird without losing your vision

Lavi: Tsundere goes nyoom

Lorelei: Glub glub

Idris: Woah your voice was way deeper than I thought

Loxias: Your girlfriend became an android? That's rough buddy.

Odette: Damn, Pome really likes ballet people

Des: How's it like being the youngest and most sane in your family?

Amias: Oh no... Not the yandere

Nereus: Idia's cooler cousin

Isidoros: Pretty boy and his robot dog

Kyrie: The prettiest girl at the party (but male)

Briar: Damn you're a pretty nerd

Erasmus: Maybe avoid the pretty boy with the weak heel

Averett: Shy monster

Cordelia: Monster Fucker

Naia: Just keep floating, just keep floating-

Ezra: Do not associate me with my father

Yuuto: Skater boy who likes cats

Pyxis: You didn't have to talk, I could tell you were a theater kid instantly.

Nova: You're hot when you're mad-

Lacie: Lollipop lollipop-

Leveret: Bunny boy will kick your ass-

Aspen: You're lucky you're pretty

Kagero: You sure you're only 19 and not 90???

Yua: You have to get over your ex

Makaio: Head empty, just vibes

Doll: Please don't look at me...

[nocturnal-dreams]

Protective

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Pairing: Karl Jacobs x F! Reader (although I guess also GN neutral works, maybe just an AFAB reader)

Warnings: mentions of abuse

Note: Drug dealer Karl pog?

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'Be there at 10'

You rolled your eyes reading over the text from Garrett, of course, he couldn't risk his perfect reputation to do his own dirty work. Feeling the eyes roaming across your body made your skin squirm, you knew your outfit was rather revealing, your shirt making your cleavage pop out making multiple drunk men keep their eyes on you or rather your cleavage. You knew you'd have a word with Garrett later about it although you know he most likely wouldn't have cared.

You weren't sure why you were still dating Garrett, I mean he was a dick. You guessed you just stayed with him for this long because of his money, he had a house and a stable income that allowed you to live very comfortably, or at least as comfortable as you could get.

This wasn't your first time buying drugs for Garrett, he always gave you the money and a small description of the dealer's looks and location. He couldn't risk his perfect rep being ruined by someone finding out about his drug usage so he decided to risk yours. Garrett was waiting just outside in the car for you to finish the deal, the only problem was you were having a hard time finding the dealer.

Your eyes scanned the room of drunk individuals till they landed on someone. A guy was walking down the stairs as your eyes followed the handsome stranger. He was wearing a black turtleneck sweater with yellow plodded jeans, multiple rings on his fingers which had the nails painted black. His hair was a light brown, almost like a mop on his head but it suited him, unlike most men you had seen with the style. As you stared longer, you saw him turn towards you, catching your gaze in his steel-grey eyes. He was coming near you as you tried to look away, trying to lose yourself in the crowd but you already felt his hand around your arm.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for someone; average height, kind of greyish black hair, round glasses, might be wearing some kind of ugly button-up shirt," the handsome stranger had said as you stared at him, he had to be referring to Garrett. This stranger did match Garrett's description of the dealer, he looked too nice to be a drug dealer though.

"Do you happen to be Jacobs?" you questioned, you just wanted to make sure that this was the right guy before you went and spilled your reason for being here on a complete stranger.

“Just call me Karl, so you know Garrett?” Karl had said, you didn’t want to stay around him much longer than you needed too. Not that you were scared of him, actually the opposite, he made you feel safe, it's just you didn’t want Garrett to get impatient.

“Garrett sent me, do you have my stuff?” you tried to hold yourself, you didn’t want to seem vulnerable, that was the biggest thing that Garrett was annoyed about. He didn’t want you to seem weak when he would send you on his drug pick-ups.

“Garrett couldn’t even come to his own deal,” Karl laughed, it was a cute laugh, a lot better than Garrett’s rare rough chuckle that you disliked, if you had to be honest, everything about Garrett you disliked. If it wasn’t for his bank account and house, you would have left a long time ago. Karl looked you over, his eyes roaming over your body wasn’t very different from the crowd but it also felt different, “so what’s someone like you buying stuff like this?”

“And who are you to ask what I buy? Aren’t you just doing this to get paid?” you were growing tired of Karl since he was wasting your time, it wouldn’t be long until Garrett would be coming into the party yelling at you for taking too long.

“Well I could always just refuse to sell it to you,” Karl asked again, “so why are you buying this stuff? You’re wearing only what I can describe as little miss sunshine to a party, you don’t buy drugs.”

“It’s for my boyfriend, now gimme!” you groaned and rolled your eyes.

“I’m not giving this to you, Garrett can come out here and buy it himself. You know my friend Chris mentioned someone being here instead of Garrett, just didn’t think it’d be someone as beautiful as you,” Karl looked away from you towards the crowd, leaning on the rail looking down at the party, “but till Mr Dogwater gets here, I’m not leaving you, I can’t tell how many guys I’ve seen just eyeing you like meat since you got here. It’s honking disgusting. Perves.”

You hide the smile on your face from his own censorship, “it’s how it always is. It’s how I live.”

“That shouldn’t be how life is, it's sad. Guys should learn to keep crap to themselves,” Karl sighed.

You glanced at him, his eyes looking at the crowd of people dancing and drunkenly talking to themselves. You were disappointed in yourself for feeling so safe around someone you just met, this was what exactly Garrett was bitching to you about two hours ago.

“I’m Y/N,” you finally decided to introduce yourself, it was only fair.

“Do you always pick up for Garrett?” you nodded in response to Karl’s question then realized he wasn’t looking at you.

“Yeah. He says that he can’t be seen around people like-well-like you.” You gestured towards Karl, him looking at you out the corner of his eye.

“Drug dealers? He can’t be seen with drug dealers but is willing to risk your safety and reputation to be around me? Put you in danger? You know drug dealers are dangerous right?” he looked at you.

“So you’re saying you’re dangerous?” you laughed through the pain his question brought, you knew at this point the relationship between you and Garrett, you were just his drug camel and something for him to stick his dick in when he got bored.

“I’m not dangerous,” Karl shook his head.

You were about to reply when Garrett came up behind you, his arms wrapping around your waist and pulling you into his chest, his eyes narrowing on Karl as Garrett’s grasp on you tightened, almost bruising. “Hey babe,” you had been too wrapped up in your conversation with Karl to even notice Garrett enter the party, “who’s this twink?”

You tried to hide how uncomfortable you had grown when Garrett’s hands left your waist and grabbed your ass, “uh Karl… he has your uh- you know?”

You heard Garrett sigh before he leaned into your ear, making it hard for Karl to hear with the music as Garrett whispered angrily, “why couldn’t you fucking get it? You know I can’t be seen around people like him, let alone his twink ass.”

Karl glared, able to read Garrett’s lips. Karl pushed himself off of the rail, his arms being crossed across his chest, “I wouldn’t allow them. If its not for them then I can’t give it to them.” Karl said loudly as Garrett told him to shut up, “listen if you want the stuff then you gotta get it yourself, Jimmy’s rules.”

A few people started to stare at the scene, Garrett’s jaw clenching as his grip on your arm tightened, “come on, I can get it from somewhere else.”

“Can’t we just go home, I don’t want to go anywhere else, I’m tired,” you spoke quietly, trying to hold back your protests to tell Garrett to lighten his hold on your arm which was starting to hurt from his painful grip.

“Y/N we can go home when I find someone else to get my supply from,” Garrett’s grip only tightened.

“Dude she wants to go home, take her home,” Karl chimed in, his voice no longer the cheering tone but rather low and pissed off, “they have a fucking say and you’re being hella rude. They want to go home. Take them home now.”

“Dude whatever. I’m leaving. Are you coming with me or no?” Garrett looked down at you. You couldn’t form any kind of words on your tongue as you started to back away towards Karl, shaking your head. Garrett’s jaw clenched as he rolled his eyes, “whatever, we’re done, bitch!”

Your boyfriend or rather now ex-boyfriend started to walk away down the stairs. Karl’s jaw clenched and and turned Garrett around on the stairs and clocked him right in the jaw, sending Garrett stumbling down the last few steps. You put your hand over your mouth holding back the slightest laugh. Garrett had stood up and went to punch Karl but Karl pulled up his shirt slightly over his belt and flashed something that sent Garrett running out.

You furrowed your eyebrows confused on what just happened as Karl came back up the stairs to where you were standing as you thanked him. Karl shrugged, “no problem, here let me take you home with me.” He said as you bit your lip.

Sure you didn’t know Karl well but you trusted him better than you ever did Garrett. “Alright, let’s go,” you smiled as Karl smiled back. You walked out with Karl behind you leading you over to his car. People would look at the two of you cause of what happened but one glance from Karl made them turn away. You felt safe with Karl, something you never felt with Garrett.

Karl drove you to his home, allowing you to borrow some of his clothes and sleep on his bed after you asked him for number allowing you two to keep in contact. You told him goodnight as you got into his bed, him leaving to his living room as you fell asleep happy for once.

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