#me and kai are both into the siblings Big Time so...

[ryuucam]

FAMILY MATTERS

⋆｡𖦹°‧ despite being just a year younger than him, kuroo has always been overprotective: that’s what good childhood friends do, after all. so when you confide in him your crush on his best friend, bokuto, he’ll match you two up, on just one condition. he’ll be the one to fuck you first.

contains dark content, fauxcest (kuroo and reader have a sibling complex, no one’s related but the lines are very blurry), yan!kuroo, jock!bokuto, love triangles (no action between kuroo and bokuto), size kink, threesome, lots of pet names, spit, nii-chan x imouto, virgin!reader, dumbification, daddy (used once), spitroasting, blowjob, fingering, aftercare!, implied cuckolding/netorare (?), open ending, 4k + words.

notes me next OMG WHO SAID THAT!!!! ending sucks sorry guys </3 but im a sucker for kuroo nii

your parents split up before you were born, leaving you in a family friend’s care. a sweet, middle aged man, mr. yoshimura, who had no kids and no immediate family. he knew the lack of a parent - let alone two - is not something that’s easy on children, so he moved to tokyo, in a neighborhood full of kids and families, in hopes of raising you surrounded by peers and whatnot. despite this, 5 year old you didn’t know any better: all alone, in a place you don’t know, and too timid to become friends with any of the kids in the local playground. but, when little you was just about to sob and run back to your house, a boy, one year older at best, stopped you.

“why’re you alone?” you’re quiet. then he flashes you a smile (and even if he’s missing his front tooth, it’s sweet), so you gather your courage and speak up. “i just moved here.” the boy laughs. “i’ll be your friend then!”

and that’s what kuroo is - a friend. a great one, of course, but even since then he’s set his mind of taking care of you. you grew up like siblings: both pained at the loss of your mother, both around the same age, and luckily enough, your house was just in front of his. so it’s only natural that you guys are close - sure, kenma hangs out with you guys when he manages to leave the house - but the bond you have is special. it’s unbreakable. you had countless sleepovers, hangouts, even cuddles when you first got your period and were in too much pain to do anything. the line was always a bit blurry, but you never paid any mind to it. kuroo is like your brother, and you both joke about it sometimes - calling you imouto and him onii chan, you viewed your relationship as entirely platonic, familial at best.

on the other hand, kuroo became smitten with you from your first meeting, only discovering his feelings when you were thirteen and puberty hit: everything became a bit too awkward, and your regular sleepovers gradually stopped. at sixteen, kuroo had already two small relationships under his belt, all while chastising you when you spent a bit too much time with any guy friend - he’s not good for you, you deserve better… are all excuses kuroo came up with to prevent you from getting your heart broken. at nineteen, kuroo’s in the third year of high school, and is about to graduate. you’ve grown now: you’re taller, prettier, and your body is… different, to say the least. testuro feels awful about his thoughts, but he’d be lying if he didn’t say he woke up with countless hard ons for years on end, involuntarily upsetting his girlfriends who were just placeholders compared to you. but, kuroo keeps scolding you when you forget your lunch or your scarf: “niichan’s not gonna be around forever, kay? gotta learn to take care of yourself, hm?” and you just nod, letting him do his thing because he’s naturally flirty. right?

however, kuroo is demoted to second place when you meet him: 6’2, awfully muscular and sickeningly sweet, one too many “that score was for ya, pretty!”, and a bit dumb but with a big heart (and big bulge in his shorts) - bokuto kotaro. he doesn’t go to your school, unfortunately, but it’s close enough for him to be at your school’s gymnasium regularly for countless volleyball matches with kuroo’s team. he’s sweet, sure, a bit dense, but very nice nonetheless. when he sees you, he always runs up to you, big smile and all, asking about your day, sometimes sneaking in some flirting - “good day, right y/nnie? hehe, couldn’t wait to see ya today. ya look as pretty as i thought you’d be!”. you always blush at the implications, and gradually you fond yourself smiling a bit more and blushing a bit harder. you twirl your hair when he talks to you, bat your eyelashes, not too much, but enough to make bokuto’s head spin and cock leak.

kuroo notices - of course he does. he’s always looking at you, naturally worried about what you’re up to, who’re you talking to. his heart beats a little bit faster, pumping envy and jealousy right into his veins, only fueling the deeply rooted love he has for you. he’s fuming, and it translates into the field perfectly: his spikes are a bit too harsh, a bit less precise, ultimately ending up hitting his friends in the head (and he goes back to normal soon after, apologizing and saying he wasn’t as concentrated). today’s match ends in a tie, fortunately for you, who are rooting for both teams - your niichan’s and bokuto’s. as you busy yourself talking to kenma after the match (or, blabbering about how cool bokuto looked, how strong he is, how big his muscles are, all the while kenma does nothing but sigh), the team captains are both changing in the locker room.

and of course, they’re nineteen and immature, so locker room talk is inevitable - but today, there’s just the two of them, the rest of the teams had left early. bokuto’s the one who speaks up first, while he runs a towel over his drenched hair. “so, kuroo… y’r sis was all dolled up today, don’tcha think?” kuroo doesn’t correct his friend. “guess so. that’s just her school uniform, though. ya think that’s dolled up?” “c’mon, the skirt was lots shorter! she’s got great legs too.” bokuto giggles, the thought of your exposed legs going straight to the bulge in his shorts. kuroo doesn’t laugh: well, of course you looked stunning, but bokuto’s just so crude about it, he thinks. “yeah, she’s hot.” kuroo mutters, earning a whistle from bokuto. “damn, thought ya’d kill me for sayin’ that over your imouto. well, whatever, she’s an eye candy, and a real smart girl too. she’s definitely my type, bro!”. kuroo fakes a laugh. “yeah, maybe she’s into you too. maybe she likes himbos.” “huh? ya think?” kuroo sighs.

when they’re done, they find you all bundled up next to the gym entrance, dozing off. your knees are pushed up to your chest, and your legs rest around your legs. your lips are slowly parted and the soft wind is blowing your hair just right. kuroo’s in awe - you’ve always been pretty, to say the least, but some days he swears you were made for him to see, to worship. bokuto chuckles, as if hearing his best friend’s inner dialogue, and his gaze follows the curves and shadows of your body, finding itself stuck on your glossy lips. bokuto hesitates a second too long, and kuroo’s the first to reach out to you, kneeling next to where you’re sitting. his hand caresses your hair, gently, with the experience of someone who’s been taking care of you for 14 years now. his face hovers near yours, hand sneaking up to your shoulder. “princess, wake up. lemme take you home.”, he breathes out, voice soft and meant only for you to hear. you begin to stir, subconsciously moving your face dangerously close to his. “tetsu?” his breath hitches. “yeah, pretty? ya tired?” “mhm.” kuroo chuckles, and takes you into his arms, slowly petting you awake. your body is pressed snugly against his, smaller and softer, as if it was made exactly for him to hold. he’s quiet when he feels his cock straining against his pants, too preoccupied with lifting you up. once you’re standing up, you rub your eyes, trying to make the sleepiness go away - and bokuto feels like his heart’s melting. “y’re pretty cute, ain’tcha?” he smiles. you’re suddenly reminded of his presence, the interaction you just with nii- no, with kuroo, suddenly makes you feel even more embarrassed.

kuroo breaks the uncomfortable silence. “we’ve got to go home.” you want to protest, but maybe he’s right. he wants to take care of you. so you nod, and wave goodbye to bokuto, before walking over to your childhood friend. as you two walk to your house, you make small talk - the chemistry test you had today, which he tutored you for, his university plans, the match he’s had today. “can i tell you something?” you ask, soft smile on your face. “hm? yeah. what’s up, cutie?” you giggle at the nickname - it’s sweet, childish, and he’s always called you that. “i think ‘m getting a crush on bokuto.”

and unexpectedly, he laughs. “really? ya like kotaro? dunno if he’s good for you, princess.” you nod - the weird feeling you had about the tension between the two captains is now gone - and are quick to defend him. “huh? why not? he’s so tall ‘n he’s so sweet!” you’re now outside your front door. kuroo pats your head, messing up your hair, earning a huff of frustration from you. “whatever ya want, cutie.” and he leans closer to you. it’s not unusual: he’s always been touchy. his lips hover near yours, and you feel like time stops. then, he presses a peck near the corner of your mouth. your face’s beet red - he’s never kissed you like this before - and you stammer out some words. “h-huh? wh-what’s that for, tetsu?” he chuckles, before turning around, about to leave. “can’t let him take you away from me. had you first.”

you spend the night tossing and turning in your bed, unable to catch any sleep. you sigh, and grab your phone, scrolling through your texts and notifications - one of which catches your attention: a dm on instagram. you open it, and you’re met by bokuto’s profile. you blush, feet kicking under the covers, and hurry to reply.

bokuto.taro1: hey hey pretty girl, just wanted to say you looked very pretty today. let me take ya out, yeah? let me show ya how serious i am about you.

your legs squeeze together - even his texting is attractive.

y/nniee: hi!! thank uu :) id love that actually

bokuto.taro1: ofc you do cutie. gotta ask permission to your nii-chan first, tho.

your breath hitches. right, kuroo. if he gave you a kiss just because you mentioned liking bokuto, you don’t know what he’ll do if he finds out he wants to take you out. your train of thought is interrupted by another ping from your phone.

bokuto.taro1: but seriously, baby, you’re so pretty. been thinking about you for a while now.. your skirts are gonna kill me one day.

bokuto.taro1: it’s late. better go to sleep, hm? before your nii nii finds out you’ve been texting me all night.

the date with bokuto went well. a movie theater date, watching the new horror movie you’ve seen all over your social media. he held your hand, bought you popcorn, and left you at your doorstep at 11 pm sharp. when he was about to leave, you spoke up. “w-wait.” “hm? what is it?” he turns around, curious. you walk over to him, and you cup his cheek. you pull him closer, and closer, until you’re both so close you’re breathing the same air. “want me to kiss ya?” you nod. he gets impossibly closer to you, and presses his lips on your jawline. “mhm, ya sure? tetsu’s gonna kill me.” his lips keep moving, now nibbling on your ear. you whimper. “please, kotaro? jus’ one kiss?” he giggles against your ear lobe, and brings his face back to yours, softly locking you in a soft, chaste kiss. your lips are soft, glossy, untouched, but it’s not enough for either of you.

“can’t do anythin’ more, princess. you don’t know what i’d do to ya right now, all pretty and shit. but your nii chan wants to be careful, you got it? ‘m gonna take great care of you if you let us.”

“n-nii chan?” “yeah, baby.” bokuto presses his lower body against yours, painfully hard cock poking your tummy. you whimper: it’s even bigger than what you imagined. bokuto can only laugh - you’re so tiny compared to him. “you feel it? that’s how hard- fuck - you make me. every day. have me tuggin’ at my cock for hours, can’t go down if i’m thinking about you, baby girl. you want it?” you nod, eyes glossy and lips parted, desperate to feel his bulge closer. “then ya’ve got to let your nii nii watch when i fuck you, alright? he wants to see his imouto get taken care of.” your heart stops - what? everything about this makes your poor head spin: what does kuroo have to do with this? well, you know he’s overprotective, but never this much. and there’s a little part of you that’s screaming at the creepiness of this situation. your niichan? your… brother? he wants to fuck you? well, in his defense, you’re not actual siblings, but you’ve always been so close - your stomach does a flip at the realization that each time you’d called him niichan, he had probably gotten off on it. you’re brought back to reality when bokuto presses another peck on your forehead, sweet, infantilizing, further dumbing you down to a poor, helpless little girl. “baby - whaddaya think? hm? we’re gonna take care of ya.” and you’re so ashamed of yourself when you nod in agreement.

so here you are - at home, sprawled on your soft mattress, as you wait for kuroo to come over. when bokuto called him, you’re sure you’ve heard a breathy laugh - dark, sinister, but you’re not too sure: even if this is a bit creepy, kuroo’s a good guy, right? your niichan who won’t let anything bad happen to you. bokuto senses your worries, hushing and shushing you by straddling your body. his lips press against yours, but it’s messier, wetter, than last time: they move with experience on top of yours, and as soon as you part your mouth slightly, he stuffs it with his fat tongue, exploring your hole. the room’s filled with your “ah- nghn… oh! a-ah…”s, and bokuto’s “quiet, girlie, lemme kiss ya a bit more…” as he sucks on your tongue. the kiss feels like it’s out of a porn comic - the ones you found on twitter, the ones you spent endless nights reading while rubbing desperately your clit. your tongues dance together, messy and desperately dirty, but it has you going dumb in seconds.

then, you hear a whistle coming out of your door. kuroo’s standing there, arms crossed as he watches bokuto’s much bigger body engulf yours. he has a big grin on his face - probably because of the sweet sounds you’re letting out, or because you look so cute with a much bigger man kissing you stupid. “bo, c’mon, let y/nnie breathe. right, cutie? he kissed you stupid already?” he breathes, getting closer to your bed. you’re tucked into the mattress, on top of your pink, girly sheets, hiding your trembling body behind your plushies (most of which were a gift from kuroo). kuroo sits on your bed, hand resting on your thigh, while bokuto leans back to take in your disheveled look - messy hair, smudged makeup, swollen lips. “tetsu…” you whimper, seeking comfort in someone you known so well. “see, bo? told you she needs to be taken care of.” kuroo turns to bokuto, his cheshire grin never faltering. bokuto laughs, then points at you with his head, bringing his friend’s attention back to you. “oh, princess”, kuroo coos, “poor thing. want me to take care of you?” you nod. the ache in your now drenched panties is unbearable, making your head spin and eyes tear up: you need it to stop, to go away - your hypersensitivity is so cute. so endearing, innocent.

just like the sweet, sugary kisses kuroo presses on your cheeks as bokuto begins to massage your shoulders. “hey, cutie”, he brings your attention back to him. “lemme undress you, hm? don’t hafta do anythin’, sweet girl, i’ll take care of ya.” “hm, ngh… y-yes plea-ah-se!” and he gets to work. he leaves you in your underwear - a baby pink cotton set, with bows and white details. so cute. bokuto can’t enjoy the show as much as he’d like to, though, because kuroo’s hand flows to one of your breasts, cupping the soft flesh he’s dreamed of for ages. you stifle your moans: the feeling is so foreign and weird, but it’s so good. “angel,” tetsuro speaks against your ear, voice sending electricity throughout your body, “always dreamt about this. about your pretty body.” his thumb moves to your covered nipple, already hard and pressed snugly against the fabric of your bra. “n-nii chan…” kuroo feels his cock strain - oh, you pervert. you nasty, dirty girl, calling him big bro when he’s rubbing your tits sore. but, he can’t scare you away. he wants to hear you keep calling him that, to show bokuto your bond is stronger than any other you’ll ever have.

so kuroo’s quiet. “what is it, imouto?”

the name makes your neglected cunny twitch. but everything is feels so good, four hands touching and pawing at you, two hot men on your bed kissing you stupid. so you keep going - puffing up your lips. “wanna kiss. please.” your gaze flickers between bokuto and kuroo, but eventually settling on the latter. kotaro can wait, right? but oh, kissing your tetsu feels so wrong. unfortunately for you, he doesn’t hesitate, locking your lips together. it’s messy, raw, and so unbearably wrong, but it makes your pussy pulse a bit more, and it almost calms down the anxiety pooling into your stomach. it’s your tetsu, your niichan - yes, it’s wrong, but he knows you best, no? that’s why he’s here.

bokuto’s jealous - why is he here if you’re gonna kiss your brother all night? so he acts. he, not without a struggle, unhooks your bra, letting your pretty tits fall exposed. you whimper, but it goes unnoticed as bokuto latches his mouth on your other nipple, sucking harshly the warm flesh. your head spins, and you feel like fainting when kuroo mimics his friend. they lick, bite, mark your tits, leaving them all swollen and bruised. your mouth feels empty, and you tentatively reach over to the two men. “ca-ahn, can you… nghm, guys k-kiss me more? ‘m achin’ do-down there…” oh. they were both so intent on competing with each other, they stopped coddling their sweet girl. kuroo goes back to kissing you, pulling you into his lap as you face bokuto. the former’s cock is pressed against the swell of your ass, and the latter is kissing your body, going lower and lower until he presses a final, wet kiss on your panty clad pussy.

“bo, take em off. she soiled her panties anyway.” kuroo orders, voice slightly muffled because he just won’t stop kissing you. bokuto does just that - he pecks your cunny two more times, then rolls down your drenched underwear, leaving your pretty pussy bare. the two men feel their cocks pulsing: the sight of your cunt being almost too much for them to handle. it’s puffy, wet, but twitching and they can see your little clit peeking from your squishy folds. tetsuro squeezes your tits, and speaks up. “princess - y’want a cock in there? want us to fuck you?” how can he be so crude about this? but your pretty cunny is screaming at you to stuff her, to make her feel so full, so you whimper out an answer. “mh-mhm tetsu… pl-please…mhgn.. o-one of you…” bokuto smiles and pets your head, his much bigger hand messing up your hair. “lemme do it - please? lemme ruin your pretty cunny, baby, fuck, she looks so pretty. ‘m gonna stuff her nice ‘n well, princess, jus’ how you wanna.” kuroo let’s out a dry laugh. “what’s gotten you so worked up, bo? her pussy that pretty?” kuroo jolts you into his lap, positioning your jerking cunt right on top of his clothed, painfully hard cock, earning a loud moan from you. he softens when you whimper and moan - you’re too fucked out, too dumb already, so you need to be fucked by someone’s who’s careful, caring. “y/nnie.”

his voice is grounding, strict, something you’ve heard all your life. your nii-chan, your tetsuro. he is a comforting presence throughout all of this - so you nod. “please-ahse, nii-channgh… oh!” “please what, princess? want me to be the one to fuck your angelcunt first?” “mhm! please!” bokuto sighs - should’ve known the pretty girl he’s liked for a few months now had a brother complex. kuroo turns you around, so that you’re facing him. he undoes his zipper, letting his cock spring free from the tightness of his boxers. it’s thick, with a stupidly red, fat tip that’s leaking so much precum. your mouth waters at the sight - your nii chan’s dick rests above your cunny, and it looks so big. then, you see another pair of hands sneak from behind, squeezing your waist, your hips, and resting near your crotch. bokuto’s hard, muscular chest is pressed against your back, head resting on your shoulder, and his thumb inches closer and closer to your clit. “kuroo, y’re gonna stick your dick in her without rubbin’ her clit? just for a bit, i-i’ll do that.” kuroo’s taken aback - he was so focused on making you his, on marking you before anyone else, that he forgot about easing your nerves. you throw your head back as bokuto’s fingers slip inside your hole, thumb drawing hearts on your clit, while his other hand pinches and rubs your nipple. “ta-ah, taro! nghn… ah- uh - ‘m g-gonna…!” your cry out.

his attack on your cunt is rough, hypocritically so when he just chastised kuroo for not taking care of you. “ya can do it, puppy, sing more for me mkay? wanna hear ya scream for me while i cuddle yer cunt. she’s so fuckin’ tight, holy shit. she’s loud too, hear that, y/nnie?”the squelching noises of your sopping pussy are so embarrassing, and the way he talks about it is so dirty - but it makes your slimy walls flutter around his fingers even tighter. “da-hmph!” “what’s that, bunny? what’re ya trying to call me, huh?” “da-ah… daddy…”

oh, fuck. bokuto presses his thumb harder on your clit, making you scream as you cum for the first time that night. kuroo’s cock twitches as he seethes - so jealous of the sweet moment between you and his friend. he can’t let you think about bokuto, no, he needs to bring you back to him - so he nudges his tip against your hole, swatting away the hands of the other man, uncaring of your pleas and cries. his tip’s big - and kuroo knows that making you ride him will hurt. but all the better for him, he’s gonna shape your insides to fit his cock only.

“angel.” you sniffle. “angel, ‘m gonna put it in, kay? focus on me.” “nii-chan…” “yeah, fuck. just like that, pretty, keep callin’ me - wanna hear you. ‘m gonna teach you how to sit on cock, yeah?” you nod. kuroo kisses you as he slips it in, popping your cherry. it’s painful, yes, but it’s so big, you’re so full - you’re already going dumb on your nii chan’s cock. kuroo positions your limp body so that you’re fully impaled by his length, fully sitting on it. “you’ve gotta bounce on it, bunny, make your nii chan cum.” you cry, fat tears streaming down your cheeks, but you do that regardless - because you want your kuroo nii to feel good. when he cums, he does it in you, cock kissing your cervix stupid, letting his fluids stain your cunny. you cream around him soon after, crying out for your nii chan.

then, kuroo reluctantly slips out of you. there’s a small pause, then you’re stuffed again. only this time, it’s bokuto’s cock that’s seeking your tight heat. he slipped into you from behind, and he presses you down on the bed - face down, ass up. “didn’t wanna be mean, baby. jus’ needed your pussy. so, so bad - forgive me, yeah?” “‘s fi-fine, taro, feels so - fuck! so g-good!” your voice is muffled, face smothered in blankets and plushies. as bokuto slams his cock in and out of you, you’re hugging one of the teddy bears - this one specifically was a gift from kuroo for your finals day last year. it makes you all warm and fuzzy, subconsciously clenching your cunt even tighter around his friend’s cock. kuroo notices - and he thinks you’re so cute, all needy for him even when you have another dick in you.

so he takes his cock in his hand again, and turns your head around: his tip kisses your lips, prodding at your mouth. “y/nnie… wanna suck here for a bit? make you feel all better.” and you hazily do so. as bokuto plows into you, you take kuroo’s dick in your mouth, slowly working your way down his shaft. you kiss his tip, lick it, suck on it to get used to the taste; it’s comforting, grounding, making you don’t feel as anxious as you’d be while having your first time. kotaro caresses your head as you start bobbing it up and down tetsuro’s length. “good fuckin’ girl - so sweet for us. such an angel, right kuroo?” “mh? yeah. makes me wanna do this again- fuck, y/nnie, i’m going to cum… don’t have to swallow, kay? you’re doing so good for nii chan.” tears pool in your eyes, both from the reassurance and the knot in your stomach snapping - you cum around kotaro’s cock, just as kuroo’s member slips out of your mouth and his cum splatters on your giggling tits and lips. bokuto cums soon later, dick going flaccid inside of your cunt.

you collapse on the bed, exhausted.

you’re awoken by the feeling of soft fabric on your skin - someone’s cleaning up your body. you pry one eye open, and both boys are still here. before you can say anything, bokuto speaks. “you were so good for us, sweetheart. thank you for letting us fuck you, yeah?” you blush - suddenly hyper aware of the situation you were just in. you look over at kuroo, who’s the one cleaning up your used pussy. “tetsu?” “yeah, baby? he’s right - such an angel.”

once they’re done cleaning you up, you squirm back into your blankets, tired. kuroo’s hand caresses your head, and bokuto’s holding your hand. you feel so safe, taken care of. “can you guys sleep here tonight?”

bokuto knows deep down that he can’t compete with kuroo. he loves you, he really does, but there’s just something so fucked up about your bond - and he feels bad for you. how you’re so dependent on kuroo for everything. how you’re such a fragile, pathetic girl enabled by the one you trust the most. you’re beyond fixing - he noticed how you clenched when you called him your big bro, how you went for his cock with no hesitation, how you let him fuck you after you went on a date with another guy. maybe it’s not that bad. you’re not actually related, right? it’s just a pet name, maybe that’s what childhood friends do. sure, that must be it.

kuroo notices. of course he does. and he’s got everything where he wants it to be. you sleeping on his chest (well, your hand is holding kotaro’s, but it could he worse), and a tissue with your mixed fluids thrown in the bin right next to the bed as proof of your actions just a few hours ago. but, he can’t lie: he feels somewhat guilty, maybe subconsciously so, for taking advantage of you. he knows his friend’s awake, and you’re in such a deep sleep, you probably won’t stir even if they chat for a bit.

“bo?” “yeah?” “i’m not gonna lie to you. i really don’t want you guys to go out together.” “yeah, figured as much - bokuto laughs - but you’re still my best friend and i still like her. even if you’re a creep for calling her sis when you’re fucking her, man.” there’s no malice in the air - just plain boy rivalry. kuroo replies after a few seconds. “she still lost her virginity to her nii chan. guess i’m not the only weirdo here. but still, dude, ‘m not gonna let her go so easily.”

bokuto sighs - he knows you’ll always run back to your big bro. that doesn’t stop him from trying. when you’ll wake up, he’ll still try his best to score another date with you. and kuroo will be there to remind you that he’s the only good guy for you - until you’ll be under him again while you cry for your nii chan to fuck you harder. you’re not sane in the head, but kuroo doesn’t mind. he’s here to make you feel better.

©️ ryuucam 2025.

[rueclfer]

shoujo touya save meeee pleaseee shoujo touya save me from the trenchessss

pull me through // touya todoroki

You awkwardly stood a few steps behind Touya as he felt around under the doormat for the spare key to his home. You two got along quite well for a couple of students who were on the opposite sides of the rankings, but never close enough to visit each other's home like this.

You were student council president, and Touya got suspended for setting the toilet on fire last year. That is how far you two were.

"Alright, come on in." He holds the door open for you to walk in before him.

At first glance, it seemed close to extravagant, but the closer you looked, it felt cozier by the second from the amount of framed photos, artwork, and trinkets displayed on every wall and counter.

In the living room, his younger siblings were all lined up like ducks as if they were awaiting for your arrival.

"Hi Fuyumi." You threw a wave at her.

"Hi Y/N!" She beams back.

You two worked on the student council together, so you were already close with her despite being a year older.

"Wait, this is Y/N?" The middle child with all white hair exclaims.

Fuyumi quickly swats her brother's arm, shushing him.

"Oooohh. Y/N, I know you!" The littlest one states, stepping up to you with an All Might figurine in hand.

"Oh do you?" You cock an eyebrow at Touya as he takes your jacket to put up by the door and your school bag off of your shoulder. You bent down to his level. "Your brother talks about me often?"

"No I don't." He quips before he could answer for himself, shooting a glare in their direction. "I don't know what either of them are talking about."

"Meet my ball and chains." He huffs with a hint of a smile in his voice. "Shouto, Natsuo, and you already know Fuyumi from your nerd thing."

"Can I play with them?" Shouto asks, moving over to Touya to tug on his pant leg.

"No you can't, turd. We have to work on a project so none of you bother us. Kay?" He motions you to follow him upstairs, slinging both of your bags over his shoulder.

You quickly follow behind him. "But maybe after!" You call out from midway up the stairs, giving them a final wave.

Upon entering his room, he sets your bag on his desk, letting you take the seat while he settles on his bed right next to you, whipping his laptop open.

Despite being somewhat of a delinquent, you knew that Touya was smart and had capabilities to be top of the class if he really cared to. You had no worries about this project, but the circumstance of being alone in his bedroom on the other hand, almost made you nervous,

"Your siblings seem to like me." You broke the tense silence as you two logged onto your presentation. "You definitely talk about me, huh?"

"It's probably Fuy. She's a big fan of yours." He glances over at you. "She talks about you way too much around here."

"You got a problem with that?"

"What, like I don't get enough of you at school?" He chuckles, biting on the end of his pen. "Don't I, Prez?"

"Lucky you, then. Not many people have that kind of access to me. I'm pretty high in demand, if you ask me." You tease back, meeting his eye for a moment before returning your attention back on your screen.

He pushes his laptop out and leans back in his bed, propping his upper half up on his elbow to face you with his pen still hanging out of his mouth.

"I wonder how those people feel about you spending all that time with such a loser like me? Not scared to tarnish that golden reputation of yours?"

"You give yourself too much credit." You laugh. "You've been such a good boy lately, I don't think anyone really bats an eye." You say sweetly, swiveling your chair to fully face him.

He chuckles to himself and diverts his eyes away from yours as a rush of blood floods to his cheek.

"Anyways..." He clears his throat, rubbing the back of his neck as his ears slightly flush into red. "Back to this bullshit."

You two talk back and forth about the project for a while, slipping into silence every now and then as you work on your respective slides.

In your peripheral, you noticed that every so often, he would glance up at you from his screen like clockwork. It makes you a bit too self aware of yourself, forcing you to keep your posture straight, not to bounce your leg too much, and to keep your fidgeting at bay.

"You're grinding your teeth." He mutters, breaking the silence. "I can hear it, like sandpaper."

"It's just a focus thing." You reply, biting the inside of your cheeks to combat the habit.

"I can't stop looking at them in class.." You hear from outside of the door, paired with the boys' giggling. "...They're all I can think about, I feel so stupid."

You and Touya both stop shoot each other a confused glance, not quite sure what Natsuo and Shouto were going on about in the hallway.

"What are they doing?" You lean in and whisper.

"I don't fucking know?" He shrugs. "Maybe reading one of Fuy's books?"

"How cute." You chuckle, returning your attention to the project.

"Prez would never want a guy like me. I want to do better, but I'm fucking hopeless." The boys start, their footsteps running up and down the hallway this time.

"Natsuo! That's a bad word, you can't say that!" Shouto cries.

Your eyes widened and glanced over at Touya, whose face had now drained of color, jaw slightly gaped open.

He slams his laptop shut and frantically feels around under his pillow and covers, as if he had misplaced something.

"What're you looking for?" You asked, watching him rummage through his school bag after going through his bed.

"I'm going to fucking kill them." He mutters, throwing his bag on the floor. "I'm actually going to kill them."

He walks over to swing his bedroom door open, revealing the two boys leaning against the wall with a book in hand, flipping through the pages.

"Where the fuck did you two get that!?"

The two younger boys scream and scurry down the hall with Touya right on their tail. You follow them out into the hallway, watching them run a muck around the house.

Natsuo and Shouto eventually circle their way back to Touya's room, shoving themselves right behind you a second before Touya is able to get to them.

"Guys?" You look down at Shouto clutching your leg and Natsuo breathing hard, peering over your shoulder. "What did you two do?" You put a hand down on the top of Shouto's head, tapping it to get his attention up at you.

"Natsuo did it!" He cries, burying his face into your side. "I didn't do anything." He muffled into your shirt.

"You're the one who gave me his diary, you liar!" Natsuo reaches over and flicks Shouto's head. "Shouto did it!"

"What the hell is going on?" Fuyumi comes out of her room.

"These fuckers went through my things." Touya huffs, face now red. "Y/N. Move over please." He inches closer.

"No! Y/N please!" Natsuo cries behind you, clutching on you tighter.

"Whoooaa. Okay, okay let's relax everyone." You nervously chuckle.

"You, take a step back." You put a finger on Touya's chest, lightly pressing him to take a couple steps back into the hallways.

You noticed Touya clenching onto a journal so tight that his knuckles were white, jaw tense seething with anger.

"You two, go with your sister." You pried the two kids from your side, ushering them towards Fuyumi, in which she properly slapped the back of their heads the moment they got to her.

"Idiots. What did I tell you guys? Get in." She huffs before closing the door behind them.

"Don't think you're safe! Your ass is grass once Y/N leaves." He calls out before the door clicks shut.

"You, stop it. Come inside." You pull him in by the elbow.

"Jesus fucking christ." He groans into his hands, throwing the journal on his bed. "You didn't hear any of that, alright? None of that happened."

"Yup. You got it." You silently chuckle to yourself. "Absolutely nothing."

You watch him shove the journal deep into his school bag before throwing it back on the ground and flopping down in his bed, face buried in his pillow.

"FUCK!" He screams into his pillow, tightly gripping the sides of it.

"Okay let's just finish this shit and get it over with." He huffs, turning on his back and leaning up against the headboard, dragging his laptop back up to his lap.

"Oh so you really didn't wanna talk about it?"

"Talk about what?" He shoots you a threatening glance.

You ignored the hostile look, anyways. "You have a crush on me." You bite your bottom lip to hide a side. "That's what that was, right?"

"Who said all that shit was about you, huh?"

"You got another 'Prez' in your life?" You cock an eyebrow.

He went silent for a moment, running a hand through his hair and blowing out a breath of air.

"Let's not do this right now."

"That's fine." You turn your attention back to your laptop. "I'm just saying, though, you don't have to do 'better' for me to like you. I already do."

Another beat of silence passes.

"Cool. Cool." He squeaks out. "Um. Can you double check my slides for me?" He coughs.

You looked at him in your peripheral to see him covering the bottom half of his face with his hand, hiding the impending blush creeping up his face as he kept his eyes glued to his screen.

"Sure." You smiled. "Only if you double check mine."

-

bonus scene hehe:

over the next week of school, touya had been actively avoiding you- which you expected. it wasn't until one late school day where you had to stay behind for your council meeting when you caught him waiting by your cubby.

"touya." you greeted, holding out your bag for him to take while you started switching your shoes out. "what are you still doing here?"

"got a request to deliver to you, prez." he responds with a smirk, leaning up against the cubbies with your bag under his arm.

"oh yeah? well unfortunate for you, but i'm off the clock. you should file it in the student council box."

"it's a special request that can only be delivered in person." he rolls his eyes. "also i'm walking you home, so you don't really have a choice."

you laugh, starting your way out of school. "okay, then. go for it."

"go out with me this weekend."

your breath hitches from surprise. you had to admit to yourself that you had been waiting for some sort of confession or at the very least a chat about the last time you had seen him, but for him to almost demand a date with you caught you off guard.

"really?" you snap your attention to him, face heating up.

"really."

"i'd love to." you smile. "you feel like talking about it now? or do i gotta go through your diary for that?"

"shut up. it's a journal- two very different things." he nudges you with his elbow. "fuyumi yelled at me after you left and told me that i was an emotionally constipated prick, so i guess that inspired me to get my shit together."

"sooo.." you motion for him to continue.

"sooo...i like you. i have for a while." he starts "and i got my marks up for this quarter. for you. well, technically for me, but i wanted you to see that i was trying."

your heart swelled at this simple act. "you didn't have to do that. i told you i like you regardless- even after you set the toilet on fire."

"we don't talk about that version of me last year." he laughs "and i wanted to. you made me want to do it for me."

you two continue to walk home chirping in conversation and light teases. you had always been drawn to him despite his bad habits and annoying mannerisms, but you knew he always had it in him to do good things and make better choices for himself. knowing that he did it because of his inspiration to be a good person for you only made you like him more.

[l0s3rd0wnt0wn]

The rivalry between wb!reader and Tim is basically just “I waited three and a half years, white man did I in one week.” And it’s very funny to me

I LOVE THE DR UMAR REFERENCE BUT IT SO TRUE THOUGH

In the beginning, the reader hated and envied Tim to a sickly amount. The two of you are pretty similar in likes and dislikes and weird interests; it's just that he's popular and you're not. You're actively tweaking. Like, what do you mean he was at the top of his class, did acrobatics, while still being friends with both nerds and jocks? Life is just not fair. You're fuming with jealousy; you want to see him fail so badly. You're looking like the Reverse Flash, praying for his downfall each night. And what makes it even worse is he refuses to admit he's a loser and a weirdo. He collects Transformers in his spare time, and he will never admit you're trying to bond with him over your love of manga and shounen. He just calls Naruto corny like he wasn't a NaruSasu shipper at one point. He'll never admit he's like you, but Tim is also a little jealous of you. He'd rather die than admit it. But how you're so unapologetically yourself is refreshing. You’re so passionate and excited about things; you show off your stacks of Bleach katanas you've collected over the years. You're you, and he's so scared to be him. He's weird, but he'd rather it be surface-level than your weird, even though deep down, his freak cannot be matched.

So, when you come to him yapping about D&D, he doesn't know how to feel. He's been hiding that part of himself for so long; it's scary for it to pop out. So he pretends like he doesn't know or care, when he does, and it's eating away at him like a mouse chewing on drywall. So when he gets obsessed, he's on you like crazy. You think this is a bloody rivalry that will end with somebody dead on the floor bleeding out while the other stands victorious; but in Tim's eyes, he's spending time with his sweet younger sibling who loves shounen manga. The reader is having a mid-life crisis, not being able to make actual friends that aren't surface-level and trying to make people remember their names, while Tim is picking out little Vocaloid keychains, wondering which one you like. You're gatekeeping games from him and niches, but he'll find out easily. You can't even watch Yo-kai Watch with him, reciting the entire wiki. You hate him so much, and he really wants you to like him. He'd cut off all his friends if it meant hanging out with you and being a good big brother.

"Look, [Name], there's a new Invincible comic out; let's read it together!" Who the fuck snitched on you and told him you like Invincible? Can't have shit in this house!

[trippinsorrows]

dreamland: no yeetmas

authors note: here is the christmas oneshot! hope it's enjoyable. even if heavy at some points.

merry christmas! ❤️

warnings: detailed discussions pertaining to domestic violence

words: 8k

Date night with six kids, date night with seven kids, one of them being a three month-old newborn, is practically impossible, but if there’s one thing Roman Reigns will always prioritize, it’s one on one time with his wife.

A promise made when Lina and Leya were not even a month old. One where he and Solana vowed to always make sure to make time for each other, no matter what.

A promise that’s been kept over the years, even with the birth of their baby girl, Aubriela. 

And, just like all of their date nights, it’s a fun, needed kidfree time. No arguing, no yelling, no cat mowing or dog barking. Just him and her with a private dinner on a yacht. A wonderful evening they stretch as much as they can, eventually heading back home so Solana can nurse Aubriela. 

However, the small smile that’s been on Roman’s face, and the even bigger one on his wife’s all night, are instantly wiped off the minute they step foot into their mansion.

And Roman is the first to speak. “What the hell?”

Solana’s mouth is ajar as she takes in the chaos and mess around her. Legos, toys, dolls, and other items scattered across the living room. Three unfolded baskets of laundry sitting after Roman specifically tasked his teenagers with taking care of it.

A sink full of dishes Solana left Koa and Kai with handling, them simply needing to load the dishwasher.

And the madness around them is only matched by the loud, boisterous sounds coming from upstairs. And despite this noise, because of their trained ears, both mother and father can make out the sound of a baby crying. A sound that becomes clearer and louder.

“Aubriela,” Solana murmurs to herself, taking off her heels and moving to the staircase where, at the top, a figure appears.

Leya is holding her crying sister, her eyes widening slightly when she realizes her parents are home.

“Mom.” She swallows, mouth opening and closing as she rocks her baby sister. “We were just—”

“Give her to me,” Solana interrupts, walking halfway up the stairs to retrieve her crying newborn, kissing her temple and already picking up on the wail being her ‘hungry’ cry. Solana takes the baby blanket off Leya’s shoulder as well and turns on the steps to walk into the living room. 

As Leya follows her mother to explain, Roman moves to the steps and shouts, “everybody down here, now!”

The voice is one that penetrates through the noise, all kids clearly hearing him as the sound of hurried footsteps follows. 

Roman locks eyes with Tama first, Lina coming in second, Koa and Kai’s heads peeking through in between their big siblings. Roman steps aside and places his hands on his hips. “On the sofa. All of you.”

Tama rolls his eyes. “Dad—”

Roman’s sharp gaze moves back to his oldest son. “What I say?”

Tama sighs loudly but follows suit, Koa and Kai behind him. Aroha is the last to arrive, skipping down the steps and smiling. “Hi, daddy.” She motions to her costume, which should be pajamas, as it’s well past her bedtime. “Look! I’m a fairy!”

Roman also sighs, directing, “go sit down on the sofa, Aroha.”

He’s not surprised by the look of confusion on her face but is at least relieved to see her follow his instructions. With all the kids gathered, Roman walks over to the living room where Solana sits, nursing Aubriela, using the baby blanket to prevent her breast being exposed.

Roman stands before his kids, jumping right to the point. “What the hell is all of this?”

Lina is the first to speak, phone in her hand as she texts. “What do you mean?”

“You know exactly what I mean, Lina,” is his stern response. He’s about to tell her to put her phone away when it dawns on him that they’re all on some type of device. From his oldest to his youngest, aside from his newborn baby. Roman pinches the bridge of his nose, trying his best not to snap on them.

Solana speaks up, her voice sharp and clear. She says something in Spanish, all of the kids looking up, mostly annoyed, followed by them all putting the phones, iPads, and tablets beside them. 

Roman casts his wife a glance. She gives him a supportive nod, clearly picking up on the fact that he’s doing his best to remain calm.

He’s appreciative, because these kids are certainly not making it any easier.

He decides to be a bit more specific, asking the older teens, “why are your brothers and sister still up?” He glances at the watch on his wrist. “It’s almost 10 o’clock at night.”

Tama sucks his teeth. “Dad, you know they don’t listen to us.”

“I’m really tired of hearing that excuse, Tamasa.” Because he is. Roman knows his younger children can be headstrong and stubborn, a lot like him, but so can Tama. His oldest boy knows how to get the kids in order.

If he fucking tries.

“Aroha,” Solana speaks up, directing her address to her daughter. “You know it’s past your bedtime.”

And the guilty look on her face confirms as such. That doesn’t stop her from arguing in her little voice, pointing to her sister, “But, mommy! Lina wouldn’t read me a bedtime story!”

“Oh my gosh,” Lina rolls her eyes and scoffs, turning to her little sister. “You don’t need a bedtime story.”

“It’s part of her routine, Catalina. You know this,” Solana reminds, adding, “and I left you in charge of putting her to bed.”

“But beyond that, Aroha, Koa, Kai, why are these toys all over the damn living room?” Roman joins in, motioning to the mess of legos, dolls, and other randoms that are scattered across the floor. “You know damn well ya’ll are supposed to pick up after yourselves.” He turns to the teens, pointing to the laundry. “And ya’ll were supposed to fold and put away these clothes. I told you that before we left.”

“The dishes aren’t done either,” Solana points out, looking at her twin boys. “I asked you both to load the dishwasher. It’s your night to do it.”

Kai kicks his feet in an almost bored manner as Koa scowls, asking, “don’t we have a maid?”

Tama snorts, quietly agreeing, “literally.”

Roman cuts his eyes at not one but the set of his kids, reminding, “whether we have a maid or not doesn’t matter. When your mom and I tell ya’ll to do something, ya’ll need to do it.”

The fact this discussion is even transpiring is partially baffling to Roman. Not entirely surprising though, as it was one of the things he and Solana discussed during the date night. How something seems to have overtaken their children, shifting them from the overall well-behaved kids they usually are to almost defiant, borderline disrespectful things. It’s gotten to the point where both he and his wife have noticed them constantly having to repeat themselves, something that’s out of the norm.

Sure, it happens every so often, but they’re kids. That’s normal.

Lately though….it’s become too much.

And Roman is sick of it. 

“Your mom and I have been picking up your slack the past few weeks, and we’re tired of it. We have this big ass house and several of you. There’s no reason for the—”

“So, let’s get another maid,” Tama’s muttered “joke” evokes small giggles and smiles across the board with his siblings, even Aroha.

And, it’s in that moment that it hits him. 

That Roman realizes just how bad this is.

How spoiled his kids have become, a word he never thought he’d have to use for them but one that’s clearly applicable. And, it’s confirmed when he locks eyes with his wife whose expression indicates they’re exactly on the same page.

She proves it with a small nod, indicating from him to go.

Roman shakes his head to himself, knowing what he needs to do.

It’s time to fix this.

“I don’t know when the hell ya’ll became so ungrateful and entitled, but I’m not here for this shit, and I’m not putting up with it anymore.” Because, he’s not. Because this has gone on too long, and it’s time for him to handle it. “Ya’ll don’t even realize how lucky you are to have what you have, so it’s time we remind you of of it.” And without missing a beat, he announces, “Christmas is canceled.”

Silence.

And then small smiles and light laughter.

Leya is the first to notice, however, that neither of her parents look like they find anything funny about the situation. “W–what?”

Roman, again, is clear and concise with his words. “You heard me. Christmas is cancelled. None of ya’ll are getting a damn thing from us or Santa.”

And, it’s that second reiteration, perhaps the inclusion of profanity and Santa, seems to trigger the seriousness of the situation for the kids.

 Because thus the commencement of the panic.

“What!”

“You can’t do that!”

“It’s Christmas! We always celebrate Christmas!”

“Dad! You said I could get the latest Jordans!”

“What about our new monitors?!”

“Daddy! Santa has to come!”

“Not this year.” He silences the protests, reaffirming his stance. “You guys have become unappreciative for everything your mom and I do for ya’ll, so why should we reward that?” It’s a fair and valid question that, again, Roman never anticipated having to ask of his kids. He knows that he’s always essentially given them whatever they asked for, but they’ve always been respectful in return. Always followed the rules. So, he had no issue.

But now that that’s no longer happening, he’s going to have to teach them a lesson. 

A hard lesson.

Clearly recognizing there’s not going to be a win with him, the kids redirect their focus on the less strict of their two parents. 

“Mom?!”

However, both parents are very much on the same page. 

“Your dad is right.” Floored expressions all around. “ You all have no idea how blessed you are and what you have compared to what we went through as kids. It’s time you learn a lesson.” Solana stands up, Aubriela clearly done feeding and needing to be changed. “Christmas is canceled.”

—------

It’s been some time since the Reigns children have come together in the name of a common goal or enemy. It’s an alliance usually reserved for whenever one of the kids is being bullied or needs help with a situation. Or, in lighter times, if they’re working to surprise one or both of their parents for a special occasion, such as a birthday or anniversary.

However, there is nothing light about this situation.

The canceling of Christmas, all of the kids’ most favorite holiday, is something that’s never happened before, thus, at first, they’re not sure how to react. Even chalk it up to their parents being so upset in the moment but bound to change their minds when they calm down. 

Especially their dad.

Except that’s not what happens. Because it’s going on three days since the formal announcement, and the ruling has remained the same.

No Christmas this year.

And, it’s not because the kids haven’t done their best to right their wrongs. Staying on top of their chores. Even taking on a few not asked of them. Pleasants smiles and battling eyes all around. Yet, none of it seems to make a difference, both their dad and mom reminding, them, “this doesn’t change anything. Christmas is still canceled.”

It’s how they know that this is a dire situation, and dire situations call for backups and reinforcements. 

Gathered around in the main room of their massive basement, the Reigns kids and their Uncle Jimmy sit and work to plot. Or rather, the older kids, Koa and Kai included, along with Jimmy, discuss strategy while Aroha is in the corner humming and coloring at her arts and crafts table.

“Damn. Ya’ll really got your parents mad enough to cancel Christmas?” Jimmy shakes his head, popping a handful of popcorn in his mouth, talking while chewing. “I’d expect that from ya’ dad, but Soso? That’s crazy.”

Tama frowns and points out, “doesn’t dad hate it when you call mom that?”

“Is your daddy around?”

Lina rolls her eyes, texting and muttering, “he’s always around.” She only briefly rips her attention away from the conversation transpiring through texts to see Aroha is now spinning in a circle, clearly pretending to be a ballerina. Fitting, given that she’s wearing one of her fifty million different tutus.

Jimmy suddenly darts his eyes, finishing chewing and clearing his throat almost nervously. “Well, let’s get this shit figured out.” 

“Yeah, cause we have a business call at 3,” Koa informs as he and Kai type away on their laptops they built themselves when they were eight. 

Jimmy frowns. “Business call? Ain’t ya’ll like 7?”  

Kai glares, correcting his uncle. “We’re 10, Uncle Jimmy.”

“Same difference,” he dismisses. “Too many of ya’ll to keep up with anyway.”

Tama runs his hands over his face, his striking resemblance to his father when Roman was his age even more prominent with the gesture. “Ya’ll, can we please stay focused?”

Jimmy sucks his teeth. “I don’t know why ya’ll so stressed. The solution to this problem is simple.” He licks his lip and gestures to Aroha. “Just have lil bit fix it.”

The teens all share a look, Tama asking, “Aroha?” The child in question doesn’t hear her name being referenced. Thankfully. “How?”

“Amateurs.” Jimmy shakes his head and goes on to explain. “Everybody know your daddy can’t say no to her. She got some cute kid magic on him or something. Get her to give him that cute face she do that remind him of ya mama, and I guarantee ya’ll Christmas will be back on by the end of the day.” 

It’s so…..simple.

But genius. 

Lina, Leya, and Tama all give each other unspoken nods of approval and agreement. 

Koa and Kai’s eyes are alight with excitement, already anticipating the gifts they’re going to receive. “Uncle Jimmy, you’re a genius.”

“Man, you know how I do. That’s why I’m the QB!”

The plan, for all intents and purposes, is easy enough. One that really only calls for Aroha to be her adorable self. However, it’s the unknown of it all that has the kids a little nervous.

“Okay, Roro,” Lina offers a sweet smile, pushing back some of her curls, ensuring the earpiece is hidden after the group walks her through the plan. “You know what you have to do, right?”

She nods happily. “Cuddles with mommy and daddy!”

Koa slaps his forehead and mutters, “we’re doomed.”  

“No, Roro,” Tama moves to one knee, explaining, “you just have to tell mom and dad how sorry you are, you’ll be better, and you’ll be super sad if Christmas is canceled.” 

“Make sense, lil bit?” Jimmy asks with a tentative thumbs up.

Her smile is bright as she gleefully exclaims, “Okay!”

There’s still skepticism around, primarily with Koa and Kai, but they also recognize that this is their best bet. 

So with high fives from her siblings, and all parties earpieces verified to be working, they send the youngest Reigns girl on her mission. 

Aroha finds both her parents in Aubriela’s nursery where they’re helping her with tummy time. Roman is the first to notice his little girl. “Hey, Roro.”

She walks over to her dad, hands on his shoulder as he moves an arm around her. Aroha waves at her sister. “Hi, little baby!”

Solana giggles quietly, gently rattling the toy in front of Aubriela and motioning to Aroha. “There’s your hermana, mija.”

Aubriela, however, is too focused on the toy, making small, incoherent sounds. Solana chuckles and looks up. “You alright, Roro?”

“Alright, baby girl,” Jimmy says in the earpiece. “Now’s your chance.” 

And without hesitation, she announces her request with all the confidence in the world. “I wanna play with my tablet!”

“No!” It’s said louder than Tama intended but with all the frustration shared among his siblings.

Jimmy mutes his mic, sharing with the group. “Ya’ll sister might be a little slow.” 

“Uncle Jimmy,” Leya lightly scolds, speaking into the mic. “Aroha, no, you’re supposed to—”

“Did you do your reading yet?”

“Shit,” Lina curses, just now remembering her mom asked her to help Aroha with her reading if need be.

Aroha shakes her head no, murmuring, “I want tablet time….”

Roman reminds in the perfect mixture of gentle and stern, “you know the rules, Roro. No devices until you do your daily reading.”

It’s a simple rule for the Reigns kids that started with Leya and Lina. Every day, each child is required to spend at least 30 minutes reading. For the younger kids like Aroha, Koa, and Kai, it’s required before they can use any devices. The teens are allowed to handle their schedules for their daily reading, but it’s still a required thing for them as well. 

And, it’s a rule that Aroha Reigns is well aware of. That doesn’t seem to stop her from stomping and pouting.

“That’s not, fair!”

Roman is quick with the reprimanding. “Fix your face, Roro. Now.”

“Roro,” Solana speaks up, her voice also firm. “Go to the reading room or your quiet room and do your reading.”

“Then I can get on the tablet?”

“Roro, who cares about the tablet?” Tama snaps in her earpiece. “Ask them about Christmas!”

Aroha scowls even deeper and moves her hair to press her finger against the earpiece, subsequently revealing it to her parents. “Don’t yell at me!”

Roman most definitely notices this and gently turns her around. “What is this?” 

Her eyes go wide. “Ummm….”

“Run, Lil Bit! Run!” Jimmy shouts, prompting the kids to all look at him with disapproval. 

“Running won’t help, Uncle Jimmy!” 

“Daddy, I really need to talk to you.” Her voice is sweet, the save almost natural and organic. And effective. 

Roman takes a deep breath, asking, “about?”

Jimmy is quick to change his tune, slapping Tama on the arm. “Man, I told you that lil girl a genius.”

“Daddy….” All sets of listening ears perk up to Roro using the voice. The voice that's almost unnaturally sweet and adorable. The voice that can win over even the strongest of men. The Tribal Chief included. “I’m really sorry we’ve been bad. We promise we’ll be good again.” And left alone, right there, there might have been a chance. A landslide into victory and triumph, but not for the follow up. “So, can we have Christmas now?”

Roman and Solana share a look, with him saying what both of them are thinking. “Aroha, did your brothers and sisters ask you to come in here?”

She nods, not even second guessing the snitching. “We want Christmas!”

“Roman….” A gentle warning from Solana to her husband as she goes to take over, recognizing he’s getting more and more upset.

Except, he beats her to it.

“Well, you’re not getting it.” Plain and fucking simple. “Now go do your reading. Now.”

Her eyes widen. “But, daddy—”

“Aroha Reigns, I’m not gon’ repeat myself again. I said no.” And, he’s not, because if he does, his voice will be significantly louder and harsher. “Reading. Now.”

Thankfully, the message is sent, an irritated Aroha marching out the room and back to where her siblings and uncle remain, flabbergasted by what they’ve just witnessed. 

“Daddy’s a meany head!” Is all she states as she rips off the hidden earpiece and stomps right back out, most likely to get her reading done. 

“Did he…..did he just tell her no?” Tama asks the room, almost needing reassurance that what he just saw is actually what he saw. 

“Dad….dad’s never told her no,” Lina breathes, also struggling with what just transpired.

“He did now,” Koa mutters.

“Damn, ya’ll really done did it now.” Jimmy blows out a breath. “Might wanna start planning for Christmas next year.” He then completely changes the subject asking, “and while ya’ll at it, make sure to RSVP for Tito’s 5th birthday party next month.”

Collective eye rolls and sighs, Tam being the first to say what everyone else is thinking, "Uncle Jimmy, don’t nobody like Tito mean ass but you.”

“And didn’t he turn 5 last year?” Koa asks, clearly confused.

“And the year before that and the year before that—”

“And the year before that,” Leya finishes for her twin, asking almost tentatively, "Uncle Jimmy, just how old is Tito anyway? Like, for real?”

“Aye, we don’t talk about that,” he answers, defensively. “Tito is a private person.”

“He’s a dog,” Lina states with a straight face.

“He’s literally never gonna die,” Kai mutters to his brother.

“See, that’s ya daddy in you,” Jimmy points out, wagging his finger toward Lina as she rolls her eyes. “All I know is ya’ll better be there wearing your #Titorrific shirts.”

Tama cringes at the memory of the gifts given out at Tito’s birthday last year. “Pretty sure dad burned all of ours.”

“Not surprising. He been a hater since we was kids.” He sucks his teeth, offering, “don’t worry. I’ll get ya’ll some more.” And before they can try to convince him that that’s not necessary, Jimmy is on his way out, murmuring something about seeing what “Soso” cooked.

Meanwhile, as the kids return to the meaning of their plans' failure and struggle to accept defeat, their parents have a completely different issue. 

Solana is now holding and rocking Aubriela, trying to soothe her to sleep as Roman paces across her nursery.

“Baby, calm down. You don’t need to get yourself all ups—”

“Can you believe them?” He interrupts, too caught up with his frustration and many thoughts to heed to his wife’s advice. “They still don’t get it.”

Because neither Roman nor Solana are stupid. They’ve known from the beginning of their kids redemption tour that it was all performative. That just why Christmas was canceled and the lesson they were hoping to teach them hadn’t registered. But, that was three days ago. Roman was thinking, maybe more hoping, by now that they’d have caught on.

Clearly, that’s not the case.

“You’re right. They don’t.” Solana is careful in how she stands up from the rocking chair where she'd shifted, moving to place a now sleeping Aubriela in her crib. Naturally, Roman moves behind her, partially soothed by the sight of his youngest enjoying her slumber. “I think I have an idea though.” Solana straightens after getting her baby girl settled. Turning around, her hands on her husband’s chest, she warns, “I don’t think you’re going to like it though.”

—--------

“Do you know where we’re going?”

It’s a question that’s been asked amongst the group of children when they were all loaded in separate vehicles. The boys with Roman, and the girls with Solana, sans Aubriela who is at the house with their Aunt Bayley.

Fingers have moved rapidly against screens, as they try to use the process of elimination to land on just what their parents have planned. 

A difficult thing, especially when it would be so much easier if both mom and dad weren’t so tight lipped. 

It’s the older kids who take notice when they pull up to a gated property, neither SUV being stopped at the checkpoint, instead being let in without any kind of verification or search. 

That’s not entirely uncommon, as they’ve known their dad to handle that ahead of time, in terms of letting appropriate parties know they would be attending XYZ.

However, what confuses the lot of them as they pull up to a massive property, a mansion, is just where and what this place is.

The faint sound of children’s laughter can be heard, either from inside the house or maybe even out back, but it’s the perceptive teens who also take note of security that patrol the premises. 

Bloodline.

With everyone stepping out of the SUV's, Aroha, being the youngest in attendance, doesn’t hesitate to move over to Roman, clearly feeling a bit unsettled. 

“Daddy, where are we?”

Roman doesn’t answer but instead accepts her unspoken requests with her arms lifted. He picks her up and moves closer to Solana who simply directs with a wave of her hand.

The remaining children, though still filled with questions, follow suit. And immediately the sound of laughter and giggles is more prominent and apparent, as the visualization of it is now available. Because stepping into the home, a set of children come running down the steps, various sizes of smiles on their faces. 

But more than just smiles. 

Small scrapes. Bruises even. Clearly tended to but very much visible.

And, it’s one of the children, a little girl who notices the presence of the family standing by the front door, that greets them. 

“Mrs. Solana!”

All the children, especially Aroha, watch as their mother greets the little girl and accepts her hug with open arms. “You’re here!”

“I am,” Solana giggles, pushing back some of her hair. “How are you doing, Noel?”

“Better,” she answers, still beaming up at Solana, sharing with excitement, “mommy’s feeling better, too!”

“I’m happy to hear that.” She truly is. “Aroha.” Roman lets her down to the ground as she moves to stand beside her mom. “This is Noel. Noel, this is my daughter, Aroha. She’s the same age as you.”

Noel’s eyes light up as she takes in the other child. “Hi! I like your dress. It’s so pretty.”

Aroha looks down, smiling back, even though Solana can see it doesn’t meet her eyes. That she’s probably more focused on the faded bruise by Noel’s right eye. It doesn’t stop her from saying and complimenting, “thank you. I–I like your shirt.”

The other child looks down and beams even brighter. “Thanks!”

“Kids!” A voice calls out, Solana seeing Natalya at the end of the hall. “It’s time for outside play.”

“Nat!” Solana calls out, motioning to Aroha. “Can she join?”

At that, Aroha grows a bit unsure. “Mommy….”

“It’s okay, baby,” Solana comforts, pulling her in for a hug and kissing the top of her head. “You go play with the other kids for a little bit, and mommy and daddy will come get you when we’re done. Alright?”

Aroha glances over at her dad who gives a nod of agreement, seemingly settling her nerves.

She gasps when Noel takes her hand, offering, “you can play with me!”

Roro, again, appears more settled as Noel leads them to the back. Solana mouths “thank you” to Natalya who only winks and proceeds to guide the kids to the outside play area. 

Just then, a man walks over, tall with long blonde hair that’s a bit unruly and light blue eyes. “Didn’t know you guys were planning to come in today.”

“A last minute thing,” Roman explains, looking over at Koa and Kai. “Boys.” His deep voice pulls their attention from staring at this stranger. “This is Mr. Copeland, but he likes to be called Adam.”

This Adam person offers a small smile, correctly guessing, “Koa and Kai, right?”

Kai is more hesitant, asking, “how do you know us?”

Adam chuckles. “Been working with your parents for years now. I’ve heard a lot about you all, but especially you two. I hear you're good with technology.”

At that, Koa lifts his chin, correcting, “very good.

Roman rolls his eyes and instructs, “Koa. Kai. You’re going with Adam.” He looks over at his oldest son who still looks confused by all of this. “Tama, you’re staying with me.”

Solana adds, speaking to her oldest twins. “And you both will come with me.”

Lina is the one to finally outright ask, “Mom. Dad. What’s going on?” She gestures around her. “What is this place?” 

And with a perfect, almost bittersweet smile, Solana answers, “Alma’s Hope.”

—-------

It’s a bit of a strange thing, something almost out of a scene of a movie. Tama stays with his dad as they’re escorted into a room that almost feels like it was ripped out from an episode of SUV with a two way mirror that gives them a view of a room filled with women. A room that includes Lina and Leya who are still somewhat confused but starting to put two and two together, large due to the women around them.

Bruised, quiet, clearly terrified.

It’s...uncomfortable for the teens, to say the least. 

But, that discomfort is slightly waned and replaced with more confusion as Solana walks into the room and takes the last available seat at the front of the room. 

“Hi.” Solana openw with a small smile on her face. She briefly locks gazes with her daughter, giving a small nod. “A lot of you probably know who I am because of my husband, but you don’t know why I’m here.” She closes her eyes. “How I’m still here.” Eyes opening, she clears her throat. “But, before we get into that, I just want to go over some basic things.” Solana shifts in her seat, going on to explain. “Alma’s Hope is the biggest domestic violence shelter and safe haven in the country. We have several locations scattered across the states and a few in Mexico. This was the first one built over 15 years ago, and we’ve helped save and change countless lives ever since.” Both Lina and Leya share quiet, shocked expressions. “The rules are simple. We are kind to one another, we don’t judge, and most importantly, we do not give out the location.”

“As you can see, from the outside, no one would ever suspect what this place really is, and that’s intentional, because safety is the utmost priority here, and while we’ve had some situations in the past, the backing of the Bloodline ensures the safety of all who are here. No harm will come to any of you during your stay. You have my word.”

“We also have a policy where we turn no one away nor do we have a limit on how long you can stay. We do require that while you are here, however, you participate in weekly individual and group therapy. Same for any children you have that are 5 and older. This is mandatory.” 

That makes sense, Tama thinks to himself, as he also sits quietly, listening with an abundance of surprise about this whole world he had no idea existed. 

Had no idea his mom was so deeply involved in. 

Solana informs, looking around the room, “we’ll work with you to find housing, to go into witness protection if that’s what’s needed, get an education, a job. Whatever it is, we have the resources. So whenever you do decide to leave, you’ll be set up for success.”

Eyes closing for a second, she gestures around. “I chose to name this place in honor of my mother, Alma Escobar, who was a victim of domestic violence. And I have to say victim instead of survivor, because my mother did not survive. Because after years of me begging her for us to just leave, she finally made a plan. A good plan, but it didn’t matter, because he found out, and he had her killed because of it.” Solana points to the scar on her face and rolls up her sleeve to show one on her arm. “The only reason I survived that night was because my mother used her body to shield me, saving me, giving up her life in the process to keep me alive.” 

A pause. Budding emotions. From more than just the speaker.

“And for so many years, I blamed myself. Though it should have been me, or at least the both of us together, because with my mother no longer around, the man who I grew up believing was my father and now my older brother, who also blamed me for her death, turned their anger onto me.” Solana quickly wipes at her tears, powering through a difficult recounting of events. “And suddenly I was the one being beaten and starved and literally tortured, and I thought I deserved it. I thought it was….it was my punishment for getting my mother killed.”

To say that the older Reigns kids are floored at what they’re hearing would be an understatement. 

They’re stunned and devastated. 

“If you have a child, and you continue to stay, because you think it’s better for your baby to be raised by two parents, I promise you, it’s not.” Solana blows out a shaky breath, messing with the material of her pants. “Because even after all these years, I can still remember how terrified I would be when my mother would send me away and tell me to go hide. When she’d tell me to put on headphones, as if it would drown out the sounds of her screams as he beat her.” 

Another deep breath is taken as Solana moves into the ending portion of her introduction. 

“It’s no secret that my husband has a temper and is not always the nicest person,” she swallows, reiterating, “but, he’s also the first man in my life to never lay a finger on me. On our children. None of us.” Eyes surveying the room, she reminds in a firm voice, “it is a choice to be an abusive piece of shit.” A softer expression with a voice still filled with conviction. “But, now that you’re here and safe, it’s also a choice if you decide to go back.” 

“Whatever resources you need, the foundation can provide or help you find.” Lina and Leya are also having to wipe away tears as they struggle to take in every heartbreaking thing they’ve just learned about their mother. Same with Tama.  “I’m not here as much as I’d like to be, because I have seven children, including a newborn,” she says with a small laugh and smile. “But, if I’m here, and you need something or someone to talk to, you can always talk to me.”

By the time their mother is finished, Lina and Leya are both in a bit of an emotional haze. 

And both have tears in their eyes. 

Tama as well. 

They didn’t know what to expect of this mystery trip, but regardless, nothing could have prepared any of the Reigns kids’ for what they’ve experienced. 

—--------

Later that night, when the family returns home, the processing conversations are partitioned. Roman and Solana talking to Aroha, the least of the intense conversations, followed by Koa and Kai, slightly more intense, and finally, Tama, Lina, and Leya. Definitely the heaviest of the conversations. 

“Mom, we….” Tama, who usually is never at a shortage of words, is at a loss. “We had no idea….we didn’t—”

Over the years, the kids have heard bits and pieces of their parents' childhood, more from their dad than their mom. 

Some elements from their mom, but nothing could have prepared them for all they heard today.

“I didn’t want you to know,” is Solana’s simple but soft reply. “My childhood and the things that happened to me…..deep down, I never wanted you to know, because I didn’t want you to be weighed down with that.”

“Grandma went through so much.” Leya sniffles, wiping at her eyes. “You went through so much….”

Tama’s fist forms at his side. Similar to his dad, he tends to experience more anger at wrongs committed against loved ones. “I can’t believe they did that stuff to you.”

“Some people are just evil, kids. That’s a hard thing I had to realize, because you know I always encourage you guys to see the good in people, but….some people are just not good.” It’s been a hard pill for Solana to swallow over the years, but it’s the truth, and her accepting it made things a bit easier to digest. “I know what you heard was heavy and a lot, but—”

“We needed to hear it,” Lina speaks up, looking at her siblings. “We needed a reality check.” Both her twin and younger brother nod, as she continues, “we….we’ve been awful to you guys.”

Roman sighs, finally breaking his silence. He wanted to give Solana the space to speak freely, merely serving as a presence of support. “You guys haven’t been awful. Just….unappreciative.”

“And that’s why you took us there,” Leya murmurs. “To remind us of how blessed we are and to see just how bad some people have it.”

“A lot of people,” Tama corrects, looking down and shaking his head. “All those moms and kids….they have nothing.”

Solana’s expression is solemn, as she gently reminds, “the foundation makes sure they’re taken care of.”

“But….but that statistic?” Lina finds herself struggling to even cite it, cite what she learned from sitting in on another class. “They go back seven times before finally leaving for good?”

Solana takes a good minute before she answers. “When you’ve been conditioned to believe that you deserve to be hurt, that’s a hard thing to break, kids.” Solana recognizes that it’s much deeper and layered than she’s making it sound, but her kids are still kids. They’ll have time as they grow older to understand. 

To see that life is rarely ever just black or white. 

“It’s just really sad,” Lina whispers, a blanket of silence among them. 

It takes for Roman to break it, needing to issue an important reminder. “Your mom and I decided to let you hear her speak, because we thought you guys were old enough to handle the truth. But your brothers and sister didn’t.” Koa and Kai instead sat in one of Adam’s classes where he teaches young boys the importance of manners, consent, and boundaries. Aroha was simply left to play with the other kids, her parents knowing just her seeing other little kids who don’t live like her being a lesson enough. “So, it’s important you don’t tell them—”

“We won’t,” Lina vows, a shared agreement among the older siblings. “We won’t say anything, dad.”

“We promise,” Tama agrees. 

Solana is relieved. For a variety of reasons. 

“Thank you.” She takes another deep breath, “I’m sure you guys have things to do, but—”

“Mom? Dad?”

The group of them turn to see Koa, Kai, and Aroha standing with unsure expressions. 

Roman sits up on the sofa and straightens his back. “Everything alright?”

Kai nods as the three of them walk over, Aroha going straight to Roman, climbing in his lap, laying her head on his shoulder. 

“We were talking—” Kai starts, looking at his siblings. “And what if….what if you guys used the money you were gonna spend on our Christmas gifts and got the kids at the shelter gifts instead?”

Both husband and wife are clearly taken back by the suggestion, especially when their other kids express agreement. 

“Yeah, we don’t need anything,” Lina agrees, eyes on her twin and Tama. “Right?”

“Right,” Leya sounds. “We have everything. They left with nothing.”

“It’s not fair,” Tama mutters. 

Aroha looks between her parents. “Everyone deserves Christmas.” 

Solana is filled with so much emotion, her eyes glazing over as Lina and Leya come to sit on either side of her, hugging her. 

“Everyone does deserve Christmas, baby.”

—------

It’s a first. 

Never happening before. 

Both husband and wife somehow sleep through their alarms on Christmas morning. Except they don’t, because in checking their phones, it seems the alarms have been turned off.

And, it definitely wasn’t them. 

But, it’s when the parents see that none of their children are in their rooms, and Aubriela isn’t in her nursery, they're quick to hurry up in the bathroom and head down the steps. They expect to find the living room a mess and occupied, only to see it untouched. 

Thus, their second guess being the correct one. They’ve barely turned the corner when they’re met with a loud greeting. 

“Merry Christmas!”

Solana jumps and naturally turns into her husband’s broad chest, hand over her heart. 

“Sorry, ma. We ain’t mean to scare you.”

Tama’s apology pulls Solana from her shock as she turns back around only to be surprised again. The table is lined with plates and freshly prepared food. 

She gasps, hands over her mouth, gaze falling to her children who are still in the Christmas themed pajamas, even Aubriela, who Leya is holding, has on her “my first Christmas” jammies. 

Roman chuckles, his surprise audible and evident. “What is all this?” 

“Mama, you always make breakfast for us on Christmas,” Lina explains with a warm smile. She shrugs. “We figured we’d return the favor.”

Aroha runs over, hugging Solana’s legs while sharing with all the happiness, “Leya helped me make sparkle pancakes just like you make em,’ mommy!”

“And, I made the breakfast sausage!”

“Man, you ate more than you cooked.”

“Shut up, Tama! At least, I didn’t drop three eggs.”

“Aye! You wasn’t supposed to say that.” 

Roman is also taken back a bit by the unexpected thoughtful gesture, though there is a question he has that he thinks already knows the answer to. Knowing gaze on his twin boys, “I suppose that means you two had something to do with your mom and mine alarms being disabled.”

Koa’s smile is crafty as he explains, “we had to make sure you guys didn’t wake up, dad.”

Kai points to Leya who’s handing a babbling Aubriela over to Solana. “And Leya’s been taking care of Aubrey.”

Clearly. As Solana can just tell from her youngest happiest disposition that she’s been fed, changed, and entertained. 

It’s all so much. 

So sweet. 

“This was very nice of you all.” Roman comments, seeing the emotion building in his wife. 

“It really was,” she agrees, kissing her newborn’s temple. “Thank you so much.”

“We should be thanking you guys,” Lina gently counters, leaning up and the back of her heels. “You guys do so much for us. Christmas is about showing appreciation, and we just wanted to tell you guys how sorry we are for how we’ve been acting and that we do appreciate the life you’ve given us.”

“And all the kicks.” A round of groans as Lina punches her brother in the shoulder. “Ow! What? It’s true? Dad always gets us the latest releases before they drop.”

Roman rolls his eyes as Solana giggles, using one hand to wipe away her tears. It’s when Aroha tugs on his shirt the Roman looks down and sees her motioning for him to meet her at eye level.

He follows suit, immediately relaxing when she throws her arms around him for a hug. “Thank you for not being a mean daddy.”

Roman is instantly moved, recognizing the weight and power of her words. He recognizes it’s a realization she’s come to from her time at the shelter a few days prior, from interacting with other kids who’ve been subjected to abuse no child should experience. 

It means a lot to him. Truly.

“You’re welcome, baby.” He kisses her cheek and stands up, noticing how she holds onto his leg. “Ya’ll haven’t been in the living room yet, have you?”

Confused expressions around, Leya answering. “No, we got up and immediately started on breakfast and getting Aubriela taken care of.” Curious, head tilted, she asks, “why?”

Roman shares a look with his wife who only nods to give her approval. “Follow me.” 

The kids continue to not understand what their dad is referring to, but it doesn’t stop them from following him. 

And, it’s when they’re in the living room, they understand why.

“No way!”

“Oh my gosh!”

“Presents!”

“Santa came!” 

Appropriate reactions given the fact that the Reigns’ christmas tree is surrounded by gifts that take up almost the entire large living room. Gifts none of the kids were expecting, hence Kai asking, 

“But…..but, we thought…”

“You said Santa wasn’t coming this year,” Aroha finishes with all the confusion, looking between her mommy and daddy. 

Another shared look between husband and wife, Solana taking the reins, “your dad and I could see how moved you all were by what you saw and learned at the shelter. We really believe you’ve learned your lesson, so daddy let Santa know that it was okay to bring you guys gifts.” 

Koa and Kai still seem a bit unsure asking, “seriously? Even after….how we acted.”

Roman moves over to his sons, ruffling their hair. “Your mom is right. You’ve all learned your lessons.” He looks down at Aroha who’s still at his side. “And it’s like your sister said, everyone deserves Christmas.”

Leya asks the question that the rest of her siblings are thinking. “But, what about the kids at the shelter? We want—”

“Every year, we make sure the kids and the moms have a nice Christmas,” Solana informs. Any major holiday, really, but Christmas is the holiday where the most gifts are given. “Don’t worry.”

“So, Santa brought the kids gifts too?” Aroha asks, clearly needing reassurance. 

“They sure did, baby girl.” Solana answers, pleased and moved to see the relief amongst their kids' faces. It was a hard, heavy lesson they had to help the children learn, but clearly an effective one.  

One they won’t forget anytime soon. 

As the younger kids start digging into and opening their presents, Roman calls the attention of the teens, directing, “you three. Come with me.”

“What did we do?” Tama asks, eyes somewhat wide. “Is this about the scratch on the gray Range Rover? Cause, I can totally explain—”

At that, Roman’s eyes narrow. “You said you didn’t know—”

Solana cuts off her men, leading the charge, adjusting Aubriela over her shoulder. “Come on.”

Roman drops it, for now, instead letting his wife take the lead. He informs the littles that they’ll be back in a few minutes as the group head toward and out the front door. 

“NO WAY!”

“FINALLY!”

“DADDY!” 

Expected, astounded reactions at the three Aston Martins lined up in the circular section of their driveway. All with big red bows on top. 

Leya’s custom pink one. 

Lina’s custom yellow and white one. 

And Tama’s red one. 

“Daddy!” Leya runs up to him, hanging on him and kissing his cheek. “Thank you!”

Lina follows suit, holding onto his forearm, bouncing up and down. “Daddy, this is amazing, thank you!” She also kisses his cheek, the two of them rushing over to their respective cars. 

Tama is the last, sucking his teeth, hugging him. “I knew I’d eventually wear you down, old man.” 

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” He chuckles, already knowing Solana knows and can see good and well how much it means to him to make his kids happy. It doesn’t mean, however, he can’t set the ground rules. “Girls, ya’ll don’t have any restrictions with yours.” They’ve had their licenses for almost two years now, thus him not needing or seeing a reason to put any limitations on them. 

The same can’t be said for his oldest son. 

“Tama, you’re allowed to learn how to drive using it, but only if your mom and I are helping you. Not Jimmy.” That’d be like the blind leading the blind. “And, I swear to God, Tamasa, if you crash this car, this old man is going to whoop your ass.”

“And you all have to be safe,” Solana stresses, lightly patting Aubriela’s back. “No speeding or texting….” She switches to Spanish, clearly going over a list, the kids responding in the same language as they all steal side hugs and a kiss on her cheek as well before basking in the excitement of their new cars.

As they discuss potential names for them, Solana says to her husband who’s moved to stand beside her, “we made the right decision.”

He nods, hand on the small of her back. “We did.” Roman is at a place of peace regarding their decision to give the kids their Christmas gifts, a 180 from where he was not even a week prior. However, their immense appreciation, empathy, and kindness in wanting to give up their gifts for those in need was all the confirmation he needed to feel comfortable with reversing his initial position. 

“Is she sleep?” 

He steps back to see that their youngest is in fact asleep. Chuckling, he answers, “knocked out.” 

Solana makes a face and nods quietly. “You know they’re all gonna be busy with their gifts for the rest of the day, right?”

Roman most definitely know this. “Just like every other Christmas.” 

She bites on her bottom lip, eyes shifting to their baby. “And, I’m sure she’ll be down for at least an hour….”

It’s then he catches on to what she’s implying. Roman makes a sound and moves his hand to the back of her ass. “Only an hour?”

Solana smiles and readies to direct him into the house when their younger children come running to the front door. 

“Tama, you idiot, you forgot to turn the oven off!”

“Daddy, the house is gonna burn down!”

“Dad, where’s the fire extinguisher?"

Solana sighs as Roman rubs his temples.

“Ow!” Tama cries out as Lina punches him in his arm, scolding him in Spanish. 

“I swear, you have half a brain, dumbo!” 

“Aye, watch ya’ mouth!”

“Guys, the oven!” As the teens run inside to prevent the house from actually burning down, Roman turns to his wife, half joking, half serious. “I say we leave em’ here and just start over with Aubrey.” 

“Roman!”

[kindaasrikal]

Cole and Nya’s relationship is very special to me, even despite the love triangle thing, which you could technically say helped develop their relationship. Especially with how it links to their mothers.

Cole and Nya are both familiar with loss, specifically in regard to their parents. They both lost a parent(s) at a young age, and quickly became independent because of it. They learnt how to survive on their own without depending too much on their only family left. They both care deeply for the ones they love and are sensitive to their emotions, and when they were left with only Lou/Kai as their only family, they didn’t want to rely on two people deep in grief and were deeply effected by that loss.

They both are stubborn and sure, protective and confident, but they are both also soft and kind underneath all their layers, Cole showing that more than Nya.

I like to think that while the whole love triangle thing and love machine fiasco was annoying, you could actually twist it to show how it developed their relationship. Jay is the one Nya loves, that is not something you can change or even disagree on, seeing as she was willing to lose everything that makes her her for him, but the perfect match machine doesn’t have time be explicitly based on romantic interest. The machine is essentially like a ‘soulmate finder’, so it’s easy to say that one of Nya’s soulmates are Cole.

Soulmates have been shown in many different ways, and in this case its not showing a soulmate in the sense of a ‘one true pair’ or someone who you are inexplicably tied too, but someone who understands and can click with you a whole lot easier than most.

That buddied up with the whole love triangle thing definitely helped Cole and Nya realise how similar they are to each other, and how they deeply care for each other as siblings. Almost like twin siblings if I’m being honest. They don’t give a younger and older sibling vibe thats for sure. More like two twins where one is an aggressive wild animal and the other is also a wild animal but they don’t have as much of a temper as the other weirdo.

My favourite scene of their relationship is in Dragons Rising where Nya hold her hands against Cole’s cheek after not seeing him for months upon months.

Now about their mothers….

Knowing all of this, connecting it to how they both see their mother in each other seems so much more special.

Cole and Maya have both said ‘Its how the cookie crumbles’, both in relation to Nya. After Nya was possessed by the overlord, Cole tries to comfort everyone by saying that line, implying how its just how things must be, the same way Maya has towards Nya specifically, telling her that life is difficult, no matter what we try. Nya doesn’t know they both have said this, but its still so important how its come in full circle towards her, from her beginning all the way to her supposed end.

And then you remember how both Nya and Lily have worn the same kimono. The same kimono Lily wore, and the one that Cole gave to Nya.

ITS THE EXACT SAME.

Cole willingly gave him dead mother’s kimono to Nya, his sister.

Nya and Cole were never supposed to be in a romantic relationship, they were both have such a strong platonic love for each other it hurts. They both have similar experiences and similar personalities yet still have their differences, but those differences aren’t as big as most people would’ve expected.

I love these two so much they so deeply care for each other im going to cry i hope they don’t die for Jay.

[cina-full-moon-xanadium]

thoughts on tokusatsu you think is underrated?

Oh so this is basically an excuse to give a pitch for a bunch of Tokusatsu shows no-one has watched huh? I like it!

JAKQ DENGEKITAI IS--

[I am shot and dragged offstage and replaced by a new, woke Cina]

So in keeping with my previous post, Android Kikaider is one of my all-time favourites! It's a bit of a funny one to put forward as unpopular, really; seeing as it used to have a large fan following, especially in Hawaii -- but alas, time has done what it will to a 70s franchise not merchandised to hell and back. It's easy to see why it was so popular once, though -- it's a classic drama about a sentient robot grappling with his identity in a world of humans, framed by Ishinomori's cross-of-fire of being the one good guy who defected from an army of evil. With that description you'd think it has a lot in common with Kamen Rider, and you'd be very right! I'd daresay even, as a big fan of Showa Kamen Rider that if you like those shows, this is a must-watch as it constantly revisits those themes in interesting ways rather than casting it to the side as many of Kamen Rider's episodic adventures were wont to do! Jiro is a complete and utter sweetheart constantly on the road with the family of his creator who come to see him as a beloved friend as they track down their father. Other characters include said father as we follow Dr. Komyoji's amnesiac misadventures across the country, both funny and heartbreaking; Hanpei, a wannabe detective with a calling for comedy relief and an average weekly budget of 50 yen; and by the end of the show, Hakaider; one of the most classic and influential Tokusatsu villains with a streak for looking cool and having a sick twist on Kikaider's fate. The show is very hokey-looking with a stringshoe budget for action and suits, but I truly feel that the emotions and characters really shine through; even if you don't usually vibe with Showa Tokusatsu! If you have even the slightest inclination towards Tokusatsu Sad Robots or Showa Kamen Rider, I highly recommend this!

I feel like I'll never be able to compare to Rob's propaganda on the subject, but Mahou Sentai Magiranger is a show I feel I never see on recommended or favourite lists and... and like okay there's a lot of great Sentai out there, fair enough; but GOD if I don't think about this one all the time. This is a Family Sentai and one that takes that to heart with most every episode focusing on the connection between the five siblings that make up the main Magirangers in some way, and is really effective at getting at so many types of sibling relationships! Kai as the youngest and the Red always feels he has to prove himself in his own hotheaded ways, Makito as the oldest feels he has to put the others first at detriment to himself, Urara is studious and reclusive; and you see all that play out against each other in so many ways -- and even the stuff with their parents is good!! They're struggling so hard to get their mother back, and aside from the responsibility she throws on them at the start of the series there's some surprisingly healthy treatment of the siblings being split from their parents that makes for a lot of tearjerker moments late in the show. Oh and Houka is hot shit and she knows it, that's not anything to do with family she's just one of the best Pinks to watch ever. It's awesome. She dates like 3 guys and then her contribution to the fight is turning into a desk fan. Watch Magiranger

The action is top-notch, the suits are an insane collection of all-time hits in the franchise, the characters and story just shine... this is a happy place show for me, honestly. Whether you're looking for recommendations on your next Sentai or you've already watched a bunch of the usually celebrated hits like Gokaiger and Toqger and are wondering where to go next, I'd absolutely put this on your list.

Okay let's say you're looking for something a bit shorter than 50 episodes, maybe a movie and you don't feel like being recommended ZO or Shin Ultraman for the 50th time? Well ZO's 90s companion J is also just a really solid watch!! ZO will win in the comparison every time, but I think that leads to J being incredibly overlooked? It might not have the same heart as ZO, but all the same incredible set design and directing and lighting is all here from the same director and same designer, and that goes for his well-known gimmick of becoming Ultraman in the final act! With straight up better presence as a giant than most Ultras, I daresay! The movie's bend towards environmentalist themes over Kamen Rider's usual sci-fi is also a really interesting twist, and an interesting look into where Ishinomori was at late in his life -- as this was the final Tokusatsu he was directly involved in before his death. Watch ZO as everyone says, but give this one a shot too!

Did you know Metal Heroes isn't just Space Sheriffs all the time despite what Toei would like you to believe? It's true! Back in the 80s they'd just put out shows like Sekai Ninja Sen Jiraiya to see how far you could go before your brain dissolved! If you like ninjas, a twist on the usual MOTW formula with a lot of recurring characters, women, and also just like a lot of crazy shit always happening, good god try Jiraiya. This was in the era where Toei were throwing so much at the wall to see what stuck after Spielban rounded out the shiny space heroes they had before and it really, REALLY shows -- the foot is on the gas from the first episode with ninjas from around the world (the word 'ninja' doing SO much heavy lifting btw! the three main ones you'll see aside from the protagonist are a cowboy in a cloth onesie, a catholic knight and just straight up Kamen Rider) all competing to complete a map that will lead them to a treasure of untold riches to achieve their dreams. Sound straightforward with admittedly a few intriguing shakeups so far? Somehow it results in episodes about an ancient witch rising from her tomb, gas station attendants' family heritage, how Reagan's Star Wars program sucks and the scientists behind it should make cool ninja swords instead, mind control invented for peaceful purposes, aliens, poaching, the importance of historical artifacts being returned to their country of origin, and giant robots. There is always some kind of bullshit you can't predict and it's awesome!

Machiko Soga of Bandora/Rita Repulsa fame is in this putting her entire acting career into it as usual, there are so many recurring ninjas who are women, there's a lot of genuinely great ninja action and the soundtrack is a banger... Jiraiya just has it all. I was never bored with this show, there was always some kind of hook to keep me going or keep me laughing. Please, please watch Sekai Ninja Sen Jiraiya.

[from-the-wyldness]

Although I adore the RGB siblings there's something just so precious about Kai and Nya.

Also I'm discussing a bit of Nya's agency here lol, this is a bit messy and seems all over the place but it makes sense i swear.

First of all despite Nya being robbed of agency in a lot of times I like to notice those small little times where she had, first think of the pilots.

Kai went out to fight and hell if she was gonna be left behind, she chose to go out and fight alonside her bro, it was a dire situation but she still could've chosen between fleeing, staying inside or fighting, knowing Nya the choice for us is obvious but it was nonetheless something she decided.

And as much as I think both siblings could use each other element water fits her so much, like, she's always been going with the flow.

No parents? That's fine, she'll have her big bro as a support and go wherever that takes her.

And then I think of Wrong place Wrong time, she was excited to be offered to be a Ninja, of being something else, of doing something else.

It was probably a choice she could take for the first time in a long time, especially a more "important choice" than maybe just deciding if she would buy bread today or tomorrow.

It wasn't something that she just had to go with as she usually did with whatever happened on her daily life.

And my mind wanders to both of the siblings because both of them are so funny to me. They're like a package.

Nya wanted to help the guys in s1 so bad she became a hero (and out of spite of course, I love her for that) and while we can argue if she had ever really a choice in to moving with everyone else or not the thing is that Kai was the one that was Ninja [first] and of course she would follow her brother, it just seems logical even if she might've been able to made a different living for herself.

Maybe because they're used to being together, maybe because one could wonder how could Nya just be left behind, especially as the younger sister, ESPECIALLY as she was the driving force behind Kai's pick to be a ninja in the first place.

And then I go back to Wrong place Wrong Time.

In this Nya wanted to go and while Kai was the doubtful one, they're not having this big stake of one of them being kidnapped, in a sense this is the safer timeline.

Argueably in this case it might've been easier for them to separate as Nya would've been safe and she would've have support, a roof, food, etc whether Kai would've gone or not, Kai could've continue living as a blacksmith.

But Kai also went with her, she was going and hell if he would leave her alone even if he clearly wasn't thrilled on doing the course to being with.

And they just... they keep pulling each other around, I don't mean they're always together but they just keep following the same path.

Kai moved to the Monastery so Nya did too, (In the WPWT timeline Nya moved in and Kai went with her), Kai joined the Craglings to fight the Dragons on DR 1 and Nya joined too, Nya's on her way to search for Jay in DR and Kai's going with her.

It's just something they keep doing, maybe because they didnt really know life without each other so they just keep following each other around even if they're not completely happy with their circumstances.

Like clearly Nya wasn't too happy being left to babysit the bounty but she also wouldn't have left her brother to pursue a very different life. Kai might've left between s3-s4 but well, he wasn't coping well and I'm sure he didn't want Nya following him into that hole. (And depending how you take the books he did visit her at least once and she was happy to see him)

They hug when they reunite in MoTM, they hug when they reunite in DR (both times), Nya remembers Kai first of all people when on water dragon form (damn you cristallized, where my siblings hug).

Do I need to mention the two flashback we've had of them on HoT and DR2?

They just... keep seeking and finding and following each other no matter the circumstances or the time that passes.

[fear-is-truth]

༉‧₊˚. j’s note. i have a crush on both.. someone pls tell me i’m not the only one… pairing: winter x reader/ kai x reader warnings: allusions to sex. (hinted) incest by default

you’ve always known that catching the attention of an anderson would only in trouble. but having both siblings vying for you? that’s a whole other level.

it all started at vassar, when you met winter anderson in one of your seminars. she certainly wasn’t the warmest person, but there was something about her deadpan, ice-queen disposition that attracted you. the two of you quickly bonded over your shared commitment to feminist activism and your outspoken support for hillary—and the rest was history. by the end of the semester, you’ve already fucked more than a couple of times, and what began as a hookup spiralled into something more complicated. so when she invited you home to michigan, you didn’t think twice.

it was only after you met her older brother, kai anderson, that the real trouble began.

winter had warned you that her brother was… difficult to like. the type of guy lurking in dark corners of the internet, fully red-pilled and steeped in incel rhetoric, with all the bitterness and resentment that came with it—and to top it all off, a trump supporter. but she never mentioned just how hot and intense he was; a far cry from the wiry, bespectacled internet-dwelling provocateur you’ve (stereotypically) pictured. upon meeting kai, his gaze had seemed to bore right through you like a cranial drill. he’d taken a perverse interest in you, and a part of you even enjoyed the attention. at first, winter seemed torn between amusement and annoyance, watching her brother watch you. despite all, a part of her almost seemed relieved—maybe even grateful—that for once, kai’s attention had found someone else to devour.

but that relief didn’t last.

after the latest encounter, you’re exhausted. carrying that ache between your legs, you stagger up the basement stairs, wobbling like a newborn fawn. you catch sight of winter waiting for you in the living room hallway. she looks innocent, deceptively sweet—big, unblinking eyes fixed on you, lips in a plaintive pout. but you know better by now. winter anderson may appear docile, but she can be just as manipulative as her big brother.

she knows exactly what just happened in the basement, and you can see the flare in her nostrils. for all her relief at kai’s shift of fixation, she’s not happy to share her toy.

without a word, she beckons you into her room, fingers curling in a silent invitation. you know what she wants, the same thing kai just took from you. and the worst part is, you don’t even think you have the will to deny her.

[strawberryfloofs]

I am love with the idea of a sibling + cg dynamic "I wanna hava tea pawty! dun wanna pway dino library!" I'd pout and fuss at my sibby, "tea party borin! dino library bedder!" Our CG would interrupt our bickering and try to compromise. "You two don't need to fight, I'm sure you can come up with something together, mhm? Mama can help if you'd like." I would whine but nod, and my sibby is reluctant too- but we both wanna play and have fun so we give Mama's idea a shot! I set up a royal tea party with my stuffies and bring out my velcro food to serve. "Oh Mrs Flufferbum, das too much, dont chu think? Flipper- Nugget- we ran out of golden oranges if that's oka-" Mama throws a dino stuffie at one of my attendees and I gasp "AAAhh Flufferbum! Oh gosh! Wha I do?! I needa dino exper!" I look around as I try to get the dino off her, and then I see my sibby with their dino book, running over. "Wibrarian, you gotta help Mrs Flufferbum! We was habin a tea party and out of nowher der was dis BIG VIOLENT dino dah attack her!! I twy pull it off but it no worki!" I notice the dino stuffies around them and squeak "DOS R DANEROUS!" I'd point. "Kami-" I'd come up with a silly name "My name is Flooferpup!" "Yes I sowwy, Flooferpup these my dino pets! They nice, and dinos ACTWUALLY have a weakness, tickles! Das how u make them nice like mine!" My sibby explains and I nod, grabbing their hand and leading them to poor Flufferbum "Huwwy! Tickle it together!" I squeak and we tickle attack the dino, saving Flufferbum. "Wibrarian! Chur a hewo! Danks to yous, Flufferbum is kay and now we has a pet dino butler! Howda kno dah?" "Well I ACTWUALLY a dino scientis- is a super secwet job- I just pwetend to be a Wibrarian, sees?!" My sibby tells me all the dino facts and stuffs at my tea party with our new butler! Our CG was watching the whole time and smiles at us playing together nicely. "Those are my good kiddos."

[heartcereql]

𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝘀 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘀

ao'nung x fem!metkayina!reader

𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒- after an abrupt break up, your feelings for your best friend's brother arise again.

𝐂𝐖- slightly ooc ao'nung (felt like writing him soft for once; bear with me) cursing, english is not my first language.

𝐀/𝐍- i love this song ong

tsireya and you had been joined at the hip since you were mere babies. you'd been there growing up, through life's ups and downs, knew each other like the back of your hand.

so, naturally, you knew her family as she knew yours. your parents had also grown closer over the years, used to their daughters spendind the better part of their time together. and you got to know the other's siblings. which you would certainly be grateful for.

at first, you were intimidated by tsireya's brother. he scared you, to be completely honest. but then he actually talked to you, you must have been nine or so, and fright turned to childish infatuation.

of course, once you identified your feelings, you immediatly buried them and tried your best to avoid and forget ao'nung.

as you grew, you used to stay up all night, sneaking out, looking for a taste of real life. you met new people, loved to explore, discovered secrets and messed around some more. you had eventuallt found a guy. he and you were no more than a fling, but to tsireya always seemed like a big deal. and then the omaticayas came and she got involved with that sully boy. you were beyond happy for her, but you didn't miss the way it was more and more difficult to find time for you both alone.

this all led you to standing in front of her marui, doing your best to not break down crying again about some dumb idiotic kid, hoping to be able to see your best friend.

"uh, hey" you said, startled by ao'nung there, immediatly trying your best to hide the trace of tears on your face. "is tsireya home?"

"no, she went out for a while. with that sully boy." he replied, smirking.

you laughed softly.

"well, alright, i'll come back later" you were already turning around when he grabbed your wrist, turning you to face him again.

"you can wait for her here. if you want, of course"

"really?" you grinned lightly. he just nodded and let you in.

only when you passed by his side he noticed the tears running down your bambi, round eyes.

"hey is everything okay?" he sat down as he spoke, motioning for you to sit down as well.

"yeah, yeah, why?" you tried to smile.

he gestured around his eyes and you realized you had entered in your rather vulnerable state.

"oh, yeah yeah yeah, i'm fine" you attempted to lie but your voice broke.

ao'nung knew about that guy you were seeing; he wasn't quite fond of him. after all those years you spent with tsireya, he couldn't help but develop a sense of protection over you. you didn't exactly keep this guy a secret, but hadn't told him directly. after observing him for a while, he realized the guy was a complete asshole. he wanted you to see that too, but you were rather infatuated.

"is it about that dickhead?" he asked, putting his arm around your shoulders; your skin turning to fire where his flesh met yours.

you nodded, a single tear rolling down your cheek. he immeadiatly brought you closer in a half hug, your head resting against his shoulder.

"he didn't deserve you. at all."

"gosh, i feel so incredibly stupid. you even tried to tell me!" you laughed under your breath. "but this is what makes us girls, right? we know what's gonna happen and yet we put love first. it's like our curse. making the same mistakes over and over again"

he laughed with you too, before moving to sit in front of you. he gently wiped the tears off your cheeks.

"don't cry about it, 'kay? i'm here for whatever you need" ao'nung assured you quietly.

you smiled at him.

"i'll be fine. he's just a guy" you laughed it off, not missing the way his hand didn't leave your cheek.

you had thought about ao'nung like that a few times, but you pushed away the thought every time. he was tsireya's brother, for eywa's sake. how would she react?

as a comfortable silence fell between you both, you glanced at his lips- you mean, his eyes. you could hear his breathing, unconsciously synchronizing yours with his. faces inching closer every second, losing control of what you were doing.

"fuck. i really want to kiss you" he whispered, lips so close they were fanning against the others'. "but it wouldn't be right. not now"

you nodded. you understood. you shared his worry. now wasn't the time; you had just called it quits with that boy- you hated how you weren't even a thing. it would seem like a rebound on your side and taking advantage on his, though that was far from the truth of your feelings, hidden, deemed as childish over the years.

as if on cue, you heard tsireya's happy and giddy steps. you and ao'nung scrambled away, not wanting to look suspicious to his sister. she entered the marui instants later, a smile painted bright on her face.

"well, well"

"someone had a nice time with forest boy" you teased.

"shut up!" she put on her best show to sound annoyed, but she was madly blushing and grinning.

"i, uh, i'll leave the two of you to catch up" ao'nung announced before walking out, not before directing one last glance your way.

"tell me everything!" he could hear you gushing as he walked away.

you didn’t expect to see him. then again, you hadn’t seen him for a couple of weeks, so it was only a matter of time before you ran into him.

“i guess it’s kind of our thing, huh?” you joked, a smirk appearing on ao’nung’s face. “finding you when i come looking for tsireya”

“yeah, uh, well, you wanna come in?” he asked.

your mind flashed you a memory of the last time you’d been with him. but that only encouraged you further to come with him.

"so. how have you been?" ao'nung said once you entered.

"good. better. much better" you looked at him as you replied, grinning a bit.

“that’s nice”

awkwardness settled between you.

“tsireya’s out with lo’ak again” he bluntly spoke.

“figured”

you fidgeted with your fingers nervously, debating wether you should bring it up or just forget about it. your eyes danced around the room, averting your gaze to the spot on the floor besides your feet. your eyes could have burnt holes in the spots they bored into from the harshness of your stare.

so focused were you on the texture of the floor or whatever, you missed how ao'nung snaked closer to you. you remained oblivious to how near he stood now until his fingertips ghosted over your shoulder, making you turn around to face him.

he brushed a loose strand of hair away from your face, his own face hovering over yours. your eyes shot up to meet his, eyes round, looking at him with longing and desire.

and then you weren’t able to hold the need for him any longer. you kissed him, and eywa did it feel good. your lips fit like pieces of a puzzle.

you gave him enough time to regret it, to back away, to tell you this was just a misunderstandment, and never speak to you again. but he did more than just stop you. he kissed you back, feverishly, the hand that had been gracing your cheek now cupping your face, pulling you even closer to him. warmth blossomed in your chest, sparks igniting from ao'nung's touch.

your hands steady on his chest, your heartbeat quickening as your lips parted slightly, allowing his tongue to slip inside, mouths exploring each other with the suppressed eagerness from all the years prior, which had remained hidden to the other. he traveled your body with his free hand, trailing every curve, sailing above your skin. ao’nung felt like he wanted to learn every bit of you.

the kiss soon went from sweet to needy and blazing, holding onto each other as if you were going to disappear once you pulled away. maybe for the sole purpose of contradicting this thought, ao'nung broke the kiss just for an instant, just to look at your messy state: cheeks flushed, lips plump, a blessed expression upon your features. but then he resumed the kiss, impossibly deepening it. you two were almost absorbed by your own bubble, away from everything else.

that's why, perhaps, you didn't sense the person approaching until it was too late.

"what. the hell. is going on here?" tsireya's voice shrieked, making you abruptly pull away to face her.

© heartcereql, 2023 || thank you for reading ! 𓆩 ♱ 𓆪

[thoughtsforsoob]

bf!huening kai (i have been in love with this man since debut. My bestie and I say he’s my little white boy😉)

omg he is such a sweetheart :( he is always gonna make sure that you're doing okay. 

He texts you multiple times a day just to check up on you

Especially if he knows you’re going to have a tough day

This sweet boy goes all out on those days where he knows you’re either going through it or doing to go through it

If even slightly mention that you have a big test at uni or you have an important meeting at work, he is going to pull out all the stops

He’ll start the day by cooking you breakfast of your choice

He then goes onto making your lunch and packing you plenty of snacks

He even writes a little sweet note and put it in a cute little lunch bag he kept for these types of situations

You’ve got this baby! Your Huening believes in you!! Lots of kisses when you get him will be guaranteed if you promise to try your best. - sincerely, the cutest and best boyfriend in the whole world

He calls you down into the kitchen and eats breakfast with you, feeding you a few bites at first since you were still pretty sleepy

He cleans up the table and washes the dishes while you're getting ready for the day. He just doesn't want you to have to worry about cleaning when you’re stressed out

Once you’re ready to go, he makes sure you have everything in your bag and gives you your lunch box and water bottle. He even packs in a sweet drink for you to enjoy with your lunch

He gives you a kiss and a hug on your way out, “have a good day! I'll come home after you tonight but you can tell me all about it as soon as I get home.”

Speaking of hugs…hyuka is the king of hugs

He's big, tall boy and he just looks so cozy to me

He hugs you so close and your face is always squished into his chest but you never mid because you get to inhale his scent that you love so much

When he finds out that you love the way he smells, he always slips his hoodies in your backpack/work bag during the cold seasons and if you mention your work/classroom is cold. 

He loves seeing you in his clothes because they’re usually just long on you since he’s pretty tall

He’s such a nerd omg

When he finds something he really enjoys, he will share it with you

He’ll talk your ear off about some new video game he and beomgyu started playing together and you just sit there, looking at his adorable little face as he talks excitedly.  

He always asks if you wanna try to game too and if you say yes, you better believe he is so happy. Happiest boy in the whole world 

He swear he falls deeper in love with you when you share interests with him and when you listen to him ramble about said interests

All he's ever wanted in a partner was someone to listen to him and here you are!

Your arms of plush animals…

He's got so many of them that at some point, he started to move some of them into your apartment

When he is eventually given clearance to move in with you, the both of you go apartment hunting with a very specific requirement 

One extra room for your plushie family and other collectable items

You two are just little dorks in love at the end of the day

I think i've mentioned this in another work of mine but family is really important to Huening 

He gets together often with his siblings and talks to his parents on the phone almost every single day. If he can't chat on the phone with them, he texts them when he can

He really wants you to get along with his family bt totally understands if you seem nervous

He would never push you to do anything you weren’t ready for so he’ll give you plenty of time to prepare

When you meet his sisters for the first time, it was at a cafe. It turns out that you had pretty much no reason to be nervous because there was an instant connection between the 3 of you

His sisters were made aware by kai that you were nervous so they just went in for it and introduced themselves right away

After that, you 3 were joking around and having fun, not wanting to leave each other so you all went shopping together right after

Kai was so happy to find out you get along with his sister but also nervous…you 3 were going to terrorize him for the rest of his life

He was okay with it because he loves you 3 so much

When it comes to meeting his parents…he waits until you're ready and when you finally are, he has them come to the both of you

Again, there was an instant click, especially with his mom

She brought a baby album full of his pictures and she shows you all of them, giving the back stories

He gets all red and shy when she shows you one of him in the tub, playing with his rubber duck bath toys

“Mom! Not that one!!” he whines and pulls you closer to him, shielding your eyes

You and his mom trade numbers and she sends you a picture of the picture so you’re good on that front

Moving away from meeting his family…this boy is just so attentive

God forbid you get sick or even worse…get your period! 

He is on you, throwing all the blankets you own on top of you, stuffing you full of homemade soup, and asking you if you;re okay every ten minutes

Poor thing is just really worried about you

He knows that he'll never understand how it feels to be on your period but he tries his best to be supportive

The cutest thing he does is his famous tummy rubs to help soothe your cramps and warm you up

He is the best boyfriend ever, me thinks

[fluentmoviequoter]

Tim Through the Years - The Game

Series Masterlist

Summary: You go to a hockey game with Tim and your brothers. 0.6k+ words

To say that Sam was nervous was a HUGE understatement. Dinner with Dean and Tim did not end well, and his twin sister was hurt. He knew y/n wanted the dinner to go well in hopes that Dean would approve of Tim since family means everything to the Winchester siblings. So, with the help of his twin, he got hockey tickets for them up against the glass.

Dean loved hockey ever since he could remember, and it helped him through his teenage years. It was an outlet to get out all his anger at their father. He knew Tim liked hockey because his sister told him they had been to multiple games together. It obviously was not the best night to watch the game because it was the LA Knights vs. The Kansas City Wendigos… and both men were dressed head to toe in their respective teams' jerseys and merchandise. This night was going to end just like dinner. Tim was on your left and Dean on your right, neither of them speaking, and wearing big scowls on their faces.

“Anyone want anything to drink?” you asked nervously.

“Beer,” both Tim and Dean responded.

“Okay…” you replied as you and Sam got up and went to get the drinks.

While you and Sam were gone, Tim and Dean sat crossed-armed, and the tension could be cut with a knife. A man behind them recognized Tim as an officer from a previous encounter.

“Get out of here, pig,” the man slurred.

Tim calmly ignored the guy, but he kept throwing insults at Tim.

Dean stood up and sneered while towering over the man. “Alright, cool it. This man is a respected officer and should be treated with respect. If you don’t leave him alone, you’ll have to deal with me!”

The man mumbled out an apology and quickly turned away from the two of them. Soon silence filled the space once again.

Tim looked at Dean and offered, “Hey, man, I just want to apologize for what happened at dinner. I let my anger get the better of me. I just really like your sister. She’s very important to me and I want to protect her.”

Dean looked at Tim and said, “All good, man. I said some stuff I shouldn’t either. New leaf?”

By the time you and Sam got back, Tim and Dean were standing side-by-side, banging on the glass and cheering together. Maybe the night wouldn't be so bad after all. After the game, as you were heading to the car, Tim and Dean were the best of friends, so it seemed like the plan actually worked!

“Can you believe that fight that broke out right in front of us!? Absolutely ridiculous!” Tim said to Dean between fits of laughter.

“The guy lost his front tooth!” Dean added, laughing loudly.

“What about that save! That was so crazy! I cannot believe they saved that!” Tim explained loudly. “Are you keeping that puck or can I give it to your sister?”

Dean dug around his leather jacket and tossed the puck over to Tim, and Tim caught it in the air. “I’m gonna tell her you fought a small child for this,” Tim told Dean. Dean looked at Tim and laughed while nodding his head. 

“Hey.” Dean grabbed Tim’s shoulder once they reached the car. “You’re an okay guy, just don’t hurt my sister and we won’t have any problems. 'Kay?”

“I’d never hurt her, but you’d have to get in line if you do. All my friends chose her over me already,” Tim said while smiling.

“Good, then we can all hide the body,” Dean joked. “Want to go get beer and burgers sometime?”

[btvs3x21]

as i said while discussing iroh as a character, despite the comics being a mess, i feel confident saying that at the end of atla, zuko not only realizes that azula has been harmed too, but he rightfully blames ozai for that harm (although ozai is not solely responsible for traumatizing azula).

as big of a win as that is for the possibility of the fire hazard siblings healing their relationship (zuko absolutely has to take the first step there in my opinon; azula would not be willing to at this point, and their relationship has been unbalanced in terms of care historically), their relationship is still quite tragic even with this realization.

there is no way that zuko actually understands what ozai did to azula. he doesn't even know what ozai did to azula. yes, he knows that ozai abused azula, but zuko only understands and knows abuse as he endured it.

there's also almost no way that azula is going to tell zuko about it. not only would she not want to discuss something so vulnerable in a serious or honest manner (see the way she discusses ursa in the beach), but she's also just had a serious psychotic break. it's very possible that she's not fit to see zuko at all right now, let alone discuss her trauma with him even if she wanted to.

so zuko is left to fill in the blanks about the how of azula's trauma. given his pattern of relating other people's trauma to his even when it's not actually the same (i.e. how he relates katara's trauma about kya being killed during the fire nation's genocide against her culture to his own trauma about ursa's disappearance after committing high treason), he would come to understand and conceive of how ozai abused azula through his own experience with ozai's abuse. while zuko's abuse was clearly always an implicit threat dangled over azula's head ("you can't treat me like zuko!") and ozai absolutely used some of the same tools against her that he did zuko, zuko was ozai's scapegoat child while azula was his golden child. their abuse did not look the same, it did not function the same, and it did not impact them the same.

it's also unlikely that he has the perspective at this stage in his own healing process to apply any of his (false) perceptions of azula's trauma to how it would have shaped both their childhood and his perspective of azula. he probably doesn't even realize just how deeply his perspective of her is colored by ozai's abuse of them both.

furthermore, since he's accepted his recollection of their childhood (which is not his fault. he is a victim of abuse who did not have the means or opportunity, as a young child, to see beyond ozai's more obvious abuse of him, which he couldn't even admit, to notice ozai's more subtle abuse of azula), he likely can only conceive of azula's childhood trauma in two ways:

as the byproduct of his own trauma, existing not because of azula's own traumatic childhood experiences but because of her witnessing his, such as the agni kai

as the product of his exile, occurring because he was no longer physically there for ozai to abuse and thus had to find a new target in azula

the former seems less probable given his belief that azula enjoyed his pain when they were children, so he would likely think that she was abused not when they were younger but exclusively after his exile began.

this isn't even touching on how zuko's perception of ursa and iroh clouds his ability to see how they both harmed azula too. that muddles things a lot more since zuko struggles with black and white thinking.

i think azula and zuko could heal their relationship with time and mutual effort, but as long as she refuses to confide in her brother and as long as he assumes she should experience and respond to trauma the same way he has, they're doomed to remain static in relation to each other.

[farter-imperator]

Could we maybe get some more ministry breeding program Rain? All the bits with him are so tasty

Of course.

This post was completely inspired by @copia-mpreg btw

So, Rain is a ghoul tease, but he also occasionally breeds. But not in the way you'd think.

You may remember a little post I did about Rain having a tentacle down there...

Well. What about Rain donating the eggs he lays? They'd just go to waste otherwise.

He has to have someone he trusts handling him. Otherwise, the tentacle will hide in its' sheath and refuse to come out.

It's easier for both him and Aether for him to lay in an examination chair. Aether rolls up his sleeves and dons some gloves, then does a precursory examination of Rain's lower stomach. It's a little swollen, a little bumpy with the soft eggs ready to pop out.

Once Aether has checked that all the eggs are ready, by gently palpating his stomach and feeling them shift, he works in teasing out Rain's tentacle.

He coats his fingers in lubricant (not that Rain needs it, but it's a habit) and reaches between his legs, gently tickling over the small opening where Rain's clit would be.

"Shy today, huh?"

"She didn't like you pressing on her eggs."

"Aw, poor girl."

He parts Rain's legs a little further in the stirrups. Peers down between them as he continues to rub the pad of his finger against the opening.

"That's it, Rain. Just relax for me, okay? She's thinking about it."

Slowly, the tentacle emerges. It twists around curiously for a moment, then wraps around Aether's wrist.

"Yeah, see? Knew you'd recognise me once you were out. Atta girl."

Carefully, Aether unwinds the tentacle from his wrist. It's flushed and thicker at the base than usual, a sign that it's ready to lay.

A sibling brings over a collection tray, which Aether slots into place between Rain's spread legs. He needs both hands free for this job.

With one hand, he begins methodically massaging Rain's belly. With the other hand, he holds the base of Rain's tentacle, waiting to feel the first lump there.

"Come on... There's a good girl... Rain's so full of your eggs, let's help him out a little..."

"S'coming... O-Oh, Belial..."

"I know. Just relax, Rain. I know it feels weird, but it'll go much easier for all of us if you relax... Yeah, there we go, good boy..."

Slowly, the first egg slips down from Rain's womb. It travels through the tentacle, a visible lump, and then wetly splurts into the collection tray. About the size of a ping pong ball, very squishy, and see through.

"Good boy, Rain. That's it, just like that."

Rain's thighs are trembling. The feeling of the egg sliding through him just feels so good that he-

A thick spurt of slick from his tentacle lands in the tray.

"Ooh... Don't worry about that, Rain. It's completely normal to get aroused during this experience. I'm glad that you're relaxed enough to produce that for me."

"Y-Yeah... 'Course..."

The next half an hour is spent in mostly silence, spare for Rain's whimpers, Aether's words of encouragement, and the loud squirting sound every time an egg pops out of the tentacle.

By the time the last egg comes around, Rain has quite an impressive clutch in the collection tray, and he's feeling much better. Less bloated.

Aether presses the final egg down, always the biggest, and it slowly squishes through Rain's reproductive system. Rain flinches when it reaches the base of his tentacle.

"Hooh... Oh, gods..."

"I know. I know. It's pretty big. It's alright, though. Won't be too much longer and then it'll be out. You've just got to be brave for me, Rain."

"'Kay..."

"Good boy."

Rain's face is pinched as aether eases the egg down through his tentacle, the bulge slowly slipping through the length of it until it slowly breaches the tip. After a sharp gasp from Rain, the final egg drops into the tray.

Rain's sore, but very satisfied. Aether has the tray taken away before Rain can look and get grossed out by the sight of his eggs. Aether carefully lets his legs down from the stirrups and massages his thighs while a sibling offers him a sip of water. Rain gets told just what a good boy he is, how his eggs will help with the Ministry Breeding Program.

Rain can't wait for the next session.

[rockofeye]

Dry Bones Breath

I have been attempting to write this particular post for months. I have innumerable drafts full of emotion and wrought feelings and explaining, and none of them have ever felt right to post. Maybe two months ago, I gave myself permission not to write this. I felt like I was pushing too hard to birth something that had yet to be fully formed, and so I put it to the side and went on with life. I jotted notes when something bubbled up, and I otherwise didn't think about it or look at it. I stopped expecting myself to be able to produce something when the moment for that something had clearly not yet arrived.

In retrospect, I think I was waiting to feel right about it. I don't like to write angry, so I have waited not to be angry all the time. I have waited to not be tearful when writing about particular aspects. I have waited for my process of writing to be calm and not a frenzied pounding at my keyboard. I have waited to not feel like I was writing to appease others or in fear of others or what might be said about what I write. I have waited for the burden of not writing to feel heavy but not reactionary, in that I know I need to set this down for my own betterment but that the burden is not a bag of angry cats that I need to throw into the river to feel a little peace. This past week, I have finally felt like I have arrived in that place, so here we are.

On November 26, 2024, I submitted a letter resigning my membership in Sosyete Nago. As I have written extensively on my journey with and in Sosyete Nago, it feels important that I write about my exit, how and why I made that decision, and, to some extent, where I go from there. I have always been as transparent as I know how to be with my journey and process, and I feel that it would be dishonest not to be transparent here, too. I owe myself transparency and speaking the truth as I understand it and have experienced it, and I owe transparency to people who have held faith with me through this blog--co-religionists, siblings, friends, clients, seekers, curious folks, and more.

To be perfectly blunt, I really would love to be able to feel like I could just wash my hands of this and keep moving forward without getting into this incredibly painful process, but I can't. That feels like lying and also like tacit agreement with a whole of things that I really don't agree with. So, I write.

I was active in Sosyete Nago for eleven and a half years. I attended my first fet at Manbo Maude's house in Boston in November 2013 and completed my kanzo/initiation in July 2016 in Jacmel. The first time I missed a fet kay in the US was the fet Danbala that was only a few weeks after I gave birth and the last fet I attended was fet Kouzen this past spring. I was committed to being present and a part of the community because that was both something I was directly taught by my godfather, in that I had been given a lot of grace in the djevo and the appropriate response to that was to show up and put my hands in the work, and because I felt strongly that I didn't make all the sacrifices I did to get where I was to not be of use and to not learn anything. I spent literal years standing or sitting in a particular place in the temple in the US and the temple in Haiti, either actively helping the fets unfold or absorbing what was happening and allowing the lwa to speak to me through the drums and the salutations and my observations.

I didn't join Sosyete Nago with the intent to leave, at all. This was a topic at the ceremonies in Haiti leading to my kanzo; more than one spirit asked me if I was going to take what I would learn and what I would be given and leave. When I said no, I meant it. I went to Haiti to do the work that I desperately needed and that I had promised to do, with no other agenda. I told myself that if I hated it, I didn't have to go back but I never had any plans of walking away. That was a big deal for me, because I am not a joiner. I do not find it easy to trust people and I certainly did not want to forge any lasting ties with any person or community. The lwa had other plans, though, and so I jumped in with both feet and trusted that they would keep me whole.

Over the years, I learned a lot about developing as a spiritual person from Manbo Maude. I learned about prayer and how that can really change things, I learned a set of ethics and principles that have governed how I interact with world as a spiritual person and a priest, and I learned how to work my lwa to have them teach me themselves. I built my life on that foundation of principles and prayer and relationship with my spirits, and that is what I have always (and still) rely on.

I utilized all of this in community as well, and community is hard. There was a lot of learning and reflection on my part, and I did my best to keep up. I have always fallen back on the primary tool of discernment that Manbo Maude taught me; that of watching and waiting in patience. In practice, that means when I have a dream I don't understand, I don't necessarily push for meaning but I put it on the shelf and then watch what happens in my life. In relationship with community, it's the same; if I hear something I disagree with or see something that doesn't sit well with me, I sit with it and I watch and I wait and I'll probably pray about it, too. Sometimes it's something that flows along and I don't feel that I need to bring it up, and other times, it feels like something that needs to get brought up, so maybe at some point I will choose to say something. Often, I just continue to watch because not everything needs to be said by me, I don't have to be right, and sometimes the price of speaking instead of remaining silent is high.

One of the first outings my husband and I took our kiddo to was going to Sosyete Nago's Fet Kouzen this past spring. We both wanted people we cared about to meet the baby, and we wanted the baby to see the lwa. My mother, Manbo Maude, had not yet met the baby despite multiple invitations/asks from me; it was important to me that the person who had held the spot of mother in my life for years meet the baby that had been hoped for, but it didn't pan out. I stopped asking because I don't press people for things when they demonstrate they don't want it. At the time, I told myself that she was just busy, but in retrospect there was more going on.

In fact, after the fet things kind of blew up. My husband was unhappy about something and after I pressed him on it, it came out that statements had been made before the fet by an elder sibling of mine that the baby could not be his because it did not resemble him both in looks and in skin tone, because the baby had arrived early and the timeline didn't make sense, and because we had struggled quite a bit in our relationship once my husband arrived in the US so there had been presumed openings for me to cheat on my husband and try to baby trap him.

This was shocking and incomprehensible to me because why would anyone choose to be that poisonous and, frankly, that much of an asshole about a baby? And why would someone feel so free to speak about one of their siblings in our mother's house in front of our mother? I asked my husband to go through with me what happened multiple times and to tell me who else was present. I spoke with other people who witnessed this and had them go through the blow-by-blow with me as well. It seems that an innocent and funny joke was made about the kiddo, which is fine and not upsetting to me, and it seems that this person saw that as an opening and decided to really go in on our child with some really hateful stuff.

I didn't and don't understand why someone would be so hateful, and I didn't understand why that conversation would be allowed to stand. I sat with it and decided that I would speak to my mother about it after she returned from Haiti because, for me, respect is an action word and because of my respect for her I was not going to add to what she needed to do before going to Haiti in July. I convinced myself that there had to be some logical explanation for all these things. 

In retrospect, that was pretty naive of me. What happened next was pretty awful: this terrible bit of poisonous gossip went everywhere, because people talk and something so egregious and outright mean is not going to stay quiet and particularly when gossip is held as a sort of social token or payment.

When I say everywhere, I mean EVERYWHERE. I watched my husband field three or four or more phone calls every day for WEEKS about this. His friends in Haiti, the US, and beyond called to ask what in god's name was going on in Boston that Sosyete Nago would be saying these things. His family heard about it and I listened to him explain to his son what was going on. His spiritual mother and his spiritual children heard about it. I had spiritual clients coming to me and asking if I was okay because of what they were hearing. My siblings in Haiti and the US heard about it.

It was awful and humiliating and at no point did my mother reach out to me and express any concern about what had been said or what was being said. I didn't believe anything that had originally been said was out of actual concern, as a person who cared about my husband and had real concern that I was so unprincipled as to cheat on him and pass off someone else's baby as his would have pulled him aside and had a private conversation. Instead, the goal of these kind of statements and the intentional use of gossip as a way to hurt someone was to hurt my husband and hurt me. There is no other reason someone would stoop so low as to speak on a child that way.

But, I told myself I would address this later. I was busy with the baby and told myself, over and over that there had to be something else going on because why would my mother tolerate something so virulent and not speak with me about it?

Then, July happened. Almost immediately after the passing of Dana, both my husband and I independently heard rumors that someone had passed away. The rumors were all over the place: someone had passed in the djevo, someone had passed during a ceremony, someone in the lakou had passed. Both of us said the same thing to people who brought those rumors forward: there is no way that someone would have passed in any of the manners described because Manbo Maude would not continue on with dances and celebratory ceremonies. Both of us stood on the fact that we knew Manbo Maude to be a generally caring and sensitive person who just wouldn't do that. I confirmed this to myself by seeing clips of happy people during fetes and house members who were present sharing photos of themselves, promoting businesses, etc. 

When I found out almost a week later that we were both terribly wrong, I was shocked. I was beyond shocked, honestly. I don't know if there is a clear way to describe how truly flattened I felt to hear that someone had passed, that the someone who had passed had just emerged from the djevo, and not one thing had paused. I genuinely could not believe it, because how could something so significant and serious as a brand new manbo passing happen, celebrations continue, and the children of the house not be informed? I honestly felt like I had been steamrolled and it made me viscerally ill. One of the first things I did after getting the news from a sibling and being shown memorial posts on Facebook was vomit.

In the immediate aftermath of this bomb dropping, a lot unfolded. Several of my siblings named this event as the straw that broke their backs and reported to the community allegations and experiences of theirs that were at best extremely concerning and at worst extraordinarily problematic before leaving the sosyete. I began asking questions of others; had they heard about these allegations (because I hadn't)? What had been done to address and rectify them? I was told that these allegations were known and that no one was really sure what had concretely been done.

A little more than a week after Dana's passing, a group of elder children of Sosyete Nago was convened to presumably try to help manage these unfolding crises. A group call was scheduled within a day or two, and some of us assembled to try and address these situations. When the call began, I was direct and to the point: a public statement acknowledging Dana's passing needed to be made immediately and all public activities of the sosyete should be suspended for a full year, including the suspension of kanzo, out of respect for the passing of our sibling and to do the work to address the allegations and failings of our community. For me, this was the minimum that we could do to try and repair what was quite broken in the moment.

This was noted, but not received well. The initial reaction was that suspending kanzo would be a devastating financial blow to the house, and I found that as the immediate response troubling. Equally as troubling to me was a general chastisement of the group that we had not inquired as to how Manbo Maude was feeling and doing. That did not sit well with me and I said so: someone had died and as houngans and manbos our first responsibility is to the dead and the community that was both reeling with the loss and deeply fractured due to information and experiences coming to light.

After the call, it became clear those of us in this group of elder children had been placed in a position of trust but were not trusted. Questions were asked over and over and remained unanswered, like if the desounen had been completed, what Dana's baptism name was so she could be appropriately prayed for as she deserved, and specific questions addressing some of the rumors circulating. When I pressed for Dana's name so I could pray for my sibling and call her as the lwa called her, the group was told that the name was being kept private to keep Dana safe. The implication that her siblings were not safe people was a blow.

A continuing blow was the lack of public statement that many of us asked for over and over, both for the dignity of Dana and for the well-being of the sosyete and its members. We were continually told that multiple lawyers had been consulted and all said not to make any public statement, but how would simply acknowledging the passing of a child of the house be held as negative?

The situation continued to spiral and many of us continued to ask for action, and shared how we were personally being affected by this. For myself, I had clients pull back from me for fear of association without further information. I was threatened privately and dragged publicly, and I had just signed a contract for a book in June that was immediately suspended and probably will never see the light of day. When I shared some of this, it was responded to with a chastisement of how could we be thinking of things like this in the middle of this tragedy? Well, how was it possible then that the sosyete went forward with celebrations hours after Dana passed? There was never a response to my own sharing of what was happening for me, nor was there any response to what other siblings shared.

Folks were saying Dana had been killed or sacrificed and her death covered up, and why wouldn't they say this when the actions of the house certainly seemed suspicious? I do not believe for one minute Manbo Maude harmed Dana, and yet the handling of her death certainly left ample room for those rumors to seem very believable, which rests solely on the inaction of the sosyete.

Sosyete Nago seemed cold, callous, and cruel. There was no noting of the death of a house member who had just finished her initiation, but there were plenty of photos and video clips of smiling children of the house enjoying fets and relaxation time in Haiti, posing for photos in their special outfits, and promoting business opportunities. How would anyone think anything different when Dana passed in the morning and a kouche yanm ceremony began in the afternoon? How could this be seen as anything but an endorsement that Dana's death was unimportant?

Community meetings were held and I chose not to attend. My questions had not been answered in a more private forum so what would be the benefit to me of attending a larger forum where me asking them again would surely be viewed as troublemaking? 

I continued to be disturbed by what I was seeing and hearing from these meetings and in general among the sosyete. There were statements made about how funeral rites are done that were in direct opposition to what I was taught by Manbo Maude, that the kanzo was totally normal, and excuses continued to be made as to why celebrations began immediately after Dana's passing--people had paid for spiritual work to be done so things had to be done, Dana's parent had given their okay for things to continue, the recent initiates gave their consent for things to continue, and, perhaps most disturbing, once you make a promise to spirits, you can never change that. For all the effort that was made to convince people that the right thing had been done, it hit wrong.

I was floored when it was said that promises to spirit can never be changed. This is something that applies directly to responsibilities when folks serve lwa achte, or bought spirits (sometimes called djab or pwen achte, among other things). Sosyete Nago has always represented itself as fran Ginen, meaning only lwa Ginen are served and not lwa achte. As I was taught and Manbo Maude had taught publicly over and over, lwa Ginen can always be negotiated with. You can always go back and say 'hey, it's not going to work out as I had planned, here's what I can do now until I can do what I promised'. That can be done for whatever significant reason; maybe you didn't get a chance to assemble all the money you needed or you had a big emergency you needed to take care of...or someone died.

Further, if we are to believe that spirits like Danbala, the spirit most associated with purity who cannot be served in the presence of death, and Ogou, the father of all the children of Sosyete Nago, and Ezili Danto, the fierce mother who loves her children, cannot be negotiated with after the tragic death of a newly born child, then these spirits are cruel and are not worthy of our service and attention. What parent would be angry that a celebration was suspended to mourn the death of their child? 

My concerns continued to multiply: 

Brand new initiates not yet finished with their eprev/period of restriction were helping with the work of death, which is strictly forbidden and can have long-lasting consequences, up to and including untimely death. I pushed back on this and asked why the principles all of us were governed with were somehow suspended in the aftermath of this tragedy and why these new initiates were not being sufficiently protected. Restrictions are put in place for a reason; while death is a natural part of life, it is a massive spiritual contamination for us, especially directly after kanzo. The response from a house member was that these new initiates had already struggled, so what did it matter? What?

Statements were made in house meetings that were extremely troubling, such as the assembled group of people on a call being the ones who were really invested in the sosyete, and, after a period of telling people what was happening next, a statement to the affect of 'if this doesn't resonate with you, let us know and we can part amicably'. Regardless of intent, this felt pretty targeted towards those of us who had spoken up and called for responsibility and adherence to the principles we had been taught. Additionally, with the traditional lakou structure of an initiatory parent and a family of children/initiates, how does this speak to the responsibility of a parent to a child? Much has been said about the contract and waiver that house members sign, but what has been unsaid is that responsibilities and expectations in relationships and contracts are not only on one side.

Instead of moving to immediately deal with allegations reported to the community, other activities were undertaken, like seating the board of a nonprofit. I found it upsetting that this was the response, instead of caring for community members. My understanding as of this writing is that none of the allegations have been addressed and no reparative action undertaken.

I sat with all of this, and it felt pretty awful. I didn't like what it said about the community I was a part of, and I didn't like how I felt as a part of it. I felt specifically that the statements being made about commitment and exiting if you don't like what is happening were incredibly divisive and, to me, dangerous. I was reminded of my history as a young person who was a part of a dangerous, cult-like religious group where statements like that and expectations around caring for the leader led to some places that were pretty dark. I didn't and don't know if that is what was happening there, but it felt like it and I spent a lot time on my own and with folks who care about me specifically trying to unpack that and look at what that meant for me and meant for the community.

I spent a lot of time metaphorically holding my head, because I felt like I had previously been blind to things that should have concerned me and because I felt like I was losing my mind. None of what was happening made sense and I couldn't find the community that I had previously committed to in the community that I was now a part of. I felt like a lot of this was a passive invitation to leave; why else would statements like this be made if it wasn't a line in the sand?

In the middle of all of that, grief. I did not know Dana well, but the grief for this situation was overwhelming. I was in tears more than I wanted to be over a life shortened and the feeling that this death did not have meaning because it had just been passed over by the community that Dana had given herself to. I questioned how this was just, and I wondered, to myself and to others, what would happen when I died. Would anyone stop to do for me what was necessary, or was it going to be business as usual?

Part of our humanity rests in how we care for our dead, because they are OURS. We are responsible for them in the moment of their death and in perpetuity. What we do and how we treat them and their death is a reflection of what we think of them and what we think of ourselves, and our treatment of them reflects deep truths about us as individuals and as community. As much as Dana belonged to her natural family, she belonged to us, too, and we failed her. Those who made the decision to continue on and embody a reality where her death made nothing pause--not even for a moment--needed to reckon with what that meant for Dana, for the community, and for themselves, and Sosyete Nago needed to reckon with what it meant to be part of a community that overlooked the death of one of its members. 

Before my resignation, I saw none of that.

In the midst of this, I also was having a private, unrelated spiritual crisis. Just before Dana's passing, I had the opportunity to speak with a variety of the lwa. They were excited to see the baby, and they all told me something I wasn't expecting: they told me I had not been given the light necessary to do all my work as an asogweman. I wasn't entirely sure what that was, and said so. I was told to ask my mother, and to ask my mother why I had not been given that.

I am a curious person and investigated on my own. Manbo Maude was about to go to Haiti and there was already other discomfort for me, so I asked a few other asogwe I knew what that meant. 

My siblings didn't know, but some other folks did and described a process and set of information communicated to each manbo or houngan asogwe as part of their formation that is foundational to the work of an asogwe. It was something that I had struggled with for years and years, and that I had been told nothing could be done about. I am being intentionally vague, but IYKYK. So, I resolved to do as I was told and ask my mother when there was an available time.

As the dust was forced into settling this fall, the children of Sosyete Nago were individually polled and each of us asked if we wanted to remain part of Sosyete Nago and work towards communal healing. I didn't really vibe with being asked if I wanted to stay, because, as I wrote earlier, my commitments were made long ago. When asked, I said that I made my commitments before but there were things that needed to be discussed. A time to talk was suggested, and I agreed.

Before this conversation with my mother, I spent a lot of time praying and sitting with my lwa. I felt unmoored, undermined, and pretty lost, and I didn't like where I thought the road was leading. I spent a lot of time praying for a positive outcome and for a glimpse of anything that would tell me that I was in the wrong or had outmaneuvered myself.

I also spent a fair amount of time expressing my displeasure to my lwa, with varying amounts of grace ranging from absolutely none at all to essentially weepily clinging to their legs. They were much more graceful in their responses than I was able to muster.

What turned out to be my last conversation with my mother did not go well, from my side. I spent a fair amount of time being shocked into silence and being both deeply worried and deeply sad in the same space.

The takeaways from our conversation were this:

It seems that initiates who would not otherwise know about specific information are supposed to ask to learn it. When I inquired about why I was not given the light and deliverance my title/rank indicated, the response I received was 'well, did you ask?'. Beyond the leap of logic it would take to reason out how someone is supposed to know what to ask without having been instructed in what the basic tools of their rank is, I had asked. I had asked multiple times in multiples settings over multiple years, on my own and in the presence of others, and the response I had consistently gotten was that I just needed to relax and let go, and that there was nothing that could be taught to me and no help I could receive.

Instead of being able to consider another viewpoint, experience, or conflicting information, betrayal and insidious behavior is considered foundational to any relationship or encounter that does not go as desired. For example, in discussing questions and concerns I had around particular rumors around Dana's passing, it was suggested I was speaking to people who were considered spies or betrayers. Instead of being able to consider what had to happen for someone who had invested multiple years and paid thousands of dollars for an initiation to immediately cut ties with the sosyete upon return to the US, it was stated that this person was a spy for others. I can't and don't see how someone would invest at least $8,500USD in fees alone to be a spy, and the inability or unwillingness to consider other information or extend empathy or curiousness to another viewpoint or experience.

Potential safety concerns were also included under the umbrella of betrayal or insidious behavior as well. When bringing up a concern about very specific rumors about purposeful contamination of food and water supplies in the lakou, that was labeled as a way to take Americans away from the lakou instead of entertaining if it was possible, what could be done to increase security/safety, and the reality that even rumor can make other people bold enough to act.

Gossip is considered truth and is used a social mechanism to create relationships, leverage relationships, or end them. When I brought up my concerns about what was said about child, it was very clear that what actual truth was never mattered, as my mother decided to act (or not act)based on what other people had said and never consulted me about what was being said or how I, her child, felt about it. 

The place of betrayal within the community of Sosyete Nago seems to have become a central guiding principle and any relationship or situation that does not resolve in a way considered positive or that doesn't fit a predetermined idea of what it should be becomes betrayal. In our phone call, my husband become a focal figure in a narrative of betrayal that I didn't understand. When asking about why my child and my reputation as a person with principles was spoken about negatively, it was insisted (despite other persons being present relating differently) that it was my husband who stated he did not believe he was the father of our child, and I was told several times I didn't know the man I had married and similar would-be inflammatory things.

I will admit to having laughed at that, because it relied on events that were--again--based in gossip and didn't actually happen. But, further, my mother insisted that she had been forced to have my husband--a well known houngan who had worked for her and collaborated with her for at least fifteen years--in her home and her temple without her consent. 

When I asked for clarification of what she meant by that and what had happened to create such a feeling of hostility, nothing was really communicated. Old issues that had been presumably settled years ago were brought back up as if brand new, and the only new event was an insistence that he did not greet her in public when he saw her at the airport. When I offered to bring him into the call to be able to clear the air and have direct communication, that was refused.

This was very confusing to me, as my mother, Manbo Maude, regularly called my husband starting from his arrival in the US in 2023 to help her with ceremonies she was holding, she commissioned him for a significant amount of tableau for a fet she was planning in Haiti, and she invited him to accompany her to Haiti this past summer. That trip did not end up happening, but it's hard for me to see where his presence was forced in her home and her community. These are also dangerous things to say in this political environment; my husband is a recent immigrant and rumors can lead to serious action at this time.

All of these things were incredibly unsettling for me, as this did not reflect how I have understood community and community relationships nor did it reflect how I had come to know Manbo Maude over the past 10+ years.

Particularly upsetting was when Manbo Maude told me directly that she had not come to see my child after they were born because of the rumors that my husband was not the baby's father and my apparent infidelity. As these rumors did not boil over until May months after my child was born, this tells me that this was a much longer situation that was purposefully held back from me.

When the person I chose as my mother told me that, I think my heart broke in a really specific way and I felt really, really stupid. She was first person I told after my husband that I was pregnant, she was the person who had the inside scoop about how the pregnancy went, and she was the first person who saw a picture of the baby after I gave birth...yet somehow she had harbored this awful belief that I was somehow capable of what rumors were saying. 

Responsibility was spoken about in our call, and she stated she was responsible for me as my spiritual mother. Where was the responsibility when people were busy assassinating my character and speaking poison onto my child, for months on end? It would not have been hard to pick up the phone and call me and ask about what was being said and if I was okay, but that would require a belief that I am the one who tells the truth about my experience and that I am ultimately a respectable person.

Our conversation ended with Manbo Maude telling me she was willing to work on our relationship but that my husband was no longer welcome in her home or her temple, for perceived betrayal that was never fully explained to me. I was asked to make a decision on whether I was going to stay in Sosyete Nago and I requested time to think.

In truth, I already knew what my answer would be but I felt dizzy and disoriented after a conversation that had veered so wildly from what I had hoped it would be and I wanted to clear my head and think.

Manbo Maude stated a boundary that unfortunately meant there could no longer be an active relationship. I fully believe that an offer that excludes family is not an offer of connection, but an invitation to leave and I genuinely wish that could have just been said directly. Further, it had already been said to other people before it got to me; one of my husband's family members was called and told that they were welcome at an upcoming fet, but not to bring my husband. And, it had made it's way around local community; house members felt free enough to tell people nou pa bon avek yo, nou pap sevi avek yo ankò/we're not on good terms with them, we don't serve/work with them anymore. This is an example of how gossip is weaponized; that was said to people that are known to be friends and family of ours, so it was very clear we would hear.

As much as I was not going to disrespect Manbo Maude, her home, or her temple and bring people she didn't want there, I was also not going to disrespect my husband or my child and go places they were specifically not welcome or celebrated. So, I wrote my letter.

My resignation was the beginning of the work to understand and dig into why I needed to ask for particular information and what that meant for me, and so I got to work. As I have been very visible for the last decade and had the grace to marry someone people trust, I was able to connect with a lot of granmoun/elders and other community members. Some were people who have known my mother, some were people who knew her spiritual mother, and others were community members who gracefully were willing to entertain my questions and give me their time. 

This was work I went into while holding a considerable amount of anger, which was covering up how hurt and betrayed I felt. Sosyete Nago diverges from traditional initiation formats and does not initiate anyone from outside of Haiti to sou pwen, so how was I to be expected to know what information I was to ask for, even though it is considered a foundational element? Certainly each lakou has their own regleman that they adhere to, but what does it mean to diverge so far from the general agreements asson lineages hold as a community?

This is something that has negatively affected me for years. I wrote it off as my problem because I was told it was my problem and I was comfortable with that, because my relationships with my lwa have been solid from the start, but it has affected me during fets, with clients, in dreams, and just on my own. I also am now a parent of a Haitian-American child who very clearly and decisively is a child of the lwa. Her father is an accomplished houngan but, God forbid/Bondye pa vle, what happens if he were to pass before me and my child needs assistance that I was not given the information to provide? Is my child just abandoned to whatever happens with a shrug? These are real consequences.

I spoke with a lot of people and was given a lot of grace. When you are an outsider and you start asking very particular and pointed questions about topics that can't be discussed without an assurance you have the right to even ask the question, people look at you. They test you, and they see if you are what you say you are and if the sondaj rings true. I have always been who I say I am and I know what I know, so it did.

Questions give way to answers, and answers are pieced together to a broader quilt of an answer. My siblings in the US didn't know what I was asking about, but the ones in Haiti did, and they described something not done for folks who come for kanzo from outside of Haiti. Community members described various scenarios as to how these particular things could come to pass; they described how it happens in their lakou and how they have witnessed it happen in others. I was invited to Haiti multiple times to witness how community members do these things under their own regleman.

A particular piece of knowledge that hit me kind of between the eyes came to me multiple times, from community elders and from a spirit who came down to speak. How it came from spirit was that, in the midst of our discussion on this topic, they snatched an asson out of the hands of someone nearby and kind of shook it in my face. They said (paraphrasing in English) that this (the asson) is a kalbas/gourd, a kloch/bell, and a kolye/strung beads and that you can go out and buy all of that at the market for cheap, but that the real asson is the konesans/knowledge you carry inside you, and then the spirit poked me in the side of my head to illustrate. I heard that multiple times over these conversations and it is the thing that has stuck with me: if you don't know it, do you really have it? 

This did nothing to really quash my anger and I let my lwa have it. I told them that I have always trusted them (even when I have dragged my feet), that this is where that particular trust had led me, and that they now were going to do the work to fix it, since I had done nothing to get myself into my current predicament.

So they did.

I also got really seeking to understand what happens when we die, and I received similar grace from many community elders and members. I heard so many personal stories of loss that unfolded how we care for our dead.

There was the manbo who died an unnatural death just after the monte bila for a bat gè ceremony, and that caused the entire kanzo preparations and ceremonies to stop immediately. The bila was covered, the desounen completed, and nine days of bohoum/funeral rites were begun for a beloved child and community member.

There was the fet where the honored lwa just wouldn't come down, despite multiple and repeated salutes by children of the lakou and guests. Finally, after a lot of effort, the lwa came in exactly one head and sat down in the middle of the temple. They said they had come not to eat and celebrate, but to give the lakou the news that had not yet come by mouth: a lakou member had died, and the ceremony was to halt so that the funeral process could begin. Not long after that, a cousin arrived bearing news of a sudden sickness and passing of a hounsi.

There was the time when someone arrived with news of a death just as the first fet in a series of fet kay was starting, and the fet stopped and lakou members changed clothes and got in a vehicle to go retrieve the body of their sibling so that ceremonies could be done for them. The many animals purchased for the lwa were slaughtered in the names of both the lwa and the deceased, and charity was done to feed all the surrounding community, without any ceremony.

I heard about different rites, such as draping the door of the djevo in black and white so the lwa know one of their children has died, or placing a wooden cross at the gate of the lakou so the community is aware that there has been a loss. I learned about the importance of the desounen, which is the rite done immediately after passing to remove the soul of the initiate so that it can be protected and returned to the djevo it was born from or a similar safe place. I learned why we may break the krish or the kwi behind the process and how we may prepare the bohoum to honor the commitment and sacrifice of our initiation. I was gifted an immense amount of video documentation, because our grief rites are both communal and our pride; see how much we loved our child/sibling that passed? See how we made the ceremony beautiful for them? See how we all come together to do it? I even had the opportunity to talk to a spirit about this work, and they gave me the step by step of how I am to do some of these particular things, when it is time for me to do them.

The sharing of these various stories and rites (and others not shared here) bring one thing into focus: death stops for no one, but we stop for death. It is inconvenient and it can cost us money and time and days and effort, but how we greet death when it takes one of our loved ones is the final dignity we give them and it renews how we relate to each other. Sometimes that is hard. Sometimes it means we take a loss or our plans are upended, but ultimately we are held in community by our common agreements to each other and death is the one that none of us can escape so we, as houngans and manbos, must greet it well.

The importance of these things in the many forms they take in individual lakou was underlined by an elder I had the opportunity to speak with who lives locally to my former lakou and whom I have known a bit. They described how a death of a manbo or houngan will bring the local community to the lakou to visit during periods of mourning. I asked why they did not visit my mother's lakou when Dana passed and they stared at me through the video call and said that had a death happened they would have visited, but as dances had begun the same day as the supposed (to them) death, there couldn't have been anyone that had died. This certainly gave me pause to understand the depth and breadth of what had been said in the aftermath of Dana's transition.

This work to understand both of these areas underlined how interconnected Vodou is and should be beyond a lakou. Not once did anyone ask me for money or tell me I needed to have something done, as had been intimated for years would happen had I, an outsider, gone to places outside of my immediate community and spoken to other manbos and houngans. My curiosity (after assuring I had the right to be curious) was welcomed with pleasure and, when I can get back to Haiti, I have a lot of beer to drink and legume and lanbi to enjoy.

The hardest part of this work was looking at this connectedness and willingness to engage and knowing that this was something my heart was missing. After all, I am human and all I have really wanted in the very bottom of my soul is what everyone wants: a place to belong where we are loved, valued, respected, and cared for, and that left me, if it ever truly existed how I wanted and needed it to be.

But, in loss there is always gain and growth. The lwa do not leave their children in suffering and they fulfill their promises and answer prayers. This summer, my husband went to Haiti (after everything had already unfolded) and a significant part of the reason he was there was to secure our lakou. We had been gifted land in a demambwe after the birth of our child, and he went to visit it, feed it, and begin the process of standing up our lakou. I had assumed I would be limited there, but family and spirits said 'are you crazy? you belong here, too', and so I have a place to be again. We had been talking about our own lakou and sosyete for years, and the lwa fulfilled it and then some, with the addition of an inherited temple in a different area and a plan to also build another in an area we like. Every day has been a blessing, even on the worst days.

I know this writing won't be well received by everyone (or maybe anyone at all...who knows), but, transparency aside, I didn't write it for anyone but me. I know I too will be labeled a betrayer after this is published, but I have told no secrets and broken no oaths. It will likely be said that I am controlled by my husband or that he is telling me what to say, but I accept no backhanded insults about my ability to discern, reflect, evaluate, inquire, and act on my own. I also don't believe that what I will say will necessarily change anything, but I wish my departure had been an ending for gossip and challenging communication. Even now, we hear regularly from friends, clients, and family members how Sosyete Nago represents that my husband and I are working against Manbo Maude and Sosyete Nago and have brought powder into the temple, and I watch how gossip sows division and creates separation instead of increasing our connectedness and interdependence.

During the long process of discerning and writing about all of this, those were things that made me fearful, and that fear came from a place of being scared of being talked about or labeled a particular way, and that itself is my own trauma response that I have had to look at critically.

I don't need to be scared, because the truth is not scary. It can be painful and embarrassing and shocking, but not scary. I am not afraid of betrayal, because I reject that as a way of framing relationships. Instead, I choose an open heart and seek connectedness and reconciliation, across the board. I hope one day for reconciliation with Sosyete Nago and Manbo Maude, but reconciliation requires responsibility, reparative action, and change. I hope for healing for myself, for Manbo Maude and Sosyete Nago, for Dana, and for community-at-large, and I pray for peace for all who have found themselves touched by these situations. 

May the lwa love us, guide us, and hold us to the high standard of our best selves, that we all may become who we are meant to be. May we choose connection over isolation, grace over fear, and choose to assume the best over assuming the worst. May the lwa bless each of you ten times as much as they have blessed me.

Alex Batagi, March 2025

[oldwritingm]

HEYY POOKIEE!!!! I had an idea from the movie, so basically the reader being the ninja's little sibling who don't get along at all. They fight over the smallest things at school and at home. That's until one day while Garmadon attacks the reader gets captured and the ninja has to save the reader, which accidentally causes the ninja to reveal their identity and the reader just gives their sibling a big hug and apologizes for everything they've said in the past and they up!!!

Okay that's it TYSM HAVE A NICE DAY OR NIGHT AND REMEMBER TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF POOKIEE💛💛💛🤍🤍🤍

Yes of course!! <33

Ninjago - Ninjas When You (Their Little Sibling) Are Taken

Kai

Kai pretended like he didn’t care when he first saw you were taken

But he was determined to get you back; in reality, he did indeed care

He was ready to do whatever it took to get you back

He fell blindly into a trap, finding himself restrained by one of Garmadon’s goons

They pulled off his mask, but his face remained hardened

He snapped at his captor, taking advantage of their brief moment of shock at seeing his face

He left his mask forgotten on the ground, rushing to your aid

He lifted you in his arms and booked it to safety

He paused on a rooftop to catch his breath

You decided to take the opportunity to apologize

The words didn’t come easy, but you finally found them

“Kai… I’m sorry. For everything. For the mask, for everything I’ve said—”

“It’s okay, Y/n. I’m just glad you’re safe.”

After that day you made an effort to be nicer to him, difficult as it was

He tried to keep his temper in check too

You silently appreciated each others’ efforts, but the fruits were even more precious

Your relationship started to shift ever so subtly, but it was doubtlessly improving

Jay

Jay was terrified when you got involved

It was like he forgot your terrible relationship entirely

He clumsily rushed to your aid, his skills crumbling under the weight of his anxiety

He ended up pinned down, and his assailant roughly pulled off his mask

His face turned bright red as he was exposed, and in a sudden burst of panicked energy he was able to push them off

He nabbed his mask quickly before remembering his original mission

Then he jumped back into action, managing to retrieve you and find a safe place to hide

He grabbed you by the shoulders, turning you from side to side to check for injuries

“Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”

“Jay, I’m so sorry! I’ve ruined everything, haven’t I? Oh, I’ve been so horrible…”

He couldn’t deny that you had been pretty bad

But he also admitted that he was no better

You shared a hug

In that moment, you formed a new bond

You both started to act nicer from then on

That hug established a new norm of tenderness between you two :)

Lloyd

He was mostly miffed when you were taken

He directed his anger at his father for getting you involved

So he went into battle with a fury he often felt when facing Garmadon

But this time it was extra personal

He confronted Garmadon directly, making a snide comment about treating his children like chess pieces

He pulled off his mask to prove the point, too angry to think clearly

Garmadon was so shocked that Lloyd was pretty much able to walk away with you

He marched away angrily, dragging you behind

He started to vent about Garmadon

After you got over your shock, you started agreeing with him, even adding your own complaints

When he was done he just huffed, burying his face in his palm

You saw that tears were dribbling onto his glove

“Um, Lloyd? I just wanted to say sorry… we don’t really have the best family dynamic, and I… I don’t want our relationship to be like the one we have with our dad.”

“Me neither. I really do love you, you know.”

“Same here.”

You embraced, vowing to be better

And you both made a valiant effort, using your father as a sort of anti-example

As it turned out, he was a strong motivator; your relationship improved quite steadily from then on

Cole

As much as he might’ve disliked you, he knew he had to save you

He couldn’t live with himself otherwise

So he hurried into the thick of the battle, his eyes locked on you all the while

He was secretly worried they’d hurt you, though he’d hesitate to admit it

He was distracted; it wasn’t long until an opponent grabbed a sudden hold of his mask

He whipped around, downing the assailant in a single blow and grabbing his mask

But he didn’t take the time to put it on, simply tucking it into his belt while he ran to your aid

The hardened look in his eyes made you feel especially guilty

You could only imagine how angry he was, having to save you and then having his identity revealed in the process

But when you were alone, he asked with surprising softness if you were okay

The look on his face had softened, too

Still, you felt guilty

“I’m fine. Um… I’m really sorry, Cole. This was all my fault..!”

“What? No, it was Garmadon’s doing. I’m not mad at you, Y/n. You’re my family. I love you, little rascal that you are.”

He ruffled your hair roughly, making you giggle

You wrapped your arms around him suddenly

He slowly hugged you back

In that moment you shared a silent agreement to be better

It might not have been spoken, but you both held fast to that agreement, and slowly your relationship did improve :)

Zane

The second you got involved, Zane’s objective was to save you

You were more important to him than anything: his pride, the mission, anything

He forgot everything else, abandoning his current task to rush over to you

In his haste, the opponent he was running from managed to catch his mask

He ran without realizing that the mask had come off

Even your flabbergasted gaze didn’t clue him in

The stares he was getting didn’t even register as he carried you away from danger

When you were alone, he mechanically asked if you were okay

You just stared at him, the image of a thousand eyes on you as you ran stuck in your mind

“Zane, your identity… I’m so sorry, if I had never been taken..!”

“Why are you apologizing? It was not your fault. I’m just glad that you’re safe. You’re my family, and I care for you greatly.”

You blinked at him, cursing the tears that came to your eyes

He hugged you, and through your tears you told him that you loved him too

After that, you decided to try and be nicer to him

He matched your efforts as soon as he noticed them; he was more than ready to fix your relationship

After all, you were his top priority ;)

Nya

She was incredulous when you were captured

She took it sort of personally

This fueled her rage, and she went on a war path to save you

She threw you over her shoulder; saving you was how she was measuring her victory

With you in her arms, she was satisfied

In her mind, she’d already won

Which made her getaway a little sloppy, and she ended up losing her mask to an especially quick assailant

She was frozen in shock and horror for a moment

Then she ran, faster than ever before

She practically collapsed as she set you down, chest heaving from the exertion as much as the panic

But she calmed herself, reminding herself that she saved you

Exhaling slowly, she straightened and put a hand on your shoulder

“Nya, I’m sorry! I never meant for any of this to happen! I love you too much… even though I don’t act like it…”

“All that matters is that you’re safe. And, for the record, I love you too.”

You shared a little smirk, a secret understanding established between you two

Knowing that you really did love each other seemed to soften the tension between you two

Teasing turned into jokes as your relationship gradually mended :)

Thanks for this request!! And thanks for reading, take care honey bears <33

(divider by saradika)