#moved a few things around + added a thing

[knavcsblade]

unprofessional.

+18!

cw: professor/dilf!arlecchino x student!reader. NOT highschool; both arlecchino and reader are adults. dom arle, sub r. overly descriptive. a lot of tension. age gap. power play (?). slight degradation. cunnilingus. 

wc: 3.4k

summary: professor arlecchino tutoring student reader who had fallen behind in class… and lesbian sex.

a/n: i couldn’t stop thinking about dilf arle as a professor… i would apologize, but i know this is a millionaire idea. plus, i haven’t written in ages and my fingers are now moving all over the keys like it’s nothing. i’m free!

Lessons have always been annoying—as far as you can recall—so much so that you would usually find yourself pouring your focus into the most insignificant things you could think of.

You would bring novels into class to read as the professor explained a new subject; you’d look out the window and process all the things you had to do on that very specific Tuesday afternoon; you would even take naps in between the prolonged sentences of that one teacher you simply couldn’t stand, for a reason that managed to escape you every time.

That was until the day the man was rumored to have been fired and replaced by another professional with more experience on the field—someone who most likely wouldn’t bore all the students to death.

Great, you thought, another male educator with an inflated ego who would roll his eyes at every inquiry from his pupils before proceeding to answer sarcastically just to make them feel witless. You were oh so excited for that.

The moment you looked up from your walnut desk, you already knew something was off. Everyone went silent as soon as the door opened—a common occurrence, though it felt different this time, especially since the clicking of heels echoed through the large room.

“Good morning, class,” those were the first three words that came from the new professor. The gravelly depth of her voice carried an air of authority that quickly forced everyone to put all their attention on the manner in which she approached her desk.

You were all in almost a chokehold in an instant, that was as clear as day. However, you seemed to be the most interested one out of the bunch by the way your eyes lingered on her form—on the way there was a lack of sway in her hips that you were unused to.

Most of the female scholars were nothing like her, and not just physically, you could already tell. She carried herself in a way that had you almost hypnotized, and you already knew you would be paying attention this time around.

There was a soft thud that bounced off the walls when she set her messenger briefcase on the dark wood of her new desk, eyes glimmering like coals in the darkness never leaving the class sitting before her. “Before we begin, introductions are indispensable,” her gaze flickered towards you for a few seconds before she spoke again.

That was… odd. You definitely looked like a deer in headlights to her now.

“I’m Arlecchino, and I’m afraid I will be your new professor from this moment onward… and no, I shall not disclose the details of your previous professor’s departure, before you ask.”

The auditorium had fallen silent the second she walked in, but due to the velvety, spellbinding tone of her voice, it seemed to grow even quieter. Of course, she had every student’s undivided attention at this point, but you found yourself staring at her for longer than would be considered appropriate.

The way she wore her suit captured your notice almost instantly. This was a common attire worn by every professor at the institute you attended, though hers was utterly captivating. The way the fabric clung onto her body, adding the way she carried herself… it was difficult for you to focus on her words at all, no matter how hard you tried.

And oh, her voice had you in a trance. The way the low vibrations of it echoed through the room sent shivers down your spine in a way you had never felt before. This person couldn’t be real…

You were so distracted by her you didn’t even realize the lesson was already over until you noticed the people around you beginning to stand up—Arlecchino taking a seat at her desk just to go through some papers she had taken out of her briefcase.

Much to your dismay, you were snapped out of your thoughts by this and, of course, her speaking. “Make sure to continue… hitting the books, as they say. In spite of your former professor’s leave-taking, the exam dates remain the same.”

The moment you got up and most of your peers had exited the room, you simply had to look at her for the last time. Truly, where did this woman come from? She was otherworldly, in your very honest opinion, and you were one hundred percent upset about having to make your way outside at that moment.

But oh, did you enjoy the lectures now.

You enjoyed her… them so much, the quality of your exam was abysmal. For her, even having to read the few words you wrote down felt like a punch in the gut, and she almost winced while going over it. However, who could blame you? Your last professor was truly someone who spoke and lulled you to sleep, and she was too distracting for you to even begin to comprehend the words that flowed out of her mouth.

The moment you picked up your test from her desk, you didn’t even look at it. You caught a glimpse of red inked scribbles all over the paper, clearly Arlecchino’s corrections, but you couldn’t bring yourself to even read what she had to say. You already knew you had messed up—what was the point?

You always told yourself you would simply ‘study more next time’; however, this was futile. All the subjects were related, so you practically were doomed to fail. You hadn’t the time to go over so many different things in just a few months.

The lesson began once you sat down, and one more time, your chin rested idly on the palm of your hand as you watched her. This was the sole reason you had underperformed on the exam, or so she thought.

She could almost vividly see the way her speech went in one of your ears and out the other, and in spite of her calm demeanor, it was slowly beginning to vex her. Were you truly this careless?

Of course, she kept an eye on you while she explained the intricacies of the new subject at hand, slowly pacing before the entirety of the class as she did her best to direct your attention to her words—not the way her steps allowed you to notice just how toned her frame was beneath the fabric of her suit.

The second everyone got up to leave the auditorium after long hours, you heard a soft “you”—one that oozed authority despite its calm tone. You already knew whose lips that simple word came out of. Naturally, you looked disoriented as you approached Arlecchino with your bag now hanging from your shoulder and heart beating so loud in your chest it might as well have been about to burst.

“Yes?”

Her gaze eventually turned to you, blackened hands gaining purchase on her own hips as she looked down at you. Finally, you could see her nails up close, one of the things you continued to ogle while sitting a few feet away from her, and you were more than fascinated by them now.

She cleared her throat to catch your focus once again after noticing it deviating from her face, and you would have been startled if only you hadn’t found her so attractive. “I have been informed that you are… one of the students who didn’t exactly pay attention to these classes previously. I wished to let you know you may come to me after lessons so I can clear any doubts you might have.”

Her eyes bored into yours as she spoke, and if you couldn’t hear your own heartbeat in your very ears, you would have assumed it had stopped completely. Educators were allowed to be mesmerizing, sure, but you had never found yourself being so… distracted by one.

“I’m positive you have quite a few of them, since I was told you spent most of your time dozing off or staring out the window at the previous professor’s lectures. Not to mention the way you seemed more than distracted in our last ones, unlike the other students…, and your failed exam.”

You immediately felt called out by her—who wouldn’t? Wasn’t this deeply embarrassing? This woman assumed you were, well, an uninterested fool, judging by her almost condescending tone. She already knew you had always been busy hearing her voice, but never truly listening to her. You felt your cheeks begin to burn from the shame.

“Yes, I…,” you cut yourself off to clear your throat, fist covering your mouth as you thought for a few seconds. Would you confirm her obvious assumptions about you, or reject her offer? Well, the answer was obvious. “I suppose it would do me good.”

“It would do your grades good,” her head tilted ever so slightly to the side as she spoke, piercing eyes solely focused on yours at all times. They were inhumanly beautiful yet hauntingly distant; despite this obvious nature, you couldn’t look away. “I don’t particularly enjoy the idea of my students falling behind.”

That said, a vocal sigh left her parted lips and filled the room in an instant. 

“We will meet at the library, yes? Perhaps I can… enlighten you for once.”

And so she did. She would spend hours on end trying to get certain things through your pretty little head, often having to literally snap you out of your thoughts. You spent long periods watching the way she held her garnet fountain pen instead of listening to her, and this was becoming tiresome.

You could practically hear her jaw clenching as you quietly giggled and lied through your teeth. “Don’t worry, I understand” and “yes, that makes sense” were things you would say time and again, even if Arlecchino hadn’t been speaking for minutes.

In a way, she found you… amusing, albeit irritating. The situation wasn’t one she was used to, even after years of being an important scholar of Teyvat.

You thought you weren’t being so blatant, though she caught on the reason for your absentmindedness pretty quickly. She would notice even the smallest of details about your actions, like the way your gaze would drop to her lips as she spoke, or how you continued to bite the inside of your cheek—it was almost as if you were somewhere in between reality and some different plane of existence.

She didn’t blame you, however. You were very clearly infatuated with her, and oh, did she find it sweet.

The only issue with these private lessons was that neither of you had considered the fact that the library closed once a month for the staff to conduct a book recount. The first Friday this took place, Arlecchino found herself having to simply invite you to her home so you could both resume your routine.

This wasn’t exactly inappropriate, at least not to her. It was fairly common for her colleagues to take the students who needed the most support to their places so they could perform their duties as tutors to them—you were utterly flustered, however.

You had ‘sneakily’ gotten information out of her about her personal life, like how she had adopted three children a few years back, or how she had a beautiful garden with rainbow roses she enjoyed taking care of before making her way to the institute. None of that could ever compare to setting foot into her house, fully missing those children she had mentioned before.

You now sat at the desk in her study, cross-legged with your tightly clasped hands resting on your lap and Arlecchino sitting before you. You desperately wished to look around—to take in the way she had decorated the room and maybe catch onto small details of hers she wouldn’t confess. However, you kept your gaze on her the entire time. Furniture could wait, could it not?

“I apologize for the… chaos,” her voice rumbled as she focused on putting away the scattered papers all over the large desk into a folder.

All you did was wave your hand dismissively in response, and if you weren’t looking so intently, you would have missed the way the corners of her lips lifted with utmost subtlety.

Your books were covering the mahogany wood in minutes, Arlecchino slightly leaned in as the crimson crosses in her eyes focused on the words plastered on the pages. She could definitely feel you studying her form more than you would ever study the sentences sitting right in front of you. She had had enough now.

Her voice pulled you out of your head in an instant, doe-eyed as you hummed. It took you a few seconds to register her question, the usual “did you understand?”

“Oh, uh… yes, absolutely.”

“Do it, then,” she said, leaning back with crossed arms and brows furrowed slightly enough to make you press your lips together instinctively.

It was clear you were puzzled at her words. You hadn’t heard what she had uttered before, and she just knew it.

“I’m… sorry, what?”

To this, all she did was exhale deeply through her nose and begin to organize all the books and papers you had placed on her desk. Her patient demeanor was beginning to falter, and all due to you.

“Get on the desk. Don’t make me repeat myself again.” Her answer was simple, and the way she said it left no room for hesitation whatsoever.

She put all your belongings aside to rest her palms on the edge of the furniture, getting up with a swift movement that made her chair roll back and give her enough room to wait for you to do what she had commanded. It was clear there was a plan in her mind, one about what she would do to you the second you obeyed, and it was nerve-racking.

Oh, well. Who were you to not do as she said? Especially when her gaze lingered on yours expectantly.

You slowly made your way towards her, hands trembling as you used them to prop yourself up and now find yourself sitting atop her desk in pure silence. Your legs were pressed together, naturally, since you had decided to wear a skirt due to the hot weather that had taken place merely a couple of weeks earlier. You didn’t wish to expose yourself before her, or did you?

“You know, dear,” she started as she drew closer, the nickname as well as the manner in which her hand found its way towards your thigh making your heart race in what could only be anticipation, “you aren’t good at listening, or understanding what I regularly explain to you… or keeping your focus on something other than me.”

At that moment, everything around you seemed to vanish. She was now so close you could feel the heat of her body against yours and her breath tickling your face. Somehow, before you could even react at all, she stood between your spread legs as her blackened hand snaked its way under the fabric of your skirt.

Could your poor heart even take all of this?

“I’m sure you aren’t even paying attention to what I’m saying right now, are you?”

“Sorry, you… you’re too close. I can’t…,” you didn’t even finish your sentence, but not due to her. It was all because your mind could only concentrate on the way her nails uniformly dug into the plush skin of your thigh.

“You can’t… what? Think? Of course you can’t,” she muttered in response, knowing she needn’t speak louder considering the closeness between you two.

It didn’t take her long to shatter this small distance, however. She leaned in impossibly closer, giving you all the time in the world to pull away if you wished to do so—if she had been stupid enough to misunderstand the whole situation. Yet, as the seconds passed, you didn’t. Obviously. 

Her other hand managed to gain purchase on your waist to pull you in and meet her lips halfway, wrapping you in a kiss as unhurried and torturous as it was passionate and hungry. And oh, the way you finally let out the breath you weren’t aware of holding through your nose the instant you tasted her only made her fully press herself against you.

You let her in eventually, a whimper betraying you as she fervently explored your mouth and her fingers wrapped around the hem of your underwear to slide it down your legs. She couldn’t find herself caring about anything other than giving you what you had wanted in such a desperate manner since you first saw her, even more so ever since you had managed to grow on her so easily.

She thought you were simply… almost adorable. The way you drooled every time your eyes landed on her was something she found more than entertaining, and she wished to see how many reactions she could pull out of you with uncomplicated deeds.

Arlecchino only pulled away to kneel before you, and you couldn’t help but notice the fine thread of saliva that connected your lips before it snapped once her face waited right in front of your unclothed, drenched cunt. She watched you in silence, crimson eyes now turning darker at the sight of your desperate expression.

You just wanted her to ravish you, didn’t you?

All she had to do was lift your legs up to rest on her shoulders just so her tongue could finally roll between your folds and soak in your fluids fully. This took longer than you were hoping for, but once it did, your head lolled back at the feeling.

This was followed by you dragging a moan out of the depths of your throat, an action that made her hold tightly onto your thighs since she could already tell you would be the type to squirm and make a mess only from getting eaten out.

The pretty noises coming from you the moment she found that sweet bundle of nerves only made her react by digging her nails into the warm skin of your thighs and shoving her face even further into you. Her nose was pressed against your mound, and the sensation of the small hairs pricking on it made the feeling even more enjoyable for her.

She seemed to eat your pussy out like a woman starved—one not afraid to pour the entirety of her silent desire onto you and watch you relish it in its entirety. She could even feel the mixture of your wetness and her saliva beginning to drip down her chin and pour onto her pants to stain them in the future, all the while she lapped against your sensitive clit.

Long minutes full of moans, whimpers, and your hand tangling in her hair passed when you felt that well-known heat forming in your lower stomach. You couldn’t ignore it, and neither could she. Arlecchino could simply tell how close you were to an orgasm just from the way your legs squeezed her head every once in a while.

“Fuck… fuck, Arlecchino, please,” a strained plea that was interrupted by a mewl left your mouth which hung open for her to hear you.

Between lewd slurps and wet noises, her eyes found yours for what probably was less than a second. This managed to get you to clench around nothing as a loud moan filled the air.

“How vulgar,” came the only muffled response from her, though she lacked the sharpness of her usual tone. She was absolutely pussy-drunk at this point, only focused on bringing you to ecstasy with her tongue and claws carving crescent moons into your thighs.

It didn’t take you long to find your release, twitching and holding onto absolutely anything on that desk to keep yourself from fully resting on it. Even at the peak of your orgasm she didn’t let go of you; she was entranced by making sure she licked you clean of all your juices no matter what. It became overwhelming at one point—the way she made sure to swallow your climax solely made you wish this would have happened sooner.

Once she was done enjoying your taste, she slowly got up to wipe the remains of your loud crescendo with the back of her hand, red crosses finding your pupils though she knew you were more than out of your five senses.

“I do hope that, after this, you will pay more attention to our future lessons, dear,” her voice was somewhat deeper, and it forced you to nod through your exhaustion.

You would definitely focus on her words from now on.

[tfwbluu]

PAIRING — ni-ki + f!reader

WARNINGS — pwp, vampire!riki; biting & blood sucking, reader has telekinesis; some unrealistic fantasies, she cries a little, also going thru “heat” but its not exactly the same thing, masturbating (f. rec), sex toys, pet names, handcuffs, begging, aftercare, reader’s a tease, rik’s a baby in the end.

WORDCOUNT — 2.6K

NOTE — added some poor executed lore i took inspo from no doubt mv. i mixed 3 reqs into this one so i hope it’s okay. . one last post before i may go MIA for the next few weeks~months. lmk if i missed anything in warnings !

It was never like this. Your body felt hot, and the aching need in your core was unbearable. Desperation clawed at you, but your boyfriend wasn’t here to help. “Fuck… why is it so hot?” you whined softly, shifting restlessly on the bed.

The heat in your stomach was growing unbearable, simmering into an inescapable blaze. At first, it was manageable—a faint warmth you could ignore—but now, it felt like an inferno consuming you from within. Every nerve in your body tingled, your skin hypersensitive to the slightest touch. The slick pooling in your panties only added to your frustration, the dampness a constant reminder of your need. You let out a shaky sigh, your body trembling as the heat clawed its way through you, leaving you desperate for relief.

Accepting that the heat simmering in your stomach wasn’t going to fade, you sighed and reached for the box of toys you kept for times like this, floating it to you with ease. You rummaged through the box with urgency, pulling out lube, a vibrator, and a dildo molded in the shape of your boyfriend’s cock. It wasn’t the real thing, but it was all you had—and it would have to do.

As the toys floated near, you stripped off your panties, leaving only your boyfriend’s oversized shirt draped over your frame. The cool air ghosted over your bare skin as you spread your legs, fingers sliding between your folds to spread your slickness around. With a quick squirt of lube onto the dildo, you guided it to your entrance with your powers, teasing yourself as you worked it in slowly.

The dildo stretched your insides perfectly, filling you with a deep sense of relief as it nestled into place. With a subtle flick of your telekinesis, you guided it to move slowly, deliberately, sliding in and out of you in a rhythm that left you breathless.

Grasping the vibrator with trembling hands, you brought it to your clit, anticipation building in your core. The moment it buzzed to life, its pulsing vibrations teased your sensitive flesh while the dildo continued its steady rhythm, filling you over and over. A moan escaped your lips, raw and uninhibited, as your body arched into the overwhelming pleasure, every nerve alight with bliss. Your hips bucked slightly as you lost yourself in the sensation, head tipping back as pleasure coursed through you.

“Fuck… need you so bad, Ki,” you whispered, your breath hitching as your thoughts drifted to him. You imagined the heat of his body, his cock buried deep inside you, his lips trailing over your skin, leaving sparks in their wake. Biting your lip, you let your free hand roam over your body, teasing your sensitive nipples as the vibrator's relentless pulses sent waves of pleasure coursing through you.

Lost in the haze of pleasure, you didn’t hear the soft creak of the door opening and closing. Riki’s vampiric nature had its advantages—his movements were so swift and silent that even sound refused to follow. Oblivious to his presence, you stayed caught in the rhythm of your need, entirely focused on chasing your release.

Riki slipped into the room, the intoxicating scent of you thick in the air from the moment he entered the apartment. It ignited something primal within him, a hunger that was impossible to ignore. He moved like a shadow, his dark eyes fixed on you as the toy worked between your legs. The thin shirt you wore clung to your skin, barely hiding anything, leaving you exposed and vulnerable. His gaze lingered on the curve of your neck, the sight making his fangs ache with need.

A small smirk tugged at his lips as he took in your frustration. It was obvious—you were chasing something only he could truly give.

He crept closer, the bed dipping under his weight and startling you from your haze. Your eyes fluttered open, meeting his dark gaze, and your cheeks burned.

“R-Riki…” you whimpered, reaching for him desperately.

“Shh, I know, angel,” he murmured, his tone soft yet commanding. “Let me take care of you, hmm?” His hand gently caressed your hair as he leaned closer.

“My poor girl, so needy,” he cooed, pressing a soft kiss to your forehead. “I’m sorry for keeping you waiting.”

But instead of giving you what you truly craved, he took control of the toys, his smirk betraying his intentions. Wrapping his hand around the dildo buried inside you, he moved it with a sudden, relentless pace. You yelped in surprise at the abrupt acceleration, your body jerking from the shock of it. The vibrator slipped from your hand, forgotten, as Riki focused on driving you wild, thrusting the silicone into you with a merciless rhythm.

“Riki… fuck me properly!” you whined, feeling the fake cock pounding into you.

“But I am, no?” he teased, feigning innocence.

“N-no! Hngh… want your cock,” you cried out, even as the toy stretching you filled you so perfectly it was almost maddening.

“Hmm, I’ll think about it,” he murmured, smirking as he continued his relentless work, thrusting the dildo deeper with unyielding precision. Your hands clung to his, desperate to stop him, but he wasn’t having it. Growing impatient, he shoved the toy even deeper, the tip brushing dangerously close to your cervix.

“Mhm~! Ki!” you moaned, your voice trembling with need. Without warning, he flipped you over, grabbing restraints and binding your wrists behind your back. The cold cuffs dug into your skin as he smirked down at you.

“Stop squirming so much. You wanted to play with toys, so let’s play, hmm?” he said, his voice dripping with mockery.

Adjusting your position, he raised your ass in the air, exposing you further. He grasped the base of the toy, pulling it back before driving it into you again with deliberate precision. His free hand found the discarded vibrator, switching it on to its highest setting. Without hesitation, he pressed it firmly against your clit, the relentless vibrations sending shocks of pleasure through your trembling body. The sudden jolt of pleasure ripped through you, leaving you screaming into the sheets.

“Fuckk! Please, please, please—‘m sorry… Fuck! Rikiii!” you babbled incoherently, your cries muffled against the bed as your body trembled uncontrollably.

“Hm? What was that, angel? Can’t hear you over all the squelching your pussy’s making,” he mocked, his tone laced with amusement as he drove you further into madness. The relentless rhythm of the toys made you tug at the restraints, your bound hands desperately grasping for something that wasn’t there, leaving you entirely at his mercy.

“Please, please… need you so bad, need your cock, not the toy!” you begged, your voice trembling as your hips instinctively tried to pull away from the relentless vibrations. But he didn’t let you, pressing the vibrator firmly against your clit, keeping you on edge.

“Ngh… fuck!” you cursed, your body trembling uncontrollably. Tears pricked the corners of your eyes, a mix of overwhelming pleasure and the dull, unrelenting ache from the heat pooling in your stomach. “Riki…!” you sobbed, your voice cracking as desperation seeped into your words. “Please, it hurts… I need you!”

Though Riki had been reveling in the sight of you unraveling beneath him, he wasn’t heartless. That broken cry hit him in a way nothing else could, tugging at his heartstrings and snapping him out of his trance. Without hesitation, he stopped the stimulation, his hands moving with steady care as he freed you from the restraints.

“Shh, it’s okay, angel,” he murmured, his voice low and soothing as he gently flipped you onto your back. His eyes met yours, soft with concern as he brushed away the tears streaking down your cheeks.

“Was it too much?” he asked tenderly, his thumb grazing your skin in comforting strokes.

“Please ‘t hurts… please, just fuck me properly,” you sniffled, pulling him closer, your hands gripping his shirt like a lifeline.

“Okay, angel. ‘M sorry. I’ve got you,” he murmured, pressing a tender kiss to your forehead as his arms wrapped protectively around you.

Riki quickly undressed, his hard cock springing free as he stroked it a few times. Aligning himself with your entrance, he pushed in slowly, stretching you deliciously. You moaned in relief, your body arching as he filled you completely.

“So good… ah! Please, more,” you begged, your hips instinctively moving against his, desperate for more of the friction only he could give.

“Hmm? Want more?” he asked, his voice low and teasing.

“Mhm, please,” you nodded eagerly, pouting your lips as your eyes locked with his, pleading.

A mischievous glint sparkled in his gaze as he reached for the vibrator again, his lips curving into a smirk. “Tell me if it’s too much, okay?”

Without hesitation, he pressed the wand to your clit, the intense vibrations immediately igniting every nerve in your body. The combination of sensations overwhelmed you, your back lifting off the bed as a loud, uncontrollable moan escaped your lips.

“Fuck!” you gasped, your nails raking across his back as the unyielding rhythm of the wand paired with the deep, deliberate thrusts of his cock sent a torrent of pleasure coursing through you, leaving you trembling on the edge of control.

He couldn’t resist the urge to capture your lips in a deep, hungry kiss. The taste of your desperation only fueled his own desire, his movements growing more fervent. Your nails raked across his back, sharp enough to leave faint trails, possibly drawing a little blood—but it was nothing he couldn’t handle. He was a vampire, after all, and wounds like these would heal in seconds.

Despite his lips muffling your moans, the lewd sounds still filled the room, echoing like a sinful melody that neither of you could escape. Each whimper, each gasp, only spurred him on, his focus entirely consumed by you.

“Such a good girl,” he groaned, watching your body writhed beneath him. “Taking everything so well, just like I knew you would.”

“Mhm, only yours…” you breathed, pulling his face back down into a heated kiss. The intensity was overwhelming—everything felt so hot, so all-consuming, but in the best way possible.

Riki’s lips moved from yours to the curve of your neck, trailing wet, open-mouthed kisses as he settled there. He licked the sensitive skin gently before sinking his fangs in, a sharp sensation washing over you as he sucked your blood with slow, deliberate pulls.

“Riki~! Too… much!” you whimpered, your nails raking the back of his neck as pleasure and overstimulation coursed through your trembling body.

“I know you can take it, angel,” he murmured against your skin, his voice rough yet tender. “You were so desperate for release earlier… let me give it to you.”

He kissed the fresh marks on your neck, soothing the ache with his tongue before leaning into the other side. His lips latched onto the untouched skin, repeating the same intoxicating bite, drawing another choked moan from your lips.

“So sweet. Are you getting close, angel?” he asked, his voice low and rough as he licked the blood from his lips. His movements grew harder, faster, his hips snapping against yours with relentless force.

“Y-yes…!” you gasped, your words trembling as the pressure in your stomach coiled tighter, ready to snap.

“C’mon, give it to me, baby,” he urged, his tone dripping with need.

With one final thrust, your body gave in, the tension bursting as you cried out, your juices spilling over him, coating his thighs and stomach with a glistening sheen. He didn’t stop, his hand wrapping around himself, stroking with a few deliberate movements before his release followed. His warm cum painted your pussy, mixing with your own.

“Ugh… so pretty,” he murmured, his breath ragged as he lazily slapped his cock against your sensitive folds, making you twitch.

Satisfied but still buzzing from the aftermath, he leaned over, brushing your hair from your damp forehead. “You okay, angel?” he asked softly, his voice now laced with care.

You nodded weakly, a small, content smile tugging at your lips. “More than okay,” you whispered softly, your voice laced with lingering satisfaction. The unbearable heat in your stomach had finally subsided, leaving behind a soothing, warm buzz that settled over you like a comforting embrace. Riki smirked, pressing a soft kiss to your lips.

“Good. Let’s clean you up, yeah?” he said, scooping you into his arms effortlessly.

He carried you to the bathroom, his touch gentle, the warmth of his skin grounding you. It didn’t take long for you to clean up and change into something more comfortable, now nestled against Riki’s chest with a contented sigh.

“Sorry about earlier. Was I… doing too much?” Riki murmured, his voice soft as he pressed gentle kisses to your temple, his arms wrapped securely around you.

You shook your head, a small smile playing on your lips. “It’s fine… I don’t even know what happened. I just felt so hot and bothered, and yeah…” you trailed off, your fingers tracing idle patterns on his chest. “It was like my whole body was on fire, and nothing cooled me down—no matter how much I tried.”

Riki’s expression shifted suddenly, his body tensing beneath you. “Wait,” he said, his tone laced with realization.

You blinked, looking up at him curiously. “What?”

“Shit,” he muttered, scratching the back of his neck. “I forgot to tell you about that.”

“About what…?” you asked, sitting up slightly, your brows knitting together in confusion.

He hesitated, his gaze flickering to yours nervously. “People who mate with vampires sometimes go through… heat. It’s rare, but it can happen. That’s probably what you were feeling earlier.” He paused, watching your face closely for any sign of distress.

You tilted your head, considering his words. “Hmm… does it happen like the heats animals go through?”

“No, nothing like that,” he said quickly, shaking his head. “It’s more of a one-time thing every few years, and it’s… well, biological. It’s supposed to deepen the bond between partners.” His voice dropped slightly as he added, “And… it’s one of the few times vampires can… you know, have offspring. But only if both partners are experiencing it.”

You hummed thoughtfully, letting the information sink in. Then, with a mischievous smile, you tilted your head. “Okay, good. Although…” You paused, your eyes gleaming with playful intent. “I wouldn’t mind if it happened again.”

Riki’s eyes widened, and he nearly choked on his own breath. “What?”

You giggled, thoroughly amused by his reaction. “I mean it. I liked what you were doing—teasing me, edging me. Now that I know why I felt that way, it all makes sense. It was just overwhelming because I didn’t understand it at the time. Either way, I wouldn’t mind experiencing it again, even if I’m not in that ‘heat’ anymore. You can still do it to me tomorrow if you want.”

His face flushed a deep crimson, and he stared at you in disbelief. “You’re insane,” he muttered, clearly flustered. You laughed softly, leaning back against his chest.

“What? You’re the one who said it’s a bonding thing. I’m just saying, I wouldn’t mind bonding a little more,” you teased, your tone light and airy.

Riki groaned, burying his face in his hands as if to shield himself from your relentless teasing. “You’re gonna be the death of me, angel.”

“But you love me either way,” you said matter-of-factly, pulling his hands away from his face to leave a soft peck on his lips.

With a satisfied smile, you rested your head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. The warmth of his arms around you and the soothing rhythm lulled you into a state of perfect contentment. Whatever the future held, you knew you were exactly where you wanted to be.

PERM TAG LIST — @bussolares @rikiives @contyynishimura @xiiaobaoo @lilmarsh-t @bxcndd @kangrina8 @laylasbunbunny

[thomamaru]

Brushed Numbers and Lingering Words

Synopsis: You were always admired by others by your sharp analysis in English. Rin itoshi, on the other hand, was known for his swift math solving skills. So what would happen if you both ended up on the same team for a quizbee? Chaos.

Tags: Rin Itoshi x gn!reader, sarcastic Rin, academic rivals trope, lotssss of teasing from Rin, fluff

The announcement came abruptly during homeroom, and with it, a new responsibility you hadn’t expected.

“The school has chosen two representatives for this year’s quiz bee,” the teacher began, her tone as bright as a fresh cup of coffee. “(Y/N), for humanities, and Rin Itoshi, for mathematics and sciences.”

Your head snapped up. You glanced around, wondering if there’d been some mistake.

Rin Itoshi? Seriously?

Rin sat across the room, perfectly composed as though the teacher had just complimented him on his haircut rather than volunteered him for a major academic event. His teal eyes met yours briefly, his expression unreadable, before he returned to scribbling in his notebook.

When the bell rang, your curiosity got the best of you. You hesitantly approached him.

“So… looks like we’re partners.”

Without so much as glancing up, Rin replied, “Partners? That makes it sound like we’re splitting the work evenly.”

Your brows furrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means I’ll handle the important stuff,” he said, finally looking at you with a faint smirk. “You know, things that don’t involve reciting poetry.”

“Wow,” you deadpanned, crossing your arms. “Do you always have this much charm, or is it just for me?”

“Depends,” he replied casually, closing his notebook with a light thud. “Do you always take everything personally, or is it just because you know I’m right?”

You blinked, momentarily stunned into silence. This was going to be a long partnership.

---

The first training session in the library was about as smooth as you expected—which was to say, not smooth at all.

“You know, you could try to take this seriously,” you said as Rin flipped through a set of sample questions, barely paying attention.

“I am taking it seriously,” he replied, setting the packet down. “I’m just not panicking, unlike you.”

“I’m not panicking,” you snapped, though the furrow in your brow betrayed you.

Rin tilted his head, regarding you with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. “Right. You’re completely calm. That’s why you’re holding that pen like you’re about to duel someone.”

Your grip on the pen immediately loosened, and Rin chuckled under his breath.

The two of you fell into a rhythm of reluctant cooperation. Despite his irritating sarcasm, Rin was sharp, dissecting complex problems with ease. And despite his dismissive attitude, he listened—though he rarely admitted it—whenever you pointed out gaps in his reasoning.

But it was the accidental touches that threw you off.

Your hands brushed when you both reached for the same sheet of paper, and the contact sent an unexpected spark through your chest. A quiet “sorry” escaped his lips, and for a brief moment, you thought you caught a flicker of hesitation in his usually confident eyes.

It was nothing. Or at least, that’s what you told yourself.

---

As the day of the quiz bee approached, you found yourself pacing outside the classroom, clutching your notes nervously. The responsibility of representing the school suddenly felt much heavier than you’d anticipated.

“Are you planning to wear a hole in the floor?”

Rin’s voice startled you out of your thoughts. He stood a few feet away, hands tucked casually into his pockets.

You opened your mouth to retort but hesitated, glancing at the water bottle in his hand. “What’s that for?”

“For you,” he said, holding it out. “You look like you’re about to faint. Can’t have you passing out before the competition.”

“I’m fine,” you muttered, crossing your arms. But when he didn’t move, you reluctantly took the bottle.

“Thanks,” you said, your voice softer. After a moment, you added, “Good luck, by the way.”

Rin’s lips quirked into the faintest smirk. “We don’t need luck,” he said. “We’ve got my brains and… whatever it is you bring to the table.”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t stop the small smile that tugged at your lips.

---

The auditorium buzzed with anticipation, and you felt your nerves coil tighter with every passing minute. As the participants were seated, Rin leaned closer, his teal eyes sharp with amusement.

“You’re shaking,” he observed, his voice low enough for only you to hear.

“I’m not—”

“Yes, you are,” he interrupted. “Relax. We’ve got this.”

His voice was steady, almost calming, and you found yourself nodding despite the teasing.

When the questions started, everything faded except the two of you. Rin handled math and science questions with a precision that left you momentarily speechless, his solutions flowing so naturally it was almost mesmerizing.

“Focus,” he murmured, nudging you lightly when a question in your area came up.

You answered confidently, earning an approving nod from him. “Not bad,” he said, the corner of his mouth twitching upward.

The quiz bee continued, the two of you working together seamlessly despite your differences. Each small interaction—a shared glance, a subtle brush of hands—felt like a thread tying you closer together.

---

When the results were announced, you and Rin were just one point shy of first place.

“We were so close!” you said, laughing despite yourself.

Rin’s brows furrowed as he scanned through the score sheet, his analytical mind already dissecting what might have gone wrong. “One point,” he muttered, his tone laced with frustration.

“Hey,” you said, nudging him lightly. “It’s not the end of the world. We still did great.”

He glanced at you, his expression softening. “You’re taking this a lot better than I expected.”

“Maybe because I enjoyed it,” you admitted with a small smile. “Working with you, I mean. It was… fun.”

---

“Fun,” he repeated, as though the word was foreign to him. But the faint smile tugging at his lips told you he didn’t disagree.

---

The week following the quiz bee, you expected life to return to normal. To your surprise, the school had other plans.

By Monday, posters of the quiz bee results were plastered in the hallways. Your names were printed in bold letters—Rin Itoshi and (Y/N)—Second Place Winners! Teachers spoke of it during class, while students congratulated you both whenever they passed by.

“Looks like we’re the new school celebrities,” you joked to Rin as you walked together toward an assembly.

Rin shrugged, unbothered. “They’ll forget about it in a week.”

“I don’t know,” you teased. “Some people are really excited to know you’re good at more than soccer.”

“Don’t push it,” he said dryly, but there was a faint, amused glint in his eyes.

When you reached the auditorium, a staff member gestured for the two of you to come up onstage. A podium had been set up with a banner behind it that read, "Congratulations, Quiz Bee Participants!" The school wanted to make the most of your achievement.

As you walked up, Rin let out a barely audible sigh. “This is unnecessary,” he muttered.

“It’s just a picture,” you whispered back. “Smile, and we’ll get this over with.”

Once onstage, a student photographer directed you both to stand beside the podium. You positioned yourself on one side, with Rin on the other.

“Ready?” the photographer called out, adjusting the camera.

You turned toward the camera but hesitated when you caught a glimpse of Rin in the corner of your eye. Unlike his usual aloof self, he actually looked… relaxed. He even had a faint smile on his face, which somehow made you look longer than you intended.

That’s when Rin noticed.

“What?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Nothing,” you said quickly, redirecting your gaze. But the teasing smirk creeping onto his lips made it clear he didn’t believe you.

As the photographer called for final adjustments, Rin suddenly reached out and brushed something near your temple.

“Your hair,” he said simply, fixing a stray strand with surprising gentleness.

The soft touch sent a jolt through you. Your breath hitched, and before you could react, Rin looked back toward the camera.

The photographer clicked the shutter just in time to capture the aftermath—Rin, standing tall with a small but confident smile, and you, completely flustered as you looked up at him instead of the lens.

“Great shot!” the photographer exclaimed, unaware of the flurry of emotions in your chest.

You climbed down the stage after Rin, trying to gather your thoughts. “What was that about?” you asked, slightly out of breath.

“What was what about?” he replied nonchalantly, glancing at you with feigned innocence.

“The hair thing!” you blurted, your cheeks warming.

“Oh, that.” He shrugged. “It was bothering me.”

“You could’ve just said something,” you muttered, still flustered.

“Would you have fixed it yourself if I did?” he countered, smirking. When you stayed quiet, he added, “Didn’t think so.”

Despite his usual teasing, there was a subtle warmth in his voice. You couldn’t tell if he was doing this on purpose or if Rin Itoshi really was this obliviously charming.

---

Later that day, the photo from the assembly was pinned on the school’s bulletin board. It didn’t take long for students to notice the details.

“Is (Y/N) looking at Rin in this picture?” one whispered.

“And Rin’s smiling?! I didn’t even know he could smile,” another chimed in.

You buried your face in your hands as you overheard the gossip. Rin, on the other hand, seemed unbothered as usual.

“What’s the big deal?” you mumbled when you caught up to him after class.

He tilted his head, smirking. “You’re overthinking again.”

“That’s easy for you to say.”

“Relax,” he said, his voice unusually soft. “It’s just a picture. Besides…” He paused, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. “You didn’t look bad.”

Your heart stuttered at the unexpected compliment, but before you could say anything, he added:

“Just try not to get a big head over it.”

And with that, Rin walked away, leaving you to wrestle with the mix of emotions he always seemed to stir.

You were just his partner for a school event.

Days passed, but the memory of the quiz bee lingered. In class, Rin couldn’t help but steal glances at you, his mind replaying moments he thought he’d brushed off.

That’s all it was.

And yet, when your laugh echoed across the hallway, or your hand brushed his while passing a note, Rin found his thoughts straying in ways he couldn’t quite explain.

And though he would never admit it, the memory of your shared moments during the quiz bee was one he wouldn’t forget anytime soon.

A/n: this story might be based on my own experience,,, :P

[bitchface24-7]

SMASH - JAYVIK X READER

synopsis: After four gruelling exams so far (and it's only Wednesday!) you're sure your brain is mush. You didn't expect a random student to come up to you in regards to their final project asking you (and other students) one simple question, “What do you think about the Hextech inventors, Jayce and Viktor?” in a brilliant move of word association, you say the one thing everyone's thinking, “Smash.”

warnings: going viral, embarrassment, meeting Jayvik and wanting to kys, light hearted teasing, modern au?? I just kinda added phones and social media to the arcane universe, grammarly is my beta now

genre: m/m/f or m/m/m

This idea came out of nowhere as I salted my soft-boiled eggs, hope y'all enjoy! Also, I do have a solo Viktor x reader draft. No Jayce ones yet. Jayvik has taken over my mind

This week has been kicking your ass, and its only Wednesday.

You've had four, FOUR exams so far this week and you have three more to go before this semester ends and you can enjoy your summer break.

You feel braindead. You're more energy drink than you are water and blood. Your eyes hurt, you're dragging your feet. You're in your comfiest sweatshirt, cargo pants, and slip-on shoes. Surprisingly your hair is clean, you got a bit of an energy burst yesterday to shower before heading to bed.

Your headphones are on, your music is blasting, and you're walking as fast as you can to your dormitory to get some last minute studying in before you crash out.

What you weren't expecting was a beautiful girl coming up to you with a small microphone attached to her phone. You move one headphone behind your ear, but even then; your hearing is the best due to your exhaustion.

“… think of… inventors… Jayce and Viktor?”

In a brilliant move of word association, you say the one thing that comes to mind.

“Smash.”

With that, you put your headphone back on and continue on your walk to your dormitory, not seeing the beautiful girl in a flabbergasted state as her camera man dies of laughter.

Oh, this is gonna go viral.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Friday eventually comes, as does your last exam. With a newfound sense of freedom, you rush to your dorm to hop into bed and sleep for a consecutive forty eight hours before you enjoy your summer off.

You strip off your outfit and put on your comfiest pyjamas. You snuggle up in bed and greatly appreciate the blackout blinds your room has. Just as you’re about to fall asleep, your phone beeps.

From: Caitlyn🔫

Girl… you've gone viral.

You snort as you push yourself onto your elbows and text your best friend back.

To: Caitlyn🔫

Wtf are you talking about???

How the hell would I go viral? I haven't done anything.

Two pings simultaneously come through onto your phone, the first one is maybe a thirty second video, and the second is Caitlyn just laughing at you.

From: Caitlyn🔫

https://www.tiktok.com/holy-hell-she-did-not-just-say-that

Are you sure about that? 💀💀

You furrow your eyebrows and cautiously click the link Caitlyn sent you. It takes a few seconds but the video eventually loads, and there you are.

You’re in one of your favourite outfits, it’s comfy but still looks nice. Your hair is framing your face nicely and you have one of your headphones behind your ear as you look confused at the beautiful woman in front of you. It’s quite obvious you’re exhausted.

She does her whole spiel regarding how this is for her journalism classes final project and how she’s doing around the academy’s campus asking people at random a simple question. You look completely lost, you can see your dark circles have dark circles; you cringe at how tired you look.

The video is almost over and you’re wondering what made you go viral in the first place, it’s when there’s fifteen seconds left in the video where you get your answer.

“What do you think about the Hextech inventors, Jayce and Viktor?”

You look blankly at the pretty woman and just casually in a monotone voice state, “Smash.”

You then see yourself put your headphone back on and continue on your previous task of getting home. You then get to see the glorious hilarity of the poor woman sputtering as the camera man laughs. You feel your face burn, it becomes almost unbearable when you see the comments of the video.

They’re just saying what we’re all thinking

Slay

Not a thought behind those eyes except smashing Jayce and Viktor. Same. Ask them to go to Paris.

I love them omfg

On my personal device that my parents pay the wifi for?

Oop 👀 their inside thoughts accidentally became outside words

They got good taste

Quick! Somebody send this to them 💀💀

Don’t let the council see this…

You’re so funny. Please don’t die.

You damn near whip your phone across your room in embarrassment. Why. Why has the gods forsaken you this day? That video was posted two days ago and it’s already wracked up millions of views, over a million likes, and thousands of shares and comments. It’ll be a miracle if Jayce and Viktor haven’t seen that video yet.

From: Caitlyn🔫

Btw I sent Jayce the video, love you ❤️

You scream into your pillow after that. You were supposed to meet them after your final grades were submitted so that you could possibly start working with them on Hextech.

Guess those dreams are ashes now.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

You’ve essentially barricaded yourself in your dorm room. No one’s coming in, and you’re not coming out.

Your best friend has other plans.

“C’mon, we planned this meet up like a month ago. Grades are out, you got like straight As. You’ll get the job.”

You cover yourself in more blankets, your voice is quite muffled when you respond back, “Hell no! They’ve seen me embarrass myself in front of millions of viewers. You sent Jayce the video! I’m not going!”

Caitlyn huffs as she rips the blankets off you, you squeal and try to hide again.

“They’re curious about you! They want to meet you.”

“Of course they’re curious about me, I said I wanted to have sex with them!”

Caitlyn cringes at the thought. Objectively she can see that both Viktor and Jayce are very attractive men, but Jayce is her brother and well, she’s always had more appreciation for the female form.

“Seriously, we gotta go. Their schedules are always crazy busy. This is the first time in… forever since they’ve taken some time off.”

You huff, “If anything goes wrong, I'm blaming you.”

Caitlyn smiles at that and throws you an outfit to change into, “I’m totally fine with that.”

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

The walk to the lab is tense. You keep fidgeting with your hair, your clothes, your fingers. Everything.

Caitlyn keeps lightly slapping your hands to stop you from ruining her hard work. She's got you in nice black slacks that show off your pretty legs, a burgundy button-down with a cream vest over top of it, highlighting your waist, and a simple pair of black boots. Everything about this outfit screams sophistication and highlights your beauty.

“Are you sure we can't go back?”

Caitlyn giggles at you, “Were like a foot away from the lab doors. You should've asked earlier.”

You whip your head to look at her, “Are you saying if I asked earlier, we could have cancelled this meeting?”

“No.”

And with that, Caitlyn knocks on the lab doors and you feel yourself blanche due to nerves. You're gonna die, you're barely into your twenties and you're going to die.

You've had a good life so far.

You truly feel like you've seen the pearly gates when a tall, broad man with a beaming smile opens the door, “Sprout, you made it!”

He exclaims as he brings Caitlyn into a massive hug. Caitlyn squawks a bit at the strength but hugs the handsome man back. You just awkwardly stand there biting your lip, stopping your intrusive thoughts of jumping out the window. You'll probably break an ankle, but it'd be worth it.

A rhythmic thump breaks you out of your stupor and you see an incredibly attractive man come up to you. He's tall, lean, and has the most beautiful bone structure you've ever seen. His eyes are like molten gold.

He quirks an eyebrow at your admirative glance and holds a hand out, the other firmly holding onto his cane, “You must be Miss. Kiramman’s friend. My name is Viktor. Welcome to the lab.”

You hesitantly go to shake his hand. His palms are cool compared to yours. He's got small calluses everywhere yet his hands are deceptively soft. You ensure you have a good grip on his hand, you were taught a lousy handshake is quite insulting.

A hand is brought down onto your shoulder and you almost gasp in shock, “I’m Jayce.” the tanned man states as Caitlyn tries to fix her ruffled hair. Wow, they are like siblings. Especially since Caitlyn has a sneer on her face as she elbows Jayce in the ribs; effectively causing him to crumple a bit.

You bite your lip and lightly giggle, Viktor shoots you a fond look as he ushers everyone into the lab.

A casual conversation is held before Caitlyn leaves so that you, Jayce, and Viktor can talk privately. You're tempted to screech at her to stay. But you don't.

The atmosphere in the lab is a bit awkward as Jayce just blurts out, “So… What was that video about?”

“Jayce!” Viktor lightly scolds, “You have no tact.”

You choke on an inhale of breath, causing a coughing attack. Jayce pats you on the back, trying to alleviate the discomfort.

“I—uh. Well, I was functioning on about four hours of sleep after two back-to-back exams, and before that, I had an exam on each previous day. So I wasn't in the right mindset when that girl came up to me and asked… that question. I didn't even hear the question fully before I… y’know… answered her.”

Jayce lightly pouts as Viktor shoves his tongue into one of his cheeks, “So… you wouldn't smash us?”

You accidentally bark out a laugh before slapping a hand over your mouth, “I’d be an idiot to say no. But, if we're going to work together… mixing pleasure into it never goes well.”

Viktor and Jayce share a loaded look, “Well…” Viktor's accent purrs out, “If you ever change your mind… you know where to find us.” The man that just rocked your world just casually walks to his desk, his cane rhythmically thumping against the marble floor of the lab.

Jayce drags a hand on your lower back as he shoots a wink over his shoulder, ushering you to the blackboard.

Maybe you being braindead and being blunt worked out for you in the end.

[peppermintkandy]

A Royal Summons Pt. 1

DC X DP

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

Bruce watched as Constantine started drawing something on the ground. They had found a magical artifact on a mission, a pen that can make anything it writes into reality. The villain who had obtained it was relatively easy to outsmart, just a guy who had gotten out of hand trying to fix a mistake. The had part was reversing all the damage he had caused.

They had called the JLD to help with the cleanup, seeing as it was a magical atifact that had caused it. Constantine was the only to come as he had been free at the time.

They showed him the pen that caused the damage. He used some sort of spell on the pen, and everything the villain had changed was reversed. He then offered to take care of it for them.

Bruce had assumed he meant hide or destroy it. That pen could be disastrous if it ends up in the wrong hands.

Then he took out a piece of white chalk and started drawing a circle on the ground.

Now, Bruce may not be magical savy, but he knows what summoning circle looks like. Before he could say anything, though, Superman spoke up.

"What are you doing?" He had stepped closer to get a better look at the circle, which now had the beginnings of a complicated looking symbol in the middle.

"Callin' a friend." Constantine replied simply.

"Who, exactly, are you summoning?" Bruce questioned, also stepping closer. Constantine was almost done, adding a few sigils in the rings at the edge of the circle.

Constantine grunted, standing up and backing away from the finished circle. Before Bruce could ask any more questions, a blinding green light suddenly spread from the circle. Bruce, as well as the rest of the league, was forced to look away.

Soon, the light dimmed to a small glow. As Bruce turned back to the circle, he saw a black liquid start to bubble from the center and spread to the edge. The liquid bubbled and moved, taking shape into something Bruce didn't know the name for. The thing had seemingly infinite eyes that all glowed bright green, and the liquid that made up its form was dotted with small white specks, making it look like a starry expanse.

Bruce was mesmerized and terrified at the same time. It was everything and nothing. It felt like death and rebirth. He wanted to enter it's endless embrace and run in the opposite direction. He wanted to stare into the void and look away, never to see it again.

Before Bruce could do anything, the form shifted, becoming smaller and more human like. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the transformation stopped, revealing a young boy. He was still otherworldly, with unnaturally white hair and glowing green eyes, just one pair, and a semi-transparent tail instead of legs. He wore a black skin tight suit with white gloves and boots, and a white D on his chest.

Bruce, feeling only mildly dazed at the display, looked around to find that the rest of the League pressent, excluding Constantine, also looked confused and a little nervous.

Looking back to the kid, Bruce noticed he also seemed mildly confused. Spotting Constantine, he smiled and flew over.

"Constantine!" The kid floated to a stop in front of said man. "Miss me already?"

Constantine huffed a laugh, "You wish, Kid. Actually, I summoned ya cause the League here found someth'n that feels like your deal."

"Awe, and here I thought you might actually like me." The kid's attempt at sounding disappointed was betrayed by the smile on his face. Bruce had to resist the urge to call Alfred and tell him to get the adoption papers ready. "What have ya got for me?" The kid's expression shifted to something at least resembling serious as he circled around Constantine.

Constantine pointed to Bruce, who still had the pen in hand, "Bats over there's got it. Ask him." The kid turns to look at Bruce. Not his body, just his head, which turns almost 180 degrees. Bruce tenses slightly as the kid's body soon follows, and he floats over to him.

Bruce holds out the pen, and the kid takes it, holding it up to his face to inspect it. "What exactly did this thing do," the kid asked.

Bruce explained everything about how they found the pen and how it was used. To his surprise, the kid listened intently. Only when he finished did the kid finally speak.

"Sounds like something Ghost Writer would have," the kid opened a small portal and put the pen on the other side, "I'll ask him about it." The portal closed as he pulled his hand out.

[purplereina11]

New Signing, New Beginning Part 3!

Mia Larsen was Barcelonas new summer signing

Alexia Putellas is a club legend who just can't seem to talk to her

Alexia walked into Zara, if she was honest she wasn’t looking at any of the clothes, she was wandering around eyes peeled for one thing, or one person only. She smirked to herself spotting Mia, she wandered over hoping Mia would see her before she got to her but she was too engrossed in the tops she was looking at. Holding it to herself then away to look at it then back onto herself.

Alexia stopped behind her and spoke softly, “Hola”

Mia turned and there was Alexia with a smile, she couldn’t help but match, “Hola”

“Surely there’s nothing left for you to buy in here”

Mia looked like a child who’d been caught doing something she shouldn’t, “They got new lines in” Alexia actually giggled at her, Mia smiled as Alexia aimlessly followed her around the store giving her opinion on items she was picking up. Mia rose her eyes in the mirror as Alexia hovered behind her looking out into shop as she held a skirt up to her waist, “You not looking at anything?”

Alexia whipped around to her, their eyes meeting through the glass, “Um.. i got distracted”

Mia lowered her head to look at the skirt again, “I can see that” Mia put it back on the rail.

“You not like?” Alexia asked she furrowed her brows as Mia came back towards her. Alexia liked that one.

Mia shrugged, “Not sure”

“I like it” Alexia said as Mia breezed by her as she did there eyes met, “Was cute” Mia simply laughed at her as she kept moving, “Que?”

Mia shook her head, “Nada” she turned, “What do you want to look at?”

Alexia motioned, “I’m watching how it’s done”

Mia smiled motioning to Alexia as she walked backwards Alexia dutifully following, “La reina del futbol” she motioned to herself, “La reina de las compras”

Alexia nodded laughing, “Si, you are the queen of shopping” They went amongst the racks Alexia walking behind like a boyfriend being dragged along and naturally they talked football, about the training sessions. The aimless steps of their feet took them towards the exit after neither had anything to buy. Mia wouldn't be adding another shopping bag to the few she already had.

Alexia swallowed as they left the store, she had a question she wanted to ask, but she was worried how she’d react to either way Mia answered it. “Are you going home now?” That wasn't it.

Mia nodded, “Yeah, i’ll get the bus home” Mia was looking towards the near by bus stop to see which bus was waiting

“You no drive?”. Neither was that. Alexia was confused and it made Mia smile when she looked back at that written all over her face.

“I can drive.. I’ve just not sorted a car yet”

Alexia had gotten distracted neither of those were the question, “That your bus? Was going to see if you wanted to go for drink?" There it was, Alexia noticed Mia didn't answer within the split second chance she gave her so padded the question out, "You know because you drink afterward with Ingrid, it’s your routine”

Mia felt warm with the Alexia babble she was on the end of, she knew she wanted to ask the question, got nervous and had to add the end as buffer, she could feel her nerves radiating off her, mainly in just the way she was holding herself. She did try to justify her question. Mia would have gone if she’d simply asked the question alone. “Si, let’s go have a drink”

“Your bus?” Alexia pointed

Mia shook her head and the lie just spilled out, “No.. my bus probably will be at least an hour yet” Mia smiled at Alexia, “Where we going then La Reina”

Alexia playfully rolled her eyes shook her head and silently began walking.

Mia's Instagram story was posted before Alexia's who had waited til she got home to post hers.

“Oh wow” Mia spoke amazed at the view as they stepped out an elevator onto a rooftop, “How stunning is that view” the smile crept onto her face as she admired it

“Si.. go find a seat i’ll get drinks” Mia looked to Alexia already distancing herself towards the bar, “Sangria?”

“I’ve never had Sangria” Mia scrunched her face slightly then pulled her lips in between her teeth at the great disappointment that washed over Alexia.

“You have Sangria now, go sit” Mia laughed to herself when Alexia waved her away, Mia always thought disappointing Alexia would bother her, maybe it would in a football setting but here, sitting with a beautiful view, it amused her.

“Gracias” Mia spoke softly when Alexia finally came over with the drinks. Mia looked back to the view she laughed when she looked back and Alexia was like she eagerly awaiting something, “Que?”

“Drink” she pointed at the glass

“Hang on, let me take a picture for Instagram” Mia laughed at yet another eye roll, “Patience La Reina”

“Very.. artistic” Alexia spoke playfully dry as she saw the phone as the picture was took, “Can you try now?”

Mia got settled back on the stool, “You’re quite bossy” Mia lifted the glass and guided the straw to her mouth, she was pleasantly surprised, she liked it. “Wow, that’s good”

Alexia nodded with a smile, “Sé”

“I should probably thank you” Alexia moved her eyes to Mia who felt some of her confidence falter, “For what you said in the press conference”

“Oh, it’s true” Alexia smiled when Mias cheeks flushed ever so slightly, “You can’t take a..” Alexia paused forgetting the English word waved her hand and said it in Spanish instead “cumplido?”

“I can.. but from you about football, it means a lot” Mia then made a joke to deflect her sudden embarrassment, “Wow this sangria must of gone straight to my head”

“You don’t care what i think” Alexia sipped her own drink, “That’s what i thought.. before”

Mia felt she needed to tread carefully they’d turned a corner and she was worried talking about how they previously were would send her right back to where they were. “I cared…” Mia fiddled with the straw admiring the view to avoid eye contact as Alexia watched the side of her face.

“I offend you?” Alexia looked worried something Mia instantly wanted to calm

“No” Mia spoke softly looking back to her, “I’m a big girl i can take some constructive criticism”

“No criticism, just” Alexia nervously sipped her drink as Mia furrowed her brows, “Just a reason to speak to you” Mias brows didn’t unfurl. “You excited for the pre season tour?”

Mia softened as Alexia was diverting, “Yeah..“ she nodded her lips coming around the straw again

“Nervous?” Alexia asked, “Playing your old team”

“No” Mia shook her head, it was cute Alexia thought she’d actually get to play, “Just be odd won’t it”

“Not even seeing..” Alexia paused looking past Mia in an attempt to pluck the name from somewhere, as cute as Alexias face was Mia felt she had to put her out her misery

“Katie?” Mia questioned when it appeared she’d forgotten her name, “No, couldn’t care less” Mia smiled as Alexia did, “Keira you should keep an eye on, she can be fiery”

“You not fiery?”

“You have really got to annoy me to see that side”

Alexia gave her a stiff nod, “Noted”

“Can i try something?” Mia asked and Alexia looked intrigued

“Ok”

Mia dug into the bag where she bought something from a shop before she ended back in Zara she pulled out a baseball cap stuck the cap on Alexia’s head and chuckled.

“Are you making fun of me?”

“No” Mia reached forward to fix it on her head properly, she bent the front so it sat better, “It suits you”

“I don’t wear baseball caps”

“Well you should” Mia sat back picking her glass up smiling as Alexia used her camera on her phone to look at herself. Mia watched Alexia look at herself and when she didn’t take it off it made her laugh.

“Do i look stupid?” Alexia asked her shoulders and whole body slumping ever so slightly

“No you look cute relax”

Alexia lowered her head to drink from her straw suddenly thankful for the cap to hide her blush. Or so she thought.

“You can’t take a cumplido?” Mia asked teasing, Alexia’s head whipping up with an unimpressed look on her face getting the most beautiful giggle from Mia.

“Shush and drink your Sangria” she found the corners of her lips turning upwards as they held eye contact.

Mia was coming down the plane, she rose her head as she spotted Alexia she got a little smirk on her lips, she was wearing the cap. Mia hadn’t realised Alexia actually never returned until this point

The plane had three rows of two, Mia walking down one side Alexia sat on the far other side a row of two seats between them, Alexia rose her head and rolled her eyes at Mia’s face. “Nice hat” she called across the silent plane, as the girls were all settling for the long flight.

Alexia waved her hand at her, “Go sit down”

“So so bossy” Mia faked a bow, “Si la Reina”

Mia squeezed by to sit in the window seat next to Keira where she was assigned to be, she missed the look on Keiras face wondered how they’d gone from barely acknowledging each other to teasing each other. “Hey” Mia looked to Kiera, “Leah text before, she said she text you about the three us grabbing a coffee if we can find time”

Keira nodded, “Yeah she suggested a group chat but i couldn’t make it because you refuse to give me your number and when i told Leah that she didn’t want to make the group incase you told her off”

Mia put her hand out, “Phone” Keira smiled handing it over, and Mia put her number into Keiras phone and called herself briefly. Mia rose her head handing the phone back to Keira as Patri leant on the chair in front of Keiras speaking to her.

Keira was lost they were speaking Spanish, they laughed and off Patri went.

Keira looked to Mia, “You two are friendly”

Mia furrowed her brows taking her Barca hoodie off, “Don’t start”

“Ok i really read that wrong”

Mia smiled at Keira, “Clearly”

The girls were told they couldn’t sleep on the flight, they had to stay awake, Mia was taking more pleasure than she should shoving Keira awake when ever she was asleep.

“Go for a walk or something” Mia suggested

“Need a wee to be fair”

Alexia rose her eye’s from her show when Keira caught her attention, she looked to Mia doing her sudoku. She knew from Irene beside her you could play battleships against someone else on the screens in-front of them, she figured out Mias seat number and asked her to play. She watched Mias brows furrow when her screen lit up, she lifted herself slightly to figure out who that seat number was and when her eyes landed on Alexia watching her she titled her head silently saying really with her expression.

Alexia just nodded as if to ask her to accept, Mia put her book away sat straight on and accepted.

Keira was amused by Mia playing battleships, “Who you playing against?”

“No clue” Mia muttered her lie, Keira before she sat down had a look around and Alexia was the only one with her screen on. Keira cleared her throat as she sat down.

“Can i ask you a question?” She whispered, Mia as she waited for Alexia’s next move turned her head to Kiera. “Your instagram story of the Sangria.. were you with Alexia? She posted something very similar at the same time”

“Just as shocked as you” Keira leant closer to her, “Bumped into her and she asked if i wanted to go for a drink” Mia glanced to Keira as they spoke in hushed tones.

“That’s a turn around”

“Tell me about it” Mia smiled when even from where she was she heard Alexia sigh when Mia found a ship. She was competitive in everything.

“Do you think it’s because she came with Mapi when you and Ingrid were out?”

“Maybe” Mia shrugged, “Maybe broke some ice there i don’t know”

“Still odd, she was so lovely when i first got here, I’ve never seen her like that with anyone else”

Mia turned to Keira, “Maybe she’s threatened by my talent”

Keiras distinctive laugh filled the quiet plane as she shoved a grinning Mia, “You wish” she said a bit louder than she meant making Mia laugh.

Mia Larsen posted on her instagram story

Mia came down the steps of the plane with Keira, they got onto the shuttle bus, Mia was scrolling on her Instagram as they travelled to the airport. Keira rose her eyes as Alexia for seemingly no reason came down the bus and perched next to Mia. Keiras eyes connected with Irene’s who just smirked.

“Hey loser” Mia smirked not raising her head or even breaking her doom scroll.

“Bet you could see my screen”

Mia laughed softly her eyes looking out the corner towards Alexia, “You really hate loosing don’t you”

“Hate it” she muttered

Mia just smiled, “Same but i won so i’m happy”

Alexia shook her head trying to not smile, “You’re annoying”

“Oh she’s a sore loser!” Mia smiled locking her phone giving Alexia her full attention, “That’s going to be fun”

“Why is that fun?”

“Because you are going to challenge me at something else because you want to beat me at anything now, but you won’t and i will keep beating you just as easily as i did at battleships”

“Oh” Alexia nodded, “Is that right?”

Mia hummed nodding, “Sure is”

“We’ll see about that” Alexia rose to her feet to go back to where she came from.

“Oh. My. God” Keira said beside her, she shook her head at Mia, “I can’t keep up with you two”

“What?” Mia looked genuinely confused

“You go from her ignoring you to go going out for a drink and now flirting”

Mia scrunched her face, “That wasn’t flirting”

“Ok” Keira laughed as the bus pulled up in front the airport, “Don’t even realise you’re doing it, cute” Keira put an arm around her neck as they walked

“This is really not helpful Keira when trying to carry bags”

“Yeah but” she smiled, “She seemed to enjoy it”

“Enjoy what?”

“The flirting!” Keira spoke

“There was no flirting”

+

Mia was quiet since she was back in London, obviously the girls had no clue why, they put it down to nerves playing her old team in a matter of days. She kept to herself did her sudoku in the corner when the girls were in communal areas, she spoke when spoken to but there was a noticeable difference in her.

Keira tried but she didn’t like to push, Leah had made her well aware that Mia would come to her when she was ready and pushing the matter would only make her pull further away.

Alexia was walking through the hall of the training centre they had been permitted to use, she spotted Mia alone in a meeting room door slightly ajar. She pushed it open Mia had a look Alexia couldn’t quite read when she turned from the window she was looking out of to see her stood there.

“I’m fine” Mia spoke wiping her tears, she took steps to leave but when the door was closed without a word she knew she wasn’t getting away with it that easy.

“Sit” Alexia pointed to the meeting table

“Alexia, you’re my captain not my counsellor we can pretend this didn’t happen”

Alexia pointed to herself, “Soy el Capitán” she pointed to the chair, “I say sit, so sit”

Mia did as she was told quietly sitting down on the chair her eyes watching Alexia get a little plastic cup of water from the water machine in the room and place it in front of her. Alexia took a seat but didn’t speak as Mia rested her elbow on the table leaning on her hand just quietly staring.

“Mia” Mia moved her eyes, “You deserve to be here” Alexia was searching for any clue in Mias eyes what was wrong, “If that’s why your sad”

“It’s not, but thank you”

“You want to say?” Alexia mimicked her position and unintentionally got a gentle smile from Mia

“Now’s probably not the time”

“When is the time?”

Mia lowered her eyes, she felt safe looking into Alexia’s eyes, she didn’t want to over share. She didn’t feel they were yet. But as she looked up and the sun came out from behind the clouds, they sparkled. “I don’t know”

“Do i need to get Irene to hurt someone?” Mia laughed sitting up folding her arms on the table, “Can i have your phone?” Mia furrowed her brows, “Capitana” Mia slid it over, “Unlock it” Mia smiled to herself as Alexia slid it back before pulling it back over after Mia finished unlocking it.

“What are you doing?”

Alexia poked at the phone app, typed in a number and Mia could feel herself hyperventilating at the fact it appeared Alexia was giving her, her phone number. “Giving you my phone number” Alexia pressed ring then hung up before pushing it back raising her eyes to Mias, “Incase the time comes”

“Promise me something”

Alexia sat up, “Anything” it was so softly spoken Mia believed her that she genuinely would

“If it looks like i’m going to show myself up and punch Katie tomorrow, stop me”

Alexia laugh gently, “Sure”

“Thank you”

+

Mia was sat in the meeting for the team announcement for their first friendly against Arsenal, Mia couldn’t believe it. Pere planned to bring her on at the 60 minute mark regardless of the score, she was trying to look happy but not overly happy. She didn’t want to look like a giddy school girl but she didn’t want to look unbothered. Like she appreciated the opportunity but not show too much surprise that it made Pere and his team doubt her, they couldn’t believe in her if she couldn’t even.

Mia was out for training in the usual shorts and short sleeve top where as all the other girls had wrapped up she was made fun of constantly this training session, even Keira now not used to the cooler British weather joined in.

The girls were slapping hands at the end of training Mia was drinking her water when Alexia caught her eye she pointing between the two, “You against me” She pointed, “Free kick”

Mia swallowed the water in her mouth, “You serious?”

Alexia was smiling nodding, “Yeah, come on” she pointed for her to go first, “Panos” Alexia shouted, “Quédate ahí practicando tiros libres” She hollered for Panos to stay in goal, Alexia shoved her hand forward again, “Go”

“No pressure” Mia rolled the ball forward with her foot

Keira scrunched her face, “You don’t place the ball”

Mia hand on her hips look at her, “No” she scratched her face, “Never have”

“You didn’t take the free kicks at Arsenal? Am I right?” Keira asked sitting on the floor with some of the other midfielders who’d stuck around.

“No. Katie always did” Mia mumbled taking a step back.

Mia wound up and took the shot, “Oh she’s scoffed that” Keira laughed as she ball took off looking like it was going out past the left post, which sent Panos that way, “Oh wait” The ball started curling, “No she hasn’t” It skimmed around the fake wall men slotting top right corner, Mia was bounded into by the very excitable girls as Alexia stayed routed to the spot.

Mia had a beaming infectious smile as her eyes came to Alexia who nodded she put her hand out, Mia simply tapped it before Alexia set her ball up, more methodical than Mia.

Mia and Alexia had a friendly back and to with the free kicks, Mapi even joined and sent a couple off, they weren’t keeping count. But Mia was. She noted she’d scored more. She’d get that into Alexia at some point for sure, Mia found a new love for winding Alexia up. 

Mia came around the corner and Alexia was walking down the corridor towards her, she didn’t have an expression until she spoke, “Hola” A smile escaped onto her lips.

“Hola” Mia watched as Alexia turned on her heels flicking her head to follow, she moved after a step or two, “Where are we going?”

She pressed the button for the lift and turned to her yet still no expression

Mia looked at her phone in her hand when it buzzed, ignored it and looked right back up, “Can I know before I agree to get in this lift with you?”

Alexia shook her head stepping inside the lift, she pressed the button to hold the door, “Come on”

Mia rolled her eyes stepping into the lift moving to lean against the back of it with her arms folded, Mia swallowed when Alexia looked out the corner of her eye at her. “Que?”

“You’re acting weird”

“This whole situation is weird” Mia spoke, Alexia turned silently asking her to elaborate, “Who gets someone out there room at night and into a lift without telling them where they are taking them”

The doors opened behind Alexia, “Where are you two going?”

“Couldn’t tell you even if I wanted to Patri” Mia spoke waiting for Alexia to leave first, “If I don’t come back to the room in an hour call the police”

Alexia called over her shoulder, “Ignórala, está siendo dramática.”

“I am not being dramatic”

Patri was amused, “Have fun guys” she pushed her floor button

Mia was lead into an arcade the hotel had, “Random” she muttered as she carried on following Alexia seemingly knowing exactly what game they were playing. “Basketball?” Mia questioned amused

“Si” Alexia nodded she hovered her finger over the start button, “Highest score wins”

“Wait” Mia spoke releasing a breath, “I need to get ready” Alexia smiled cheekily and pushed the button anyway her balls being released to her, the shock written all over Mias face at the cheating tactics to put her off, “Ay!” Mia rushed forward to get hers as Alexia had already started shooting, “You’re such a cheat” Mia started shooting. Neither knew why but they couldn’t stop smiling and giggling as they frantically threw the balls at the hoop.

Alexia exclaimed in Spanish when she saw Mia was beating her after sinking several in a row, “No otra vez” Alexia leaned over to knock a ball out Mia’s hand, Alexia ran out of balls as Mia still had time, she got in the way trying to block the shot, Mia bent over reaching around Alexia’s waist to get her last ball touching her waisting trying to move her out the way. The pair couldn’t stop laughing as Mia moving back Alexia coming forward she took her shot from far, Alexia turning watching as it went in.

Mia exclaimed hands up in the air, “Campeona!” Alexia shook her head a hand thrown up in the air, “Campeona! Campeona!” Mia chanted getting a shove in her shoulder from Alexia

“Sore winner”

Mia took a step closer with her smug smile pointing at her face, “Winner” she pointed to Alexia, “Loser” Alexia took hold of the finger as they stood just smiling at each other in silence longer than either really realised, awkward Alexia came out involuntarily flicking between Mia’s eyes and moving around her. “Ow!” Mia laughed, turning to see where she went. “Was that really necessary?”

“Come on Campeona, we’re going to miss curfew”

Alexia missed the salute Mia sent her way, “Si Capitana”

[klunkcat]

50 VAGUE ANGSTY + HURT/COMFORT DIALOGUE PROMPTS

7. "Did they hurt you?" gio + author's choice :3c

This is foul, just want to say! Not my fault!!!

Gioverse can be found here - this is n!mikey centered because its me <3

His first mistake, in a long line of many, was assuming he could leave for a few hours.

Gio had mentioned in the start-stop way of his that meant more half hedging implications of noticing something than ever an outright statement, that he’d never had broccoli and cheddar cheese soup before. This was, of course, a sin that Mikey had no choice but to right as soon as possible. He’d thought he could be in an out in thirty minutes, maybe an hour tops. Swing by April’s place after giving her a call, pick up the ingredients and head back. Easy peasy. 

He and Gio had really started to crack into his recipe book lately, and the thought was a syrupy sweet palpitation in his chest. Adding one more warm thing to the repertoire of lessons he was bundling the kid in seemed like a wonderful opportunity. 

Except, of course, he’d left Gio alone with them. 

It had been a long minute since Donnie had willingly left his lab, in his defense. More often than not Mikey had to brave the mess of cold wires and empty metal to try and bring dinner to his brother that he knew in his heart of hearts would be forgotten. And Raph rarely stayed in the Lair long enough to do anything other than sleep. He hadn’t thought— well, there was the crux of it. He hadn’t thought at all. 

Returning through the front door with bags of broccoli and the fancy kind of cheddar, he’d been thinking of warmth. Of getting that rare shy smile of Gio’s to shine through once again, just for the two of them. He’d been thinking of kitchen lights and music bouncing off walls, and not at all of the echoes or the empty rooms around them. 

“ – if you think, for one second that he’d– “

“That’s the problem!” Raph’s voice thunders. Mikey’s heart takes a sharp twist and tumbles straight down to the stone floor. “I don’t know anymore. You don’t either! Just— can we stop pretending?” 

A sharp, icy scoff. “Isn’t that what you’re best at, brother of mine? Or is that just Mikey. Should we ask him?”

“Don’t,” Raph growls back. 

“Or what! You’re not even here. Am I the only one who can’t do this? This thing where we act like we can make anything better just because he’s here—” Donnie’s voice pitches up, practically a roar by the end splintering off into a thousand barbs Mikey knew he’d wrap himself in the second that he could. But where is Gio? 

There’s a crash.

The bags fall from his hands to the floor. He takes in the fact Gio’s bedroom door is open, that the lights in the living room are on and— 

It’s all noise and color. Mikey barrelling through, skidding to a stop and registering just enough to note Raph’s balled fists, Donnie’s sharp glare, and Gio, standing just behind the couch, surrounded by shards of glass. Gio’s wide eyes, looking between his brother’s and over at Mikey like he isn’t sure there was anywhere left in the world for him to go. 

No one moves except for him.

He falls to his knees instantly, scooping Gio’s face in his shaking hands. “Are you— did they hurt you? Show me your hands, buddy, okay? I’ll check, I’ll make it better, you’re safe I promise, I—” 

Gio blinks, lets Mikey fuss and turn his hands all over, placating and malleable. There’s a tiny scrape on his knee that looks old, no cuts or nicks on his hands. No red or purple rising on his dark skin. Mikey closes his eyes, leaning his forehead against Gio’s for a shaky breath. 

He feels Gio’s hands reach up and press against his palms. “I’m okay,” he whispers after a moment, voice small and trying not to shake in the way that made his voice flatter. Younger. 

It doesn’t stop him from being terrified, because Gio had grown up somewhere Mikey didn’t know, where pinches and slaps had been handed out as easily as words. And it had taken Mikey all these hard months just to get the kid to stop scanning for exits in every room they stood in, and his brother’s had been yelling.

The thought slows, grinds to a halt. His brother’s had been yelling. About him. 

He makes himself lean back. Glances over at the rest of the room. 

Raph’s face is hollowed out. A complete study in guilt, one hand reaching forward almost unthinkingly. Like the smallest shard of an old Raphie had flickered through for a microsecond before vanishing on both of them. And Donnie– 

“We didn’t know he was here.” Don says, flat as ever. 

Mikey frowns, pulling Gio more firmly into his side. “That doesn’t make it okay.” 

There’s something strange to Donnie’s expression. Guilt? It can’t be. The loss of his twin had warped him so thoroughly that Mikey could never manage to fully understand, and he knows that this Donnie is a facsimile more often than his own person, but he’d thought… It isn’t a kind thought. It isn’t a thought he’s allowed to have anymore. 

“Mikey—” Raph tries, and some of the simmering anger Mikey makes sure he doesn’t have rises up between his breaths. 

“Don’t Mikey me. You were yelling about—” his voice catches, he makes it hold. “About me, right? You think I’m playing pretend. That I don’t know how bad we are.” He remembers that Gio’s here and holds onto the reminder like a buoy in the midst of all this disappointment and hurt, and the things they never say out loud anymore trying valiantly to fight their way through. “I’m not a stupid kid anymore, of course I know!” I know more than you, I know a thousand other worlds more than you, how badly we’re broken, I’ve seen them. 

His hurt crashes against him. “Of course I’m angry! I’m tired, and it’s so hard to try but I can do it  even if you can’t, and I am trying, so just. Stay the hell away and leave Gio out of this!” 

Raph’s face twists, his good eye dropping to the floor. “We thought. I thought he was with you. We wouldn’t hurt him.”

Gio’s warm and still bendable with his need to appease at Mikey’s side. It grounds him in all the same ways it makes all of this so much worse. Wouldn’t hurt him, except they’d yell and glare and avoid, right? Wouldn’t hurt him except that they didn’t know Gio thought he didn’t belong in the one place he should always feel safe. That he thought they hated him.

He opens his mouth, some boiling betrayal burning on his lips— 

“It’s my fault.” Donnie cuts in, still blank and stiff and sharp the way he always is, now. The admission is a tiny miracle nonetheless, and Mikey’s anger dies a quiet heat death in the center of himself. He doesn’t miss the tiny lurch in Gio’s breathing at his side, though. 

No one says anything for a long, horrid moment. Donnie looking straight through Mikey like he’s alone on a dying star; and it aches– it aches all the way through to know it’s an untouchable chill Mikey can’t ever break through even when he tries, and it’s worse to think that he’s used to it, but it’s familiar all the same. Don turns his head, hands flat at his side. 

“I’m the one who can’t do this.” Love right, he means. He doesn’t mean he can’t at all. 

Mikey pulls Gio closer, like he can shield him from the misunderstanding he knows will reach the kid anyways. He feels the words hit Gio, wash over him as Donnie leaves with a hiss of his lab door clicking firmly into place. 

He doesn’t mean it, Mikey thinks of saying helplessly. Except Donnie does mean everything he says, it just exists in stone blocks and hard data now and none of the softness has anywhere to stay. 

Raph watches Donnie leave, and lets out a long sigh. He rubs a hand over his face, and ages rapidly in a thousand eye bag lines all at once. “I’m sorry, kid,” Raph mumbles. Mikey’s not sure if he means Gio. He hasn’t been Raph’s kid in a long time. 

“It’s okay,” Gio says, stiff and quiet. Raph nods to himself, eye gazing emptily at anything but them, and shuffles himself off to his room. 

It’s them, again, like always. Mikey hates the fact he’s relieved enough to let himself untense— that his brother’s could ever exist in the same sentence as danger. It hurts to realize that his instincts have been wired backwards and inverted like this, in this reality Mikey couldn’t save anything from. 

He lets Gio go with a puff of breath and forces himself to stand, tries to find the strength in himself not to cry. There’s a light in him somewhere, still, but it’s different, too. 

Maybe he has been playing pretend in a type of way. Acting like he hadn’t changed as much as everyone else, too. 

Gio’s hand touches his, briefly. “Your knees.” 

He blinks. Oh. There’s blood, patches of it on the floor in between the glittering bits of glass. For a moment he worries that he had missed something after all, that Gio had been hurt— Gio stares nervously at Mikey’s legs where he’d crashed to his knees. 

There’s bloody tears in his pant legs. He doesn’t even feel it.

“Oops,” Mikey tries to laugh. It comes out wavering and pathetic. Gio bites his lip–  isn’t that a thought. All the yelling and the anger and the sheer brokenness of their family, and Gio looks like he might actually cry just over some scrapes from Mikey being stupid. He loves this kid so much it balloons right through him constantly in endlessly shocking ways. 

I’m sorry, Mikey thinks. He’s always sorry these days. “Let me get cleaned up, okay? Then, um. How about a new recipe? Think you’ll love it.” 

Gio looks like he wants to say something, closes his mouth instead. Smiles that tiny way Mikey would burn the world down for, instead. 

Maybe they’re both pretending, really. Maybe that’s all they can do. 

___

Gio grew up cold, it’s an inescapable reality he’s forged his understanding of the world around. There’s a bone deep chill that resides within most places, rooms for things that aren’t to be kept, and stern words meant to correct in straight neat lines. There’s no space for anything else. That’s the reality, kid. 

He’d spent most his life adapting, quick as he could to make the next deadline or the next drop. Make sure he was useful but not too important to be seen, to keep the jobs coming and food for the next day available. 

There was a point A to a point B, a quickest route forward. That’s all he needed. 

When Mikey found him a lot of that had been subsequently shaken apart. A lot of things suddenly meant staying, and promises, and bright room lights that held. Suddenly, food was fun and a given, and could be asked for, and there were laughs bubbling up and bouncing back to him, and warm hands against his cheeks asking ‘are you okay’ just to know. To check. 

He knew what being warm was because he knew the cold. He considered this a gift. 

There isn’t a single atom of himself that doesn’t ache with a deep homesickness he’s not sure he’s allowed to have every second that his Mikey is lost somewhere unreachable, but he is grateful. As much as he loves his family now, and their bright silly constant thrum of life everywhere he goes, he wouldn’t ever have chosen differently. 

If he was cold for nineteen years, it was so his big brother could burn bigger in comparison. 

His family now has plenty of warmth all on their own, but he tries to burn the same way for them all the same.

It’s funny, sometimes; his stomach twists with a fond ache that’s equal parts grief and absolute relief all in one that ties his words up somewhere else he can’t touch, but he misses his Mikey in the same way he loves this one. He wonders if Mikey knows how bright he is, that it’s the bravest thing he’s ever known. He’s also so small, here. Breakable in all the ways he bounces. It’s absolutely terrifying. 

Gio had been fighting in back alley scrapes and life or death battles since he was ten, but that doesn’t mean his little brother should. 

“Did they hurt you?” He asks, scanning absolutely every inch of Mikey’s arms and face he can see. He presses carefully at his sides, where the hard shell and plastron give way to more tender spaces. Mikey giggles instead of flinching, thank god. 

“Gogo~” Mikey complains, laughter bright on his cheeks. “I’ve been in bigger fights last week.” 

“You got thrown through a wall.” 

Mikey waves a hand. “Like, a little.” 

“No, he’s right,” Leo leans over Gio’s shoulder. “That sounded pretty rough. Anything dislocated?”

Gio hates the idea abruptly that any of them know what dislocation feels like, or that it’s regular enough it wouldn’t be obvious. 

“I’m fine, really! I pinky promise double swear.” 

Leo purses his lips. “With sprinkles on top?”  

Raph’s worry sensors must ping at the commotion, because Gio can hear him abruptly switching to Mikey fussing mode from the other room. Mikey’s expression darkens, Gio switches tactics. 

“You’re okay,” he decrees, with a tiny nod. “Soup will fix it.” 

Leo’s muffled snort is worth it for the way Mikey’s eyes light up. 

“Oh! I have broccoli I’ve been meaning to use.” He immediately jumps up, luckily confirming he is in fact just fine in the same motion, and instinctively puts both hands on Gio’s cheeks with excitement. “Oh mama, you have no idea what can of worms you’ve just unleashed. I’m going to make so much soup. How about a new recipe? I think you’ll love it.” 

Gio’s heart does something funny. 

“I’m sure I will,” he smiles back. Warm enough for all of them.

[pixiekiwi]

love your works! How about lokixreader (friends to lover). Where the reader decides to try to get over loki by going on a date because she thing loki doesn’t like her like that. So how loki finds out about her going out on a date and I’ll leave the rest up to you!

You Mischievous Little Thing | Loki Laufeyson x Fem!Reader

HELLOO!!! Thank you so much for this ask :3 I may have not written exactly what you were imagining, however I had a lottt of fun adding to this prompt. I also... wrote quite a bit more than I was expecting, the words just kept coming!! I hope you enjoy!! :D Reminder, asks are still open <3

Masterlist | Marvel Masterlist

Description: Loki finds you on a date, with another man, wearing his colors.

Warnings: Slight NSFW content, no set timeline, jealous Loki ;), feminine reader, no use of (Y/N), slight knife play.

Word count: 3.8k

mea columba: my dove

⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆

All Mother Frigga was not only known for being one of the smartest and beautiful women of Asgard, but also for the grand soirée’s hosted almost every other week. Typically they were hosted for events, however Frigga also loved to host gatherings, this being one of those times.

Usually you loved the grand events, however, this time you dreaded going. You had actually managed to get a date for this ball. It wasn’t an accident, you were trying your best to move on. To get your mind away from your childhood best friend. The Young Prince, Loki of Asgard.

You had recently come to the realization you had feelings for the man. You noticed your heartbeat would speed up at the littlest of glances, the smallest of smiles, the sweetest of looks.

How you had come to this conclusion was finding your cheeks the brightest of red in the mirror while allowing your mind to fall to the idea of the Prince. You cursed yourself that day, and cursed the God of Mischief for fooling you into these feelings.

You couldn’t help it however, his bashful smiles, his bright blue eyes that seemed to just do things to you - you couldn’t get him out of your mind.

And you knew, he did not feel the same way. I mean, he was Loki of Asgard, and you were you, of… Well, nothing really.

You had met him in the gardens when you were young. Your father was a nobleman on the war council and you had been visiting the castle for a few weeks when you had bumped into the boy. Immediately the two of you clicked, it was easy. You had the same curiosity for the world, the same mischievous and playful spirit, the same yearning to know more, to be more.

And now, centuries later, you lived in the castle. You had moved to the castle at Loki’s request, to help him with his studies to become the Crown Prince for when his brother finally was crowned. Now, you had a rightful seat at the war council - just as your father had.

It had been years of the two of you being side by side, you had become inseparable. Everyone knew it, everyone saw it.

You had both dated others, but nothing ever stuck for either of you. You didn’t mind, until you realized you had feelings for the Young Prince.

So now there you were, down in the Ball Room as hundreds of other Asgardians danced around you all the while awkwardly standing next to your date. Ironically, the only dress you had at the moment to wear was a dark green gown, laced with gold ribbon.

The man you stood beside wasn’t terrible, he was sweet, but just… Boring. It was nothing against him, he was handsome, but he didn’t get your jokes, your sarcasm, or even your compliments. It seemed he truly didn’t have a brain.

You smiled at him as he spoke about battle, in a dramatic fashion - explaining something about decapitating an enemy. You had stopped listening minutes ago, but yet you sipped your drink politely, letting your eyes wander slightly, looking for… Well you know who you were looking for. To your dismay, you had yet to see the blue eyed man.

So you moved your eyes back over to your date, whose name, you actually could not remember for the life of you. He had seemed to now be distracted by one of his friends who had come to speak to him. Seeing as they were now enthralled in a conversation, you took this as the best moment to step away.

You moved quickly, giving a quick muttered excuse to leave and moving carefully to the large banquet table. The foods and deserts upon the table made your mouth water. You reached for a rosatum, thankful for the sweetness that dissolved upon your tongue.

You let your eyes wander again, you watched as couples danced happily upon the dance floor, their eyes never leaving each other’s. Your heart panged in an odd manner, was that jealousy? Yearning?

You didn’t know, and preferably, you didn’t want to.

As you were finishing one off of the many drinks you had tonight, you felt a pair of eyes studying you from afar. Your own eyes snapped to them immediately.

You could sense him from what felt like miles away. You were not one for magic, but his magic you could feel. You didn’t know why, you assumed it had something to do with the time you had spent together. However you didn’t mind, he wasn’t able to sneak up on you anymore - he had done it enough.

As your eyes found his, a velvety feeling filled your lungs. A small smile crept up upon your face as you gave him a small curtsey, a running inside joke between you two.

You could see a smile creep up his expression as he bowed his head to you.

You could almost see his eyes graze your figure, but he was too far away to truly tell. Standing the upon golden steps across the room his aura bled confidence, something you could tell from hundreds of feet away. He was wearing a beautiful dark green and gold suit plated with golden armor, a show of his status.

You wanted to wave him over, and you almost did - until your date grabbed your shoulder.

“You disappeared back there,” he smiled politely, pulling your attention, albeit begrudgingly, away from the Young Prince across the hall.

You didn’t see how his face fell.

“I apologize,” you smiled half-heartedly.

“I was just getting to the best part,” He laughed, his face red and flushed from alcohol, “I hadn't told you about the beheading!”

He did, a thousand times already.

You hoped your true emotions were not showing upon your face, as that would be quite rude. But truly, you could not stand to be around this man anymore. You had already listened to enough battle re-telling while on the council. You wanted to come up with some excuse to leave, maybe that you had fallen ill - but before you could even get another word out, the hairs on the back of your neck stood.

“Would you care to dance My Lady?”

You spun to the side, unaware of your date’s narrowing eyes upon the man now in front of you both.

“Loki.” you had almost gasped out in relief, he was finally here to rescue you from this horrid date.

His sharp features seemed to soften as they took you in, admiring the gown you had put yourself in. Loki’s eyes met yours again and his feathery gaze fell into a stoic wall you could not not break through. He smiled politely at your date before holding out his arm for you to grab.

You took it willingly, wrapping your arm with his.

You didn’t even glance back to your date as Loki took you through the crowd, finding a perfect spot for the two of you to dance. You felt yourself become relaxed at the mere presence of him. His familiar oaky and leathery cologne invaded your senses, sending your heart into a frenzy of beats. His hold upon your arm was sturdy and powerful, almost as if proving something. You didn’t question it, happy you now had space between you and the man you were just with.

“A date?” The black haired man finally spoke out. His voice was solid, there was a strong lack of emotions behind his question, throwing you off.

You nodded.

“Y’know, Adrián is one of the stupidest Asgardians I’ve ever met.” He quipped. His tone was void of the typical teasing you were used to, but you smiled and laughed anyway, moving your body with his as you turned to dance with him.

“I realize that now, I actually didn’t even remember his name. I’m not sure he does either, he’s had enough mead for a lifetime.” You smiled, a genuine smile as you gazed up to Loki. Truly taking in his striking features. You had danced together time and time again before, however you always jumped at the chance to admire him. His hair was slicked back and styled, and his blue eyes almost looked green from the reflection of your clothing. “I think I could only handle the same story twice, and I have heard it enough already for a millenia.”

A small smile crept up to Loki’s face at your comment, but yet his stoic facade still stood between you and him. He spun you around once, stepping into place with the others dancing around you.

There was an odd silence between you two at this moment, it made you uneasy. Quiet was normal between you two - time spent together reading by the fire, studying in the archives, or even just spending time going on walks in and around the palace - but this quiet, it was different.

You kept your eyes on him as he failed to meet yours, “Is there something wrong?” You finally asked, your voice filled with genuine concern. You wanted to reach and brush the stray hair from his cheek back behind his ear, but you refrained.

Loki shook his head, licking his lips as he danced your body with his own. His eyes finally falling upon yours as he spoke, “It’s insulting for you to parade yourself out here in my colors, with your arm around another man.”

His words held a certain… frustration, that you could not decipher.

Your lips parted in surprise at his words, your eyes staying upon his as your eyebrows raised, “What?” A small nervous laugh escaping you.

His own eyebrow perked up, spinning you around with him as he scanned the crowd of people beside the group dancing, “Did you do it on purpose?” The irritation in his voice was certain as his eyes met yours again.

You had seen Loki frustrated before, angry even. However this was different - it was an emotion you had not seen upon the man. Your mouth went dry at the accusation, you were confused as to what he was implying - had you understood, you’d probably faint.

“I’m sorry?” You asked again, your voice still holding the nervous laugh from before. Avoiding his gaze you spoke again, “I do not understand what you are insinuating.”

While you failed to meet his gaze, you didn’t fail to notice the pink that seemed to climb up upon his neck. His own eyes flickering away from you to the crowd that surrounded you, he seemed… Nervous.

Suddenly, as if seeing something in the crowd - his eyes glowed with frustration once more before snapping to you again. He spun you around again, your gown glittering under the soft light from the chandeliers. Before pulling you close to his body, leading you two into a gentle waltz. The dancing had now become the background of your focus, giving Loki the authority to lead you was easy.

“Look at you, mea columba. You are adorned in gold and green.” Loki’s eyes scanned you up and down, a dangerous emotion flickering through his blue eyes. “You’re practically mine in those colors.”

Your eyes snapped to his blue ones in surprise. You opened your mouth to respond, but you had nothing on your mind to respond with, you were still mulling over his words in your mind.

Practically his.

You gulped as you closed your mouth, your eyes flitting from his eyes down to his lips, where a small smirk had begun to form upon them. Of course, he was playing a game with you, it seemed he always was. As your eyes met his again, you found the wall that was once there was now broken. You could see his frustration now melt into something different, confidence.

You hadn’t noticed Loki had led you both near one of the many exits of the ballroom. You now had stopped dancing, his arm still leading you two wherever he pleased. You looked around finally, seeing you had stepped past the beautiful archway leading you both down a quiet hall. You didn’t mind, the music was becoming overwhelming.

“It was the only gown that was decent enough for the ball.” The words tumbled from your lips haphazardly, it was the first response you could manage. You cursed yourself internally for drinking as much as you had. Deep down you knew that wasn’t the key to your flustered state, however it was easier to blame.

Loki’s eyebrow perked again at the excuse, leading you to an open isolated balcony looking upon the beautiful Gardens lit under the moonlight below. He turned to you, his arm unlacing with yours and taking a few steps away - keeping his eyes trained to your figure he spoke, “I thought you wore those colors for me.”

You froze, the soft chill of the wind sending shivers up your spine, or was that from him? You couldn’t tell. Swallowing thickly you moved to the edge of the balcony, looking down upon the gardens. Your nerves were on high alert, feeling his gaze upon you as you attempted to ignore him.

You couldn’t, his presence overwhelmed you in a way you couldn’t properly comprehend.

Wearing colors for him? Why would he care? Has he ever cared before?

You couldn’t recall a time where he had.

The silence enveloped the two of you, the only sound being the laughter from the ball room and the soft melody of music that echoed down the hall. Loki’s eyes fixated on you, and your own refusing to meet his. It was a silent battle of push and pull - a simple game which you knew you were losing.

You didn’t notice him pulling nervously at his fingers behind his back.

Knowing you couldn’t just let yourself lose, you pushed back. You felt confidence consume you, as you had played this game with him many times before. Straightening your posture you turned to him, your eyes finding his already upon your form.

They hadn’t left.

And finally - you spoke, bringing the silence to an end.

“I hadn’t realized you laid claim upon a color.”

As the jest fell from your lips, excitement flashed through the prince’s blue eyes. His hands falling to his sides as he moved closer. His body was now mere inches away from yours, you could feel the unusual cold chill from his body that you had grown to find comfort within. His hand reached to lift your chin, his eyes meeting yours.

It seemed as if lightning struck as they connected, your body tensed as the confidence you had just felt faltered for a moment.

A knowing smirk slowly made its way upon Loki’s face. “And anyone that wears it.”

Your breath hitched at the implication, your eyes flicking down his figure before meeting his eyes once again. You gazed at him through your eyelashes, your teeth finding your bottom lip as you returned his playful, smirk.

“Well,” You paused, taking your time to mull over your words as a certain heat rose in your lower half, “If I must, I may just have to - take it off?” You glanced away briefly, “If that pleases you,” you met his blue eyes again, “Your Highness.”

You lowered yourself into a curtsey, your head now below his abdomen. Before you could sink any lower, his cold hand grabbed your upper arm - pulling you back up to him. He was leaning over now, your faces just threads apart.

You could feel Loki’s breath upon your lips as he spoke, “Oh you mischievous little thing,” his tone low and rasping.

Lifting you and setting you upon the bench like railing of the balcony, one hand finding your lower back, his grasp the only thing between you and the gardens below sending a wave of adrenaline through you. His other hand - crawling up your leg under the flurry of skirts you adorned, your own hands finding his neck. He whispered finally, leaning over so that his lips now at your “You know I would like to do that myself.”

Stunned by his sudden actions, his declaration, and the closeness of the two of you - it had seemed as if you had suddenly lost the ability to speak. Your lips parted in surprise, his strong grasp steadying you just enough.

Your nervous gaze fell upon him - his attention fixated upon you. Your lungs shook as you took in a shuddering beeath, searching for the words to say, to continue this game.

But you couldn’t find those words, in fact, he didn’t even give you the chance to - as his lips were now on yours.

Your heart skipped eight beats at once and a small gasp escaped you. His kiss was hesitant at first, but when your eyes fluttered closed, and your hands found his hair, pulling him closer - as if giving him permission - he didn’t restrain himself any longer.

Loki’s hand on your lower back was now moving up to your shoulder blades, moving your body flush to his. The hand that resided within your skirts gripped your thigh tightly - as if he could sink claws into your warm flesh.

As he leaned closer, you broke away - your nervousness from being mere inches to the edge causing your momentous pause. Breathless and shamelessly warm, your lips parted, ready to warn him of your anxieties. His hungry eyes met yours and he spoke for you.

“You think I'd be so foolish as to let you fall?” He clicked his tongue teasingly as he spoke, “The only foolish thing I’ve done is let you be seen in this dress while not by my side.”

A wild glimmer flickered through his icy blue gaze, desperation clawed through them as they trailed down to your gown. As they flicked back up, the mischievous smirk you were used to took hold of his expression. You could see the gears turning in his mind - you knew his next actions would be bad news.

You felt yourself flush with amorous excitement.

Loki’s hand upon your back lowered once more - all the while still holding you sturdy - and his other hand loosened from your thigh. “We wouldn’t want anyone getting the wrong message now,” his eyebrow perked as he cocked his head to the side slightly, his tone low and commanding, but yet far from his usual Prince-like-regality, “Would we?”

You felt a cold sharp object graze where Loki’s hand once was. Your breath hitched as you heard the sharp ripping of fabrics.

Your eyes snapped down, your skirts now cut away, revealing your bare legs and a dagger gripped between Loki’s palm. As he conjured the dagger away in a fluff of green particles, feathery gasp escaped your lips at the sudden coolness of the breeze against your skin. His hand found your thigh once more - however much higher than he had before.

“Much better now,”, he pulled you against him and wrapped your legs around his lower half. His dangerous gaze never seemed to falter.

“Don’t you agree?”

You wanted to disagree, in fact you wanted to yell at him for cutting up such a beautiful gown. But hungry excitement flooded your veins.

“Loki…” You whispered out a warning. You wanted to say more, tell him that this game had gone too far - but the yearning for more clawed through your chest and down through your lower half. Something else told you this wasn’t a game anymore. Your tongue flitted over your lips - Loki’s eyes falling to them - watching as you bit back the words you truly wanted to say.

“Oh mea columba,” He practically groaned out - his voice coated with desperation, “As much as I love seeing you in gold and green, I think I’d much prefer you with nothing on.” As he spoke, his hand on your upper thigh crawled farther up - reaching the hem of your panties.

A soft whimper escaped your lips as his cold fingers played with the hem “If that pleases you, My Prince.”

As the words left you, his gaze shot to yours. His eyes glowed with hunger, so much so that even you could see that he was starving.

“What would please me, is the idea of you never wearing another man's arm -” He paused, his fingers slipping under the hem, his hand grasping the side of your hips. He lowered, his lips finding your jaw - you stretching your neck to give him access. The kisses started slowly, giving you time to move your hands around to his neck and lowering them further down his chest.

“However,” he began again - his lips now lowering down to your neck “You can wear my colors-” He stopped again, his teeth now grazing your collarbone, unbeknownst to you his piercing gaze stared up at you, “As long as I get to claim you as mine.”

You shuddered at his words, realizing this was not a game anymore. This was desire. Your hands found the back of his head once more, his once styled and slicked back hair was now a mess - his natural curls now showing through.

The goosebumps that raised on your flesh was telling enough for Loki, he smirked against your skin. Straightening himself into a stand, all the while kissing you feverishly up your neck and collarbone.

Tightening his grip upon your hip - hovering his lips just breaths away from yours he spoke, “Should we take this to my bed chambers then,” he paused, his sensual gaze now upon yours, “My lady?”

You gazed up at him through your lashes - your body warm with desperation, with the want - no - the need, for more.

“Please-” the plea was barely a word, but instead a hushed moan that you couldn’t control.

At the sound Loki’s eyes flashed - both hands now at your hips, lifting you from the railing. His arms wrapped around you, flushing you against him. You barely had time to register the green particles that surrounded you both, before your head was upon a pillow and soft silk sheets beneath you. Loki’s arm released you gently as he leaned back, now straddling you.

He whipped his hair back, brushing it away from his face as he took a steadying breath, his eyes finding yours again. You noticed he no longer wore gold armour, but just his shite undershirt and black pants that he wore underneath.

Your heart seemed to stutter as you watched him, his biceps flexing as he moved to unbutton half of his shirt. His sensual gaze looking you up and down, sending shivers through your spine, and velvet through you.

“Now,” He spoke finally, pulling your hands that laid at your sides up, above your head onto the headboard. His face now inches from yours once more, “Let’s get this torn gown off of you.”

[burntheedges]

Pas de Deux Chapter 13

Din Djarin x f!reader | 4k | fic masterlist | main masterlist | ao3

chapter summary: it's finally the night of the Gala, and it's finally time to perform with Din.

a/n: First, if you didn't see the AMAZING art @kenobiwanx made of ballet!Din, please go look now!!!

Second, a week or so ago @iknowisoundcrazy asked me about a scene I was proud of writing, or something like that, and my answer was really this chapter. I just couldn't say that yet. I hope y'all enjoy it. I can't believe we only have one more chapter! I'm super behind on replying to your amazing comments because I just moved over the weekend, but I will catch up, I promise. Thank you @katareyoudrilling for being the best beta, as always!!

chapter tags/warnings: fluff, dancing, flirting, touching, pet names (sweetheart), hand-holding, intense feelings, kissing, I think we've already covered all of the dance moves in this chapter but I added some links used previously just in case

Chapter 13

At call time, you were feeling much more relaxed and ready for the performance. You successfully avoided the tornado that was Greef Karga backstage (where Alexa and Vince were corralling him) and found one of your usual spots in the dressing room near Adrian. He was already dressed for Jee’s piece in a full-coverage bodysuit with a skin color background and abstract shapes printed on it in blue. You knew his fellow dancers were in similar outfits with different colors, and that the shapes were somehow incorporated into the choreography. Jee was good at things like that.

You quickly put on your bodysuit and your sweats over top. It was a little chilly backstage and you had plenty of time before the show would start. 

Adrian leaned against the counter to your right and crossed his arms. “Where’s your other half?”

You pointed upwards – there were a couple of dressing rooms that were more private, and you were pretty sure that’s where Din had been getting ready. “He’ll be down in a bit. You ready?”

He nodded, smiling. “This is a fun one. Jee’s choreography is always weird, but cool.”

You laughed as you finished your stage makeup. “True,” you agreed.

Fifteen minutes later, Din popped his head into the room. He had on a loose t-shirt and sweats, but you figured he had his shorts on underneath. You noticed a few people waved at him and he nodded in response. He caught your eye in the mirror and motioned for you to join him in the hall. 

You looked at Adrian. “See you in a bit.”

He smiled and shoved your shoulder lightly. “Get out of here.”

You laughed and joined Din in the doorway. He smiled and led you to the right and around the corner, and you realized where you were going. There was a tiny dressing room with no mirror that no one ever used, except for taking naps – it had a somewhat comfortable loveseat.

As you entered, you realized no one was in there but Din’s bag was on the couch. “Is this where you’ve been getting ready?” The room was so small that the two of you basically filled it.

He nodded, a bit sheepish. “I just drop by the other room to use the mirror.”

You smiled. “If I’d known I’d have come and claimed the couch,” you teased.

He ducked his head and smiled. “You’re always welcome.”

You moved over to the couch and sat down. “So, what’s up?”

Din leaned against the folding table that ran the length of the wall by the door. “Could you help me with the body paint? I think some of it wore off in the back.”

“Sure,” you said, moving to get up, but he waved you back down.

“Not yet. We’ve got a few minutes and it’s too cold to be basically naked in here already.” 

You laughed. “True. But we want it to dry, right?”

He sighed. “Alright. Ok, come here.” His hands moved to the hem of his shirt and he tugged it gingerly over his head. You realized he was avoiding the paint. It was dry, though, and looked fine.

“Where’s the problem? The front looks fine.” Your eyes traveled over the swirls on his torso and you smiled, lightly. When you met his eyes he was smirking again.

“Should I take off my pants, too?” His eyes were almost sparkling as he teased you.

You gasped, just for show. “Din! What are you insinuating, hmm?” You stepped up next to him and took a closer look at the paint, looking for any spots that had rubbed off.

As soon as you were close enough, he grabbed your hips and pulled you forward between his open knees on the table. You flailed a bit as you looked for somewhere to rest your hands, eventually settling on his forearms. You didn’t want to mess up the paint, which was mostly on his torso and biceps. 

Once you were steady, he leaned forward, far enough that his lips were almost touching your ear. “I saw you check me out, you know. Last week.” His voice was deep, and you shivered again. He pulled back and grinned.

“Din Djarin, you tease.” 

He squeezed your hips and shook his head. “It’s not a tease, sweetheart. I checked you out, too.” He cleared his throat and looked down. “Not for the first time.”

You smiled. “Adrian said we were both watching each other in class, all the time.”

Din laughed. “I don’t know how you didn’t see me. It felt like I never looked at anything else.”

You felt your face heat. “Ok. Enough of that. We have a performance,” you poked him in the side and laughed when he tried to dodge, “get your head in the game.” He smiled and squeezed your hips again. “Now let me see your back.”

You moved back as he stood so he could turn in front of you. For a moment you simply looked – your eyes danced over his broad shoulders and then down his spine. You wanted to reach out and touch, to trace the lines of his muscles and curve of his waist with your fingertips. He was so strong. 

You shook your head. The paint. You frowned as you looked for any breaks in the paint. “Din, it looks fine. I don’t see any spots where you need a touch up.”

When he turned back to face you, his expression was suspiciously blank. “Oh? Well, maybe I was wrong, then.”

You narrowed your eyes at him. “Din Djarin, did you have ulterior motives when you brought me in here?”

He smirked again and shook his head. “No, you know we’re saving those for later. I just…” he sighed. “I’d rather wait with you than alone.”

You rolled your eyes at him, but smiled. “You could have just said that.”

He shrugged. “There could have been some spots to touch up. You never know.”

You laughed and tugged him over to the couch. He sat sideways so as not to actually rub off any of his paint, and you sank into the corner. “How much time do you think we have?”

“Probably about ten minutes.” The first movement was after Vince’s piece, which opened the show. You needed to be backstage when it started. Then the second movement was between Talia’s and Jee’s, and the third finished the show. 

You reached for his hand and laced your fingers together. It wasn’t out of the ordinary to get comfortable touching your pas de deux partner before a performance, but you knew this felt different, for both of you. “Want to go warm up?” He nodded. “Alright. Meet me backstage? I have to go do my pre-show thing with Adrian.”

Din raised an eyebrow, and you realized he’d never seen your “thing”, as you called it. “Or you can come and watch, if you want. We just have a silly handshake and then we hug.”

It turned out that he did want to watch, and he followed you back to your dressing room after stripping off his sweatpants. You allowed yourself to ogle his legs briefly before leading him out of the room. “Do you have any show rituals?”

Din shrugged. “Not really. I usually do the same stretches and warm up.” He thought about it for a moment. “Grogu says I have a lucky shirt. It’s in my bag.”

You laughed. You realized, as you grabbed Adrian and started your ritual handshake, that you felt more at ease, more comfortable than you usually did before a performance.

It must be because of Din, you figured. It was hard to be nervous when you knew he’d be there with you for every step. Adrian hugged you, and you squeezed him until he made an “oof” sound.

“Ok, ok, let me go. Don’t squeeze me to death.” You laughed at his grumbling as Adrian pulled back to check his costume in the mirror. “Go do your thing, I’ll see you backstage later.”

You pulled off your sweats and left them at your spot. You grabbed your pointe shoes and turned to face Din, who was looking at you. Well, he was looking at your legs. You grinned. 

“Come on,” you said, grabbing his arm. As you passed him, you murmured, “who’s checking who out now, hmm?” 

Din followed you out, and once in the hall, he said, smirking, “I already confessed.”

You made your way backstage together and found a spot where you could warm up in the large area behind the wings. You put on your shoes and began to help each other stretch.

Kuiil found you there a few minutes later, and he smiled down at you both. “Are you ready?”

You both nodded, but Din said, “we are.” His voice was firm and warm and it made you smile.

Kuiil nodded. “Yes, you are. Excellent. I will be in the audience. I wish to see it as I meant others to see it. I will see you soon.” He reached down and rested a hand on each of your shoulders. “Remember. Be in the moment, and be there for each other.”

WIth that, he turned and made his way down the hall and, you presumed, out to the audience. You felt warmed from his clear pride and belief in the two of you together. 

As you finished stretching, you heard the audience settle down, and you figured the house lights had just gone down. Your guess was confirmed when you heard Karga’s voice welcoming everyone to the gala.

“Good evening,” he began, and you could picture the wide smile on his face. “Thank you for celebrating our 5th anniversary with us. We are so pleased to have you here.” The crowd applauded, and Karga chuckled. “Yes, thank you. We have a wonderful program planned for you tonight, with pieces that feature the best of what our amazing dancers can do. All of our choreographers – Vince, Talia, Jee, and our visiting choreographer in residence, Kuiil – have prepared new, never before seen pieces for you just for this gala.” The audience applauded again. “We are so grateful for your patronage, and we hope you enjoyed this season. Please, sit back and enjoy the visual feast we have prepared – and don’t forget about the free refreshments during intermission!" That got a light chuckle from the audience. “Thank you.”

The crowd applauded once more, and you assumed Karga was walking off stage. You heard the curtains open and nudged Din. You tilted your head towards the wings, silently asking if he wanted to go watch the quartet. He shook his head and motioned for you to stand with him. He leaned in and murmured, “I’d rather warm up a bit more with you.”

You’d seen the quartet in dress rehearsal, and it really was beautiful. It was funny to think that it had been your original role in this program. You nodded and joined him in some light jumps and lunges, and then spent a few minutes warming up your ankles.

You heard the quartet’s music begin to build towards its crescendo. Before you could turn to head backstage, Din grabbed your arm and reeled you in. He placed his hands at your waist and you let yours rest lightly on his forearms again. He leaned in and rested his forehead lightly against yours. 

“You’re going to blow them away,” he murmured, and you felt that familiar feeling that he inspired start to well up in you. “Ready?”

You nodded. “You too, Din. Show them who you are.”

He pulled back and smiled at you. As you turned, you slid your hand down his arm and tangled your hands together. You walked backstage hand-in-hand.

The quartet was just finishing up when you found a place to stand together, out of the way of their exit. You caught Phil’s eye where he stood with his headset on by the tiny backstage lamp, and he nodded at you. You tugged on Din’s hand. “Here we go.”

He nodded at you and released your hand. You would go out first on your own, and then Din, and then you would be on stage together. You closed your eyes and took a deep breath. Just before you stepped forward, you heard Din murmur, “beautiful.”

You stepped into the wings with a smile playing around your mouth. And then the music started, and all you thought about was the dance.

…

You’d never felt like this before. You’d never danced like this before. 

From the moment you stepped onto the stage, you could feel it – you were going to nail it. And you did.

You whirled through your solo, and leapt off the stage just in time for Din to enter after you. You watched him and you could see it – he felt it, too. You grinned, and then forced it off your face. He was a stranger, and you were meeting for the first time.

You spun back onto the stage at your cue and you felt his eyes trace across your shoulders like a caress. The two of you danced past each other, circled each other, glanced off of each other, just barely not touching. The connection between you pulled taut and you swore you could see where he was on stage even when you weren’t looking at him.

It would have stolen your breath away, if you had let it – you’d never felt so in sync with another dancer before. 

The first movement ended with the two of you touching, briefly, and then dancing away from each other. As you were about to exit into the wings, you looked back, and caught him already looking at you. You both froze, and then darted off stage.

The audience burst into applause. You grinned at the dancers waiting backstage for Talia’s ballet, and they met you with silent cheers and pats on the shoulder as you passed. 

You headed straight for the door to the backstage area, looking for Din.

He must have had the same idea, because as you turned into the hall that ran behind the stage, you found him almost jogging towards you, smiling wider than you’d ever seen him.

“You and me,” he said, breathlessly, and you nodded.

…

You had to wait through two longer pieces for the second movement, which would be between Talia and Vince’s collaboration piece and Jee’s. Wary of getting too cold, you returned to Din’s small dressing room, grabbing your sweats on the way. You didn’t want to break the bubble you could feel forming around the two of you.

Din pulled you into the room behind him and then into a loose hug. “I want to hold you tighter,” he murmured, “but this paint.” 

You laughed. “It’s probably for the best.” He hummed. “Ok. We can rest for a minute, and then we need to get ready for the second. And go stay warm.” He nodded. 

“You were beautiful.” His voice sounded deeper than normal and you shivered in his arms. 

“So were you, Din.”

…

There was a barre set up backstage for warming up, and the two of you stayed there as you waited. You watched as the dancers heading backstage moved around you for Talia’s piece and then Talia and Vince’s collaboration, but you and Din stayed in your own little world. That wasn’t unusual, for a piece like yours. You practiced a couple of lifts just to have something to do.

You were ready.

With only a few minutes to go, Din leaned into you again. “Ready?” 

You nodded. He grabbed your hand, this time, and led you backstage.

The piece Talia and Vince had collaborated on was almost over – it had three couples, a mix of principals and soloists, and you let yourself watch them for a few moments. When it was almost time, Din tugged you in again, foreheads together. 

“Let’s blow them away,” you said, stealing his words from earlier. He smiled.

For the second movement, you started on stage, so you stepped away from Din to go take your place when the lights went down. Alone on stage, in the dark, you took a deep breath. As the music started, you stretched into position, and sank into your character. 

You felt Din’s presence when he leapt on stage, and from there, the chase was on. 

In the second movement, you circled each other, sometimes coming closer, sometimes moving farther away. Glancing touches brought you together and then hesitation drove you apart. You wanted to know each other, to understand each other, but you had to find a way to communicate. To make yourselves understood.

You began to mirror each other’s movements, to adopt each other’s styles. You found common ground between you to build on and with the first lift so firmly grounded, it felt like you flew into the air. Din held you aloft and then flipped you downwards, catching you in another hold. You spun away and felt him follow you, and the connection between you strengthened.

Just like the first movement, you could barely think, could only feel – and it felt amazing. You knew, distantly, that you and Din were performing at a level neither of you had managed alone. You had created something new, something that could only exist because you made it together.

The second ended with you and Din briefly together, and then your character shied away – you ran from him, twirling off stage without looking back. He reached for you just before the lights went down.

The audience erupted. You were grinning so wide your cheeks hurt. Adrian was backstage, ready for Jee’s piece, and he looked like he wanted to run over and hug you. But just then Din came through the wings behind you and you felt his arms circle your waist. 

He didn’t pull you too close (the paint) but he leaned forward to breathe into your ear, “so fucking beautiful.”

You shivered, and Adrian winked at you. You laughed and tugged Din behind you into the hall.

You didn’t have as long of a break this time, only the length of Jee’s piece, which was only about 25 minutes. You knew you didn’t really have time to go far.

As you entered the hall, Din grabbed your hand, and made a sharp right. Just around the corner out of sight he backed you against the wall. 

He leaned on the wall with his forearm by your head. For a moment neither of you said anything – you were both breathing hard, chests almost touching every time you took a breath. His eyes caught yours and you couldn’t look away.

“I’ve never…” he trailed off, and you nodded. You understood. 

“Me neither,” you breathed, and his eyes darted down to look at your lips. The feeling that had built inside of you during the performance turned into fire.

“Din–” you started, but he cut you off by pressing his lips to yours in a searing kiss. He pulled away almost as quickly.

“I know,” he said, “I know.” He leaned back, and looked at you again. “I never dreamed it could be like this. I think I was meant to dance with you.”

You were glad you were already leaning against the wall, because your knees threatened to give out at his words. “Me too,” you said. His hand came up to cup your cheek lightly, careful of your makeup. 

“Come on,” he said, “let’s get ready for the third.”

You nodded and let him lead you back down the hall.

…

You thought you’d be nervous, as you stood in the wings before the third movement. You’d gone backstage a little bit earlier than before to watch Adrian, but it wasn’t distracting you. 

But that might have had something to do with Din’s presence at your back and his hand tangled with yours.

You breathed together as you watched and sank back into your characters. In the third, you were almost always touching – almost always chasing or being chased, grabbing or holding on. The movements revolved around your need to be together and create something new together.

As Jee’s piece came to a close, you felt Din step closer. He kept hold of your hand but wrapped his other arm around your shoulders from the back. “One more,” he murmured in your ear. “Let’s show them who we are.” You smiled and nodded. He squeezed your hand.

In the third, you started off stage. In the wings you both took a deep breath, and then the music started. You darted on quickly with Din at your heels, and from there you were off.

He chased you across the stage, and you let him catch you on the other side. You twirled around each other, leaping together, pulling each other along. He supported you through turns and lifts and jumps and you let yourself sink into the music. You internally marveled at how you seemed to be two dancers with one brain – you would reach for him, and he would be there, every time.

When you reached the pique turn, a smile played around your mouth. Din tugged you backwards by your ankle, capturing you and lifting you into a spin. Your body moved through the familiar steps, and when it came time to launch yourself through the air so he could catch you, you fought a grin off your face.

He lifted you over his shoulder, and let yourself appreciate, just for a moment, the strength of the muscles in his back.

Din tilted you back up and let you slide down against his chest. You sank into it with ease, and the two of you let the moment linger. You met his gaze and saw the smile dancing behind his eyes.

From there the choreography built to a crescendo that had you breathing hard, coordinating your movements perfectly to stay in contact – your hand on his leg, his arm around his waist, your arm around his neck, his shoulders supporting you. It pushed you upward and forward until, suddenly, you stopped, facing each other. You breathed as the last note held, staring into each other’s eyes, and then slowly folded into an embrace that took you both to your knees. 

The lights went out, and for a moment you couldn’t make sense of the sound that washed over you. You looked up at Din, and then out to the audience. It seemed like everyone in the theater had taken to their feet, cheering and applauding.

The rest of the company was backstage cheering, too.

Din leaned backwards and stood, offering his hand to pull you up, too. You took it, and he tugged you forward so that you had to lean into him just a bit. He looked like he wanted to say something, but then the lights came up.

You both turned to the audience, bodies moving into the familiar stance, ready to take your bows. But you were both taken aback when somehow the applause got louder.

You glanced at Din, but he swept you forward, and before you could stop him, presented you to the audience. 

You smiled, and when it was his turn, did the same for him.

As soon as you were done, the rest of the company poured out of the wings to join you on stage, and the standing ovation seemed to go on forever. Adrian popped out of the crowd at your side and wrapped you both up in a hug, which startled Din and made you laugh. “That was fucking amazing!” he shouted in your ear, and you laughed. Din started to smile, too, and you squeezed his hand, still tangled with yours between you.

You looked at him as the company moved to take a final bow together, and for a moment, you couldn’t hear the noise around you at all.

You could only see Din, smiling at you, so widely his eyes crinkled. 

Beautiful.

...

prev | next

a/n: they did it!! I'm so proud of them!!! next week... what happens after the gala? 😏 we finally earn those smut tags, lol. I don't really have any notes this week, but let me know if you have any questions! 🧡 and don't forget to check out the art!!

[kaliina-catoe-blog]

Danny didn't stop flying until he was on the outermost edge of Crime Alley, floating for a few minutes to catch his-- well. Not literally breath, considering he didn't breathe in this form, but the point stood. He couldn't possibly be less lucky, first he has to hide out in Gotham to escape his parents and now he has to try to heal the older halfa without risking himself.

What was worse? Clearly the man didn't know he was a half-ghost. He probably didn't even know about the Anti-Ecto-Acts or the GIW! What if he was targeted and didn't even get to understand why?

Although. The man also asked Danny why he knew about his death.. As though the man knew he had died. But then, why would he not know that he was a halfa? How would he know that he had died, but not know anything about Ectoplasm or Cores? It wasn't adding up, and Danny knew he needed to figure it out.

For now, though, he was exhausted. He looked around for a second, before settling on an abandoned-looking theater building. The sign was faded, and looked to be rather damaged- as though someone had thrown somebody into it and shattered many of the old lights. Despite the letters missing, and the general damage to the sign, it seemed to be some kind of... Opera? Theater?

"**ake Op**a Ho*se"

He floated down, phasing himself through the roof and directly into the main theater of the building. It was cold, but he could handle cold with his Ice Core. Still, Danny moved over to the stage, he could always make it more comfortable.

After shredding a couple of the old, slightly mildewed and tattered curtains, he made himself a large nest. Transforming back, he tried to search the building some for anything useful.

(Jay)

Jason sighed, snapping his laptop shut a little harder than necessary. He had been out searching the street for the kid he saw earlier and, after several hours of nothing, tried to find anything on the many cameras he had placed.

He didn't want to get the Bats into this, at least not yet, but he was starting to wonder if he needed to talk to Oracle. She would probably be able to find the kid, right?... He sighed again.

Alright. What did he know so far? The kid was scrawny, he looked about Demon-Brat's age but it was hard to tell. He appeared to be malnourished; his hands and wrists were bony and his shoulders stuck out a bit. Jason had to fight the urge to open his laptop again, instead opting to stand and go to his kitchen.

Maybe he just needed to try to run into the kid more casually? Maybe even as Jason instead of as Red Hood. Clearly the poor thing had been terrified of him, and he couldn't blame them when he knew his vocal modulation and large guns probably seemed... Well. Scary.

Making up his mind, he started to pull out ingredients for a simple chicken soup. Tomorrow night, he'd patrol like normal and try to find the kid. Hopefully, if he did, he could quickly change or something and try to give the kid some food. Alfred's chicken soup would be the best, especially in Gotham's freezing cold excuse for fall.

(Danny)

Three bottles of water, two sodas, and a juice were in the concession stand. As well as a few bags of chips, a bag of unpopped popcorn, and several boxes of very old candies. Although, in all honesty, he wasn't sure he trusted those if they'd been in cardboard in an abandoned building for... Who knows how long. He was pretty sure at least one of these brands was discontinued, so he assumed it had been a fairly long time.

He shoved his haul into an empty bag he found, as well as a flashlight he found in what appeared to be a manager's office and some batteries. He could see in the dark, but he liked having the ability to actually have light - it made him feel safer. Lastly, he snooped at the registers. They were all empty, which he supposed made sense. The safe in the office, on the other hand, had $50 in random bills that he took.

He would probably feel worse about stealing, but clearly it had been a long time and nobody else was going to miss it or care. Right? Right. Sure. He didn't feel bad at all... Okay he felt awful, but he just had to remember that he was hungry and the place was obviously not about to need $50.

By the time he got back to the musty curtains on the stage, he was beyond exhausted and starving. Collapsing down into the nest, he pulled out a water and opened it. It probably wasn't the safest thing to drink, but at least it wasn't Gotham tap water.

After half of the water was empty, he grabbed a metal dish he'd found in the kitchen and poured some of the popcorn into it. He wasn't entirely sure this was a good idea, but... Actually. Wait.

He scrambled suddenly off of the curtains, moving to sit on his knees on the stage instead. It was already probably dangerous to try to pop popcorn like this- let alone on a big pile of kindling. He grabbed a lighter out of the go-bag he'd brought from home, and one of the metal cups that Jazz had made him pack. She'd insisted he might need a cup for clean water in case he ended up somewhere in the woods or something. He was glad she was so overprotective now, and he ached as he thought about her.

The cup, which he had put a small fire-starter into and lit, sat underneath the dish. The dish was being held up, just high enough to not smother the flame, using a metal frame-looking thing Danny spotted near the stage. It looked like some kind of prop cage? It was flat enough on top to hold the dish flat and tall enough to just go over the cup without touching it.

Slowly, the popcorn started to cook. He heard it first, and watched as - oh shit nonononono. It was popping, yes, but also flying directly out of the metal dish across the floor.

"FUUUUU-" he cut himself off, swiftly moving to try to stop the popcorn from jumping onto the ground.

He pulled a metal lid from his bag, cursing himself for forgetting it, and slapped it over top. "Ancients damn it."

Dp x DC ideas #1 (please feel free to use, but if you could link it below or tag me or something so I can read any fics based on my ideas I'd be super grateful!)

Ok. Idea #1

Danny's transformation is bright. Like. Really really bright. It might temporarily blind people if they're looking directly at it! Danny and his friends have all become adjusted to not looking, and warning people to close their eyes. But what if the flashing light is also useful for making people not recognize that it's Danny that transformed?

Imagine Danny in Gotham, running into Red Hood somewhere in his civvies. His first thought, obviously, is to panic-- because obviously running into any member of the "Batfamily" can't lead to anything good. But then he can feel the cold puff of air that's suddenly leaving his lips and he realizes with terror that this man is NOT human. In fact. This man is easily twice Danny's size and armed to the teeth *and* he's not human. Danny, being himself, decides in that moment he needs to leave NOW. He starts to move, but. He can't bring himself to go ghost yet- there's something nagging at him that he needs to talk to Mr. "Built like the broad side of a barn" about whatever weird ectoplasm was infecting him. He could swear he could almost smell the rotten ecto on the big guy's clothes.

Jason, meanwhile, is busy staring at the tiny ass teenager that's literally shaking in front of him. Why was this kid even here? For starters, no child this size needs to be out this late in any part of Gotham. And more importantly, why is he in Crime Alley? Suddenly, Jason's not standing in front of some random teenager, he's looking at himself. Black hair, blue eyes, dirty clothes in the middle of The Narrows? Shit. Batman was about to have a field day... Wait. Was. Was this how his Da- how Batman felt? Oh shit. The kid was talking and Jason was standing here completely zoned out thinking about the Batmobile's fucking tires.

"Hey, are you listening to me?" Danny asks again, getting irritated fairly quickly. "I'm trying to tell you something important about your core!"

Red Dude shakes his head a bit, seemingly just focusing again. "Sorry.. Hold on. My what?"

Jason has never felt more confused in his entire life. He was also pretty sure he could mentally see the damn adoption papers filing themselves in his head. Maybe D- Bruce had rubbed off more than he thought?

"Okay. One more time." Danny sighs, "Your core looks like someone literally tried to shatter it and then glued it back into your chest. And you reek like rotten ecto- you need pure ecto to heal that much damage. I don't know what you've been trying to use, but it's contaminated by something and I think it's making you sicker?" He tries to explain, but the weird man just keeps staring and tilts his head.

"My what? Is full of what?" Helmet Bro has some kind of voice changer in his helmet, but Danny can tell he's being serious.

"You... You don't know do you?" His eyes suddenly widen like saucers, and he gapes up at the older man in horror.

"Know what, kid?" Jason steps towards the teen, not fast or anything. Just a shift forward, really, but the kid flinches back like he's been hit and Jason is suddenly 13 and fending off muggers again right here in this alleyway. He puts his hands up, palms out to show he's not trying to do anything, and slowly moves to lift his helmet off.

Danny is cornered, he realizes it the second the Big Scary Helmet Man™ moves forward and Danny is pressing his back into a fence. He didn't want to leave the man with rotting ectoplasm in his core, but what was the risk he was about to be kidnapped? But then Big Guy is freezing, and clearly not holding any of the weapons he's armed with.. And taking off the helmet?

"I'm not going to hurt you. I'm not going to lay a hand on you, okay, kiddo? I just need you to explain what you're talking about, and why you're... Here," he gestures with his free hand to the alley.

He has jet black hair, and there's a section near his bangs that's shockingly white. Danny almost thinks the man looks... A little bit familiar? Too familiar. He's not lying though, so Danny tries to relax a bit and raises his hands placatingly. Clearly, the man has no idea that he's a halfa, and he probably doesn't even know he died. Oh man.

"Uh. Well. I don't really know how to explain this to you- and I can't tell you why I know. But... Do. Do you know that you're.. Dead?" Danny asks awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.

Jason has to fight off the green that's suddenly starting to creep into his vision. How the hell did this kid- wait. He asked if Jason knew? "what?"

Danny felt horrible, he could feel whatever was contaminating the older man's core- like it was alive, almost. "So. I know that saying to stay calm probably isn't going to help you here. But I need you to try to not freak out, okay?"

The lenses of Hood's mask were blown wide, and he very carefully nodded. His teeth creaked with how hard he was trying to remain in control of the Pit Rage.

"Okay," Danny continued carefully, noting that whatever contamination was at play it was definitely making the man unstable... Was it time to go ghost? No. Not yet. "Uh. My name is Danny- Danny Fenton. And. You are... Dead. Err. Half dead?"

Jason is shaking now, just slightly, and he hopes the boy doesn't notice it. He's not trying to scare the poor thing, but the green is starting to come back in waves. He feels like he just got dragged out of The Pits all over again.

"How do you know about that?" Jason asks, and the kid flinches hard again. Jason takes a deep breath and holds it, "I'm not going to hurt you. But you need to tell me- right now- how you know about my death."

Danny is shaking, trembling in fear as he realizes he just fucked up. Badly. "Uh. I can't tell you that, " he tries, pressing flat against the chain link behind him.

Jason steps forward before he can think better of it, another question on his tongue-

*FLASH*

Jason staggers back, hands coming up to cover his eyes, "Oh fuck!"

"Sorry! But I am not about to double-die tonight!" Danny yells back as he phases through the fence. He waits a second, floating while Helmet Man tries to clear his vision again.

"Fuck!" Jason swears again, and then he says something in Spanish that Danny doesn't understand but he's pretty sure is probably not PG13.

Danny doesn't hesitate for another second before he's flying away. He'll need to find the older halfa again, but for now he needs to get far away and fast. He wasn't sure what a regular human gun would do to a half-ghost, and he wasn't about to find out.

Jason, finally regaining his vision, whips his head around. The alley is empty, and there's no sign of where the kids went or how he managed to slip past. He shoved his helmet back on, huffing in frustration. Damn it all. He was going to have to track the poor kid down wasn't he?.... Yeah. Bruce rubbed off on him, clearly, because even now as Jason stalked back out of the alley he couldn't help but to mentally fill out paperwork.. He was calling dibs on this one- black hair, blue eyes, and apparently carrying a flash bang? Batman could fight him for custody. Besides... There was something off about the kid- how did he know Jason was dead? And what was all the weird talking about 'cores' and 'ecto'?

[fatigue-d]

"It's you , Despite everything, it's still you. "

Words: around 1k

Inspired by this amazing fanart by @padiduys :

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

"IT'S YOU "

Mark gently brushed Fernando's cheek, his loving gaze shimmering in his eyes. The Spaniard took no notice, talking to Kimi about the upcoming race, his eyes full of challenge and his proud smile. He was a competitor, one of those rarely seen, those who live for glory, victory and, in his case, speed. It's all about speed, and always will be. And under these conditions, one wondered how a love affair could be created. But Fernando wasn't just a competitor, he wasn't just greedy, he was greedy too, and that was another sin, but don't hold that against him, he's human after all. In his greed, he had kept deep down his love for his friends, his family and Mark...

He cherished them and didn't want anyone to take them away from him, his sweet words in Spanish, his discreet caresses, his secret and often unexpected kisses, his freshly bought flowers from the local florist, his lame jokes, his charming smile. He dedicates them all to one person, whom he likes to call "Mine". Mark, too, appreciates this attention, moving in it, flanning like the sun, with the certainty that their love will fight anything.

Their love so sweet, their love so strong, their love so secret. Because, as Fernando had said a few lines earlier, he was greedy, and his greed manifested itself in his need for secrecy, for "their things", for lies.

After all, perfect love means discreet love.

" DESPITE EVERYTHING "

I'm not going to Ferrari," says Mark.

And his words destroyed everything. Absolutely everything, a chaos of screams, insults, annoyance, everything but crying. Because why cry over so little? He was just a colleague, after all, just a colleague....

Yet this sentence had been like a bomb, said in public, the atmosphere previously ecstatic, the moment now as if frozen by this sudden coldness.

Mark knew what he was getting into when he said this, because it wasn't Ferrari's refusal that had led to the dispute, it was the confirmation that next year, he would be retiring. That the words were heard by all only added fuel to the fire, for even if Fernando's greed was proven, Mark's was far greater. So when he destroyed the open secret, everything went with it.

Fernando had done his best to get him to stay, trying to convince him to change teams, to finally leave Red Bull, which no longer respected him. But he was tired, terribly tired, but his love for Fernando is intact. For, despite the fact that he was leaving, he had hoped to stay with him, to share his days and nights, and so had Fernando, but the separation was too strong, and sooner or later one of them would have cracked.

So it was on one of their dates that Mark accepted his sentence, knowing the consequences but unable to accept them. But if it wasn't him who put an end to it, it would have been Fernando, and that would have been far more heartbreaking and destructive. For Fernando loves passionately, a flame seemingly burning in his heart, fueling his will, his hope and his love. And Mark had plunged into it, unafraid of getting burned, but perhaps he should have, for now he could only see himself as a charred corpse.

So....

He said the word.

"It's over"

He bitterly regretted the second he said them, then knew he couldn't go back when Fernando cried in front of him. He'd never made him cry before, not from joy, not from sadness. He'd hoped the Spaniard's tears would flow when he proposed, the mark of his ring box still visible on his faded jeans. But he'd dreamed too much.

And when he'd left the restaurant, he too had felt drops on his cheeks, his vision blurred, but he hadn't noticed them. Probably too absorbed by the sadness he'd caused the man he loved, and would love forever, to feel.

" IT'S STILL YOU "

Seeing Fernando in a green outfit was confusing for him, as he was far too used to Ferrari's reds and Renault's bright blues. Yet this color suited him like a glove, as did all the others if you asked him, but I doubt you'd be interested in hearing a middle-aged man's monologues about his husband.

His beard was grayer than the last time they'd shared a podium, wrinkles adding to his face as age crept into both their lives.

It had made them mature, Mark hoped, they had seen each other again, after a long time, but they had still managed this small step after years of radio silence.

Their first conversations had been tinged with nostalgia, remorse, sometimes resentment, a strange taste of bitterness sticking to both men's palates. Yet Mark had recognized one thing he'd forgotten after their break-up, and that was gentleness.

The gentleness in Fernando's voice when he spoke of them, his smile, his touch, shorter than before but as comforting as ever. He'd created a portrait of the fearless, fearless Spaniard, but he'd completely overlooked a part of the Spaniard's personality.

His concern for his loved ones, his love of animals, his desire to advance the next generation, his muted anger, always more impactful than shouting.

All this less flamboyant side of the Spaniard had been forgotten after so many years. But it was this one that made him fall in love again, even more strongly than the first, because it was still him and had always been him.

And maybe now the ring on Fernando's hand would be the talk of the town, maybe this time the secret would be less guarded, maybe this time Mark wouldn't be able to deny it.

But it's about time, discretion has a limit and for Mark it stops at affection. For he has no intention of stopping dating Fernando for any reason as stupid as fear.

Fear of other people's gaze, fear of a distant and unpredictable future. Because he knew he had Fernando Alonso by his side, always by his side despite the passage of time.

Because it's him , despite everything, it's still him.

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

I hope you enjoyed it! Credit goes to @padiduys for his incredible fanart, I think my idea was pretty far from the fanart, but Fernando's smile was just too tender for me not to write about it.

[50calmadeuce]

Ch. 3: Beach Day (R)

Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction using characters from the Top Gun: Maverick world, trademarked by Paramount Pictures Corporation. I do not claim ownership of the characters and the world that I am borrowing.

The story and situation I am creating are a work of my imagination and I do not ascribe them to official story canon. This work is for entertainment only and is not a part of the storyline.

I am not profiting financially from the creation and publication of this story, but I do hope it give you happy thoughts.

The next afternoon, the squad gathered on the beach behind The Hard Deck for a team-building exercise that, unsurprisingly, turned into a wild game of dogfight football.

You had opted for a black TYR bikini with a sporty design—a supportive bra-style top paired with boy shorts—that highlighted your toned, athletic physique. Your shoulder-length hair was swept up in a ponytail, and a beach bag hung from your left shoulder. A pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses shielded your eyes from the sun as you took in the lively scene.

The game was in full swing as you strolled up to Captain Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell, who was lounging in a beach chair, observing the squad with a relaxed smile.

“Good afternoon, Captain,” you greeted, your tone polite.

Phoenix caught sight of you and waved enthusiastically. You waved back, your eyes inadvertently drifting toward Hangman.

He was clad in a pair of black board shorts and wore Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses identical to yours. His shirtless, sun-kissed chest glistened with sweat under the afternoon sun, and the sight sent a spark of excitement through you—an unfamiliar sensation you hadn’t felt in a long time.

As if sensing your gaze, he glanced briefly in your direction before calling out to his teammates, urging the game to continue.

“Doctor, Y/N. Please, sit,” he said, gesturing to the empty chair next to him.

You nodded and took a seat. “Thank you, but please—Y/N is just fine. No need for formalities.”

He chuckled. “Phoenix said you’d say that. But still, you should be proud of your accomplishments.”

“Oh, I am,” you replied with a small smile. “It’s just that on vacation, I prefer to keep things low-key.”

He chuckled again. “With my position and years in the game, I’ve got nothing left to prove.”

A brief silence fell between you as you both watched the game unfold. You made an effort not to watch Hangman’s every move, but your eyes couldn’t help but drift back to him time and time again.

“He may be arrogant and cocky with one hell of an ego, but he’s got a heart,” Maverick said, his tone light but sincere.

“Sorry?” You turned to him, slightly taken aback.

“Hangman,” he clarified, nodding toward the game.

“Oh.” You shook your head dismissively. “I wouldn’t know. I really wasn’t paying attention to him,” you replied, though your voice betrayed a hint of defensiveness.

Maverick chuckled knowingly. “Well, if you didn’t notice him, he’s definitely been noticing you.” With that, he stood and stretched. “Excuse me,” he added before making his way toward The Hard Deck.

You turned your gaze back to the game, determined to focus on it. Or at least, you tried.

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

A few hours later, the sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving the beach bathed in the warm glow of a bonfire. The squad had gathered around, laughter and conversation filling the air.

Phoenix sat next to Rooster across from you, the two of them chatting animatedly about who knows what. Their easy smiles and the subtle way they leaned toward each other had you wondering about your best friend’s relationship with him.

The warm weather had turned a bit chilly, and you felt a slight shiver run through your body. You had put on a tank top earlier, but it wasn’t enough to ward off the cool evening breeze. Crossing your arms, you rubbed them to warm up.

Then, you felt something drape over your shoulders. Turning, you saw Hangman sitting to your left, a blanket now settled over you.

“Penny said you looked a bit chilled,” Hangman said, taking a sip of his beer as you wrapped the blanket around your shoulders.

“Penny, huh?” you asked, raising an eyebrow.

He grinned, a hint of mischief in his eyes. “I may or may not have noticed too.”

“Thanks,” you replied, your voice softer now, and turned your gaze back to the fire.

Jake stood there for a moment, watching you, the warmth of the fire casting shadows on his face. His grin faded slightly, replaced by a quiet curiosity as he took another sip of his beer. The air around you both seemed to settle into a comfortable silence, and for once, it felt like the chaos of the bar had faded away, leaving just the two of you by the fire.

“So,” he started, breaking the quiet, “what’s life like for someone who’s not all about fighter jets and bar games? You live in Wisconsin, but that’s a far cry from this place. What do you do when you're not taking breaks from all the noise?”

You chuckled softly, the sound of it mixing with the crackling of the fire. “I’m a biologist. I work for the Department of Natural Resources up there,” you said, gesturing vaguely to the distant horizon as if it somehow captured the essence of where you were from. “Mostly conservation stuff. Studying wildlife, managing habitats... that kind of thing.”

His eyes softened a little, his usual cocky grin replaced by genuine interest. "That sounds... peaceful," he said, leaning slightly closer. "Far different from the world I live in."

You nodded, your gaze still fixed on the flames. "It is. But I love it. There’s something calming about being surrounded by nature. And it gives me a chance to... think." You glanced at him then, a slight vulnerability creeping into your voice. "Sometimes that’s the hardest part, you know? Finding time to just think."

Jake’s gaze lingered on you, his posture loosening slightly as he adjusted his stance, his beer bottle now resting loosely in his hand. He looked like he might say something, but instead, he simply nodded, as if understanding what you meant without needing to ask.

After a few beats, he finally spoke, his voice quieter than before. "I get that. Sometimes I need the quiet, too. But it’s hard to find out here. Always something happening, always someone pulling you in a hundred different directions."

You couldn’t help but smile at his words, sensing an unexpected depth beneath the confident exterior. "Seems like you could use a break too, huh?" you teased gently, turning your head to meet his eyes.

Jake’s grin returned, but this time it was softer, more genuine. "Maybe I’ll take a page from your book. Get away from the noise for a while."

There was a comfortable silence again, and for a moment, it almost felt like you weren’t two strangers who had just met under the most unlikely of circumstances. The fire crackled between you, its warmth a welcome contrast to the cool breeze in the air, and for once, you allowed yourself to just be in the moment.

"Anyway," Jake added, breaking the quiet with his familiar mischievous tone, "if you’re ever in need of a break from all that peace and quiet, you know where to find me."

You raised an eyebrow, meeting his gaze. “Oh? And what would I find there?”

He shrugged casually, his grin returning with a bit more swagger. "Maybe some pool. A little banter. And definitely no shortage of fighter pilots."

You laughed, a genuine sound that seemed to surprise even yourself. "I’ll keep that in mind."

He studied you for a moment, his head cocked. “You don’t say much, do you?”

You shrugged. “There’s not much to say.”

Jake’s grin softened as he took another step closer, his eyes never leaving yours. "Funny. I get the feeling there's more to you than just the quiet side." He leaned forward casually, his elbows resting on his thighs, the beer bottle cradled between his hands.

You met his stare, a flicker of something deeper crossing your mind. "I suppose that's true," you replied slowly, your voice quieter now. "But people like things neat. Easy to understand. And sometimes, it’s easier if I don’t explain everything."

Jake’s expression remained thoughtful, not pressing you, but clearly curious. "You don’t have to explain anything you’re not ready to," he said, his tone surprisingly gentle. "But don’t let the silence fool anyone. I can tell there’s more to you than just the calm exterior."

A small, rueful smile played at the corner of your lips. "Maybe. Or maybe it’s just easier not to let people in too far."

He nodded, seeming to understand without you needing to say much more. There was a quiet respect between you now, an unspoken agreement that this conversation, like the evening, could simply unfold at its own pace.

"Fair enough," he said with a shrug, his teasing grin returning. "But if you ever feel like letting someone in—" he paused, his eyes twinkling, "—you know where to find me."

You felt your heart skip a beat, but you quickly masked it with a teasing look. "You sure know how to make an offer sound dangerous."

He chuckled softly, the sound warm and easy. "I’m full of surprises," he said with a wink, before taking another sip of his beer.

You found yourself wondering if that was true—if Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin was really as unpredictable as he appeared or if there was something more beneath that cocky, confident exterior. And, for the first time in a long while, you actually thought about discovering the answer.

Tags: @smoothdogsgirl @alwayshave-faith @devil-angel-winchester @khouse712 @illisea @hookslove1592 @tgmreader

[yelenasdiary]

this might be weirdly specific but would you be able to write a fic where Kate Bishop is (fem)reader's best friend and she comforts reader after a breakup and it leads to romance? Could be fluff or smut, idrc

Take Your Time

Pairing: Kate Bishop x Fem! Reader (Platonic to Romance)

Summary: After dealing with a breakup, your best friend is here to help you get over you ex anyway she can.

Angst, Fluff, Comfort

Warnings: None, if there is any, please let me know | 1.4K

AC: I missed writing for Kate so much!! Thank you for sending this! I hope you enjoy x

It had been weeks since you and your ex-girlfriend broke up, but the heartache still lingered. You took some time for yourself trying to enjoy your hobbies once again, trying to not let the little things remind you of a love you once had. It wasn’t like you both ended on bad terms, but it still didn’t ease the feeling of your heart being broken into a million tiny pieces. 

The night was young, and the city of New York was loud and vibrant with its night life. Even with the light rain that trickled over the city, that didn’t stop the city from becoming a city of magic on a Friday night. While everybody was making it clear they were glad it was Friday, chit chatter from the street floated its way into your apartment by the open window of your bedroom, you were lying on the sofa with another case of red, puffy eyes. 

The throw pillow had a damp spot from your afternoon tears as trashy romantic movies played on the television, you knew it wasn’t going to help you heal but something drove you to just spend the afternoon binge watching the classics. Your phone would light up every now and then only to be ignored, your eyes not even moving from the television to see the who was trying to contact you. 

Your afternoon of self-torture was cut short when your best friend, Kate, let herself into your apartment. “Alright, let’s turn this crap off” she said, reaching for the television's remote and turning the screen black. 

“Kate! I was watching that” you groaned, slowly forcing yourself to sit up. 

“I know but” she paused, dropping her backpack to your feet and taking a seat next to you, making herself comfortable, “I think you forget that having friends around you in a time like this helps. So, here I am and in that bag is plenty of snacks, mostly your favourite ones” she continued with a soft smile. 

You sighed lightly, defeated by your friends kindness, “I guess you’re right” you said before reaching for her backpack. “Of course I am, you know who I am, right?” Kate joked, making you laugh for the first time in what felt like a very long time. “So, you’ve had a break from the world and now you’ve locked yourself away in this apartment. It’s time to have some fun!” She added. 

“Honestly, I’m not really up for… um, fun right now” you replied, your eyes stinging with every blink. 

“Fine,” she said dramatically, “then we’ll just sit here until you realize how amazing you are and how ridiculously terrible your ex was” Kate teasingly smiled.

A small laugh escaped your lips despite yourself, and Kate seized the opportunity as she nudged you with her elbow. “See? I knew I could get you to laugh more than once” she said proudly as you playfully rolled your eyes at your friend before opening up a bag of your favorite potato chips. “Okay, fine, you can stay but under one condition” you replied before munching on a few chips. 

“Go on?” Kate questioned. 

“We don’t talk about her, like ever” you muttered, your mouth still somewhat full. Kate let out a chuckle, “fine by me, I came over here to watch a bulk load of action and comedy movies, eat some pizza and tell you about this thing Clint did on a mission last week!” Your friend smirked as she reached for the television remote again. 

----

As the night went into the early hours of the morning, losing complete track of time as you watched movie after movie with your best friend. Your coffee table littered with rubbish of pizza boxes, empty soda cans and juice boxes, empty bowls of melted leftover sundaes, chop sticks along with the small take-out boxes from the Thai restaurant a few blocks over, it was truly a mess. 

You couldn’t believe that you allowed yourself to even for a moment to forget just how much fun you always had with Kate. Each movie you guys watched; she’d have you laughing to the point of tears by her like banter with the different characters. With both your stomachs full, the night life of New York City slowly fades from the chit chatter of pedestrians on the street to loud truck horns and trains on the train line. 

Not only did the city start to calm down but so did your apartment. Tiredness would soon start to hit you, reminding you just how late in the night it was. Gently, you rested your head on Kate’s shoulder, “thank you for making my day” you said softly, your eyes focused on the movie playing on the television. Kate smiled softly to herself, ignoring the way her heart skipped a beat at your actions. 

“You’re welcome” she replied, “I know break ups suck but you can’t wallow in it forever” she added. 

“I know, I guess…I guess I just hated not knowing what to do. You always hear stories of people growing apart, but I never thought I would relate to that” you admitted, sighing heavily to yourself. 

“You deserve so much better” Kate spoke softly, “I mean, who breaks up with somebody over text? To me, that kinda says they didn’t care too much. You deserve somebody who loves you for you, who’s stomach gets all twisted and full of butterflies whenever you walk into the room, you deserve somebody who’s face feels warm when you la-“Kate stopped herself mid-sentence abruptly and quickly reached for her drink. Her sudden shift made you frown ever so slightly. 

“Kate?” You said calmly, “are you okay?” You asked. 

Kate turned to you and smiled softly, “I’m good, I guess I just missed hanging out with you” she replied, feeling her stomach turn on her. Her eyes quickly moved back to the television, leaving you to watch her become slightly nervous. 

Gently, you placed a hang on top of her knee, allowing yourself to sit up right again. “Kate, come on, what’s going on?” You asked her. She took a sip of her soda to give herself that short extra seconds to panic on the inside before she nervously swallowed the mouthful of soda and looking at you once again, this time struggling to keep eye contact. 

“Please don’t freak out, I know things at too soon and look at me go, good one Kate! About to mess things up!” She rolled her eyes at her own frustration, “I never really liked you being with her becau-“ she paused once again as she looked into your eyes and saw nothing but care and patience as you gave her the time she needed to gather her words. “because I think you’re incredible and they never deserved you in the first place….and I think if anybody is going to spoil you and love you for who you are….I want it to be me” she continued. Her eyes dropped once again; this time worried for any form of rejection. 

Carefully you cupped her face with one hand, wanting her to look at you. She looked at you like a lost puppy who’d thought they had done something wrong. Her eyes making you smile softly at her as you crushed a lock of her long dark hair behind her ear, “you didn’t mess anything up Katie” you started, “I’ve always been in awe of you but in all honesty, I didn’t think you would ever look at me more than just a friend” you added, making Kate smile softly at you.

“Would it be awful of me to say that I’m so glad a broken heart pushed a confession out of me?” The archer asked nervously. Her words made you chuckle, “I’m starting to think of it more a of a bless of some kind. Maybe it this was exactly how things were supposed to go” you replied, your eyes sparkled from the glow from the television giving Kate another reason to admire your beauty without the worry of being caught. 

Kate took a deep breath, “so, what now?” She asked.

“We take our time, enjoy this new chapter... and see where it leads us,” you replied, “if that is something you’d be interest in of course” you quickly added, your own fear of rejection suddenly creeping in. Kate gently took a hold of your hand, removing it from her cheek “I’d like that, one moment at a time” she spoke softly. “Maybe next week I could take you out on an actual date?” Kate asked, feeling the warmth of your comfort embracing her as you gave her a soft nod, “it’s a date, Katie” you said before placing a kiss on her warm cheek.

Taglist: @noturlondonboy | @deathbylesbianwitches | @yelenaslyubov | @sunshine-makes-flowers-grow | @boredandneedfanfics | @red1culous | @jooseboxxe | 

If you want to be on the taglist for my work, please click HERE.

[silent-silver-slip]

Unsurprisingly, ADV has won, so I will certainly be doing work for that as well. But there's a rundown of the additional work I did for the other poll options (see below the line). Info on A Dragon's View (ADV) can be found at the bottom of the list.

Started with farmer!Shika (i.e. no one knows what lies beneath) and gave myself a target of 6 sentences. Didn't think to count and remembered a few minutes later with a total of 146 words and the start of the next short story.

I hadn't worked on Prime Crime Time series in eons, but I opened up the document, found that there's already the majority of a plot there and got to work. My aim was 9 sentences. 233 words later and a bit of a roll, I think I know how the next story starts (and how Madara and Izuna enter a life of crime... on the other side this time, that is).

The urban fantasy uni collection (which I've mentioned here before) needed 24 sentences. Continuing the theme of starting another short story, this one also needed to start another short story. There's about four stories left until I call the collection complete, but we'll get there when we get there I suppose. Anyway, because I kept looking at the paragraph number rather than sentence number, I went a bit longer than necessary. Thankfully, I noticed before I hit 24 paragraphs, but anyway, there's a handful of extra words written now. But 403 words later (and 36 sentences), I can move on.

The royal/commander story was a lot easier, on account of the fact I've been working on this recently and am partway through a scene. 11 sentences were written, with a little extra since it's a fun angsty scene.

Twice-born souls is now 17 sentences into the First Actual Story, but it's not something I'm likely to continue anytime soon. I did add a few hundred words to the plot when I thought about writing it though, which is something.

All that's left to do is ADV...

Technically, ADV is actually a completely written work - but that just means I'm moving onto officially editing not just that work, but the entire series going along with it.

So as a result, I got to work shifting my reverse outline and notes into a new document, colour coding things that I want to change or adjust, and also doing a few other notes along the way. This brought me to a whopping 1768 words and... 142 sentences (give or take, there was some work in another document I'm also counting). This meant I was 16 sentences short. Do you know how annoying that is? I'm quickly realising that 158 sentences is Many More than I thought it was. Naturally, this led me to a topic that I had been fiercely debating in my head for a while: dragons, gender, and pronouns, and the problem of my conlang. Thankfully, I have a partial solution in place that now just needs to be added in.

In conclusion, ADV (well, the entire series) gained 2,369 words and because I am an overachiever I wrote an additional of 1,431 (or around that) words.

Needless to say @dragons-locator, I hope you're happy with yourself. There have been many words and I'm much closer to the stage of preparing to get beta readers for my dragons series now.

(For those curious to see where ADV and its series started, here's a post on when I started rewriting it. This series is a decade in the making, technically.)

tagged by @librarylexicon -- thank you for the tag!

Rules: Make a 24hr poll listing the titles of every WIP you want to work on. (It’s fine if you only have one, still make a poll for the vote count). Whichever WIP title gets the most votes, write 1 sentence for every vote received.

Because I'm not silly enough to do All my various projects, I'll do the ones I've currently been rotating in my mind.

As always, absolutely no pressure to do the same, but gonna tag @adragonhoardingstories, @limetimo, @juliaandthephantoms and also anyone else who wants to join in!

[n0vazsq]

Just like | AP80 x Reader

pairing . . . alex powell x gf!reader

summary . . . You knew Alex was clingy, but it was the one thing the other Prema drivers loved to tease him about

request . . . yes!! based on this request!

word count . . . 1.1k+

warnings . . . none!

faceclaim . . . N/A

alexavia yaps . . . i legit finished writing this then just left it bc i didnt have the energy to publish?? like girl?? anyway there will be a gabriel (bortoleto) and jamal (musiala) update today so yes!! might write two smaus but ill see until then!

. . . Hanging out with Alex and the other Prema drivers was always a good time, but if there was one thing his teammates loved to tease him about, it was how clingy he got whenever you were around.

Not that you minded. Alex’s affection was one of the many reasons you loved him. It was just funny seeing him squirm when the guys decided to give him a hard time about it.

The first time it happened after a particularly tiring race weekend. Alex had just climbed out of the car, soaked in sweat and grinning from ear to ear after a podium finish.

You had barely stepped into the paddock when he spotted you, immediately heading in your direction. His arms wrapped around you tightly, and he buried his face in your shoulder.

"Alex, you’re sweaty!" you laughed, trying to push him away, but he refused to let go.

"Don’t care," he murmured. "I missed you."

From behind him, Dion’s voice rang out. "Mate, she was gone for what, two hours?"

"Not even," added Rashid, crossing his arms and grinning. "And you’re acting like you haven’t seen her in weeks."

"Leave him alone," you said, playfully defending Alex while running a hand through his damp hair. "He deserves some love after that race."

"Deserve it all the time," Alex mumbled against your shoulder, making you laugh.

Dion pretended to gag. "God, get a room. Or at least shower first, Alex. We can smell you from here."

Alex shot them a glare but didn’t loosen his hold on you. If anything, he tightened his arms around your waist, as if daring them to say something else.

Another moment came a few days later in the Prema lounge. The team had gathered to relax and watch some old race footage, with snacks scattered across the table.

You’d come by to hang out, not expecting Alex to immediately pull you onto the couch next to him. His arm draped over your shoulder, and he leaned in so close it was like he thought you might disappear if he gave you even an inch of space.

"Comfy?" you teased, tilting your head to look at him.

"Always comfy with you," he replied, pressing a quick kiss to your temple.

"Does she have to sit here?" Kean groaned, gesturing at how you and Alex were practically glued together. "It’s like you’re incapable of being apart for five minutes."

"Jealous, Kean?" Alex shot back, smirking.

"Not at all. I just don’t get how she puts up with you," Kean retorted, earning laughs from Dion, Rashid and Tomass.

"I think it’s sweet," Tomass chimed in, though there was a teasing glint in his eyes. "You know, in a borderline obsessive kind of way."

"Obsessive?" Alex frowned, looking genuinely offended.

"You’re literally holding her hand right now," Dion pointed out. "And we’re just sitting here watching TV. What’s next? You’re going to spoon feed her snacks?"

Alex’s ears turned red, but he didn’t let go of your hand. "You guys are just jealous because I have someone who actually likes me."

"That’s debatable," Rashid argued, earning a laugh from you.

Then there was the time the team decided to have a movie night at Tomass' place. You and Alex had shown up together, of course, and he immediately claimed the corner of the couch, pulling you down next to him.

His head rested on your shoulder, his legs stretched out across the cushions, effectively blocking anyone else from sitting too close.

"Alex, you’re hogging the couch," Kean complained as he tried to squeeze into the remaining space.

"Plenty of room on the floor," Alex replied without moving an inch.

"You’re so annoying," Dion muttered, grabbing a beanbag chair instead. "Does she even get to breathe, or are you going to steal all her oxygen too?"

"She’s fine," Alex said, reaching up to intertwine his fingers with yours. "Aren’t you, love?"

You nodded, suppressing a laugh. "Perfectly fine."

"See?" Alex smirked, looking smug.

Rashid rolled his eyes. "Man, I don’t know how you’re not sick of him yet. He’s like a koala. Clings to you for dear life."

"Hey, koalas are adorable," you defended, running your fingers through Alex’s hair. "And besides, I like it."

"Unbelievable," Tomass muttered, shaking his head. "You two are insufferable."

The teasing didn’t stop even during more serious moments. After a track walk one morning, Alex had casually grabbed your hand as you walked back to the garage. It wasn’t a big deal to you, but it apparently caught the attention of his teammates.

"Alex, do you think she’s going to get lost on the way back?" Tomass joked, pointing at your intertwined hands.

"No, I just like holding her hand," Alex replied, completely unfazed.

"You’re hopeless," Dion sighed, though he couldn’t hide his grin. "You know that, right?"

Alex shrugged. "I’d rather be hopeless than alone."

"That’s… weirdly sweet," Kean admitted, looking mildly impressed for once. "Still clingy as hell, though."

One morning, the team decided to grab breakfast together before heading to the track.

You were sitting next to Alex, and as usual, he was finding little excuses to touch you; whether it was holding your hand under the table, brushing a crumb off your cheek, or leaning in to quietly ask if you needed anything.

"Do you ever just… sit still?" Rashid asked, watching as Alex handed you the honey before you’d even asked for it.

"Not when she’s around," Alex replied, unashamed. "Have to make sure she’s taken care of."

"She’s not a toddler, Alex," Tomass said, rolling his eyes. "She can pour her own honey."

"Yeah, but I like doing it for her," Alex shot back, his tone completely sincere.

You couldn’t help but laugh. "Okay, now you’re just giving them more points."

"It’s worth it," Alex said, grinning as he kissed your cheek. "Let them talk."

By the end of the day, you’d heard enough teasing to last you a lifetime, but you could tell Alex didn’t care. If anything, he was even more clingy, unapologetically showing his affection no matter what anyone said.

As you walked out of the garage together, his arm draped over your shoulders, you leaned into him with a smile. "You know they’re never going to stop teasing you, right?"

"Let them," he said, pressing a kiss to your temple. "As long as I have you, I don’t care what they think."

"You’re such a sap," you teased, but your heart swelled at his words.

"Only for you," he replied, grinning. And in that moment, you knew you wouldn’t change a thing about him, clinginess and all.

It was just like perfection.

Well, nearly. It was as close as you could get to perfection.

taglist . . . @barcapix ,, @f1lover55 ,, @ilovebarcaaa ,, @httpsdana ,, @paucubarsisimp ,, @justaf1girl ,, @awritingtree ,, @freyathehuntress ,, @chilling-seavey (lmk if you want to join the taglist!)

[chigiridreams]

INTENSIVE WEEK

You had been working on your thesis all week, and you were exhausted.

As you stepped into the house, you could feel the fatigue in every part of your body. You took off your shoes, took a deep breath, and left your bag by the door before heading to the living room. Hyoma was sitting comfortably on the couch, his eyes glued to sports news, a cup of tea in his hand, unwinding after his day.

Without saying a word, you walked over to the couch, sat down next to your boyfriend, and gently rested your head on his lap, lying down.

Hyoma turned his head from the TV screen to look at you.

“Welcome home, hardworking girl. You look tired.”

Closing your eyes, you mumbled, “Tired doesn’t even begin to cover it, I’m drained. I was in the library all day. I couldn’t even find half the sources I need for the thesis.”

Hyoma ran his hand through your hair, gently caressing it.

“Good job, but you need to take a break. You’re pushing yourself too hard.”

You smiled faintly. “Take a break? There’s a thesis that needs to be finished, Hyoma. There’s no such thing as a break.”

Hyoma rolled his eyes but kept smiling. “Then this is a mandatory break. Right now, you’re resting on my lap. The academic world can wait for five minutes.”

You smiled without opening your eyes. “Only five minutes? You’re being generous.”

Hyoma chuckled and continued to gently comb your hair with his fingers.

Hyoma: “You rest, I’ll watch sports news. But if you need something, just ask. Do you want a cup of tea or coffee?”

You turned your head slightly and nestled further into his lap. “I don’t want anything right now. Let’s just stay like this.”

Hyoma smiled again. “Alright, we’ll do that. But after you rest, I’ll make you dinner. You’ve earned a special reward today.”

You mumbled without opening your eyes. “If you make pasta, we’re good.”

Hyoma laughed lightly and kissed your forehead.

Hyoma: “Deal. But your pasta will be like gourmet pasta.”

You just smiled. For you, the most important thing in that moment was feeling safe and peaceful next to Hyoma. And the best place to rest was on his lap.

When Hyoma saw that you had fallen asleep on his lap, he smiled softly. After one last gentle stroke through your hair, he slowly moved, trying not to disturb you. He carefully placed you back on the couch, covered you with a blanket, and headed toward the kitchen.

Murmuring to himself, he said, “Pasta, huh… Okay, my dear, I’ll make the best one.”

He rummaged through the cupboards, pulling out spaghetti and ingredients. Olive oil, tomato sauce, a few spices… and fresh vegetables from the fridge. He mumbled quietly as he worked.

Hyoma: “Maybe some parmesan too. Alright, time for a little chef show.”

He put water in a pot and placed it on the stove, adding a little salt. As the pasta cooked, he put a pan on the stove for the sauce. He heated olive oil and finely chopped fresh garlic, which he added to the pan. Soon, the delicious smells began to fill the kitchen, changing the atmosphere in the living room.

You were lying on the couch, but the smell wafting in from the kitchen made you stir.

You mumbled, “Hyoma… he’s really making pasta.”

Meanwhile, Hyoma was adding tomato sauce to the garlic in the pan, sprinkling in basil and black pepper. Within minutes, you could hear the soft crackling and boiling sounds coming from the kitchen, completely waking you up. You threw the blanket off and walked to the kitchen.

You leaned against the doorframe, watching him.

“You left without waking me. What are you making, Chef?”

Hyoma turned around, smiling.

“I’m creating a miracle. I’m making the best pasta in the world, just for you.”

You laughed. “Let’s see about that. Need any help?”

Hyoma quickly raised his hand.

“Mind you don’t! Today, you’re just going to sit back and enjoy. You need to rest, madam.”

You smiled and sat down in a chair. “Alright, Chef Hyoma. I’ll watch you.”

Hyoma drained the pasta, then mixed it with the sauce. He topped it with fresh parmesan and plated it. When he handed you one of the plates, he wore a proud expression.

Hyoma: “Here you go, my masterpiece. Chef Hyoma’s special pasta.”

You took a bite, and your eyes widened.

Y/N: “Hyoma! This is amazing. I’m not joking.”

Hyoma chuckled, shrugging his shoulders. “I told you. Even if I’m not a footballer anymore, I could make a living as a chef.”

You both laughed as you started eating. In the kitchen, only the sounds of forks and your sweet conversation could be heard. This little gesture made you forget all your exhaustion. However, Hyoma’s idea of quitting football slightly dampened your mood.

Y/N: “So, you’re not going to continue with football?”

Hyoma: “I don’t know. I’m scared because of my knee.”

You slowly placed your fork down and looked at Hyoma. You locked your eyes with his, which were a fiery red.

Y/N: “Hyoma… Football is your life. Are you really thinking about quitting?”

Hyoma shrugged. “I don’t know. The injury is always on my mind. What if it happens again? I’m afraid I won’t be able to give my all on the field.”

You got up from your chair and walked over to him. You placed your hands on his shoulders, gently turning him to face you.

Y/N: “Look, Hyoma, I understand your fears. But quitting football will leave a hole in your soul. Your knee is getting better, right? You’re still doing physical therapy.”

Hyoma nodded in agreement. “Yes, the doctor says it’s going well. But still… what if I get injured again?”

You took his hands and squeezed them tightly.

Y/N: “There’s always a risk. But you love being on the field. Don’t lose that passion. If you don’t want to feel the grass again or run towards the goal, that’s another story. But quitting means letting your fears win. You’re stronger than that.”

Hyoma stayed silent for a moment, then smiled faintly.

Hyoma: “When you talk like that, I feel braver. But…”

You interrupted him.

“There’s no ‘but.’ No matter what, I’m by your side. Whether on or off the field, I’ll be with you. You love football, Hyoma. Never forget that.”

Hyoma looked at you with gratitude, kissing your hands.

Hyoma: “Alright. I won’t give up. But if it doesn’t work out this time, I’ll really think about quitting.”

You smiled as you answered.

“Then give it your all. At least you won’t regret it. And remember, you’re not just my hero, you’re a star everyone admires on the field.”

Hyoma nodded, pulling you into a tight embrace.

Hyoma: “Thank you, Y/N. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

You smiled again.

“As long as you listen to me, there’s no problem, my hero. You’re my forward. In my heart, you’re the best forward in the world.”

Hyoma smiled at your words and hugged you tighter.

Hyoma: “Forward, huh? Then I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you on the field.”

You joked with your boyfriend.

“Then when you score, the whole team will have to celebrate with you!”

Hyoma tilted his head slightly, focusing his eyes on you.

“Scoring a goal, or making you happy, is a reward for me. But being with you is more valuable than anything.”

You looked into your boyfriend’s fiery red eyes.

Y/N: “Then always stay forward, Hyoma. But in my heart, you’re always the one who scores the only goal.”

Hyoma gently stroked your face as he replied.

Hyoma: “I’ll fight for you always, Gertrudis. I want to score the highest points in your heart.”

You smiled with pride, leaning your head on Hyoma’s shoulder.

Y/N: “That’s why I love you, my one and only forward.”

Hyoma smiled warmly and tightened his embrace.