#my hair and piercings are a little off but it's the best we've got

[biitchcakes]

Mun v. Muse

tagged by: i stole this from someone a couple weeks ago and i can’t remember who - just left it blank in the drafts (so i’m sorry if i retag you LOL)

tagging: @cxptmarvel @manandmachines @overclocks @revenantinflames @h-osborn @starkveiined @sebastianshaw + anyone who wants to ❤️

[luvkyu]

my love, i still ( mark lee ) part one

mark x male reader

a person from mark's past makes a quiet return.

content : 1.5k words, angst, kinda fluff at the end ??, idol!mark, manager!reader, ex-relationship, reader mentioned with a facial piercing, also features a little riize !!

( a/n ) this is song inspired :D from my love, i still by i'll <3 i was gonna make this heart wrenching angst but i got stuck with the ending so i changed it and it actually ends somewhat happy now. thinking about a part two, we'll see.

part two

"did you guys hear y/n's back in town?" jaemin asked, looking around at his group members.

"yeah. i don't know if he's working here again though," donghyuck answered.

the few of them were currently stretching and warming up before dance practice. only mark, renjun, and jisung were missing among them.

"i hope he is," jeno said, "i miss him."

"if he is working here again, he probably won't work much with us."

"i heard he's gonna be working with riize," chenle said, making the others' heads turn instantly.

"oh shit, really?"

chenle nodded, "that's what shotaro told me and jisung the other day. he's supposed to start as their manager today i think."

"i wonder if mark knows," jaemin muttered.

"if i know what?" mark questioned as he entered the studio with renjun and jisung in tow.

the others freezed, a bit uncomfortable now. mark and y/n's break up wasn't an easy subject, not when everyone knew mark was still not over him.

mark's brows furrowed at the sudden silence of his members. he looked around, waiting for some kind of answer.

"..if you know that y/n's back," jeno finally replied.

mark stopped for just a slight second before shrugging his bag off his shoulder and acting as if it didn't matter.

"yeah, i know."

the other dreamies looked around at each other. mark always got quiet and sulky when y/n's name was brought up, which is why they tried to avoid it most of the time.

"and you're okay?" jisung spoke up.

mark looked at him, smiled unconvincingly, and pat his head. "of course i'm okay," he assured. "now let's start practice."

"do you guys wanna go down to the cafe before heading back to the dorm?" jeno asked.

as everyone agreed on the idea, they began bee lining down the hall toward the elevator.

"oh shit," donghyuck mumbled. mark looked up from his phone as he walked, moving his gaze to where donghyuck's was.

the elevator opened on their floor to reveal a couple workers, including y/n. he had his phone to his ear with furrowed brows while clutching some papers, clearly distressed. when he saw the dream members now in front of him, his eyes widened and his body stood still for a split second. but he had to keep up with his rushing coworkers. y/n gave the group a small bow and a gentle smile as he kept walking and speaking on his phone.

mark felt as if his heart plummeted to his stomach. he wasn't prepared to see y/n out of nowhere, but he couldn't stop his eyes from following him. y/n looked different after the year that had passed. his hair was back to it's natural color instead of dyed, and he had a piercing added to his face now.

"what if i kidnap him," jeno whispered.

"shut up," renjun snickered, filing into the elevator with the others.

"i miss him," jeno whined. "best manager we've had, hands down."

mark smiled to himself bittersweetly. jeno wasn't wrong. y/n cared about all of them more than anyone had. after their first few months as group and manager, he and mark grew much closer than they should've. but once other staff started to find out, y/n's position as their manager slowly fell apart. he resigned quietly after he and mark ended things. y/n was offered a position in japan for a year instead, which he took in high hopes of healing.

"actually guys, i'm just gonna go back to the dorm. i want a nap."

"are you sure? i can come with you," jaemin offered with a small frown. mark smiled and shook his head.

"pretty sure napping is a one-person job, jaem. i'll just see you guys later."

jaemin frowned as they all watched mark press a separate button on the elevator.

"it's a two-person job if you're doing it right.." jaemin muttered.

donghyuck sighed and flicked his head, "do you ever shut up?"

"no, not really."

a couple weeks passed and mark had yet to see y/n for more than two-second intervals, let alone talk to him at all. he wasn't telling anyone how much it hurt him to see y/n around the sm building and not speak to him at all.

mark adjusted his earbuds into his ears as he walked. he could feel the sore muscles in his legs after a very long practice in anticipation for dream's next comeback. he was planning on going straight home, taking a long bath, and going to bed.

he pressed play on his phone, hearing the music begin to flood his ears. he was on his way outside when he stopped and saw some familiar faces by the company's vans.

riize was outside, filing into the vehicle with y/n leading them. they seemed to be goofing around, lots of smiles and distant laughter. mark could see y/n patting a couple of their heads as if he was counting to make sure he had all his children. sohee was the last to climb into the van, giving y/n a small hug before settling in next to anton. y/n smiled at his cuteness and walked around to the driver's side. before mark knew it, the van was out of sight, and he was staring at nothing.

mark cleared his throat and stared at the ground now. his chest felt heavy. he didn't know how much longer he could keep doing this.

"you okay?"

mark jumped at the voice beside him now. he took one of his earbuds out and looked over at jeno.

"i'm fine."

"hm," jeno hummed. he didn't believe mark at all, but he decided not to push it. "c'mon. let's go home."

a few hours went by, and now mark was sitting outside looking blankly at his phone. when he got home, he ate dinner and took a hot bath. neither of those things seemed to matter much though. nothing really did anymore.

it felt like time was standing still as he stared at the screen beneath him. his finger hovered over the call button of y/n's new phone number that he'd asked shotaro to send him. he didn't want to make things difficult for y/n by calling him, but he felt like he desperately needed to finally talk with him. he didn't know if he was looking for closure or another chance with y/n. maybe he'd know once they finally exchanged some words.

mark closed his eyes and quickly pressed his thumb against the screen. lifting the phone to his ear, he waited.

"..."

"..."

"hello?"

mark gulped. he hadn't planned on what to say, but now that he heard y/n's voice, his heart sank. a couple tears that had built up over the last few minutes finally trickled down his cheeks.

"..hello?" y/n said again.

"y/n?" mark's voice was barely audible. he knew y/n heard him though, he could tell by the way it stayed quiet for a moment on the other line.

"mark?"

"please, let's talk." mark could hear the other take a deep breath.

"okay.. what about?"

"i don't know. anything. i can't keep pretending like i don't know you when i see you around work. i can't-" mark went silent for a couple seconds, "i can't do this anymore."

y/n didn't know how to respond. he felt his throat begin to close up as he fought his own tears.

"i'm sorry.. i wasn't sure if i should talk to you guys at work."

"you can. please do. the others miss you a lot."

"really?"

mark could hear the smile in y/n's voice now. it lightened his mood a little bit.

"yeah. jeno wants to kidnap you i think."

"not surprising."

the pair laughed together before it went quiet again.

"y/n?"

"hm?"

"could we grab a coffee together sometime or something?"

"you don't drink coffee, mark."

"i'll just watch you drink it then."

y/n chuckled and inhaled as if he was accepting some huge offer.

"sure. we can get coffee."

"great," mark replied happily. y/n could tell mark sounded relieved; it made his smile linger a little longer on his lips.

"and, um," mark began again, "i know things have been off with us. but i just want you to know that i still care about you a lot. nothing's ever gonna change my love for you."

y/n looked down at his hands and cleared his throat. he didn't want his voice to give away the fact that he was two seconds away from crying. the soft and sincere tone of mark's voice didn't make it any easier, either.

"that's actually really comforting to hear. i love you too, mark."

mark smiled and let out a long exhale.

"okay well i'll let you get some rest, i know it's late. sleep well tonight, and i'll see you later."

"okay. g'night."

"night." mark's grin continued to tug at his lips. he gently tossed his phone aside and rubbed his face. a weight had just been lifted from his shoulders, he felt like he could breathe for the first time in a while.

"thank you, y/n." he whispered softly.

[mandalhoerian]

Since requests are open, can you write please some Leon x gn!reader fluff free angst? Also love ur writing, you're doing amazing job ❤️

~🐸

red herring | leon kennedy x reader

pairing: leon kennedy x gn!reader, leon kennedy x ada wong genre: angst, no spice, hurt no comfort we die like luis word count: 2k summary: you thought ada to be the red herring, when in reality, it was you. notes: hope this is what you had in mind! i wrote this in one day so i apologize for the quality 😭

🌀 read on ao3!

The helicopter’s rotor blades are slicing the air in an ear-deafening force of noise, the wind awakened in the wake slashing at your face, but Ada, and everything about her is unaffected. You had no idea how her saunter was graceful as a feline as usual, the click of her heels rhythmic and not at all imbalanced from having to walk against the heavy current of air. Among the maelstrom of noise, her voice is clear as a bell. “Ride’s here… You coming?”

Directed at Leon, of course. You, and Ashley watching over the scene, hidden somewhere, are not a part of this. These two were in their own world. 

“I think we both know this… is where—”

You cut Leon’s dramatic monologue off, fed up with everything. “You go with her.”

Leon glances at you, his piercing blue eyes reflecting a mixture of surprise and concern. The chaos around you seems to fade into the background as he is unable to look away from how done with this you are. 

The helicopter's roaring engine makes it difficult to hear, but you can still make out the urgency in his voice. "What the hell are you talking about?" he shouts over the noise, his tone filled with a tinge of outraged worry.

You nod, your determination unyielding. "I got Ashley. Just go with her. We’ll meet at the rendezvous point before extraction comes, I’ll do my best to handle Hunnigan until then—”

“I can’t just leave my mission—”

“You’re not leaving your mission, just making a detour. Partners, remember? Have a little faith in me.”

He begins to frown even harder, about to probably tell you how this isn’t about that, but you see how Ada is waiting. She could have left already, a woman with her own goals and agenda that doesn’t have anything to do with a lone American agent, but she waits patiently. That tells you more than her contradicting talk ever can.

Leon looks torn, his brows furrowing deeply as he weighs his options, gloomy as ever, but there’s a certain want there, and you see deep down, he wants to seize his chance, but as always, he’s his greatest enemy. The wind whips at his hair, disheveling it further, but his gaze remains on yours. It's as if the chaos around you has momentarily frozen, leaving only the two of you in this critical moment. Ada, standing near the helicopter, looks on unreadably, her enigmatic gaze fixed upon Leon.

You step closer to him, your voice resolute despite the chaos around you. “Whatever this is, between you and her… Don’t put a lid on it and shove it in a box until the next mission you meet her on. Solve this, Leon. Have the greeting or the closure you want. Go."

He opens his mouth, seemingly ready to argue, but the weight of your words settles upon him, and he hesitates. The gusts of wind whip at your hair, as if urging him to make a decision. 

"We've been through so much together," you press on, your voice softening. "I've seen the way you look at her. Don't let this opportunity slip away."

His features contort with conflicted emotions, his piercing blue eyes searching your face for any signs of doubt, but your belief in him shines through. 

Behind that lie the feelings you have for him, but those, you bury. Deep, deep down. They are unneeded. Shouldn’t have existed in the first place. 

With a heavy sigh, Leon finally relents, his voice filled with a mix of gratitude and apprehension. "Alright, but promise me you'll be careful. We'll regroup as soon as possible."

You’re not disappointed. You’re not disappointed. You’re doing this for him. If you say it enough times, it’ll become the reality.

"I promise, Leon. Just make sure you get the answers you need."

Without another word, Leon turns towards Ada and strides purposefully towards her. The helicopter's powerful gusts buffet him, but he remains steadfast, his resolve burning bright. Ada's eyes meet his, a subtle understanding passing between them, their connection becomes palpable. It's as if time stands still for them, their shared history and unspoken emotions hanging heavily in the air. Ada's gaze softens, the shift is almost unnoticeable, and she reaches out a hand, offering him a lifeline into her world. There's a sense of bittersweetness as you witness this pivotal moment, knowing that you played a part in setting them free.

Leon pauses for a fleeting moment. He looks back, gaze finding yours once more, a silent message conveyed through. 

It doesn’t reach you. 

With that, Leon turns back to Ada, nodding at her. Without another word, they move together towards the helicopter, and she gracefully climbs aboard, the chopper's interior swallowing her form.

She only watches you as Leon also hops on, and suddenly, she’s yelling, “Here!” and an object is flying your way. Your reflexes help you catch it easily, and you’re looking at a plush bear chain with a key attached to it. “Better get a move on. This place will blow soon!”

You can’t even say, “It’ll what—?” before an explosion shakes the whole island, and you see Leon almost attempt to jump from the chopper ascending into the sky. 

You don’t wait to watch them disappear into the sunset in melancholy. You gotta get Ashley the hell out of here. 

She’s a marker. You almost miss the way Leon’s lips are a tinge redder, but the blossom on his neck is unavoidable, especially with the way he’s sprawling on the chair, head thrown back as he takes a shot from the bourbon. In the protection of the safe house, Ashley is sleeping in the next room, and you two have reunited at dead of night as Leon stealthily came back, not even one minute late. 

You point at your neck, tapping it a couple times, and his attention is diverted at where you’re showing, one eyebrow rising. “You got a little something here,” you say, chest constricting in a way you don’t like. 

“Ah,” he understands finally, hand covering it up almost unconsciously. “Shit.”

“Had a hell of a great time, huh?”

You don’t like the way he can’t even laugh at that. “An understatement.”

“So, how’d it go?”

Leon's eyes meet yours, his expression a mix of weariness and a hint of guilt, it turns somber as he considers your question, his gaze drifting off into the distance. He takes another sip of his bourbon, the liquid burning its way down his throat, momentarily distracting him.

"It's complicated," he finally responds, with a touch of resignation. He leans back in the chair, his body language betraying a certain, ancient exhaustion.

“When is it not, right?” You watch him closely, picking up on the conflicting emotions that flicker across his face. The lines of fatigue etched into his features tell a story of the shit he went through in Valdelobos, but he looks relatively better, Ada must have patched him up. 

"We made no progress," Leon continues, his voice slightly hoarse. "Still so many unanswered questions. Ada... she's as mysterious as ever. It's like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands. I can’t let go of my anger at her, and she enjoys that."

“Ohhh,” you huff from your nose, wanting to be amusing, trying to not let it slip how the way he talks about her is so magical when you know he is a man of few words. “Hatefucking, huh? I let you go so you could talk about your emotions for once and you come back with one more to your body count. I’m regretting this already.”

Leon's weary expression morphs into surprise and amazement at your remark, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He chuckles softly, the sound filled with a blend of weariness and genuine amusement. He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his face now sporting a lopsided grin. "Subtle as always," he chuckles, the tension in the room momentarily lifting.

"I thought maybe this time things would be different," he admits, his voice tinged with a hint of disappointment. "That I could finally understand her. But it's never that easy with her. She's a master of keeping her intentions to herself and herself only."

You lean forward, resting your chin on your hand, studying him intently. The bourbon in his glass has been reduced to a mere sip, the amber liquid reflecting the dim light of the room. Your voice is gentle as you speak, trying to understand the complexities of his emotions.

"And how do you feel about her?" you ask, your tone soft but probing. "Beyond the anger and frustration, is there something else?"

Leon's gaze lingers on the liquid for a moment before meeting yours once again, grappling with an inner battle.

"I can't deny that there's a part of me that cares for her," he confesses, just admitting having left him frustrated. "Raccoon City’s left a mark on me, and so has she. I can’t get rid of her. She operates in shades of gray, and I can't afford to lose myself in that. I would have followed her, no questions asked six years ago, but I’m not that me anymore."

A sigh manages to escape, your voice filled with a mix of concern and teasing. "Just promise me you'll be careful, Leon. Ada's a wildcard, I don't want to see you get hurt."

A flicker of gratitude passes through his eyes, and he nods. "I appreciate your concern, but remember, I've faced worse than Ada Wong." 

You smirk, a glimmer of pride shining through. "Never a dull moment with you, huh?"

Leon's lips quirk into a half-smile, though the weariness still lingers in his eyes. "Never a dull moment indeed," he replies, a hint of wistfulness in his voice. "But you've always been there with me, through it all."

You give him a reassuring smile, your eyes reflecting the genuine care you have for him. "No need to thank me for that."

In response, he reaches forward to cradle the back of your neck and pulls you into a singular kiss, you taste cherry lip gloss underneath the bourbon, and it reminds you the nature of your relationship with him. No name beyond the vague partners label, sharing platonic worries one second and a bed the other, and it’s comfortable. Convenient. A bond two agents who can’t commit exactly need. 

Too bad you had to ruin it by falling in love. 

As the kiss lingers, you can't help but feel a pang of regret. Regret for allowing yourself to harbor undeniable emotions for someone who cannot reciprocate those feelings in the same way. Regret for getting entangled in a web of emotions that threaten to unravel the delicate balance of your partnership.

But as quickly as it happened, he pulls away, a conflicted expression crossing his face. Maybe he’s comparing you to Ada — maybe he’s gone for it because he wanted to confirm something, who knows? His disappointment is palpable.

"Sorry," he murmurs, his voice laced with regret. "I shouldn't have done that. It's complicated enough as it is."

You try to mask the hurt that stings within you, the unspoken words hanging heavily in the air. You understand the boundaries, the reasons why you've kept your feelings buried deep down. But that doesn't make it any easier.

"It's okay," you manage to say, your voice steady despite the ache in your chest. "You know how it is between us."

With a heavy sigh, you push aside your own emotions, burying them deep within. You've always been good at compartmentalizing, at setting aside personal desires for the sake of the greater good. 

(A red herring.)

We should get some rest," Leon finally murmurs, hand on his brow. "We have a long day ahead of us."

You nod in agreement, though your heart aches with unfulfilled longing. "Yeah, you're right. Rest sounds good."

“I’ll take the first watch.”

You leave him alone there, only looking back as you’re disappearing into your own room to see he’s playing with the little bear keychain Ada has left behind. 

(You are the red herring in their story.)

[wanderbreadsworld]

Your Odd Airbnb Host

Vampire!Konig x reader

Summary: Reader travels to Europe and decides to get an Airbnb. After vetting the host, they finally booked the little cabin in Austria, only to be met by her odd host. He's. Strange to put it best. But he doesn't get in your way, nor you his. Luckily he only got up at night. Wait, what?

TWs: none so far

The plane finally landed. After hours of being stuck in one seat, I jumped at the opportunity to get out of this sardine can of human beings. Grabbing my things, I waited, albeit impatiently, for my turn to finally exit the craft. Once out of the terminal, I stepped to the side, so as not to be in the way, and then checked my phone. I had told my host when I'd be landing, and I wanted to make sure he saw my message. When I made my arrangements to do schooling here, he was kind enough to help me make most of them.

'He is waiting for you by the gate. Tall with a black suit, dark hair and sunglasses.'

Read his message, lighting up my face in the slightly dim airport. I lifted my head, and instantly spotted him as if he had just appeared. I rushed my way over, tired smile on my face as I was ready to get into a bed and sleep.

"Thank you for coming. I know he hired you for me, but thank you anyway." I thanked, grateful for his help, even if he was being paid. He gave me a small smile, taking one of my bags from me and wordlessly leading the way to the car.

The ride to the Airbnb seemed to take forever. I would have enjoyed the countryside along the way. But the fact it was night prevented me from seeing anything. And that's if I could even keep my eyes open, shamelessly falling asleep in the car. Curse my late flight.

"Miss? We've arrived." A voice pulled me from my slumber, and I realized we had made it. Overcome with excitement, my tired daze slipped away and let me be more awake. I eagerly hopped out of the car, to which the driver barely let me grab my own things, carrying them all himself. I conceded, letting him take my things. Instead, I took in the sight of the Airbnb. All the lights were on, illuminating the cabin from the inside, as well as the porch lights softly lighting my way to the front door.

The chilly night air pierced through my clothes, sending a chill down my spine, making me hurry for the door. But before I could knock, it swung open to reveal my host. A tall blonde man, easily as tall as the doorway. With piercing blue eyes. His visage took my breath away. I only shook myself out of my daze when I realized I was staring.

"Welcome. It is nice to meet you. You must be exhausted, come in!" He welcomed me inside, stepping behind the door to let me and the driver in. The warmth inside the house warmed my bones, and made me shiver as it washed over me. I barely even heard as my host behind me told the driver where to drop off my things, going ahead of me and out of sight. The inside of the cabin was cozy. I couldn't help admiring the simple, yet effective, architecture. It led me back in a circle to meet my host once more.

"Yes! Konig! It's nice to meet you finally! I wish I could've gotten here sooner. I hope I'm not interfering with your schedule, I know you said you prefer nights." I apologized, holding my hand out to shake his. He took it after a moment, seeming a little surprised I reached out to shake him hand, or even touch him at all. "It is no problem. I made sure I would be here to welcome you. I wanted to be an attentive host to help you settle in." He stopped a moment to wave the driver back out the door, sliding him a bill I could not see. "Would you like a tour now? I can give you one tomorrow evening, if you prefer to rest." His words were sweet. Each one dripping in his accent and sweet voice. It certainly did not match his physique, but I wasn't complaining about either one.

"I would take one tomorrow, if that would be alright. I'm afraid I must sleep. That flight was exhausting and I'm jet-lagged. Not used to such long flights." I chuckle lightly, rubbing one eye quickly. Konig gestured me towards the stairs. "Then I will show you to your room. If you'll follow me." From all our online interactions, he seemed sweet. And even more so now. He seemed very understanding.

Leading the way to my room, I didn't take in much detail of my surroundings. I was barely awake as he led me upstairs to the cozy little bedroom I would call mine for the next semester of school.

"I will leave you. You get some rest. I should rest soon as well. My night is nearly over." He checked his watch, realizing we were well into the A.M. by this point. "I will see you tomorrow. Goodnight." We exchanged goodbyes, and I got to close my door for the first amount of privacy I've had over the past 13 hours. I didn't even remove my clothes before climbing beneath the covers. The warmth of the cabin overtook me, and quickly lulled me into a deep sleep.

(Sorry it's kinda short, I just wanted to set this up. This fic will be very self-indulgent, with very specific details. I just wanted to share it anyway, because I like writing and wanted to share. It's been a while since I've written a fic, let alone one with chapters. Wish me luck lol.)

[tallymonster]

Memories of Us

Chapter 1 (you are here!) || Masterlist

So, I like many others had seen this gorgeous fan art by @cheesy-cryptid and I was utterly hypnotized by it. I couldn't stop thinking about it and from that constant thought growing came my silly fic.

This has been a labor of love for the last month. I'm still working on it and so far I have about 10 parts 🙃 depending on the feedback is how quickly I'm going to be posting since it's still a work in progress. I want to thank my best friend and my main support for this @micropoe10 ❤️ without her I wouldn't have pushed myself to even post this, so thanks boo 😘

This is also my first long fic, so please be gentle 🥺

Summary: Octavia is a new assistant at the Baldur's Gate Museum of History, her new boss is elusive and mysterious. Good thing his right hand man, Gale, is there to help her out for the first few weeks.

Tags: Nothing too bad for the first few parts, fluff, establishing storyline mostly, generational lineage mentioned.

Chapter 1

Never Caught My Breath

The day Octavia was incredibly nervous about had arrived. After her graduation (which seemed like a lifetime ago), endless stack of paperwork and at least 3 different interviews; Octavia made it to the Baldur's Gate Museum of History, the end of her long and difficult studies.

Here, she would start as the new assistant curator. What's strange though, is that after the last interview she thought she'd get to meet her boss, but it was his main assistant, Gale.

"I must apologize", he begins, "but our lead is currently out of the office for another week, maybe two, so I must conduct the final round, I hope you understand."

Strange, but not unheard of. The majority of the work would be with Gale directly, but it was at the least, the most basic courtesy for her boss to introduce himself by this point.

As she walks into the museum, relics from the past line the cabinets; old armor and gloves from heroes of legends from long ago, tons of jewelry and books, rare spell scrolls, and most prized of all, paintings recovered from the fall of the Szarr Manor prominently hung on the walls. Their subjects long gone, they now serve to be viewed by those who would be their victims under different circumstances.

Octavia stops at one of the many paintings of a pale elf, his silver hair in perfect tendrils, piercing red eyes glare back at her and she feels a slight shudder run down her spine, it was probably just a little bit of nerves. Still, she couldn't help but notice that same subject surrounding her in other works. If not as the main feature, but in the background of at least a dozen. Who was this person? She drifts off in thought.

"Miss Octavia? Hello? Can you hear me?" Snapping back from the daydream, she sees Gale standing beside her. His positive attitude ever present, notebook in hand he greets her with a small wave. "Lots to do this morning! We got a delivery of religious artifacts from a Sharran temple in the Underdark that was previously thought to be lost." His eyes glimmer with excitement.

"We're looking at at least a day to see what was delivered, another to catalog it all, and then, my favorite part, writing the plaques for all of it." He chuckles "Altogether at least a month of work, maybe two if there's a particular item that's more mysterious than the others." He finishes his explanation with a tilt of his head.

Octavia nods, her mind still on the portrait, "Quick question, Gale? Do you know who that subject is? They're featured in a lot of the paintings, but there's no information about them?" He glances up, "Well, we've done some research into the subjects of all the paintings, luckily we've put some names to faces..." He trails off, brows furrowing slightly at the face staring at them both "that particular subject, though, unfortunately not."

He turns wearing a wistful smile "I do wish to put a name to that face, and I intend to, but our wonderful curator often reminds me that not every mystery has to be solved." He scoffs with a grin and shrugs "Of course he would, he loves to give me a hard time about my dedication to the museum, you'd think he would appreciate the tireless research but to each their own."

Octavia relaxes a bit and ask "Have you known each other long? I mean, since he's been gone this whole time I haven't gotten to meet him yet. Is he....nice?" She says the last word quietly, almost a whisper.

Gale picks up on the anxious question and lowers his notebook, his eyes softened as he leans in, "There's nothing to be nervous about with him, he's much more bark than bite, as they say. He's really wonderful once you get to know him. Just a little rough around the edges...you know these eccentrics..they're all so guarded but deep down, they're just like us regular boring people."

He grins in assurance and goes back to his notebook, "Before I forget, said eccentric has reached back out to me and he'll be returning tomorrow evening! He'd like to make your acquaintance as soon as possible and apologize for his absence." Oh, shit. "Wonderful!" She does an okay job at hiding the crack in her voice, she clears throat, grimaces a bit and adjusts the badge clipped to her smock. "When and where?"

[whattheshock]

⭐️ STAR TREATMENT (miguel o'hara band au)

summary: your childhood friend is trying to convince you to be his band's new manager, & one of the members piques your interest... wc: 969 cw: use of y/n, mentions of alcohol/drinking, miguel is kind of an ass

⋆part 1⋆ masterlist

“please… c’mon it’ll be fun!!”

“i said i’ll think about it after i see your show, okay?”

he gave you a little pout. “alright…” he gave you a friendly kiss on the cheek before running off backstage to join his band mates.

your childhood best friend, caleb, has been begging you to be the new manager for his band. it’s not that you didn’t want to do it for him or that you was too busy or anything, you were just… nervous, because their last manager quit & you didn’t know why. despite having no clue what could’ve happened to make them quit, you were willing to give them a shot. you told caleb you would consider becoming their new manager if you could meet them first, so he agreed to let you meet them after a show.

you walked through the doors of the club they were playing at tonight. they weren’t exactly famous (yet, as caleb would always add) so they only played a few gigs a month at local places. he’s shown you their music, but you’ve never actually been to one of their shows before. you walked through a dark hallway & past the poster for their band. you made my way out of the hallway & into the club, squinting at the sight of the bright stage lights. you went to the bar & ordered a drink before sitting on a velvet couch in the back corner of the club. you swirled my drink in your hand & took a sip, then, the lights on the stage became a bit brighter as the members took their positions.

"good evening, new york! or just a handful of new yorkers..." caleb said, getting a laugh out of the crowd. "we're spider sense! this first song is called 'aphrodisiac'..." he continued before they started playing their first song. you took a good look at all of the members. caleb, obviously, the lead singer, his reddish hair & freckled skin, sweaty & shining under the spotlight. the blond guitarist, fingers covered in tattoos move masterfully across the strings. the bassist with deep skin, gets the crowd hyped. the keyboard player with glasses, stares intensely at the keys.

then, your eyes shifted to the drummer, who was the definition of tall, dark, & handsome. he was built like some sort of god with a bunch of piercings. his dark hair was slicked back, but a few strands fell against his tan skin. his eyes were intense & so was his grip, his large hands holding onto his drumsticks as if he was afraid to let them go. he seemed so focused, so into the music. suddenly, his gaze met yours, & you quickly looked away, staring at your drink as you took another sip.

after a while, they finally finished their set. you lost count of how many songs they'd played, all you knew is that they were incredibly talented. you got up from your seat & started making your way to the stage. caleb saw you & helped you up onto the tall platform. "that was amazing!" you said as you got onto the stage, wrapping your arms around him in a hug. he returned it, holding you for a while before finally letting go.

"yo, caleb... you've been dating someone & you didn't tell us?" the bassist asked with a smirk as he slid his bass strap off of his shoulder.

"nah, this is just my best friend, we've known each other for forever..." he said with a smile. "[y/n] here is gonna be our new manager."

"caleb, i haven't agreed to anything yet..."

"please?"

"god, you're relentless..." you said with a bit of a laugh.

"y'know, we could really use a new manager, we've been kind of a mess without one..." the keyboard player said nervously as he scratched the back of his head.

"oh! i've gotta introduce everyone to you! this is aiden, our guitarist, dean, our bassist, daniel, our keyboardist, &-" suddenly, the drummer got up & walked backstage, a scowl on his face. "...& that would be our drummer & the reason our last manager quit, miguel."

you raised your eyebrows. "what happened?"

"no clue, all she said when she quit is that it was miguel's fault..."

"huh..." you was so curious, what could've happened? "you know what, caleb, i'll take you up on your offer... i'll be your manager."

"really?" he said excitedly, his eyes wide. "yes! thank you!" he picked you up in a hug & spun you around before setting you back down on the stage.

i smiled. "is it okay if i go backstage real quick?"

"knock yourself out," he said as he moved out of the way so you could pass.

you headed backstage & looked around a bit before you saw him. you walked up behind him, realizing how intimidating & ridiculously tall he was. "um, excuse me, hi..." you said to miguel.

"ay, por dios..." he mumbled under his breath before turning around to face you. "what do you want?" he asked, the scowl still present on his face.

"sorry to bother you... i'm [y/n] i just wanted to say hi & let you know that i'm gonna be the new manager for spider sense."

"oh, great..." he said a bit sarcastically. "look, i'm a bit busy right now, so could you just-"

"oh, uh, yeah, totally... sorry to bother you..." you left him alone & made my way back to the stage. "i don't think miguel likes me..." you said to caleb.

"hm? oh, don't worry, he's like this most of the time, just a generally pissed-off guy," he responded.

"well, no wonder your last manager quit if she had to deal with that all the time... but don't worry, i'll be fine... i hope..."

an: haiii tysm for reading part 1 of star treatment! this is the first fic i've shared on here & i'm kinda nervous... i will try my best to post a new chapter every monday & friday at 8 pm est. lmk if u have any questions (my inbox is always open!) or wanna be tagged in new chapters! reblogs r greatly appreciated :)

credit to @benkeibear for the dividers

part 2 out now!!

[megamanrecut]

More Return to the Night, will try to finish this little interlude in 2-ish more parts.

Return to the Night, Part 4 (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, or Ao3)

Proto and Turner took off from the apartment building and down the lonely street in a quick stride. All was silent, save for the occasional sigh of a warm, smoggy L.A. summer wind drifting aimlessly down the deserted street.

"So, how's sharing a room with Elec Man?" Proto asked to lighten the mood, for beside him Turner walked with his hands held stiffly at his side, his face wooden.

"Oh…uh, Elec Man insisted. All his idea. You see, he wanted to protect me. He's more suited for combat than I am, and our affiliation attracts danger. Of course, I'm alright on my own," Turner replied lazily, yet his eyes darted away as though this wasn't the full truth.

"Uh-huh, sure."

Proto was about to ask another question when they turned into an alley and nearly collided with a pair of androids. One had curly dark red hair beneath a striped beanie and numerous ring piercings on his ears and lower lip, the other had spikey silver hair that slouched lazily to one side and a dull, flat expression in his black eyes.

"Whoa, check it out. It's Break Man and some other pretty boy dork human," muttered the one with piercings, nudging the other in the ribs.

"Weird."

"Oh hello there, gentleman," greeted Proto brightly, recognizing them. Of all the times, why now? He had more important things going on than to deal with losers like Ring Man and Magnet Man!

Turner whirled accusingly on Proto. "We've been followed?!" he hissed.

"Uh…no? We like didn't even know you'd be here," said Ring Man. "We were just running some errands and stuff."

"Yeah," muttered Magnet Man, his hands stuffed in his pockets as he scowled up at Proto.

Without warning, Turner drew a laser pistol from a hidden holster strapped to his back, cocked it, and pointed it at Ring Man. "You'll regret following us," he uttered coldly.

Both Ring Man and Magnet Man went tense. Ring Man took a huge step backward, his back hitting the alley wall, his wide eyes locked on the pistol. 'What the—hey!" he complained, raising his hands. "Chill out, dude! We weren't following you! We didn't even know he was going to be here, Break Man's supposed to live in New York with his stupid creator!"

Proto quickly stepped between them, "Whoa whoa whoa, stand down, they're not worth it!" he told Turner.

"Break Man, what the hell's going on? Are you teaming up with gangsters now or something?" demanded Ring Man, sounding annoyed.

Smiling coldly, Proto turned back to Ring Man. "As if I'd tell you���but I'll cut you a deal. Let's just pretend I didn't see you, and you didn't see me, and no one ends up at the bottom of a river, got it?"

Ring Man's eyes twinkled. "Really? Thanks!" he snickered, motioning to Magnet Man. "Smell ya later, dorkface!"

They scampered like rats down the alley and out of sight.

Turner watched them go, his entire frame as rigid as the nozzle of the laser pistol remained on Ring Man's retreating back. "And you best forget our faces or I will hunt down everyone you hold dearly and make them suffer!" he called.

Though Ring Man and Magnet Man were out of sight, they heard Ring Man's taunting response echoing between the building. "Um, yeah, whatever? Don't get your fancy pants in a twist, we're going! Dork, heh. Yeesh!"

"Easy junior! Those bots aren't that bad, they're kinda lazy morons, actually. Relax!" said Proto, barely holding back a laugh.

Turner glared at Proto. It was a moment before he finally lowered the laser pistol. "…Are they really not dangerous?"

"Pff, no. Playground bullies are more threatening! Their names are Ring Man and Magnet Man."

"Who do they work for?"

"Dr. Wily."

"Who?"

"Man, you Angelenos are really out of the loop…Dr. Wily, America's most wanted mad scientist?"

"And he calls himself Dr. 'Wily'?

"…Yeah? I used to work for him, but now we're archenemies or something."

Turner raised a brow at Proto, looked back down the alley, and sighed. "You're really not what I expected."

Proto grinned. "Maybe not, but it's alright, kid! They're gone! You can relax, you're with me! If we really get jumped I'll take care of it—and don't worry about those two, they had it coming, all you did was rough up a couple of robo-punks."

There was no response. Turner was looking down at his hand, which was trembling.

Watching Turner keenly, Proto asked in a low voice, "Fighting's not your thing, is it? Gee, you don't rake after your brother after all!"

"I don't know what you mean," muttered Turner brusquely, his fist clenching as his eyes shifted to a distant point on the opposite side of the alley.

He was fooling no one. Proto was beginning to have second thoughts about this. "Hey, uh…do you want to stay behind?" he asked bracingly. "Where we're going might get ugly."

Turner's pale eye snapped toward Proto. "No."

Proto took a small step toward Turner. "I dig your enthusiasm, kid, but if someone tries to come at ya like this—"

In demonstration, Proto made a lunge for Turner's pistol, yet in a swift, elegant movement, Turner spun out of his reach further down the alley. Non-plussed, Proto tried again, and again, but Turner continued to evade with the easy grace of a feather riding the wind.

"Okay. Impressive," Proto admitted finally, realizing he wouldn't be able to disarm Turner so easily.

"I'm staying with you," Turner said firmly, placing the pistol back in its hidden holster. "Now, lead on. And if any of your other moronic associates attempt to jump us, well, let's just say they've got another thing coming."

"Whatever you say, junior," Proto replied with a shrug, amused by Turner's empty threat. One thing could be certain—Turner certainly didn't follow the typical Syndicate mold (no matter how hard he tried) but despite the danger, he was gravely worried about Elec Man above all.

Continued in Part 5

[be-co-me]

Party Foul

Terushima Yuuji

A/N: I've had this in the works for two years now! I decided to finish it off tonight and will edit it later. Thank you all for being patient with me as I do write slowly. I have a LOT of things going on in my life between work and college, so I appreciate the patience!

5.6k Words

Summary: You meet the life of the party at your mundane coffee shop job on campus. You get invited to a party that takes an awry turn.

...

Your morning job at the most popular coffee house on campus proved useful as you needed money for your small time volleyball club, the money now going towards club tee shirts for rush week. The men's team was one of the most watched on campus, gaining trophy after trophy while your club hid in the shadows. It was a small time club, co-gendered, for the outcasts that couldn't be on a team and the men who didn't make it into the big leagues.

Your shift usually went from 6am to 12pm, and then you went to whatever classes the day brought on; volleyball club, and then home to binge watch whatever show sounded appealing at the time. Today was one of those busy days and hopefully tonight when you showed up to club, you'd be lucky enough to have a few more applicants. As of now there weren't very many people.

The morning shift was usually extremely slow. You served around ten people an hour, giving you time to slave away over your colossal amount of homework, occasionally serving coffees, teas, and pastries to sleep hungry patrons.

You were finally able to reserve the courts for your club to play. Usually the men's team ended up being deemed more important as their many upcoming tournaments required much more practice than usual, resulting in your club being kicked off of the court, late notice. Today you hadn't heard from the men's team's manager, therefore club tonight was still a go.

You leaned slackly onto the counter, daydreaming into your textbook, trying to finish whatever homework you could as early as possible. You'd like to think of yourself as a model student, a 3.75 GPA, only tainted by one extra credit assignment not submitted by your teacher in time, a last ditch effort to turn a B into an A. You were getting a master's degree, told that once you got your bachelor's, if you did well enough, they would pay for your master's degree and land you a job while you attended school.

A patient cough led you out of your daydreaming and you eyed the culprit in alarm.

"Sorry! Got kind of distracted there." you said possibly a little too loud, a nervous smile creeping its way onto your face.

"That's alright! We've all gotta find some time to do our homework anywhere that we can." he responded, a nervous smile laid across his lips as well, long fingers rubbing the back of his neck.

"Isn't that the truth? Anyways, what can I get for ya?" you asked, positioning yourself in front of the small outdated iPad deemed worthy of becoming a point of sales system.

He eyed the menu, seemingly wanting to stray from his usual order. After a few seconds of eyeing the menu, his eyes met yours.

"Um, I guess I'll have a cold brew please. And could you add some vanilla? And also oat milk instead of whole. Not a huge fan of milk." he said, a small laugh filling the otherwise silent air. His fingers continued brushing through to his hair.

"I'm not too big a fan of regular milk either. Oat milk is the best choice! Anything else for today?" you asked. His eyes, again, met yours for a few seconds, then glanced back to the menu. Your eyes lingered on his face, his attractiveness only now beginning to make itself known to you. His tongue peeked out between his lips, his tongue piercing making itself known as it clinked against his teeth. The feeling of butterflies began to pool warmly into your stomach.

His eyes met yours once again, his lips pursed almost as if he wanted to say something but wasn't sure if he had wanted to. It seemed he had finally decided to do so when his mouth opened again.

"Have you had a coffee yet? Or tea? It's quite early and you seem like you could use it." he said, hand removed from his hair, a long finger pointing towards your battered textbook.

Your eyes followed where he was pointing, meeting your textbook, before looking into his nervous ones again.

"I haven't yet, but I could always get one before heading off to class." you replied, waving off his question. Was he going to buy you one? He didn't have to do that. You could always make the excuse that you got them for free, so he didn't have to buy you one, but if your boss saw you taking a coffee, he would surely have an aneurysm. Then again, a hot stranger buying you coffee wasn't the worst your previously uneventful morning could go...

"Let me buy you one. I'm sure you could use it after working and also having class. It's my good deed of the day." he responded. Well... you'd be silly to not take him up on his offer. You responded with a nod.

"What would you like to get for me?" you asked. You didn't want to order your usual drink, while quite cheap and tasty, his drink of choice was a bit cheaper than your own. You wouldn't want to seem like you're high balling a coffee off of him. Especially after you've only just met.

"Get your usual. I'm sure you have one if you're working here." he responded, pointing around the coffee shop. You nodded, entering in your usual order, he insisted after all, also with an oat milk substitute.

"1468.36¥ please. (10.56 USD)" you said. He pushed a debit card across the counter and you picked it up, sliding it.

"Don't worry about the tip or anything. Just sign for me." you stated, turning around to make the coffees. You put extra attention into his own, more than the usual customer would get. You heard the small printer print it's usual slip of paper and he ripped it off, shoving it into his jacket pocket. Your poor attempt at "latte" art on the top of his coffee showed your attention and you slid it across the counter to him with the lid off so he could admire your work.

"Not too bad. I haven't had any art on my coffees yet, especially with the cold foam on top of the cold brew. I'd imagine that's pretty hard to do." he said.

"Yeah. It's a little difficult. A lot of popular coffee shops says it isn't possible, but you never know until you try." you said, the atmosphere's tension seeming to ease as your conversation went on. You exchanged a few more brief words with him before he eyed his watch, nearing 8:00, he shortened his goodbyes as he began his hasty rush to class, a "see you again" mixed into his sentence. You smiled.

Your eyes met the iPad he had signed on to see quite a hefty tip for a couple of coffees and a bit of guilt pooled into your stomach. You hadn't forced him to, even told him not to leave a tip, yet he had anyways. You smiled even wider, exiting out of the system before your eyes met your textbook once again, finishing off your reading assignment before your first class, sipping on your sloppily made coffee that you didn't put near as much attention into.

...

It was in your third class of the day, a large lecture hall full of people wishing they weren't forced to take a general biology course. You saw a blonde mop of hair, sipping on a coffee from the coffee shop, who looked eerily similar to the boy you had met this morning. Once he turned his head to ease into conversation with the boy next to him did you see it was, in fact, him. He was now rid of the jacket and scarf he had been wearing earlier in the morning.

You were sure you would have noticed someone like him before in class. You tended to sit in the back and observe. No heads could block your view of the board due to the raised level of your seat in the lecture hall, even if you did have to squint your eyes slightly to see the words.

His head cocked back to look behind him briefly and he turned to face forward again. Seconds later, though, his wide eyes met your own and he smiled brightly and waved towards your direction. You smiled and waved back, picking your coffee up so he could see it. He held a thumbs up.

"Terushima, can you please pay attention to the lecture?" the professor paused, and he abashedly turned to face the board, and you sunk behind your own laptop.

Once class had let out, as you packed your things, you noticed he had stayed behind, making his way up the steps through the throngs of people, to where you were seated. You made eye contact with him when he finally had made it a few feet away.

You stood, throwing your backpack over your shoulder, and walked out of class with him, throwing your now empty coffee cup into the recycling bin. You walked in silence for some time before he finally spoke.

"So... What are your plans after your classes for the day?" he asked. You stopped walking once you made it outside, his tall stature keeping the sun out of your eyes.

"I have club tonight. If we don't get kicked out of the gym again that is. But I haven't heard anything yet." you responded with a shrug of your shoulders. You were really hopeful that this week you could get a couple of games in as you hadn't had the chance to play for nearly three weeks.

"Why would you be kicked out of the gym?" he asked, shifting his weight onto his other leg.

"Well, I run a small volleyball club, because the women can't have an official team and the men who still want to play, but don't make it on the official team, join this club. We get kicked off the court pretty often when the official men's team has tournaments coming up though. I admire their persistence, but I want to play as well." you said. His mouth was slightly agape and his eyes had slightly widened at your comment.

"They really kick you off?" he asked, leaning ever so slightly closer to you. He sounded guilty.

"Yeah. But like I said, I admire their perseverance to win and play. I'm a little jealous of it in fact. I wish I could go to an actual tournament and play at some point in college. I wish they'd allow our team to." you told him. He nodded, quiet again for a few moments.

"I could maybe work something out for you. You said you have a meeting tonight right?" he asked, a sly smile finding his lips. You nodded.

"Can I come play too?" he asked. You shrugged, nodding once more.

"Sure, anyone can come try it out. We need some more people anyways. You'd do well since you're tall. You could block and spike. I bet you'd be good at that. Do you have any experience?" And that was the question to start it all.

"Let's just say, I've played a bit." he responded, that sly grin fully at its wake now.

...

Your meet up location was in the coffee shop, once your classes had all let up and he finished whatever his day brought to him, at 6pm. You rushed through the small plaza leading into the cafeteria's colossal range of fast foods and drinks, pulling the heavy glass door open.

You walked into the coffee shop area, giving a quick wave to your coworker once her eyes met yours. She returned an excited wave. You looked around the many patrons sitting amongst the many tables, scanning for the same mop of sandy hair.

You heard a whistle and looked towards it, your eyes meeting his. He smiled and waved you over. His sturdy frame leaned against a pole, discarding his cell phone into his jacket pocket.

"Wanna get anything to eat or drink before we go play?" he asked. You shrugged.

"If you want to. I ate a little while ago, so I'm not really all that hungry. If you'd like, I can repay you for this morning." you responded.

"I'm all good if you are. Maybe after we play we can." he stated, readjusting his bag onto his shoulder. You nodded, beginning your trek to the gym. It was about a six to eight minute walk through the large campus and you chatted idly about your boring bio lecture on the way.

You told him what your major was, and you were sort of excited to hear he had gone into a master's degree program as well. Even better though, you were both in the same year.

You opened the door to the old gym and pushed it further open behind you for him to enter. You walked through the hallway and into the gym, setting your things down onto the stage.

"Wanna help me put the net up?" you asked. No one from club had arrived yet as it was still a bit early. Club didn't start until 7.

"Yeah! I'll help you out." he responded. You walked to the other side of the gym, going to the supply room, which held the cart containing everything you would need to put up the net.

You pulled a heavy pole off of the cart, him doing the same as you anchored it into it's designated slot in the floor. You looked up as he did the same, making sure the pole was adjusted to the correct height. You then grabbed the net together, unfolding it and lining it up on either side and attaching it to the poles. You tightened it and looked up to make sure he didn't need any help. He did it perfectly.

You quickly attached the safety pads and the antenna, the doors revealing the first patrons to show up to your club. Hopefully everyone would show up tonight. You didn't have a coach either so it was really left to you. You quickly ran back to the storage room, grabbing the ball cart and pushing it onto the court. At least you had a ball cart.

You grabbed a few of the balls and began tossing them to the club members so they could warm up, together or in their lonesome. There was still fifteen minutes before club actually started. You grabbed one for yourself and eyed Terushima.

"Wanna warm up together?" you asked. He nodded, and you took your place across from him bumping and setting the ball across the court from each other. He was good at it and you began to get suspicious.

Eventually, it came time to start club. You had twenty people including yourself and Terushima, definitely better than the ten or so that usually showed up. You hoisted yourself onto the stage, whistling to gain everyone's attention.

"Welcome everyone! I'm excited to see we have more people joining us this evening. I was thinking today that we would split off into separate teams and play a few games. I know we haven't seen each other in quite a while, so definitely warm up first, but go ahead and pair up into teams. We should have three teams of six and one of five which I will join, pick your positions carefully." you finished, hopping off of the stage, watching as everyone paired up.

You began to practice and warm up with Terushima. You reflected on how interesting your day had become since he walked into the coffee shop that morning. Usually your day consisted of the same old things and it got quite boring, quite fast.

"So when did you start playing?" he piped up, setting the ball towards you.

"Well, probably towards the end of high school is when I got pretty interested in sports and playing volleyball, but I wasn't great. I made it onto the team but was pretty much a permanent bench warmer." you laughed, passing the ball back towards his direction.

"I'd say you play pretty well for pretty much a newbie." he responded. You set the ball towards him, a question brewing in your mind. Maybe you could get some answers to your suspicions.

"When did you start playing?" you asked in return. Now that you thought about it, you hadn't shown him how to do anything at all. He pretty much jumped straight in.

"Since grade school. I've been a fan of it since then." he responded. You passed the ball quietly back and forth until you were warmed up, everyone beginning to gather into their selected groups. Terushima, of course, was on your team.

"Alright, two teams to a court of course" you told them, everyone picking a court to play on. You could really jump into playing whenever you wanted. You set your team up and got ready to play. You always played back row and developed your skills in defense and setting quite well over the few years you have played. The role of libero fit you well.

Terushima started off with serving the ball and seeing the serve fly over the net was insane. You didn't know someone could serve a ball like that. You were scared, but also excited at the thought of possibly being on the receiving end at some point. The same surprise arose again when he spiked, completely clearing the blockers on the opposing team.

"What is up with you? You're really good at this." you asked. What was he hiding from you?

"Oh... I'm on the men's team." he responded, a little too casually. You stood in awe and bewilderment before responding.

"Why wouldn't you tell me that?!" his eyes met your own and he smiled, shrugging his shoulders. You continued playing and won the game by a landslide, the same events occurring until you finished your allotted time for the club. A bruise making its way onto your arms after receiving one of his spikes.

After some iffy fast food you ate ate the cafeteria, you parted ways. You had the same lecture together daily, so you were sure you would see him again.

...

The next morning, whilst you didn't have to work at the coffee shop, you still ran late to your lecture. Ten minutes late in fact. You hadn't been late before, but you fell asleep at your desk doing homework and missed your first two classes.

You were terrified to go into the lecture, around eighty people would stare at you as you walked shamefully to the back of the lecture hall. You wish you had stopped for a coffee if you were already going to be late anyways.

You huffed a deep breath, heaving the lecture hall door open as quietly as possible, making eye contact with your professor. You sheepishly walked through the lecture hall as quickly as you could. You felt as if everyone was staring, when in reality, they could absolutely care less than to spare a glance at you.

You looked up as you neared your seat and Terushima's widened eyes met your own. You smiled, your cheeks a bit red from the embarrassment, and sat in your seat. You quickly took your laptop out and pulled up the material the class was currently on.

About five minutes later, Terushima shuffled up to the vacant seat in front of your own. He donned two coffees on his desk, one eerily resembling your usual. Your suspicions were confirmed when he placed it on your desk. You gawked at him.

"I didn't think you'd show up." he said. You leaned down so you could hear him better and he could hear your own words.

"I fell asleep at my desk doing homework and didn't set an alarm." you whispered. Your eyes met the coffee now sitting on your desk. "Thank you for the coffee. You didn't have to do that. How'd you remember my order anyways? I never told it to you." you told him.

He pulled a receipt from his pocket and you realized when he paid he had gotten a copy of it and your order was printed neatly onto it. You looked up and the professor's stern eyes met your own. You slowly leaned back into your chair, picking the coffee up and hiding behind your laptop for the remainder of the lecture.

...

After lecture, you asked Terushima for the notes you had missed, catching up at the coffee shop with the coffees he had bought that morning. Once you finished, you really didn't know what to do for the rest of the day.

"So, uh..." Terushima said, his hand brushing behind his neck. "My fraternity is having a party tonight and if you aren't doing anything you're invited. It's pretty much your usual frat party, but we have a sand court and a pool so it'll probably be pretty big." he blurted out, awaiting your response.

You thought for a second. You didn't have any homework tonight, it was Thursday and you didn't have any classes or work tomorrow, and you really didn't have any plans for the evening.

You shrugged your shoulders. "Yeah, I'll go." you responded. He smiled, spouting out the details of the party.

You began to get antsy and excited. What would you wear? Did you have any swimsuits that weren't dingy? You didn't really swim besides with your family. What alcohol would you bring? Did you need to bring any at all?

You swooped into the liquor store on the corner of the street your apartment was on, picking up a twelve pack of whatever you had seen everyone raging about lately. You needed to contribute something.

You then burst into your apartment, telling your roommate it was all hands on deck and you needed to find something cute to wear, but also comfy as you were sure you would end up playing some volleyball.

Once you settled on your clothes, you found yourself in front of your mirror, the makeup you had previously applied quite faded. If it was a party where you would swim, should you wear any makeup? Would it look like you were trying too hard? Maybe a small amount that looked natural? You settled on that and quickly swiped some on.

You then came to your hair, scrolling through Pinterest for some cute hairstyles. Your roommate offered some help and settled on something half up half down. Your roommate looked at he master work and gave you a thumbs up. You eyed the time on your phone. You had thirty minutes before the party technically started.

You decided you would walk there instead of driving. You weren't one to drink much, but also hadn't been to a campus party besides something small for Halloween the prior year. You scrolled your phone as you walked through campus, making your way to the aforementioned fraternity house. Before rounding the street corner, you could already hear music blaring.

You walked to the front door, already open from the people who entered before you and eyed around. You texted Terushima, who had given you his number to send you the notes. A few minutes later, you eyed him shoving through the crowd and making his way to you. You smiled and stuffed your phone into your pocket.

"Finally made it. What'd you bring?" he asked, pointing to the twelve pack in your hand. You hoisted it up so he could get a better look. "Just whatever was popular. I've been wanting to try these anyways." you responded. He took them from your hands.

"Let's put them in the refrigerator so they stay cold. I'll show you around the house." he responded. You followed him, staying close behind and bumped shoulders with a few people, muttering apologies they didn't seem to hear over the music.

You fished a drink out of the box before putting them away, Terushima already sporting a bottle of some domestic beer. He gave you a run down tour of the three story house. It was nicer than you thought a fraternity house would be. You imagined a nasty house, as you'd heard many of the other fraternities had donned. You thankfully hadn't seen them in person.

He introduced you to a few of the fraternity members, who were all on the volleyball team. Then it was time to let loose a little bit.

You followed him around the party, meeting new people and seeing some familiar faces, from the coffee shop, classes, or just in general around campus. You bobbed to the music next to his side, sipping the drink you had occasionally.

You meandered to the pool area outside, which looked like it would sit behind a mansion. You wondered how a fraternity could manage to get such a nice pool. You'd have to ask about it later.

You were now brought into Terushima's conversation, being introduced to some of his team and fraternity members. You dodged people running or simply passing by as the pool took up much of the outside area, there wasn't much walking room.

The night mostly continued as such until Terushima had made his way to a patio chair next to the pool, sitting down. You did the same on the one across from him. They sat quite close to the edge. You would have to see if you could come over and work on your tan a bit.

"Having a fun time so far?" he asked. You nodded, taking another sip of your drink, gazing around the back patio.

"This is a nice house! Most of the fraternity houses are pretty nice, but you guys keep this one pretty clean." you responded. He chuckled at the comment, taking a swig of his own drink. You had to admit, this was a pretty fun party.

"Wanna dip your feet in the pool? It should feel pretty nice after sitting in the sun all day." he asked. You nodded and moved to follow him to the pool. The lights inside orbed rainbow colors as it was now night time. This house just got cooler and cooler the more you noticed of it.

You both stepped towards the edge of the pool, getting ready to sit and remove your shoes, but before your feet could touch the water, you felt a hard push from behind. Your eyes widened and you let out a surprised screech, reaching out to Terushima and trying to grab ahold of him, but to no avail, he was headed towards the water as fast as you were.

You didn't even have time to remove your phone and other things from you pockets before you hit the water with a large splash. Water rushed into your nose and mouth as you inhaled trying to shout about your phone. You were fully submerged. Your make up, your electronics, your clothes, your shoes.

You felt two strong arms envelope you and you were suddenly breaking the surface of the water, coughing once oxygen hit your lungs. You felt yourself being lugged quickly to the edge of the pool as you rubbed at your eyes to try and catch a glimpse of the person who knocked you in.

Terushima lifted you out of the pool to sit on the edge. You continued to cough, finally able to breathe normally. You weren't under long thanks to him. Once you could see, you caught a glimpse of his irritated expression as he scanned the crowd of staring people.

"Who knocked us in? Who was running along the edge?" he asked. The crowd was silent. No one spoke up. But the wide eyes of the girl a couple feet away gave you your answer and your eyes met her own. She had quite the grip on this boy's hand that seemed to be pulling her along. She didn't knock you in, he did.

"It's not a big deal. I'm sure it was just an accident. A little water doesn't hurt!" you said, touching his shoulder gingerly. His eyes met yours and after a few seconds of what seemed like contemplation, he pushed himself out of the pool to rest on the edge next to you. After a minute, things seemed to turn back to normal.

"Hey, can you go grab us some towels?" he asked one of the pledges. The boy nodded and did as he was told. After a couple of minutes, the boy returned with two fluffy, olive green towels. You took one and thanked the boy, wiping yourself off and blotting at your face to maybe salvage whatever makeup had survived.

You kinda laughed about the situation.

"What?" Terushima asked, a smirk settling across his own face.

Your laugh deepened.

"Nothing, it's just kinda funny. You went all Mr. Serious-pants." you said in a silly voice. That got a hearty chuckle out of him.

"Here. Let's dry off and go get some new drinks." he said. You nodded and he stood up, offering his hand to help you. You took it and finished drying off.

You followed him to the same kitchen you had left your drinks before and he grabbed one out of the box you had brought, the same flavor you had been drinking on before. You thanked him.

You returned to the same spot next to the pool, sitting carefully this time. You continued to talk until the party died down, many people leaving as it was now the very early hours of the morning. You had stopped drinking not long ago as to walk home. You were pretty much dry now.

"Well, class tomorrow doesn't seem as great as our conversation, but we do still have to go. Need a ride?" he asked. You shook your head.

"It's okay. I can just walk. It isn't too far." you responded, standing up and wiping yourself off. He shook his head.

"Nope. I'm not letting you walk this late. Put your shoe son and follow me." he said. You nodded and kind of shrugged your shoulders. It was nice to not have to walk and maybe continue your conversation. Once your shoes were on, you did as he said, following him up the stairs and into what seemed to be his room.

You took note of the musky woodsy smell of the candle lit on the desk in the corner. Plants, books, coordination. It actually looked quite neat and put together in his room. The bed was made, no mess on the floor. You were even more impressed.

"Nice room." you said, leaning on the doorframe as he made his way to a bag hooked onto his desk chair and he fumbled through it, a pair of keys emerging from it.

"Thanks! I like it. I think it's the best room in the house. It's the biggest too." he responded. He blew the candle out and shut the light off. You followed him out and he closed the door, and you trekked downstairs.

He unlocked the door to his car, opening the passenger side and you got in. He jogged around the front, getting in and buckling himself in.

"Seatbelt." he said. You put it on and he started the engine up. He did the thing. Where he puts his hand around to your seat in order to reverse. You liked that thing. A lot. You smiled at the gesture as he began to drive forwards.

You continued your earlier conversation, occasionally peppering directions into the mix. It was about a four minute drive. He parked next to your car, which you chose not to drive because the afternoon was nice.

"Well. The night ends here I guess." he said. You nodded your head in silence.

"I realized I never got your number." he said, shuffling on his phone and handing you it, an empty contacts page pulled up. You typed your information in and handed the phone back to him. He smiled and locked it, setting the phone in his lap. You didn't really know what to do. You had such a fun time with him and didn't want it to necessarily end yet.

Soft fingers pulled you out of your trance, grazing your cheek and lightly pushing your face to his direction. He looked into your eyes and you just knew it was an invitation to kiss him. And you took it.

It didn't go much farther than that, but you laughed with each other and got out of the car, closing the door and walking over to his open window. You pecked his lips one more time, walking to the sidewalk in front of your door and waving at him.

"Let's do this again!" he shouted, waving. You nodded.

"Of course we will!" you responded. You waved again as he backed away, typing your code into your door. You put your things away and changed into pajamas, making a quick snack.

You picked your phone off of your couch and opened it, an unknown number popping up.

'Coffee tomorrow morning before class. 7:30. It's on me sweetness.' it read. You chuckled and responded.

'Better remember my favorite.'

[kotonoba]

ISYT (Jushiro/Fem!Reader) Ch. 41

My bad for not posting last week; a lot has happened.

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

Numbness swallowed you as you rested; a familiar aroma washed over you when you were lying comfortably on the futon; it set you to ease from the sight you witnessed as you struggled to live. The fear subsided as you heard voices sound beside you; a gentle grasp on your numbed hand gave you a sense of ease to rest as much as needed. 

After some time, you weren’t sure how much time had passed, but as you peeked, one eye opened, met by a sharp glare from the harsh sunlight that caused you to shut your eyes quickly. It took a bit of adjusting before your eyes were focused on your worried husband, who was nodding off, but his grip was still very tight on your hands. You muffled an airy chuckle that woke him up. He never struck you as a light sleeper, but perhaps the worry made him one. 

“Y-you’re awake. How are you feeling, love?” Jushiro stuttered, blinking away his tiredness before squeezing your hand, “You slept for two days straight; I was worried you wouldn’t wake up.” 

There’s a hint of playfulness in his voice but mostly worry. You smiled and nodded, "could have slept better without this sharp pain," you winced as you slowly sat up, and your Prince Charming immediately came to assist. "What happened?" You questioned. 

As Jushiro unraveled everything, you weren't as surprised as he thought you would have been with the betrayal and everything, "you don't seem surprised. Why is that?"

"I've been wary of Aizen for a while. He's a very suspicious individual for me. Not to mention…" you trailed off, thinking your husband caught on. But he didn't, and he was waiting for you to continue. You laughed a little. Your coping mechanism was to make jokes out of your pain anyway, "I was placed on my deathbed by him not long ago." 

But it didn't get as good as you had thought because Jushiro's eyes showed regret over anything else.

"Hey-" you reached out to cup his cheeks so he'd focus on you rather than his regrets, "it wasn't your fault. I flew too close to the sun and got burned in the process. I should have known when to back away." You smiled, doing your best to comfort him. 

"Are you referring to Aizen as the sun?" Jushiro’s eyes narrowed as he pulled you onto his lap for a tighter and warmer embrace. 

"No, I-"

You were cut off by a foreign voice, "no, she's referring to Icarus' story; I didn't take for a soul to know such an old story taught in history classes," Jushiro turned, facing the voice with you bundled up in blankets. 

Before you could respond, your lover beat you to it, "ah, Kurosaki-kun, thank you for the clarification. But what's the story about?" Sometimes, you forget that your husband enjoys stories as much as you did when you studied in the human world. 

"If she knew the idiom, I'm sure she can explain," it seems that this orange-haired boy was trying to escape the work of explaining. "And… she is?" 

<i>He came here without knowing? Strange kid.</i>

"Oh, yes, I forgot to introduce, she-" Jushiro's curiosity faded only to be replaced by affection as he met your eyes, "-is the love of my life. She's my wife; we've been married for a few hundred years." 

There was a long silence, a look on his face that you didn't like. Everyone was judging Jushiro because he was so sickly. No one expected him to get married. They don't say it, but you can see it in your monotonous world. Maybe Jushiro saw the furrow of your brow. You glanced at your lover, and he gave you a sad smile and shook his head. For now, you'll let it go next time you see him. You weren't going to let him go so quickly. 

Probably just to one-up the orange-haired Shinigami, you moved against Jushiro’s wishes to hold yourself against his body to turn towards him and straddle him a bit—a light wince as a sharp pain pierced into your healing wound. Worry flooded Jushiro’s calm reiatsu, but you ignored it, pulling him into a quick kiss on the lips before settling back into his embrace. 

Maybe that one-upped him just fine because he froze for a second before shaking his head to go back to why he came looking for your husband the first time. 

“Ah, yes, I was wondering, have you seen Rukia, Ukitake-san?” 

You eyed your husband, who zoned out briefly before playing it cool, “no, have you checked with her brother?”  

“You’re right, thanks!” And he rushes off like nothing happened.

“Interesting kid, yeah?” You felt your lover kiss you on your head a little. You wondered for a second, if Kaien was alive, and he was so close to the two of you like so, would he act like that too? 

“Yeah, I thought so too when I took a glimpse at him,” you hummed a little. 

“But that’s all in the past; I’m glad you’re safe.”

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

I'll definitely post again tomorrow since it's Halloween. And I've written that chapter for a solid two weeks anyway. I've also been writing a modern AU for Jushiro/Fem!Reader, so I've been slightly hyperfixated on that WIP too.

Cloudy's AO3

[swagtastic-bougie-pompadour]

Several days late, but eventually, the Clive has Arrived!

Just like the annual Naranja-Uva Summer Sandwich Squabble, or NUSSS! Tune in this weekend to watch your favorite students, staff, and even celebs?!?! attempt to make sandwiches in a variety of wacky and comedic scenarios, such as:

Balancing the sandwich on a yoga ball!

Using ingredients requested in MewTube MegaChats!

Battling for possession of key ingredients!

Three-Legged Race style teamwork!

Being sung at by a Jigglypuff!

Whatever unexpected weirdness comes up and gives Director Clavell a migraine at the last minute!

This year, all proceeds from the NUSSS go to speeding our current accessibility renovations of the school, with all excess being donated to the Open World Project--a charity dedicated to bridging the challenges that make it difficult for disabled young people starting out on journeys! We hope you tune in or show up this Saturday and Sunday!

Now, without further ado, it is time for the next installment of:

Clive Update!

Today we have a guest from behind the scenes who needs little to no introduction: the girl, the myth, the one who saves me from many an episode of cringe: Miss Penny!

...Did you have to look so... disappointed in this photo?

It's my personal form of protest. Also, for the record, right before you took this photo you had just asked me what AO3 is. I don't know what face you were expecting.

...Clive, what the fuck are these colors?

It's your red and blue hair! I figured your text had to match your stylin', snazzy 'do... No? No.

Pink. I just want pink. Thank you.

Anyways, did you really run out of guests this fast? What, did Rika drop you or something because you were going to ruin her brand? Shit, I bet that's exactly what happened.

Language! And she just... needed to reschedule. Very busy woman.

Mhm. Yeah. That's what they all say. That's like saying you went to a hotel with a friend and the only available room had one bed...

What?

AO3 things. I'll explain later.

Anyways, Pride? Obviously it's pretty important to me. I mean... really. I don't think anybody's guessing the programmer girl with a big hoodie and two-tone hair is super cishet.

My experience of being free to be myself is something built off of generations of work and protest by LGBT+ people. The first Pride was a riot spearheaded by trans women of color, and it's important to remember our roots to see how far we've come, and how far we have left to go. So Pride, to me, is a continued, "We're here and we're weird! And we're not stopping anytime soon!"

...Shit, that's just Team Star, isn't it.

Penny... I... I think that's the most comprehensive, educational answer we've had here! And I didn't even have to ask you...

Y-yeah, of course it is. You're welcome.

...Anyways, uhh, what's your follow up question? You do have one, right?

...Hm. How are you liking it here on campus, now that Team Star has re-integrated into classes?

W-wha... I wasn't expecting that one, dude! I'm... getting along okay! I've got... my greatest treasure... here, after all.

And Nemona... annoyingly loud as she is... has been really nice to me too. Plus, I've got my Veevees! And of course, how could I forget my best. Pal. Clive. Who's definitely not just cringe incarnate tormenting me until the end of my short, miserable little life.

That's a JOKE, before you start getting all emotional on me, by the way!

I forgot how wounding teenagers can be... Ah! My heart! It has been pierced! And it is all Miss Penny's fault!

Geez. You're not half bad... sometimes. Come on. In return for this, you're proofreading my new My Palafin Academia hero/rival hurt-comfort slow burn fic.

I don't understand the meaning of half of those words, but I am terrified nonetheless!

[lxndonorris]

jaws drop - Jack van Poortvliet

Y/N x Jack van Poortvliet Theme: very light smut (touching, kissing) you're surprising Jack during a public training session x @tigerschampignons with a little bit of teasing him word count: 1220+

Jack would always invite you to visit a public or a private training session of the Leicester rugby team, to basically show off a little. Sadly, due to uni, so many assignments, and other stuff happening all at once, you haven't had the chance to do so. Just like today, when he left for a session, you had to decline due to several deadlines. However, you are well prepared. Even though you said you were busy, actually, you managed all that work a day early, to surprise him.

Being about 15 minutes late on purpose, you enter the training grounds, walking straight to the rugby field. A couple of other people are already watching the team getting ready, they're stretching right now, and you join a group of girls on the right side. Dressing for the occasion, you snatched one of Jacks's jerseys from his cupboard, combined with blue jeans and comfy sneakers. Luckily, it's not as cold as you thought it would be. It doesn't take long for you to spot Jack on the field, being the class clown like always.

Tilting your head slightly, you ask yourself why you haven't done this way sooner. Seeing him in his training gear, short shorts, a tight shirt, messy hair, long socks, and boots, is pure eye candy. The things you'd let him do. Biting your lower lip, you try to think about something else, any distraction is welcome. "Isn't he pretty?" A shrill voice snaps you out of your daydreaming. "Have you seen his ass?" Another voice rings through your head, causing you to turn your head slightly toward the noise, spotting those two girls gossiping. 'Whatever' you roll your eyes and turn your attention back to the players.

They're now standing in a circle, probably discussing today's training, but you can still hear these two women talk rapidly. Suddenly, the shriller one raises her voice. "JACK. JACK." She throws her arms up in the air, wildly flailing them around. Trying to avoid getting hit by those razor-sharp nails, you take a step further back. "You spot Jack standing with his back turned to you, and he turns his upper body toward you. He couldn't have overheard that thought-piercing voice. At first, he wears a coy smile, but when he spots you, Jack turns around completely and raises his arm. "HEY, YOU." He says loudly, and you lift your hand slightly, a little embarrassed to be honest.

"Did you HEAR THAT?" The girl shrieks. "He totally noticed you!" The other one shrieks in unison. Closing your eyes to block them out of your mind, you struggle to not change sides, but you've got a good view from here. Training starts, and you watch them doing some sprints, more stretching, and some exercises with the ball. Jack, of course, aware of you, makes sure to position himself always at the right spot, for you to have the best look at him. Annoyingly, those girls right next to you thought it was just for them.

"You're a jack fan too?" One of the girls asks you, spotting his name on the jersey. "Oh, me?" You say surprised they even noticed you. "Nah, it's my boyfriend's. Just borrowed it." Shrugging, you look at them, trying your best not to burst out laughing. "Okayy, then." They say at the same time, giving you an annoyed glance. "We've been here week after week, and Jack finally noticed us." Her voice is so shrill, you can barely pay attention to her words. "That's awesome." You basically give a verbal thumbs-up, before you turn your head toward the pitch again.

It seems like they finally have a little break, you spot every player walking towards the group of fans, Jack, obviously, walking towards your side first. "JACK. SIGN OUR STUFF." Those girls shout again, and with a polite smile, he nods. You barely shrug, causing him to chuckle to himself. For what feels like an eternity, they besiege him, but he is able to finally break out of it, taking a few steps towards you. Casually leaning on the railing with your arms, you give him a knowing look.

A gigantic smile spreads across his face, as a few shining drops run down the side of his face. "You're here?" Jack says softly, his voice a bit exhausted by the workout. "Yup." You say, tiptoeing to meet his face with yours as he leans in to kiss you lovingly, once, then twice. "I thought you had assignments to do?" He asks you once he separates his lips from yours. His face is still close enough that you still feel them. "Finished them already." You say quietly, putting a hand on his cheek, tracing his jawline with your thumb to his chin. He hasn't shaved for a couple of days, and a very light stubble tickles your skin. Jack embraces your hand on his skin, slightly giving in to your touch. Those two girls are awkwardly quiet, and with a side glance, you check up on them. Of course, they noticed, and for the first time in forever, they were speechless. "Thank you." Jack's smile gets even bigger, his voice a little softer, as he leans in again, kissing you more passionately than before. "I thought yo-uu had a boyfriend." One girl suddenly says, her voice shaking slightly.

The two of you turn towards them, and taking advantage you place a hand on the small of Jacks's back, stroking him gently. "I do." You smirk, placing a hand on Jack's firm chest, patting his pecs tenderly. He blushes instantly as he notices your other hand now on his butt. "Y/N." He says shyly, turning his head towards you. Both of the girls are speechless once again, their jaws dropped to the floor. "You're making me blush." He says, fully aware that he's been teasing you all morning. You narrow your eyes playfully, and he does the same. Getting closer and closer, he suddenly starts to tickle you shortly, causing you to flinch. "Jaaack." You giggle, and the two of you share a laugh. Then, he turns around, realizing training is about to start again. Before he leaves you, however, he leans into you again, but this time, to whisper something into your ear. "Thank you again." He breathes against your skin, sending shivers down your spine. "Don't mention it." You steady yourself against his strong frame, both of your hands now on his chest. "No, it means a lot." He whispers, and his voice shakes slightly once you run your hands down his body to feel his muscles tensing through his tight shirt. "I owe you." Jack exhales, breathing down your neck. you lick your lips quickly as he separates from you again, wearing a playful grin on his lips. "Wait for me, okay." He says, taking one of your hands, squeezing it as to say goodbye for now. You nod, smiling brightly. "Will do." Taking a deep breath, you still smell his faint scent all around you, while you watch him walk back to the other players. "Damn Jack." You mutter to yourself, shaking your head subtly to his body filling that gear fully. As soon as he's out of earshot, those girls approach you, having a gazillion questions, which you answer as much as you feel comfortable. Together, you enjoy the rest of the training.

[umflowers]

What makes you happier

well, hm. being that you said 'happier' and not 'happy', i'm kind of taking the context to be like. how do i cheer myself up, as opposed to just a list of things that bring me joy? it depends on what's fucking me up. sometimes i go sit outside and force myself to listen to the birds, or stare at the stars. as cliche as it is, there's this like inconceivably massive world around us that just cranks on and on no matter what and it's kind of nice to abruptly realize me and my problems don't mean shit, every once in a while. takes a load off for a little while. honestly one of my go-tos is a very random video on youtube, right here. when you figure that song has existed for 200 years, and the words beethoven incorporated are from a poem calling for peace among all peoples, and it takes so many people to perform the damn thing? and the human desire to create music presumably came from listening to bird calls, and it's one of the most joyous things we have in everything that we've ever done? the desire to make music, to put beauty out into the world, evolving through millennia from people in caves marking the walls with the best places for resonant sound, and then in 1824 beethoven releases a call for peace, an ode to joy, and now 200 years later people are still gathering to perform it, in this case for free for the public, and that public gathers round to have that shared experience and human connection and feel something real and incorruptible for just a few moments in a world that tells us we can never stop because there's always something Productive to be doing? yeah. it makes me very, very emotional and it's hard to stay sad or angry or so bitter i can't breathe after i watch it. my hamster. he's awake right now :) he's all bunched up in a little squishy ball by his water dish havin' a sipsip. he's got his little tiny people hands braced on the side of the dish and his little tiny ears are wiggling. i love him a lot playing with stuffed animals. singing for 8 hours straight until my voice is just a croak, then singing some more. getting the coloring really right on a gifset after a half hour of fucking with it. earning more neopoints on neopets than i was expecting to that day. watching late-night comedians with my husband before he goes to bed and getting to hear him laugh, looking over and his whole face is scrunched up and he's somehow rolled sideways in a recliner and has his legs pulled up and is clutching his belly cuz that joke was so good. realizing i have the energy to cook my own damn food. getting a new tattoo or piercing and feeling like i've reclaimed another little piece of my body. coloring my hair. getting my eyeliner wings relatively neat for once. any day where my pain and/or fatigue levels are less and i feel just a little bit more human. finally reaching a point in my life where, if i see a homeless person, i can afford to get them a hot meal. celebrating every hard-fought victory for equity and equality, no matter how big or small. throwing peanuts in the yard for the crows and listening to them caw to each other in the trees across the road. the fact that we switched to humane traps so we can release mice, not kill them. they're just hungry and cold, after all. honestly, nonnie, one of the best and most important things that i finally allowed myself to realize is i don't need an excuse to take joy in something. y'know those posts that are like "don't wait for a reason to wear the fancy dress or the expensive makeup or the good perfume or to drink the expensive wine?" that goes double here. if you see or do something that gives you that little spark of happiness, relief, or peace, grab it and fucking drown yourself in it. it's okay. you don't have to wait for something big enough to get excited about.

[shadowlessdeath]

What Happened To You?

(Dream)

Kat's POV:

"Do I have to go?" I asked, groaning in annoyance. "Yes you do. You don't have a choice in this," Sheriff sighed, "look, I know it's gonna be hard to go back there after what happened. Just don't do anything stupid, okay? Besides, I paid for all your music on the app you use" he said, going out the door. I got up from the couch, grabbed my bag and followed him out to his car. "Fine" I said, getting in the passenger seat and putting my seatbelt on.

The drive to the school was quiet, considering that it was before six in the morning, where there was little to no cars on the road. We arrived to the school and I got out of the car, but being stopped by sheriffs voice, "my son-" "Stiles" I cut him off. "Yes, Stiles. He's on the lacrosse team and is best friends with Scott. Just hang out there for a bit to get used to it, okay?" "Okay, and sheriff?" I said, closing the door. "Yeah?" "Thanks for the ride" "no problem Kat" he said, before pulling away from the school.

I took out my phone and went straight to my Spotify, putting in my earbuds and put the volume up all the way. I walked over the lacrosse field, put my bag down on the bleacher that was close by me and started to walk around the field. Carry On by Falling In Reverse came on and I started to sing, not noticing two figures standing at the bleachers. (Play song now). As I was singing I was getting really into the music, so much so, I felt a tear roll down my cheek with my eyes closed. I opened my eyes and immediately screamed. "Whoareyouandhowlonghaveyoubeenstandingthere?" I asked in one breathe, screaming at them. The brown haired boy wearing a flannel, walked over to me and took out my earbuds out of my ears. "One, that's really loud. Two, I'm Stiles and this Scott-" "your dad said that your on the lacrosse team" I cut him off. "Yeah we both are. And we've pretty much been here the whole time. And-wait...how do you know my dad?" "He drove me here before going to work" I said, getting my bag and walking into the locker room with both of them following me. "Who are you?" The other boy asked. "I'm Kat. And you are?" I said. "Oh sorry, I'm Scott" he said, smiling at me. "My dad didn't say anything about a random girl named Kat" Stiles said, looking down at me. "I'm not a random girl Stiles. I was your and Scott's best friend 6 months ago." I said, leaning against a locker, facing them both. "What are you talking about? I never had a best friend named Kat before" he said, skepticism laced in his voice and eyes. I turned around and walked out of the locker room and into the hallway, where it was filled with students. "I was your best friend Stiles. I know that I look different now, but trust me." I said, stopping in front of his locker where there was a few people standing. "I don't know if I should trust you. I just met you and you're telling me that you were my best friend 6 months ago." He said, looking at Scott. I roll my eyes at him, "then trust this", I grabbed his shirt in my fists and brought his lips down to mine. His lips moved in sync with mine, until I was thrown across the hall, hitting my back against a locker. "What do you think you're doing! He's my boyfriend!" A girl with dirty blonde hair said, while her eyes turned from brown to piercing blue with her fingernails growing into claws. I walked up her, smirking. "He didn't say anything about a girlfriend, bitch" I said, looking at Stiles who had his eyes wide open in shock. "Malia do-" Scott tried but got cut off by Malia lunging at me and grabbing at my throat with her claws digging in my flesh. I just laughed at her, which caused a confused emotion to fall on her face. "What are you laughing at?!" She demanded, digging her claws deeper into my neck. "That you think you're scaring me with those tiny claws, those small teeth and blue eyes" I said, before pulling out my pocket knife and plunging it in her stomach, making her release her grip on me. I took my pocket knife out of her and wiping it on my pants to get the blood off of it, before putting it back in my boot. I looked up to see five shocked faces. "She started it and plus she'll heal" I said, before grabbing my bag and walking out of the school.

I took out my phone, placing my earbuds in my ears getting ready to walk to Stilinski house, when my eyes caught on a green motorbike. I smirked, walking over to it, putting the helmet on, getting on it, starting the engine and out of the school parking lot.

Time skip

Stiles POV

It was the end of the school day and Scott and I were heading to lacrosse tryouts, when my phone vibrated. I looked at the text;

To: Stiles

From: dad

Get home now! Bring Scott with you

I locked my phone, grabbed my lacrosse gear and dragged Scott with me. "Dude, what are doing? It's lacrosse tryouts." He said, trying to get me back to the field. I showed him the text and threw his gear, along with mine, in the locker room, grabbing our bags and running to my jeep. "Where's my bike?!" He asked, panicking a little. "I have an idea" I said, as we both got in and drove to my house.

When we got to the house, my dad was waiting outside while the only sound was loud music. "Why aren't you in the house?" I asked him. "All the doors are locked and the spare keys are gone" he said, looking at Scott. "Who's in there?" I asked. "Kat," he sighed. "Dad, what aren't you telling us?" I said, looking at him. "Something happened six months ago. A house fire. She was the only one who survived. She doesn't have any family. The reason you guys don't remember her, is because she wanted it that way. Anyways, since then she's been under watchful eyes after some incidents happened. Oh and one more thing...she knows all about the supernatural stuff and-" a loud sound cut him off, causing Scott to kick the front door down. I ran up to the room where the music was coming from, opened the door where there was  no one in it. Another loud bang sounded from the bathroom. My dad turned off the music while Scott and I went to see what was happening in the bathroom. The door was unlocked, so we just walked in...and there Kat was. Laying on the floor, asleep with a bottle of Jack in her hand. "I can't hear her heartbeat" Scott said and I immediately rushed towards her. Scott took the bottle away from her, while I was getting on my knees to start cpr on her. I noticed a bottle of pills next to her arm...only the bottle was empty. I immediately put two and two together, and brought her up to a sitting position next to the toilet. I opened her mouth and stuck my pointer and middle fingers down her throat. "What are you doing?" Scott asked, concern evident in his voice. "If I can make her throw up, it'll get whatever she took out of her body." I said, before I shoved my fingers a little deeper in her throat. "Come on" I said, as I continued to choke her. Her eyes shot open and her hands found my arm. I took my fingers out and watched as she threw up in the toilet. Scott walked away to give us some privacy. I was about to get up from the floor, when she grabbed my hand. I sat back down behind her, holding her hair back for her, rubbing her back. She took uneven breaths, "I'm sorry....that I....did those...things at....school and.....did this....to your....house I....didn't mean....for this.....to happen" she said, in between sobbing and throwing up. "It's okay. Wanna talk about it after you're done?" I asked, which got a nod as a response from her. All of the sudden I'm slapped across the face.

(End of dream)

Kat's POV:

I opened my eyes to see that my mother was standing over me, yelling at me, which I couldn't understand mostly because she was slurring her words. My father, on the other hand, was punching and slapping me in the face. That explains the slap feeling I thought as I looked at both of them. They walked out of my room and I heard their footsteps go down the stairs. I groaned as I got out of bed. I went into the small bathroom that was connected to my room and looked in the broken mirror. Bruises were already forming on top of the ones I already have. Great. Just fucking great I thought as I walked back into my room to get ready for school. Normally I'd cover up my bruises with makeup, but since my parents sold all of it for money to get drugs and alcohol, I don't have that option anymore. Plus I'm broke.

Anyways, I got ready, wearing this.

After I was done getting ready, I walked downstairs, not even bothering to see where my parents were, and out the door. I didn't live far from the school, so I walked. By the time I reached it, the bell had rung, indicating I was late for my first class. I groaned inside and I made my way to class. As I stepped through the door, everyone stopped what they were doing and starred at me. "You're late Ms. Alexandria" coach Finstock said. I looked at him, with a glare. "Don't call me that" I said, as I walked to the back of the class and sat down. Everyone went back to listening to what coach was saying. Well everyone except Stiles and Scott. I just put my head down on the desk. All I could hear throughout class was "she looks like a hobo" and "she should just kill herself already". It was in the middle of class, when coach went to his office to take a call. I felt someone tap my shoulder, so I lifted my head to see who it was. It was one of the popular girls. Great I thought as I rolled my eyes. I stood up in front of her, crossing my arms. "What do you want?" I asked, not in the mood to deal with her. "I want you to kill yourself" she said, as she looked me over. "I mean, there's nothing special about you", she paused as she pushed me a little, "you're stupid," she paused as she ripped my shirt, "You're poor," she kicked me down, "and you're disgusting to look at" she said before stepping on my ribs on the right side with her heel, making my body make a breaking sound. She walked back to her seat as coach came back into room. "Kat, what the hell are you doing on the floor?" coach asked. "Just getting my daily nap in" I said, sarcasm laced in my voice. I got up, pain shooting all over my body, making me fall down again. I coughed up blood before I felt someone pick me up, which caused even more pain, and start walking. I closed my eyes and tried to focus on anything but the pain my body was producing. After an unknown amount of walking, I was laid down on something that felt like metal. I opened my eyes and saw I was in the boys locker room, laying on a bench. That explains the metal feeling I thought. I looked to my right and saw that Stiles and Scott were talking a few feet away from me. I tried sitting up, but ended up falling off the bench and onto the floor. I screamed from the pain, which alerted Scott and Stiles that I was conscious enough to make a sound. They both came over to me, worry on both of their faces. Scott put his fingers on my ribs and I screamed out in pain. "I can't see if they're broken if they're covered by clothing" Scott said. Stiles looked at me and pulled my shirt up to the bottom of my bra strap. Both of them made a face, telling me that it was what I thought. "What happened to you?" Stiles asked as he looked at me. "Got beat up in class" I said, looking at him. "No. Not that. Why are there black and purple bruises all over your stomach?" he asked, concern evident in his voice. "It's nothing." I looked at Scott this time. I felt Stiles hold my hand as Scott touched my ribs again, but this time the veins in his arms turned black. "Don't. I'm fine. Why are you taking the pain away?" I said. "Because you need it right now" he said. Yes, I know all about the supernatural shit in Beacon Hills. I caught Scott wolfing out on the lacrosse field one time and him and Stiles told me everything that night.

After Scott took some of my pain away, Stiles lifted me up and began walking out the school. "Where are we going?" I asked, still in pain. "To the hospital" Scott said, carrying my bag and his backpack. "But I'm fine Scott" I said, trying to convince them that I didn't need to go to hospital. "No. You're not Kat. You have bruises all over your stomach, no doubt on the rest of your body, your ribs are most likely broken and don't even get me started on your face" Stiles said as he stopped walking. "What's wrong with my face? Am I ugly or something?" I asked, being put in the back seat of Stiles' jeep. "No! You're not ugly. You're far from it. You just have a lot of bruises on it that's all" he said, rather quickly. "Oh...kay" was the only thing I could say before everything went dark.

[juicywritinghoard]

30 incredibly specific aus

ghost/cryptid hunter and person who will believe any dumb shit for a steady paycheck 

roommate A grabs the baseball bat only to find roommate B eating pickles and macarons in the kitchen at 4 in the morning 

yes I am a vampire sorry no the sleeping upside down hanging off the ceiling thing was just a bit

undeniable chemistry between the two lead actors in the worst hallmark movie ever

verified purchase reviewer on multipack of toy horses that only says THE RED ONES TASTE THE BEST and customer service agent going hello???? enemies to lovers nightmare 

librarian desperate to understand what wild phase the other character is going thru rn

goofing around in ikea and accidentally spending +2 hours in there. where does it end and honestly where is the bathroom 

roped into a d&d game with someone and having a crush on them but only knowing their character name

"So what brings you to the ER today?" well I laughed so hard at my own joke I passed out and hit my head? "oh my god" I know 

made a little offering to an ancient deity for funsies and woke them from a deep slumber. oops

I don't know why you've got a ferret on a leash but at least I've stopped crying on public transportation to watch that lil guy go

the decorative fishtank at this restaurant just broke, my instant reaction was to pick one of the fish up with my bare hands, and now we've made eye contact about it

sorry for swearing a blood feud against you but in my defense you paid for your whole transaction in quarters

I'm so so sorry I didn't mean to honk at you, I sneezed and hit the honker on accident please don't be upset at me

nothing against your choices at all, honestly kind of enthralled, but the fishnets and thigh high boots and pirate blouse seem like a lot for this 8am class 

you make me sick. babe I want to make this work but I'm so allergic to your fur

i can excuse unethical science but I draw the line at skirting lab safety. you cannot be eating rn

doctor doctor give me the news, I got a bad case of uncontrollable super powers

listen it's just a mild case of radiation poisoning you don't have to yell abt it

accidentally saw their coworker's nipple piercings

hang on have you never seen the stars outside of the city? we're going on a road trip immediately

working on the moon is fine but the alien jokes are getting old

pretending to be married for this high stakes heist is kind of distracting not gonna lie

truth serum is stupid and this is never gonna work but the fact you believe it will makes me love you even more. wait. shit

you know I've been waiting for an excuse to come unhinged and I think this might be it actually, so thank you for that

hahaha no worries, it's not my blood

but what's wrong with the lyric, "baby you make me feel like the home depot light fixture aisle" ?? I don't understand 

haha don't roll up your sleeves and tie up your hair our relationship is so platonic rn haha

I would help you move. I would follow you into hell. but you cannot make me come on vacation with your family I will do an actual homicide stop nodding and smiling at me I'm so serious 

hey bud. I didn't mean to reveal that I can read minds but I gotta know what in the actual hell is going on in your head, do you live like this? always??

[erensrag]

bimbo!reader x judgmental nerd eren

eren x y/n (wc: 3173)

warnings: nswf, slut shaming, slight dubious consent

i don’t think i did this correctly….

"no please, take your time. it's not like we've been here for hours." eren's sharp voice brings you out of your thoughts.

his piercing gaze is right there to meet yours when you finally stop staring at the wall. you chew on your pencil, quickly diverting your attention to the paper in front of you. you've done your best to avoid looking at him the majority of the time you've been here.

it's not your fault you can't look into his eyes for longer than a second. he's the one who's always observing you with that cold, calculating stare. you've been on the end of judgmental looks and not so quiet whispers for years now and have learned to not let them bother you—well you thought you mastered the art of simply ignoring those kinds of people. until eren.

you didn't even know he existed until a few weeks ago. the introduction for you two consisted of a simple bumping into each other in the crowded hallways of school, it ended with him bitterly muttering something about idiot cheerleaders as he stumbled away. not even sparing you a second glance. after that, you saw him often and he made his dislike for you evidently clear.

which makes no sense. how can someone not like you?

it's usually jealous girls giving you the stink eye and making up the ridiculous rumors. they're the ones who don't want to associate themselves with you. not nerdy nobodies who can't walk without stumbling over their own two feet. no, people like him usually worship the ground you walk on. or at least drool a little.

seriously you've tried everything to get rid of that menacing stare and frigid tone he always greets you with. it's like he's immune. "jesus y/n, how dumb are you?"

and they definitely don't talk to you like that. you know you're not the brightest, which is why your teacher got this jerk of a nerd to tutor you right before exam week but is that really an excuse for him to treat you like this? biting the inside of your cheek, you nudge a corner of your sweater until your left shoulder is exposed. leaning forward and batting your eyelashes which gets no response from him other than a blank stare. "i'm not dumb. i just don't get it." you pout. "can't you just tell me the answer? we've spent like thirty minutes on this question."

"thirty minutes cause you're an idiot." he mutters more to himself.

"i'm trying my best!"

"you should've learned this months ago. you would've if you didn't spend your time skipping class to hang out with your pig muscle boyfriend."

"he's not my boyfriend..." you go back to chewing on the pencil.

"so you just make out with any guy behind the bleachers?"

"you seem to know a lot about me." you look at him again, that stupid cold stare looking back at you through those glasses.

"who doesn't. you're y/n. the whole school knows of your...activities."

"those are just rumors." some of them are. most are true. you enjoy living life to the fullest. it's not your fault the people in your school saw a confident, attractive woman and instantly decided to put less than appealing labels on her. "and besides they're none of your business."

"whatever. just solve this, this is taking longer than our usual sessions and my mom will be home soon."

you groan, looking down at the textbooks and not understanding a single word. “please just tell me the answers.” you ask one last time, desperate.

“no.”

you huff, returning your attention to the book. “you’re going to age badly with all that scowling you do. just so you know.”

“shut up.”

"eren..." you say after five minutes which causes a frustrated sigh to leave his lips. "do you have an issue with me?" it's been four sessions of the frigid tension he always puts between you two and there's a lot more to come before graduation so you just want to get whatever problems he has with you out of the way.

it takes a few seconds before he's looking up from the textbook, pushing his glasses up as he sends you probably the most intimidating glare you've seen from him. "excuse me?" the very tone of his voice has goosebumps forming on your skin but you force yourself to stand your ground. you're not going to let some loser who's probably never even kissed someone to look down on you.

"you— you just seem to—"

"i don't have an issue with you y/n." he slams the book on the table causing you to jump. "having an issue with someone like you would imply i care enough and trust me i'll never care for such a ditzy little slut who doesn't respect herself."

you've been called worse than that and usually by scorned boys you hooked up with. but they were popular gym rats, not some overconfident lanky freak. you had a snarky reply on the tip of your tongue but with the cogs in your brain suddenly malfunctioning, you could only stutter out a pathetic, "i—i'm none of those things!"

"really?" he scoffs, actually getting up and walking over and as he does you think maybe it would've been a safer option to just keep your mouth shut. "wide doe eyes without nothing behind them. check." he starts. "plump lips perfect for what you do best. check." and the asshole has the nerve to slowly swipe his fingers across your bottom lip.

you should stand up, tell him to go to hell and get out of here but you're frozen. limbs not moving an inch as he continues, "empty little head. check. skimpy outfits to attract attention. check. i mean let's face the facts.."

you never would've thought the loser that always sits in the back of the class with his nose buried deep in a book would speak like this to you. it's insulting. freaking degrading. he knows nothing about you and yet he has that expression on his face like he does. "if i'm such a ditzy little slut as you so nicely put then i'd be jumping at the chance to hook up with you but here we are." you seethe.

that seems to finally strike a nerve as he scoffs, crossing his arms over his chest. you cut him off before he can defend himself.

"is that it...you're angry i haven't made a move on you because that's what sluts do isn't it? bone everything they see? is your pride wounded that i don't see you in that way, eren?" you let out a mirthless laugh. "well news flash, pretty girls like me don't go for freaks like you."

you got up, ready to grab your things and run out all while trying to ignore the nerves inside of you. he just stands there, rigid and glaring. "really?" he asks once your books are back in your bag.

"y—yes. now if you'll excuse me—" your wrist is being grabbed before you can take another step and for a second both of you are stunned, you mostly frozen in your spot because this creep has the audacity to touch you after everything he just said. you don't know what his excuse is but he only stands there like a shocked puppy before pushing you on the desk.

a gasp escapes your lips at being manhandled by him  of all people, what the fuck is he doing? you're on your stomach, feet on the ground as the fucker puts a hand on your back, keeping you there. "w-what are you doing?" you pant out, bewildered at everything that just happened.

"i..." he trails off, not saying anything before manhandling you again. only this time it's for you to lay on your back and fuck, you could fight back. he's surprisingly strong for such a lanky freak but you're a cheerleader who does complex moves out on the field almost every day. you could kick him off, slam that big textbook in his face to the point his nose breaks and run out, making sure to report him.

but you don't. it's not that you can't. for some reason, you just don't want to. maybe it's curiosity, to see what exactly he plans on doing. to see if a loser like him actually has the balls to do anything but back away and apologize profusely.

"you're not fighting back." he simply says, sounding a bit confused as he comes to lean over your body. his hands on either side of your head as he stares down, those stupid piercing eyes staring down at you. "why?"

"shouldn't i be the one asking the questions here? like why the fuck you have me on this desk?"

he raises an eyebrow, leaning back and grabbing your thighs causing you to squeal in surprise. he spreads them, raising the dress you’re wearing until it's pooling at your stomach before you can even blink.

shit. what's wrong with him?

what's wrong with you? you should be kicking at him, you could easily shove him off. you could do it in a blink of an eye so why the hell aren't you.

where there's supposed to be fear...there's only anticipation. "you really are a slut." he laughs cruelly, pulling your panties down until they're completely off. where he throws them, you don't know. probably in some corner to hide so you forget about them, who knows what a pervert like him would do with it?

"you barely know me and yet...look at this." you shudder as his finger circles your clit before swiping across your cunt, bringing his hand up to show you your slick as if for emphasis.

"shut up." you grit through your teeth. "you're—" you don't have time to finish your insult before he's kneeling down, tongue immediately latching onto your clit.

your nails instantly scrape against the desk, shuddering as he begins to suckle on your clit. his tongue delves into you, fingers digging into your thighs on purpose as if the freak wants to hurt you. you can play that game too if he wants, fingers going to grab at the strands of his dark hair, pulling as you ground your hips against his annoyingly experienced tongue.

usually, your sexual partners don't willingly choose to eat you out but here is he. practically eager to get to business. he acted so high and mighty and still has the gall to continue doing so yet he's the one on his knees right now. freaking nerds are so easy. even overly judgmental ones with sharp gazes.

he’s basically lapping at you, moving from sucking your clit to eagerly drinking up your juices. never coming up for air as if he was made to simply do this. "f—fuck." you didn't want to make any noises, any implications that what he's doing is actually making you feel good but dammit it's hard when a tongue is diving deep into your most sensitive parts.

a particular bite has you instantly bringing your legs together but he quickly grabs them, forcing them apart to shove his face in between your thighs again. your breath catches in your throat as he licks up your dripping pussy. he doesn’t relent even once and the moans won’t stop escaping your lips, “sl—slow down. gonna…dammit.”

his tongue licks…freaking everywhere. the obscene noises causing you to hang your head back, he’s licking and sucking everything up as if it’s his favorite meal.

and it’s embarrassing. how fast you come. but how can not you? you mercilessly pull at his hair and shamelessly moan when you do. somehow you're the sweating and panting one as he stands up. "so that's what all the hype is about?" he tsk, seemingly bored.

it takes a few seconds for you to find the breath to say “don't act like you didn't enjoy that, with the way you were eagerly—”

"shut up." he takes his glasses off, putting them to the side before grabbing your thighs and pulling you closer to him.

"you're disgusting, you know? the nerve you have—"

"i spent the last two hours teaching you simple biology and somehow you couldn't do one question by yourself, if i'm testy that's all on you.

"it's not my fault." it comes out as a whine and you hate it, you were supposed to be insulting him. at least have some pride when you're about to be fucked by the guy who looks at you like you're nothing but a dirty piece of gum.

"shut up, for crying out loud. shut up." his voice is raspy as he unbuckles the belt to his revolting khakis.

you can't help as your eyes widen once his cock is in view. for such a nerd, he's actually packing. one hand holds your hips as the other guides his dick towards your leaking area and slight panic starts to take over. "a-aren't you gonna prep?" as orgasmic as that oral job was, you doubt just that will be enough to prepare you for that.

he grins, probably the first smile you've ever seen on his annoyingly handsome face. "don't worry, i'm sure a slut like you has a loose enough cunt."

"you little shit! that's—" your words get caught in your throat, back arching as he moves his hips forward, piercing inside of you. "fuck."

a broken sound leaves your lips as he continues to push his length in. it doesn't hurt like you expected it to but there's still a strong ache that you know will leave you limping tomorrow morning. it burns, burns so good you have to squeeze your eyes shut. you need something to hold onto as he starts to move, anything to give you some sort of balance but the flat surface underneath you offers no help. "ngh...eren..." you're not sure what you want to say but he doesn't give you time to think of something before he sets a rhythm.

it's surprisingly slow at first, like he wants you to feel every vein on his cock and you do. your walls desperately clench around him as you bite on your bottom lip, the room suddenly feeling too hot as his fingers grab your chin, forcing you to look at him. into that stupid gaze he won't stop staring at you with. his mouth is slightly open but no sound comes out. he's perfectly collected and you hate it. people like him should be cumming the second you touch them but he's...it's annoying.

his pace starts to speed up—he doesn't even give it another second before he's ramming inside of you. holding your hips with both hands as he sets a brutal pace that has you moving up and down the desk. "p-pretty decent for a nerd—ah!"

still, he stays silent. ugh, what's wrong with him? you bring your arm up to your mouth, muffling the moans spilling out of your lips in spite but his hands are immediately pulling them off. he chuckles, coming close enough that his breath fans against your face and a lewd moan comes out of you as he hits an even deeper spot. "don't do that, we all know this is what you want. to be fucked hard and fast to the point you're nothing but a mindless whore whose only purpose is to scream in pleasure."

you don't respond, biting down hard on your lips. his thrusts became more aggressive as he scoffs, "fine." his hand finds its way to your throat, squeezing slightly.

you suck in a shuddering breath just as his hold tightens, bordering on dangerous but for some reason the lack of air only makes your pussy throb, clenching tight around him. why does it feel good? why does everything he's doing to you only make you want more? his thrusts have now gotten erratic, almost forcing your body off the desk but the hold on your hips and throat keep you right where you are. you want to let out the moan clawing out from inside your throat but his grip stays, merciless as he pounds into you.

you don't know how much of this you can take, everything feels too hot. it's too much. "fuck look at you, didn't think you could look even more dumb." he pants, staring down. he finally removes his hand from your throat and you cry out the second he does.

"eren, please i'm—fuck...too much, it's too much." you gasp even though a sick part of you knows you could do this all night.

but right now...with the way his voice is dripping with cockiness— you hate it, hate the way he looks at you and talks to you. it's infuriating and too much. a tsk comes out of his mouth, "who knew you had a limit?" he rolls his eyes and in the next second, he's spilling inside of you. spilling and spilling until some drip on the floor.

like he's been holding himself back all this time.

fuck. he could've at least let you release a second time. you didn't think the asshole would be finishing right after you said that. you're panting, eyes staring at the white ceiling as he pulls out. he zips up his stupid ugly looking khakis as he steps back. "can you get off my desk now?"

the nerve of him...ugh. you slowly sit up, dress sticking to your skin due to the sweat and you have to refrain from asking to use his shower before leaving.

he gets you your bag and you slowly take it, throat aching and dry. there'll definitely be bruises around your throat and hips tomorrow and you're sure he's secretly delighted at that fact. "uh...." you trail off.

this is usually the part where they ask for your number, pleading for a second night with that desperate look in their eyes but he doesn't even send you another glance as he gathers up the papers on the desk, putting them into a binder. "make sure to study before sleeping tonight...if your body can handle that." his lips slightly curve up at that last part but he's not bragging, no just mocking you.

"o...okay." you lick your dry lips, suddenly needing a mint. "uh...bye?" you stand up too fast, cursing at yourself for it but his arm is around your hips before you can fall.

you bite the inside of your cheek, the proximity too close even though he was just inside of you a minute ago. he sighs, "do you need a ride home?" he asks grudgingly.

and you should say no. you don't need to be in an enclosed space with this asswipe for another second. just say no and walk into class the next day, demanding for another tutor. and then you'll never have to talk to him ever again.

but instead a weak nod comes out.

[likeastarstar]

My Little Monster Pt. 4

(A/N: Sorry Bae. Warning! Involves mentions of death, eating people's emotions, demons...also, if sexual fluidity bothers you just..,just don't interact with me or my writing at all man.)

masterlist.

You really wished you had underwear on right now.

How long had you been out? It must've been awhile, considering the level of tension that had built up in the room around you. Jungkook looked out of place in this version of your life, standing with his arms crossed and his weight shifted to one leg, a harsh look on his face that made you squirm.

Gone was the long hair you had known when you first met Jungkook, now it was cropped short, lines shaved into the undercut behind his ear. He looked more severe with this hair, pale skin almost glowing around sharp silver piercings. At least he still dressed the same, black utilitarian boots anchoring into the fluffy rug of Yoongi's living room.

You knew it must bother Yoongi, the fact that Jungkook didn't take his shoes off before entering his home. Holly sniffed curiously around the large boots, head tilted in confusion.

Who was this man and why was he so pissed?

You snapped your head towards Yoongi, a similar expression of harsh judgment on his face. You couldn't tell if it was directed towards you or not, but the energy radiating off of Yoongi tasted like it did when you first met him. Angry.

"I've been looking for you months- I haven't heard from you in so long, I got worried." Jungkook frowned, staring at the dazed look on your face.

"We've gone longer without talking before," You insisted, crossing your arms. "Why are you really here?"

"People said they hadn't seen you in awhile- we might not talk much anymore but you always check in. I make sure you're safe regardless, you know that." Jungkook pouted.

You didn't say anything, looking at him with a blank expression. You used to be attached to his side- he was your best friend. Things had never been the same after you decided killing people was a better way of nourishing yourself. It was your own stubbornness that drove you apart- but still. You missed your best friend. You knew that he kept tabs on you but didn't realize that when you stopped frequenting the same spots you had before you met Yoongi, it would alarm him.

"What? Did you think I died?" You laughed, deflecting the guilty feeling in your chest.

Jungkook refused to look away from you, pain so clear on his face. He was always better at being honest about how he felt. He wasn't afraid of you knowing he was scared for you, wasn't afraid to hunt you down to make sure you were okay.

"Something like that." Jungkook muttered, shrugging slightly. "Now I realize something much worse is going on."

"Huh?" Yoongi snapped, breaking his silence.

You shared his confusion, drifting towards your boyfriend.

Jungkook pretended Yoongi wasn't in the room, only acknowledging the outburst with a slight twitch of annoyance in his shoulder.

"Can you please explain this to me?" Yoongi asked you. You nodded, forgetting for a moment that you had a whole life you had neglected to mention to Yoongi.

"This is Jungkook- he, he's my friend." You explained. "He made me...this. What I am."

"A lust demon." Jungkook corrected with an annoyed look on his face, "Say it- a lust demon. A dead, sinister presence made to feed on humans although right now you're acting more like the food."

"You're the one who wanted me to stop killing people, I stopped- what's the problem." You snapped, throwing your hands up.

Jungkook looked at you, outraged, "The problem is that you- you're...domesticated. It's gross."

"You're talking a lot of shit for someone who looks like they just got outta college," Yoongi warned from his place on the couch. The two men were so different physically but you'd be lying if you said Yoongi didn't remind you of Jungkook at times. They even had matching glares on their faces right now, aimed towards each other.

"I'm a million years old-"

"You're, like, not even 100 and you stopped aging at 24, your prefrontal cortex clearly never had a chance to develop," You interrupted, rolling your eyes. Yoongi smirked and let out a dry laugh, holding his hand out for a fist bump.

You did so eagerly, making a little explosion noise as your knuckles made contact while Jungkook watched the two of you, slightly disgusted.

"Come off it- and what's with that red hair? Do the curtains match the drapes?"

You frowned at Jungkook, tilting your head in confusion. Jungkook didn't look so sure of the comment himself, freezing for a moment. Yoongi, on the other hand, was taking full advantage, grinning wolfishly now. He has recently dyed his hair a gingery red, lighting a fire in you that made you ever more attracted to him- clearly he was too powerful now.

"You sound a little jealous, is that what this is about?" Yoongi laughed, "Does someone need a snack?"

"Woah," You mumbled, looking between the two of them awkwardly. You tilted your head, tasting something palpable in the air. You thought it was sheer annoyance at first but now that Yoongi mentioned it...

You cleared your throat awkwardly, taking a step towards Jungkook, "It's your mood Yoongi- your feelings are radiating off of you. It can be a little hard to focus on anything else for us when your emotions are this strong, I'm sure he doesn't actually..."

You trailed off as Yoongi grumbled under his breath, a million questions no doubt running through his mind. Jungkook had always had a harder time shutting off the hungry side of him, dumb little comments fueled by horniness slipping out every now and then. You actually found it really funny usually, except when you were already caught between your best friend and your boyfriend. No, now it was just incredibly awkward.

"Whatever, I'm here to take her home," Jungkook snapped, pointing an angry finger at you. He named a home you hadn't been to in ages, a home that only visited you in random dreams when you were particularly stuck on missing your best friend. Jungkook then swiveled on his heels to face Yoongi with a childishly angry look on his face, pink lips pulled into a pout, "I wouldn't feed on you if you were the last human on earth. I'd rather die and I'm already dead. I'd rather die again!"

"She's not going anywhere," Yoongi said adamantly, looking towards you. His eyes locked on your bare thighs and realized you were still standing there in nothing but his hoodie, raising his eyebrows slightly. "Go put pants on-"

"Don't tell her what to do." Jungkook quipped defensively, not bothering to let you say a word.

You felt like a toy being fought over, caught in the middle without any mention of what you wanted, "Hey-"

"Who are you? Her father?" Yoongi laughed, cutting you off.

Your frown deepened, trying to find a way to cut in between dumb and dumber.

"Why, worried she calls me daddy?" Jungkook sneered haughtily, crossing his arms smugly.

"Nah, not worried about that at all," Yoongi sighed, leaning back into the couch, he let his knees fall open, manspreading in an act of cocky opulence, "Not when she likes when I call her pet."

"OKAY," You yelled, deep embarrassment washing over your entire body. You should've stayed dead. "I'm gonna go change and we're all going to just...calm down."

You walked back towards your bedroom quickly, reaching over to pinch Yoongi on the neck as you passed him. He squirmed and shot you a look but said nothing, Jungkook grumbling under his breath.

When you came back out with an actual outfit on, Yoongi was gone. You frowned, looking around for him before Jungkook waltzed out of the kitchen holding a vase you had made for Yoongi during your pottery phase.

"He went on a drive," Jungkook informed with a pleased looking smile on his face, "Said he needed to clear his head."

Your frown deepened, wondering why he hadn't asked you to go with him. Maybe he needed a human moment- sometimes he asked for those when he wanted to be alone. Still, he could've taken you.

"Well, now that you know I'm fine, I guess you're leaving too, right?" You mumbled, pulling the sleeves of your sweater over your hands. Jungkook frowned, pouting slightly before setting the vase down and crossing the room, throwing his arms around you in a tight hug.

"No, I haven't seen you in forever." He said, squishing his cheek against the top of your head, "I wanna hang out."

You sighed, wrapping your arms around his waist and hugging him tightly. You pushed your nose into his chest and inhaled, comforted by his scent. You missed him- the way he smelled, the warmth that spread over you when he was around. You hadn't realized how different being around humans was- the constant wave of emotion impacting your system, altering your own mood. You loved Yoongi, you loved being around him all the time and if you could choose right now you'd be in his car beside him, but you couldn't deny the clarity that you felt without a human around.

"Okay, fine." You grumbled. "You can stay for a bit."

"Good," Jungkook grinned, "Maybe then you can explain to me why the fuck you made that god awful vase."

Yoongi didn't come back for hours, gracing Jungkook with ample time to catch up on your life. You were happy to be around him, a calm feeling of peace settling over you.

"Now that we're alone," Jungkook said slowly, leaning towards you, "Can you please tell me what the fuck is going on? Why are you living with a human?"

You frowned, staring down at your hands, "I- I love him. I want to be with him."

Jungkook didn't say anything, leaning back into the couch. He let his knees fall apart as his head hung back, staring at the ceiling idly, "You know you only feel like that because that's how he's making you feel- don't you? We're basically mirrors for humans. You were so angry for so long because you only fed on negative feelings. Now you think you're in love because that's what you're eating. You are what you eat, it's all fake- you're smart enough to know that."

"You don't know that for sure-"

"Trust me," He laughed humorlessly. "I do. And anyway, what happens when he ages? You're gonna fuck an 80 year old? What about when he dies? What then? Or let's say he wants to be a demon- which, by the way, I am so not doing- then you feed off of other people? Do you think he'd be okay with that? Would you be okay with ruining his life like that?"

You bit your lip, unsure of what to say. It wasn't as if these things hadn't crossed you mind, but you just didn't have a solution. It was a problem for later- you were focused on now. You felt Jungkook take your hand softly, lacing his fingers between yours.

"I know you might think I'm just saying this because I happen to be a demon myself, but I'm also right." He said softly, "Explain it to me now, when he isn't here to cloud your head- How do you see this working? Do you really love him?"

You stared at Jungkook blankly, tracing the expectant expression on his face. He was right- there was no way to know if you were truly in love with him. You pushed the thought away, pulling your hand out of his, "I think you should leave. You're not helping me, you're only making me more confused."

Jungkook looked taken aback, stuck in his spot. You rose to your feet, walking to the front door quickly. He followed after a moment, shoulders slumped slightly.

"You know where home is, if you need me." He muttered, pushing past you. You watched him walk away until you couldn't see him any longer, taking your sense of peace with him.

You did your best to put what Jungkook said behind you, but it seemed that you weren't the only one that he had given a speech to. Yoongi came back later that night but didn't say much- a couple weeks later and he still wasn't saying much.

It was easy to forget that Yoongi was still indeed, a human. The things that came with they were difficult- he cared about other people, wanted to help when he saw an old lady crossing the street, donated money to children's hospitals. You loved Yoongi- but you were still a demon.

It was hard to understand why he did these things, why he cared. Empathy wasn't something you understood, just that it changed the energy humans emitted. Made them taste different- love tasted the best, lust made your mouth water, fear was good too. But sadness? It was gross. Tasted bitter, made you gag and recoil.

You stared at Yoongi now, his slumped over shoulders with his head in his hands. He was seated at the kitchen table, a full plate of food you had made sitting in front of him. You walked over, hovering above him with your arms laying limply at your sides, confused.

"You're not eating."

Yoongi didn't say much, rubbing his eyes slightly. You pressed your mouth into a harsh line, pointing at the plate, "I made you food- I learned how to make eggs the way you like. You're not eating them."

"Sorry," He mumbled, moving his hands off of his face and into weak fists at his plate. "I'm just not very hungry."

You felt the sadness wafting off of him, narrowing your eyes slightly. "Why do you taste different?"

"Taste?" He frowned, looking up at you with his face scrunched up. "Oh- I guess my mood changes how my energy tastes, huh? I...I'm not feeling very good right now."

"You're sick?" You asked lamely, sitting at the far end of the table.

Yoongi picked up the fork next to his hand and stabbed at his food, pushing it around his plate idly, "No. I'm not sick, just...I dunno. I think I'm just stressed out."

You could see what he meant- the bags under his eyes, his even paler than normal complexion. Even his hands, which were usually steady, were shaking slightly. He looked like he did when you met him- except back then you thought that was just him. Now you knew better, had gotten used to his smiley face and the pink tinge of human vitality on his cheeks.

"Well, when are you gonna be normal again?" You asked, frowning. "Should I find another recipe for eggs? What about steak? I saw you eating that once, I can figure it out."

"Normal? I- I don't-" Yoongi huffed, getting frustrated. His energy was changing, less bitter, more....salty. Anger- it was anger. "Food's not gonna fix it. That's not how feelings work."

"That's how my feelings work," You reasoned, shrugging. "You humans make everything so complicated, why not just find a solution instead of wallowing?"

Yoongi stared at you, all anger now. At least he wasn't sad. See, you fixed the problem. Now he was better. You smiled at him, tilting your head to the side, waiting for praise. Maybe a 'thank you pet, you're right' or a 'I was just being dramatic, sorry about that'. Instead, Yoongi's face melted into a blank look, eyebrows raising as his mouth open and closed a million times like he was about to say something and then stopped himself.

You frowned, noticing his energy change again- this guy was like a mood ring, back to bitter sadness.

"I don't know why I thought you'd understand," He whispered, almost inaudibly.

"Probably because you forgot that I'm not human," You suggested, aiming to be helpful.

"Clearly," He spat, staring at the ground with an annoyed look on his face. He paused, rubbing at the temples of his forehead, "Sometimes, I think we should've taken things slower."

"What?" You snapped, scoffing at him.

"You stalked me for two weeks and then we had sex and you moved in," He pointed out, "We moved fast- that's all I'm saying."

You narrowed your eyes, disliking the tone he was taking. His anger was melting away into cautious anxiety. You could see him treading carefully, tiptoeing around something he wasn't saying bluntly.

"What did Jungkook say to you?" You asked suddenly, crossing your arms and locking your eyes onto him.

Yoongi looked at you nervously, flicking his gaze back to the plate of food in front of him instead when he saw how pissed off you looked, "Nothing I didn't I didn't already know. Were you two just friends or did you date?"

"Just friends- What difference does it make?" You spat, tilting your head to the side while neglecting to mention the habit Jungkook and you had for sharing meals often, feeding off the same person when both of you felt hungry enough. Sometimes that involved sex- occasionally.

Yoongi shrugged, broad shoulders scrunched up under the thin material of his shirt. "I just wanna know if he's trying to get me to break up with you so he can have you to himself or if he's right- that we shouldn't be together."

It was probably both. Jungkook and you had been inseparable for the longest time, it's only natural that he'd want you back to being his best friend. You wanted to say it was both, but you couldn't admit it. The two of you stayed silent, neither one of you saying much of anything.

"You said forever," You reminded him, an accusing edge to your voice but you knew he wasn't at fault here. It wasn't his fault he was the braver one out of the two of you.

You drifted towards him, magnetized by the flood of emotions coming off of him. He tasted like all the things that had made up your diet before he loved you- negativity. It confused you, your head saying it was a bad thing that he tasted like that but your body reacting differently. Your hands tingled, wanting to touch him, to taste more of how he was feeling and swallow him whole.

Yoongi seemed to agree, shifting closer to you and pushing his chair back, rising to his full height as you leaned your hip against the table's edge. His hand laid flat over yours, skin burning yours as he kept eye contact, a hazy look unfocusing and refocusing on yours.

"Yeah well," Yoongi mumbled, locking eyes with you with a renewed stubbornness. He pressed his hips flat against yours, pushing a stray piece of hair behind your ear. "I didn't bother to consider that my forever is much shorter than yours. I'm not immortal. I have a whole life ahead of me, I age. I...I want kids and I want my mom to meet the person I'm with without wondering why the hell they're not eating what she made them for dinner."

There was a sinking feeling in your chest and you leaned forward, wanting a smaller distance between you and the taste of disappointment that Yoongi reeked of. Your brain hated that you were the cause of it but you were so damn hungry...

Yoongi crashed his mouth against yours brashly- all teeth, anger, and brutal force. He kissed you like you needed him to, like it was the last time you'd see him because it probably was. His hold on you was bruising, gripping your face in one hand as his tongue licked into your mouth, slotting one leg between yours. You kissed him back with a matching ferocity, gripping the material of his shirt in your fists and holding him against you.

"If you do this," You said carefully, your voice small as you pulled away to breathe for a moment, "If you end things, you can't undo it. I don't know how it works but if I leave you now, you won't even remember you met me at all in a couple weeks."

Yoongi didn't say anything, kissing you again instead. You let him turn you in his arms and walk you backwards towards the couch, stumbling over the back of it until you landed on the soft cushions with a light 'thud'. He climbed over you, flattening his body against yours.

"I don't want that," Yoongi mumbled softly between kisses leading down your neck, "I love you- you know how much I love you. We've been making it work so far, maybe we can find a way..."

Neither one of you believed that. You stood in the apartment you were beginning to realize wasn't your home at all, it was Yoongi's and you had forced your way in. You looked around, barely recognizing the life you found yourself in. You were realizing now that making it work didn't mean that it was actually working.

What was undoubtedly working was your physical chemistry, Yoongi rocking against your body in waves. Your hand gripped his ass, squeezing the flesh in your hand. You did what you wanted to him, touching where you wanted. You'd miss this- the comfort in owning someone the way you felt like you had owned Yoongi and how he owned you.

"There's no way." You thought aloud, "We can't be ourselves and be together at the same time. One of us would constantly be pretending to be something we're not for the other."

"But I don't want to forget you," He insisted, sad eyes boring into yours. "Make me remember- don't let me forget."

You tried to memorize the way he felt but even that was different now- suddenly the warmth that had always comforted you and kept you fed had gone cold. All that was left was sadness, not that it would last long for him. He'd go back to being his normal happy self once you left him for good, memories of you wouldn't haunt him. No- he'd be free and you'd be stuck in hell, pining for a man who wouldn't be able to even see you after today, much less recognize you if you passed him in the street.

If there was one thing you could do, it was make sure you left him knowing how much you cared for him.

It's the last you'll have Yoongi the way you want him and you make it count, memorizing the way his arms feel wrapped around you, how soft his lips felt latched onto your skin. You took special note of the look of concentration on his face as he pushed into you, the raspy growl he let out when you raked your nails down his back. He fucked you like he loved you, pushing and pulling against you, watching with hooded eyes as you straddled him, lifting and dropping your hips onto him. You memorized the color pink his skin flushed, the way sweat beaded at his hairline. You smoothed the frown etched on his face, admiring the shift in disposition after you did so.

A clarity settled after the two of you had finished, laying side by side in silence, catching your breath.

"I'm gonna go get a towel- I'll be right back," Yoongi mumbled after a moment, rising from the couch. He staggered towards the bathroom and you felt your heart sink, knowing if there was ever a time to leave- it was now. Yoongi would find some excuse to keep you in his life, to keep him from forgetting you. It would hurt him more, having you stick around.

No, it was better if it was finite- the last time you came back to him before he could forget completely but that wouldn't happen this time. You weren't coming back this time.

The minute Yoongi walked out of the door, you started spinning- this was it, you had to leave him- or had he already left you? Your human, the one human you cared for, left you. What part of forever meant two years?

You stared at the apartment he left you in, now littered with signs of your own existence. Why had he let things get so far? Why did he assure you at every turn that it was okay to let your guard down?

This was a mistake, knowing him, trusting him, loving him. You grabbed the nearest thing to you, a stupid vase you made when you tried out pottery for the first time, painting a little stick figure of Yoongi and you holding hands on it. Yoongi had made fun of you when you showed it to him, teasing you for how terrible it was, how cheesy the little red hearts surrounding the drawing were. You lifted it and smashed it against the wall, wishing you had never made the thing in the first place.

You stared at the shattered clay pieces on the ground, red roses once arranged carefully in the vase lying helplessly on the ground.

You never should've fallen in love with a human.

You stalked out of the apartment you had mistakenly called yours, already dialing a number that felt like home. There was no one else who could comfort you now, no one else you could bare being around.

"Jungkook?" You mumbled, voice shaking with nervousness, "Do you think- Do you think I could I come home?"