#no bro what if we were destined enemies

[cometblaster2070]

bribelle gets me so good because it's like:

but what if we were destined to be enemies what if we were destined to play the part of enemies before we were even born what if our fates were decided before we could ever get a say in it and we had to play the parts that were given to us and that were performed by those before us for god knows how long and what if you were born loved and cherished and treasured what if you were gold and beauty and roses and the sun and what if I was born cursed and despised and feared and what if I was darkness and coldness and sharp thorns and the moon and what if we were still made to complete each other.

what if we were told that we had to hate each other that you were my mortal enemy and that I had to kill you, no, I had to condemn you to a fate worse than death in order to fulfil my destiny and play my part correctly but what if we never hated each other what if we were friends what if we cared for each other what if you were one of the only people who could stand me and see through me and took care to remember me and check up on how I was doing and what if you were one of the only people I could be open with be honset and genuine with.

and what if we were destined to be enemies but that was never the case and what if we fell in love instead? what if I never wanted to curse you, never wanted to make you sleep for a hundred years what if I wanted to save you what if I wanted to be your prince your savior would you accept that would you let me save you would you let me be your true love rather than your destined villain?

you and i are destined to be together all the same but I would prefer it if it were as my lover rather than my nemesis. and what if we both shared the same dream what if we BOTH wanted the same thing what if we both loved each other? then what?

this is a stupid ramble but GOD epic winter really left me REELING after that entire dream sequence.

[smellslikechahnspirit]

[Book]

Are we good for each other?

3. Necessary

Bang Chan x F. Reader

Synopsis: Written according to y/n trophy. A story about how you two met. Both having a difficult life, finding peace in each other. Not without lots of drama. Just read it, it's great.

Genre: Enemies to lovers, soft, some smut, drama

Warnings: Under eating, depression, toxic ex (Let me know if I missed something)

Word count: 4097

______________________________

[5:30 AM]

Your alarm clock went off. You were incredibly tired and had almost no energy to the lack of food in your body. Yet this was your chance to get back up, again. So, you got up, showered, brushed your teeth, got dressed, then went over to your fridge. There was literally nothing in there, besides some spoiled milk. You figured you’d just get something cheap at a store on your way out.

[6:45 AM]

As you were walking towards the place, which happened to be very close to where you lived, you stopped at a store and got an iced coffee. You really didn’t have much money left now. As you continued walking towards your destination you were starting to get a bit confused. This place seemed…familiar. You looked up and noticed you were at the famous JYP building. You laughed and thought you might have typed the address in wrong. So, you stopped walking for a second and tried to type in the address again. It did in fact gave the same results. So, you decided to call Felix.

Felix and Chris were waiting for you to arrive, but since there were a bit early, they decided to just sit on a small bench near the building, since standing there was just unnecessary. Then suddenly Felix’s phone rang.

~

Phone call

Felix: Hello?

Y/n: Yeah, hey…uhm I’m at the place you said I should be, but I think there’s a mista-

Felix: No, you’re at the right place haha. Wait where are you, we’ll meet you.

Y/n: Who’s we?

~

When Felix was about to answer your question you tripped on a loose stone on the ground, which made you drop your phone onto the road. You tried to grab it, but since you didn’t care to look a car was rushing fast towards you. You realised and was frozen in place.

Suddenly you got pulled onto the sidewalk very fast by someone. “Thank you so much I didn’t know what happened…”, as you spoke you turned around and looked at the person who just saved you. Instantly your gratefulness turned upside down a bit, since you saw who it was. “Oh, it’s you…”, you spoke. It didn’t surprise you that he was there, since well, he literally works at JYPE. Even though you were still thankful for him helping you, you kinda didn’t like this person.

Chris smiled. “Well, I see were even now, right?”, he said as Felix ran towards you still stunned at the scene that happened in front of him just now. You just kept staring at Chris. “Bro, what happened you just ran off, I didn’t even notice you were in danger…”, Felix said while looking at you and Chris. “Well, phew, thank god Chris saw!”, Felix said trying to catch his breath. “Yeah, thank you.”, you said looking down. Then you noticed your phone was broken, and remembered you were calling with Felix. ”Shit, my phone broke, I was calling a friend, I have to be at a place soon, and I don’t even know if I’m in the right place and now my phone is broken and I can’t call him and- “, then suddenly you realised it. You obviously knew who Chris was, and also knew about his team member which name was ironically, Felix. You stared at them for a second. “You’re not gonna tell me you’re- “, you said as the full realisation kicked in and felt really stupid now.

Felix started laughing and also now figured it out, by the way Chris looked at you. “Yep, it’s me, didn’t think your gamer friend would be a kpop idol now did you?”, Felix said. You actually were kind of hyped about it since you always did admire their work. Yet since your interaction with Chris yesterday, you kind of didn’t know how to act now. “No, I actually did in fact not thought that was gonna happen. I uhh….”, you said looking at Chris. “I don’t know about this, maybe I should just go.”, you spoke, ready to walk away.

Chris then went in front of you to try to keep you from going. “Listen, I know you probably hate me since I got you fired, and sorry for being so rude to you yesterday, it’s just…”, Chris stayed quiet for second. “It’s just you need a job. I feel bad for what happened and really need your help with this assignment, so could we please just forget about what happened and let’s help each other out?”, Chris said while looking into your eyes.

Something about him being nice to you, finally noticing you and treating you like an equal was nice. You looked at them both. Since you already knew Felix a bit, and was really in desperate need for a job, you decided to just drop the attitude and be thankful for them giving you an opportunity. “Okay fine, I’ll help you. But only if I do in fact get paid.”, you said, ready to walk with them. “Of course, our company gave us this assignment, so it’ll be fine!”, Felix said.

You started walking with them towards the big building. You’ve never worked at a place that fancy. Also, you were pretty excited to maybe see other Idols here and there, but you made sure not to show your excitement. As you started walking, you were next to Felix and Chris was on the other side of him. You didn’t want to walk next to him, not because you still hated him, but because you just simply didn’t know what you’d say to him. You knew you’d eventually have to start talking to him since your job is literally to help him gain gaming skills.

You actually kinda liked the way he was acting. All sweet and shy and quiet. Felix said that he didn’t normally behave like this, whispering it to you. You laughed silently. Then a few seconds later he whispered to Chris: “Bro she’s stunning, isn’t she?”. Chris just smiled towards the ground, not being able to respond.

As you three kept walking you and Chris didn’t look at each other once. Chris felt good about the fact that you said yes to the job though. He maybe wasn’t talking to you right now, but he was secretly looking at you here and then. You looked skinny, he thought. ‘’Has she eaten anything lately?”, he thought to himself. He got kind of concerned but since you two only just met he didn’t want to be all up in your problems just yet.

[6:50 AM]

“Sooo, here we have the entrance.”, Felix said as he waved hi to the receptionist behind the counter and security. “Noona, she’s allowed in the building from now on, she is helping us with an assignment, could you get her a pass?”, Felix asked the lady. She printed one out very fast, put it on a key chain and gave it to you. You took it from her and smiled and made a slight bow to be polite. “You don’t have to do that you know; people know you’re a foreigner, it’s okay.”, Chris said as he laughed softly. You looked at him, gave him a pokerface and continued to follow Felix. You didn’t want to be rude to Chris but also didn’t want to suddenly be all nice, just because you could. So, with not saying a word back to him you all went into the elevator.

You arrived at the 7th floor. There were all kinds of rooms, almost like offices. You wondered why you were here, and Felix then ran towards JYP who he luckily saw walking by, which he had hoped to find here at this hour. You and Chris were left at the elevator doors for a second, while Felix started to have a convo with their boss.

It was silent. You could feel the awkwardness in the air. Eventually you decided it was time to break the ice. “You weren’t the reason I got fired by the way…”, you said softly, whilst remaining to look at Felix. “Huh?”, Chris responded who now looked at you confused. “Well, I know I said you were the reason I got fired, and maybe in the moment it was true, but I have not done a great job at that stupid café for a long time, I did everything wrong all the time. So, I guess my boss just had enough, and that’s why she fired me. You just happened to be at the wrong place, wrong time, I guess. So, I’m sorry I accused you of being the cause. You were not.”, you said finally looking at him for real for the first time.

You now noticed it again. His beautiful plump lips, his gorgeous brown eyes, big nose, almost like a koala. And then his perfect skin, with teeny tiny freckles on his cheeks. Gosh, he looked amazing. “Well even if so, I was rude to you, I’m sorry I treated you like that. Yesterday was a bit hectic and I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. But maybe I was at the right place, right time after all. Now you don’t have to work at that ‘stupid’ café anymore, and get to work with me.”, Chris said. He also surprised himself with his last statement.

“What’s so great about working with you huh?”, you said, still not wanting to like him. But you had to be honest he was growing on you. He looked down for a second. Then he didn’t know how to respond so just stayed quiet. You both just stood there, glad the main problem against each other was out of the way, but now you both had this awkwardness towards each other even more. Luckily at that moment Felix came walking back towards you guys.

“So, what did he say?”,  Chris asked the very excited looking boy. “He said it’s great, and you should get started right away. But most importantly he said to have fun, since he does want this all to feel a little bit like a break you know. Oh, and Y/n, he said you should fill in this form, so he could let the administration know where and how to pay you.”, Felix spoke very fast. He pushed the form in your hands, then said: “Okay but I have to go now, my archery coach is going to be at the gym in a few minutes, and he’ll be waiting for me, and the rest of the guys are also gonna start with their coaches and stuff, soooo, have fun?!”, Felix said. He gave you two a hug at the same time unexpectedly, so you both just stood there. But both laughed since he did seem very hyped about it all. It’s just when he left, the whole hallway went quiet. And both of you were all alone.

You filled in the form very quickly with a pen you saw on a table and gave the paper to Chris, who would be sure to give it to the right person. Then it stayed quiet for a minute. Since you had no idea where to go or do now, you just waited until Chris started talking.

“Uhm well okay, how should we approach this, let’s just find a computer I guess?”, Chris suggested. You looked at him funny. “And that random computer will just magically have games on it? No, I think we should find a good pc somewhere where we can really play. Do you know any?”, you said. “Well, don’t you have a pc?”, Chris asked. “Yeah, but we’re not gonna go to my place, sorry.”, you said, only because you would literally die inside if Chris saw the state your place was in right now, let alone your old broken-down pc. “Why not, it’s a great idea, you know your own pc best I think, right?”, He asked. “No.”, you said firmly.

Chris looked at you a bit worried, he didn’t understand, but maybe he was just a bit too close for comfort right now, so he didn’t ask again. At that moment Minho walked out of the elevator. “Hey Hyung, who’s this?”, He asked while giving you a slight bow. You bowed back and tried to smile. “Hey Minho, yeah, uhm, this is Y/n, she’s gonna help me skill up on gaming…we’re just a bit lost right now. We did not think about the fact that we need a good pc here to be able to actually play, so stupid of me.”, Chris spoke, while putting his hands through his hair.

You visually saw his discomfort and felt kind of bad. Maybe you were being too hard on him. He apologised about before and you felt like you had been annoying enough. “No, it’s not your fault, uhm, how bout I call Felix? Maybe we can use his pc, right? Does he live close by? I’d assume that.”, you asked. Chris liked that you tried to come up with a solution and help him in the tough situation.

Minho was looking at Chris up and down for a second. “Yeah, go ask him. You guys seem so tense by the way. Maybe you two should just go for a run first or something, you know, to loosen up a bit. I’ve never seen you so stiff Hyung. Well, bye!”, Minho spoke as he smiled and walked away, since he had to be at his appointment soon as well.

Winking at Chris as he walked through the door. Chris knew that Minho knew, he only acted like that with girls he liked. He never knew how to be his bubbly social extravert self, whenever there was a girl, he really was interested in, which wasn’t really beneficial for him and rarely happened.

“I think it’s a great idea, let’s call Felix, hopefully he isn’t training yet.”, Chris said as u started to dial the number on your half broken phone. Your phone was super pretty, rose gold layered with crystals on the case. It looked expensive. “Wow, fancy.”, Chris said, pointing at your phone. “Thanks, I got it from my boyfriend.”, You said. Chris his eyes widened. “Uh I mean ex-boyfriend sorry.”, you said while looking away. “I’m sorry to hear that…how long have you two been broken up?”, he asked trying to be polite. “A few months… but let’s not talk abou- “, you got cut off by Felix who had answered his phone.

You asked him if they could use his pc. He was a bit hesitant at first since his pc is like his child that he put together from scratch by himself, or so he explained. But eventually he told you that it would be okay. Since he knew Chris would be there the whole time anyways and you were very familiar with PCs' yourself of course. So, he gave you the greenlight, and had to hurry back to his archery. He then hung up.

“We’re good to go!”, you said as you and Chris started walking. You just followed him since he was the only one who knew the way. “So where does he live? I mean you realise you’re telling me a kpop idols home address right now huh?”, you said mockingly. “Hahaha well, we still live in dorms you see. Felix lives together with Seungmin, Jeongin and Minho. But we all have each other keys, so let’s head over there.”, he said.

“And you…?”, you asked after a few seconds. “I live a few apartments further, with Jisung, Hyunjin and Changbin.”, he replied. You knew Stray Kids as a group of course, since they’re pretty well known. Yet even though you’ve been in Korea for a while now, you didn’t really stan any groups in particular. You mostly just liked random songs that you heard on the radio.

“So how come you live here, if you don’t mind me asking? I mean you don’t even speak any Korean haha.”, Chris asked. You stayed quiet for a second. It was really hard for you to talk about all of this, since you hated the whole situation so much. But you also kind of like the fact that he sounded truly interested. So, you decided to tell him.

“Or I mean, if you don’t wanna say, that’s okay too you know, I do not want you to feel like you have to or anything…”, he said trying to reassure you it was all completely up to you. “Or does it have anything to do with that ex-boyfriend?”, he asked.

You finally spoke. “No, I mean, yeah, the thing is this story is a lot, I don’t know if you’re up for a story like that right now, while you are supposed to be having fun.”, you said while looking at him and forming a small smile. “Hey, to be honest talking to you is quite fun, no?”, he said while smiling too. You felt a weird energy in the air but couldn’t really put your finger on it. You were trying to be professional, especially because he is an idol, and you are kind of his teacher right now. That sounds weird but it’s true.

You two now walked outside of the building and he showed you where his car was parked. You both got in and buckled your seat belts. You hesitated again but then spoke. “You see, I actually was in a great place in life a few months back. I got into college, my family loved me, I had amazing friends, and I even had a job on the side at the animal rescue centre. I mean a few weeks before I left, I did get fired, because they didn’t need me anymore. Basically, they just had to scrap me from the team, cuz they had ‘too many people’. Fucking bullshit, but fine.”.

Chris laughed. You were starting to feel loosened up a bit already. You secretly did like to get all of this off your chest, since you haven’t really had anyone to talk to these last few months, beside people at the café. “So that’s kind of when it all started. I met this guy.”, you said going all out on the story now, since you two were alone in the car anyways.

Chris started driving. “Yeah, that’s how it always goes huh, there’s always a guy…haha”, he said trying to lighten the mood. “Yes, uhg I hate men. No offence…”, you said. “None taken.” He replied.

“So turned out he was really cute and seemed to have his life together and I was just very mesmerised by who he was, you know?

He worked as an ambassador at this big company and had his own place, it all seemed too good to be true, but I still went out with him since I was like, yolo.

So, we went out for like 8 months or so, I started to actually fall in love, I mean I think, at this point I don’t even know what love is. But I mean I didn’t care about anything he owned or did, as long as I was with him, I was happy.

Then suddenly he got transferred to South Korea. I was devastated and cried for like a week straight. Until one day he came by my dorm room, and he straight up asked me if I should just come with him.

He was gonna get great promotions and it all looked very bright for him. But me, who likes to be independent, was kind of hesitant about it. I had college, a job, friends, family, everything. Stability. But somehow, he convinced me, and assured me I’d find school or a cool career here too.

I did, I left everything. My school, my friends, who now hate me for suddenly dropping them all, my family was furious, since they encouraged me with everything I’ve been trying to achieve my entire life, and suddenly I choose to take this wacky path.

So, I get why everyone was so upset with me. They haven’t spoken to me since, none of them. But I was with the man I loved. So, to me it seemed like a sacrifice I had to make.

We got this super cute place in the middle of Seoul. Since he had to work straight away, I got to decorate the whole house. It was amazing, I did everything by myself. Then I just started realising how lonely the days began to feel.

He was at work the entire day and I’d only see him late at night when he came home, and he’d leave first thing the next morning. You see I’m not really the type of person who just sits around waiting for her boyfriend all day, but at that time I hadn’t found a job yet.

I was just home and stayed home, cleaned, watched some tv shows, painted here and there, I even tried writing a book, which was a disaster by the way so don’t ask.

But long story short. When I told him about my feelings and how scared I was about finding a job in a city where I do not even speak the language, he just gave me the silent treatment a lot and told me it was my decision to come here with him. While I was very hesitant in the first place.

I mean if I’d knew it would’ve been like that I would’ve just stayed home. So eventually I found out his work was more important than my happiness apparently and wouldn’t even help me get back up. Like help me find school, or what not. We just kept having fights. I just felt horrible and was scared a lot.”.

“Did he hurt you?”, Chris asked. “Not physically no, but emotionally I was so drained. So, after a lot of rough fights, I decided that was it, and I just had to leave. This wasn’t love and I didn’t want to waste my time on this guy anymore.

But I couldn’t just get my things and go back to my old home. I dropped out of school, my parents didn’t talk to me and I sure as hell didn’t have enough money to get a place of my own, I was literally so broke.

Luckily, I had saved up some money from my job back home and found a very small cheap apartment nearby. I literally just got up and walked every street to find a place that would hire me for literally anything, that how I ended up at the café. It paid the bills. But sure, as hell not enough to get like new stuff for myself.

The only things I have are things I got from him, or stuff I had brought from my old room back home. And well then, I got fired, so I had no idea how I’d make it through the month.”, you practically preached. “That’s quite the story…you’re incredibly strong Y/n. Good of you to let that douche bag go. He doesn’t deserve someone like you anyways.”, Chris said. You were still so into your story, that you didn’t even really realise what Chris said just now.

“So, I was kind of relieved Felix asked me to help you. I mean gaming for a job how fun!”, you said trying to be excited, since you wanted to be. Yet you just felt a bit dizzy. Maybe you have been talking for too long.

“Haha yeah, I mean it’s just for a while, I have no idea when I have to get back to my actual job, but even when that day comes, I’ll help you find something else, mark my words!”, Chris said. “I’ll figure something out.” You said while smiling.

By now you finally noticed Chris had parked the car. “Wait, were here already?”, you asked. “We have been parked here for a while now haha, guess you had a lot to say huh. I’m glad though, I like hearing about it. You’re gonna be alright. You have us now, right? We’re here to talk whenever you need.” Chris said reassuringly. “Why are we doing this again exactly?”, you asked him as both of you got out of the car.

He explained how this all came to be, and you started laughing. “You work so much, your boss actually made u quit for a while. Damn…ambitious I see.” He laughed as well.

Part 4

...Masterlist...

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© 2022-2025, smellslikechahnspirit • No posting on other sites or platforms, rewrites, or translations

[rarrabear]

[Because there is that one Venatori that likes how Rook smells... And Lucanis offers a freebie "on the house" in response. Because he's a bro. Poor Venatori, we all love Rook.]

Excerpt text found within The Temple of Andraste, next to a Venatori soldier's corpse. There is a crude drawing of 2 figures kissing, as though it were drawn by a child.

Hear ye, hear ye – loyal followers of the Elder One, for I bring you an account from the shadowed alleys and murky canals of Dock Town. Here, amidst this cesspit of dockhands and fish guts, I encountered a figure so dazzling, so bewitching, that for a moment I forgot our glorious purpose.

I speak of course, of a certain member of the self-proclaimed “Veilguard”.

The bewitcher herself, caught my eyes and loins aflame. A gleaming sapphire amidst the pile of trash-laden cobbles. Barely 5 foot tall, yet she commands attention like the Archon himself.

But my fellows, it was her scent that truly enraptured me. This vile place, that smells so of those aforementioned fish guts mixed with brine and sweat... She was a revelation. The tangy sweetness of fresh rhubarb mingled with the comforting warmth of vanilla. Her scent could quell a riot in the Fishmarket District, for it certainly caused my heart to skip several beats.

They call her “Rook”. A name not fit for such a dark angel. I see in her someone destined for greater things, deserving of a better name. Her scent, her sharp wit, her keen gaze, the way she brandished her staff... No this is a woman with potential. Potential that, perhaps, she herself has yet to realise.

My fellow Venatori, I must confess a dangerous thought; what if we could sway her to our noble cause? The dark angel of the Mournwatch, repurposed, standing by our side, casting off those crude trappings of her order for the resplendent garb of our order. Her perfume, a herald of doom, a sweet precursor to our enemies defeat.

I will endeavour to ally her to the cause.

Signed,

C. Fidelius

[judesmoonbeauty]

Jude Jazza Route Theories Pt. 4 - His Fated End ☾.

My theory posts include future major route spoilers for Ellis and Roger, please do not read if you don't wish to be spoiled.

This is my final theory post for Jude, and you know, for some reason I’m quite emotional about this. In any case, this is just for fun, and I'd love for you to share what you think his cursed fate is! ☾.

To be frank, I feel like his fated end could go several ways. Most of you know that most of my theories are formed around in-game lore, and more “realistic” approaches. And, yes I am going to do the same thing with this post of sorts, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t have an imagination either.

For example, I’ve always thought (and still do think) it would be amazing if Jude’s fate was that he suffered not from immortality, but longevity. A sort of play off his Dark IF lore, and it's not something he could control himself. However, while a tiny part of hopes that this may still be the case, I feel like it won't be. So, onto the "realistic" theories??

What do we know? It seems that Jude can die. He almost dies all the time. Additionally, the prologue alludes to (as many other events do) that Jude wants to die, and he is potentially instigating his death by making enemies.

What could we base his demise on? While, I think the original fairytales are simply lovely, I don’t think they will be the basis. Still, they are what brought Jude to us by extension, so I feel like the following fates of the fairies, wise-woman, and other antagonists are worth an honorable mention. Very quickly, in the order they were written, their fates are:

Basile’s “Sun, Moon, & Talia”: The Queen is the antagonist and she ends up being cast into a fire that she had intend to cast Talia into.

Sentence: Death by immolation.

Perrault’s “The Sleeping Beauty In The Wood”: There are in fact two antagonists in this story. The 8th old fairy who curses the princess, and the ogre queen mother of the prince whom married the princess.

Sentence: There is no outcome written about 8th old fairy, this means her fate is open for interpretation. However, the ogress offs herself by jumping into a tub of vipers and toads.

Grimm Bro’s “Little Brier-Rose”: The shortest of the tales, in which the 13th wise woman (or fairy) curses the princess as well. It is implied that the old spinner the princess meets when she pricks her finger is the 13th fairy.

Sentence: There is no outcome written for the 13th fairy, this means her fate is left open for interpretation.

See why I don’t think they are going to be inspiration for Jude’s fate? I doubt that Jude will be thrown into a large cauldron to be eaten by serpents and toads. Although, it wouldn’t be too difficult for them to implement a death by fire of sorts. All in all, one of the good things about the obscurity regarding the fates of the other faeries is that it allows you for your own interpretation as to what happened to them.

Which leads me to Disney…..

For all intents and purposes, Disney did not create Sleeping Beauty as we’ve discussed, but Cybird has taken a lot of inspiration from it’s adaptions, and that’s because Disney has fleshed out the the villain Maleficent unlike majority of the fairytales. For example, even with Jude’s costume color design: Purple, black, and green are all odes to the 1959 Disney adaption. Even Dark If, where it’s mentioned that the humans and the faeries fought with one another, is a nod towards the 2014 Maleficent adaption.

So, what do I think Jude’s fate will be?

Main Theory: Jude is destined to die by the “sword of truth,”. It’s highly possible that Cybird may opt to use Disney’s destruction of Maleficent in the 1959 movie as inspiration for Jude’s fate. Why? Because they did the same thing for Ellis.

In his BLE Chapter 22, Roger tells Kate that Ellis is fated to die at the hands of justice, just like the the prince who hacked away the briar hedge with his sword - which is Disney’s version. Ellis’ predecessor was gunned down by the police, and therefore died by the “hands of justice.” In a similar vein, I feel that Cybird will follow a similar path somehow.

Perhaps, if Crown no longer protects him (or betrays him) and his sins become public knowledge, or if his enemies were to find out the truth of how Jude got the best of them, I think “death” will await him. In his route, I feel like the Privy Council will try to do something to frame Jude related to the drug/human-trafficking industry, when they themselves are the ones to blame.

Any in game lore to support this? Jude gets stabbed all the time. And… Roger’s route alludes to the drug industry (medicinal from our current understanding), as being Jude’s territory, so the Privy Council trying to oust Jude by involving him with illegal drugs is on the table, I think.

My other theory: And this is just something that I’m throwing out there, but I feel like Jude may be destined to be abandoned, or for lack of a better word, betrayed by everyone he loves.

I think that if he’s had a hard life (a parent/s left him behind), or suffered a loss of a loved one in death, or perhaps experienced the pain of seeing someone he was in love with leave him for another, would be the pinnacle of angst.

It would explain why he doesn’t want to curse or be cursed, because in the end, Kate would abandon or leave him too. Not saying she’d maliciously do it, but something might happen where she feels he’s acting in his best interest, but isn’t. Well, it’s just a thought I had from a bunch of random little things I felt I noticed in game, but I won’t even try to explain that. You could say that this is a more emotional theory of mine, but I don't think it holds much weight.

Naturally, Cybird can do something completely different, and honestly, as much as it would be cool to say, “I called it!” It would be nice if they did something completely unexpected, and maybe they will? I’d love to say, “I didn’t see that coming,” and cry my eyes out.

Whatever his fate is, it will be heartbreaking I’m sure, but I look forward to finally peering into his heart and watch him as he let’s Kate into his so he doesn’t have to share his burdens on his own.

Thanks to everyone whose read my theories and shared their theories with me, it's been a lot of fun! In any case, I’d love to hear what you all think his fate is about!

[ferhog]

Getting into Metroid This Past Month:

I first learned about Metroid (as well as most Nintendo franchises that weren't Pokemon and Mario) through my friend's copy of Smash Bros Brawl at around the age of 9. Samus being a hot lady underneath the cool set of power armor left enough of an impression for me to try and draw her from memory, but I otherwise had no interest in actually playing her games for most of the following decade and a half. In that time I learned a bit of her lore from Smash Trophys, Game Theory videos, and watching the first few minutes of Other M cutscenes to hear the lady from Smash Bros talk, but it wasn't until shortly after the release of Metroid Dread when I watched some late game cutscenes from the game and GameXplain's Metroid movie pitch video that I became interested enough in the story of the games and Samus as a character that I decided to downlo- I mean obtain copies of Zero Mission and Fusion for my Visua- I mean Gameboy Advance, which I held off on starting until I worked through my gaming backlog more, and it was earlier this summer that I decided the time had come.

The Metroid Manga: Before starting Zero Mission as my first game I read the manga so I'd get a good sense of Samus' backstory before starting. Now I knew what to roughly expect thanks to the Gamexplain movie pitch adapting much of the story, but overall I enjoyed it more than I was expecting. I probably don't need to tell you that Ridley was the absolute highlight. His pure evil is matched only by Louie from Pikmin in terms of Nintendo villains and it got me very invested in his rivalry with Samus throughout the games. Aside from that, my favourite part of the manga was Samus' characterization and her relationship with her bird dads. I have a real soft spot for all adoption related tropes so I really like the idea that Samus was taken in by what was once the most important race in the galaxy and inherited their legacy of keeping the peace, which she basically turned into a job via bounty hunting. However a lot of what the manga does is better in concept than in execution, as the art is hard to follow a lot of the time and much of the story is sped through quite quickly, no thanks to how much time is spent with the extensive cast of side characters. When Samus started her zero mission I held off on finishing the story until I played the game, and while I'm glad that they went with adapting the game at the end because we got to see a climactic fight against Ridley it is super bizarre that they didn't commit to the idea and just stopped when Samus reached Mother Brain. The manga is absolutely worth reading but best thought of as a companion to Zero Mission, probably best read afterwards.

Metroid Zero Mission: My experience with Metroidvanias was basically just Hollow Knight, the first Dark Souls, and Bloodborne, and while I was excited to experience the same sense of adventure I also feared getting lost as per this franchise's reputation. However I surprisingly managed to make my way though the whole game with only one thing I had to look up, which embarrassingly was the same mistake David Jaffe infamously made in Dread, as I failed to realize I could shoot a ceiling open even with enemies there to hint that I could. I think the game has the perfect balance between freedom and guidance as someone's first Metroid game through the chozo statues that mark your next destination without telling you how exactly to get there. Combine that with it being a remake of the first game and I think it was just the perfect game for me and anyone else to start with. My biggest issue gameplay-wise was just the fights against Mother Brain and the two black Space Pirates were very frustrating, the latter because the combat just didn't feel designed for a fight that reflex based, at least not for a newcomer. After finishing the game I felt compelled to earn the Zero Suit Samus ending, which I accomplished by constantly scouting out the optimal routes and resetting so I could get through them as fast as possible.

AM2R: I wanted to play these games in story order so I knew I had to play some version of Metroid 2 next. After trying out the original Metroid that you unlock after beating Zero Mission I figured the pre-NES games weren't going to be fun for me so I wanted to play either AM2R or Samus Returns, and I went with the former as it would be easier to find and would be closer to the game I just finished. The game is a very impressive feat for a fan-made project, though I think it was the one I had the least fun with overall. A few hours into the game I listened to the Some Call Me Johnny review which mentioned it being very hard, and that made sense considering it was a fan project by big Metroid fans for big Metroid fans, but it did result in a few of the bosses being quite frustrating with how much skill they demanded, particularly with the space jump which I struggled to understand the timing of. I didn't feel like instantly replaying it as I did with Zero Mission but I really loved how they adapted the ending.

Super Metroid: "This SNES game probably won't hold up that well right?" Thought the guy whose first console was the PS2.

Super Metroid is one of the greatest games of all time.

Metroid Fusion: I was real intrigued going into this game given what I'd heard about its linearity and extra story focus compared to the prior games but it was still a shock going straight from 2 playthroughs of Super Metroid to this. It didn't even really feel like Metroid, especially with how you were essentially playing through levels via Adam sending you through specific locations with specific tasks. Eventually I got used to it and fully accepted it as a Metroid game as I was increasingly required to be more explorative, though I think of all Metroid games I've played it has the most needlessly abstract methods for mandatory progression. The example which I eventually gave up on and looked up was the yellow Space Pirate X which which could only be damaged with a shot to the back apparently? There was seemingly no visual hints for that and the doors didn't even open if you absorbed the X before they formed the Space Pirates. While I figured out the other examples on my own I just felt I had to blow up way more seemingly random walls than normal. The bosses were generally very fun except for everything about Yakuza. A super long lead up to a boss that kept killing me super easily before I figured out how to avoid its grab attack, followed by a struggle to regain health for the ensuing SA-X encounter with how little health you get from enemies that could fly in out of nowhere and do more damage to you than you were regaining. Speaking of the SA-X, it wasn't in the game as much as I was expecting, but each encounter was quite memorable, especially when I was hiding behind power bomb blocks and it dropped a power bomb. Overall I didn't like most of this game's choices, but I like it when franchises try new things so I wouldn't say anything should have been changed except for how much health you get from enemies. This was the 2nd game I didn't feel like instantly replaying.

Metroid Prime: As of writing this I am currently a few hours into the first Metroid Prime, specifically having just gotten the boost ball. The Metroid formula was very well translated into 3D and the visuals have aged amazingly. I may be playing a remaster but most remasters still don't look this modern. But curiously this has been the Metroid game I've spent the most time away from during a playthrough, going several days without picking it up again. It's not that I dislike playing it, I just don't feel as much of a strong desire to keep coming back to it. Maybe I just feel the need to catch up on other stuff after playing so much Metroid. I do think I'll get around to playing the rest soon enough.

One of my biggest impressions overall is that Metroid is actually quite underrated despite how iconic it is. Samus seems mostly remembered as a Smash Bros character and her iconic twist as one of gaming's first female protagonists, but it doesn't seem like that many people actually play the games. It's also funny that while Samus is famous as a sex symbol in the Smash Bros and general gaming fandoms, it seems that the actual Metroid fandom prefers their Samus cooler than sexy. Anyway I'm looking forward to eventually picking up Dread, the game which first hooked my interest into this franchise, and the other 2 Prime games. Maybe I'll even pick up Other M if I see it around.

[odsont]

I tried to fight my inner demons as hard as I could but...

Why I think Wanderer would be a better archon then Kusanali

(By not a lore player, if you disagree with anything I say, please explain why, I would like to hear, trust me, I try as hard as I can to find at least one good thing about Nahida's character so if anyone has anything to say I would be so glad to hear it)

(Didn't mean to offend anyone)

(Unless you're Nahida)

So I come up with some reasons why Baladeer would be a perfect archon (based on personality, God criteria and official genshin writings and lore), why Kusanali is not supposed to be an archon at all (based on personality and archon criteria and on lore of other gods) and why having Lumine fighting sages and helping Wanderer to become a God would make the game and Nahida's character so much better (based on my opinion) and now I can't stop thinking about it

(Nahida is so selfish and noone knows it because of her acting like uwu anime cutie who cries for no reason all the time and saying that she likes hooman while girl literally manipulated her person just to make her believe in Nahida's views, used Katherine's body without her consent (and got it damaged, broke Katherine. (I care about her and her creator a lot, ok?) Saying that it's fine cuz she's a puppet (Katherine was showen as someone who's a living creature many times and even if she is just a souless puppet, she's still Sandrone's property), took away Scaramouche's gnosis with no hesitation even tho bro begged her not to (he was technically her enemy but taking away his heart was too personal, beating him up or anything wouldn't be.)

Listen..maybe I'm being too empathetic to a fictional charcater, but when she said she only kept Wanderer to use him, it was fine, if she killed him it was fine, but the moment when she talked about breaking his heart just to scare Dottore (she could've done the same with her gnosis, she wasn't about to actually break it anyway) really made me feel so so bad for him. Like I'm a bitch and I would bever do smth like that??

Another thing that people say is that "Scaramouche is evil" "he tried to take Sumeru away from Nahida" so is/did Barbatos?? Morax?? Ei even in her own quest was a bad guy (literally a part of Inadzuma quest was about Inadzuma needed someone more empathetic then Ei's puppet, oh, what a shame that Ei never made a puppet that was actually kind, understanding and incredibly good at politics/s)? Rukha too ig?? Archons are evil in one way or another, Scara said himself that their fight was an archon war (because Archons also fought each other for territories) And Nahida obviously lost (would have if traveler wasn't there).

We literally have 2 more canonical confirmations that Scara would be a good archon.

We saw how much he loved Haypasia and *cough cough*

"But those of this world who call such a being a "false deity" misunderstand the true meaning of the word. Shouki no Kami now understands countless things and shoulders unassailable might, and may be said to surpass mortals. If gods must love mortals, then Shouki no Kami, who grants failure in equal measure to humanity, loves them also. If gods must watch over humanity, then Shouki no Kami, who has borne witness to infinite love, hatred, partings, grudges, and maddening anger — thus does he watch over mortals".

Dide literally fits the "archon criteria" perfectly??? Nahida doesn't (expect for her loving her people but I already said why I disagree with that but I believe my point was too subjective to actually count it) I'm pretty sure I forgot some of my arguments but I'm too tired to write it anyway lol. In my personal opinion Sumeru would be better if we just fought Sages and then helped Wanderer become a good God, Nahida could be a better character since this way she would be allowed to be silly child

(I just realized interesting thing that both Nahida and Wanderer were created (most likely from irminsul) destined to be a God but not being able to achieve this at first, hey, maybe they both could be Gods, we got 100 updated about desert, no way a baby can handle it by her own + desert people were treated as less "human" then others for ages, Scaramouche would feel so much empathy towards them!

[amywritesthings]

SAME OLD MISTAKES: ACT I

THE FAMOUS LAST WORDS SERIES.

gif credit @ pedrorascal

Pairing: Dieter Bravo x Female Reader ( Dieter x You )

Word Count: 3.7K

Summary: A decade ago, you were at the height of your aspiring acting career. Your secret romance and very public feud with Dieter Bravo, however, made you a Hollywood icon.

Warnings: Smut, Porn with Plot, Enemies to Worse Enemies Lovers, Dieter is a total moron, ‘Scripted’ Sex, Protected sex, Dirty talk, Praise kink, Doggy, that Move Javier Pena did in S2 Narcos that has never left my brain

A/N: After many requests, I give you the prequel to Just Old Habits. Spending two months simping over a Judd Apatow character was not on my 2022 Bingo card. 

Next Chapter. | Series Masterlist.

PREVIEW:

“I think it’s important to be on the same page for shit, and this is a Hail Mary for professionalism, so here goes: do you wanna have sex with me?”

You freeze in your sip of your vodka and cranberry, causing a dribble of liquid to fall down the corner of your mouth. 

Dieter springs into action, setting his cigarette into the ashtray on the coffee table to catch the droplet on your chin before it can ruin your off-blue shirt.

“Absolutely not.” You snort, raising your hand to push his thumb away and stopping just before you can make contact. Why are you stopping? 

“I mean—” No. “—kind of?”

What the hell are you saying?

SAME OLD MISTAKES

ACT ONE.

When you come back to Earth after a mind-blowing orgasm, you’re in Dieter Bravo’s lap — half-naked, half-delirious, and absolutely certain you have catastrophically fucked up.

For minutes on end, neither of you say a word. Only the distant sounds of the digital pinball machine jingle and your labored pants are present in his apartment, existing in the bubble of what has happened — and what you can’t take back.

Then Dieter speaks up with a hint of euphoric satisfaction, always aiming to ruin the moment.

“Like I said, babe: just old habits.”

Dieter will never understand how much of a mistake all of this is — 

               A decade’s worth of sneaking around.

               The mountain of deleted texts.

               The years of perceived hatred and rivalry.

— because none of this was ever a mistake to him.

. . . . .

.

.

.

                                        TEN YEARS EARLIER

Dieter Bravo is a fucking idiot.

It only took a singular 10-minute interview to figure it out. 

Between his insistence on wearing sunglasses indoors and his neon green crocs that squeak throughout the entirety of his Vogue interview, it’s hard to pin-point exactly where your disdain for your new co-star stemmed.

Maybe it’s when he misquotes Shakespeare with lines taken directly from Pulp Fiction.

(Y’know, Billy Shakespeare — I call him Billy because I think we would’ve been bros in this life — he once asked: ‘why do we feel it’s necessary to yak about bullshit in order to be comfortable?’ I felt that shit deep in my soul.)

Absolute. Fucking. Moron.

Meeting him in person for the first time on set is enough to want to claw your eyes out. He’s an entourage of one with an ego spanning across a dozen invisible people. To make matters worse, he wears the same crocs from the Vogue interview, too, like he's trying to bring them back into style.

(Sustainable closets, baby.)

From the get-go it’s painfully obvious he’s thrilled to see you — all grins and grand sweeping gestures of his arms, as if you’ve known each other your whole lives.

Not because you have, but because you, yourself, are predicted to take Hollywood by storm. The newest golden girl destined for an Oscar by season’s end thanks to your new movie, Faith of Eternity.

From what your agent has given you so far, Faith of Eternity is a romantic thriller about Richie Alzone and Ramona Cleese, a couple who should not be together — and oftentimes are not — but continue to find themselves in each other’s orbit. Justine swears it's a real character-driven piece of cinema, with monologues for days.

Ramona Cleese, a thirty-something English lawyer, is not an easy leading role. It will take grit and tears and emotional exhaustion. You’ve skimmed the articles discussing the role, the plot, and the growing fanbase for a movie that hasn’t started filming yet.

It makes your stomach somersault with anxiety.

But Faith on Eternity has award season buzz due to the fact that this love story is electric, passionate, ground-breaking — and if you can sell being in love with Richie Alzone, the mysterious forbidden lover played by none other than Dieter fucking Bravo, then you'll have 'Academy Award Winner' next to your name by next Spring.

Passionate sex scenes. Pushing a hard R-rating. 

All for the glory of art.

And because of this award buzz, Dieter expects you to be game with anything he throws at you.

Scripts? Forget about them. 

Improv? Forget that, too.

Vibes.

“So that’s what I’m about: vibes, just vibes, and nothing but the vibes, so help us God,” he ends up telling you that very same day. “What about you? What’s the new It Girl all about?”

You hate the career-cursing nickname.

“Professionalism,” you manage while he hands you a coffee — the one he’s stolen from a production assistant on his way over here, as if you didn’t see it.

(As if he did the hard work himself.)

“I can dig that,” is all he says, cheers-ing your stolen coffee cup with his. “We’re gonna make magic, babe. You and me. This’ll get two sequels, easy.”

“Two?” you blurt against overzealous predictions.

Dieter just grins. “And that’s being humble.”

His oblivion to the world outside of the Dieter bubble isn’t an act — he genuinely believes what he says and stands by those beliefs. Manifestation in the palm of his hands; he thinks Faith of Eternity is going to be a smash hit not only at the box office but on Rotten Tomatoes.

Hell, he believes he’ll have Twitter swooning.

His ignorant confidence can be infectious. The guy with the neon crocs gets along with everyone — even the production assistant he continuously steals coffee from.

And he commits.

God help him, he commits to the role of Richie Alzone the second the director says ‘action’. 

After the first few days on set, Dieter’s goofy presence disappears and is replaced by the suave, confident, and broodingly sincere persona of Richie. In turn, it pushes you to play Ramona Cleese as sincere and honest as the script allows. 

The roles fit the two of you like a pair of gloves.

And he stands by his commitment to work with you behind the camera when you’re locked in close-ups. In past productions, former co-stars allowed the script supervisors feed lines to get some shut eye. Dieter? He stays put until you get the take you’re excited about — because he’s excited, too.

He’s overjoyed to work with you, to push you, to draw that raw emotion out with every scripted fight and monologue.

And as much as you hate to say it, he’s one of the most electric actors you’ve had a chance to perform against on set.

(You’ll never admit it out loud. It'll only send his ego to Pluto.)

At this point, he’s invited you to his trailer for drinks several times. Three, to be exact, in order to shoot the shit and talk about nothing in particular. Yet considering how charged the set feels after several takes of Dieter in your face when he stares at you with utmost, raw desire — like you are something he cannot have?

Acting or not, it's better to avoid that can of worms. It didn't work for Brangelina. It didn't work for Jen and Ben.

You will not get sucked into the cliché.

The first two attempts were met with excuses — I have to turn in early, I have a phone interview — but the third?

(Fucking rules of three.)

The third time happens to be when you’re passing by his trailer after a ten-hour shoot.

Dieter Bravo bursts from the door just as you’re nearing, a bottle of vodka in one hand and a jug of cranberry juice in the other. He proudly displays both high in the air like he’s won two gold medals. He’s still wearing his evening wear Richie Alzone costume from today’s shoot: a black and white suit, buttoned half-way down his torso to expose his chest and skinny black tie loose around his neck.

“Babe." Christ, he always starts with that stupid pet name. "We gotta celebrate.”

“What’s the occasion?” you bite, crossing your arms over your chest.

Dieter snorts. “We just finished most of Act One, for starters. You killed every scene. I know I looked smoking hot. And tomorrow’s finally here, so — huzzah for the professionals, amiright?”

You open your mouth to ask, but the unspoken reason — the tomorrow — hits you clear in the gut: you’re supposed to shoot the first major sex scene tomorrow.

Right. Shit.

“Oop. I see it.”

You blink back into reality. “See what?”

“That you’re more nervous than me.”

“I didn’t think Dieter Bravo got nervous on set.”

“Around you? I’m terrified.” Dieter tilts his chin to spy over his sunglasses. “A little liquid courage and a chat, methinks, will cure that look. So what do ya say? Pretty please?”

You can’t stand him.

And you appreciate the offer, even if you’ll never tell him.

“One drink,” you warn, raising an index finger high.

The warning only brings a growing smile to Dieter’s face.

“Hell yeah. Only one, babe.”

. . . . . . . . .

It turns into only three.

(The rule of three is haunting you with this shoot.)

Most of the night is taken over by Dieter showing off his art, which is surprisingly good. He’s a damn good actor and an even better artist with books filled to the spine. Charcoal faces, penciled silhouettes, abstracts — he isn’t ashamed to be proud of what he’s done.

“These are kind of amazing,” you murmur, flipping through the third book as he refills the short glasses with the cranberry mixture.

“I appreciate it,” he says, shrugging one shoulder with an addictive nonchalance. In his other hand is a half-lit cigarette. “They keep me occupied. Keep me sane. What’s on your tab, babe, what keeps you sane?”

“Keeps me sane?” you repeat, brows furrowed. “I don’t know, I’m… rehearsing? That works.”

“Uh-huh.” He swipes a hand down his face before holding out a glass for you to take. “So you worry all the time in that trailer. Got it.”

“I'm not worrying in my trailer. Why, do I look worried all the time?”

“Yeah, kinda.” Dieter takes a sip, souring at the bite of the vodka. “Specially because of tomorrow’s thing.”

Right. Tomorrow’s thing. You tilt your chin back taking a gulp of the mixed drink.

“You’re not the—” You sour at the aftertaste of vodka. “—slightest bit nervous?”

“Like I said: terrified, but not in the way you might think.” He pulls a frown. “You’re beyond talented, a total knockout, quick as a fuckin’ whip with improv if the line sucks. I’m not worried at all about you, but me? Gotta stay on my A-game to keep up. Why, are you worried I’m gonna fuck it up?”

You part your lips to respond — I don’t know how to properly do a sex scene with a guy I vehemently hated a six weeks ago — but quickly drop your attention back to your drink and shake your head.

Dieter takes a long drag of his cigarette, the smoke billowing up his nose.

“Alright, then, that leaves me with the heavy hitter.”

“The what?”

“I wanna ask something, babe.”

You snort, mouth lingering on the lip of your glass. “You keep calling me babe.”

“Do I?” he asks, nose scrunching with false sincerity. “I didn’t realize.”

“You’re such a fucking liar.”

“No, I’m an actor. Big difference.” The cigarette dangles between his fingers as he hunches over his thighs, elbows pressed into his pajama bottoms. “But I’m serious about the question. Can I?”

“Something tells me you’re going to ask anyway.”

“I am,” Dieter confirms, sucking a sharp breath. “I think it’s important to be on the same page for shit, and this is a Hail Mary for professionalism, so here goes: do you wanna have sex with me?”

You freeze in your sip of your vodka and cranberry, causing a dribble of liquid to fall down the corner of your mouth. Dieter springs into action, setting his cigarette into the ashtray on the coffee table to catch the droplet on your chin before it can ruin your off-blue shirt.

“For rehearsal, obviously,” he adds. "Like, practice to make it believable and shit."

As if that saves his ass.

You stare, not quite noticing his thumb running along on your chin. “...are you serious?”

“Like, so serious.”

“Absolutely not.” You snort, raising your hand to push his thumb away and stopping just before you can make contact. Why are you stopping? “I mean—” No. “—kind of?”

What the hell are you saying?

Dieter blinks twice. “Okay… you lost me. Was that— when you say ‘kind of’, what would you say is the percentage of—”

You interrupt. “Logistically speaking, let's look at it this way: we’re co-stars.”

“Both of our names are on chairs, so… yeah.”

“That’ll complicate things if we — rehearse.”

(You can’t seriously consider this offer.)

Dieter squints. “Okay, but when I read the end scene in the first act when Ramona and Richie fuck for the first time in years after dancing around their bullshit, I felt it might feel more organic if we already know—”

“Wait, you read the script?”

Your expression drops as you finally remove his thumb from your face, but his hand remains in your lap, connected to yours. 

He nods small, as if sheepish to admit it.

“I could tell it bothered you that I wanted to only act with vibes, so I read it the other night. Three times, actually. Wait —I’ll show you.”

He holds up a finger before pushing from his chair, shuffling around to a cabinet on the far end of the trailer vanity. Pulling the cabinet open, he plucks the script in question from its place and moseys back to his chair.

The script is thicker than yours, bursting with dog ears and color-coded bookmark tabs all along the belly of white pages. Dieter shakes the thick book in the air, mouth souring to a pathetic smile.

“Ta-da.”

Goddamnit. It’s endearing.

You hate it.

Pinching the bridge of your nose, you draw a slow exhale and utter a question you know you cannot take back:

“Do you actually want to sleep with me, or is this a method acting thing?”

Dieter pauses, brows knitting a way that says he’s truly concentrating on what he should say versus what he wants to say. As if words right now are difficult, because no one has written them for him yet.

“I’m gonna kiss you,” he decides, moving a fraction from his chair to hover by yours — it’s a request for permission without asking at all. “I’m gonna kiss you, and you can decide if this is real or if this is a method acting thing. Got it?”

You don’t quite understand what he’s saying, but you can smell the faint scent of vodka on his breath. You wonder if the scent on yours is just as strong.

You open your mouth to reply until you realize he’s been staring at your lips this entire time.

All you offer is a faint nod. That’s all the consent he needs to crowd your space like he’s a drowning man, large hands cupping either side of your face.

He stops just before his lips can reach yours. 

You freeze, searching his face. His eyes are squeezed shut, as if in pain from the proximity. Then he mumbles one word in prayer:

“Ramona.”

The script.

The ill-fated couple’s reunion starts just like this: drinks in hand and quietly sitting by a fireplace after years of neglect, of ignorance. The way he speaks your character’s name is one of undying submission.

He’s a little too good at it.

You remain perfectly still, nose to nose, brain flurrying through pages until it lands on the scene in question.

“What are you waiting for, Rich?” you murmur, lips barely touching his as you ask the scripted line, and you can see him break character for a fraction of a second to smile.

“You,” Dieter recites, nuzzling your nose with his. “Always you.”

The script says Richie goes in for the kiss, but fuck that.

You grab the lopsided tie, bunching the fabric in your fist to close those few precious inches, lips smashing on impact.

Dieter doesn’t falter from the diversion, instead melting against you as he pulls you impossibly closer, kisses frantic and deep and needy.

(Social media has insisted he looks like a damn good kisser. They were right.)

You moan at the sensation of the tip of his tongue swiping your lower lip, wordlessly requesting permission. You open your mouth to accept it, grip tightening on his tie.

As his hands drop, so do his knees. Dieter Bravo kneels in front of you like a sinner in church, fingers settling along the hem of your button-down. He abruptly switches his train of thought, attacking the button of your jeans. 

“I have wanted to eat you out all goddamn day.”

Your brows fly high, hold lessening on his tie as he beckons your hips to help him remove your jeans. You laugh — surprised and hot and nothing like Ramona— and gently place a hand over his.

“That isn’t in the script,” you remind him as he pouts up at you. “And I’m pretty sure Mr. Alzone doesn’t eat pussy.”

“Babe, every character I agree to play eats pussy,” Dieter reassures with utmost sincerity. “I would outright refuse the role if they didn’t.”

“This isn't what you want,” you say, voice wavering in control as you start on the buttons of your shirt to help his original endeavor. “It’s what Richie wants, and he doesn’t eat her out in the first — fuck — the first sex scene.”

“I can suggest rewrites,” he quickly replies, undoing the buttons of his own shirt to fling it clear from his torso and somewhere to the floor. 

Your eyes drop to the array of tattoos on his body — particularly the solid triangle in the middle of his forearm — and lose focus for a moment. He doesn’t skip a beat, yanking off his dress slacks and boxer briefs until your attention drops between his legs.

He’s already hard, deliciously so, and you wonder if those rewrites may actually be a good idea.

“Come here.”

He drags you from your train of thought, unbuttoning the last few notches keeping your shirt together. Everything is too cold and too hot at the same time.

Tongue darting between his lips, Dieter marvels at the lace along your white bra and kneels higher to meet you. Gently he works one breast out of a cup, palming along the swell of it with utmost worship. You can’t help the noise that exits when his mouth closes around your nipple, tongue swirling with eagerness around the raised bud.

“Fuck, Dee—” He flicks his tongue, causing you to jolt with correction. “—Richie.”

He hums in approval, snaking his free hand between the fabric of your jeans and landing the tip of his middle finger against your clit. It’s not enough — somehow you’ve landed in the palm of Dieter’s hand, but you can’t find yourself ashamed of getting here.

It’s just a rehearsal.

It means nothing.

You finally lift your hips for him, wiggling the jeans and panties down your legs. Dieter continues to rub his finger in a circle, following your movements so not to break rhythm like he’s already attuned to your body. It’s experienced. It’s hot.

(Shit — did you just refer to Dieter Bravo as hot?)

What’s even better is the noise he makes, short and keening, when you sink to your knees to meet him on the floor. He drops his fingers from your clit to spin you around.

“All fours,” he says, voice wavering behind you. In the first sex scene, Richie demands Ramona to get on all fours. Yet when Dieter demands it, it’s anything but — it’s a request, pushing on the verge of begging when he kisses down your spine.

You respond because you’re delirious for this game, settling on all fours with your hips arching on display. You hear him mutter a string of curses, fumbling with the foil of a condom. Your fists bunch the shag rug beneath you in anticipation.

Line.

There’s a line here, but you’re not remembering it.

He runs a hand along your hip, tugging you backwards.

“Only gonna do it if you say please,” Dieter reminds you, rewriting what you're forgetting when he runs a thumb along your slit. You shudder, head dropping with the teasing up-and-down motions of the digit.

“Fuck, please,” you request, keeping to your Ramona accent.

Because if you admit you’re begging for it, then you’ll never stop thinking about this.

Slow and cautious, you feel the tip of Dieter nudge along your folds. He groans, loud and filthy when he slides right in without resistance, bottoming out. You whimper, high-pitched in your gasp as the stretch takes over your train of thought.

Dieter hovers over you, running a hand along your back, until he eases back out. “This good for you, baby?” When you nod once, he pushes back in at a new angle. “Not good enough, apparently. I wanna hear it.”

Whether this is in the script or not, you do not know — and quite frankly, cannot care.

“So fucking good,” you respond, white-knuckling against the rug.

From there he is relentless. Pressing his palms into the crease of your hips, he picks up the pace and leaves you a moaning mess underneath him. He mumbles sweet nothings until they border downright debauchery.

“Such a good fucking girl for me,” he moans above, running a hand down the nape of your neck. “Taking this cock so good, look so pretty from up here. God, wanted to do this for weeks—”

At first, you think ‘this’ means fucking you. What ‘this’ ends up being, however, completely catches you off guard.

Mid-thrust, he wraps an arm around your waist and lifts you to kneel in front of him. Your back presses flush against his chest as he relentlessly fucks up into you. One arm keeps you locked in place while the other snakes along your torso to land at your chest where he cups the breast hanging out of your bra.

The new angle gives you plenty of room to reach down, furiously drawing circles around your clit to keep up with the pace.

You won’t last long.

Not when he’s growling in your ear.

“Mine.”

Because Richie is possessive.

Dieter is worshipping.

He repeats your character's name — Ramona — after every few thrusts until stars explode behind your eyelids and he’s not far to follow clear over the edge. One, two, three final thrusts and he slacks, holding both strong arms around your middle so you don’t immediately collapse.

Sweat-slicked and desperate for air, you drop a shaking hand against the coffee table and spill a cup of highlighters across the hardwood floor.

Goddamnit.

God. Damn. It.

Running a hand through your hair, you ignore the peppered kisses across your shoulder and breathe deep for the first time since you arrived at his trailer.

“That — cannot — become a habit.”

You feel Dieter grin against your skin.

“Famous last words."

[thatmexisaurusrex]

What Could You Ask For My Auction SamBucky/SamBuckyQuin/SamQuin?

So, I have two auctions for Marvel Trumps Hate 2022 and I was thinking about how people sometimes don’t have ideas for prompts and that it helps when you can provide some prompts they can ask for. So I'm going to do that! If someone wants to use the prompts for a different auction too, feel free to do so. I just want to give some examples for prompts. I came up with 29 ideas 😂

Here are some ideas for my Auction 1025!

Some Art or Photos That Would Inspire A Fic, like:

1) A Fairytail AU based on these pictures where Royal!Sam has a meet-cute/meet-ugly in the forest while Bucky is on horseback. Could be an arranged marriage or marriage of convenience AU. Could be a love story between two dorks in a fantasy setting.

2) This artwork of Sam working out that could be about Sam being oblivious as Bucky tries to come out to Sam and ask Sam out.

3) Thor Corps Sam and Joaquín, based on this pic from the comics, perhaps?

4) A SamBuckyQuin fic based on these "kiss the cook" pics?

5) This "What Are They Saying?" post. What are they saying? Want to fill in the blank? Want me to fill in the blank?

6) This series of pics on thighs that @hot-chocolates-world posted. Because who doesn't like a fic appreciating Sam 🥰

7) Barista AU where someone's making bird art in coffee like this?

8) Sam doing some gymnastics like in these comic pics?

9) This Chicken Brooding Canon Divergence idea @runzu sent me and I haven't gotten to yet.

10) Maybe something inspired by this Vampire!Sam and Werewolf!Bucky art

Prompts Found Around The Internet, Like:

1) This Soulmates "we woke up married in Vegas"/“we got drunk at a pagan ritual in Scotland and now we’re bound for life and any attempt at separation will tear apart our souls” AU idea.

2) This goofy conversation I had with @vampire-grayson about Sam and Bucky doing the Tumblr ball-shaving ads? 😂

3) Something based on this series of unrelated questions?

4) Something about Sam or Bucky or Joaquín having this conversation about a fanny pack and a very horny fan blog?

5) This Cheese Seller AU idea that @jules-of-the-crown sent me a while back that I've been meaning to take a crack at 😆

6) This Gym Bro story from Reddit.

7) This AU idea @margarethx thought up and Jules sent me where Sam's a Paranormal Investigator and Bucky's a Cryptid.

8) This marriage of convenience idea @saryasy had that I've been meaning to do.

9) This ridiculous Lighthouse Idea Bee and I somehow formed 😂

10) A "Didn't Know I Was Dating Him" AU based on this Reddit spiel

Some Ideas From The General Prompts From My Auction:

1) Fake Dating: Sam needs his family to stop asking Sam when he's going to get married. Sam hires Bucky to pretend to be his fiance over the holidays.

2) Huddle for Warmth: After a mission gone wrong, Sam and Bucky find themselves needing to survive for the night in the woods. It gets chilly.

3) Angel/Demon AU: Sam, Joaquín, and Bucky meet across the centuries after Bucky falls from grace.

4) Bodega/Corner Store AU: A corner store employee watches Sam and Joaquín fall in love whenever they bump into each other at the store.

5) Enemy Soulmates AU: What it says on the tin. Sam and Bucky were always supposed to be enemies. They're destined for it. So why do they keep getting along?

6) Courtship/Arranged Marriage AU: Sam and Bucky find themselves in an arranged marriage neither of them asked for after both of their siblings run before their wedding day. As they try to figure out how the marriage will work, they start to fall in love.

7) Days in Delacroix: Sam and Bucky Slice of Life moments.

8) Persephone/Hades AU: Sam finds his way to the Underworld, where he meets the King of the Dead. They strike up a friendship. Maybe something more...

9) Hurt/Comfort: After Sam gets injured during a mission, Bucky and Joaquín take care of him.

[taestefully-in-luv]

The Island | KTH (Sixteen)

Summary: You’re just two strangers waking up in a room on a lonely island where a company in the business of love has placed you. They believe that thanks to their in depth research you two are destined soulmates. What happens when your ‘soulmate’ and you want nothing to do with each other but falling in love is the only way to leave?

Pairing: Taehyung x Female reader

Genre: strangers to lovers, very slight enemies to lovers, soulmates au, roommate au, slow burn, fluff, smut, angst, slight crack, and drama.

Word Count: 8.1k

Warnings: swearing, sexual tension, mutual masturbation, sexting, vague mention of suicidal thoughts.

Notes: Sorry I shortened it a little bit! Enjoy the chapter:) Let me know if you want to be added to the taglist, or send an ask if just want to chat about the stories!:)

taglist: @ggukkieland @707sblog @peacedreamer14 @dopedreamfireparty @taebae19 @typicalgenzworld @mooniyooni @helenazbmrskai @justinetingball @jpeachytaev @marplest @calling-dips-on-j-hope @lecavivien @fancycollectormoon @mawwnsterr @siredsong @happyhrsme @storms-and-stars-blog @mingi-banana @soeur-de-ame @ladycubes0t7

© taestefully-in-luv

Previous --- Next

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The apartment is dead silent save the running AC, not even the voice in your head is speaking. Words are being spoken though, all through the eyes. His gaze, your gaze, the intense eye contact speaking volumes. Eyes are focused, eyes are speaking, eyes are undressing, eyes are fucking. But there is no touching. There is no sound.

Taehyung watches you extra carefully, his stare only intensifying as the seconds pass. You’re seated across from him on your one sofa as he sits a couple feet directly away from you in a chair. You sit here, teasing him with your spreading legs while he watches you conflicted as fuck. His mind is going a million miles a minute with thoughts of you but somehow they are about how precious you are, how good you are, how sweet you are. He truly cherishes you beyond belief.

But when you spread them a little further, his eyes drop lower until he sees your panties being slightly shown from under your dress. His mind goes back to an hour ago, your lips devouring his like you were starved of him. And he of you. And he is…he is starved of you. But you two have not touched since.

Leaving Marcus behind was the easiest thing Taehyung has had to do while being here. Giving him a brief explanation on how you were ready to go home, while Marcus eyed the two of you anxiously makes Taehyung smile. Is he immature for that? He doesn’t care. Marcus did offer you two a ride (Well, he was mostly just speaking to you) but you politely declined, explaining that Taehyung has already ordered a ride for the two of you.

The ride home was quiet. No touching. Just stealing glances at the other. And now, Taehyung watches you with dark eyes. He watches you watching him. Your legs spread more and more and he shamelessly eyes you. His eyes dropping down to your spread legs and back up to your glazed eyes, he quirks a brow at you while a small smirk plays at his lips. This only motivates you to spread them further, dragging a small hand down your clothed body.

Taehyung for the first time, closes his eyes in obvious frustration. When he opens them again they are much darker, and more intense than before. Bingo.

“I won’t touch you.” You breathe out softly, “And you won’t touch me. But…” your hand stops at your thigh, “But who says we can’t touch ourselves?”

Taehyung lightly scoffs, the slight rolls of his eyes as his smirk grows makes you smile yourself.

“y/n.” He groans, your name coming out rough. Taehyung bites down on his lip as he thinks…You’re so good. Yet so bad. And he honestly has a hard time telling you no.

Finally, Taehyung focuses his eyes on yours intensely again as he gestures his hand toward you.

Your smile grows as you lift your hand up to shake a finger at him,

“You first.” You tease, your silky voice making him shudder.

“Oh?” Taehyung raises another brow at you, “You think you have some power here?”

“I know you’d let me if I wanted to.” Your finger now points at him, “We’re just friends, right? Things are different.” These words don’t leave your mouth bitterly, instead they leave like a smooth trail of sweet, sweet water.

Taehyung’s devilish smirk grows on his once serious face, he rolls his head back as his white teeth are proudly displayed. You playfully gesture towards him the way he did to you, and he brings his head back down to look at you, his hand finding his crotch.

He cups himself over his dress pants as a long, long sigh escapes his lips as he squeezes lightly. You smile at him, approving of his action.

“Good.” You tease. You lower your hand that was pointing at him and bring it your lap. “My turn?”

Taehyung slowly nods, his eyes never leaving yours.

“Go ahead.” He tells you lowly. “Whatever will make you feel good.”

You bunch your dress up around your hips, and slightly lift yourself off the couch to shimmy out of your panties. The material drags down leg by leg as you continue to gaze into Taehyung’s eyes. His eyes stay locked with yours, the heat in the room only getting hotter and hotter. You ball up the underwear in your hand before slinging them at Taehyung’s chest, you both crack a smile and lightly laugh. His dark chuckle making you feel good, proud even.

Taehyung takes the panties that have slid down into his lap and brings them to his face, the material bunching up around his nose as he inhales deeply. He lowers the underwear with one hand while his other hand begins rubbing himself over his pants. You watch in satisfaction.

~~~~~~

“No like, they are literally together.” Jimin says for the millionth time but Jungkook just looks at him with a blank expression.

“I get it. I know they are always together.” Jungkook nods his head, “But they seem different somehow…”

“That’s because it is different you fool.”

Jimin isn’t sure if Jungkook is really this innocent and naïve that he really just does not get it or he’s pretending not to know.

“Like, they are always together but now they are more together.” Jungkook says again, “Yuna is making me feel like Jiwoo is all hers and that’s not fair.”

Jimin looks defeated to say the least as he throws his head into his hands.

“Jiwoo is all hers, dumbass. They are dating. D.A.T.I.N.G.” Jimin tries explaining once again, “They are together for real for real.”

“Listen, I know they are always together—”

“He isn’t go to listen.” Jin looks over at Jimin. “He doesn’t want to accept it.”

“Clearly.” Jimin huffs out. “But to make me explain over and over…”

“—But like it just seems sketchy to me.”

Jimin and Jin both groan at the same time, “You idiot. Jiwoo and Yuna have romantic feelings for one another. Yuna likes Jiwoo. Jiwoo likes Yuna. Just Yuna. They are dating. They are together. They want to live happily ever after or whatever.” Jin says quickly, making his point.

“Like…they’re like girlfriend …and girlfriend?” Jungkook asks slowly. “Like—”

“Yes!” Jin and Jimin yell out, “For fucks sake…”

“Okay, okay.” Jungkook raises his hands up, a pout forming on his lips. “I get it, I get it.”

“Finally.” Jimin rolls his eyes. “but uh…you okay? We know you like Jiwoo…” Jimin decides to ask carefully.

“I guess I’m fine…” Jungkook looks down at the ground. “It’s not like I really stood a chance I guess.”

“Jungkook…” Jin puts a hand on his shoulder. “Yeah.” He agrees quickly. “You probably didn’t.”

“Hey!” Jungkook whines, lifting his head to look at his two friends. “You could at least console me.”

“There, there.” Jin pats his shoulder a few times before bringing his hand back to his body.

“Speaking of trying to console…” Jimin frowns as he speaks, “I’ve been trying to text y/n and Tae to see how they’re doing but I haven’t heard from them in hours and hours.”

“y/n is going through a lot Jimin…” Jin’s voice softens, “She probably just needs some space.”

“I’m just so worried…” Jimin pulls his phone from his pocket.

“I am too honestly.” Jungkook says. “I haven’t heard from either of them in a while either.”

Jimin clicks on his phone and opens his message app to find your name and his messages that have gone unread.

“What could you two be doing…?”

~~~~~~~

Your hand is at your clothed breast now, your small fingers rubbing slow circles over your hardening nipples. Your lips are parted as heavy breaths escape you. Your hazy eyes indefinitely locked with Taehyung’s as he licks his lips watching as your other hand rides up your inner thigh. His breath gets caught in his throat when your fingers travel closer and closer to where he wishes his mouth was.

“Mm.” you hum, your fingers finally making contact with your wet clit. Taehyung releases a long, deep breath when you finally properly moan for the first time, your head tilting back and your eyes slowly closing.

“How does it feel?” Taehyung can’t help but ask, “Good?”

“Pull it out Tae.” You nod your head towards him. “We aren’t touching one another but we can watch each other. Right?”

~~~~~~~

You can’t really afford to not go back to work…even though you really, really don’t want to.

“You’re pretty.” You hear his voice from behind you. “I wish you didn’t have to go in…” Taehyung stands closely behind you, his warmth radiating off his tall body.

“Me either…you’ll be okay on your own?” You turn around to face him, your head tilting up to look into his eyes.

“I’m a big boy, y/n.” Taehyung chuckles, his hand coming to your shoulder and giving it a light squeeze. “You’ll be here around 5 to get me so we can head to the hospital?”

“Yeah. A little after 5.” You nod your head, “Text me today if you need anything.” You begin to walk past him towards your bed where your purse it sitting. “Work gets boring anyway.”

“What if I just want to text you just because?” Taehyung follows you.

“Like I said, work gets boring.” You giggle, slinging the purse strap over your shoulder. “Feel free.”

“Will do.” He smiles for you, making you hate that you have to leave now.

“Tae?”

“Hm?”

“We haven’t really talked about Saturday night.”

Immediately, Taehyung’s smile twists into something more uncomfortable. His eyes find the ceiling as he nods his head.

“We didn’t…it’s not like we touched one another. It’s completely innocent.” He excuses lamely, “We’re still just friends.”

“Oh. Okay.” You feel your heart pinch in your chest at the mention of friends. “I got to get going…”

“y/n…” Taehyung walks a little closer, beginning to invade your space as his hand finds your cheek with a soft caress. “I’ll miss you while you’re gone.”

You fucking gulp, his touch causing a fire to start. You release a breath, trying to calm yourself from one innocent touch.

“Me too.” You admit shamelessly. He lowers his hand and gives you a curt nod, saying goodbye.

The ride to work isn’t very long, you sort of wish it was longer to give you more time to think. You and Taehyung are…complicated. You swear you are just friends but there is so much going on between you two that it physically hurts.

Once at your desk, you take a seat and immediately pull out your phone and are pleasantly surprised to see a notification from none other…

Taehyung 9:04am

I’m new to this whole friends thing so I have a lot of questions

y/n 9:09am

oh really? I guess I could help you answer some.

Taehyung 9:10am

Perfect

Taehyung 9:10am

Is it okay, as a friend, to have stared at your ass the entire time you walked away towards the front door when you were leaving

y/n 9:11am

lol tae.

y/n 9:11am

Well…looking is only natural

Taehyung 9:12am

I thought so too.

y/n 9:14am

What other questions do you have?

Taehyung 9:15am

Let’s see…

Taehyung 9:16am

Is it normal, as a friend, to have the image of you coming all around your fingers engraved in my brain?

y/n 9:20am

Jesus, Tae.

You bring your phone to your chest and frantically look around to make sure no one is walking past you. Oh? So he does want to talk about Saturday night?

y/n 9:21am

Only if it’s normal that I am thinking about your cock right now…

Okay, maybe you escalated things a little more than necessary. But he started this!

Taehyung 9:22am

Thinking about me, are we?

y/n 9:22am

As a friend, of course.

Taehyung 9:23am

Of course.

Taehyung 9:23am

Do you know how badly I wanted to be the one to make you cum?

y/n 9:23am

You are the one who made me cum.

Taehyung 9:24am

You know what I mean, y/n.

y/n 9:24am

I’m not sure I do. Tell me?

Taehyung 9:26am

You really want me to tell you? About how I wish it was my fingers that you were coming all around? Or my tongue. Or my cock.

y/n 9:34am

Why not all 3?

Taehyung 9:34am

You’re so greedy

y/n 9:35am

you know best how greedy I can be

Taehyung 9:35am

I do.

Taehyung 9:35am

But your pleasure means everything to me.

You sit at your desk, your right leg crossing over your left leg as you squeeze your thighs together. You know for a fact he isn’t lying, he loves, loves to please you. As you do him. But for him to outright say that makes the heartbeat in your vagina fucking boom.

Taehyung 9:39am

I wish I had the ability to fucking please you right now.

y/n 9:40am

What do you mean

Taehyung 9:40am

y/n, don’t play…you know exactly what I mean.

Taehyung 9:41am

Do you remember what we discussed one time on the island? If you would let me use a vibrator on you in public? Where I can control it from my phone?

y/n 9:42am

yes…I remember

Taehyung 9:42am

If I had that right now…I’d have you coming in your office. Squirming in your chair…your pretty pussy leaking. Would you like that?

y/n 9:44am

Tae…

You hate yourself for your pathetic, erratic breaths as you sit still in your chair. His words making you feel so hot and bothered. This is ultimately so fucking confusing for you…he says you are just friends yet the need between the two of you has not wavered. Is he unable as well? Unable to keep this completely platonic. Has the line been fucking crossed? But you two haven’t had sex…so is the line really crossed?

y/n 9:44am

I wish I could cum right now Tae

Taehyung 9:45am

You can. Go to the bathroom, touch yourself.

y/n 9:45am

I might need some material to look at if I am to do that;)

Taehyung 9:46am

Material? Are you asking for a photo? So greedy as usual

y/n 9:46am

Maybe I will send you one as well.

Taehyung 9:46am

Oh y/n, you will

y/n 9:47am

Send me a pic?

Taehyung 9:50am

And what exactly kind of photo are you expecting?

y/n 9:50am

You know exactly.

Taehyung 9:51am

You have to make me hard first, y/n.

y/n 9:52am

hmm…just imagine my lips wrapped around your cock. Imagine me choking on it, wouldn’t you like that Tae?

Taehyung 9:53am

As good as that sounds I think I need more. Maybe some photos…I am a visual guy after all

y/n 9:54am

You’re lucky these are private bathrooms.

Taehyung 9:55am

I am very lucky, y/n.

You stiffly stand from your chair, shove your phone in your pocket and head towards the bathrooms. A few coworkers try making conversation on your way over but you make a face that gives that hint that you’re urgently needing the restroom.

You knock a few times on the door of the bathroom and when there is no answer you quickly swing it open and lightly slam it closed behind you. The light automatically turns on and you walk to the mirror, you look flushed, you look at your heaving chest and you scoff at how pathetic you are.

You are horny as fuck though. Since reuniting with Taehyung, your hormones are fucking insane. And by the constant buzzing of your phone in your pocket, you know his are too.

Taehyung 10:00am

Please tell me you are taking some photos for me baby

Baby. He is horny as hell if he is forgetting you technically aren’t his baby anymore.

Taehyung 10:00am

Wanna see your lips, wanna see what bra you are wearing, wanna see your perfect tits on my screen.

Taehyung 10:01am

Can you do that for me baby?

y/n 10:01am

friends call each other baby?

Taehyung 10:02am

Always such a fucking brat.

y/n 10:02am

Oh, but you’re into tho

Taehyung 10:02am

Of course I am, it’s you

Taehyung 10:03am

Now be good for me, let me see you.

y/n 10:06am

[Image]

Taehyung 10:07am

Mm. You are so so pretty.

Taehyung 10:07am

Wanna cum all over those lips

y/n 10:10am

[Image] Want to cum all over these too?

Taehyung 10:10am

Holy fuck y/n.

y/n 10:11am

Pls tell me you are stroking your long cock for me, tae. Tell me I am getting you nice and hard…

Taehyung 10:12am

Just pulled it out, baby. Your pictures are driving me wild, I wish I could have you here.

y/n 10:12am

let me see you now.

Taehyung 10:18am

[Video]

A fucking video? You almost drop your phone when you see it. You hurry to the toilet, slamming the lid down and plopping down on top. Your full attention on your screen. You first make sure the volume is low enough on the phone for just you to hear it before clicking on the video.

Holy. Fuck. Your eyes instantly glaze over with lust when Taehyung’s gorgeous dick is on screen, his large hand pumping it so slowly. His heavy breaths are just loud enough for your ears only and you want to faint.

Taehyung’s hand starts stroking his cock a little faster now, his grunts music to your ears. Suddenly, much to your god damn surprise, he starts whispering. You bring the phone closer to your ear as you try to make out what he’s saying.

“y/n…” oh. Your name.

“I want to cum for you, baby.” His heavy breaths make it hard to understand exactly what he’s saying but you are managing.

“Wish my cock was….deep down your throat…mm…wish you were here…sucking on me.”

Your eyes roll around in your head as you feel yourself grow wetter and wetter. You’re quick to unbutton your dress pants, slide down the zipper and stick your fingers down where they need to be. You instantly sigh out in relief when your fingers make contact with your aching, desperate clit. You keep your eyes on the video and you feel the pleasure building but suddenly the video just comes to an end. He didn’t even cum.

y/n 10:26am

Tae. You didn’t even finish for me babe. I need to see you cum…

Your message gets left on read for a minute, maybe he is recording another video? God, you hope so. But then suddenly, your phone starts consistently vibrating in your hand and you see he is video calling you.

“Tae.” You answer breathlessly. “I—”

“I know you’ve been touching yourself…right?” he cuts you off with his deep voice. “You haven’t cum yet, right?”

Your cheeks flush as you feel you have been caught red handed, you slow your movements on your clit and bite down on your lip.

“I am touching myself.” You admit, “But you’re right, I haven’t finished yet.”

“Good.” He takes a deep breath, “I want to cum together. Like the other night.”

“Show me your cock.” You all but whisper to your phone, “You have a very handsome face, but really need to see your cock.”

“Heh.” Taehyung rolls his head back with a smirk, “Of course.” He switches the camera, showing off his thick length, his long fingers wrapped around it so sinfully. “Lower the camera. Let me see how your fingers work on your pretty pussy.”

You release a shaky breath as you nod your head obediently. You slide your pants lower down your legs along with your red panties, showing him the perfect view of his favorite meal.

“Good girl.” He begins pumping faster. “Getting off at work for me like such a good girl.”

“Tae…” you slowly close your eyes as you rub your clit, the sound of his hand rubbing against his dick is making you so turned on. “I have to be quiet.” You whisper.

“No.” he tells you quickly. “I need to hear you.”

“I—I am at work….” Your sharp breaths aren’t going unnoticed.

“But it feels too good, doesn’t it?”

You open your eyes again to look at the screen, his cock is absolutely throbbing. The tip is leaking with precum, the obvious glaze making you that much more horny.

“So good.” You moan, “I could cum any minute…”

“Yeah? You could cum? With the thought of me?” Taehyung’s voice is strained as he strokes faster and faster, squeezing his tip tightly. “Spread your legs a little more baby. Spread your lips apart. Let me get a good view of your perfect, perfect pussy.”

“Taehyung…” you try to very quietly moan his name as you follow through with his request. “I want to cum…”

“Then cum. Cum all over those fingers again, just like you did the other night.” Taehyung softly commands you, “Wish you were here to swallow my cum.” He says as he pumps quicker now, sloppier, much more desperately.

“Ahh…” your fingers circle your clit quickly, adding pressure, as a huge wave of pleasure washes through you. “Taehyung…Taehyung…”

“That’s it, baby. Ride it out.”

Your body goes stiff as your orgasm hits you, your fingers slow as you bring the camera back to your face. Your fucked out expression making Taehyung go wild.

“I’m coming, I’m coming.” He pants out, “Fuck.” You watch as his cum spurts out of his swollen head, leaking all over his hand. “Ah.”

“Taehyung.” You calm down your breathing with a small smile. “We did it again.” You tell him, trying not to sound too ….you don’t know, but something.

“I know.” He turns the camera to his face, “I’d say we are more than just normal friends…”

“Tae—”

“I’d say we are like, really good friends.” He stares at you for a second before winking. “Get back to work y/n. See you later.” And then he is hanging up.

Kim fucking Taehyung. Why is he the biggest tease you have ever dealt with? You can’t even be mad because he was just being that, a fucking tease.

“Jesus, Taehyung.” You mutter under your breath as you stand up and pull your underwear and pants back up. Ignoring the sticky mess between your legs. He is driving you insane. Absolutely insane.

The rest of the work day goes slowly, you constantly check your phone for more messages from Taehyung but none come in. Why is he doing this to you? You thought he was a man of self control? Then why is he unable to put real boundaries on your ‘friendship’? Is he just as weak for you as you are for him?

Suddenly, your phone buzzes and you rush to check it but it isn’t from Tae. Instead you see you have an unread message from Marcus.

Marcus 4:04pm

Hey y/n :) I was thinking we could get dinner tonight…just the two of us? I know you are probably going to the hospital after work but maybe after?

y/n 4:10pm

Sure Marcus:) a late dinner…how does 8 sound?

Marcus 4:10pm

Perfect. You can pick the place, just let me know when you decide.

You click your phone off after agreeing and set it down on your desk. Is it wrong that you wish it was Taehyung instead? You wonder what he is up to…maybe he decided to leave the apartment to get some air? Or is his just binging some show on Netflix?

You won’t text him though. No. You don’t want to seem too like, needy or some shit. You are just friends after all…whatever that bullshit means. You wait for the clock to hit 5 and are rushing out of your office building.

~

The hospital visit is short…there’s no real progress on your mother and this puts you in a sour mood. You want nothing more in this world right now than for her to wake up…to just…be okay. Taehyung gives you some space as he waits in the waiting room, but you kind of wish he was here, next to you in this room.

“How was it?” Taehyung asks as you walk into the waiting area.

“She’s…she’s sleeping peacefully.” You tell him quietly. “I just wish she would…”

“I know.” Taehyung walks closer to you and pulls you into his arms. Your head hits his chest and you immediately inhale him, taking in his wonderful scent. You can’t be strong forever, you think. And being in Taehyung’s arms makes your eyes fucking water. He hears you sniffle and his hand instantly goes to rub your back.

“She’s going to wake up, y/n. Give it time.”

You take in a deep breath before pulling away from him and looking into his sorry eyes.

“I know.” You try to smile but fail miserably. “I know.”

You two make your way back to your apartment, the kitchen faucet dripping with occasional water is the only sound filling up the place. You both sit on the sofa when you look at your phone and notice the time.

“Oh shit.” You stand from your place on the couch, “Dinner.”

“We can order something?” Taehyung offers, “I am kind of missing Korean food so maybe—”

“No, I uh, I have dinner plans. At 8.” You say softly, almost regretfully. “With Marcus.”

“Oh.” Taehyung can’t help but go rigid. His heart starting to race as he thinks about you with Marcus. “Like, just you two?” But he knows the answer.

“Yeah.” You begin chewing on your bottom lip. “Sorry. Will you be okay?”

Taehyung playfully scoffs as he stands up too.

“Big boy, remember?” he inches closer to you, his warm breath fanning over your face. “I’ll be fine.”

“Okay…I won’t be too long, I promise.” You tell him, “I—”

“You know…” Taehyung comes even closer now, his body towering over your own as he speaks lowly. “This is another situation where I wish I could send you off with a vibrator that I control.”

You feel your body catch fire at his words, his tone is dark and seductive and driving you nuts.

“Taehyung…”

“Imagine being at dinner with someone but I’m here, controlling your pleasure.” He licks his licks, his tongue wetting the bottom one so deliciously.

“If only.” You breathe out roughly.

“Well…” Taehyung backs up from you, “You should get going.”

What is this man doing to you?

~~~~~~~

You aren’t entirely sure why but dinner with Marcus is a little…uncomfortable. There’s some strange tension with his strained smile as he sits across from you. Maybe it’s because he hasn’t been his usual sweet and shy self. He has been more bold since Taehyung got here.

“You look lovely, y/n.” Oh never mind, his shy boy persona is back as his cheeks…no, no his whole face turns nice and red. “How was your day?”

“Thanks.” You give him a soft smile, “It was good. I’m just tired.”

“How are things with…uh, Taehyung?” he brings his glass of water to his mouth as he takes a sip or two. “He’s still here?”

“Yes.” Your eyes slide to the side, feeling awkward. “Things are…okay.”

“About what we were talking about…” Marcus begins but you feel your phone buzz and you go to check it.

Taehyung 8:22pm

Thinking about what we could be doing right now? What I could be doing to you? For you?

Your cheeks turn rosy as you read his text, your flustered state not going unnoticed by Marcus. You quickly turn your phone over on the table as you think of his suggestive text.

“Everything okay?” Marcus tilts his head to the side, “You look—”

“Oh me? I’m fine.” You rush to say, “What were you saying?”

“Our conversation from last week.” He reminds you, “I know I said before that I didn’t believe Taehyung…you know, really wanted you. I’m sorry for saying that. I was wrong…he clearly wants you but I still think…” Marcus nervously trails off, his words dying on his tongue, waiting for you to give some type of reaction.

“Think what?” you lean forward a little, obviously curious.

“I still think if he actually loved you…he would be with you, y/n.”

“It’s complicated.”

“Love shouldn’t be this complicated.”

“No offense Marcus…” you place your hands flat on the table. “But you have no idea what either of us has been through.”

“Yeah, you know what,” Marcus begins to grow frustrated. “Maybe I’ll never know either, but there are guys willing to be with you, treat you right, but you’re waiting for some dude who isn’t even sure?”

You ball your hands up, bringing them to your lap. Marcus is obviously overstepping but is he right? You’re tired too. But doesn’t Taehyung deserve the time he wants?

“y/n…” Marcus sighs out, closing his eyes, taking a few deep breaths before continuing. “I’m sorry…I keep…I keep losing my cool, don’t I?” he tries to smile. “I’m sorry. I just really…Well, it doesn’t matter.”

“I know you’re just looking out for me.” You tell him with a tender tone, “You’re just trying to be a good friend. But please just trust what I am doing.”

“What if it doesn’t work out?” he mutters quietly, his eyes filling with pity.

“Then it didn’t work out.” You tell him simply, “But I’ll know I tried my best. And I can be proud of that.”

“Okay.” Marcus nods slowly. “Okay.”

~

“But she seems to be doing okay?” Jimin asks Taehyung, “Like, really?”

“I’m keeping an eye on her, don’t worry.” Taehyung smiles at his best friend through the phone, “She will probably be home soon—” Taehyung’s head whips in the direction of your front door when he hears muffled voices on the other side. “Speak of that angel, I think she’s home.”

Jimin waits expectantly on the other side of the phone, waiting for your entrance.

“Where is she? What’s taking so long?”

“I think they’re…talking.” Taehyung turns his head back towards the phone. “give her a minute.”

“Bro…go to the door. Take me with you…see what they’re talking about.” Jimin wiggles his brows and nods a few times.

“What? No!” Taehyung cutely whines, “That’s like an invasion of privacy.”

“Oh come on, I know you’re curious too.”

And he is. He is curious.

“Okay but be quiet.” Taehyung starts walking towards the front door. He peaks through the peep hole and sees you and Marcus standing on just the other side of this door talking.

“Put your ear to the door!” Jimin tries his best to whisper.

“Shh!” Taehyung quickly and quietly tries to shush him. “But like, okay.”

Taehyung puts his ear to the door like some sort of clingy mad man, and barely makes out what you two are saying. It’s too muffled and he’s starting to give up and just look through the peep hole again.

“I want to respect you y/n.” Marcus tells you softly. “But I don’t want to go against my own heart either.”

“W-What do you mean?”

“I don’t want to give up.” He says almost regrettably by the look of his face.

“Marcus….”

“I just really…” Marcus steps a little closer, making your back softly hit the door as he leans in a bit. “I really….” His head slightly tilts as he leans in closer and closer.

“Marcus.” Your hand finds the middle of his chest and he knocks out of his daze, leaning away from you again.

“I know.”

When you enter your apartment you see Taehyung sitting awkwardly on your sofa, he’s just staring ahead while you take your shoes off.

“Hey.” You greet him quietly, walking further into your living room.

“Hi.” Taehyung gives you a curt nod, “How was dinner?”

You don’t really want to talk about dinner…you’re feeling strange at the moment, lost on how to handle your current Marcus situation. Because yes, there is a situation. Marcus clearly, very clearly has feelings for you and you are too damn involved in your own sad, lonely bullshit to want to deal with it.

“It was fine.” You take a seat next to him on the couch. “What did you get up to?”

“Just fine?” Taehyung ignores your question, “Marcus is your friend so I am sure you enjoyed it more than just fine right?”

“Taehyung.” You rub your temples with your fingers, “It was fine.”

“What did you guys do? Talk about?”

“We just ate dinner Tae. We talked about our days, nothing eventful.”

“Really nothing eventful?” Taehyung raises his brows at you. “Didn’t look uneventful outside.”

You snap your head towards him and eye him curiously.

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb y/n.” Taehyung scoffs, “He kissed you.”

“He? He didn’t?” your face scrunches up in disbelief. “Were you watching us?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“You obviously were.” You snap. “Did you happen to see the part where I stopped him?”

“Nah.” Taehyung wraps the blanket next to him around his body. “Left.”

“Unbelievable.” You huff out, “This is ridiculous.”

“Hope you enjoyed your date.” Taehyung wraps the blanket around his shoulders a little more snug now, avoiding eye contact with you.

“You know what? This is unfair.” You raise your voice. “Maybe I should have let him kiss me!”

“W-What?” Taehyung finally finds your eyes.

“Yeah, I mean, why not? I’m single, right?”

“y/n—”

“Also been a while since I’ve been fucked too. Wonder how Marcus could—”

“y/n.” Taehyung says much more serious now, his voice warning you to be careful.

“What? Why do you even care? We’re just friends, aren’t we?”

“It’s complicated.” Taehyung tells you quietly. “We—”

“Oh? We went from being friends to ‘it’s complicated’? Wonderful.”

“y/n—”

“I might as well move on right? To someone who actually wants me?”

Maybe Marcus’s words are starting to get to your head…you never would have blown up like this if it weren’t for those worries, those concerns.

“You know I want you.” Taehyung lowers the blanket from his body.

“Yeah, you want to fuck me.” You spit out, not stopping from this outburst. “Maybe we are just two people who want to fuck and nothing more.”

“Don’t.”

“Maybe this isn’t love, Taehyung.” Your voice cracks and you hate yourself for it.

“y/n…” Taehyung turns his body to properly face you, his bottom scooching closer and closer to you. “I have never loved anyone like I…fuck…do you really believe that? What you just said?”

“I…” finally, your eyes well with tears and you struggle to take a breath. “No, but anything to convince myself.”

Taehyung takes his time watching you with a sad, sad eyes. You bow your head in defeat as you feel exhausted from your day.

“Anything to convince myself.” You repeat, choking on your words as they leave your mouth.

You feel the light brush of Taehyung’s fingers on your jaw, he scoots closer to you, his other hand on your shoulder, bringing you closer to him as well.

“y/n.” he says your name like it’s his favorite word. “A long time ago I told you not to try to tell me how sincere my feelings are for you. You doubted me once and I never want you to doubt me again.”

“Sorry I—”

Taehyung angles your jaw up to get a better look at him, your eyes scan his face and you want to melt into a puddle. His dark, wavy hair is growing out again…he constantly has to shake his head to get strands out of his eyes. Your eyes travel all across his features and they land on his plump lips.

“But can’t you see why this is so hard…so confusing for me.” You whimper, “You say just friends but—”

Taehyung’s soft gaze on you has you shutting up as he leans into your space, his eyes now on your lips. You know this look all too well, you know this move, you know him. You are weak for this man, you are the definition of pathetic as you lean up too. His lips hovering your own, his eyes slowly closing as your breaths mingle together.

Then much to both of your surprises, you pull the same move you did to Marcus earlier. Your hand lands on the center of his chest, stopping him from doing what he was about to do.

“I want to hear about it.” You blink up at him. “I want to really hear about it.”

Taehyung blushes, the feeling of rejection being pushed aside as he grows curious.

“About what?”

“Your year. Your time away from me. What I did to you.” You nod your head as your eyes wet with more tears. “I want everything out on the table.”

“Now?” Taehyung quickly shakes his head. “y/n—”

“My mom told me that really getting everything out is a huge step to moving forward.”

“I’m not sure you’ll….that you’ll like everything you hear.” Taehyung offers a sad smile. “I’m fine now. But it wasn’t always like this.”

“I know.” You lick your drying lips, “Tell me everything Tae.”

~

“I was angry with you.” You two are sitting at your dining room table with hot chocolate. “I was so hurt by you.” Taehyung swallows hard, “I wanted to really move forward with my life so I…I uh, sought out therapy. I wanted to forgive you more than anything.”

“Tae—”

“I felt abandoned.” He cuts you off, “That the person I loved most wanted nothing to do with me. This did horrible things to my brain, to my heart.” He looks down at his interlocked fingers. “I was in a really, really…” his voice cracks a little and you begin to feel anxious. “Really dark place.”

Taehyung finds your eyes and blinks a few times, ignoring how his throat burns.

“It was so bad I didn’t even want to…didn’t even want to…” he turns his head to the side as he tries to compose himself. “Didn’t even want to really live.” He admits, his burning throat threatening to cause tears to wet his eyes.

“T-To live?” you shake your head at him. “W-What do you—”

“You know exactly what I mean.” He says softly. “Living was hard.”

“Taehyung.” You have accepted the wrong you have done and have tried your best to move forward but of course, hearing this, your guilt is returning.

“It’s okay.” Taehyung forces a smile. “I worked through it. Got better. It isn’t your fault.”

“It is my fault.” You begin to sniffle, “Oh my god, I…”

“No.” Taehyung reaches for your hand, “It isn’t. Listen, therapy was a challenge sometimes but shit, it did wonders. The old man is like a fucking wizard.” He chuckles, squeezing your hand, “I started living again. I started to paint again, work on my music, hang with my friends, and yes, even got a girls number. I just wanted to live normally again.” He takes a moment to take a breath, his hand still holding yours.

“But I never, not once didn’t think about you.” He finally admits. “I missed you so much and I just hoped every day that you were doing just as well as me. After what we have been through, we both deserve that.”

You listen to him carefully, your cheeks wet with tears but you remain quiet, letting him get everything off his chest.

“I really did believe it, you know.” Taehyung lets go of your hand. “The song I wrote for you. I meant every word.”

“That we—”

“Yeah. Ships in the night.” He reminds you. “I thought we…” Taehyung struggles to continue as he gets choked up, “That…”

“Okay, okay.” You tell him softly, your hand going to the back of his neck as you begin rubbing it. “I know.”

“But I don’t believe it anymore. Seeing you, being with you…I just…” Taehyung slams his eyes shut as a few warm tears escape. “I know I have been confusing you. Because y/n…I am so weak for you. I can’t control myself like I usually could. I am going crazy. I am feeling so fucking….”

You realize this has been affecting him just as much as it has with you…you realize he has been fighting his own battles. You bring your hand back to your body and stay quiet.

“You want everything out on the table?” Taehyung lifts his head to look at you. “I am so, so fucking in love with you. I don’t think I will ever find love like this again. But baby,” he sighs out, “I really thought jumping into a relationship was a bad idea. Because if I …if you are properly mine the way I want you to be, I will be asking way too much of you.”

“Huh?”

“I need you with me.” He scratches the back of his neck, “Whether I move here or…”

“I see.” You bite down on your lip repeatedly, “You don’t want to rush into things.”

“I so badly want to take my time with you. I want to love you the way you deserve to be loved. But I think I am still…”

“Yeah.” You nod your head slowly, “I get it. You’re still mad—”

“No!” Taehyung is quick to cut you off. “It isn’t like that…I just want to make sure we are both in good places…”

“My year…”

And you tell him, you tell him all about your ups and downs, the amazing progress you have made, your growing relationships, your social life, and so on. Taehyung listens intently with a smile on his face, pride filling in his chest as he listens to you.

“But now, I feel…like things are bumpy. This…us…has been hard on me, I have this situation with Marcus and now, shit, now I am so wrapped up in worry because of my mother.”

“I know.” Taehyung agrees easily, “All I want to do right now is just be here for you.”

“And you are. You are.” You start to sniffle again, “You are keeping me sane.”

“About Marcus…” Taehyung awkwardly brings up your friend. “I’m sorry I kept getting jealous.”

“I was fucking jealous about the bartender. I guess we are even.” You lightly chuckle. “I felt so uncomfortable…”

“I’m sorry about that too.” Taehyung lips curve into a frown. “I really am not interested in her.”

“Well buddy, you sort of just told me you’re in love with me, so I kind of hope not.” You offer some lame finger guns and Taehyung laughs.

“Don’t call me buddy.” Taehyung looks into your eyes. “Friends really isn’t something we’re capable of, is it?”

“So then what are we?” you pause for a moment, looking at him with big eyes. “Just say we are something.”

“Right now can we just…can we not put a label?” Taehyung sighs, “Let’s just…live day by day.”

“Yeah.” You try not to frown, “Yeah.”

“You know…” Taehyung scoots his chair closer to yours, his hands finding your hands and offers you a boxy grin. “I don’t want anyone else. I’m…I’m not looking.”

“Yeah, me either.” You smile too, “I will straighten things out with Marcus.”

“He seems nice.” Taehyung’s eyes slide to the side. “But…”

“He is. But he’s just a friend.”

“y/n…I’m not trying to stop you from moving on if you really need to. I don’t want to be that selfish, having you wait for me.” Taehyung flutters his eyes shut. “I just want you to be happy.”

“You’re the one that makes me happy.”

“I think….talking everything out…will help a lot.” Taehyung opens his eyes again, “I feel closer to you.”

“Me too.” You smile. “My mom would be really happy for me.”

“You can tell her all about it when she wakes up.”

“Taehyung?” you whisper his name, making him lean closer to you.

“Yes?”

“Don’t sleep on the couch tonight.” You blurt out. “Sleep with me.”

Taehyung leans away from you now, his expression turning conflicted. He gulps down his spit and takes a deep breath.

“I told you y/n. I am weak for you. I don’t think I can properly control myself.”

“Don’t be so dramatic.” You roll your eyes, “I miss you. I miss you laying with me.”

“Yeah.” Taehyung stands from his chair, extending his hand out to you. “I miss it too.”

~~~~~~~

Waking up in the arms of the man you love is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Taehyung is sound asleep as he nuzzles his face into the back of your neck, his grip on you tight and warm and so fucking loving.

This is one step closer isn’t it? To your happy ending. No, to your true beginning. He loves you. And you know the horror stories of love sometimes not being enough, but right now, it’s enough. This is absolute bliss. Being in his arms. And you want to just enjoy it.

“Mm.” you turn over in his embrace, he pulls you in closer and you let him. You don’t want to wake him. You don’t want this moment to end.

“I’m awake.” You jump a little, as he startled you. “Jumpy.” He yawns out.

“I thought you were out.” You shove your head into his chest, tightening your grip around his waist.

“I was but I just woke up.” He tells you, his head resting on top of yours. “I’m in no rush to get up, if that’s what you are wondering.”

“Maybe I was wondering…” you admit, your soft breaths hitting his bare chest. “I don’t want to let go of you.”

“Then don’t.”

“Don’t give me that kind of permission.” You chuckle. “Because then we will be here forever.”

“Forever doesn’t sound so bad.”

“Don’t tease me, Tae.”

“I would never.” Taehyung leans away from you and winks. “Oh.” His face drops and you wonder what’s wrong. “You’re…so pretty.”

“Stop that.” You lightly hit his chest and he shakes his head.

“No seriously, I want to go back to last night before you stopped me.” He tells you lowly.

“Stopped you?” but you know what he is talking about. Before you stopped him from kissing you.

“What did I say about playing dumb?” Taehyung darts his tongue out, “But no, this is good. I feel like we are good, right now.”

“You think so?”

“Time. Time is all we need.”

“Are you going to make me wait forever?” You bury your face deeper into his skin, “Because I will.”

“I’m not that selfish.” He tells you under his breath. “At least I hope I’m not.”

“Thank you.” You scoot away from him, getting a look at his sleepy face. “For coming here with me.”

“Of course, I wouldn’t let you do this alone.”

You slowly blink at him, your big eyes gazing into his. He wets his lips with his tongue before leaning into you, you tilt your head up until you two are just an inch from the other.

“I won’t tease you anymore.” Taehyung says softly. “I will try to keep it as…platonic…as possible.”

“No more risky texts?” you chuckle, your eyes falling to his lips. “No more suggestive words?”

“I’m working on it.”

“No more thoughts?”

“No, I will be having thoughts.” He admits, “But I won’t tell you about them.”

“that doesn’t sound fun.”

“When I can give you all of me…I will unload all my thoughts, I promise.”

“Taehyung?” your eyes find his again. “Do you…do you see your future with me?”

“y/n…I don’t think that is something I can answer right now.” He sighs, “Remember…day by day.”

“I—”

Suddenly, your phone begins buzzing on your night stand, interrupting you. You pull away from Taehyung and reach out for the device, your fingers searching for it. Finally, you grab the phone and bring it to your ear.

“Hello?”

“y/n.”

It’s Ellie. You sit up in bed, worry gracing your features as you wait for her to continue.

“Mom woke up.” She tells you quickly. “She’s awake.” The crack in her voice lets you know she is on the verge of tears.

“What?” You shake your head frantically as a smile begins appearing on your lips, you look over at Taehyung who is now sitting up as well. “She’s awake?” Then you lock eyes with Taehyung, “Mom woke up!” you tell him excitedly.

“Yeah….” Ellie sniffles. “But she….”

“But she…?” your smile begins dropping as you hear the tone in Ellie’s voice. “Ellie?”

[spideyyboii]

Saving Her

pairing: peter parker x reader

summary: peter and y/n have always had some undiscussed feelings but she’s always believed she was in competition with mj so what happens when hydra attacks during a school trip and spider-man only has time to save one of the two ladies in his life. 

warnings: slight angst

word count: 1.7k

||main masterlist||peter parker masterlist||

It was finally the day Peter and his team mates had been awaiting anxiously the academic decathlon. Peter felt lucky that his three best friends were there to support him whilst also being his team mates, MJ, Ned and Y/n all knew Peters secret so it was easy for him to be himself around them which is one of the reason they’re all so close. Usually Peter felt confident when it came to the academic decathlon as there school was known for winning however, today he just couldn’t shake the feeling of danger.

“Peter are you okay? You’ve been unusually silent since we got on the bus.” Y/n asked with concern written all over her face which made Peter cheer up. It’s always nice to know that your friends care. However, before Peter got a chance to reply to his friend the annoying voice of Flash Thompson filled the bus. “Y/n I don’t know why you waste your time worrying about Penis Parker he’s a loser.” Before Y/n or Peter got a chance to reply MJ was already throwing an insult back at Flash. “Flash your only on the team if one of us drops out so why don’t you go back to your little Spider-Man blog.” With that everyone was back to their own private conversations. Still concerned about Peter Y/n grabbed his hand and flashed him one of her breathe taking smiles. “Don’t worry Pete we’ve got an amazing team I’m certain we’ll win.” Y/n said in hopes of calling Peter down. “Sorry I’m just worried especially with what happened last time we went on one of these trips.” Peter replied with a sigh referring to the vulture incident in Washington and the Mysterio incident that happened in London. “Pete, your too paranoid Dr Strange made everyone forget you were Spider-Man and Liz’s old man was just a nut case. You haven’t made any new enemy’s recently so I’m certain we’re going to get one normal school trip.” Y/n said kissing their intertwined hands. Peters nerves soon faded away he could always count on Y/n to make him see sense. “So guys I don’t see much practising going on over here.” Mj joked with an underlying tone of seriousness. “As team captain I want full concentration.” Mj continued whilst pulling Y/n and Peters hand apart and sitting between the pair something she seemed to do a lot these days. Peter found himself frowning at the loss of contact with his best friend but began to focus on the questions Mj threw at the team.

After what felt like hours the team arrived at their destination and were soon checked in. Peters spidey sense had kicked in and knew something bad was going to happen. “Guys my spidey sense I going crazy. What should I do?” He asked his friend worry consuming him not only about the danger he could feel lurking bout also about his class becoming suspicious. “Bro just put the suit on and investigate. If anyone asks we’ll say you had to phone May.” Ned said encouraging Peter who for the second time today dropped Y/n hand and moved away. Once in the suit Peter began to trust his sense and was soon looking at a take over that was being performed by HYDRA agents. I thought the avenger wiped these guys out was the only thing Peter was thinking. Whilst the agents were distracted Peter began to stealth attack webbing up as many agent as he could. Which wasn’t enough as the group found their way into the lobby and began to open fire Peter focus soon became locating his friends and getting everyone to safety. Whilst trying to locate his fiends he saw Ned and the majority of the decathlon team make it outside only two missing Y/n and Mj. Unknown to Peter Mj had pulled you aside and was demanding you stay away from Peter.

After five minuets of searching Peter found the both of them. He however, did not like the view in front of him HYDRA agents surrounded both Y/n and Mj. “Come out spider boy. I know your here and I have both your little girlfriends. You know you really should be more careful with who you go swinging around the city with.” One of the HYDRA agents said with a laugh. If Peter timed this right he’d be able to get both of you out. Dropping down Peter threw a web grenade at one group of agent which happened to be the ones holding Mj. Using his webs he pulled her in and swung out with her not before promising he’d be back for Y/n. But if all happened too fast the agent holding y/n quickly knocked her out and began to drag her body to the trucks they had waiting outside. By the Peter had come back the HYDRA agents were gone taking the girl he loved with them. It had been hours since the HYDRA agents left with Y/n the police had arrived at the hotel and were questioning everyone but Peter who was now in his hotel room being interrogated by Nick Fury. Meanwhile, Y/n was surrounded by hydra agents. “Sorry doll, this really wasn’t the plan. The hotel had something we wanted and yourself and the spider just happened to be there, works well in our favour as we can lure the spider here so he can save you. Except he probably won’t because he’s already made his choice and it wasn’t you.” The agent said mockingly whilst enjoying the look of pain that crossed his hostages face everything he mentioned Spider-Man. Once everything was ready he set up the camera and began filming. “Hi Fury. Spider-Man. I believe I have something you want. But the only way your getting it is on my terms.” Soon the video has been sent and all that was left to do was wait.

Once Fury received the video he began his plan. “Mr Fury. Sir, please let me help I need to make sure she’s okay.” Peter begged eyes wide and full on panic. “Look kid I think it’s best you sit this one out it’s too personal and we don’t know what they’re going to do with her.” He replied feeling sorry for the kid “For now you should focus on being a student and spend time with that girlfriend of yours. I’m sure she’s worried especially after you risked yourself to save her.” Agent Hill said in hopes of making Peter feel better. “Oh, Mj isn’t my girlfriend and please Mr Fury. I need to help save Y/n I can’t sit back whilst she’s in danger.” Peter told the pair his anxiety through the roof. However, a different feeling lingered in Peters chest he felt broken and alone something he never felt around Y/n as she was always making him laugh or touching his hands and placing kisses on his cheeks. The more Peter thought about her the more he came to realise May was right he loves her and he needs her back. With or Without S.H.I.E.L.D.S help. 

Time had passed and the HYDRA agents were becoming impatient which showed on Y/n. Every hour that passed without a response the agents would take turns in punishing their hostage. Peter had managed to sneak out of the hotel and was now inside the HYDRA base thanks to his spidey powers. Following the sound of voices Peter soon found himself hanging above the girl he loves the sight in front of his breaking his heart. Even with a face full of cuts and bruises y/n still looked perfect to him. Peter had failed to notice the heartbroken look that covered the girls face. Y/n was so consumed by heart breaking thoughts surrounding Mj and Peter she hadn’t even noticed the agents surrounding her suddenly disappearing. This could however, be an effect of the heavy blow she took to the head that left her drifting in and out of consciousness. “Ah Spider-Man so nice of you to finally join us. Was starting to wonder how much you cared for the little beauty here.” The leader said with a smirk well aware as to how much his words were effecting Peter. “She’s not very talkative but I think that will change once we get to know each other better.” He went on stroking Y/n cheek who has since lost consciousness due to the amount of pain she was experiencing both physically and mentally. 

The young girl missed the anger in Peters voice when he told her captor that it would never be just the two of them and the anger he showed as he took his down. Once she awoke she found herself laying in a hospital bed with Peter laying besides her. “Hi..” He said an uncomfortable atmosphere already surrounding the room when there had been little to none words spoken between the pair. “Hi, Pete.” Y/n said whilst grabbing Peters hand like nothing had happening in last 24 hours “I’m sor-” Peter found himself being interrupted before he could finish his apology “Pete, can you grab Ned for me I know you probably want to be with Mj.” Y/n said avoiding eye contact with the boy she’s been in love with for years the sinking feeling returning to her chest. “No. I. We need to talk. I’ve never been so worried in my life the whole time you were gone all I could focus on was the fact I needed you back. Y/n I love you and I have for a long time I’ve just never been certain that was what I was feeling. Saving Mj wasn’t a mistake she’s my friend and if I hadn’t I never would of had the courage to tell you how I feel. I didn’t choose her over you I was convinced-” Again Peter found himself being interrupted but this time it was by a soft pair of lips pressing against his. “ I love you too Peter Benjamin Parker.” Y/n said with a smile “Does this mean I can stop telling May that we’re just friends?.” Peter asked with a smile. “Yes.” Y/n replied with a laugh as she found herself being pulled in for another breath taking kiss with the man she loved. 

[belit0]

sparky7-2

Ok so I just had a god level headcanon, remember when Indra said he wanted heirs but reader is like Ehhh? Imagine them pulling an uno on him with a jutsu that makes it so that Indra gets pregnant instead 😂😂😂

Mpreg Indra would be so cute :3

Just another part of their power war XD

LMAO, I HAD A LOT OF FUN DOING THIS REQUEST. I kinda smell a series coming out of this🧙🏻‍♀️🖤✨

Also @sparky7-2 , you had asked if Indra would be tender with his children, so here is a small and false demonstration before his twins are born🤧.]

“…[Y/N]…”

“Yep?”

“I want kids.”

“Nope.”

“Come on, you said we were coming to this village to get pregnant… it’s been two months and you keep making me cum outside.”

“ What did you say, dear? Get pregnant? The two of us? That sounds like teamwork to me, I’m going to be the one who has to carry a huge belly for who knows how much.”

“…”

"That’s what I thought, now be a good husband and-”

“I want kids.”

With arms folded across his chest, eyes narrowed, and to top it all off with the Sharingan activated, he refused to let you speak.

“Fuck you.”

The words came out of your mouth with a smile planted on your lips as an idea popped into your mind at the persistence of your man.

“I. want. Kids.”

“You know what? Do you want children so badly? There you go, Indra. Have a good ride!”

Making some quick hand seals, you resist laughing when the most bizarre image ever seen appeared in front of your eyes. The fearsome Indra Ōtsutsuki, with a gigantic belly that looked like it was about to explode.

An anger that he only dedicated to his worst enemies appeared in his face when he realized his new state, which only increased the appeal of the whole situation. He couldn’t fight you even if he wanted to, because although it was all the work of one of your Genjutsus, in his perspective, it was even more real. If he was careful and responsible about anything, it was when it came to you, and now that his body was convinced that he was carrying a life, he would never attempt to counter that.

“Well dear, it really suits you! You look radiant, and as much as I’d like to stay and annoy you some more, one of us has to run this place… Enjoy a little bit of your own medicine. I love you, Indra.”

When he spoke, his hands were resting on his belly, analyzing the new state of his body. His eyes didn’t let go of that big lump, he didn’t even look at you when you walked up to the front door and opened it. You expected some kind of attack or something, but he seemed immersed, enjoying the situation. Noticing his attitude, he said a couple of words, playing the role of an angry Indra in front of one of your evil tricks, but knowing him you could see that there wasn’t a bit of intention behind his words.

“I… fucking hate you so much… [Y/N] GET BACK HERE AND TAKE THIS OUT OF ME NOW”

With a little laugh, you went outside and closed the door, giving him privacy. Maybe with this little game, you would finally gain more time before having to carry that huge bundle yourself…

“Maybe later…”

So he was left alone in the big house while you went off to tend to business as the village leader. Looking at his tummy and passing his hands affectionately over it, he spoke in a low, sweet voice.

“What are we going to do now that mommy is gone heh? Are you hungry? We can work that out, daddy will take care of it”.

Without taking his hands off his body for a second, he went to the kitchen, where a large breakfast was prepared, as his appetite was suddenly gigantic. He sat down on a chair and put all the food in front of him on the table, eating with animosity and joy, something unbecoming of him in the mornings. Indra is a person who can only swallow tea at that time of day.

“What do you think? Do you like it? Mommy says I have a good hand in the kitchen … Should I give you a name? Is it too soon? I haven’t discussed it with [Y/N]… I don’t know your gender either… but I’m sure you’ll be a boy. Big strong daddy’s boy, right? You really need a name, it is inappropriate for me to address my son in this undignified manner, hang in there … Indra JR. for now.

Forgetting about breakfast and worrying about naming his unrealistic unborn child, Indra went to the front door of the house and opened it, only poking his head out. Careful that no one saw his body, he called out to the first person he saw walking near his property.

"Y-Ye-e-s In-ndr-a-Sama?”

“Go to the main building and call [Y/N]-Sama. Tell her that I am the one who needs her and that it is an emergency. Be assertive, villager, and don’t show this disgusting fear in front of her unless you want to die.”

Without saying anything, and almost crying, the man ran out to find you.

Suddenly Indra’s whole body began to feel tired, heavy as if it were not his. Understanding the exhaustion of the pregnancy, he decided to go to bed. Closing the door, he used the walls as his main support to reach his destination, and once there he let himself fall heavily.

He discovered that he could not untie his boots, as his oversized belly did not allow him to bend over and reach them. Giving up the task, he sought a comfortable position. This took him about fifteen minutes. From both sides, the boy (for he was convinced it was a boy) put uncomfortable pressure on many things which Indra did not know were inside his body. On his back, the child crushes his spine. Finally, he chooses to place his pillow and yours on his back and set against the back of the bed.

While waiting for your arrival, he began to caress his belly, while humming a song.

“We are going to love you very much Indra JR. When you arrive, mommy and daddy are going to protect you from all the bad guys and-”

“In everyone’s eyes, we are the bad guys and we are not going to call it Indra JR.”

Interrupting the monologue, you entered the room with an ear-to-ear smile. The image you came across was strangely adorable, and you could imagine what it would be like if things were reversed if that baby were real and that pregnancy was yours.

“That’s why I called you [Y/N], I didn’t want to decide without you because it seemed unwise, this is teamwork, but I have some thoughts - you were about to sit on the bed next to him - could you please take off my boots? I can’t reach my feet.”

Fluttering your eyes and with a mocking grin, you complied with his request, while he redirected his full attention to his fake unborn, stroking his belly and quietly singing that song again.

“I never heard you sing, dear… Where did you get that song?”

“My grandmother used to sing it to me when I was a child and I couldn’t fall asleep. My bro- … Ashura… never had any trouble falling asleep so… I think only I know it. I want my children to know it too.”

“…Indra…”

“Hm?”

“I want kids.”

“I was really hoping you’d say that. Undo this Genjutsu and let’s get started.”

[kinglarrykoopadx]

Ranking the bosses of Origami King

I have stated many many MANY times that Origami King is my favorite Paper Mario, hell, one of my favorite games of all time. And if some lunatic waltzes into my house and gives me a choice of either liking TTYD or die, I’d rather be dead. But what’s the worst and best boss in the game? Today, we’re gonna rank all the bosses in Origami King. Also, it is recommended that you finish the game to view this post, cause this is a spoiler zone.

17. The Shifty Sticker, Tape

The most annoying and unfun boss to cap off a great tribute to Wind Waker fans, all the positives Tape got was having a bopping as hell music and a really great 1st phase. But that’s where the positives end, cause the 2nd phase is where it all goes downhill. Tape glues parts of the ring meaning you can’t slide panels and some parts of the rings are connected together. And when a lot of tapes are in the ring at once, it’s pretty annoying. And this may just be me, but when there’s too much tape in the arena, Tape straight up gobbles up the tape in the arena to restore HP and it is annoying as fudge. Oh and did I mention that to damage this boss, you’re forced to use the 1000 fold arms? And did I mention that any other form of offense is next to useless? Needless to say, this is one of the worst bosses I’ve had the pain to endure.

16. The Freezing Finisher, Ice Vellumental

The first phase of Snowy The Bear over here is surrounded by an icy forcefield and you must use the Fire Vellumental to melt down his barrier which is, pretty alright for a first phase (I mean your sliding is not locked this time so that’s a plus), but then, there’s Ice Maze to make up for all that fun. For those of you unknowing fools out there, Ice Maze is an ability of this guy where large parts of the arena are covered in ice, and the only way to get through it is find a way to the Action Panel or an active Fire Vellumental Magic Circle without being frozen so you (kinda) won’t have to endure his greatest attack, Ice Age. Problem is, that even for me, who has a strong memory, I can’t seem to solve it. Why this is less dreaded than Tape for me despite the monotony is that you can kinda cheese it without Fire Vellumental. By collecting coins, you can stock on Shiny Fire Flowers and basically fireball this boss to death (and they said coins are useless). Even so fuck this fight man.

15. The Blazing Bird, Fire Vellumental

This phoenix right here is possibly the smartest of the Vellumentals. Why is that, you ask? Easy. He lets you damage yourself. Using his special move, Hot Wings, he basically spreads his own wings (which takes a chunk of his health) and lets you damage yourself until you reach an Action Panel. Once you’re in the Action Panel, use your Iron Boots and jump the shit outta him until his feathers are all/almost gone. Then, use Water Vellumental to shower it to its doom, and lastly, for the coup de grace, pull off his hair and humiliate him in front of a bunch of Toads. The only reason this chicken wing is higher is because jumping him with Iron Boots is as fun, if not more fun than using the Fireballs to cheese the Ice Vellumental.

14. The Apocalyptic Abomination, Paper Mistake Buzzy Beetle

By far the most gruesome thing in Paper Mario franchise, it starts off with you hammering the Dry Bone heads it spews out using Kamek’s magic. Then, after enough heads were smashed, Kamek reveals himself and you have to pull him outta the beetle’s nose which is more satisfying than it should be. And then after that, you smash him in the gut 4 times to win. Needless to say, it had its moments.

13. The Elastic Entertainer, Rubber Band

4 numbers later and we are back to the Legion Of Stationary. This time, it’s Rubber Band. While I can see why people like this boss, keep in mind I’m doing all these on a no Game Over run, which makes the boss less fun for me. The Bumper Bands are a mere nuisance, but get caught in Rubber Bind and kiss your health goodbye. Solo Snapback isn’t much better either, for that attack, pray you have a 1 Up left or at the very least can endure that attack or say goodbye to your health. However, despite doing this on a no Game Over run is hell, why is it this high though? you may ask, well, simply put, the Rubber Bands are better projectiles than the Hot Wings, Icicles, and Tape combined.

12. The Chaotic Cactus, Mega Paper Macho Pokey

Tower Power Pokey is back, but this time, he’s made some changes to the battlefield. Now, instead of fighting in some egyptian temple, you fight him inside of a tornado. This segmented spiky monstrosity has 3 attacks. Creating tornadoes, stalking you from underground, and trying to squash you with its body. This time, to defeat him, instead of using some Baseball Bat sticker bullshit, you must wait until his glow fades and approach him with the Boot Car so you can deliver the smackdown. And, pro tip : if I were you, I wouldn’t get caught in the twisters.

11. The Groundshaking Gut-Slammer, Earth Vellumental

God to all Koopas, the Earth Vellumental is pretty fun for a tutorial boss. You use your hammers to smash its limbs till eventually you hit its tender tail, and it’s more fun than it had any right to be. Once the tail is pounded to perfection, flip it with your 1000 fold arms and smack the living daylights out of it.

10. The Trial Of Toughness, Scuffle Island Boss Rush

An optional boss accessible in Chapter 4, the Scuffle Island Boss Rush is fun for a miniboss rush. You get 7 tough Paper Macho opponents ; Goomba, Shy Guy, Koopa, Boo, Paratroopa, Stone Spike, and Buzzy Beetle, each bearing 2 more hitpoints than the ordinary Paper Macho enemies and having a large attack boost. It’s a test of learning the patterns of the Paper Machos and is way more fun than it has any right to be. Although the Paratroopa did gave me some troubles, like, seriously, if you beat this guy’s 1st phase without a guide, you’re a pro.

9. The Stormy Guardian, Boss Sumo Bro

A clever reference to NSMBU and Super Mario World, Boss Sumo Bro stands on his mighty thundercloud at first, until you take out his goonies. Then, once you’re done with his goons, he’ll charge up his unblockable Mega Thunder attack and to stop it, you must use the Fire Vellumental to take him down. It’s admittedly pretty fun.

8. The Missile Maestro, Colored Pencils

One of the most fun tutorial bosses, Colored Pencils has a simple but really fun 1st phase. You have to close its lid to pull off a Fire Vellumental, and on the 2nd phase, it gets better. You have to use his Rainbow Roll against him and smack the living daylights out of him. It’s a great boss, buut problem is, it’s a tutorial boss. It had not much of a chance to make it to the top 5. 

7. The Final Destination, Paper Plane Strike Force

This game consists of you shooting a bunch of Bob Ombs to pave the way to the final level of the game Origami Castle, which is, much sadder than it may seem. It’s fun as heck shooting down the paper planes, and the Squadron where you have to shoot like a million Bob Ombs to its face is by far personally the most fun part of the game. Why it’s this low is that it’s one of the 2 non-rematchable bosses. Once you’ve gotten to Origami Castle, this minigame won’t be accessible anymore.

6. The Submarine Sinker, Water Vellumental

This overhydrated water dragon is one of the more strategic bosses. You must take note of the water twisters and prevent them from getting in your way of making it to the Action panel to jump him and hit him with the hammer. And then, once he’s gonna blow, make your way to the Earth Vellumental Magic Circle to dodge his Mega Wave attack, which is pretty powerful. It’s personally one of the more fun bosses this game had to offer. It’s not in the top 5 since the water twisters can be pretty annoying though I never had a problem with them personally.

5. The Disco Devil, Hole Punch

The groovy lobotomiser’s 1st phase is pretty annoying, you have to find his tender spot to deal decent damage to him, while having a reduction in health,  but slamming the ever loving shit outta him when he tried to pull off his special attack is fun as hell. It makes up for the horrid 1st phase. And pulling off the rubber case as the finisher is waaayyy more fun than it needs to be. Also the music is a freaking jam.

4. The Tentacley Terror, Paper Macho Gooper Blooper

This Mario Sunshine nostalgia fest is hella fun. The 1st phase has you hammering his tentacles which is way more fun than it should be, and the 2nd phase has you hammering his eye, which is, again, way more fun than it should be. This boss is just really, REALLY fun.

3. The Dual Bladed Duelist, Scissors

One of the harder and more intense bosses, Scissors’ first phase is putting on a case for his blades for the sake of a fair fight, but once that’s done, it’s all intense, bloodpumping action from here. Scissors will use his unblockable special attack, Final Cut, and you must time your jumps to prevent an instant KO. I felt a strong urge of satisfaction when jumping over Scissors’ special attack countless times, it’s not even a laughing matter.

2. The Roshamboa, Handaconda

The first phase has you hammering him to get Olivia out of its grasp, and then, the 2nd phase is where the true fun begins. The Magic Circles are swapped with panels with images of Rock, Paper and Scissors and you must observe his hand patterns to get a chance to rush attack him with the 1000 fold arms. It feels so satisfying when you beat him in Roshambo and smash the living daylights out of him.

1. The Royal Rebel, King Olly

One of the best final bosses of all time, Olly is a culmination of what you have learned throughout your journey. The 1st phase consist of you retracing the weaknesses of the Vellumentals and using it against them, the 2nd phase consists of you slamming the ground to give Origami Bowser a helping hand in dealing the semi finishing blow towards Duraludon Olly, and the final phase has you fixing a jumbled up Giant Magic Circle while Olly bombards you with attacks that lead to quicktime events that are way more fun and dramatic than they had any right to be. Needless to say, Olly is the best boss in the Origami King.

[ladylofspades]

This story takes place in the events of OPERATION: I.N.T.E.R.V.I.E.W.S.

A Codename: Kids Next Door story.

Those not familiar with the movie Codename: Kids Next Door: Operation ZERO and series episode Operation I.N.T.E.R.V.I.E.W.S, please be warned of spoilers ahead.

One day and twelve hundred hours.

That much time -- though short -- has passed since the fall of Father and the disappearance of the Delightful Children from Down the Lane. Just as such time has passed since Nigel Uno was informed of his place as the Earth's representative in the Galactic Kids Next Door.

Amidst the overall victory of the kid organization, crimes against children by tyrannous adults didn't seem to seize. Every day, kid operatives scatter from respective treehouses or home bases to the destination of their missions.

One such mission was that of Sector TW, in a public park.

Hiding in one of the trees were Numbuhs 32 and 34, both armed with their customized S.P.L.A.N.K.E.R.s and protective headgears. What felt like hours to the two operatives was, in fact, thirty minutes precisely; and yet, there had been no sign or any communication with the twin operatives and their tactics operative, making their waiting time feel more than a day.

It's been hours since we last heard from Numbuh 37, thought Numbuh 34 to herself, watching her teammate replacing old batteries for the talkie with the new. It isn't like her to just go off the radar like that.

"Numbuh 37! Do you read me!" Numbuh 32 called out, thumb pressing the button of his talkie, earning a static noise after releasing the button. The leader of Sector TW let out an impatient groan.

"No luck. Her comms might be off." Numbuh 34 sighed in frustration, removing her headgear just to wipe off the perspiration on her forehead before putting her headgear back.

Panting from both walkie-talkies sounded off, prompting the two operatives to pull their talkies out.

"This is Numbuh 35B to Sector Leader. Guys copy?"

"This is Sector Leader. Any updates?" Numbuh 32 replied, with Numbuh 34 sighing in relief.

"Yeahp! We found Numbuh 37 in an abandoned treehouse a few blocks down --"

"-- but we need backup." Numbuh 35A interrupted, before a pouting Numbuh 35B scooted beside him and both simultaneously added, "Medical backup."

A beat dropped. Numbuhs 32 and 34 looked at each other with frowns of concern, before the former held the talkie near his lips. "Alright, we'll request a dispatch immediately. Can you tell us the exact address, if any?"

As instructed, the twins indicated their location to Numbuh 32 and 34, with the latter jotting down the address. After a quick once over from the twins, the sector leader looked to Numbuh 34, who responded with a thumb-up.

"Copy that. Let's meet at the med bay. Great job, you two."

The talkie let out a static. == some time later ==

The twin operatives fidgeted their fingers while they waited, until they heard running footsteps heading towards them. Hands on their weapons, they simultaneously looked at the source and found disheveled Numbuhs 32 and 34.

"We came as fast as we can," Numbuh 34 panted, hand resting on the wall for support.

"Any updates?" Numbuh 32 asked, taking deep breaths after meters of running. He frowned in concern as the twins both shook their heads.

"She hasn't woken up yet --" Numbuh 35A replied.

"-- but we're told that results will be here soon. They told us to wait until she does." Numbuh 35B concluded. Both of their teammates nodded in understanding before they settled in the chairs next to the twins.

"I heard what happened to... them." Numbuh 32 started. "Were there any--?"

The twins sadly shook their heads, as they said their replies one after the other.

"It's a pretty deep hole --"

"-- so there's no way they all could've survived."

Numbuh 32 crossed his arms in deep thought, while Numbuh 34 had her face buried in her hands.

== somewhere the void ==

White.

White everywhere.

Nothing beyond the horizon, if there's any horizon at all.

Not even a speck in the distance.

Nothing but endless, blinding white.

That is, until Numbuh 37 bowed her head, her hands now becoming more opaque and clear. She slowly lifted her hands to her eyes, nose cheeks, lips... everything seemed to be alright, save for a bandage wrapped around her head.

One hesitant step forward, then the other, she continued to wander into the white void, searching for any opening, door or sign that can lead her away from the whiteness.

When her foot landed on the ground one more time, the scene began to shift before her.

Wh-What's going on?

The white earth below her disappeared, causing her to float in the air. And the scene before her made her eyes widen. Her heart beating rapidly against her ribs.

It was an amusement park in ruins. Then and there, she spotted them. Descending down water slide were her best friend Nigel Uno and, to her horror, the Delightful Children from Down the Lane. They were facing off in a life-or-death fray in that log cart, until Nigel backed away.

Tears started to form in the corners of her eyes.

No... No...

Helplessness filled within her, as she watched the whole thing unfold.

The Delightful Children are --- NOOOOOOOOOO

Her hand reached out desperately, but she felt as if something was pulling her back, preventing her from going forward.

She frantically struggled against the invisible bonds holding her, as she watched what became the cruel, irreversible fate of the Delightful Children from Down the Lane.

Nigel hung onto the signage for support, as he watched his enemies fall continuously, their screams echoing in the abyss below.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Numbuh 37 shrieked and wailed, her limbs struggled in many directions. Tears continuously gushed out from her eyes. Nose unceasingly ran. Her shoulders shook furiously. Her hands slowly lifted up to cover her face.

In her wasted, strangled voice, she cried, "GET ME OUT! THIS IS NOT REAL! THEY CAN'T BE GONE. THEY CAN'T BE!"

She buried her face in her hands -- and for the first time in her life, feeling not giving a care to what becomes of her.

They can't be gone.

I promised that I'd find a cure.

I promised that I'd help all of you get back to normal.

I promised.

I... promised...

The scene reverted back to the white void.

Body curled up on the floor, face buried in her hands, Numbuh 37 continuously wept until they were soft sobs.

"T?" Sounded a hesitant male voice.

It's one of their voices! ... but she doesn't want to hear it.

"Numbuh 37?" A stern-sounding and concerned female voice called out.

She can't let their voices echo in her mind now. Not when they are --

"Sis, how long are you gonna stay curled up like this?"

She felt a hand on her shoulder, causing her body to stiffen.

That touch...

She recognized it all too well. And the one who would give warm touches and hugs like that would be --

"D-David?"

Numbuh 37 slowly moved her hands away from her face until her the blinding light greeted her, causing her to flinch with a hiss. Her eyelids opened slowly until she was face-to-face with blurred figures slowly becoming more lucid. Tears continued to flow as her eyes panned and absorbed their appearances individually.

The matching dark berets bearing an inverted red triangle with the letter Z. The mission attire with a mix of military and samurai influences. And their wearers?

A short, blond boy with an air of firm leadership. With his recognizable carrot nunchaku, he's clearly proficient in the art of Karate.

A tall, golden blonde girl with a firm but kind aura about her. By how she held her umbrella, she has an air of a disciplined swordswoma -- swordsgirl.

A dark skinned boy that radiated a fun-loving soul. With a playful air to him combined with his boxing gloves, he's the type who can shift from fun-loving to dangerous when needed be.

A plump, brunette pig-tailed girl with a fun, big sister-like air. And, judging by her weapon of choice, with an experience in the culinary arts.

Then the one who touched her shoulder.

The very person who taught everything she needed to know.

The very individual who loved her dearly ever since she was born.

The very person who inspired her to become a Kids Next Door operative.

*plip plip*

That tall brunet boy sporting his favorite red turtleneck and military attire before he and his team disappeared. Resting beside him was his trusty eraser-tipped spear.

His emerald green eyes stared into Numbuh 37's, tears slowly forming at the corners. Right after he nodded slowly, in an instant, the young girl lunged at him with a tight hug-- a hug that the boy yearningly returned.

"I missed you," she cried into his turtleneck, before she looked at him with a couple of sniffs and a teary smile, "so much."

A pair of lips kissed her forehead before holding her once again, not letting her go. Patting her head lovingly, David replied, "As do I, sis." He gently tucked strands of hair from her face, smiling at her tenderly. "As do I."

"When can we get a turn?" The dark-skinned boy called out in a playful tone. The rest of the quintet, save for David, all looked at him with pouts. David held his sister tighter.

"Way t'ruin an emotional moment, Lenny," the tall brunet boy pouted. Lenny gave a hearty laugh.

"Sorry, man," Lenny chuckled, wiping a tear from his eye, "but you're not the only one who misses her, y'know."

David looked to everyone, who all nodded in agreement. With a defeated sigh, he releases Numbuh 37, who walked over to Lenny.

"Your bro's STILL real greedy about you," Lenny playfully pouted at the girl before giving her a tight hug. "A stingy dude till the very end."

Save for David, the blond boy and the two girls muffled their laughter, covering their mouths with their hands.

"Ohmigosh! Finally got to make you laugh, Bruce! FINALLY!" Lenny pointed at the blond boy, who cleared his throat after.

"What's that supposed to mean? You think I can't get a good laugh?"

"You've been too proper your whole life to laugh at all, dude."

"I can have a good laugh," Bruce retorted, facing away from him with a huff and crossed arms. "You just didn't get a chance to see it." This earned a laugh from Lenny.

"Give our leader a good ol' hug, will ya, T?" Lenny gently elbowed the girl, signaling her to go to him.

"I... have grown taller now?" She hesitantly said, fidgeting her finger.

*recorder scratched*

Clearing his throat, amidst the muffled laughter among his teammates, Bruce turned to Numbuh 37, unimpressed. "Yes, you clearly did," before he made a soft chuckle. "About time, Tania."

Numbuh 37 (nickname Tania) lunged at him with a hug, which he stiffened at first before reciprocating the hug with a couple of pats on her back.

"Nice to see you again, T," he whispered, earning himself some small giggles.

Tania looked at him with her cheerful smile -- the same smile he remembered all too well all those years ago. "Nice to see you again too, Bruce."

"OOOkay, my turn~" The pigtailed girl grabbed Tania away from Bruce, much to the latter's dismay. She inhaled then exhaled heavily, a sign that she was going to ask an important question. "How are the lollipops, T?"

"Really?" The blonde haired girl raised a brow, crossing her arms and tapping her foot in disbelief. "This is our chance to talk to her properly, and that's what you wanted to ask her, Constance?"

"As if you've something else just as important to ask her, Ashley," Constance said with her tongue stuck out, earning a 'Hmph!' from the blonde-haired girl. "So, how were they?"

"They're... tasteless," Tania deadpanned, but was surprised to hear laughter from Constance. "W-Wait, you're not mad?"

"Why should I be?" The pigtailed girl laughed, taking off her glasses to wipe her eyes before putting it back. "It's made of water and some preservatives to keep 'em intact. Adding flavors to it will just destroy the lollipop's purpose, y'know."

Constance circled around, looking at Tania from head to toe. "And it did work!" She clapped.

Both of them heard someone clear their throat, and turned to Ashley. Constance moved aside, and gestured Tania to the blonde-haired girl.

"Tell me you kept your regime like I told you before," Ashley started, "because if you didn't--"

"I did... senpai~" Tania beamed, making Ashley feel flustered by how she was addressed. But the blonde girl knew that it wasn't wrong. "Years pass, and still keeping true to what you taught me."

Ashley placed a hand on Tania's shoulder and gave a small smile, before pulling the latter into a hug. "That's a relief."

"Ash, you done?" Lenny called out.

"You always have to -- Lenny, what's happening to you?"

Everyone turned to the dark-skinned boy who was slowly dissolving away. And he wasn't alone.

Bruce closed his eyes in understanding and let out a sigh. "I think... we have accomplished our last mission." Everyone in Sector Z nodded in sad agreement, then turned to the wide-eyed Tania.

"Last group hug?" Lenny raised his remaining hand, his voice slightly shaking.

Without hesitation, Tania lunged onto Lenny, followed by Bruce, Constance, Ashley and David. The group didn't budge and remained that way, tears falling down their cheeks with few sniffs.

"I guess I'm goin' first," Lenny scratched the back of his head. "T, don't stay too uptight and learn to chill every once in a while, 'kay? Don't be too much of a stick in the mud, like our stick in the mud leader over here." He gestured a thumb pointing at Bruce, who seemed to be fuming in irritation. "See ya guys. Numbuh 0.4 signing off." With a final salute and a teary smile, Lenny dissolved into nothingness.

Tania felt a pat on her back, for her to face Constance. "Don't starve yourself and eat lots AND LOTS of good food, alright?" The latter instructed with a doting finger. "And don't leave for missions with an empty stomach. I remember you doin' that before, so don't do it again, got it?" With a nod from the younger girl, Constance knew that it was finally okay to leave. "Better keep boxer boy company." She added with a laugh before she looked at them with a teary smile and her own final salute. "Numbuh 0.5, signing off."

Ashley bumped elbows with Tania before placing a hand on her shoulder. "T, just remember this: the past doesn't define who you are." She quirked a small smile. "It's the choices you make. I mean," she looked to the last remaining members of Sector Z before turning her attention to Tania, "most people in your position would've chosen to quit. And yet, you decided to still join, even risk your life in missions just to find the cure... even if it's all for naught." Ashley rested her forehead on Tania's. "You're one of the noblest people I know. Follow your instinct and it'll lead you to where you're meant to be -- may it be with the Kids Next Door or not." Taking a step back and with a final salute, "Numbuh 0.3," she inhaled, while keeping herself composed, "signing off."

"Ashley took the words out of my mouth," Bruce walked over to Tania, placing a hand on her arm. "But..." He inhaled deeply before turning to her. "Don't be afraid to fight for what's right. Lead others when no one else can... I'm sorry." Eyes widened in shock, Tania watched the fearless leader of Sector Z... sniffle and sob quietly. Hesitantly she embraced him tightly, with Bruce returning it. "I'll miss this the most. These hugs." He whispered in her ear, before parting from her. "Ever since the beginning, I knew you have great potential to be an operative -- going as far as going against Father or us." He flinched at the last word, before he shook his head. "Never forget the true mission of the Kids Next Door, Numbuh 37. No matter what." With a firm salute and a few sniffs, he concluded, "Numbuh 0.1, signing off."

As she watched Bruce dissolve, Tania didn't turn to the last person with her.

"Sis, I don't have much time left," David gently urged her, "please, look at me." He earned a shake of the head. With a sigh, he walked over to her, just for his sister to move the other way. "I seriously don't have time."

"That's why I don't want to face you!" She cried out before her legs gave in. "Y-You'll... You'll leave me... for good!" She turned to him with a tear-stained face and runny red nose. "I'm so scared that when you say your last words, you'll disappear like everyone else! Not just that..." David did his very best to stay composed amidst the thoughts of the irreversible fate awaiting him. "I didn't get to find a cure that can turn all of you back to normal. And then Nigel, he... he just let you..." She wailed at the mention of her best friend's name.

Strong arms wrapped around her in a gentleness she missed for more than a decade, and will miss from this moment on. All she could do now was snuggle into the warmth that will never comfort her from now on. Tania inhaled the scent of peppermint on her brother's turtleneck, her head resting on his chest. The tall brunet boy inhaled the strawberry scent on his sister's hair, while rubbing her back.

No words were exchanged that time. It wasn't necessary.

David gently rocked her while humming the lullaby he used to sing to her when she was a baby. He rested his head on top of hers and planted a long kiss, as she finally wrapped her arms around his torso.

As soon as she felt him dissolve away, Tania shut her eyes firmly, wrapped her arms around him in the tightest she could.

"Please don't leave me! PLEASE!" She begged, and all she got were a few sniffs and a silent sob. "PLEASE DON'T GO!"

He remained silent amidst her begging, until he finally spoke in a shaky voice. "I love you, Tania. I've loved you even before Mom gave birth to you. My precious little sister... my little Niah..."

Her wailing prevented her to say anything else. But he saw right through her -- her last unspoken message. Her hands tightly gripping his shirt, her head resting on his chest then looked up straight at him with glistening eyes... he let out a teary smile and a nod, before his own shoulders shook as he struggled to tighten his hold around her.. even when he knew it was futile.

Her legs gave as soon as she found that all she could hug was air.

[alley-catz-vs-daybreakers]

Know Your Enemy: Side AC vs DB Pt. 2

A night out in Chuuko soon turns to one of disaster for two rivaling teams destined to collide. As they meet face to face, pride seems to intervene.

Seiichi: *whispers* Uuugh! Is this joker for real!

Seiichi: We were supposed to find someplace to eat! Not do whatever this is!

Woman A: It’s such an honor to meet you Hiroshi-sama!

Woman B: I can’t believe it’s him! We’re big really fans! 

Hiroshi: Fufufu, the pleasure is all mine fair ladies. ~ It is quite the honor to meet all of you this fine evening. ~

Woman C: Woooow~ He really is like a prince! 

Woman D: I think I’m in love! 

Seiichi: Are you kidding me?! Oi Hiroshi! C’mon let’s just get outta he—

Younger Woman E: Hey! You’re Seiichi Asagao aren’t you? 

Seiichi: ! ! ! 

Younger Woman A: I’ve seen him around before. He’s a real cool street artist.

Woman B: Wow really! Hey can we get your picture?

Seiichi: I-I-Uh! T-That’s not really a big deal! There’s way too many girls here! [quickly puts his hood up]

Woman D: Huh? Are you ok? You’re all red?

Younger Woman C: Wait, if the rest of the Alley Catz are here then Emiko must be too! 

Woman C: Really! Where is she! 

Seiichi: That’s it! I can’t take much more of this!

Hiroshi: Now now, everyone settle dow—HGH! Oi! Seiichi! What do you think you’re doing?!

Seiichi: Run! [pulls him along and they start running]

Woman A: Hey where are you guys going!

Woman C: They’re leaving? Wait for us!

Crowd: [squeals and chases after them]

Seiichi: DAMN YOU HIROSHI!

Hiroshi: Just shut up and run!

——————————

Natsuki: Nope. We’re not going in that direction.

Haruto: Eh? Why?

Natsuki: Going over there increases the risk of us bumping into more of those crazed women.

Haruto: (raises brow) How do you know? We’ve never even been here before.

Natsuki: (Sarcastically) Look at the buildings, taller buildings are subject to hold more people, as impressive as they may look, I am not willing to get trampled for that sake of your instant gratification dearest brother of mine.

Haruto: Then what do you propose oh smart one?

Natsuki: (thinking) It wouldn’t hurt to simply have a look around.

Haruto: (grins) Sorry to burst you bubble man, but I don’t think you’ll find any critters to dote over in here.

Natsuki: I will wack you.

Haruto: [hands in surrendering gesture] Gotcha. Just sayin’.

continue walking

Haruto: . . .

Haruto: Hey Natsu?

Natsuki: Hm?

Haruto: Don’tcha think Ko-chan looked kinda lonely? 

Natsuki: Not sure. As long as he has what it takes to bring us through the matches, then he’s fine.

Haruto: (grins) Don’t worry, I got plenty of energy to carry all of us through!

Natsuki: I’m not worried, and keep in mind you have your dance rehearsal in a few days.

Haruto: Thanks for the love bro.

Natsuki: (Turns away with a slight blush) The curses of being older. . . at least this is uncommon.

——————————

Crowd: [squeals 😆]

Hiroshi: Well this is certainly exciting isn’t it!

Seiichi: This is all your fault you crazy Womanizer! If they want you they can have you!

Hiroshi: It’s not just about me now!

Seiichi: Who cares, keep running! Here! [skids across the sidewalk] Around this corner!

Hiroshi: Right!

[they quickly turn and keep running as the crowd passes them]

Hiroshi: Did we lose them?

Seiichi: I don’t know! But I’m not gonna stooo-aaah! Hey!! [trips]

Haruto: ACk!

Natsuki: Oh. It’s you two

Seiichi: Aaaagh~ whaaat? O-Oi watch where you’re going freak, we got places to be!!

Hiroshi: Enough Seiichi, they’re gone. Now since you clearly lack manners, I shall be the one to ap—oh. Why it’s only the little mocking birds from before.

Natsuki: And what exactly do you mean by that? You showy rooster.

Seiichi: Rooster? Pffffffft—!

Hiroshi: [smirks] Hmph. Nothing at all. And do shut up Seiichi.

Haruto: Okaaayyyyyy. Maybe we should save our breaths? Even I don’t wanna see Ko-chan upset.

Seiichi: Ko-Chan? Oi, ain’t that the beanpole that was creeping around Emiko earlier?

Haruto: Hey! Ko-chan doesn’t creep!

Seiichi: Tch, you sure? Looked more like a prideless pervert to me.

Hiroshi: Hmmm, you have a point. The boy appeared to have no sense of dignity at all. 😏

Haruto: What the hell?! How can you say that about him?! Kosuke’s not anything like that, you edgy teen and fancy pants!

Natsuki: Let it go, Kosuke can defend himself. On the other hand, I’m  not so sure about Harajuku’s own childishly ditzy leader being able to lift a finger.

Seiichi: Oi! Emiko’s way stronger than that piece of scrap you guys drag around! I’m sure you’ve heard about her on the streets yea?

Hiroshi: Seiichi. That’s enough.

Seiichi: What?! What do you mean that’s enough! I’m not done yet!!

Natsuki: Listen to your guardian. Let’s go Haruto (turns to leave)

Hiroshi: As expected. C’mon Seiichi, let’s leave the dog and his master alone. I don’t think he can keep him at bay for very long. He might run off into the street and get lost.

Seiichi: Tch, whatever.

Haruto: Owowowow! Natsu! My wrist! My wrist!

Natsuki: (mumbling). . . What. . .?

Natsuki: What the FUCK did you just call my brother?!  Mic activates

Natsuki: 

Shut your little mouth you fucking sick tick! As if it wasn’t torturous to listen to your shtick You’d better run off, because I’m at my limit. If you dare say word, then I’ll make you go squish!

[loud blasts sound]

Seiichi: Whoa! Ha ha!!

Hiroshi: H-Hgh!! Now we’re having fun!!

Hiroshi: You ready Seiichi?

Seiichi: Oh you don’t have to tell me twice old man!!

[Mics activate]

A disheartened little cuckoo tainted by dull and fatuous laws! Watch as he flies into the fray of deadly smiling jaws~

Jabber Jabber Jabber with your self-centered blabbering! Your idiocy’s a crime against our kaleidoscopic society!

Now that’s going too far.

Says you, sadist Ladykiller.

On the brink of insanity! Drop dead on Harajuku’s toxic thriller!

Haruto: (huffs) Guess we’re throwing hands. You good Natsu?

Natsuki: Just start.

[Mic activates]

Just a fair warning here, close your eyes! You don’t haveta listen, but you will go blind!

I don’t play with minds, just physical suicide! Coming from a nut house, you’ll be tossed to the side!

Now where to start? Should we just strike the heart?

Go for an arteriole, watch them lose their fake twinkle.

Seiichi: Agh!! Damn!

Hiroshi: Aaaah!!

[the dust clears, Seiichi & Hiroshi appear somewhat unfazed]

???: Another fight? Just what do you men think you’re doing?

Haruto: (whispers) Huh? Natsu whose this big busted lady? Ow!

Natsuki: (hisses) That’s Kadenokoji Ichijiku. Show your respect!

Bows

Seiichi: S-Sh**!! It’s the crazy lady!!

Hiroshi: Watch your tongue!

[they both bow]

Ichijiku: Hmph. Both your Divisions hold a very small record in outbursts such as this. Although I can’t say I’m surprised coming from such barbarians.

??? + ???: R-right! We’re so sorry ma’am!

Seiichi + Hiroshi: Emiko??!

Haruto + Natsuki: Ko-chan!/Kosuke. . .

Ichijiku: I hope I make myself clear. Since you two were not here to witness the event I can’t particularly say all of you are at fault. But if I hear one whisper of a fight between your Divisions outside of the battle you will all be disqualified!!

Ichijiku: And. I expect better leadership from you young lady. This is what happens when you surround yourself with pigs.

Emiko: . . . Yes, ma’am. . . .

Ichijiku: Speak up!

Emiko: Y-Yes ma’am!

Kosuke: R-right. . .

Ichijiku: Now. Leave the premises immediately. Before I change my mind. [she walks away]

—End—

[ghostly-cabbage]

Frigid (Chapter 3)

Genre: Horror, Angst, Enemies to Friends

Chapter Rating: M (Language, Underage Drug Use)

Word Count: 5,326

AO3  FFN

<<Previous | Next>> 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear old Dad got home late that night while Wes and Kyle were tucking into a plate of pizza rolls. Wes heard the door open and his Dad's voice from down the hall.

"Tell Roger that it doesn't matter, whatever it takes, Mr. Masters expects it to get done." He walked past the living room without so much as a glance at the two of them. His voice faded down the hall punctuated by the sound of his door closing.

Wes snorted and stuffed another pizza roll in his mouth. Stupid Dad with his stupid government job. Why the hell bring them to Illinois just to ignore them? He curled his fingers into the upholstery of their new couch, gripping it until his fingertips ached and the smell from the Ikea warehouse threatened to make him sick. He forced himself to swallow the bite and shoved his plate onto the coffee table.

He got up and went to the kitchen for a capri-sun. If it hadn't been Kyle that bought them, he'd be pissed about that too. His Dad seemed to treat him like he was still in elementary school no matter how old he got.

Wes slammed the fridge door hard enough he heard the dressing and condiment bottles rattle inside. He went back to the living room, the TV illuminating the space in it's flickering light.

He flopped backwards onto the couch, pushing his back into the corner of the sectional, wishing it'd swallow him up. Kyle was watching some alien history documentary. How ghosts could be pure fiction but aliens were "science-fact" was beyond Wes. He rolled his eyes and got out his phone, pulling up his knees.

Instagram was a short reprieve, or it should have been. He scrolled past post after post of his old friends back in California, smiling wide in front of the beach, or the boys at the park playing basketball. Over there they hadn't even started school yet, and wouldn't until the end of the month. To say he envied them was a gross understatement.

"Are you gonna eat those?" Wes glanced up over his knees to see his brother pointing at his abandoned pizza rolls.

"Go for it," he said. Kyle scooped up his plate and went to town. Wes really should be doing his chapter reading for History, but the thought made him want to set something on fire. A part of him felt like he should be grateful for a fresh start after the divorce, but another part of him wanted nothing more than to dig his heels in. Just because his Mom was a liar and his Dad was an asshole didn't mean they had to move across the country, why didn't they get that? Maybe they did, and just didn't care.

He scrolled on his phone long enough for Kyle to watch another episode. By the end Wes had been sitting and refreshing his feed over and over again. He watched the buffer wheel spin, screen go white and the same post as last time take its most recent position at the top. He pulled down again, and watched the wheel spin for the millionth time.

"Dude, this is just depressing to watch."

He glanced over at Kyle, narrowing his eyes. "Got nothing better to do." It was a lie and they both knew it. Kyle flicked the TV off and stood up from the couch.

"C'mon." Kyle came to stand in front of him expectantly.

"What?"

"Let's go have roof time."

Wes made a face. "You're so weird, don't call it that. Cringy as fuck, man."

Kyle grabbed a pillow and swung it lazily towards Wes' head. "C'moooon lil bro! It's roof time!" He said it in a big brother voice that always pissed Wes off.

"No. Fuck off." Wes held up an arm to shield his head.

"C'mon!" Kyle insisted. "Don't you wanna spend time with your brother?" he pouted. He swung the pillow at him again.

"I'm gonna kick you in the balls."

"Weeeeesslleeeyyyy! C'mooooon."

"Oh my god, you're so fucking annoying." Wes kicked half-heartedly towards his brother. He held up both arms to try and fend off the onslaught of his brother's pillow attack.

"I'll stop if you agree to go sit outside with me, Wes! Surrender, you're out matched, kid!" Kyle picked up another pillow in his left hand, and continued batting at him. Wes tried to bury the beginnings of a smile behind a sour expression.

"You just—Ow, stop— You just wanna go get high, don't you?"

"Oh, absolutely. But you think I'm going to sit out there alone like some kind of loser?"

Wes anticipated his brother's next swing, and snatched the pillow from him. Now it was his turn. True to his word, he kicked a foot out directly into his brother's crotch. Kyle grunted and stumbled back a step, hands going down to grab his groin. Wes capitalized on his opportunity and lunged forward, springing off the couch to tackle his brother to the ground.

They hit the carpet with a loud thud, and became a tangle of limbs.

"Oh it's on, kiddo!" Wes couldn't hold back a laugh as he wrestled his brother. He attempted to push the pillow onto Kyle's face at the same time as his brother was trying to twist his arm around in a joint lock.

"Shut up, you're only a year older than me," Wes said, wriggling out of his brother's grip, and yanking his hat down over his eyes.

"A destined rematch to determine the stronger brother! A tale as old as time!" Kyle fought blindly to get a hold back on Wes. Wes whacked him on the side of the head with the pillow.

"You're a moron," he said without any real venom. Kyle flung his hat away.

"Don't make me purple nurple you like last time."

Wes hit him again with the pillow as Kyle tried to steal it from him. "Try it, bitch, I'll kick your ass."

"I did wrestling for two years!"

"Yeah, in middle school, now you're just lame and out of shape."

Kyle gasped. "Bro, take it back." He twisted the pillow hard to the right and broke Wes' hold on it.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry. You're not out of shape, just the lame part." Wes tried to get out of Kyle's reach to escape retribution, but he wasn't fast enough. Kyle got a hold of his shirt, and yanked him into a headlock. It had no real pressure behind it.

"Hah ha! What have we here? Could it possibly be that I win again?"

Wes rolled his eyes and pushed up on his brother's arm to break the loop. "Shut up, stupid-ass," he muttered. They broke apart, and Kyle stood up, offering him a hand. Wes accepted it with a puff. Kyle yanked him to his feet and punched him in the center of his chest.

"Ow."

"Kyle : 1 Wes : 0!"

Wes stopped. "Hey, wait, our score was up in the hundreds! What gives? I was winning you asshole." He'd challenged Kyle to a game of Horse last month and it had been a slaughter to say the least. Kyle was walking towards the stairs.

"Nu-uh, new-state-clean-slate, bro, we're starting over!"

"That's stupid, and I didn't agree to that. You're just a sore loser." Wes trudged up the stairs after his brother.

"Guess you'll just have to wait till our next rematch." Kyle shrugged, pushing into his room with a shoulder. Their rooms shared a wall, Kyle's being the furthest down the hall. They both had north facing windows that had access to the brow of the roof which overlooked the pool in the backyard. Moving from a place with obscene living expenses to the armpit of Illinois had its perks he guessed.

"Pick the challenge then. How about MarioKart?" he offered.

"After last time? No way dude." Kyle went to his bedside table to retrieve a small baggie of weed and his pipe and lighter. Not that their Dad ever checked, but a pipe was easier to hide, and less hassle than a bong. Or so Kyle said. Wes didn't really mess around with the stuff if he could help it. The times he tried made him so paranoid it felt like the end was nigh.

"Ugh, fine, princess. What about Smash?" Wes slid the window open and popped out the screen.

"Best outta five?"

"Sure, tomorrow after school? You can't play worth shit while high."

"Bruh, I'm great at playing while high, makes all the distractions just—" he wiggled his fingers— "fall away."

Wes snorted. "Sure, keep telling yourself that. The AI Pikachu wiped the floor with you." Wes climbed out onto the roof, scooting to the side so Kyle had room to clamber out. Kyle handed him his pipe to hold and followed after.

"No, that's not what happened, okay?" Kyle pointed an accusing finger. "I let that adorable little rat fuck win, because what kind of monster would I be if I destroyed Pikachu?"

Wes rolled his eyes. Kyle settled next to him, hanging his legs over the side and reached for his stuff back. Wes looked up at the sky, leaning his weight back on his hands. It was another clear night, the stars bright and unblemished. He heard the flick of his brother's lighter, but paid it no mind. The lack of light pollution was nice, if there was one positive from this whole situation, it was that.

The wind stirred, a chill laced in that made Wes wish he'd brought his jacket. He was looking forward to the snow. He'd only seen snow once when was ten and his parents took all of them on a skiing trip to Lake Tahoe. He remembered biting it on the bunny hill, and how Kyle laughed so much while picking him up that he'd dropped him more than once. The memory felt brittle, like if he touched on it too much it might break into a million pieces. It always felt like that, remembering what it was like to be happy, to be a family. His parents had broken enough, he wanted this thing, this one little thing to stay whole.

Was it childish to want that?

He glanced at Kyle, who exhaled a plume of smoke, the slope of his shoulders loose and relaxed. For all his flaws and his seriously maddening, downright annoying personality, Wes was glad to have Kyle. After the divorce they'd gotten closer, and he wasn't really sure where he'd be right now without his brother.

Not that he'd ever admit something so fucking embarrassing out loud. Jesus, what was he? He sounded like a Hallmark card.

He rubbed an eye, and laid back, the shingles of the roof cold against his back. The two were in a comfortable silence, Kyle too preoccupied with making short work of the bowl he'd packed to make conversation yet. That was alright with Wes. He was tired and still a little freaked out after today. He knew better than to bring up his run in with the ghost at school to Kyle.

This place was weird, and he had so many questions he felt like he was going insane. First thing tomorrow he was going to ask someone what the hell was going on in this town. He could try and ask the Danny Fenton kid, since his parents were apparently the ghost experts. He rolled the idea around for a few seconds in his head. Maybe it'd be best to ask more than one person. Leave Danny as a last resort.

He was staring at the first stars of Orion as they peaked over the dark horizon. That's when he saw it. His brows furrowed and he sat up.

"Dude, do you see that?" He smacked the back of his hand against Kyle's arm.

"What?" Kyle looked up.

"That!" He pointed. In the sky and getting closer was a glowing streak.

It wasn't a star, or a comet, that was for damn sure. It was flying in a wide circling pattern. It was fast, whatever it was.

Kyle gasped next to him. "Holy shit, a UFO." Kyle fumbled around to try and get his phone, in his haste he sent his lighter tumbling down the roof and off the edge. Wes trained his eyes on the shape as it got closer, squinting. Kyle had gotten his phone and had started recording, feverishly commentating about the time, place, and the appearance of an "alien craft".

Wes leaned forward, straining his eyes. As the shape wound closer it looked… almost humanoid? It seemed to move in a thoughtful systematic way. Like it was covering specific ground.

"I'm so putting this on my Snapchat story," Kyle said. He turned his phone towards Wes. "Say hi! In case it goes viral."

"Dude, stop." Wes pushed his brother's phone away from his face and back towards the… well. UFO.

As suddenly as it had appeared, it sharply changed direction and flew away, before blipping out of existence entirely. It hadn't gotten close enough to identify, but Kyle seemed to only care about his video and nothing else. Wes sat there thoroughly confused, staring at the point in the sky the shape had vanished into thin air.

"Clearly this is evidence of alien superior technology. The fact it sped up and disappeared so fast means they've cracked flight speeds faster than light, dude!" Kyle buzzed. He was tapping on his phone, already sending the video to everyone he knew.

Aliens, really? Could this day get any weirder?

"Look, look, Hannah, snapped me back." Kyle leaned over so they could both see his screen. He opened the Snap, and Wes saw a girl with blonde hair and dark eye shadow. He vaguely recognized her from school, part of Kyle's new stoner group of friends. The video showed just the top of her face as she looked down at her phone. Her eyes were crinkled at the corners.

"Kyle, what the fuck," she laughed. "That's not an alien, doofus. It's clearly a ghost. Probably Phantom. He flies around almost every night." She leaned back and sprayed canned whipped cream directly into her mouth. " 'Aliens'! Oh my god I'm totally telling Jennie." She snorted as she laughed and the snap ended.

Phantom? That was Phantom? The image of the ghost boy from earlier lingered in his mind. Kyle was already recording a video to send back.

"Hannah, obviously you have very little experience with UFO's. I know an alien when I see one and that was an A L I E N. Okay? Don't buy into this ghost conspiracy, it's what people want you to think, but it's probably all aliens! Or beings from like the 4th dimension, I don't know."

His brother's voice sounded too loud. His eyes traced the place where the shape… the ghost had been. He rubbed at his temples with his fingers. Kyle continued arguing with his new local friends, protesting the idea of ghosts. Wes sighed, a headache building behind his eyes.

He nudged his brother with an elbow. "I'm gonna get to bed." Kyle gave him a distracted goodbye and Wes headed back inside, mind swirling with the image of white hair and glowing green eyes.

***

Joy.

His sleep that night had been fitful and interrupted. He didn't have any nightmares, or at least none he could remember, thank God. But there were a few times he could have sworn there was someone standing in his doorway, watching. He shook it from his thoughts by busying himself with his camera.

The final bell for first period rang and with it commenced the beginning of the school day.

Students with no cameras of their own were having some checked out to them for photography class. The teacher told them to check over everything and make sure all previous files were deleted from the memory card, and there were no cracked lenses. He ignored the majority of what was being said.

When he was young he would use his Mom's camera. Just to mess around really, it wasn't like he had the lofty goals of being a professional photographer. But his Mom didn't see it like that. She bought him lenses and his own high-end camera for his 16th birthday. That was before everything fell apart. Before he found out about Emily.

Once the class started going he hoped he'd enjoy it and actually learn something. He was ready to start taking pictures already. Unfortunately, the day's class was all about the different buttons and functions on the cameras, explaining exposure, aperture and manually managing the iso. Uck. Yawn.

Towards the end of class Ms. Fletcher let them have "free time" to explore the options on their cameras on their own. Learn by doing and all that.

"This is way too much all at once," complained the girl next to him. Mia, was her name, if he remembered correctly. She had brown hair, and light eyes, her tan skin suggesting a mixed heritage. She was turning her camera around in her hands like a kid trying to find the on switch on a new toy. He smiled, turning toward her.

"First time using a fancy camera?"

She let out an agitated sigh. "Yeah. I took this class because I thought it'd be easy and I could just, I don't know, take cute pictures of my dog or something." She put the camera down on the table, gently, like she was afraid of breaking it despite her frustration.

"Yeah, it can be complicated at first." He lifted his own to inspect it.

"You brought your own, right? That's not a shitty school one."

"Yeah, it's mine. Birthday gift."

Mia whistled. "Pricy, your parents must be loaded."

Wes shrugged a shoulder, "I wouldn't say that exactly."

"Don't be modest, it's okay!" She patted him on the shoulder. "Plus I'm sure however rich your family is, it's nowhere near the Mansons."

"The Mansons?"

"Uh...yeah." She looked confused for a second before understanding flickered in her eyes. "Oh, that's right you're new. Sam Manson, the spooky goth chick that hangs around Fenton and Foley. She's in our homeroom class." She held her pointer fingers up by her ears to mime bat ears.

"Oh, yeah, her."

"She says she doesn't like people knowing even though it's super obvious. Her parents are always in the news for making donations and stuff."

They fell into an awkward silence, and Mia shuffled her feet.

"Well, uh. Tell you what. If you help me with this camera crap, I'll…" She stopped to think. "I'll give you the inside scoop about the school. Help you get caught up and fit in, ya'know?" She held her hand towards him. "Sound good?"

Wes would have helped her out even if she hadn't offered to keep him in the social loop. It could be useful, especially for a few things in particular.

"Deal." He shook her hand, a little surprised by her grip strength.

"I'm not as popular as Paulina and Star but I still have an ear to the ground. So if you want to know who's single or who can write your english essay on the cheap: I'm your girl." She pulled her hand back to jab a thumb at her chest for emphasis.

Wes chuckled. "Thanks. I actually do have some questions."

"Shoot."

"This Phantom ghost, what do you know about him?"

She looked surprised, before she smiled. There was something in her expression that Wes couldn't place.

"Phantom? Really?" She shrugged. "Alright, I see you." She scooted her chair closer to his. "Phantom showed up freshman year, no one knows why, but since he popped up he's been saving Amity from all sorts of ghosts." She said it like it was the most normal, perfectly sane thing. "Not only is he hella cute but he's also basically a hero."

Wes frowned in confusion. That wasn't at all what Mr. and Mrs. Fenton had said. "Why would a ghost help people? What's he get out of it? Also, isn't he… you know. Dead? Isn't it kinda creepy to have a crush on him?"

"How should I know? And dead or alive, he's still a total heart throb around here, get used to it." She sighed, looking fed up with his lack of understanding. "Listen, all I do know is that if an evil ghost is breathing down your neck your only real hope in this place is Phantom. Really, ask anyone." Wes' thoughts drifted back to his brush with death yesterday..

"You shouldn't be telling people the fantasy version of things, Mia," came a cold voice. Wes jumped, turning to look at the girl looming over them. Her arms were crossed over her chest, curly hair back lit by the fluorescent bulbs in the ceiling. Fantasy version? What was Valerie talking about?

Mia's face went from warm and open to closed and stand-offish. She crossed her legs and sat back in her chair.

"Oh come on Valerie, we all know you're not a fan of him, but you could at least try and be reasonable."

"Reasonable? Don't listen to her new kid," Valerie jabbed a finger towards him, "if there's one thing Phantom is good at, it's manipulating the public perception. Don't be fooled like the rest of this school, Phantom will ruin your life without an ounce of remorse."

Wes blinked, caught off guard by her ferocity. In chemistry she seemed like a perfectly normal, kind girl. He made a mental note not to get on her bad side.

Mia made a dismissive sound in the back of her throat. "He wasn't asking you Valerie, he was asking me. Butt out."

Mia and Valerie glared hard at each other, neither backing down. It went on for what felt like ever. Wes was afraid he was about to end up right in the middle of a cat fight. But eventually, Valerie let out a sound of disgust then turned and stalked off back to her table. Mia watched her go, gaze steady. Once Valerie sat down, Mia relaxed and let out a breath.

"God, she really needs to get that stick out of her ass."

"What the hell was that about?"

"Apparently freshman year her Dad lost his job and she's convinced it was Phantom's fault." Mia uncrossed her legs, sitting more casually again.

"Was it?"

Mia looked annoyed. "I don't know, I wasn't there." She ran her fingers through her hair, taking a small swatch and braiding it absentmindedly. "Listen, people have different opinions... but Phantom saved my life." It was small and serious the way she said it, like it was a confession. "And not just once but on several occasions. It's fine to ask questions, I don't blame you. But just wait and watch, then decide for yourself." Before Wes could say or ask anymore, the bell rang. Mia started collecting her stuff.

"See you tomorrow, Wes," she said brightly, as if the seriousness from before was just a figment of his imagination.

Sixth period rolled around and Wes was ready for the day to be over with already.

In his previous classes he'd asked other students here and there about the ghosts, and even if he didn't directly ask about Phantom, the conversation eventually led there anyway.

"Uh, yeah. Tomorrow." He watched her go, getting up and gathering his own belongings.

***

He did regret asking Star during lunch, which seemed to have summoned Paulina from the aether. She went on almost the entire lunch period about how her and the ghost boy were "meant to be" and how cute he was, with his snow white hair and tanned skin. Wes was debating faking a family emergency to get away from her. Talk about obsessed.

He shook his head at the memory and closed his locker.

He started walking down the hall, daydreaming about whatever gourmet frozen dinner him and Kyle would have later for dinner. He was about to turn the corner down the hall towards the chem room when he heard a raised voice.

Next up: Chemistry. At the thought he deflated further. He'd totally forgotten about the quiz today. Damnnit, Fenton.

He started walking down the hall, daydreaming about whatever gourmet frozen dinner him and Kyle would have later for dinner. He was about to turn the corner down the hall towards the chem room when he heard a raised voice. 

“Hey Fentina, watch where you’re fucking going.” He turned towards the sound to look. The halls were clearing, there being only a minute or so till class, but that didn’t stop the few scattered people from stopping to idly watch Dash Baxter slam Danny Fenton against a locker. Wes couldn’t help but wince. From the sound alone he’d guess that was going to leave a bruise. 

“You might be taller now but that doesn’t mean I won’t still flatten you, got that?” Dash announced. He was clearly making a show of it. Wes wondered why. Fenton was definitely the lowest on the social ladder, why would someone like Dash need to establish his power over someone who had none? Wes shifted his weight, remembering that trying to apply logic to bullies was a losing battle. 

Danny though… He seemed completely... unfazed. He looked at Dash like an overworked retail employee looked at a raving customer. The dark bags under his eyes and the uncaring air he had coupled with his black hoodie and torn jeans made him look like an emo band's wet dream. 

“Got it, now can we all get to class, please? I’m trying not to be tardy as much this year,” Danny said. Dash leaned further into Danny’s space. 

“Dream on, Fenton,” Dash leered. He leaned back and let Danny go. He made to leave, or at least Wes thought he was. Danny seemed to think so too. Which meant he was caught off guard when Dash turned and punched him in the stomach. Even from a few paces away, Wes heard the air rush from Danny’s lungs. He staggered a bit, arm wrapping around his midsection. 

Dash laughed and walked off, flexing an arm to his football team buddies who joined in as they made their way down the hall like a pack of hyenas. 

As if that was the cue, everyone that had stopped to watch went back to their own business, as if nothing happened. Wes didn’t know what to think at that moment. He knew everyone called Danny a loser, and he hadn’t exactly gotten along with the guy himself but… That felt like a step too far. He couldn’t help but pity the poor dude a bit.

 It had been a long time since Wes was the one pushed around the school yard. He remembered what it felt like though, and he had never been in a rush to expose himself to the kind of treatment again. In fact he’d done just about anything to keep himself from the bottom. He’d done his fair share of looking down on losers and saying cruel things to be accepted into the throng of popular kids in California. He wasn’t proud of it, as he got older he realized that. It made his stomach clench with guilt and shame. 

He’d have never done what Dash just did though. 

Wes watched Danny lean a shoulder against the wall of lockers and catch his breath. He glanced around, and when he was satisfied that no one was still watching, he straightened, took a breath and rolled a shoulder, nonchalant. 

Wes felt his brain stutter and stop. 

Uh. What? 

Just a second ago Danny was writhing in pain the way someone just punched in the gut would, and the next he was acting like he was fine. Like he’d just got done with a leisurely jog.  

At this point Wes was starting to wonder if he was being gaslit by this whole school, what the fuck? 

He watched Danny put a book into his locker, and then lock it up. He started down the hallway, no evidence he was in any pain or struggling for breath what-so-ever. Wes turned and walked towards the classroom. He didn’t want Danny to know he’d been watching from around the corner. 

Wes sat down, spreading out his stuff, trying to make it look like he'd been there for ages. A few seconds later the tardy bell rang. Another few seconds after that, Danny walked in. 

“Mr. Fenton, you’re late—”

“Uh-huh.” He didn’t make eye contact with the teacher, just made a beeline for their desk and slumped into his seat. Mrs. Merriweather looked ticked. 

“Pick up your tardy slip at the end of class young man.” 

“Yep.” 

Even Mrs. Merriweather seemed taken aback by Danny’s odd energy, but she said nothing else. Instead she jumped into the lesson plan for the day. 

Wes wasn’t paying attention. He was looking at his lab partner, still trying to figure out what he’d just seen. Maybe Danny had just been acting like it was worse than it was to… what, get sympathy? Have Dash back off quicker? Both seemed likely, logical. It must have been, what else could it be? 

Danny seemed to feel his eyes on him. He turned to Wes, his blue eyes sharp and angry. 

“What?” he snapped. 

“Nothing. Sorry.” Wes disengaged, looking down at his blank notebook page. He heard Danny sigh, but he didn’t know what sort of emotion drove it. 

Class dragged on, and they didn’t say another word to each other the entire period. But that wasn’t too surprising, considering Danny left in the middle of class. 

They’d just got done taking their lab safety quiz, and were handing them back when out of the corner of his eye Wes saw Danny shiver. He also saw a flash of… what looked like smoke? Vape? Was Danny seriously vaping in class? 

“Fuck,” Danny muttered under his breath and his hand shot straight up into the air. “Mrs. Merriweather, can I use the bathroom before we start the lab?” Danny’s typically tired and slouched posture had gone ramrod straight, and the air around him felt desperate and panicked. Mrs. Merriwether studied him seriously for a second, before she relented. 

“Alright, don’t take too long.” 

Danny scrambled from his seat and out the door. It left a weird silence in the classroom.

O….kay? That was weird, super weird. He looked around the class. A student adjacent to him caught his confused look and shrugged. 

“He just does that, always has. Some people think he has some sort of chronic illness or something.” 

“Quiet please, everyone. I’m passing out the lab instructions and then we’ll be getting started.” 

Wes couldn’t help but look towards the door where Danny had disappeared seconds earlier. He felt pretty safe in saying not only was the town weird, but everyone in it.  But maybe Danny more so than the others. 

[random-imagines-blog]

Disarm {Shadow Moon x Sibling!Reader}

Requested by: Anonymous Wordcount: 2541 Summary: Wednesday is on a mission to pull you and Shadow apart. Neither you, nor Shadow, or having any of that.

“And that is why I don’t think y/n should come with us, Shadow.” Wednesday seemed to enjoy speaking to your brother as if you weren’t there. As if you weren’t in the booth beside the tall, muscular man who had been your best friend since the day that you had been adopted by his wonderful mother. He had been messing with the climates of your relationship, trying to make things stormy when things were set to be clear. Trying was the key word here. You looked to your brother, and he looked to you, and you knew what he was going to say in response. And you were proud to have such a loyal brother - one who knew that you were better with him than without. One who wasn’t going to leave you at home because you were a ‘weirdo’. A freak. Even the Gods seemed to look at you like that - mainly the old ones. You would think that after hundreds, even thousands of years, there would be nothing that would surprise them. Let alone someone like you, who defined themselves as nonbinary.

“No,” Shadow said with a shrug, completely dismissing everything that Wednesday had said. “I’m not leaving them behind.”

You looked at the old man across from you with a smug expression. You didn’t like him from the start. He had an untrustworthy air. Him and his friends. You thought that Mad Sweeney was a bit funny, and Ostera was a wonderful woman but everyone else, you could take or leave. When he had offered Shadow a job, he took it with a couple of conditions. One of those was that you would accompany him. He had just lost his wife. He wasn’t willing to part with the only other person that he had left. Which was you. And since you had nothing else going on, just a dead-end job in a town that you didn’t care for, you found it easy to pack up and snooze in the back of the car while driving down the dusty highways of the country.

“Now, now, Shadow, don’t be hasty,” The man said, bringing his mug up to his lips. He looked small in that moment, and there was a glint in his eye that you weren’t fond of. This was an old God who was used to getting his way. And for the first time, someone was fighting back. He probably hadn’t expected that someone to be his son.

“I’m not being hasty,” Shadow said, quickly retorting back. “I’ve thought about it, and my answer is fuck you.”

“Shadow...” Wednesday said, a warning in his voice. You leaned forward, grabbing a couple of the sugars out of the little canister, and started to juggle them, getting the attention away from your brother.

“We’ve made it this far together,” You said, trying to reason. Poking the bear wouldn’t help anyone out in this situation. You’ve already tried that before, and ended up getting hurt because of it. “And we’ve done alright, wouldn’t you say? Okay, maybe there was a famine and Laura is back from the dead and the bullet guy is dead but we’re alive and we’re doing alright. We got a good thing going here. Let’s just keep it that way and not give each other anymore grief.”

“Bit late for that,” Shadow said, folding his hands in front of him and looked out the window. You glared at him - his input was usually nice, but now he was just stirring the pot.

“I just don’t want to see y/n get hurt,” Wednesday said, clapping to get Shadow’s attention back. “And if she-”

“They,” You corrected for the dozenth time today.

“- keeps following us around and getting involved in the war, it’s going to happen eventually. Remember Vulcan?”

You winced at the memory of the bullet God. You were glad that he was dead, thrown into the fire to become what he loved so much. Because of him, you had ended up getting shot. You and your damn mouth, getting you into trouble all the time. It hadn’t been a particularly dangerous shot, since it missed your arteries, but it still had hurt like a bitch. It was still wrapped up, underneath the frumpy sweater that you were wearing to keep yourself rather low-key.

“If you had given us any warning about what we were getting ourselves into, maybe it wouldn’t have happened,” Shadow said, still in a mood. The conversation took a lull for a moment as the waitress came around and put our heaping plates in front of us. I thanked her with a smile, then waited until she walked away to interject.

“Yeah, maybe if we weren’t with someone who had as many enemies, I might not have gotten shot.” You pointed out, looking pointedly at the old man across from you.

“Maybe if he had been looking where he was going-” Wednesday started to say again.

“They!” You jumped up, slamming your hands down on the table. “What is so difficult about they that you can’t understand? You’re ancient. You know a lot of words. Say this one with me. Th - ey. They.”

Wednesday gave you a dirty look which came through his bad eye as well as his good. You weren’t intimidated by him, though. He was an old God with old powers. He needed Shadow, and if he were to kill you, Shadow would not co-operate. It was as simple as that.

The restaurant had gone quiet at your outburst, but when you gave them nothing more to stare at, they cultivated their own conversations up to a peasant murmur once more. You lowered yourself back down onto the booth, and Shadow put his hand between your shoulders to keep you from jumping up again. And you noticed him subtly moving objects such as the napkin rack out of the way so you couldn’t hurl them at Wednesday’s head.  Probably a good idea.

You distracted yourself with the food that was put in front of you. The usual greasy diner fare you had gotten used to during this road trip.

“Y/N is staying with us,” Shadow said, leaving no room for disagreement on the matter. “There’s no reason that you can give that’s good enough.”

You stuck your tongue out at Wednesday, playing a not so tactile card, but you were just so pleased to be getting your way. He put his hands up in surrender, though he still had a calculating look on his face. “Fine - fine, if that is what you want, Shadow, that is what you’ll get.”

“Why does it feel like we just made a deal with an evil genie?” You asked Shadow.

“They prefer to be called Djinn-” Wednesday cut in as Shadow nodded.

“Oh, so you’re all about what they prefer to be called. But I don’t matter enough to have my own pronouns respected? Rude, Wednesday. Rude.”

-

You lounged in the backseat of the Wednesday’s car, back against the door, and feet up on the seat. The God kept fiddling with the dial, and then set it onto some jazz croner who gave you an instant headache.

“Do you know any enchantments, Wednesday?” You asked, playing with the seatbelt strap. He turned around to look at you, his eyes shielded by the ridiculous straw hat that he was wearing on his head.

“Why?” He questioned, since you rarely ever asked him anything.

“Is there one to make me temporarily deaf? Because this song is seriously causing me some pain. A bit of hearing loss wouldn’t go amiss.”

“Ask and you shall-” Odin started, but Shadow cut him off.

“Do not deafen y/n,” He ordered. “And stop complaining back there. I’ve heard the music you listen to. This is a gift compared to that.”

You crossed your arms and side dramatically, hanging your head backwards against the window.

“Bored, bored, bored,” You muttered under your breath, tapping the back of your head against the glass with each mention of the word. “Are there any attractions or something on this road? Like a museum? Or a hot dog shack? Bro, we gotta get a couple of footlongs. Road trips are nothing without the dogs. I don’t even know how we survived this long without them.”

“We’re not making a stop until we get to the destination,” Wednesday said, pulling the hat down over his eyes, clearly ready to take a snooze.

“We’re not making a stop until we get to the destination,” You mocked. Wednesday didn’t give you a response, so you had no fuel left to throw on the fire. Maybe taking a nap wasn’t such a bad idea. The beds in the motels that you’ve been staying in were lumpy. And they were the sort that took quarters in order to vibrate so you really hadn’t felt comfortable staying on them. You had laid out some of your clothes on top of the bedspread and slept on them, trying to make a barrier between yourself and the bacteria. It hadn’t worked very well.

-

You woke up an hour later, though there was no noise that had roused you. Rather, the car had come to a complete stop. You looked around to see that you were still in the middle of nowhere, but there was a stall up ahead. A woman was selling berries. In the middle of nowhere.

Shadow unclicked his seatbelt and was starting to get out of the car. You grabbed at his shoulder and tried to keep him in place but he looked like he didn’t hear you. You hurried out through your own door and circled ahead of him, walking backwards so he wouldn’t bump into you. “What happened to no stops?” You asked.

“I’m hungry,” He said, his broad frame catching up to you quickly, and then passing you. You had to jog to keep up.

“You do realize this is suspicious as hell, right? Look at where we are. It’s all ... fields. There are no berrybushes or anything around here. Where did she get them, and why is she selling them here, where no one drives?”

“You’re being paranoid,” Shadow said. You noticed, though, that he was looking straight ahead, his eyes never deviating. Right at the woman in the sundress on the side of the road who was beckoning for both of you to come closer. You shook your head - this was too damn weird.

“I’m serious Shadow,” You said, sensing that something wasn’t right here. Wednesday was no help, he was still napping in the passenger seat of the car. You could see him from where you were standing. “This sounds like a bad greek tale or something. I don’t trust it. I’ll buy you all you want to eat at the next rest stop, just please, get back in the car.”

“There’s nothing to worry about,” Shadow said, nudging you aside to go up to the woman. You turned around to take the sight of her in and - and she was beautiful. Not like a supermodel with angular features, but someone who just seemed to radiate love and life. Voluptious. Dimples. A great smile. Silky hair. The brightest eyes that you had ever seen.

“Come on sugar, don’t you want to try some fresh berries?” She asked, holding out a basket of blueberries.

You had to shake your head to release yourself from the temptation. It wasn’t all that hard. For you, it was a split second of hunger, and the thought of a pie. It was an easy temptation to get rid of. But Shadow was giving in - giving in way too easily. You never actually saw him eat berries before, so this was extremely suspicious. Trying to get him to return to the car with your words was clearly not working.

So you acted a little hastily. Rather than try to pull Shadow away, which would be damn near impossible given the size of him, you turned to the woman. She was smiling at you, trying to entice you to take a berry. Shadow was reaching inside of the basket, and pulled out one that looked perfectly ripe. Perfectly round.

You thrust your arms up under the basket, pushing hard on the bottom of it, making the woman jolt. She let go of the basket in surprise, and the berries flew into the air, then scattered on the ground around the three of you. “Look at what you did!” The woman screamed, falling onto her knees. It was like a curtain had been pulled, and light was seeping through - for you and Shadow were able to see more clearly now. The once beautiful woman was an old crone. Really like something out of Grimm brothers. Shadow pulled back in a dazed disgust, and looked around him.

“Where are we?” He asked, holding his head.

“Never mind that, get in the car, go, go, go!” You said, rushing him, pushing his back. He stared to jog back towards the car, turning his head over his shoulder to look at the stall. The woman was still on the ground, screeching, trying to put all of the berries back into her basket. You didn’t have much time before she would have collected them all. You had to get out of here.

You threw yourself into the backseat, and you didn’t have time to put your seatbelt on before Shadow was pressing down on the gas pedal and getting you the hell out of there.

“What happened?” Wednesday grunted, pulling the hat up from over his eyes.

“I don’t know,” Shadow said, still confused. He adjusted the rearview mirror but you popped your head up to try to block him from seeing out the back.

“Don’t even look, Shads,” You warned. “She might have all her berries back in her basket.”

“Rickity old stall?” Wednesday guessed.

“You know it?”

“It means that they know where we’re going and which way that we’re taking,” Wednesday said gloomily. “Good on you, Shadow, for not giving into the temptation. Many people have fallen-”

“You’re giving him all the credit? Really?” You asked, completely in disbelief. “He was over there like Narcissus to a mirror! I was the one who stopped it by hitting the damn basket.”

“It’s true,” Shadow agreed. “Y/N saw right through it.”

Wednesday didn’t say anything for a long moment. You didn’t think that he was going to at all. You just settled right back into the seat, looking through the windshield at the long road ahead.

“I guess you should continue with us then,” He said. You knew it was hard for the old God to admit any sort of defeat, so maybe you would let it go graciously..

Nah.

“In your face, sucker,” You said with a smirk.