#no erasing though. weirdly like how it looks huh

[o-wyrmlight]

Me when I’m writing out the timeline of my fic because I’m very bad with timeline stuff. Me when I get distracted and do this.

[pocketramblr]

If the five ask game is still open: au where Aizawa is a quirkless hero?

An interesting ask...

1- So AfO really wants Erasure after seeing some second-year student at UA use it during the SF. And he and ujiko are kinda smart and so target the kid directly instead of just releasing a big monster kinda near where the kid will be and hoping he'll get hospitalized on his own and taken to Ujiko. So that means one day on his way to school, Aizawa looks down at a kitten in a box and is like 'wow i wish i could help this kitten but alas, i'm sixteen, depressed, have super low confidence due to being told i have a weak quirk for years, and am not All Might.'

And then AfO walks out of the alleyway and grabs him by the arm, hoping to quickly steal his quirk but Aizawa activates Erasure on instinct and tries to get away.

2- Shirakumo happens to take the same route to school, and walks up to see his friend getting manhandled and jumps in without thinking. The good news is that AfO runs off and does not take Aizawa to throw into nomu soup, and the cat is fine, the bad news is Aizawa blinked and Erasure got stolen before AfO left.

3- Aizawa is thouroughly shaken now to not have his quirk and is panicking. This is a crazy thing that shouldn't happen to a random kid like him. This is the kind of villain that All Might fights. Shirakumo picks up the kitten and umbrella and is like "So we get All Might then?"

Aizawa thinks he's joking, but he's not. They get on a train and head away from UA, towards Might Tower instead. On the way, Aizawa is catastrophizing, Shirakumo is trying to distract him, asking things like "so do you think that other guy is suffering dry eye right now" (Aizawa realizes he probably is, since his feel weirdly fine.) and "when All Might fights this guy and makes him give you your quirk back, what are you going to ask him to autograph? because i think this kitten deserves an autographed footsie." (Aizawa goes back to catastrophizing because what happens if All Might's quirk gets erased, actually, and even if he can beat this guy that's no promise he's going to get erasure back, and now that its gone he really misses his quirk!)

Shirakumo stops him and tells him very seriously that his quirk didn't make him want to help the kitten, or apply to UA, or train with his capture weapon, which means that even without erasure, he's sure Aizawa can be a hero if he wants to be.

4- So they get to Might Tower and the UA uniforms and Shirakumo loudly announcing that someone's quirk got stolen does actually get All Might's attention, because he's always looking for leads against AfO. Aizawa and Shirakumo tell him everything, including Aizawa telling him about Erasure's weaknesses and how to force him to blink. All Might thanks them, phones UA to let them know whats up, texts Torino, and tells Shirakumo and Aizawa to stay at Might Tower until he gets back from beating AfO's face in. (He also takes a Secret Gift from his american buddy David with him. huh. anyway.)

He gets back several hours later, with a broken arm and tons of bruises which kinda freaks the teens out since All Might Isn't Supposed To Get Injured but he's fine, and thanks them. He apologizes to Aizawa as AfO is now dead and can't return Erasure. Aizawa says not to worry about him as stopping such a powerful villain was more important. Shirakumo tells him to stop saying he's not important, and announces it'll be okay, because Aizawa's going to be awesome as the world's first quirkless hero, working at the agency with Loud Cloud, Present Mic, and Midnight. All Might says he looks forward to seeing their careers, but wonders if he should offer Aizawa a replacement quirk. [One day he'll ask and be told 'hell no']

All Might also gently refuses to autograph the cat Shirakumo holds up, but that's ok because they name him "Autograph" instead

5- Aizawa does indeed become the first quirkless hero, and is in an agency with his three friends after graduation- though Midnight leaves to form her own later on. They still work together sometimes. Loud Cloud, Present Mic, and Eraserhead (he was too lazy to change it) do have an agency rule tho- no one ever goes out on single patrols or missions, its either a duo while the other holds down the agency, or all of them together. Can't have any more kidnapping attempts! Aizawa grumbles about how tiring they are but is fine with it- it's actually a good strategy. Usually Shirakumo or Mic make for a distraction while Aizawa sneaks up from behind and uses his capture weapon, but sometimes he'll use a cloud to drop from, or help Mic manuver around quicker. They work well together, and are very happy at their agency.

Then one day, a ten-year-old with green hair walks in, and nervously asks if someone can become a hero without a quirk- he heard rumors that Eraserhead was a quirkless hero, but no one seems to know since he stays out of the spotlight compared to his teammates, and some people say he does have a quirk since he got into UA, just doesn't use it. Mic assures him that they can, because Eraserhead is indeed quirkless, he just has a lot of training and works with the agency so everyone's weaknesses- like Mic's hearing loss or Loud Cloud's impulsiveness- is covered by the others. Izuku, on hearing this answer, bursts into tears just as Cloud and Eraser return from patrol. Cloud asks why Mic made some poor kid cry while Eraser goes to find Autograph and plop him in the kid's arms to cuddle.

Izuku defends Mic and says it isn't his fault- he just got upset because he doesn't have any friends who would work with him to be a hero, because none of them think Izuku can be one without a quirk, none of them believe Izuku about Eraserhead.

Yamada, Aizawa, and Shirakumo, three young men who were once three teenagers that decided to sneak a cat into school and adopt it despite not being really prepared to take care of it, look at each other and all know something similar is about to happen.

[flightfoot]

Perspective From Another Timeline

Thanks to my betas @steelblaidd and Izzybusy!

I ADORE @buggachat new Bakery Enemies AU. This idea just kept on swirling through my head, I had to write it! This is set between parts 13 and 14, so after Adrien meets Alya and Nino but before Marinette starts sympathizing with him. AO3

---------

“You okay?”

Alya shook her head, trying to clear it. “I’ll be fine. I’ve weathered worse than that - we both have.”

Nino grinned at her. “True that.”

Alya smiled at him fondly, remembering Heroes Day. It was a bittersweet memory, with her having been turned against Nino and them both being akumatized. 

But they had fought to protect each other as best they could. She’d seen Prime Queen’s footage, how Carapace had struggled to get her to fight against Dark Cupid’s magic, how he’d only given into despair after she’d given into akumatization. 

“What did that blast do to us?” Nino wondered. “Everyone else the akuma blasted just disappeared. Why’re we still here?”

Alya’s brow furrowed. “I dunno… hold on, let me check to see whether any new info on the akuma’s been uploaded.”

Pulling out her phone, she tapped on the Akuma News Alert app.

An error message popped up, telling her that she had no internet connection.

Puzzled, Alya checked her phone’s other settings. 

No wifi - no wifi even recognized, much less connectable - no cell service, no connection to the outside world at all.

She glanced over at Nino. “Hey, you got any signal?”

Taking out his own phone, he quickly checked his connection. He shook his head. “Not a single bar.”

Frowning, Alya looked around. “Maybe all the cell towers were taken out?”

Everything looked intact though, no sign of any destruction at all.

Something else caught Alya’s eye. “Hey Nino, what time should it be?”

Nino blinked. “Well I mean lunch just started so it should be a little past noon-”

He glanced around, noticing the long shadows and the pinkish-orange of the evening sky.

“-which it clearly is not anymore,” he concluded.

Great. “Guess Ladybug and Chat Noir must’ve taken a while to defeat the akuma,” she said, putting her phone away. “Hopefully my parents aren’t too worried. They like me to text them just after an akuma attack, but right now…?” she gestured to her pocket.

“My folks aren’t as worried,” Nino said. “But they still expect me back home before the sun goes down. They’ll be getting nervous soon.”

Alya let out a small sigh. “So much for playing Super Penguino together.”

“Hmmm…” Nino’s eyes gleamed. “You know… it’s not night just yet. And I’m sure my parents would understand if I was a few minutes late because I grabbed a bite to eat.”

Grabbed a bite to eat? What was Nino hinting at…?

Alya looked around at their location more closely.

Wait… that blast seemed to have carried them to that one park, the one near-

Alya grinned. “I think my parents will forgive me for not calling in if I bring them fresh-baked treats from the best bakery in Paris.”

---

*ring ring*

The scent of freshly baked bread wafted through the store. 

Instantly Alya felt her shoulders loosen up, releasing tension she didn’t even know she’d had. There was just something so warm and comforting about the bakery.

Of course, a lot of that was due to the people running it. Good luck finding more friendly, caring people than Marinette’s parents. Sabine often checked up on anyone who seemed to be struggling or upset (and ready to protect them if they were - Alya had seen the video of the time a TV crew decided to invade Marinette’s privacy), and Tom was basically a giant teddy bear in human form.

But neither of them were manning the counter today.

Instead a young woman stared back at them.

A very familiar-looking young woman. 

“Marinette?” Alya asked cautiously.

The woman stared at her for a minute. “Alya?” she finally asked. “What happened to you?” She paled. “Did a new supervillain attack? Is that why you and Nino are younger?”

Huh. Weirdly scared reaction from Marinette. They’d all gotten used to supervillains by now. She’d expect an older Marinette to take them in stride even more than the current Marinette.

Hm… an older Marinette, a different time of day, and Marinette not seeming to know about the latest akuma attack? 

“Marinette… what year is it?” 

Marinette blinked for a moment. Her eyes widened.

Seemed Marinette understood what she was getting at.

She told Alya the date.

Her hunch was right. “We’re in the future,” Alya breathed.

A wicked grin slowly spread over her face. 

Five years was a long time. A lot of things could have happened. A lot of information could’ve come to light.

Like Hawkmoth’s identity.

Or more information on the Miraculous.

But most importantly right now-

She leaned in close to Marinette, making sure to keep her voice down, just in case someone else was around in the back. “So did you ever get together with a certain blond-haired, green-eyed model?”

“Uh… what?” Marinette asked, looking puzzled.

Alya snapped her fingers. “Adrien. Did you and Adrien finally get together? Ooooh, if you did you’ve GOTTA tell me how the confession went! Or, no, wait, don’t tell me, I want to get the deets at the time. Just let me know how long I’ve got to wait, girl!”

Marinette just stared at her, slack-jawed. “Adrien… like ADRIEN AGRESTE?!” she said, her volume rising with every word.

Alya’s eyebrows flew up. “Um… yes…?”

She’d thought that Marinette would be glowing about finally getting together with her crush, or dejected about still not being able to spit out what she wanted to say to him, downcast over him rejecting her, or maybe even infuriated because he mistreated her and they subsequently broke up.

(The last one was VERY unlikely though. After the Felix debacle, she’d learned to have a bit more faith in Adrien’s good nature.)

Shock at the concept of dating him? Not something she’d anticipated.

Footsteps echoed from behind Marinette.

So one of Marinette’s parents must’ve been in the back-

Adrien popped his head around the corner.

Seemed both he AND Marinette had aged well. 

Not that Adrien looked all that different. Taller, definitely, maybe with slightly messier hair and… were those earrings? They looked good on him.

“Hey dude!” Nino waved at his best friend. “What’s up?”

“Uh…” Adrien said, scratching the back of his neck.

“WOW those outfits really take the years off, huh?” Marinette said loudly, shoving them out the door. “Make you look smaller than usual. Well we better go talk about plans later okaybye-”

She promptly slammed the door behind them, physically pushing them away from the bakery.

After Marinette had dragged them a good distance away, Alya finally got over her shock, turning around and glaring at her. “What was that about?!” she asked Marinette indignantly, hands on her hips. “You know me, I wasn’t going to spill anything to him. That’s why I was talking so quietly! Why’d you have to do that?!”

Nino frowned, seeming more concerned than annoyed. “Adrien looked really hurt by that. Not cool.”

“There’s nothing to spill!” Marinette protested, gesticulating wildly. “I only met him for the first time two days ago!”

*record scratch*

Two-

Two DAYS ago?!

Ok, hold up.

“Adrien joined our collège class the day after I did! He sits in front of you in class! What’re you TALKING about?!”

“Uh… no…?” Marinette tilted her head to the side, befuddled. “I think I would remember that, even if it was a few years back.” 

Alya let out a bark of laughter. “Yeah, no kidding. He would be uh, difficult for you to forget. Heck, even if your memory was erased, you’ve got so much stuff revolving around him, I couldn’t see that lasting long.”

Marinette blushed. “Why do you think I have a crush on him?! He’s HAWKMOTH’S SON!”

“WHAT?!” Alya and Nino yelled in unison.

“Ladybug and Chat Noir defeated Hawkmoth a couple years ago,” Marinette explained, pulling out her phone.

A moment later she held it up, showing a blog post from the Ladyblog.

Oooh, that’s a nice graphical design. I’ll have to look into updating my site, Alya thought.

Turning her attention to the picture, she squinted. “Hey, can you enlarge the photo?” She asked.

Marinette complied, enlarging it and turning her phone sideways, letting it fill the entire screen. 

Gabriel Agreste being led away in handcuffs by the police, with Ladybug and Chat Noir in the background. Ladybug looked satisfied, with maybe a twinge of melancholy, but Chat Noir…

He stared vacantly ahead, seemingly not focused on anyone or anything, a smile on his face - but the most forced one she’d ever seen.

“What’s wrong with Chat Noir?” 

Marinette frowned, looking troubled. “I don’t know. He seemed really, really upset when Hawkmoth was defeated. It was a tough battle, bad enough that neither of them have returned since, but that doesn’t explain why-”

She trailed off, lost in thought. 

A moment later she looked up, meeting Alya’s eyes.

Immediately she waved her hands around, trying to ward off… something. “I- I mean, that’s what I read on the Ladyblog and what I could piece together from video footage, it’s not like I was there, NOPE. I was huddled in my room the entire time. Not like I have any insight into what Chat Noir was acting like during the battle, not beyond what any other civilian would know! That would be ridiculous, utterly ridiculous!” she let out a few forced guffaws.

Alya’s eyebrows flew up.

O...Kay…?

Maybe Marinette had been following Ladybug and Chat Noir during the final battle and hadn’t wanted anyone to know? She’d wondered whether Marinette might have a thing for Chat Noir, but her crush on Adrien dwarfed any feelings she might have had for him. Plus it’s not like Marinette would actually know Chat Noir, unlike Adrien.

Thinking about Adrien…

“He must’ve been devastated,” she murmured. Marinette looked at her questioningly. “Adrien, I mean,” Alya clarified. “Having your father turn out to be a terrorist? I can’t even imagine.”

Marinette buried her face in her hands. “Not you TOO,” she said, her voice muffled.

Nino slowly started edging his way behind Marinette.

“What’s your problem with Adrien?” Alya asked. “Did he do something?”

Marinette glanced away. “Not… exactly… I just… I’m afraid that it might all be an act. That he might’ve been helping Hawkmoth secretly, and… and even if he wasn’t before, that he might just be biding his time, waiting until he figures out who Ladybug and Chat Noir and then BAM!” she slammed her fist down on her other hand. “He takes them out, steals all the Miraculous, frees his father and rules Paris FOREVER!”

Alya reached out towards Marinette tentatively. She collapsed into Alya’s arms. 

Hugging her tightly, she sang a soft nonsense song, rubbing small circles in Marinette’s back. 

She’d done this a few other times since she’d met Marinette, though she’d never thought she’d do it underneath these circumstances.

Whatever these circumstances actually were.

Did everyone have amnesia or…?

“Do you have any big memory gaps?” Alya asked once Marinette’s breathing had calmed down. “Especially from five years ago?” 

Marinette shook her head. 

She’d shelve that theory for now then. More likely it was…

“An alternate timeline, huh?” Alya said.

Marinette looked up at her questioningly.

“That’s what I think this is,” Alya explained. “I WAS thinking that maybe there’d been some sort of mass amnesia, but if you don’t have any memory gaps - and trust me girl, with how involved you were with Adrien, there WOULD be memory gaps - that seems unlikely. I’m betting this is some sort of alternate universe, one where Adrien never got to go to school.”

“I still don’t get why you think there’s something between me and Adrien!” Marinette said. “I mean sure, he’s pretty, but did I really fall for him just for that?” 

Alya shook her head. “Actually, you hated him at first. Chloe’d been bragging about how he was her friend, and with that on top of you catching him trying to remove the gum Chloe’d planted on your seat and mistaking it for him PLANTING the gum… well… both of us just assumed he was a spoiled rich bully, just like Chloe. Luckily that turned out not to be the case.”

“How’d that misunderstanding get cleared up?” Marinette asked. “And how did your Marinette jump from that to crushing on him?”

Alya grinned. Marinette had ranted about this moment to her SO. MANY. TIMES.

“School let out later that day. It was raining and Marinette had forgotten her umbrella, so she hung back a moment, long enough for Adrien to approach her. At first she looked away from him, not wanting to acknowledge his greeting. But then he told you - told her I mean - that he hadn’t done it, promised that he’d just been trying to take it off with such sincerity that she had no choice but to believe it. He opened up to her, even though she’d been shunning him just moments ago. And finally he gave her his umbrella, just because he could. Because it was the kind thing to do. She’s been a goner ever since.”

The Marinette in her arms looked away. “I can see why she might have developed a crush on him. But I still dunno whether I trust him.”

“I don’t know whether I have anything that could convince you on that,” Alya admitted, “especially since this is probably a different timeline, and for all I know he could be evil here. Just make sure that you’re judging him on his own merits, okay? Not who he’s associated with. Not his fault he has so many crappy people in his life.”

“I’ll… take it under consideration,” Marinette said reluctantly. 

Marinette looked from side to side. “Where’d Nino go?”

“Oh, he snuck back into the bakery several minutes ago.”

“WHAT?!”

---

Nino opened the door to the bakery, letting out a small sigh of relief. He really wanted to check in on his best friend, and judging by Marinette’s behavior, she wasn’t exactly keen on him or Alya chatting with Adrien.

Thinking back on what he’d just heard, he frowned. 

He wished he could say that he’d never have suspected that Gabriel was Hawkmoth.

That he didn’t think Adrien’s old man could ever be capable of such evil.

But he knew better.

The guy threatened to withdraw Adrien from school and isolate him from everyone else at the drop of a hat, paid little attention to his son when he was at home, and was a very negative influence on his life in general. He might have been grieving, but… so was Adrien. He needed the only parent he had left.

And instead Gabriel had chosen to respond by becoming a supervillain and terrorizing Paris, endangering his own son in the process.

He really wished he’d gotten to hit Hawkmoth with his turtle shield more. At least he got to relish the smack he got in.

“You’re back!” 

Nino looked towards the voice.

Adrien walked closer to him, a tentative grin on his face. “I didn’t think you’d return so soon!”

“I had to come back to talk to my best friend,” Nino said.

“Best friend?” Adrien asked, blank-faced.

Oh, right. According to Marinette, Adrien hadn’t joined their class. She hadn’t even met Adrien until recently. 

Had some sort of memory-wiping akuma attacked? Wouldn’t have been the first time. 

“Do you know who I am?” Nino asked, pointing at himself.

Adrien rubbed the back of his neck. “Uh… well I know you’re friends with the Ladyblogger and Marinette, and… sorry, that’s it.”

He looked really apologetic, like a dog who’d ripped up a bunch of toilet paper and acted guilty about it once caught.

Hm. If it had been a memory-erasing akuma, maybe he could jog Adrien’s memory…?

And even if it wasn’t, he wanted to let Adrien know that someplace, somewhere, people cared about him. If Marinette’s reaction to him was any indication, he’d need that reassurance. Being looked at with suspicion, having people run from you just because of who your dad was, thinking that you might’ve been involved in his crimes… he couldn’t imagine.

“You joined our class the day after Hawkmoth first attacked,” Nino told him, pulling out his phone.

Adrien shook his head, looking confused. “Uh… no? I wanted to, I REALLY wanted to go to school, but Father-”

He cut himself off, looking away.

“Marinette said the same thing,” Nino told him. “That you hadn’t enrolled in our class, that she’d only met you recently. I don't know what that’s about, whether everyone’s memories were wiped, or an akuma messed with the past, or what.”

Come on, come on, where was it- ah!

He clicked on a photo, one taken a few months ago, holding his phone up so his friend could get a better look.

Adrien squinted for a moment. His eyes widened. “That’s-!”

Nino nodded. “Our class photo. The official one, anyway.” He chuckled. “I liked our unofficial ones better.” Swiping to the side, he showed the new ones the class had taken at the park. 

Adrien’s jaw dropped more with every new photo. He let out an involuntary bark of laughter at the one of himself, Nino, Kim, and Juleka posing. “I- I always wanted to mess around like that at photoshoots,” Adrien said. His voice trembled slightly. “But I wouldn’t be able to get away with it. And that’s mostly fun when you can share it with friends, at least share the picture, and I- I couldn’t. Chloe wouldn’t have appreciated it, and L-”

He cut himself off, shaking his head.

“Luka?” Nino asked. 

He didn’t know why Adrien would know Luka and not anybody else, but he seemed the most likely option.

“Uh…” Adrien scratched the back of his neck, looking away.

Hm, he’d have to see if he had- ah!

“You played in Kitty Section too, with Luka, Rose, Ivan, and Juleka.” Nino explained, clicking on the video. 

Adrien’s hands shook as Nino handed him the phone, watching the mini-concert.

“I- I was allowed to- I got to-” Adrien’s voice quavered. 

“Not at first.” Nino grimaced, remembering how bummed Adrien had sounded when he called him. “Your old man said that Agrestes were soloists, and that we were all bad influences.”

“HE was the bad influence,” Adrien said. A current of anger, of venom ran through his voice that Nino had never heard before. 

“Well I already knew that, even before finding out he was Hawkmoth,” Nino said, making a face. “Dude needed to chill out.”

Adrien snorted. “If he had any ‘chill’ he wouldn’t have decided that becoming a supervillain was the best way to heal my mother.”

Oh.

So THAT was why Gabriel had done it.

He’d just thought it was standard ‘I’m an asshole and want to rule the world while being a jackass to everyone in my life’ behavior.

(He still wasn’t going to rule out that being a factor.)

Nino put a hand on Adrien’s shoulder sympathetically. “At least he’s gone now and you’re free, right?”

“Right,” Adrien said. He didn’t meet Nino’s eyes.

“Not you TOO,” Marinette had said, burying her face in her hands.

As if she found it exasperating that Alya sympathized with Adrien. As if she had expected differently. 

Those worries she’d voiced as Nino had been tiptoeing away, about Adrien helping Hawkmoth, about him lying in wait, biding his time… Marinette probably wasn’t the only one to have that concern. And with Adrien’s face being as well-known as it was...

“You AREN’T free, are you?” Nino asked, eyes wide.

Adrien sighed. “I was as surprised as everyone else when I found out who Hawkmoth was. That someone who’s caused that much harm, that much trauma to this city, lived in my own house.” He clenched his fists, digging into his jean’s fabric. “I could barely believe it… no… I didn’t WANT to believe it.”

He took a deep breath, steadying himself. “I- I only remember snippets from right after his arrest. The police chief talking to me. Riding back to the station. It’s all a blur. Everything felt like I was processing it underwater. It was all so blurry and muffled. Even- even then, though, I could feel everyone’s accusing stares.” “I understand why, don’t get me wrong,” he cut in hurriedly. “Who wouldn’t be suspicious of the son of the terrorist who’s been making everyone’s life miserable for the past four years?” Adrien almost panted with exertion, his eyes wild. “And- and it was happening in my own house! Underneath my nose! I should have KNOWN! I could’ve stopped this!” 

Reaching out, Nino pulled his friend into a hug. 

Adrien stiffened for a moment, before melting into his embrace.

“It’s his fault, not yours,” Nino murmured. “Remember that, dude. He was the adult. He was your parent. Your ONLY remaining parent. I’ve met the guy. And I’ve heard you talk about what he’s like. If you had investigated more?” Nino shuddered, thinking about the disproportionate punishments the bastard had enacted. “And knowing he was HAWKMOTH on top of that? I’m kinda glad you didn’t. Yeah, maybe you could’ve ended things sooner. Or maybe he would’ve hurt you more before you had the chance. I’m just glad you survived.”

“I-” Adrien’s throat sounded tight. “I’m- I’m glad I survived too.”

They stood there for a moment, Nino feeling Adrien’s breath go in-and-out, his heartbeat racing, until it gradually started to slow.

*ring ring*

Adrien and Nino broke up their hug just as Marinette burst through the door, Alya on her heels. She skidded to a halt in front of Adrien - but not quite in time, sending her careening towards the floor.

She never made contact.

“Woah!” Adrien shouted, catching her in his arms.

Nino detected a hint of pink to Marinette’s cheeks before she abruptly sprang to her feet.

“So, uh,” Marinette said awkwardly. “I’m guessing Nino talked to you about some stuff. I mean, of course he talked to you about stuff, because that’s what talking is about. What- what I mean is, what were you two talking about?”

“I wanted to show him how much we care about him,” Nino told her. “Especially since with this… amnesia?”

“I think it’s an alternate timeline,” Alya said. 

“Especially since in this timeline,” Nino continued, “it really doesn’t seem like he had anyone.”

“I had a couple other friends,” Adrien told him quietly, giving a melancholic smile. “But I lost contact with them right after Hawkmoth’s defeat.”

Noticing Nino’s frown, he hastily added, “they didn’t abandon me or anything! They were online friends. One moved somewhere without internet reception, and the other... we never knew each other’s names. But we talked all the time. We chatted, laughed, defeated villains together…”

“In the video games we played, of course!” he added after a moment. He chuckled fondly. “We played as a team. Together, we were unstoppable, no matter what our opponent threw at us.”

Adrien swallowed. “But in the aftermath of Hawkmoth’s defeat, with all the turmoil, with everything that happened… I lost my means of contacting her. I- I don’t know whether I’ll ever get to see her again.”

“We’d promised to meet up after Hawkmoth’s defeat,” Adrien said. His voice cracked. “That- that once it was safer in Paris, we’d finally tell our names.”

His eyes dropped to the ground. “Instead, we lost each other. Maybe for good.”

“I know what that’s like,” Marinette said. She sounded strangely distant. “I had a friend like that too. I cared about him. A lot. Maybe… maybe even as more than a friend.” She said the last part haltingly, as if she’d only just admitted it to herself. “He- he wanted to know who I was. For me to know who he was. But- but I couldn’t do that. Not in Hawkmoth’s Paris. I already cared for him so much it ached. If I was closer to him than that- if I’d accepted his rose- I’m- I’m afraid Hawkmoth might’ve used the strength of those feelings against me. That I could’ve gotten akumatized, or he might’ve, and if we knew who each other was, knew WHERE the other one was… I just… I couldn’t accept that we might be sent to hurt each other.”

“We talked while the final battle was raging,” she continued. “He seemed really upset, more angry than I’ve ever seen him before, but… also kind of sad. I wanted to know what was wrong, but there wasn’t really time to press him. And after that battle he just… disappeared. I knew there was going to be some sort of disruption, but- but I’d thought we’d have more time to talk beforehand, that we’d be able to exchange new contact information. We were cut off before we had the chance.”

“I- I think of him every day,” she said quietly. “Wondering how he’s doing. He was always so positive, no matter what life threw at us. I hope that wherever he is, whatever he’s doing, he hasn’t lost that positivity, that optimism, the ability to see the best in the world and in others.”

“I’m sure he’d be happy to know you cared for him so much,” Adrien said, giving her a warm smile.

Marinette blinked, giving herself a small shake. She turned to Alya. “I dunno whether you’ll remember any of this after the Ladybug in your time restores anything, but on the off-chance you do, is there anything you need to know?”

“Oh!” Alya pulled up some footage. “You told me who Hawkmoth was, but what about Mayura?”

“Mayura?” 

“Who?”

Alya snapped her fingers. “You know, the Peacock Miraculous wielder, the one summoning the sentimonsters! Did she not exist in this universe?”

She pulled up part of the fight against Mayura, the sentimonster Ladybug, and Hawkmoth.

The video ended, she took another glance at Marinette and Adrien.

Marinette seemed to be in shock, staring straight ahead.

Adrien frowned, thinking. “I’d wondered for a long time how Father managed to hide his supervillain activities from Nathalie, considering she was around him most of the time. I thought maybe she was just really good at never asking questions.”

He grimaced. “Looking at that? I’m betting she didn’t ask questions because she already knew the answers.”

“You think Mayura’s Nathalie?” Alya questioned.

He nodded. “Unless something’s different in your universe. My father doesn’t have a lot of associates, and the way he acted around Mayura there, how he was willing to pass up a chance to fight Ladybug for her Miraculous in exchange for catching her… the only people I can think of who he’d do that for are my mother and Nathalie, and mom…” he trailed off.

“I- I didn’t even think about that,” Marinette said guiltily. “I remember reading something about Gabriel having a secretary, but I didn’t think about her much beyond that.”

“Maybe you could ask this universe’s Alya to post something on the Ladyblog, telling Ladybug and Chat Noir she has a lead on who Mayura is?” Alya said. “I mean, I know they haven’t shown up in ages, but maybe that’s just because they haven’t had reason to.”

Marinette winced. “I… really don’t think that’s it… plus Ladybug and Chat Noir never said that someone was helping Hawkmoth. Mayura never appeared, at least in public. I don’t know what we can do about this right now, especially without proof. Maybe if Ladybug and Chat Noir appeared, but…”

She sounded doubtful. Alya was beginning to think that the final battle was even worse than Marinette had alluded to.

She hesitated a moment, before turning to Adrien. “I- I think I owe you an apology. I thought you might’ve been helping Hawkmoth, but… well… I was just judging you by who your dad was. You’ve been nothing but sweet and kind.”

Adrien smiled at her, though it was slightly strained. “It’s fine. I’m used to it. A lot of people in this city have suffered at Hawkmoth’s hands. I don’t blame them for being scared, or angry at any reminders of him.”

“That doesn’t make it RIGHT,” Marinette said heatedly.

Nino nodded. “Dude just because something’s done to you it doesn’t mean it’s justified, or that it shouldn’t be made better. Like with your old man forbidding parties. I didn’t let that stop me from bribing your bodyguard into letting me and the other guys throw a party at your place for you!”

He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “It kinda escalated though. I think half the guys at Paris were partying in your room by the end!”

Alya gave Nino a sideways look. “And ONLY the guys because they ditched us girls while we were planting trees with a lame excuse. Seriously if you’d said you wanted to throw a party for Adrien while his dad was away, you could’ve just told us!”

Nino winced. “Yeah, my bad. At least we got to have fun there for a while before the akuma attack.”

“Akuma attack?” Adrien asked, eyes wide. “But I thought you said Father was gone!”

“He was- OOOOOOOH.”

“Yeeaaaah I don’t think he was actually gone,” Alya said. “You threw a ‘secret’ party in Hawkmoth’s house, WHILE he was still at home.”

Adrien gaped at Nino. “How’re you not DEAD?!”

Nino chuckled. “Lucky I guess?”

*twinkle twinkle*

A familiar red mass flew towards Alya and Nino.

Adrien’s eyes widened. 

“Behind the portrait!” he blurted out, just as the two of them were enveloped by the ladybugs, spiriting them off to whence they came.

It was silent for a moment.

“Do you think they heard?” Adrien asked Marinette.

“I hope so,” she said, looking off in the direction the ladybugs flew.

She turned to him. “I was planning on setting up some hang out time with Alya and Nino later this week. If you’re not busy… would you like to join?”

His smile told her everything she needed to know.

[keijifairy]

accidentally hitting your face with a volleyball 〃

♡  miya atsumu, miya osamu, sakusa kiyoomi

genre. fluff

-`,✎ ❝ hi! i saw your "accidentally hitting your face with a volleyball" hcs and i was wondering if you could do it for miya twins and sakusa too? have a nice day ♡ ❞ @wansseul

author's note. this took a hot min 😔 but thank you for waiting 💞 miya twins and omi ?? yes please 😽

+ this was a bit different than the first one but i hope u still like it !! 💗

༘ miya atsumu

━ you've met miya atsumu before, and you like to think it was some sort of cute meet you read about, but looking back into it, bumping into him in a hallway at nationals when you only wanted to refill some water bottles was kinda embarrassing, and the sweat dripping down your temple and your hair a hot mess was definitely not cute at all.

━ so you don't think about how he handed you the water bottles with your fingers making contact as he flashes you a stupidly boyish smirk, saying something along the cliche lines of "be careful next time. wouldn't want ya falling for someone else." and his eyes lingering on you a bit longer than you could handle as if you're in some fanfiction.

━ you only bowed your head hastily, trying to hide the flush on your cheeks as you thank him for what seemed to be the millionth time and run away. because you're not going to see him again, right?

━ but then you remember! that handsome man with an awfully familiar black jersey that you made a fool of yourself in front of…is from..inarizaki..and karasuno is competing with them...aaaand he's just standing across the court...

━ you try to erase any memory of your little encounter with him not even fifteen minutes ago, as you busy yourself with your team and hopefully, he doesn't spot you. little did you know though, he didn't miss you cheering for his opponents (well, duh) on the corner of his eye. (how could he miss you? you were a bit obvious with how you sneakily catch glimpes of him, and mayhaps, that inflated his ego a bit).

━ hear him out! he was only trying to impress you, okay? but that didn't really work out as luck didn't seem to be by his (and your) side today as the ball he slams onto the other side of the net doesn't land on the court, but instead on your face.

━ there was an attempt. a for effort!!

━ "nice going, dumbass." osamu deadpans from behind him, some trying to stifle their cackle at their teammate's poor attempt while the rest wince when they hear you groaning in pain.

━ the karasuno boys immediately start rushing towards you, but when they see miya atsumu strolling towards them, they halt in their tracks. (don't be fooled, he's close to melting into a puddle in shame under all that suave exterior).

━ he holds his hand out with concern masked by the same stupidly boyish smirk that's been taking up your mind as you purse your lips and reluctantly take his hand — and you suddenly feel like passing out any minute (the ball in your face may not be the reason).

━ "this must be what fate feels like." 

━ you warily chuckle, letting go of his hand as you clutch your forehead. "if a ball getting slammed into your face is what you call fate, then i guess...yeah."

━ honestly, you're just thankful the cameras aren't rolling. there might be some people recording this ridiculous scene, but you think you're way past the humiliation.

━ "sorry about that." he silently winces as he not so subtly stares at the patch of red on your skin. "let's take ya to a nurse."

━ "it's fine," your shoulders lifted in a shrug, "and no thank you. i don't think my boys would...like that—" you look over your shoulder with a giggle and atsumu follows, only to see karasuno (not so subtly) glaring daggers at him— "and it seems like your game is starting soon anyway."

━ he only chuckles, turning his focus back to you and you feel like shrinking under his gaze. "let's see who you'll be calling your boy later then."

━ you sputter out a laugh in disbelief, as he shoots you a wave with his other hand resting on his hip. "cheer for me, yeah? i'll help ya get that treated once we're done."

━ "this is embarrassing." osamu murmurs to himself in the background with a roll of his eyes.

༘ miya osamu

━ you were only wandering around inarizaki after your own after school club had ended while waiting for your friends, but as you pass by the open doors of the school gymnasium and hear voices that seem to be fighting, you sneakily poke your head in.

━ "why do you look like that???" 

━ "we're twins, dumb fuck."

━ you raise your eyebrow, stifling the chuckle from your throat in amusement. are they the miya twins the girls are obsessively squealing over in their daily hallway gossip? they seem...entertaining. huh, you probably should've paid more attention to your classmates.

━ too busy with their bickering, the twins and the other boys don't seem to notice a random student hanging by the doorway. you should've made your presence known, because it is the volleyball club and that means balls would be flying around the gym.

━ osamu throws a ball in atsumu's direction, but the latter quickly moves out of the way. "hey!"

━ and there comes the ball flying towards you. 

━ "who's the dumbass now?" 

━ "still you."

━ osamu ignores how his twin flips him off as soon as he turns his back on him. he quietly approaches you, reaching out his hand. "sorry, that was meant for that idiot—" he juts his chin at atsumu's direction— "over there." 

━ "it wasn't me who hit them!"

━ you blink, mindlessly clasping your hand with his as he lifts you up. warm. you think to yourself, feeling heat creep up your neck. but he lets go as you get up, and you weirdly come to miss the feeling of his hand with yours.

━ perhaps the ball might have hit your head a bit too hard but you suddenly wonder, did you always have an attractive boy like miya osamu at your school?

━ "you have really pretty eyes," you mumble, the words slipping out of your mouth before you could even process what's happening and certainly loud and clear enough for him to hear. a twinkle of amusement flashes in his eyes and you see a small quirk in his lips. "i must've hit ya harder than i thought."

━ your eyes slowly widen, finally snapping out of whatever love at first sight moment you just experienced. it dart anywhere, anywhere but that growing smirk in his lips that mimick his twin's (but atsumu looks like he's about to have a laughing fit any second).

━ "i...i mean..." stop talking "im to-totally fine! a-okay!!" a-okay???? "don't wor...worry it's uh not that bad… um i think i uh have to g-go n..now…"

━ osamu tilts his head, and you feel like your heart is about to burst out of your chest because you didn't think he would be this cute !?? UM ?? those girls weren't exaggerating ???

━ "your eyes are really pretty too." 

━ he simply nods his head like he didn't just make your heart race with one simple sentence, turning his back away from you but you don't miss the small smile tugging up his lips.

━ he walks back to the court, with atsumu saying something to him that's surely about what just happened but you don't care, you think.

━ miya osamu just accidentally hit you with a ball and called your eyes pretty. 

━ you purse your lips, trying to suppress a squeal as you slowly walk away and exit the gym.

━ "that was some shitty romcom scene that i almost barfed. i was hoping for more action." atsumu's laughter boomed around the walls, and osamu shut him up with a ball in his face.

༘ sakusa kiyoomi

━ "omi, can you teach me how to spike like you?"

━ "no."

━ you gasp dramatically, clutching your shirt where your heart is supposed to be for extra effect, but kiyoomi doesn't even spare you another glance. "tch, rude."

━ shouyou runs up to you, a ball in his hands and a smile reaching up to his eyes. "i'll teach you, y/n!" 

━ you childishly stick your tongue out towards kiyoomi, who does nothing but continue to ignore you as he fixes his stance in the court. huffing, you turn back to shouyou and mimic his smile. "heh, thanks!"

━ you are the beloved manager of the msby black jackals, and it's kinda like babysitting grown men plus not so secretly crushing on the gorgeous sakusa kiyoomi, but it's a job that you've grown accustomed to and actually enjoy. they're taking a well deserved break, but kiyoomi is still practicing his spikes while shoyou try teaching you how to do them. honestly, were you even listening to him? not really. 

━ you're only nodding wordlessly as your eyes shamelessly focus on how kiyoomi rears his hand back as the ball seems to be falling in the air, slow motion style (and that makes it cooler, you know?). you swear your eyes are sparkling as he flicks his wrist and effortlessly hits the ball.

━ you don't know when you've moved close to where he's spiking, but he only notices you still dazed just as the ball slams into your face.

━ "WAAAH, [Y/N]!!!" the impact of the ball had you dropping to the floor, and you feel your eyes immediately tear up. the boys run towards you, with koutarou placing your head on his lap as he cradles your face in his hands like you're a small child. "where does it hurt???"

━ you wince as he squishes your cheeks on his palms. "my face, duh."

━ "rule one, don't aim for the opponent's face." you look up to see kiyoomi towering over you, and you don't know if you're hallucinating but you swear, his eyes soften.

━ "oh," you jut your bottom lip, sitting properly with koutarou supporting your back, "so that was part of a lesson?"

━ "no." he heaves a sigh. "i'm sorry."

━ you bite your lip to hide the smile threatening to show as you suddenly feel weirdly giddy after getting hit by a ball. nonetheless, you wipe the tears in your eyes with the back of your palms as you bounce back to your feet (well, wobbled, but the boys supported you <3), and you really couldn't hide the smile at this point. "it's okay, omi."

━ his brows knitted in a frown. "...are you okay?"

━ "aw, you do care~"

━ he blinks. once. twice. (the boys don't really do a good job in stifling their laughter). sakusa kiyoomi does care actually, but that's not something he's just going to say right in your face, you know?

━ you playfully roll your eyes, flashing him a thumbs up. "it actually doesn't hurt like i thought it would!" even as you rub your forehead to try and soothe the pain, the smile doesn't leave your face and kiyoomi feels his heart hammering in his chest like some lovesick fool (and that, he definitely isn't!) "well, it does hurt, but i feel energized more than anything!"

━ you're pretty weird, he thinks, but it's quite endearing in a way and it's something that he adores about you. so for now, he swallows the words he's been dying to say, picking up the ball as he looks straight into your eyes. "come on, i'll show you the proper way to spike."

[mr-lancers-english-class]

Forest Ghost

Phic Phight 2021 let’s go!!!

Prompt from KC: Summer Camps is not complete without a courage test of walking to the haunted woods at midnight. Amity Park campers are weirdly prepared for this. Other campers are not sure how to deal with that.

AO3

Mikey didn’t really consider himself a daredevil. Quite the opposite, in fact. If you asked his classmates, or his parents, or his teachers, or heck, even his boss, they’d all say, without a moment's hesitation, that he was a coward. Maybe not as much of a coward as Fenton, but that was more a lack of convenient getaways than actual courage. If Mikey had Fenton’s seemingly supernatural ability to always just up and leave before the ghost-of-the-week appeared, he would. As it was, he was only able to run away maybe half the time. The other half of the time, he hid as best he could and hoped for the best. 

Say what you want about bravery and cowardice, it had been a sound strategy so far. He wasn’t dead yet, which was more than could be said for the ghosts he avoided. Mikey knew he was a coward, and he didn’t care.

“Mikey, what the unmitigated fuck?” The stage-whisper carried between the trees, twisting and curling like mist. Mikey shuffled himself around to face his co-counselor, balancing precariously on the log that had fallen across the small brook three summers ago.

“What?” His voice rang out into the night. Aaron jumped at the sudden noise, and began frantically shushing him, voice still barely into the audible range.

“Shh! Dear god, what the fuck, don’t you know this place is haunted?” Aaron had moved to stand at the base of the improvised bridge, and Mikey could tell they were debating whether or not to join him on it.

“Really? Doesn’t feel like it,” Mikey said, just as loud as before but now more thoughtful, more considering. “There’s not enough…” He paused, and gestured vaguely in a windmill motion. “...You know?”

“I really don’t. And I swear, there’s a ghost out here. Caty saw it!” Aaron hadn’t moved onto or away from the log, and was instead wringing their hands and pacing. “At least, she said she did. And Caty doesn’t scare easy-”

“Caty? Caty wouldn’t know a ghost if it came up and threw a cardboard box at her.”

“What?”

“Believe me, if there’s a ghost out here, it’ll be too weak to do anything besides stand there and glow funny.” Mikey turned back around, and began to continue his way across to the other side of the bridge. “Would be interesting to talk to, this far from any portals. Probably couldn’t though, this far from any portals. Not enough ectoplasm to keep anything stable for a conversation.”

“Mikey, you are saying a lot of things that make very little sense right now,” Aaron whispered, still on the opposite bank. “Can we please just go? I’d really rather not meet any angry spirits tonight. I’m on Morning Duty tomorrow, and you know how bad the kids are at seven in the morning.”

“Just five more minutes? I want to check if there’s any residual ectoplasm, or anything else fun. Besides, you were the one who wanted to go ghost-”

Mikey cut himself off as the world in front of him began to shimmer and twist, sparks flitting through the air as a vaguely humanoid shape began to coalesce in the empty space ahead of him. He could taste the burnt coppery tang of old ectoplasm in the back of his throat, feel the faint tingling of static electricity, smell the distant ozone of a long-dead portal.

“Holy shit fuck what the hell!” Aaron had given up on the pretense of a whisper, and instead let their shouts carry through the dark woods. The ghost had stopped forming, just a faint silhouette of energy with barely-discernible arms reaching out to Mikey. “Mikey what the fuck is that?!?!”

“Looks like an imprint. Old one, if I had to guess. I’ve never actually seen one, they don’t really form near open portals; there’s always enough energy for a full ghost. Hi! I’m Mikey. Can you hear me?” Mikey held out his hand, as if to grasp the ghost’s own hand and give it a firm shake. The ghost didn’t react. “Hmm, shame. I don’t think it knows I’m here. I wonder what called it to manifest. Hey Aaron-” Mikey turned back to look across the brook and found himself alone. He hadn’t even heard Aaron leave. “Huh. I mean, you’re just an imprint,” he muttered, turning back to the glowing form. “Not like you could hurt me-”

The ghost was holding his still-outstretched hand and tilting it’s head.

“Oh. Okay. So you can see me. Cool.” He shook his hand up and down, and the ghost’s hand followed the motion half a second behind. Mikey let go and pulled his pack around to dig through for a notepad.

“Can you talk? Or, I don’t know, do you know ASL? Or can you hold a marker? I brought a whiteboard,” Mikey grunted, pulling the whiteboard and two dry-erase markers out of his pack. “I’d love to ask some questions, talk a little bit- Huh.” He looked up to where the ghost had been to find himself completely alone. “Dang. That’s, well, huh.” He shoved the writing tools back into his bag and cupped his hands around his mouth. “Hey ghost! If you can hear me, I’ll come back tomorrow night! Stay safe! Bye!”

[atinydise]

Ateez reacting to their s/o acting sexy, but being cute or unnatural instead

❦ Genre: Fluff, a little bit suggestive.

❦ Pairing: OT8.

❦ Word count: 3K4.

❦ Requested: Yes, thank you! 🦋

HONGJOONG

Your boyfriend went to the supermarket to find some snacks. He was producing since 7AM without a break. When you joined him, you practically begged him for to rest a bit. So now, you were alone in his big studio, wondering if you had been enough clear about the food you wanted. Bored and hungry, you looked around, trying to find at least a chewing-gum to stop your belly from growling crazily. When finally, a red paper sheet, caught your attention. It was not your type to read Hongjoong's stuff, but this one was titillating your curiosity.

When you made sure that you were completely alone, no camera around, you grabbed the paper. The moment, you realized the explicit lyrics on it, you couldn't help but to compare your shy actions with your boyfriend. Does he want you to act like this? But the real question was: could you do it?

When you heard footstep in the hallway, you put back down everything, and ran on the red couch. "I'm back babe." Said Hongjoong, smiling at you, not suspecting you at all. For you, it was a sign. The right moment to act. He would never expect this from you.

"Oh already! I missed you." You replied, biting your lip messily. Hongjoong raised a brow, not understanding what was going on in your head. "I left 10 minutes ago. Only." You stood up, trying to roll your hips as much as you could. "That's already too much." "Are you okay sweetheart? You look... different?" He asked when you back hugged him, pushing your chest right on his back. You roamed your hands on his abs to his belt. "I-I'm trying to make you feel good." The way your voice cracked and how your hands were tickling more than it should, Hongjoong turned around, trying to not laugh. "Y/N. Stop." He held your wrists. "I don't know why you are trying to do but it doesn't feel right." "I saw the lyrics on the red paper sheet." You said, without thinking twice about the consequences. "Oh." He paused. "Oh." He realized when he finally understood the situation. "Do you want me to be sexier with you?" "Babe that's just lyrics. Inspired by movies, music and you of course." He tried to reassure you. "Don't act sexily like this. Don't change anything, you are perfect. And you were cuter than hotter honestly." You could have been offended, but it felt like a compliment. "Okay." You pouted. "Let's eat before I end by being the meal." He teased you. You slapped his shoulder completely flustered. "Stop!" "I'm joking!" He laughed. "And you are sexy the most when you don't try to be." "Can we change the subject?" You rolled your eyes, looking for your meal. "I can't believe you tried to be sexier because of these lyrics." He busted in laughs, once again.

SEONGHWA

You've been a bit confused the last week. Seonghwa invited his friend one night. To not bother them, you stayed in the bedroom most of the time. You didn't complain, watching your favorite movie with Chinese food was all you needed. Just one time, you got out of the room to find something to drink. Before entering the living-room, where your boyfriend and his friends were, you heard one of them asking which type of girls Seonghwa was usually attracted to in high school. "Well... I can't really remember because I was mostly focused on practicing and studying." He replied. "Come on, you can’t remember your old taste?" Insisted one. "Hum... I was into sexy girls at that time. Like these ones who know what they're doing." He winked.

Since then, you couldn't stop to think about it. You were not really what we can say "sexy", just normal or cute most of the time.

Motivated to show Seonghwa what you were capable of, you asked advices to your friends and elaborated a complete plan. "Y/N! I'm here!" Greeted your boyfriend, locking the door behind him. "Oh wow, it smells so good." Seonghwa walked in the kitchen, curious to see what you were cooking. Gently, he pecked your cheek before asking: "Lasagnas? Are we celebrating something?" "I don't know... I just wanted to eat this." You started. "Or I would eat you instead." Seonghwa chocked with his saliva, not expecting you to say something like this. Proud of this reaction, you winked. Even though you tried to act the sexiest possible, it had the opposite effect. When you saw the light smile on his face, you were wondering if you should go to the next level. Not thinking twice, you dipped your finger in the tomato sauce before licking it, suggestively, in front of your boyfriend. "You cute." Whispered Seonghwa, patting the top of your head. "Cute?!" You repeated, confused. "Yeah?" "I was trying to be sexy!" You put your hands on your hips. "Yeah, but the sauce dripping off your chin makes you look cuter than sexy." He smiled, before heading to the bathroom. "Shit." You mumbled, wiping the sauce nervously. "If you act like this because of what I've said 2 weeks ago... stop thinking about it. I was a simple teenager." He yelled from the other room. "So, you are not really into sexy girls?" You yelled back. "No. I'm into you idiot." He replied, before closing the door. You smirked happily. "Well... that's everything I needed to know."

YUNHO

The whole day, you acted suggestively with your boyfriend. He noticed and counted how many times you bit your lip or whispered casual talks right in his ear. Of course, he was affected by your action, he was a simple man. But most of the time, he found you cute. Like right now, you were at the theater and your hand was resting on his thigh the entire time. The only times you were removing it, was when you rushed to plunge your hand on the popcorn pack just to touch his hand. Yunho tried several times to suppress the laugh coming from his throat. He ignored if you were doing this on purpose or just because your period week was coming. "Should we go to our favorite restaurant after the movie?" You suggested, whispering right in his ear, hand on his chest. Yunho glanced at you, trying to perceive the reason of your actions, but nothing, not the usual lust sparkles in your eyes when you are on your period. "Sure, if you are still hungry after this giant pot of popcorn." He smiled. "I'll be. But I have other plans for the dessert." You winked before turning your face to the giant screen. Your boyfriend couldn't leave his eyes from you, wondering where this sudden libido was coming from. After the movie, you walked 15 minutes until the restaurant. Inside of you, you were trying to know how you could prove him that you were the sexiest girl ever. Just before finishing the main meal, you decided to attack again. As he was resuming how went his last week, you slowly passed your foot on his legs, trying to excite him as possible. The only thing you didn't know was that you were kicking him more than anything. Yunho spotted too, the flustered look on your face. You were focusing on your mission. "Babe." A laugh escaped from his lips. "You are hitting me." "Huh?! I'm sorry!" You put your foot down, worried. "It's okay," he giggled. "But what's got into you?" "Oh, so you noticed." You hid your face behind your hands, completely ashamed. "You are really asking me if I noticed that you almost jumped on me as if I was the last hamburger in the fridge?" He held your hand on the table. "I'm just trying to add spiciness to our relationship." You sighed. "We don't need that Y/N. We are all fine and I won't get bored." He tried to reassure you. "Really?" Yunho nodded, trying to comfort you. "Okay then." You smiled. "So... we are all good now?" "Yeah." "Good." He rubbed his thumb on your hand. "But can you remove your foot in the middle of my legs now?" "Oops. Habits." You shrugged.

YEOSANG

You really thought that Wooyoung recommendation was just another action movie. Until the main actress started to make out or act suggestively with everyone, she was close to. Of course, you had no problem with that. It just made you wonder if you could act like this with Yeosang. You were not officially in a relationship, yet, but you were acting like one. At the next hot scene, you glanced at him. His eyes were glued to the TV screen, looking every actress' moves. For sure, he liked what he was watching to. Maybe you should give it a try. You had nothing to lose except your ego. But what if he laughs so much that you become insecure?

Yeosang looked at you weirdly when you slapped your forehead to erase these stupid thoughts. "You... okay?" "Yeah! I just need something to drink." You threw the blanket off and almost ran to the kitchen. You grabbed a bottle of water but didn't find any clean glasses on the cupboard. Was it a sign? You stared at the bottle and guessed if you could do something with. "Did you find water? I think that's all we have left." Said Yeosang.

"It's my time to shine, you thought."

You walked back to the living-room, bottle in the hand. "It's pretty hot here no?" You faced yourself with your free hand before tugging on the collar of your shirt. "I'm okay, but you can open the window, I don't mind." Not adding anything else, you opened the bottle and sipped into it. When you made sure Yeosang was looking, you poured 'accidentally' water on you, especially down on your chest. "The hell Y/N!" Gasped Yeosang, grabbing a pack of tissue. "Argh sorry! I'm so messy." You pouted, grabbing a tissue to wipe your chest. Yeosang stopped on his track. "Am I dreaming, or you are trying to act like her?" He pointed at the TV screen. You rolled your eyes. He was too smart. "I failed right?" "Completely." He smiled. "But nice try, that was cute." "I wasn't trying to be 'cute'." You air quoted, sitting down on the couch. "You need to practice, to be at my level of sexiness." He added proudly. "Shut up Kang Yeosang." "Sure. Cutie." He laughed.

SAN

"Hello bonobos!" You greeted the whole group when you entered the practice-room. "For the 1601st time Y/N-" Started Wooyoung. "We are not bonobos." You said at the same time. "I know Woo. I'm just teasing you because I know you hate that." "San, get your girl before I say something I regret." "Babe stop teasing him or he's going to explode." Giggled San. "That's why it's fun." "What are you doing here by the way? I thought I was the one supposed to come over?" "I wanted to practice a bit. With you." You said removing your jacket. Honestly, you wanted to see how your boyfriend would react if you dance sexily in front of him. To not be too suspicious, you wore a simple sweatpants but choose a really light and short croc-top. "So, what we are practicing today?" You asked, ignoring San's stare on you. "Thanxxx." He replied, brow narrowed. "Okay, let's go." You smiled, completely confident. You positioned on the side, behind the whole group to not bother them. When the music started, you tried your best to exaggerate every facial expression, every move, every body roll to get your boyfriend's attention. You caught him looking at you, times to times, but he didn't say a thing, too professional for that. For the breakdown part, you were freestyling as Hongjoong and Mingi while they are rapping. You tried to match San's facial expression, but it seemed so unnatural for you that you were tripping and wincing messily. The whole scene caused San to bust in laughter. Everybody looked at him. "Sorry." He apologized, hands covering his mouth. "But Y/N, you are too cute behind." You raised a brow. "You are trying so hard to be sexy, but it feels not right." He continued. A bit mad, you rolled your eyes and sat on the chair next to you. Still giggling a bit, San walked to you. "Don't be mad." He kneeled in front of you. "You wanted to surprise me? It's a success." "But I did it wrong." "Don't try to act like someone you are not." He held your hands. "But you do it all the time!" You sighed. "I just wanted to prove you that I can be sexy too." "I was impressed! Your dancing skills are really good now. And with the 'cutie' side, it was the cherry on top." You hide your face on the crock of his neck, "oh please... what a shame."

MINGI

"Candles ok. Music ok. Champagne ok." You checked all the things on your list. You made sure everything was ready for your night with Mingi. One last time, you checked at your reflection on the mirror. You applied a last layer of this red lipstick making sure it made your lips more desirous and kissable. "Y/N! You there?" Shout out your giant boyfriend. "Why is this so dark?" "I'm in the bedroom love!" "Are you sleeping already?" He asked, walking to the room. When he spotted the atmosphere in the bedroom, he stayed quiet. Ignoring how to react. "Is someone dead?" You raised a brow, how he could compare this atmosphere to funerals? "I know how stressed you were this week, so I wanted to help you out." You slid his jacket off him. "Oh my!- Your hands are so cold!" He complained. "Then remove your clothes by yourself and lay on the bed. On the stomach." "What are you planning?" "I'm just trying to help you. Lay down!" "Okay okay." Mingi removed his shirt and laid down on his bed, lazily. At the same time, you were trying to warm up your hands a bit. "And now?" He asked, trying his bed to not fall asleep. "I'm going to give you a massage idiot." You rolled your eyes. Taking a deep breath, you sat on his butt and started to spread oil on his entire back. "Y/N it's cold!" He complained again. "And you are scaring me." "Just stay still!" You replied, trying to not lose your temper. "I'll start." Slowly and gently, you passed your hands on his pale back. But when you pressed his shoulders, he gasped in pain. "You are the worse masseur ever." "Stop moving!" "I can't when you are almost breaking me in half!" "I'm just trying to massage you!" Not thinking twice of your actions, you grabbed the candle next to you. "It might be a little bit hot," you whispered. You delicately poured few drops of wax on Mingi's back. "Does it-" Your boyfriend yelped in pain, beneath you. You fell on the bed when he turned around to remove the hot feeling on his skin. "THE FUCK Y/N! IT BURNS!" "I just saw it on a sexy movie! The man seemed to like it!" You freaked out. "In a sadomasochist movie?!" He shouted, rushing to the bathroom. "I'm so so so sorry!" You rubbed your hands nervously. "You crazy!" "I wanted to surprise you!" "By what? Ripping my skin off?!" Well, seems like your romantic and sexy night was ruined. Don't believe what you see in movies guys.

WOOYOUNG

"Babe, are you sure about that?" Asked Wooyoung, sitting on this chair in the middle of the room. "Yeah!" You replied setting your sexiest playlist. "You never done this before! You don't need to do it now." "If your ex could do it then I can." Wooyoung stayed quiet. He couldn't change your mind anyway. Yeosang accidentally mentioned that he ran to Wooyoung and his ex-girlfriend stripping for him a year ago. You immediately challenged yourself. If she had the nerves to do it, no reason that you don't, right? "Are you ready?" You put your phone down, 'Careless Whisper' playing the background. Wooyoung puffed, not believing your chose this song over a thousand ones, more appropriate. "What?" You mumbled. "Nothing, just go ahead." He tried to go back on his usual poker face. Finally finding the braveness to start, you walked sexily toward Wooyoung. Even though, you tried to look confident, you couldn't make an eye-contact. Your boyfriend noticed your shyness. It caused his heart to melt for you even more than before. You stood up, in front of him, starting to sway your hips from side to side. The moves were pretty good, but it felt unnatural for him. He could see that you were trying your best. Your tongue tugged out of your mouth sometimes, because of the effort. When you judged that it was time for you to remove your shirt, your hands started to shake a little bit on your hips. Wooyoung started to feel a kind of horniness until your top stayed stuck around your head, causing you to tug on the side. Your boyfriend laughed so hard at the scene. His dolphin laugh making you shy and ashamed of your performance. "Can you help me please! One of my earrings is stuck too!" "This is terrible Y/N!" He laughed, putting your top down. "I can do it." "Do it when you'll be ready to." He pecked your cheek. "It's okay. No rush." "Wooyoung sat back on the chair, not breaking the eye contact. "What?" He raised a brow. "I can do it." You repeated, lifting your top once again. He was taken aback by your new tentative, but it didn't fail to make him laugh again. It was really a cute scene to see. "Stop you are being too cute! I can't handle it!" He wiped his eyes, arms around his abs to seduce the slight pain.

JONGHO

Your room was a mess. Clothes spread out on the floor, hanging messily in the wardrobe and few of them were falling off the chair. Why? Because Jongho can't stop mentioning that you are "cute". There's nothing bad about that. It's just that you wanted to be something else than cute.

You tried a ‘nerdy’ look, but it was a complete failure. With those glasses and the bang, he was comparing you to a shy uniform high school girl.

Useless to say that you changed your look the next day. And for what? A ‘tomboy look’. You thought that this one would work, but the beanie and the large cargo pants caused you to look tinier. It was a failure, again. So, these last days, you thought about a sexy look. You felt like this option was finally the one which will succeed. For the occasion, you pickled a black leather skirt and a revealing top. For sure, he will spot your nipples and this white see-through shirt. "Y/N! Have you seen my-" he paused, looking right at you. "phone..." You smiled proudly, satisfied by the expression on his face. "Probably under a pillow in the living-room." You replied as nothing happened. To continue this way, you placed your hair out of your neck. Exposing your skin. His favorite part on your body. "You should look there, instead of standing there, staring at me like a fish looking for water." "Sorry but... I just can't get over the fact that-" he gulped. You smirked, waiting for him to finally admit that you could be something else than 'cute'. "So adorable! He giggled. "Are you kidding me?!" You said, completely done. "How can I be cute this outfit? Especially this skirt! If I bend over, you can clearly see my butt!" "Have you seen how cute your butt is?" He giggled. "Looking cute isn't a bad thing." "But right now, I wanted to look sexy! Like the hotter I've ever been!" You pointed at your chest. Jongho's face softened. He needed to admit that you looked hot with this outfit. But you couldn't help, but to be adorable. It was just how he sees your face every day. "I can't. I just want to pinch your cheek and to drown you by a thousand of kisses." He shrugged. "Okay, I give up." You rolled your eyes, grabbing your pajama on the bed. "Oh please... don't be mad!" He chuckled following you. "Don't talk to me." You said before slamming the bathroom's door, in front of him. "Cutie!" He yelled to tease you. "I hate you!" "I'm kidding." He paused. Before adding, "cutie." "Choi Jongho!"

[do-y0u-have-to-let-it-linger]

hi!!! can i get an x-men shift please? i’m bi (but hetero leaning) and use she/her pronouns. i’m a sagittarius, INTP, and am super into pop culture, movies tv shows music stuff like that. i’m an introvert, pretty shy at first but once you get to know me i’m pretty funny and kinda an asshole. i’m 5’7”, plus size and curvy, with longish wavy brown hair, blue eyes, and wear black glasses. i dress pretty comfy, jeans and t-shirts, sweatshirts, but i also have a leather jacket when i want to look more put together. mostly wear vans and converse. i love taylor swift, star wars, and all the superhero movies out there. i honestly don’t know what my mutation would be, i’ve never found one that fits right i guess. can’t wait to see who i’m paired with! love your blog, and thank you :)

I ship you with Peter Maximoff!

Warning: ✨contains swear words, mentions of being high, and grammatical errors probably✨

Peter is the type of person who thinks of bold and outrageous plans, but is horrible at executing them.

This is especially apparent now that he is part of the X-Men, because of the high stakes that often come hand and hand with these plans.

Yet at this moment, standing in front of you, attempting to respond to your simple and reasonable question, he feels as though the stakes of this plan are higher than any other he has previously made.

You and Peter were very close, most of you X-Men were. Shared trauma bonded you all like a family. So you were very comfortable around each other, like the: "We literally laugh at each other's farts and say 'love ya!' When one of us leaves a room." comfortable, so it concerned you that he seemed so nervous. You repeated your, as previously stated, simple and reasonable question.

"Peter, what the fuck."

You were mid-way through Empire Strikes Back when he first appeared, standing in front of the TV. Generally, when someone is watching a movie alone with the volume level barely audible, at 2 AM in the morning, they do not expect to be interrupted, but there he was. Interrupting you.

So you had asked him if he wanted to watch the movie with you and he said no.

Then you asked him if something was wrong and he said no.

But after he had stood in front of the television long enough for you to have paused the movie, you had come to the conclusion that he was messing with you. Hence the two "what the fuck"s.

He finally responded, seemly returning to his body after his brain's small vacation to who knows where.

"I need to talk to you about something important, and I wanted it to go a certain way but that way never actually happens so I'm doing it another way." Well, that was even more incoherent than his usual sentences.

"Wait- are you high again?"

"No! No. Well, maybe a little- but that's not the point."

"Sure, now what's going on."

"We're like... technically co-workers because of us being X-Men and shit, right?"

"If Bat-Man and Robin are co-workers, then yes."

"Don't be self-deprecating, you're way cooler than a silly side-kick."

You raised your eyebrows at him, "I wasn't Robin in that analogy, but thank you."

"Wait, I'm Robin?"

"You are a grown man who just used the world silly un-ironically, and I feel like that's something Robin would do. Just to clarify I don't know shit about Bat-man."

"Hey I'm barely a grown man- I'm not 25 yet, that would entail being a grown man, and I've got time 'till then! Anyway, stop going off-topic."

"Then move on from being weirdly defensive about being an adult in the eyes of the state."

"Touché. So, we're co-workers."

"Correct. What's the point."

"That's a problem."

"Why?"

"Well, ok this needs to be prefaced so consider this me shushing you in a respectful and not sexist way. You have been shushed."

"...Ok?"

"Shh! Now I get to ramble. So you know movies?" He gestured towards the school's collection of movies that sat next to the tv, and you nodded confused. "So in these movies, things happen certain ways, but those certain ways seem just as scary as the opposite of those ways." Yeah, he was totally high. "So, wow I'm starting so many sentences with the word 'so'. Anyway- I want to tell you something but I don't want it to be like a movie but I don't want it to be like not in a movie either. So I just want to say it then leave. Like- I'm going to run after I say it. Is that okay? You are temporarily un-shushed."

"If you're dying it's not, but if it's basically anything else then yeah. Go for it, you speedy coward."

"Cool. I mean- the nickname hurt but cool. Cool." He looked at you for a second. "Can you like... turn around?"

"Turn around?"

He now acknowledged that that was an odd thing to ask. "...Yeah. Is that dumb?"

"No, no, I'll turn around." To lighten the awkward mood, you made a joke. "A reasonable price for your terrible secrets to be revealed to me." It was not a very funny joke, but you tried your best and earned a (pity) scoff from him.

You were now both sitting criscrossed on the couch, facing the same direction. You were staring at a wall you found very uninteresting, and he was staring at the back of the head belonging to a person he found very interesting.

"So- basically I think you're... pretty..." He said the word intending to add another adjective after it, like 'cool', but he decided against it because that would be stupid. "And I have this problem where when I figure out I want to, quote-unquote, date someone, which is a gross word, by the way, I'm always friends with them. That means it has to be this dramatic thing. But I don't want it to be! You know? I just want to tell you that I have a stupid crush on you like a normal person. And- that's why I suddenly started hating training, because who likes to see people they want to smooch almost fake die, huh? No one! That's who! And I want to explain why I like you, but whenever I talk to Wanda about you, I always end up describing you the way a first grader describes their crush! Like: she's pwetty and smawt or whatever but that's fuckin' dumb. I guess that makes sense because I don't have crushes on people ever, and I barely dated in school, so I have no idea how to do this and I just want to pass you one of those 'hey, do you like me?!' notes with the fuckin' checkmarks!! And I am an adult person who is kind of afraid of kissing! What?!? Also, I don't have abs like Scott! Or boobs, and I know you like people with or without boobs and boobs are great! Also, to backtrack, don't think that I think you would go for Scott, even though if you were to, I would be supportive of you, but also sad because I would prefer if you went for me! So I want to be normal. Normal like the people in movies who meet someone cute and ask them out and not like the movies with the big stupid confessions. Trust me, if I had noticed that I whatever you like a year ago, I would have asked you out! Well no I wouldn't of because I would be too afraid to talk to you. But anyway I made you this," He reached around you and handed you a folded-up note. "Don't open it until I run away, but just leave it here with your response. If you check no, I bet if we paid Jean enough money she would erase this interaction from our brains. I only have seven dollars but I'm betting on a 'friends and family' discount. But.. if you say yes, I can ask you out like a dick in a movie, knowing you'll say yes because I am a speedy coward. I want you to call me a speedy coward when I do cowardly shit speedily, then do this cute thing where you'd be like 'but you're my speedy coward''. Anyway, I'm going to leave now. Love ya, but in the way we always said it beforehand, not in a dramatic confession way. Sorry I delved into my childhood there. Bye." You felt him awkwardly pat your back.

There was a gust of wind that ruffled your hair, and you knew he had run away.

You lifted the note up, mind empty, still processing everything he had rambled to you, and started carefully unfolding it.

It was one of his previously mentioned "Do you like me?" notes.

You willed yourself not to straight-up giggle like a 12-year-old at his note. It was messily written, and clearly on the back of a mission briefing.

Shit, you didn't have a pen. You looked under the couch cushions but there was no form of a writing utensil in sight! The audacity.

You knew Peter well enough to know that he was probably not too far away, waiting for the result of his question and trying not to spy.

"Hey... uh... Peter? I don't have a pen."

Peter hit his forehead with his hand, where the fuck was he going to get a pen? It's not like he owned pens that were actually in a designated spot! How ridiculous would that be, who did he look like, Charles? Charles! Charles has pens in designated pen places!

So Peter ran into the headmaster's office and found a pen. He wrote a small note stating that he borrowed a pen and that he would return it. Looking at the note Peter found it did not fully encapsulate the desperate need for the pen. The note ended up something like this:

Hey Charles! It's Peter! I took borrowed a pen because a very serious situation manner situation has arised. arisen. From, Peter. You can't get mad at me because if you could legally marry my dad you would be married and I would basically be your step son! Thanks half dad!

He thought the addition of the 'step' in stepson effectively hid the fact that Charles was a father figure of his. What was he doing here again? The serious manner!

In an instant of you telling Peter that you did not have a pen, one appeared.

"Thank you!"

You checked the yes box, but had a want to write something adorable. You couldn't think of anything so you just wrote "This was weird." under your checkmark. Well played.

You entertained the idea of resuming your movie but decided against it, you thought it would be more dramatic if you left the room.

The minute you made your exit Peter sprinted into the room. He opened your note, jumped, pumped his fist in the air, realized that was nerdy, and tried to make a cool pose to recover.

Now he just had to figure out how the fuck he was going to ask you out.

[dudeandduchess]

"Blind date set up by friends" or "Everyone thinks we’re already dating, but we’re just best friends- oh wait" for one of my boys if it isn't too much trouble. Please and thank you so much 😭❤️✨💖

Hope you like it, Biz!!! 💜✨✨✨

For songs, I listened heavily to Falling by Keahiwai while writing this. And for my fellow Filipinos, I also listened to Walang Iba by Ezra Band and Alipin by Shamrock while writing. I have so many feels for those two songs omg.

***

Giyuu x F!S/O: “Everyone thinks we’re already dating, but we’re just best friends- oh wait” (Cliché Prompts, Modern AU, SFW Scenario):

Warnings: Mild Adult Themes, Cliffhanger

“Bring your boyfriend along on Saturday, (Y/n). It will be fun,” Leiko, one of (Y/n)’s friends from university, exclaimed happily as she clapped her hands together in excitement.

Her words immediately confused (Y/n), as she was sure that she had never told any of her friends about having a boyfriend. Plus, she was pretty sure that she didn’t have one— because she really didn’t.

“What boyfriend are you talking about? Did you sniff too much of the dry-erase ink back there?”

Leiko quirked an eyebrow at that, before laughing. “The guy you’re always with; the gym teacher.”

“Giyuu?!” (Y/n) practically guffawed, holding her sides because they had begun to hurt so much from her laughter— only to have said laughter die down when she saw her friend’s disbelieving expression. “He’s just my best friend. I’d never date him.”

“Oh, really? Because I thought you two made a cute couple,” The shorter woman uttered innocently, before adding, “Plus the way he looks at you… oh my.“

That conversation wasn’t even supposed to bother (Y/n). At all. Because she had been told the same thing numerous times before, yet she’d always managed to shake the speculations off with little to no sweat. 

And to top things off, that discussion had happened two weeks ago— so she had no business feeling so out of sorts so long after the actual conversation had taken place.

She knew that she had to get a grip on herself, for the sole reason that she had to go back to her old self; the same person who could easily shake off assumptions about her relationship with her best friend.

But that was before— way back when she was in high school with Giyuu; not when she was a full-fledged woman in her second year of law school. And certainly before Giyuu had grown into his good looks.

To think that the same sharp features she’d teased him about would be the same ones that would be plaguing her—in the middle of her Administrative Law class,  no less— was the biggest turnabout of the century.

She wanted to bang her head against her desk, yet held herself back from doing so— because she didn’t want to ruin the good reputation that she’d so carefully maintained throughout the past year.

Instead, she pulled out her phone and sent a quick text to the very man who was occupying her thoughts.

‘Let’s hang out later, if you can manage to stop terrorizing your students during lunch.’

She was just about to lock her phone and set it aside, when a message bubble immediately popped up beneath the text she’d just sent. And, weirdly enough, her heart had skipped a beat at the mere sight of it— even though it was just a paltry thumbs-up emoji.

It was a typical Giyuu reply, yet she couldn’t explain why she felt so giddy at receiving a text from him.

With a sigh, she locked her phone and put it face-down beside her codal— trying to breathe through the butterflies she felt fluttering around inside her stomach.

***

To say that (Y/n) was nervous was the understatement of the century. It was supposed to be nothing more than a get-together with their old high school friends, but she still found herself getting primped up for it— all because Giyuu was going to be there as well.

She didn’t want to admit that the reason why she had pulled on the cute dress was because of him, yet the longer she stared at herself in the mirror, the more she realized that she chose it because it matched the color of his eyes.

“He’s just a friend, (Y/n). Don’t be a fucking dumbass,” The young woman uttered to her reflection— a bit more vehemently than her usual pep talks before dates, but the vehemence was necessary to get her point across. “Don’t make it weird.”

For all her pep-talk though, the moment that she heard the automatic lock whirr to life— which signaled Giyuu’s arrival— her heart instantly began to thump rapidly inside her chest. She felt so short of breath at the mere thought of seeing him again, and that confused the hell out of her; because it was just Giyuu.

But what further threw her through a loop was the fact that she had been feeling so strange whenever they saw each other. She was more conscious of her actions around him, and even more conscious of what she wore as well as how she looked that day.

There was even one instance when Giyuu had entered her home unannounced, and she had taken to scrambling over to her room so that she could get changed out of her borderline-ratty sweats— right into a much nicer set of clothes.

Of course, in typical Giyuu fashion, the man hadn’t said anything about his friend’s weird actions— even though he did think that it was weird of her to wear something so body-hugging at home.

That had given him quite a few raunchy dreams in the days that followed, but he would never let her— or anyone else— know about that.

“Hey!” (Y/n) greeted a bit too chirpily, with her tone rising up a pitch higher than normal— and sounding breathy with excitement. Instantly, she cleared her throat in an effort to cover up the awkwardness she felt brewing inside her. “You’re here early.”

Giyuu shrugged at that, all while trying to take in the breathtaking sight that (Y/n) made. He didn’t want to seem like a creep by blatantly ogling her, so he willed his eyes to dart over to the wall clock behind her. 

He had been an hour early, but that was because he wanted to get (Y/n) to himself before he had to share her attention with their old friends. If it were up to him, they would just stay at either his or her apartment, and they would just cuddle on the couch.

And if she were his, then they would be doing much naughtier things than cuddling.

But the fact remained: she wasn’t his, and he had no right to monopolize her attention like that. They were best friends; no more, and no less.

He would take (Y/n) however she wanted— whether it was as his friend, or something more. Because he would rather keep her forever, than lose her altogether— all due to the feelings he’d secretly been harboring for her ever since they were children.

“You got done even earlier. Were you expecting someone else?” Giyuu asked with a slight tilt of his head; an action that had his best friend’s eyes widening, and her lips slightly falling open.

In (Y/n)’s opinion, that innocent head tilt was already a killer move on her heart— but partnered with his heartbreakingly good looks, it was a full on assault on her entire person.

She had never been so at odds with herself on whether to pinch his cheeks or fuck him senseless. Hell, if given the opportunity, she would do both.

But she didn’t want to make things weird between them; so she stayed rooted to where she was, as he waved a hand right in front of her face.

When that didn’t snap her out of her stupor, Giyuu leaned in further towards her— unmindful of the way his heart beat sped up. He was used to it, anyway; because the very thought of her was always enough to remind him just how madly in love he was with her.

And he did think of her a lot. More than he should have, really.

He could be in the middle of class, teaching his students how to do volleyball serves, and his mind would always flit back to (Y/n).

Always. It was inevitable at that point, so he’d stopped trying to fight it. A huge part of him had come to terms with the fact that she had never been just his best friend; she had always been something more to him.

“I just thought that you would appreciate not having to wait for me, for once,” (Y/n) answered with a pout, as well as a vibrant blush across her cheeks. She even tried to look away from him, but she still found her eyes flickering back to where he was— subtly trying to memorize the way that his button down shirt clung to his torso, and the way that his jacket emphasized the broad set of his shoulders.

She also knew that she shouldn’t have, but her brain showed her a very disconcerting image of her clinging tightly to those shoulders— all while he hovered above her, and also with her legs locked around his very bare (and very sexy) waist.

Immediately, (Y/n) shook her head to get rid of the image that had her spluttering incoherently.

“Huh? Did you say something?”

“What? No. Just… it’s getting a bit too warm in here, why don’t we go out for a walk? Or maybe some ice cream?” The young woman suggested as chirpily as she could, and her words would have convinced Giyuu that everything was normal, had it not been for the way she skirted around him to get her coat from the rack behind him.

It was as if she was really trying to avoid touching him, and that bothered Giyuu immensely; still, he said nothing about it. Because he didn’t want to cause a misunderstanding between them.

So, with a heavy heart, he watched (Y/n) slip her heels on before donning her coat. His gaze never left her, waiting for her to turn back to look at him and send him a smile; the same one that she always shot him before their nights out together. And when that smile didn’t come his way, he could only frown and look on as she opened the door.

*** 

Giyuu wasn’t sure why, but the clerk at the convenience store had been giving him such shifty looks as he paid for (Y/n)’s Giant Cone, as well as his Garigari-kun popsicle. He had even gone as far as to check his reflection on one of the convex mirrors on his way out, but found nothing wrong with him at all.

“Is there something on my face?” He asked once he had managed to walk the short distance to (Y/N), whom had stayed at the park near the store.

The young woman looked up from her phone at that, then quickly locked the device and placed it in her coat’s pocket for safekeeping. It was a bit difficult to see her best friend’s face what with the lack of proper lighting and all, but when she did manage to make out the frown that was set into his features, she couldn’t help but laugh lightly. “Maybe it was because you were frowning so hard. You do look scary when you start scowling like that.”

In response, Giyuu rolled his eyes at her, before taking a seat next to her on the bench. And quietly, he noted that she was sitting farther from him than usual. His frown deepened more at that, yet he still said nothing— instead opting to reach into the plastic bag in his right hand, and handing her ice cream over to her.

Silence fell upon the two of them as they ate their treats— not exactly awkward, and not exactly comfortable, but something that was in between the two. It had Giyuu on edge, yet calm enough to not outright ask (Y/n) what was going on with her.

He had noticed that she had been acting weird around him for a while at that point, but her iffiness only got worse as time went by. At first it had been simple things like taking a while to return his calls and texts, then it had transitioned into not asking him for lunch anymore, until it had arrived at the point where she was trying not to be close to him— just like what was happening at that moment.

And it bothered him immensely; not only because he wasn’t used to her distancing herself from him— but also because he was worried that he had done something wrong. Hell, it had him thinking if his feelings for her had somehow gotten to her, which was why she was acting the way she was.

Giyuu had become so lost in his own thoughts, that he jumped when he felt (Y/n) tap his shoulder to get his attention. Slowly, he turned to look at her, all while making sure to not let his popsicle drip on his pants— as both of them still had a party to attend later.

Wordlessly, and with a mad blush warming her entire face, (Y/n) shyly held up the end of the cone for her ice cream. It was a habit that she and Giyuu had formed from when they were younger, as she didn’t like to eat the end of the cone— so she always gave it to him.

Gingerly, as if he was going to bite her hand off with one sudden move, the young woman offered it up to her best friend. And, in turn, the aforementioned man turned slightly to face her— before opening his mouth to accept her offering. Only, unlike the other times that she’d fed him the end of her ice cream cones, her hand was slightly shaking; so, Giyuu wrapped his left hand around her wrist and guided her fingers up to his lips.

Her breath hitched at the unexpected action, yet she could only look on as Giyuu looked straight into her eyes as he leaned forward and took the cone into his mouth— chewing slowly, before swallowing. Still, he never let go of her hand; even if she had tried to gently tug it away from him.

Both of them were trapped in that moment; ensnared within each other’s gazes, and completely uncaring of the world around them. Hell, Giyuu didn’t even care that the last bite of his Garigari-kun had fallen off the stick and was steadily melting at his feet. All that he could focus on was her; and how beautiful she looked, especially with that blush on her face.

And when she bit down on her bottom lip, it took everything in him not to pull her in and kiss the living daylights out of her.

“Something’s been bothering you. You know you can always tell me, right?” He began softly; earnestly.

(Y/n)’s eyes flickered away from Giyuu’s eyes for a moment, but gravitated back towards those blue irises after a few seconds. Her heart was beating so hard that she could feel the palpitations ringing in her ears, but she pushed the unsettling feeling down— in favor of thinking rationally; or, at the very least, trying to think rationally.

Part of her wanted to come clean with her feelings, while another part told her that that would be a bad idea. However, before she could stop herself, her mouth had already parted and the words had already rolled off her tongue.

“I’m in love with you.”

[ocular-intercourse]

@mangosandchili No.2 of (?), 14 questions Ace edition

🌲 What is the kindest thing your OC has ever done for someone? What is the kindest thing someone has ever done for them? On the flip side, what is the worst thing your OC has done to another person?

i.. I don’t know?? He just.. doesn’t deal with other people all that much. He’d probably consider it kind leaving other people be and not annoying them to death. I suppose his loyalty to his brother is rooted in kindness. Oh actually, it’s really less about what kind thing he has done as a singular situation, it’s more about his kindness potential. Given the situation he’d chose to do the kind thing, he’s just not quite aware of it cause he tends to stay away from situations, period. His misanthropy is very superficial. The other way around is pretty similar, people don’t get the chance to be kind to him very often. I guess Ben & later Ellie sticking around could be considered kind. The worst thing he has done would be just being purposefully difficult, pushing people away, building walls, being annoying and a little reckless. The curve is pretty flat in either direction.

🌳 What does your OC do when they see others upset or in pain? An upset friend? A stranger?

Look around if someone else is there to help, if yes, leave it to them, if no.. begrudgingly help. Depends on the situation too. If someone is physically hurt that would be easier for him than trying to console emotional distress. Once again, he would do pretty much anything for Ben, Ellie or his brother (pre attempted murder.. maybe a little bit after). But he really struggles with reacting to emotion, he would uncomfortably offer his presence and then not know what to do next, just sitting there, quietly patting backs.

🌿 What is something true about your OC that they refuse to admit about themselves? Is there any reason to this besides embarrassment?

He loves and he cares so much. He’s just, either trained or naturally, not really able to show it. Emotional constipation. He’d like to believe he’s as distant to things and people as he pretends to be, but he’s not. He just does not have the tools to communicate it to himself and others.

🍃 Describe a regular day for your OC. What is their schedule (if they have one).          

I think Ace feels like he’s a chaotic person, other people definitely see him that way, but he actually has his set routines, they just swap around sometimes. Generally he has classes in the morning, he’s late to them most of the time cause he has difficulties getting up and following authoritarian instructions. After that probably back to his room, dick around on the internet, make some music, just chilling, some swordfight training maybe. If it’s dark out you’ll more likely than not find him outside somewhere, on the roof, taking in the night.

🍁 What is your OC’s most traumatic experience? (If they don’t have just one traumatic experience either pick one or describe them all!)

Finding out his brother is part of some weird cult that is currently attacking and killing children and teenagers. Swiftly followed by said brother killing him when Ace confronts him about it. Or trying to kill him, more accurately. But the intention was there. Though Ace very much wants to doubt that. Traumatic event still pending: Finding out that he himself tried to join said cult to follow in his brother’s steps as he always has done but being rejected and his memory having been erased.

🍄 How would your OC react to the death of a friend/family member/loved one? Is there anyone they can confide in?

Hmm I don’t think Ace is equipped to confront that reality at all. Definitely not outwardly. He’s too good at bottling up stuff, he does not know what else to do with his emotions. He’d just quietly stew in it, refuse to talk about it. He won’t expect it to get better, it’s just part of his life now. But the grief is also kinda weirdly suspended by the whole underworld thing. So he’d just.. kinda ride it out till he can do anything about it. Action is much easier, he’ll focus on that. No idea what exactly he’ll be able to do, but the thought helps.

🌾 What would your OC be like if they were evil. Or if they’re already evil what would they be like as the good guy?

He’d just be the Ace he’s pretending to be most times. Not caring about the people around him, except maybe a few exceptions. Not actively cruel, but cold, calculated. Letting people suffer because it has nothing to do with him, it’s not his responsibility, even if it is right under his nose and he could easily reach out to help.

💐 How would your OC react to somebody telling them that they love them? (+ bonus give another characters/OC name!)

Oh, he has his mastered poker face it would be really hard to coax a reaction out of him. Ace and his brother are both the kind of people who would cloak i love you’s in jokes and irony and sarcasm, like proclaiming it cartoonishly and over the top so it seems like a joke when it’s really not. Genuine serious i love you’s would definitely catch him off guard. He’d still try to play it off with jokes, or react as if it did not faze him, just shrug it off. I don’t think he’d get himself to respond with his own feelings, at least not very often. That’s just too much, too intimate, too raw. He’d rather show his love than talk about it, and even that would be very much hidden and not talked about meaning-wise. He’ll leave the interpreting to others. When Ben or Ellie tell him they love him it’s like an ice cold hand squeezing his heart, and then molten lava in his belly. It’s not a negative thing by any means, and he will cherish a proclamation of love, cling onto it very much, but it is still very uncomfortable for him to hear.

🌷 What does your OC hate about themself? What lies about themself do they believe? On the flip side, What does your OC love about themself?

He hates this invisible wall between him and anybody else. He hates that he can’t figure out if he built it himself or if it has always been there. He hates that he does not know whether him not being able to tear it down is his own fault, or something he has no control over no matter how hard he tries. So he just blames himself, cause that’s most likely, believes that this is just himself being intrinsically bad in some way, at the very base. Something inside him must really not care, or else he’d be able to change things, right? If he really tried. Maybe it’s in the way his brother raised him, he never gave him the tools to socialize properly, and now it’s too late to change, if he can change at all. So he believes his own lie about not liking or caring for other people, about being emotionless. (ace really is the oc that gets all of my bullshit huh, sorry baby) Some parts of this he loves too. If he looks at people and the problems they create for themselves because of their emotions and ties to other people, how they hurt their own feelings over unnecessary things, he’s sometimes just really really happy to be able to distance himself from some of these things, of being able to not take things personally or interpret hurtful meanings into things other people say instead of just taking them literally and get on with it. He likes his humor and he is damn proud of his talents. He prides himself on his loyalty.

🥀 What is something your OC blames themselves for and is it really their fault? Does it keep them up at night and is there any lingering trauma?

I think the answer to this is mostly in the answer before this. He blames himself for some of his characteristics even if he has no control over them cause they are conditions he was born with. He feels inhuman sometimes, there’s just something other people naturally do that he can’t imitate and he can’t shake the feeling that it’s his fault somehow, or he’s just broken. It’s not, he’s not. He could have certainly gotten better help in accepting and dealing with these feelings, but really there’s nothing much he himself can do about it. It does not necessarily keep him up at night, but it’s definitely a pit in his stomach when he gets to a situation that points out this rift between him and others.

🌺 In what situation would your OC be pushed to commit an act of violence? Would they go as far to kill someone if they had to? How would this affect them and their relationships with others?

He is not somebody that would even show a reaction to being provoked, he’s too calm, too focused on controlling his expression and emotions. So you won’t see him tied into brawls or anything. He would however kill in self-defense, to protect himself and others (not just his loved ones, anybody in need). I think if there was undeniably the need to premeditatedly kill somebody to keep something bad from happening he might just be able to do that too, but only in a ‘no other choice this person is irredeemable’ kind of situation. I’ve mentioned it before, he has killed in self-defense, but that’s not necessarily unusual in his world. I don’t think people expect it to affect him very much, he sure doesn’t let it show. He is also pretty good at shutting himself off of any emotion he’s experiencing. People around him might worry a bit, about it affecting him negatively in the long run. Ben is mostly happy he has someone who steps in to do these things when he himself would rather not. Ellie has no problem killing, so she and Ace would just be in silent agreement about it not being pretty, but necessary.

🌸 What would your OC do if they were given god-like powers or the ability to change anything about the world for a whole day?

Ace would consider doing something ridiculous and stupid. Every person on the planet suddenly making clown shoe squeaky noises when walking.. But in a last minute kind of decision he’d suddenly realize he can use this to learn everything he needs to learn. About his brother, that organization, the gods, who killed JFK… He’d go on a wild conspiracy theory tangent, figuring out what’s true and what isn’t. Ace knowing the secrets of the universe…powerful, scary. He’d probably do nothing with it afterwards, just because that would drive people insane, knowing what he knows and not utilizing it.

🌼 Describe one of your OC’s worst nightmares.

Being truly, utterly alone. He puts so much into believing he could exist all by himself, that he would have no problem with nobody liking him, nobody caring. He’s just trying to prepare himself in case that fear ever becomes true, if he tells himself enough how he does not care maybe it will be true when he needs it someday.

🌻 What advice would your OC give to their younger self? What advice does your OC need now?

He would have to reach an especially enlightened mode for this but: Don’t be as exclusionist. Look out of the metaphorical window from time to time. Look at how other people live their lives, what they value, how they treat each other. There is nothing wrong with accepting the things your brother teaches you and live by your own rules instead of society’s generalized ideas of right and wrong. But there is value in comparison sometimes, to put things in perspective. Advice for now would be similar, but more in the line of: It is okay to recognize and admit that you have been hurt, that does not weaken who you are. Also: Don’ put people on pedestals as much, they are not infallible, believing so will only disappoint and hurt you.

[qweeby]

Nine Lives To Short Part 8: Every Second is a Gift

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡💜💜

Paring: Shinsou x Reader

Genre: Angst

Taglist: @bakuhoetoedoroki @foxypuppy

Plot: You only have nine days to tell him how you feel but maybe 9 days just isn't enough

A/n: IM SORRY I TOOK TO LONG BUT I'M HERE 😤

.

.

"OI! ARE YOU TWO IDIOTS COMING OR WHAT!" Bakugou screams over the phone demanding a response.

"Bakugou shut up we're coming" Shinsou says while putting his phone in his pocket muffling the screams of Bakugou.

" HEY! HEYYYY!!! Did that bastard put me on HOLD!?" Kaminari can be heard in the background "Nah Bakugo he put you in his pocket."

"HIS POCKET?!! HEY YOU KITTY CAT BASTARD GET ME OUT OF YOUR POCKET", completely ignoring Bakugou Shinsou turns and looks at Y/n.

" How d'you sleep last night,"?

"SHINSOU, IT WAS SOOOO GREAT!"

"g-great?... come on, stop playing around."

"NO REALLY IT WAS GREAT! Your bed was so soft! And the pillow are immaculate!."

Hitoshi covers your mouth, "Hey! S-shut up don't say words like that remember we're out in public pleaseeee don't make a scene, we already have Bakugou  in our pocket."

Speaking of Bakugou, he can be heard arguing with Izuku in Shinsou's pocket, causing the people that walk by to glare that him weirdly.

"KACCHAN GIVE ME BACK MY PHONE!"

"COME GET SHITTY DEKU!!!."

An explosion can be heard before the phone hangs up.

You moves his hand clenching it while mumbling "But, it was only great because... I was with, you."

Shinsou's zones out after hearing Y/n say that "Does she really mean that?" He says in his head.

....

"Whatever happens you can't fall in love with me".

....

"Did you mean that you too..." Shinsou accidentally blurted that out.

"Huh? Mean wh-"

Shinsou slap your hood causing it to go over you face and cover your eyes.

"AHHHH! Shinsou! Seriously!"

He then rubs your head, you can hear him chuckling." It's nothing Y/n hehe.."

"More importantly I should be asking you about your parents Mr. Aizawa told me tomorrow he'd go with Mirio to get intel from the police about them so maybe, you say a few words to them,and then say your goodbyes.

"I'll go but...is it wrong that I kinda hate my parents?"

"I don't think you hate them-"

"No. I mean it. I hate them because after all I am is just a failed experiment right! I'm just a result of two people with non-compatible trying there best to make a dumpster fire work!."

"...Hitoshi you heard my dad back there, he said I was cursed, infected and that I needed to me fixed."

You take a deep breath " I didn't ask for this."

Hitoshi holds your hand calmly saying "I know don't worry I got something that get your mind off that. Come on."

After a few more minutes of walking Y/N and Shinsou finally make it to dorms.

You open the door to see all of the class 1A students standing there with there arms reached out all yelling.

"SURPRISE!"

"HUH!?!" Your jaw drops to the floor as Kaminari walks up to you and puts a party hat on your head.

"Looks like you finally made it to your party!"

"MY PARTY! WHATTT I-WHEN DID YOU GUYS HAVE TIME FOR THIS."

Mina runs up and hugs you tight.

"We've been planning it for a while! Midoriya and Kaminari wanted to throw you a party with all of your friends one last time!".

"Awww....you guys..."

Izuku walks up to you with a sad expression on his face "Y/n...we want you your last memories of us to be a memory that death can't erase."

Kirishima shouts while standing on the couch raising his fist high in the air " HELL YEAH! That was so manly.

"WATCH IT NERD!"Suddenly Izuku gets shoved to the side by Bakugo "H-hey! Kacchan!."

" Listen to me and you listen good DAMMIT!."

"If this is the last time we're ever gonna see you...I...I WANNA SEE YOU GO OUT WITH A BANG! GOT IT."

Hitoshi and all the other students get into a massive group hug, trying there best to show you their affection and love.

Y/n just can help but sobs as this is the last time she'll see everyone, even though she can't feel everyone's embrace she can feel Izuku's love she can feel Momo's warm she can feel Bakugou's kindness shine through, Jirou's courage, Uraraka's strength. Y/n is overcomed by the love her classmates have for her.

("Everyone is here for you...In your final moments, you should cherish this forever long you have left.")

Yokai sits and stares out the window "Because last time I checked..."

Hitoshi holds you close, as he is in the center of the group hug and whispers

"Every second is a gift."

"Every second is a gift"

.

.

.

Time passes and Hitoshi,Y/n, and class 1A all have a blast together playing music, dancing, reminiscing on the past and even Sero brought weed but Bakugou dealt with with him....basically blew up his stash.

Eventually Sato and Momo made food for everyone and Kaminari even invited Class 1B. The dorms got very flooded but some how everything worked out in the end.

Y/n stands in the kitchen with Momo as she waits another batch of cookies.

"This is some party huh?", you sit on kitchen counter kicking your legs up and down

"Yup! This party is crazy Kirishima and Tetsutetsu are have a push up battle against Izuku! AND THEY'RE LOSING!."

Momo takes out the tray of cookies from the oven and puts them on the counter beside you, " Midoriya is surprisingly fit."

"Yeah, He always talks about how he trained his body for his quirk so I can see why...man I wish I could do that with my quirk." You say with an attitude before taking one of the cookies from the tray and eating it.

"Y/N!?!"

"Mmm?What Momo?"

" THAT CAME STRAIGHT OUT OF THE OVEN!"

"Yeah so it's ok I....didn't even taste it..."

You take another bite and...nothing you don't taste a thing not even the heat from putting it in your mouth.

"Momo I can't taste it..." you try to swallow it but you start coughing instantly.

Because you can't swallow..

"Y/n!" Momo quickly grabs the garbage so you can spit out the cookie.

"Momo....I can't eat. "

Yoayorozu looks around asking the question that's on Y/n's mind..

"Where is Shinsou!?"

.

.

.

You'll never know when it's your last...so spend everyday like it is. Enjoy the quality time with people and treat it as if it's your final outing...but know you...only fools like you can make such an error"

.....

♡♡♡♡♡♡💜💜💜: Next Part- Fools like You

[riverboundao3ff]

Riverbound, Chapter 20

Your name is MICAH, and ten nights have come and gone in what felt like a few hours.

It’s still early enough that even Lynera is still asleep in the next room over, which is really saying something because that girl is up at the asscrack of dusk no matter what night it is. You’re curled up on the sofa in the study, staring at a fungus-shaped nightlight that does a poor job of actually illuminating the surrounding area, and wondering what the hell you were going to tell your friends in the future.

Hey, guys! Sorry I kind of dropped off the grid for a while there. I fought this fucked-up version of one of my human friends, vanished into the literal void to take a nap because I was super tired from splitting a whole universe apart, and then traveled back to the past to help fight in a literal revolution… because I want to save my other friends, I guess? You don’t have to worry about that changing the future or whatever, I promise! I’m literally a god now, so I have total control over time and space.

Geez. You hope Vriska is ready to stop the others from kicking your ass.

Should you just go? You could easily spend the night on future Alternia and be back by breakfast. Teleporting still makes you a little nervous; the fear of messing up still lingers in the back of your head, but nothing bad has happened yet, so…

Yeah, you’re definitely not getting any more sleep. Might as well be productive.

You roll off the couch with a grunt, stagger a bit as all the blood rushes down to your legs, and then stumble over to the bathroom to brush your teeth and wash your face. Maybe you were about to pull up to the future to get yelled at by a bunch of teenagers, maybe not, but that doesn’t mean you have to look like crap.

The person looking back at you in the mirror startles you more than you’d like to admit. Their eyes are tired but wild, like a feral animal that’s been hunted to the point of exhaustion. Too-pale skin reflects the ceiling lights with an intensity that hurts your head if you look for too long. The dark shadows underneath both eyes are so dark they look like smudged mascara. You’ve always been very fair, even for a white kid, but you know that looking like this can’t be healthy.

Then there’s the fact that you’re still pretty underweight. You’ve been doing your best to eat on a somewhat regular basis, but you just don’t feel hungry anymore. It’s like your body already decided to give up.

And to be honest, the rest of you isn’t too far behind.

“Look at you. Sans Undertale looking-ass,” you tell the shadow in the mirror.

The shadow blinks in agreement at the same time you do.

You can’t look at yourself anymore. Moving as quickly as you can, you brush your teeth and do your best to assemble yourself into what could maybe pass for a functional human being and leave to go get dressed.

You’re rifling through your backpack for your water bottle when the lights come on in Lynera’s room. The bedroom door cracks open, and a messy head of pair pokes out, bits of sopor slime still clinging to black curls.

“Micah? What are you doing up so early?” she yawns.

“I, ah, I gotta go visit some friends a ways out of town. I’ll be back in a bit,” you promise. “Sorry if I woke you up.”

“You didn’t! A new cluster of eggs is due to hatch tonight and I want to be there!” she practically sings as she gets ready.

You feel the sadness leave your body as Lynera practically prances around as she gets ready for her shift. It’s not often she lets down her walls, but when she does, you can’t help but take a step back to enjoy the show.

“Give those babies some love for me,” you tell her as you hoist your backpack over your shoulders.

“I will!”

Alright. Here we go. You close your eyes and visualize Vriska’s living room. That’s a good place to start, right? You’ll have a quick talk with Vriska, you’ll go visit your other friends one at a time to explain what’s going on, and then you can talk to those who are interested about helping the rebellion from the future.

Time and space part easily as you zap out of Lynera’s study and--

“-- worry about OH MY FUCKING GOD.”

You yelp in surprise as somebody shrieks at a deafening volume right next to your ear. Instincts take over, and you spring backward into something big and hard. That ‘something’ turns out to be a bookshelf, as you soon find out as a couple of novels fall from the top shelves and hit you right on the head.

“Ow! Shit!”

And that’s when you realize you have twelve young teenagers sitting around Vriska’s living room, all staring at you in various degrees of shock. Nepeta, Equius, Kanaya, and Sollux are all on the sofa, with Sollux perched on the backrest like he’s ready to take flight. Terezi and Vriska are standing on the coffee table together for some reason. Eridan’s curled up on the loveseat with one hand on his rifle. All of the others are sprawled out on the carpet.

All of the others except for Karkat, that is, who seems to have been returning from the kitchen with a pile of chips on his plate.

“Oh, hi!” Aradia says cheerfully. “Wow, I can see your bones--”

“THEY’RE BAAAAAAAACK!” Vriska hollers, launching herself off the coffee table and slamming into you at full speed.

The air is smooshed out of your lungs before you can brace yourself for impact. Thankfully, Vriska catches you before you can eat shit, otherwise you would have probably just teleported back to past Alternia and tried this whole thing again some other time.

“Hey, Vris,” you wheeze, patting her back. “Happy to see you too.”

“Fucking HELL, don’t do that,” Karkat yells, stomping over to the sofa and plopping down next to Kanaya. Kanaya purses her lips in mild amusement and delicately plucks a chip from his plate to eat.

Vriska just scoffs. “Don’t be a baby, Vantas, you know full well Micah can teleport--”

“Eat my full ass, Serket.”

“Hi, Micah!” Nepeta trills. A general murmur of greetings follows that, some more enthusiastic than others. Sollux, Equius, and Tavros all seem to be very on-edge tonight.

Feferi actually hops up to give you a hug as well, thankfully with a lot more care than Vriska had. It’s becoming weirdly normal to know that this big-ass six-sweep old girl could crush your skull like an eggshell.

“Don’t worry, nobody’s mad at you, I promise,” she whispers in your ear.

“Huh?”

Vriska grins and clasps your shoulder. “Oh, I already told them everything.”

“... Oh, boy.”

You turn back to the others and try your best winning smile.

“Yeah, what the fuck, dude?” Sollux demands.

“How are we even gonna exist with this kind of thing?” Karkat splutters, throwing his hands up in the air.

Tavros winces. “We get that you can do crazy space-time stuff, but--”

“You’re in way over your pan, retard!”

Ah, fuck. “Listen, guys, I know what I’m doing sounds pretty insane. And I’m sorry that I can’t tell you how exactly I’m going to pull all of this off because… you know, time shenanigans. But I need you guys to trust in me, at least for now. Also, Karkat, let’s not use that word. It’s extremely disrespectful.”

“Who are you, my lusus?” he challenges.

“No. Should I zap over and get him myself?”

“NO!”

“That’s what I thought.”

Vriska snickers under her breath. Karkat gives her a look that just screams murder.

Everybody else still looks a little queasy. Guilt rears its ugly head for the millionth time in the hour you’ve been awake, fearful and taunting and ashamed all at the same time. If you could just tell them everything, right now, you wouldn’t have to feel like this anymore.

Tell them.

You don’t, because you’re a coward, but you do try and calm everybody’s nerves again. “To elaborate on what Tavros just tried to say, yes, I can do crazy space-time stuff. Which means I can do stuff in one point in time and it won’t completely fuck up all the other points in time. It’ll change things, sure, but it won’t erase people.”

“What about our memories?” Eridan asks tersely.

“Definitely not,” you tell him. I won’t let that happen. “If everything goes according to plan, things will just start… changing.”

“We’re gonna make a new world that’s better for everybody!” Vriska announces proudly. “That’s why you guys are all here today.”

“By our human friend fighting in a rebellion that was already lost? Setting aside the fact that’s… treason… that also sounds rather dangerous. Micah, you aren’t a great fighter,” Equius says. His voice is quiet, but he’s so stiff you could probably use him to prop open a barn door.

“A rebellion is a lot more than just fighting, dude. So far I’ve just helped teleport people around,” you remind him.

“... Still.”

Nepeta suddenly surges to her feet, eyes blazing. “I don’t care that it’s treason! Don’t you care about what they did to me? My whole neighborhood got burned down in a drone strike!”

“Nepeta--”

“No! I remember everything now. I’m gonna help them win, ‘cause, ‘cause… even though we all had to suffer, the ones who come after us might not have to.”

Nobody speaks for many heartbeats after that. Something about what she said rings inside your head, sticking to your neurons like glue.

“See? Nepeta knows what’s good!” Terezi yells.

“This is insane.”

“Yeah, it’s awesome!”

“I’m in,” Aradia agrees, winking at you as she smooths her skirt down. Your anxiety backs down a little at her blatant support. Aradia Knows Things, right? Surely if she thinks you should keep doing what you’re doing…

“So am I,” Tavros announces, setting his jaw defiantly. Nepeta seems to have set off a chain reaction, because everybody else sits up a little straighter, eyeing each other as if daring anybody else to go first.

“And I,” Kanaya adds.

Karkat groans. “Fuck you guys. Fine! It’s not like we can play SGRUB anymore.”

“You guys are gonna die,” Sollux says, scrubbing his face with the palms of his hands. “We. Are. All. Gonna. Die.”

“So are you in?” you ask, reaching over to poke his arm.

He smacks your hand away. “Get fucked. Sure. Whatever.”

“Yay!”

Eridan huffs quietly and crosses his arms. “Well, you guys are gonna need somebody with power to help. And money. I’m in.”

Equius turns to stare at him with his jaw nearly on the floor, and you’re so full of pride you think you’re going to explode. You should have known your friends would eventually come around. And with not one, but two whole seadwellers on their side, they were truly going to be a force to be reckoned with.

“I knew it! I knew you cared!” Feferi squeals, jabbing a finger at her ex-moirail. Eridan curls up tighter on himself, but that doesn’t stop a small smile from lighting up his face.

“Is that a yes from you, Feferi?”

“It’s a hell yes, Micah!”

Gamzee smiles lazily from underneath the coffee table. “I told you motherfuckers. I told you a miracle was coming, and here it is.”

Poor Equius looks like he’s on the verge of a panic attack. “I-I… you can’t possibly, I mean--”

“If you’ll excuse us!” Nepeta chirps, effortlessly pulling her moirail from the couch and slinging him over her muscular shoulders. The indigoblood yelps indignantly, but Nepeta just prances on upstairs as if she’s carrying a sack of potatoes and not a teenage boy nearly twice her size.

“What’s up with olivebloods and being insanely buff? I mean, my girlfriend’s taken on a jadeblood and a teal at the same time and she won,” you wonder.

Karkat immediately focuses on you with the intensity of a laser. “A girlfriend? You’re in a relationship?”

“Micah’s got a girlfriend!” Feferi yells, picking you up and twirling you around.

“What quadrant?”

“Is she cute?”

“An oliveblood, right-?”

“We wanna meet her!”

“Guys! Can we please focus on taking down the Empire? We can gossip about Micah’s love life later!” Vriska yells, clapping her hands for order.  

You rest an elbow on Feferi’s shoulder, enjoying being tall for the moment as she’s carrying you. “Ooh! You got a mission plan, Vriska?”

“You bet your skinny alien ass I do!” She pauses for emphasis and puffs out her chest. “We’re gonna go beat up a bitch for using lowbloods as FLARP bait!”

“Didn’t you do the exact same thing not too long ago?” Karkat scoffs.

Vriska scowls down at him. “Yes! Yes, I did! But now I’m gonna turn things around and help them instead, okay? ‘Cause I’m changing my…. my toxic behavior.”

She looks to you for support, and you give her the thumbs-up.

The others actually look a little impressed, which gives her the courage to keep going. “In half an hour Terezi and I are going to meet this violetblood dude who’s been responsible for a lot of rust and bronze deaths in the area. It’s a FLARP session at sea, so he’ll have his team-- I mean hostages-- on board with him.”

“You need a team?” you ask.

“You offering?”

“Of course.”

“Yes! But no passing out on me! Our goal is to neutralize the threat, secure the hostages, and deliver them back to shore so they can go home. Any questions?”

“I’m coming too,” Eridan says. He hops to his feet, dusting off some invisible debris on his pants. “That’s not a question, though.”

“Can I come? It sounds exciting,” Aradia begs.

“Sure! Anybody else?” Vriska scans the crowd with a smirk, as if saying You are all too pussy for this kind of adventure.

Unfortunately, it works. Karkat and Feferi step forward as well, which brings the team total up to six. Everybody else gets ready to go home before the sun comes up. Out on the horizon, heat lightning crackles in the sky like a strobe ball. You end up leaving your jacket with your backpack on the couch, because even for somebody who has trouble retaining heat, Alternian summers are brutal.

Surprisingly, the team figures out their FLARP-ing shit quickly enough, as they all played at one point or the other. You still have no idea what to make out of all the numbers and stats and scores that come with each move, even though Vriska makes it all look like child’s play. Karkat keeps grumbling about “games for girls” which has your hackles up until you remember that female trolls tend to be more violent than the males. That makes sense to you, especially when you remember Remele beating the shit out of that purpleblood and all of Lynera’s knives.

In almost no time at all the six of you are sailing out to sea, the wind in your hair and the smell of salt water filling your nose. If you close your eyes and pretended, you could almost imagine you’re back on Earth, taking a boat ride with your mom’s boyfriend and your stepsister at the lakehouse--

A particularly large wave knocks you back on your ass, and the memory cuts off as quickly as it began.

“Fuck!” you hiss, trying to get your bearings. You try as hard as you can to visualize what you just remembered, but all you can recall is sunlight sparkling off water, the rumble of an engine, a man laughing and nearly choking on his beer as your tiny preteen self got knocked around by the rocking of the motorboat.

A strong hand picks you up by the arm and sets you on your feet. “You okay?”

“Yeah. Thanks, Fef.” You pat her elbow. “Sometimes it’s rough being a little guy.”

Her eyes are round with sympathy. “Looks like it. That reminds me, I wanna ask your opinion on something really important.”

“Oh, okay!” Wow, the Heiress of Alternia is asking my opinion on something? Talk about friends in high places.

… Wait, what was I trying to remember?

“What do you think of the hemospectrum?”

You purse your lips. “Well, if that ain’t a loaded question I dunno what is.”

“I mean, you don’t have to answer, but…”

“You know what I think? I think that the hemospectrum could have been a really good thing. Those who live for quite some time, paving the way for those who won’t be here as long? Sounds great. But then it became about power and control. And-And I think that if-- that once we win, we can’t go back to that system. There’s just too much trauma that’s been birthed from it that’s affected literally every troll to have ever existed,” you explain.

Feferi considers that, and then she nods in agreement. “That makes sense.”

“Oh, shit, is it big brain hour?” Terezi calls from the wheel.

“It is!” Then you do a double-take. “Why is the blind girl driving?”

“Vriska’s getting dressed.”

“Do you even know where we’re going?”

“Forward.”

“Bruh.”

Karkat throws up for the fifth time over the side of the ship. You groan and stumble over to him to pat his back.

“You’ll get your sea legs soon,” you promise.

“I hate the ocean. Why does there need to be oceans. I never would have thought I would ever say this but by infant Troll Jegus do I miss Texas. It’s hot, it’s human-racist, but there is hardly any damn water and for that it’s easily one of the best places I’ve ever been,” he rasps.

You smile. “Wanna see Dave after this is over?”

“Yes, please. Strider’s bullshit is the only thing that can numb me to the pain of occupying the realm of mortals.”

Out of the corner of your eye, you see Eridan smirk. You turn to look at him in confusion, and he makes the quadrant symbol for flushcrush: two thumbs pressed together over the center of his chest, where a troll’s heart would be.

Really? you mouth at him, delighted by this unexpected turn of events. He nods eagerly, clearly just as enthusiastic about Karkat getting a boyfriend as you are, but before you can sneak off with him to get the tea his gaze fixates on something past you.

You turn to see the small speck of what is undoubtedly another ship coming your way. A ship that is much bigger and fancier than the 8rigantine, at full sail and most likely armed to the teeth.

“He’s coming on our eleven!” Feferi calls up to Terezi.

“Go get Vriska,” the tealblood orders. Her perfectly white fangs flash in the light of the moons as she grins like a shark. “Time to kick this bitchboy’s ass!”

[myassbrokethefall]

2/2: I look forward to getting through your Leftovers tags! I JUST finished entire run of Leftovers and while I wasn’t as blown away by it as some of its supporters (I’m always open to reading different takes and giving shows a second chance though), I did finish it all and I gotta say: AMAZING music throughout. And an AMAZING final monologue by Carrie Coon in the final scene of series finale. Seriously good acting. Please don’t ever erase your Tumblr. I need time to get through all 3,255 pages!

(Hi again, anon!) 

I don’t plan on ever erasing my Tumblr if I can help it...in fact, I periodically go through fits of anxiety because it isn’t backed up, and the longer I’m here, the more stuff I post that I would be extremely upset to lose. I have tried to back it up, but you know that thing in Settings where you click “Export” and it backs up your blog and then gives it to you as a link? Well! I clicked that button on November 24, 2018. I got a thing that said “Backup processing...” as Tumblr, presumably, began processing my backup. Today is May 23, 2020, and when I go in my settings to see how it’s doing IT STILL says “Backup processing...” with no progress indicator or way to start over. I emailed Tumblr support about this once...maybe a year or so ago?...and they basically were like “be patient.” Maybe, now that in the meantime Tumblr has been bought by a different company, it’s time to give them a jingle once more? I would really, really like my backup to finish processing. I know my blog is large (3,255 pages huh? Yikes) but a year and a half seems long REGARDLESS. 

The Leftovers music IS amazing. I just finished watching Tales from the Loop, and the music in that is very similar and made me emotional, I definitely think partly because it gave me Leftovers vibes. (Co-written by Philip Glass!)

Also, even though I deeply love The Leftovers I weirdly feel you on being underwhelmed by it. It is so weird and sort of bespoke-ly put together and it somehow just works on me, but I think it’s really hard to program, categorize or easily reference what exactly is so great about it. People will be like “I love that show so much, it CHANGED MY LIFE” and I’m like I KNOW and then someone else will be like “I don’t really get it, it was ok but depressing and didn’t really make sense and was sort of tedious to watch and nobody was particularly sympathetic” and I’m like, hmm yeah you’re also right. 

I think it’s a real piece of Art, and I don’t mean that in a snobby way, but in a way of, it is a singular TV show that does its thing in a very specific way, and it’s someone’s cup of tea or it’s not; I think it does what it’s doing very well but what it’s doing is sometimes a little offputting, I guess. 

I’m glad you finished and got something out of it though! If nothing else it’s certainly worth it for the REVELATION that is Carrie Coon. 

[straight-to-the-pain]

John takes care of things

This isn't really related to anything, nor is it in my usual style of writing. It's just a quick little snippet I wrote because an idea burrowed itself in my head, and because I think Sam finally deserves some comfort from John. It's whumpy, but it's also weirdly fluffy, so enjoy <3

Sam barely manages to stumble through the door, hands grappling with the doorframe, probably leaving bloody handprints that John will complain about later, but none of that matters because they're here now and John will take care of things. Their other hand is holding onto their side, sticky with blood and dirt, which their brain tells them should not mix and yet there's nothing they can do about it now. John will take care of things. He always does.

He isn't asleep, even though it's 3 am and he really should be. No, he's reading, a book in some foreign language that Sam doesn't have the capacity to process in this moment, but the minute he hears that knock, that desperate triple knock that could only be one person, he opens the door and catches his friend with open arms.

Sam makes a pathetic noise that they will probably be ashamed of later, but for now there isn't room for shame, only John's soft hands holding them up and laying them down on the soft carpet. Not the sofa, he knows they don't like the sofa. And then the hands are patting them down, checking for other injuries probably, but somehow it's also reassuring and they close their eyes because they're safe now.

"Hey, no, keep your eyes open," comes a voice from above them, John's voice, and it sounds like an order so they obey, because it's an order from John. It takes a lot of effort, but they manage to peel their eyes open, focusing on the kind face hovering over them.

"I'm sorry," they try to get out, "please, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to... to bother you," and John just shushes them gently, because he knows, and it's okay, it really is. He doesn't ask how Sam got their injuries, even though he has his suspicions, but knowing for sure wouldn't make him feel any better either. He wonders if this happens more often than he knows, if they find other ways to patch their wounds. He's not sure they'd tell him if he asked.

"I should take you to the clinic," he says instead, because there is a lot of blood and Sam is really not themself. But John doubts that it's the pain. It's probably whatever led them to this mess to begin with, and maybe they should have a talk, but not right now.

"No, no," they desperately plead. "N-no questions, no hospitals," and with those words John knows that he's already lost. "I would have... stitched it up myself but my hands were just shaking too much, I'm sorry," they continue. John doesn't want to imagine how they would sit on their bedroom floor, needle in their hand, quietly piecing themself back together. But he doesn't need to imagine. He needs to do it himself.

"Alright, alright," he tries to make his voice sound calm. He smoothes a lock of hair away from Sam'a forehead, and they lean into his touch, so he continues, ruffling through their curls until their breathing sounds less shaky and their fingers have gone still. "It doesn't look like there's much else," he tells them, because they ought to know. "Just that nasty gash on your side, huh? And some bruises. You'll survive." He winks, and sees the inkling of a smile.

Grabbing a first aid kit and some gloves, John comes to kneel beside his patient. His degree doesn't do him much good when it came to stitching wounds, but John has got enough experience in his line of work to do it decently, if not that well. "I'm sorry, this is going to hurt," he says, not wanting it to come as a surprise, and he swears he hears a quiet, muttered 'good' in return.

He sighs, and dabs the wound with antiseptic, eliciting a hiss but nothing more. Continuing, he digs out the numbing gel, preparing to spread it around the gash, not wanting to hurt his friend more than he already has.

But a hand reaches up to stop him. "N-no, I don't... deserve that. I need to feel it, please," comes that pleading whisper from below, and what else is there to do but to obey, however much he hates to have to do it. "I promise, I'll be quiet. No risk of your neighbours waking up," and John can't help but smile at that, because that would have been his last concern but still it's good to know. Of course his friend has thought this through. Of course they will stay quiet. He can't imagine any other way.

Slowly, the needle pierces through the skin, but Sam doesn't react, and John tries not to think about how it might feel. The only thing he focuses on is how the metal slides through flesh, dragging its thread behind it, erasing all the evidence of wrong on Sam's far from pristine skin. Only when the final knot is tied, does he focus on his friend, his patient, his colleague.

"Are you still with me?" he asks, just to make sure. Sam hasn't moved throughout the process. The only signs that John was stitching up their skin had been their shaking gasps, and twitching fingers. "Yes, thank you," comes that quiet voice, still so polite even when marred with pain.

"Are you sure you wouldn't like me to move you to the sofa? Or give you some painkillers? It would help you sleep you know," he tries again, though he knows his efforts will be futile.

"No, no it's okay," comes that same response as always. "I sleep well enough with pain. I'm happy here." And maybe they mean more than just the floor. Still, he covers them with a blanket, and sits by them with a book.

"I'll read to you, if you would like me to," he offers, because he knows that now is not the time to talk, but sleep will not come easily for either of them. "I don't speak... French," comes the reply. "Or whatever language it is now," and that actually makes John laugh.

"I'll read to you in English, dear, though I wouldn't worry if you don't absorb much in your current state." Sam smiles, eyes finally fluttering shut, and all that John can do is hope that they open in the morning, that they haven't lost too much blood. And so, he starts to read.

[fizzingwizard]

Part 2 of The Great Disappointment.

8) Macavity. Do you know why, in horror films, they build up the monster or whatever lurks in the dark for a long, long time, only hinting at its presence before finally doing the big reveal at the end... or, sometimes, not at all? And just leaving you with the impression of something terrible, which is somehow more even chilling? Less is more. In the musical, you don’t see Macavity until the fight scene, and even then it’s brief. He is a specter. He’s scary! The Macavity in this movie? Was not even a little bit scary. Disney villains are scarier. Sheesh. I kind of liked the whole “Macavity is trying to get to the Heaviside layer” angle, but I am so not down for making Macavity ridiculous.

9) Demeter. Erasing her role was a bad idea. That is just my opinion, but look, you install Victoria as a heroine, why not her befriend the skittish, traumatized, yet incredibly strong Demeter who could provide her a reason to want to take Macavity down? Especially since they went and erased Demeter and Bombalurina’s girl power moments by making Bombalurina Macavity’s henchman. Like, OK. And what was wrong with just having Griddlebone in that role? Again, not something I’d bother criticizing if the movie were good, but since it’s not, bite me.

10) The Jellicle Ball. Is supposed to be so full of life and energy. Whenever I hear that electric guitar and the keyboard, I feel like dancing. I can’t dance, but I feel like I bunny hop with the best of them. This Jellicle Ball was just sleepy. People were barely dancing together. And more offensively CGI’d stunts didn’t help. Like. This is the mood-making piece of the show. And you messed it up.

11) The lighting. Anyone else notice how the lighting was pretty much the same the entire movie? They were like, since the story takes place outside at night in the city, they therefore only need one lighting scheme. It made the movie feel like one really really REALLy long scene. Occasionally they went inside but that did not offer the change of pace I’d hoped for. By the time Mungo & Rumpel turned up I was really feeling like “does this stay the same the whole movie”? It pretty much did, until dawn. And you know what I think. I think those shadows were more than just realism. I think they were meant to hide certain, shall we say, unpolished CGI. Convenient that the story’s set at night, huh.

12) The story. There isn’t anything in particulary wrong with the story! In fact there are things I would like to like! Macavity magicking away other cats before Old Deut could have been really cool, if he’d stayed scary. Macavity wanting to go to the Heaviside layer I already said I liked - I just don’t get why he didn’t have any real plan for what he’d do if Old Deut said no. He seemed to just want to kill her, but of course she doesn’t think he’s going to do that, since she’s the one who can grant him his wish, and if he did kill her, she clearly would rather that happen than give him what he wants. He had Bustopher and Jenny and Gus right there - why didn’t he make better use of his hostages? I mean x’D They got the better of him in true Spongebob Squarepants fashion. Also Misto & Vicky are a thing, not my thing, but certainly a thing, and much as I can’t help making fun of the “nerdy guy’s female inspiration!” trope, I was all prepared to LOVE awkward nerdy Misto, and any relationship between him and Victoria, only it was so half-hearted. The stuff between Grizabella and Victoria was fine, I mean, that’s pretty much how it is in the show anyway. It’s not a world-shaking story, but it didn’t have to be terrible. They could’ve made it work so people said it was fine.

But you know, 99% of Cats fanfiction is better, more creative, and more in keeping with the spirit of Cats. A lot of it I think would be better as a movie too. Specifically, all of the fanfiction that takes Demeter seriously and builds up the parallels between Mistoffelees and Macavity should be made into a movie. (I’d have said 100% except there is one Cats fic in particular I had the misfortune of reading and it scarred me, friends, it scarred me. Don’t ask for the details, they are too sick to recount. There is a dark side to fandom people weirdly don’t talk about and this fic was that.)

13) The tone. The tone was so confused. And to be fair, the whole variety show thing doesn’t help. But one minute it’s a sweet, melancholy story of wanting acceptance and living with regret, the next it’s one of those mindless Nickelodeon cartoons where to make viewers laugh you need to slime someone every three minutes. Then it’s a Disney movie where regardless of what’s happening, regardless of who’s singing, and regardless of their own physical capabilities, everyone starts dancing and singing in unison, and lights and red-carpeted staircases emerge out of the interdimensional rift. Then it’s a battle scene from Pirates of the Caribbean, except it’s Captain Jackbob Sparepants.Then Gandalf doesn’t know why he’s here. Then more singing and a lot of STRONG IMPLICATION that the audience should be deeply moved, for reasons. It’s just. A disaster.

14) Certain cats looked naked when not wearing bits of clothes and their lack of visible genitalia disturbed me. There I said it.

15. Rum Tum Tugger had nothing to do with Mistoffelees’s song. So this is just my preference, although I don’t think it’s an unreasonable one. It’s been standard for Tugger to sing “Mistoffelees” for decades. But in the early days Mistoffelees sang it, and some productions still have him sing part. Munkustrap does also sing part of it in some productions as well. I had expected Mistoffelees to sing some or all of it in the movie, and I expected Victoria to be included too. But I didn’t anticipate Munkustrap having a part, and I definitely didn’t expect him to do it instead of Tugger. Tugger didn’t do a single thing after his song except do the rich thug pose with the hotties on each arm. Lol. Waste of an extremely popular character.

I’m pretty sure I could go on for another 15 points but I’m gonna stop there. Things that were good, er...

Victoria. Too bad all she really got to do was look around in wonder.

Mistoffelees. Could have been better, could also have been much worse, so I’m counting my blessings.

Skimbleshanks and Mungo&Rumpel strangely going well.

Nod to Growltiger

The original song, even though it had no place here

I WANTED THIS TO BE SO GOOD YOU GUYS. This is a unique but really fun and special musical. It’s also one of the rare few that has a ton of roles both speaking and non for both men and women, and which can easily be played by people of any race or gender without many audience complaints. It should be our hero. It’s NOT easy to make into a movie, but it didn’t HAVE to be THIS.

Le sigh.

[onedayiwillactuallywriteafanfic]

Shay

Part 1 of: The Silver Haired Girl

This is a PJO and HP crossover with original characters, enjoy!

No warnings, and this series is going to be about Leigh Carson, who I previously mentioned in a different most. I said she was a muggleborn Syltherin student at Hogwarts, and this is part of the whole story. (I’m rambling now, sorry.) 

(It’s a few pages length, btw.) 

We pressed the buzzer for the Carsons’ apartment. 

   “What do you want?” It was a gruff male voice, must be her dad.

   “Is Leigh home? We’re her friends.” Amelia told him. 

   “LEIGH! SOME PEOPLE CLAIM TO BE YOUR FRIENDS.” 

   “OKAY, THEN LET THEM UP!” Leigh yelled back, like it was the most obvious answer in the world. 

   “DON’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO, YOUNG LADY! We’re in 3B, come on.” 

   They buzzed us in. 

   We passed a man on the way in, who completely ignored us like we weren’t there. 

   Three floors later we knocked on 3B. You could hear the music out in the hall, and all the lyrics to the song were clear. I’m not sure how Leigh heard us. (It wasn’t even good music, it was all country and 90s pop stuff.) 

   She opened the door with an angry face, but it wasn’t directed at us. “What happened to y’all? And why are you here?” 

   “Can we come in?” I asked, glancing around nervously. I didn’t like this place, it seemed a little sketchy. 

   She raised her eyebrows, “Sure.” 

   I would say I was surprised by the decorations, or somewhat lack thereof, but I wasn’t. There were boxes everywhere, still unpacked from when they moved. There was a recliner that I’m pretty sure three people could fit in, and a loveseat couch. The coffee table had empty beer bottles on it. There’s only one picture on the mantle, with what must be Leigh and her parents. 

   Leigh moved out of the doorway, and grumbled as she grabbed up all the beer bottles.

   “Where’s your dad?” Amelia asked. 

   “Just left. Went to the bar or something.” 

   “Don’t the neighbors care about the horrible music?” I almost have to shout to be heard.

   She shrugged and turned the CD player off, to help us. “So, what brings you here?” 

   “We need a ride to summer camp in the morning.” I explained. 

   “From me?” 

   “Yeah. My parents are out of town.” 

   “Okay, sure. My dad probably won’t be back tonight anyway, and I have to truck keys.” 

   “We leave in the morning?” I suggested. It would be better not to travel at night. 

   “Okay.” Amelia said. 

   “Good. Now, c’mon, I have bandages around here somewhere for your face, and hands and stuff.” Leigh said, taking Amelia by the wrist to drag her away. 

   “Shay? Are you injured?” I swear Amelia acted like my mama goat-I mean, human. 

   “No, I’m fine.” 

   She narrowed her eyes but didn’t say anything, and went with Leigh to the bathroom. 

   I sat down in the recliner. It felt off, like someone else’s property. 

   I must’ve fallen asleep, because next thing I knew, Amelia was asleep on the couch. There was music coming from somewhere close. I got up to investigate. 

   The apartment hallway had two bedrooms on either end, with a bathroom in the middle. One door was shut, but the music was coming from the other end. The lights were on in Leigh’s room. The rest of the house looked like they’d just moved in, but this room looked lived in. And like Leigh. 

   She had the blondest hair. It looked like she bleached it, because the color was so white it looked silver, but it was natural. Her bright blue glasses frames were falling down her nose. She was wearing shorts, and a t-shirt for a baseball team I’d never heard of. 

   She moved around the room gracefully, dancing to the music. She had some mix of ballet and modern going on. She did a turn, and saw me lingering in the doorway.

“Want me to dance with you?” The song was slow.

   Her face was annoyed, like she was going to yell at me, but also like she was dizzy. “Shay-

   “Oh, c’mon, it’ll be fun.” I grabbed her hand, and the world went dark.

   In short: I was confused. 

   I saw a boy about my age, five, with bleach blonde hair like mine. Twin brother, I thought. He asked to dance with me, and I happily obliged. We took turns spinning to the music on the record player, giggling the whole time. 

   Hold up. Record player? When was this? That’s when I remembered that I was Shay, not Leigh. Was this her memory?

   The scene changed. Leigh was about nine this time. There was a peacock in front of her. 

   “Libra! Come do your lessons!” Someone-Mother-yelled. They poked their head out the door of a huge old English mansion. Scary looking, too. “What are you doing?! Lucius! She’s talking to peacocks, now!” 

   “Talking to? No. At least they’re better company than you.” Leigh said. The voices sounded weird to me, though I couldn’t place why. 

   “What did you just say to your mother?” A man-Father-demanded. I could sense Leigh hated them both. They looked so uptight, the opposite of Leigh. They did look like her though, the man shared her hair, and her mother shared her blue eyes. 

   “I said that the peacocks were better than both of you! Your horrible people! You-“ Leigh was cut off by her father’s hand smacking her across the face. She hurried inside to do her lessons. 

   Scene change.

   Leigh held a letter in her hand. It was her acceptance in a school. Her brother, about eleven, held an identical one. His face looked familiar, but probably just because he was related to Leigh. Her parents were finally proud of her. She could finally get away from them. 

   He looked familiar. I know I had seen his face before but I couldn’t place it. Maybe her had a look alike in a movie or something. 

   Another scene changed. 

   Leigh and her brother were in a room that must’ve been Leigh’s. They each had books everywhere. 

   “This is too much homework.” She complained. 

   “Well, at least we can go to Hogsmeade this year.” Her brother said.

   “Guess what I’m going to do?” She whispered excitedly.

   “What?” He didn’t want to break rules and get in trouble like she did.

   “Get a muggle music player. And I know the muffling charm now.” 

   “Libra, you can’t do that.” 

   “Yes I can, Dragon.” 

   “Don’t call me Dragon, it’s a stupid name for a thirteen year old.” 

   “Whatever.” 

   Scene change. 

   Leigh was listening to her parents talk about her in the living room, spying, basically. 

   “If we marry her off to someone, then she’ll have to learn how to behave and be a lady. Yes?” Father said. 

   “Well, planning the wedding would take a lot of her free time, and I could watch her yes.” Mother agreed.

   “Good, and then she’ll be too busy to misbehave. Now we just have a find a perfect match.” 

   Mother must’ve nodded, because Father kept going. Leigh was angry. Very, very, angry.

   She sat still while her parents came up with matches for her, and even when they wrote a letter to the parents of one of these kids. That’s when she decided they were being completely serious. 

   Scene change.

   “Please, Drake, help me?” Leigh pleaded to her brother. It was midnight, of the same day.  

   “What do you want me to do?” 

   “I’m going to run away. I want you to erase me from everyone’s memories.” 

   “Run away?” 

   “Please?” She begged. 

   He agreed after a few minutes of her explaining what she’d overheard.

   They jinxed pens, with wands, so that if they wrote on their hand with it, the message would appear in the same spot for the other person. 

   Scene change. 

   Leigh held an hourglass looking thing. Writing appeared on her hand.

   Love you. Ready. On three, one two three!

   Leigh waited a minute or so after, then flipped the hour glass and appeared thirteen years later years later. 

   I woke up on the apartment floor. Leigh was next to me, and she gasped and pulled my hand from her wrist. The glare I was given came with a growl.

   “You weren’t supposed to see that!” 

   “What was it?” 

   “Don’t play dumb. You might be stupid, but your not that stupid.” 

   “Your memories. Everyone spoke so weirdly.” Realization dawned on me, “Your British!” 

   “Really? I had no idea.” She gets to her feet. She doesn’t talk with a British accent, even after I point the fact that she had one at some point.

   “But, your accent? You-I’m confused.” 

   “Good.” She stood up. 

   I sat up. “Leigh, what happened? Was that...magic?” 

   Leigh’s anger didn’t disappear, but she calmed a little, and pulled a box out from under her bed. She took the lid off it revealing a few books and a wooden stick. 

   “This is my wand.” She looked around, and found a book to put on the floor in front of her. 

   “Wingardium leviosa,” she muttered, making the book levitate into the air. 

   “Whoa,” I said. She stopped and the amazement wore off. “Why’d you leave?” 

   “My parents decided to marry me off to someone. I knew it was going to happen eventually, but at least if I was eighteen then I could just, like, leave. You wanna know how old I was?” I figured she didn’t really want an answer, so I didn’t say anything. “I was thirteen.” She buried her head in her hands.

   “Okay, so are you like from a different time or something? Because record players? And marriage at thirteen?” She hadn’t stopped me from asking questions, so I kept going. 

   “I was born in 1980. I only jumped forward about thirteen years.” 

   “You should be like thirty!” 

   “Oh, yeah? What year were you born?” 

   “Can I not answer?” Truthfully, I am the same age as Leigh. Born in 1980. That’s alarming. 

   “Sure whateve-”

   “Your from Harry Potter!” Realization dawned on me. Her brother looked just like Tom Felton. 

   “What about Potter? Huh?” 

   “It’s a book and movie series. Your-your brother, is the Malfoy kid. Oh, ew.” 

   “Wait, how do you-”

    A scream from the living room interrupted her.

[team-science-mega-nerds]

agentcorp going to bed for the night but alex can’t sleep

This is canon divergent because I have no idea what the hell happened in season 4, but I do know that Alex got her memories of Kara being Supergirl erased - so that’s where this idea came from:

The thing is: Alex doesn’t want to be here. If she had the choice, she’d be doing all of this alone, but she couldn’t. It wasn’t technically possible or rational - as if those words still had meaning - and even though she was stubborn, Alex knew that she had to call in backup. It would be simple to ask J’onn or even Vasquez to help out but they would be worried and Alex would be stuck on desk duty until all of this was figured out and Alex didn’t have the patience for that. Alex knew there was something wrong. She knew that these strange dreams she’d been having about space and fire weren’t normal, so she was going to figure it out even if she had to call-

“Alex?”

“Hey, thanks for coming.” Alex stands up and approaches Lena tentatively. The phone conversation had been awkward at best. Alex had been flustered, Lena patient and understanding. And now, here they are, standing in front of a sleep monitoring station. “Wow, you…” Alex looks at Lena’s outfit. She’s wearing this soft pink hoodie and leggings and Alex has absolutely never seen Lena in anything less than two-inch heels. Alex is certain that she’s never seen Lena in anything ‘casual’ not even on game night. She looks cute, warm…Alex tries her best not to stare.

“What?” Lena is still all business under all that fluff, so Alex clears her throat and motions to the observation room where Lena will be set up. “Nice digs.”

“Usually, I’d agree. Tonight all this feels weird.” Alex opens the door for Lena and they walk into the room dominated by a one-way mirror and three flat-screen monitors. Alex had taken the liberty of putting a pillow and blanket in here, though she is almost certain that Lena won’t use them. “I know this is crazy. But I can’t observe myself objectively while I sleep and I…” Alex taps her temple. “Something is going on up here.”

“Why do you sound like you’re always on the verge of apologizing with me? I said I was happy to do it,” Lena assures Alex. “I do care about you. You’d be surprised how much.” Lena goes to study the monitors like she didn’t just say that. Alex is willing to play along if it keeps Lena comfortable. “So, on the phone, you said…dreams?”

“Yeah.”

“Like…?”

“Hellfire. Rapture shit. Blood.” Alex shakes her head. “It felt weirdly familiar though. I just need to monitor my sleep, I need to know-.”

“If it’s a memory or a dream. Yes, well, I can help you with that.” Lena is confident behind the monitors. Checking everything, scribbling in a small notepad, she has a confidence that’s unwavering. Attractive. Alex likes that Lena knows what she’s doing. All of that seems to fade when Alex actually starts to prepare for the heart and brain monitoring. There’s are plain hospital wear - a dark blue top and pants - that Alex needs to change into before she gets hooked up to the monitors in the medbay. Usually, Alex doesn’t have any reason to be nervous about her body at work. But Lena is here and Alex doesn’t know if she should hide away in the corner or just go for it. Lena must sense her uneasiness because she blushes and turns her head away. “Go on, my eyes are closed.”

Alex changes rapidly, eager to get past the awkwardness. They return to the medbay where Alex climbs into the bed and Lena starts the tedious process of hooking her up to three machines. “I’d kill for access to this kind of equipment.”

“Well, I was thinking of a way I could pay you back for this. If you’d like access…” Lena laughs, Alex tries not to scratch the pesky nodes that are attached to her brain monitoring software. “What?”

“I assumed you’d ask me to dinner or something.”

“I can do that too.” Lena fumbles with the heart monitor. She looks like she’s trying to find the most modest way of reaching under Alex’s shirt. Alex enjoys watching her squirm. There’s something about the contrast between business as usual  Lena and this blushing woman - who just managed to get a dinner date out of this whole ordeal - that is unusually alluring and Alex isn’t thrilled by the idea of Lena being on the other side of that glass.

“Having fun.”

“Yep. Absolutely.” Alex smiles. “You’ve got a cute blush. You should get embarrassed more.”

Lena scoffs. “You sound like some ass telling me I should smile more.” Lena manages to work through the monitors and get Alex up in a quick rush of annoyance.

“Well, what should I have said?”

“I don’t know. Nothing.” Lena seems to be caught between frowning and smiling. “Ass.”

“I’ve been called worse.”

“Okay. Let me check to make sure these are working.” Lena clicks around on her phone for a second. Alex isn’t sure how that will help but she waits on the bed drumming her fingers against the soft cushion. “Oh, this should work.” Lena turns her camera so that the screen is facing Alex. Or, more notably, a picture of Lena wearing a bathing suit on some beach is facing Alex. It should be embarrassing, the way the heart monitor beeping suddenly spikes. Alex should be mortified but Lena’s smug look is nothing but fuel for Alex to say just about anything she wants now.

“You went for it, huh?”

“Gotta say you’re offering me some great validation.” Lena returns her phone to her hoodie pocket. “This’ll be fun.”

“This is a serious lab study,” Alex says but she doesn’t sound even the least bit convincing. And the way her heart starts racing again while Lena walks back toward the observation room is a sure sign that this is going to be a long night. Alex does try to get comfortable. She turns off the lights, climbs under the blankets and hopes that sleep will overtake her before Alex starts overthinking things.

“Where did you grow up?” Lena asks through the speaker in the corner of the ceiling. Alex rolls over and looks up at nothing.

“What? Midvale. You know that.”

���Yeah, duh. I just need some control questions.”

“Control questions for…?”

“Technically a lie detector test. But I’ll monitor your brain too, just to make sure you’re not a psychopath.” Alex wants to laugh, she really does, but she’s more concerned about the kind of questions Lena will ask her. “How old are you?”

“Thirty,” Alex grumbles.

“Favorite color?”

“How is that a control question?” Alex questions.

“It’s not. I just want to know.”

“Green.” Alex lies back down. Lena is the kind of person that doesn’t give up, Alex is the same way, so Alex resigns herself to being interrogated. “Yours?”

“Red.” Alex really wishes she could see Lena. She’s shy in ways that other people can’t say. Alex knows that game and she wishes that there was some way she could tell Lena that she sees her. Really sees her. “Were you in love with Maggie?”

“Jesus Christ.” Alex sighs. “Yes.” There’s a long pause, Alex is unnerved. Worried that Lena will somehow find a flaw in her brain. Something that tells her that her emotions were all scrambled. That things weren’t the way she remembered them.

“You’re angry about that?”

“Maybe. She broke my heart. It’s hard not to be angry.” Alex hadn’t talked about this with anyone except Kara. It feels strange to be discussing it with Lena. “You ever been in love?”

“Still trying to figure that out.”

“Well…don’t.” Alex shakes her head. “Sorry, that was cynical. You should love whoever you want.”

“I will.” Alex senses the heaviness in the air. “Do you remember when the DEO had to canvas LCorp and we were stuck there all night?”

“Yeah. That was like…two years ago? I had to take like six Advils because Vasquez and I kept falling asleep on your couch.”

“You bought me dinner that night.”

“I did.”

“You did.” Alex can hear the smile in Lena’s voice. “And I thought ‘this is the nicest thing anyone has done for me’. It was such a small but genuine gesture. You do things like that all the time, you know?” Alex never really thinks about it. Being kind didn’t come naturally to her. She had to learn from Kara but eventually, it became easy. “So, when you called about this. Those nightmares and how you couldn’t sleep, I thought, well shit. I’ll be there. I’d basically do anything for you.”

“Lena…I had no idea.”

“You wouldn’t. I’m not very straight forward when it comes to…and then there was Maggie, so I needed to  get a grip.” Alex wonders if this slight confession is easier or more difficult with an entire wall standing between them. “I want you to be happy.”

“I want the same for you, Lena. I always have.”

“Okay, then what are we waiting for?”